Lesson Learned?

Punky (who's 5): Mom what do you do at work?

Me: You know what I do at work buddy don't you?

Punky: Ummmm.....research stuff?

Me: Yep.

Punky: And teaching?

Me: Yep. Do you know what I teach?

Punky: Knitting?

He still hasn't learned....

Travels

My week is mainly going to be composed of getting ready for a work-trip and spending as much time as possible with the boys before I go away. I'm only gone for 5 days, but I know (as much as I complain about them at times) I will miss them all terribly.

So what does a knitter do to get ready for a trip?

Find out where the yarn stores are of course.

I've enquired with the appropriate group on Ravelry and received some PMs as well regarding the different stores. I have a tentative plan for seeing what I can.

The next thing a knitter needs to plan....travel knitting. I actually have no idea what to bring. I'd like to finish my Kai-Mei socks, but I'd also like a really simple and easy to transport project. I will be stash-diving tonight to look at my options.

For now, back to the lists. Lists for packing, lists of meals I've prepared for the family, lists of reminders for my Love regarding all child-related activities (he would argue that he needs no lists....). I always feel more prepared once I've made a list.

What am I forgetting?

Living Vicariously....

There are many benefits to sharing a office with someone, depending on who it is of course. I have lucked out with my office mates. This one is a "keeper". The upsides to having an office mate is that you always have someone to bitch with, and someone usually has ibuprofen when needed for the mid-afternoon "what the hell is going-on" headache (we're both pharmacists - we have a plethora of drugs tucked in our office).

There are even more benefits to sharing an office with a fellow knitter.

Sharing in stash enhancements. This is Catknip's new stash acquired from a trip to Canmore's Knit and Caboodle from this lovely lady.


Actually there is more yarn in the bag at my feet (which you can't see). There was a lot of yarn. A. Lot. Of. Yarn.

And not just any kind of yarn - but really good stuff.
Like:

Manos del Uruguary in Agate and Prarie

Misti Alpaca Worsted

Shelridge Farm Soft Touch Ultra

Mirasol Hachu

NoroKureyon

Malabrigo

Other than the Noro, I haven't knit with these yarns. This is some high quality stash. And because it was Catknip's birthday they gave her a ball of Makalu - a wool and recycled sari blend. Very cool.

As a fellow knitter, my office mate Catknip also never judges the size of my stash, as I never judge the size of hers. I have no comment on the fact that she keeps having to go buy new containers to put it all in. Or the fact that she has one giant container just for sock yarn (she's getting me a number on this - it's my goal to figure out how many pairs of socks can be knit from different people's stashes.....even if J. isn't giving up this info, others are....).

We've previously discussed how beneficial sharing an office is with someone who has a major swift/ball winder operation (we try and keep that thing running along).

The best of all is that I can live vicariously through her knitting as well. I am almost excited as she is when she gets new yarn or needles or patterns. We do knitting show and tell on a weekly basis. We also scare the other people in our office when we wield are mighty needles.

All we need now is a couple of rocking chairs and an espresso machine. Then our office would be perfect.

Except maybe for the fact we actually do have to work...

Conversation at T's House Today

My Big Boy: Mom, what did you do at work today?


Me: Well Buddy, I did some teaching.


My Big Boy: Did you teach knitting???


Me: No Buddy, it was pharmacy stuff.


My Big Boy: Oh, pharmacy stuff.


Me: Unfortunately Buddy - that's what pays the bills.


If only I could get paid for this knittin' thing. It's a heck of a lot more entertaining than pharmacy stuff.