I like my sewing machine very much. Why, you ask? It's quite simple. It's a very nice sewing machine.
See, it's a pretty little Singer 15-91 which folds down into its own little desk/cabinet. The machine itself was made in the early 1950's; like this one. The cabinet seems to be a No. 65, and is thus probably the original: seen here. I don't have the bench shown in the drawing on the left.
And you know what? It still runs great. In fact, I'm willing to say that it's more dependable than my mom's sewing machine, which is at least 20 years newer. Yes, you have to put on a separate attachment to do zig-zag stitches or buttonholes, but I consider that an acceptable trade-off. Besides, it's just cool to be able to use a sewing machine that's over 50 years old. And use it I will. Because, after all, that's why it was made.
In other news, I watched the State of the Union address, but I didn't hear anything new and exciting. Oh, well.
Chicago is a big city. It's been quite a while since I've been there. Mostly because the last time I was there was more than 10 years ago, and we were dropping my uncle off at O'Hare.
This time I dropped someone off at O'Hare. My sister Sharon, that is. She's in France now, quite possibly taking advantage of the fact that people in France can understand her. I would be in a difficult situation under the same circumstances. Which is why she's in France, and I'm not.
After seeing Sharon head through security, I said to myself, "Ardith, since you're in Chicago, you should do something fun. Like visit a museum." Given that this was me we're talking about, it was the Museum of Science and Industry, and I had printed out directions before leaving the apartment that morning. You can't say I don't think ahead.
So I went and saw the U-505 (only the outside; it was too late to get a tour inside), the Mercury space capsule, an old movie theatre showing a silent Charlie Chaplin film, the space where there's going to be a video game exhibit in a week or two, the paragraph in the Networld exhibit telling about the difference between hackers and crackers, and the three-story Foucault's Pendulum which also serves as a clock. And, you know, the cadaver slices. All in all, it was quite interesting.
Then, as it was getting to be around 4:30 or so, I headed home. It only took me about an hour and a half to get across Chicago. Part of this is due to the fact that I got slightly off course for a little bit, and part due to the fact that it is, after all, Chicago. Thus, the knowledge that Chicago is a big city. I am bound to remember this for a least the next day or two. Or until my left leg stops being sore from using the clutch so often.
Such was Ardith's one-day road trip. Maybe next time I'm there, I'll stop and get some pizza. And I also need to take a week and get out to Washington D.C. sometime.
Iowa politics is just kind of neat. The whole caucus bit is interesting. Having nothing better to do this evening, I decided to go make myself visible at the local Republican precinct caucus. And I declare it a rousing success, as I'm now a delegate to the Linn County Convention. Of course, since only three people from the precinct where I live showed up, it wasn't all that difficult.
Still, the county convention should be fun. I have fond memories of going to the Butler County Convention when I was a young whippersnapper. Nice, energetic discussion. A glimpse at the political life in Cedar Rapids, IA. And this time, I can vote, and it'll actually matter. Jolly good, I say.
Just who are these countless thousands of people who want to watch television on their cellphones? They must exist. I keep seeing more ads on tv, all loudly proclaiming the wonderfulness of some provider's new tv-on-your-cellphone plan. Mostly including things like music videos, some random hit broadcast show I don't watch, and sports. All of which, I am sure, cost a certain amount per month. Which means I must rephrase the question:
Who are all these people that want to pay good money to watch bad television on a miniscule screen?
I only ask to better avoid them.