The Husband Quiz

Today we'll hear from Mike, the Imperator to my Imperatrix. Here's a fun little interview-style quiz -- I borrowed it from Laura.

Me: What is your favorite thing about my knitting?
Hubby: It's all useful stuff, as opposed to mine [he knits chain mail]

Me: What is your least favorite thing about my knitting?
Hubby: Never really thought of it.

Me: What is something I have knitted that you recall as good?
Hubby: Everything you knit is beautiful!

Me: Do you think knitters have an expensive hobby?
Hubby: No more so than any other hobby, all hobbies can be expensive if you really get into it.

Me: Do you have any hobbies?
Hubby: Yes, all kinds. I knit chain mail and collect knives.

Me: Do you have a stash of any kind?
Hubby: Yes, I have a stash of rings that I've been sitting on for years but I am using them now. [Approximately 18,000 rings for an armour shirt]

Me: Have I ever embarrassed you, knitting in public?
Hubby: No

Me: Do you know my favorite kind of yarn?
Hubby: No, I have no idea. There's only like eight million kinds of yarn out there.

Me: Can you name another knitting blog?
Hubby: Not for your kind of knitting, but I'm on a chain mail forum right now.

Me: Do you mind my wanting to stop at knit shops wherever we go?
Hubby: No, do you mind me wanting to stop at the knife shops?

Me: Do you understand the importance of a swatch?
Hubby: Yes, of course. I have to do it too. It's a proof to make sure it's going to look the way I want it to.

Me: Do you read Ave Trivia Imperatrix! (this blog)?
Hubby: Once in a while.

Me: Have you ever left a comment?
Hubby: No

Me: Do you think the house would be cleaner if I didn't knit?
Hubby: No, you keep everything pretty organized, so it's not like it's cluttered. [Note, it's not true, but he said it very sweetly]

Me: Anything you'd like to add?
Hubby: Yes, I really enjoy wearing your knitted stuff.

Obama comes to KC

Yesterday, I took the kids down to Liberty Memorial Park to see Senator Barack Obama speak at a campaign rally. We were three of the 75,000-plus who turned out to see him in Kansas City. It was amazing! I'll leave it to the political blogs to do the in-depth analysis on his various policy positions... I'll just say that the man is a flat-out inspiration.

We got there a little before two, and waited in line for a couple hours before they let us into the park. Then we waited for a couple more hours before the speeches started. Of course, I was representing Knitters for Obama. Got a solid four inches of ribbing done on Mike's Antifreeze hat, too.

Obama's stump speech is thoughtful and engaging. He hit all the high notes... healthcare, education, and especially taxes... but he also repeated the story about stopping in a little diner while campaigning in Ohio for a slice of sweet-potato pie. You gotta love a man whose face lights up when he talks about sweet-potato pie.

Missouri is by no means a done deal, and I'll be working my patootie off for the next sixteen days along with all of the rest of the Obama volunteers here in the effort to turn MO blue. But I've got a really, really good feeling here.

Yarn Harlot comes to KC

A bunch of us went up to see Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, aka The Yarn Harlot, last night -- she is on a tour promoting her new book. From left to right: Carolyn, Chelle, Laura, Dorothy, and me. Three out of five knitters also blog, apparently. Anyway, it was fun hanging out with a bunch of other knitters, chatting and having a good old time seeing all the beautiful hand knits! And I won the door prize at the end of the evening! Man, I ought to go buy a lottery ticket or something, my luck seems to be running very strong right now.

(The picture was blatantly lifted from Chelle, because I forgot my camera. Sorry, Chelle.)

Back to School

Pattern: Back To School U-Neck vest (Fitted Knits by Stefanie Japel)
Yarn: Dome Hill Yarns Worsted in Jaded
Needles: 8

This was a fairly quick knit -- of course, I have done so many socks lately, anything in worsted flies along by comparison. The fitted design elements (ribbing through the midsection, bust increases above the empire waistline) really add to the polished look of the vest. Jaded is one of my favorite colorways, too, so I can see myself wearing this a lot this fall & winter. :-)

Searching for Bobby Fischer

Hunter has joined the Chess Club at his school (it's a combined middle/high school club; he's one of the youngest members.) Yesterday was his first tournament ever, a statewide competition. I expected him to have a good learning experience but probably get his booty kicked. He proved me wrong by coming home with the third-place trophy for his age division!

He also bought a book of chess puzzles with his pocket money. All day long he has been setting up the problems on his magnetic chess board and then poring over them, muttering things like "Mate in two moves" and the like. I swear, this kid is absorbing chess knowledge like a sponge. He can already beat me pretty reliably, and is working on his dad.

Look who got her braces off!

New Handspun!

I've been getting a bit more even in my spinning, finally. I've got about half of this luscious aqua-turquoise-y corriedale spun up and it actually looks like something that will come out nicely once it's plied. Hurray for practice. Now that Chelle has been bitten by the spinning bug too, we are planning a possible spinning weekend sometime later this year... doesn't it sound like fun? (The idea blossomed when we both were lamenting that we couldn't afford to go to Yarn School this fall.)

Off to spin some more...