Tonight a watched a documentary on the Philadelphia Flyers from '73-'77. Everyone called them The Broad Street Bullies because they attacked without abandon. They set a goal and got shit done. People didn't like them very much outside of Philly, but they were back to back Champions.
I'm from Philadelphia. I've decide to attack my novel and my 30's like the Broad Street Bullies.
I'm gonna be the Bobby Clarke of writing. With more teeth and less punching.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
New Writes, New Reads and New Knits
I'm just returning from a whirlwind trip to Philadelphia and New York. Not only did I get to celebrate my own fabulous 30th year, but also I wanted to celebrate with
von Hottie and
May in the Bay And let me tell you, these ladies know how to get down. We are all 30 and FABULOUS!
I did get some things done (other than celebrating). First, while I was in Philly, I spent my days at the Chestnut Hill Coffee Co. So far it is my favorite place in Philly to have coffee (it's where I get my espresso for homemade lattes)and write. There's no internet, it's quiet, and no one talks to you. It's perfect. I wrote a draft on one of one of my novels short chapters. Yay!
I finished Yiyun Li's newest novel "The Vagrants". One word people: Phenomenal. Okay, maybe a second word: Devastating. I mean that second word in the way good fiction should knock the wind out of you. I finished and I though. Jesus H. Christ that was hard. Admittedly, I didn't really get into it at first. I was interested in most of the characters, but there were so many that I sometimes needed to take a break and pick up something else less complex. When I finally went back to it, I couldn't put it down. There was something kind of enrapturing about the strong convictions of some of these characters and the knowledge that their convictions will do them no good by the end. And for those without conviction, without loyalty, well, I felt for them too.
A good read people.
And as for the yarn....well...I visited three yarn shops. Purl Soho (of course), Loop in Philadelphia and The Tangled Web also in Philadelphia. Purl, has just moved from it's teeny tiny shops on Sullivan St. to an expansive and beautiful location on Broome St. They never, never disappoint. Also, I had a lovely conversation with Joelle Hoverson, one of the owners. I was seriously star struck once she introduced herself. While I was there, I picked up some Habu textiles raw silk lace weight yarn. I'm planning on making my mother some lacy thing with it. Jared Flood has a pattern or two I'm thinking of. At the Tangled Web--which is a nice shop--I picked up some Jojoland Melody sock yarn in a pretty reddish pink, that I am going to turn into cute lace anklets, the pattern on the Purl Bee site. Seriously, that website makes me want to knit all the time. Lastly, I picked up some lace alpaca yarn from Loop. I met a friend there and while it was nice to be reunited after two years, I did not love the shop and that made me sad. Their website is so delicious that I thought I'd walk into Philadelphia's version of Purl. I work in a yarn shop, and I try to give my customers space, but I at least talk to them a little, ask what they're working on, if they need help, or ideas. at Loop...Well, the woman working behind the counter was way more interested in her computer screen than the only two customers in the shop. Also, I wasn't super impressed by their stock. I think it's because I'm spoiled by the shop I work in and also the other shops in town. We all have different, but exquisite yarns and the people who work at the shops in my area are all awesome. Seriously. Still it was a lovely yarn adventure.
Before I left for the east coast, I was gifted some really pretty yarn. A Funky Zauberball (I have one already and I can't wait to knit them both up!!) Some Jojoland Rhythm, Lorna's Laces sock yarn in a sweet pink, and a skein of Mini Moochi. So it's basically been a good two weeks for my stash.
What's next? Knitting anklets, a baby blanket and some finishing some socks. I've started reading Arvind Adiga's "White Tiger" and working on one of the more challenging parts of my book.
I have to say, I'm loving 30!
von Hottie and
May in the Bay And let me tell you, these ladies know how to get down. We are all 30 and FABULOUS!
I did get some things done (other than celebrating). First, while I was in Philly, I spent my days at the Chestnut Hill Coffee Co. So far it is my favorite place in Philly to have coffee (it's where I get my espresso for homemade lattes)and write. There's no internet, it's quiet, and no one talks to you. It's perfect. I wrote a draft on one of one of my novels short chapters. Yay!
I finished Yiyun Li's newest novel "The Vagrants". One word people: Phenomenal. Okay, maybe a second word: Devastating. I mean that second word in the way good fiction should knock the wind out of you. I finished and I though. Jesus H. Christ that was hard. Admittedly, I didn't really get into it at first. I was interested in most of the characters, but there were so many that I sometimes needed to take a break and pick up something else less complex. When I finally went back to it, I couldn't put it down. There was something kind of enrapturing about the strong convictions of some of these characters and the knowledge that their convictions will do them no good by the end. And for those without conviction, without loyalty, well, I felt for them too.
A good read people.
And as for the yarn....well...I visited three yarn shops. Purl Soho (of course), Loop in Philadelphia and The Tangled Web also in Philadelphia. Purl, has just moved from it's teeny tiny shops on Sullivan St. to an expansive and beautiful location on Broome St. They never, never disappoint. Also, I had a lovely conversation with Joelle Hoverson, one of the owners. I was seriously star struck once she introduced herself. While I was there, I picked up some Habu textiles raw silk lace weight yarn. I'm planning on making my mother some lacy thing with it. Jared Flood has a pattern or two I'm thinking of. At the Tangled Web--which is a nice shop--I picked up some Jojoland Melody sock yarn in a pretty reddish pink, that I am going to turn into cute lace anklets, the pattern on the Purl Bee site. Seriously, that website makes me want to knit all the time. Lastly, I picked up some lace alpaca yarn from Loop. I met a friend there and while it was nice to be reunited after two years, I did not love the shop and that made me sad. Their website is so delicious that I thought I'd walk into Philadelphia's version of Purl. I work in a yarn shop, and I try to give my customers space, but I at least talk to them a little, ask what they're working on, if they need help, or ideas. at Loop...Well, the woman working behind the counter was way more interested in her computer screen than the only two customers in the shop. Also, I wasn't super impressed by their stock. I think it's because I'm spoiled by the shop I work in and also the other shops in town. We all have different, but exquisite yarns and the people who work at the shops in my area are all awesome. Seriously. Still it was a lovely yarn adventure.
Before I left for the east coast, I was gifted some really pretty yarn. A Funky Zauberball (I have one already and I can't wait to knit them both up!!) Some Jojoland Rhythm, Lorna's Laces sock yarn in a sweet pink, and a skein of Mini Moochi. So it's basically been a good two weeks for my stash.
What's next? Knitting anklets, a baby blanket and some finishing some socks. I've started reading Arvind Adiga's "White Tiger" and working on one of the more challenging parts of my book.
I have to say, I'm loving 30!
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