Whoo-hoo. Mid-fall break.

It's cold and sort of rainy today but I'm still going.

It's the right time for break, I think: I didn't have Youth Group last night (we cancelled because the schoolkids are on break, too) and I was so exhausted when I got home I ate an early dinner, got into bed to read around 7:30, and I think I probably went to sleep around 8:30.

(Of course, I then woke up at 5:30 this morning even though I'd not set my alarm clock).

I did spend some time yesterday afternoon making a "shopping list" of sorts - how much yarn different projects I want to make sometime would take, in case I see the "perfect" yarn for them.

On the list are last fall's IK "Greek Pullover" (just in case the place has the required Rowan yarn; they've carried some of the Rowan line in the past). And the Felted Marsupial Tote from Stitch N Bitch. And the yarn requirements for a couple of cable-encrusted sweaters that I'd like to do sometime.

Socks and hats and the like I know how much is required for, so I can just buy at will for those.

And if they have the big Fiber Trends hedgehog as a kit, I've decided that one of those will come home with me.

And I want to pick up a skein of Fun Fur in the "Lava" color - I found a tiny knitted hedgehog pattern and my family has a good friend from Great Britain who has a fondness for hedgehogs - I think she needs a tiny knitted hedgehog for Christmas this year. I can probably get that at Michael's.

I've also got some Christmas present ideas in mind (most purchased items, not things to be made).

One of the joys of being usually-frugal is that once in a while, you can take a day and just shop without worrying overmuch about it. That you can kind of slip the traces for a day.

Part of the joy of the day - I have to admit - is the being-out-of-pocket, of not being contactable by anyone. (Oh, I will have my cell phone and it will be turned on because there's a GPS chip in it and one of my friends impressed on me that "if your car goes off the road and you're not capable of calling for help, people can still find you." But almost no one has my cell number and those that do, know I don't like to be called unless it's a major emergency). So a day of no one needing me for anything, no one interrupting my thoughts or my work...it should be good.

Tomorrow is going to be car check-up day and house-cleaning day. Saturday is going to be catch-up-on-grading-and-paperwork-at-work day.

But today is going to be my day of fun and indulgence.