(Mostly) Non-Hockey At Last: Lilacs and License Plates and Phone Calls

I've been watching and waiting for the lilacs since April, in vain (the lilac is a stealthy bush, and somehow hard to notice when not in flower). I seem to remember picking some for my mother last year when she was in town, and that would have been in April, yet there was nothing and nothing this year. Finally, a week ago, I saw the first ones, and by the beginning of this week, they were everywhere. Ahhh. So beautiful! I only have one picture, a quick from-the-car shot, to prove it:

If you want to see more, time-travel back to a few years ago, when I went nuts at the Arnold Arboretum. There are enough lilacs pictures there to make anyone happy.

Another thing I've been looking for is goslings, and the little fluff-balls are not yet everywhere. I did see some last week, as this photo proves:

I know. But look on the right side, in front of the adult, and there's one there. Or here, there's another one to the left: it looks like a yellow-ish tussock of grass:

Yeah, you almost have to take my word for it. The funny thing is, I haven't seen any since, just adults (and sometimes none at all), so who knows. They're running late this year, too, I guess.

Knitting! I don't have updated blanket photos; one of these days. Take my word for it that progress is being made. Meanwhile, last week, I made a little thing for the friend that I visited on Sunday; I wanted her to have a little something tangible to remind her of her friends and their support when no one was there. So I made two squares and stitched them together for a little pillow. One was the Heart Dishcloth pattern:

The other was the Love Cloth, the same as I made recently for a blanket contribution.

Together but separate:

And all together:

That is one crappy picture, but anyway you get the idea.

*****
There have been some good license plates around recently, which have not pushed their way onto the blog due to all the other angst. Like this one, which I wondered, does everyone know this at sight?

Or only those of us with Scandinavian roots? Because Svensk, that's Swedish, as confirmed by the sticker that was on the back window of this vehicle.

Then there are these two, which I saw the same day, but separately. One:

And two:

I prefer to loaf, thanks, and even that at half speed!

I also enjoyed this one:

Something about the ay-oh makes me think of this again:

To close out the plates, how about this one?

That's a Verizon truck, and yes, he was driving with a bag hanging off the back, mostly covering the plate. I keep wondering, was that on purpose, or did he get out at his next stop and say, whoops!

*****
I'm not a fan of making phone calls, and for a while I've been putting off some necessary making-appointments calls, but today I finally sat down and did it. It's not that hard, and I don't know why I put it off, but I do, every time. Now I have rescheduled the dentist appointment I missed over the migraine weekend, and scheduled my annual mammogram (ugh) and the car's oil change. Whee, three things crossed off the list and put on the calendar at once! And what a calendar: within a month, I'm seeing the contact lens guy, the chiropractor, the dentist, mammogram, my primary-care, the dermatologist, hairdresser ... whew!

One more call I want to make is to the Globe, to change my subscription. I've been frustrated so long with the weekday delivery, always late, often thrown among the trash cans, and now that I have the iPad, I'm going to switch to digital during the week, and only get the "paper" paper delivered on the weekends. I tried out the iPad app and the experience suits me fine, plus I won't have to wait for Mister Doofus to swing by. And, less to recycle! I think the cost is going to work out much the same, and the experience will fit my needs better. We call that win-win.

*****
Now, I know, I know, hockey, but I only said I'd try not to keep posting about hockey. At least this hasn't been all hockey! But two things must go here.

First on the Marek vs Wyshynski podcast Tuesday, they were thanking their guest, San Jose Sharks broadcaster Drew Remenda, and finished, "...we admire the cut of your jib." To which he promptly came back, "Thank you very much. You know what, that's never been admired before, and I've always said to people, I have terrific jib." I guess you don't get far as a broadcaster without being able to think on your feet, but it certainly made me laugh!

Second, video of Jack Edwards calling the OT goal Monday night. Man, that's never going to get old.

As Puck Daddy calls it, "expectedly animated", but I also like Andy Brickley's reaction: Brick is far less vocal a homer than Jack is, but he spent part of his playing career in Boston, and he's clearly delighted for them. And then he carefully adjusts his pocket square. While Jack lets the moment speak for itself.

Ahhh.

Today In Brief, Yesterday's Lilacs

I just have to start by saying that I'm sure I've made it clear over the years here how much I love babies. Love them, all babies, the end.

But. Today, with my window open, I'm getting a clear view (audibly speaking) of a crying baby across the street. I can't actually see through the tree, but from the proximity and direction of the sound, it seems that someone is sitting with the crying baby on the porch. Baby cries, soothing voice says, "I know, you're tired!" Repeat. And I'm about an inch away from calling out the window, "Hey, here's an idea! If the baby's tired, maybe she should be taking a nap, like in a crib? Instead of hanging out on the porch crying. JUST A THOUGHT."

I know, it sounds harsh. But damn, a crying baby that I can do nothing about? Nails on a blackboard.

This makes me sound quite cross, and actually I've had a good day, but what's a blog for, if not venting small irritants? (At least with the baby, I feel some sympathy. Little yapping dog that never shuts up? Not so much.)

I spent part of the day in Boston. I got a call last week from an employment agency, and went in to meet with them and talk about me. (Fun, right?) I went in early, had lunch, then since it was a really nice day (best weather in a while), I sat in the sunshine in Post Office Square and people-watched, knitting, until time for the interview. (Some city pictures to come, but they're still in the camera for now.) There was live music playing on the other side of the park, and while I was thinking about my employment history and what I'm looking for, as one will before an interview, I realized they were playing "When You Wish Upon a Star". Pretty perfect! I am wishing and hoping a lot these days. The interview went fine, so we'll see if they come up with anything. I still haven't heard anything further from the two-phone-interview company, which is painful but not necessarily a dead end (yet). Waiting is so hard, though.

Yesterday I visited some friends who live in Jamaica Plain, which for you non-locals is either near Boston or part of it or something I don't understand. What I know is that there is no real direct way to get there from where I live, and it took me years of fumbling and bumbling before I learned the way to get there (I am Not Good at city driving). I should say, I learned *a* way to get there, and unfortunately for me on Red Sox game days, it's through Kenmore Square. I did remember to check before I left yesterday, and since the Sox were in fact playing, I tried to go around without much success. I got to a point where I was no longer sure of the best way on my own and tried the GPS, which first tried to send me along Memorial Drive (which was closed for a charity walk) and second really, really wanted to send me through Kenmore, which no, even I know that's not a good idea. It was annoying. On the way home, I took the twice-as-long-mileage way, out route 9 to 128, which I am perfectly comfortable with and doesn't drive me to the edge of frustration.

The day was worth it, though. A good group of friends, celebrating a birthday, and with a nice walk through the Arnold Arboretum next door, to look at the lilacs. They bloomed early this year, so they're already past peak, but they're beautiful still, and smelled so good! I will leave you with their photos (mostly lilacs, but a few other flowers), and be back tomorrow with city pictures and discussion of a Tardis shawl. Tune in!

Peace, out.

Flowers! Or, Wine Labels!

It isn't raining tonight, but I will take this opportunity, as April turns to May, to share some flowers. At Grandma's outside:

 

And inside, lilies from church:

And gorgeous roses sent for her birthday:

And back home, a sprig of lilac:

What, not in a flowery mood? How about wine labels? Perhaps because I don't drink, I find wine labels almost endlessly amusing. Remember this before you ask me to stop at a liquor store with you, because the camera will be coming out, and I'll be giggling.

I mean, come on. Toasted Head? And a bear breathing fire?

If I drink this, will I truly Be Radiant?

Is this like, "I bought a box of wine?"

I bet they wanted to call it Chill, but that sounded like an instruction. Do you even chill rieslings?

I'd rather actually have cake.

Ummm.

Pretty colors!

They're all conundrums to me, quite frankly.

Duck...horn?

Well, there you have it. Welcome May!