Another less-than-productive day, but very vacation-like. I didn’t get through my entire list of to-do’s for the day, but I did get some solid knitting in.

I’ve decided to knit up Scout’s hizKNITS-inspired colorway as Jaywalker socks. I do love this wool, not to mention the cool “Silver Streak” dye job she just did. Did you know she’s having a sale over the next few days? I think I need a sushi wallet kit…

This is just two day’s worth of knitting, accompanied by a little Cast On, Lime ‘n Violet and Sticks and String podcasts. Being the type-A personality that I am, I’m systematically working my way through all of their past episodes. Once I’m up do to date, then I’ll consider commenting, interacting with and perhaps contributing to their creations.

Until then, if you’re Googling own names and find this, thanks, Brenda, L’nV, and David. I love your work… so much that I’m not listening to my Audible books that I paid for.

Wel, today’s projected productivity didn’t translate into a pithy post. While I did start the day taking photos of my freshly wound ball of Scout’s yarn, you’ll have to wait until I upload it to see its glory. I did cast on a sock and I’m about 2 inches into it. I’m knitting on 2.25mm needles, somewhere between a 1 and a 0. I like the resulting fabric. It makes the self-striping (what, it was on sale!) Regia socks seem chunky even though they were knit on a 3 and a 2 (for tighter sole, heel and toe).

In other news, I continued on my holiday dish-washing binge (a rare occasion that I’ll be at the sink). I cut music for my free solo (thank you, Pet Shop Boys “It’s a Sin”). My coach and I listened to Bush .mp3’s for samples to include in our team routine. We’ll looking for lies and mis-statements, so if you know of any send them my way! Tonight was a difficult swim practice, 1: because I’m “detrained,” and 2: because I swam extra hard, inspired by videos on YouTube (go search “synchronized” “swimming” “synchronisee” “montreal” “solo”). I’ll be feeling it tomorrow.

Sadly, we heard to day that a close friend of C’s passed away on Christmas Eve. He had hid his pancreatic cancer from everyone, including his mother with whom he lived! When you read this, take time to tell people who are important in your life that you love them. Live hard and safely.

Again, let me apologize for these late night “I-have-no-energy-to-write” posts. It’s time to peel off the the socks I finished yesterday and crawl into bed. It was a lazy day off and between dog walks, rain and naps, I didn’t get much done to compose some interesting prose.

Tomorrow, I’ll post a photo of these latest guys, ball up the wonderful “hizKNITS” Scout’s Swag yarn and perhaps cast on a Jaywalker‘s. And, I’ll weave in the ends of the Knucks for my swim coach that I finished embroidering today.

Santa was very kind to me yesterday, but even kinder was A, our next door neighbor who put on a fabulous dinner. I wish I had taken pictures of that. I couldn’t begin to describe the delicious cheeses, wines, homemade blue cheese salad vinegrette, spinach gratin, parchement baked fish, and chocolate overload (her cake, my pudding and my swim coach’s truffles) that posed as dessert. To make up for all last night’s gourmet action, we had her over for take-out deep-dish pizza (spinach and mushroom from Patxi’s because Little Star was closed.

If you celebrate it, Merry Christmas!

I baked a hunk of bread in my new blue cast iron cocotte for our morning meal of cheeses and butter. Having no sweettooth, I can’t imagine anything better than fat and carbs. Add a mug or two of coffee, some half-and-half and a handsome man (his work, not his portrait) and I’m good to go.

Also in the kitchen, I cooked up some of the incredible Walzwerk chocolate pudding. We’ll be taking that next door to dinner with our neighbor and her two Frenchies.

Ms. Janie Sparkles patiently endured the unwrapping of gifts, as it interfered with her regularly scheduled napping and belly rubs. She wishes everyone a warm and wonderful holiday full of love, good food and lots of walks.

‘Twas five nights before Xmas and I was away from the house;
Playin’ hooky in Las Vegas, wearing a nice blouse.

We had arrived at midnight, Wednesday A.M.
Our goal was simple, see a show with some friends.

The first room they gave us, had only one single bed.
Fine for the engaged couple, but not right for my head.

Back to reception, to ask for one more.
They kindly obliged, giving us 16-304.

I awoke early, put my feet to floor.
While B slept quietly, next to her C snored.

A trip to the lobby, procuring a cup of Starbucks,
Wandering to kill time, realizing casinos are f@*!’ed.

At last they arose, and breakfast we ate,
At a proper sit-down restaurant, with nary a buffet plate.

Then back to the room to shower and repose,
A chance to unpack, knit and change clothes.

C went off to the gym; a headache rendered me ill,
So B and me wandered in search of water and Advil.

I started to feel better, so to celebrate (I suppose)
What could be better, than a bag of pretzel cheddar Combos?

We talked all afternoon, and I practiced my splits.
B shared her journal and my Knucks I did knit.

At last it was time to leave for the show;
Off to Bellagio to meet Onofrio.

He’s the head clown and gave us our tix;
We quickly grabbed a bite, so we could be in our seats by half past six.

The show was magical, better than before;
Even though just a dress rehearsal, I didn’t leave wanting more.

The swimmer Bill May, whom I had met in the past;
Showed off double-jointed shoulders, the most flexible guy in the cast.

After it was over, we remained in our seats;
Bill and Onofrio came to get us, and to backstage we did retreat.

A brief little tour, showing costume rooms and the gyms;
Said hello to other performers. Alas, we couldn’t swim.

When make-up was off, the artists ready at last,
We piled into cars with Bill to get tapas.

A mojito and conversation mixed with sangria and laughter,
A night to remember for many, many years after.

Been too busy to write… I’ll have time tomorrow. Happiest and warmest thoughts to you and yours.

At 10:50 tonight, while watching the aforementioned Vegas friend Betsy’s episode of Knitty Gritty, me and the man felt the room shake once. We are on the 2nd floor of an entirely concrete building. I worried that a car had crashed into us as I watched the cable lights undulate, vibrating after the movement had stopped. Janie barked during it.

Just a little 3.7 holiday surprise centered 2 miles east of Berkeley.

Tomorrow, I’ll write-up my little 28 hours in the city of sin. I still have to upload the pictures (sadly, only three and two are the same, just with and without flash!) and compose my thoughts. Suffice to say, it was all I hoped for, short of swimming in the show myself.

Just got home after a 6am flight. Need to shove a bowl of cereal in my mouth, shower and shave. I’d love to get to work before 10.

More later. Suffice to say, it was fabulous.

Wow. What an overwhelming display of encouragement! And, my-my, how devious some of you are.

Luckily, my work is such that I can honestly share with them what I’ll be doing. I told my new supervisor that I’m playing hooky to go see “O” and he just smiled.

I’m not going for the entire three nights, nor will I be seeing “Le Reve.” It’s going to be a quickie flight out tonight, hotel with B and C, crash at the lead clown’s place on Wednesday and catch a 6am flight home in time for work on Thursday.

What I’ll be seeing is their first dress rehearsal since they returned from vacation. B just spoke with Bill May, her childhood friend, and we’re planning on catching drinks with him afterwards.

I’m so excited, I don’t know what I’ll bring to knit! Thank you, all, for your prodding and support.

What do you do when your best friend and her fiance are asking you to play hooky to run away to Vegas for a few days? What do you do if they are offering you the chance to see Cirque du Soleil’s “O” for free and see Le Reve for half-price? What do you do if it’s going to cost under $300 for airfare and hotel for three nights? And, what if this was all instigated by the fact that they have not one, but two friends who are in the cast of “O,” one of whom is arguably one the best synchronized swimmers ever, male or female?

Now, keep in mind, you and this best friend are both synchronized swimmers and water is the medium and stage of both shows. It’s true that you’ve already had the pleasure of seeing “O,” but your friend hasn’t and you’d love to share the magic of that show with someone who devoted her childhood to the sport and now is exploring it in her art. Oh, don’t forget that you did a couple of months playing aerialist (rope) at Trapeze Arts circus school. Basically, it’s been your dream to be a performer since you were a child and, ever since you saw it, you’ve wanted to see the backstage and inner-workings of this Cirque du Soleil show.

Sadly, I think my sense of work responsibility and fiscal wisdom will win out. I hope this isn’t a once in a lifetime opportunity. If I don’t write in the next three days, you can find me in Vegas.