Take Four

All right, let’s try this again.
This time, our server was attacked. Through my blog, no less. So fuck it, Blogspot it is.

Last night Zak and I went to see Nine Inch Nails, with Queens of the Stone Age opening. I have been listening to Queens of the Stone Age a lot, and Nine Inch Nails not so much lately, so I was equally excited about both bands. It pains me greatly to say that the Queens did not kick ass, until the very last song of their set, “No One Knows”. That song was awesome, everything I had been hoping for in seeing them live, but… well. I hope I’ll get a chance to see them again on a better night.

Nine Inch Nails, however, was a different story. They were amazing. Perfect. Fantastic. I have loved Nine Inch Nails since Pretty Hate Machine came out when I was 14; I don’t listen to them constantly any more, but I always come back to them.

There have been times in my life (most of the years from age 15-20) when Pretty Hate Machine and Downward Spiral were my private theme music, the songs I used to articulate the events of my life. Listening to those albums never fails to practically flatten me with memories. It was a pretty intense experience to listen to these songs performed live, and masterfully, with Zak beside me. It was one of those times when you can really feel the distance between who you have been, and who you are. I am so glad to be where I am now, and to have such an amazing partner beside me. I am also grateful for the experiences I had at that time of my life, but… well, let’s face it, I’m glad they’re in the past.

What else can I say about it? The new songs, from the most recent albums (which I have not heard), were excellent. The light show was stunning. Trent Reznor had the crowd in the palm of his hand, he was incredible. I cried at the end of “Hurt”. (Shut up.) I’m so glad I was there.

…Then, this morning, I got the most wonderful (and unexpected) package in the mail from dear Amy. The thing I love the most is the Birch shawl she knit for me, in delicious Jelly, which is much more green that this photo indicates on my monitor. Because Amy is a loosey-goosey knitter, this shawl is enormous, which makes it a perfect fit for me. I’m 6′ tall, and it comes to my knees. I’ve never really had a full-size shawl that fits before, it’s really a pleaure.

There were many other wonderful things in the box, but I’ll just mention 2 more of them:
- 7 skeins of Knitpicks Shimmer in Maple Leaf (that’s 2772 meters, folks)
- Amy’s old digital camera!!! She got a new, more deluxe one, and has kindly remedied my camera-less state. (Zak has one, but you know how it is… it’s awfully nice to have your own camera.)

This whole gift box makes me a little giddy. And Zak went a bit non-verbal over the Shimmer – he kept burying his fingers in the skein and saying “sooooft…”. I’ve certainly never done such a thing. Definitely not every time I go to knit something in yarn I like, no.

Speaking of the incredible shades of green that Rowan makes, I finally finished a sweater I’ve been working on sporadically for several months, in Rowanspun DK, in the colour Goblin. I adore this sweater; it was a make-it-up-as-you-go sweater, and it turned out just as I had hoped. I’ll ask Zak to take some photos for me when he wakes up. (We’ve been keeping nocturnal hours.)

Anyways! That’s probably enough blather for now. Glad to be blogging again. I missed y’all.