CSNF 2

I could go on and on, drag out the story with a whole lot of fugly lead-up details, but I'll just cut to the chase.

I WON!!!

Nobody seems to know this (I guess it should top my "Random List") but I get massive stage fright. I really like public speaking and teaching and I've been told that I do it well, but even though I'm prepared, knowledgeable and able I am physically sick before I speak/teach.
I need to thank Joan and Carole for being there and with nothing but encouraging, funny & distracting words. I especially need to thank Cindy for being a grounding and centering force - I would have totally puked or fainted or curled up in the fetal position if it weren't for her. She was like the gentle pony (trust me Ed, she can be a gentle pony) that they let make travel with the high-strung race horse to keep her from totally losing it. Cindy also took pictures! Monica was wonderful & I'm so glad that she showed up (the Saturday winner didn't) because they'd've made me sit up there & knit alone if she hadn't!!

I swear that I am going to figure out how to do a podcast because Cindy & I were fucking hilarious with our commentating at the Saturday night banquet!!! "It's not catty & bitchy if it's true" will be our motto.

It was a lot of fun, even the stage bit in hindsight, and I can't wait to do it again next year. I'm sure that there will be fodder aplenty for Cindy & I to podcast.

ETA pictures.

CSNF 1

It started with Fiona's book launch for her Inspired Fair Isle knits on Wednesday night and it just hasn't stopped. Classes (cross stitch & petit point - could these be my new loves?) speed knitting trials (I won Friday and my fastest time this year with the acrylic yarn that they're using is 233 sts), wandering around the show floor and meeting up with new friends and old ones ( Olga!!!)has me exhausted. And yet here it is, 3:01AM and I can't sleep. Even Paul Scheele's Deep Sleep Meditation skills are not up to the task tonight this morning.
I felt the niggling beginnings of a cold yesterday when I woke up, but hopefully sheer determination and the DayQuil that Joan picked up at Shoppers will keep me from debilitating illness for another day. I went to bed early tonight but that's obviously not working so well.

The CSNF is going with a knit-off on Sunday afternoon to determine the Fastest Knitter title and every time that I think of throwing down with the other 2 knitters my heart starts racing & my hands get sweaty! I won't mind not winning as long as I don't utterly embarrass myself (throwing up from stage fright & knitting about 20 sts rank very high in my nightmares!!) in front of the crowd that the show is trying to drum up.

I've been utterly forgetful about taking pictures. I'll try to cram a whole whack of 'em in tomorrow.

Oh - and for some reason I haven't been able to reply to emails - I can get them & I can get online, but it's a one-way stream apparently - so I haven't been ignoring y'all, I'm just screaming from a sound proof room.
Krista - I'm just not a fan of any knitted pant or skirt because of what happens to knitted fabrics when they are stretched around derrières & knees when you sit. It only has so much resilience and then it's permanently misshapen. Unless you're going to stand up all of the time, then I'm all for them! However, I think that you would look great standing up in that skirt.
Sam - Of course it counts - good on ya!!
Kristina - Oh yeah, I know. LOL I wear dark colours and a towel tied around my neck when I eat curry at home.
Carol - You can't like 'em all. I'll like this one enough for both of us.

No wonder I can't sleep - the bloody city is still awake!! Halloween parties at the after hours clubs, sirens of all description, people who desperately need ice at 3AM and the wake up booty call in the room beside mine at 2:45. Oh well, I'll try to sleep again and maybe this is a good thing. I just be too tired & bleary-eyed to be a nervous wreck tomorrow.

Let it Snow!

The IK Winter issue preview is up. I'm in lust for the Ivy League Vest. I think that we can declare a preparedness for winter - bring it on!!!

Working Much, Knitting Some

Days are blurring into each other. Route verification, garter stitch scarves, spelling bee lists, cable charts, laundry sorting, gauge swatches ... they overlap and run concurrently. I probably have cables in the bus runs (like the maps could be any more confusing!!) and word lists in my tension notes.
Mix in a day trip to London to meet Kim and buy her Majacraft Saxony and stopping in Kitchener at my cousins to get my (an Amanda's) hair did on the way back.
And trying to get everything that I could possibly need (and a few things that I probably won't, but you can't be too careful) for my 4 - YES!!! FOUR - days away from home while I'm at the CSNF.
Making sure that Amanda has some supervision for Friday (normally I'm all for PA days, but this one is NOT helping me).

All of this on top of everything that I always have to do. And while I will totally enjoy every minute of my time at the CSNF, that too will come to an end with a bang. Kerwyn is jetting off to Vegas for a week right after I get back.

Ah well, I hate being bored so even though this is a bit of overkill, I'll take it.

Oh, Kristina tagged me so I'll do it quick.

Page 161, 5th line of the book that I'm currently reading.

"The owner of the hotel, Monsieur Annaud, had a strong local accent, all flat vowels and nasal consonants." Labyrinth by Kate Moss

I know that these five people read my blog and will likely take the tag & run with it, so Kenny, Julie (don't edit out the good bits!), Sandra, Roxie & Bonne are tagged.

Discounted Yarn

Of the 5-fingered variety.