It’s Thursday, so it must be time to report on three beautiful things. I covered a bunch in yesterday’s post, but there are always more to consider. Here are three new ones:

1. We pass a young boy whose bloodied arm is wrapped in gauze. He capers up the sidewalk at a good pace, his superhero cape flapping in the breeze behind him.

2. The bottom half of a bathing suit, when you have forgotten to handwash a pair of underwear in time for work. (The building’s new washing machine is due to arrive on Monday after nearly a month of being broken. It can’t come soon enough!)

3. Our friend Michael has written a play called The Cortical Titanic, which he hopes to put on this fall. In honor of the 100th anniversary of the ship’s sinking, on Saturday, he hosted the first fundraiser, which featured a lecture, readings of two scenes from the play, educational materials, and noshes. It was a lovely way to pass a Saturday evening.

And a bonus one, from Michael’s fundraiser:

4. I broke out the red shoes I bought for the ball we went to after the Presidential Inauguration three years ago. They’re cherry red patent leather with three-inch heels and a Mary Jane strap, and I love them. So, apparently, did everyone else, because I got compliments from friends and strangers alike.

I meant to post yesterday, but our internet was giving us fits, so walking away from the computer seemed a far saner idea.

A quick update on things:

• I finished a book on Friday. It’s the first book I’ve finished since February. Pathetic? Yes.
• I planted potatoes at the garden this weekend. Fifteen starts each got chopped into at least two pieces, often more. I’m hoping that makes for a generous crop.
• We went to our first baseball game of the season. Rick Ankiel, the center fielder, had the most impressive throw home I may have ever witnessed in person. It was like he and home plate were having a game of catch. A throw to be remembered. Plus, the Nats won.

• Sock Madness round 3 has begun. That means I knit everywhere. As opposed to when it’s not Sock Madness time and I merely knit nearly everywhere.

• I watched the space shuttle fly past D.C. yesterday. A post about that is forthcoming. Truly and surprisingly moving.
• I wrote a blog post for work that I was really proud of. (I love having written something well, which, sadly, is why you get a lot of lists like this right now, because I don’t want to spend the time and energy required to write good posts. This is a reflection on me, and not on you.)
• My volleyball team won all four games last night. We found a groove and communicated well, and it just felt right. It was nice.

That is all for now.

This weekend marked the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. In honor of a sad centennial, I offer you the great Harry Chapin and his band performing “Dance Band on the Titanic.”

Three beautiful things from the past week:

1. I come home from Northampton with, among other things, a recipe book for homemade popsicles, a cheery pillow for the couch, and an Oscar the Grouch mug.

2. Strawberries — red and ripe and local. And sooooo good.

3. We decide to get an early jump on things. Early, as in before the sun rises early. Early, as in we are already waking up from a much needed nap at a rest stop when the sun rises early. Early, as in eat lunch in New Haven early.

How about you? What’s been beautiful in your world this week?

A little late, but still.

“I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” by the Proclaimers featuring clips from Benny and Joon.

We’ll aim to resume this feature on Monday next week.

While up in Connecticut this weekend, I prevailed upon Rudi to head out into my parents’ yard and take a few shots of my recently finished pair of socks.

These are Frick-n-Frack:

One was knit toe-up. The other knit top down. I started with Frick, which took me a week to knit. I am particularly slow knitting toe-up socks, so I figured it would be smart to start with my weaker skill.

I was confident that I’d have no problem making up time with Frack, since it was knit top-down, but I underestimated how quick my teammates would be in filling the quota for the next round.

By the time I finished Frick, completed socks were rolling in every few hours, and those of us still knitting were feeling a bit of a panic. By Sunday night, there were four spots left and more than that number of knitters within sight of the goal.

I stayed up all night knitting — or at least, I stayed up until I started making dumb mistakes and then I took a 90-minute nap. Refreshed, I started back up again. The body of the sock was done before I left for work, and the toe and heel were finished after lunch, allowing me to nab the very last spot for this round of Sock Madness.

Relevant info: The yarn is Happy Feet in the boringly named colorway #4. The feet were knit on 2.5mm needles; the legs on 2.75mm. Frick took me a week to knit. Frack took me less than a day-and-a-half.

Toe up or top down, though, they are a very cheerful pair of socks and a nice addition to my wardrobe.