Blech. (or not...)

So I hate Monday... I know that's a cliche, but I do. I also have been dealing with my brother and my boyfriend's angry-depressedish-bad moods, and when I add that to my general state of mind and the fact that I REALLY enjoyed my vacation and time with my friends, I can honestly say that now I'm in an angry-depressedish-bad mood and I pretty much hate the whole world.

BUT THEN I FEEL BETTER! Because I had good mail today. Swap package mail. :)

This came to me from Rubyringz in Texas for the Stop Swap group's "Summer Reading Swap." I am so happy and I love every bit of it. Especially that she sent me salsa. I LOVE LOVE LOVE salsas. LOVE them!

I also got:

• 1 skein of handyed sport weight yarn in blues from Lizzie at the Upstairs Studio
• A handmade soap... This is the best smelling bar of soap I've ever gotten. I may never use it. I may just sniff it.
• Margaret Atwood's The Year of the Flood (Being the obsessive person I am, I read Oryx and Crake earlier this summer and found myself wanting MORE. Good news is, there is more! YAY!)

In other swappy news I'm planned to sign up for the next Malabrigo Swap, the next term of HSKS is starting soon AAAAANNNNDD... New missions are kicking of for BSG FPB (not a swap -- but I'm determined to get a lot accomplished during this.)

I think I should have a WIP-update post in my near future. Although that would involve some extra time and space for photos. Hmmm.....

That's all for now. I'm going to go and debate whether reading or knitting is a better use of my time.

Souvenirs

I'm not really a big souvenir person, but I do love to go yarn shopping when I travel. Look at my new pretties:

AND LANTERN MOON NEEDLES! The woman at the shop called them "The Cadillac of Knitting Needles" I do love them. So much. I'm working on creating a collection of 10" Straights that are wood. Then I'll get rid of all the 14" long aluminum ones. I never use them anyway.

We spent a lot of time with people that I already miss. My HSKS family is very very dear to me. We ate a lot of good foods, and we did plenty of yarn shopping and there was plenty of all around Harry Potter love and geekiness. Especially at Whimsic Alley. Really it was great fun!

Our guest of honor (the Birthday girl and my bfffl) had a blast too!
(Can't you just tell! She got a Medianoche Sandwich because it's what Dexter eats. )

We also had the waiter take a group shot after dinner. BUT he cut out our newest friend Amanda. :(

Also this is me:

Typical. My best pictures are always the ones where I look funny.

I'm Leaving Town!!!

But before I go!

I finished my Clapotis and it's so pretty!

Conteur de Fortune

Pattern: Clapotis (link goes to knitty.com)

Yarn: Fresh from the Cauldron Silk Sock

Colorway: Alice Cullen

Needles: US 6/4.0mm

Mods: Done to accomodate fingering weight yarn rather than worsted. I followed the "rule" of 1/5s, 1/5 for increases, 1/5 for decreases, and 3/5s for the straight section. I ended up doing 8 repeats for increases and decreases and 19 (!) repeats for the center.

Okay now I'm running off to pack. I'll be back next week with news and pictures of the trip. AND NEW YArNS! Whoooo!