A looooong overdue thank you...

So I've been on the coast and in the desert of So. Cal. to help my employer with some riveting market research for the last week which has made it virtually impossible to blog about the most aweseomest par-tay. The coolest thing? It was for me!!

On July 4th (how fitting, eh?), the knitters of Toronto gave me an amazing send off at The Purple Purl organized by the delightful Lady Lung Doc. The party wasn't a surprise (especially since my work threw a wrench into the party cogs) but I have to say the turnout was. I really felt the love. And the biggest surprise? The community afghan! I didn't take any photos but Michelle has a great recap (and the most adorable picture of me that I've seen in a long time... ok, maybe ever).

There was lots of almost crying from me. I was proud that I was able to keep it together enough that I didn't start blubbering all over the place.... cuz that's what I do when I'm met with any type of happy/sad emotional situation... the waterworks start. I hope that everyone that was there felt the love back. I am so happy that I found this amazing group of folks. You are seriously some of the nicest people I have ever met. I'm devastated that I'm leaving such an amazing community. I am seriously going to miss EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU!!!!!! As I've said before (and I really mean it) you are all welcome to crash on my couch/Aerobed® when we have a place to call our own - which at this moment feels like never but that is another post for another time.

A giganto shout out goes to the Lady Lung Doc herself. (Wootwoot!) Check out her flickr set of the afghan and if you contributed a square than make a note on one of the close up shots she's got going. I want to know who did what square(s)!

Also a big thanks goes out to Jen and Miko for always making the Purple Purl the most welcoming place on earth.

And hugs to everyone who came to the party!

Ok, now I'm gonna go cry. But it's a good cry, I promise! *sniff!*

PS: If you're in TO, I'm hosting my last knitting at the HOS on Sunday (the 20th). Drop me a note if you need the deets.

If I said I was distracted...

Would you believe me? I was thinking last night as I was knitting in my living room, enjoying the beauty that is new furniture, and I realized I haven't finished one knitted object since the Tit-bit in early October. In fact, last night was the first night I dedicated any amount of time to my projects. One thing I realized is that I have lots of projects in various stages of not done.


CLOCKWISE: Huggable Toy Bear from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts in Mission Falls 1842 Wool (One stubby arm complete.); Official Kitty62 hat from kittyville.com in nasty-assed Mary Maxim Starlette (What can I say? It was to be a Halloween costume. I swear! If it makes you feel better I'm having lots of trouble with the yarn); Tithe from Noro Unlimited by Jane Ellison (That's the back piece. I'm already at the arm shaping.) and then finally the Lace Wings shawl in Handmaiden Sea Silk (I've done 13cm since the end of September. Do you think I'll get it done by February when I plan to go to California to give it in person?).


CLOCKWISE: "Gypsy" Shawl in Gypsy by NY Yarns (I need to have someone show me how to crochet an edge and then this puppy will be complete.); Orangina in Mandarin Petit (Which has been a work in progress since May); a cabled scarf/hat combo from Rebecca #30 in Blue Sky Worsted (I know it looks like a cuff, but it's not. It will be ripped and turned into something else.); Very Cherry in Rowan Holiday (Another project that's been in progress since the beginning of June. Considering ripping it out.); Gauge Swatch in Estelle's Woolly Bully (Slated for either a cowl neck sleeveless or a plain ol' top-up seamless sweater.); in the middle are the dreaded socks of despair that I am doing for Amy (Must keep under wraps, but seriously it looks like it's in a wee body bag, which is fitting since I've had to rip it so much I'm ready to kill it. If you *can* kill an inanimate object. Please tell me I can.)

Gak! What a terribly boring post. Oh, well. I said I was distracted and I guess going on a weird tangent is part of it. BTW - I have my Permanent Residency interview next Wednesday, the 13th, at 4:00pm. I have to go to Scarborough. I think that's the bulk of my distraction. Plus I'm trying to get things done for the DKC's December meeting which falls on the 14th. Eep!

a slight pity party

Do you ever have that feeling that no matter what you touch turns to gold? Every new task you take to hand ends up like something you've done a thousand and one times? Like you wanna hold a master's class on how awesome you really are?

Right now I having the opposite feeling.

Everything I touch needs to be ripped, frogged, redone and thrown back in the basket with a big ol' "mea culpa" flying from my lips.

- I'm dropping stitches as if the pattern actually calls for them.
- I'm decreasing in new and imaginative (read: incorrect and lumpy) ways.
- And most importantly, I'm not getting any satisfaction out of the items I'm knitting.

Is Jupiter in retrograde, or what?!!! There has got to be some explanation other than I am not awesome. I hope.