The Saga Continues

Since I am still trying to deplete my stock of U.F.O's, I started another scarf out of the Homespun yarn. Just when I think I have the hang of it, I discover added stitches, and my dislike of the yarn is renewed. It is impossible to find mistakes because the rows are not as sharp and even as with regular worsteds.

Last week on our trip to Alexandria, I made a stop at Dawn's Quilt Shop on Broadway. I had attempted to stop there when we were in Alex previously, but the store was locked. Dawn said that they were in fact just opening  a couple of years ago. The quilt shop that was across the street is now closed. I did find a few fun things at Dawn's. She is obviously a  cat lover, and has ceramic and fabric cats all over the store. Next time perhaps she will have a live mouser to keep in the spirit of things. I picked up a fat quarter cat print which I hope to put into a Smart Bag. She also had a set of sewing themed cookie cutters that came in a box: a sewing machine, spool of thread, and I do not remember what the other two cutters were, but a cute gift  for someone who is gaga on sewing or quilting. I would have purchased a set had I had extra cash.

I actually had a successful day of shopping in St. Cloud on Friday. I have a tough time buying clothes because I am both petite and large, and big in the hips, but not on top! I hate to buy a new skirt and have to cut four inches of fabric off to get it the right length. I did find a new skirt and two tops at Christopher and Banks. I was able to order a second skirt from their on-line store. I plan on going in again next pay check to try another blouse that will match one of my skirts, if not both.

The vinyl is peeling off of my nice white tennis shoes. I only paid 50 cents for them at a garage sale so it is not such a horrible loss. Still a disappointment, though. I tossed out my expensive Munro work shoes last week. They still had good soles,  but the buckle straps were stretched out and worn almost through, and did not hold my shoes on as snuggly as needed. I should not cry over those, either, since I had them for ten years. Nevertheless, they were expensive to start with.

Repeal the 17th Amendment

We had an interesting discussion on the repeal of the 17th Amendment at our BPOU convention on Saturday. The more I think about the idea, the more I like it. I like it first of all because we are a republican form of government, not a democracy. This would remind people that it is so. Secondly, it would reduce the amount of money and time spent on campaigns because we would eliminate the need for a senatorial election. Third, and perhaps most important, it would renew interest in our local elections, because our state house and senate members and/or governor would be responsible for appointing our U.S. Senators. Fourth, as Jim Knoblach brought up, it may remove the need or desire to impose term limits, because our local elected officials change office more frequently, and therefore our appointee would change more frequently. Since our local officials already reflect our local desires, at least as close as we  can get out of those who choose to run, I do not think there would be a drastic difference in whom the state would choose, over whom the people would vote for.

My resolution on eliminating primary elections was tabled before it could even be discussed.