Knitting Frenzy!

It is that time of year again, folks.   Winter break is here and the holidays are around the corner.  That can only mean one thing:

Knitting like there is no tomorrow.

I often dream about this while in school - the ability to knit without interruption.  Granted, I have been known to knit in the computer lab and Phi Theta Kappa room at school, but that usually is mindless stuff.  Now I get to focus on the harder things.

Like designing crazy fair isle and then having to knit it.

Or like knitting gifts that seem to never get done.

I will get the gifts done, I will get the gifts done, I will get the gifts done.

Handwarmers for my mom. :)



A hat for my sister. :)



A lone sock for my boyfriend; the other is halfway done on double point needles. :)



A turtle for the son of one of my friends. :)



I've really taken to designing hats for some reason.  I like the fact that they are done in a round, somewhat small (and quick), and can have anything on them.  Maybe I'll move up to greater designing as break progresses.

Here are some pics of my recent design projects, while we're on the topic. :)

A 100% Meaghan Creation.  My first hat design. I love the hearts!



This is my crazy hat.  I finished reading "Sweater Quest: My Year of Knitting Dangerously" by Adrienne Martini and was inspired to create my own insane fair isle project. :)


So yeah.  I am happy to be on break.  Bring on those projects. :)  Also, before I forget, I'm on Ravelry if anyone is interested.  Just look under Birdgirl90.

Have a great rest of your Sunday, dear readers.

~Meaghan

Civil Rights

I would like to propse a question:

What defines civil rights?

Civil rights, to me, mean that everyone is treated equal.  Everyone has access to the same things, like insurance and voting abilities.  Everyone is treated equal regardless.

Which brings me to my next question:

Have we achieved equal civil rights in the United States?

I'm going to give my thoughts, but I would really like everyone to take a moment and chew on this.  I think it is incredibly important.

My answer is no.  No, we have not achieved civil rights for all in the United States.

What do you think of when you think of civil rights? 

Do you think of the racial inequality once brought about until the 60's and 70's? That's one aspect for sure of the topic.  While  we have come so far where race is concerned, we still have a ways to go.  There are still places where people are uncomfortable around each other, which is a shame.  But over all, we have gotten far.

But civil rights encompasses so much more.

Take, for instance, the women's movement.  Women still only make 80 cents to every dollar earned by a man.  While we are no longer forced to be stay at home mothers, it's still expected by some people and is disappointing if your husband is a stay at home dad.  Yet if you are a stay at home mom and you don't work, you're frowned upon.  When will women be able to do what they want - be that working or staying at home - without judgement? 

Same with our bodies and our sexuality.  Women who read this, please consider something.  Women in the middle east don't get a choice as to having children, getting married, and living their lives.  And yet some women and men here in the United States are passively trying to get us back to that state of being by banning types of birth control and morning after pills.  Abortion will always be a hot topic, but without it as an option even remotely available, we lose one aspect of owning our bodies and our sex lives.

It's another facet of civil rights.

What about the gay, lesbian, bi, and transgender community?  They live their lives like we do - they work, raise families, own homes, add to communities, run PTA's and bake sales, put out fires and save lives.  But they are denied the right to marry the ones they love legally.  They are denied insurance benefits to their partners because they are same sex.  How is that equality?  Explain that to me.

 It doesn't matter where you stand on the issues.  You can be right wing conservative or left liberal.  If this is going on to these minorities, what's stopping it from happening to you?

So many people outwardly condemn others.  "That's wrong!"  "You're going to hell!"  "A woman's place is in the home!" And so on.

But I don't think they realize that it's a fine line between having rights and losing them.  All it takes is enough people saying you are wrong or a disgrace to the eyes of God, and you're freedom to marry is gone.  Or your freedom to vote is gone.  Or your ability to protect your sexuality is gone.

Do we have equal civil rights in this country?

That is up to you to decide.

Please, dear readers, I hope this post has made you think.  Form an opinion, it is your right.  Just make sure it is educated.

~Meaghan

It's Over

Winter Break can officially begin.

On the one hand, I am seriously relieved.  I didn't get straight A's this semester; if I'm lucky, I'll scrape two A's and two B's.  Which is still good.  I'm relieved the stress is gone.  I now have time to recoup and finish knitting gifts for everyone.  (Fingers crossed that I actually get them done.)

But on the other hand, I'm still wondering where August went.  I feel like I blinked and it was gone.  Mainly, I'm concerned that this year is almost over and I haven't accomplished everything that I wanted to.  Sure, I made it through the semester.  But did I do the things that matter?  Did I look enough at the spring, summer, and fall trees?  Did I make enough wishes on stars to restore the universe of hope or say I love you enough times to the people I care about?

Mainly, have I made my time count so far?

I think for the most part, the answer is yes.  But seriously.  I need to start paying more attention to life.  The fact that this semester has flown is proof that life is too short.

I'm not ready for the Christmas holidays.  I'm not at all in the holiday mindset.  I think I'm sitting at the mysticism part of Christianity; it's too long to get into here.  I love Christmas.  But I just can't feel it yet.  Maybe I need to get through the weekend first.

And now I need to go to bed before I start drooling on the keyboard.

Goodnight, dear readers.  I hope you enjoy your night.

~Meaghan

Update

My mom and sister got in an accident yesterday due to the snow.  No one was hurt, but our only running car is now in the shop for the weekend.  Yay.

But, our rental car is going to be a Charger, I hear.  That might be really cool.  So there's a plus.

It rains, it pours.  And not just for my family, but for a lot of other people.  I know I complain sometimes, but ultimately we have it pretty good.  We have a roof over our heads and food on the table and our family is together.  A lot of people don't have it that good.

I work today passing out coffee at the grocery store.  It should be fun.  I'm nervous cause it's at a new store, but I'm excited cause I get to play with a Keurig coffee machine.

That's about it.  Things will continue to work out.  I know they will.

Enjoy your Friday, dear readers.

~Meaghan

Snowy Day

The snow has finally come.  Part of me is thrilled, the other part not so much.  School refuses to recognize blizzards as warrant for a snow day.  College here never closes, it seems.

I didn't get my stuff done for class today.  So I'm skipping.  I know, I know - buck it up, get over it, and get my tush to class.  But you know what?  I'm exhausted and I'm done.  It has not been that great of a school week.

I like the snow though.  I want to go sit by the window and read for a few hours.  Maybe I'll do that here in a bit.  :)

I hope you are all enjoying your day, dear readers.

~Meaghan

Turkey Dinner and Christmas Music

I guess it's that time of year again.  It feels like just yesterday that it was sunny and warm.  Now, we're in the dead time as one of my friends puts it.  I can't help but agree with her.

Thanksgiving was awesome, as it always is.  There is always so much to be thankful for - family, friends, my boyfriend, a roof over our heads, food on our table.  And now that Thanksgiving is over, it's time to prep for Christmas.

I'm in the midst of a journey, actually.  I'm questioning everything I have ever known.  Humanities at school has caused me to shake my faith and belief system - what if there's more out there than just what it is?  So this is the first holiday season that I'm going into with questions and wonders.  I'm learning about everything I can get my hands on - Taoism, Wicca, etc.

(I'm actually rather drawn to Wicca.  Not in a bad sense, although I'm pretty sure several people right now are praying for my soul.  But I like the notion of moving energy and the connection we all experience with each other and nature.  That's a blog for another time...)

I think God can understand.  It's not Him I'm questioningg; I have always believed in a higher, loving being and I always will be.  I'm questioning man's interpretation of Him.  Or Her.  I haven't fully decided if my Deity is a man or woman or both.  Why can't there be a God and Goddess?  It's like a Mother and a Father.  I like that. 

Ah, I'm so confused on where I stand.  I think I have to keep searching until I find what I believe.  I think that's the only answer.  My parents can't decide it for me.  My friends can't decide it for me, one way or another.  Ultimately, I must decide where I stand. 

On a differnt, possibly lighter note: I got a pattern for a raglan sweater today.  It's a guide for designing and knitting the perfect one for you.  I'm incredibly excited.  I've got the measurements figured out and I calculated out the cost.  It's going to cost me about $40 to make, and probably most (if not all) of winter break to complete.

But I'm excited.  I've been wanting to make a sweater for a while now, and this one should go pretty quickly once I get started.  I say, bring it on. =)

And with that, I'm going to have dinner.  Have a great rest of your weekend, dear readers.

~Meaghan

I Told You I Was Going to be Buried.

Didn't I?  Didn't I, dear readers?

Oh, class got cancelled today.  Yeah, that's awesome.  The day my story is up for critiques is the day class gets cancelled.  I vaguely think this happened to me last time, too...

We're learning about life on other planets.  Well, the potential of life on other planets.  I can't help but believe that there will be life out there.  Isn't it arrogant to think that we are alone in the universe?  I think it is.  There is too much to explore before we can rule out the possibility.

I can't really think of a lot that's going on.  I'm probably going to go help one of my friends for a bit when I'm done here.  I'm scheduled to work a table at an event for her from like 2:30 to 4, but I think I might go sooner.  I can knit down there and join the festivities.

My boyfriend is on a one track mind right now - homework.  That's all he can think about.  Doing homework, staying on top of it, getting good grades with it, etc.  I respect him for that, but I'd be lying if I said it didn't drive me nuts sometimes.  I hope he gets things figured out soon.

My parents celebrated their 27th wedding anniversary yesterday.  I hope that we have that long and more together, too. 

My sister had a concussion a few weeks ago.  She's still recovering.  All in all, she's doing a lot better than she was.  I am greatful.

I'm going through a questioning period with my faith.  I believe in God and I like Christianity, but the more I learn about the world around me, the more I feel disillusioned.  I can't believe there's only one wya to get to heaven.  I can't do it.  It does not bode with me. 

I've taken up the mindset of different paths, same mountain.  If a truly loving God truly loves His children, then everyone should be able to get there.  I'm still going to follow the Christian holidays, but I feel like I'm not going to be able to go back at looking at them like I used to.

Ah, but that's stuff for another time.  A different blog, perhaps, or maybe not a blog at all.  I don't know.

And on that note, I'm going to go help at this school event.  Have a great Thursday, dear readers.

~Meaghan