Saturday Madness

Yesterday was a special day at our local Resort, as it was the Nickelodeon weekend. Spongebob and Patrick were represented, as well as Dora and a very tall bear that I didn't recognize. My nephew came up for it to celebrate his birthday, and his two sisters' birthdays are today. I was so happy when I realized my girls would be able to get tickets! They were sold out, but my brother's mother-in-law did some sort of magic that I don't have access to. Then, Friday night, I realized that Saturday was the third round of the Knit-Off. Yikes! So I set my alarm for 4:00 a.m., and figured I'd do my best. I'll try to encapsulate what followed, so it doesn't drag on too long.

Pattern posted at 4:30 a.m. I've missed the start off point of the last two rounds, so I was sure I was up. I should have showered first thing - what was I thinking?? Knitted for half an hour, realized I had increased in every single stitch instead of just the end ones, and ripped it out. I was up against a fast knitter named Paula, so already I'm thinking that knocked me out of things, but it was a really cute bag pattern, and I knitted on. Everyone in the family pitched in to help me participate. Here is, actually, how I had breakfast: my daughter feeding me bites as I knitted. I take Paula very, very seriously. (She was the person I was pitted against - a very fast knitter. Oh, did I already say that?)



When we absolutely had to leave for the resort, I threw on some clothes, brushed my dirty hair, and went out the door with no makeup, but my knitting. Twenty minutes later, I realized we hadn't brought my laptop, so I couldn't post finished pictures anyway, and I thought, "Well, that's that," and dropped my needles. Then I remembered my mom, who nearly always saves me. My husband called her, since I was again knitting, and yes, she said she could bring the laptop. I always drive when we go anywhere, because I get car sick otherwise. I had taken a Dramamine before we left, but we still had to pull over twice so I could heave by the side of the road. (I told my husband that a good blogger husband would have snapped a pic, but he said we could recreate it. I'm thinking maybe not.) Luckily, I'd only eaten toast. Then I was back in the car, knitting again 'til we got to the resort, where I realized I had knitted two inches too far and had to rip. Grrr. All of the family there was very supportive of the knitting, also, so I knitted in the room, then as everyone walked around. I was knitting eye cord by the afternoon. No one approached me to admire my choice of neon green and blue, but no one told me to put the sticks away, either.





When I was done with the cording, I raced back to the room, woke my sister-in-law up from her nap (sorry!) and plugged in the laptop. My hands were shaking, I was so sure I wouldn't get in in time. And then I thought my computer wasn't working, because there weren't any emails in my in-box. I think everyone else was knitting just as furiously. The first round, we chatted and chatted on-line while we knitted. Yesterday, not a blip from anyone in the competition. But yay, I got the picture posted in time, and I go on to Round 4! I feel bad, actually. I don't know. I guess this is why I don't compete. I don't actually like competitions where people win and lose, even if I'm holding my own.

April Fool's day today, so I have to think of some ways to get the kids. They already switched beds on me, and I screamed when I went in to wake them up. They loved it. =)



By the by, that photo is a result of much begging and pleading on my part to get the man in the room to hold the bag. I was desperate to get the picture in. I should have handed him the camera, but I wasn't thinking straight. What a trooper! I should add also that he is very secure in his manliness, exudes testosterone, and is envied by many other manly men for his prowess at hunting and living in the wild....