Stress Reaction

Watcha gonna do? Buy more yarn!

I'm cruising to my not so LYS today to pick up some Silky Wool so I can get started on this awesome pattern. I've got the air cranked, and I'm listening to Mystic River on audio tape to take my mind off the fact that this trip will take three hours (between the drive and the shopping) of quality knitting time out of my Sunday afternoon. I am so in the zone.

And traveling 83mph in a 70mph zone. So not the zone I wanted to be in. Somehow, I'm thinking the patrolman who pulled me over would not be sympathetic when, in answer to his question "Are we in a hurry today?" I said "Why yes, Officer. The sooner I make my purchases and get my ass back home, the sooner I can get back to my knitting!"

My friend Terrisa (not a knitter) said to me at lunch yesterday, "Can I be honest? Your knitting thing? Kinda over the top!"

She may be on to something.

Besides discover that the bags under my eyes are not, in fact, permanent?

I knit! A lot!

First up. The quick and satisfying One Skein Wonder by Stafanie Japel.

Super fun, super fast and very luxurious in Debbie Bliss Cashmerino. I tend to knit over gauge, so I went down a needle size (to seven instead of eight) and it took just a smidge over two skeins of the Cashmerino. I'll admit to not checking gauge (shoot, the whole project is practically a swatch), but the fit is right on.

I finished my first pair of socks using the cuff down pattern of Socks 2 by 2.

The plan was that this would help me avoid second sock syndrome, but like all good plans, Murphy's Law applies. By the time I finished this mismatched pair, I was sick of the colors and have yet to cast on their mates. In reality, I think that when I cast on both socks of the same pair (as I plan to do in the future), the end result will be a finished pair of matching socks. Oh! Mustn't forget to mention the beauty of having them end up exactly the same size. Woo-Hoo!!

Finally, I completed the first two clues and got a start on the third of the Mystery Stole Along.

Tomorrow, back to the grind-stone. Like all good things, Knit-cations too must end.

I think we are!

The original plan was the Muggle Watch Party at the local Borders. Little did I know that they started handing out raffle tickets at 8:00 pm and if you pre-ordered a book, you could pick up and (after waiting in line) pay for your book when your number was called. If you didn't pre-order, you might, or might not, get a book tonight. IF they didn't sell out. NOT!

My neighbor, who did pre-order a book from Barnes and Noble, was told that they were expecting 1200 for their pre-release party. Gah! Not my scene. But also not what your two expectant and avid Harry fans want to hear. And who has the heart to quench that innocent and youthful expectation? Isn't there plenty of time for that later? Doesn't life do a pretty good job of that without my contribution? I think so!

Trusty Wally World to the rescue! Woo-Hoo!! One for each of my muggles, and happiness reigns. Checked out by 17 minutes after midnight and I won't be bleary eyed at my 9am workout in the morning.

Life is good!

I'm sorry!

I love my Secret Pal! She is attentive, and generous, and very clever. Witness the evidence:

Bad recipient that I am, I not only haven't blogged about my recent package, I even neglected to write and tell her that it had arrived and how much I appreciated the wonderful (I'm assuming) hand spun goodness that was gifted to me!

My determined husband managed to extract the contents without cutting the container! Bet you thought it would never happen!

I can plead long work hours and total exhaustion, but that is not an excuse for just plain rudeness! I am hopeful that public self-flagellation will put me back in her good graces (though of course she was too kind to do more than send me a nice email asking if my package had arrived yet)!

Forgive me wonderful Secret Pal. Your yarn is beautiful, and soft, and I love it! Thank you so much!

Not much knitting to show for the last few weeks. The Mystery Stole, in it's current incarnation, and I have parted ways. As much as I love the way the Shimmer knits up, I just couldn't get into the variegation. KnitPicks has some new heathered lace weight merino called Shadow that I have on order (I even paid seven extra dollars for the three day shipping, so it should be here by Friday). I also ordered some more of the Shimmer in Morning Mist which I am hopeful will be more subtle.

The irony is that for all my concern about variegated yarns and lace patterns, I have cast on for the Shetland Tea Shawl from A Gathering of Lace in a boldly variegated Cherry Tree Hill lace weight.

The color is Old Rose, and I love it! My husband and I collect gem stones, and this looks just like a tourmaline. It's gorgeous! The real mystery is why anybody would enjoy knitting with what is essentially thread! Yet I do! I just love it! I guess it's all just a matter of taste.

I also wanted to share with you my new toy. It probably has a lot to do with my current distraction from knitting. On a recent trip to Best Buy, I picked up this little cord, which according to the sales person is called a "mini to mini". (New item, but not the main event. Wait for it...)

One end plugs into this little gadget (not new, as you can see from the older style) which is loaded (at this moment) with 751 songs or 2.2 days of music.

No knitcasts yet, but soon!

The other end plugs into (drum roll please) the in-console adapter of this (new) little gadget!

No FM transmitter for me, no sirree!!

Kinda makes the in-dash six CD changer obsolete.