Since I’ve started my leave of absence, I’ve been busing filling it with lots of fiber activities and not much time to blog. But it’s been fun and satisfying.

Last weekend was AlpacaPalooza. I bought this beautiful grey alpaca fleece that received 2nd place in the fleece show. It lost by 1 point and it was docked for low annual fleece production by the animal (La Jolla from Alapacas from Mars). I can live with that. I gave the locks a test spin with my drop spindle and came up with a beautiful dark grey yarn at 32 wpi. It is soooo soft and light that it’s like a cloud — the typical stormy Seattle sky. I’m thinking a shawl.

Martin also “talked” me into buying a grey woven alpaca shawl (he had to push really hard, ha!). It is 40″x82″. Can you see a recurring theme here? I love greys.

Tuesday was a grueling full day of interviews for a different position within my current company. Strangely enough, I want that position now more after the interviews than before. Now I’m scared. It’s a new team that has full executive level support, that’s both the good and the bad news. A lot of exposure here. Everyone will be watching, including The Street.

I had another phone interview with another large internet company down in California. It’s for the same position that I just left. But it’s a brand new team that I would have the say in building and hiring — AND, get this, it has full management support and budget to go with. What a difference. I think a trip to California is in the stars for the next week or two for another set of grueling interviews.

Now, I have to jump in the shower and head off to Shepherd’s Extravaganza for the Judith MacKenzie’s Dyeing for Color workshop. I’ve signed up for 2 other workshops during the show and the Norman Kennedy Natural Dye workshop later this month. I can’t wait.

I wish I can do this all the time — but if I don’t work, how will I pay for all these workshops, fibers and tools? Can’t something be worked out?