We go to a dive on Sundays. Sometimes Saturdays, too. Depends really on what HWWV is up to. He usually shoots a wedding or has a job on the weekend, but now that his mentor and partner in crime is gone, we're sort of operating in a blind zone.
So I was there at our favorite dive today with Girlfriend while HWWV was at the funeral. All the folks in the joint were watching football. One girl always wears her team's colors and stuff like that; her husband wears another team's. They fight sometimes and she crosses her arms a lot. She wasn't there today and I missed her.
Trivial stuff, really, but that's how it is. We go through Monday to Friday in the usual way and then we drive east for 20 minutes, head north for a second or two, pass the railroad tracks and the Tipsy Fox, pull in, and stand in line to order our drinks. I save a big plastic Nascar cup and bring it in every weekend for a free refill. Now that we've been going there for a year or so, the folks say hi when we pull up. Girlfriend now goes to the bathroom alone. She brings a dollar up to the person at the cash register and asks for quarters so she can play some games. I bring a newspaper and fold it up nicely after I'm done and put it over there in the corner so someone else can read it, too.
The Patio man is there. So is Charlie, the skinny tall guy who doesn't look well at all. He still asks me where HWWV is everytime I show up alone with Girlfriend. I told him today that there was a funeral and for the first time ever, he pulled the chair out, sat down, patted my shoulder, looked me in the eye and said: "That's shitty."
In a jokey mood, I would call this place a tooth-optional zone, but today, I'm sure it doesn't matter whether or not the folks have teeth, hair, feet, hobbies, likes, dislikes, or anything else, or even if they like to wear their knits with a bikini on the beach or not. Shoot.
About the leg warmers: I had a dream when Mary-Kay gave me the yarn for these while I was in Denver last. I slept with this yarn (silly to some, but most of you know what I mean). She dyes the stuff herself and I took it home and knew what the perfect project would be but I also knew I didn't have time. Knowing my old friend, the gal from The Garter Belt (now defunct), Elizabeth, had a knitting machine, I asked her if she would rib these two and send them back to me for seaming. She did. And they're reversible, as a bonus.
They're the perfect thing(s). Especially in times like these. Just flip the suckers upside down and show off the lighter color. Then, next day, flip them the other way, and show the darker color.
BTW: These legwarmers will use about 1 skein each of two colors of Aspen Sock--unless you want them really long or wide. Measure your calf at the widest part and do a gauge in 1x1 rib. Round up to an uneven number and work 1x1 rib for about 17 inches, then bind off. Seam them up if you didn't work them in the round (if you do decide to work them in the round, use an even number of stitches for your cast on.) Switch to the other color halfway through.
I should also tell you about Elizabeth's new needlework magazine, called Knit Circus. You know what I love about it? It features a load of different types of crafts: knitting, crochet, sewing and wouldn't you know, cooking? I was particularly turned on by the latest edition's pattern for a jean skirt, one that you could make out of an old pair of jeans...I just cut up a pair of jeans today for a skirt of my own. It reminds me very much of the digests you'd get from church groups or whatnot for a small fee. I still own a handful of these digests and refer to them over and over. I think you know what I mean...they're homey in a comforting sort of way.
P.S. Don't you dare ask me about the boots I'm wearing. I just checked and they're sold out everywhere. They make them in red and honestly, I don't need the competition.
They are awesome boots!
I'm so sorry for HWWV's loss. It's a hard thing to work through.
Thanks for the mention. I'm busy finishing a whole bunch of stuff for Issue 5, coming on Feb 1 or so.
Posted by: elizabeth m | November 23, 2008 at 06:42 PM
Those are awesome boots.
Too bad for me nothing fits over my calves!
Posted by: sue Treiber | November 23, 2008 at 06:48 PM
Yeah, but these are totally adjustable! (Not that I need the competition or anything, for these boots)
Posted by: Wendy | November 23, 2008 at 06:52 PM
come on, I have to know about the boots!! I live in Canada! You'll never see my around LA. :)
Posted by: Martha | November 23, 2008 at 06:58 PM
Ok I have to know what you are planning with that purse? Marion
Posted by: Marion | November 23, 2008 at 06:59 PM
The purse is now a pillow (I resorted to glue and it looks mighty fine)
Posted by: Wendy | November 23, 2008 at 07:00 PM
AAahhh, you wore those boots in Denver, I believe that I commented on them. I love those. Are they as comfy as they look?
Posted by: Cheri | November 23, 2008 at 07:01 PM
you betcha.
Posted by: Wendy | November 23, 2008 at 07:04 PM
...past the Tipsy Fox - is your toothless joint in my neck of the woods?
Love the leg warmers - and, sorry to here about HWWV's loss.
We need to meet for lunch and yarn shopping again one of these days :o)
Posted by: Lynda | November 23, 2008 at 07:29 PM
yes, it is in sorta your neck of the woods, at the base of the hill.
Posted by: Wendy | November 23, 2008 at 07:33 PM
there's only one company i know of that makes boots like those, but i'll be a good girl only say that you'd have to sacrifice a lot of yarn purchases to get them. ;]
Posted by: amy | November 23, 2008 at 08:20 PM
Damn! Those boots are hot!
Posted by: Holly | November 23, 2008 at 08:30 PM
Thanks for the shout out! Again, the boots are soooo cool, and the leg warmers look great. Come on over for Thanksgiving up in Aspen and I'll feed ya some dinner. You like to shop, eh? Maybe I'll find those boots there. That's just the place I might find something like that... Heh, heh, heh.....
Posted by: Mary-Kay | November 23, 2008 at 08:36 PM
I love the between the legs flare. :P
And you know that just made your man smile.
xo
Posted by: scoutj | November 23, 2008 at 08:48 PM
Oh... I just thought it was a bit of gas or something.
Posted by: Wendy | November 23, 2008 at 08:58 PM
Fryes -- or -- Philosophy de Alberta Ferretti? Oh, do I love those boots. . .
Posted by: dris | November 23, 2008 at 09:03 PM
Uh...Firorentini & Baker (just hoping that the price tag will keep all you guys away from the last pair of my size 38's in red...can't afford them but I'll dream and don't you dare buy them!)
Posted by: Wendy | November 23, 2008 at 09:13 PM
Investment footwear -- isn't that what they're called? Certainly better than the stock market these days . . .
Posted by: dris | November 23, 2008 at 09:42 PM
...but only if I could sell them (which, if I could, I would not).
Posted by: Wendy | November 23, 2008 at 10:19 PM
INCREDIBLE photos.
Posted by: Nadine | November 23, 2008 at 10:29 PM
You're killing me with those boots. And they come in red too!
Posted by: evie | November 23, 2008 at 10:31 PM
yes, in red. I'm ready to cash out an old savings bond to get them.
Posted by: Wendy | November 23, 2008 at 10:33 PM
Well, darn, again! I really noticed your boots when you were at Third Place Books. Sad to hear they are sold out everywhere. My calves are too big to wear the boots I have stashed in their boxes in the closet. Oh well.
Good news...the cast is off and now I have to practice getting all the finger dexterity and such so I can knit again and/or resume doing all the things that a normal human being can do like housework, drive, dress, and such. But I'd rather knit.
Posted by: Margie | November 23, 2008 at 10:40 PM
Yay Margie! Your cast was quite impressive...
Posted by: Wendy | November 23, 2008 at 10:43 PM
That was the 'mummy cast'. I since had one in purple and light blue. It's been off a week and now I have to go back to work tomorrow.
Posted by: Margie | November 23, 2008 at 10:45 PM