Frequently, I spend my lunch hour at the bookstore browsing magazines and books. Today was one of those days, and as a consequence I happened on the book, The Financial Lives of Poets by Jess Walter. The title is an attention-grabber and that’s why I picked up the book. I read the jacket and skimmed the first few pages, my habit for determining if a book merits further reading. Within those pages, I discovered a quote attributed to author Saul Bellow, “Poets have to dream, and dreaming in America is no cinch.”

BAM! (nod to Emeril) It’s a staggering bit of verbiage. I filed the quote in my cerebral database and later deposited it on a piece of scrap paper littering my car. I deemed it worthy of exploration, and that’s what I intend to do here.

First, what is a poet? Well, you’d be surprised (or maybe not) at the answers I found searching the World Wide Web. How does this answer suit you? A poet is a person who writes poetry. I hope you sighed, cursed, or blew a raspberry. One should never define a thing by using the thing to define it. How’s this? A poet is a person who writes verse. Okay, but so what? This is also a poor definition, but at least I have a basic understanding of what a poet does; however, I still do not know what a poet is. There is a difference!

A poet is a:

• Crusader (e.g., Lucy Terry, John Trudell, Ron Silliman)
• Mystic  (e.g., Walt Whitman, Jesse Ball)
• Activist (e.g., Andrea Gibson, Nikki Giovanni, Allen Ginsburg)
• Revolutionary (e.g., Philip Freneau, Phyllis Wheatley)
• Philosopher (e.g., Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau)

A poet gazes on her culture and critically assesses it in her verse. She affirms and strengthens cultural platforms that empower everyone. A poet is not an imitator, a trend setter, an embellisher, nor a poser. A poet is not aloof, disengaged, entitled, nor apolitical. A poet supports change for a free, just, and sustainable society. It’s with this understanding that we can appreciate “Poets have to dream,” as it’s our poets who most frequently dream of better tomorrows (life without war, poverty, abuse, discrimination, etc.).

Why is dreaming in America so difficult? I think dreaming implies change, and change is not something everyone is willing to embrace. Struggles with change are illustrated by recent US news headlines on the topics of healthcare reform, finance reform, immigration reform, education reform, etc. Opposition to reform is strong. This is not a bad thing; it just is. One should study Hegelian Dialectic to know that there will always be a series of philosophical conflicts before there is an evolution of some sort. In this world, patience is the ultimate virtue and without patience dreaming is no cinch.

Thanks Juls for pointing me to this. It’s great fun! I’m always in a room wondering why I’m there!

In addition to knitting and crocheting Christmas gifts, I’m also keeping my sewing machine busy. Today, I finished this apron. I’m not sure who is going to get this one, as I have a few others in the queue. When I’ve completed them all, then I’ll decide who gets what.

This apron was created with Simplicity 3818; though, I did not include the funky shoulder pad things. I recycled an old tablecloth that belonged to my grandmother for the pocket and part of the pin.  The body of the apron is a very light lime green, hardly detectable in the picture, but I think someone will like the zingy happiness of it.

I made the pattern for the pin myself. It’s very simple and it’s a good way to use up scraps of material.

DOWNLOAD FREE FLOWER PIN PATTERN!

Well, it’s back to work for me; there’s so much to do and so little time.

I smelled Tommy before I ever set eyes on him. He found the cat door and invited himself in. At the time of his arrival, he had not been neutered; he left his scent behind to annoy my five cats and me. I spent several hours cleaning walls, furniture, and rugs. There after I watched for him. Though he was a bit skittish, he was also very affectionate. It was obvious that he had belonged to someone at some time. I believe he was abandoned, maybe even purposely at my house. He made it apparent that he wasn’t going to go elsewhere, so I quickly had him neutered and immunized. He was a real rascal at the vet. I think they were greatly relieved when I picked him up. It took awhile for my other cats to get used to him. Golly and Archie (my boyz) still think Tommy is a pain in the ass, but they’re getting better at ignoring him. Tommy is such a lover. He’ll give me a full body slam and bump his head against mine until I have to push him away. I don’t understand how anyone could have parted with him.

Cat blogging at The Modulator on Fridays.

I’m knitting and crocheting like a mad woman now. I’m trying to get gifts made for Christmas. I’m not quite sure how successful I’ll be, but I’m giving it my best shot. Last night I finished this little feline. I was inspired by this pattern at Armina’s Ami-nals.

I followed Armina’s directions for creating the head, the body, and the ears; however, I created different legs because I wanted the kitten to look like a cat sitting on its hindquarters. I also created a tail. The tail makes this toy look more cat-like, and it acts as a balance. The kitten can stand on its own. Also, rather than crocheting a dress, I knitted a scarf, long enough to wrap twice and tie, and I crocheted a little hat with a tassle.

My plan is to give this toy to my niece, Amanda, at Christmas. She likes cats as much as I do. If time allows, I’ll try to knit her a matching scarf/hat.

I drive a hell of a long way to work (and back) everyday. All of this time on the road has allowed me to make many observations. Here are just a few.

• No matter which radio station I listen to, the traffic report fails to cover the road I’m on.
• If there is a lane of traffic moving faster than the one I’m in, if I change to it, it slows to a crawl.
• There are people who think it is both wise and safe to exit the tollway from the far left lane. WTF!
• The people who shave, apply make-up, or hot-roll their hair while driving are very scary.
• Worse than the shavers and make-up artists are the imbeciles who text or chat on their cell phones while driving. One such moron rear-ended my brand new Honda Element last fall. Four years prior to that accident, a similar idiot rear-ended my brand new Honda Civic (Multiple cars were involved; I was in the fifth car in the chain accident.). You can imagine how I feel about driving around in a new vehicle.
• Traffic is at its worst on the days I have an early morning meeting.
• Yes, I can see you picking your nose, your teeth, your ears.
• Petroleum/chemical tankers are disasters waiting to happen.
• It really sucks when I forget to go to the bathroom before my commute.
• Visors do not completely shield your eyes from the sun. Often they serve absolutely no purpose.
• What’s up with road crews? One man working and ten supervising.
• Men who build roads appreciate flannel in the cooler months.
• Where is that other shoe?
• Billboards do not inspire me to make a purchase.
• Trees look better with leaves.
• Green means go. Red means stop. If you’re colorblind, you shouldn’t be driving.
• Gold hubcaps are the equivalent of gold teeth.
• When tossed ice hits your windshield, the glass appears as if it has shattered. Pretty damn freaky!
• Some people like to share their music with everyone in a half-mile radius.
• 1 out of 10 people gesture in appreciation when I let them slide in front of me in traffic.
• 9 out of 10 people gesture offensively when I don’t let them have their way on the road.
• Frequently I say: “That was absolutely BRILLIANT!” • “Way to go, GENIUS!” • “Move bee-otch!” • “What a dickhead!” • “What an asshole!” • “IDIOT!” • “OH, for God’s sake people!”
• The only fume I appreciate is the occasional waft of weed.
• It seems people are no longer concerned with keeping America beautiful.
• A suspended plastic bag is beautiful in the film American Beauty; it’s not so beautiful any where else.
• Squirrels must have a death wish.
• When I see the Texas lotto sign, I fantasize about winning. All of that dough would eliminate a commute to work.
• The higher the number of bumper stickers the lower the IQ.
• Driving a Hummer? You’re a pompous ass.
• Cops like sitting at the bottom of hills.
• Are you insane? Please crate your dogs. Don’t let them run loose in the back of your pick-up.

I listened to the album Ulisses on the way to work and I was moved to tears by the song A Case of You. Inquire within your library for music by Christina Branco. This is how I discovered her.

This is Roxie (curled up in her kitty platter) and Golly (hanging out of his platter). He’s a very big boy!

I have actually knitted something for myself. I wanted something fun to wear with t-shirts and jeans. This long, thin scarf is constructed with two yarns – Berroco Monet (color 3393: dye lot 20775 – now discontinued) and Patons Lacette (color 30128 – now discontinued).

I used size 15 needles (10 stitches cast on) and knitted the entire scarf in garter stitch (both yarns together).

I made extra long and uneven fringe and added a few silver and clear glass beads.

I can’t wait to wear it.

• Henri, the Knitted Bear
• Cat Hoodie (see dog hoodie below)
• Mary Jane Booties
• Toad Stool Baby Rattle
• Dog Hoodie (now you can make a matching set for your cat and dog)