Consolation Prizes

Well, my yarn hasn't come yet. But a few things are making up for it this weekend...

1. My new needles from KnitPicks came in the mail. I'm using their 32 inch size 1 (2.50 mm) circular needle to start some Jaywalker socks, Magic Loop style.

2. I won the "free sock club" drawing at sock club this morning. Yay for people who choose green yarn from a basket and then ask us to guess the color. What other color would I pick, really?

Damaged in transit

I ordered some Peaches & Creme yarn from Elmore-Pigsah. It was recommended in Mason-Dixon Knitting for making baby sweaters, wash-cloths, and such. I tracked my order on the UPS website and was excited to see that it would be delivered yesterday. And I was conveniently at home instead of work when it should be delivered (the result of a visit to the dentist and a numb lip). But the package never came.

I checked the UPS website again. Somehow since I'd checked in the morning, the status had changed from "On Schedule" to "THE PACKAGE WAS DAMAGED IN TRANSIT. UPS WILL NOTIFY THE SENDER WITH THE DETAILS;ALL MERCHANDISE IS BEING RETURNED. UPS WILL NOTIFY THE SENDER WITH DETAILS OF THE DAMAGE".

Now my yarn is scheduled to be delivered tomorrow, when I probably will be at work. Hopefully one of the neighbors will be around to receive the package.

Here's my question: How does a package of yarn get damaged in transit? Did they drop it in a puddle? Run over it with the truck? It seems like, of all the things I could have ordered, yarn should be one of the least likely things to be easily damaged. But maybe that's just impatience speaking.

Anyway - tomorrow should bring yarn. Lots and lots of yarn. Many shades of blue yarn. :)

Update: Boy was I mistaken. My yarn will be delivered today, but not to me. UPS evidently regards returning it to the shipper as delivery. So Elmore-Pigsah should be receiving my yarn (or what's left of it) today. :(

New authors, new book

I love my library. They have almost anything I want to read, for free (other than the $10 late fees I pay every 6 months or so). In this instance, they had Mason-Dixon Knitting (by Kay Gardiner and Ann Shayne), which I've been wanting to read since some blog (probably the Yarn Harlot) mentioned it.

I really like this book. I may have to add it to my wish list. It has some really neat ideas for blankets, with pattern ideas other than the checkerboard squares that my sister & I have been cranking out. Plus, washcloths, cute baby kimonos, & all sorts of other ideas. I have some yarn on the way (recommended in the book) so that I can try things out.

Old author, new book

I just finished Off Armageddon Reef, a new book by David Weber, the author of the Honor Harrington series...

Parts of the plot remind me of Sharon Shinn's Samaria books. That's not a bad thing. (Ok, more conceptual ideas than plot, really. But still good.) There was lots of military action, which is to be expected from David Weber, but it was all (ok, mostly) sea-based naval rather than space based. An interesting twist, I guess.

"How many times have you seen them?"

Asked Sarah (about Over the Rhine), at Taste of Cincinnati last weekend. I think I'll try and count. Here goes:

• That free concert at Eden Park when I was in junior high.
• That free concert at Xavier when I was in college (with Faith).
• That free concert at Taste of Cincinnati. Chris and his mom; Mike, Elena, and Sophia; and Sarah. 2007.
  
• That Little Brothers concert with Sarah & Faith & friends
• That Little Brothers concert with Kate
• That Little Brothers concert where Lissa used my ticket because I was stuck in Cincinnati because of snow.
  
• That Canal Street show where we couldn't get in because Melissa forgot her ID.
  It was in the car on the way home from this one that Faith introduced me to Enter the Worship Circle.
  
• That Canal Street show where we sat on the hard benches. Kelly came to this one.
  
• That Canal Street show where we sat on the hard chairs next to the hard benches. I think this was the one where the real opener didn't show up and some guy filled in.
  
• That Canal Street show where we sat at the white tables and Kim Taylor was the opener. 2005?
  
• That Canal Street show where we sat at the white tables and Trent Wagler was the opener. 2006?
  
• That Canal Street show where we sat at the white tables and Ellery opened. That was earlier this year with Brecka. Steve's friends brought us barbecue to eat while we waited in line. 2007
  
• That Christmas show where we sat on the floor and my family came. There were a bunch of openers.
• That Christmas show where we sat on the floor and not all my family came. Griffin House opened, with somebody else, too.
• That Christmas show where we sat in the balcony. I think Kim Taylor and the lady who sang the sandal song opened. Faith was at this one. Christmas 2005?
  
• Christmas 2006. They had the audience sing a Christmas carol. It was good.
  
• That show at the Music Mill in Indianapolis. 2005?
  
• That show at Moonlight Gardens. 2005?
  
• That show at Southgate House with Kate and Faith.
• That show at Joseph-Beth with Kristin, Erin, Dean, and two friends whose names I can't remember. 8/30/2007.
  
• That show at Moonlight Gardens for the Trumpet Child album launch with Faith, Susanna, and Beth; Brecka and Drew; Dave and Krista; Kate; Steve and Sarah. 8/31/2007.
• The 2007 Christmas Show at the Taft Theater with Brecka, Drew, Joe, Chris. Faith & Mike were there, too. 12/15/2007.
• Canal Street w/ Joe. Sometime springish 2008.
• Christmas Show 2008: The first decade. With Joe, Brecka, Jennifer, Josh, & Hope.
• Christmas Show 2008: The second decade. With Joe, Brecka, Drew, Sarah, & Joe's friend James.
• St. Elizabeth's Christmas 2008. With Joe, Faith, & Mike. We stood back behind the coffee bar and got to meet Chuck the coffee-guy.
  

I don't think this list is quite right, but you get the idea... :)

Oops - I forgot one:

• That album-launch show (for Drunkard's Prayer) where Karen dressed up like a chicken for April fools. 20th Century Theater.

If I count correctly, the current estimated total is: 24

Updated 9/2/2007 with Joseph-Beth (8/30/2007) and Moonlight Gardens (8/31/2007).
Updated 12/19/2007 with Christmas Show 12/15/2007.
Updated 1/27/2009 with 2008.

Sock!

I finished my first sock! I even did the Kitchener at the end (much thanks to KnittingHelp.com and the Queen of Sock, who taught my sock class).

I think some photos are in order:

• The sock on one of my couch pillows. It (the sock) looks kind of big, doesn't it?

• The sock on my foot. It is pretty big. This might have to be a house-only sock. I don't think it will fit in my shoe... (Ok, I realize that it doesn't look that big in this picture. What you can't see is that it's pretty really stretchy and a much larger foot/leg could fit in there instead.)
  

Now only one question remains: Am I on my way to becoming like the Queen of Sock? Having finished this one, I'm tempted to move on and try for a better fit. But then this poor lonely sock wouldn't have a friend, and I don't often find a need for a single sock...