Do I want this?

So, I've been thinking about asking for a Kindle for my Christmas/birthday present (they're pretty close together, so when I want something pricey, I often ask for a combo gift). I had a chance to see one in action the other day on the train, and I gotta tell you, it looked pretty sweet. The big pros are the size (compared to most hardcovers and trade paperbacks), and the ease with which I could read and knit if I had one. See, I can totally read and knit at the same time -- the problem is holding the book open, especially if it's a paperback. So that would be pretty cool. And a very quick scan shows me a lot of books/authors that I like and would definitely enjoy having available at my fingertips.

But...do I really want to pay an extra 10 bucks for a book that I'm likely to buy a hard copy of? Kit and I share a lot of books, and having them on this one device (that I would likely be using every day for my commute, or lots of days, when I'm not watching something on my PSP, anyway) would make that more difficult. Plus, I really like books. Like, an abnormal amount. Like when Kit uses them as coasters it just sets my teeth on edge. Even when it's a book I don't like. It's weird, I know.

And the other big drawback, and this is really the killer for me, is that I'm a re-reader. A lot of the books I would like to have on the Kindle, I already own a hard copy of. I would be willing to pay a dollar or two to have the electronic copy, but to essentially buy the book again? I don't think so. I understand that it would be nigh impossible to prove ownership of books that I've bought at brick and mortars, but I feel like if I have proof of ownership (like, say, an electronic receipt, particularly an electronic receipt from Amazon), I should be offered the option of adding the Kindle version for a couple bucks. Ditto if I purchase a newly published book. So I'm still on the fence here. Having the PSP to watch movies/TV shows on during the commute is swaying me against it, since the commute is really where I'd use it most, but the knitting-while-reading thing is a pretty strong pull for it. Good thing it's awhile 'til Christmas.

And in other news...

I fixed both sides of the wrap sweater to have the correct amount of ribbing, and it looks like it's going to work. Of course, I forgot the instructions/charts, so made mo progress today, but still...I think it's all going to be fine. I was so upset the other night that I immediately cast on the bulky sweater that I was saving as a treat for myself for after I finished it (the Evergreen Sleeve Tunic from this book). I'm about 3 inches short of the split for the sleeves, and would be much further had I not spent yesterday altrenating between sleeping, throwing up, and trying not to throw up during the car ride home from the shore (I'm fine now -- seems to be a short-lived bug that Kit brought home to me. Thanks, hon.). It's actually nice -- very mindless knitting that I can totally do on the couch while watching teebee with the husband. Of course, I already screwed up...er, modified the pattern by leaving out the eyelet row just above the ribs, but I decided that in the fluffy black yarn I'm using, nobody's going to notice anyhow. (I didn't notice the detail in any of the pics -- just happened to be looking at the instructions to see how long the body should be before the underarm split. Oops.)

My employee Frank (aka Erica's boyfriend -- go nepotism!) is back from the icy wastes of both Ice- and Greenland, and he brunged me wools!



It's pencil roving, so thin he thought it was actually yarn, and it spins up beautifully. I've only done a bit on the drop spindle -- not my instrument of choice -- and it's really lovely. It's unlabled so I'm not 100% sure of fiber content or what kind of sheep it's from or any of that, but it's very soft, and the colors are gorgeous. I can't wait to have time to sit down and spin it all up.

Speaking of...I'm going to take a spinning class at Rhinebeck on the Thursday of NYSW (does anyone know if vendors are there for people taking classes?). I can spin my own yarn, but I just sit down and go. I have no idea how to spin worsted or control thickness or any of that -- thus far I've just been letting the fiber kind of spin itself. Not that there's anything wrong with that, and I've spun some lovely yarns, but I feel like it might be time for more. Also, I have some overtwisting issues. So that should be fun.

Oh, and I have a stitch-n-bitch I'm going to this Wednesday, and Stitch-n-Pitch next Thursday, and then I signed up for the Hemlock Ring class at The Point that's a couple of Fridays in November/December...I have a very fiber-full few months coming up!

Now if I can just keep my darling family from bringing home more bugs-that-make-mommy-violently-ill, that would be great.

posted by Laura Y. @ 4:17 PM