Uncle Leona's Day Camp

I am, without question, the world's coolest aunt

Just check out what arrived on my doorstep today for my 13-year-old nephew:

Other than a girlfriend with a nice rack (which is what my brother told him to ask Santa for last week before our family photo), this is the perfect gift. My nephew has a bunch of buddies that play poker from time-to-time. He will now be Mr. Cool as he walks in with his "official" World Series of Poker paraphernalia.

That is, if he can lift it. That suitcase has got to weigh 15 pounds.

Now, if I could only come up with something for my father, the man who literally has everything...

Just when I thought I had seen it all...

...I watch my Brownies score 48 points...and lose. There should be some sort of law against that. This team hasn't managed to score 48 points in the last three games COMBINED! Only five more games, then it's time to really hate winter.

Winter, however, just got a bit warmer! My Black Friday shopping spree at the LYS scored me a skein of Noro Transitions, which is now this:

This is from Wendy's Hat Pattern, which I managed to whip up in about three hours. I initially was making the Multidirectional Diagonal Scarf, but after two tries, I realized a second skein (at $25 a pop--ugh) would be needed. The cheapass bum that I am, I changed my mind. Besides, didn't I just finish a big ol' scarf??

Now it's time to really dig down and get to work on Christmas gifts. My brother now wants head covers for his 3 and 5 woods, and my sister-in-law is still strongly suggesting that I make her a Crayon Box Jacket.

Good thing I took 5 days off at Christmas. I may need it.

Cover me, I'm going in!

Once more, into the breach, dear friends.... Well, maybe not the breach, but the mall. Either way, body armor may be necessary. It's a family tradition (unfortunately, one that I started years ago....stupid, stupid, stupid) to head off to one of the local shopping malls on the day after Thanksgiving. Every year, I get that much more Grinchy about the whole thing.

I mean, how much Bath and Body Works can one person stand?

We will start off at the local LYS, though, so the day isn't a complete loss.

If I'm not back in a day, call your local authorities. Look for my trampled body somewhere near the Tupperware kiosk.

There are some things that just feel good

Turning onto your street after a long road trip.

Pushing the lawn mower on that last strip of grass.

Watching the level of lager in your glass decrease just in time to get another one at Happy Hour prices.

You know, it's the feeling of making the heel turn.

This is the Rainbow Super Sock yarn I got at Knit Fest. This may be the nicest sock yarn I have EVER knit with (and that's saying something...I have a lot of socks). The color is spectacular (no, it doesn't match my wardrobe...bite me), the stitches are very even, the fiber is sooooooo soft, and it even smells good. I urge all of you to go out and get some.

Now!! I'll wait.

My stuffing sense is tingling

Two more days, just two more days. There's something about that Thanksgiving meal that just brings out the pig in me. Turkey, taters, stuffing, and pumpkin pie....

Then the traditional snoring in front of the second football game. Nothing like the holidays.

The Meetup went nicely on Saturday. Wound up only being me and a brand new knitter at Starbucks. I chugged away on a (now finished) sock, and she worked on a washcloth. She was so excited when she was able to bind off--this kid (OK, so she's 28...she isn't exactly a kid, but then again, I'm an old fart of 42) has a chance to really become addicted to the craft.

And I am the perfect enabler. Yarn shops in the region should pay me a retainer fee for all the folks I send their way.

This weather sucks

I think I reach that conclusion just before Thanksgiving every year. Presently, we're enjoying a series of days that vacillate between foggy, dreary, drizzly, and just plain soggy. For what it's worth, the temperature has never left the 50's. I guess that's good; by this time of year, I'm usually cursing the first accumulations of snow.

It's only a matter of time. Better check the spark plug on the snow blower.

I think I am going to head off to the Cleveland West Meetup Saturday evening. According to the site, I won't be the only person at the local Starbucks with yarn. It should be a nice way to meet other knitaholics out there. Or just to garner a good buzz on a grande latte.

Side note: contrary to many locales, I do have a "Local Starbucks," singular. My neck of the woods is far more saturated with Caribou Coffee.

I'm plodding along on the FrankenCopley; one sleeve and the back are done:

This is slow going, let me tell you. K1 P1 gets real old, even when it is only on the right side. Just can't get up to speed, which drives me absotively nuts (that word is my own creation; Webster's has nothin' on me).

In order to attack that fun sock yarn I got at Knit Fest, I have to get a pair done. This project has been languishing in my desk at work for almost a year:

I managed to attack and finish the entire foot of the sock (from gusset to toe) a couple of nights ago. Mindless knitting effectively performed while lusting after Matthew Fox on Lost. OK, it continued into a couple of episodes of Mythbusters, too. I'm fast, but not that fast. Now, there are approximately three rows of ribbing on the needles for sock #2. Can you say, mindless football knitting??

Speaking of football:

GO MIAMI!!! BEAT AKRON!!!