Looking for a place to rest...

It seems like I have had so much on my plate lately, and when I looked back and saw that I hadn't posted for more than 2 weeks, I realized it has been that long since I have really been able to sit down and crochet like I'd like as well. Thus, I have no new pictures to post (although I do have a single-crochet beanie in the works that I hope to have finished soon).

Last week I presented a 4-1/2 hour workshop for the Kansas Museums Association at its annual conference. I had about 20 people in attendance, from an assortment of Kansas museums, including ones as small as a single-person staff to the Kansas Cosmosphere. It was a good group of people, but it sure was stressful getting it together. The good thing is that everyone in attendance said the workshop was well worth their time and they learned a lot.

Then I've had my regular speech class at the university as well. We are getting to the end of the semester and trying to wrap up the last of the speaking assignments. The final is in 4 weeks and then a few weeks off until next semester.

And today I had jury duty. I am definitely on the short list for jury duty in Sedgwick County, because this is my 6th time to get called in 10 years. I was so happy when they dismissed us just before lunch and told us we had served our commitment. When they did the welcome orientation this morning and said there were 238 criminal cases on the dockets, I was sure I was in for a long haul.

I did, however, get the Kite Runner completely read this morning while I waited to be called for a jury pool. I started it several months ago, and set it aside. I have intended to finish it for a while and this seemed like a perfect opportunity. I even cried in the jury room while I was reading it! It is hard to imagine what life must have been like for the Afghan people who have had to live through the difficulties of the Russian occupation of the country, and the cruel rule of the Taliban coming on the heels of it. What depredation and cruelty the Afghan people have suffered under rulers like that. I don't think that those of us who have lived our lives in the U.S. can even begin to fathom what life is like there. I am eager now to get into Khaleid Hosseini's A Thousand Splendid Suns. I have heard it is even better than the Kite Runner. It has been sitting in the Pile for a while now, and I need to get to it. I think I will, however, take a break and enjoy a humorous quick read before tackling it.

I also just finished Water for Elephants. It was an interesting story and I enjoyed it. It wasn't a deep story with any level of meaning other than what is right on the surface.

So, I have read a couple of good books lately, even though I haven't had much time to crochet. A trip to the yarn shop is a necessity in the near future to get some nice wool to make Alyx a hat and scarf. She thinks life in Nebraska is too cold. So, a fun trip, a chance to get some wool and hooks into my hands and relax a little. Woo-hoo!