The Theory of Cruising

A week before Mom and I went on the cruise to the South of France, my coworker Jon went on his first cruise ever. He went someplace warm (I think he saw Chichen-Itza), with his lovely lady.

When I returned, I asked him how his cruise was. His eyes got big as dinner plates, and his face was the image of wonder.

"I was kind of expecting the boat to be kind of a glorified tanker. It was a... a.... Floating Bellagio!"

I was on a tiny (but lovely) river boat. Jon was on one of the monster cruise ships, and it blew him away!

When Mom and I were flying back to America, I told her my dream of the Ultimate Cruise. "One of the big boats. Entirely filled with yarn and fiber. All the ballrooms and event space totally given over to comfortable chairs where people can knit or spin or weave as they wish. And, it takes WEEKS to get where we're going, so there are no shore excursions, or other distractions. And the deck chairs are all filled with knitters being pampered by cabana boys..." Mom said "Good luck selling that!"

When I got back, I ran across this in Spindlicity. I called Mom right away, and said "How do you feel about taking my Ultimate Cruise (almost) to Alaska?" So, we're going to Alaska in August 2007! I'm so jazzed.

On a related note, I ran into The Ex (J) when I was visiting his Mom in rehab. (We've been divorced for 22 years. 22 wonderful years. So there's zero animosity) He mentioned that his wife had tripped over some Christmas decorations, and messed up her knee badly, and they might not be able to go on their planned Mexico Cruise next week.

I was appalled! "But, that's the ULTIMATE treatment for a bad knee!!! Warm weather. A deck chair to keep your leg up. Three cabana boys constantly plying you with alcohol!" J didn't think his wife would see it like that.

When I got home, I was telling Chaos (our 23 year old son) about Steppie's accident, and the cruise problem. There are times when I know he's really my son. Before I said a word, he said "But that's silly! She could have hot and cold running cabana boys!"

My son!

Ankle Warmers

I don't think my mom realizes what she's doing to me.

Mom took me on a cruise up the Rhône River, in the south of France recently. We cruised up and down the Rhône and the Saône rivers, and had the most incredible time.

She mentioned that her feet got cold, so I knocked out some great, warm, red socks for her, and started on some dark blue ones (Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran - yummy! I think they're colors 610 and 201). I'm almost done with the blue ones, having frogged the ankles about 8 times. I tried some lovely patterns. None of which would fit over her heel.

Now, it's cold in Maryland, and her ankles are now cold too. I'm trying to decide between some short leg warmers (in spiral rib) or going whole hog and making the tube bedsocks from Knitting Vintage Socks. (They're the green ones, on the bottom left of the cover.) Decisions. Decisions.

Mom, don't you realize that your wish is my command? I have an (incredibly yummy) shawl on the needles for you right now, that you don't know about! I want to finish the blue socks! Jeesh! From years of "I don't know what I want", to "That would be nice. And that. And that. And that...) I'm pretty sure she's going to be surprised Christmas morning (which is falling on 12/28 this year....)