Coffee is too precious to give up... Some vices are needed. Yarn, coffee, and cats, mmmmm.

Go to Mexico, but not one of the more touristy places. Try the parts just south of Texas, like Saltillo. They have beautiful colonial architecture that looks great in photographs, and they aren't that expensive to stay in or get to. Or go to Mexico City-- a really quick flight from any southern part of the United States, and insanely interesting and crazy to boot. Plus, there are pyramids.

Oh, boy, the Crazy Tourist will ride (fly, drive, hitch?) again! Can't wait to hear about your Spring Break!

Thanks for the tip on the steamer. I bought a Shark Steamer--similar but different brand--from Target Boutique this summer to aid in the removal of really icky wallpaper. That task is done and I was relagating it to the garage or goodwill. You can clean with it? Everything? I am so pysched about using it to block stuff. Thanks again!

OoOO Steamer! I want!

Congrats on your renewed travel lust! I can't wait to hear where you're going!

Geesh Louise I have a steamer like that and didn't even dream of using it for blocking. I use it to mop floors, clean tile and steam the grime off my wood cabinets.

AH, finally a GOOD use for said steamer LOL

I'd never be able to live without coffee. You're one brave lady. In fact I've stated on many occasions I want Starbucks to cater my funeral :)

OoOO Steamer! I want!

Congrats on your renewed travel lust! I can't wait to hear where you're going!

Sobalasagnia. Yum!!!! Hey, I could get one of those steamer thingies. Then I would have no excuse for not blocking my stuff, huh? Wow. The things I learn over here.

Apropos of nuthin, PORN.

Doesn't the steaming, you know, hurt the fibers?

Awesome hostess gift. I think I need one - the fact that it doubles as an oven cleaner seals the deal (not that I am EVER really going to clean my oven).

I love the KEBob pic. Too funny.

Yay! for more travels!

I have similar travel issues re: my ex, but I keep telling myself that I can go cool places without him and I will do so.

And yes, odd thoughts about your marriage will hit you at strange times. I just try and roll with it now and wait for it to pass. You're doing great!

Great trip to plan....MARYLAND SHEEP AND WOOL!!!!!

KeBob is so darling.....

Becca-- I think there are some fibers you can't steam (like Acrylic) but Annie steam-demonstrated on two wool hats and a wool Noro scarf I had made, and the results were AMAZING. Steaming made the wool very soft, too.

Monkey! Monkey said Porn!

Travel with your bestest girl friend is the best - last year I went to Key West with mine - we had a blast! If you are thinking about going to Italy - check out Italiatour (Alitalia's travel group) - we went to Rome and Florence with them a few years ago and they were incredibly reasonable price wise - you will just have to start drinking coffee again 'cause you can't get a bad cup of coffee in Rome.

I second Cheryl's vote for MDSW -- too much fun plus you can tour the east coast and see real sightseeing stuff. Stuff you've probably already seen, but hey, bet you could stay at people's houses so you'd have more $ for shopping.

Mart is fond of threatening the cats with the Rotisserie. He doesn't know that they figured out we don't have one.

I wonder if the steamer could be used to make lattes?

LISTEN TO ME. Considering how fast the Mister was out of there, and the facial hair thing he's done, the answer to One (1), is NO. You were fine. My ex is now on his, like 5th girlfriend (that I know of - I know there are more) since we broke up, and each one is THE ONE, and then she's not THE ONE after all, but he hangs onto them because he can't handle being alone and destroys their self esteem because they are alway (like I did) trying to figure out what to do differently, or more, or less, or whatthefuckever, to make things work with him. And he's not thinking about that at ALL. He's just thinking, how can I make my pathetic self happy? Oh, I must be with the wrong woman! And from what you have said, I think your ex and my ex might be the same kinda model, ya know?

And I think your life is better. Adding travel will make it even better. I want to go to Prague next summer. (Do you know any really good airsick remedies? I actually throw up. The patch thing just makes me worse in other ways, if you know what I mean. And then I throw up anyway. But I want to go to PRAGUE.)

Yup, sometimes I think you're channeling me. The fact that a) you made this a list and b) I totally agree with your first list item is why I think that you're doing so today.

And way to go on the travelling - I can't wait to hear about it!

I don't comment much, but read you religiously. Today I just had to say...Enabler! You should be in sales ;-) After reading you today, I just HAD to go and buy a Scunci steamer - with floor attachment no less (drat internets that make shopping so easy).

Also love the keBob pic and the idea of threatening with recipes with them as the main ingredient! What would you make out of Finnegan? Finnegan Stew perhaps? Hmmm, I'll have to see if that will keep him off of the top of the kitchen cupboards.

L.

I second Colette with hitting up Italy. The tours are fun but even more fun to travel on your own and nothing will boost your self confidence like the swarms of Italian men who will line the streets to see your fine blonde self walking down it. And if you really want to be cheap, stay with my family! they don't speak English and they're free. I get the pleasure of knowing that they're confused out of their wits by who you are or why "le amiche di Christine" are visiting them. and you get free room and board. I got Milan and Palermo covered for ya.

Exotic cheap travel - consider going to India. The only wallet-hurting part will be the airfare. I know 3 people who went there for vacations within the past 5 and *raved* about it. (The 1 downer - you will see poverty unlike anything you've ever seen before. Another potential downer - immunizations.)

LISTEN TO PATTI!!! She said exactly what I wanted to say. We all go through days when we wonder if we had done this differently or that differently how would things have turned out. But in the end, we can only control what we do...not what they do.

Ah, a vacation! I wanna go to Scotland, again, sans the absent H.

I love ke-Bob. Is Roy alright?

Well, I don't knit, but I have been to the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival, and it is fun. I went with my friend Mary who does knit, and she liked it too. She also loves your blog. So yeah, if you like sheep, goats and yarn, its a pretty fun time. And you and Jen could stay in Baltimore and eat crabcakes! There are some really nice B&Bs in Fells Point. As I recall, the Sheep and Wool Festival is the first weekend in May. The weekend before that is usually the Kinetic Sculpture Race hosted by Baltimore's Visionary Arts Museum and THAT is more fun than a barrel o' monkeys! MonkeyGurrrl - you should come along too! Anyway, I am sure wherever you decide to go, you will have a blast.

CAP!

Vacationing is so grand! I'm sure being the ultimate crazy turuist you may allready know this but... check out apple vacations. down side, you cant buy online you have to go to a "representative" but they have some INCREDIBLE cheap things to Mexico and such since they book etire planes and giant hotel blocks. Also, check out off season tickets to places - this jan. i went to paris for $340 ROUND TRIP. With prices like those you can go to Eurpe without having to save for a million years! Vacation! have fun! Cant wait to read about it!

and all you and your steamers - what a wierd thing! I thought you jsut steamed veggies. huha. Who knew!

Shoes, yarn & chocolate? Want some! Let's go!

And why would you give up coffee???

Dude. Not only did you get a steamer. You got one with umlauts. Rock.

I also broke down and had my PoorGirl's Mocha Latte: 1 packet Swiss Miss hot cocoa mix, a dash of non-dairy creamer, two or three pumps from the communal coffee carafe. Manna from heaven, I tell ya.

Isn't it funny how much we think they (husband/lover/girlfriend/boyfriend/alien) need us, when in fact they may just be biding their time until "the One" shows up. Huh? What were they doing in the first place -- wasting their time...oh, excuse me, I believe that is...they were wasting our time.

You know if you can't enjoy your own company...

And the coffee thing...I take on a much different personality...like a rabid disgruntled caffeine deprived lunatic...so, expensive decaf it is...

Peace y'all

Traveling with a girlfriend can be so much fun! I'm glad you'll get to bust out of the pizza rut with Jennifer.

You are totally going to have a ton of volunteer travel agents, I love trip-planning and budgeting. I love love love Mexico. They say there will be some great deals coming in the Yucatan b/c of Wilma, but the Oaxacan coast is has wonderful beaches too. Eric Mindling runs textile-oriented tours, we went on his Mayan and Zapotec textiles trip and had a great time. It seems expensive, but since it includes almost all meals and all the places we stayed at were pretty nice and comfortable and we got to see things we would never have seen on our own, we feel like it was worth every penny. http://www.traditionsmexico.com/wr2_frm.htm

Check out Mazunte (http://www.surf-mexico.com/states/Oaxaca/Mazunte/index.php) it's beautiful. Or Huatulco, we stayed at the Hotel Flamenco and someday we'd like to go back. Anyway, if you guys choose Mexico and have any questions I might be able to help with, feel free to drop me a line.
A forum I found somewhat useful for planning our trips has been Lonely Planet's Thorn Tree, although by the end of our trip I felt like tearing The Lonely Planet Guide Book apart with my teeth. But that's another long-winded comment.

Ooooh, I'm going to get a steamer this weekend!!! The oven demo was extraordinary!

I think you goils should come along with me to Stitches West (http://www.knittinguniverse.com/flash/universe.php) in February in beautiful Santa Clara, California. Knitting, yarn, chocolate, room service....how much more fun do you want!??!

I'm dying for a steamer! But I never would have thought to use it for knitted items. Now I have even MORE of a reason to get one.

I hope everything's going well with you! I've been keeping myself reasonably updated by reading your blog.

P.S. remember the budget sheet you put together in August? Well, I just went back and pulled it off of your site to organize my own finances. I'm moving into a new apartment on Tuesday and I feel so much more confident now that I've put together a plan for all my new bills. You rock!

-Laina

oooh - I'm going to have to get a steamer. I've been looking at them for so long wanting a valid reason to get one.

Minds are strange things. I still wonder if I could have done anything different to save my first marriage. (It's been 15 years since it was final, and I've been remarried (very happily) for 5.5 years). I think I just have a tendency to blame myself when things don't go the way I want them to, or to think I'm powerful enough to overcome the not-so-helpful things OTHER people (like ex's) do.). So it's normal. Let it go. Keep making friends, enjoying Jack Daniels in teacups, your cats, your yarn. It'll all be good soon.

Ooooo Russia!! I have been meaning to go back myself. I went in 1981 (I am showing my age here) for 2 weeks. LOVED IT! Love it so much that I majored in International Relations and studied Russian. I have trying to talk a good friend into going next summer myself.

Laurie, you should TOTALLY come to Boston. We'd have so much FUN. There are great yarn stores, and fun bars, and the sales tax is low! And hey, I have FIVE new wigs! We could go to a bar in wigs and knit and talk about how our X's are ridiculous in their mid-life crisises! It would be the greatest. I'm getting excited just thinking about it.

But only if you bring the steamer.

Oh my gosh...I have a cold and can't speak any language today... I have been TRYING to talk a friend of mine into going to Russia.

Hey, on the ex front...don't beat yourself up. You will learn from all of this and one day you will say to yourself "Man, I did it and I am a better person for it." Not to tell the whole world my life story...but my father and I tried to save two boys from drowning in Lake Michigan (in the late 80s). My father also drowned. I am the only person who survived. There were so many times the senario would go through my head...if only we did something different..if only. It has taken me some time but I realized that I learned so much from all of that and I am a better person for it. You will get there too. I promise.

ashbloem -- I tried to register for your blog the other day but I think I broke it!

Mary -- oh my goodness. I am so sorry for your loss, I know it was a long time ago but still. Thank you for your post. Thank you.

I love all the travel agent help here!! This is awesome!

Mary in Boston - heh ... Roy survived the Sobakowa's love. But just barely ;)

Laina HI!!!!!
Everyone HI!!!! See I have had COFFEE!!!
Yes sorry ya;ll replying in the comments... my email is blocked by the firewall all the sudden again. bleh. not that I am good about the emailing anyway. kind of hate email. kind of hates me back.

This is awesome. I've been sick all week and you always totally make me laugh! Even if right now laughing results in coughing...totally worth it!

I'm so going to Targay to get a steamer this weekend. I have several knit projects that are in hiding because I didn't want to take the time to block them. I also, maybe, need to clean my own oven.

My travel suggestion is Romania. As odd as that sounds. I went last year with a group of friends and I loved it! It's a beautiful country with friendly people. And....it's cheap. How can you go wrong with mountains filled with sheep and real shepherds?

Another would be travel agent here.

Instead of going south, how about going north? Come to southern Alberta, the exchange rate is still favourable, the Rocky Mountains are fantastic, Banff is neat and Calagary has several wool shops and many, many restraunts.

Other incentives include cowboys and a reason to wear all your beautiful knit woolies (something you won't get in Mexico).

Liza {who's willing to be your local tour guide}

Come to Portland, Oregon! Come to Portland, Oregon! We've got RAIN (ya know .... don't you need a vacation from all that California sun??? :))

And if not Portland ... how about Peru? :) They have MUCH GOOD YARN for CHEAP!!!! A coworker just went there and said they keep it under heavy guard (as in (and I kid you not): "barbed wire ...and a little sliding viewer window in a big, thick door... and a secret handshake" kinda "heavy guard"! (oh fine ... not so sure on the secret handshake .. (tho' that'd be cool :)) ... but the rest is true!!!))

Come to Oklahoma - wait - no - its borning as hell here! Don't come here - really. Nothing to do, nothing to see.

Well - we do have Rt 66, and big blue whales, and Gun Museums.

But we don't have any fiber festivals or fun stuff like that!

who cares about comment laws that say you can't reply in your OWN comments?!?!?!? I love it when you reply-please do it more often!

Did Annie give you that steamer because you hadn't mopped your floors?

i'm going to snb tonight...

if i say porn i'm blaming it on you.

Steamer! I so need one of those... Glad to see a fuzzy feet along is starting, you mentioned it the other day and I couldn't get them out of my head! My toes started feeling cold at every turn, so, I had to start a pair. I'll just hold off on them for a bir :)

Ok Apart from the expense side of it you could come and visit here in Australia where we also live with cats and don't always mop floors :P

THANKS DREW. And when you come visit the floor will be steamed clean. Promise.

Also, I have a bridge to sell you....

You are a sick woman!! Why are you trying to quit coffee?

You're welcome to come to Utah! It's not a bad drive, you could stop in Vegas one night and see a show, then drive through all the beauty that is Utah, and visit me and Margene and Susan and all the other Utah grrls while you're there. We'll fight of the scary Mormons, don't worry :)

I was going to suggest MDS&W in May, because it's lovely and the countryside is glorious, and it's very close to DC and/or Baltimore, with museums and restaurants and shopping and cool photo ops, and May is a wonderful time of the year there. A day (or two) at the festival, a few days doing the tourist thing in DC, that would be a nice vacation. I'm hoping to do it myself in the spring.

And WHY, for the LOVE OF GOD, are you giving up COFFEE??? It better be a really good medical reason, in which case I will give you my deepest sympathy. Anything less than "it could kill me" will not cut it.

Rite-Aid had those steamers for 50% off this week!!

If only I had known all I had to do was call her Mattie Tar-Tar!!!

I love your posts about the big D. Having been there myself, I can appreciate the times when the "old life" rears its' ugly head.

My girl Tab spent the first 3 months of her divorce sitting on her balcony playing Matchbox20 incessantly and throwing her empty beer bottles at her neighbors garage door. She eventually got kicked out, and enjoyed her new single apartment much, much better.

Thanks for keeping me laughing!

Oven, clean thyself!

But I have one of those steamers--that exact brand, btw. It gets a lot of use around here, but none in the knitting realm, and now I am intrigued...

Dear, why give up coffee? Medical reason? I can't think of any other...Coffee is the stuff of life! Nectar of the gods!

Is it just me or does the nozzle of a Scunci steamer look incredibly phallic??

JUST SAY NO to giving up coffee!! COFFEE is GOOD. COFFEE is our RIGHT as AMERICANS! It ranks with nicotine and sugar as staples of our diet. Give up nicotine but not CAFFINE!!!!
Aieeeeeeeee!!!!

The keBob photo is so cute! Coffee is too good to give up. How about having just one to two cups per day?

Run out, don't walk to rent Under the Tuscan sun..you'll feel better!~!

Would you be persuaded to pass along the steamer/blocking hints!!! Pur-ty please!!!
And as usual- Bob looks gorgeous!!

Laurie, if you are ever up this way stop in to Boise... Boise has a great vibe!!You would like it... I vote for Canada.. there is beautiful country up there...

BTW..I am totally stoked about the fuzzyfeetalong... I bought my yarn and 10.5's and I am ready to rock and roll!!!
b

Oh yes one more thing.... if you ever come to Boise, I will teach you how to milk goats...
Ok, I will stop post whoring and leave you alone now...
Heidi

Well...Annie is coming up to San Francisco in January to book sign with me. *grin* How would you like to meet Janis of Yarn! and hang with Annie again and check out a couple of awesome San Francisco yarn shops? ...and of course, me...but since you haven't the foggiest who I am, I can't imagine I'm much motivation. ;)
-Amy Pezzoni from The Book

I don't stalk you, I stalk your cats - LOVE keBOB. And Roy - I think he's my favorite.

Thanks for making me laugh yet again. Come to Colorado! You don't even have to ski.

COFFEE:

I am convinced that the Giving Up Coffee Is A Good & Virtuous Thing movement comes from our dark Puritan past. Anything enjoyable must be sinful.

Buck the Puritans! Drink up!

Wooo! I second coming to Portland, because despite the rain, (maybe because of?) there are at least 6! yarn stores within Portland city limits now. And that's not counting suburbs...
It's not really a classic tourist destination but it's a cozy place with lots of good wine, yummy food, yarn, books, and lovely gardens and parks. And you could stay with me! Guest bedroom! And Frances the cat who looks just like Soba!

Oooh, I've been meaning to find an excuse to visit this place:
http://www.woodlandwoolworks.com/

CAP - you are a tough chickie - parts of your old life will always peek through because they made you what you are and you are learning from them - very important - you don't want to do THAT again. but it's OK to be sad because that's what makes being happy so good. I've had different but similar experience and I can tell you - pulling through the rough stuff makes you appreciate where you've come from and what you've accomplished. Oh - and traveling with a friend is so much better in some ways - you don't feel the need to do whatever they want all the time - it's much more of a compromise - which is good. Have a good trip!

First: Aer Lingus has non-sstop flights to Dublin from LAX and they go on sale frequently. Think of the wool you can buy in Ireland! I actually watched a farmer hand sheering his sheep by the side of the road. B&B's are about $70 per night, and the biggest expense is the rental car (you MUST get an automatic transmission). I have online photos to share; if you're interested contact me.

SECOND: Big atta-girl for giving up coffee. I did it about 2 months ago and haven't felt so good since I gave up sugar, and it wasn't NEARLY as hard a quitting cigars. Don't ask me to give up my Shiraz though.

Laurie, my blog still seems to be working, so you didn't break it. Come back anytime! And! And! Come to boston!

Ok, I've got to throw my 2 cents in here. My vote is for Amsterdam. It's a fantastic city and is a stone's throw from some other great destinations: France, Germany, England, etc. Plus we have an expat knitting group that meets every Monday. But most importantly, you're close to Belgium which has the best chocolate in the world. It's turned a complete non-believing pagan like me into a certified choc-a-holic.

I know it's not as cheap as U.S. destinations but I'm guessing that getting here and back would be cheaper than going to Russia.

Just a thought...

I: No, there was not. It had nothing to do with you. You had no control. Embrace the chaos.

II: Annie, could you please come visit me?

III: Come to Massachusetts in May. It's really pretty and historic (for the US -- when DH and I went to France I observed that people lived in houses 500+ years old and thought nothing of it, whereas here if your house is more than 50 years old you can get it on the Register of Things You Can Charge People Money to Gawk At), and I will take you to the Massachusetts Sheep and Wool Festival.

IV: I'm there. As soon as I finish the gifts I've already started.

V: Please improve your spy skills by watching some "Get Smart" reruns.

VI: You go, girl!

VII: Love them Soba noodles.

I never comment on blogs but when I read your section on the loss of your traveling companion it really struck a chord with me. I have been in a relationship for five years now - he treats me terribly much of the time but I stay in this because I love to travel and that is the one thing we do beautifully together. I quit my job three years ago partially so I would have time to travel. Of course I do not have nearly as much money which is another issue with my live in. He has less than I do and I end up paying for at least 2/3 of our trips. As I write this I realize how stupid am I. What complicates my life immensely is that I live in a small town and four great friends I had have moved away in past two years so I really don't have any close girlfriends to lean on or do things with and honestly I just don't have the energy to invest in a new friendship right now. I know I need to make some decisions to change my life but guess I am not quite there yet. Sorry for blabbering all over your blog but I am glad to see I am not the only one with concerns about loss of traveling companion.

Pam

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