something sparkly this way comes…

Last night I went to see Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, aka The Yarn Harlot, speak at Borders Books on Columbus Circle. She was signing her fifth book, Things I Learned From Knitting…whether I wanted to or not. I went by myself this time, G having begged off, about which I had mixed feelings. Whenever we go somewhere, it is an epic struggle to get out of the house by the time I’ve planned. I had originally planned to leave by 4:30, which would have put me at Grand Central about 5:35, and down to the bookstore no later than 6, by which time I could have gotten a good seat. Any seat. As it was, we went to the bank, then the stupidmarket (not for a big shopping, mind you, just for enough to get him through lunch and dinner by himself), but when at the stupidmarket, G likes to look at everything. I was finally able to drag him away from the vinegar section with promises that we’d come back. We ended up getting me to the train station at 5:21, missing the 5:12, but on time for the 5:36. Which got in at 6:30. Fuck. Whatever.

I got on the train, pulled out my knitting, and worked on my sock the whole way. Upon arriving, I found my way to the taxi stand, where I was about fifth in line for a cab. A pedicab pulled up and solicited the line-standers, finally getting to me. The driver (biker?) asked where I was going, and I said, “Columbus Circle.” He said that he could get me there in under ten minutes. I bit. The ladies next to me in line said, “You go, girl!” Hey, I’m doing my part to reduce my carbon footprint, okay? I was a bit concerned about my weight in the back of the pedicab, but I needn’t have worried. The driver (Chris) had calves like rockets. I got in, and he took off, too quickly for me to figure out the blanket. So I was chilly when we his Seventh Avenue and the wind came off the river. Brrr. We got there by 7 (a little more than ten minutes, but we had to wait for a Kenworth semi to move before finally getting up on the sidewalk), I paid (!), exchanged names, and I fairly ran upstairs.

I stood in back (as usual), but I could see her on the dais. Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, my hero. She writes the most wonderful blog about knitting and her life in Toronto. She was funny, and topical, and talked about all sorts of things, including theta waves, and how knitting allows you to fall into theta more easily, and how constructive and healthful it is for you. About how scientists who conducted a study on theta waves and including knitting in the short list of things to help induce a theta state concluded that knitting was not a viable alternative since, and she paused dramatically, no one could be expected to “carry emergency knitting with them.” The crowd laughed heartily. Most of us were knitting something while listening to her speak, and we didn’t just find the needles and yarn at Borders. I carry a sock-in-progress everywhere I go, just in case I have a little down time. Enough to knit a round or so, while waiting on line, in the doctor’s office, on my paltry lunch break, anywhere. G came up with the excellent suggestion for when I’m having a particularly bad time at work, to imagine that I’m knitting. Mental knitting.

I waited on line for over an hour to meet her (again) and get my book signed, chatting with other women in line. Everyone is on Ravelry now, and I made plans to “friend” the woman with whom I spent the most time talking. It seems amazing to me that a mere year and a half ago, when I saw Stephanie speak at Barnes & Noble in Park Slope and met Penguin Girl, I was not yet on Ravelry, in fact, I don’t even know if it existed. I’ve been a member since June 20, 2007. EarthTonesGirl found me on line (she’d gotten there much earlier and tried to save me a seat), and we squeed and chatted and made plans to get together in the very near future.

I finally got up to the table, and introduced myself. She said, “I know who you are.” She remembered me! Squee! She told me she liked my shirt (my pink Obama ‘08 tee, you can just about see the logo in the photo), and said that if she could vote in this country, she’d vote for him. I probably said something stupid which thankfully I don’t remember, she signed my book, we exchanged socks, and I gave my camera to the Borders guy in black who was standing there for the express purpose of taking fan photos. Also to give out pins and bookmarks. He said, “Anything for an Obama supporter.” I had my little bag of “O Is For Obama” buttons that I’d made at CafePress, and gave one each to her and the Borders guy. She looked for her bag on which to pin it, I am so psyched! I told her about the mental knitting thing, and she talked some more about theta waves, but really, I was just in awe. I know it sounds idiotic, but I want to be her when I grow up. I thanked her, and walked away, stopping to get some New York City postcards for the Postcards For Obama campaign.

Here’s the outcome of last night: