The plan was this. Little Hawk would drop me off at the Portland Convention Center, I would spend the day squishing yarn and meeting my online friends, that evening I would go to a party and meet local members of a Ravelry group I am a part of, then he would come grab me and we would go home the next morning.
Well, the best laid plans and all that....Little Hawk wasn't up to driving, so I dropped him off at his brother's, (heretoafter to be called the House Of Irish) and borrowed his brother's GPS to help prevent me from having a panic attack and ensuing aneurysm.
I still got lost, which is remarkable considering that it was freeway all the way and only a half hour from House of Irish to the convention center. I only really had trouble when I exited the freeway, less than a block from the convention center, and kept panicking and turning left instead of right. The poor GPS kept saying..."recalculating route, please make a U turn," with increasing levels of irritation.
I did make it eventually, made sure to park in an ALL DAY lot, then slogged two blocks in the hot, hot, hot sun to the convention center....to discover I had left my wallet in the car. Back I go, and then the money I had been saving in my Paypal account just for this hadn't transferred yet. So I call Little Hawk and he transferred some money over for me.
Remember, I was on a VERY tight budget. I had promised to buy some stash yarn from a friend there, OhCamels, and we were supposed to do the hand-off that day. I had her 40 dollars, and fifteen of my own to spend. I had more, but I had to husband it against parking fees and dinner with my friends. When I finally met up with her, (after wandering the marketplace and being reduced to near tears by the wondrous sights,) we had a bit of a misunderstanding. She said that she hadn't brought the yarn to her booth, and I could pay her later. I thought she hadn't brought it AT ALL and that I could now spend $55 instead of $15.
Somehow she convinced me to buy three skeins of AMAZING sock yarn for a mystery shawl knit-along that our group is doing. I'm not sure how that happened, but I'm still petting the yarn and cooing over it. Beware, all of you. Abstract Fiber is not only amazingly soft and beautiful, but everyone who works there is a highly skilled Yarn Enabler. You will buy ALL THE THINGS.
Afterwards, she draped me in one of her loveliest shawls and sent me off to wander with some more awesome ladies, Kellbelle and Mykind. There was much yarn squishing, and I was introduced to the concept of "pet" yarn. This is yarn that one will never knit, perhaps because it is in a color that doesn't flatter you, or because knitting mohair is something you abhor, but yarn that you must own anyway. Yarn as a pet. I am behind this idea 100%.
When the promised $40 yarn showed up that evening, though, I had some 'splaining to do. Luckily OhCamels is awesome and nonjudgmental about my skills of comprehension.
I met so many of the wonderful people I know online. I squeaked and flailed at the poor Yarn Harlot until she relented and signed my sketchbook. OhCamels was beautiful and vibrant and somehow talked me into buying half the yarn at her stall. AdamAntonym was charming and dapper and delectably handsome. Didisaurus showed up to the meet-up of my Ravelry group in a dinosaur costume, and Gonzopants, after being kidnapped by pirates, brought one of them to the party with her. He was very charming and a good sport about being flirted with and groped by a group of tipsy knitters. The party, though, didn't really get started until wheniripyouopen showed up with AN ENTIRE SUITCASE OF WOLLMEISE and started selling it, right there in the bar. AND I WAS OUT OF MONEY.
My only regret, besides not having any money, was forgetting my camera. I had to beg a friend to snap me and our weasel mascot with her iphone and email me the picture. Here you are.
Please to enjoy my hickey and double chin. *sigh*
In other news, Miss Manners chides an irked lady for thinking that knitting at a recital means you aren't paying attention.
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