Musical Nuts and More

No Chickenheads group this week as most of them opted to go on a field trip to see the stage production of "Rent," which just came to town. Being the group grump, I opted out as I've seen it twice already and, frankly, have no desire to see it again. It's just feels a bit dated to me.

But for Miss Sunshine, Bubbles and Big Sis, there is no such thing as getting sick of a Broadway musical. You know how young girls shriek and get all breathless over Justin Timberlake or the Jonas brothers? That's how these grown women - ranging in age from 25 to 50 - get when they talk about "Raoul" or "Anthony" or whatever Broadway star they are obsessed with and know on a first name basis.

In a way, I envy their passion for something they so clearly love. But at the same time, I want to put earplugs in when they get on their conversation kicks about how great this song was, or when so-and-so did that number and they cried. It can go on for hours. But I usually put a stop to it after about 20 minutes with a cynical, "How much longer are you going to talk about this?" comment.

I think it's less the subject matter that bothers me (I like musical theater a lot actually) but more the high pitch squeals it seems to inspire in them. Ear piercing sometimes. I guess they get more like Baby Chicks than Chickenheads at that point.

So off they all went to "Rent" while Rugby and I opted out to do our own thing on a Tuesday night. I used the time to have dinner with my ex-fiance. Yeah, I know. Knitting probably would have been better for me. But still, he bought me sushi (as always) and he is kind of like family so it's good to catch up.

Next week is my last Chickenhead group for awhile, sadly. I am having some pretty major orthopedic surgery on March 23 and will be VERY out of commission for a few weeks/months. I feel blessed because the Chickenheads insist that they will come to me for our Tuesday night sessions until I'm back on my feet. I look forward to it already - even with the squealing.

In the meantime, I am stocking up on knitting projects to keep me busy during recovery. The biggest one is a beautiful blanket I am making just for myself. It will be one of those keep-for-a-lifetime blankets. It's actually from a shawl pattern that I saw knitted up at a yarn shop months ago and, after some poking around, found out that it is an older Vogue Knitting pattern.

I already ordered the pattern, which for some lame reason can only come by mail. Last weekend I went to my favorite yarn store in San Diego and found the perfect taupe-colored kid mohair, which is now on order and is going to cost me a pretty penny. Good thing I have $150 in gift certificates saved up for this very project. If ever there was a time to splurge on myself, the next three months is it.

Bock, bock.