A first sweater (but not really)

Up until a few days ago, it has been gorgeous, I think we all can agree.

But now that it's cold, I need sweaters. You see, I promised myself a couple of years ago that I would never buy myself a sweater again, and for the most part, I have held to that promise.

Therefore, in order to wear sweaters, I need to knit them.

Enter the Debbie Bliss Cotton Angora.

My friend Jodijill bought this several years ago for her first sweater. Naturally, I was the one who recommended pink (Jodijill freely admits that she's only wearing black until something darker is invented).

Well, the pink sweater never worked out, so Jodijill gave it to me in exchange for a pair of socks. I totally scored on that deal.

A couple of weeks ago, while suffering an epic hangover, I cast on. Two days later, this is what I had:

I did put it aside for a shawl and a hat, while I thought about how to not knit the sleeves just yet. That didn't take me long, so I've carried on and I'm just about done the body:

If I take it everywhere with me this weekend, I just might finish it.

Books! Squee! More books!

If someone isn't depending on me to show up to something, I rarely leave the house on weekends.

My home is my castle and all that stuff.

However, I visited the public library website the other day, and noticed that a used book sale is coming up.

I immediately put it in my calendar. I was going, because I haven't bought a book since sometime in 2009 (sadly, that is not an exaggeration).

I spent $25 and got many, many books. I am a happy woman right now (not that I have time to read, but whatev).

The first thing I found was A Jest of God by Margaret Laurence. For fifty cents. Sold.

I did a book report on it in Grade 10. It was the first Laurence novel I ever read, and it started a lifelong love affair with her work.

Then I headed to the mystery and thriller section. I spied several David Baldacci books - I've been listening to many audio books by this author this summer, and I just finished Divine Justice. However, I mistakenly downloaded an abridged version, and it was... clunky. I'm looking forward to finding out what parts were left out.

And I found another Baldacci, Hour Game. It's in the middle of a series, but I'm pretty sure the first two are available via the library's audio download (have I mentioned how much I love that service? If not, I really love that service).

Mysteries also found me picking up two Ian Rankin books. I read the first Inspector Rebus novel years ago, and I fully intend to read them all. In order.

I'll make a note of the titles and pick them up here and there.

I checked out the science fiction and fantasy, then. Not much there, and certainly not what I was looking for. I love the epic sagas that stretch over many books and thousands of pages. It's been my experience that those are not often found used. Nerds tend to hang on to their books (not that I blame us). I'm mostly looking for hard copies of books I've listened to, and now have to keep my eyes peeled. Of course, once I've started buying a series, I like to have the same format, whether hardcover, trade or paperback. It really bothers me when my series don't match.

However, I did pick up the hard-cover copy of Emily Giffin's Love the One You're With. It won't match my trades, but it is at least the same cover style. One has to compromise when paying $3.00 for a fairly new hard cover novel.

I cruised over to the young adult table, then. Specifically, I was looking for the first two Harry Potter novels, which strangely disappeared from my apartment, years ago, after my roommate had a party. HP is another one that is hard to find used. I spied a copy of Twilight for a buck.


I have sworn to never read this novel, because Bella is an annoying twat and VAMPIRES DO NOT SPARKLE.

But for a dollar? I suppose I'll give it a try, just so that I can be condescending with some authority.

From there, I spied the craft section. Always on the hunt for knitting books, I made a beeline for that table. There were two knitting books, one really shitty, and the other one I all ready own. But, for $1.50, I bought Big Girl Knits anyway. I'll give it to someone, because it deserves to be loved.

Also, why so much needlepoint and crewel embroidery? It's cool stuff, don't get me wrong, but those two crafts are really over-represented in used-book sales and shops.

Sadly, my dreams of finding a first edition Starmore remain unfulfilled.

After that, it was a cruise down more fiction and literature. I picked up The Blind Assassin, but my other Margaret (Atwood). That is amusing, because I woke up this morning thinking about The Handmaid's Tale, a novel that truly freaked me out, and made me sign up for my Feminist with a capital F membership.

At this point, my arms were full, so I made my way to the till. When I said to the fellow that I had to leave because I couldn't carry any more, he kindly offered to let me leave my stack there so I could continue shopping. How nice, eh? I wandered through the cookbooks (on the lookout for The Joy of Cooking and anything by Julia Child, just for fun). On a table earmarked for hobbies, I spied a one-volume set of the first four Hitchiker's novels.

For a dollar.

I nearly shouted with joy. I've been looking for these, off and on, for years. I read them in high school and think of them often. The recent movie was a tragedy, by the way.

Then, it was a quick cruise through the cds (Alanis Morrisette and Boyz to Men were seriously over-represented) and then back to the till. Time to come home and find shelf space for all these treasures.

I think I will try leaving the house more often on weekends. Long bus rides across town are also very productive when knitting socks.

If you could read my mind

You tube + Friday night + drinking = walk down memory lane

Happy, Happy Times

I don't know about other folks... but sometimes, I screw up my friendships.



I get busy... I am usually drunk... I do stupid things.



And then people disappear off the face of the earth. Fair enough. It's probably my fault.



But sometimes, thing re-align themselves, and the world is perfect again.



As in, I just spent six hours with a dear, dear friend I have missed greatly. The world is a happy place right now.



Will, I will be your Grace any time. Always and forever.