knit and purl

Last week, my friend suggested organizing a social knitting group to meet once a month beginning next week Thursday. I've participated in knitting groups in the past and they are fun for about a year or so and then people drop out after knitting twenty different colored scarves or developing carpal tunnel or finding better things to waste their time on.

It's been a while (last holiday season) since I knitted anything worth wearing in public. I did knit an "alien" motif scarf during a marathon knitting week because the scarf was a Christmas gift and I started a week before Christmas. The scarf turned out okay despite being a tad bit short on the neck wrapping part. I had to cut corners due to limited time and hand cramps.

I'm excited about starting a new knitting circle, especially one where I will be designated "expert knitter extraordinaire" as I am one of two in the group who actually know how to knit.

I've got a shitload of patterns I stole from various knitting books at the local book store or downloaded from the net as well as extra needles (different shapes and sizes) and yarn (mostly acrylic that can be passed for a wool blend) to start everyone off. And I'll provide instructions on eye poking, finger stabbing, hand and wrist numbness...fun stuff like that. And the basics of knit and purl, of course.

This is going to be great!

bike stolen

Not my bike but my neighbor's bike who lives at the end of the courtyard. I'm on a dead end street and people rarely take leisurely strolls down only to turn around and head back out unless they live on the block or knows someone who does. But a tall, skinny-jean guy starts chatting up with my neighbor about his bike, which is in his garage.

I assume they know each other so I go about my business washing my car and get ready to leave for dinner. As I'm pulling out of my driveway, the skinny guy rides by me on the bike while my neighbor runs after him while throwing his skateboard. Next thing I know, my neighbor's banging on my window and shouting, "That guy stole my bike! Can I get in your car? Could you go after him?"

At this point, the thief and bike are two blocks down the street. I unlock my doors and then realize, what the hell am I doing? I can't run stop signs and red lights following a cyclist. I felt bad for my neighbor but honestly, he shouldn't have let a stranger test ride his bike. Not everyone is a thief but you never know.