Tidbits

I've got one set of curtains hung. The color is beautiful. Just a tiny bit lighter than I would have liked, but quite nice nonetheless. One oddity about these curtains: above the tabs for hanging them are loose ties. I'm not quite sure what the function of these ties is, but I didn't want to just leave them flopping around, so I used a bracelet weave on them. The result...isn't perfect, but it looks okay. The rod I especially like. So now I need to purchase an identical rod in the longer size to get the other curtains up.

Incidentally, I also threw a pair of white socks in with the curtains as they were, er, dyeing (dying?). Partially out of curiosity...partially because some of the dissolved dye spilled into the fabric softener cup in the washing machine, and the easiest way to get it out was to stick something in that would absorb the liquid. The sock that absorbed most of the liquid looks like it's always been that color. Perfect. The other still has some flecks of white showing, but doesn't look bad. I used to buy the brightest socks I could find...problem is that most of the bright ones are made of acrylic, and I can't stand to wear acrylic any more.

I also bought a tie-dye kit to play with. It's something I've been wanting to do for a long time, as I love tie-dyed shirts, etc. :^D Today I hunted for white things to tie-dye. I already had some (including a white shirt with yellow stains on it; green dye might complement those), but I figured, the more the merrier. I want to have a sizeable stack before I begin. No reason to waste the dye, after all. Anyway, at the moment I have two 3/4-sleeve T-shirts, three regular T-shirts, a tanktop and an assortment of socks to tie-dye. Yes, socks. Bright, bright socks for Qalmlea, once again!! (Oh, the reason I bought a kit is so that I would have SOME guidelines to go by for my first attempt; the instructions are surprisingly easy, though, so in future I will just choose my colors and buy rubber bands.)

Hmmm... Anything else? Ah yes. I sang with the Methodist choir this morning. I miss singing on a regular basis, but singing church songs, even fun church songs, is a bit too hard on my cognitive dissonance circuits. I disagree with just about everything in the lyrics. So long as the music is challenging enough, I don't notice. Or if I'm trying to figure out harmony, I don't notice the lyrics. Otherwise, I look at the lyrics and have to work not to cringe. One song I told my mom I really couldn't stand (sorry; not into the whole guilt-trip thing---sounds like you have to hate yourself to be a Christian), she said "But the music for that one is so pretty!" Maybe it was...actually, that one was a rather odd mix of primary colors music-wise...but the lyrics ruined it for me.

I admit that I still enjoy the social experience of church. It was the realization that that was the ONLY reason I was there that stopped me from going. I disagree with nearly every bit of doctrine that gets spouted, and laugh uncontrollably at some of it. The parts I agree with are so miniscule as to just emphasize the rest. *sighs* Minor Rant: holding "beliefs" is an insane way to go about seeking truth. Would you look at a table and announce, "I believe in that table," or at a picture of your great-grandmother and say "I believe she existed"? Why then claim "belief" in God, or Jesus, or a doctrine? If they exist, then they exist. There is no need to claim "belief" unless you have doubts. (The cynical part of me notes that repetition of phrases is an effective means of brainwashing.)