My trip began with a rocky start. The plane was really late arriving here to take me to Phoenix, so I was going to miss the last flight to Santa Barbara. After numerous phone calls to Joelene and intense scrutiny of the map of California, it was decided that I would fly from Phoenix to L.A. Joelene drove 3 hours to pick me up in L.A. and then another 3 hours back home. She’s sweet to me, what can I say?

We arrived at Joelenes house around 2:30am, slept for 4 hours and then jumped back in the car to head to Santa Clara for Stitches West. Being in Silicon Valley was interesting. There wasn’t a gas station, grocery store or hardly a restaurant to be found, but there was Yahoo. One thing I know is that all the techie types like a nice hotel! Even it the gift shop was a vending machine full of condoms and ipods.

Our SEVENTY DOLLAR class was really disappointing. I felt like we learned only an hours worth of learning (if that) in a 3 hour class. Basically we learned the double start cast on and how to strand yarn in front of your work. I’ve decided that the double start cast on will hereby be called the 70 dollar cast on.

The Stitches Marketplace was really amazing and at it Joelene and I realized that we were the youngest people there. We also saw some really interesting knitted pieces that led us to our new knitting motto, “Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.” I sort of had a hard time buying yarn. Which I know is hard to believe. I think I overanalyzed my purchases. I did get yarn for a few projects and I also got a really nice knitting purse.

After having lunch with a couple more internet friends, we left Friday afternoon to head back to Joelenes. The car was packed full of sock yarn (and hardly any of it was mine!) and we were really tired. We spent the next day checking out the central coast, eating yummy food and knitting. And then I flew home.

I think Jim was more happy to see me than the kids. That’s ok, cause they made me this really great card. It was a great trip, but it’s good to be home.