A few years ago at some physical therapy sessions I stood in a standing frame which basically sandwiches you in until you’re standing. It’s a whole different point of view seeing the world from a standing position. Someday when I win the lottery, which is the only way it’s ever going to happen, I will get one of those things for myself. Anyway, my world view is low which means I have the vantage point to notice and compare people’s gaits. When I am behind a group of people all I see it butts and how their legs move. It’s sort of an ironic fate to be forced to notice how other people walk when you can’t.

Walks vary but there are a several standards. There’s the shake-it-but-don’t-break-it hip swinging walk, the bounce-on-the-balls-of-the-feet so it looks you’re in a hurry, the slow-and-steady trying not to be noticed, the heavy heal-toe stomp, the head-forward-running-without-running, and the limp. Limps come in different forms including the hip limp, the knee limp, the foot/ankle limp. Limps intrigue me because I know that when people limp they are probably more conscious of how lucky they are to be able to walk. The hip swingers don’t think about how lucky they are but I do.

I’m not envious all the time. It’s not a constant thought in my head but there are some days when I see someone skipping or running with ease I think about how I used to run and try to feel it again and I can’t. Like I said, I’m endlessly fascinated by people’s gaits.

The sewing machine, a Brother CS-6000i, is beautiful. It was easy to get started as the machine has drop-in bobbin and is self-threading. I practiced on some scrap fabric and then moved on to a couple of kits. Here are the results. Not too shabby for having the machine for less than a week.

Pillowcase

Side view of pillowcase

Quilt for Toca

My Quilty Triumph!

Next, I shall try sewing from a pattern and trying curves.

As you know, the position of Candy President is the single most powerful office in the world of Sweets. Through its leadership can come a more delicious life for all people. In it, are centered the hopes of sugar-lovers worldwide and anyone who longs to be treated to a tastier life.

Your next Candy President will be charged with making the most important and yummy decisions of the next four years. How to provide the mouthwatering gift of candy to all people, even in a weakened economy that already threatens our very ability to procure sweets. How to maintain important chocolate and licorice production levels at home and abroad. How to rebuild and maintain a viable infrastructure of sugar development through more candy funding and research. How to prevent the collapse of our local sweet shops and the decay of our teeth. How to achieve, without further sickness, expanded candy consumption benefiting all people. And how, in a time of booming social change, to awaken every man, woman and child to the fact that a piece of comfort, a piece of candy, can lift us up to the new delectable heights.

These are among some the very real, very sweet issues facing us in the coming Candy Election. And it is on the basis of these issues that candy-lovers and candy-voters must make the most tasteful choice for their future.

It is with a knowledge and understanding of all these matters firmly in hand, that I am announcing today my official candidacy for President of the United States of Candy.

I invite you to join me in this improbable quest, if you, like me, see the future of delicious possibility stretching before us. Together, starting today, let us delight in the tasty work that needs be done, and usher in a new dawn of sweet revival for this nation.

Yes We Candy!

This one just warmed my heart. It’s a real and true heart-warmer. I like those.

This experience encompassed two of my pet peeves:

1) Being stared at - especially when I’m getting in and out of the car. I find it intrusive even though people are well within their rights to look wherever they want. It’s not a graceful process and I’d rather not have an audience.

2) Being congratulated for completing basic tasks. I know it might seem amazing to people that I can get in and out of the car or grocery shop but I find it patronizing to get a thumbs up or to be told, “You get around good in that thing!” I work a taxing job and manage everything else in my life and to have strangers try to cheerlead me over getting out of the car makes it clear that their base assumption is that I’m helpless. It’s frustrating.

I know, I know… people don’t know, they mean well. The pet peeves remain.