Quirks and Treats, and a Hero

Jennifer and Chris tagged me for the "five quirks" meme, so here goes. It's harder to think of five quirky things than you might expect. So, if I've revealed these before, sorry! If you would like to play along, consider yourself tagged.

1. I must sleep under the covers, no matter how hot it is.

2. I hate being in crowds, and it makes me really panicky. Really, I'm kind of claustrophobic in general, because what I hate is that closed-in feeling. Which makes Quirk #1 kind of surprising, I guess.

3. I don't like air conditioning, and will avoid turning it on for as long as possible.

4. These creep me out: scaly things and slimy things. Also, things that have round or roundish, raised bumpy textures. Like some lichens, barnacles, or the inside of a bell pepper. Needless to say, shibori knitting is not for me.

5. When I was little, I would not wear socks around the house for love or money. Amazing, huh, considering my current obsession with socks.


Many of you worthy souls have made resolutions of the Yarn Diet or No Stash Enhancement varieties. I didn't even bother, because I simply cannot resist. I did a little Etsy browsing the other night, and decided I wanted to try some of these sock yarns that I have been hearing so much about. My orders arrived today! Yippee! It is a disgustingly gloomy day, but I am going to give you photos anyway. Affiknitty, meeting all your yarn p*rn needs since 2005.

Here is some yummy Neapolitan worsted from Dani's Sunshine Yarns. I really wanted the sock yarn in this colorway, but alas, I will have to wait. Dani sent the cutest matching bead stitch markers, but they are too small to take a proper picture. There was only one skein of 220 yards, and I snatched it up. Perfect for the What's Your Skein KAL. I'm going to have to think of something really special for this. Ideas are welcome.

And, that's right, I got me some Vesper sock yarn from Julia's Etsy shop. I've been dropping in at kpixie from time to time looking for it, with no luck. When I saw some on her Etsy page, I knew I ought to jump on it. Let me tell you, knittas, this may look good here, but it's even more pinkalicious in person.

Maybe I'll be different. Instead of vowing not to buy yarn in 2006, I vow to try as many cool sock yarns as I can, and let you all know what I think. Let's hope Mr. A isn't reading this.

Coming soon: the first FOs of 2006, and more Jaywalker woes.

Non-knitting content: It's a day late, but in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, I wanted to post this link to Amy Goodman's Democracy Now show from yesterday. She played extended segments of a speech Dr. King gave on his opposition to the Vietnam War, as well as the last speech he gave, on April 3, 1968. The latter is particularly poignant, given that he was assassinated the next day. The former has much to offer us today, in a time of war.