Is that the new thing? or I drove all night to get to you

There were three giddy girls. There was a train. There was a lot of yarn. There was a lot of giggling. There was a lot of chocolate. There was even a mascot. There wasn't much sleep. There isn't much cash leftover. There weren't many vegetables.

As you know, I finally left on the heralded Stitches 2006 Yarn and Yawn Tour. I'll get to the yarn later, but for now let's focus on what's making me yawn away my Monday morning.

I hit the road Friday morning, mixed CDs within reach. Along the way, I stopped to pick up my new best friend, Polly. Polly Pockets, that is. We met up at a McDonalds somewhere between here and there. She was sporting her very own knitted halter and had surprisingly little baggage, so she was welcomed on the trip with wide open arms.

We reached our next destination where Needlefingers tossed her travel bags in the trunk and we took another short trek to meet up with Jenny from the Blog. Jenny hopped a ride and the four of us headed for the train station, another hour or so away.

And the festivities began. I hadn't ever ridden a train, so I was all aghast at the prospect and giddy with anticipation. We sprung for business class, but unfortunately we didn't get to sit together, instead finding ourselves one behind another in the single seats along the right side. I pouted, but all-in-all it was a quick and peaceful trip filled with memorable fellow travelers including a young blonde child that had that "Children-of-the-Corn" gaze, note passing, boozing grannies and a cranky Aunt Rita.

We pulled safely into the station and hailed a cab and got tucked away into the hotel, complete with a complimentary cookie and the knowledge that the roll-away bed we'd been promised was not to be.

Chitting and chatting and chitting and chatting continued until bedtime. We awoke Saturday morning complete with cash and tickets in hand, ready to do our damage at the market. Traversing habitrail-type walk-ways we soon entered the Land of Knitting, where all of the inhabitants clicked away with needles, talked of silky yarns and consulted over Intarsia techniques.

We set about on what we thought was a methodical plan to see each and every single hank of yarn and knitting notion there. Soon, however, overwhelmed with the knitting happiness, we found ourselves wandering aimlessly. So aimlessly in fact that my first purchase was a potholder loom.

Soon enough, we came back to reality and our original plan thanks to the nourishment of pizza and fountain cokes. Refreshed and organized, we hit the market again and I soon found myself lugging quite a yarn haul including my very own ball winder. In the midst of the purchasing fury, we met up with Sherry, a fellow knitter and blogger.

Sherry was attending an entire bank of classes, but broke for a bit to shop along with and eventually joined us for some knitting back in the room, where we admired our stash and did a ritualistic dance to celebrate our bounty. Sherry had snagged a beautiful hank of sock yarn that I coveted so much that we scooted back to the market with minutes to spare before closing so I could own yardage of my very own.

I cracked open the new fancy ball winder and wound myself two skeins of sock yarn so that I could begin working with it immediately.

A Chicago-based friend soon joined us and we bored her to tears with knitting speak and tales of the perfect yarn. Scribe M and I eventually headed out the door in search of a celebratory dinner . She began a new job this week and we needed to mark the occasion. And that we did. Dining at Morton's on an incredible meal, we gabbed and visited and caught up with each other. We all met back up at the room and wasted away the late hours tellling stories, some of which are to be tucked away in the vault.

Sunday promised much of the same. As we entered the doors of the market, we were originally working under the notion that our shopping was done, we were just "browsing" (which apparently means purchasing). Our plan was foiled whenever we once again spied the Brooks Farm booth where I found the perfect yarn for a Clapotis. Surrounded by all of the beautiful yarns and textures, I couldn't resist and I joined our pack of knitters in purchasing a hank of my very own.

Eventually it was time to trek home. We headed back to Union Station where we devised a plan of attack for melding into the boarding line and landing seats together. (The plan even involved code phrases, but I think those areonly effective if you let everyone involved in on the code.) No sleeping on the way home because the a/c in our car was broken and at some point I think I could see my breath and feared if I fell asleep I'd suffer from frostbite and amnesia. We found ourselves back where we started. After stopping for probably the only real meal for the day, one that didn't involve chocolate or cheese crackers, we began our original journey in reverse.

Realizing that I missed my dear Cynical and wanted to head home, I decided to make the drive south Sunday evening. More tired than I realized, I had to sing my way back home in order to stay awake. I got home, dropped my luggage and yarn at the door, slipped off my shoes and went to bed. Cynical was sleeping soundly and only said upon my tugging of the covers, "Are you home?"

Luckily I took Monday off from work, as today I have attempted to sleep, but to no avail. I have yawned away my day photographing my finds, eating tomatoes and channel surfing.

In the event that you love yarn and associated items as much as I do, I have saved the best for last. My haul: (sans a pattern, set of needles and a little bag I just couldn't get a good photo of. Apparently I will only be knitting socks for the rest of my life. . . oh and a beautiful Clapotis scarf/wrap with my incredible Brooks Farm yarn.)

Fly Super Sport 3-ply Hand-dyed Merino Wool (Ruby Redmond, which I renamed Chocolate Covered Cherries)

Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Superwash Merino Fingering Weight Wool (I am calling this Baby Greens)

Opal Sock Yarn (Lady Bug)

Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock Superwshed Merino Wood Medium Weight (Rock My World)

Notable Yarns by Brooks Farms Harmony Mohair/Wool/Silk Blend

Trekking XXL 75% Wool/25% Nylon Sock Yarn

Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock Superwash Merino Lightweight (Spring Fling)

Chunky Misti Alpaca (The caked yarn came in a scarf kit; the cream will be used for a Christmas gift.)

My very own metal potholder loom. I couldn't resist. I even created one while gabbing in our hotel room Saturday night.

And gotta love the new ball winder.