Miscellaneous -- This is going to be long . . .

. . . because what it is is a bunch of random thoughts, none of which is well enough developed to warrant a post of its own.  Stay with me if you wish.

• I remember at one point as a kid learning the word "miscellaneous" and thinking it was just about the best thing ever.  First, of course, was the sound of it.  Come on, try it out slowly for a change -- it's like pure maple syrup rolling around on your tongue.  And then there was what it meant.  And as a kid, before I totally understood about sorting and organizing, what it meant was "everything else."  What a concept!  A word that held everything that didn't seem to belong in a designated spot.  We don't run across that word often anymore, and when we do it is, unfortunately, in its abbreviated form.  So I begin with a tribute to a once favorite word that still is pretty wonderful.
• I'm tired of reading about people who are tired of reading about Sarah Palin.
• All over bloggerville quilters are getting ready for Valentine's day.  Me, not so much.  I've bought a card for my Beloved and at this point I even know where it is (that's because I just bought it day before yesterday rather than because I am so super-organized that I have the mythical place for everything, etc.)  And I bought cards for the two grandchildren who are old enough to appreciate getting a piece of mail.  On the 14th, it so happens, we'll be going out to dinner together, but that is more because we happen to have Chamber tickets for that evening rather than a need to join multitudes in meals that have been inflated in price for one night only.  I don't make, have, or put up seasonal decorations for Valentine's day.  A person can only do so much.
• I picked up the Indigo and Caramel Baskets from Mary Ellen last night and she did a lovely job quilting it.  The binding is already made (yay for me!) and I happen to know where it is, too.  So this weekend I plan to get it attached and have my first finish for Nancy's UFO Challenge completed on time.  Expect a photo when the weather is fit for same.
• I'd seen pictures, promos, and reviews of this new book on the blogs a couple of weeks ago, and although I seldom feel as though I need to buy another quilt book, something told me this would be an exception.  Turns out I was right.  I've looked it over and over and over and believe I'll eventually try at least two of her projects:  Irish Chain and Pinwheel.  
• I won a $50 gift certificate to the Fat Quarter Shop at Kim's recent drawing (yay for me again!) and have mentally spent it at least fifty different ways.  This shop already had me as a customer; they are just a splendid place to shop with pleasant people, generous kits, and just an all around lovely feel.  Kim's pretty lovely herself, if you really want to know.
• Been thinking about the bag I made a week or two ago and about the fabric left over from the Jungle Song quilt and how that fabric would make a nice bag.  Or two.  But there isn't enough of any one piece for the dimensions of that bag.  I like the proportions of the bag and would like to retain them.  I wasn't exactly sure how to do that but some wee glimmer from 9th grade algebra showed up in my random access memory, the piece where you make the two fractions and cross multiply and "solve for X" and by jove I believe I've got it.  Going to try a smaller, well-proportioned tote bag right soon.  Imagine, fifty-two years later, getting the answer to "Well, when am I ever going to need to do this?"
• Rather proudly mentioned this feat to my Head of School, who in a previous life was a middle school math teacher (talk about sainthood) and presently is teaching one section of algebra 2 (which I sometimes have to monitor for him when he has a schedule conflict -- do not be alarmed -- he provides detailed worksheets for them to do and I just have to sit and maintain order.  Which in a Quaker school isn't the challenge it is elsewhere.  But back to the point:) and was animatedly telling him, "You know:  Where you solve for X!" and he looked back at me and with a straight face, said, "But in algebra it is always about solving for X."