Yarn Along -- September 14, 2011

I haven't participated in a Yarn Along in several months.  And this is why:

Yeah.  Same damn socks.  Although this is a change, since for the past month or so I've been churning out baby hats.  But I'm done with the baby hats (for now) so we're back to the socks.  Which will be finished.  Eventually.

They are still made from STR Socks that Rock Lightweight in "Cattywhompus".  

For my book, I am reading Shogun by James Clavell -- actually a re-read (I read it for the first time when I was 20 or so).  This book is fantastic.  If you like historical fiction and Japanese culture, this is the book for you.  It's long -- 1200+ pages -- and some parts of it can be a little dry, but really, it's fantastic.  The miniseries starring Richard Chamberlain is all kinds of wonderful as well.  I admit that even though he's gay, I still have a little crush on Richard Chamberlain.

From yourtrailer.net

 In other news, I turned 28 on Monday, and it was more or less a good day.  Granted, I had work in the morning (boo) but other than that, it was very laid-back and relaxed.  I'm not really a "birthday-party" sort of person, and spending the day with my husband, picking apples at the local orchard and eating fantastic Thai food was pretty much exactly how I wanted to spend my first day being 28.

If you live in CT and you like inexpensive, delicious Thai food, this is a great place to go for it:

From Patch.com

I'm trying to figure out the best way to spend the multiple gift cards I received from my parents and Christina for my birthday.  I need to buy a bathing suit before we go on the cruise in January, so I'm thinking that's where some of the money is going to go.  Three months, three weeks, and a few days to go!  I can't wait.

Early birthday present

My birthday is September 12th (little bitta trivia for you there).  My wonderful husband, David, decided to buy my birthday present two months early.  He bought it -- or should I say, them -- today:

These are Passion Fire Fans, from Fire Mecca.  I've been borrowing fans from my good friend Lyndsey when we go to spin jams together, and now I'm going to have my own pair!  I'm so excited.  I don't know how I'm going to wait the five days it's going to take for them to ship.  

Even more exciting, I'll have them in time for Wildfire Retreat in August!  It will by first one ever, and David's too.  I mainly do fire fans and I'm planning on taking classes in fire hoop and poi.  David is getting really good at fire staff, and he wants to learn poi as well.  We've been practicing spinning for about two months now, but we have friends who have been firespinning for at least a decade.  We're learning from some of the best :)

(Really terrible picture of my first time using fire fans.  I assure you, I have gotten better since then.)

(David's first attempts at fire staff.  He too has improved, way more than I have!)

Five days isn't that long, right?  And I have a lot to look forward this to this weekend.  I'm seeing my friend Kim for the first time since David's birthday two months ago, and we're going to fireworks on Saturday night (can't wait!).  And...yeah that's probably it.  My life is nothing if not dull.

Happy Birthday, David!

Quick entry today to just say that my husband, my love, is turning 26 today.  We have a big BBQ planned, hopefully the weather will cooperate and it will be fantastic.

 (David is seen here learning how to fire spin, two weeks ago at a friend's house).

Happy birthday, hon.  I love you!