No Male Cheerleaders Sighted
But I had a terrific time (or maybe that's part of why I had a terrific time?)
I arrived at Saybrook College, part of Yale, mid-afternoon and that gave me enough time to go to my room, rest a bit, brush my teeth and comb my hair and just enjoy the feeling that I was a Yalie (albeit briefly) in a pretty darned nice room 
with a neato bathroom (LOVE the tile floor!)
And a nice, quick lie-down before the tea.
And there was TEA! Lots of tea, lots of cookies and flour-free desserts (I can never eat much before talking to a group or teaching, so I didn't sample most of the stuff, but the tea was excellent!)
The talk went very nicely. I felt like a fraud because - with the exception of 2 knitting tips - I just talked about me. Well, if you do something well, you should do it a lot.
The room was nicely filled - no one was standing, but few chairs were empty - a very decent turnout for the day before Easter and mid-Pesach.
I met many lovely knitters as well as some yarn shop owners and there were even a couple of male knitters (hey guys!) who brought a niece (?) who asked my favorite question; "What kind of needles do you like?"
Because she was 10 I couldn't give my stock answer*, but it's such a nice and smart question that I was very impressed. It gives me a chance to do a little ad for the long, straight needles which have fallen out of fashion - I'm an anomaly, I love the old needles!
I also met Lauren, who had knit one of my first sweaters to appear in Interweave Knits about 4 years ago, and I was so impressed and touched that she brought it to model for me. Isn't she lovely? Thank you, Lauren!
Maybe it was being at Yale, but I found myself comparing wool to Proust (the memory thing) A shout-out to Betty Ann, a Denison Alum like me (and, oddly, for a period of time my nickname at DU was "Annie Betty" - go figure!) I ment so many kind and wonderful knitters, I truly felt at home and loved.
Overall, though, I felt a bit self conscious.
I'm feeling too concious of myself these days - not as much as when I was 15 (is that possible?) - but just a little hyper aware of myself, how I may be coming across to folks, what folks might think of me - and it's not helpful.
(I need to work on regaining my devil-may-care critics-be-damned attitude if I'm going to keep my sanity. A little self awareness = good; too much = paralyzing.)
Yale itself was magnificent - I so enjoyed being there, and spending time with my wonderful hostess Mary Miller, the Master (Mistress?) of Saybrook College. Yale University is made up of many colleges, each with a Master and a dining hall. It's far different from my own college experience (which I loved).
Sunday I slept in a bit, then met a good friend at Cracker Barrel for breakfast (oatmeal AND biscuits - can life be better?) then back home for some yard work, hiding easter eggs and a little mini-hunt for the kids.
It's odd how Hannah clings to the concept of an Easter Bunny but Max is pretty much over the mystery of it - he just wants the chocolate.
*I like my needles like I like my men
I arrived at Saybrook College, part of Yale, mid-afternoon and that gave me enough time to go to my room, rest a bit, brush my teeth and comb my hair and just enjoy the feeling that I was a Yalie (albeit briefly) in a pretty darned nice room 
with a neato bathroom (LOVE the tile floor!)
And a nice, quick lie-down before the tea.And there was TEA! Lots of tea, lots of cookies and flour-free desserts (I can never eat much before talking to a group or teaching, so I didn't sample most of the stuff, but the tea was excellent!)
The talk went very nicely. I felt like a fraud because - with the exception of 2 knitting tips - I just talked about me. Well, if you do something well, you should do it a lot.
The room was nicely filled - no one was standing, but few chairs were empty - a very decent turnout for the day before Easter and mid-Pesach.
I met many lovely knitters as well as some yarn shop owners and there were even a couple of male knitters (hey guys!) who brought a niece (?) who asked my favorite question; "What kind of needles do you like?"
Because she was 10 I couldn't give my stock answer*, but it's such a nice and smart question that I was very impressed. It gives me a chance to do a little ad for the long, straight needles which have fallen out of fashion - I'm an anomaly, I love the old needles!
I also met Lauren, who had knit one of my first sweaters to appear in Interweave Knits about 4 years ago, and I was so impressed and touched that she brought it to model for me. Isn't she lovely? Thank you, Lauren!Maybe it was being at Yale, but I found myself comparing wool to Proust (the memory thing) A shout-out to Betty Ann, a Denison Alum like me (and, oddly, for a period of time my nickname at DU was "Annie Betty" - go figure!) I ment so many kind and wonderful knitters, I truly felt at home and loved.
Overall, though, I felt a bit self conscious.
I'm feeling too concious of myself these days - not as much as when I was 15 (is that possible?) - but just a little hyper aware of myself, how I may be coming across to folks, what folks might think of me - and it's not helpful.
(I need to work on regaining my devil-may-care critics-be-damned attitude if I'm going to keep my sanity. A little self awareness = good; too much = paralyzing.)
Yale itself was magnificent - I so enjoyed being there, and spending time with my wonderful hostess Mary Miller, the Master (Mistress?) of Saybrook College. Yale University is made up of many colleges, each with a Master and a dining hall. It's far different from my own college experience (which I loved).
Sunday I slept in a bit, then met a good friend at Cracker Barrel for breakfast (oatmeal AND biscuits - can life be better?) then back home for some yard work, hiding easter eggs and a little mini-hunt for the kids.
It's odd how Hannah clings to the concept of an Easter Bunny but Max is pretty much over the mystery of it - he just wants the chocolate.
*I like my needles like I like my men
posted by Annie at
Sunday, April 16, 2006
9 Comments:
So the Proust reference was a first?! It was so perfect. The female Masters are always called Masters, don't know why. Everyone at Master's teas talks about themselves. I went to one with Dominic Chianese (from The Sopranos) where he certainly didn't give out any tips, knitting or otherwise. You were fantastic! I hope it helps bring back the devil-may-care attitude.
Just saw the sneak peek over at IK and saw your lovely corset. Can't wait to add that one to my ever growing to-do list especially since I loved making the original corset :) Take care.
Tanya
So cool--I read Lauren's blog as well so its fun to see both sides of the talk. The room looks LOVELY.
I cannot wait until your next appearance on Knitty Gritty....will they EVER get to the next season????
I wonder if the hyper-aware feeling has anything to do with that (^%^%$!) shop owner experience where the customers got all mature and criticized your clothes? I hate the hyper-aware feeling. Good for you for not letting it dictate your behavoir-- I have a really hard time with that personally.
(And you can keep this comment to yourself, if you like. I would hate for any of her customers to read it and think they'd won or something. losers! lol)
loved the comment about your needles & your men (i knew you were slightly evil, lol). sounds like you had a good time, as well as a good talk.
ROTFL...I *love* that answer to the needle question.
Annie, the sweater is fabu, and the model is tres jolie! Hi. I'm Jaimie, one of the students from the color class at Loop in Philadelphia. I've been catching up on reading your blog, and I must say that given the events of the last few months that you've shared with us (i.e. cancelled check and YKW) it is very easy to see how one could become hyper-self-conscious. I truely hope you overcome this soon. You're a rockstar knitter and I L. O. V. E. your work! Thanks for teaching me so much in one itty-bitty little class. I hope you come back soon because I'd really like to learn how to do your corset. I'm a bit scared to attempt it without guidance. Please tell me again where I can purchase the pattern for your beautiful bathing suit. I'm thinking it would make a great first just-for-me project. Wishing you good travels and good health :-)
these pics remind me of Vassar - where i was visiting faculty in chemistry for 3 lovely yrs. the campus was beyond gorgeous and we had a nice knitting group too. big memory is helping a head librarian turn her first heel!
:L
Hey, Annie, I was at the Yale talk and you have nothing to feel uncomfortable about, you were just wonderful! As lovely as the setting is, its kinda intimidating in its formality, maybe that was it . Much easier to be in a native habitat, surrounded by piles and baskets and shelves of yarn, right?
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home