Knit Michigan

I want to get this statement out of the way . . . as it is somehow burning in my brain.

I got very little knitting done at Knit Michigan.

There. I said it. There were classes and vendors (real vendors, vending, unlike Friday) and there was a lot of walking this year. It was much more spread out.

I met some very cool people and there was lots to see . . . and I bought some things. Oh, and I found the "cool" knitting groups to go to, one on Tuesday and one on Wednesday. They promise that they don't talk about barley or babies.

And the classes? Well, let's just say that I didn't volunteer to teach any . . . so I can't really say anything. Kumihimo braiding . . . I made a lanyard without lanyard lace. Cool enough, but I already knew how to make lanyards. But now I can make them with a fun foam disk. So let's just call that "a taste of Kumihimo" with the idea that I would actually research it later. Made a very nice pink necklace, which immediately went to my mother. And I will buy more of the foam disks.

Toddler toe up sock? Well, I'm not going to compete with my mother anytime soon in the sock making. Yuck. But my attitude towards socks has nothing to do with the instructor. Just seems like a lot of work for something that I can buy at Target for $3.99. (the sock people cringe when I say this . . . and want to stab me in the eye . . . and then look at me pitifully, as I have not reached the enlightment of understanding the wonders of sock knitting)

As for knitting, I knit five inches on some gloves that I am making. Doesn't seem like all that much to me, as I was there for 15 hours. But now I'm at the complicated thumb part, so those will have to be knit in quiet.

Oh, and at the vendor mart, I found a knit store that sells buffalo fiber and yak yarn in East Lansing and a new LYS in Beaumont . . . which is dangerous, as I go to Beaumont every Saturday. Bought a kit from perl grey, a shrug with thumb holes. YAYNESS. Also bought the yarn to make this. Kinda like a ninja helmet. And I have been carrying the pattern around forever. So forever that it seems not to be on the net anymore.

So about 1000 chemo caps were made and turned in . . . and I think they made 26,000 dollars. So a very cool charity event. Next year's is Feb. 7, I think. Something about the first Saturday in February every year. But this means I can knit the chemo cap NOW and make it all cool and funky.

Okay, have to go buy Sharpies (for my students) and knitting needles (need to make a list). And start on the thumbs.

New Phone Holder

Thanks. I made it myself.

Rained Out

I had a positively grand day, in spite of the rain . . . maybe because of it.

I had planned to do yard work, until it was done. Instead I got to read the paper with a half order of french toast. Then I went to the Berkley knit store (Have You Any Wool) and bought some pink, mindless knitting, yarn to make up for all the projects that I have ongoing, all in mohair for some reason. And mohair is like knitting with thread. It never seems like you make any progress. So I need a couple of hats under my belt to feel like I can accomplish something (a hat takes me a couple of days). So pink hats it is . . .

I then checked all the stores listed in the Free Press entertainment section last week, when they showcased Berkley shopping. Shoe store was good. Found some cute little red numbers . . . but didn't want to peak early, so didn't buy them. For $39 I might have to go back though. Went to the musical instrument store and asked about fixing my viola. Kicked around Catching Fireflies.

Then I drove to Birmingham. Figured I would to the run of yarn stores. But the B'ham yarn store wasn't open . . . because it is never open. Walked all over downtown, window shopping. Then drove to Plum Market.

Because I am genetically related to Mr. Crabbypants, I love to look at grocery stores. In a new town? Let's check out and see if they have different mustard. In France? Ooooh, look at the yogurt aisle. And because I grew up with the vacation tour of grocery stores, I didn't know it was weird. Likewise with my fascination with new ones. Comes from my father having a degree and obsessive love of marketing. So off to Plum Market I went. To look at the wine selection and to see what I could see.

Honestly, I give it a B-. Very pretty without much substance. Lots o' expensive stuff . . . most of it being soap. As much soap as coffee. The cashier bubbled at me about how they put all the produce in the walk-in refrigerator every night. I guess that is an impressive use of labor cost. And there was a lot of produce. All of it seemed to be organic. Impressive cheese aisle, but that may only be because some geeky guy in glasses was looking at me, so I spent a longer time there. I'm such a sucker for geeky and glasses . . . and I do like cheese.

So all in all, a good grocery store for pick ups . . . but I wouldn't really buy anything there. Well, actually I bought three different mint plants (for my herb garden, that doesn't exist yet) (because I want mojitos), a bottle of French wine (because I almost recognize the name) and some snotty raspberry-lime mineral water. I was out for under $20.

Then the Gap, because it was close. Then to Lowe's . . . but I got distracted by shoes (DSW is next door) but there weren't any shoes as cool as the ones I saw in Berkley. So I managed to piece together some flowers, which are now sitting on my porch, not in their containers. Lowe's had put all their good flowers in containers . . . but I have containers and contented myself with the fact that the crummy flowers would probably grow. After all, they are plants and my porch has really good sun. Now if it would just stop raining.

So didn't get anything done that I was planning to get done. And it was lovely.

Imaginary scarves and meetings

I just broke a nail and have figured out that I have a least two meetings every day this week. I really want some Rowan Kidsilk Haze for a scarf that is in my head . . . so I can knit it and then wear it in France but I can't get to the fancy knitting store with all the meeting hinderances. (You can't buy Rowan kidsilk haze at Michael's and I am a yarn snob) I still have to walk and it's sleeting and miserable . . . and I still have to walk.

While I'm being girly, I ate half a granola bar today and couldn't finish it because I could taste the high fructose corn syrup and it sickened me. I could, however, eat a patty melt and fries with no guilt, queasiness or questioning, so I haven't completely crossed over to health nut. I'm just irrational instead.

So I'll knit this scarf (that's currently planned in my head) on 10 1/2 needles, so it will be really open and loose, in black if they even have black kidsilk haze. I just need a yarn store that's open vampire hours. (I know, the internet sells yarn . . . but I have to touch it before I buy it)

So Darn Busy . . .

. . . considering I have nothing to do . . .

Funny how this whole "get a life" plan is being derailed by my actual life. Haven't signed up for classes . . . remember the art class and the yoga class? Yeah, just haven't gotten to it yet. Weekend is already booked, with nothingness . . . go to Noir and get more hair dye (shudder at the amount of hair dye to keep me happy and not orangey), spend the afternoon at the union office, wrangle the mother since Mr. Crabbypants is going to Germany, make it to the yarn store before closing . . . the yuppie yarn store not the craft store. I have no use for the Michaels or Jo Ann crafts, have to go to the Yarn store for the fancy-smancy natural yarn, or "fiber" as they call it. Oh, and the presentation on Greek history and Homer that I have to prepare . . . since I just found out that none of my students have had any world history (today was . . . you know, the fallow field from Medieval times? no? well, okay, once there were these people called serfs . . . no, not surfs . . . )

Sure, I'm home on a Friday night but I just got home from a football game . . . where I smiled and waved at what seemed like a thousand students and parents. I coached my first yearbook kid (an investment, he's a sophomore) through a football game (get closer, take more shots, try to focus the camera). Luckily, he has a very good eye. Informally coached some cheerleading (it's time for the defense cheer). Me coaching cheer, ridiculous.

I'm tired . . . beat even. Have to catch up on the sleep I have missed all week. Have to sleep.

So this whole "getting a life" plan . . . I may already have too much of a life . . .

happy fuzzy kitty hat