Hangin' With The Cool Kids.

Way, way back in The Way Back, there was a little Sheepie with but one goal in life. A mission that would forever ensure her a social position of good standing. She pursued this goal with single-minded doggedness.

I was somewhere between fourth and sixth grade at this point. I don't recall exactly which year because I am old and old people don't remember things so good. We have vast amounts of life experience upon which to draw and access to only about 10% of it. It is a conundrum...

Where was I?

Oh, yeah: my goal. I wanted more than anything on this planet to be able to stay up late enough to watch The Donny And Marie Show. All the cool kids got to do it. They would come in to school the next day full to the brim with critiques of the outfits, the dreaminess level of one Donny Osmond, and whether it would be better to be "a little bit country" or " a little bit rock 'n roll." I, however, was a little lambie who was in need of lots and lots of sleep. Mommy Sheep forbade viewing the show due to the lateness of it's airing. This was going to take some doing...

After what seemed like months of good behavior, promises of future good deeds and displays of well-restedness, the goal was reached. I was able to stay up and watch the show. I, your humble Sheep, was able to stride into school the next day with my head held high and a valid opinion on the subject of purple socks.

Some things never change.

Up until a few days ago, I had never, ever watched a single episode of Knitty Gritty. Not a one. Sure, I could fake it. I could go to the website and read up on the production. I could nod my head sagely and pretend to know what everyone was talking about should the subject present itself. But, it was really just elementary school all over again with me so very out of the loop and hoping against hope that the in-crowd wouldn't catch wind of my lack of exposure to that which is cutting edge.

It wasn't my fault. My cable company didn't carry it. There was nothing I could do except try to find some meaning in my life as it stood. Not cool...not cool at all.

So you can only imagine my delight this past Friday as I was killing time before heading out to my various appointments to see a certain special something gracing my television screen at 11:00. There it was. The show that could propel me into the twenty first century of knitting, take me from being a mere fringe-dweller to the inner circle and solidify my standing with the cool kids was right there on my very own television. There was great rejoicing in The Sheep household that day.

It didn't matter that I couldn't watch it all the way through or that it is on during the week and that I will rarely see it. It was now a possibility in my life and that was good enough.

There will be a discernible swagger in my gait for the foreseeable future. This is to be expected as I am now one of the cool kids and all.

Of course this has done little to affect the actual production of knitted goods in my life, merely my ability to reference cool things about knitting. The scarf is progressing and should be finished by midweek, barring further screaming for attention by the sock. It is continuing to try and lure me back to the dark side of selfish knitting and I am resisting with all my might. Mr. Needy-Sock will remain safely ensconced in his sock bag for the time being. I hope. I've also managed to almost finish a second felted ornament and a third has been started in the event that I decide to follow through with the whole finishing of things habit.

You will note that there has been no mention of the handwarmers promised to The World's Greatest Stylist. We will not speak of this. To do so would put a serious harsh on my mellow, dudes.

That's how the cool kids talk...

SA