This weekend was all about long periods of quiet knitting time punctuated by brief episodes of crazy social outings. I worked on the Snook’s jumper all day Friday (basically finished the sleeves) before heading out that night for Fiona’s birthday dinner. What fun! Bubbly and lamb shanks and cake and happy children and the Sock Victim. Saturday morning I was back on the couch for the all important Joining of the Sleeves and Body. In the afternoon, we were summoned by Powdered Toast Man to Paddy Maguire’s for beer and conversation. (How nice is it to go to a pub and not end up reeking of smoke? FRICKIN’ EXCELLENT.) We were soon joined by Amy, who whisked us off to Newtown for some Mexican food. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get a table at either Chocolate Dog or Newtown’s Cocina. (Since when do you have to make a reservation at a restaurant on South King Street? That’s RIDICULOUS.) We ended up at the swankified Bank, slurping Thai food in the dark out the back and making plans for the Harry Potter trip in two weeks…

Which brings me to this morning. Here I am, sitting at work while hundreds of fans cheer as the sneak preview of Order of the Phoenix begins six blocks away. *sniff* Bastards.

When I knit on the couch next to the Snook, I often poke him with my knitting needle just for kicks. It appears there is a historical precedent. (Found via this AskMefi question.)

Could you pass the US Citizenship test? I’m pretty pleased with my 90%. The only ones I missed were the naturalization form (which doesn’t apply to me) and the one about voting Amendments. (It’s been awhile since my high school Civics class.) Still, I guess I’m still qualified to call myself a Yank. (Link courtesy of Bex, who is only 55% potential American.)

Kathleen called me up yesterday to offer me two tickets to this Sunday’s SNEAK PREVIEW of the new Harry Potter movie.

I’m working Sunday. I’ve asked everyone who could possibly cover for me and they’ve all got other plans already.

ANGUISH. I’ll just have to see it three days later with the rest of the plebes, I guess.

UPDATE: A ray of hope has appeared. It may still be possible.

UPDATE: Dashed. The tickets are already gone. Oh well.

This guy won a contest and got to live out his “Disney Dream Job” for a weekend: butler at the Haunted Mansion. Sweet! I probably would’ve gone for Princess or Parade Performer myself (especially since those Parade Performers are dressed up like they’re in High School Musical, WHICH. WOULD. ROCK.).

Here’s one for Mom: Heavy Metal Quilts.

Current Music Obsessions: “I Hear the Bells” by Mike Doughty and “I Know I Know I Know” by Tegan and Sara, both from the Veronica Mars Soundtrack (which is – no shit – the first album I’ve bought in, like, three years). I have had those two songs on repeat for four days now. IN LOVE WITH THEM.

What I wouldn’t give to have a Kwik-E-Mart nearby!

Knitting Swag
I’ve been meaning to post these for a few days, but I kept missing the sun. (And everybody knows it’s best to photograph yarn in natural light, right?) So on the left is my final package from my No-Longer-Secret Pal, and on the right is my haul from this weekend’s Craft Show.

The purple and white balls are a slubby Japanese yarn that is probably destined to become a scarf. The hot pink cotton is Manos del Uruguay Stria, and I have no idea what I’m going to do with it other than stare at it and pet it. My Pal suggested I used the black wool to make this felt hat, and I think I will! I’ve never done felting before. She also sent me an AWESOME Hello Kitty thermos cup and a tape measure, a box of lovely incense, some Clover DPNs, and two Japanese craft books (including one devoted entirely to sock animals). Thanks, Chooiwah!

I was pretty restrained at the Craft Show, I think. I restricted myself to sock wool and Knitting on the Road, a book of sock patterns from Nancy Bush. I’ve had Conwy and Whitby queued up on Ravelry for a while, so it’ll be nice to get started on them. The big skeins of yarn are Colinette Jitterbug, which I think everybody bought. I’ve already got too much variegated stuff, so I went for the solids: Velvet Olive, Velvet Damask, and Velvet Plum. The two smaller balls are Lang Jawoll Cotton Superwash, which I’d been interested to try since each ball comes with a small skein of reinforcing thread (for heels and toes) tucked inside. I’ve got a lot of knitting to do!

Huh. I’m an ailurophile. I did not know that.