Change In Which We Can Believe
Does Barack not understand the concept of proper grammar? Ending a sentence with a preposition is behavior up with which I will not put.
Avalanche!!!
Taxes are finally complete, and the lower floor of our townhouse is now finished and looks great. I have a fully functioning craft area.
Nico seems to approve. He enjoys playing hide and seek among the various bookcase cubes.
Now all I have to do is make it through a week of ugly traveling this week, and some items associated with the Men’s Spring Knitting Retreat and I’ll have made it through most of the crazy time.
Current Knitting
I ran into a snag on the Ichida lace project which may take a little work to fix. Since I will have to devote a little bit lace-only time to this project, it sat and stewed for a few days with no progress.
I did get quite a bit done on the secret project and I should be able to finish it this coming weekend. Soon, I’ll be able to divulge details.
Readers’ Comments/Questions
Torknittoh asks, “How was ordering from IKEA? How would you rate the product/experience?”
Overall, our experience was quite good. They have very nice products for incredibly inexpensive prices. Thaddeus and I were able to shop on-line for all the stuff we bought, get it in my little Honda Accord and assemble it all. The assembly instructions can be somewhat cryptic and they need to be followed exactly, else it could be disastrous. Their web site isn’t overly easy to navigate, but it has a boatload of information. We went to two Ikeas, both in the Philadelphia area. The Conshohoken one had much friendlier help than the South Philadelphia.
Regarding my new craft area, Marilyn writes, “At least you finally have a suitable space for your Weavette.”
Excuse me…that’s Weavettes. And, yes, I do.
Are the Weavettes holding up the bookcase cubes so you can sweep under them?
Michelene
very nice and orderly craft area.
I think the argument against ending sentences with prepositions is specious. I recall hearing that it was promoted as a rule by an individual with no more claim to proper grammar than I have. But how can Obama be elitist if he ends his slogan with a preposition?
Good luck on the lace, and travelling.
Silly, the day they covered that in school, Obama was out huntin’ woodchuck with his grandpaw while chugging boilermakers and reminiscing about dodging sniper fir— never mind, I’m thinking of someone else.
What are the drawer units? I would love to have something like that for my loom room. It all looks so nice and tidy. How long do you think that will last?
Jesssseeuuuuss!!!!!!!! I’m so jealous! That’s sooooo much yarn that you have!
very nice craft area, joe!
glad to see nico approves of the cubbies in which to hide. (see, no ending a sentence with a preposition! pisses me off also!)
am disappointed that you will not be at franklin’s book photo shoot, as I really wanted to meet you. (sniff)
damn, if I knew you were in conshy, I would have had you drop in my place. (sob)
Joe,
I love the craft area. What can you tell me about the wonderful bins that you have your yarn in. Are they from IKea too! love them.
Wow. That is a megaton of cubbies. I’m pretty sure that area as nice as it is wouldn’t work for me. I tend to find the darndest ways of generating mess and cubbies only seem to enhance my potential for disaster.
Thank you, Mr. Churchill.
Clearly, if Mr Obama wanted to impress the Philadelphia voters, his motto would be “Change yins can believe in”
That is a craft room to which I aspire.
Judi
I would like more information about Joe’s drawers.
Srsly.
Barbara Wallraff writes that it isn’t actually incorrect to put a preposition at the end of a sentence; that it’s a stylistic choice. I’m sure Obama thought putting “in” at the end was more folksy than a more formal construction.
Love your new craft space. It’s so tidy!
Wonderful craft space, you lucky man.
That is an excellent studio you’ve got there. Terrific cat placement!
Please adopt me….
Wow, that is one of the best craft spaces I’ve ever seen! Clearly Nico thinks he enhances the ambience …
The preposition thing makes me nuts, too. It’s like hearing one of my co-workers call where we work a “liberry” every single day …
OK, I’m weighing in on the preposition bit. Cara et al are absolutely correct. If you adhere to Strunk & White’s Elements of Style, written by Strunk initially almost 100 years ago and occasionally updated by White, ending a sentence with a preposition is incorrect.
That said, English is the most fluid language, thanks in great part to Shakespeare. In very formal writing, you would not end a sentence with a preposition. However, in casual daily usage, it is perfectly acceptable. If you insist on following the no-prep rule, your writing will be incredibly stilted. As an editor, I’ve always given sway to the tone and the audience regarding this. And chastising Obama on this supposed faux pas is a cheap shot, worthy of Hillary.
Guess who I have no fucking use for? How’s that for ending a sentence. Heh heh.
Craft area looks superb! If it were mine, it would be a mess within a week, since I love to pull stuff out for examination and then leave it somewhere else. Now in a small apartment, I’m much better at putting things away.
Note to anonymous the second: “Yins” is a term native primarily to Pittsburgh and the surrounding region, hence the use of the term “yinzers” to refer to people from that neck of the woods. This I know from having lived for three accursed years in that fair city, ‘n dat.
Cheers, Marilyn! The flexibility of the English language is part of the reason why it is becoming so widely embraced, and part of its charm.
Got plenty of yins here in Philadelphia, Mel. Perhaps Barak could connect better here with “Change youse can believe in”
Agreeing with anonymous here (whose name I believe begins with “L”) that my entire family are yins.
And yis when each is alone.
And I, unlike L—, oops I mean “anonymous”, was
born and grew up in Filthydelphia.
Ah, a man after my own heart. I recently had a conversation with my 3 year old about ending sentences in prepositions.
Then she corrected me the other day. Heh.
Great blog! I’ve been having a blast reading your archives. And I’m insanely jealous of your craft area/knitting skills.
I’m looking forward to catching up to the present day…