Warning – this one’s long!

In the end, the afternoon was redeemed by not one but TWO knitbloggers, but seriously, there were some moments when I was like what the fuck?

Yesterday was the opening of the BBG show – I have two photographs in it. A little background – the organization is the Professional Women Photographers group in NYC – I only just joined. I have never been to a meeting. I know only one person who belongs (I joined on her recommendation). So I’m a nobody where this group is concerned. This show is really my one and only association with them.

That said, everyone else’s photographs hung together and my two were hung on completely opposite sides of the room. I mean besides the fact that they were the ONLY TWO matted in black, there’s no way you’d know they were by the same artist. Why? I’m guessing because they needed to fill a couple of spaces and had no idea who I was so they chose to split them up. Everyone else’s work appeared together.

Okay. They didn’t say anything about white mattes or colors. I’ve always matted my photographs in black. Apparently I didn’t get the memo. (I guess they do stand out.) One picture was hung right by the exit. You know. The loser outpost. Fine. No biggie. Someone expressed great interest in it though – so we’ll see how that pans out. It would be the best revenge honestly.

I was feeling really awful for a little bit. After killing myself to get there in time (I thought it started at 3 – it started at 1), leaving super early from Philly, rushing to get G from the airport, I was more than a little disappointed when I got there.

So I sent G out to get something to eat and some sun and I sat down and pulled out some knitting. A woman sitting nearby came over to talk to me. She pulled out her own knitting, a scarf on size 19 needles, and asked if I was making a sweater. I said no, a sock and pulled out it’s finished mate (more on that later.) She asked if I usually made sweaters. I said yes, I’ve made a few. She said she hadn’t tried one. I told her I liked to challenge myself with my knitting, but that sweaters weren’t that hard. She asked me if I had ever knit with fun fur, because it was certainly a challenge.

Confession time. (Remember, I’m sitting there feeling pretty dejected about my skills as a photographer and whether I’m really an artist and feeling disrespected by the committee and such.) I have to tell you, I felt the most overwhelming sense of superiority. FUN FUR?! Challenging? Yeah. Keeping it from bursting into flames IS quite the challenge. It made me feel so GOOD! Isn’t that so awful? I’m a terrible person. The woman meant well and I really should’ve thanked her for helping me out of my funk.

I’m pretty sure I politely said, “No. I’ve never knit with Fun Fur.” I don’t think I laughed, but she never said anything else to me.

The day was soon further rescued out of the depths of self-pity by Cassie and her family! Cassie was so sweet to walk the gallery with me and encouragingly nod her head every time I lambasted another photograph (you know that old trick, knock em down as a pick me up.) And her husband generously commented that he liked my black mattes! And her daughter was equally horrified by some out of focus “arty” photos. Thank you Too Much Wool Family!

Then Mrs. Pilkington appeared! I’ve been wanting to meet Mrs. P forever and she wasn’t alone. Mr. P was there along with Cocoa Pebbles – who is in the running for cutest girl alive (she’s got some stiff competition from my niece though.) Mrs. P did some much needed reconnaissance on some potential clients and admired my knitting and confirmed my feelings that I was in fact being dissed by the committee. We will definitely be getting together again!

Thank you both for coming. Georgie did offer to rough up the committee chair – but he was dead tired and wasn’t in the mood for a fight – no matter what he said. You girls did the trick! Thank you!

Enough already. Are you still here? God you guys are the best.

[ETA: I should be honest – the show is really nice. There are many, many beautiful photographs and if you’re in the neighborhood, totally stop by!]

The birthday party was great. My niece had THE MOST FUN EVER! She was smiley and happy and laughing and loved the food, loved her cake, loved her presents. She made it all worth it.

This is all I got, picture-wise. I was too busy helping with the party. I never even took pictures of the baby – who my brother dubbed Chubsicle – he’s so fat – but in a good breast-fed chubby cheek healthy kind of way! And he loves to smile. Really he just grins away with his cute dimples and he even sort of laughs. Such a sweetie pie! And nephew #1 was sweet and crazy as ever. Did I tell you that the other day one of his teachers was wearing a sweater (my sister said it was kind of an open, webby type thing) and he asked her if she had knit it? She told him no and he asked, well who knit it for you? Gotta love that boy!

A huge thank you to all the comments on the birthday girl’s post – my sister had a good time reading all the comments.

Even with all the party craziness, I managed to finish this:

Check out that TOE!

I immediately (we’re talking 1AM) cast on for the second sock. And then ripped it the next day. Cast on, knit, rip, cast on, knit, rip. It’s finally coming along.

Of course, I’m loving this sock thing. How come you never told me they were so much fun?! 😉 Cassie‘s got her own fabulous pair up today. Thank god I bought all that sock yarn!

Have a good one. I need to eat ate. A salad. And I totally agree with Carolyn. It’s all about the dressing.