This week, I received some excellent swap packages!  Talk about making me feel guilty... yours are coming soon!!

First, this came from Kelly!

There's a hint in this picture about something else that's been going on around here lately. 
Yarn!  So that I can make those legwarmers I've been wanting from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts.  Woohoo!  NUTTER BUTTERS!?!  Delicious, and they make a great breakfast.  Dark chocolate m&ms!  It's kind of ironic that the headline on the magazine is "Healthy eating made easy."  Maybe stopping people from sending me tons of unhealthy American snacks?

I also got a swap pack from Hilary that was unpacked and scattered around my apartment before I could even find the camera.  In an effort not to put off blog content "just until tomorrow" for the next few weeks, I'll show you what I've got now. 

Look at this great wristlet she made me!  I am totally enamored with zippered wristlets these days.  It's so cute, thank you!  I also got some Lamb's Pride for felting, the summer IK and some Skippy snack bars in there.  Thank you, Hilary! 

Lesson learned?  If you live abroad and mope even just a little bit about missing peanut butter-flavored foods (or whatever it is that you can't live without) there are bloggers out there who will [over]indulge you!  Then you can get up one Saturday morning, and have nothing but peanut butter-flavored foods (dark chocolate peanut m&ms included) until after lunchtime!  Dangerous.  Very dangerous.

THE REVEAL

I've been meaning to do this for a while (something I have to say WAY too often in day-to-day life) and I really can't let it go any longer.  It's time to reveal my wonderful secret pal!  Remember?   Weeks ago?  When I got wonderful surprises?  Marie was the MOST GRACIOUS pal ever, and I really enjoyed finally getting to read her blog.  In case you missed the fact that I spoiled the surprise, I was "secret" pal to Cecile. 

It was great to have two francophone pals!  I have a confession to make.  I read a LOT of francophone knit blogs, and I almost never comment.  I understand French, I speak French (or at least I used to) and I can easily write in French, but I just can't always work up the nerve to comment.  Am I worried that they are going to go to French-speaking SnB and talk about that girl Molly who confused the gender of a word in a comment last week?  AS IF!  Knitbloggers are the nicest, so from now, I am going to make it a point to get out there and brush up on my French. 

Actually, I've been in a bit of a commenting slump lately.  I'm still here!  Usually I read knit blogs either 1) when I wake up and am already running late for work but just have to see what's new, or 2) when I'm at work, and don't want to actually open knitting links that will be forever saved on the common computer at work.  If you're super high-energy and happen to update late at night or ridiculously early in the morning (east coast time), or during my afternoons here, you might get a comment or two.  I'm going to work on improving that.

PHEW!  Now that I got all that off my chest, I can go back to neglecting housework and work on my Lucky Clover.  One more public service announcement in case any of you knitters are coming to Japan.

Be careful not to impale anyone with your current WIP!

My granny bike is my main mode of transportation so sometimes I forget that the trains and train stations are packed around 6 on a Friday.  Whoops!  Whatever you do, make sure you bring a bag big enough for your knitting needles!