It’s that time of the year…
November 8th, 2007
I don’t know what things are like where you are, but here they started pushing Christmas down our throats about three weeks ago–with screaming skeletons fighting angelic choirs for shelf space in the Seasonal sections of the stores. I CAN’T STAND IT. Even this, the second week of November, is too early for me to be shoved into a face-to-face confrontation with Holiday Cheer. Couldn’t it have waited till the weekend at least?
The good news is that I have actually started my Christmas shopping. I know Asif’s niece Raevv’n doesn’t read this blog, so I feel safe in telling you that I’ve gotten her three operas on DVD as she is a budding diva in every sense of the word. She’s getting the Baz Luhrmann version of La Boheme, which Asif and I saw in New York a few years back; the highly filmic version of Madame Butterfly which came out a little over ten years ago; and the Marthe Keller-directed production of Poulenc’s Dialogues of the Carmelites, which is probably my favourite opera.
The bad news is that the blog posts are going to get shorter and farther apart as the number of little knits for festive occasions begins to increase. Already I have two different charity occasions that I’m supposed to make small items for. I expect I’ll be adding some stocking stuffers to that, and then one or two knitted presents if I can squeeze them in. This plus the knitting I want to do for myself (like the ongoing f ‘n’ f lapghan) and various UFOs and I can pretty much guarantee no sleep till mid-January.
Also (I don’t know if I already mentioned this), Asif and I are going to Beijing somewhere around the 18th of November and coming back eight days later. So here we go, another country whose flying-with-knitting-needles regulations I have to divine before we start packing. There is no way I’m spending 15 hours in the air each way — the month before Christmas — and leaving my knitting at home, especially on a flight where we’re likely to be eating with chopsticks. It’s just not going to happen.
You can see I’m already in the holiday spirit!
16 Comments Add your own
1. angie | November 8th, 2007 at 11:05 pm
I know what you mean about Christmas. Can we please at least celebrate Thanksgiving before putting out all the decorations?! Your trip sounds exciting, have fun!!
2. Kristina | November 9th, 2007 at 10:04 am
In Michigan, halloween decor went half off on the 15th of October so they could put up the Christmas trees. We have a raido station that plays “ALL CHRISTMAS, ALL THE TIME” from November 1st until the 1st of January (I’m screaming inside).
3. Nichole D. | November 9th, 2007 at 10:22 am
I totally agree with you on the Christmas crap being out so early. I hate it, too. The earliest I even start thinking about Christmas decor is the beginning of December.
Have a great vacation!
4. Andres P. Nevarez | November 9th, 2007 at 11:21 am
I enjoy the Christmas Themes, but I think of CHristmas as after Thanksgiving. I can’t really see all this Christmas stuff before Thanksgiving. DOn’t let that ruin your Holiday, just ignore it lol!
5. Sue | November 9th, 2007 at 1:29 pm
It’s the same here in the UK. Shops start gearing up for Xmas in October. It’s just one huge spendfest and I hate it I - bah humbug!
6. Sarah | November 9th, 2007 at 6:58 pm
You could, of course, knit with chopsticks….just sayin’.
7. david_demchuk | November 10th, 2007 at 12:49 am
Oh, I’ve considered it–believe me!
8. Leo | November 10th, 2007 at 8:03 am
Hi…just curious, how do you manage to get the knitting needles on the plane??…Just came back from Egypt and everthing was confiscated .
9. Jane | November 10th, 2007 at 8:57 am
I hear you! HO HO HO #*@* is much more fun once December rolls around. I feel stressed in October/November when the decorated trees appear.Makes me feel that I’m behind the rest of the world in preparations (could be true). Your trip sounds great! Enjoy!
10. david_demchuk | November 10th, 2007 at 9:32 am
Hi Leo!
It very much depends on the country you’re departing from, and also on the airline you’re flying out on. Different countries have their own way of dealing with the “knitting needle controversy” and the only way to find out what may happen is to research in advance by reading airline websites, the departure country’s flight baggage regulations and so on.
Most of us are familiar with North American and British regulations by now, but European, Middle Eastern and Asian regulations are less discussed. I’m sorry to hear your knitting got confiscated in Egypt.
11. Susan | November 11th, 2007 at 1:13 pm
I agree - they seem to be putting out Christmas stuff earlier and earlier. However, from a crafting standpoint, I do like to see things in the craft store in plenty of time to be able to get things made. Other than that, yeah, it’s WAY too early to be thinking about Christmas! It comes fast enough!
Have a great trip!
12. marjorie | November 11th, 2007 at 7:11 pm
I’ve listened to the Dialogues of the Carmelites opera on the CBC. Very moving, especially the beheading part.
Enjoy your trip to Beijing. I hope you can knit. Hey, the chopsticks idea could really work, if they confiscate your knitting needles. I’m guessing an average chopstick might be about the equivalent of a 6mm knitting needle. Perhaps the ends might need a little more pointiness. A pencil sharpener could help with that. Have a great trip!
13. Paige | November 12th, 2007 at 6:11 pm
Have fun in Beijing! I lived in Korea for a while this summer and took lace to knit on the plane…seriously…16 hours each way, nothing to knit but lace….a good way to get it done and over with. So as soon as I whipped out my knitting, they turned the lights off and LEFT THEM OFF for the duration of the trip. So, my advice? Light-up needles.
Have fun and post some pics of your trip please!
14. indigirl | November 12th, 2007 at 7:19 pm
I flew to, from, and within China on Air Canada and United and had not a problem toting my entire addi turbo collection on board. Good luck! (And, enjoy Beijing… I loved it there!)
15. Gabrielle Adams | November 22nd, 2007 at 6:15 am
Merry Thanksgivoween!!
16. KrisSuthe | December 5th, 2007 at 10:23 pm
Hey, it’s been awhile since I’ve read, and even though you’ve posted since this one, I thought I’d say great pic, and I know how you feel.
I hate Christmas music. I hate dealing with people. I don’t mind buying gifts for loved ones… just not around two hundred people I don’t know, who might include people I don’t want to see.
And shopping makes me tired.
So yay for not being the only non-Christmas people!
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