Thursday, August 14, 2008

In It to Win It

I finished secret stitching #2 last night. Took an hour. When you are ready to throw up your hands with a project like I was yesterday, it seems like it will take forever to complete. But that's an illusion. And now it's winging its way to a lucky recipient. We get the computer back Monday so we should have pictures again soon. If only I had remembered to take a photo of ss#2 this morning.

I have rejoined the Stitching Olympics. I packed only three things for the flight to Fla. 1) doghouse sampler 2) anniversary prize (giveaway coming soon!) and 3) Toy Gatherer with the Tacky Bob. The first two are only allowed out on the plane. I am going to be a chess widow for the weekend, and I hear the weather is going to suck, so it looks like a lot of Stitching Competition in the indoor arena.

Just so you know, I wasn't making fun of the cripples* in the paraolympics. I was making fun of myself. Because I do not make fun of the developmentally delayed, only a little when they deserve it. Did I ever tell you this story from bringing Yay-o to Thomas? On the train, this little boy was banging his head against the window. He seemed like he was all there, just a kid doing those weird things that kids do because they simply do not place enough value on their brains. Anyway, the father says, "Don't do that; you're going to catch retarded." Catch retarded. I came thisclose to walking over to say that the only danger of the kid "catching retarded" was the danger he had from catching it from his father. Only drop some eff bombs in there, because you cannot say enough of them when you are at Thomas the Tank Engine weekend. Anyway, the dude doesn't like me mouthing off to guys who are bigger than him, so I shut my mouth and hoped no one else had heard. It all makes me so sad. Because one day Yay-o is going to be an adult and people are going to say shit like that right to her face. Having her in our lives has been a blessing--and the dude and I hate the way that word has been coopted, so I don't use it lightly. I know I've written about that before.

* I once read this awesome essay by a woman with MS who "reclaimed" the word. It reminded me a lot of why my own father describes himself this way. (Nancy Mairs, "On Being a Cripple")

8 comments:

Jenna said...

I didn't think that you were making fun of the special olympics. I knew what you meant. :) Sorry to hear that the father of the kid being silly on the train thought that you can "catch retarded." Obviously, his own skills are a bit retarded, in the true sense of the word. I have a little step-sister who is developmentally retarded, so I try not to use the word in vain, when I can help it. Sometimes it just fits, though, with no offense to the group of people who have been characterized by the word.

mainely stitching said...

Oh boy, I am SO in favor of reclaiming words!! I want to feel gay without explaining my sexual history to everyone!

Casa Pearl said...

Have a great trip and I look forward to seeing your competition pieces when you get your PC back!

Jen Cutler said...

This may be really weird that I am leaving you a message and I don't know you, but my husband always makes fun of me and tells everyone that I am practicing for the cross stitching olympics every time I get involved in a major project. I really had no idea such thing existed! Ta da... shows how much I know!
I stumbled upon your site by doing a google search for Miss Mary Mack. I have been stitiching the project and am just about done. I had no idea what the story behind Miss Mack was, I just liked how it looked a little odd. I love your projects. I have actually done quite a few of the same ones myself. So, I just found that funny. It is always so much fun seeing everyones own personal touches come through in their stitch work. Thanks for posting your beautiful work.

Melissa said...

Are you going to be anywhere near me in Florida? I'm in the panhandle.

Ruth said...

Travel safely, stitch well! I'll expect you to come home clutching at least one gold medal from your olympics!

riona said...

I know what you mean about reclaiming words ... top on my list is "nice" ... folks, it means fastidious and particular not pleasant ... in fact, truly nice people are often a real pain in the @*$! to be around ... ask anyone who spends more than a half hour in my company! By the by, as the one and only serious entrant in my PIF for bamboo floss, you are the uncontested winner, e-mail me with an address and I will send it on. You can reach me at regmaracc@optonline.net

glamlawlib said...

Hope your trip goes well and you get in a good amount of Olympic stitching :)

I like the reclaiming words thing, I used to had epilepsy in my late teens so feel free to call me a big spaz anytime ;) (Thankfully have been fit free for many years now)