"The Correct Phrase is 'Camp Followers.'"

Somebody said that to me on Friday night.  It might have been Wendy.  Or Kat.  Maybe Amysue. Or someone else.  But anyway, I am so lame that not only did I drive down the hill to see Stephanie at Webs, but I also drove an hour to see Stephanie in Grafton.  Technically, I didn't really exactly see Stephanie in Grafton; I did see her a bit at dinner afterward in Westboro (Canyon Cafe makes a mean margarita, and Amysue is an excellent restaurant choosing reservation-maker), but they had approximately eleventy-four knitters stuffed into a shop the size of, well, I don't know, my kitchen.  And I've mentioned how small my house is, right?  So a group of us stood toward the back, ushering the normal people who just came in to get their books signed forward, and knitted socks and gossiped in hushed tones while Stephanie entertained.  The next day, I sat in an actual chair and listened to her talk for real.

She's elevated this thing to the level of knitting stand-up comedy.  Mark my words, next year the yarn store owners are going to be setting a two-drink minimum.  By the way, the very idea that there is such a thing as knitting stand-up comedy makes me think I might be on the right planet after all, so I appreciate the fact that she invented it.

So in the end, I'm really glad I went Friday night.  Yes, I felt like a dork camp follower, but it was good times with smart knitters and good tequila after a hard week, and these are good, good things.  I needed a night of knitterly debauchery, and I got it.  Thanks to all of you fellow debauchers.

So I've been sort of cagey about the whole thing, for obvious reasons, but the reason I had a hard week was because I was at the final stages of getting a new job.  Actually, it's approximately the job I've been doing for the last 14 months, as a consultant.  But in the last couple of months I've been through a national competitive search process, and last week I was offered the job and worked out the salary.  The results of this seem to be that: a) I'm actually getting pretty good at this whole thing, b) I'm sick to death of listening to myself talk, and c) right, that last one?  Really sick of it.  There were numerous wee freakouts throughout the process, and now that it's all over, well, I guess I'm still just exhaling slowly.  So I have a regular old 9-5 Monday through Friday job, and I'm actually kind of happy about it.  It may be a good sign that as I walked into the office today, I saw a student wearing Rogue.  Heh.

No word on the regular computer.  You'll know when you see photos back on this here blog.  Rogue may go undocumented at this rate.

You'll be glad to know, however, that thanks to the kind ministrations of dear Colleen, you don't have to go completely imageless.  I present to you...Socks for Sanity: The Button.

All I did was whimper pathetically when I learned she had the skills and willingless to do it.  Pretty spiffy, huh?  Save to your own server if you want it, you know the drill.  And be sure to go tell Colleen how clever she is.

Anyone going to CT Sheep & Wool this weekend?  The Bellwether festival?  And supposedly sunshine?  I'll be the crazy lady chasing the short people.

Comments

[Ruth]

Better a camp follower than a stalker ... and a lousy stalker at that. I wish I'd been able to catch Stephanie's act on this swing, but maybe next time.

[Aarlene]

What better way to spend your time?
Congratulations on securing the yarn procurement, er, I mean the JOB.
That really is a neat button. I'm afraid NO is the answer on attending the festivals. Unfortunately, from Louisiana it'd be a bit of a trip. You go and tell us all about it!

[Kelly]

Congrats on the job! Stephanie was great. I don't think I laughed that hard in a long time. I will be up at the Ct sheep and wool on Saturday. Hopefully it will be nice weather!

[Kathy]

Congratulations on the new (old) job. Yes, will be there Saturday stalking roving.

[maryse]

congratulations on the job. friday night was fun, wasn't it.

[Julie]

Congrats on the job! Some recognition now and then isn't a bad thing. I'll be at CT S&W Saturday with Kathy.

[Carole]

CT! Yes! Does this mean I'll get to meet the short people? How cool!
And, camp follower. Hmmm. You know the historical connotation, correct? It's not exactly a flattering term. Just saying. Then again, I'm happy to be in the same camp with you and all our buddies.

[wenders]

Congrats! On seeing Stephanie AND the job. :) I feel like the camper who got stuck in the outhouse or something, as I think I am the ONLY knitter on the eastern seaboard who was too lazy and didn't want to deal with knitting crowds and missed her.

Maybe I should be happy just to be AT camp? :)

[Steph]

Sounds like life is Good.

Knitting debauchery will always raise your spirits.

[amysue]

Wait. Bellwether? As in Connie Willis's novel? Festival? Sheep? I admit my brain isn't functioning at optimal level today but please explain?

Oh and happy newish job, glad you liked the tequila and The Porches was lovely as always.

[Colleen]

Thanks for the plug, and I'm glad you liked the button. :)

[Kate]

Congrats on the job. What a great way to celebrate success than the weekend you had. Friday night was a blast, great to see you as always!

[PumpkinMama]

Congrats on the "new" job.

[Bookish Wendy]

Great post - it is knitting stand up comedy and the fact that the audience KICKS ASS doesn't hurt either...

[Martha]

I'd say happy job but it sounds like happy new contract is more accurate! Sorry I missed all the fun this weekend.

[Chris]

Congrats on the "new" job!! Hopefully things settle down for you now... at least a bit.

[claudia]

I'm glad that extra margarita didn't go to waste.

[Kat with a K]

Yeah, I think the camp follower thing was me. And congratulations again! I keep thinking "You know, I COULD go to CT..." and then I remember that I have a 10-page paper to write this weekend. Bah.

[Jackie]

Congrats again on the job! What a perfect way to end a long week, huh? Friday was a great time.

[moiraeknits]

Congrats! I will be out of a job here in approx four weeks, and I haven't had the energy to start looking for a new one. And while my fiber stash is sufficient to see me (and probably four other spinners) through lean times, stash doesn't cover the rent or food, you know? Feh. Job searching/competing/landing is exhausting. I commend you for seeing it through to the finish! Also? YAY!! :D

[Beth S.]

Congratulations on the "new" job. I'm so glad the ordeal is over! :-)

[Imbrium]

Congratulations on the new(ish) job. Don't tell anyone, but I'm trying to get one of those myself.

I can't wait until Stephanie comes out to Denver and I can hear her talk and see her in real life and get up to talk to her and completeky forget how to use my mouth. Because that's totally what's going to happen. *sigh*

[Cynthia]

I feel I must apologize for being one of the dorks in the row behind you at the Clarion gushing, "Is that Mamacate? Is that Mamacate? Oh, her! Love her blog!"

If you're a dork for following Stephanie around, then we're (ok, *I*) superdorks for being awestruck at the sight of you.

Sorry.

[Sneaksleep]

Sigh. My own darn *state* and I can't attend the festival. But at least it's because I'll be hosting my best friend in the whole wide world (alas, neither a knitter nor a blogger) and her husband.

Congrats on the steady job!! I know how much weight that take off one's shoulders. So will you now be working for Daphne or Velma? Or still at both places?

[--Deb]

Darn, I really need to get to one of Stephanie's events one of these days. I feel like I'm missing out (grin)

Congratulations for the job! That is wonderful news!!