July 22, 2006Maternity socks?
So, there I am. I have a nice exchange with the waiter, who brings me "the usual," get out my knitting, and start to relax. Out of the blue, a guy sitting at a nearby table starts talking to me. Him: "Are you pregnant?"
Later, however, I did find myself puzzling over it. Did this man think that the hormones women produced when pregnant caused them to compulsively pick up the needles and obsessively make things? If so, did he believe that once the hormones had flushed from my system I would miraculously stop? (Moxie often prays for this.) It was confounding, and I wished that instead of politely moving on I had questioned him about it. It made me feel as if I were a zebra that he had seen on Nova, and he had asked me why I wasn't being chased by lions. ('Cause, you know, that's what zebras do on TV.) I suspected that he had never married. If I had been making booties or a little gansey set (both of which I did work on in that very cafe) it might have made sense. But I was knitting a sock. And it wasn't at the teeny, tiny stage where its acceptable to ask what the heck it is. I was practically ready to kitchener the toe.
I finished the socks last night and blocked them, and was planning to take FO photos of them in an attempt to distract you from the fact that I still haven't done an FO photoshoot for the River Stole. Townes had other plans, however. As soon as he spied them he hopped up on the bed and claimed them for his own. He has been lying on them all day. Sometimes grooming himself, occasionally stretching, and often just sacking out in a contented heap of cat and koigu. He cracks me up. Oh, yeah - and he's not pregnant, either. Posted by Julia at July 22, 2006 03:14 PMIn just plain silly | kitties | main | mata hari socks
Comments
I think, because knitting (sorry guys) seems to be, traditionally, such a feminine, nurturing activity that the guy just spoke before he thought. I don't think he meant to be obtuse or to insult you, I think perhaps he was just struck by your femininity and by you doing such a feminine thing and spoke before his mind engaged. It's not as if our culture actually embraces women doing traditionally female things, and as odd as it sounds, I have run into guys who are dumbfounded by women who act feminine and yet they are fascinated, even nostalgic. Or, I could just be full of $%*& . . . Posted by: Cynthia at July 28, 2006 07:57 PMP.S. You're blog looks ROCKIN. Posted by: jenny at July 27, 2006 11:31 PMTownes is SO cute in those pictures! I love kitties. Especially when something so simple makes them so happy... I can't handle that are you pregnant guy. What a doof. Posted by: jenny at July 27, 2006 11:30 PMLOL. I have to send it to my SIL. She's an EXCELLENT knitter too...but unfortunetly she can't have any children. Posted by: Orli at July 27, 2006 01:27 AMI'm actually pregnant but was a knitter years before I was an expectant mother. Interestingly, I've noticed that I've been self conscious about knitting in public (especially on something for myself and not the baby- gasp!) that I've actually been more reluctant to do so than before I got pregnant! Talk about tactless! I love how you responded. You cleverly put him in place in the most polite way possible. Maybe we should wear t-shirts that read: "Yes, I am knitting. And no, I am not pregnant."" Posted by: Becky at July 25, 2006 12:16 AMThat's SUCH a bad assumption/opening line that it would probably make me laugh out loud. I think Townes is so cute he deserves to own those socks. At least he appreciates your knitting!! Posted by: Valerie in San Diego at July 24, 2006 12:19 PMThat's just plain hilarious. I've heard a lot of comments, but that has to top them all. Posted by: Cathy at July 24, 2006 12:17 PMI won't even go into how NOT pregnant you look! Oh, men! The socks are so pretty, I'm sure we'll see them all nicely photographed eventually- for now, Townes deserves the spotlight. :) Posted by: Nonnahs at July 24, 2006 12:01 PMHa, ha, strange guy! When I was pregnant with my second child for a long time I actually felt aversion towards the whole knitting thing. I couldn't even look at my knitting needles, or yarn... I who normally love knitting. But yes, I can see his point. When you aren't as mobile as you are used to then knitting can be a real salvation... Posted by: Elena at July 23, 2006 03:30 PMAt the office, I often get the Whatcha Makin question. It's always a sock. So, after I say - "A sock" again. I almost always get - "A baby sock?" To which I say - "no, for my husband" and show them a leg large enough to easily fit on a baby's head. Posted by: Disentangled at July 23, 2006 10:25 AMGeez. He if he wanted to talk to you, that's hardly the right opening line. I am still snickering. Posted by: julia fc at July 23, 2006 08:03 AMI *hate* comments such as that... I actually did have that conversation with a very nice older woman recently at my doctor's office -- I was asked if I had to knit my child's clothes how could I afford to see a physician at the Cleveland Clinic. I just looked somewhat dumbfounded for a minute and answered "ummm... the yarn actually cost MORE than this visit, ma'am. I'm a physician, and I should know." She blanched and never said another word. Strange what you find, KIP. Posted by: Jen. at July 23, 2006 07:59 AMTownes knows a good thing when he sees it, unlike some other men. Posted by: margene at July 23, 2006 06:32 AMLike socks, idiots often come in sets... Townes looks EXACTLY like my dearly departed Harley Davidson, with whom I had the pleasure of sharing knitting for fifteen years. The kitty belly alone...sniff... Posted by: Lee Ann at July 22, 2006 07:26 PMack! makes me think of all sorts of equally rude, inappropriate comebacks...but the being nice approach is probably best :) Posted by: Elli at July 22, 2006 06:04 PMI'm sure the sock looks great, but who cares when Townie is even cuter. People ask knitters the strangest questions. One sometimes feels she should wear a scarlet "K" ;) Posted by: Marnie at July 22, 2006 06:02 PMI love those pictures of Townie! So cute! That conversation... amazing. What an odd "default" notion for that guy! Posted by: Mary-Heather at July 22, 2006 03:50 PM |
