In exactly a week I leave for Paris (and assorted other European countries).  I am SO excited! However, my schedule at work and home is jam-packed until then... the week is going to fly by.

A little back-story on the trip itself.  Dustin (my fiancee), is an outdoorsy-type.  He "travels light" and is accustomed to backpacking, sleeping where ever he feels (back seat of car, beach, under the sky), oh and travelling on the cheap side.  There is nothing wrong with this and some people do it fabulously and with panache.  He is one of them.  I, unfortunately, am not.  Another unfortunate point... hotels in Europe are ridiculously expensive!

Dilema indeed.

We've discussed, compromised, and discussed some more.  After much deliberation we've decided we're "going budget" for Europe 2008.  Hostels, street food, the grittier side of things.  I've put away my multiple suitcases for a single MEC backpack/rolling luggage piece (being able to roll your bag along is too much of a convenience to give up!  Baby steps....) and I have to spend this weekend figuring out exactly what I am going to pack for this trip.  Or should I say, exactly what I won't be bringing.

One thing is for certain!  I won't be carting back many souvenirs and tchotchkes.  I will be bringing back yarn.  My travel plan includes making note, before I leave, of the amount of yarn needed for a few patterns that I've been longing to knit.  Once I am there, seeking out local yarn shops and seeing what treasures I can find!  Yarn from around the world!!

I figure the money I save on accomodation can go to my yarn fund.

Gifts for family and friends? I may have to comprimise on that too.  Yarn & tchochkes?  I guess I'll have to leave a few items out of my backpack hybrid to bring a few things back.

Thankfully yarn is squishy.

In '99 I had a mild bout of self-diagnosed OCD when I had to double check that my door was locked even after I locked it myself.  Now I realize it wasn't OCD but I lived in a bad neighbourhood and wanted to make sure my house didn't get broken in to!

I was accepted in to the Ravelry community and I have spent a good part of my entire Saturday loading up all of my projects, yarn, finding local Terrace knitters, etc.

I can only write a brief note before I go off and do something non-computer related (I did garden with my mom for an hour or so this afternoon!).

Gotta love relaxing Saturdays.

One last note... Mitten exchange... Hemmmm.... Methinks another mitten exchange needs to be started on Ravelry?

Cheers,
Renee

I don't know about you, but here in Terrace, spring has not yet sprung.  Today we actually had snow, if you can believe it!  That said, my urge to put away my knitting in favour of venturing outside hasn't happened yet.  I'm not sure if it will happen this year at all...  Today was an exciting day, I recieved a package from mjtrim.com for some purse handles and ribbons I need for some cabled purses I'm making.  I tore home after work to stitch the handles on the first version I've made.  The yarn I'm using is an organic cotton from Blue Sky Alpacas.  It's almost too sumptuous to be knit in to a purse.  It's incredibly soft.

I have also made and agreement with my partner that I think I just may cash in tonight.  He enjoys cross country skiing.  I am lukewarm about it but he wants me to join him on the trails.  My solution...  I will pick up a hobby of his if he will pick up (or at least make a decent attempt) at mine.  Fair?  I think so!


Looking forward to next Tuesday's SnB.  Now, if only I could find some Canadian magnet suppliers for my purses...

R. 

PS. I have joined the wait list for Ravelry.com tonight.  I can't believe there is a wait list!!