Soupy knitty booky nerdy

Wow, how neat. I went out for lunch to the local internet cafe where they have some comfy couches and chairs that are perfect for parking and knitting. I've gone there a handful of times, now, and the only actual foody-food they serve is soup, which changes daily, and bagels, if you count those. Other than that they have coffee, tea, and lots of baked goods and other sweets. I've found that their soup of the day has been consistently excellent, today I had Thai Chicken with Rice. It tasted something like panang curry, I'll bet I could replicate it easily. Only I'd put in tons of basil for greens instead of bell peppers. I could live on panang curry - honestly.

*drools*

Anyway.

I sat at a stool in the front window to eat my soup and noticed two young women sitting in the comfy section knitting! OMG! I got so excited I nearly fell off my stool. I tried not to rush while eating my delicious soup, telling myself that they would still be there in ten minutes. Then I started to worry. What should I do? Should I knit in my seat there at the window and hope they call me over? Plunk right down on an adjacent couch and introduce myself? I wasn't certain, and as I've mentioned I am so very painfully shy that these sorts of decisions are major stress.

I screwed up my courage and decided to walk right over there like I did this every day. So I did! I went over and said, "Hi, I noticed you were knitting so I thought I'd come over and knit, too." One of the women was sort of lukewarm and didn't seem completely thrilled by my dropping in, but the other was very open and friendly. We chatted, starting with the requisite "What are you working on?" and things like that. She asked me a lot a questions, which always puts me at ease as I find it easy to answer queries because they make me feel that the person is at least marginally interested. I asked some questions, too, and the conversation was pretty comfortable. The other girl didn't say much but I didn't let it get me paranoid.

After a few minutes it came out that the woman I was talking to was the same one that had put a sign in the window of the coffee house about a book club she was starting up. I had seen this sign in December and put her number in my cell phone, meaning to call her to ask about it but ultimately chickening out. I said, "Are you book club Jen?" to which she replied, "Yes!" How cool! She showed me the book they were reading for this month, I took down the title and author and wrote the date of the next meeting.

She asked me if I was part of the Portland Stitch n'Bitch to which I replied I wasn't, but that I had been in contact with a few of the members online and hoped to attend sometime. Maybe I'll go and then encourage her to come, too! I haven't gone to any of the SnB meetings yet as they're not always held in town so I can't always make it - perhaps I will make a special effort to go the next time they're in the Old Port, just to get out and see some new people. That would be a nice opportunity for Katie to see little Michael, too, maybe she would be willing to watch him while I attend, or Michael and kidlet can visit her at the same time. Hmm.

I feel great this afternoon - what a nice surprise, and a window of hope - I may have just found a new friend, with the possibility of meeting more new friends in the Portland area. I hope things work out. For now I'm all giddy.