Vacation! (all I ever wanted)
After spending the last couple of weeks exhausted and ill with pneumonia (I cannot overemphasize the exhausted — as in sleeping 16 hours a day), I was thrilled to get out of the Minnesota winter for a weekend. New York isn’t exactly tropical this time of year, but there’s a remarkable difference between 30-above and 30-below.
I arrived in NYC on Valentine’s Day and discovered that it’s Minty’s favorite holiday. And I mean Favorite Holiday. Like, ever. In a crazy, wild-eyed-yet-eerily-focused, single-minded, heart-shaped kind of way that is simultaneously (1) charming and (2) utterly terrifying. She approaches the big V the way I approach Halloween: with Intensity.
Do you see the concentration on her face? It is intense and total! She’s done a lovely job of documenting her own obsessive, fascist way of celebrating VD. What she can’t really express in her post is how completely won over I was, and how much FUN I had!
Because Minty’s enthusiasm? Totally infectious (even for a cynic like me, who thinks the Official celebration of Romance is an oppressive tool for sentimentalizing the patriarchal regulation of heteronormative monogamy in order to make marriage palatable for white middle class women so they will make babies for the Nation). But it’s HEART-SHAPED!!
Needless to say, Minty was the best Valentine’s Day date EVER, and I had the best VDay ever, staying up half the night to decorate cookies and make heart-shaped miso-glazed tofu. Have I mentioned that Minty is teh awesome?
And the next day, I met John, who took me to lunch in what was definitely one of the highlights of my weekend.
You know how he seems so smart and sassy and sexy on the blog? That’s not the half of it. We talked nonstop about all manner of things, most of which aren’t appropriate for even this knitting blog. And, with minimal pestering on my part, he gamely took this dorky photo of us in Union Square wearing our matching Frivol hats. *Love*
Later, Minty and I met up with some of the Spiders (Connie, Jess, Lisa, Marie, Veronique, and Virginia) at The Point where not only did I completely forget to take pictures, but I also LEFT MY BRAND NEW CAMERA BEHIND. Jess had to chase me out the door with it. Thanks, ladies, for letting me come hang out, and a big See-You-Next-Time to Ms. Gleek, Ms. Schrodinger, Jessica, Katy (congrats!), and especially Sandra.
That gathering was followed by a wonderful dinner with Veronique, who was wearing a version of her lovely and recently-published sweater design and who, like Minty’s take on Valentine’s Day, immediately won me over with her wit, intelligence, thoughtfulness, and style. (Plus, she was knitting on a Marigold sock!) If you aren’t a Tres Chic reader, you should be.
This was was followed by a wonderful Saturday with Minty, visiting the Met…
… and hanging out in our PJs and leaving silly voice mails for Ashley, and generally not feeling like this was only the third time we’d met in person.
I am still catching up on the 1300+ blog posts that have amassed during my illness and absence. This means many of you will probably be getting comments from me on, like, your last 10 posts.
And now please enjoy the following preview of my next post, which will hopefully appear relatively soon (i.e. not after what’s become a now-standard 2+ week interim) and will definitely feature the belated birthday gift I gave Minty:
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November 30th, 1999 at 12:00 am
This post contains my favorite sentence on a knitting blog ever. I think you can guess which one it is.
February 19th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
Oh My Goodness! Well gosh. I guess all I can think is I’m glad you are OVER it. This past winter seems to be extra-germified. Do you look damn good in the hospital pictures.
And also, I love that if you acronym-ize Valentine’s Day, it’s VD. Never noticed before.
February 19th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
That tofu looks so tasty. Must find recipe.
February 19th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
Awesome story. I could almost faint thinking of scary VD celebrations. I really must find a holiday of my own to elevate. Perhaps Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. Hmmm… Take care.
February 19th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
Glad you had a killer va-cay…and just for the record, regarding Valentine’s Day my husband noted that ‘you couldn’t get this type of conformity in a totalitarian state’!;)
February 19th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
Whee! Sounds like you had a great trip. How exciting to meet all those terrific knitters! I’m glad to hear you’re feeling better after your bout with pneumonia, too. Stay warm up there!
February 20th, 2008 at 12:03 am
Yeah, 30-below will get you every time. Sounds like a fabulous weekend getaway! The Met is one of my two favorite things in NYC — the other is Central Park.
February 20th, 2008 at 12:09 am
Yay, what a fun trip! Glad you’re feeling better, too.
February 20th, 2008 at 12:25 am
will you be my valentine every year? i’m glad my singleminded enthusiasm rubbed off. And really–do I do anything without intensity?
February 20th, 2008 at 12:27 am
I’m glad you’re feeling better - yikes! But your vacation would’ve done wonders for anyone - wow. That picture from the Met?! Love it.
And drop me an email sometime - we MUST get together to knit while you’re in MN.
February 20th, 2008 at 12:49 am
Oh, look at you two being all cute n cool n sassy over there in Union Square!
February 20th, 2008 at 1:06 am
Vacation (had to get away)! What a great trip - I am filled with blogger envy! Love your matching Frivols!
February 20th, 2008 at 2:36 am
What is it about Minty and her ability to make you feel as though you’ve known her your whole life? I clearly remember pouring out our souls to each other over sushi one day last fall and suddenly being struck dumb by the fact that it was only the second time I’d ever met her in person. She’d better be careful if she ever does online dating — she’ll be engaged at the end of every date.
February 20th, 2008 at 2:42 am
what a LOAD of fun in NYC! i’ve heard of minty’s passion for Vday. little did i know how intense it really is
so sorry i missed you this time around! the peanut does not do well with crowds (or, quite frankly, anyone who is not me or her father) but i’m hoping next time you make it to the big apple, she’ll be over it.
February 20th, 2008 at 2:54 am
Didn’t know you were ill, hope you’re better now!
I totally agree with your V-day analysis, but why regulation of only white women?
February 20th, 2008 at 3:06 am
It was really lovely to meet and knit with you. Hope you can hang out again the next time you’re in the city!
February 20th, 2008 at 3:20 am
This:
Totally infectious (even for a cynic like me, who thinks the Official celebration of Romance is an oppressive tool for sentimentalizing the patriarchal regulation of heteronormative monogamy in order to make marriage palatable for white middle class women so they will make babies for the Nation). But it’s HEART-SHAPED!!
is the funniest thing I have read in at least a week. Hilarious, girl!
February 20th, 2008 at 3:34 am
Aw man, I’m so glad you’re over the pneumonia! and so glad to hear you had an awesome, totally knit- and cookie-tastic weekend.
February 20th, 2008 at 4:06 am
I’m glad you had such a great trip!
And I’m especially glad you are feeling better. Being sick is the pits!!!
February 20th, 2008 at 8:24 am
Certainly seems you had a great time.
February 20th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Wow, sounds like a fantastic trip! The heart-shaped tofu might be just enought to make me celebrate Valetines Day in some fashion, it looks delicious. Glad to hear you’ve kicked the pneumonia!
February 20th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
Glad you’re feeling better!!!! Between yours and Minty’s blog, it looks like you guys had a sugar laden, friend saturated valentines day! perfect!
PS- I put up the picture of all my stranded socks for you- not sure if you caught it…
February 20th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
It was awesome to meet you and hang out with you. John is buckets of fun. Come back to nyc soon!!!!
February 20th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Awww! I need me a vacation like that!
February 20th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
The heart-shaped tofu looks really yummy!
Glad your feeling better
February 20th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Aw. I miss you!! Come back. We still need to have more fun.
February 20th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
so glad you are feeling back to your old self. You really packed a lot into one (long) weekend!
February 20th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
Looks like an awesome vacation. Glad to hear you’re feeling better! That picture in the Frivol hats is just too cute
February 20th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
It was great to meet you, Pam. I hope you come back to NYC soon!
And I love your photos of the Valentine extravaganza. Sounds like a good time indeed!
February 20th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
I really enjoyed your blog. I am new to this so excuse any errors.
I wanted to eat that apple pie right off the page. I feel the same way about valentines day, it just seems like such a manufactured holiday and I have been happily married for 35 years!!
I hope someone can help me with this, All of you are so much more advanced in knitting than I am.
I loe the process but if I make another scarf/shawl afghan I will die of boredom. BUT I am afraid to do a sweater, there I have said it.
Can anyone direct me to a pattern that won’t intimidate me?
I can knit, purl (slowly) increase, decrease and make one.
Is there any hope for me?
I would appreciate any help I can get. thank you much s.
February 20th, 2008 at 6:49 pm
1. New York City is the cure for most ailments;
2. Thank you for infecting my brain with the GoGos (the only way to make it go away was to sing it to my office mates)
3. Come to Calgary, anytime!
February 21st, 2008 at 12:31 am
It sounds like you had a great time! That miso glazed tofu has me drooling - heart shaped or otherwise.
Great photo of you and John in your hats!
February 21st, 2008 at 12:57 am
He is seriously the best. I love him so much and am so happy to consider him one of my best friends.
Now when do WE get to hang out?
February 21st, 2008 at 1:19 am
awwwwww! fun times! glad ur feeling better.
February 21st, 2008 at 5:15 am
You totally deserve an awesome vacation!
Heart shaped tofu is the coolest! I see it in my near future!
February 21st, 2008 at 4:56 pm
What an action-packed weekend you had! Thanks for the shout-out
I had a blast tasting a gazillion different paninis. Mmmm, panini…
That shirt you made for Minty is amazing; I can’t wait to read your post about it.
February 21st, 2008 at 5:11 pm
It was great meeting you - next time I promise I’ll be a little more personable - all I could think about were executing all the dust bunnies in my house!
February 22nd, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Did you have the best trip ever? I think you did! Thanks for the trip documentation, also, I am glad you are feeling better. I very much want to see more of that sewn goodness at the bottom of this post.
February 23rd, 2008 at 1:08 am
What a wonderful trip and such beautiful cookies! I’m glad you are feeling better and getting out and about.
February 23rd, 2008 at 6:59 pm
I’m still sad that I missed you. But glad you had a great time. While Valentines has never been a day that I liked, I have to admit that I would have much fun with Minty with all that heart-shaped fun going on.
Glad you had a great vacation, and you’re better now.
February 24th, 2008 at 3:47 am
Too. Much. Fun.
Can’t handle. The intensity.
Talking. Like. Shatner.
February 24th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
ROTFL! @ your thoughts on VD! HA!!!
I can’t believe you got to meet John!! Love the twinkie pic!!
And you and your tech gadgets are not meant to be!! LOL!!!!
March 9th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
dang, i still can’t believe i missed you. well, you’ll be back. I’D be back if Minty had fed ME like that! see you next time!