Yesterday marked a big day for me as a mom - the girls went through security at Newark by themselves and flew without any accompaniment. Doesn't sound like a big deal, correct? Well, that is where you would be wrong. They are two years too old to have a flight attendant check in on them or to have their dad or me walk with them to the gate, and - despite what Continental's website says - we couldn't request a gate agent walk them to the correct gate (we tried and the "polite" rep at the check-in said no). So, off they went, calling us as they made it to the gate, got on the plane, landed in Orlando, and when their grandparents met them in the terminal. Pretty easy-peasy save for a mother who is slightly paranoid about their safety. Can't wait for the first day of college! I'm wondering if it is too early to lay the ground work for a six-week supply of Paxil.
After they were safely at gate C123, the Flyer and I made a quick trip into New York. I am still amazed at what one overhears on the train ("Do you like banana pudding?" Interesting, but really - banana pudding? "Why do you think you could be in a room with eight naked women and be okay?" Is this my stop? Fuck) Lola thought we were nuts to take off for the city on Black Friday, but it was far from crowded. Sure, some places were a mad house - a mad house, I tell you - but it didn't feel any worse than any other time I have been in there. The only things we must learn are that items on a map appear much further away than anticipated and the numbers in addresses have no direct correlation to blocks. After the Flyer wondered aloud if I was up for walking four more blocks from School Products to Forbidden Planet ("Honey, we're at 1201 Broadway and we need to walk to 840 . . . it's not that far"), I called Mom and asked her for explicit directions to Purl. Considering it was only a mile to Sullivan Street, and nearly a half-mile back to the last Subway that I saw, we hoofed it. I don't think that I adequately prepared him for the itsy-bitsiness of either of the Purls. He sat on a bench outside of Purl, taking in all the confused looks of people passing by. Lola called after my purchase in Purl (the exquisite Manos Silk Blend below for which I lovingly blame Margaux) and asked if she would fit inside. Truthfully, you would sweetie, but it wouldn't be fun and you might be the one making the heroin cracks . . . not me.
I tried to keep the fabric purchases to a minimum since I still don't know what I am doing with all of it, but pink and black were the colors of the day. Next week, I'll try to scan the fabric that I have and get started putting them on Flickr. Our school has Secret Santa coming up and I pulled one of our awesome school nurses; she creates some of the most stunning quilts so I picked up a bundle of fat quarters at Purl Patchwork for her. In addition, I bought some camel at School Products with the intention of making a scarf using the flame stitch pattern from one of the Walker books. Needless to say, I will get started on that once the Trellis and Leaf Shawl is done (it's terribly boring to photograph - sorry). I am down to six repeats and then the border . . . maybe I'll start it after the repeats are done.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend, and if you have Monday off like I do (benefits of living in a region that still "treasures" the first day of deer season . . . I just "treasure" the day off), get some knitting done. It's crunch time for the holiday season after all.
Ava
PS - Girls, if you are reading, miss you muchly!
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