Posted by Stitchy McYarnpants On January - 17 - 2005   ShareThis

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Hi. Remember me? I occasionally write things here. Yeah, yeah, I’ve been busy. But I’m here now and that’s what matters, right?

So how have you been?

Me? Oh, how sweet of you to ask. I’m good. Work has been really busy, you know how it is. I saw my darling Ms. Melanie on Saturday. As her blog would lead you to believe, I was 2 hours late because I was on a leisurely drive. My detour was more of a hellish descent into a dark spiral of frustration and shame. Anyone in Massachusetts can attest to the mystical properties of Interstates 93 and 95. Like the cables of a mighty Rogue, they intertwine playfully. They also can go North or South with nary a concern for the seaman’s compass. I was listening to Air America, simmering about the state of our great nation, and I missed magic portal where 93 continues being 93. I was immediately but imperceptibly transported to 95. I could regale you with the wonders which befell me, the sights I saw (sometimes more than once), the gigantic circles in which I drove for two hours trying to get my journey back on track. But I won’t. Just know that I teetered on that line between laughing and crying hysterically for the second hour.

I finally got to the coffee shop and was delighted to see that Melanie was still there. I figured she would have left by then, although I did call the coffee shop and had the guy at the counter tell her I’d be late. So very late. I did miss seeing Bendetta (who is an amazing knitter with a brand new bouncing baby blog check her out!), she had to leave before I got there. I also missed seeing Elisa, Wendy, and Jennie, but only because they couldn’t make it at all. Melanie and I had a lovely time, we eventually went back to her place where we watched Garden State, which I wholly recommend.

In project news, my Tropical Shawl is finally done and I’m really happy with it! I just need to block it and I can send it to my friend’s mom in Florida. Pictures are forthcoming. I showed it to her when we visited in November and she thought it would be perfect for cool nights on the yearly cruise she and her husband take. I love the simple feather-and-fan pattern. It’s so simple, but it looks complicated and delicate.

I also got my yarn from Danette Taylor and it’s just as beautiful as I had hoped. The alpaca is thinner than the laceweight I used for the shawl. When I met Bookish Wendy a few weeks ago, she declared that I needed some chunky yarn to combat the laceweight. I know she’s right, but I must say that I’m rather fond of teeny, thin, lacey yarn. Unfortunately, it takes forever to knit up and I don’t have as much time to knit as I would like. I think I’ll go for something a little thicker for the next project. I could use a little instant gratification. In fact, I am. I started a scarf using the loopy mohair. You really have to pay attention, otherwise you end up knitting the loops instead of the stitches.

In the comments a post or two ago, Mayflwr asked what I was going to do with all that Geisha yarn I bought a while ago. She has some, too, and doesn’t have anything in mind for it. Well, me either, sister. I was originally going to use it with a vintage mohair sweater pattern, but the colors are a little too soft for a sweater I’d actually wear. The light blue and lilac look great together, though, so I may make a couple of long stripey, lacey scarves as mid-winter gifts. The yarn takes lace patterns really well, but it sucks to rip out because the fuzz gets all knotted up. I ended up tossing a lump of it away when I was wresting with the Ostrich Plume shawl (which I vow to do. At an undetermined point in the future.) I need to take a good, hard look at my stash and start putting patterns to all this yarn. I have a bunch, and yet I don’t have anything specific in mind for most of it. It reminds me of being a kid on summer vacation. You’re dying of boredom even though you’re surrounded with fun things to do. Then you end up doing the same old stuff every day. I need to gather it all up and take a retreat in the woods with it. I need to Be the Yarn.

On a side note, is anyone watching Trading Spouses? I occasionally catch it, and for some reason, it strikes a nerve in me. It’s like Good vs. Evil. Typically, the Evil is represented by the neat-freak and all the light shines on the lady who doesn’t always necessarily clean the bathroom all the time. Or ever. This is the show for me. It makes me feel like one of the good guys. Tonight’s is especially good. One woman’s house is a total wreck and her daughter has a fake eye which she needs very little prompting to take out for the amusement of others. The other mom is a compulsive neat freak who vacuums her house a few times a day and feels that hugging people crosses a boundary that she’s not comfortable crossing. Guess who I love best?

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13 Responses

  1. Fiber says:

    Man, that whole popping the eye out thing was absolutely hilarious. Of course, I would have had the same reaction, but it was hysterical.
    Seriously though, the whole vacuuming thing has got to be OCD. 4-5 times a day? Is there anything on the floor? It’s not like they are wearing their shoes on the carpet. =)

  2. melanie says:

    *blush*

    You can be two hours late every time sugarplum, just keep calling me darlin’

  3. ginabeana says:

    That show is the greatest! I think I’ve actually only seen it once, but one wife was this big loud lovable black lady and the other was this very meek woman who was part of the most granola family on earth. I was nearly in tears laughing when the kids found the granola lady playing guitar and singing (badly) to herself in the living room or when the black woman was swearing up a storm during the yoga. I missed the second half, though, unfortunately.

  4. Marnie says:

    Well, I don’t watch reality TV, but I really need no encouragement to be the “loveable slob,” I’ve got that all sewn up. 😉

  5. Anonymous says:

    I would so watch that show more if I could just get away from the vacuuming. Sigh. It’s so time consuming – twice in the AM, home from lunch, twice in the eve and once again before bed. But you know, it just makes me feel so womanly…

    Hilari
    http://makeme.typepad.com

  6. Veronique says:

    Hi there. Long time lurker here… I can’t believe you got your hands on the elusive Geisha yarn! There’s a great pattern in Knitty that uses Geisha. It’s a very cute striped cardigan. Hope it inspires you.

  7. benedetta says:

    So sorry to have missed you Saturday, but glad you made it and had a good evening with Melanie.
    Hopefully next time…

  8. Anonymous says:

    Stitchy,
    check out the ski-masks at http://swapatorium.blogspot.com/2004/12/ski-masks.html
    I think they will make you happy, and may even inspire you!

  9. Kimberli says:

    1. LOL I-93 vs I-95 – it’s like an odd vortex isn’t it? I grew up in NH and my folks still live there – but my bro lives in MA and voila…
    2. So bummed I missed that Trading Spouses. It’s a guilt pleasure for me…but I’m in China on business and they don’t show things nearly as nifty on the Tube here.
    3. Was this meeting on Saturday an SnB?

  10. Visa Lisa says:

    Hi there! I found my way here cruising the knitting blogs. You have a nice little network! Originally I know Mandy from Yarnageddon, so I thank her I got to read your wonderful description of being lost on the freeways… I know the feeling! Just so that you don’t feel you’re alone in this, I can tell you that my hometown Göteborg (Gothenburg) in Sweden has so many one-way-streets I once got to the center of it by making a spiraling movement inwards of about six loops…
    Anyway, thanks for a good read! /Swedish Lisa

  11. I’m so sad I missed you guys. Driving in the vortex sure sounds like fun. More lace weight for you…you’re crazy. I tried to do a simple lace shawl and I almost ripped out every strand of my hair. How the hell do you keep track of it all?!

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