How the Yarn Harlot Saved My Life

*Ok, so she didn't really.  But she totally could have.

Rewind to the beginning.

Monday, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee was doing a book signing for All Wound Up in Park Slope.  Sweet!  Julia had told me about the event but could not make it.  So I had to go for the both of us!

I was pretty lazy that day and left the house in such a rush.  I had to walk to the train station (still no car) which is about a half hour walk except that I had about 25 minutes before the train was due into the station.  So I speed walked and actually made it there with enough time to get my ticket and take a breath.  Except I was pretty sweaty and gross.  All I could think was oh man please don't let me smell bad when I meet the Yarn Harlot!

I spent the train ride working on my Bluerose socks and Traveling Woman shawl.  It was overall uneventful.  When I got to Brooklyn I grabbed a quick bite to eat at Subway before walking towards Barnes and Noble.  Yes, I decided to save the $2.25 on a subway ride and walk the half hour to the store.  It worked out well though because I needed to deposit a check at the bank on the way and thought I knew where a branch was located.  I was rushing though because it was quite the walk and I wanted to be sure to get to the bookstore and have time to find a seat.

Reading an excerpt

After all that rushing, I made it there with plenty of time and went straight to the customer service desk to ask where the talk was going to be.  Right after the employee told me where to go, I turned around and headed to the escalators.  Just then she walked in.  I didn't know what to do.  I just, well, froze.  I whipped out my cell, pretending to look busy and then hurried off down the escalator.

I found a seat and waited.  I was really shocked how few people were there at that point.  The store had set up about 35 seats set up, 5 of which were facing the wrong way.  Ridiculously, they were zip tied together and the store employee would not let us cut them apart** but would let us turn the entire row of chairs around.  Cause you know, zip ties are so darn expensive these days...

After a while it really filled up.  I mean, standing room only.  I was glad to have a seat and a decent view***.  When SPM took the podium, she was much different than what I was expecting.  I was expecting her to be bigger.  Or maybe taller.  Somehow more intimidating and less down-to-earth.  I guess that's just a result of seeing her big personality online.  But she's actually close to my height (5'3"****) and size.  She was also so much nicer than I expected.  Not that I expected her to be mean or anything.  But she just jumped right into talking to everyone.  I guess, though, when this is your career it's more like second nature for you.  I was a bit in awe.

She talked a little, then read 3 excerpts from the book, answered questions and chatted with us, and then started the book signing.  I was in no rush so I sat with some other ladies for a while knitting and chatting.  I don't actually want to give anything away from the book in case you're waiting to purchase it or see her in person.  But we found it funny that one of her stories involved her looking something up in a medical reference book at the library and that was the section of the store we were squished into.  She took a picture of the wall behind her once it was pointed out.  She also took a picture of the crowd and you can see me way in the back of it on her blog post of the event.

Now, I know I've never mentioned SPM around here before.  That's probably because I'm not the typical Yarn Harlot fan.  When I read a blog, I like to start at the beginning.  Sometimes I don't and just jump in, but I do the same with podcasts and TV shows.  Which is why I'm about 3 years behind in listening to CraftLit at the moment.  I've tried to go back and read SPM's blog from the beginning.  And I've made it through quite a bit.  But she's been blogging for a while now, and she blogs often.

Working on my Traveling Mermaid Shawl

And the other problem?  Sometimes her blog rambles a bit too much for my attention span.  I admit, I scan a lot of blogs rather than reading every bit, especially when people are writing about their projects and the mods made and yadda yadda.  But with her blog it's different.  Maybe it's because she's a writer by profession.  Trust me, I've even tried to read her books.  They just don't hold my attention.  But Monday night, I was eating it up!  SPM needs to make audiobooks of her publications.  And if I had my way, she'd be the one to be reading them aloud.  Let's make it better, we'll make it a video- she had the best facial expressions while reading to us!  It made it so much better.  It made the stories come alive in a way that her blog and books never had for me.  I mean, I know she was standing right there actually alive in front of me, but the stories were just so much more intriguing to me.  Now how do I convince her on my plan??  Any ideas out there?

At the end of the night, she was super sweet and signed two books for me so that Julia could have one even though she couldn't make it.  We chatted with her a bit and she did not try to rush us at all even though we lingered a bit.  But eventually we left her to sign copies for the store and head upstairs to pay for our books. The girl I had been standing with checked out fast but there was a problem with the guy in front of me and it took forever.  And then SPM and her friend were 2 people behind me in line.  With the book.  SPM was standing in line to buy her own book.  Apparently she left her copy of it home and needed another for her readings.  I was much amused by this.

Now, onto the saving part of the story.  I checked the train schedule and realized once again, I had less than a half hour to get to the train station to make the train on time.  And yes, the walk takes about a half hour.  I booked it down 7th Ave towards Flatbush and then decided I could probably make faster time going down 5th Ave (it would take me closer to the station) so I cut down 4th St.  And then I remembered.  All the stories I've been hearing on the news and warning my Park Slope friends about.  Over the past few months there have been far too many sexual assualts on women at night in that general area.  Ugh of course I remember this walking down a dark not very busy street.  I walked faster than I think I ever have.  I reached 5th Ave and was disappointed to see it was less busy than I was expecting.  But it was lit and there were people.  I avoided the men on the street, especially those who fit the suspect descriptions.

Addicted to knitting?  Maybe that's me...

I started walking a little more at ease, swinging my arms as I speed walked to the station.  And then I remembered- I have two hardcover Yarn Harlot books in a shopping bag.  Well, that could make a good weapon.  Obviously I have my sharp pointy knitting needles but they're buried in my purse.  But this bag.  Well, it could make a good defense against an attacker.  I could imagine it- someone coming to bother me and I would just turn around swinging that bag.  And then when I knocked him down, I could quickly grab my knitting needles just in case.

The girls with the best name EVER!  (She agreed)

Thankfully, I did not need to worry so much about it.  I made it to the station just fine though very parched.  But she totally could have saved me had I needed a defense.

We have the same name.  You would think they would look the same in her handwriting.

Now that I'm safely at home, I'm looking forward to reading this book.  Maybe now that I've seen her in person, I'll just hear her voice as I read them and my attention will stay with the stories she tells.  Oh, and yes she says "aboot" and "eh" and other cute Canadian things :o)

**At least 5 people turned around and offered their scissors.  I love knitters.  We always come prepared.

***I had a great view when I offered the seat next to me (I was saving for a friend who couldn't show last minute) to a lady when her birdfaced baby mommy friend snottily asked can't I move down.  Ugh.  If SPM hadn't already speaking I would have said something but I didn't want to be rude unlike some people.  Birdface had to sit next to her friend, even though she had to keep getting up to soothe her cute baby and wound up giving up her seat anyway.  I hate people.  Her baby was really cute though.

****and a quarter but people don't usually count that.  But that was all the height I gained from 8th grade to high school.  So I was very proud of it at one time.  And I'll take what I can get in the height department.

Random Updates

For those who haven't heard, last night a tornado decided to come visit Park Slope.  I was not home at the time so sadly I missed its visit.  But plenty other people were to share:

Where was I at the time?  At Lion Brand Studio meeting Lily Chin :o)  Look for that post coming next week.

In other randomness, we've made some sales on the Kayleigh Preemie Hat!!  Thanks to everyone who has purchased a pattern so far.  Updates to the pattern are coming soon, including a newborn size and instructions for different yarn weights.  Also, anyone who wants to donate more than the $3 using the Paypal button on the left will also set a pattern emailed to them!  (So you don't have to do more than one transaction.)  No updates from Miss C today, though yesterday she did post a picture of Kayleigh without the vent!  Except I'm noticing Kayleigh has no hats on in these pictures...I need to get these hats finished, photo-ed and mailed out to her asap!

I have quite the busy weekend ahead of me so the Lily Chin update may take a couple days.  Anyone have anything fun planned for the weekend?

Coney Island Stitches

I've been to Coney Island two times in the past couple weeks.  First off, the Guild's Stitch 'n Pitch.

Tickets

It was not an official one (aka listed on the official website).  It was our first year and well, I'm just not that good at organizing these kinds of things.  I even left my tickets home, but luckily realized before I got on the subway.  Phew.

Rudy Giuliani threw out the first pitch

We were skeptical if the game was going to happen- the weather reports all called for rain.  A decent amount of people didn't show up (and some came late), but we didn't get rained on!  Luckily though, the first 2500 fans to get to the stadium got a free umbrella.  Would have been the perfect day for them if it had rained.

Little League kids posing with a mascot

The game started out pretty good, but then they wound up losing after all.  That's ok though because we all had a great time anyway.

Knitters...

...and crocheters

We're on the Scoreboard!

More knitters :o)

This past weekend, The Boy and I went back to Coney Island for the day.  He'd never been there so I figured before I move, we had to go.

Parachute Drop

The Boardwalk

He refused to go on the Cyclone with me.  He's heard the many rumors of people getting hurt or worse.  I'm pretty sure those incidents are all from 50 or more years ago though.  It's a historical landmark.  I think I have more confidence in the Cyclone than I do in theme park rollercoasters.  But still he refused so we have yet to ride it.

The Wonder Wheel, which was celebrating its 90th birthday

We walked up and down the boardwalk.  Coney Island is either a beach or a fun place for kids.  The amusement parks really aren't geared for adults in any way.  But I'd never walked through any of them so we got to do that.

The Boardwalk looking the opposite direction

We had Nathan's for lunch/dinner.  It was his first time coming to the original location (definitely not mine).  He got some hot dogs and I got my favorite cheese fries.  While we were sitting eating (I shared our table with another couple- it's so hard to find a seat on a nice day), a film crew staged a small segment probably for some local news feature.  It was exciting for the whole 7 minutes they were there.

First Nathan's visit!

After eating we headed to the baseball stadium to catch the game.

Park Entrance

Batting practice

Our seats were forever away, but the place is so small, these seats would have cost probably triple their value at a major's stadium.

View from our seats

We were surprised to suddenly hear wedding music before all the pre-game ceremonies.  Yup, someone got married on the field before the game.  It was a player from the opposing team.

Walking down the aisle?

She seems excited to be married :o)

The reception

We lose again :o(

We got to see fireworks after the game.  They were surprisingly really good.  Way more than I was expecting to see.

Between these two games, I guess it makes up for not being able to go to the Mets Stitch n Pitch (and breaking the crochet record with Lion Brand Yarn).  I can't wait for next year's game now :o)

Driving Miss CRS

Have you ever been to New York?  I mean NYC of course (not upstate, not Long Island, and certainly not wannabe Jersey).  Have you been to the outer boroughs (BROOKLYN, Bronx, Queens, or the garbage Island)?  If you have, you know what it means to sit in traffic.

Now, I hear traffic is horrible around Los Angeles.  Never having been there, I honestly can't compare the two.  But let me tell you that there is nothing, and I mean NOTHING, like sitting in New York traffic.  Usually it's because of 1 of 2 reasons:  everything has to ooh and aah at someone on the side of the road (could be a 10 car accident or just someone changing a tire- doesn't matter you HAVE to slow down and look apparently) or just the massive amounts of cars trying to get into/out of the city during rush hour(s).  I think the longest I've ever sat still in traffic was about 3 hours on the Cross Bronx.  In a pickup truck that decided to start overheating.  What do you do when a car overheat?  Turn the heat on full blast.  Let's not forget to mention it was boiling hot on that June 18th.  Or maybe the 17th.  Either way, it was the day before my cousin's wedding that I was a bridesmaid in and had to get to Syracuse for (I missed the rehearsal because of this traffic...and this was just the beginning of the trip).

Usually when I have to work out on Long Island I'm heading out of the city during rush hour(s) while everyone else is heading in, so traffic really isn't bad for me.  But the other day I was heading home to Brooklyn during rush hour(s).  For some reason the same theory doesn't apply to the evening rush as it does to the morning.  It took me quite a bit of time to get home that day.  But if traffic is moving slow enough, I have things to keep me busy.

Back in 9th grade stuck on the Cross Bronx, all I could do was get a reverse truckers tan while listening to my favorite (then pop) radio station with my foot out the window.  Today, I have my knitting :o).

Yes, I knit while I drive.  I made extra sure to watch the speedometer while doing this the other day, just so I could tell you about it.  I never maxed 15 mph while knitting.  I was working on the Copenhagen Royal Shawl/Scarf (CRS) while sitting there.  I got some pictures to show the progress too!

I love this picture!  Try as I might, I could not replicate the sunlight effect, though the whole time I was driving the sun was in my eyes.  Killer.

Coming up on the Grand Central Parkway Exit (I was on the LIE) in Queens.  I tried to get some pics of the old World's Fair Grounds but they either came out blurry or a truck got in the way.  For those who don't know what the heck I'm talking about, the two towers with spaceships on top seen at the end of Men in Black. 

Don't you just love seeing all those red brake lights?  Yeah, me either.

This is my favorite part of the drive.  It was just hitting dusk when I got this one.  Of course I didn't think to roll the window down for the picture until the traffic started moving again so I couldn't get a clear shot.  But driving at night, this view of Manhattan is breathtaking.