Rhinebeck prep
Posted by Lanea on Wednesday, September 27th, 2006
Rhinebeck is coming. Rhinebeck is coming!
And Rhinebeck coincides with my birthday. I’ve never been there before, perhaps because I hadn’t reached the appropriate level of obsession. The current plan is for Janet, Jayme, Lisa and I to all road-trip to Poughkeepsie together. I originally had train-based thoughts, but we did the math, and driving leaves a lot more money for fiber in our pockets. Not that I intend to shop, because I don’t need fiber. Nope. Not me.
There are all sorts of plans in the works for meet-ups and bingo. But I demand that you celebrate with me. I will, somehow, acquire a cake. And I will bring liquor that mixes easily with beverages available in hotel vending machines. So tell me, what kind of cake do you like? And how many of you like vodka drinks, and how many like rum drinks? Do not speak to me of gin. Gin makes a man mean, and it makes a Meangrrl even meaner. "Everybody booze up and riot!" is only a funny party phrase in the abstract, you know. In concrete terms, boozing and rioting are very bad for wool. But adult birthday celebrations require cocktails, and I’m buying. Have cocktail shaker, will travel.
I have, I swear, been knitting in preparation for Rhinebeck. I can even insert photos once I go to the trouble of downloading them. I’m trying very very hard to finish a simple cabled cardigan I started last winter, before Scott’s accident. I tried to knit it once he was home and recovering, but I just couldn’t, because I had serious gauge issues for a while there. Hence the months of socks, with some socks thrown in for good measure, all knit very tightly, and with frequent finger-tip soreness issues.
I just cast off for neck on the back, piece so I think it’s possible to finish. My newfound sweater dedication has left Print o’ the Wave fallow, but that’s ok. I’ve also had some serious consternation with a would-be Trekking 100 sock. There is far too much ground-up-clown in the colorway. A few rows of lovely marled color, and then red-yellow-green muddy Clown detritus. Bleh. I’ve already frogged twice. The yarn may require surgery.
All of the knitting faces two forms of competition, though. We are, again, working on the kitchen. Learn from me, friends. Do not trust a Swede, no matter how friendly she is, to have total control over the auto-cad kitchen design process. Swedes think Americans buy ridiculously large refrigerators, and said Swedes use all sorts of trickery to foil the large refrigerator conspiracy. Not so bad a concept for a family of two, of course, choosing a smaller major appliance to avoid wasting electricity. But you can’t install what you can’t buy. We found exactly one fridge that would fit into the slot we left for it. So, our old fridge moved to the garage last night, and Scott tiled the slot for the new fridge. Just a little more tiling and grouting to go, and then we really dedicate ourselves to begging our wonderful friend Mike to do all of the complex trim work. If the begging doesn’t work, we’ll just kidnap Lisa and refuse to return her until he comes with tools. Sounds desparate, I know, but we’ve been slogging through this kitchen remodel since, well, 2001?
The other thing competing with the knitting? Lost. Lisa loaned us Season One on DVD, and then a whole weekend disappeared. I got some sock knitting done, but lace and cables require looking, and Lost does not allow eyes to leave the screen. It is a jealous master. Season Two is coming from Netflix. Send help.
Filed in knitting | 12 responses so far
Rachelon 28 Sep 2006 at 8:42 am 1Corvus and I are really looking forward to seeing you again at Rhinebeck đ We also just finished both the first and second seasons of Lost, the watching of which knocked us completely out of polite society for the last several weeks. We simply created a permanent nest on the futon in the living room and watched an episode or two or three or four everytime we had a free moment. I’m actually entertaining thoughts of watching a prime time network show. How did this happen? Never mind, I don’t really care, just as long as it keeps up its momentum đ
rachelon 28 Sep 2006 at 10:50 am 2Oh look, two Rachels in a row. I know I’m sleepy, but I didn’t think I’d already commented on this post! Have fun at Rhinebeck. If your birthday coincides with Rhinebeck, then my anniversary must coincide with your birthday. 21st or 22nd? Our anniversary is the former.
Oh man, Lost is a hell of a show. We had a frustrating year last year because we watched Season 1 on DVD too late to catch the beginning of Season 2 as it aired, but this year we’re all caught up and ready to watch Season 3. Of course, it might just be more frustrating–having to wait week to week (or longer during reruns) to see what happens next when we’re used to gulping up episode after episode. On the special features they were talking about how each episode takes so long to film, that they actually need to take a long break in the winter just to catch up on filming.
The Purloined Letteron 28 Sep 2006 at 12:16 pm 3Hope to see you in Rhinebeck! I’m driving up with a couple of women from the Takoma Park/ Silver Spring area. I can’t wait!
Jaymeon 28 Sep 2006 at 12:36 pm 4I have a compound mitre saw with a slide arm thingy if you want to borrow it for a weekend. I even know how to use it (even if I don’t know the exact name for it). My services can be bought for wool and Rum/Vodka based drinks (either, not both together).
Are you going to the VFFF?
--Debon 28 Sep 2006 at 7:08 pm 5Nice invitation! Of course, I won’t be STAYING at Rhinebeck, but only going up
for the day, so I don’t think I’ll be able to attend (grin) . . . but hopefully
I’ll be able to at least wish you a happy birthday sometime during the day!
'Nea of Dalhraidiaon 28 Sep 2006 at 7:47 pm 6I’m totally jealous that you get to go to Rhinebeck! Maybe next year.
Have a Bill and Ted Excellent time!
minnieon 30 Sep 2006 at 10:04 pm 7(fingers in ears) i don’t hear anything about rhinebeck, lalalala.
i’m in nebraska, i can’t justify a planet ticket. ;p
Annieon 01 Oct 2006 at 10:27 pm 8I lOVE LOST!! E-mail me when you’re done with season 2- I have some great websites for you!! And season 3 starts in just a couple of days! Yay!!
Cassieon 03 Oct 2006 at 12:08 am 9Well, I demand that you allow me in on your personal birthday celebration. (Cake – chocolate. Drink – nothing harder than wine, thanks, well, … nevermind.)
And Trekking 100 – I had to laugh at ground up clown detritus. I much prefer 110. Less clown parts, or something.
Junoon 03 Oct 2006 at 11:07 am 10But I like gin. I like scotch too, and red wine and dark rum and tequila (but only in moderation). But gin is good.
I haven’t baked for a while….but you want I should make a cake? I think I can do that.
Junoon 03 Oct 2006 at 11:09 am 11There were brownies last week.
Imperfect but promising.
This bodes well for cake outcome.
I’m just sayin’.
Sheri at The Loopy Eweon 03 Oct 2006 at 9:28 pm 12Yes, I know what you mean about paying attention during Lost. It’s not the best show for knitting beyond the basics. Fortunately, it’s not a big deal to slow your knitting down for a one hour show. Of course it’s worse when you are marathon-ing it like you did over the weekend, and have a hard time knitting for the whole time! Season Two was great, too. You’ll love it.