Don't let the title fool you - I have little faith that I'll be able to maintain a daily theme schedule anymore, but I felt it was appropriate since this is a follow up on exactly one year ago.
Last year, I wrote this:
Whining.
I'll save you the trouble...it was a post written on Graduation Day. My office has the unique feature of a window which looks directly out onto the plaza in which everyone gathers before entering the stadium each May. All the kids ("kids" who are 22, God I'm old) are in their Grad finery, all the family and friends are looking proud.
Last year...
I wrote about how every year I was a crabby, jealous mess as I watched the festivities, full of lament about my lost chances.
This year...
I just finished my first 4 classes. I got A's in all of them.
Last year...
I wrote about how I wondered if I could ever go back, if I could ever get to that day myself.
This year...
I proved to myself that although I am going to be up to my ears in student loans when I'm done, that I'm not too old, or too slow, or too comfortable to put in the work.
I know it's going to get harder - it was just some English comp and Algebra after all - but I did it.
Thanks to TR & The Kid, and all of you who have encouraged me, helped me get my act together, and who have been my cheering section. I may not get my day for a good six or seven years, but now I know it's coming.
Now my only problem is figuring out what I want to be when I grow up...
Happy Friday!
Friday, May 6, 2011
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Well.
So that's it for another semester!
If anyone's still reading this blog, my apologies for being away so much. It was a very long few months, full of mystery and intrigue and algebra and researching effective ways to teach literature to teenagers in the Facebook age.
Here's a rundown of what I've been doing. I know you'll be riveted.
So you see, it's not that I haven't *wanted* to blog...
It's just that I had to shoehorn sleep in there somewhere.
So. What else.
I could talk about that Osama thing... I have my own opinions. They aren't shared by everyone. I believe it's a good thing he's dead, and that it was the right decision not to involve Pakistan; their culture is very different than ours. The man was living in a military neighborhood, and nobody even asked a question, just saying. I don't believe it's the end to "terra" but I do believe it's the end of an era (ooooh, poetry!). Bush is dead, long live Obama. Moving on.
Also, Donald Trump is a moron who got his ass served to him on a platter at the White House Correspondent's Dinner. I'm normally a very "let's all get along" sort of person, a "don't mock others" sort of person, but Trump? He can go piss up a rope, to put it succinctly.
Weirdo. RACIST weirdo.
Anyway.
Hoping to get back into the swing of things now. I don't think this will ever be a daily blog again, but I hope to share with you some of the cooler points of the Intro to Film Arts course I'll be taking over the summer. Apparently the teacher is a friend/acquainted of some friends of mine, and by all accounts he's a swell guy. Looking forward to it!
Tonight...
Trivia maybe. TR definitely. All this busy-ness has made it so our time is often really abbreviated. We had a couple of relaxing days around my birthday while The Kid was in Disney, and it was lovely. I need some more of that chilled time with him, and more often.
He calls to share his sunsets with me, I should tell you.
This pleases me.
Until later... here's a thing. It made me smile today.
If anyone's still reading this blog, my apologies for being away so much. It was a very long few months, full of mystery and intrigue and algebra and researching effective ways to teach literature to teenagers in the Facebook age.
Here's a rundown of what I've been doing. I know you'll be riveted.
- I wrote 4 papers, one of which got a perfect grade from a teacher who doesn't give perfect grades.
- I did several thousand math problems.
- I drove back and forth to Arvada and Denver about 500 times (happily, but still).
- I lusted after gardening supplies (going to try just growing some grass first, though).
- As a temporary measure to quell my lust, I helped TR a little bit in his fabulous yard.
- I watched a lot of Top Gear episodes while I wrote papers and imagined myself in a Jaguar while I drove my ailing Nissan.
- I finally got to see Bob Schneider live - an awesome thing. Tarantula!
- I got really sick, sicker than I've been in a long time.
- I turned 37.
- I grew some grey hairs.
- The Kid grew some grey hairs for me.
- I gained some weight (stupid holidays!).
- I lost a little of it (yay stationary bike!).
- I spent too much money.
- I discovered I don't really like yeasty beer.
- I discovered that I really DO like wheaty beer. A lot.
- Tried to go to Moab, was stymied by weather.
- Went to a christening, complete with the first time I've been to mass in years; it made me miss my childhood faith...it was so easy then, ya know?
- Drove with TR through and to some of the most gorgeous country in Colorado.
- Discovered Penzey's Spices and OMG. The paprika!
- I've taken my math final - no more math for a while I think
- I turned in my final paper (well, my rought draft, but the teacher felt it was done so there ya go... woohoo!)
- Been in Derby upheaval as we've tried to decide whether to stick with RMRG or not (long story for another day)
- Signed up for a Summer class to keep the momentum
- Registered for Fall classes
- Been to 3 meetings about the stupid new procurement system my work is foisting upon us
- Researched fencing companies (only one got back to me)
- Crocheted half a dragon (it's going to be SO CUTE)
- Cooked pulled pork for the first and definitely NOT the last time
- Cooked stuffed shells for the first time as well; good but needs modification
So you see, it's not that I haven't *wanted* to blog...
It's just that I had to shoehorn sleep in there somewhere.
So. What else.
I could talk about that Osama thing... I have my own opinions. They aren't shared by everyone. I believe it's a good thing he's dead, and that it was the right decision not to involve Pakistan; their culture is very different than ours. The man was living in a military neighborhood, and nobody even asked a question, just saying. I don't believe it's the end to "terra" but I do believe it's the end of an era (ooooh, poetry!). Bush is dead, long live Obama. Moving on.
Also, Donald Trump is a moron who got his ass served to him on a platter at the White House Correspondent's Dinner. I'm normally a very "let's all get along" sort of person, a "don't mock others" sort of person, but Trump? He can go piss up a rope, to put it succinctly.
Weirdo. RACIST weirdo.
Anyway.
Hoping to get back into the swing of things now. I don't think this will ever be a daily blog again, but I hope to share with you some of the cooler points of the Intro to Film Arts course I'll be taking over the summer. Apparently the teacher is a friend/acquainted of some friends of mine, and by all accounts he's a swell guy. Looking forward to it!
Tonight...
Trivia maybe. TR definitely. All this busy-ness has made it so our time is often really abbreviated. We had a couple of relaxing days around my birthday while The Kid was in Disney, and it was lovely. I need some more of that chilled time with him, and more often.
He calls to share his sunsets with me, I should tell you.
This pleases me.
Until later... here's a thing. It made me smile today.
Monday, March 21, 2011
No Relation... I think.
I've mentioned Mimi Smartypants before. We are of no relation, though our first names are the same. Mine was a childhood nickname, hers... well she's never actually said but I'll hazard a guess that it's some kind of similarly parentally-administered moniker.
Though I've often thought that she is clever and funny, once in a while she says something that is so in tune with what I meant to say along that it kind of gives me shivers.
Today...
OMG YES.
This is so me in a nutshell.
My friend Christine (among others) often chastises me for not sharing with her my trials and tribulations. She shares with me, and doesn't understand why I don't unburden myself more freely. It's not that I'm stoic or stubborn or even strong... I just don't like to talk about stuff until I know what I'm talking about. I hate speculating. Speculation leaves me in a puddle of ruminating tears and/or yelling.
A puddle of yelling?
Just go with it.
Anyway, I often don't discuss things. It's not a lack of trust in my friends or family, it's just that I like to know what's next before I look at what's now.
Weird? Maybe. But it's worked so far...
The only time I discuss things out of context these days seems to be with TR and The Kid, poor souls. For some reason TR brings out the talker in me. It's a two way street, which is why I feel so comfortable I'm sure. This may seem to fly in the face of what I just said before about not liking to talk about stuff, but...
I don't know. It's TR-specific I guess?
I have no explanation.
The Kid of course needs no explanation... we're a team, that's all. It's unconventional as far as mother-daughter relationships go, I suppose. I don't overburden her, I at least respect tradition that much, but she ends up being subjected to a lot of my thinking-out-loud rants.
In other news, The Kid is off to Florida in a couple of days. Despite much paperwork and miscommunication, all has fallen together and she's off for a fun week! I've tried to help her understand how huge WDW is, and I think she gets it, but she'll only truly learn by experience I suppose. She's got money for food, money for fun, and more clothes than she'll really need I'm sure.
It should be noted that The Child thinks I've been over-plannery again. (Probably true.) I don't care if she's 15, though, she's still my baby going off to the other side of the country without me to wander the wilds of WDW.
Thank goodness for TR's calming presence, I'd be a wreck without him around to keep me chilly.
I say again...
Poor guy.
Happy Spring At Frickin' Last!
Friday, March 11, 2011
Kool-Aid
Okay. So obviously I have no time for Le Blog very often, but does that mean I don't have weird random thoughts that I feel compelled to share with all 6 of you? NO IT DOES NOT.
So I have joined The Twitter. I have no idea how to work it, so forgive me in advance if I fail miserably.
I miss my blog.
Things of note...
* My latest paper was added to the "Wall of Fame" in my class, so go me!
* I had the plague.
* Now the Kid has the plague, but it's almost done I think.
* Derby is still on deck, though we were taking a break... Child is not competitive, and wasn't sure if she should continue, but we've decided to give it another year. At the very least we have to get something out of the new wheels I got her!
* I don't know how I feel about Algebra.
* TR remains very cute.
So yeah! Come find me on The Twitter if you'd like! I can almost guarantee random bitching, occasional hilarity, and proper use of the apostrophe.
http://twitter.com/#!/mimirickets
So I have joined The Twitter. I have no idea how to work it, so forgive me in advance if I fail miserably.
I miss my blog.
Things of note...
* My latest paper was added to the "Wall of Fame" in my class, so go me!
* I had the plague.
* Now the Kid has the plague, but it's almost done I think.
* Derby is still on deck, though we were taking a break... Child is not competitive, and wasn't sure if she should continue, but we've decided to give it another year. At the very least we have to get something out of the new wheels I got her!
* I don't know how I feel about Algebra.
* TR remains very cute.
So yeah! Come find me on The Twitter if you'd like! I can almost guarantee random bitching, occasional hilarity, and proper use of the apostrophe.
http://twitter.com/#!/mimirickets
Monday, January 24, 2011
I Am Sentimental
You know, I really try to be level-headed. I don't give in to sentimentality very often, but maybe I should because boy oh boy, when I get something stuck in my head and let myself sap out, it's just purple prose everywhere you look.
So yesterday I helped TR clean out his now-former apartment the rest of the way. There wasn't much really, just some spackling to be done (I looooove to spackle, it's possibly a matter for psychological study), the fridge to be cleaned, that kind of thing. We had to make a few trips up and down stairs which are more like ladders than stairs - you have to do everything on your toes and it's rough on the legs!
After everything was done - plants and frozen food and cleaning supplies successfully crammed in the back of the van, garbage in the dumpster, fridge sparkling, and unwanted stuff already being picked through by the local dumpster diving team (waste not, want not!) - we went back upstairs so TR could say goodbye to the place. He wasn't terribly upset about leaving the apartment behind, but still it was home for 4 years or so and deserved a goodbye.
The weird thing for me was that despite not actually having lived there, I was kind of verklempt at the idea of never seeing it again. While he swept, I sat in the window well and reflected for a while on all that had happened in that place. I started the best first date of my life there, and had my first kiss with TR standing near the front door. I remember little things here and there about us in that place, things I won't forget. In my mind the apartment will always exist as it was just a little bit.
There's one really distinct memory that sticks out. One night we were curled up on the chaise lounge next to the main room's windows, just at dusk. The chimes that hung next to the terrifying stairs across the alley were making a lovely sound. Suddenly the wind kicked up and pulled all the leaves off the trees at once, swirling them up into the deep blue sky and they twirled away like something illustrated.
Yesterday, sitting at the window next to where the chaise used to sit, looking in toward the now-empty apartment, the chimes - TR's favorites of the ones that hang on that building - kicked up again. While TR was thanking the apartment, they kept giving us a little background music.
As soon as he switched off the lights for the last time, the chimes stopped.
I will certainly miss that little bitty apartment with it's creaky floors and amusingly complex shower.
I won't miss the stairs, though.
So yesterday I helped TR clean out his now-former apartment the rest of the way. There wasn't much really, just some spackling to be done (I looooove to spackle, it's possibly a matter for psychological study), the fridge to be cleaned, that kind of thing. We had to make a few trips up and down stairs which are more like ladders than stairs - you have to do everything on your toes and it's rough on the legs!
After everything was done - plants and frozen food and cleaning supplies successfully crammed in the back of the van, garbage in the dumpster, fridge sparkling, and unwanted stuff already being picked through by the local dumpster diving team (waste not, want not!) - we went back upstairs so TR could say goodbye to the place. He wasn't terribly upset about leaving the apartment behind, but still it was home for 4 years or so and deserved a goodbye.
The weird thing for me was that despite not actually having lived there, I was kind of verklempt at the idea of never seeing it again. While he swept, I sat in the window well and reflected for a while on all that had happened in that place. I started the best first date of my life there, and had my first kiss with TR standing near the front door. I remember little things here and there about us in that place, things I won't forget. In my mind the apartment will always exist as it was just a little bit.
There's one really distinct memory that sticks out. One night we were curled up on the chaise lounge next to the main room's windows, just at dusk. The chimes that hung next to the terrifying stairs across the alley were making a lovely sound. Suddenly the wind kicked up and pulled all the leaves off the trees at once, swirling them up into the deep blue sky and they twirled away like something illustrated.
Yesterday, sitting at the window next to where the chaise used to sit, looking in toward the now-empty apartment, the chimes - TR's favorites of the ones that hang on that building - kicked up again. While TR was thanking the apartment, they kept giving us a little background music.
As soon as he switched off the lights for the last time, the chimes stopped.
I will certainly miss that little bitty apartment with it's creaky floors and amusingly complex shower.
I won't miss the stairs, though.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Essay The First - Super Long Post
Due to the squashed nature of Blogger, this post looks like it's about four feet long. I'm sorry.
The subject matter wasn't my choice.
The last post had more to do with something of interest to me (which only sounds self-centered, I swear!) but still it was a forced sort of thing. I had a set topic (digital technology) and although I came up with a subject regarding that topic I liked well enough, it still didn't have a lot of ME in it.
Does that make any sense at all?
Possibly not.
Anyway.
I've found that in Research Writing (capital R, capital W) one of the major points seems to be to take oneself out of the picture entirely. As a blogger, this was reeeeeeeeally hard. Like so hard that I had to rewrite stuff multiple times just to get that third person perspective to focus. I want so much to give my opinion - I know you're just shocked by that statement - and I almost felt like I was typing one-handed not being able to share it.
I think I'm getting better though.
What follows is the epitome of the quick-and-dirty research paper. This is the first assignment of my new English Comp II class, and isn't even for a grade so I'm not sure why I worked it over so thoroughly.
Wait, yes I do. I'm an overachiever and am obsessed with making a good first impression. I think for days after meeting someone knew about what I said, and how I said it, and did I sound snotty, and did I sound like a know-it-all. Etc. Take last weekend for example. I helped (a little bit) with throwing fellow Bastard and all-around swell guy Chris a surprise 40th birthday party. His wife cooked it up, I made cupcakes (pirate ones!), and TR got him there. It was awesome! At the party were several folks of whom I've only heard tales from TR. Desperate to make a great, I'm-cool-I-swear impression, I'm sure I babbled. In my quest to seem like I belonged there at all (I have an inferiority complex - true!) I may have just ended up sounding like a moron and talking about myself too much. Again.
Hopefully the usual will hold true and nobody was paying that much attention to me (ohpleaseohplease), because first impressions are not my strong suit.
ANYWAY.
Okay. On to the essay!
The goal here was to write about how emotional rhetoric is used in media. At first I was going to do something regarding overly dramatic music in movies. Do you ever feel like you're being herded toward a particular feeling because of swelling violin notes? When done well it's an enhancement, but when done poorly it's just manipulative.
That subject went nowhere fast, because all the info I could find was speculative. I started considering going to the library to look up music psychology when I remembered - NOT FOR A GRADE, MIMI. Calm yourself!
So I started again. How about the way political ads are specifically aimed at making particular people feel specific emotions? Is there some reason we as a group can't just go on facts? I started to write about that and then I started getting incensed and then...
Yeah. I had to take a break. F you Boehner.
Anyway.
In the end I decided to keep it as simple as possible. I would find a subject with a plethora of reputable online research opportunities. I knew I would still go way past the minimum - five paragraphs? ME?! - but I figured I could still keep it sensible.
And here it is, updated for Le Blog with links instead of a Works Cited page. My apologies to any folks in the television news industry that might see this and take offense: I know fark-all about it and this was strictly me talking crap, speculating, obsessing over comma placement, and writing something that at least sounded halfway knowledgeable and used the correct essay format. Bonus: I got to use "snowpocalypse" in a college essay. SWEET.
Stay Tuned!
Breaking news! Local information stations want attention, and they will make every effort to get it - usually by being as loud and garish as possible. Why all the bold type and startling headlines? Broadcast networks rely on advertising income to stay afloat. The companies running those ads are going to give their money most readily to the networks that get the most viewers to tune in and see their thirty-second spots. With all the local news stations reporting the same information, how can they compete for those sponsor dollars without merely parroting each other? The networks must make their stories more interesting than their rivals' offerings. They must also use emotionally charged imagery and language in order to keep a viewers’ attention firmly on their channel and not the one next door.
The basic business plan of any local news station is to attract the most lucrative commercial sponsors possible since the ads those sponsors buy are the source of a majority of a stations’ revenue. Many local stations are owned by recognized companies like NBC but most are owned by businesses that are merely aligned with those larger networks (Shumway). This means that despite the fact that your local news says it’s the city’s NBC station it may not be benefiting from that super-network’s revenue dollars. Instead a station may be on its own as far as drumming up funds to keep their anchors in hairspray and makeup.
The stations may need the advertisers, but the advertisers aren’t big on spending their money unless they can be certain they’ll see a return on their investment. In recent years the cost of running a prime-time commercial has dropped, but it will still cost a company well over $100,000 to televise an ad during prime-time news (Mandese). The sponsors must assure themselves they’re going with the station that will get their spot aired most affectively. That means choosing a network whose viewer numbers are highest.
So how do the networks get those high ratings and attract large-dollar sponsors? They get viewers to watch their channel and not the one a remote-click away. It’s no easy feat. Chances are that it’s going to be snowing now matter whose weather report is seen. The President’s speech is going to sound the same whether it’s on NBC or Fox. It’s up to the stations to be sure they are successful in keeping viewers interested in how they report on those stories if they want to keep their advertisers as repeat customers. While loyalty no doubt plays a part in viewership, even the most loyal NBC supporter is going to look elsewhere if the argument is strong enough to do so.
Stations can stay frontrunners in viewer numbers by having more compellingly told stories than rival networks. According to media blogger Geoff Meeker, whether the news is of sports, business, politics, or even the “good news” story of the day, inevitably conflict is the heart of the tale. The conflict might be between two people, or people and the world around them, or even people and their own lives. Any story the news reports is a battle presented for viewers to cheer or lament (Meeker). It follows then that keeping good journalists on hand to write compelling stories is a smart option for any station trying to stay ahead, but stations also have a psychological tool for use in keeping viewers glued to the screen.
A study published in the Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media found that “arousal elicited by emotion” actually causes us to remember more effectively than by just telling us what’s happening (Lang, Potter, and Grabe). The use of emotionally evocative language and imagery is a way to catch the eyes and ears of viewers, and keep them tuning in long after the initial headline is presented. Words like “showdown” or “crisis” may not really fit the event in question, however the use of them might make a viewer remember the story and tune in for updates later on. Using bright bold-typed and shocking visual headers to accompany an important story will garner attention, but it will also convince a viewer to seek out information about that graphic image if they haven’t been listening. Phrases like “breaking news,” “stay tuned,” and “coming up” might seem straightforward enough, but in fact they are subtle cues to viewers that they’ll be missing out on important information if they start channel surfing after the weather report. In addition to the broadcast stories themselves, news channels use convincing words like “leader” and “exclusive” in advertisements for their stations in their quest to convince a potential viewer that their station is superior to another.
Despite the increased presence of multiple online news sources most Americans are still watching television to get their daily news (“Internet Gains”). For the foreseeable future, viewers will continue to tune in over breakfast, or after dinner, or just before bed. Though the race for the top of the heap in local news media might seem like a tempest in a teacup it’s a small price to pay to ensure that there are multiple lines of communication staying open. The News At Five can be forgiven for coming up with words like “snowpocalypse” as long as they’re giving similarly loud attention to reports about important news like local and national politics. The competition is important as well because although one news channel could get the information out as effectively as multiple stations, if there was only a single source its accuracy would be in question. That being said, it’s equally important that news stations keep the parable of The Boy Who Cried Wolf in mind. Too much high-emotion reporting may find viewers ignoring important information by equating a real crisis with a slightly overblown one.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Throwing In The Towel... Sorta
See how I'm not even trying to be up to date anymore?
Actually I've been thinking a lot about this ol' blog and have more or less decided that of all the bajillion things in my life, if one has to suffer neglect, this is it, and I'm okay with it.
I'm still around, of course, lurking, reading your posts and commenting with as little snark as possible.
But for now it's math. And English papers. And driving the Kid to derby practice. And hanging out with my very cute boyfriend. And trying to cook as often as I can.
Just probably not posting in here more than once a month or so, because otherwise I seem to only say "Um...still alive and here's a video!" and that's just dull.
So you know, don't take me off your blogroll or anything!
Just forgive me if I don't post all my little weird thoughts so often anymore on the meaning of Christmas or why I hate lying politicians with a fiery passion or how awesome TR is or how much my kid rocks my socks off on a regular basis.
Summer may be a different story.
You might even get sick of me.
But for now...
VIDEO! Because I'm lazy. And really busy. But look how cute Maru is! If you don't have 3 minutes, just forward yourself on to 2:15. You'll thank me later.
Did he hypnotize you into thinking this was something akin to a real post?
Good job, Maru!
Actually I've been thinking a lot about this ol' blog and have more or less decided that of all the bajillion things in my life, if one has to suffer neglect, this is it, and I'm okay with it.
I'm still around, of course, lurking, reading your posts and commenting with as little snark as possible.
But for now it's math. And English papers. And driving the Kid to derby practice. And hanging out with my very cute boyfriend. And trying to cook as often as I can.
Just probably not posting in here more than once a month or so, because otherwise I seem to only say "Um...still alive and here's a video!" and that's just dull.
So you know, don't take me off your blogroll or anything!
Just forgive me if I don't post all my little weird thoughts so often anymore on the meaning of Christmas or why I hate lying politicians with a fiery passion or how awesome TR is or how much my kid rocks my socks off on a regular basis.
Summer may be a different story.
You might even get sick of me.
But for now...
VIDEO! Because I'm lazy. And really busy. But look how cute Maru is! If you don't have 3 minutes, just forward yourself on to 2:15. You'll thank me later.
If you don't have 3 minutes, just forward yourself on to 2:15. You'll thank me later.
Did he hypnotize you into thinking this was something akin to a real post?
Good job, Maru!
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Nearly Christmas. Oy.
It's been a week of goodies around here.
Cookies, amusing gifts of outdated calendars (a tribute to my annual skunking in the gift swap at work - thanks Ruth!), and mystery presents for The Kid that I may be more excited about than she is have appeared on my desk.
The first Christmas cards have begun arriving in the mail, and a plethora of boxes have been materializing on my front porch.
Lots and lots of holiday lights are up all around my neighborhood, which are all beautiful except for the ones that blink on and off so fast I'm concerned about the drivers who pass by. Your standard twinkly blinky lights are lovely, but those strobe things have got to go!
Always a critic.
So! Things to report!
School is officially done for the month.
My English grade: 102.5%. Is that an A?
My teacher made the following comment: "I am going to miss reading your work." This followed the comment "I have so enjoyed reading your work. You write like a professional, with grade, humor, introspection, heart, and clarity."
Clearly she has not read my blog, but what a compliment!! I was pretty tickled.
My Math grade: 97.09%. I got a 95 on my final, so Ruth's candy and your good wishes did the trick!
Phew. Two A's. I'm not getting cocky though... that's only 7 credits down and 113 more to go until I have my bachelor degree.
But still! Pretty cool!
Also cool... Ms. Hannibal Lexter is getting interviewed for the Longmont paper! She was nominated by her coach, who is a reporter for the paper, as part of a large list of nominees for the "100 Coolest People In Longmont" special section that comes out in March. (That's probably not what it's really called, but it will do for now.) Because she does derby and is generally a cool chick, I feel that she will at least be in the top 5, if not the coolest person on the list.
I wonder if I can make this work for some kind of college scholarship for her...
Hm.
Anyway, this week will continue to be crazy busy... there are cards to send! Crafts to finish! Gifts to mail! (Only 2 but still...thank goodness for click-n-ship - really if you haven't used this, START.) Cookies to make! I've gotten so many nice treats that if I don't reciprocate I'm going to feel like a heel.
Shortbread and chocolate chip cookies for everyone! The fact that they're easy recipes doesn't take away from the intent right?
Happy Thursday...
PS... Here's something pretty for you to enjoy. TR, you'll appreciate the clouds and windmills!
Cookies, amusing gifts of outdated calendars (a tribute to my annual skunking in the gift swap at work - thanks Ruth!), and mystery presents for The Kid that I may be more excited about than she is have appeared on my desk.
The first Christmas cards have begun arriving in the mail, and a plethora of boxes have been materializing on my front porch.
Lots and lots of holiday lights are up all around my neighborhood, which are all beautiful except for the ones that blink on and off so fast I'm concerned about the drivers who pass by. Your standard twinkly blinky lights are lovely, but those strobe things have got to go!
Always a critic.
So! Things to report!
School is officially done for the month.
My English grade: 102.5%. Is that an A?
My teacher made the following comment: "I am going to miss reading your work." This followed the comment "I have so enjoyed reading your work. You write like a professional, with grade, humor, introspection, heart, and clarity."
Clearly she has not read my blog, but what a compliment!! I was pretty tickled.
My Math grade: 97.09%. I got a 95 on my final, so Ruth's candy and your good wishes did the trick!
Phew. Two A's. I'm not getting cocky though... that's only 7 credits down and 113 more to go until I have my bachelor degree.
But still! Pretty cool!
Also cool... Ms. Hannibal Lexter is getting interviewed for the Longmont paper! She was nominated by her coach, who is a reporter for the paper, as part of a large list of nominees for the "100 Coolest People In Longmont" special section that comes out in March. (That's probably not what it's really called, but it will do for now.) Because she does derby and is generally a cool chick, I feel that she will at least be in the top 5, if not the coolest person on the list.
I wonder if I can make this work for some kind of college scholarship for her...
Hm.
Anyway, this week will continue to be crazy busy... there are cards to send! Crafts to finish! Gifts to mail! (Only 2 but still...thank goodness for click-n-ship - really if you haven't used this, START.) Cookies to make! I've gotten so many nice treats that if I don't reciprocate I'm going to feel like a heel.
Shortbread and chocolate chip cookies for everyone! The fact that they're easy recipes doesn't take away from the intent right?
Happy Thursday...
PS... Here's something pretty for you to enjoy. TR, you'll appreciate the clouds and windmills!
Friday, December 10, 2010
Please Hold While I Connect Your Blog
Okay. I'm sorry.
I keep saying that but truthfully I've had the most busy, chock-full couple of weeks that I'm amazed I can even type at all much less put a coherent sentence together. Even that remains to be seen... check back at the end.
My favoritest bloggers, Mimi Spartypants (no relation) and Allie Brosh of Hyperbole and a Half, often go ages without a post, so I feel okay with it all, but still! I miss talking to the 5 of you!
Let's see. When we last left off, it was 2 days before Thanksgiving. I was happily anticipating TR's return from Nashville, being excited about his house, and trying to plan a respectable outfit in which to meet his dad on Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving was really nice! TR's dad is sweet and nice and complimentary, making a point to say what nice kid Kid is (and she is - he's obviously also very smart). He came through on his promise to "not be too scary," and for that I'm eternally grateful. What is it about "meeting the parents" though?! It's not like I'm some unestablished teen or something. I'm a grown-ass adult! With a house! And a car! And, ya know, debts and other adult-type stuff! I know how to schmooze, how to rhetorically mold myself to any situation and charm the shit out of people! Or something.
I'm not sure if that makes me a mature adult, but whatever.
Anyway he was nothing but nice, El Rancho was fabulous, the turkey was good, the chef was funny, and I looked like a mom for once. As a bonus prize it's located right near Buffalo Bill's grave, which despite living here for nigh on 7 years I had yet to visit, so even though it was freezing and I was in a dress (I KNOW) we trekked over. It was a beautiful sight, TR bought The Kid a pair of awesome purple beaded earrings, and I got to drive a really awesomely fun road back down the mountain afterward. I got to be in first gear and not touch my gas pedal. Yay mountain driving! (I can name at least 3 people who would have been crapping themselves on that drive, but NOT ME MAN. I live here now.)
TR very sweetly arranged a couple of rooms at the very cool Renaissance hotel, wherein lies a pool. He thought it would be fun for me, the Kid and himself to go and relax, enjoy some squashy Marriott bedding and the hot tub which was so hot I think I actually may have damaged myself for a moment. The Kid enjoyed having a room all to herself, what with the TV and snack bag, and TR & I enjoyed sleeping in. All in all it was a seriously stress-free holiday. And no dishes!
Alas that also means there were no leftovers. Old habits die hard, and it being the season for such things, I had put aside a turkey for emergencies. Turkey emergencies are more common than you might think, and just such a thing arose last week! After a long weekend of helping TR shop for furniture (including a successful trip to acquire a washer and dryer) it was time for some tryptophan. And I made the works... turkey, stuffing (Stovetop OH YES), fresh greenbeans, mashed potatoes. Jarred gravy because I'm lazy and would only ruin a roux.
And I discovered something.
Despite all this fancified turkey-making, with all the brining and basting bags and smoking and deep-frying and Turducken madness (though none of those are bad things, except the Turducken but only because I'm not eating anything where the first syllable is "turd"), the old-fashioned, in a pan, buttered & salted & peppered, basted-every-hour turkey is still the best.
And the dishes were minimal, mainly because despite my laziness I am totally OCD when I cook. I do dishes as I go and use my dishwasher as much as possible, so that by the time the food is done my kitchen is still fairly clean. Work smarter not hard right?
Other than that, things have generally been all about school. I'm almost officially done with my first semester of college, go me! My English teacher loves my work, and I did okay in Math, better than I expected to. That's the last step, actually, a Final Exam full of graphing and factoring of binomials (wish me luck). I'm taking it Monday, and then it's NO SCHOOL for over a month! The new semester doesn't start until January 18. I'm looking forward to the break, because even if I'm only doing 2 classes, it's plenty exhausting.
It's not that the work is all that hard, not that I'm bragging. It just really isn't that tough if you pay attention. It's time consuming, sure, but it's time-consuming for a reason. It's forced studying, something I didn't understand in high school. "So you're saying that if you do the homework and assignments and show up, you'll learn stuff and not have to cram and do better on tests? Oh I see."
The thing that sucked me dry was the constant schedule.
When I wasn't actually doing any work, I was thinking about the next deadline. As the next deadline was approaching, I was thinking about the deadline after that. As each test passed, as each discussion was posted, I was making sure I reminded myself constantly to check the content page, check the discussion board, check the calendar. You're never resting.
So trust me when I say that I'm really looking forward to a month with no reminder for myself other than "make sure you get your books and do your taxes and put in your FASFA and apply for scholarships".
Oh.
Damn.
Well at least I'll be able to read a book! And the Kraft Krazy, though sorely missed for several months, has begun to re-emerge, so I'll be able to work some of that in as well.
I made TR kitchen towels (well, I embellished pre-existing towels anyway) with palm-tree fabric, which he actually put in his kitchen! I call that crafting success. No pictures, I forgot, but if I remember I'll take one of my signature bad camera-phone shots next time I'm over.
I've also made some kid-toys, for two very cute babies and my very cute baby. She was popping through my patterns one day on Evernote (which I love) and fell in love with Mooshy Belly Bunny. It's really for little kids, but sometimes she likes to be a little kid and who am I to deny her? It's one of my favorite things about her, the fact that she's not all "whatevs, I'm a teen". Does it make her seem a little naive sometimes? Maybe. But maybe that's not such a bad thing. She's been through enough crap in her life, and can take care of herself when needed, and that's all I can ask for. I think the world can indulge her occasional need for footie pajamas, hot chocolate, cartoons and stuffed animals.
ANYWAY.
Behold, Mooshy Belly Bunny, hanging out with his friend Lopsided Sun-Like Creature Mit Ribbon (he's very avant-garde).
My attempt with ribbon boy wasn't so professional, but I think his attended audience will not care. The photo is crap of course, he's MUCH brighter, but you get the idea.
Behind him are placemats whose pattern is an amalgam of the original jelly roll place-mat pattern I found last year and started but never finished**, and the amazingly awesome lazy-crafter Godsend that is self-binding backing, as demonstrated in the baby blanket pattern I found but haven't yet used.
** You may remember the tale of the jelly-roll bait-ball. Just a reminder - don't ever wash jelly rolls. Plan a project that doesn't require washing, or accept that your project will look weird when you finally do wash it post-project, because if you pre-wash you will be a sad, sorry panda.
My mitered corners are not, of course, as nice as the original, but I gave myself a break because the binding was so narrow I couldn't really do the box-corner thing successfully. They still came out nicely, and frankly they're kind of folk-arty so it adds to the charm, right?
Of course it does.
See how I didn't photograph the corners? There's a reason.
The picture, of course, does nothing to really demonstrate the bright, fun fabric which, though it made me cry during the hours of untangling and de-threading post-wash, still delight me.
This is them:
I don't know who "Sanae" is but clearly he/she enjoyed the 70s.
Or never actually lived them.
Either way.
I keep saying that but truthfully I've had the most busy, chock-full couple of weeks that I'm amazed I can even type at all much less put a coherent sentence together. Even that remains to be seen... check back at the end.
My favoritest bloggers, Mimi Spartypants (no relation) and Allie Brosh of Hyperbole and a Half, often go ages without a post, so I feel okay with it all, but still! I miss talking to the 5 of you!
Let's see. When we last left off, it was 2 days before Thanksgiving. I was happily anticipating TR's return from Nashville, being excited about his house, and trying to plan a respectable outfit in which to meet his dad on Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving was really nice! TR's dad is sweet and nice and complimentary, making a point to say what nice kid Kid is (and she is - he's obviously also very smart). He came through on his promise to "not be too scary," and for that I'm eternally grateful. What is it about "meeting the parents" though?! It's not like I'm some unestablished teen or something. I'm a grown-ass adult! With a house! And a car! And, ya know, debts and other adult-type stuff! I know how to schmooze, how to rhetorically mold myself to any situation and charm the shit out of people! Or something.
I'm not sure if that makes me a mature adult, but whatever.
Anyway he was nothing but nice, El Rancho was fabulous, the turkey was good, the chef was funny, and I looked like a mom for once. As a bonus prize it's located right near Buffalo Bill's grave, which despite living here for nigh on 7 years I had yet to visit, so even though it was freezing and I was in a dress (I KNOW) we trekked over. It was a beautiful sight, TR bought The Kid a pair of awesome purple beaded earrings, and I got to drive a really awesomely fun road back down the mountain afterward. I got to be in first gear and not touch my gas pedal. Yay mountain driving! (I can name at least 3 people who would have been crapping themselves on that drive, but NOT ME MAN. I live here now.)
TR very sweetly arranged a couple of rooms at the very cool Renaissance hotel, wherein lies a pool. He thought it would be fun for me, the Kid and himself to go and relax, enjoy some squashy Marriott bedding and the hot tub which was so hot I think I actually may have damaged myself for a moment. The Kid enjoyed having a room all to herself, what with the TV and snack bag, and TR & I enjoyed sleeping in. All in all it was a seriously stress-free holiday. And no dishes!
Alas that also means there were no leftovers. Old habits die hard, and it being the season for such things, I had put aside a turkey for emergencies. Turkey emergencies are more common than you might think, and just such a thing arose last week! After a long weekend of helping TR shop for furniture (including a successful trip to acquire a washer and dryer) it was time for some tryptophan. And I made the works... turkey, stuffing (Stovetop OH YES), fresh greenbeans, mashed potatoes. Jarred gravy because I'm lazy and would only ruin a roux.
And I discovered something.
Despite all this fancified turkey-making, with all the brining and basting bags and smoking and deep-frying and Turducken madness (though none of those are bad things, except the Turducken but only because I'm not eating anything where the first syllable is "turd"), the old-fashioned, in a pan, buttered & salted & peppered, basted-every-hour turkey is still the best.
And the dishes were minimal, mainly because despite my laziness I am totally OCD when I cook. I do dishes as I go and use my dishwasher as much as possible, so that by the time the food is done my kitchen is still fairly clean. Work smarter not hard right?
Other than that, things have generally been all about school. I'm almost officially done with my first semester of college, go me! My English teacher loves my work, and I did okay in Math, better than I expected to. That's the last step, actually, a Final Exam full of graphing and factoring of binomials (wish me luck). I'm taking it Monday, and then it's NO SCHOOL for over a month! The new semester doesn't start until January 18. I'm looking forward to the break, because even if I'm only doing 2 classes, it's plenty exhausting.
It's not that the work is all that hard, not that I'm bragging. It just really isn't that tough if you pay attention. It's time consuming, sure, but it's time-consuming for a reason. It's forced studying, something I didn't understand in high school. "So you're saying that if you do the homework and assignments and show up, you'll learn stuff and not have to cram and do better on tests? Oh I see."
The thing that sucked me dry was the constant schedule.
When I wasn't actually doing any work, I was thinking about the next deadline. As the next deadline was approaching, I was thinking about the deadline after that. As each test passed, as each discussion was posted, I was making sure I reminded myself constantly to check the content page, check the discussion board, check the calendar. You're never resting.
So trust me when I say that I'm really looking forward to a month with no reminder for myself other than "make sure you get your books and do your taxes and put in your FASFA and apply for scholarships".
Oh.
Damn.
Well at least I'll be able to read a book! And the Kraft Krazy, though sorely missed for several months, has begun to re-emerge, so I'll be able to work some of that in as well.
I made TR kitchen towels (well, I embellished pre-existing towels anyway) with palm-tree fabric, which he actually put in his kitchen! I call that crafting success. No pictures, I forgot, but if I remember I'll take one of my signature bad camera-phone shots next time I'm over.
I've also made some kid-toys, for two very cute babies and my very cute baby. She was popping through my patterns one day on Evernote (which I love) and fell in love with Mooshy Belly Bunny. It's really for little kids, but sometimes she likes to be a little kid and who am I to deny her? It's one of my favorite things about her, the fact that she's not all "whatevs, I'm a teen". Does it make her seem a little naive sometimes? Maybe. But maybe that's not such a bad thing. She's been through enough crap in her life, and can take care of herself when needed, and that's all I can ask for. I think the world can indulge her occasional need for footie pajamas, hot chocolate, cartoons and stuffed animals.
ANYWAY.
Behold, Mooshy Belly Bunny, hanging out with his friend Lopsided Sun-Like Creature Mit Ribbon (he's very avant-garde).
My attempt with ribbon boy wasn't so professional, but I think his attended audience will not care. The photo is crap of course, he's MUCH brighter, but you get the idea.
Behind him are placemats whose pattern is an amalgam of the original jelly roll place-mat pattern I found last year and started but never finished**, and the amazingly awesome lazy-crafter Godsend that is self-binding backing, as demonstrated in the baby blanket pattern I found but haven't yet used.
** You may remember the tale of the jelly-roll bait-ball. Just a reminder - don't ever wash jelly rolls. Plan a project that doesn't require washing, or accept that your project will look weird when you finally do wash it post-project, because if you pre-wash you will be a sad, sorry panda.
My mitered corners are not, of course, as nice as the original, but I gave myself a break because the binding was so narrow I couldn't really do the box-corner thing successfully. They still came out nicely, and frankly they're kind of folk-arty so it adds to the charm, right?
Of course it does.
See how I didn't photograph the corners? There's a reason.
The picture, of course, does nothing to really demonstrate the bright, fun fabric which, though it made me cry during the hours of untangling and de-threading post-wash, still delight me.
This is them:
I don't know who "Sanae" is but clearly he/she enjoyed the 70s.
Or never actually lived them.
Either way.
Aren't they fun? I had a good time matching the colors up, insomuch as you can match screaming orange with wistful green. It worked.
And though any quilt shop would make this face at me if I tried to pass them off as containing anything resembling good binding work...
And though any quilt shop would make this face at me if I tried to pass them off as containing anything resembling good binding work...
... I like them. And I think their recipients will like them too.
Or they'll stick them in a drawer and only take them out when I'm over.
Which is fine.
Happy Friday! Wish me luck on my test!
Or they'll stick them in a drawer and only take them out when I'm over.
Which is fine.
Happy Friday! Wish me luck on my test!
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
I Talk To Myself A Lot
Holy Hell.
It's Thanksgiving this week! How did that even happen?
This is what I never knew about doing the school/work combo - it eats time like it was a bag of (fill in your favorite snacky item here - salt & vinegar chips for me, thanks).
All of a sudden I'm down to the last of my third paper, and the start of my fourth and final.
Without seeming to feel it, I've managed to get to my last set of homework and quizzes for math, and will be facing my final in just a couple of weeks. Not to brag, but I also got 101% on my most recent test. GO ME.
On top of that there's been Derby (The Kid won her most recent bout, by the way), and moving TR's brother & wife (his brother's wife, not TR's DUH). I managed to pack the be-all end-all of emergency supply boxes, too, containing tea, coffee, mac and cheese and spaghetti. You could seriously live a week on that box.
Too bad I hid the silverware (they found it eventually).
Anyway, point is I've been unbelievably busy. Not too busy for you, baby, don't cry! Just too busy to blog.
Today, though, I felt the need to share, even though I've probably alienated everyone by now with my absence. At least it's there, right?
But what to talk about?
How about the fact that The Kid has the ENTIRE week off for Thanksgiving? We never got the whole week off, what gives?! Not that she's complaining. She's got an entire week of crafting and sleeping in and watching episodes of Monk on the Netflix.
(By the way, if you have internet and a Blu-Ray, a Wii, a PS3, TiVo or one of those fancy internet TVs, Netflix now has a streaming-only option for their service for 8 bucks a month. It's awesome! Who needs cable! Netflix should give me a month's credit for plugging them. Spread the word.)
Oh and guess what! I'm going to be in Geek Bowl 2011 in January. It's the throw-down event of the year for Geeks Who Drink, and I'm super excited! Even if we don't win it will be awesome fun. We're thinking costumes, even - maybe hats. Who knows. It doesn't matter, really, because I will be too busy being thrilled to be part of the world's biggest nerd herd.
How are we preparing? Mexican food and 5-hour Energy Drinks. We will ROCK IT.
Let's see, what else.
TR bought a house! He should have keys in hand today, in fact, and I'm so excited for him. It's an excellent house with an unbelievable view and the most beautiful oak tree out front. It has only the minorest of needs (minorest? Really, Mimi?), all which are fixable with no real fuss, and I think he's going to be really happy there.
Well...
He'll be happy once the move is done. Moving SUCKS, but since he's smartly hiring movers it should be less horrific than one might usually expect. No taking fifty loads in various cars, or arguing with U-Haul. No back-breaking labor (besides the actual box-packing).
Movers are SO worth the money.
Anyway it's lovely inside, and I am really going to have to restrain the Kraft Krazy. When I looked at it I could almost see the floor pillows for the fire-place cozy. I could feel the weight of firewood in the hand-made log-carrier. I could nearly feel the whoosh of cotton slipping between my fingers as it feeds under the piercing needle, folding and pressing itself, creating neat lines and...
STOP IT MIMI.
Ahem. Sorry.
Craft porn. It happens.
Anyway, it's an awesome house, which will only get awesomer (awesomer? REALLY MIMI?) when he puts his touches on it all. I predict tikis.
Also, speaking of Kraft Krazy...
I love this so much
It's Thanksgiving this week! How did that even happen?
This is what I never knew about doing the school/work combo - it eats time like it was a bag of (fill in your favorite snacky item here - salt & vinegar chips for me, thanks).
All of a sudden I'm down to the last of my third paper, and the start of my fourth and final.
Without seeming to feel it, I've managed to get to my last set of homework and quizzes for math, and will be facing my final in just a couple of weeks. Not to brag, but I also got 101% on my most recent test. GO ME.
On top of that there's been Derby (The Kid won her most recent bout, by the way), and moving TR's brother & wife (his brother's wife, not TR's DUH). I managed to pack the be-all end-all of emergency supply boxes, too, containing tea, coffee, mac and cheese and spaghetti. You could seriously live a week on that box.
Too bad I hid the silverware (they found it eventually).
Anyway, point is I've been unbelievably busy. Not too busy for you, baby, don't cry! Just too busy to blog.
Today, though, I felt the need to share, even though I've probably alienated everyone by now with my absence. At least it's there, right?
But what to talk about?
How about the fact that The Kid has the ENTIRE week off for Thanksgiving? We never got the whole week off, what gives?! Not that she's complaining. She's got an entire week of crafting and sleeping in and watching episodes of Monk on the Netflix.
(By the way, if you have internet and a Blu-Ray, a Wii, a PS3, TiVo or one of those fancy internet TVs, Netflix now has a streaming-only option for their service for 8 bucks a month. It's awesome! Who needs cable! Netflix should give me a month's credit for plugging them. Spread the word.)
Oh and guess what! I'm going to be in Geek Bowl 2011 in January. It's the throw-down event of the year for Geeks Who Drink, and I'm super excited! Even if we don't win it will be awesome fun. We're thinking costumes, even - maybe hats. Who knows. It doesn't matter, really, because I will be too busy being thrilled to be part of the world's biggest nerd herd.
How are we preparing? Mexican food and 5-hour Energy Drinks. We will ROCK IT.
Let's see, what else.
TR bought a house! He should have keys in hand today, in fact, and I'm so excited for him. It's an excellent house with an unbelievable view and the most beautiful oak tree out front. It has only the minorest of needs (minorest? Really, Mimi?), all which are fixable with no real fuss, and I think he's going to be really happy there.
Well...
He'll be happy once the move is done. Moving SUCKS, but since he's smartly hiring movers it should be less horrific than one might usually expect. No taking fifty loads in various cars, or arguing with U-Haul. No back-breaking labor (besides the actual box-packing).
Movers are SO worth the money.
Anyway it's lovely inside, and I am really going to have to restrain the Kraft Krazy. When I looked at it I could almost see the floor pillows for the fire-place cozy. I could feel the weight of firewood in the hand-made log-carrier. I could nearly feel the whoosh of cotton slipping between my fingers as it feeds under the piercing needle, folding and pressing itself, creating neat lines and...
STOP IT MIMI.
Ahem. Sorry.
Craft porn. It happens.
Anyway, it's an awesome house, which will only get awesomer (awesomer? REALLY MIMI?) when he puts his touches on it all. I predict tikis.
Also, speaking of Kraft Krazy...
I love this so much
Just in case you thought I was the only one.
Actually I haven't been crafting much lately, I've been TOO BUSY, but I have some projects lined up. I was almost thinking no crafting might happen this holiday season, but that was just crazy talk.
It might not be much, it certainly won't be an embroidered Robert Smith pillow, but it'll be something!
Alright...back to my homework.
Actually I haven't been crafting much lately, I've been TOO BUSY, but I have some projects lined up. I was almost thinking no crafting might happen this holiday season, but that was just crazy talk.
It might not be much, it certainly won't be an embroidered Robert Smith pillow, but it'll be something!
Alright...back to my homework.
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