Existence! Who knew!

The blog and I still exist!

I have misplaced my camera cable, so while there are pictures, they are being held hostage on my digital camera.

The Celtic Knot Afghan is coming along beautifully. I am now on gauge (I think), using Addi Turbos in US 10.5. The difference between the 10.5 and 10 is astounding. I am on my second skein of Cascade 220 Superwash Paints in Jelly Bean.

I also, around April 21st, cast on the Simple Lace Headband by Melissa Mall (ravelry link). It's a small project, and I'm using up the last twelve yard of my pink Colinette Tao. US 6 needles are being used for the project.

I've joined a knitting group at a local bookstore, thanks to one of my friends from work. Yay! The meeting place is highly dangerous: there are books. Lots of books. Including the latest Rick Riordan, The Last Olympian. (For those not in the know, The Last Olympian is the fifth, and perhaps final?, book in the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series)

Quick and mini book reviews

So several people know that in real-life, I'm an aspiring librarian. This of course influences what Christmas presents I get for my family (heh heh heh).

For my brother, his scarf is still in the post-cast-on stage. Once I finish my second sock, I'll dive right back to his Christmas present. It might be wrapped up still on the needles, with a promise of "I'll finish it, I swear."

For my niece I picked up Horns & Wrinkles by Joseph Helgerson at the Scholastic Book Fair. It looks like a cute book, and I'll be reading it before I give it to her (and being very careful to not break the spine while doing so).

I read an absolutely beautiful pop-up book last night at Borders, which I desperately covet. Tomie de Paola's Brava, Strega Nona. This book is totally made of win.

Pictures later this week of Trish's (finished!) scarf and the sock-in-progress.

It's raining books

I had the most pleasant surprise waiting for me on my bed this weekend.

A package.

When I'm away for the weekend, my father puts my mail on my bed. This weekend was no exception, except there was a small package. The return address was Macmillan. Looking at the tracking number revealed the package was born in Kentucky.

It was a book. To be specific, an Advance Reading Copy for Lori Handeland's Any Given Doomsday, due out in November 2008. A quick game of email tag revealed that my friend L had nothing to do with the surprise. Not complaining, free book! Once I finish reading The Duke and I I can start on Any Given Doomsday. Hopefully :)

7 Things that make me happy

1. Helping really awesome patrons
2. Getting said patrons to check out ANYTHING by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith (in this case, "The True Story of the Three Little Pigs" and "The Frog Prince Continued")
3. Knowing that Grandma is happy
4. Singing with my cousins and Grandma
5. Steve Jenkins' "Actual Size" and "Prehistoric Actual Size". All of you should go out to your nearest bookstore during lunch hour, hit up the children's section, and look at those books. They're that awesome.
6... and while you're in the kids' section, check out "Tuesday" by David Wiesner.
7. snuggling with my Misty, the perpetual puppy.