Love those Texas-sized socks!

I'm sure you've got bigger things going on, but FYI, if you're really short of comments on this post, it's because there's something weird about getting to the comments page (I'm not even sure how I did it.) Maybe it's the pictures of Austin...

And, holy cow, 30,000!! I take back any unfair thoughts I may have had about your IT, that's incredible!

Also- you and Tina rock- kudos for sticking up for the SS09 in the face of doubters. Wishing you smooth sailing from here on out!

Texas loves you back, Steph.

good to see normality coming back - big socks are amazing lol...

I've always heard that Chicago's "Windy City" designation has to do with 'windy' (loquacious, not the other kind) politicians, not weather.

As a former Boston resident, I can certainly agree about the wind there - it blows straight off the Charles River and between the buildings.

The thong out of wool is pretty weird. I didn't know Austin was known for being weird. Thanks for educating your readers with every post!

After all of the travel trouble you have had lately I am glad you had a blast in Texas.

Texas loves you too! Wish I could have been there!

Happy to hear that you had a weird, yet good, time in Austin. And that you once again confounded the muggles when it comes to the devotion of knitters.

I am also very pleased to hear that I wasn't wrong about knitters, and that, in most cases, we are a loving and caring group. I didn't read all 800 and some comments, but think the idea of donating to KWB is an awesome one.

When I tried to sign on to the comments, it said the link was broken, but then tried again a minute later and it worked. So maybe you don't need to worry about that technological glitch, since you are still dealing with a rather enormous one.

Wow. Gotta love the Texan Socks!

Those are some big socks...wonder how (and on whom) they determined gauge?

Wool thong? Oh my....

Can't wait to see your shots from Dallas! Texas definitely loves you. I can still picture those folks from the management of Legacy Books just aghast at how many knitters packed into the third floor!

Sounds like you had a successful time in Texas. Now, when are you coming back to Denver? We'll bring air. :)

I too had trouble getting to the comments page but all seems to be fixed now.

Glad to hear you like Texas. My daughter lives there (Houston) and loves it. Too hot for me! Besides, she does not knit and claims it is too hot there for me to knit her anything!

You sound like your mood is better. Glad to hear that. You and Tina don't deserve those types of emails. We love ya!

Chicago may not be the windiest city, but it is unquestionably the only city I've lived in where I've had to call into work because all attempts to step outside my front door led to me being BLOWN DOWN THE PATH. I have wisely gained about 30 pounds in anticipation of ever going anywhere near Chicago again.

Being a Texan by heritage and also by viture of living in Austin for 8 years, I could have told you.. Love the pix, BTW, Dallas, however, maybe a let down, LOL..

I'm from Erie, Pennsylvania, which is along the Lake Erie shoreline, further east from Cleveland -- and Erieites have always referred to our city as the "mistake on the lake" as well. Must be a Lake Erie thing?

We are so glad that you like Texas. It was wonderful to have you come to Dallas. Next time (there will be a next time, right?) we will just have to get you scheduled over in Fort Worth also. I insisted that my sister come with me and she had a great time. And yes, Austin's official motto is "Keep Austin Weird".

Hey! Watch what you say about men in skirts! I prefer mine to be made of wool.

Yet STILL you didn't get to see the billions of bats flow from under the bridge? Alas. (Emphasizing that sight earned Austin my admiration but may also have had something to do with the slogan...)

Texas love -and that's a big LOVE- to you, too. Re: Twittering ...Happy Birthday to the eldest and to Hank, if you keep up with such witty retorts, you may end up being just like your Aunt Stephanie. hugs all around

Well. A knitted thong, eh?
And now it actually IS sexy underware which is being given to you. Next thing you know it Will be Sexy Underware being thrown AT you!

That thong is absolutely hilarious, and the the fact that he waited 2 years makes it even better. Glad you enjoyed Texas-I hope you'll make it back to OKC sometime in the relatively near future. Can't wait for tomorrow's post!

I was part of the 30,000. Sad when I didn't get the classes I wanted but realized why even in the midst of it all. I'm still coming and will enjoy the classes I did get. All good wooly thoughts to you and Tina.

Sorry the mean knitters made you guys cry. Many of us nice knitters were out here NOT commenting so as to not add more to the mix... Thanks for all everybody is doing to organize SS09. It's going to be great.

And think of the math. 12,000 on the list. 1000 odd actually planning to attend. 30,000 hits at once! Amazing.

Seriously, I don't know what you, or anyone, could have done differently. We were never ALL going to get ALL the classes we wanted.

Cheers and wooly goodness to you,
Colleen

I'm so glad you had a good/wierd time! Though I'm not from Texas, I've had the chance to visit there often. I think it's against the law to have a bad time there---

Whew...I need to take a deep cleansing breath...that David is pretty hot!!! The site of him in a kilt might just be enough to make my knees weak!!!

If you ever give up knitting as your occupation of choice, then go into travel writing ... am researching where to stay in weird Austin because of the feeling you impart that really Texans are warm hospitable and cool!
PS Can we have a sock summit in the UK please ... or anywhere in Europe .. or somewhere I can say to hubby that I'll only be gone a couple of days!
x

That wool thong is seriously hilarious. Seriously. Hilarious.

I called Bookpeople last week, and I told them they should expect a lot more people than they thought. When I got there, I said "They don't have enough chairs." I knew they wouldn't listen. Maybe they'll know better next time!

trust me. more than ever, after the game 6 loss by the cavs: cleveland is and always will be the mistake by the lake. and we suffer for it every year!

Dude! I went to college with Elizabeth! Good to see she's a knitter! Also, glad you got the best of Austin, it's a great town.

Maybe the BookPeople people should have talked to the SS09 people. And that thong? Seriously tooooo big even if it doesn't scratch.

Yup, Austin is definitely the best city in Texas, at least according to this former Houstonian. Although Gladewater is high in my books as well; that's where a random woman in the KFC took in my parents and extended family (both human and 4-legged) on the run from Hurricane Rita a few years back.

I bet they loved your hair, too! (everything's bigger in Tx, right?)

Oh, and that wool thong? Definitely evidence that karma catches up with everyone.

I also love Texas...and miss living there.

Is David of the wool thong single?? Hope you had fun in Dallas and that the knitters there made up for all the icky vibes lately. Happy travels from a transplanted Texan...(living in the "windy" city)

Chicago - plenty windy by the lake, but the "Windy City" has to do more with braggadocio politicians back in The Day.

I thought the "Windy City" name had to do with the nature of the politicians in that city...and if you're not satisfied with the weirdness in Austin, there's a campaign here in Oregon to "Keep Portland Weird," which has been quite successful thus far.

What Mel said.

Also, so wonderful to see you again, Stephanie! I hope your future trips are a lot smoother than this last one.

And regarding the SS09 server issues with 30,000 users . . . my co-workers and I checked the default configuration of the Apache web server. Out of the box, it's designed to handle just 256 simultaneous connections. So yeah, you pretty well blew the bell curve on that one.

Hi Stephanie! I wanted to share with you that I finished my very first pair of socks this weekend...the Rogue Roses pattern you did for the RSC!! My feet have never been happier!

Love the revenge of the scratchy wool thong!

This is one blog post where even the comments had me chuckling.
And about Austin weirdness-somehow "Texas" and the phrase "a guy in a kilt", just doesn't sound right somehow.....and taking it a bit farther, it could be downright interesting in the windy city of Chicago...

Another Canadian here who loves me some Texas. Glad you had fun there amongst those gracious, if slightly weird, people.

Just so you know, I'm a professor and just got an email today from our school that the NIH received so many grant applications (part of the stimulus package) that their server was knocked out and they are delaying the deadline because of the technology. So you are in good company!

I lived in Austin for years. I don't think it's "weird"; it justs marches to a slightly different drummer than other Texan cities.

I'm just impressed that, even in Austin, a man in Texas is willing to wear a skirt! I sent my hubby a link so he could see the thong... I'm wondering now if that was a bad idea. Enjoy Dallas!

wool thong....coffee streaming out of my nose and it BURNS!!....thanks for the chuckles!

My favorite city in Texas to visit is San Antonio - after living there for five years. I grew up in Dallas, but don't really miss it at all. As my husband tells me, there is no real reason for Dallas to exist. But you have to realize that there are at least five areas in Texas and they are all very different with unique characteristics. You'd never believe where we live in the Piney Woods - rolling hills, pine forests, beauty and humidity. And at least five hours drive from Austin and three from Dallas. Probably about 11 hours to the western border of Texas, too. It's big.

First, Texas loves you back. Second, loved the Texas sized socks. Wish I had thought of that. Third, I am still laughing at the wool thong. I would have loved to have been there to see your reaction. I don't think we had anything quite like that in Dallas. LOL!

We loved having you in Austin! Feel free to come back whenever. (And thanks for posting the picture with the sign.) :)

I only wish you could make it to Houston ... we're just as weird (if not weirder!!!) than Austin. And we're WAY COOLER than Dallas. I swear.

I love the shot of David and his creation. I remember showing my 23 year old daughter a knit bikini to which she responded, "I will never wear wool on my vag!" I found it humourous.

Steph, it was GREAT to see you in Austin! You were WONDERFUL! It was a last-minute decision to drive from Sugar Land (Houston area) to see you and I'm so glad I did! Thanks to my KH friend Carey who let me crash at her house to make it possible!

Glad you enjoyed Austin. Wish I could have met you. My son (2.5 years old) is a NUT in a bookstore so we couldn't make it. I am going on my 3rd year in Austin (moved here from WY) and it has taken some time getting used to. The heat is unbearable at times, but the fall/"winter" here is wonderful. As for weird, the other day I was walking downtown and saw a random dude walking around in a thong. Other than that I think it is a pretty normal place. Austin is growing on me, one day at a time. I hear it is the best city in Texas :)

Those weird Austinites, -ians(?), ers(2) sure are a good-looking bunch. Oh!... and that was a thong? I thought it was a jockstrap. Sorry, David! Or should I say congratulations? (Stephanie, if you expunge this comment, I will certainly understand! Sorry! I just couldn't resist!)

"I can be pretty compelling"....yeah...I have a fancy ball of laceweight cashmere in my basement that knows just how compelling you can be.

The Texas-size socks remind me of knitting for Asian Moon Bears. Rescued by Animals Asia Foundation (http://www.animalsasia.org), they needed giant booties to keep their paws warm while undergoing surgery. For the story about the booties check out http://blog.oregonlive.com/knitting/2008/02/a_really_big_knitting_project.html

Those weird Austinites, -ians(?), ers(2) sure are a good-looking bunch. Oh!... and that was a thong? I thought it was a jockstrap. Sorry, David! Or should I say congratulations? (Stephanie, if you expunge this comment, I will certainly understand! But after 25 years of marriage my husband has finally rubbed off on me. I just couldn't resist!)

The only thing more amazing about those big socks - are the huge DPN's! How does that happen? Someone actually makes and SELLS them? I've wanted a huge sock for some time now, and figured I"d have to learn to do it on circulars to achieve the bigness....hmmm..

I remember walking through the Loop a few times during high tunnel effect winds and not being able to breathe unless I went sideways or clung to a building.

Chicago's windy enough.

You can have Texas; I HATE the place. I went to college south of Dallas and when I graduated I vowed never to return...and I haven't. That being said, my BFF lives just outside Fort Worth.

Did something new on Saturday because of your inspiration: I went to a conference and knit through all the speeches for the very first time! A few people stared but most just ignored me. Why, oh why, was I so intimidated before??

Um.... I think you need to prove that wool ain't itchy, if you know what I mean. It would only be fair, after all.

Um.... I think you need to prove that wool ain't itchy, if you know what I mean. It would only be fair, after all.

Regarding Sock Summit: do I have it right that you, The Goddess of all the Knitters in the World, underestimated the response of knitters to a call to assemble? I'm shocked, shocked, I tell you.

I was going to stay out of it since I can't attend, but in the light of the negative responses I've seen, I had to put in a word. Anyone that reads your blog should know that you don't let anything go until its right. If a problem crops up, you face it and stay with it until it's fixed. (Notice, please, that I have not used the word "anal" at any point, up to and including this one.) Sorry for the glitches, but frankly, it the IT world, they are expected no matter how many times you test. I'm sorry there are so many people with a narrow view of how things really work.

Glad you and Tina are feeling better. You should - the whole SS09 thing is a major achievement. For anyone, anywhere. I'm expecting to see you on the cover of TIME any day.

Ignore the nasty people, the only way to deal with them is to repeat one sentence over and over until they go away. "I'm sorry you were disappointed." (Can you tell I've worked with the public?) I agree that it's fair to simply delete those messages. You won't make them happy. Imagine yourself hitting your head against a brick wall and expecting the wall to feel better.

My latest triumph is that I suggested to my husband that I could use my knitting stash to cushion some of our antiques as we move across country. He thought it was a great idea.

Do you know what that means? I have free rein to go buy more yarn. Bwah ha ha ha. . . gotta go.

I'm so happy to see a happy (and weird...) mail from you. :)

I have been speechless over the nastiness of some people over SS09. At the next knit in public event I may be wearing a t-shirt that says WHEN THINGS GET TOUGH - THE TOUGH KNIT SOCKS. Keep on truckin'.

I'm so glad that Texas is turning out to be such a good time! If anyone needs and deserves a good time right now, baby, it's you :)

YAY! Another Texas convert. Hubby and I DREAM of moving to Austin one day. We love it so much we got married there - even though we live in Southern California. I really think we got more people to attend our wedding purely BECAUSE it was in Austin :)

Here's a thought...David wearing JUST the huge Texas Socks and the thong...Woo Hee!

OK...now the thought won't go away...

Awww crumbs!!!

Dear Stephanie,
I read the tweet? about your hair. I just wanted to say I love your hair and have always loved it. I think you have hair like a fairy princess, even on it's supposed "bad" days. You should love it too.

Mother of a curly haired daughter

That thong was sexy (lol) I think you should of at least thought about trying it on after he worked soooo hard on it! Just kidding I would have ran away screaming. I love allll of your books please keep up the great work. It's because of you that I'm driving my knitting teacher and great friend crazy talking about knitting a pair of socks. From the way she's looking at me I think I should be careful the next time we walk by sock yarn I don't think she understands it at all pray for her (I've been from the first time I read one of your books and besided that before I collect a social security check I will create a pair of wonderfully soft socks). Have fun on your tour!!! Wish I was there.

That thong was sexy (lol) I think you should of at least thought about trying it on after he worked soooo hard on it! Just kidding I would have ran away screaming. It's because of you that I'm driving my knitting teacher and great friend crazy talking about knitting a pair of socks. From the way she's looking at me I think I should be careful the next time we walk by sock yarn I don't think she understands it at all pray for her (I've been from the first time I read one of your books and besided that before I collect a social security check I will create a pair of wonderfully soft socks). Have fun on your tour!!! Wish I was there.

Ibex makes wool underwear of various sorts--and I can attest to how wonderful it is, in cold or hot weather. Not into thongs, I haven't tried their version of that, but I can't say enough good things about my bikinis and bras. Awfully fine gauge to knit myself, though.

If you think the thong is wild, you should see the merkins on The AntiCraft.

I, too, am glad that you are having a good time in Texas. I hope that Tina is having some "good times" also. After all of the blood sweat and tears you both put into SS09, you both deserve all the good. I was lucky enough to get into several of the classes for SS09, and am thrilled to death. I am seriously sorry for the negative comments you both have gotten. Hope all will be sunshine and cashmere from here on out. "wool thong" LOL

I just know this summit is going to be a big success.

My private bits itch at the thought! I think you should mount and frame them with the photo of David. Definitely a conversation starter at Chez Harlot!

So does Bigfoot live in Texas?

So, what did David do with the rest of the cone of yarn?

But, despite his weirdness, David is not from Austin, but from San Antonio.....

And I wish I could have been there.

There's more to the thong story. David suggested I write the pattern up last Friday. So it's now available as a free download on Ravelry. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/harlots-revenge
It turns out if you make it out of Alpaca Silk it's actually quite nice.

What about the Doctor? Where is he?

I second Michele in Maine, I have always heard Chicago got it's nickname from the politicians who never stopped talking.

That last picture reminded me: wasn't it your oldest daughter's birthday at the end of May?
Happy Birthday Harlot's Daughter. :)

Love that thong. You should think about maybe trying it on ... for Joe!

"When you eat your smarties, do you eat your red ones last..." I'm glad I passed that little test! Thanks for coming to Texas it was definitely worth the 6 hour drive from West Texas! Being from Vancouver BC, I don't find Austin weird, familiar rather :) It is one of my favorite places in Texas to visit. Hope to see you in Texas again maybe West Texas next time :)

The comment about men and skirts and not liking it rough, oh man! You crack me up! You never miss an opportunity. As for the thong, I suppose you're a real rock star when people start throwing panties at you!

Kilt-clad David is A BIT OF ALRIGHT!!

Thanks for coming to Austin! I was worried you might not be able to make it given all the Sock Summit troubles, and we really appreciate you making the effort. Your talk was hilarious and incredibly informative. Thanks for teaching me the spinners hand sign - Hook 'em horns!

'K, um ... Austin aside, many of us true-blue, red-blooded Americans can't yet quite forget that Texas is responsible for giving us not one, but two presidents named George Bush.

I'm just sayin......

Then knitted thong is awesome.

You said David was in kilt... I want a picture of him in a kilt. I like guys in kilts, especially good-looking ones like David.

Texas sounded fun. LOL at the thong. Glad the sock summit madness has calmed and people are being kind.

FWIW - when I lived in Chicago I was told that it was called "The Windy City" due to the reputations of the politicians blowing nothing but hot air.

Seemed a fair enough explanation.

Go to SweaterProject.org and scroll through the October 2008 archives to Rhinebeck 2008 - Alpacalypse Now and double click on the title to see pictures of David, the kilt, the kilt hose and the best sweater walking around Rhinebeck last year!

Love the Texas-sized socks - very cute.

Great post - with all your normal funny zest. I'm glad we were all able to cheer you up and re-instill your faith in sock knitters everywhere.

; )

Well, I never thought I'd come to the day when I see the words "mean" and "knitters" all in one sentence. I'm sorry you and Tina experienced the dark side of knitters. It is always amazing how much the power of the knit is underestimated. I experienced some tech problems when I tried to register for Stitches East. I just had to walk away for awhile so I wouldn't display unknitterly behavior!

My sister lived in Austin and went to law school there. She loved it.

Too bad your injured camera didn't capture more of the kilt. Did he have cute knees?

You don't hate your server. It tried it's very best, but no one (like the book store) ever believes how much interest there is, even when you try to tell them.

Austin isn't the only city with a 'Keep ________ Weird' slogan! It's very popular here in Louisville, Kentucky as well! (http://www.keeplouisvilleweird.com/) There's a strong knitting community here also, so maybe there's a connection there!

Yesterday I turned on parental controls and set it to limit access to adult websites automatically, and it blocked this post! Must be all of the talk of thongs. Apparently my computer is shocked.

Keep Austin Weird is part of a campaign to inform people to buy locally. Not that any of us needed any more encouragement to buy from our LYS(es).

I live in Mountain Home Idaho ... it used to be called Rattlesmake Station and was a stop on the Oregon trail. The women would not stay here and settle so they changed the name to make it sound more appealing. We still have a lot of snakes though ...

Glad you can feel the loving vibes that will ultimately bring you to us. Whenever you need a pick me up refer to the "blog" and to us wonderful prairie knitters. Keep the good feeling going :)

*hits self in head* I live not fifteen minutes from BookPeople and I totally missed this. DANG IT.

Oh well. Looks like y'all had a good time. Glad you like Texas, although you might want to be careful so your Canadian self doesn't perish in the heat. :)

The next thing for you to talk to your tech people about is covering the conference on the web. Simulcast. Virtual Summit. Sell tickets. Podcast videos sold on ITunes. Presell DVD's. Something to ride this really nice wave you've caught. And throw a bone to the crazies who didn't make it in the door. :-)

Oh, I LOVED going to Book People when I lived in the burbs of Austin. Such a great store.

The thong was great, btw! While you should clearly not concede the point, David does seem to stitch nice and evenly. ; )

I lived in Illinois and heard that Chicago is the Windy City because of the hot air the politicians blow forth also.

You know you've made it when people start handing you their underwear.

For some reason it strikes me as funny that you were in Texas and George W. Bush was in Toronto.

A wool thong?! eh, not so much...

Will you ever make it to Lubbock, TX? It has nice yarn stores, and it's 'the hub city of the plains.' And, it seems like most tours think that Dallas (6 hours away, people!) is close enough.

love that david.................i'd like to see him in that thong! rwaorrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Hey Stephanie?
... you ROCK.

May SS09 go perfectly from here on out. And David? Wicked sense of humor, man!

So tell me, how big does David think you are? That thong looks huge to me.

Keep in mind that you only saw a teeny tiny slice of TX. You can travel 8-12 hours in almost any direction from Austin and _still_ be in TX!!

My favorite bumper sticker...I'm from Texas. What country are you from?

Yea for my hometown of Muleshoe, TX!!

I love the socks, but I have to say that David wins. Hilarious! And also appears to be a little more coverage (generous sized from Texas, what else would I expect) in an effort that you'd try it on. HAHA

Too funny.......... my sister-in-law and her family just uprooted from California to Austin and I just don't get it.... so hearing of the weirdness just makes me grin from ear to ear. I think they've gone oddly weird down there.

To margaret at June 1, 2009 4:50 PM and Elizabeth L in Apex, NC at June 1, 2009 5:06 PM:

Actually in my experience, Texan men are quite willing to wear kilts. I've been to Dallas ten times, and never failed to see men in kilts.

Of course, it may have had something to do with being there for the North Texis Irish Festival...

Gotta' love a guy who knits AND wears a utili-kilt. Is he single?

Okay, now I've heard "weird" with "Austin" FOUR times in the past week.
Just wait til Dolores gets there.

*snork* Still cracking up about the socks... although my friend Roxie knits a willie-warmer that would REALLY be hilarious in a larger size:-)

Look, YH, I've listened supportively when you went on and on about your feelings getting hurt by the idiots who threw tantrums about not getting into SS09; but when you continue your pouting by speaking with disdain about AA on your Twitter feed, I get a little peevish. You DO have readers in recovery and it's not funny, okay? Sheesh, eat some chocolate already....

David is obviously a true believer in "Don't get mad: get even." Like his style!

wall,then. He's ded sexy! The thongs jest a teze, they'll nay the niver whar non 'o that!

Texas is endlessly lovable.

And Texas CERTAINLY loves you back. :)

There are a lot of idiots out there--don't waste you energy feeling bad about their emails.I think you should do a sock summit in the Chicago area--the "windy city", so named because our politicians are long-winded. (Windy City sounds so much better than the "I-have-a-senate-seat-I-can-sell-you" state.)

"Mistake by the Lake" is definitely the name most Pittsburghers would give Cleveland...the Browns/Steelers rivalry is legendary.

um, ... maybe more chocolate for everybody? (Regarding June 2, 9:12 p.m.)Love the blog, glad that SS09 will be a huge success - let the muggles find out the Truth that is out there! (Grin)
Jenni in Edmonton, where I should have been putting the tomatoes into the planters ... oops!

Texas is quite lovable...and yes, a little weird. Here in Abilene we have shirts that say "Keep Abilene Boring"...a funny counterpart to weird Austin. (We're not boring, though, just a bit quieter!)

So glad you enjoyed your trip down here. Come back soon!

Keep Austin Weird campaign was designed to encourage people to shop locally at independent businesses & shops (like BookPeople, Hill Country Weavers, & Knitting Nest) -- and ignore the big box stores. Austin is all about doing your own thing, whatever it might be!

To respond to a previous post... Bush SR was born in Massachusetts and Junior was born in Connecticut (so we really don't have to claim them in Texas). Sorry, but you're not really a Texan unless you're born here, though you are welcome to visit as long as you like (and unfortunately become governor). BTW, typically Austin votes opposite of the rest of the state, if that tells you anything!

First off, I love the fact that there are two Giant sock, one toe up and one cuff down. It just seems cooler that way.

Secondly, I think that your publisher needs to put together a pamphlet showing what to expect when you come to town just so that they will be prepared.

Thirdly, 30,000 hits is amazing so don't beat yourselves up about it. Unless you've got some set up like Ticket Master you probably would have had problems.

I kind of halfway thought David was kidding when I read this on his blog - but I guess he really did knit you a thong! Just make sure wear a matching halter top if you ever do decide to wear them :)

hehe

Umm, I was there, about half-way through- mad traffic dash/after work highway marathon thing.

I was standing three people away from David. Um. Oh, my, fanning, fanning, fanning. The blog picture does not do him justice. He's gorgeous! He'd be gorgeous in jeans, even. His hair was long, flowing and curly. His face was perfect. His kilt was shining, and pressed. I think his socks were handknit grey wool. He has muscles. I have no idea if he's single, available, available for rent in dreams......

Handsome, good-looking guy- who knit during Stephanie's entire speech, and laughed at all the right parts. Does he not sound perfect?

Hey Bo, lighten up; YH doesn't make fun of people who need help; it was a joke!!! And....she helps people all over the world with her warmth and humour. I kept quiet during all the fuss over SS09 because I can't believe that people would go so nuts over missing a knitting event (NOBODY DIED) but if people don't like YH's sense of humour, then don't read the blog!

A wool thong doesn't sound too bad, if you're comparing it to one knit of, say, Red Heart Worsted.

Sorry that posted 3 times; don't know why....a computer thing, I guess.

I'm sure someone else has mentioned it, but Chicago's windy reputation is best experienced in "Feburrrrrrrary" or any of the the months ending in "ber."

Always happy to see a guy in a Utilikilt!

Fer cryin' out loud Bo. Would you stock her books in the Recovery section? Is it really derisive to say that AA books are in the Recovery section? I simply see no offense in that tweet. Of course, I have a sense of humo(u)r. This blog is about enjoying knitting, living, and sharing the fun with others.

So THAT'S where the kilt guys were. I was really hoping to see some kilts in Dallas =( lol (that thong thing is hilarious) LOVE the gargantuan socks!

ah yes. . . . my old Rhinebeck Roommate, David. Looking as dashing as ever.

Glad people have stepped up and are redeeming the honor of my fellow knitters. My husband suggested that people who didn't get their classes could always just hold a Wool-Sock outside the Portland Convention Center, with sock-ins for all!

I was out of town and incommunicado for several days. Having just caught up on your blogs and tweets, I find it's just as well. My experience in registering for Sock Summit was painless and effortless: as I had no access to a computer, my DH signed me up. Did a good job, too-- he got me two of the four classes I wanted, and a friend got me a third.

I hope you're all recovered from the trauma, and still looking forward to the event.

Huh. My post disappeared. I'll try again.

I registered for SS09 the easy way-- I had my husband do it while I was out of town. After catching up on your blog and tweets, I see that I did the right thing.

I hope you're all recovered from the trauma, and still looking forward to the event.

As an Austininte living in a non-Texas state, I loved reading your post about my beloved city. I wish I could have been there. I almost asked my mom to go for me, but she'd have hated the huge crowd.

If you ever come to Oregon, stop in at Corvallis.

Living in Chicago my whole life (>50 years) obviously you have never attempted to walk across a bridge in Chicago on a windy day. I am not sure it has all to do with politcians even though we have had our share. I have been blown back across a bridge on the Chicago river more than once in my lifetime.(and eventually had to take a taxi to work because of not making any forward progress)

Haha Austin does seem to have quite the rap...I've got two tees from there to prove it. (One was recently converted into a drawstring bag, but that's beside the point...) Lol If I ever get to go for real, I'm sure I'll fit right in.

I was in Austin on vacation, and at Hill Country Weavers less than a week before your appearance at Book People. The sign on the HCW store bummed me out - I missed you by like 2 days! However, shopping at HCW did sort of make up for it. I missed all the Sock Summit Angst since I was on a plane. Ironically I have family in Portland and I seriously thought of going, but maybe next year.