I gotta say, I'm actually pretty okay with giving up on NaPloBloMo. The only posts that would have been made over the last week or so would have read something like this:



Look at me. I'm posting today. Just like I did yesterday, and everyday this month.



While it complies with the rules, it doesn't seem to reflect the spirit, now does it? And really, I didn't much feel like writing anything at all lately. Not in any depressed, there's nothing worth talking about, woe is me way. More in a I-feel-like-holing-up-in-house-and-knitting-without-having-to-interact way. Work's been nuts, the weather's been crappy, and I've been trying like heck to avoid the cold that Eric came home with recently. All the outside factors made it perfect timing for a week of cozying up under my super-furry throw blanket with a pot of tea (or some evenings a glass of wine) and one of the eleventy-billion projects currently piling up in my little house.

The new version of my cardigan seems to be coming along, even with the (very small) breaks I've been taking to work on the baby blanket. I went for top-down raglan this time, and already I'm much happier with it. Being able to try things on in the process makes working on them a lot more enticing!

I'm a consumer whore (and how!)

So I'm feeling pretty darn good after finding all kinds of awesome deals in my shopping excursions the last few days. Probably better than I should, given my ongoing goal to buy less. Some of it I blame on the gift cards. Some of it is just plain addiction. And some of it is because I can't pass up a REALLY good sale, especially on something I kind of already want.

Frankly, talking about how cheap one got things is pretty boring, so to sum up:

-Embroidered silk found for over 80% off! I just might have to go back and buy the rest of it up before someone else does. Also, flamingo print fabric for $1.80/yd!

-a really cute $5 sweater at Macy's (which puts the sweater count up to 38. I have a problem.)

-A discount on merino/silk roving because I let them know about an error in their price list. (yay for good karma)

And to top it all off, I found a pair of jeans that actually fit! That's right up there with the Loch Ness monster as far as "things that are rarely seen" goes.

Luckily, I think this week has been my last big binge before I go back on my clothing diet. Aside from the ones from Target, all the gift cards have now been spent, which removes the reason for me to look at clothes in the first place. I've already placed a moratorium on buying any more knitting books. And as for fiber and craft stuff, I'm trying to avoid buying anything without first having a project or goal in mind, so my own indecisiveness should slow me down a bit. That pretty much takes care of my frivilous spending with the exception of chinese food and beer, neither of which I'm willing to give up. One has to draw the line somewhere.

*****

I've been thinking a lot today about community and how the internet has both helped and hindered communication, but my thoughts aren't quite formed enough to put down in any readable format yet. I am however starting to believe that I am one of those people who communicates better and more effectively without the crutch of a backspace key.