I know!!! I can't believe it's December tomorrow already!! Aack! I need to get started on my shopping!

Oh cool! I'll bring my book for signature, I was too impatient at The Grove reading to wait in line. Had to get down to the new Pinkberry's!!!!!!!

It does this every year to me...summer creeps by but once we hit Halloween it is full steam ahead and before you can say Peppermint Martini it is December! Sorry about your crazy long commute...hope that nutty weather pattern eases up for you Los Angeleans. Have a marvelous weekend. Can't wait to see the knitted Christmas thingy...

Rainy day commutes in LA are the pits, aren't they? I too got another foot knitted on my mohair shawl on the way in today. Compatto is a wonderful and cozy store. I bought some lovely yarn from them at the Santa Monica Quild Guild show earlier in the year. Don't know if I can make it, but I'll sure try (at least you already signed my book at the Grove). Can't wait to see how your Christmas-themed thingamajig turns out!

I could soooooo use a trip to Santa Monica. Sadly, Minneapolis is a bit far and the plane fare too dear.

Have a wonderful time.

Dern, the drive from Nor-Cal to Santa Monica is tempting, but Christmas prep madness is on my calendar for this week-end. How very fun for locals to be able to hang out with you in a cool yarn store (yes I can say 'alpaca'...hmmm) Pls send some rain up here.

Rain? We have rain. In Oregon, we have rain and I can deal with that. But tomorrow? Snow. I cannot deal with snow. I am holing up in my house, cleaning/baking/knitting/quilting. In my pajamas. With lots of warm clothes and tons of coffee and soup and baked items.

That oughta be good for another 10 lbs gained. (sigh)

And I can't believe it's December either. Who's going to do all this Christmas shopping I have to do? Who, I ask you?

I know what you mean about December coming too soon. According to my internal calendar it is actually October 3 today, and that is way too early to begin obsessing about Christmas.

Have you heard from Faith?? Is she back from her trip yet?? I've been worried about her traveling all alone.

Have a great signing this weekend!!

No, No, No, People please! December starts tomorrow, not today. CALM YOURSELVES.

Faith is back -- or she was back, now she's on her way to Boston for a conference. She said she had the BEST time, Liz! I hope she posts all her pictures soon.

Hm. I *thought* someone took a week out of November for the sole purpose of futzing up our collective internal clocks. It may be a result of having the Daylight Savings switch happen later?

I was just there last saturday!!! OK, so I got to see you speak in MN, but I was out in sunny L.A. and in a small yarn store where I wouldn't have been such a socially phobic FREAK and I missed you by a week. Oh, well. At least I got my vacation yarn.

-- The anxious chick in the huge quilt skirt from the Mall of America

a yarn salon? how cool is that!
December snuck up on me too. And I thought I was ahead of the game. HA!

Hi Laurie! I just finished your book...school got in the way. I wish I lived closer and could be there to see you on Sunday. I missed you in MN, Milwaukee is just too far away.

anyway, you are one of the few people I thought would laugh like I did about this:
http://www.wackyplanet.com/crazy-cat-lady-action-figure.html

Rain? Water from the sky? Aaaagggghhhhh, I can't cope!

Oh, wait, I can. But it still seems wrong after I'd gotten used to all those dry days. At least the flooding should be over with by Sunday. [For those of you who live where rain is normal, rain after wildfires => flooding. On the plus side, flash floods are neat to watch, as long as no one is at risk.]

If there is no Laurel Canyon real estate slippage blocking part of my route....I'll be there. Your book is going to make some GREAT stocking-stuffers!!!

looking forward to seeing the christmas knit thingamajig.

Enjoy the book signing/knit-a-long. I will be with you in spirit.

BTW alpaca? Mmmmmmmmmmm.

Oh YAY! I could use some escaping.and yaaarn..... And, Hello? Rain. No one told me. Laurie you usually post about stuff like this and my Mom didn't call and tell me either. very strange this weather..... Oh well' we should have some good puddle stomping in a bit :-)

NOT YET!!!!! NOT UNTIL TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!!!

also- bought my *very first* skein of alpaca a few weeks ago! I've already decided that it's going to sit in my stash for about a year, until I think of something that's BEYOND AWESOME (that echoed in my head when I thought it...)

Have a super good weekend yins!

Take lots of pics for those of us who can't be there!

Wait, let me check that map again... dang! still 3000 miles away. Must work on transporter technology.

I'm sure a lot of your local readers would love to come see you -- but what happens if it is still raining? Are you suggesting that Angelenos actually get into our cars and DRIVE somewhere when we don't have to -- in the RAIN?! We'll be crashing our cars into each other! If this was Jesus himself reading from the Bible, we'd all be going, "Eh, but it's drizzling... we should just stay home where it's safe."

Compatto...maybe I will pop by and say "hi!"

Alpaca! I bought some in Colorado (wait, I'm going to get the band so I can even tell you what it is, but far be it from ME to gloat): ok..it wants its picture on my blog, so I'll do that later. Here it is - says only: "Alpaca - Peruvian Tweed, All Natural Shades. 8.2 oz skein, 820 yds." Claims "18 st/4", size 6 needles". The label then says intriguingly: "Grown at altitudes between 13,000 and 16,000 ft. in Peru."
I *know* I'm supposed to knit it up sometime, but I put a little collar on it and carry it around like my pet. And pet it I do. (It's waaaay to grand for my knitterly skills, might I add.) Oh, his name is "Dov" - Hebrew for "bear".

Amazing how Dec just zooms up!
Got some of the peruvian tweed myself - just last weekend - gonna make the beautiful hemlock ring blanket I think it will be over the top gorgeous and super snuggly
have a lovely time at your signing - it is a bit far from the SE USA! Come to Atlanta will ya? it is only 3 hours away.

i swear December did start early this year. Maybe they changed it when they changed the time change thingy.

I am sittin here laughing at y'all - scared of a wee bit o rain! LOLOL!!!

Right now - at 6pm it is 16F and with the wind chill it is only 6F. The wind is gonna pick up to 20mph and then the wind chill will be TEN DEGREES BELOW ZERO. Which means that I will probably have to zip up my jacket now.

WINTER STORM WARNINGS and SNOW ADVISORIES have been issued in eleventy nine counties. That means the snow is blowing so hard you can't see the roads - day or night.

Tomorrow, most of the state will be "blanketed with snow" - anywhere from three to over six inches. Which really isn't all that bad. We have been spoiled for the last 5 yrs or so with mild winters and no real big snowstorms.

In the south, they will get sleet - which will freeze to ice overnight. See how ya like driving 55 mph, on ice, in the dark with deer jumping out at you!

SO!!! I am stopping at the Barnes and the Noble and picking up your book to read tomorrow. I have some fancy-pants yarn that I bought at the State Fair that is calling to me. But I don't know what I am gonna make with it yet. I have made ten of your hats and a few scarves - I need a good mitten pattern.

I wish I could have met you at the Mall of America - I was stuck working late that night. Did you find some nice shoes???

Love you long time
Martha With Chaps

www.kare11.com

Yes, the closer we get to the end of the year the faster the time goes. Turn around and boom! It's December.

Mmmm. Alpaca. Grown at 13,000 ft? Like coffee? :)

Oh my God, I can't imagine a roundtrip commute that long, much less one way. I would have driven myself crazy by now if I had the same commute as you do, but maybe if I lived in Los Angeles I'd get used to it. I don't know how you do it. Minneapolis isn't that bad, yet, at least it's never been bad for me, but then I don't drive (I don't know how! I got too freaked out during driver's ed, and haven't needed it yet; I'm 23, by the way). I take public transi too.

It was great to see you at the Mall of America!

Geeeze... if I had only known two days sooner! I live in San Diego and could easily drive to Santa Monica. Sadly, I made plans for Sunday just yesterday. See how you are???

Sorry, can't make it to rainy California this weekend, but I will be enjoying a Christmas open house at a LYS and a Christmas celebration through out the rural countryside of Parke County, IN. I don't have a writing question, but I have an off subject kitty question. Would you ask your herd, uh, I mean cat family, how they would like a new cat to be introduced into their home? I have rescued a dumped female feline (she has an appt. to be "tutored" on Tuesday) into a two-Bengal home. She is half their size, fearful and growly. This sends off the Play/Fight signal to my two and the fur flies. So, for now, she has a room of her own and is very happy with it. She will recuperate from her surgery in that room and then we have to integrate or find her a new home and I don't want that. She has been through enough and is tiny, sweet, cute, loveable - well, you know the story. How can I make this easier on all of us???

Please update your tour dates! I would have had this on my calendar instead of a ridiculous 4 year old preschool party that we already RSVP'd to!

you know how orange countians believe that la is a million miles away? wellll.....i really wanna come meet ya, but i have rehearsals for a play i'm directing and a 5 year old boy in tow who is begging for the Christmas decorations to be brought down.
a mom's life is so full.
are you planning an OC visit soon?

mckay

You need to make your way back to Central Illinois for a reading sometimes - - we are having LOTS of cold weather now (in fact, we have freezing rain/sleet today!) - - you would be able to wear all you knit goodies! :)

Dear Martha with Chaps:
Apparently we live in the same state. But I DID drive in it! I drove for 45 minutes right through the worst part of it to go to a stupid christmas party, that I should right now be attending. but am instead, sitting in my hotel room, internetting. However, I live on the other side of the state, so I get it a few hours before you! And the Keith Marhler hates us way over here!!!

Ouch and I just bought your book on Wednesday but come down and support Compatio. Such lovely Customer service and cute dog although she might not be there. Wish I could join but I have to go hiking then to my normal knitting meetup. Yes hiking I know freaky

This sounds fun! Who's paying for Bossy's airline ticket?

Nikki:

HOORAY for winter driving! Sometimes when I have absolutely nothing to do - I will load up my son and a friend or two and go to a parking lot and teach them how to spin donuts in my truck! They love it! I have a total beater, but I know I shouldn't promote such NONSENSE! But it is so much FUN!!! My son did one backwards this time - he must think he is Rockford or something...

lolol!

Rats! I didn't see this post until Monday. I hope whoever came had a great time. Next time!

Martha: I've only driven in two Minnesota winters! I make my husband drive when it's bad because he's used to it. And When Its not so bad, I just take his truck. my little grandam with nearly bald tires doesn't get along so well with snow!

I loved getting to meet you it was worth the 100 mile trip one way;)I had to show my hubby my book loved what you wrote to me:)I entered all my friends names into the sweepstakes and tried to enter #5 bonus it said the email address I was trying to forward the bad breath letter to didnt exist but I got the other 4 bonus entries done as I hope to win so I can hang out with you again:)go to my blog to see pictures from the book reading in Santa Monica at Compatto and read what I said about meeting Laurie.Darcy

So speaking of good writing...I just visited James Barber's website because I just heard that he passed away last week. I think you would have to be Canadian to remember this irreverant, jolly, sherry-drinking, measurement-impaired cooking show host called "The Urban Peasant". I had almost forgot about him, it's been years since he was on the air, but visiting the site and reading some of his diary is like seeing an old friend. Laurie, you and the Urban Peasant would have been great friends, I'm sure of it. I think you might like his stories about his City Cats in the country. Anyway, there's a Wiki entry on him and his website, which I'm reading right now instead of doing my homework, is http://www.james-barber.com/index.asp

OMG I was a HUGE James Barber fan, I have three of his cookbooks! I am so sad to hear that news.