Lots of news to post, not all of which is knitting related.

First of all, I bought a new car. I bought a 2006 Pontiac Torrent, after trying out the Saturn Vue and the Chevy Equinox also. I found the Torrent was better than the other two for what I was looking for .. and the color I got was far better than any I could have gotten from Chevy. It's a beautiful vibrant blue .. called Blue Streak .. and the car is just a dream. I got a sunroom, and XM radio, and a 6-CD changer in the dash .. it's perfect. I couldn't ask for much better in a car for me.




Also, we're going on vacation next week. DH is in-between jobs right now .. though he's been offered positions at 3 separate dealerships now, so it's just a matter of who will give him the better deal ... and so we have time right now to go on vacation without worrying that he's missing a sale. And though I will have to get a job when we get back so I can make my car payment ($380/mo), I should have plenty of time to do that when we get back from the mountains.



We've rented a cabin up in the Pigeon Forge area of Tennessee. DH and I have been up there before, with his folks. This time we're taking B with us, as we often go on vacations with friends rather than going it alone. It's a beautiful little cabin, with a hot tub, and a pool table, and even a n old-fashioned arcade video game machine! And we'll be there until Saturday, when we check out and head home. But this time, we're not spending $4-500 on a rental car, since my Torrent is big enough easily for us to take on long trips. I still have to baby it a little, but it's more than capable of handling the drive.

On the knitting front, I've found the perfect LYS. It's about 20-25 minutes away, in Pineville NC. They have classes about every day for something, on a somewhat rotating schedule, and most are only $10 for 2 hours. Felting classes are $20 for 3 hours, so it's not bad at all. And best of all, of all the places I've seen in the area, they've the best selection and prices around.

My dust bunny is nearly completed. I'll likely finish it up tonight, get him seamed and stuffed, so I can take pictures. He'll be done just in time for Easter!! He's going to be utterly adorable, I swear. And happily, I found the yarn used to make him $5 cheaper than where I had been buying it .. at the new LYS. So I can make him a little more affordably for others!

You Know You're Addicted to Knitting When ...

You have a room in your house devoted just to knitting. - Not yet, but I'd like to!

You buy yarn just because it's pretty, even if you don't know what you'll do with it. - I try no to do this, but I'm good at thinking up things to do with it!

You have been to at least one trade show (convention) or knitting camp. - Not yet. It's not until October.

You have traveled across state lines to increase your stash. - Regularly.

You have spent over $100 on knitting (yarn/patterns/books) in one day. - Not yet.

You have spent over $400 at a knitting trade show (convention/camp) market in one day. - Can't see myself doing this ... unless I get honey a spinning wheel.

You have lied to hide the fact that you have bought more yarn. - I don't lie about what I buy, thankfully.

You have put the name of a grocery store in your check register for the check that was for yarn. - What's a check register?

You try to beat your husband (or significant other) to the mailbox (so you get to the yarn deliveries first). - I always beat him. I'm home, he's not!

Most of your friends are knitters. - And if they're not, they will be!

You have called in sick to stay home from work to knit. - I'm blissfully unemployed, thank gods!

You have called in sick to go on a knitter's field trip. - See above.

You stay up at night to knit, even if it means you only get a few hours of sleep. - I've so done this!

The employees at the local yarn shop know you by name and have memorized you credit card number. - Not my credit card number (that'd be bad!) but they no longer ask for ID.

You find it hard to sleep because of your UFOs (unfinished objects) or new ideas whirling around in your brain. - It has happened, yes.

You get up in the middle of the night to work on projects. - I have. But only when I can't sleep.

You get up in the middle of the night to read online knit list messages. - I'm not -that- bad!

In your dreams, you are knitting. - I haven't remembered any yet.

You have more than two knitting totes. - Much to my honey's chagrin, yes.

You have an email address that reflects the fact that you are a knitter. - Of course I do!

You have a personalized license plate that reflects the fact that you are a knitter. - Umm .. no.

You have some kind of knitting accessory(ies) in every room in the house. - Guilty!

You are the only one in your family who knows what a yarn bra is. - I'm not even sure I know what a yarn bra is ... ?

You can recite the names of more knitwear designers than past presidents. - Umm .. yes. Sad, isn't it?

You knit and read at the same time. If you are unable to do this because of a complex pattern, you will forego the reading. - No, only because I don't read. But I do knit and watch TV or play computer games at the same time.

You have used knitting and the acquisition of yarn as the theme for a vacation. Here's an idea - let's look for all of the yarn mills in (Prince Edward Island, British Columbia/ Virginia/Wisconsin/etc. - place your destination here) for this year's vacation! - We're planning on going to the NC Fiber Fair in October .. does that count?

You joined a knitting Web ring and keep a knitting blog. - Guilty!