More Secret Pal stuff, swaps, getting out

I'm sure all this "swap" talk is super exciting to those of you who don't knit (I know, I don't really have any readers, but it's fun to pretend), but it's a bright spot in my life right now that I desperately need.

So, y'all know I'm a joiner. I have joined Secret Pal 11 (see the 2 related entries below). The deal with this is that something like 600 knitbloggers sign up for this thing, a few people generously donate their time to match people up, and everyone sends and receives gifts. I have two pals - an "upstream" pal, who is secretive and sends me presents based on my blog, and the questionnaires I've filled out, and whatever questions they feel like asking me anonymously. I have already heard from my upstream pal a couple times and provided as much info on myself as I thought of at the time. I'm a tad wordy. My other pal is my "downstream" pal. I know her name, address, and blog address, and I need to investigate what she's interested in and send her presents. I am totally stalking her and already have some present ideas for her. The Secret Pal swap lasts 3 months, so that's a lot of little packages, postcards, etc. and I'm excited.

I have also joined a Ravelry-based-group swap. The group is the caffeinated knitters, and it's a coffee/tea/mug/yarn/etc. swap with upstream and downstream pals, but it's just 1 month (most folks seem to be sending a single package). Well, I did my coffee shopping for my downstream caffeine pal today, and I am so proud of what I got for her! 1 lb. of El Salvadoran coffee beans, medium-dark roast, direct trade (paid 25% more than fair trade, straight to the farmer rather than a co-op), shade grown, etc.; 4 oz. of lovely green tea; "make your own" teabags (they're empty and you put your own tea in them and steep as usual), lots of different tiny chocolate bars, and a great Intelligentsia Coffee Co. mug with the Municipal Flag of Chicago on the reverse:



Now I just need to stalk what kind of knitting she does and find some nice yarn to go along with it. I may also sew a needle case for her, and I am definitely including one of my self-storing tote bags.

I am also GETTING MY SORRY ASS OUT OF THE HOUSE TONIGHT. I found out yesterday about a Stitch 'n' Bitch group that meets at Black Rock, a mere 1/4 mile from my house, each first and third Tuesday of the month. What awesome timing, since I need to STOP FEELING SORRY FOR MYSELF AND SITTING AROUND IN MY EMPTY APARTMENT. I'm going to re-start the Cabled Newsboy Cap, this time with less shiny yarn. Wish me luck in making some new (i.e. "local") friends!