It's 75 degrees outside

what the hell am I doing in the office?

I need a wireless laptop. I think I'll go sit on the porch and knit for a while - enjoy the awesome weather.

I'm going to Muscle Pump and Cardio Jam again tonight - I hope I can do the steps a little better this time. I don't want to be known as the no-rhythm-havin'-whitey forever!

I'll let you know how it goes.

Name the knitting store...

Many of you know that I have a pipe dream of opening a knitting/yarn store. Be my own boss, knit a lot, teach others to knit, build a community.

So, for today's blog entry, let's have a name the knitting store contest.

Names I have bandied about (in no particular order):
Chit's Knits
Here Knitty Knitty
Sereknitty
Knittery

C'mon people - get creative! What can you add to this list?

Give us the opportunity.

I am not, nor have I ever been, a HOW. (Hater of Wichita). I feel like the HOWs deserve they're own acronym because their sentiment is rampant, and you can see their ramblings every day in the Opinion Line. I won't bore you with a sampling here, but typically the calls consist of people complaining about what a hick town this place is.

Sure, I've complained about Wichita before, and I'm sure I'll continue to, but you know what? It's a nice place to live. Adam and I are young, we own our own home (and didn't have to spend a half-million dollars to do it), and my work is 12 miles from my house, and it takes me exactly 15 traffic-free minutes to get there.

There's a community of young, hip, socially conscious people in town. Okay, so we're definitely not the majority - but we are out here in the nooks and crannies.

Right now, what's frustrating to me about Wichita is that no matter how many times it comes up in a council meeting or someone writes a letter to the editor of the Eagle, we cannot get a city-wide recycling program up and running. So many people in this town just don't care. How do we get the movement going? I know the recyclers are out there.

Every other Saturday, I take all my stuff to Pro-Kan recycling. And I mean, ALL my stuff. They take everything - paper, glass, plastic, cans, magazines, junk mail, plastic supermarket bags, cardboard, cereal boxes, tin cans, everything. Adam and I never have a full trash cart anymore. And every day that I go to the recycling drop-off, every available drive-up space is filled.

It's not just do-rag wearing twenty-somethings like me - there's TONS of senior citizens, lots of people my age, and everywhere in between. No matter what time of day I go it's like this. Obviously there are people in Wichita who do want to do their part to keep the planet chugging along at least a little longer.

How can we get this town to be a little bit more like our neighbors to the North? No, not Canada - Newton.

In Newton, recycling is mandatory. In fact, you only are allowed a certain amount of trash that isn't recyclable. They seem to be doing okay up there. I'm sure there were naysayers in the beginning, but we need to stop thinking about the people complaining, and start thinking about the benefits.

Less trash in the landfills, less fighting about where to put the new Sedgwick County landfill, right?

Go Green!

Bears that blow kisses

This post won't really have anything to do with bears that blow kisses - it's just that I saw one tonight as I was leaving good old XHS, and the phrase struck me as slightly interesting. You could sing it to the same melody as the line "bells will be ringing" in that Don Henley Christmas song. Come home for Christmas? I don't know - something like that. Normally, I'd look it up so I could be accurate, but I'm just too lazy for that tonight.

I think I'm just going to go to bed. It's been a long week, and I'm glad it's Friday. I get to sleep in tomorrow, go to the Y, do some recycling, and other random, mindless chores.

Here's a question to ponder - in what sort of atmospheres do most bloggers work?

Like, right now, I'm in our back bedroom/office, lights off, my face illuminated by the iMac screen. Are bloggers honing their crafts in offices? On laptops in coffee shops? Outdoor in the warmer climes?

I feel as though the tone of my posts changes depending on if it's early in the day, late in the night, music on or off, etc. Gosh, that's starting to sound like a master's in journalism project of some sort.

Oh crap. I forgot to bring home the cheesy puffs photos. I'll definitely post one or two as soon as I bring them home - they are pretty hilarious and somewhat disturbing.

Are you freaking kidding me?

Okay, we all know it: I love love love Grey's Anatomy.

That said, tonight's show was not the best.

First of all, we all knew that Meredith McWhinypants wasn't going to die. (Not that I want her to, it just wasn't that much of a cliffhanger - the title character's life hanging in the balance).

Think about it: Kotter never died. Mr. Cooper survived all of "Hangin' With Mr. Cooper." Joni and Chachi kept on lovin' one another. The title character isn't going to die - not in the third season, anyway.

God, I needed tortilla chips to soak up all the cheese oozing out of the TV on that show tonight. Good points made, I suppose, but easy on the schmaltz factor.

And what is Izzy's deal with George? She's the one who fell in love with, got engaged to, tried like hell to save, and basically killed a heart patient, and she's hammering Mr. and Mrs. O'Malley as the king and queen of bad choices? I would have thought Izzy'd be the hopeless romantic type, even if she didn't like Callie.

I. Heart. Callie.

Callie for class president - she can kick Izzy's butt.

In other news...great and rough day at school. Kids did great at contest - nine are going to state. I just can't get past the ones who didn't get their stuff done and haven't felt the need to apologize for letting everyone down. We had a great worknight tonight, complete with an Eato-Cheeto contest - The winner did chubby bunny with 38 (!) cheesy poofs in her mouth at once.

Yes, I was in the contest. No, I was not the winner. Yes, I'll post a photo or two once we get them downloaded tomorrow.

I've got to go to bed if I have any chance of going to the Y at all tomorrow, because it's going to have to be in the morning. I've got to score three more games tomorrow night, but I think they're the last.

Senior Citizen Sorority House

You know that feeling? The one you get when you first see your Mom or Dad or other adult you know and trust and love fall and get hurt, or have something horrible happen to them?

I've had that feeling a few times in my life. Once, I was rollerblading with my Dad - yes, my dad is that cool, he used to rollerblade with me - and we were going down this big hill. I think something got caught in one of his wheels and he fell. Hard. On his back. He didn't cry or anything like that, but it scared the crap out of me. Probably because I was worried about him, and also because I knew Mom would be pissed if he hurt his back, since he has to help lift Jayne around. I don't remember how old I was then.

Then, when my Grandpa Sax died, I was 16, and it was really hard to see how sad my mom was. You just think about your parents being indestructible, and when you finally realize they're not, there's a paradigm shift that is scary for a young person.

Well, right now, both of my grandmas (they're the only grandparents I have left - both of the pas have died) are living in a care home. The same one. One, most likely permanently, the other, just until she's rehabbed. No, not for drugs like Britney and Lindsey and all those crazy types. She really hurt her shoulder. I talked to her on the phone tonight, and I'm sure she's doped up with painkillers, and her speech was kind of slurred. That was weird. I don't mean she was weird, just that it was unsettling to hear her in that state.

When my Grandma Jarsulic first moved into her apartment (it was sorta like assisted living) we joked that it was the Senior Citizen Sorority House - activities all the time, floormates, meals served together. About the only thing they didn't have was a sleeping dorm. Bingo and arts and crafts whenever you want! Now it seems like it's a little more serious. I know it's tough, and it really makes me not look forward to being old.

Meanwhile, my poor mom is taking care of her 29-year-old daughter, and her own mom AND mother-in-law. Bet that's not what she signed up for when she took early retirement.

I guess one moral of this story might be: "Be careful how you treat your fam-damily, because they might be the ones taking care of you and making all the decisions someday."

Who knows. Enough of this, I've got a basketball game to watch. Go Cats - beat those damn Hawks!

By the way, played Cranium with Stacey and Eugene this weekend. Any game that requires the participants to mold clay, draw with their eyes closed and play charades is all right by me...Hint.Hint.Gift idea alert.

I could be the walrus. I'd still have to bum rides off people.

Okay, say what you want about John Hughes/80s movies, but they will be at the top of my personal list for a long damn time.

It's past my bedtime, and I need sleep, I've got a big day tomorrow of doing housework and other not-so-fun stuff, but "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" just started on Comedy Central. Yes, it's edited. No, it won't be as good as the original. Thank God for the DVR (sound familiar?)

Record Remainder of this Event? Yes.

Meanwhile, I'll be drifting off to dreamland with FBDO on, and the sleep timer running.

Who couldn't love a movie that includes this line (among many, many great others): "I mean, it's kind of childish and stupid, but then again, so is high school."

No one's won Contest No. 1, but we'll begin Contest No. 2: Post your favorite line here, and the two other people who might read the blog can guess the movies...Must be John Hughes-related (so, technically, "Uncle Buck" counts).

By the way, one of my friends has a birthday coming up, in fact, I think it's tomorrow, according to Facebook. Happy Birthday, Tim!

Recently knitted items

A purse and cell phone/iPod cover for my Aunt Alice.

The purse looks like a big blob in this photo, but it really turned out pretty darn cool. It's knit with variegated wool, and then thrown in the washer to felt it. I love felting knitted stuff!

Ten bucks...

Only a select few out there will know what "Ten bucks" references, and here's a salute to you (I REFUSE to use the term "shout out).

"Go ask that guy where the lettuce is, but you have to pronounce it let-TOOSE."

I s'pose we could have the first ever ChittumFiles blog contest - be the first to comment back with the name of the show that quote is from, and you win a prize. What prize, you ask? Um, I could bestow a hand-knitted item upon you!

By the way - possible spoilers ahead for "Lost" and "Grey's" so beware.

I just watched this week's Grey's Anatomy. Yeah, yeah, I know - I didn't watch it live. Conferences strikes again. Thank god for the DVR. Anywho.

Bawled like a freakin' baby. I know Meredith won't be killed off. I know she's the title character on the show. I know that I really don't like Meredith because she's a winy little waif who makes bad decisions. But, holy crap, watching McDreamy do CPR in the rig, and how he wouldn't leave her in the trauma room until the chief finally made him go, and seeing him just crumple in the hallway with McSteamy - I will be dying by 7:59 CT next Thursday. That damn show is like TV crack - I hate it when the hour is over.

I'm a huge TV person, and it's probably the greatest drama of all time in my opinion.

This week was manna from heaven week on ABC. "Lost" was great, and it really got me thinking about all of the course corrections in past. I wonder if there's a big Desmond in the sky looking out for me, and guiding me on decisions that I make. This topic will be further explored in a later post.

I. Love. Cold. Pizza.

Post-GC, post conferences....

I'm eating cold Little Ceasars and I love it!

Cardio Jam

Tomorrow's conferences. I know that doesn't mean much to most of you, but for teachers, that means pretty much one thing - you're at school for 13 hours. Sure, you get a lunch and dinner break, but for those of us hipsters who don't reside in Derby the breaks aren't long enough to go home (or to the gym) and back.

I knew there's no way in hell I'll be waking up a 5 am tomorrow to go to the Y, so I decided to be a good girl and go tonight. Went up North, did two classes - Muscle Pump and Cardio Jam.

Muscle pump was pretty run-of-the-mill. I've done it before, I know what to expect. But, Cardio Jam made me look like a fool, and it was hard work. (And I'm not lazy - I ran a freakin' marathon last year.) It's not that it wears me out. I just flat out do not have one ounce of rhythm in my body.

When everyone else is grapevine lefting, I'm double step touching to the right. It brings back visions of my Aerobics class I took at KSU because I needed PE credit. Me and 30 90-pound Classy Cats who were basically professional aerobicizers. I still have nightmares about that class. Add to it the fact that the class was at 8:30 in the morning, and that's Oh-Dark-Early for Collegian editors. When you're at the paper til 1 am, you've got to go out for at least one beer (that usually turned into one six-pack) before bed. I think I visited the Chester Peters Rec Complex three times in the four years I was at KSU, and I almost guarantee that two of those times were for Collegian assignments. And the membership was FREE.

A sixer, fatigue, 8:30 and aerobics. You do the math. I did however, get an A...

As you can see, I wasn't exactly Get In Shape Girl in my younger days. But, now that I am on a health kick, I absolutely love it. I know that sometimes people complain that the YMCA is taking over Wichita, but you know what, I think that is great. We are so lucky to have the options we do in a town this size. I'm a huge fan of the Y. You know me, I'm not the Genesis type - spandex pants and sports bras with nothing covering them are not my idea of workout gear. I like t-shirts and shorts (sports bra underneath, of course). That's why I like the Y. It's the working-man's gym, not the place where tiny fashionistas "work out" while trolling for men.

Really, I'm not being bitter. I actually have a friend who even though she had a FREE membership to the Y because she worked at the Eagle, joined Genesis just to meet guys. An idea that's much cheaper and a hell of a lot more fun? Play co-rec softball. At least that way, if you're stinky and dirty and you meet a cutie, chances are he's been drinking, so he'll look right past the red dirt on your cheeks.

Hmmm, I'm trying to decide what the moral of this story is.

Looking forward to this time tomorrow when I'll be commiserating with co-workers at Granite City. Love that place.

Peace Out.

After nine years as a Wichita resident...

I've finally experienced "The Scotch."

No, not the "I love Scotch, Scotchy Scotch Scotch" kind - the Scotch and Sirloin Club and Restaurant. As Adam and I walked into the place, I half-expected to see Tony Soprano and the boys in the corner hatching up some kind of mafioso plan.

It's very dark and mysterious, and there are lots of men dining there. A few couples (male-female) but definitely mostly groups of men, eating tons of red meat and flirting with the waitresses. If you like smoky black eyeliner, clingy black shirts and short black skirts, the Scotch is the place you should work. I guess it also helps if you look like you could blow away in a stiff wind. Strangely similar physical attributes of the wait staff notwithstanding, the food was friggin' incredible. We shared the Chateaubriand, and I gotta tell you, I've never tasted any steak quite like it.

It was well worth the money, and a very cool, mood-y place to go for Valentine's Day.

###

I just got home from school, meaning I was officially within the walls of DHS for 14 hours today...must go read or knit or watch TV to settle the brain cells before trying to go to bed.

Also, added a few new links. Check them out sometime.

Almost forgot...

finally got some support from the editorial staff of our local newspaper...check out this link:

http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/news/editorial/16677586.htm

Back by popular demand...

or at least by demand of Candice!

So, part of the reason the Chittum Files has been on hiatus is because (YIKES - look at all that passive voice. Guess I should practice what I preach) I spent 30 hours scrapbooking this weekend, with one six-hour break for sleeping.

Crop-a-ganza! Sorry, as my husband says, it's hard to say that word without laughing. It was like Est-Fest '07, although I did see one man who was actually scrapbooking...

Lately, as those of you who read this blog know, I have become a knittin' fool, so my scrapbooking has traveled to the back burner of the Chittum stovetop. BUT, I do still have tons of photos and way too much scrapbooking stuff (or so I thought - more on that later) so I decided to tag along with my friends Kat and Linda to the weekend Crop-a-ganza! hosted by ScrapFunAttic of Andover. I mean, who can pass up a night at the Park City Best Western?

Okay, yes, usually I can pass up a night at the PCBW, but I digress. You would not believe the amount of money some of these people have invested in scrapping - keep in mind, I do not judge, because I wish I had that much money invested in yarn and needles. You know those rolling luggage carts? I saw two or three women who had them FULL to the brim with all of their scrapping implements. It was all brand-name stuff, too, no plastic tubs for toting stuff, the stuff was all toted in various apparatus made with names like "Tote-ally Cool." Me, I spring for the $4 plastic boxes from Tar-gey. So, I guess maybe I'm the white trash scrapper. And proud!

Photos of babies, kids, dogs, horses, sweethearts, you name it, were being cut, glued, embellished and glued again all weekend long all over the ballroom. I've never seen so much ribbon, paper, stamps, ink, books, blah ba de blah. However, I did have a really good time and I got much accomplished. I completed an entire 12-month calendar except for one month, and I got my marathon scrapbook a little closer to being finished.

We started at 5 Friday night, and I got home at 8 Saturday night. Pretty much fell asleep on the couch the minute my head hit the throw pillow. Though, I can't say visions of scrapbook pages were dancing in my head.

Adam and I are going out to dinner tonight for Valentine's Day - don't know where yet - it's a surprise. At least I'll have fun tonight since PT conferences are Tues/Thurs of this week. Gee, can't wait for that.

I'll post later tonight or tomorrow the story of our dinner. Any guesses on where we're going? We have reservations...we never go anywhere that takes reservations...I think that's against the hippie code.

Home sick from school

The germ factory that is a high school classroom has done it again.

I should've known I'd be knocked out soon, since half of my newspaper and yearbook staffs have been sick for the last week and a half. We really need to start being more diligent about using those blasted Clorox wipes on our keyboards and mice. I just never think of it until I'm already feeling sick...Murphy's law, I suppose.

I'm going to go lie down now, try to save up the rest, so that I can go back to school tomorrow. I hate missing days!

Longest. Week. Ever.

Whew. It's only Thursday night (fingers crossed that "Grey's" is new - haven't checked yet), but I've been thinking it's Thursday all week long. Don't know why my wires are so crossed.

Could be the six inches of snow on the ground. Could be the nine million things I have to do. Could be the getting up a 5 am to go to the Y. Hmmmm.

As I was driving home today, listening to NPR, and all the talk about resolutions expressing our discontent and non-support of the mission in Iraq. All things I totally agree with, by the way, but I got to thinking a little more.

I wish I had a time machine. I've always said that I was born in the wrong generation. I'm a gen-Xer who probably would have been more at home as a flower child. Don't get me wrong, I don't wear gigantic bell-bottoms and peasant shirts and tie-dye all the time. (Okay, well, I am quite fond of tie-dye, but it's not a daily staple of my wardrobe.)

I just feel like I have an inner activist waiting to break free. It's part of the reason I don't work for The Wichita Eagle anymore. When you're a member of the mainstream media, you can't put signs in your yard supporting initiatives or candidates, can't put bumper stickers on your car, you can't speak at public meetings. It's all a part of ethics - and a good part. But, if you're like me, and you have that inner activist, it's hard to shake the part of you that wants to be a citizen, like every other person in the country.

We are a nation at war. But are we really a NATION at war? Sure, men and women of our country are in Iraq fighting a war right now, but what has that changed about our daily lives?

Way too many people still drive gas-guzzling SUVs, Repubs and Dems are still making everything so incredibly partisan that nothing seems to get accomplished, and most of us are spending a hell of a lot more than we are making.

Thankfully, there is no draft like there was in Vietnam. Obviously, I wasn't around during that era, but I've read, heard and seen it in history books, novels, movies, and old newspaper reports. Back then, people actually seemed to have war at the forefront of their brains. Anyone (any male, anyway) that they knew was in danger of being sent to fight a war we shouldn't have been involved in. Is that the difference between yesterday and today?

Imagine if we had to ration today as they did during World War II. THEN, the protests would begin. "What? I can't drive my Hummer to my son's soccer practice? We have to CONSERVE gas?" There'd be riots in the streets over that one.

In our society today, do we have to see an immediate effect on our own friends and family and ourselves before we care what is happening in the world? With all the technology available, we've never been more tuned in than we are today. But all that "tuning in" is making us tune out one another.

I have to live on this planet for about 50 more years - what's it going to be like then?