I’m Beautiful Like Me.

On Tuesday night, I was very nervous about heading to our new meeting grounds, Perkfection, for knit-night. The bunch had been going for several weeks in a row now, since Sunergos has been entirely too crowded for us to knit comfortably. I had been there before. However, the weather was icky, very cold and very wet. Furthermore, Perkfection is across the bridge in Indiana. Bridges are especially icky in very cold, very wet weather.

But it was a night we’d been planning for weeks now. We’d drawn names for a Secret Santa swap and Tuesday was the night we’d planned to do the exchanging. I bit down and drove myself there, very, very cautiously. I stopped in to visit with Anne at Grinny Possum beforehand to wish her a happy holiday and to discuss my recent knitting tragedies. Just as every other knitter I’d ever met so far, she listened with patience and an abundance of empathy, sympathy and the occasional strategically placed curse word directed at the yarn, the fates and anything that required cursing on my behalf. Anne, if you are reading, I love you!

I made it to Perkfection early, grabbed a seat and chatted up the cashier. We’d become acquainted the week before and I rather liked her right away. Still in Secret Santa mode, I purchased a caramel latte for my spoilee and impatiently waited for everyone else to arrive. The turnout was amazing! We even had a new knitter join us - a man I met several weeks earlier while helping out at Grinny Possum. It seemed like forever before everyone was there and the exchanging of gifts commenced. I did more talking and socializing than knitting, too! We each watched as everyone opened their gift, allotted for plenty of ooohing and aaahhhhing. It was the most fun discovering who had whom.

I got the most beautiful package, complete with a perfectly-tied red bow. I carefully peeled away the wrapping paper and found a nifty Christmas box inside. I love stuff to put stuff in! I removed the lid to find amazingly beautiful purple and pink self-striping sock yarn - YAY! As much as I love the yarn, I love the red bow. I tied it in my hair for the remainder of the evening.

After everyone had opened their gifts, I wanted to accompany J outside for a cigarette. I was convinced that there was a good reason to wait, totally persuaded by superior diversionary tactics. With complete complacency, I sat there and continued to gab away, oblivious to what was to unfold next.

Nellis and Samagchestlah came in from outside (I hadn’t even noticed them leave!), arms full of gifts for my family and I. I was absolutely blind-sided by them, rendered speechless by this surprise and nearly moved to tears. Elevena had donated books and toys from her own childhood, including a vintage Little People castle and all the pieces. Sonnie, Nellis and Samagchestlah had shopped for clothes and toys for the kids. Someone had donated a brand new makeup bag filled with facial scrubs and makeup from Clinique. It was a monumental moment in my life - one I will always, always remember.

And as if that weren’t enough (oh, but it was! These ladies really outdid themselves!), they next handed me a Christmas card with $100 inside.

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Reliving the moment as I write this, again I feel quite speechless.

Maybe they know, maybe they don’t, but that $100 will help make next month’s rent.

I cannot emphasize enough how grateful I am that each and every one of these women have come into my life. I feel incredibly blessed to know them. I feel incredibly blessed by their patience and generosity. I feel that words are insufficient to truly convey my innermost feelings. They encourage me when I am down, praise me for work well done, kid with me, laugh with me, cry with me, embrace me, give so much to me, share words of wisdom, extend a hand to me, relieve me from the real world for 2.5 hours every week and are my friends.

To the group formerly known as Quills Knitters, I love you. Merry Christmas to you and yours. Thank you so much for the Merry Christmas to me and mine.

Thank you so much!

P.S. I promise that I will post pictures as soon as humanly possible. Husband and I had to use every trick up our sleeve to camouflage all the great stuff you gave us in with the decor in our tiny apartment. Stay tuned!

After a week of sick and ick, our household is coming back around again. The baby is still feeling a bit of the cranky side from lack of sleep and proper meals (I think his belly is still a bit flippy-floppy - an educated guess since that is how mine is feelings). The girl is doing pretty well, too.

Big Rob’s girlfriend’s oldest daughter spent the night one night this week since they are still ironing out the details of her new school since they just moved. Joy was thrilled to have her. During the day before Joy came home from school, she cleaned Joy’s room from top to bottom. After dinner, she and Joy tackled the dishes and the next day, she folded a mountain of laundry. I’m ready to trade her for the boy!

I had the job interview with the state yesterday, but I’m not feeling very confident about it. They told me they should have their decision around November 15.

In the meantime, I’m still in restaurant hell. Husband has been advertising for his business online and we’ve printed out some fliers that we’ve handed out to our friends, but at this time we haven’t heard a breath, let alone a word. I’m nervous about how the bills will be paid next month.

I did get to go out to knit night last night after missing it the week before. Husband was cool with me leaving a bit early, too, so I got quite a few hours away! As usual, I had fun (even though I missed seeing Sonnie there!) and I got one of the armwarmers I’m working on finished and a pretty good start on the second. I’m going to finish the thumbs on both later. I also frogged that damn Nutkin sock again. This time it was too small. Sigh. (I can hear Nellis now: “Gauge!”)

When I got home, Husband and I hung out watching House and a few other shows before heading to bed. Big Rob’s girlfriend wanted to return the favor and kept Joy overnight at her place and drove her to school this morning. Buddha actually slept last night, too, so it was a very nice evening.

I finally finished my first pair of socks! It was very exciting to bring them in to Knit Night tonight and share them with my friends! FOs (finished objects) are always fun to share.

I’m very pleased with the way they turned out. I even like that the stripes are different on each sock. It’s quirky and unique!

I also finished the Wavy Gravy hat I started a couple of days ago. I was extremely frustrated with it for the first ten rounds or so, but then the pattern started to manifest and I found myself really digging it. 

I can see why Sonnie loves hat-making: it’s fun and fast.

I also like the yarn I used for this hat - Boku instead of Noro (which is what the pattern called for). It’s less expensive and just as pretty.

It was a small group tonight. On the far left there, you see Elevena, our celebrity friend.

The coffee was pretty and yummy.

And there was a "new" person tonight. Okay, so she isn’t exactly new, but it is the first time I have met the YarnVixen, so she’s new to me! I really liked her, too and hope she can make it to Knit Night more often. Here she models her super-nifty eyeglass lights. I must get some of these!

Last week, the knit night at Grinny Possum changed to the first Friday of the month since the holidays are coming up. It worked out well, though, since it was the 4th Birthday of Grinny Possum! We got together last Friday night for a lot of knitting fun and to celebrate.

I must admit, I am humbled that Grinny Possum has been open for 4 years and I am just now discovering the joy and wonder that is this amazing place. I am so happy I found it and adopted myself into the family!

There was food and wine and - best of all - excellent company.

I continue to be impressed by the generosity and kindness of knitters I’ve met. I am so happy to have new friends among these wonderful folks.

We laughed so hard, too! Sonnie had us rolling with a great story or two of her own.

Even caught a shot of Grinny Possum himself! On my first ever trip to Grinny Possum, I asked Anne how she ever came up with the name. She said a family friend called her husband that. I wasn’t satisfied by the answer until I met him myself. This shot does no justice.

Samagchestlah is so close to completing her sweater! She models it here. It looks pretty farkin’ great. Good job, girl!

Happy Birthday, Grinny Possum!

Friday Night Knitting at Grinny Possum is awesome. It’s usually on the last Friday of the month, but due to the upcoming holiday season, starting next month it will be on the first Friday of the month. So I get it two weeks in a row! Yay!

There were some new (to me) faces - including two men. How cool to kick it with crafty guys! I hope to see them more often.

Once again, I received generous assistance turning the heel and picking up the gusset of my second sock.

Knitters are the best!

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Some fun shots from Tuesday night at Sunergos. 

BakerX with her totally adorable boy Sam, who was too shy to pose properly with Elevena and I.

He’s such a mellow babe, but he is quickly approaching that age where it will be impossible for his mama to join us with any expectation of having fun if he is in tow.

Trust me. That’s why mine stays at home!

Sonnie and her daughter, O. I wish I could remember what they are looking at!

My very first knit finished object (FO)! Pictured here complete with a yummy mocha latte and a book. What more could one need for a little joy in life?
 

Let me model it on for you.

Now if only I had another for the other foot. It’s coming together. Slowly.
 

On Wednesday, I invited Big Rob over for dinner. I made Hot Browns. This was my second attempt and lemme tell you, they turned out so much better this time. The secret was a half teaspoon Lea & Perrins and a quarter cup cheddar cheese.

Today, my friend P and I hung out for the first time (I swear it is the very first time ever) sans children while also being sober. We have such a hard time collaborating our schedules to hook up. She’s on vacation this week, though and promised to kick it with me, even if just for a bit.

She called last night and we planned to check out one of the local yarn stores (LYS) since she wants me to knit her a pair of socks. We also intended on getting coffee and perusing the nearby Goodwill.

We head out to the LYS. It was delicious in there! So many yummy yarns to touch and I wanted to take them all home. The air in there was a bit stiff, however, and I got a couple of sideways glances from the lady running the place ’cause I just had to touch everything. P held back and I looked at her with sheer befuddlement: “Why aren’t you touching?!”

Afterwards, we went to Java, a little coffee shop just next door. The owner was super friendly and made a damn fine mocha latte. I was disappointed that I couldn’t smoke on the patio, though. I quickly drained my mug and we decided to hit the other yarn store across the bridge in Indiana. We had such a hard time deciding on yarn. Plus, earlier this week, Sonnie sent me an email invite to the Knit Night at the LYS where she works part-time, complete with 20% coupon for yarn. We didn’t have the coupon with us, but I planned to attend the Knit Night later and this way, we could make a more informed decision about yarn for socks.

The word about town is that Grinny Possum is the place to go for all one’s yarn needs because it just the best place.

Well, that is not entirely true…

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