I have a talking bag.
He keeps me company.
When I’m traveling
on the road
I’m never lon-el-ey!
Sometimes I’ll answer back
(Folks think that I’m a nut!)
But when he starts an argument
I zip his pocket shut.
MEA CULPA
I can blame this on no one but myself – I have achieved full air-head status (at least temporarily…) and I throw myself on the mercy of Knit Knack (who, as it happens, are incredibly merciful and kind)
Today was my first teaching day on my schedule and I had done a bit of schedule changing, so I was more than a little confused. My first greeting of the day was my friend’s little boy (to whom I gave a flip-knit set last night) asking me if I could teach him to “sew.”
What an auspicious beginning, I thought, this is wonderful! Starting a day of teaching by TEACHING a friend’s little boy!
So when I arrived at Knit Knack I was raring to go. But I was a little early, and the lights were out. I knocked but no answer. Then I peered inside and saw a flier with my name on it – and here’s where my “other” brain took over.
Somehow in that brief moment, I entirely convinced myself that I’d CHANGED THE DATE of this class. That I was really offering it next week, and that I was in the right place at the wrong time.
So I left. I went and had a cup of coffee, then I drove over to a friend’s house and we had just about the best chat ever (we both cried – both of us have husbands who went through sudden, unexpected health emergencies in the past 2 years) and then I drove over and visited ANOTHER friend.
Which is when I got the phone call.
Knit Knack called my next gig (Knit A Bit in Westfield) to see if they’d heard from me – was I okay? Was Gerry okay?
So Knit A Bit called me (Knit Knack didn’t have my number, which is very possible – I thought it was on the letter of agreement, but apparently it wasn’t…) and told me I’d missed my class. Oy.
I hightailed it over to Knit Knack, where Meera & her husband and son and I had a lovely chat – they were so kind and forgiving – and I left a set of flip books for everyone who came to the class.
What a maroon. I feel chastened (by me), and forgiven (by KK), and I feel a trifle more clear headed. Let us not speak of this again.
MOVING ON
Tonight I teach at Knit A Bit – it’s going to be a big class and I’m REALLY excited. YAY!!
Then I drive out to Long Island to teach at Knitter Knitche, then after that I’ll head off to CT.
As I said in the comments, I’d love to take the ferry, but that would mean arriving 30 minutes late for the class and the shop doesn’t feel they could do that to their students – they have a tightly scheduled day and two instructors.
So I’ll probably just drive part of the way on Friday night, then stop at a Hampton Inn or someplace and leave early to get to Mystic in time. The Ferries just run at the wrong times for me this time!
NY / NJ
My flight was great – I sat next to a lovely woman who works in a gallery and the exit row was, as always, a delight. I got a lot of knitting done, too!
When I arrived at JFK I was pretty thrilled to get a PRIUS from the rental car place (Priceline price, $20/day! Thank you, Negotiator!) especially with all the driving I’ll be doing this trip! It took me a full 20 minutes to figure out how to turn the danged thing on, but I’m a better person now for that.
Driving over to NJ was kind of a thrill. When I lived here it was a slice of hell, but as a tourist it’s thrilling…
The drive through the midtown tunnel alone was worth the price of admission!
Then arrival at my friend’s house (late) just in time for a great dinner of soup & cornbread, and a nice-but-short visit before bed. It’s very nice to be back in NJ!
NEW KITCHEN
After we moved to MN our friends Tomm & Holly redid their kitchen – and it’s AMAZING! These folks are among my favorite in the world – just a stupendous couple with the most wonderful kids. Holly’s a poet, Tomm a graphic designer, and their house is fun, fun, fun!
So, of course, they’d turn their kitchen into a diner! It’s so well laid out, so thoughful and so COOL! I just love it – and Tomm did just about all the work himself. He’s an amazing guy.
Every year he makes Holly another EXTREME Valentine; one year a bowling tableau featuring Art Linkletter and Holly; another year a billboard; another year an electric sign advertising “Madame Holly, Fortune Teller”
But this year he went a little more personal.
He got a tattoo!
It’s some art that he did for a poem he wrote to Holly for their wedding day, and he said the tattooing session took FIVE HOURS. He did a ton of research to find a tattoo artist who specialized in old-time pin-up artwork. I forgot to ask if Holly dances when he flexes his muscle…
I can’t even imagine the pain. I’m toying with getting a knit symbol tattooed somewhere on me, but I can’t decide where…
I stupidly didn’t photgraph Meera’s tattoos at Knit Knack – I’ll do that next week. I can see I’ll have
to start a gallery of friend’s tattoos – they are so interesting!