Well, it looks like I need to call my ISP every *month* to tell them to "white-list" the knitlist, socknitters, Knitter's Review, etc...so they don't get caught in the spam-net. The really annoying thing is spam is still getting through, but legit messages are not.

I changed the sidebar slightly - to make it easier for those who want to email me, to email me. There's still the link, but remember, you have to remove the NOSPAM bit. I've also written out my address; hopefully the 'bots aren't able to read those, yet. Of course, if your message bounces back, it might be just my ISP being its lovely self and allowing "THE AMA*Zing PATCH wwwzzz" messages through, but not actual email.

Knit a bit on the Little Red Mittens (actually, mine are not so little and they are deep purple) while I proctored an exam this morning. I got zero reaction from the students! Usually someone makes a Madame Defarge joke, or tells me they are learning, or at least asks me what I'm making. Oh well.

Over the weekend, I bought myself a Christmas present - usually I buy myself one good nice and expensive (well, by my standards) thing at Christmastime. One year, it was the Sammy Davis Jr. CD box set, and another year it was a pair of vintage side chairs that were upholstered in peach-colored velveteen. This year, I got myself a new bag. It is made by the "Ganz" company and is called a MaggieB bag. (made in China, alas, even more alas considering it was over $50). It's called a "small duffel" but the resemblance it bears to the typical Army/Navy Surplus duffel is about the same resemblance as I bear to Britney Spears. It is a deep red, with a gold colored pattern - paisleys and flowers - and it looks quite Provencal. It looks a bit like the bags here, which are from the same line, but my exact bag is not shown.

It is NOT a carpetbag. (Never, ever even consider using the word "carpetbag" around me - or around any other born-and-raised Northerner whose current circumstances have them living in the South.)

besides, this bag is made of quilted cotton, and it has a squarish profile. It should hold more than my backpack - which I had been using as a carryon to the train when I traveled before - and it is much more stylish and grown-up looking.

and it will hold a great deal of yarn and books. That was actually my main consideration. I'm already planning to take (and hopefully finish) the Bookworm vest, and the Canal du Midi socks, and the Art Noueau Rose socks I bought a kit for ages ago and never got around to, and the Happy Stripe Lorna's Laces, and the yarn and needles for the Shape-It! scarf (Artful Yarns "Cartoon" in "Popeye"), and probably another self-striping yarn, and perhaps my Kilimanjaro Kat shawl, which I have not been working on for a month or so now....and all of that should fit easily.

thank goodness for Amtrak and its lack of restrictions on carry-on size.