I honestly didn’t mean it to be so long since my last post. It’s the thing about being out of the nine-to-five loop. Days drag on, but weeks fly by.
Since my last update, I’ve been involved in running a gaming convention (as has HusBeast), raised a chunk of money for charity and made some wonderful donations to wonderful groups. Sometimes it really is the best job in the world, being a charity officer, even if all the money I see never makes it to my bank account.
Me at Gaelcon, complete with facepaint
Just a couple of days later, we were on a plane to Georgia, where we were involved in running another games convention, though this one was for a thousand people. A little overwhelming to say the least, but awesomely good fun. Seeing as we were in that neck of the woods, we did…..sod all. Mostly we recovered, got to hang out with friends, and relaxed. We stopped by the Georgia Aquarium, which was incredible. Even got to play with itty bitty sharks!
Went to a plantation, which was beautiful and immensely disturbing all at once.
This beautiful bed and all the bedding (including the fabulous canopy) were all handmade...by slaves.
Met up with some fantastic LSG’ers
Dontcha love the tshirt?
and was introduced to the wonderfully delicious world of Firefly iced tea vodka. My only sob story is that there was none of it to be found in the airport on the way home. (As an aside, never, ever, ever travel through ATL airport if you’re PMS’ing, having a bad day, have more bags than limbs, or are generally not good with queuing. The place is in-fricking-saaaane!)
In terms of actual knitting content, I came back from the States with very little yarn, which was surprising. By very little, of course, I mean it weighed less than a small child. Got me some Sugar n cream, as it comes in cool colours and can’t be bought in Ireland. Picked up a couple of skeins of Red Heart sock yarn and entirely shocked myself in the process (it’s 75% wool, 25% nylon and as much as I hate to say it, feels pretty damn squishy!). Was brought a baggie by MorningSprite which contained four skeins of amazingly fabulous silky merino and one merino lace from Mmmmmmalabrigo. Even got my mitts on a skein of Lotus Yarns gorgeous purple yarn! Bonus!
I’ve been working through my stash slowly but surely. Very practical yet unfulfilling washcloths made from a bag of cotton that I purchased in February.
They’re bags, essentially. Soap goes in bag, hangs in shower. No killing self by slipping on soap that inevitably ends up in the shower tray. Also less mess to clean up, which is a cheeky bonus.
Socks.
Lots of socks
I’ve managed, in epic style, to completely avoid Holiday knitting. I hate holiday knitting.
It’s stressful, it’s not pleasurable, and makes even the sanest knitter contemplate mummifying themselves in acrylic so they can hide under the stairs until Spring. Personally I prefer the “unplanned knitted gifts” routine. I knit for people and give them the knitted item when it’s done. Could be any time of the year. It generally goes down well as the recipient isn’t expecting it, plus there’s the added joy of knowing that it’s not going to be buried under a mound of wrapping paper and plastic reindeer that poop chocolate raisins.
Holiday yarny gifts, on the other hand, are awesome. Like my fabulous gift from the Secret Satan swap on Ravelry. Still don’t know who my gifter was, but they did a truly epic job in stalking me online.
I’m sure I’ll find out soon enough who you are, but in the meantime - THANK YOUUUUU!!!!!
