Take us to...ludicrous speed

If you have read my blog in the past you know that I've been having some computer troubles. Well, apparently seeing that my original drivers went back to pre 1998 was too much for my Dad and for my birthday he got me a new computer! Wow and a half! I totally wasn't expecting it (and not just because it was early). I've never actually had a new desktop before because I usually hork my Dad's hand-me-downs. This was totally cool with me because his hand-me-down was usually still cooler than what I would have been able to buy for myself. But now I have a new wicked fast computer (I didn't realize how slow the old one was until I booted up the new one). It is a Dell and the thing I find funny is that they are trying to be cool/hip. The case has a, albeit minor, mod. It has a little see through protion with metal mesh behind it. Looks like this:

It's no TIE Fighter or anything, but it is interesting.

I've also been really discouraged lately about my craftiness. About a week ago I went to 6 different fabric stores looking for some nice, interesting fabrics. I didn't really have any particular project in mind. I was just looking for fabric I liked and could potentially be used for costumes, knitting cases, fleece for clothes, etc. I was seriously disappointed. None of the stores really had anything I liked, except a few bolts in 100% cotton. I don't like to use this cotton because it wrinkles something fierce, shrinks quite a bit and is very thin. It's great for quilting and whatnot, but not for things that should be at least somewhat sturdy. I thought, moving to a larger city (which I'm liking less and less - I just don't cope well with the press of people all the time, the lack of any open space, and the driving) I would get the benefit of some larger/nicer fabric stores. Alas, it was not to be. In my opinion they were worse than the stores in Grand Rapids. Then yesterday I decided to make a trek down to a different Joann than the one that is by my apartment. It was about a 40 minute drive (it is about 2 seconds from Roland's office) but they did have a somewhat better selection. Don't get too excited though, I was still not terribly enthused overall. But I did find some fabric that I'm going to use to make some knitting needle cases/totes. They are patterned twill (and very similar, but I'm not counting on my luck to find much else I like) and I still have to think about what I want to use as the contrast fabrics (pockets and whatnot). What do y'all think?