Did I Forget Anything?

I've got stacks by the suitcase...stack of clothes, and a stack of yarn. I'm planning on knitting a lot during my flights to TN, NJ, and Rome. Here's what I think I can get done (oh, yeah, there's a bus ride to Naples and Pompeii that will make for good knitting time): this cabled neck tube, a Christmas gift for a friend who wears more black than I do; two pairs of Susan Lawrence's fingerless mittens, presents for Christmas; two sets of these nifty bike helmet ear warmers for two biking maniacs on my list.

The cables, by the way, came on suddenly after seeing Noelle's yumster Irish hiking scarf as she knit and I spun. Span. Need to master my verb tenses. She's making the scarf out of her own, burgandy, soft, yumster yarn, btw.

Don't you just love posts with lots of links? I do. Especially links to cool things. Like, when I went on Scout's blog I followed her lusty lead and fell in love with this. And 'cuz Bee's so cool, I'll be getting a bag of my own sometime after the New Year in exchange for one of my nifty Threaded Bliss Yarn convertible shruglet (see the September 8th post to finally get a look at the darn thing).

The rest of my night will be spent in a somewhat looney packing frenzy interspersed with the effort of finishing my Grammar exam. I'll be gone for a while, but when I come back, I'll post pictures of Roma.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Another Quiz

Your Birthdate: February 9

You are a born idealist, with more pet causes than you can count.You prefer be around others, both when working and while relaxing.Generous and giving, you believe you can change the world one person at a time.You're open minded and tolerant. People feel like they can tell you anything. Your strength: Your go-with-the-flow flexibility Your weakness: Your flair for the over dramatic Your power color: Pine green Your power symbol: Circle Your power month: September

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

Flair for the over dramatic? What could that mean? Anyone?

Just back from the SnB at Flying Star--what fun. Paula got to practice knitting on circs, thanks to Ramona. Cari was zipping through an adorable black fur hand mitt (with yarn from the swap), Carole started her airy scarf--it's going to be yumsters, especially with the holiday outfit she's got planned. Jamie was working on a square for her square swap, Amy on a sweet baby hat (having a baby? Let Amy know, she's an expert at baby knitting!). Laurie stopped by for a while, but has a bad shoulder, so she wasn't knitting. Noelle worked on her fuzzy feet and gave a little drop spindle demonstration. Yes, we wound yarn in the middle of a restaurant. And, yes, that was Hannah, not the Interweave model (you know, with the fabu wavy red hair and fair skin) who was there for the first time. Me? I started my first One Skein Wonder for a Christmas present. I'll have lots of pix on 12/26, I promise!

WBNM Posse

My girl Scout filled me in on these nifty Frappr Maps. So, just as a little sociological anthropological experiment, please head over to Frappr and let me know where my posse's living. Even if you're just making a quick visit to my little corner of cyberspace, I'd love to see your picture on my map!

Tomorrow night is the Albuquerque Stitch 'n Bitch at the Flying Star Cafe. My other girly, Noelle, is going to show up--yippee! Check out the yarns she spins on Etsy. Are you feeling kind of like I do, a little jealous that I'm not knitting with them? She'll make us more, I'm sure of it.

Friday night I read from one of my short stories at UNM's Works in Progress night. I was battling a cold, but my voice held out. Maybe it was the little sumthin extra Martine put in my tea. My sweet friend Liz gave me a lovely boquet of flowers. The McDonald's next door gave me a towing bill. Yup, after the euphoria of a performance that didn't shame me (although it wasn't as stellar as it could have been), my car was towed. I got it back Saturday after writing a check for $118. Just when I thought I was making progress on saving for a spinning wheel. But as mom always says, everything happens for a reason. I'm trying to keep from being too cranky about the whole thing. I do, after all, head for Rome in a week. You heard me right!

I'm renting a Louet from Village Wools until Saturday. Before I go to Rome (yes, I did say Rome), I'll try to post a picture of what I've been spinning. Pink and brown, like my office. Hope it looks as good as I'm imagining it!

I'm off to spin and knit.

Beverly Bunny, Just for Neal

congratulations. you are the kiss my ass happy
bunny. You don't care about anyone or anything.
You must be so proud

which happy bunny are you?
brought to you by

Don't the Timing Beat All!

At the beginning of the semester, a call was put out for graduate students to read at UNM's Works in Progress monthly event. I signed up for November, figured that would give me plenty of time to have a piece ready to read. Well, guess what? I caught the first cold I've had in two years. Started Tuesday night with a bit of a fever and lots of sneezing. I feel sorry for the folks coming out to listen to me and my sorry, scratchy voice.

I attended two defenses this week, both which impressed me. Chad, a non-fiction writer, is finishing up his MA degree with a strong thesis. I was really moved by what he read. And my girly Val read from her novel and answered questions with amazing clarity and grace. Thanks to her parents for the celebratory dinner!

I finished knitting Dana's Christmas gift on Tuesday...just need to felt it now. I'm not too confident at this point that I'll achieve my goal, but I'll make a good try for knitting all the Christmas gifts. The key will be to bring some projects with me to Rome. Yes, Rome. I'll be there (thanks to my darling MB) for Thanksgiving.

No pictures. I have to work on the story I'm reading tomorrow...as if I knew which one that was going to be! 'night.

Happy Birthday, MB!

Happy Birthday! I love you. xxxxx

Teach. Spin. Swap.

I've got about two minutes before I have to get ready for my students. I teach for a few hours, then a friend of one of my knitting group friends has invited me over to test out her wheels--I've been looking forward to that for weeks. Then tonight is the big Albuquerque Yarn Swap! Noelle won't be there because she's got an ornament swap--yup, first holiday party. But it should be just wonderful, as my mom would say. Wonderful.

November: Birth Month of MBA. Celebrate, Fools. Celebrate

So my older sister's b'day is on Sunday. And we girls LOVE our b'days. She celebrates a Birth Month, which enables the festivities to go on and on and on. Raise a toast in her honor, will ya, already?

Other fascinating news: My Horoscope from Crazy Aunt Purl :
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18)Online shopping. Email. TV. The radio you listen to late at night. It's all part of your bubble, helping you achieve your goal of interacting with as few people as possible in the world. Is this really necessary? Do you really need to turn into me, The Hermit Extraordinaire? Don't you need some real-life TLC? Gooey kissing and schmaltzy hand-holding with puppy dog eyes is really good for the complexion. Of course, you are too well-mannered to slurp in public. But I suggest you venture out this month and start making some eye contact. Bedroom eyes suit you.

Yes, as a matter of cold, hard fact, Auntie P., I DO need some real life TLC...just whined about it to Neal for the duration of our phone date. "I want someone to take care of me. No one takes care of me. I need someone to take care of me." Poor Baby Beverly. Neal: "No you don't." "I do, too." "I take care of you plenty." "No you don't." It was a fruitful conversation. So, although I won't be partaking in any gooey kissing this weekend, I WILL be hostessing TWO parties: a yarn swap on Friday night with awesome knitters from all around Albuquerque, and a post-Halloween party on Saturday for anyone who cares to show up. I'm going to be a Stepford wife, not a bunny as Neal suggested. By the way, his costume of choice is a mouse. Huh?

All this partying is really in honor of MB, sister and best friend. She rocks.