Driving Miss Wusie

The other day I was whining to my husband about feeling like my summer was almost over, and he volunteered to pick up the girls so that I could go to the beach. The beach that I like to go to is about an hour and 15 minutes from here, and I used to go all the time. Then we had kids, and now we just go as a family - but I really love my "me" time at the beach. The only problem is that I very rarely drive on the highway now. I'll be married for 10 years at the end of the month, and since we have been married, my husband does most of the driving. It makes sense because I get knitting time, and he isn't bored. The only problem is that now I am very afraid of driving on the highway.

Well I was very proud of myself for getting to the beach. I only stopped 3 times, and I hardly hyper-ventilated at all. The problem was on the way home. It was getting dark, and the closer you get to Boston, the more traffic there is. Needless to say I ended up at one of those highway gas stations/Burger King/Dunkin Donuts places (I didn't even think I would get that far) and called my husband while I sobbed hysterically. My sister-in-law stayed with the kids while my brother-in-law drove my husband to come get me and the car. It was so embarrassing. If anyone has any helpful advice about things to do for panic attacks, I'm all ears.

The beach itself was fantastic - I read magazines, did needlepoint (I felt like I was cheating on my knitting) and listened to the Red Sox beat the Orioles. It was all good. I just wish I could have made it all of the way home on my own steam.

P2K

Non-knitting and whining

I just found out that "Big Love" started back up again months ago. I am obviously way out of the loop. But the good thing about this situation is that I can have my own little "Big Love" marathon. That show just sucks me in. Plural marriage is a very weird thing! I definitely like the story lines and the characters, but in some ways it is like watching a train wreck. I vacillate between being fascinated and disgusted. There must be a ton of people who agree with me, because it did come back for another season. I work in a town that has a lot of Mormon families, and one of my students expressed her anger at the show for bringing this topic up. She knows that plural marriage was a part of her faith's history, but the practice stopped over 100 years ago. I was very proud of her for stating her opinion because she rarely got angry so it was good to see the fire in her. Anyway, I just mention that, because I know that the show deeply upsets some people.

My own blah feeling right now comes from the fact that I am going to have to move classrooms for one of my classes next year. Of course it is the only one that I haven't taught before. Next year will be my 9th year at the school and the first time that I have had to move. It SUCKS! I know that in the scheme of things this is really no big deal, but on a personal level, it is causing a lot of anxiety. - I am sure that my fellow teachers understand.

My knitting is fine!

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Pictures

Here are the pictures of the goodies that I bought in NYC. I would have done this sooner, but the battery for my camera won't hold a charge!

This is what I got at Purl Soho - New Seagrass from Lobster Pot yarns - 740 yds each of 80%Lambswool 10% dehaired angora and 10% Cashmere - To die for!

These are from Downtown Yarns and by the Fibre Company - they are "Terra" in Chamomile and Beet. 60% Merino 20% Baby Albaca and 20% Silk 100 yds each

This last one is also from Downtown yarns - it is made by Jamie Harmon 50%merino 50% angora 75 yds each.

You can see it was a GREAT trip!

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NYC

I just got back from my weekend in NYC, visiting my sister. It was a really great time. I got to see an old roommate from college who I hadn't seen in 10 years, who is now I window designer for Bloomingdale's. (one of his creations is shown in the picture above) It was great to see him. As always he was funny, very down to earth and just full of energy. On Friday my sister was working and so I went off to yarn stores. Thank you Ambercakes for all of your information. It was fabulous. I walked for most of the day, but only got to 4 stores. The one that I loved the most was Downtown Yarns. What a nice comfortable shop! They had some gorgeous stuff, and it seemed like a place that I would love to go to hang out at if I lived there. I also went to Purl Soho, and really, what is not to love? They have gorgeous yarn (of which I bought a sweater's worth of a lovely merino, cashmere, angora blend). I had to leave the store quickly so I wouldn't buy more stuff - because lord knows I don't need it, and I couldn't afford it. I did go to Habu and to School Products, but I was not quite as excited about those places. I think if I had a project in mind, and knew what I was looking for, I would have had better luck at school products, but I was just looking to see if I "needed" anything, and I didn't. I also went to LUSH which has homemade bath products. I now just need to figure out how to knit in the bathtub and I will be all set! Friday evening we met up with my sister's coworkers for drinks which was great to be able to put some faces with names.

On Saturday we started off going to an hour and 40 minute Yoga class - can we say SWEATY! then went home for lunch, and then a bus tour of Brooklyn. Brooklyn reminds me a lot of Boston and I really want to explore it more then next time I go to visit. Needless to say we were wiped out when it came time for dinner, so we just chilled out at an Italian restaurant around the corner from my sister and her husband, which was so perfect! On Sunday sis and I treated ourselves to massages, and then I caught the train home. All in all it was a FABULOUS weekend! Both me and my credit card need to rest!

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cousin's scarf

I finally finished my cousin's scarf. She lives in Florida, so it is much more of an ornamental scarf, then one that we would use around here. I don't remember the yarn that I used, since I started it for her 40th birthday, and she turned 41 in April (tee hee). I believe it is a silk cotton blend by Karabella, but honestly, I don't remember. My cousin is a great woman, but unfortunately she is about 6 feet tall, and she wanted it to go to her waist. (I should have gone with the handbag!) I definitely had that experience where I would knit for about an hour and not have made any progress according to the tape measure. It is taking me a couple of times to block this scarf because it is bigger then my dining room table. I'm looking forward to sending this to her, because then it will really be done!

I started working out with a personal trainer last week. Boy am I sore! I figured it was time to take the plunge. I was a really steady weight until 1995 when I became a social worker and then I just ballooned up. (Stress sucks.) To make a long story short, it took a Master's degree, a job for 2 1/2 years and 40 pounds to make me realize that this was not the right career for me. I am glad I went to a profession that I now love (teaching) but I still have 30 pounds that need to come off. Thus the professional trainer. My legs are like jello and my arms and back are very sore. Everyone tells me it takes about 3 or 4 weeks to get back into workout shape - I am counting the days.

I am heading to NYC over the weekend, so if anyone has any suggestions of their favorite yarn stores, I'd love to hear from you.

P2K

Am I cool yet?

Today I went down to the area of Boston that I lived for 12 years. When I lived there, I loved it. I thought it was really cool and gritty. It looks very similar now, but now that I am 39 instead of 23,the area still looks similar, but now it looks a little scary and dirty. (I feel very old saying that) Where did the "cool" me go? Actually, that is quite the laugh. I don't know if I could ever be considered "cool." I am definitely unique and an individual, but I don't think I was ever classified as cool.

I walked into one store today, that I used to frequent quite often. They sold Tarot cards, crystals, candles, incense etc. Today it smelled the same, but they have very few decks of Tarot cards (not that I need any more of them) and very few of the other things that I liked there, but they did have a WHOLE case of marijuana pipes and bongs. I, of course, was shocked. My thought process went something like this:

• are those what they think they are?


• OH MY GOD they are!


• Things have certainly changed around here.


• Maybe they haven't, maybe I just never noticed them before


• Well that wouldn't be the strangest thing, I was a little oblivious


• WAS - still am


• well at least I am a cool person now.


• WHO ARE YOU KIDDING?

I like knitting. I love the yarns, and I absolutely adore being part of the knit - blogging, podcast listening, knit along, swapping and stitch and bitch community. I feel like a cool kid! But again, I have to be serious, I know very few people in person outside of the people that I have met in knitting groups that share this passion. I'm having a great time, but though I thought it went away, there is still a little part of my mind that wishes that I had been cool when I had the chance.

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Romance and Lace

It feels like ages since I have written. I apologize. I've been busy doing mommy things, knitting and reading romance novels. To me, nothing says summer vacation better than romance novels! I used to call them my drug of choice, because my reading them seemed to be like an addiction. I have a hard time stopping once I start, I stay up all night to read them, and so I have a hang over in the morning, and I will avoid doing things that I really need to do, because of reading them - including ignoring friends (like this blog) because of romance novels! In my maturity (ha, ha), I now only read them when I know I can sleep the next day.

So I started the Mystery Stole 3 (about 6 times!) First I tried a merino lace weight, that I kept splitting, so I put that aside. Next I started working with Misty Alpaca lace weight (which I do think is a divine yarn.) and I couldn't do anything with it. That is not exactly true. I did get to row 45 or so, but it didn't really look right, and I was not used to the floating quality of lace weight yarn. It was very hard for me. So I went out and got some "Tofootsies" This is working out much better. I really need to take pictures! I am liking following a chart. It reminds me of when I did cross stitch! But I really need to have quiet time to work on it because it takes a lot of counting, and talking to myself. But it is very interesting to do. I just end up doing it from about 10:00 - 1:30 at night, when no one is around. Today the family went to the beach, so I brought a very simple stockinette sweater that I am making for my 5 year old - different projects for different times.

I promise to write soon.

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