That’s what time it is as I’m ricocheting out of Boston on my way to Atlantic City to go to Stitches. Since I am not a morning person (if we understand that to mean that if you speak to me before 9am and say anything other than “more coffee honey?” I am going to cry) I will be brief.
-Boston is very beautiful. Very.
-Boston is old. (Very)
-Paul Revere may have been a real guy.
-Boston has a knack for the gentle art of the reflecting pool.
-Some of the nicest knitters live in Massachusetts.
-Bethe is charming company and a fine driver.
-The Boston accent is absolutely impossible to mimic without sounding like Thurston Howell the Third. Don’t try.
-Christina at the Sheep Shack knows how to throw a heck of a knitting party.
-She had 10 balls of trekking sock yarn in stock.
-Now she has none.
It’s an early posting! Wow!
I know the folks up there must be nice! Have a fun trip. Come winter, the SOUTH is a really nice place to visit! We WILL come to see if you if your publisher will just book a southern (more southern than Virginia) visit. We DO read your post and WILL come visit even when gas prices are out of sight!
Cathy
I wish I had more time when I was in Boston to visit more of the yarn stores.
Good luck on the rest of the trip, look forward to seeing you when you get home!
Thanks so much for posting to satisfy those who cannot get to your signings. Boston is a particular sadness because, theoretically, it is close enough for me to get to — but not in the middle of the week! I am really, really hoping for a full report on Stitches. I have never been and am not 100% sure I actually want to go, but I would love to HEAR about it, Harlot-style.
Off to prep for class!
Last night was wicked fun! I had a blast. And I thought of you this morning when I kicked Dale out of bed at 5 am so he could go to work. Poor Stephanie. I hope it was worth it!
Tell Norma I’m not a stalker, wouldya?
I had planned to zip over to Holden and The Sheep Shack, but was thwarted by (I kid you not) a snake in the lobby of the synagogue. One minute there was a bunch of folks, the next someone yelled snake and then it was just me and a poor scared garden snake. It took me a few tries to grab him and bringhim back outside. Then everyone reappeared, but it was too late to get onto the highway. Sigh. I love the new book though and apparently there would have been no more sock yarn anyway
Oh, how I wish you could see the sock yarn at the Fifth Stitch in Defiance, Ohio. It’s the mother church of sock yarn. I’ve never been to the baby yarn section of the store because it takes me at least an hour just to skim the sock yarn and I’m too drunk on it to look at anything else.
Bon voyage. Be safe.
Hey thanks for making me laugh all the time! I will be stalking you in Rhinebeck ๐ Ok, not really stalking as I have much fibre to stalk, but you are definitely a great bonus!!!
Oh my, the glamour of promoting books – up at ungodly hours catching planes. At least you don’t have to sit in a plane for about 20 hours to get out to visit us here in poor lonely Oz!
It is only a little after eight-more coffee honey?
Am I to assume you bought all 10 balls of Trekking yourself?!! Have a great time at Stitches East and hug my former co-workers at The Mannings for me as I’m pinch hitting this week at the store and wishing I could be in Atlantic City ๐
Continue to have a great trip!
YUM…Trekking ๐
Looking forward to your return in a few weeks!
It was so much fun! Thanks for kicking off your second book tour in Massachusetts!
Have a wonderful time in the Northeast! I saw that you’re headed to Lake Placid and Canton in New York. That’s where I grew up – except now I’m in Chicago. There’s a town close to Canton called Madrid (not pronouced like you think it is) and I heard they have a new yarn shop there. I haven’t had a chance to stop by during my visits home but since there’s no LYS in Canton I thougt I’d suggest it for you to get your fix!
Three cheahs fuh Trekking! Have a great trip!
I’m working on my first ever Trekking sock and all I can say is:
More! I want more, more, more! Love it!
Is Carole a stalker?
My MIL grew up in Worcester (Wuh-sta) and has the accent. My middle son’s name is Marc and my daughter once asked (with a very confused look on her face) why Grandma did’t know Marc’s name. Grandma, of course, calls him “Mock”.
Hey, Tish,
I grew up in RI and it wasn’t until I was in my 20’s that I realized that the uncouth “fart” wasn’t spelled “fot.”
I am close enough to Holden to be really, really sorry I didn’t make it to the Sheep Shack last night. Will look for the Harlot at Rhinebeck.
Trekking does not lainger at my LYS. when It’s there I pounce, whether I need it or not.
It’s amazing that you can be that cogent at 5:45 a.m. I’m very impressed.
I’m a relatively new sock knitter, but I’m hooked on Trekking. Nice score!
BTW, bookbookbook2 is absolutely wonderful. I’ve been trying to control my laughter on the subway (i have kind of a loud laugh, punctuated by the occasional exclamation, so i’m sure i annoy my seatmates), but I just can’t do it when reading this book. I bought a copy for my best friend and she is also smitten. Safe travels to you!
I am absolutely LIVID at myself for missing this stop on the tour of yours, and I just thought you should know. I have been hovering over the tour page, pleading with the gods that you would come back to the area, and what do I do when you are around?! I forget to find a ride (not that I didn’t ask around, but it wasn’t meant to be)! Next time you’re in the area (there MUST be a next time), I hope it’s one of the places that is accessible by T – otherwise, I’ll have to promise my first born to someone with a car ๐
I’m sorry I missed you, but I’m glad you think Boston is beautiful. I agree.
Oh, you were so close and I knew you were there, but Pete travelling and kids being busy and all…… Hope to see you at Rhinebeck!
Boston is one of my favorite East Coast cities. I spent a few days there with my parents a few years ago and have very special memories of walking some of the Freedom Trail with them. At that time, my father had not yet become ill and could walk all day long with no trouble. I always think of my Dad when I think of Boston.
I hope you waved as you went through NJ, Stephanie! And that they were more than generous with the coffee, too! (Yipes, that really is early.)
I agree with Cathy. If we bug you enough about coming to the south (Atlanta is LOVELY in the fall and winter!) maybe we’ll get you here! You even have permission to mimic our accents! (But we all get to say, “Eh” in your company..lol!)
I was there! I drove 2 hours from Mystic to hear La Stephanie speak, WITH two non-knitters who came just because they love me and wanted to understand. Ok. They technically know the basics – like me playing poker, they have to be taught the rules each time – but they JUST DON’T DO IT. Which I don’t get. And I do it all the time, because it keeps me level, and I’m as content to frog as I am to knit, and that makes them crazy.
Stephanie, you were fabulously funny. I was a beaming groupie, my own two groupies were transfixed by both the fact that there were other people in the audience knitting (for once, I did not) and that they were laughing so hard they viewed these other knitters through tears.
I held Trekking in my hand and did not buy it. Why, why, why?
And, um…the two groupies? THEY wanted to know why I wasn’t planning to go to Rhinebeck, and THEY are insisting on a trip. I think I might see you again there, who knows? (I told them the story of the Rhinebeck sweater and the full story of the mittens last night in the car on the way home. The part of the mitten story where you began a process that raised 75K for Drs W/O borders? Not the part where you made thumbs for wierd people.
I’m so happy I came…if you do a THIRD TOUR and I do some legwork, would you come to Mystic? Mystic is 90 minutes from Boston and 90 minutes from NYC, right in the middle, lovely little coastal village, full of New Yorkers with money for yarn and books. We have a beautiful yarn shop here, but it has no online presence. I could convince them, though. They brought Lily Chin in last year. I know. Crocheting.
I got to meet Stephanie! And Julia! And Carole! And Mamacate! – I really wanted to take a closer look at your work last night…can you believe I FORGOT to ask? Oh wait…not your blog. Steph’s blog. Sorry!
Stephanie, you rock.
Oh you have described the not-a-morning-person personality so well (as you describe so much so well). Can’t wait for your second trip through Seattle; last time I was only semi-present, but you were still so charming.
I now regret that I put the Trekking I was holding in the picture back on the shelf instead of buying it. So what if I had just spent $60 on yarn for stupid bright red men’s scarves? Trekking would be more fun.
I had a great time! See you in Acton!
I wish I had been able to get to Boston to see you. If you find yourself in this area again, Cape Cod is quite lovely, you know!
When I lived in Boston I was in heaven, with not one, but two LYS’s–one right near work (Wild and Woolly in Lexington) and the other right next to home (Woolcott & Co in Cambridge). That was GREAT(Sigh). I’m glad you had fun.
i’m sorry i missed you but i’m glad you enjoyed our little part of the world. boston is an awesome city.
maybe next time.
Wicked good post. It is sweater weather up Nawth yet?
You are hilarious. I am the same way before 9AM! I met you in Philadelphia and you signed a bookbookbook for my friend Kiki. I asked you to sign the page that begins “a friend is a second self.” I gave it to her for her birthday 2 weeks ago, and she began to cry. It made her so happy. She posted on her blog about it in this post: http://lusciousgracious.com/blog/2005/09/are-all-virgos-this-lucky.html scroll down a little.
Thanks for helping me make my friend so happy on her birthday.
Here’s how you prepare to imitate a Boston accent. Say the sentence “Park your car in Harvard Yard”, w/o sounding the “r”‘s. The “a”‘s should sound like they do when you say, “hat”.
My daughter (a non-knitter! eeeeeeek) and I skipped the “substance abuse” talk at the High School (we’ve been twice before) and I braved my sinus infection to go to the Sheep Shack – IT WAS WELL WORTH IT! – She loved the “arse” bit – no one in MA says it — and I got two balls of that Trekking while Miss Harlot was signing ๐ Thanks so much for coming to MA – you are hysterically funny! enjoy the rest of your trip.
There is a great line in a Lyle Lovett song that DH says always reminds him of me: “Honey, it’s so early. We probably shouldn’t speak yet.”
Coffee – nectar of the gods…..
Could all of you folks going to Rhinebeck offer a little wisdom on where to stay overnight? I know it’s late in the game and too close to leaf season to be looking for a place to stay, but we’d really like to spend both days there instead of coming home Saturday night.
Y’ok down there in A.C.? Enjoy your time down the shore and if I didn’t know better I’d tell you to order some pork roll (a NJ/Philly specialty) but, as indicated by the name, not exactly vegetarian friendly. Hope you have an enjoyable visit!
gods shmods: coffee is the nectar of the conscious. You were charming as ever, and a pied piper of la trekking. We all thank you for it. bis bis.
You only cry. Sheesh. Even people at work know not to ask me anything before I actually get into the office. The are several headless bodies walking about in my neck of the woods.
Yes, Boston is old. But if you really want to see an old city come to Florida. Boston isn’t even close to being the oldest. We don’t have an LYS here anymore, but there is one in the next cityover. Actually there are two. I am going to start agitating.
(Not to smear Boston or anything; it’s supposed to be lovely, and I have always wanted to do the historical sights there. But old? Maybe not so much.)(Oh,no, I’m cranky and it’s just before bedtime. Great, now I’m not a night person either.)
Damn, I was reading your schedule, thinking, I can get up to Holden, MA, in about 2 hours tomorrow night – then realized it was TONITE (Last night) and I was reading the schedule as you were THERE. Darn it!! BUT – I hope to meet you at Rhinebeck – if I get to go!!!
Oh yes! We Massachusetts knitters are THE BEST! We’re fun! We’re funky! We love yarn! And we think the Yarn Harlot is cool. You can be an honorary Massachusetts citizen! ๐
I’m so glad you liked Boston – it’s my hometown and is still my favorite place. But please, please, please come to Atlanta! We have yarn here, and it isn’t all cotton. Plus almost everyone here is from somewhere else, so it would be like visiting the entire country all in one stop.
To understand a Boston accent, you must know the Law of Conservation of Rs. Every R that gets dropped from a word such as ‘park’ must find a home in some other word, otherwise the universe will become miserably unbalanced and quite possibly collapse into a black hole. This home is usually at the end of a word that ends in ‘a’. For example, “I parked my Honda” is pronounced “I pahked my Honder”. Or “The pizzer delivery guy drives a wicked old cah”. It is not necessary that the Rs balance in every sentence, only that the sum of all the lost Rs and all the gained Rs equals zero.
Also, there are variants to the Boston accent that, with practice, will enable you to tell what town a person comes from, and if you become really proficient, you will be able to pinpoint the exact neighborhood. For instance, I would pronounce the ‘a’ in ‘park’ as ‘ah’, but some places give the ‘a’ the sound it has in ‘hat’, as someone previously posted. People in the immediate Boston vicinity will call sweetened carbonated beverages such as root beer ‘tonic’. This practice seems to be dying out, and few people under the age of 35 seem to use that word. And along with the accent, you must understand that ‘wicked good’ isn’t an oxymoron – wicked here means extremely or very.
Confused? Come to Atlanta and I will give you Boston accent lessons.
Finally scored a copy of bookbookbook2 locally (Rochester, NY) at B&N and am also trying to ration it to make it last longer. If I knit, then it’s easier (new books just don’t stay open by themselves!). Enjoy Stitches and Rhinebeck. Is there any chance that you’re visiting any closer than Skeaneateles?
Damn! I missed you again. Do you really exist? Do I really exist? Alas…someday.
Just found your book at Indigo…LOOOOOOVE it. Thanks!
I could’ve been in Holden in less than an hour, but with plans already in place to see you in Rhinebeck and Acton, that would have been too much like stalking. Now I may never know what Trekking is. (Ruth and I can’t believe you’re coming to Acton again. We’re so glad Linda is a friend of Dave’s, or Dave is a friend of Linda’s, or however that goes.)
Paul Revere was indeed a real person, but that poem The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere? Absolutely riddled with historical inaccuracies. When you come to Acton, you can, if you wish, visit Concord, which is one town east and has a very nice, extremely historic bridge, and to which, Longfellow notwithstanding, Revere never made it on his famous Midnight Ride. A guy named Sam Prescott did, but Prescott is much harder to rhyme.
The book3/2 is truly wonderful. My DH has forbidden me to read to him out of it any more, which means he will never, ever understand about stash.
Stephanie, I hope you’re having a great time this weekend. While I was hoping to get to Stitches this year and meet up with a bunch of friends, a nasty cold kept me home, curled up with bookbook2. I’ve been ROTFLMAO!!! The squirrel story was just too much. Hey, I’m an animal lover, too, but what he did would have sent me running for a shotgun!
Can’t wait to finish the rest!!!
Maria
Do any husbands really understand about stash? Mine is bemused and (I suspect) apalled in turns. He never says anything, though, because then I would be forced to look harder at the number of maps and books he brings into the house.
Looking forward to seeing you in Rhinebeck and Acton, Stephanie. Lucia promises to feed the dog before she comes to Willow Books this time.
Just finished your book2 ๐ Great read~ you definitely have to start writing longer books! Only took me a day to get through it, and that was with 2 screamin’ mimi’s running around. Wish it lasted longer ๐
I am from Boston but was not a knitter when I lived there. Took me to move to Seattle for to become a knitter. By the way when are you coming back here???
I got bookbookbook2 (signed!) at Stitches, was in stitches. My roomie was very kind about my reading parts of it aloud to her while she made jewelry; she said she must be a “bead harlot” (she understands stash, too). Eagerly awaiting book3/3.
I’m back home in Kansas after seeing you at the Sheep Shack. I fondle my new trekking sock yarn hourly. ๐ You were hilarious! My friend I had with me isn’t a knitter, but she was cracking up. We laughed for days afterwards remembering things you said and we read excerpts of your books to each other while we were driving on our road trip to Hershey.
Thanks for a great time!