What Kind of News Do You Want to Hear?

Nothing Wall Street-related here!

The bad news first. The Mets are done. What a way to end their tenure at Shea. I can barely stomach it. I will always be a fan. I will not talk any further about it.

The good news. New Kids on the Block are BACK! Thank you VH1. Let me help you remember the wonderful "new kids dance."



More good news! Just got back from another London business trip. I'm usually a packmule for various work-related documents. This time, I brought back a bicycle helmet for a coworker's brother. She mentioned a surprise inside.


So what's in that helmet? Yarn of course!


How nice of her. More details on this later. No idea what to make with it.

Not Fair (not smart, either)

I started my contribution for my knitting group's Neckwarmer Exchange. Fun pattern. Gorgeous yarn. This will be wonderful, I thought.

Not so.

What's the first rule of knitting in the round kids? Don't twist your stitches. Yeah, I did.

Thankfully I have a plane ride to London on Sunday night to make up for the mishap. But I'll be missing the last home games for the Mets. Just remember kids - don't be this guy, this drunk guy at a Mets game who got decorated. Skip to around minute 7:15.

Dear Secret Knitter

My lovely knitting group, Sit n' Knit, is having another knitting exchange. This time it's neckwarmers. As I've never knit one before and I don't know my recipient too well, this should be fun! I thought I'd chat to my knitter (hopefully you're reading!) and give her some more insight into little ol' me.

Hi! First off, yes I'm vegan, but I still have lots of wool in my stash and haven't decided yet if I want to say adios to wool. Saying that, I'd prefer non-animal fabrics, but if you found something that I would just LOVE, then by all means, knit it! Also, I love color! I love bright colors, earth tones, all of em. Honestly, I'm not that picky. Just something soft in a funky pattern, and I'll be happy!

Little Leetle's socks are finally done! Here's the issue... As they are a size 5, I have no idea how to block them. Ideas?


The Fishnet Stockings are almost done. Blocking and seaming awaits!

And... FINALLY my Interweave Press books have arrived. Back in July, they had an amazing sale so Kate and I had to buy lots. Here's our installment.


Mine
Lace Style by Pam Allen and Ann Budd
No Sheep For You by Amy Singer
Knitting Vintage Socks, Nancy Bush

Kate's
Wrap Style by Pam Allen and Ann Budd
Best of Interweave Knits by Pam Allen and Ann Budd

Not Much Knitting But Lots of Playa Dust

I just returned from Burning Man and what a scene it was! Having never been I had no idea what to expect. It was pretty amazing. Here is my (rather mediocre) flickr photoset, but check out any Burning Man pics on flickr.


Above you have my entry ticket, a Burning Man sticker, 2 awesome leather bracelets and a crocheted butterfly. The bracelets and butterfly were some goodies that people were giving out. I never got my act together to do everything that I said I was going to do except for the "cape." The fun fur proved to be very warm in the the desert at night!

Here's a quick rundown on how it all went.

Tuesday - fly from NYC to Minneapolis to Denver
Wednesday - drive in VW van with aunt from Denver through Colorado, Utah and Nevada
Thursday - arrive in Black Rock City, NV (appx 80 miles north of Reno). Get "devirginized" by rolling in the desert dust AKA the Playa. Lots of playtime in the Playa
Friday - more playtime
Saturday - more playtime
Sunday - drive back towards Denver BUT the van breaks down 65 miles outside of Reno. AAA tows us to Reno where we eventually buy plane tickets to Denver
Monday - fly from Reno to Salt Lake City. Beg Northwest and Delta ticketing agents through tear-soaked eyes to get me on a NYC-bound flight AFTER I pick up already-checked luggage since they SAID that they COULD get me on a flight. Can you sense my anger when they said that they couldn't? Fly from SLC to Denver.
Tuesday - fly from Denver back through Minneapolis to LaGuardia

Comments? Yeah, what a trip! But hey, at least I have stocking #1 of my Stitch-n-Bitch Nation's Quick n Dirty Fishnet Stockings done! Not positive how to seam these...


And waiting for me at work after a week's absence is a VERY belated birthday present - 100% Angora yarn in a gorgeous burgundy from London's Angel Yarns. Thanks Benn! Now what will I make with this?


And if you aren't pay attention, LET'S GO METS! First place! I feel that this September will be a much better one than last year's. If you don't know to what I'm referring, let's just not discuss Sept 07. It never happened.