Friends of the Aural Variety

Since I quit the community center job, I've been doing temp work scanning documents. My attention span for music tends to be very short while I'm working, so I used the time to catch up on all the back episodes for the four or five podcasts I had subscribed to. With at least six hours a day or listening time, I quickly blew through all those archives and have been progressively adding new podcasts to my library ever since. I started out with knitting podcasts, and added some of the highly regarded ones that my favorite podcasters enjoyed, and eventually, somehow, I started checking out NPR.

I've tried getting into NPR numerous times since I first learned what it was in high school. Somehow, I just could not fathom what was so amazing about listening to classical music and bands I'd never heard of in between news segments. I didn't understand the format at all, and it just broke my brainy little heart that I couldn't be a part of this world of witty, informed public radio listeners. I felt so dull and unintelligent.

Thank the gods for podcasting, because now I finally feel like I'm part of the brainy in-crowd. Isn't it peculiar what things different people put on pedestals?

Jimmy, if you like podcasts or public radio at all, check out A Way With Words. Especially any archives that might be available because the male host who just retired is exactly how I imagine you if you got into radio. Fully of nerdy, punly goodness. Yea!

I'm now subscribed to probably 30 podcasts, almost all of which I've managed to remain updated with, which is almost sad when you consider who little human interaction I get daily. The podcasts are a result of that lack of interaction, though, not because of it. I guess the voices on the other end of my headphones keep me company, in a way. So even though I don't have friends to chat with throughout the day, I'm never lacking in good knitting/political/etymological/sarcastic conversation.

Insert Clever Title Here

I'm feeling kind of restless this evening, though I've no real idea as to why. Perhaps there's a store of creative energy sitting around waiting to be utilised, or perhaps I am simply in need of some social interaction. In reality, both are likely culprits of my distraction. At the very least, they are aiding and abetting.

This past weekend, we had the Phillyknitters Secret Pal reveal, and I was pleasantly surprised all around. My pal, Megan liked the hat that I knit her (and it ended up being just the right color for her--hurrah!), and I found out that Sam was the one sending me gifties. Seeing as how I'm an utter crap blogger of late (okay, who am I kidding? it's been something like two years of crappy blogging...), I never posted to say thanks for the copy of La Dolce Vegan or the mix CD I received. I'm looking forward to cooking something tasty out of the book, and the CD is amazingly perfect for me. He even included geeky sci-fi songs like the Star Trek movie theme.

But best of all, he knit me a scarf! If I knew a smiley symbol that embodied the giddiness of receiving a hand-knitted item that I really, truly adore, well, it would be sitting in the space of all these words. It's a lovely reddy-colored, alpaca, lacy bit of softness that is completely comfortable and warm and unobtrusive. I really needed a scarf, and for all the lack of posting I did during the secret pal-ing, I am utterly gobsmacked that he made me something so perfect. So Sam, if you're reading this, thank you thank you thank you in spades (and hearts and diamonds and clubs) because you've been far and away the very best secret pal I've ever had.

And loosely related to a point in a previous paragraph, I would like to thank the ever groovy Jimmy for the mix CD you made for my birthday. I finally got around to uploading it to my ipod (labelling shit in itunes and then importing it and all that...sigh...lazy fuck that I am), and I have to say, your taste in music has certainly maintained its level of coolness. It rocks, and I'm totally with you on 'Lotion.' Fuckin' a, that's some fabulous psychosis.

While I'm yappin' about people, I'd like to welcome Holly to the blogosphere. Reading your blog makes me want to post more often.

Anyhow, I feel a little overwhelmed as I have a lot that I want to say, but I'm not sure how to get it out or put it together or anything, and I don't want to just blab it all at once and be silent for another two months. But I want to work on having a voice again and censoring myself less. Perhaps I'll post more often.