FemiKnitMafia

The event went really well. We made more money than last year, and the leaders and donors seemed pleased. Despite taking Friday off to recuperate, the rest of the weekend sucked ass. A few glimmers of sweetness here and there, but mostly ass. So I’m focusing today on my favorite things … literally my Flickr favorites. I’m copying Ashley, ‘cuz I love me some Ashley.

Click on the mosaic to see the photos individually.
make your own with fd’s Flickr Toys.

And for those that enjoy Little Man stories, here’s one:
We’re in the children’s section of Borders last night, and I’m once again searching for this illusive book called Art that I flipped through many moons ago, regretted not buying, asked the help desk about several times (go ahead, try asking them for a book called “Art” that resides in the kid’s section - there are 18,000 results in the 4-8 age group alone) and have been searching for ever since. Meanwhile, Little Man dashes to the plush section, plays with Curious George and Blue and other harmless plushies for a bit. Fine, great. But then he discovers the gigonza pile of Bratz dolls.

LM: Mommy, look at these dolls! Aren’t they cool?

Mafia: No, I don’t like those dolls.

LM: Why? They’re cool!

Mafia: I don’t like them because they’re dressed like porn stars they don’t look like real girls.

LM: [walks away]

… mere moments later …

LM: Mommy, look at these dolls! Aren’t they cool?

Mafia: No dude. I already told you. I don’t like those dolls. They don’t look like real girls.

LM: But Mommy, that’s OK. They’re pretend only.

Mafia: [ummm ... shit ... how do I explain sexualization-of-children to a four year old? ... ] Hey look! It’s the Art book! I finally found it!

‘Member the green high heel sandal identity crisis of aught-6? Well, I’m back there again, only with a little less identity crisis. Look Ma, I’m selling out growing up!

Tonight is the big gay fundraiser. Lots of gay. Lots of money. And I’m ready to woo the rich ladies and leave them heartbroken at the end of the night. [that was for Wifey's benefit. Hi Wifey! ]

In 3 inch heels, I’m gigantic, and thanks to blogtographer Danielle, I present evidence here for all to see. I’m sorry, but there will be no cleavage shots this year. My poor freckly Irish chest is fighting off a wee sunburn.

And a close up of the shirt. [tis Banana. let us never again discuss the ridiculous amount of money I spent on one effing shirt. nor shall we discuss the double-chin or my inability to crop photos from my work computer.]

And the shoes, which actually match the shirt. [Marshall's $20! Now that's more like it.]

As my thanks to Danielle for being my faithful blogtographer, I’m posting a request to anyone who graduated from a 4-year college in the U.S. to go help Danielle with a project. It’s a quick and painless survey that qualifies you for a knitting-related prize if you leave a comment here.

Another request, if I may … can you think good strong money thoughts tonight? Life, icky life and some really icky life interfered with the planning of the fundraiser this year, but I’m still hopeful that we’ll raise some money for the organization. Chant with me now? Money, money, money. Charity. charity. charity. Philanthropy. philanthropy. philanthropy. Thanks.

If we do well, I might have knitting to share tomorrow …

ETA: Further proof that Danielle rocks — she recreated last year’s good luck card and slid a plain manilla folder across my desk with this inside:

Oh yes, the joy of fundraising humor. We’re a funny breed.

And now you’ve seen as much of my Wife as I have in the last 20 hours. She was one of the crazy souls who showed up at the bookstore at 12midnight last night, and she’s already 350 pages into it.

Me? I’m a little behind. I’m almost 1/2 way through Book 5, which is fun, but since we saw the movie last weekend, I already know how it ends.

But I DON’T know how Book 6 ends, so please don’t tell me. By some pop culture miracle, I’ve avoided hearing who dies at the end, and I’m trying to catch up. So no spoilers OK?

The little angel is sitting on my right shoulder telling me to finish the syllabus for the class that I start teaching on Monday night. The little devil is telling me to read Book 5. And let’s not even discuss the state of my house and pile of unpaid bills. Oy.

ETA: At 11am on Sunday Wifey stopped reading to mourn the end of an era.  She didn’t want to finish.  Didn’t want it to end.  Then she plowed through the last 100 pages and finished by 12noon.  I’m still 1/2 way through Book 5, but I’m ready to teach tomorrow night.  Syllabus? check. Lecture notes? check. Handouts? check.  goooood night . . . z z z z z z . . .

There are so many things happening all at once. Philly trip was great, despite a couple setbacks. Sesame Place sucks - don’t take your kids there. And kids aren’t exactly welcome at Loop: I’ve been there before, and I love the selection, but it’s a yarn museum. Consider yourself warned. However, the train ride was easy peasy. Brigantine beach was perfection. The Please Touch Museum was incredible!! Pure bliss for kids and adults.

Mafia and Little Man in the Alice in Wonderland exhibit’s Hall of Doors & Mirrors

Then I ran off to a conference for work, which was great, and I learned about the “conference slut” phenomenon from a colleague. No worries. Despite the lure, I’m no cheater.

Now I’m back to my regularly scheduled life, and MIT work is insane. Full of pressure and people freaking out. My gay consulting gig is also freaking out, which is totally natural considering that it’s T-minus-10-days until their big fundraiser. And I start teaching another class in T-minus-7-days. I decided on a program for grad school, so I’m planning to take the GREs this fall (studying to begin in late August).

In the spirit of Favorite Things Monday, here are a couple of my current favorite things.

SockPal socks are about 70% done, thanks to the work conference, where I’m known as the “knitter.”

A pair of sock blockers from a Leggy Creations contest, thanks to Danielle! They’re wonderful!

The best $6 I’ve ever spent — this butterfly caused fits of giggles, pride, and some serious strutting around the Phildelphia Zoo, which was an incredible place!

>

The blog is suffering, and will continue to suffer for a few more weeks. Don’t abandon me, okay?

In three hours, Little Man and I* will board a train** headed for Philly to see the BFF&exGF#2; attend a BBQ at the suburban home of another dear friend from college; go to Sesame Place (the original reason for the trip); check out the Please Touch Museum; lounge on the beach; scour the sale baskets for el cheapo yarn at Loop while simultaneously preventing Little Man from unwinding anything expensive; stroll through the Magic Garden & let Little Man touch everything; gorge on crepes; introduce Little Man to the glory of hand-drawn noodles; pick up a new rainbow sticker for our not-even-a-little-gay car at Giovanni’s Room [why the bleep doesn't Boston have a gay bookstore?]; and search for fabric for Little Man’s quilt on Fabric Row.

We’ll be back in Boston on Sunday afternoon. Have a great weekend everyone!

* Wifey will be sitting on a beach with her head stuck in a book for 5 days. She might shake the sand out of her panties long enough to take a yoga class or go to the gym. In any case, this is a much-needed break for this grad-school-attending, full-time-urban-school-teaching, tolerating-my-shit mama. Pray for sunshine.

** Yes, I’m taking a 4-year-old on a 6-hour train ride (12 hours roundtrip). Fear for me. Thankfully he should sleep most of the way down; it’s the return trip that I worry about. But I have a heap of stuff to keep him entertained. Still — fear for me. Or him? Fingers tightly crossed.

——

ETA: Ooops, I almost forgot to share the toes of my Elinor’s Poseidon socks for my SockPal. With two train rides, hopefully there will be more to show come Sunday night.

And with 5 days of Little Man love, I’m sure I can negotiate some spinning time on Sunday, so I can add to this bobbin.

Later y’all!

ETA: As if Scooter shock isn’t enough today, check out this WTF moment, courtesy of my MIT pal Katie. Really? Lesbian gangs? If only … O’Reilly’s hairy ass woulda been snuffed long ago.

For real. I’m out.

Yep, all of this was 70% off. It was almost immoral.

That’s 8 skeins of Debbie Bliss Pure Cashmere and 1 ball of Reynolds Odyssey in a color that I’ve been ogling for months, and it cost me just over $30. Meow.

ETA: Sorry for being unintentionally vague.  I got this haul on Saturday at Three Bags Full in Newburyport.  The shop is closing and Saturday was literally the very last day, so everything was 70% off.  I didn’t expect to find anything, considering that the shop started with 20% off sale pricing many weeks ago and has been slowly offering better and better prices.  But it wasn’t totally picked over.  Hooray!