Short weeks are weird. They’re rare too. Except in February, when they happen 50% of the time. I personally think they should do Back-to-School Night on the short week, but it seems they always pick the week after and fill it with all the things. Today and tomorrow are a bit rough due to early morning shit, which is not my favorite, but there’s no other meetings, nothing but pilates and my parents’ stuff, which might be enough. It’s good that it’s short, because I’m fighting off a cold. No fever, just snot and tired. And no, I didn’t get it from school. The Man is about two days ahead of me in snot, so I should feel fine in a day or two. Today, however, ugh. Not so much. Actually, now that I’m upright and drinking hot tea, I’m doing OK. Last night? Not so much. I was going to go to the gym and my body said no, take a nap instead, so I did. Then cooked dinner. Didn’t do any of the other stuff I was going to do. Finally came in here to iron. The end of the tunnel is right there, within reach, probably tonight. Depending on everything else. Today is a bit messy.
So Monday, I got about 3 hours of ironing in, which was delightful.
In the first round, I got the Supreme Court building ironed…at some point, I wanted a flag fabric, and I wasn’t sure, but I thought…oh yes…
Found it! I don’t have everything in my stash, but I have some things.
Then I finished all of the goddess around all the justices.
Seven bins of fabric at the moment. Crazy. It’s a lot. The goddess is all earth colors…not earth TONES, mind you…some bright greens and blues, with rocks and dirt below with the roots.
That sort of fabric choosing is much easier for me to do…faster than realistic faces.
Then I started on the stuff above the goddess last night…
When I researched the justices, I picked about 5 decisions that were important to me: climate change, reproductive rights, abortion rights, LGBTQIA rights, gun control, and education. I looked at how each justice voted and read their explanations. I also researched any issues with them, mostly ethical. So that’s how I drew what I drew. On top of the goddess’ arms are the rights I decided were important. So I ironed three of those last night, plus Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s face and hands and the shredded American flag. Because that’s where I feel like we’re at right now: a shredded version of what we should be, heading backwards into stupidity.
I finished the 1800s and most of the 2000s, and started the 1900s.
This is all I have left to iron…
It’s Ruth’s robe and wings, plus hands reaching for a diploma, an LGBTQIA flag, and a hand with a gun. I’m hoping to finish tonight. It’s been a trip choosing all these fabrics. A long and sometimes torturous trip. Worth it, but not easy. Next up? Cutting them all out, then ironing them together. It’ll take all month, easy.
Man, the next quilt should be smaller and easier. The quilt that is currently at Quilt National (which was not small or easy) was the piece to ease my brain after doing the abortion quilt that’s currently in Virginia. I needed a break from thinking about the politics and the attitudes. As I’ve been making this quilt, the court never stays out of the news, mostly for ethical issues, which should so not be the case.
Anyway. There we are.
This weekend, I’ll be at the California Fibers’ opening in Los Angeles.
I have one small but insanely complicated piece in the show. I’m not looking forward to the drive, but am looking forward to the show. LA on a Saturday afternoon…ugh. Ah well. Lost day.
Finally saw another caterpillar on my milkweed.
We have about 15 plants all together in the front yard. The plants have been doing well, and there have been lots of butterflies…I just haven’t seen many caterpillars. It’s possible the birds are dealing with them. I just planted more seeds this weekend, but native ones. We’ll see how they do and what they look like, because I’m not sure what I bought…as usual. The ones I’m growing are popping seeds all over the place, but they won’t do anything without the deep freeze ahead of time, so I could try to gather some of them and put them in the fridge for the winter, see if that works. Maybe if I remember to go out there and collect them.
OK. Second to last day of labs for 8th grade today, hallelujah. I’m done. It’s like they’re slowing down instead of speeding up, getting more efficient. Meanwhile, I’m trying to prep 7th grade labs for next week because all the stuff is in our prep room and long story short, sometimes it’s easier to just do the things (I’m only doing part of it, just gathering stuff and making the rocks) than to have someone come in there and try to do it themselves. Because they don’t. They send a kid and that means I still have to do it. I’m frustrated. My team upstairs says just let all of them flail and do it themselves, which I’m trying to do. Much as I can. But I need the other teacher to be ahead of the newbies, not behind. Sigh. Today is the 8th-grade meeting and I think it will be tense. I hope not; I hope there’s a good explanation for why nothing is where I asked for it to be, but I can’t think of one. And I’m going to have to really scramble to get shit ready in two days either way.
Anyway. Whatever. Do school. Go to pilates. Hope I feel better. Water the parental plants and gather all their mail and do all their things. Remember the damn green beans for the dog (yes, I said green beans). Maybe take another nap. Finish ironing Ruth. All good. Short week.
Kathy Nida 