From one of the columns on Backwash that I read from time to time: The Practice of Tashlikh. This is a Jewish religious custom that involves throwing breadcrumbs into water (representing parts of you that need work) and praying that they will improve in the coming year.

I'm not Jewish, and I had never heard of this before (I have no idea how widespread it is - Dawn, if you're reading this, drop me a note?). I find it powerfully appealing.

I like the thought of making a list of things in my personality that I find troublesome and then symbolically doing away with them, in the hopes that they will not trouble me any more.

I used to do a little visualization exercise on nights when it was hard for me to sleep - I would imagine writing the stuff that was bothering me on pieces of paper, folding them up into origami boats, and setting them sail on a stream.

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I knit a bit on the Rio socks last night. I've got the 20 rows of spiral rib done and have started on the stockinette.

Tonight is AAUW so I don't expect I will have time to do any knitting tonight. I also have to say a "non-denominational grace" at the meeting. I've never been comfortable praying out loud in front of other people so I'm trying to think of something to say. I might write it down before hand and use a "cheat sheet".

I'd much rather recite an Irish blessing or use a benediction that a campus minister friend of mine once used (I have it written down somewhere; it says things like "hold fast to that which is good, give no one back evil for evil.." I think it's from Romans or Timothy or somewhere like that). But tradition says it has to be a sort of short prayer, and as one of the younger members I'm cautious about messing too much with what people see as tradition.