(Loopy guest edits the blog today to talk about his fabulous summer vacation.)
Oh the places I’ve seen! I was a bit hesitant when the Loopy people sent me out to vacation around the world over the past few months. Things are pretty nice and cozy in The Loopy Room, so I wasn’t sure how I’d like having a summer off to relax and play. I’ve decided that I like it a lot. I went so many places and met so many people.
First the people. Of course my favorite part was just vacationing with all of YOU. No wonder the Loopy People like you all so much. You’re fun! I met famous TV stars (here I am with Marlo Thomas and my friend Rosemary. I don’t think Marlo is a knitter, but she did a good job as “That Girl”, so I think she could be a knitter if she tried it. I think she thought I was cute. And of course I am.) I also met a lot of radio personalities (they may have talked about me on the radio. Or they may have talked about those of you who ran up and shoved me into their hands for a picture, like a crazy person. I’m not sure.) 
I also met many famous knitters. I like knitter’s a lot. I especially like sock knitters, so it was nice to meet Cat Bordhi in person. They call her “Cat” but she’s really a person. I couldn’t quite figure that out, but I guess you know who I mean. She was teaching a class at the TNNA Show this summer. I listened to a “Harlot” talk (which I thought was going to be a little scarey. Turns out she hates squirrels and I do, too, so I guess she’s ok after all.) I also golfed with Sergio at the US Open. He may not have known I was golfing with him necessarily, but I totally was. I’m a good golfer, as I can use all four feet when necessary. And what’s not to like about a game that is played on all of that delicious green grass? After we were done golfing, I went to collect my trophy.
I got to meet some of the cutest dang babies you have ever seen this summer. Most of the time I caught them sleeping, which I’m told is a very good thing. Sometimes maybe they’re not 
quite so dang cute? At least that’s what I have heard. I also met a lot of very nice, friendly family members on picnics, in parks, at baseball games, and all over the place. My buddy Hunter took me to his first day of school, and that was one of my favorite things. I had never been to school before. I’m not sure I need to go back. But I liked Hunter a lot. There were also a lot of other cute kids. One girl let me color with her. Or else she colored on me. I can’t remember. This girl wished that I had pretty blue eyes just like her, and I kinda wish I did, too. I was kept high and dry by this new friend, and rescued from the jaws of death by these buddies.
Some of you tried to give me a bit of culture. I visited the Sydney Opera House (which everyone needs to see at least once.) Dr. Jackie and James took me to hear the St. Louis Symphony. That started out good, but then they stuffed me into a bag for the 
concert and everything sounded a bit muffled. Next time I hope they buy me a front row seat. I also visited Wordsworth’s Grave (and had a moment of respectful silence there). I floated on a big boat in Sicily with Theresa, had a walk down Penny Lane in Liverpool, visited a sheep station in Australia, participated in an Irish wedding, took a peak peek at Denali, played in Kellie’s stash in New Zealand (she has a lot, but I’m sworn to secrecy), and even visited The White House. (Do you see George up there on the balcony? He was waiting for me to come in for dinner.) I particularly enjoyed catching Hamlet and Wicked – I love plays. 
And did you see that I was on hand for the unveiling of the last Harry Potter book? They had all of the books boxed and hidden under cover, but I pulled back a corner with my teeth, just so that I could say I saw it first. I haven’t read it yet. I’m afraid they might use “fleece” in some of their potions and I just don’t want to know. I also got to see a lot of yarn shops. I know I live in a yarn shop, but it’s always fun to visit someone else’s house shop. Mostly I had to hide in purses and knitting bags when we were in there. But I peeked.
There were a few scarey times. I went biking with Karen and her husband and I thought I’d pose on someone’s bike – just for the blog, you know – and I almost got tarred and feathered. Apparently it’s SO not cool to sit on someone else’s bike. But it felt cool. Getting past the scarey looking bouncer at the bar was a piece of cake after that. (Don’t let this photo fool you – he was as nice as could be and I think he is probably wearing handknit socks, although he wouldn’t admit it.) 
I loved the beach, but had another frightening encounter with this grumpy crab. He thought he might like to eat me, but then he decided I tasted like cardboard and left me alone on the sand. Whew. I was also a little scared of a cat named Sophie, until I remembered how much I like my own cat Zoe. I figured Sophie is probably just as nice underneath. I think I met a few cousins at some of the fiber festivals I went to.
I did manage to check in with some doctors during the summer. It’s always good to stay on top of your health. So I had an MRI to check out my spine (and they said it looked marvelous, even with all of the standing around I do all day long), I had all my teeth cleaned at the dentist, and I visited a mammogram machine just so that I could tell you to be sure to have your annual checkup. (As soon as this photo was done, I got the heck out of there. I’ve heard about that machine, and I want no part of it, let me tell you.) After all of those medical appointments, I needed some down time so I went tubing with Meg and her family in Michigan. They put me in a ziploc bag so that I wouldn’t get my fleece wet. Then I headed up to the cabin with Valerie in Canada. 
(Beautiful place up there. I particularly liked the cool weather, because the Loopy People kept complaining about the heat and humidity back in St. Louis all summer long.)
So as you can see, it was a summer FULL of a lot of fun. You can go over to my photo gallery to see all 140+ photos, because I did so many more cool things. The Loopy Lady says that I’ve talked about myself for long enough now, so I’ll end this. After you check out all of my photos, you can leave a comment and vote for:
– best “far away” place that I visited
– most interesting famous person that I met
– most unusual place that I visited
– most creative photo that I was in
Or you can leave a comment and just say hi.
The Loopy Lady says she’ll give prizes to the winners, and she’s going to draw an extra random winner from all of the submissions. She’s glad you all had fun with me (and I’m glad, too.) She also said that I can go again next summer – so where are we going next year??
Love, Loopy theworldwidetravelextraordinaire.Andohsohumble,too.
Loved the pics. Lots of fun adventures for Loopy.
My votes:
Penny Lane
Marlo Thomas
Tubing
On the Edge and the Crab
Sicily!
Stormtrooper!
Wicked!
Ritz crackers!
AWESOME!!
Best place: New Zealand. (Having watched the nine-hour New Zealand tourism advertisement, er, LotR, it’s high on my lists of places I want to go when I have travel money and time.)
Most interesting famous person: The Harlot.
Most unusual place: Donner Pass.
Most creative photo: Can’t decide between On the Edge and Crab. (Ever see the video Crab vs. Pipe, what happens when a deep-sea robot is cutting through a pipe, there’s much lower pressure inside the pipe than outside, and then a crab comes along? It’s gruesomely compelling.)
Wow! What a summer you had, Loopy. My votes are:
Sicily. (ooohh, that water color…wish I was there)
Harlot.
Mammogram machine…and thanks for the reminder 🙁
Crab.
Great photos, Mr. Loopy. Thanks for sharing.
Oh! Loopy! You are a lucky “Ewe”. Thank you for sharing your vacation photo’s with me. I loved the picure of you and Sophie the Cat. Good thing Zoe told you not to be afraid to make new friends. I’m sorry you didn’t get a chance to meet your cousins ins Denali. Next time, call ahead and let them know you’re coming. I know they would love to meet you, especially since you traveled so far to see them. And, getting to meet Cat Bordhi…Wow! Lucky Ewe!!! I think your picture of the light house in Santa Cruz, California was so serene and beautiful. Was it windy and cold? I”m sure you kept warm in your wool coat. Thank you for sharing!
HI!
Loopy didn’t mention it, because something happened to my pictures (boohoo) but Loopy also met Coach K at the Duke basketball camp this summer and toured the campus (my alma mater). He also met Nathan, my nine year old nephew, who was the youngest camper there by attending just three days after his ninth birthday, nine being the youngest you can be! I’m glad Loopy got to meet so many neat people and see so many great places!
– best “far away” place that I visited – Loopy goes to Sicily
– most interesting famous person that I met – Yarn Harlot and Loopy
– most unusual place that I visited – loopy at Sturgis
– most creative photo that I was in – Loopy in Peril at the Beach
Wow Loopy had a great summer vacation!!!!
My vote for the best far away place has to go to the bride and groom shot.
Next summer I think Loopy should visit me in San Francisco and we will see the Golden Gate bridge and some other cool sites.
wow you had a very busy summer!
My favorite is Loopy on the bike…..scary!!!!
Dear Loopy: After all the efforts Sheri put forth to get you to Sacramento in time for me to take you to Italy, not one picture came out, I’m ashamed to say. Something to do with you standing in the VERY bright sunlight and the camera not adjusting fast enough from shade to sun or something. The picture at the Vatican performing at the High Alter in Saint Peter’s Basilica was one I had high hopes for, as well as when we sang at Milan’s Duomo, and at La Scala. Still, you were a very appreciative audience, didn’t try to sing along and that was probably appreciated. Maybe when I travel to Scotland in a few years, you can accompany me, and we’ll get better pictures, okay?
best “far away” place that I visited — Sydney
most interesting famous person that I met — James Fenimore Cooper (always have a soft spot for him after an 8th grade English report.)
most creative photo that I was in — Crab holding card (how did they do that?)
What fun! We do a similar photo trip with my sister’s sunglasses. My kids take turns finding interesting places to take pictures of their Auntie’s sunglasses, then we make it into a photo album for Christmas. Auntie always gets a hoot out of it. 🙂
Loopy,
I see that you managed to get to two of my favorite places this summer: a Cubs game, and Savannah. Personally, if I could spend a majority of my time moving between those two, I’d be a happy girl. I even knit socks at Cubs games. (My bff Liz has the pictures to prove it, too.)
Wow, you had a good time this summer! I didn’t get a vacation this summer as I got surgery instead, but next summer, boy, look out! Glad you had a good time traveling!
WHOA! did the mammo machine make your fleece curl more? that would have been the most interesting place to go (snicker snicker)
The most interesting person (ok..so he’s not famous) would have to be the Biker Guy..too bad you didn’t get a ride…it might have taken the curl out of your beautiful locks, though.
That crab is acting like another squirrel? what’s with your fleece? why do so many want it? pretty good photo, too.
For sure the best “far away” place was “the cabin” in Canada, and I wish I could have been there with Loopy because I thought I would never finish slogging through this hellish, hot St. Louis summer.
I wish i got out more. I haven’t been anywhere interesting to take Loopy. But I love the one ewe place down under.
MJ
Loopy’s quite the sheep on the go. The mamogram shot was scary. The crab shot was brilliant. Did Suzi B. sing for Loopy? This was great fun, and maybe if you do it again, I can remember to take Loopy along too!
Hey Loopy! If you come visit me next summer I’ll take you scuba diving! Don’t worry, I have a nice dry suit for you.
What a great summer you had Loopy! Mine was so much quieter by comparison, but I did get to spend a lot of it knittiing!
My vote for the best famous person is the Harlot because I am so jealous of you meeting her; I thougt the most creative was the shark’s mouth with the kids inside, you were so brave! The most unusual (and funniest, but you didn’t ask) was the “one ewe” station. Did you feel right at home? Finally, the best “far away” wasn’t very far but it was wonderful was you and Sergio at the US Open; I showed it to my husband and he said he he wished that he could have been there on the stick instead of you. (Yes he’s weird and a golfer–same thing!)
I don’t like squirrels either. They eat all of my bird feed out of the feeders. I love to watch the birds. I am also a new sock knitter since the show in Columbus Ohio that I went to with my daughter. She is also a knitter.
Loopy at the Sheep Show is kind of like visiting the relatives at the State Fair!
I think the best far away place was New Zealand…lots ‘o sheep so loopy felt comfy!
Famous Person: The Yarn Harlot, of course!
In the claws of a crab…YIKES!!!
I enjoyed when Loopy got INKED…how cute!
Far Away – Sicily
Person – Cat Bordhi
Place – Penny Lane
Unusual – Crab
It looks like a busy summer is the understatement. I did not see one with Smokey Bear, however. Maybe next summer.
I’m not sure which category this belongs in, but Loopy at Sturgis is hilarious.
Dear Loopy,
So sorry that I lost your picture or I would have taken you to Malibu this summer !We saw Goldie Hawn’s door at her beach house but not Goldie so I guess we both lost out.
My favorite photo was of you and the huge biker with the beard in Sturgis.That made my day.
Best Far Away Place has to be Sicily. Made me homesick.
Person – I’m torn between Cat Bordhi and Jane Sowerby. I have a pattern from each on my needles at the moment.
Most unusual has to be the Crab. That’s a priceless shot.
Ok.
Best far away place-rain forest in Austrlia.
Most interesting famous person-I don’t follow golf, but I’m assuming Sergio is a famous golfer. If not, then this is my vote for ‘cracks me up inexplicably’-everytime I look at it. Don’t they hold those little white cards up to make people Shush? Or is that something else? That picture makes me think of something you’d see on a British comedy.
Most unusual -Loopy and the bear.
Most creative-Loopy in Peril! Oh no!
I have to say that my favorite photo is the one where he goes to school with that “adorable” little boy, Hunter. Is that because he’s my son?? Probably….. : )
Vote for Loopy in ,peril at the beach (Linda)
Vote for Linda’s In Peril at the beach
Best far away place? Sydney (boo hiss, I come from Melbourne, but ha ha it was cloudy and possibly going to rain in Sydney that day)
Most creative/unusual? Loopy and the crab! LOL
My three favorite pictures are Loopy with the crab (for unusual), with Sergio Garcia, and with the statue of James Fenimoore Cooper (both tied for famous person, after all Cooper is dead, so Loopy couldn’t meet him). I say best far away place is New Zealand…I’d love to go there one day. The one with Loopy on the bike should get a vote too, I just don’t know for what. =)
I am surprised Loopy came back after camping with the cutest Kids, who want him/her to have blue eyes. And then, of course, the classic Loopy goes to the cabin. Again, I might have been tempted to stay at said cabin…. C: love loopy…. what a guy (?) can’t remember what we decided….. ahhh
Loopy, don’t unpack your bags yet. You have plans to walk the San Diego 3 Day Breast Cancer walk in November. Actually, you’ll be crewing this year….1 day at Pit Stop 1 with me, and 1 day on the Motorcycle Route Safety crew with my husband. While we’re down there, we’ll visit Legoland and SeaWorld as well.
In the past, our friend Vulveeta, who’s a crocheted vagina, has accompanied us on the walk, so our 3 Day friends are looking forward to meeting you…a more…. normal….companion.
And my poor husband is relieved to have you strapped on the bike this year, and not a pink crocheted vagina! So you have to still come along, even though the summer is officially over!
Loopy sure does get around!
Well, Loopy it looks like you had an extremely exciting summer, and very busy. Perhaps you’re a little relieved to be back in the Loopy Room relaxing again. I’d have to vote for the photo of you in Sydney as the best faraway place, and the photo of you with Sergio for the best famous person encounter (I’ve never seen a sheep brave enough to be caught on a golf course in the middle of a professional tournament before). You visited a lot of unusual places but I guess I’ll vote for your ride on the motor bikes for the most unusual. I’ll vote for your encounter with the crab for most creative, even though I suppose from your perspective this wasn’t ‘creative’ but just plain terrifying. Never mind, you made it home safely and that’s what counts!
Loopy, quite the world travler. I enjoyed seeing you with “Uncle Mark”, just before he deployed to Iraq. God Bless him and you for posing w/him
Terry
Place – Beach
Unusual – Crab
Loopy, I was impressed that you made it to New Zealand and Denali — quite the traveler, you! But I think the best place you visited was the Cubs Game. I could be biased, as I live in the greater Chicagoland area, but nothing like a ballpark in the summer for the best place on earth.
I think the photo of you in peril from the crabby crustacean is the most creative one. Way to put in on the line for your fans!
“Loopy in Peril at the Beach” gets my vote for the most creative Loopy photo! Probably the most dangerous, too…although that Shark photo is pretty scary as well. Loopy, you really get around, don’t you?!
Sheri, how can I get a Loopy to take on vacation. Do these other LGs make their own? I tried holding up my Loopy Sock Notebook cover, but it was too small. Any advice?
I will have to put this summer’s Loopy picutres up for next year’s contest *sigh* My Loopy even met Abe Lincoln!
My votes are: Far away – “loopy goes to sydney” with the opera house, famous – “loopy meets paul bunyan”; unusual – “loopy meets jaws”, creative – ” loopy in peril at the beach”. It cracks me up every time.
Too bad Wendy didn’t send in one for “Loopy meets Lucy”, that would have won paws down!
Loopy, you are so lucky to have met Cat Bordhi. I loved her interview in the most recent Knitty. She is one cool woman, and the fact that she stuck with knitting through a 10 year dry spell makes her a knitting hero!
I love the photo, “Loopy in peril at the beach”. Great bravery in a tricky situation. That gets my vote for the most creative photo!
Loopy, you are not only a world traveller but an excellent guest blogger as well!
I’d have to say the most interesting person you met was probably Cat Bordhi, although Jane Sowerby runs a close second.
And I love that shot of you with the crab!
Hi Loopy – I enjoyed the snapshot of your summer travels – What a lucky Loopy you are to have gone to the Sydney Opera House, the White House and all the other places you traveled, and WOW – you got to meet Cat Bordhi! How cool is that? My favorite picture was you on the beach with the crab though…Hope he didn’t pinch you too hard! Thanks for sharing your summer of travels with all of us…
Loopy, I think it’s AWESOME that you went head to head with a biker and got a photo. 🙂 I once read a story about a biker who rode around with his kitten in his pocket, a big ol’ closet marshmallow of a guy. This reminds me of that…I really hope he was wearing handknit socks.
– best “far away” place that I visited – Australia, hands down. I dream of going there some day
– most interesting famous person that I met – The Yarn Harlot
– most unusual place that I visited – TUBING!! WHAT A HOOT!
– most creative photo that I was in – the crab photos is so cool!