2nd Monday Knitsters go to Panera

Please forgive the shameless advertising for one of my favorite places to eat...though now that I know how many points the salad dressing makes the Bistro Steak Salad I am less enthused.

Tonight we went to meet at the Borders so we could look at knitting books at the same time as sip coffee and knit and chat. Well, that Borders Cafe was CRAZY BUSY! So, Sarah and Sara and Mandy and I decided we'd go sit down outside at...Panera. It was lovely.

But, let me back up. There were a few incidents worth noting.

1. I rode my bike there. Why? Because a small container of half and half spoiled -- no, spoiled and then exploded -- in the trunk of my car and the stench is enough to make a person retch. Even now thinking about it I can hallucinate the sensory experience. Gross. I don't want to talk about it. We had to rip out the carpet in the trunk of the car (thank the Goddess that this didn't happen in the back seat). Eeech!!! It was 3.12 miles, each way. Go me.

2. I got there at 7:05 pm, but it took me 10 minutes to lock up my bike. I got a new lock and the bike rack was occupied by multiple other bikes and it was confusing and challenging to lock the darn thing up. I must have looked absolutely looney with my helmet on my head and first putting the front wheel in then the back wheel then the front wheel. I kept hoping that Mandy would come out of the the store and help me. Her calm and giving energy somehow helped me make it happen.

3. I found Sara in the store. She was looking at books, including the Yarn Harlot's At Knit's End...which I think I might have to re-purchase because I think my mom read it and gave it away (which is actually kind of a cool way of sharing literature and fun reads -- except when your daughter really wants to read the book despite the fact that at the time of the purchase knitting wasn't my biggest interest).

4. The Sarah was a little later than the rest of us. Mandy and Sara were the lookouts (not to be confused with young gang recruits, not that you did that anyway), and then when the sighting occurred...Many moved so fast that the chair next to her didn't have a chance to get out of the way.

5. Once we were all sitting down, knitting (and me eating my turkey sandwich and fruit cup), somehow we got into a knitters chat that seemed a little like group therapy. But there were three therapists and one non-therapist. I won't tell you who was who.

We are turning into a real group. I am really happy about this. These women mean so much to me and I look forward to when our two (so far) men can join us.

We decided that this is a more central location for everyone so, I'm excited. I will get my exercise and my knitting and chatting! Hooray.