Just a Quick Note

I'm off for my prison visit in about an hour. We're actually up and alive for a change, so we might get there before midnight for a change. I've just been knitting, so I'm sort of boring today. I did get a couple of amazing things in the mail, though, so I thought I'd share them.

First, I got my Monkey Sock Swap package from my new friend, Penny. She sent the most amazing package - everything inside was individually wrapped in tissue and ribbon with a tag carefully lettered and attached to each little package. The socks she made me are amazing - they have a gorgeous picot edge instead of the normal one and are made of Lorna's Laces in Tuscany. I won't spoil it by telling you all the goodies she put inside, but pictures will follow next week after we get home. It was a truly amazing package and renewed my faith in swaps. My last one didn't go too well, and I haven't heard from my pal in that one for quite a while. I also never got my socks from it, but I have continued hope that one day, I'll actually get them. With the ones I just received, that brings my grand total of handmade socks to two. Yes, you heard it right. Two. I got so jazzed because of that swap that I joined Secret Pal 12. I'm hoping that one will be fun, too.

The other thing which arrived and totally blew me out of the water was a shawl made just for me by my dear friend, Pixie, from Exeter, Great Britain. I had asked her if she would make me one after seeing the test shawls she was making for Anni (of Anni Designs - I sell her gorgeous patterns and yarn in the shop). Anyway, Anni dyed the yarn (laceweight cashmere) in a blue-green color - it's incredible - and Pixie knitted this shawl in a WEEK. I can barely cast on in a week. The shawl has the most beautiful pattern - sort of a leaf design all over it - and I found the perfect shawl pin from KaratStix (you'll see them appear next week in the shop). It's made of coconut shell and dyed in soft green, yellow, and pink with a copper leaf-topped, twisted fastener. I cried, I was so touched that Pixie did this for me. I'm putting together a nice gift for her and will show pictures of that next week, too (the shawl, not the gift). You'll actually get to see me modeling it (better sit down and put on sunglasses or something before you view it lest you go blind). Hubster put it on for me so I could see all the design work and how it looked on someone. I wanted a picture of that, but he sort of drew the line. I think you'll love the shawl - I'm taking it with me to Folsom since it gets chilly in the morning. I also have to hoof it in because of the holiday. At least they're not on lockdown this time.

So those were my two surprises. Things continue to arrive for the shop, and I continue to add new vendors and restock existing ones. I try to do a few each night, but there are some nights (and days) where all I can do is sleep. It's really strange - I literally can't open my eyes and just sleep for hours on end. This hasn't done much for my knitting, but it is what it is. I think it's the diabetes, but I won't find out about that for another month.

Next week, the T-Bird has to go in and get an oil change and a smog certificate. Oh boy. I LOVE doing car shit. A few weeks after that, I get to go to the DMV for a new picture and an eye test. I guess the state makes you do that when you turn 50. This birthday is giving me mixed feelings. It's really strange knowing that I've lived more than half my life. I'm hoping Hubster will do something really cool for it, but since we're trying to save money for a house, I don't know. The original plan was for a new Corvette or Harley and going to Vegas to get remarried by Elvis, but I don't know what he has up his sleeve. I suppose I should be grateful for having lived this long, but I want the big celebration, the well-wishes, the gifts, the cards, blah blah blah. I'll probably get shit. We'll see.

So now I'm off to pack my bags, get my flutes together, make sure I have everything I need, put my knitting in my bag and make sure I have all the crap I need for that, and hit the road. We'll be in heavy traffic on the way home - people tend to like going to where I used to live for boating or going to Reno/Tahoe, and the route we take is the same one they do. I think the drive home is going to suck. I'll probably sleep through it, but that doesn't make it any more bearable. It'll most likely take an hour more than it should. I had considered canceling it, but my boys are waiting for me...

I hope you all had a lovely holiday and are safe no matter what you're doing. We may actually get some rain - the wind has picked up and the sky is darkening - which would be delightful. We're now in a drought and have to conserve water, so any rain would be more than welcome. Our water company is just about ready to officially put limits on our water usage. It's bad this year; in fact, this is the worst it's been since 1970. I remember that one - it was really difficult. The good old slogan, "If it's yellow, let it mellow; if it's brown, flush it down" isn't that far from the truth around here. I think it's Santa Barbara which has a desalination plant, but we have no such thing up here. I can't even shower with Hubster - our shower isn't big enough. The only house we've lived in that had a shower where we could both go in at the same time was the first house we lived in when we moved back to California. That was - geez - 15 years ago. How time flies when you're having fun.

Or just sitting on your fat ass and drooling.