Even here in beautiful New England it is pushing 90 degrees outside, and even so, I still want to knit mittens and hats and like that. It's probably an atavistic response to the waning daylight -- that or the cats have finally driven me all the way around the bend.

Just wanted to let you know I got the last copy of THE BOOK at the local big bookstore so it would be counted!!! Loved it!!!!!

Atavistic -- excellent word!

All I have been thinking of lately is yarn and knitting and cables and hats and scarves and warm wooly things! It's nutty!

My cats, I mean, not your cats. And I haven't even humiliated them yet!

I want to get my Wee Beasties costumes for Halloween this year (I saw Star Wars costumes for pets somewhere) but the Hubby said no. He's probably right, but the idea of my three cats dressed up as Princess Leia, Yoda and Luke just crack me up to no end.

Deanna, I thank you :) And I hope you like it! It's sad in the beginning but I promise it does get better ;)

I don't have a good answer on the drama... this cancer girl is genuinely PMSing! (wonder if I'm getting a double-whammy effect...)

It's sweaty hot here in NorCal too. It was a full moon last night, Laurie, hence the "frighteningly emotional...doom and gloom." Probably also explains the 3 racoons galloping across my deck at midnight.

And, Lucia... "atavistic?" gotta go look that one up.

I've always known that my cats and the dog for that mater would die of shame if I tried to dress them. I am terrified of what they would do to me if I tried........

The full moon! That is what I plan to blame all this on! I woke up at 3:45 this morning and made a list of everything I was worried about so I could finally get it out of my head. Yuck. Also, my list contains such gems as "planes will crash" and conversely, "trapped next to stinky cheese man for three hours on tarmac." Also I believe the list contained "cats will forget me" and "cats will like housesitter better than me" and "cats will miss me and/or poop on floor and embarrass me in front of housesitter" and then I remembered the cats would probably eat me if they ran out of Meow Mix, so you know. Full moon. Yup. I am definitely going with that one.

Meant to tell you the other day that I received my copy of your book from Amazon! Yippee!

I'm so sorry about your mood! I'm not a Cancer but I get those, too. You know, in my case anyway, I can feel like I am not pms-ing at all and this mood comes but then, right around the corner my monthly friend makes its appearance! Ha! With friends like this, who needs enemies? When I least expect it, too, I get a little irregular whenever I'm stressed and that's how come it sneaks up on me at times.

I think cats look even more funny in costumes because you know they hate you for it. "Stuff on cats" is a perfect example of our human folk getting back at cats for all their aloofness (though only some of them are aloof, my cat thinks he's a dog).

But I'm actually writing because it sounds like y'all haven't heard of the young Japanese girl's solution to keeping slouchy socks up (and I bet it would work for legwarmers too)... Sock Glue!

Yep, glue em to yourself. I think this is much more comfortable if you have freshly de-haired legs. They sell glue in Japan made specifically for glueing your socks to your legs. How perfect for the burgeoning leg warmer trend!

My legs are also like tree trunks, so I avoid tall boots, uggs, knee high socks, leg warmers and anything that makes my trees seem wider.

Laurie, that catalogue looks like it is from 1979... Is it brand new? There's something about the woman's feathered hair that makes me wonder... :)

...feathered hair...leg warmers...retro mania.

I was just wondering how many entries so far in the cat sweater contest? Just wonderin'sal.......

That cat looks like it's about 2 seconds away from clawing the human's eyes out. My cats would do that. I've got to figure something out for the sweepstakes because the boyfriend said he'd be more than happy to hold his cats and put sweaters on them. But he likes tormenting them. :)

And I hear you on the heat thing. It's still in the 90s here in Florida and I have 3 afghans to do for holiday gifts. It needs to either cool down, or the boyfriend needs to be ready to deal with the high electric bill when I crank the a/c down to 50.

First time commenting, but i just had to say, I'm so very sad that your tour will not be taking you to Chicago. Yes, yes, I know you're going to be in Peoria, but it might as well be Peru! Come on now, Chicago is where it all happens!

I'm a Gemini who everyone thinks is a Cancer, and yes, I've been an emotional basketcase lately. I was chalking it up to having family in town visiting, but if I can blame it on the stars somehow, I will. Curse you, stars! Why must you always work against me!

Knitpicks.com has some really cute knit patterns for legwarmers. I'm just saying is all.

It is 90 here in NJ - very muggy. Plus the full moon - moods are going crazy here!

BUT......my copy of CAP's DD&CICH just arrived to my work from the amazon fairy so my mood has instantly brightened!!!!!

wow, I feel like that and I am a Pisces. so maybe the full moon in my house is not a good thing???
WArning bad pun ahead: I knew I had too much junk in my trunk!

I JUST called Phyllis yesterday (cause I am feeling "frighteningly emotional and 'no one loves me, everything could end tomorrow' gloom and doomy right now TOO) to make an appt and she didn't have any till January! I didn't schedule one cause I thought the feeling might pass by then. I'm a Leo....

Just say NO to legwarmers! I danced as a teen and I had them in colors to match all of my leotards and tights. I left them behind and have not looked back....Please make the designers stop. Legwarmers should be put up with the "dress shorts." I'm just saying.

And, although I am Leo, I am feeling "frighteningly emotional and "no one loves me, everything could end tomorrow" gloom and doomy right now"....I figure it's my age and singleness talking. I just keep knitting and try to ignore it...oh, and I avoid events where I'll be surrounded by couples.

I thought legwarmers were suppose to fall and be all slouchy.

I mean I really wouldn't know, I swear I don't own any. Okay I admit it, I'm a maniac.

THAT FULL MOON IS ALSO A HARVEST MOON!!!

Note how under the collar the woman's hands are holding the kitty's paws in a death grip to keep them from ripping her face off.

nt

Laurie - just wanted to let you know that I picked up your book and read it over the weekend while on a trip to lovely (i.e. hotter than Hades w/ giant, albatross-sized mosquitoes)Las Cruces, New Mexico. It was a family reunion and my first big "extended family" event since my divorce. I was dreading all the "where's your husband" nosiness from the more distant relatives who hadn't heard the news. Your book got me through the weekend (and several scarily bumpy plane rides) with nary a sniffle. I even laughed out loud a few times (which earned me some strange looks from fellow passengers as the airplane was plummeting into an air pocket at the time). Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom, insight and wonderful way with words. I passed the title of the book on to my counselor as a recommendation for her other patients who are in "divorce recovery."

Thank you again!!

KJ

P.S. While I myself am not southern, my family roots are (Louisiana and Texas mostly) and I thought you'd like to hear my favorite comment from the reunion: "Oh, there's Bill. I have to run up to the house and get him a jar of my pickled okra. Y'all know Bill just LOVES my pickled okra." Said by my mother's first cousin's wife who does, indeed, have an entire pantry full of her homemade, pickled okra.

Your Halloween handknit item looks suspiciously like orange leg warmers. Can't wait to see the end result!

I cannot wait to see the dorky Halloween hand knit. And, I am glad to know you won't be losing an eye over it.

OMG that photo of the cat killed me, too funny!!!

I too left behind the leg warmers, I was horrified when they bought back leggings this summer. STOP THE MADENESS!!!!

I got an email from Amazon saying my book shipped which is great because we are going on vacation next weekand I plan to read read read it. Did I mention I plan to read it on vacation?? I think I'll read it on vacation.

OMG! It is not just you. I've been not so patiently waiting for the new wave of prosperity...the big break...the lightening of the load...as it were...at least it looks like yours is coming...I'm so happy for you getting out there...meeting your fans, signing those books. Several of your fans from from my shop...and me, of course, will be at the Grove in October ... we'll try to behave...congratulatons, again...Enjoy this, you have earned it...."Break a Leg!"

KJ... thank you thank you thank you. And thank you :)

Oh my god, YES! Serious doom and gloom over here. I thought I was losing my mind. Are you hinting that I can blame astrology?

unfortunately, those kind of legwarmers aren't designed to stay up! it's back to the whole slouchy bit. ugh. i hate socks that don't stay up, and i hate legwarmers the same way! and with my uber calves, that ain't easy (i feel your pain with the knee boots, honey, i can't find any either)

I'm not cool, but my legs keep warm. I'm just sayin', is all.

l'evidence: http://www.flickr.com/photos/buzelman/461158532/in/set-72157602127867468/

Meredith, Peru is closer to Chicago than Peoria is! Peru, Illinois, that is.

Peoria's only 3 hours away, you've got to come!

Mary in (central) Illinois

Yes! Jumping on the "blame the stars" bandwagon! (Or handcart, as it may be) even though I am NOT a Cancer, I'm a Capricorn, but after all, I must have Cancer somewhere in my chart, right?

It's not just you! Although I am not a Cancer girl, I am feeling terrifyingly emotional, no one loves me and it could all end tomorrow (I wish 'cuz then these bad feelings would end). Whoops, I just remembered that you don't like negative talk. I'm outa here. Sorry

I'm listening to you on Cast-on podcast and quilting and I had to stop and come and let you know that although I've lurked around your blog for about a year looking at your projects I hadn't read in-depth your story, but today my heart was moved to tears not just because of what happened to you but that at 40 I can so truly relate to the self-discovery, loneliness and forlon feelings.

You Go Gurl!!! And keep up the great work.

Oh my gosh. I've read no further than the first paragraph and I'm screaming YES! YES! YES!

I almost didn't come to work today, I'm such a mess.

I think maybe the target ones are supposed to be slouchy, but they make my legs look kinda trunky. I will look on knitpicks for a pattern, I've gotten yarn from them before and it was way cheap. Are there any Stitch n' Bitch groups in Minnesota?

Beverly, you weren't being negative... it's not like that. Mostly I am not in love with people who come and say things such as "Cats suck you suck buy viagra..." LOL

Oh, and Sam! Yes, check out:
http://www.stitchnbitch.org/snb_groups.htm

And yes I think we can blame it all on planets and stuff, and also WHEW ... I am so glad I am not the only one who's been feeling all gloomy/chicken little sky is falling. It's irrational, which is what bugs me.

Glad to know it's the planets. I thought I had a bad batch of Premarin.

Laurie --
One of my cats, Cowboy, likes to have his picture taken dressed up in knitting that ladies in Crafty Angels (a church ministry) have made. He purrs really loudly when I put a hat on him -- but maybe that's because I keep telling him how handsome he is! He's developed quite an international fan club, and now jumps up on the dining room table when the boxes of knitting come in and the camera comes out! All true -- check out the blog! I know it's unusual, but he's a real ham! And he loves to play host when the ladies come over!
Peace,
Chris.

OMG, that is so me! I feel like all the promises that were made were false, and that everything I've been basing my future on is gonna fall through any second now. It's awful! It makes me want to run away! So... you're saying it's just the combination of the Full Moon plus other planetary alignments affecting us Cancerians, and that we should just relax and knit on until it passes?

Oy.

Maybe I'll feel better if I knit some legwarmers for my cats.

Leg warmers are so very, very, VERY WRONG! Just say NO to leg warmers!!!

Hey Laurie! I ordered the book online today at Cole's and it will be in by the time I get back from Europe. It gives me a reason to come home, I guess. :)

I know legwarmers are wrong......but what else is a girl who loves skirts and boots and lives in MN to do?

Clicked on the book tour link - no Canada? Not even just-outside-of-Toronto southwestern Ontario? Arrgh.

And to Nancy -- I am so glad you're coming on the 11th!! I am putting together a goofyass raffle prize that is making me laugh even as I assemble it, I can't wait to met you!

met=meet oy vey I am a bad typist, also, notice my cool usage of "oy vey" heheheh

I'm glad to know it's the planets too.

This week, I have yet to start the day without the first word out of my mouth some sort of profanity over my late-ness. And today I was so late I skipped my iced coffee. Very. Bad. Idea.

dear Aunty,

I really don't think that cat's ploting is too secret. ;-)

I'm a Scorpio and I'm ready to kill someone. Or go home and curl up into a fetal position and cry till I fall asleep. Either will do.

I don't know if it's the full moon or the change in the seasons. I seem to remember feeling like this when spring was on its way. And the insomnia has reared its head so that may have something to do with it too.

Cancer girl here too, and I just have some disease (cold?) of doooooooom. I would love to blame it on the planets. Also, bizarre ex-boyfriend stuff is piling up too. And there's sudden crazy at work. And uncertainty.

Dangit. I should go home :)

"two women stared at me as if I were from Planet Stupid Paparrazzi..." I think you need a shirt, pin, badge, something that advertises CAP.com, with a picture of Soba's manifesto; that way you can take pictures of legwarmers and cat sweaters in peace. Or just a business card that has CAP.com, you know, whichever is easier.

PLEASE bring your book tour to Vegas!

I lay claim to a cancer rising, and this has been a truly heinous day. Should be renamed, emotions rising (falling, repeat)! I've been breathing deep, the gathering gloom....

So looking forward to going home and burrowing under the covers to watch Grays Anatomy---a good way to wait out the blahs--

Got my copy of THE book yesterday and it's absolutely wonderful. (This is the one I ordered from Amazon last Friday--the one I ordered in April just shipped. That's OK--I have deserving friends with no extra cash at the moment, including the one who introduced me to your blog.)
Even having read every post you've made, the book is fresh and new and I'm enjoying it very much. Congratulations! (and I'm going to try really hard to see you in Houston to tell you so in person!)

I am not a Cancer but I have been feeling the gloomdoomeverythingsucks big time.And I want to chuck everything and knit all day.
p.s. I would pay $1 to see you in some funky legwarmers!(side ponytail optional)

LOL! OMG, banner with the picture of the cat in a sweater calling for help is hysterical! I love it!

I really don't know how the moon being in Pisces affects Virgos, but I've felt that way ALL MONTH.

btw, loved the house posting yesterday. I laughed so many times, the comments were awesome, as were the captions (CAP-tions rock!) Where's that trademark sign when one needs it, eh?

Are you wearing leg warmers to Seattle? Bring a hat. Gloves. And un-stylish shoes. We are so REI here. It be cold too!

To file under the "Girl, You're Not Alone" tab, girl, you're not alone! This Cancer woman has been in a terrible and unexplained funk of despair and worry for a couple of weeks now, with no apparent cause.
However, the universe is apparently a mother, maybe my mother, because I could have sworn I heard softly on the breeze, "Quit all that worrying or I'll really give you something to worry about". BAM! Brain eating organism! In a lake! A LOCAL lake! One right here in river city!
Oh the horror. As if I needed another reason to shelter my poor mushroom never gets to leave the house without a helmut son. Here's a link, just in case. And don't worry, it apparently doesn't live in salt water. Pacific Ocean? Clear.

http://www.kpho.com/news/14214579/detail.html

PS, I haven't been in a lake in about 30 years. Yet, I am still afraid. Does that make me nuerotic? hehehhe

ZINA! I hope you're coming to the signing... the manager of that Barnes & Noble is a knitter!!! You know it will be a fun night. And what do you mean "un-stylish shoes" ???? Don't you know that some of us I AM NOT SAYING ANY NAMES who cannot fit into size six clothes sometimes make up for it by excessive shoe shopping? And furthermore some people NO NAMES are Southern and must gussy up to face the world? I am merely saying....

REI? What is that? Isn't it natural and campy? Where is the faux snakeskin section? Where is the lip gloss? I carry a curling iron in my carryon! hehehehehe

OMG - I've totally been all... "nobody loves me, I'm gonna die alone & I don't have a cat" all week. I thought it was just me - good to know I can blame it on my astrological sign instead. ;)

The doom and gloomy thing. Not just you--me too, and also the Cancer gal who shares my office. I've been on the edge of screaming and/or crying for days. Maybe the full moon, maybe more than that, who knows? I am just gritting my teeth and hoping it's over soon.

Friends don't let friends knit leg warmers. Its a darn shame waste of good yarn. But buying them at Target is fine - although a true friend will let you know if you look foolish wearing the darn things. (notice this did not stop the whole wrap and roll of the pant leg thing in the 80's - what were we thinking!)

Favorite sewing notion - the iron on hem tape. I know how to sew a hem, but the tape is so much neater and WAY faster.

Ha! I will so be there! With some of my best knitting co-worker friends/fans! A fun bunch--really!

I'm all about the shoes..love them, but er...everything here gets wet! Well, not all the time, but in fall, yeah--

REI is Recreational Equipment Co.
rei.com

sporting goods/green living/hiking/biking mecca
They have a climbing wall INTHESTORE!

We will see you and I'm so happy my copy of the book is coming!

The whole thing about Cancer girls with heightened PMS right now? Totally true. Hand to god, I thought my husband was cheating on me yesterday because he went to class. He's in, um, GRAD SCHOOL. Yes, I am a freak. And I really do have PMS right now.

oh my god. Totally gloomy and doomy (and PMSy) right now. Cancer girls are freaky. Oh, and on the fall knitting thing, I'm working on TWO huge sweaters and a blanket right now. Nesting instinct? Intact.

You're supposed to wear those legwarmers over your fabulous flash-dancy leggings. They need some good old fashioned neon spandex to cling to...cuz, you know, to do otherwise would make you look like a dork :)

Just the thought of leg warmers gives me a hot flash - the not great kind. hmm...and pretty sure the cat in the pix is on major kitty-meds because the collar has BELLS on it.
My cat would have been doing loop-d-loops with those bells...oh, doh, bells probably don't have ringer thingies.
Something I've wondered for along time...is there a meaning for the pix on the left-most brunette's sweater, on the CAP banner? Is that perhaps a sorority or magical mystical bee-hive, oak crown, red slash message? I've stared at it for a long time now and never quite figured it out. ah well...

But one piece of clarification for Sam's sake: She appears to be wearing the legwarmers to (sit down, it's hard to believe) KEEP HER LEGS WARM. She is NOT wearing them over her stirrup pants with her ankle boots and her torn sweatshirt precariously hanging off one shoulder. She is not, as I once did in high school, wearing them over her peg leg acid wash jeans that snap at the armpits and the double ruffle blouse that buttons down one side. I think wearing legwarmers under a skirt and boots is PERFECTLY permissible.

It's not just Cancer women. I'm a Leo.

Rachel, I would so be wearing them if A) I had thinner legs and B) I lived someplace cold. Because I am a dork and still secretly love them from junior high.

And the side ponytail, too. yes ... I do believe someone just revoked my southern belle card ... but I can't help it. I hate the 80s with a painful spasm of bad fashionmemory, and then I also love it nostalgically.

This I am also blaming on the full moon.

Zina-- I forgot about the fact that it rains in other places! I truly have become braindead from living in LA for 14 years. Out here rain is seen as a mystical, bizarre three-days-a-year event. I need to pack an umbrella.

(One of my coworkers actually looked me dead in the eye on Friday and said, "Is that rain? Why would it rain in September? Has that ever happened before?" and he was SERIOUS.)

Hi, Laurie! This totally has nothing to do with your post (although I loved it) but I wanted to share this article with you. It's called To Hug Or Not To Hug. It was on the front page of Yahoo today and it made me think of you. It talks about when hugging co-workers is inapproprate. Let me know if you liked it. http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/103549/To-Hug-or-Not-to-Hug

your co-worker: "the sky is falling!"

On the other hand, my friend calls those spots of sunshine that land on the carpet, "sun puddles" as in, "I could just curl up on that sun puddle and go to sleep." Awwwww...I love that!

Didn't you love the intro to your podcast?? I almost started crying

Laurie, dying to knit legwarmers? Make then for your friends' babies or your baby friends! Seriously: www.babylegs.net.

You would be surprised the clothing items you will wear when it is very very cold. I also own a full face mask hat thingy. (you know, like robbers wear). But I don't wear it with my boots......just when I am walking the dog. And I don't wear leggings, I do have limits!

I am a Cancer, and have had the worst case of doom and gloom this week. Glad to know it's not just me. And I feel strangely trendy because I am almost finished knitting a pair of legwarmers, but less trendy admitting that they are pink and yellow striped. eek!

Check out the beading section of a craft store. They have clear elastic on little reels to string beads on for slide-over-the-hand bracelets. Also black. Sometimes red.

It comes in .5, .7, 1 and 1.5 mm thicknesses, which can definately go through a yarn needle and be sewn inside some part of a neckline, cuff, sock, hat or legwarmer.

Other sections of a craft store are great, too.

The scrapbooking section has small scissors with a snap-on blade protector so you can carry them in your handbag or knitting bag without endangering life, limb and yarn.

And the wood crafts section has organizing stuff for your stash.

Check out the beading section of a craft store. They have clear elastic on little reels to string beads on for slide-over-the-hand bracelets. Also black. Sometimes red.

It comes in .5, .7, 1 and 1.5 mm thicknesses, which can definately go through a yarn needle and be sewn inside some part of a neckline, cuff, sock, hat or legwarmer.

Other sections of a craft store are great, too.

The scrapbooking section has small scissors with a snap-on blade protector so you can carry them in your handbag or knitting bag without endangering life, limb and yarn.

And the wood crafts section has organizing stuff for your stash.

It's the full moon (in Pisces, yet -- as a Pisces with moon in Virgo, I have every right to go weird for a few days) and the seasonal change and the cats. Also a throwback* to primal craziness.

*Is that better?

I got my Book!!! Yeehawwww!! Yipppeee! I can't wait to sit and read....
Amazon sucks, they are still telling me it isn't available for shipping until the end of October. I got this one from Barnes and Noble. Yay!

Hi, Laurie!

Love your blog, loved your book. Seeing it on the shelf at B&N (last copy), I got that little heart squeeze like you get when you haven't seen a friend in forever, but then run into them at Target. Can't wait to see you down here in Miami! May inappropriately hug you (please dont' call security).

Hurry to Miami! The weather should be nice by then. Not all hot and sweaty, like now.

Love, Nurse Wendy

Oh Lucia, a "throwback" is a fish smaller than the size limit...heehee

Instead of thinking "leg warmers" make them smaller and call them "baby legs".
The 2 foot chubby bubby mommies love them, and you won't have to turn back the clock to Flashdance memories and Suzanne Somers aerobics.

It's a full moon, honey. Full moon means lots of hormonal drama, lots of crazy drivers, and lots of bloating/need for chocolate or snuggles... among other things. Besides that, it was the harvest moon. Even if we don't farm or harvest or anything anymore (most of us), I think (yes, I'm crazy, too, but different-crazy, if you know what I mean) we still have that echo-memory of getting together with our community and loved ones and partying about being together and having food for the upcoming winter (hello 90* day).... like Thanksgiving only it's been around a lot longer. So yeah. I'm with ya.

Your freeway house was in the Keene Sentinel today.. all the way clear across the country.. in small town NH. Just sayin.

I humiliate my cat yearly on Halloween. He wears his Superman costume complete with cape! He loves it! (honestly he doesn't care, he walks around like he's all that)...
Plus last year I took him next door to "trick or treat" at the neighbors as a joke.. the neighbor gave him some kitty treats! I could should be writing my own crazy cat lady book.

Ugh....no, you aren't alone. I'm a Cancer as well and I'm feeling the lack of love. Which is really silly, cuz the people around me aren't behaving any differently. WTF is that about anyway? I'm just gonna go cuddle with my kitties :-)

HI Everyone,
Laurie I also got your book (in person) today because I was fed up with Amazon and their 'I'm sending it, I'm not sending it' nonsense. I got it at B&N and I had to ask the lady behind the counter because it was cataloged in 'knitting'. She laughed at the title and even called one of her co-workers over to read it. I told her how great your blog is and how many readers you have. I also told her that Amazon and the other bookstores can't keep up (at least that's what Amazon told me). She said, 'Oh thanks for the info, I'll order more!' I got one of the last 2 copies, and she took the other one and put it right up front!
Then I got home and got an email from Amazon saying it had shipped. That's cool, can't have too many! GIFTS!
I'm so happy for your success. :)
~Amy

I just finished the legwarmers from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. The day I cast on, it was 65 degrees...the day I finished it was 90.
Bleah.

Amy I can't thank you enough for pimping out the book!!! Thank you!

Dear Aunt Purl, Please ask your publishers to let you go further east than Nashville. From Northern Virginia it is about a 15 hour drive to Nashville. Of course Tennessee is the home state of Cracker Barrel so the trip could be alot of fun what with the rest stops and all. But you really should experience the fun of the second most congested area of the country!

Hey Laurie! I got your book today on my lunch break from work. I also have a copy coming from Amazon, but when I saw the display I went SQUEEE! and boom, there it was, in a bag. It looks GREAT.

on the 'me too, me too!' wagon, although not about the Cancer stuff because a) I'm not and b) I don't go in for it ... although I DID spend the ENTIRE day yesterday sitting in front of the TV and knitting, getting up only to make fresh tea and feed the preschooler ... bliss!! ... er, anyway, me too! - Amazon emailed me this morning to say they're shipping the Dee Dee and Cich book! It will probably be here before I get back from our October school holidays road trip! Something lovely to look forward to!

Another Cancer girl checking in and feeling a bit the same way right now. Freaky. I thought it was just me, but I guess not.

That poor cat. That's just wrong! Poor thing!

Got my copy of the book yesterday (not as bad a delay as Amazon had said!) In between getting the house spotless for a showing this morning - which is feeding into my basest fears that people won't like me (Strangers! Judging my house!) - I got through the first 2 sections! Made me laugh. Made me cry. Made me cry a lot. Made me miss the company of other knitters - it's hard as a SAHM to get out, and I have hermit-like tendencies as well, which being a SAHM has exacerbated. So far, two enthusiastic sticks up (but they're circs - hope you don't mind!)

You'll never believe it: Amazon shipped my order! And about freakin' well time, considering that I placed it in April, but with this sentence ends my bitching, about that, anyway :).

Now, about that second leg of your book tour: I will knit a warmer for it, but you have to come to Boston (Please come to Boston... NO! No singing!) to pick it up. Or somewhere in MA, anyway.

Thanks for the tour link - and I am so happy you are coming to Minneapolis. Sorry that I can't bring my kitty along to meet you, but let's just say that I never collect a stool sample before we get in the car to go to the veteranarian, yet we always have one when we get there.

In today's mail: A Bloomie's catalogue with one page featuring a skinny woman in skinny jeans and Uggs. Wearing a perfectly matched set of earmuffs, scarf, arm warmers and thigh-high leg warmers (probably 10" of ribbing and a 6-button "fly" at the thighs). All in ivory with one large cable on each item. By Ugg. I totally thought of you, and had to share.

Cancer here with expired spousal support. I dipped into my savings to get the outside of my chez spinster painted. You know how Cancers feel about letting go of savings. Doomy gloomy! Also, I was reading your book and laughed so hard the bed shook and woke the cat.

I can't find boots that fit over my calves either. I figure that they are all designed for the skinny-legged so-n-so's, or all the other big-calved girls beat me to it...

Laurie,

When I called Barnes & Noble last week to see if they had your book in stock, the young lady on the phone went and got my copies, and after reading the cover, said, "I need to buy this book myself! I'm just learning how to knit since my husband was just shipped to Iraq." I told her that your book would be great for her, not only for knitting, but with a lot of other good advice about life. I also made sure to highly recommend your blog for her to check out!

They had 3 copies in stock - - I reserved 2 of them - - I'm guessing the remaining copy went home with her . . . :-)

gemini, and have had the doom and gloom for a week or so. thought it was running out of happy pills, but blaming the full moon seems much more logical. all is well! moon is waning! last night I had the kids convinced that moon wore orange pajamas and went behind a clout to change into white ones. *snort*

It was hard for me to find boots to fit over my calves also (i always thought they were pretty average size but guess not) the ones I finally found that I love were bjorns from macys. expensive but worth it!

I got my copy of your book yesterday from Amazon and I was so excited I almost cried. Because I am so cool-as-a-cucumber like that.

that would be cloud. duh...

The cat on that Drs. Foster & Smith catalog looks EXACTLY like my cat--except they could have photographed her standing over the bleeding and broken body of whoever tried to dress her in that getup, because PLEASE. A little dignity, here?

(well. . . this could have happened in her prime--my baby is now bravely fighting the end stages of chronic renal failure, and I am not taking it well. but you know how that goes.)

Laurie, I got your book in the mail yesterday and devoured half of it last night. I laughed, I cried, I feel like I've known you all my life. Can't wait to finish it this weekend!

I totally agree with justarabbit. I own and use sock glue (only way to keep the knee highs from creeping down the trunks! ^>^) and it really does work well. You can also use it to keep peek-a-boob from occurring with deep v-neck tops, and to keep bra straps in place. You can order it here: http://www.jbox.com/SEARCH/sock_glue/1/
(it's the top item, things get wacky after that), and although I've checked, I haven't found a domestic supplier.

Don't go nuts. Go chocolate-covered cashews. It's the way to go!

I am another Cancer and yes, this week has been just bizarrely strange. I'm sure the moon is at least tangentially involved. As for legwarmers, I've been hit lately with an obsession for wristlets, is that the same? But I can't seem to pick/design a suitable pattern. And kitties in costume?, well, I like to take the most atrocious fake fur/novelty yarns that fall into my hands and knit little collars. It's just enough to get out my revenge fantasies for the hairballs I get. Bon chance on the 'warmers!

I'm a July birthday girl and am often just a Hallmark commercial away from crying my eyes out during certain times of the month. That time has passed, thank God, at least for this month. But it doesn't take much to set me off! ;-)

The house on the highway saga has been hilarious (alas, not to you, stuck on the bus, I'm sure). Thanks for sharing!

Legwarmers -- both my dancing nieces have asked for some. Yikes, I think that was back in February! I guess I need to stop avoiding them and just knit the damn things!

Okay, do you also get other Drs. Foster & Smith catalogs? 'Cause I swear, I've only ever ordered from their bird catalog, and yet they seem to think I also have reptiles and small mammals. Why does having a bird somehow equate to "crazy menagerie lady who probably owns exotic and illegal alligators"?

why, why, WHY are you not coming to san francisco?? it's right in between LA and seattle...

i'm just sayin'.

I am a Capricorn but in my natal chart, Mars is in Cancer, and Mars of course is all about how you deal with conflict, etc. So that explains my crazy as of late.

Us Scorpio girls are feeling the "no one loves me" vibe, too. Or maybe it's just me. And, maybe I need some legwarmers so at least I'll feel warm! And to feel more like it's 1982.

I got my book! I got my book! Came out of a meeting and there was the Amazon box on my chair. I was so excited I showed it to everyone. I think they're a little worried about me now. :)

I got my book! I got my book! Came out of a meeting and there was the Amazon box on my chair. I was so excited I showed it to everyone. I think they're a little worried about me now. :)

Oopsy - sorry for double post!