Gogo

At the moment I am an academic librarian and have lived and traveled in Africa, Europe, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. I was a Spanish undergrad major and speak Spanish fluently.

I am fascinated by art and textiles, especially in the context of textile traditions of the world's many cultures.

I love working with my hands, specializing in knitting, which I have done since childhood. I love to design and had some purse patterns published in Knitter's magazine about 10 years ago. I have also self-published some pattern leaflets.

My wonderful daughter teaches high school English and I am a grandma to a 4-year-old girl and a two-month old grandson who arrived 10 weeks early but who is now doing fine. Gogo, my i.d., means grandma in Zulu.

My Ravelry i.d. is dehbiknits

I like just about everything: Country (hilarious lyrics and sometimes great rhythms), Jazz, Flamenco, R&B, Classical (Chopin and Mozart), I even like some of what the twentysomethings listen to! Another favorite: movie music.

History, historical fiction, science fiction, fantasy, a little bit of mystery. Almost anything that is well-written. Two favorites: "Perfume" by Patrick Susskind (probably the best written book I have ever read), "A Confederacy of Dunces"by John Kennedy Toole (the hands-down funniest book I have ever read), and "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver who is so gifted. But there have been many many more. I'm a librarian so books are a big part of my life. I am also a collector of British editions of children's books.

The movie, Perfume is a recent favorite, but here are others: Pride and Prejudice (the Keira Knightley version), Remains of the Day, LOTR, The Wizard of Oz, The Duellists, Serendipity, Dark City, Wuthering Heights (w/Olivier). I could go on with this list forever. My tastes are eclectic. I also like crazy funny movies like Elf and the Wedding Crashers. I loved the Alien movies, with Sigourney Weaver, too. I'll stop before I blow the server!

True crime shows...don't know what that says about me, but I like American Justice and Snapped. Six Feet Under, Dexter, HBO's Rome, also these: Torchwood, Dr. Who, Farscape, I have been a Trekker since the first series started back in the 60's. Lately I can't seem to stay away from the History Channel International. I have a great passion for history. And I love my telenovelas (Spanish soap operas)!

I have been fascinated with knitting my entire life. So I have been knitting for almost 50 years! Yarn buying has gone beyond sanity to being a serious addiction. I have a yarn room (the guest room) and yarn everywhere else, too. Maybe I should say that I live in a yarn house! I love yarn dyeing and although I have not time to do it with my current lifestyle, I also have a passion for spinning. I own 3 spinning wheels (2 were my late artist-mother's). I also crochet and sew.

Sharing and communing with others with whom I share interests are two of my favorite things. I am very excited to be here! I am looking forward to a time when humankind comes closer together and when the kleptocrats now running the world are banished to some other realm...like Mars!

I don't have a favorite color, loving almost all colors. I look best in colors in the peach family, but I like almost everything. For some reason I have wanted more chocolate and blues in my wardrobe, but almost anything goes! And lately (late Spring 2008) I have been wanting lots of purple, too! Also, this does not relate to colors exactly, I have always loved mermaids and have a collection of them (smaller ornaments, a pillow, and lots of mermaid books). I also like creating charm bracelets and am always on the lookout for cool charms to add to an existing bracelet, or for starting a new one! Cool buttons are another thing I like. Interesting stationery is good.

I am a huge tea drinker and love discovering new tea flavors, especially from faraway places. Herbal teas of all kinds are a favorite and I like strong flavors. Also: things are getting worse...when in doubt, please send chocolate! I also love candles and bath stuff. I think the only "flavors" of that I don't like are musk and anything too sweet.

I love images of lonely roads with big old trees dropping their leaves all over. Such images never make me feel lonely. I always feel at peace when I see pictures of things like that. I also love the ocean and mountains. Sometimes, when I look out at the ocean, I feel peace and joy, and I also feel as if my heart is breaking from the loveliness of it all.