The Crafty Side of Life

I like to do crafty things. I've been crocheting for a few years, knitting for a few months and always attempting some sewing project. When we moved up here everyone told me that I needed to find a hobby for the winters. That first year I taught myself to crochet. And we ended up having an unusually mild winter. But since that first year the winters have been pretty typical. You get bound up inside either due to streaks of below zero temps or major amounts of snow (or both). And it's not like in the city - because even the most traveled highways around here aren't traveled enough to be free of snow and ice patches.

Until a few months ago I could get pretty much anything I needed and then some at the local Wal-Mart. Then our Wal-Mart decided to remodel and reorganize. Part of that process included ridding themselves of most of their craft department. Fabric = gone. Most other sewing notions are also gone. As well as their yarn selection. They still carry some colors of one weight of about 2 brands of yarn.

There is one craft store in town (which means the town that's almost 30 miles away). But they cater to mostly the higher class and vacationers around here. God forbid you are attempting something you have questions about. They have knowledge, sure, but for some reason they seem to enjoy turning their noses up at me and acting like whatever question I have is moronic. They are snobby and unhelpful. And a few times I've gone in and had questions but didn't get an opportunity to ask because they were on a personal call that was more important than my business.

I've pretty much sworn off the local craft store. (But somehow I still find myself popping in there!)

Aside from taking a 2 hour road trip to somewhere civilized enough to have a real craft store, the choices are a 50mile drive one way for a yarn store, or a 45mile drive in the opposite direction for a sewing store. Both stores are mom and pop operations. And both owners are very friendly, welcome questions, and love to talk about techniques and such. But it's hard to be able to get to either of them...

I have resorted to buying some things online, a few yarns (brands that I know), a few knitting needles and such. But I am very tactile. I like to go to the store and touch and feel what I'm buying when it comes to yarn and fabric. And I like to have someone to ask questions... once I become a little more experienced and knowledgeable, shopping online for these items will be more of an option.

Totally Jealous!

OK, so my social life totally consists of stalking all my old friends from high school and shortly thereafter on Facebook. That's what happens when you live in the middle of nowhere. Anyway, last night I was busy browsing through status updates (I was totally sitting at the computer watching them come in, waiting and refreshing) when two of my friends, two minutes apart reported that they were getting ready to see David Sedaris in my hometown. Whaaaa??

I'm so stinking jealous.

Jealousy is bad. So I guess I'm envious. Or is that bad too?? Whatever. I feel depraved. Culturally robbed.

Anyway, I wish I would have known!! I would have thought about taking a trip to visit family at the same time. OK, I would have really wanted to, but not have done it for many reasons... (boarding a dog [which means taking her to the vet for her kennel cough booster a few days prior], screaming baby who is not much with the car rides thing, demanding toddlers, bored tweenager, 8 hour road trip, etc... and needless to say I would have needed to have an army and some reserves to watch my four kids and the wiener dog who travels with us while attending the event).

But I really would have talked my 3 siblings who still live there, and maybe even my mother, into attending on my behalf. Because to hear David Sedaris perform his essays...well, who wouldn't be moved to hysteria. And who wouldn't want to go right out and buy all of his audio books and become his biggest fan?

It was pure accident that I happened upon his audio books. I was in a bookstore looking for "Naked," and they only had it on audio book. So I did what I had to do to get my David Sedaris fix immediately. Which was even more about the instant gratification because I opened it up and started listening right away, otherwise I would have had to wait until I got home and wait until it was a good time to read... you get the point.

Up until then I had been in love with his books. And I didn't think they could be any funnier than they already were. But to hear him read his essays out loud? I had no idea anything could be so damn funny!

We spent the next month or so listening to it in the car anytime we went anywhere. Not because it took that long to get through it, but because it was fucking hilarious!! Our favorites were "The Drama Bug," and "True Detective." And I have a soft spot in my heart for "Ticks." I used to think I was OCD until I heard "Ticks." David Sedaris wins the OCD contest.

I think aside from "Naked," "Me Talk Pretty One Day" is my favorite. I love the Rooster!! And his foul mouth! I'm in love with the idea of a "fuck-it bucket!" And I laughed my ass off at the essay on the French classes - trying to explain the concept of Easter to foreigners!

The only thing I didn't like about "When You Are Engulfed in Flames," was no Rooster :(

Anyway, just suffering a little big city envy today. Seriously, it's nice to know I have at least a few Facebook friends with some good taste ;) so glad of that.