Yes, I'm a Super-Hero

STEP BY STEP: MAKING ICONS IN GIMP FOR THE ANDROID PHONE 7 THEME

2011-05-21T21:27:00.000-07:00

INGREDIENTS

Phone with Android 1.6 or above

Launcher: I use the free Go Launcher EX, but it doesn’t have the same icons that the ADW Launcher EX or the Launcher Pro EX.

Desktop Visualizer Application from Android Market https://market.android.com/details?id=jp.co.bii.android.app.dskvzr&feature=search_result
Computer with XP SP2 or above

Gimp – Please download it from the following site and install http://gimp-win.sourceforge.net/stable.html. You only need to download the first file listed under ‘Base Packages’.

Photo file: Check here http://www.openstockphotography.org/

Additional Fonts: I liked http://www.fonts2u.com/aerovias-brasil-nf.font The site has a whole lot of fonts to choose from, so have fun. In Windows 7, you can install fonts by double clicking on the .ttf file and clicking on the ‘install’ button at the top of the page. This does not work in X though. Please click here for directions on installing fonts in XP. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314960

STEPS
1. Open the folder with the photo you downloaded in it.

a.

2. Add fonts to Gimp by clicking on the Text icon in the “Toolbox”. It’s an ‘A’. After opening the text tool, click on the Font list. There is a tiny icon and the bottom of the list in the right-hand corner.

a. There is a blue refresh icon in the center middle of the bar at the bottom of the list. The adds the new font to the Gimp font list so you can use it in the future.

3. You need to know the size of the icon you need. This refers to the number of pixels. For example, the follow list is the size of icons for a 480x800 phone based on the list found here. http://androidforums.com/android-themes/199936-android-phone-7-theme.html I need a 1x3 icon for Craigslist Mobile.

1x1: 110 x 125
1x2: 110 x 260
1x3: 110 x 395
1x4: 110 x 530
2x1: 230 x 125
2x2: 230 x 260
3x1: 350 x 125
3x3: 350 x 395
4x1: 470 x 125
4x4: 470 x 530

4. My image is natively 453x604 pixels and since the I want to use most of the image, and the size of the image needs to be 350x125. I scaled the photo back to 296x395.

5. To scale images, you need to click on ‘Image’ to open the Image menu and scroll down to ‘scale image…’

6. To maintain proportions make sure the icon to the right of the pixels numbers is a connected image. If you click on it, the icon will change and look like the original icon has a disconnect in the middle. Do not use this when you are scaling the image.

7. After the image has been resized, you may want to zoom in by clicking on the ‘View’ option and scrolling down to the ‘Zoom’ option. I usually set it to 200% after scaling the image.

8. Next we need to set the canvas size. This will be the final size of the icon. This is when I set the image size to 350x125. Don’t forget to click on the icon to the right because otherwise it will automatically change the size to maintain the aspect ratio. This is unimportant at this stage.

9. Click ‘Resize’ at the bottom of the bottom of the ‘Set Image Canvas Size’ popup menu.

10. If you need to adjust the image, you still can by clicking and dragging within the dashed lines.

11. Now we need to add a layer to the image by going to the ‘Layer’ menu at the top and clicking on ‘New Layer’

a. You should make sure that the default background color is white and the foreground color is white.

b.

12. To keep things consistent, every icon you make should have the same height for the second layer. Please also click on ‘Foreground color’ and the second number box (refers to height in pixels) should be changed to 40.

13. It defaults to adding the second layer to the top of the image. I move it to
the bottom of the image and change the ‘Opacity’ to 65% under the ‘Layers, Channels, Path, Undo, …” Menu. I do so by either moving the slider or you can click on the number to the right and type in 65.0.

14. Now we can add the text. I installed Aerovias Brasil NF. Click on the ‘A’ icon to open the text menu in the Toolbox.

15. My font size is 30 and the color is white. You can change the font color by clicking on the box below Text.

16. Click within the black shaded area(second layer) and type in the name of your icon. I used ‘Craigslist’. My is also completely capitalized, but that is a style choice you have to make.

17. You will probably need to reposition the text to make sure it’s where you want it to be in layer 2. I like to center mine. You need to click on the ‘Move’ menu in the toolbox. You can also access the option by opening the ‘Tools’ menu and clicking on ‘Transform Tools’ and then click on ‘Move’

18. Click on ‘Move the Active Layer’ to move the text where you want it within the box.

19. Your file is now complete and you can save it. It needs to be saved in png format. Click on ‘File’ at the top and click on ‘Save As’

20. It will now ask you to change the save name. You can delete everything within the save name box and write the filename dot PNG. For example, mine is called craigslist 1x3.png. This saves it as a PNG file. You will then be asked to flatten the image and I just click on “Export” and then save and leave everything on default..

21. Now you can put the file on your phone and use desktop visualizer to place it on your desktop as a widget and connect it to a program

END PRODUCT

Update and New Focus

2011-05-16T18:24:00.000-07:00

So I'm going to start updating every day about something. Today I'd really like to review my ebook reader. I just got in back in January and I feel like I've really put it through it's paces these last few months.

I bought this in January because it was on sale at Best Buy and came with a free sleeve and I was gearing up for the cruise we are taking next year. So that said, I have no buyers regret on this purchase. Frankly, it's been years since I bought a non-touchscreen electronics device so when I was looking at all these e-readers which required the use of buttons, I was not impressed.

This 5 inch e-reader fits into my hand. I can just swipe my finger across the page to go to the next one or to go back. I still use the physical buttons a lot though since they are right where my fingers are when I'm holding the device. The screen has little glare, but it does seem to attract dust. That bothered my at first, but I don't notice it anymore. I don't notice the flash when I turn the page anymore either. For the $140 I paid for this, I've received many hours of amusement and have still only paid for about $30 worth of books.

One of the pros of this device is that you can check out books from the Library with it. I also get a lot of books from Project Gutenburg and buy cheap books from Smashwords.

A negative for some people will certainly be the lack of wifi or 3g. I don't miss it because I use Calibre to organize my books on the computer and I'm never far from a computer. I'm not even close to filling the memory on the device and have over a hundred books on it.

I usually look for books by either author or time loaded onto the device, with the occasional search via title if I can't remember the author. You can also add tags to the books in Calibre which will make groups on the device and you can navigate by those tags instead.

One weak point in the design on the e-reader is the stylus. I rarely used mine and it still broke last month. I figure I'll live without it and glued it onto the e-reader since the ereader doesn't look right without the stylus.

It also doesn't come with an ac adapter and doesn't work with all the other ac adapter you may have in your home with the same connection. I had 3, a non-name from ebay, a samsung one from my phone, and one from my Archos 5 IT. Only the Samsung works properly. The no name will not allow me to use the reader while charging, but will charge it and the Archos one doesn't work at all.

All in all, a great device. It feels solid and has given me few problems in the last few months. I'm now a believer in dedicated ebook readers.

New Kitten

2009-06-23T07:58:00.000-07:00

So I can't post a picture since my camera ran out of battery power when I was copying the pics of the camera, so here's one I'm borrowing from another site that looks like her. This pic is from http://www.great-pictures-of-cats.com/

I found her while I was walking my dog in the park. She can meow really loud and there were no other cats or kittens nearby. My neighbor thinks she is probably 8-10 weeks old. She's really skinny and gobbled down the food I put out for her. She's also a snuggle-bug. She's got fleas and probably ear mites too. Poor mite.

So I found her in the park and brought her home with me and Luna and put her into the bathroom with a bowl of water and a little wet dog food and a towel and closed the door while I ran up to Petco and got some kitten food, a couple of little toys, a litter box and cat litter, and some cute kitten bowl. I think I spent $50 on everything, but she's so pathetically small and undernourished. I hope she will be okay.

So how is she integrating after one night?

Really well. I kept her alone in the bathroom for awhile last night so she could feel secure. She keeps laying behind the toilet, so I put the towel there and gave her some kitten food and set up the litter box with some kitten attracting powder added in and shut the door so Luna couldn't get in and went out and walked Luna for another 30 minutes. Then I watching Back the the Future II for 30 more minutes, then I went in and picked her up and petted her. For a ferrel (sp?) kitten, she seems to really like being touched.

I petted her until she purred and walked around the apartment. Luna tried to jump up on me a couple of times, but I didn't let her. Eventually I sat on the couch and put her on the back of the couch and let Luna sit on the floor beside the couch and watched them stare at each other. Luna barked a bit at first, but after she realized she couldn't get to the kitten and the kitten realized the dog wouldn't attack her, both settled down a bit and Luna assumed her defensive stance she uses at the dog park. In other words, she sits with her back to me, surveying the world around us. After a few more minutes of this and me petting the kitten and Luna at the same time, I put the kitten back and put her on the litter and dug her paws into it since someone on YahooAnswers says it helped her kitten learn to use the litter box and it seems a harmless enough thing to do.

After petting Luna some more and continuing to watch the movie for another hour, I brought the kitten out again, although I may have gone a little too fast this time since she arched her back a hissed at Luna when Luna aproached really quickly. I subdued the kitten until she calmed and purred again and Luna was still sitting beside the couch and I returned her to the bathroom again.

So on the third time I brought the kitten back out, things went really well. I sat with the kitten and Luna was more calm and the kitten began purring almost immediately and I sat down on the couch and she stayed on my shoulder even though Luna approached and I let Luna get close enough to sniff her with my hand on Luna's harness to pull her back if need be and she started licking the kitten. I've looked it up and older female dogs licking kittens is usually a symptom of the maternal instinct, so Luna may have already accepted her into the pack and the kitten continued purring with Luna licked her. I only let them do it for a few moments the first time before again removing the kitten into the bathroom.

So the final time I brought her out last night, I let Luna again lick the kitten and she licked the kitten a lot, but the kitten really didn't mind. Awesome. You know, I wasn't thinking of having a kitten before yesterday, but now that I've let her in the door, I want to keep her. I've named her Rosalie.

My new fake, fake Iphone or Fake Sciphone

2009-03-25T13:16:00.000-07:00

So I just avoid buying Apple products since the company has enough sheep following it, but I did want a touchscreen phone and I'm less than a year into my 2 year contract, so I needed to buy my company from someone other than Tmobile. (New phone because my sweet dog chewed up the old one). The Iphone has the longest history of copies, so I figured a fake Iphone would work out. Before this I considered buying a new touchscreen phone, but they tended to cost about 275-350, so I decided to try the $120 Sciphone, or what I thought would be a Sciphone. Now, unfortunately, I went for Ebay and if you want to legit fake, you should go to mysciphone.com or net or something. My Faux Fake Iphone works so similarly to the normal Sciphone, that I wouldn't have known it was the wrong one if not for the opening screen showing some gobbledy-gook rather than Sciphone.

Out of the package:

An 8GB Flash card came installed in the phone, so all I needed to do was insert the sim car and battery and connect to some sort of power source with the USB. Also in the box was a car charger, USB cable, earphones, wall battery charger, and flash card adapter. I installed my sim card upside down at first, but eventually figured out why it couldn't work and turned it over.

There are 2 Sim slots, I use the second one and you have to set the phone to look only in the one slot.

Figuring it out:

Some things are intuitive, but others needed more help. Ex: There is a MP3 and audio folder and when I moved my music onto the player, I was wondering why it didn't work. My music was wma, so I'll have to conver it to mp3 to enjoy. I also need to buy a pair of bluetooth headphones so I can enjoy the music better.

It takes okay pictures, nothing better or worse then any phone camera.

Opening txt files was also fine, you can bookmark. I haven't used the option much and I will try it out some more since I do enjoy a good ebook with lunch.

The interface is very quick and the screen is very bright and beautiful. I am mostly impressed with the phone quality. The only problem is that when I touch one corner of the screen, the plastic makes a noise like its moving if you know what I mean. Touchscreen should not make noise when you touch them unless you set it up and then its electronic and this is definitely build related. I'm not sure if that's something I should worry about, or live with. I mean, this phone only has to last me a year until my contract expires and I get a new phone.

I'll update with the battery specifics and after I play aroudn with it some more.

Strawberry Dress and 1954 Lutterloh

2009-03-19T09:30:00.000-07:00

So I found some beautiful strawberry printed fabric for $2 a yard at walmart last night and decided to make a Strawberry Festival dress. The Strawberry Festival is in the beginning of May here in Pasadena and I hear it can be a little fun. The Library may even be part of the parade.

So I'm trying to pick a nice fun pattern for the dress and here are some options.

This dress #20 is a showstopped, not for this particular project, but its just ridiculously feminine and beautiful.

53 (the one on the end) is the one I'm thinking of right now.

or perhaps the right side one closer to the spine, 228. Hmm, so many choices. That Lutterloh is a buffet of possibilities.

New Inspiration

2009-03-09T10:17:00.000-07:00

So I got my nails done last week and it wasn't enough. I needed even more of a change. So I dyed my hair red again and waxed my eyebrows this weekend. With my new red hair, I've resolved to buy no more candy, cookies, or chips. Those are my downfall. I can't simply buy a package and eat one or two. I eat the whole thing within a couple of days. It's just sad. I think I'm like an alcoholic and simply can't have a little and must binge. Bummer.

Further my resolution is to eat some sort of fresh and raw fruit of veggie with every meal and to eat 5 times a day. I also want to drink water with every meal. Here are a couple of daily meal ideas

Day 1
Breakfast 2 scrambled eggs with green bell pepper and onion and chorizo and an apple
Snack 4 oz of sliced cucumbers and 8 oz chocolate protein shake
Lunch 2 slices of high fiber bread, mustard, lettuce, tomato, 1 slice of cheddar cheese, a 2 oz of shaved pepper turkey breast and broccoli with 1 oz of ranch dipping sauce and sugar free orange drink
Snack 1 carrot and 8 oz chocolate protein shake
Dinner cilantro lime marinated chicken breast, simple salad with fresh tomatoes, strawberry shake

Day 2
Breakfast an orange, 2 scrambled eggs with salsa
Snack 8 oz chocolate protein shake and a couple of pickles
Lunch 1 slice of high protein bread, tuna salad with plenty of celery, tomato soup, jello cup
Snack 8 oz chocolate protein shake and a tomato
Dinner grilled hamburger patty, mustard, simple salad, jello cup, apple

Day 3
Breakfast 2 breakfast tacos with lc tortillas, scrambled eggs, chorizo, and pico de gallo and an apple
Snack an orange and 8 oz chocolate protein shake
Lunch fresh fruit salad, grilled chicken breast, and tomato soup with fresh tomatoes
Snack 2 carrots and 8 oz chocolate protein shake
Dinner brown rice, peppered beef, grilled zucchini, fresh strawberry shake

Day 4
Breakfast ham and cheese omelet and a tomato
Snack 2 sticks of celery with peanut butter
Lunch baked pork chop and a salad and a jello cup
Snack pickles and 8 oz chocolate protein shake
Dinner grilled salmon, steamed broccoli, and a salad heavy on carrots and light on dressing, and low calorie flan

Day 5
Breakfast 2 over easy eggs, and a cup of oatmeal
Snack bell pepper with salt
Lunch Vegetable soup, ham and lettuce roll ups, an orange
Snack an apple with peanut butter
Dinner low calorie crème brulee, baked chicken breast, steamed cauliflower, an apple

Day 6
Breakfast Spinach and Artichoke omelet and an orange
Snack 2 carrots and 8 oz chocolate shake
Lunch kimchi, bean sprouts, beef and spinach soup, kung pao chicken, and brown rice
Snack an apple with peanut butter
Dinner shrimp curry and steamed broccoli and a mango

Day 7
Breakfast tomato and cheese omelet and an apple
Snack 8 oz chocolate shake and cucumbers with italian dressing
Lunch Pineapple, garlic bread, pesto cauliflower, and grilled hamburger patty
Snack an apple with peanut butter
Dinner jello, broccoli cheese soup, grilled salmon, an orange

Another Update

2009-01-27T12:31:00.001-08:00

Wow twice in 2 days, what's wrong with me. I posted the new wrap shirt I created over at Sew Retro, so I suppose I'll post it here too.

My 2 dogs :) despite the evil eyes, are awesome.

My evil ankle:

New Update

2009-01-26T13:52:00.000-08:00

I keep meaning to update this blog, but you know how it is when you get busy. So I've moved down to Pasadena into my own place (YAY). My neighbors smoke like chimneys (AW) but the only place I really smell it is in the kitchen. Oh well. I think I may end up staying here only until my lease expires in June.

I've gotten a second dog. You all know how I can't resist a sweet face. This sweet face is costing me an arm and a leg. No, he's not a puppy and actually has gray hair, but is a chewer and so far he chewed through 1 lease, a collar, and 2 halters. The dog is a mennace who started chewing on my external hard drive and has already demolished one DVD I didn't care about (Doctor Who Christmas Invasion). I've taken to hiding the stuff I care about. I would crate, him, but he's a whiner and I hate to annoy my neighbors since he does a lot of this while I'm asleep. He is cute though. He's a flat haired

retriever and like Luna is a bit mini. In fact, he's the exact same size as Luna. just with more hair. He weighs less right now because he has a tape worm. Also Luna has been getting on my nerves during walks. 2 times this weekend, she managed to see a cat while crossing a road with a car coming so I was hurrying, so Luna was able to take off. Did I forget to mention my ankle gave out twice last week. It was very painful and it's still sore so when I try to balance and put a lot of pressure downward, it doesn't always work.

On the bright side Luna and Jasper are quickly becoming friends. I don't think Luna knew quite what to make of Jasper at first, but over the past week she started spending more time trying to play with him and now she is the one I have to make leave him alone as opposed to the other way around. btw: he IS named for Jasper from Twilight just like Luna is named for the Harry Potter character.

I've also been sewing and will post a couple of my new creations tomorrow.

My Thoughts on the Twilight Saga

2008-12-05T10:43:00.000-08:00

So I just finished my obsessive week of Twilight. I started listening to the books on Monday, the 24th and have now finished listening to all 3. Like the Harry Potter's I prefered to listen to them rather than read them. Although Jim Dale is a large part of my desire to listen to HP and Ilyana Kadushin is no Jim Dale. I do spend a lot of time in traffic and Books on Tape are helpful. I did cheat and listen to them outside of the car if I got to a particularly interesting part. Oh, and I listened at work, although lots of people asked me what I was thinking about while listening because of the absorbed look on my face.

I've come to the conclusion that I really like them. I liked the first well enough, mehed through the emo Bella in the second. Yelled at Bella repeatedly in the third with many admonishments for her to just shut up. I think the last one will be my fav. It's definitely the one I've hated most have to take off the earphones for. The honeymoon is sweet and Bella's calling the baby her 'little nudger' made me want to cry with happiness as just about the first truly simpathetic moment for Bella. Most of the time she's just to overly emotionally teen and annoying, but she won me over with her love of her unborn child. I heard complaints later about Renesme being so Mary Sue and I get teh complaints. Everyone loves her, even Jacob who goes from killing the monster to being willing to die for her in the space of a breath. I did appreciate her most whenever she wasn't acting like an adult.

Team Jacob: I was kinda leaning toward Team Jacob even though I obviously knew before reading the books that she'd end up with Edward. This book definitely took a lot of the joy of Jacob away. I loved the part in the middle from his perspective and despite clothes shopping and dinner on Wednesday, I continued to listen to it. Leah is awesome and Jake as a pack leader was a welcome addition to the story. I wish we could find out more about the origins of the shapechangers and if the wolf form is simply because that's what they think they should change into. Also, I want Leah to have a happy ending. :(

Also, Bella and Edward's relationship seemed to be A LOT more healthy in this book. N one of the stalker controlling behavior, they seemed like equals, albeit with him still being protective. I also missed seeing Alice. One thing I appreciated about the second one was the stories about the other characters. I loved finding out where Jasper came from the the purported origins of the 'werewolves'.

On the slightly negative side, Bella didn't have nearly enough problems with being a vampire. After all that waiting and hemming and hawing by Edward and she takes to it like a duck to water. She even gets to maintain a relationship with her Dad. I did love Bella's stronger shield power, very in keeping with what had gone before and a great way for her to show her strength to everyone.

Big Negative I hated the final battle scene. All that build up and planning and nothing really happens. There's one death. I guess SM was probably trying to avoid too many comparisons to HP since its like the antithesis of the final battle in that series, but than that battle was inevitable and if it hadn't happened, the books would be ruined. The Twilight series is all about relationships, battles, but it would have been much more emotionally satisfying for the battle to have ocurred. :( I can see what SM was thinking. I mean, the Volturi are essential to keeping the vampires in check, but I really wanted a battle and some death and carnage.

So the whole living here in Dallas means that I may be going to Twicon. What is Twicon? It's a convention for Twilighters in Dallas and costs $255. They already have healiners from the movie who will be there. None of the top 3, but there's still alomost 8 months and many more people to announce in the meantime. I know that SM won't be there since she wants to spend some time with her family (what a crazy thought). www.twicon.com Kat seriously wants to go, the only problem in the time of year. I'm already needing to ask off for the first week in July, can I ask for a couple of days at the end as well. And what about the $255 ticket price. We'll see how my job goes. I reckon I'll look into buying a ticket in March or something. After I've done the whole moving into the apartment thing. I wonder if any other Twilighters I know are going to want to go and able to pay the $255 for tickets. Ugh, so much.

Job Update and Twilight

2008-11-26T15:26:00.000-08:00

So while I still don't have a start day, I did tell my boss about the new job. They offered me a permanent job and promotion to suppost for the engineering dept. It would have been nice, but when they started talking about training me, I knew I had to tell them about Pasadena despite the lack of official start day. I thought I would hear back today, but with the holiday, I think things get behind so I may not hear anythng until Monday.

So the only problem with listening to Twilight is that anytime they say the word Alice out loud, I want to break into the "Alice Blue Bonnet" song. Its a song about a hat and bonnet that fall in love and are separated at the store, but then reunited in a park. lol. Its cute and the tune keeps going though my head. lol. I'm actually listening to the book as I write this. I'm at the hospital scene.

I've made a list of purchases and budgets for the purchases based on prices on Craigslist, at WalMart, and at the Dollar General. I've created a excel spreadsheet separating and listing the needed supplies and projected cost and divided by need. I think I have 6 sections and so it will take at least 3 months to get my apartment perfected and decorated and supplied and I will be spending $2000 on decorations, furnishings, appliances, kitchen stuff, and everything else. I forgot to add the roomba to it. I'm so buying a roomba. I found one for $85 shipped last night, so I should get it before I move in. This is great for lazy people like me who hate to clean. Hopefully it will help me control Luna's hair. Thankfully Luna is a short hair since long hair gets caught on the rollers.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

New Job and Apartment

2008-11-23T17:21:00.001-08:00

So after getting further confirmation of the Pasadena job, I went down to Houston this weekend to look at apartments and I found one. Yay. Its a second floor Quadplex. I talked to the neighbors and really like the area. It's a bit rundown, but not ghetto. There's a park right behind it with a walking trail, a Walmart/ BOA/ Kroger/ Mall/ and the main library within 3 miles. The branch is more like 6 miles away, but the main library will be where I'll be working mostly after March.

On the Pros side for the apartment:

Not part of some big complex,
location,
pleasant neighbors,
within my price range,
$100 off first month,
only $300 deposit for me and Luna and all is refundadable,
great floor plan,
beautiful bay window,
ability to paint walls as I want,
lots of trees to shade the apt

Cons of the apt

Too close to shopping,

not much storage,

second floor so moving stuff in will be harder,

wood paneling,

and last but certainly not least, it does have a bug problem.

So about that last con, yes I did go for the apt despite the bug thing because I simply accept that any multi-family unit in the hot and humid areas of Texas are going to have bug problems. I've never been to one or lived in one that didn't. At least I've lived with it before and know how to deal with it. This includes daily cleaning, no leaving food out, using trash cans with tight lids, cleaning thoroughly, and remaining vigilant. I was after all, once a hotel housekeeper, so dealing with gross stuff is something I just suck it up and deal with. Also, I will be living on my own so just have myself to pick up after. I think Luna will have to get used to eating at set times though since I have the idea of leaving food out for her.

So what work will I do before moving in:

caulking all holes and cracks to further mitigate the bug situation,

put out boric acid and traps as well,
painting the paneling and walls

scrub everything down, especially the oven and fridge

What do I need to do to the kitchen:

Caulk and fill in all holes
Scrub every surface

Paint fridge and oven

Paint walls lemin chiffon or lemon grass

create floral stencil on wooden water heater cover out of contact paper and spray paint open areas dark blue.

Hang roman shade

Hang white sheer curtains with something dark blue as a cornice or something
replace cabinet hardware with black iron or stainless steel
hang family pictures in the kitchen
contact paper in the cabinets

bug stuff taken care of

Buy:

-Cutlery
-boring is probably best
-stand mixer
-knife set
-cutting boards

-mixing bowls
-dishes drying basket

-dish towels

-herb seeds and supplies

-dried herb rack
-cabinet organizers
-steel microwave

-medium lidded trash can

-Square dining sets
-

What do I need to do to the bathroom:

paint walls pale blue, like faraway blue and paint cabinet doors and area by shower dark blue

Buy:
-metal rolling cart
-small lidded steel or black trash can
-beigy medium brown shower curtain, bath mat, and toilet mat

-steel accessories as necessary
-one bright floral pic like
-

What do I need to do to the bedroom:

Paint top of the walls a light green and bottom a dark green with the railing in the middle painted white

dark brown furniture

white billowy curtains and a roman shade
bed linens should be golden or dark green and some other color from an opulent fabric

pre-rafaelite pics
Buy:
-large dresser
-large book shelf
-side table
-vanity
other storage opportunities

What do I need to do to the living room

Inspiration pic

I want to paint all the walls that dark teal sort of color and have beige or light brown furniture

white filmy curtains and a roman shade

screens on the windows

small prints like the ones in the pic.

Buy:

-couch

-easy chair

-coffee table

-end table

-2 book shelves

-other storagey furniture solutions

What do I need to do to the dining area:

Maintain front room scheme, but with the dark blue green only on the bottom on the room and paint top portion to match the yellow of the kitchen and the middle rail will be white

dark brown furniture

modern art like,
Okay, so what can I do now?

finalize paint choices
plan for after Thanksgiving sales like paint, a flat panel, and plates, cutlery and appliances
plan utility companies and save deposit
complete change of address

Twilight

2008-11-21T00:59:00.000-08:00

So I just got back from the midnight showing of Twilight. It was awesome. I still haven't read the books, but now I actually want to. I'm not much for horror or vampire lit, but the movie was so good, I think the books aren't what I would expect. They also made sense and were interesting for me as a newbie, I could tell there were references to the book that I didn't get, but they didn't get in the way of the story. btw: It's a story of first love with a little teen angst thrown in, but not too much and it doesn't get in the way. Oh, and the mirror scene was seriously exciting and dramatic.

All the bit characters were interesting. The story revolves around Bella and Edward, but the vampire characters and the classmates are flesh and blood. There were a few akward moments with the dialogue, but I think they were on purpose and they were nearly as bad as any of the Star Wars movies which I hold up as monuments to bad dialogue. All in all, I think this has been my favorite midnight showing since the second Lord of the Ring. The audience was interested, good seats, and the movie was enthralling. Let's see if the midnight showing for Star Trek will compare.

Little Red Riding Hood and the Oil Change

2008-10-28T06:27:00.000-07:00

I'm dressing as little red riding hood for Halloween this year, although I've not even finished cutting out the fabric. It's going to be renaissance inspired so I'll definitely post pics of the entire process.

I got an oil change yesterday and as I left the oil change place, my car started acting up. The engine would seem like it wasn't getting gas. I have a 1988 BMW 325i, an awesome car, and its never done this. I couldn't think what was up, and having a suspicious mind, I thought the oil change place might have broken something on my car just to get money for fixing it, so I didn't immediately return. I went to the nearby library to do some research. I then looked under the hood and realized the reason the engine was running unevenly was because the people at the oil cahnge place forgot to put the oil cap back on. I guess other cars can handle it better since I went to a nearby O'Reilly's to get a cap and they so did not have one and the guy behind the counter said that usually the only thing that would happen is that oil would spurt out over the engine and you'd get some fumes. He'd never heard that lacking an oil cap would result in uneven engine running. So fyi, if you have a 88 bmw 325i, the oil acp is necessary. It was actually dark outside, so I didn't see that the cap was sitting near the engine, but the oreillys guy that came out to take a look at it put him hand on it and found it. I put the cap back on and it ran swimmingly once more.

Today I'm picking up a muffler from a junkyard since being muffler-less is a bad idea. I'm going to call Automotive Plus to find out if a used muffler is a good idea and what to look at on the muffler and whether a new one is the best way to go. I suppose I just need something on there right now.

Also, I got a huge rip in my back window yesterday. :darn it: I'm probably going to replace the canvas and window. You can buy one on Ebay for $220 with shipping and it doesn't seem to difficult to install. Time consuming, but not difficult. And If I completely ruin it, I still have the hard top until I have the money for a professional job.

Goodness, its been a month

2008-10-13T05:55:00.000-07:00

So I haven't posted in over a month, but we don't have internet at home any more and I tend to do other things while on the internet, like job applications and watching youtube ;-) I have a new HG concealer, Estee Lauder's Maquicomplet. It never cakes and while it costs more than MAC Moisturecover, you get twice as much and more coverage. It's awesome, even for 27.50 plus tax.

Here I am wearing pretty much only the concealer, so you can see it is a good match and makes my circles less noticable. And this was during my horrible Virginia trip. Rained the whole time and was for nothing because I don't think I got the job.

:( I went to the San Marcos Cosmetics Company outlet and picked up some Estee Lauder Individualist foundation with a good color match and some MAC mattene lipcolor is 40s pink. It's a good, almost ylbb color on me. The Individualist foundation I'm a little uncertain about since the color is good, but I think it may be making my pores look bigger. I mixed it with a little Maybelline Age Rewind Cream Foundation this morning and I'm hoping this helps it last longer, it doesn't highlight my pores today either, but that could be because I started using retin a again this weekend and my pores look smaller anyway. I'm so happy I decided to order it from All Day Chemists in India. It arrived in a week and three tubes cost $30 with shipping and they work just as well as the retin a I was buying here.

Okay, so on the job front. I had 2 interviews last week and I should hear about them this week. wish me luck. I'm working for the forseeable future at a temp job in Irving doing mostly filing.

I was feeling horrible yesterday. I decided to start a project and go through my entire clothes collection (I have quite a bit) and since my family was down in Houston visiting my sister (would have gone, but the car would be cramped and my car was in the shop Saturday) I took over the front room and seperated by clothes that fit and then by clothes I like and now have quite a pile for Goodwill. The family did get home early, so I hadn't finished. I also felt horrible and kept stopping to take a nap. I was just nauseous and headachy. Oh well, I still finished it, even if the clothes for Goodwill are in the front room right now. I didn't have the energy to take them out to the car or into the garage.

Really Easy Prok Chops and a Couple New Items

2008-09-04T14:24:00.000-07:00

So, I'm back to eating more healthily, so dinner tonight is baked pork chops, salad, and green beans or spinach.

Really Easy Pork Chops

Ingredients:

Pork Chops (as many as you need, I have 8 from a family pack)
garlic powder (to taste, I like more than most people)
salt (also to taste since you may like more, I'm trying to watch my salt intake, so used very little) pepper(also to taste)
fresh rosemary(since we have some in the garden, use dried if that's what you've got and its also to taste)

Process
So rinse off the chops and cover pan with foil for easy clean up and spray foil with butter flavored spray.

Place pork chops with one inch between them and spray tops with butter spray.

sprinkle garlic powder, salt, and pepper on chops

Sprinkle cut fresh rosemary or non-cut, or dry on it.

Place in 415 degree oven for 20 minutes or use a George Foreman to grilled for an even better experience.

These aren't perfect pork chops, but they are tasty and as you can tell, they are also really easy to put together. If you marinaded them overnight, they would be even more flavorful and moist. You could also add some thyme and oregano to the mix for a more complex flavor. I like that these are really healthy(very little oil used in cooking and no heavy sauce) and still have flavor. Now, I like these, but most people I've shared my cooking with (re: family members) think I overseason and like weird flavor combinations and then they object when I don't share something really good with them. :shakes head: Never understand them...

Latest Sewing Projects:

Seventies Simplicity Pattern 9365

I ran out of fabric because there was very little left and I ended up trying the belt out over it and it just didn't look right. I saw this girl wearing a shirt with a v-neck and a bow at the bottom of the v and new then and there that this was the right thing to do with it.

Modern Butterick 5101.

I love this drapy jersey and its color. I actually did the wide leg pants too, but haven't finished adjusting them as they came out too big. I think I'll make this shirt again in a non-stretchy, drapy material.

Vintage Dress Inspired Pattern McCall 5378.

So it was supposed to have buttons up the front. Sue me. I had doing buttonholes and I realized while looking through my stash that I had 4 buttons that matched that would look good with the pattern. I didn't want to take a long trip to WalMart (5 minutes) and it needed, like, 9 buttons. Anyway, I decided to just sew up the front and see what would have. I like it. I get the nice collar and the silouette without spending a lot of time on it.

Palin?

2008-09-02T17:31:00.000-07:00

Well, I was going to simply write in Mickey Mouse on the ballot in November because I can barely stand McCain and Obama is crap... but Palin is at least an ackowledgment that social conservatives are important too since McCain, Obama, and whoever Obama is running with is pretty liberal. Hmmm, I suppose McCain is really old and he might die quickly and we can finally have a woman president . Yes, he is a lot more palatable, I might even buy a bumper sticker or shirt and the last one I bought was for Romney :(. I don't know, the whole this is crap now, but Palin seems to be a light in the darkness... Ooh, and with McCain being so old, maybe he won't die while President, but he can't live too long and won't be the same drain on the government other former presidents are through their lifelong salaries. Fiscal responsibility is what McCain is about, right?

Here's a link to the bumper sticker.

Free Patterns from Mccalls, Butterick, and Vogue

2008-08-16T18:24:00.001-07:00

Yay, so just pay shipping from these 3 pattern companies. I suppose the only one worth it is the Vogue ones since the other ones are often on sale for $1 or $2. I ordered Vogue 2885, but really want Vogue 8428 or Vogue 8400. I suppose I'll pick it up on Monday in the Hancocks reopening sale. Hmmmm

Does J K Rowling Kinda Suck?

2008-08-12T08:44:00.001-07:00

I've been a fan of the Harry Potter series since the fourth book came out and I've enjoyed the speculation, fandom, and excitement related to the stories. I'm afraid J K may not be worthy of diefication. It seems a bit suspicious that her announcement of the Beedle the Bard Tales comes a few days before the anticipated release of another young adult author, Stephanie Meyers. Hmmm, I'm not saying this is a plan she endorsed. It could have been on the instigation of her publoishers who are, after all, responsible for publicizing her works. I'm just disapointed in J K that this did happen. She's eminently popular now, she doesn't need to steal away any of Stephanie Meyers' thunder. :shakes head: Yeah, I feel a bit disillusioned and reckon I'll avoid any future works by Ms. Rowling, including the new Harry Potter movies, because I think a disaffection for the author will make it very difficult to enjoy the movie. At least Star Trek is coming out next year so there's at least one midnight showing I'll enjoy in the next year. Maybe I'll go see Twilight as a midnight showing, but I've no idea if there will be any for it. You know, I do have a half-finished HP fanfic on fanfiction.net and I'm seriously lacking the motivation to finish it. Bummer.

Goals for the Week and New Butterick Patterns

2008-08-09T21:22:00.000-07:00

First of all, my goals for next week are to:

Walk Luna every day and say 5 positive things about self and working out both before and after.

Drink 60 oz of water every day

Drink protein before each meal (either mixed only with water or some fruit in a shake and yes it does count toward the liquid requirement)

Eat a salad with each meal

Do Yoga/Pilates video every day (eg 20/20 Perfect Pilates, 10 min solutions Pilates, Burn and Firm Yoga, Fat Burning Yoga, Quickfix Pilates)

Do cardio workout every other day or at least attempt one (Turbo jam, Taebo, Quickfix Kickboxing, Salsa Dancing) and say 5 positive things about self and working out both before and after.

Clean dishes every other day and sweep the floor and clean off the counters and take out the trash and clean up the front room

Put bike back together and have ready to ride for next week when I hope to start cycling every morning around town and avoid refilling the gas tank

Put finishing touches on every piece

Now I'm afraid to say that I'm not particularly impressed with the new Butterick patterns. There's only a couple of the Fall patterns I want. Butterick 5250, a high-waisted pants, and Butterick 5243, a dress pattern with a cinched in waist and frilly sleeves and flowy skirt. The waist on it may be a bit high, but it's worth a shot.

So I've been applying for many librarian positions lately and since I'm at home all day now, I've been sewing a lot. As soon as I do the finishing (hems, buttons, hand-stitching), I'll upload the photos. I sewed 2 jackets, 2 shirts, a pair of pants, and a dress and I still need to do some finishing on several more dresses and cut out another pair of pants and jacket. I've already cut out Vogue 285o and need to sew it. The problem is that its a gauzy fabric that unravels easily and I every review I've read for it uses a serger rather than a sewing machine, so I'm nervous about all those hems. Simplicity 4273 may be one of my favorite wardrobe patterns. I've made the pants a jacket from a black somewhat stretchy wool polyester blend fabric and I love the shape of the jacket and the pants fit perfectly, including the rise and waistband. I think I'll make the pants again out of some jersey because theywould make wonderful workout pants and should come together really quickly. I'm going to make the dress out of this silky Chinese fabric I've had laying around. It will make a lovely nightgown. This last time I tried using the fabric to make one of thosee Project Runway Simplcity patterns, I had to give up because I pressed hte fabric with a too-hot iron and it rather burned the fabric into nothingness.

At Pattern Review, they have a mini-wardrobe contest for August. You need to sew 4 peices in at least 3 fabrics and need to get 4 different combinations from the peices. There's another lined jacket contest I may try for. I think Vogue has some wonderful Claire Shaeffer lined jacket patterns. I bought a couple last month abd have been trying to get the motivation to cut into them. Both a labeled advanced because of the lining and pockets on one of them.

In case ya'll can't tell. I'm trying to focus on using up my stash right now. After I put the finishing touches on all my currently waiting patterns (hopefully by Tuesday), i have more patterns/fabric combos waiting for their shot in the sun, so to speak. I hope to sew a couple of jersey t-shirts(light blue) and a pair of shorts(dk green), a pair of capris(aqua and white) and a couple of workout pants(dk green and pink) and a short sleeved jersey jacket(pink) and a long sleeved jersey jacket(dk green). I also want to sew a denim jacket from Simp 4273 and sew 5 sundresses and one maxi dress from various cottons. I'm also going to make a pair of khaki shorts and wide leg pants. I've also got some green and white checked cotton that would make a nice weskit and skirt combo. I have some beautiful stripped challis that needs a purpose (I just like the fabric so much :blushes:).

Oh, and today, I decided I need to sew fitted a white cotton shirt with :sigh: buttons, so I know I have a few white fabrics ( a challis, cotton, and eyelet), but they are all too drapy, but I've resolved to buy no more fabric until I get a job. Hmmm, re-pupose one of Dad's shirts perhaps? lol. Hmm all this planning, but i still have 3 boxes full of unused fabrics and 2 trash bags full of scraps, some scraps as big as a yard or 2. I do have my work cut out(lol) for me. I didn't really get anything done today, just finished a dress and sat at the sewing machine thinking of sewing and put together the fabric and patterns. Oh well, I am motivated for future sewing and for working out and being healthier next week.

YouTube has exercise videos and a new haircut

2008-08-05T08:57:00.000-07:00

I don't always exercise :slaps hand:. I actually own many workout videos and with no work right now, I even did one of them this morning and realized how out of shape I really am. Goodness it was sad. I did the Cardio Dance Party video from Crunch and it can be a lot of fun, although my sister arived home from class while I was doing it and laughed at me :glares: hurumph. So after i mostly did the video, I don't know what made me think to see what workout videos were on youtube. I am surprised that there are a lot of videos and a great variety of them. I tried a pilates toning one, a basic belly dance one, and then I had to stop because I don't want to ache tomorrow and am simply feeling pleasantly warm now.

I'm trying to drink some water too because this exercise has made me thirsty. The Youtube videos are limited in size, I think 10 minutes is the limit, but people will upload the videos in parts to get around that. There are also plenty of trailers and samples for upcoming and recent and past workout videos if you want to anticipate or try out any videos.

So I've been cleaning around the house today. Yesterday I sewed and I hope to do some more today. My exercise was inspired by trying a dress I was sewing on yesterday. I really want to wear it and wear it now in the summer, but it is really tight. I made it using a pattern and the previous result fit me fine back at Christmas, so I must have gained weight, darn it. So I'm back to Atkins today and exercising. I'll take Luna on a walk tonight and probably do the Quickfix kickboxing video either before or after.

So I'm thinking of getting my hair cut at the end of the week, or maybe today since I am inspired.

Here's the haircut I am interested in:

And the current state of my hair:

How to make our own tinted moisturizer

2008-07-31T17:34:00.000-07:00

I love my mineral makeup, but lately, it's been looking pretty bad on my skin by the end of the day. I need something that wears better, even if it disappears my the middle of the day. I really like TMs, especially the Cover Girl Smoothers one, and wore one today and was much happier at the end of the day with the look of my skin. I do like less coverage too, so I was reading a review on makeupalley and the reviewer mentioned that she maded her own tm. I found the ehow and wikihow articles on how to make them and it really worked.

Ingredients
Olay Complete SPF 30 moisturizer
Everyday Minerals Original Glo in Ivory.

Obviously more mmu in relation to lotion will give you a heavier finish. i used 2 squirts of Olay and used 2 shakes of the mmu and mixed it in my hand until blended and smoothed onto my face and am really impressed with the finish and level of coverage. It's my skin, but a little more even. I still need a undereye concealer and a little facial concealer on a couple of areas and its a bit shiny, so I'll cover it with either EDM Silk Dust or EDM Natural Reflection Fair. Yep, I am impressed and I just used makeup I had sitting around. I think mixing it with a moisturizer does give me a better finish than applying it dry since the powder can sometimes highlight my lines and make my pores look more noticable.

Makeup today and the first wearable muslin

2008-07-18T06:15:00.000-07:00

I realized today that I like to think about makeup and what I'm wearing and I like to compare my coloring to that of others and find out what colors work for other that might work for me. So anyway, today I washed my face with Garnier Fructis Detoxifying gel cleanser and used 10% BP and Eucerin Calming SPF 15 face lotion. I used Oil of Olay Age Effect Eye cream too. This is my typical day routine and its been keeping me pretty acne free since I stopped the Tazorac for reasons I will NOT get into. Oh, and I used the Monistat Chaffing Lotion as a primer. It really does make the makeup last longer and go on smoother.

Concealer: Loreal Age Perfect yellow concealer and over it Revlon Age Defying Cream Concealer in light and over that is the now discontinued Vital Radiance Age Spot concealer in medium. I find that without the Age Spot concealer, I get a weird raccoon eye effect and with it, it just looks a little yellow.

Foundation: Mineral Basics in Light-Medium. This is a pretty awesome color choice for me and it doesn't sink into the pores or lines until late in the day, but the product is a bit expensive... Over this is the Finishing dust from Mineral Basics.

Mascara: Loreal Featherlash in True Brown. This is a nice natural looking mascara, it can clump a bit, but doesn't smear by the end of the day like NYC Lengthening does (although that one looks awesome and natural at first).

Eyes: I used a cougar brown WetnWild eye pencil on my brows. I used Jane gel eyeliner in brown and for eyeshadows I used Rimmel eyeshadow in Delicate Rose and ELF gold eye shadow and Meow Cosmetics Marroon loose eyeshadow.

Blush: I used the Everyday Minerals Natural blush and NYC Mosaic Blush in Pink Glow.

So here's the Muslin of Vogue 2354

and here's a closeup...

I don't think I'll do this one for the graduation dress, I like it, but it highlights the hips a bit too much, lol.

Graduation Dress

2008-07-16T07:20:00.000-07:00

So graduation is August 8th at 4 pm in Denton and there's a reception afterward. I haven't received my tickets or information yet, but I looked at the site and they say they don't send that sort of stuff out until 3 weeks prior so I shouldn't get it until next week. This gives me plenty of time to diet and sew something. I've narrowed it down to 3 dresses.

Vogue 2354 (a vintage vogue)

An old McCalls pattern like this vintage vogue

and this modern Maggy London Butterick 4657.

So now I'm starting the muslins. I've got 3-4 weeks until the ceremony, so I've got time to make up a wearable muslin and then buy some nice fabric to make the graduation dress in. I've already cut out the 40s style one from an old dark blue sheet and I think I will sew it tonight and see how it comes together. The Mccalls will wait until tomorrow and this weekend, I will do the Butterick. Then I'll decide which one I like best and then buy some properly nice and summery fabric. I'm thinking something pastel, like a lavender or light yellow, or maybe something with a bold print. I think I may even go to Golden D'or to pick it up since they have quite a variety of nice and reasonably priced fabric. I do miss the fabric area in Seoul sometimes, now that was variety, but didn't make up for the less savory aspects of that country for me. sigh.

Sewing and a Job Search

2008-07-08T14:43:00.000-07:00

So I continue to look for a job and sew. I just added this nifty toolbar to the lefthand side so you all can access my latest reviews. I suppose it's more efficient that way.

Now about the job search. My problem I think is that I like too many aspects of librarianship. My first love was public libraries, then I worked in an archive and loved that, then worked with a public library as a VISTA and decided I liked that better. Then I worked at Eastfield and decided to go for academic libraries. Sigh. I am sort of too malleable. There are many pros and cons to the various types of traditional librarianship. (Ya'll will notice, I'm totally not looking at Corporate, Law, or Medical librarianship.)

Academic
Pro: Lifelong learning environment, 2nd Masters degree encouraged, pays the best on average for starting vs number of positions, lots of vacation, looks good on the resume
Con: heavy competition for positions, hefty interview process, can be a bit boring when helping a class on a project and they all want to look up the same thing, not the most room for advancement, usually one role (IE systems, aquisitions, reference, cataloging), answering to the college

Public
Pro: Lots of positions, room for advancement, can be exciting depending on who oversees you, variety of tasks, variety of places, the public, reader's advisory, working with local organizsations, newsletter, speaking before groups
Con: Low paying, doesn't look as good on the resume, lower paying, lack of excitment based on your supervisor's perception of your ideas, the public, not many opportunties for reference, answering to local government

Archive
Pro: Organizing things, touching history, not having to be on every day, can still organize activities, get to speak before local groups and can still put together something like a newsletter based on the institution
Con: No chance to work with the public, few jobs, doesn't usually pay as well, lots of minutiae, begging for collections, unpredictable level of work, not much room for advancement, the para-professionals and assistants get to do the fun work most of the time, would be good to have archival certification or degree

Well, I am most excited about public libraries. It's something I am really interested in because most of the time I am a people person. Some days I just don't want to deal with it, but others are great. I know that I eventually want to be a library director and so accepting a public library position is what I should look for. Hopefully somewhere I can stay for 5 years while I gain experience and then go off elsewhere looking for a director job. I just know that I want to be the one in charge, lol. It's strange, when I can younger, I dreaded being in charge and telling people (except my siblings) what to do. I also hated talking to strange people and I'm kinda okay with it in professional settings. I'm still kinda agoraphobic in groups when it's not work-related. Yes, I hate going out in public. If I didn't force myself to do things, I would never leave the house except for work and the occaisonal shopping trip.

Anyway, so I have just about convinced myself only to apply for public library positions until thee end of the month when I will broaden my focus again and I think my focus for the week will be on jobs in the Southeastern US, yes, I think it would be nice to live out there. I think I would like to live in a city or a small town only if within easy reach of a city and hopefully something natury like the ocean or a protected forrest. I've been applying for some more rural positions, but maybe I should stop and look only at the cities...

Bentos: The Freshmaker

2008-06-17T08:40:00.000-07:00

My newest obsession is a bento. I saw them in Korea and I'm wanting to bring my lunch into work so I can eat more healthily and stuff. Now the point of a bento is to eat small amounts. It is automatic portion control. I bought a less than totally cute bento from ebay that will take 2-3 weeks to arrive. I ordered it on Sunday, so we'll see how long it will take until it gets here. I think I'll paint it or something to make it cuter. I really wanted pink paisley, but could only find these wacky cartoon characters and flowers. Hmmm. So until it arrives, I'm using normal tupperware sorts of things. I make thai dumpings (basically egg rolls) yesterday along with a tortilla soup without tortillas. It's basically a chicken soup with tomatoes and chilis. Yum. I also brought a dollop of sour cream. So to go with the dumpling and soup is cherry tomatoes and green grapes. So this is sort of healthy.

My rice didn't go so good and I used garlic salt in it so I can't exactly make it into rice pudding since those flavors would not meld. I accidently put the rice into the water before it boiled and I ended up with mushy, sticky rice. I tossed it with a bit of oil and will try it tonight and see how it goes.

Hmm. I also made this mini crustless quiches in foil cupcake tins. They are pretty good too. I did not however share with my family because they always complain about my cooking. So even though they kept mentioning how good it smelled and how hungry they were, I neglected to offer them sustanance. But they ALWAYS complain about my food, so I don't feel too badly about starving them. There was plenty of food to eat, just not mine.

Here are a couple of good blogs:

New Sewing Patterns

2008-06-07T19:52:00.000-07:00

So I went to Hancocks Fabrics to pick up an upholstery needle and some heavy duty black thread for my convertible top and noticed that much of the fabric was 50% off and I resisted it :smiles proudly:. It was rather difficult, but I decided to use the fabric I already own before buying anymore on impulse. The same does not hold true for patterns. Butterick was .99, Simplicity 1.99, and Vogue 3.99.

I bought...

Butterick 4985

Butterick 5214

Butterick 5209

Butterick 5178

Vogue 1042

The only one I've cut out is the 40s style Butterick 5209. I think I'll make it with the sleeves for 4th of July. Hmm, now I have to plan something to wear it to... Maybe a family picnic or we could go out to some fireworks.

Delayed Update

2008-04-21T18:59:00.000-07:00

Everything is going well in Korea. I'm enjoying my time for the most part and am discovering some online free pattern sources because while I tried to sew without a pattern, I do like patterns. I've also found that its only .06 a copy at kinkos and it took me over 30 minutes to find the kinkos, but was easy once I got there. So my project for this week is Burda 7911, a wrap pattern that is free from Burda. I hate thye sleeves and its a bit long, but I think it will go well. I tapes the pages (printed on A4) yesterday and cut it out. Tonight the plan is to decide what modifications I want to make , like cap sleeves and shorter length and taking it in a bit at the sides, and then I will cut from my actual fabric (a green and white flowered cotton). Tomorrow I will sew it up and then on Thursday, I will do the finishing touches so on Friday, I can wear it with my jeans. I will sew the VA Museum pattern after that even though I know I wlready gave it a chance and failed. Everything deserves a second chance, right?

Passed Capstone

2008-03-28T22:56:00.001-07:00

Well I haven't updated over here very much because I've been updating my Korea blog, but I just received this email.

Congratulations! Your hard work and dedication have come to
fruition. You have successfully completed the Capstone Experience.
If you have met all of your other academic requirements, you will graduate on
May 9.As a graduate, I hope you will continue to participate in the life of the
school. This time, not as a student but as a colleague. We need your
ideas and energy. The School needs you to help identify opportunities,
open doors, and pave the way for our mutual success. We need your help to
receive the greatest dividends in the investment you have made in your
education. We hope you will join with us as an alumnus.We also want to
assist you in achieving your career goals. If we can identify a job
opportunity, write you a reference, or simply give you some advice, please let
us know. Give us a call or drop us a line. We're still here to help
you.Again, congratulations and best wishes for a successful career.

Isn't it wonderful? Celebrate. I wish I got more feedback on how my essays were, but I suppose they were good enough for me to pass and that's enough.

In Korea now!

2008-02-26T16:16:00.001-08:00

So, I've been in Korea for a few days now. I'm still kinda jetlagged and tired and out of it, but thankfully won't need to teach until next week. This gives me a few days to prepare and get siked for it. I will update again later. Luna is doing okay too:)

Mod a Sewing Machine

2008-02-13T13:15:00.000-08:00

Well, I thought I could go a year without sewing, then I rethought that and decided to pick up a small sewing machine at the stores and use that. I was inspired by some blog wherein the user posted pics of fabrics at a Korean market. Awesome. So I'm taking a Janome Sew Mini with me. With taxes it was $56, a little more than I wanted to pay, but it got good reviews, is small, but not too small, is also pretty light, hopefully not too light. Hmmm. So this is a pretty cheap machine and I am inspired to mod it up. I'll take a page from the gamers handbook and turn it out as much as possible. Here's what it looks like right now:

I'm going to spray paint it either pink, blue, or green. Actually blue would be best because I'm going for a blue theme in my apartment. So the plan is to sandpaper the exterior (after making sure it works obviously) and then put tape on pic of the stitches and the dials odds and ends and stuff and side thingamabobber. Then give it a brief layer of spray paint and let that dry for a couple of hours before giving it another coat. I may apply the paint around the stitch numbers with a paintbrush. Or I could just cover them up and keep the manual. Actually I like that Idea and after the machine is blue, I will use acryllic paints to paint some flowers on it. Maybe I should look at stencils or something. Hmmm. This machine is gonna look so awesome, I'm not going to want to give it up when I get back and upgrade. lol. Here's an inspiration from inspireco.com that is pretty inspiring. I love the colors, but the other painting will be different on mine. No words, just images of flowers in a darker blue and white. Hmmm. VISION.

More Future Plans?

2008-02-07T14:39:00.000-08:00

Well, as a planner, I like to think about things. I may be unusual for a planner in that I don't really care if I follow that plan. I just think planning is fun. Sometimes my favorite part of sewing is finding the pattern and fabric and cutting them out. This is long before the actual sewing starts.

Okay so after my Year In Korea (shall I abbreviate, YIK?) I get back to the US and start looking for a job. Sings to self.

I'd like to make a list of the places I'll be looking for library jobs in. These are all places I've been to or always wanted to see.

San Antonio
El Paso
Albuquerque
Salt Lake City
Casper, WY
Cody, WY
Oklahoma City
Dallas
Pocohantas
Athens, TX
Lufkin, TX
Midland, TX
Jasper, TX
White Plains, NM
Williamsberg, Va

Now what am I looking for in my next domestic abode?

Small town feel
Culture is some supply, but constant stuff not necessary
Hot most of the year
In Texas always preferable
Lots of YSM nearby ;)
Librarian job available
Something historical nearby
Decent price for houses

Thats all I can think of for now. This leaves San Antonio as the town I'll probably move to if I can find a job. Now after I get back, I want to buy a Mini Cooper Convertible and put a down payment down on a house. I suppose this means that on my return to the US I'll become a real adult with responsibities and stuff. Now this does necessitate my finding a job that pays more than $40,000 a year. I'll probably look for some position in the academic librarianship field. There are several colleges and universities in San Antonio and there's also the public schools. Anyway, also, after I return I don't want to gom straight to work. I want to take a road trip. Hmmm, I may want to negotiate with my school to stay an additional 3 or 4 months if I really like it so I can return in May or June and really enjoy my new car and there'll probably be more jobs available in the universities at this time as they hire for the following school year. Hmm. As I said, I love the plan even if none of my planning comes to any fruition.

Now It's Officially Time to Campaign for Mickey

2008-02-07T11:08:00.000-08:00

Okay, sow that Mitt has stepped back from his bid for the Presidency, its time to seriously begin campaigning for our favorite and beloved cartoon character Mickey Mouse. I mean he has erverything we need in a President.

Hmmm, I'm going to have to give this more thought. All I can think is how cool it would be for Mickey Mouse to win and how that would be the ultimate sign of voter disenfranchisement with the current 2 party political system so many deny. Awesome.

Maybe I should just vote for Mickey Mouse...

2008-02-06T11:35:00.000-08:00

Hmmm, so I have to pay attention to the primaries for work (I'm putting together a display on each of the candidates and their views so I noticed the current standings for the candidates). Well, the dems are out for me because I have a brain and use it for thinking. This leaves McCain, Romney, and Huckabee. Now aside from how much fun it would be to talk about a President Huckabee (just say it out loud if you doubt me), I'm a Romney girl. Now McCain has 700 delegates right now, but its certainly not over, he barely beat Romney in several of those states, so I say Romney is still in the game.

But lets look at a worst case scenario: McCain vs. Clinton. Oh gag me with a spoon. Could it get much worse then that? Those are the sort of candidates that inspire me to vote Mickey Mouse. It would be an interesting point about American culture if Mickey Mouse actually won a state. It doesn't have to be a big one, just Alaska or Wyoming would do. lol

Hmmm, so seriously in a battle between McCain and Clinton I might not vote Mickey, but I might find some independant. It may be wasting my vote, but at least I'll have voted so I can complain about whoever wins to my heart's content. I kinda miss complaining about politics from the Clinton days. Then it was a wnderful pastime for me and my friends. Now I've been reasonably happy with the leadership of America for 8 years and its going to be so weird to listen to talk radio all the time and complain and whine about the state of the country. I'm kinda looking forward to it I must say, but think positive. I'm going to still support Mitt until the bitter end. :)

Goodbye President Hinckley

2008-02-04T22:20:00.000-08:00

Pres. Hinckley passed away last Sunday. He was a wonderful leader of the church:) and i will miss him.

More dental work and prep stuff...

2008-02-04T15:16:00.000-08:00

So I went in to the dentist today and got some fillings and preparation for a veneer that will be hopefully placed on February 18, that's right, 2 days before I leave, but that should work out perfectly because I need to get rid of stuff and the goodwill store is only a couple of streets from the dentist. So, the temporary veneer is awesome, my 2 front teeth are even for the first time, like, ever. My mouth is still a bit numb, but I suppose that's to be expected and it will probably be sore after the numbness wears off, so the numbness musn't leave too soon. I wonder if I had a reaction to the anastetic though. After they did the shots,

Okay, also I picked up a few boxes from Walgreens and work, but still need more since I want to send 4 boxes of stuff to Korea and also leave some here and the boxes I've got are a bit woebegone after 3 moves. When I get back, I SO have to get a real place that I can take all my stuff to and be an adult in. Seriously, after the shot, I felt like I was shivering, but wasn't and wasn't cold either. It was weird, but went away as the drilling went on.

So, I'm also a bit hungry, but a numb mouth sort of limits ingestion opportunities. I ate some of that Laughing Cow Cream Cheese and it was sure nice, but I'm still a bit hungry. Must have something to do with it being my TOM.

Also, I took Luna into the groomers today, except it wasn't the groomers I normally use. I took her to the new Bow Wow Wash where you can go to wash your dog, sort of like a car wash. They have all the stuff ready and tubs that are raised to waist level so you don't need to bend over too much to do the washing. I was really impressed with how Luna took it. I expected her to spend the whole time trying to get out like last time, but she stood there and just let me use the soap, water, and conditioner on her. And then she let me dry her and brush her and let her ears be cleaned and nailed be clipped by the owner. It was awesome and for 12.95, that's a lot less money then the groomer and it took only 15 minutes. When I take Luna to the groomers, it usually takes much more time, like at least 4 hours.

All Cut Out and Nowhere to Go....

2008-02-03T20:31:00.000-08:00

Aw, my poor patterns. Right now I procrastinating on finishing Butterick 4980 in black and white polka dots. The fabric is sheer, so I essentially made the dress twice and it fits pretty good. I heard from patternreview.com that it was a little big, so the side seams were each taken in about 2 inches more than is called for in the pattern. It fits perfectly, so great!!! The problem? The upper layer is a gauzy material and I'm dreading the hems. It's all pinned and just needs sewing, but what's a gal to do? So, I've also sewn my wrap style abc dress in honor of my new life as a kindergarden teacher, except for the hemming. Yeah, and I'm on the lookout for letter shaped buttons, white ones. The pattern calls for 8 of them, but I think 5 should suffice.

Okay, so I also cut up 2 patterns tonight, Simplicity 3927 and 4270.

The 30s style pattern is going to be a long sleeved flannel nightgown for those cold Korean nights and the tunic is being made from a chocolate brown challis. I'm considering that some red lace around the collar and end of the sleeves may look nice. Maybe. I'm procrastinating on the sewing because I hate to change the thread and stuff and really should finish the polka dot dress first. Now there is a second reason I'm hesitating on the dress, one of the panels of the princess seaming is noticably lighter then the rest. It's odd since there's no other discolored peices and I don't have enough interest or fabric to cut it out again, so my back right side panel is a little light and I wonder if I like it enought to finish it. In the meantime I'm finishing nothing else.

Okay, so I'm still going to the dentist tomorrow afternoon and Capstone starts tomorrow. I spent a lot of time getting ready for it on Friday since it seems my initial application got lost. Odd since it was ONLINE. Anyway, so its all ready for tomorrow. Oh and I reckon Luna deserves to see the dogpark in the morning, or at least a walk somewhere, so the plan is to do that after dropping Susan off at school, I think I told her I would do that. It all blends together.

My Foundation Hunt

2008-02-02T10:25:00.000-08:00

Yes, I'm on a foundation hunt. That is, a hunt for the best makeup for my skin color, skin texture, and lifestyle.

What's Out:
most any foundation from L'oreal. I've yet to find one that looks good on me
Maybelline Age Rewind cream, I use this as a concealer, but it looks too mask-like as a foundation.

What in:
Everyday Minerals in Multitasking

What's Left to try/On the fence):
Revlon ColorStay (I bought the wrong color and should probably see if I can exchange it.)
Revlon Colorstay Active (this is the one I'm trying today, my skin actually looked a bit pinker then I like before I left this morning, but I'll check it again when I get home.)
Milani tinted moisturizer. (It seems to be a good color match, but balls up like the rubber on a pencil eraser after you erase something from a peice of paper so I wonder about it)
CG Tinted Moisturizer (Lightest is too light, #2 is too dark, but I like the coverage and consistency).
Maybelline liquid Mineral makeup (I bought this in the wrong color and returned it to Walmart, but it seemed really smooth for the few minutes I wore it.)
CG Trublend (I haven't used it for years, but remember it fondly. It's one of the few foundations I've ever bought 2 of, the other of Max Factor Pan Stick, CG Aquasmooth, and EDM)

Now for my other makeup to bring with me. I'm needing to buy L'oreal Featherlash and Revlon Brow Fantasy in dark blonde. Both are awesome little products that should so come with me to Korea. Seriously.

Also, I've been really thirsty lately, which is great because I know I'm perpetually dehydrated because I don't drink much water because I'm not thirsty, so yay for being thirsty.

Preparing for the Weekend

2008-01-31T22:49:00.001-08:00

So I'm off tomorrow and have a lot to do. I need to take Luna to the dog park and for some dog food. I also need to pick my sister up from work and the other sister from the bus stop and call UNT to get the Capstone thing sorted out since it starts next Monday. I'm also restarting induction from tomorrow so need to actually cook something. Go by gma.

I also plan to sew 2 dresses from scratch, both should be relatively easy, one is Butterick 4980 and the other is a vintage mail order wrap pattern, I would post pics, but that usb cable has wandered off as is its wont.

Okay, so on Saturday I need to work from 9-2 and continue low carbing. i will also complete the two dresses if anything still needs doing and also sew the flannel night gown from the Simplicity 30s style pattern. I also want to clean out my closet and take all the garage sale stuff and put it into the garage, organized. This means I'll need to find some boxes on Saturday. At work I need to write the next week's blog so I can publish it quickly on Monday afternoon and finish the blog user guide.

Now for Sunday, I need to remember to fast and pray and also to clean off all the shelves in my room and sew the sundress from another vintage mail order pattern.

That should complete my weekend.
.
Since I'm planning, let me remember what I must do before I leave.

On Monday I need to pay the water bill. I also have a dentist appointment for some fillings and a veneer over my crooked front tooth. I also need to start taking Luna on a 30 minute walk every day in preparation for Korea. This is also the first day of Capstone. It opens at noon. :) After my Dentist appointment, I wil not be fit to return to work with a numb jaw, so I plan to go home and get a good start on Capstone. I need to read over the questions and decide what perspective I need for them and start finding books and articles that can help.

On Tuesday, I need to write an outline for each of the Capstone essays and begin to write at least one. At work I need to write the blogs for the next month. I also need to complete the new books list since its a bit over due and send a new book to feature to Velora.

On Wendesday, I need to finish the first essay and finish the second one too. At work I need to work on the website user guide and also make sure peotry reading stuff is sent out and work on blurb for learning object group. I also need to take a few moments to clean out under my bed, just as a break from Capstone.

On Thursday I need to finish the third essay. At work I need to work on the website user guide and look at any possible changes to the homepage. Then again at home, I need to sew that loose pair of pants.

On Friday, I need to take my essays into the LAC so they can look them over and help me edit them. I also need to read over them at least twice out loud. When that is complete, I need to decide on the luggage situation and go through my jewelry. Oh, and watch Monk and Psych. Parents gone. i need to continue to work on my talk about mercy

On Saturday, I need to work from 9-2 and work on the website changes. At home, I need to sort through my closet and clothees to further reduce. I would also like to sew a the skirt and the go through the stuff in the garage and decide what stays at the house and what can be sold. Parents gone. Work on talk.

Issue about Sunday, I have to give a talk at my ward, but my sister's go to the other one. Can they get another ride? More to do on Sunday. Make final decisions about clothes. Advertise garage sale on Craigslist. Go by Gma's house

On Monday, I need to advertise again on Craigslist and do so every day leading up to the sale, also any other free classifieds. Tell the parents to put all the stuff they want to sell into one corner of the front room. At work I need to work on the archives and get it all ready for binding. I also want to sew the 40s style dress and cut out the suit.

On Tuesday, at work enter all data into the computer for the archives. Pack 4 boxes of stuff to send to Korea immediately. Pack 2 boxes to be sent in 6 months. sew suit.

On Wednesday, Make sure computer and email is completely cleaned off and projext redistributed. Poetry reading too at 11:30 and 5:30. At home, sew purple dress and start on the flannel robe.

On Thursday, Final day with everyone there, give archives stuff to S and user guides to J and make final adjustments to the website, start cleaning out desk. At home, sew swirly dress, finish robe.

On Friday, Do a packing test run for fit and weight. Start garage sale, A comes down. Make all final decisions reguarding selling/keeping/bringing

On Saturday, work final day 9-2. Clean out desk and erase stuff on folders. Mom runs the garage sale.

On Sunday, garage sale and complete taxes and sew challis pants

On Monday go to dentist for veneer. Decide to keep or donate leftovers and drop off donations. Move everything left over out of the room and tape it up and get everything together to paint the walls. Go see gma and viv.

On Tuesday, take Luna to see the vet for health certificate, make sure she has all tags, make final packing decisions. paint room with primer.

On Wendesday, make final goodbyes, verify all travel arrangements

On Thursday, fly to Korea.

Whew, can I actually do all this?

Another Day of Makeup and Suchlike :)

2008-01-31T14:39:00.001-08:00

Sorry for not updating much recently. I just started a new blog at 3 fat chicks for my fat loss endevours and have become distracted. I went to Walmart today to return some makeup and pick up some clothes I'd ordered online and had sent to the store and to pick up the scale and look at the travel toiletries. Wow, I did do a lot. I picked up a peach colored sweater for $4.00

a black tunic style shirt with sleeves I love, but a length that seems a little long, even for a tunic for $6.

and a George a-line skirt(navy blue) for $16 full price, looks good but I haven't had a chance to try it on yet.

They were some nice purchases, but I reckon I'll take the black tunic shirt back since I don't really like it.

So before leaving for Korea, I'm trying to decide what I really need. I've been trying a lot of makeup lately to find the HG items that I'll buy more of and bring with me. Well EDM is still pretty HG for me. Good coverage and lasts an okay amount of time. I would like a MMU that lasts longer though, so have ordered some samples from Dreamworld Mineral Makeup. I love the theme of the site. It's all magic and goddesses and mystery. I'll post my results for the products as soon as they come in.

I also returned the Sonia Kashuk tinted moisturizer #1 because it was way to yellow and looked it on the skin. I guess CG tinted mouisturizer is the best. I've also tried and returned the liquid mineral makeup from Maybelline, but that was only because I didn't pick the right color. It went on really smooth though, so I may give it a second chance. The only problem is that you really cannot tell what color it is through the plastic, but its also lightweight and hygenic(the bottle).

Also I tried Max Factor foundations in whipped cream and pan cake. I like the consistency of pan cake, but couldn't get a good color in either, both were way too yellow. Anyway, so both went back.

What have I tried recently and liked? The Sonia Kashuk Face Palette will become a regular staple for me in Korea I think. It's perfect for traveling because it have nice inoffensive colors and concealers and a mirror. I really like the brow pencil too. Although her brow pencil just can't beat the one from Revlon Brow Fantasy. I so have to buy more of that before I go because its the least red of the blonde eyebrow pencils. Why do they think blonde want red brows? I suppose they reckon that most blondes have some colors in their brows. More fool them for that thought.

I did my newly bobbed hair as curly today and this was probably not the best day to do it since the wind was mondo destructive. I was fighting against it all the way in to work this morning. It was so bad that I was carrying a bag of tortillas and the tortillas fell out of the bag and I didn't even notice til I was inside and I didn't bother looking since I was already late for work.

So, I should be sewing a lot soon and will post the stuff I sew. At least, the successful stuff I sew. There are 12 items currently in the TBS pile. Incidentally, I also bought some stickers to put on stuff for my garage sale in a couple of weeks.

Teeth and Hair

2008-01-16T12:21:00.000-08:00

I went to the dentist this morning and thery examined my teeth and found that 8 needed filling. None hurt, but I believe them when they tell me this because dentists don't lie. :) Okay, maybe I believe it because before the age of 18, my dental higiene was poor at best and I reckon I should make sure even the beginnings of my teeth problems should be taken care of when I get the chance. So for 10 fillings, a deep cleaning since its been years, and a veneer, I paid $850. I suppose I'm getting a lot for my money and I do feel reasonably comfortable at the place.

So after the teeth inspection, I went to the mall since I had 2 hours to kill before work and a desire to get a smoothie and get a hair cut. I went to Mia and Maxx and a rather pleasant young woman of 20 worked on my hair. I wan't sure what I wanted since this was kinda last minute. I just spent over $800 dollars and felt the need to spend some more. So no pic or prep. At the shampoo stage, I realized I wanted a bob so that's what I told her to cut for me. I ended up with a pob. For those unaware, a pob is the posh bob. Of course it will never look like this on me.

I have a lot of hair for this look, so it will never lie as flat on my head. Anyway, I woulod never have asked for the Posh anything, but I actually like the cut and hope no one else will be aware of its pob origins. I had it done before work, so haven't had a chance to take a pic yet, so I'll update my avatar to show it off in a couple of days.

More on the looks front (let's just be shallow today), my skin has felt really dry lately. I blame my new cleanser Garnier Fructis Detoxifying Gel Cleanser. At first, it just made my pores smaller. In doing that it made my skin look older. It's kinda hard to descibe, but the lines beneath my eyes becamer seriously deep, like weirdly deep and they extended much further then before, beyond the end of my eyes. Weird. Well, last night I used extra virgin olive oil to remove my makeup and then put still more on to further hydrate the skin. I also used the skin brightening facial moisturiser beneath my eyes that is very rich and my skin looks much better today. I suppose the cleanser is just too much combined with winter dryness. I may try it again in the summer whilst in Korea or just more more cleansing maybe once a week.

Oh and the chick at Mia and Maxx showed me a new way to make my hair straighter with a paddle brush vs. the round brush. I think I liked it better. My hair is pretty straight and non-frizzed at the moment. Wish it well.

Feeling Bored and Antsy...

2008-01-15T14:54:00.000-08:00

I'm so anticipating my move to Korea, that everything else just seems less important now. It's ood, but I know what I need to do to get organized enough to make the transition as painless as possible, but all I want to do is look at blogs about Korea, read message boards about Korea, and email people in Korea. I have such an obsessive personality and this is my current obsession. Bother.

This said, I was talking to one of my bosses today about getting rid of so much of my stuff and she mentioned the liberating aspects of leading a stuff-less life. I agree that having less stuff can be very liberating. It does feel freeing to get rid of stuff you don't need. Unfortunately I am still a pack rat and have trouble evaluating the necessity of specific items.

Oh, and my hair is looking very orange and brassy in photos. It's weird because I seriously doubt it looks nearly so brassy in real life. Here's me rocking(lol) my newest thrift store find. Yes, I'm getting rid of stuff, but still needed some sunglasses because they have a tendancy to walk away or be sat on and destroyed. Bummer.

So I've been on a bit of a break and have made some changes...

2008-01-05T18:43:00.000-08:00

Well, the first and most obvious change is my hair. It was red...

and is now more of a reddish blonde.

I am slowly taking it back to the original blonde color.

On Christmas, it just hit me that while I enjoyed being a redhead, I was ready to take it back. Now this can't be done overnight since my original hair color is blonde and its was darl red. Yeah, but my first thing was to try that Loreal Color Ooops and get myself some wonderfully fried orange hair. Awesome. :) I went to the salon and spent 5 hours there and $200 the day after Christmas to fix the orange. They did a pretty good job by putting in highlights and lowlights. That was a lot of time to spend in a chair though. I nodded off at one point. It kinda reminded me of math class in high school in terms of boredom. It been more than a week now, and it kinda become a bit more orangy then it was. Maybe I should pick up something at Sallys that deals with brassiness.

Okay, in other news I got a B and an A for my last semester and my field experience waiver has been accepted so I get to sign up for Capstone the first week or two of February.

I sewed another shirt: I'm not in a mood to review it or look for the envelope for the number, so it'll have to wait. But here's a pic.

So I've also decided to move to Korea.

Yes, I could elucidate. After Capstone, I will have my Master in Library and Information Science and this makes me antsy. I guess whenever I approach a major change in my life, I want to run away. When I finished the basics in my Undergrad, I moved to Garmisch for a year and worked at AFRC as a housekeeper (that's Armed Forces Recreation Centers in Europe for thosee who don't know). So when I got my BA, I moved to small town Wyoming for a year with Americorps VISTA. So to keep my life consistent, I have to do something special to celebrate my completion of my Masters degree. So I'm going to Korea to teach ESL for a year. Right now I'm looking at Seoul primarily because I've never lived in a big city before and would like to try it and because it's the only city in Korea with an English speaking ward other than the military ward in Busan. Busan is another big city, so if I'm going to live in a big city, it may as well be the biggest one.

Oh, and I reckon I will bring Luna with me. I've heard some horrible thing that people have 'heard' about happening, but have also corresponded with 5 people who have had pets in Korea with no problems and have haunted a couple of discussion forums that have both positive and negative stories in them. I would hate to leave her behind, although I worry about leaving her at home alone for 10 hours a day during the week. This happened before when we lived in an apartment, but then we had a nearby dog park and in Seoul there is no dog parks. But Luna shoudl be fine if I take her on walks. More aout this later I suppose.

Eastfield College Closes

2007-12-21T15:40:00.000-08:00

So at about 2 or so this afternoon, we got a call to go on lockdown at work. This meant no one could leave or enter the library. This could have been a big issue if it lasted longer than an hour since all the bathrooms in the library are closed for the next 3 weeks. Thankfully, we got a call about 20 minutes later to have the students leave. Thankfully, this afternoon we had few students hanging out in the library. We only closed a little early. It does take awhile to close everything down and they told us we had to leave, like now. We did take a few minutes to turn everything off and lock all the doors before leaving. I actually left while there were still several of my coworkers getting ready to leave, but we were told to get out and there wasn't much left I could do. So I left and still feel a little guilty, but seriously, everything was done, people were just double checking and stuff, I was not needed for that. I guess I'm so used to leaving with everyone when we leave.

Now, I still have no idea what happened. We just got the call for lockdown, then that we could let the students leave, then that the campus was being evacuated and we had to leave now. Anyway, I left work 1.5 hours early. It worked out great because I needed to pick up a couple of packages from the post office and they closed at 4:30 and that's when I was getting off of work. Otherwise I wouldn't have the presents fom my Grandpa in Arizona or the new mineral makeup from Elf. I just tried it on and it seems okay, I'll give it another shot tomorrow.

I hope I find out what happened on campus soon, or it'll drive me crazy with wondering.

EBook Reader and so Much More

2007-12-18T11:35:00.000-08:00

So after looking at the Amazon.com Kindle, I started wondering what I would want from a device like this and I reckon I would like a mixture of services from a lot of other handheld devices. I think the Kindle does most of these.

What my ideal reader should be able to do:

Open eBooks in many different formats including, pdf, jpeg, microsoft eBook, text, doc, and any other text reading format I can't think of.
Place music from a a variety of formats including mp3 and wma withou needing conversion.
I don't really need wifi, but it would be cool to have wifi and a small browser
small keyboard for typing
microphone
be able to write notes on the screen that it can traslate into computer text
at least 10 GB memory with expansion possible
reasonably fast processor
able to be read in most any light
usb connection for connecting a keyboard to type on it.
some form of a word processing program on it for writing
various organizational software: calendar, grocery list, exercise entry and food entry for dietary purposes.
look cool, maybe shiny and black with parts that can be colored so it can look more personal. (The Kindle just doesn't look like something you want to show off to anyone, you know?)
Video playback would also be cool.

Okay, so that's what I would want it to be. Sort of a mix between an mp3 player, tablet pc, ebook reader, and pda. Oh, and I would want it to cost less than $200 so I could afford it and justify buying it when . Yeah, so that's my druthers in relation to the issues. My laptop does all these things and it's portable, it would just be cool to have something more that could do these things and have it be affordable. I'll just have to wait and see then.

Getting the Little Stuff Done

2007-12-15T18:51:00.001-08:00

I love sewing, but hate hemming. I mean, its boring and not particularly satisfying and I wish there was some way to avoid it. I tried that iron on hem tape, but it comes off after awhile. On the other hand it gave my the cleanest edge of any of my hems, so I maybe should use it more often before hemming. So today, I hemmed. It was fun enough, but I am sort of tired of hemming now. I think I hemmed six dresses. I alsosewed buttons onto 1 dress and decided to just remake another that just isn't looking right. Oh, and last night I sewed a jacket, skirt, and pair of pants, hemming included from a modern Simplicity pattern. It ended up looking pretty good, but I haven't put the button on the front. The jacket has a lot of shape any way, so I'll try to consider what I want to do and can get away with :)

I exercised this morning. I did 15 minutes of Turbo Jam and 10 minutes from the Quickfix Cardio Kick, then 20 minutes from the lower body portion on 20/20 The New Method Pilates. Then I sewed and then took a nap this afternoon when the home teacher called and will be visiting after church tomorrow.

Oh, and bro cooked something lowcarb for me, sort of a pizza pie. It did have filo dough, but it was just at the bottom and I just didn't eat it.

This was my Saturday and its not even over yet. Maybe its time to start a new project? I'd intended to go through my unfinished project area (usually there's a good reason a project is unfinished), but I've no motivation to do that right now. What I actually need to do is shred my junk mail, take out the trash, sort through my clothes, organize my sewin area, buy a filing cabinet for my patterns, create a duct tape dress form, and find my mp3 player that has mysteriously disappeared, hmmm.

2007-12-14T16:20:00.000-08:00

I would post this to the pattern reiews site, but it's giving me issues. Bummer. So I'll post it later and you all will get a look at it.

Pattern Description:
Misses dress with midriff band and two upper bodice options.

Pattern Sizing:
I made a 14 on top and 16 on bottom.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?
Yes, this is one of my favorite patterns, I've used it three times.

Here's the back view.

Another version.

And here's another one.

I love the wiggle dress feel of the pencil skirted version. I stuck a circle skirt on the flowered version and the green one was made with Simplicity 3673.

Were the instructions easy to follow?
Well, I didn't really follow them, so I've no idea how well they are written. I did try to use them for the pencil skirt and could not understand what they were describing for the back skirt slit. I ended up chanelling my need to wiggle by not sewing the slit.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
The faux wrap upper bodice peice is one of my favorite looks and is really flattering. I think the lining darts and bodice pleats really enhance the bust area. I'm notparticularly fond of the pleats on the skirt of the pencil skirt, I really do not think they are a good idea for people with hips more then 32 inches across.

I also love the back of the pattern, although I can't find that peice right now :(

Fabric Used:
Wal Mart cotton $1 and you can tell. It's slightly see through and the first time I wore it, the back of the skirt was torn at the flap (can't think of te proper name for it right now) On the other hand, I love the pattern and just make sure to wear it with a slip.

Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made:
For the pencil skirt version, the only change I made was converting the pleats into darts. It wasn't completely successful, but I'm happy with the look. The others were changed more extensively.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
Yes, I've sewn it three times, I think its' going to become a maxi dress nex time.

Conclusion
This is seriously one of my favorite patterns and I hope to find still more ways to wear it. Oh, and its seriously easy.

Some more random pictures...

Seriously Easy Dinner

2007-12-10T21:18:00.000-08:00

So I got home from work tonight, kinda hungry, but not really wanting to cook so I made chicken and penne rosemary alfredo with low everything vanilla ice cream with some sugar free strawberry syrup.

Chicken

1 defrosted chicken brest, sliced
2 shallots
garlic paste
Lowry Seasoned Salt
Olive Oil spray

So I fried up the shallots and garlic paste in the olive oil spray.
Then I added the chicken to the skillet under medium-high heat
Then I added the seasoned salt, although not too much nor too little.

Pasta with sauce and Rosemary

Whole grain Pasta

Bertolli's alfredo sauce

Rosemary

Garlic

Cook Pasta to preferred tenderness.
Add enough alfredo sauce to coat pasta with a little left over that swished around the pan
Add garlic paste
Cook til heated through
Add Rosemary to taste

Then it was done and I ate Blue Bell's diet vanilla ice cream with Sorbee's sugar free strawberry syrup.

All in all a seriously good meal and easy too:)

My coursework is done, but I've still got classes...

2007-12-10T14:04:00.000-08:00

Well all my Master's coursework is now complete. :jumps up and down, then dances badly: I still need to get my practicum waiver and capstone application to the UNT SLIS office in the next couple of days, but my MLIS is pretty much complete. So what may be the classes I refer to? Well, working at a college means I have access to lots of fun classes and I now have to desice which ones I really want to take. All the DCCCD fashion and design classes are at El Centro and that is just too much effort to go to to be worth the effort, so I'll stick to Eastfield courses.

My potential courses are:

Ballet I
Painting I
Beginning Spanish Conversation
Jogging I
Guitar Class I

This would be my schedule if I took them all:

Monday
Go in at 10 for Guitar class
Jogging/Triathlon 11-12:30
Work 1-10

Tuesday
Institute 12:30
Work 1-10
Ballet/Pilates 5:30-7

Wednesday
Go in at 10 for Guitar class
Jogging/Triathlon 11-12:30
Work 1-10

Thursday
Take Susan to work at 8 am
Work 1-10
Ballet/Pilates 5:30-7

Friday
Take Susan to work at 8
Painting class 9-3

Saturday
Work 9-2
Spanish conversation 2-5

The Ballet/Pilates class is halfway on my lunch, so I can use 1.5 hours of my lunch and 1.5 hours of wellness.

This means I'll get at least 6 hours of physical activity each week and I'll get to try to play the guitar I've owned since I was 14 and learn to paint(something I've always wanted to learn.) This does mean I will have less time for other things, but I suppose it's worth it. Oh and the Spanish is because my sister was practicing at Church (we're in a biligual ward) and I treid to respond and could barely remember how to respond. Errgg, I've got to get back to speaking it or something. Now, I do know some Spanish, so I wonder if beginning Spanish conversation may be a little too easy for me and I may become frustrated with it, but I'll be auditing it for free, so if it's too easy, I may end up just dropping it, or leaving early or something.

So with all these classes, how much will it cost in money? Well, the Ballet and Jogging classes are free through the wellness program. The Spanish class is free because I'll be auditing it as workforce development. I'll only have to pay for the Painting and Guitar classes for a total of 4 credit hours. Now, I might worry about the extra time it will take, but it's personal interest and physical fitness classes, so I'll not worry too much. Of course, these are all doable only on a space available basis and pending confirmation of my sister's schedule. If a class doesn't make or fills completely, or my sister tells me her schedule is going to change, one or more of these classes may not happen. I also need confirmation from my boss that the one during my lunch/for wellness can happen.

My Poor Little Puppy

2007-12-06T11:58:00.000-08:00

When I got home from work last night, there was an odd wet spot on my bed, a big one, like 3-4 feet in diameter. I wondered about it because my Luna is housetrained and hasn't had an accident in well over a year.

So I changed the sheets and blankets, put a couple of towels down to soak it up, the febreezed it and put the new sheet on. I then laid down and everything was fine, but Luna crawled onto the bed and curled up and I noticed another wet spot growing beneath her, so I petted her and put her in the back yard and we played fetch for awhile and then I left her out there for the rest of the night and changed the sheets again. I did notice before I finally put her out that her breathing was a little funny. It's like she would exhale forcefully every few seconds However, this morning she seemed fine. She was her normal cherry self and played a mean game of fetch/keep away. I noticed her food bowl was full. Anyway, the bladder thing needed some help, so I got her into an appointment first thing and the vet said it was probably a problem with her sphincter. She's been neutered since July of 2006 and the lack of estrogen causes this in some dogs. I got a prescription for some pills to give her twice a day. The vet said she might not need to take them for too long, the duration can last from 2 weeks to all her life. I think the vet it hopful that it will resolve itself in the next couple of week because I got enough pills for that long. Here's hoping.

Oh, she also has a subconjunctival hemmorage. While playing fetch this morning she was back to me very quickly and her head rammed my leg and we both got bruises from it. My on my leg, her on her eye. It looks really bad, but the vet said it should clear up in a couple of weeks and she should be fine. This pic is kinda the human equivalent. So this was my night and morning, I hope Luna is doing better tonight.

Aargh, I Hate Math...

2007-12-05T14:31:00.000-08:00

So my research methods and analysis course is not fun. No, not fun at all. I answered some of the inferential statistics questions using online calculators, and I wonder if they did the job right. Ooh. I'm frustrated enough right now to just submit it and give up and making the numbers make sense.

For example, there are 4 tests they tell use to use including: Chi Test for Fit, Independent Chi Square Test, Independent T Test, and Independent T Test for Pearson's r. This last one is the hardest because I can find no references to it elsewhere. This makes me wonder if they just made it up to mess with our heads.

Hmmmmm. So what do I have left this semester:

Final for Research Methods
Some little questions from the last 3 Modules for Research Methods
This stats assignment
Oh, and I never did the midterm exam either(I did have permission for that one)
Thankfully there's nothing for my Information organization course. Although I am a bit worried. Our project for the semester was creating and explaining a database and toward that end, we wrote a long document in 4 stages with each stage building on the previous one. As this is distance ed, I was supposed to send the prof some envelopes that he could send my drafts to me in so I could incorporate his suggested changes to the next draft and when I sent them to him, they never arrived (love USPS). I ended up going up to Denton and dropping the last one off, but didn't get the edited draft until yesterday and the final paper was due on Monday. Oh bother, there are plenty of changes on the draft and I was marked down on it for not incorporating the changes from the previous draft(yes one I never got) and I'm a little worried on how much the final draft will be marked down because I didn't incorporate the changes. I did ask if I could makes the proposed changes and resend it today, but they've already printed them for the prof, so no dice.

So that's my current existence, how others are having a happier time of it.

Sorry about all the non-sewing posts: This one's about Ireland.

2007-12-04T15:27:00.000-08:00

I've not had much time for sewing lately, so my mind has filled with other matters. Like, I really should be working on my SLIS 5080 class right now, but I'd rather blog.

Anyway, so I had lunch with the non-motivated sister and she revealed some future plans so she is no longer unmotivated. :)

I was talking about some of my future ideas including: travling around the world for a year, getting an MA in Archives and Record Managemnt from UC Dublin, and teaching English in Korea for a year or so. Thinking of all these ideas showed me that all my future plans revolve around travel and seeing more of the world. I am doing more than thinking about these plans.

For example, I'm working on my application for UC Dublin and have located a few scholarship sources whose deadlines are in the next couple of months. I plan to go to Denton this weekend to look for a letter of recommendation from my former boss in the Women's Collection and haven't decided who to ask for the other one. The application isn't due until March 30, but I reckon I'll be able to submit before January 1.

On the RTW front, I'm never going to be able to save enough money for an entire rtw trip, so I'm thinking world sections might be best. For example, 3 months in South America and come back to save again, or somthing of that nature.

Now on the teaching English front. I've been looking into some classes here at Eastfield focussed on teaching teachers ESL skills. The problem is that most occur while I'm at work, so going to them would be inconvenient.

Back to Ireland, I made a pro/con list for Ireland and I go ahead and share it.

PRO
I'd have more archivist opportunities
I'd get to wear cold weather wear
I could bring Luna
I'd get another Masters degree
I'd be paid more as an archivist (almost any job requiring a degree would pay more then what I make now)
Irish accents
Study abroad experience
Satisfy itchy feet
Something to brag about later
Will look good on a resume and something to talk about at job interviews
Reasonable prices on flights to rest of Europe
Still access American tv shows online

CON
I'm pretty content
I'd have to quit my job and tell everyone I was moving on.
It's cold
Euro vs dollar
See family rarely
Expensive
More debt to pay back
Pet Quarantine
More school (although I might not mind so much in 9 months)
Procrastinating even more on the whole marriage and kids thing

So I do have more pros then cons and when I was talking about it to Gma, she thought it was a great idea. The only thing is that I am 26 years old and I'd already had some amazing experiences living in Germany for a year and living in Wyoming for a year.

Will my 20s befilled with constant job hopping, even if the jobs are only meant to last a short time? Also, if I do this stuff, I get the feeling I'll never stay in one place long enough to meet someone, fall in love, get married, and have kids. You know? It's not something I worried about at 21, but at 26, I think about it from time to time.

I suppose there's no harm in applying to the UC Dublin program, I understand its pretty competitive, so I could be denied or waitlisted any way. Hopefully, I'll at least get the interview and an excuse to spend money I don't have flying to Dublin in April or May.

Loving your Dog to Death

2007-11-30T14:21:00.000-08:00

I love my Luna she's the sweetest, smartest, bestest dog that ever has been in the world. She's great. Today I was at a friend's house and he cousin was there with her dog. Her dog is a portly terrier mix. He's seriously one of the most obese dog i've ever seen. He looks heavier then the largest dog on this chart and he's so small.

The dog searched and found some tootsie rolls and when my friend asked her cousin if he could have one, the cousin said yes. This dog does NOT need candy. I mean he does have health issues, he goes potty a lot and has this soft growth between his front legs. His skin is white, except his stomach near is back legs there it's almost black. He's could be big because of health matters but I rather suspect the candy his owner gives him to show her love contributes to his obesity.

This reminded me so much of a time I spent 3 weeks in Cuernavaca Mexico on a homestay and the 'mother' of the house mentioned that the vet had told herr to keep her dog to a specific diet because it was obese and she did not stick to the diet. She said she loved the dog too much to not give her the treat she was begging for.

I kinda think she'd showed her love better to take her dog on daily walks and feed her the prescribed diet. :shrugs: It makes me wonder why we humans use food to show affection. When I'm feeling stressed, I eat. Take today, I've 3 major due dates next week and I'm sitting eating Doritos and blogging the opposite of what I should be doing. But this isn't about me, it's about the poor dogs who get fed too much because their woners have some mistaken belief that the food they give their pets means love. Food is sustance. It keeps us alive and allows us all to do the thing we enjoy, but it shouldn't be the most important thing in our lives. When we find ourselves thinking about food constantly, we need to back up and wonder why. Of course, its hard to when you're honestly hungry.

Back to dogs I will brag a bit and say that Luna is the perfect weight because I feed her the recommended amount of quality food just a few treats, we play fech every day and I do take her on walks. She did get a little big a couple of months ago because my wonderful sisters were putting food out constantly for her.

Every time the bowl was empty, they would put a cup of food in. I nagged them about that and they don't do it any more. Luna actually did lose a fair bit of weight when we went on vacation and I was the only one feeding her again and we were also going on lots of walks. She hasn't gained the weight back since we've returned, so I'm assuming my sisters haven't been giving her extra food.

Anyway, the gist of this entry is that giving your dog extra food he or she doesn't need is not love. Food is not love. Many other things can be love, but as a culture, we really need to get away from food as a reward or example of love.

All about MMU (That Mineral Makeup for the Non-Obsessers)

2007-11-29T11:32:00.000-08:00

I love Everyday Minerals, totally HG for me. There are some problems with mineral makeup. For example, something it it can make your skin look really light in pics with a flash (that happens to me a lot). My skin is pretty combo and it usually disappears by lunch, but I just dust a little more powder on with the mmu and kabuki I keep here at work and I usually look fine. another bad thing, I never thought my skin looked particularly old until mmu highlighted some of my lines under my eyes. Errrg. All in all, I think its still worth the effort and undereye lines because this stuff looks pretty great on the skin and does not irritate my skin either.

One of the good things about mmu is its ease of application (once you learn how), and how it can really hide some imperfections. It doesn't make my pores look smaller, neither does it make them look bigger. They are there no matter what makeup I use :( But I suppose I'm used to them now.

http://www.everydayminerals.com/ If you order something, enter the code BmmEnc until December 10 to save 10%

You know, without mmu, I'd never have thought to mix foundations to get better colors. Now, even when I get tired of mmu and wear liquid (like last week) I tend to mix them up. For example, yesterday I mixed the Cover Girl mousse-y makeup with the CG Smoothers tinted moisturizer. Creamy Natural can look really orange on me, so mixing in a lot of the tinted moisturizer makes it match my skin tone much better. And I still get a fair amount of coverage.

Today, I went mmu again after a week away and I did miss it. I got a pretty good color match by mixing EDM Fairly Light Neutral, Sunkissed Fair, and Multitasking together. They were in various finishes including Intensive, semi matte, and original glo. I like it and will proabably wear it tomorrow again, just like this. I also used the waffle cone blush over it and then blended a it more.

btw, I love the ED fan brush, it is awesome for applying mmu blush and not going overboard. I also love their flat top brush for applying foundation. Totally awesome.

On the downside, I've been using CG lash blash for about 3 weeks now, and its already flaking. :( On the bright side, the flakes are big and thus easier to remove then the smaller flakes that just set into your skin). I'm thinking on finishing up my Full and Soft that I bought while in Williamsburg when I couldn't find any CG Lash Blast. I still bought the lash blast the second I saw some at Walmart, but still.

In more makeup news, I still cannot find the matte Milani lipsticks and am somewhat bummed. I just never think to go out of my way to check out a CVS since I know Walgreens doesn't sell it.

Also, although ED is HG for me, I still ordered the new ELF mmu.

http://www.eyeslipsface.com/

I got the starter kit #2. I'm a little worried about the lack of color selection, but I'll give it a whirl.

http://www.eyeslipsface.com/depts_minerals.asp?dept_id=1190

Also, these little tins are so cute.

http://www.eyeslipsface.com/products.asp?dept_id=1186

I got the cherry and candy flavored ones and I know its Christmas, so I'll probably go pick some up if they're available at the Fiesta on Buckner which is the closest store that sells ELF in my area. No the closest Target is sadly ELF deprived. A sad state of affairs at the time of year.

In other news, my parents need to give my 16 year old sister a camera for Christmas, seriously. I'm getting really tired of mine disapearing into her room and ending up with 20 pictures of her posing, but she never does anything with these pics and just leaves them on my camera. Bummer, this won't happen anymore if they would just buy her a camera. Please?

Cradle Robber

2007-11-28T15:19:00.000-08:00

Well, I got asked out my a really hot guy a little while ago. I also gave him my number and he said he'd call tonight. The plan is for us to go out to the movies this Saturday night. Yay. I am happy about it, and surprised I was able to say yes. The only thing is that I reckon he's a bit younger then I am. I mentioned my sister was turning 21 and he asked how old I was. I wondered how old he was, but was afraid to ask. I reckon he's in early 20s territory. Like 21-23. I suppose I'll find out soon. I've never gone out with someone younger then me before, so this will be cool. I mean, my sisters have both had good luck cradle robbing, I feel like I've been missing out over the years :)

Now for the Post-Thanksgiving Guilt Stage

2007-11-26T09:19:00.000-08:00

The lesson at church yesterday was based on a talk in the last General Conference from Elder Dallin H Oaks. Here's a link. It really inspired me to look at my 6 month goals and see which, to me, are good, better, and best. So these are mine, does anyone else have any goals they're thinking of right now?

My 6 Month Goals: Remember Good *, Better**, Best***
From November 26, 2007 to May 26, 2008

Health
--Lose 35 pounds***
--Take Luna on walks every day**
--Do a 5k*
--Go out to eat once a week***
--Bring lunch to work every day***
--Use all food I buy*
--Be a size 8 or 6**
--Do a workout video 2 times a week*
--Use all wellness time each week***
--Drink water constantly**
--No caffeine***
--No soda except for special occasions**

Home
--Keep trash removed from room**
--Vacuum carpets once a week*
--Keep sewing paraphernalia organized**
--Keep up with shredding junk mail***
--Water plants each week*

Time-Management
--Prioritize properly*

Social
--Go out once a week to some sort of activity (e.g. movie, museum, theater production, band, dinner)*
--Go to all YSA activities possible***
--Try harder to date*

Church
--Daily Scripture Study***
--Be current with tithing***
--Fast when proper and do so spiritually*
--Spend more time on prayers**
--Don’t forget to bless all meals*
--Get temple recommend***
--Attend church every Sunday***
--Do monthly visiting teaching*

Our Thanksgiving...

2007-11-22T19:12:00.000-08:00

It's been a wonderful day and its days like this that remind me why I love my family so much. This is a picture of all of us today.

This one is just us siblings.

Today has been the first time we haveall been together in a long time, this is including random family members. There was Ann and her hubbie Tyson and their baby. There was Mary and her new husband Marc. There was Charlie and Phyllis and the two kids Sabina and Charlie IV. And there was me, my parents, and Kathrine and Susan. No one was in a bad mood, everyone contributed to cleaning and fixing up the house. We laughed non-stop. We played with the kids and talked constantly. There was something to eat to fit everyone's dietary requirements. I shared my love of sewing with Ann and Mary and discovered that Phyllis also sews, although only for the kids. I also found out that my Mom used to be pretty creative with her sewing. She actually used 3 sewing patterns to sew her wedding dress. I've never thought much about her sewing abilities because she never talks about them. Even though I talk about sewing A LOT, she never really contributes or offers advice.

Bro cooked everything and did a great job. He used Alton Brown's recipe for turkey and it was great. Wonderfully moist and flavorful. The only thing he didn't get right was Grandma's cheesy corn. It just wasn't creamy and spicy enough. And he used red bell peppers that looked good, but added a sweetness the dish didn't what will the corn.

Yes I ate a lot, but less then I could have. I'm full, but not stuffed today. We also have many leftovers this year, but I'm sure we'll finish them :) The weather also got seriously cold today and that's why we have the coats today even though we were all wearing tshirts on Tuesday. LOL.

Luna was well behaved and the kids liked playing with her at first, but I guess got bored with her, so we just put her in my room.

We went over to grandma's after the Cowboys game was over "Go Cowboys (G)". Then I got to have some a g'ma's corn and it was good. We also saw my g'pa, aunt Vivian, and two of her sons. They'd had dinner at their house earlier, but there just isn't space at their house for all of us and my aunt an all of her kids and their family and my other aunts and uncles and their families. If everyone came at the same time, there would have been 50 people in a relatively small area. It's not so bad when the weather is good and we can expand outside, but today the nip in he air would have made spending time outsde rather less fun. So by the time we got there, only my cousin John, his wife Adeena and their two kids and my other cousin Charlie(yes another one) and his wife Susan (yes another of those too). We visited for a few hours, just talking. We don't do that enough.

In more distressing news, my cousin John had to take his 2 year old little girl to the hospital for a bug bite that's got infected. The little boy also has a bite and they took him is as well, although his is better. Leatrice's has a black line running through it. This used to never happen, but the past month or so, Michael's had 4 bites and this is Lea's first one. I reckon they're going to have to do something about that. Dad and Brother Vanuelos went to the hospital to give the kids a blessing and hopefully they'll get better quickly and not get any more bug bites.

Yes, it was wonderful for all of us to get together and eat and I reckon we were a bit loud. Yes, we talk loudly and laugh loudly and did just about everything loudly. We were going to do the Karaoke Revolution.

It's been a good day, aside from the bug bites.

Here's me and Sidney.

This pic is just about the cutest one I saw. It's Charlie's Son Charlie and Ann's and Sidney.

On Eating and Holidays

2007-11-21T17:13:00.000-08:00

Like many, I wonder why we eat so much during holidays. I don't know about ya'll, but for me holidays can be defined somewhat by the food consumed during them. Easter has the candy, 4th of July has hot dogs and hamburgers, Thanksgiving has the turkey, Christmas the ham, and News Years the black eyed peas.

We are a food-oriented culture, and that's okay. I love food, but sometimes lack the patience to prepare it properly, and I suppose this is why we have resturants. Convenience, laziness, quickness, tastiness, and socialization all have helped the restaurant industry grow so much. It's so hard to resist those colorful signs while traveling and in the daily life. When I live close the a fast food joint and its along the way I normally drive, I am much more likely to stop there to grab a bite, or more. If, on the other hand, I rarely see the fast food, I don't really miss it and cook my own food more often. The convenience of convenience foods really has led to so many people eating them daily instead of for the occaisonal treat.

For example, since the parking issues here at Eastfield began, I've driven to one of the many local fast food places much less often. This is also because my brother used to work almost the same schedule as I did at a building less than a mile from Eastfield and sometimes I would bring him something from one of the local places since he didn't have a lunch break and so couldn't drive away to grab anything. I think he mostly ate tv dinners. I can count on my hand the number of times I've left the campus this semester for lunch because of Bro and because it now takes so long to walk out to the car and back. That's 10 minutes or so right there.

There is a subway on campus, but I try to avoid it. It's still not really healthy, although the veggies are. Also I can rarely resist making the daily special a meal by adding a soda and chips and it can cost a pretty penny. I need to practice my avoidance for these unhealthy foods.

So I've been trying to bring food in more often. It's nice, but too often what I bring in is still a convenience food like canned soup or a frozen dinner.

Once I brought in a rotisserie chicken, but for some reason it just didn't fill me up and I was ravenous eat everything in sight by the time I got off work 4 hours later. Maybe if I bring the chicken and something a little more satisfying then salad, I'll be fuller longer.

It's odd, I was reading on a blog that most women don't eat enough calories and I have to agree. I shoot for 1300-1500 a day and when I really looked at what I was eating last week on Sparkpeople, I was sitting at 1100-1200 everyday and this is with pretty much ignoring my low carb lifestyle. Even at this calorie level, I don't loose weight, so I suppose focus is necessary.

So here are some potential avoidance strategies for when I'm craving, but not really hungry and don't need anything.

Start sewing.
Start working on Nanowrimo or some other writing
Start homework
Go outside and take Luna for a walk
Call a friend
Turn on Heroes or some other distracting tv show
Remind myself of why I want to be healthy
Look at pictures of obese people online (not a nice one, I wonder hoe effective it would be)
Read a book

Maybe my goal should be to use these strategies for 30 minutes and if I still want it, then have it. I've heard of this before, but have not the excitment to carry it through. Maybe I will be more conscientious this time.

Short Term Goals (New Years)

Lose 10 pounds
Be smaller
Take Luna on a walk everyday (no matter how short or how cold it is that day)
Try to run a little on each walk, gradually building the walking into running
Get 5 fruits and veggies a day
Focus on reducing sodium content
No caffeinated beverages.
No sodas

Longer term goals

Size 8 (I think I look best at an 8 with curves in the right places, but no bulges. I've only been a size 8 twice since my freshman year of high school. Once right after I got back from Germany and was jetlagged and not eating for a couple of weeks and once after starting low carb, but when the holidays happened, my newly svelte frame became a thing of the past.)
Run a 5K
Eat a reduced sodium, no added sugar, no high fructose corn syrup diet with some fish and soy eaten every week and also lots of fiber from veggies.

Hopefully wrting all this can help me tomorrow to resist the Thankgiving Feast. To be a good feast-er, I'll have the turkey, salad, pumpkin pie, and deviled eggs. I will eat only one bite eat of the mashed potatoes, stuffing, and creamed corn and that will be it. I woulod refuse to eat these at all, but my brother is putting a lot of effort into making them, the least I can do is taste them. I only hope I can keep it to just 1 bite and not all of it.

Also, I'm thinking of sending my parents a link to a food scale. I think it would be great for us to know exactly how much food we are eating before we eat it. Wish me luck :).

Next Sewing Project

2007-11-20T11:34:00.000-08:00

So I finished that other dress Sunday night and last night whilst pondering Heroes(totally awesome btw) I decided to go ahead and try to finish one more dress to wear on Thanksgiving. This means I need to finish it today. Now I do have many other things I could be doing. For example, tidying up my room, cleaning the front room, cleaning the kitchen, filling the dish washer, finishing the hems on any number of dresses, sorting through my closet for summer stuff that can leave to make room for cooler weather garments, .....

This is not my pattern, but it is similar and I can't remember the number off the top of my head, so I can't search for it either.

I'm doing it with short sleeves and I'm not sure, but I may do white piping along the collar and front, or not I think it'll look classier without.

So yes, I probably don't need to try to finish another dress when I get home from work, but I will. Hopefully it won't take to long to complete. I'm making a shirtdress from an unprinted 50s Simplicity pattern. I'm not doing the zipper, and I'm sticking a circle skirt on it from one of the retro Buttericks.

I'm making it from some royal blue challis that's been waiting in my stash since last Spring. It was going to be Simplicity 3780,

but that ended up being made from a black, flowered hawaiian-esque print. This left my 6 yards of challis with no purpose :( This pattern doesn't need 6 yards, so I reckon the rest would make a glorious skirt or shirt, maybe not a shirt given challis' propensity for wrinkling. Wish my luck as I procrastinate on real work :).

BTW: My soda free thing is going pretty well. I picked up a grilled chicken saesar salad and McD and did NOT get a diet coke, instead I realized my thirst and had water. :pats back lightly: I'm a try to keep this up, but it is hard to train your brain not to expect soda at meals when you've drunk sodas with meals all your life.

Simplicity 3620

2007-11-19T17:27:00.000-08:00

I sewed Simplicity 3620 up yesterday. It was a nice way to spend my Sunday night. I've had this slightly stipped/ribbed brown fabric wating in my stash since last Spring when I bought the last 2 yards from a clearance area sale at Jo Anns. Since then I've been searching for a way to use it, but never settling for just the one way. Yesterday, when I was looking for a fabric to go with 3620, the one leaped out at me and the pattern only called for 2.5 yards of 60 inch fabric. Now I only had 2, but I 'made it work' :) I loved the red version on the pattern envelope, but having no red fabric :( I could not completely duplicate it. I also made it using the longer length, although it is a little shorter then anticipated because I slightly ran out of fabric for one of the logner peices. I also had to worry about pattern directions because of the stripes and I think I did a good job. The sleeves and bows have horizontal stripes while the bult of the dress has vertical ones.

The whole thing is long princess seams. For some reason this dress does not look good with a belt. I though about wearing it today with brown tights and a red belt and while I am wearing the tights, the belt is elsewhere.

This dress is more 60s then I normally go for, but its also hemmed as most of my garments are not. Trade off for the huge skirt is more time spent hemming. Balance and opposition.

Another angle on the dress.

The cute little bow detail, its a little lopsided, but I've decided that just make it more charming.

I don't regret making this, its probably going to be a popular dress for me this Winter too, especially with the tights. A quick comment on the pattern. It has a ridiculous amount of ease. I cut a 16 and ended up taking in the back seam about 3 inches or so and the side seams about 2 inches and the front princess seams came in about an inches each under the bust, tapering to not in at all at the hips. That's a lot on inches, and it still isn't tight or anything. Note that some of the size problem could stem from the slight stretchiness of the fabric, butit isn't that stretchy like jersey or anything and matte jersey is listed as a possible fabric type on recommended fabrics. Anyway, I don't mide all the taking in, but it did mean the pattern took much longer to sew then I expected. Also, they don't really explain how to affix the bow and mine is a little lopsided, but only I seem to notice it. The bow is the perfect size, not small and dainty nor huge and overwhelmingly 80s.

All in all, I'm happy with it and while the sleeve gathers gave me some fits, they ended up looking sute, if a little shorter then those in the pattern illustration.

Cartwheels and Feminism: Take 2

2007-11-17T11:15:00.000-08:00

So I lied, I didn't update yesterday because I just didn't. So cartwheels are fab and feminism is a necessary evil. See the difference? Oh that I could explain...

I thought of feminism because of a comment from my Mom. When I mentioned that I wanted to sew an apron, she said snarkily, "Aren't you the little homemaker?" This was very unlike my Mom who is never snarky or sarcastic. She's a lovely woman who was a stay at home Mom until I was 13 and then she got a job shelving books at the local library. She then worked for a government subcontractor and now works for the federal government and makes more money then my Dad, who now works at the same job she does. :) I'm in such awe that they can work on the same floor and commute to work together and still love each other. But we're talking feminism and not marital love.

Mom is of another generation, she was growing up while the feminist movement was gaining momentum. Not to stereotype(but I will) the women of that generation looked down on traditional women's work. I remember a friend of my Mom who took me aside my senior year of high school and told me I could be anything. You see I've wanted to be a librarian since I was 14 and everyone knew it. Anyway, she asked me why I'd want to be a librarian when I could be a doctor or scientist. I told her that I loved libraries and that was where I wanted to work.

She didn't understand.I knew exactly what I could be. Yes, I could have studied another subject, I wasn't going into librarianship because I had no other options. I chose librarianship because it made me happy to imagine helping people find books all day and getting paid for it.

Most women of my generation know what we can be. We can do just about anything and not doing something because of gender just doesn't occur to us. Perhaps it frustrates the older generation when younger women choose to work in traditional occupations or be stay at home moms. They feel that they fought and sacraficed for us so we could do anything we wanted to and we're using that hard won freedom to be a teacher, or a stay at home mom. I see their point, but I also see that women should not feel obligated to become a high-powered professional just because others feel she should become one. Many women want this and that is their choice. I'm happy with mine and with my 'homemaker' tendancies.

On Feminism and Cartwheels Part 1

2007-11-15T11:57:00.000-08:00

I couldn't resist the title when it occured to me this morning after doing some cartwheels for the first time in MANY years. I suppose it was all that blood going to me head. Do cartwheels and feminism relate except in my head. The one is a childish past-time that somehow becomes unexceptional as an adult.

You do cartwheels for fun as a child. But when you grow into adulthood excercise is no longer supposed to be fun. It's a harsh, demanding time that you sffer through so you can look younger, more attractive, and be healthier. Ever heard the expression "no pain no gain" or "suffer though the pain, its better on the other side"? I sometimes wonder if we should push ourselves to do things like eliptical machines and treadmills that are boring and not fun simply because they are supposed to be good for us. Isn't it better to run outside if possible? But is running really necessary in any case? Some people love running. I like it well enough.

I've experienced the high endorphines from running and the sudden burst of energy to do more and the fun from just running through everything. But I don't force myself to run and maybe I should start. Running burns a heapload of calories, increases cardiovascular health, and can feel good. Sometimes motivation is the issues, sometimes you are embarrased to just run.

Have any of you ever felt the urge to just run, for no reason and you aren't dressed for it (maybe you're wearing high heels or something)? Have you just felt like running and said to yourself, "no everyone will stare at me, besides I'll be out of breath when I get to whereever I'm going."

Well kids run when they feel like it and jump and carry on. I envy children their lack of self-consciousness and ability to let loose and have fun with everything. Today I felt the urge to cart wheel after taking Luna on her walk and I did it and it was fun and now I want to do it some more. Let's all try to be more spontaneous with fitness. :)

BTW: Feminism to tomorrow 'cause the post is already a bit long.

Another Day, Another Attempt at Procrastination

2007-11-13T17:51:00.000-08:00

So I've homework to do and would much rather post here. SO much more fun than descriptive statistics, although that does have to get done today, or else.

Found some pics of the extras at the set of the new Star Trek movie. Awesome that so many of us get excited to see thyat little bit of the movie.

Heroes last night rocked. I felt so bad for DL, but I'm happy to finally have some closure on the Niki/Jessica thing and the DL thing. If Niki dies soon, then I can except it because we've now seen that her powers have caused the destruction. You know what seeig Niki all drugged up reminded me of, the story Ivanova told Sheridan in B5 about her mom and the Psi Corps drugs. Same sort of thing and if the special people came out into the open as Adam wants, then (leaving off the possible plague future) the company can become a more obvious Psi Corps. Would the special people get cool uniforms to wear too? And be forced to wear gloves? If so, then its time to give Strazinski so dinero cause 'them is his ideas'.

Elle is certainly a peice of work. Love her or hate her, she definitely steals the scenes (except with teh shirtless Peter).

Some questions from me...

Whose side is the Hatian on now anyway?

At least we finally know why Nathan sees himself in a mirror like that. Not nearly as cool as being possessed by Peter though. Does Mam Petrelli have the power of persuasion like Eden? Will Peter save his GF?

Will Mohinder kill HRG? Will Mo-hotness ever get a brain to go with his genetics degree? Will he never stop believing whoever the last person to persuade him is?

Is Sylar still under the influence of those drugs Candince gave him? When will he figure out he can steal abilities again? (If he is drugged from the company) I predict it won't be long now before Sylar kill the twins, or at least Alejandro if he needs Maya to be his sidekick (every supervillan needs some lackeys after all). This is because Peter now has his memory and powers and I wonder if Sylar mirrors him? Hmmm. Ideas now.

On the health and fitness front, I've decided to make several of my own dishes for the family Thanksgiving since my bro was unwilling to change his precious recipes to make me happy. Oh bother. I'll eat the same turkey and salad and deviled eggs as everyone else, but my own mashed cauliflower, LC Green bean casserole, and pumpkin pie. More leftovers for me. I suppose by doing this and making sure I walk with my sisters afterward, I can avoid the Thanksgiving bloat. Or not.

I've been trying to drink less sodas since I got back from Williamsburg. It was supposed to be a soda free vacation, but ended up being a last hurrah. lol. Also, Dad told me about a statement from the Prophet that finally cleared up the caffeinated beverage conundrum, so no caffeinated beerages for me. :| It's okay, if a little hard. I forgot on yesterday and bought a small diet Dr. Pepper with vanilla added from Sonic (love their drinks if not their menu) and I turned a corner and it spilled all over the floorboards. Usually I can pick it up and only a little comes out the top, but it this case the cup must have hit something, because there was a huge hole in the side and it was seriously spilling out. Then I remembered I was supposed to be avoided caffeinated stuff and was grateful it happened. It's still been hard to motivate myself to drink water to replace the soda I was drinking. Sometimes I feel like if I can't have soda, I don't want anything (sticks out bottom lip) and other times I don't even think about it.

I wonder if I'm a bit crabbier in this post- soda world. I actually got a post flagged at the TWOP forums because I yawned and shrugged in my posting. Seriously, actually I wonder if that's more a reflection on TWOP moderators then me. My posting was counter the current feeling on the board and I yawned, called an actor an idiot, then shrugged. Yes, the moderator told me my yawning and shurgging was rude and that's why my comment was flagged, not because it ran counter to the group lovefest with that particular actor. In a way it is seriously cool, I've never posted anything that was controversial enough to get flagged before. Awesome.

Some different and sort of healthy recipes

2007-11-12T11:45:00.001-08:00

So I love to rush, pell-mell into things. I love to try new things and discover new things and places and can be eaily bored. Just like a character in my story (no not the MC). Last night I made naan bread, sort of. I used a mixture of whole wheat and soy flour and fried it rather then grilling. Oh, and I couldn't find my pre-minced garlic that I buy in that huge jar from Wal Mart. :( Anyway, so here's my naan recipes, although its not to similar to naan and I think of it more as just a fried bread recipe.

Healthier Naan
1 packet of Dry Active Yeast
3 tablespoons of milk
3 eggs(beaten
1/4 cup of white sugar
1 cup of hot-warm water
1 cup of soy flour
1 cup of whole wheat flour
3 tsp of salt

1.So I mixed the yeast, the water, and the sugar up and let it get all bubbly and added the milk and eggs and mixed so more

2.then added the soy flour, mixed it up

3. then added the salt and whole wheat flour and kept mixing, it was still really wet, so I added more soy and wheat. I tried to keep it just about half and half.

4.Then I put flour on the counter top and covered my hands with olive oil and started working it and just kept kneading it and putting more olive oil on my hand as it disappeared into the bread.

5.Then I turned on the oven and the overhead light and covered it with a warm, wet, paper towel and let it sit for an hour or so.

6. When it had doubled in size, I punched it down, covered it with a fresh warm towel, and then left it more half an hour or so more.

7. Then I started taking handfuls and smoothing it into a rough circle shape and making it thing and placing it on a floured tray that soon ran out of space and was replaced with another tray.

8. Then get out a skillet and turn the heat to medium (too high and you get wonderful blackmarks) and put enough olive oil in the pan to cover the bottom thinly and let it heat up. Then I sprinkled garlic salt on it since I'd no garlic :(

9. When the pan is ready, put the first peice of bread into it and let it cook for a couple of minutes each side.

It came out really tasty, but not as bubbly as the naan from the store. Still flavorful and white flour free, so A+ for effort. I was going to eat the naan with some Chicken Tikka Masala, but the only chicken bre4ast I could find was bone in :( so I simply marinaded the bone in chicken breast in the typical yogurt-spice marinade overnight and it came out looked and smelling very nice, so I stuck them in the oven cause I didn't feel like cleaning off the grill and using that. I cooked them at 425 for 35 minutes and they still needed time, but I needed work so I hope my Dad will take the out of the oven when the timer goes off. He also promised to plates them and cover them with press and seal wrap after they cool off a bit. I didn't end up making the tomato cream sauce, so right now it simply yogurt marinaded chicken, but maybe I'll add the sauce today if I feel like cooking upon entry to my home.

I also made some Pumpkin cheesecake.

Recipe
1 8 oz package of cream cheese
1/2 8 oz package of neauchatel cream cheese
1/2 8 oz package of fat free cream cheese
1 cup of fat free sour cream
2 tablespoons heavy cream
1 cup pumpkin
1 tsp vanilla
as much pumpkin pie spice as you like
1 egg
2 egg yolks
2/3 cup splenda

1. So I left the cream cheese out on the counter for an hour while workin on the naan and chicken and other things. Then I put it into a plastic bowl and nuked it for 30 sec. Preheat the oven to 325

2. Then I added the vanilla and splenda, and pumpkin pie spice and mixed until smooth.

3. Then I added the eggs and mixed until smooth and integrated.

4. Then came the pumpkin which (you guessed it) I mized until smooth and integrated.

5. Then came the sour cream and havy cream. and mixing.

7. I sprayed a small casserole dish with butter flavored cooking spray and poured the mix into it.

8. Put into oven and cook for 1 hour or until the fork comes out clean from the center.

Now it did crack on me, but as this dessert is FOR me, I don't care about it, but you may. I used all these low fat things because that's what was in the frindge and my full fat alternatives disappear. Yes, my parents buy the low fat stuff, but tehy don't want to use it and use my stuff instead, oh bugger bear.

So this is what I did yesterday and today, not particularly productive, but hopefully I'll do better in the future. And that dress I'm working on has languished on the end of my bed all weekedn, so close to being completed and yet so far. It's a good thing I'm used to curling up so there's space on my twin sized bed for me, my computer (not too often), Luna, and unfinished sewing projects and unopened mail.

McCalls 5314 and Other Musings

2007-11-10T07:10:00.000-08:00

(note: I am completely makeup and hair brush free in these pics because I took them late at night, right after finishing the dress)

I noticed McCalls 5314 in the catalog at one of the .99 pattern sales and Hancocks was out :( and I wasn't about to pay full price for it, so I waited for the next sale and all they had was the smaller 8-12 version so I let it go and waited for the next sale and still they only had the smaller one available, so I went ahead and bought the smaller one, resolving to grade it up to a 14, not too difficult, but then I forgot about those intentions and just made it in a straight 12.

Not the worst idea I've ever had because it does fit, I just wish the sleeves were a little looser because they do feel tight even if they aren't really tight.

I'd intended this dress to be a muslin for one I would make out of the gorgeous teal polka dot silky fabirc I picked up off the 50% off rack at Hancocks, but never have got around to making it up in the teal polka dots. It was supposed to be my special dress for my vacation and just didn't happen what with preparing for the trip and school and my car troubles.

Now on to the actual construction, I used a $1 Walmart blue, scratchy, mystery fabric (its probably polyester). I love the color and always will; navy is awesome.

I made this up a month ago and nothing stands out as having been particularly difficult, oh wait, the sleeves wouldn't set right and I ended up adding more gathering so they would fit where they were supposed to, or at least, I think that's what I did. Does any pattern ever have sleeves that fit into the arm scythe? Because I've yet to find one that doesn't need finagleing. I also wish I could wear it without the camisole underneath, but this is often a broblem with wrap tops, they like to be low to get that true wrap thing going. Bummer. So here's a couple more photos of the finished product.

Now this dress is nice and I'm working on another wrap dress from a 40s pattern that will not have a neckline issue given that it goes really high and is a different sort of wrap style from this one and it will also be contracted from $1 Walmart fabric. I got there right after the latest shipment and it had 2 cotton prints that I loved and bough 5 yards f each. 5 yards is my default if I have no idea what it will become and its cheap. Sometimes if I super love the fabric and if it can be used for multiple items, I'll get more, but 5 yards is usually my limit. Oh yeah, I got a dark blue cotton with medium sized white flowers and a green cotton with small white flowers on it. Both fabrics should make for good spring dresses in a few months. In the meantime, the blue is becoming a wrap dress suitable for the spring.

In other news, the family and I went to Cracker Barrel yesterday, it wasn't as bad as I remember, but it still isn't good food(to me). The mashed potatoes have an odd after taste (no I didn't get them, my sister did and I stole a bite from her) and the collard greens were pretty inedible. I ate a few bites and couldn't finish them. I think they were cooked with beef and there was as much beef as the greens and not a savory beef either, but a stringy salty beef. Even my Dad (who loves this restaurant), couldn't eat them. On the other hand, the steak (my order) was tasty if way rare. I usually get medium rare, but this thimg was red and bloody, but I ate it anyway and it was still awfully tasty. The green beans weren't bad, a little muchy, but not bad. All in all, I don't reckon I'll give C.B. another chance. This is the second time I've gone there and had substandard food, on the other hand, the service was great and the salad was fresh and they gave us the dressing on the side without us having to ask for it.

Also, while we were at C.B. one of the waters was in their gift shop area getting something sorted out and spoke to me, man he was hot. He asked if I worked at Eastfield and we talked for a few moments Cute, but young, probably thought of me like one of his professors. I coul also be misinterpreting his coming up to me and talking to me, probably just friendliness and not flirting or anything. After a couple of moments, the people at the desk got his attention and then we had to go so sayonara nice, attractive, young man. :shrugs: I'm so bad with guys, its not even funny.

Starting Nanowrimo just a TAD bit late...

2007-11-08T14:37:00.000-08:00

So I've been meaning to start my Nanowrimo novel for the year and have yet to start. I decided what the story would be about last month, but have kept procrastinating on starting it. Well, its 8 days in alwready so I'm mondo behind and still ahve plenty of other thuings to do, but I was inspired today and have finished planning it out (yet I'm a planner versus and fly by the seat of the pants writer) and now I like my characters and see how they relate and am actually anxious to get home and get started. This is what I will be doing instead of homework tonight. G

So what is my story you may ask and I will answer. While usually go for weird post-apocolyptic stories, this year its more in the tradition of the hero journey in fantasy. It's hopfully going to be a little but kooky, a little funny, and a lot interesting.

My M.C. is named Raina and she is content to be an apprentice to a great magician rather than striking out on her own and her fairy godmother keeps sending traditional fairy tale cliches her way to help her begin her own story and Raina stubbornly refuses to be baited and stays where she is, sending others in her place. So this is how it starts and there's a lot more to it.

My MEC(Main Evil Character) is an evil sorcerous who locks people into nightmares from which there is no rescue if they annoy her or if she feels like practicing it. I stole this idea from Heroes last week, although the character with that ability on the show ended up easily defeated for now. My MEC will be made of sterner stuff.

I'll keep ya'll updated on it, whether you want to be updated or not. :)

Back from Vacation

2007-11-07T17:42:00.000-08:00

So I enjoyed Williamsburg last week. I didn't do much, but I enjoyed that :). Luna also enjoyed it, now I would have tqaken pictures, but I had gremlins in my camera and they are seriously strange because they left when I returned to Dallas. Go figure.

Luna and I went to the Dog park nearly every day and shy really seemed to enjoy frolicking with the other dogs. The DP in Dallas is more than 30 minutes away so I try to take her there at least once a month, but not eery day. We're going this Friday since I heard of a good resturant here in Dallas that allows the dogs on the patio and is open for lunch.

Sewed a shirt today, it was Vogue 2859 from the Vintage Vogue collection.

I love the front collar and the back wrap parts of the pattern. Here's my version which for future incarnation will necesitate about 4 inches added to the bottom, I knew it would be short, but this is mondo

And this is the back...

Closer look at the collar and the ruin it was for me :( I'm going to get it right next time.

Well, I decided that to make the shirt more wearable, I needed to get rid of the collar as it just isn't working and tada, the result.

I do like this shirt in an 80s aerobics/ballet sort of way. I think it looks great with a pair a black, high waisted workout pants. Due to its length, I seem to be worrying a lot about keeping my waistlline covered today at work and I'm much rather have another obsession.

Bought a couple of patterns at the thrift store

2007-10-23T15:50:00.000-07:00

One of the local thrift stores, the Balch Springs Thrift Store, sells sewing patterns for $.65 Not a great price, and most of their stock is unwearably 80s, but I found a couple of keepers.

I picked up Simplicity 9360. This pattern was published by Simplicity for its 60th anniversary back in the 80s. I suppose if they're celebrating their 80th this year then this was published 20 years ago. I'm not obsessing. I really like the second one with the capetlet. I'd really like it best, I think, without the white park on there. Let period, but cuter. It would make it much less modest. I'm also not fond of the skirt length, that would not look flattering on my figure. That said, there's something about it I like. Also I found the smaller version and its uncut so I'm going to have to size up the biggest size, a 12, to a 14/16. I love the little dog though and I so want to take Luna walking while wearing something as stylized as this. This pic came from Old Patterns who have the bigger sized one available.

As my camera is still missing, I cannot post a pic of my next pattern since I cannot find a copy online. It's Kwik Sew 872. I've never sewed Kwik Sew before. Its uncut as far as I could tell and contains S, M, L, and XL. I think I'll make the Medium. So it was published in 1977 and a robe pattern. It's kinda a caftan. I think it'll be a nice reimagining of the summer maxi dress for Fall. The following pic is sort of a looser version from John Leaonard, some sort of clothing company I guess. I'm going for a much more fitted style and something like a v neck.

I'm a little nervous about the Kwik Sew pattern since its printed on white, almost completely opaque pattern versus the browner tissue paper. Strange.

New Car Fever

2007-10-22T15:14:00.000-07:00

Is anyone else feeling car crazy. I know I don't need a new car. My current vehicle is fine. I don't owe any money on it. It gets decent gas milage. It looks attractive (better when I actually wash it lol). It is dependable. All this is great, but suddenly I want a mini cooper convertible. There's no rhyme or reason to it, but the more I think about it, the more I justify it in my head. I really need some other distraction to get me away from this...

Oh well, in other news, I go on vacation on Friday and I'm mostly looking forward to it. We'll see how it goes. I was going to try to finish all my homework this week, but it just isn't practical given some of the stuff doesn't even open until this weekend or next week. I suppose I can work on all I can and worry about the rest next week. I will have dial up Internet in the room and wifi in the clubhouse. I really wish the rooms had wifi since I've no idea how well the dial up will do, I haven't used dial up in so long. Does this mean I have to find a provider for use in the room? That doesn't make much sense but we'll see, I may end up spending a lot of time in the club house. Within reason that is.

Ate some really bad for me stuff. It was nice. For example, I had a corny dog last night and the night before. I keep telling myself not to and then when I get hungry, whoosh to the icebax/fridge and eating whatever's there. We also had to finish Kat's b-day cake since high school girls weren't really interested in eating it when Kat offered between classes and I think she forgot it at lunch. Mhhmmm chocolate cake.

Heroes tonight, totally siked, let's see what will happen next week. Also Scrubs returns this week. That's what I spent a lot of time this past weekend working on, watching episodes of the Office and Scrubs. Why do I do this so I'm against a wall when assignments are actually due?

More Ruminations

2007-10-20T07:27:00.000-07:00

So I haven't posted this week. So sorry; I haven't really done much to post about. This week, I've done some homework and thought about seewing, but nothing has really happened, so I must be more proactive. Or something. I think I'll pick up some groceries on my way home to make for dinner, then get hard to wrok on my homework on arriving at home and try to knock out Draft 3 this weekend. I can do it!!!

I got my cafepress shirts in last week. I noticed I hadn't mentioned them here, so yes I design my own shirts on cafepress. It really is a lot of fun. I bought three shirts with wwii posts on them that are really cute. I bought this one in a black and medium that is so big, but I love the picture on it so muc, I reckon I'll still wear it. Anyone know how to shrink a tee? I would post pictures of the posters, but cannot given so new and wonderful glitch with blogger :(

Here's some links:
http://seshat.org/images/WW2_booksareweapons.jpg Channeling my inner and outer librarian ;)
http://www.binghamton.edu/ctah/student/macchiano/landarmy.jpg
There was one more, but the image escapes me at the moment.

Now other then the too big medium, the shirts are nicely constructed and not see through, although the jrs ringer tee is close. The images also look a little strange at the height on my shirt, they see really high up, but this is not something you can change with cafepress. :sigh: It just stretches a little at my chest, but I still like them and they are exactly what I wanted. I do love those wwii posters, such fun.

So Al Gore gets the Nobel Prize, yawn...

2007-10-12T09:51:00.000-07:00

Hmmmm, does anyone know who got it last year? Who will remember his getting it in 100 years. I mean, I'm being cereal here. I also mention this in my blog because of the people who say that this is great for Gore and it yadayadaya. ROTFL. Which prize did he even win? I's not worht the energy of researching it, or reading the articles. I just see the headlilnes and its enough for me. Where's that manbearpig? Yes, that's the only episode Southpark I even saw and it was funny. Alright, that's enough for today.

Gotta a Date for the Fair so the schedule's gonna change...

2007-10-11T18:57:00.000-07:00

So, I've got a date for tomorrow, we're going to plan to meet up around noon to go to the Tx State Fair. Such fun, I've never gone with a date before. This means I need to finish the dress tonight. So the new plan is to go by Walmart and pick up those things, then go home and cut my tomorrow dress out and finish it and Dad's shirt tonight.
Then tomorrow morning, I'll take Luna for her walk and my sis to Gma and clean the house with the other one. Then stop around 10:30 to take a shower and prepare to leave. The dress really shouldn't take more than 2 hours to complete since its simple, and doesn't need a hems since its so long. I will make it a couple inches shorter to be more Fair friendly.

Yay, it's almost like I've got a social life. A date during the day and a church dance tomorrow night. I've also somehow invited him to dinner with the family tomorrow night. I told him I'd agreed to make dinner to welcome my sister to town since another one is getting married at Sat and he said it sounded like fun and I said I'd invite him, but he'd probably be uncomfortable since he didn't know anyone and he said he wouldn't. I know, hmmm, but he's sweet and we'll see. That's a lot of hours for a first day. The last first date I went on lasted about 3 hours and by the end I was seriously ready to see the back of his head, but no negative thoughts, at all.

Projects, Projects, Projects???

2007-10-11T14:15:00.000-07:00

So my medieval gown from Mccalls 4889 is pretty much done. All it needs is something for the girdle, I'm to check thrifts stores for metal belts tomorrow and if that fails, I'll pick up tapestry trim at Hancocks. Also, Dad's shirt's cut out and needs to be sewn tonight and I need to finish the kilt tonight so he car try it on tomorrow and we can make modification and settle the final stylings. I also want to cut out a maxi dress tonight, but it may wait until tomorrow. You know ya'll, it really helps me to write out my plans so I can see an end to them.

Also for tonight: after work of necessity

--Hang up clothes

--Take Luna on walk

--Put laundry in wash

--take out trash from my room and bathroom

--finish Dad's shirt and kilt and sash

--cut out maxi dress

--be asleep by 1 am

For tomorrow

--Take Luna for walk hopefully at 8:00

--Take Sus to Gma

--Go by thrift stores for belt

--Go by Hancocks for tapestry trim if nothing comes up

--Go by Walmart for carpet shampooer and look at fabrics and get plastic organizers for surplus fabric and pick up living plants for my room, oh and fresh flowers for kitchen, front room, kat's room, entry way, and living room.

--lunch time

--Pick up excess in my room and hallways and front room and parent's room and shampoo all carpets with Luna in the back yard, get more potent bathroom cleaners and groceries for Ann's dinner and cake

--Clean kitchen, dishes, counters, fridge, etc

--Clean bathroom: glass, floors, empty or near empty bottles, toilet, sink, shower

--shred pappers that clutter the room

--pick up Susan

--movie furniture back

--bake cake

--Take shower

--welcome A

--Make dinner

--Get ready for the Costume Dance at 9, A gets to help with the hair :) Must leave house by 8:45

--sleep (celebrate!!!)

Now that my schedule for tomorrow is relayed, yeah right. Thankfully most of the cleaning is done, I'll just finish it up tomorrow. So tomorrow is a costume dance, I mightn't to go but for my newly completed costume. As a solemn wallflower, I'll not have to worry about dancing and this is good since this costume is HEAVY, man, seriously.

I have many workout videos and I want to do one tomorrow, but between walking Luna, shopping, and cleaning, I suppose I'll have enough of a workout, right? Also ot, I need to look through the clothes I've sewn and finsih them, seriously its crazy. Also I found some great fall fabric I bought during the Springs sales last year that is just so pretty and I need to perfect pattern for it. Also should it come with me on vacation. I have some flannel plaid that I also need to find a great purpose for. I really need to stop buying fabric, but its such fun and the parents gave me a gc for Jo Anns and I've just got to use it, right? Of course, I do want to sew another maxi dress to where to the state fair. I'm think empire waist and kimono sleeves and long. Its to be a mixture of Simplicity 3918 and Simplicity 4577 or Mccalls 4889

http://www.simplicity.com/dv1_v4.cfm?design=3918

http://www.simplicity.com/dv1_v4.cfm?design=4577

http://www.mccallpattern.com/item/M4889.htm?search=renaissance&page=1

Need to use the workout videos more often, seriously.

Busy Week

2007-10-09T23:27:00.000-07:00

So I cut out Dad's kilt last night and cut out the fabric today. I also cut out the fabric for my dress today and have just got it mostly sewn. It's Mccalls 4889 in a dark blue stretch velvet and its really pretty if I say so myself. I sewed it once before for the Harry Potter Midnight Party back in July. After the party, I cut down the dress to wear normally and have yet to hem it, darn. The other version is from a green cotton with white spark on it. Very witchy, although this one is probably more so. I did abandon the idea of a Rennaissance Gown simply because I don't have the time to complete it by Saturday. I still have to sew Dad's kilt and shirt and get the housee cleaned up for AB and Sidzilla. Since he's a crawling baby, I need to shampoo the carpets Friday morning, so everything has to be ready to go on Thursday and I really want to finish Butterick 4919. I could, I really could, or maybe not. It's so pretty and I want to channel the musical State Fair, some was filmed in Dallas after all.

I used Crunch Burn and Firm Pilates today and felt the burn. I could finish 25 minutes and sat out the last 15 with Luna. There are a lot of squats and lower body work in that video and I like that, but have not the muscles at this time to complete it. On the plus side, I did take Luna on a walk.

My contacts are bothering me, so I'm to be a 4eyes tomorrow ;) I've also got to get the oil changed in my car. It's 300 miles over.

Also to do tomorrow is finish Dad's Kilt and cut out Dad's shirt. And attach my sleeves and hem the sleeves, but not the skirt cause I'm just going to cut the bottom of anyway, maybe I should wait until after halloween. There may be enough scraps let to dress up Luna as a matching medival princess for Halloween. Yes, I never thought I would be this sort of owner, but I am. :shrugs: Que sera sera.

Little Sisters

2007-10-08T11:33:00.000-07:00

Why do we still allow little sisters to bother us, even when we're grown? We went out to my birthday lunch and my sisters would not stop teasing me, which is okay, but then they started laughing as though about me and it just really started getting on my nerves. It was so hard not to try to pinch Kat so hard she got a bruise. I restrained myself and simply did not speak to her for the lunch. The thing is that is completely ruined MY birthday lunch. After this happened in the car, I'd didn't particularly want to talk to anyone in my family. I just wanted to go home and grab something to eat on the way home. We went to Ryans and it was okay, KI tried to sit as far away from people as I could, but the parents did insist on sitting beside me since it was all for me. Thankfully they noticed I was not in a talking mood and talked amoungst themselves and to my sisters. I just did not feel like talking after the whole car thing. I tried several ways to get us to leave, or to allow me to go home, but got guilted into staying. Bother, why do I let her bother me? I haven't really spoken to her again, for no reason, I'm not mad anymore, I just don't want to be around her. I'm tempted to remove my makeup from the bathroom and see how she enjoys going to school without much makeup for once, it would be good for her anyway, she's only 15 and has good skin and certainly does not need foundation. I'll also not keenm right now to let her drive my car. I mean, if she's going to call me names, then I'm not going to go through the stress of watching after a new driver. Let her drive with the parents.

You know what? I think this happened because we went out to eat on Sunday, we were all tense, it was horridly busy at Ryans and the food was sub-par, yet still expensive. Yeah, we shouldn't go out to eat on Sundays...

In other news, Mary's wedding is Saturday night and I've still got to sew Dad's shirt and kilt. The plan it to cut out the pattern tonight and cut out the fabric tomorrow and sew it tomorrow night. I've still got to work on mine as well and I've got 3 different fabrics and new patterns to choose from. Should I use the medieval or the rennaissance? Who knows.

Today was Columbus Day and when I stopped by the post office, there was no one there. It was quite sad. I was supposed to send off a couple of things, but I suppose they can wait until tomorrow.

Heroes tonight, totally siked. I usually talk to Sue about theories after I watch it, but have no real desire to talk to her right now so we'll see what theories I develop on my own. Now if she offers to help me sew Dad's costume, maybe we'll be okay again, or now.

Happy Birthday to me.....

2007-10-06T10:18:00.000-07:00

So yesterday was my birthday and I got soem cards, some calls, and my nephew got to win the diaper derby. He is the cutest little baby boy, like ever. We drove down to Winnie, TX and had some fun at the Texas Rice Festival, which happens to be this weekend, the same weekend as Seagofest. My sister is really jonesed about Seagofest, if she had to miss it, she would not have wanted to go to Winnie. Thankfully, she just missed the Friday festivities. The parade happened right a we were leaving town onWednesday, but she would have missed out on it anyway. We saw some young girls, couldn't have been more than 16, walking up the service road yesterday at midnight (when we were arriving back home).

I wonder what brilliant parents allowed their young teenage girls to walk home from Seagofest at midnight. Contrary to popular belief, Seagoville is not the country, its a suburb of Dallas and has a crime rate similar to Dallas. It's not safe for those girls to have been walking home, who knew how far, from Seagofest. Maybe the parents were at a bar and couldn't be bothered to leave that early to take their daughters home. shakes head. It's not any of my business, butt it's like when I saw a sweet little lab mix on the side of the freeway in Houston. I just knew that dog would be hit by a car and I felt responsible, but I also knew that the dog would probably not come to me, and the place was at a blind curve, so no one coming around would see me stopped and I did not want to be hit, even for a dog with sweet eyes. Ooh, Guilt, I hope the dog found his way away from the highway and to his home. I just imagined Luna getting lost and ending up in the median of a highway and think how scared she would be and how sad I would be if she got run over.

Okay, in other news. I told my sister my philosophy on idiot drivers, that they're all suffering from an incurable illness and so we should not mind that we got cut off because that person probably has ebola and will die a horrible death. She laughed, not knowing I was serious. :shrugs: It does make it easier to be behind someone going 45 in a 70 to imagine them dying in horribly painful ways. I'm thinking blood and massive pus filled blisters.

Still not done with the projject for SLIS 5200, but I'll finish by Monday morning, I have to. The next one is due the same week as my vacation, bummer that so I'll try to finish it the week before. I've also got a midterm for 5080 that week and the prof says its okay for me to take it a week early. I guess I get to enjoy my week rather then doing a lot of homework.

I bought some new fabric for a dress for Mary's wedding. Previosly I'd picked up a washed out pale, greeny gray fabric with a little texture, but I picked up a blue velvet yesterday sine it was half off clearance fabric at Jo Anns this weekend. I also picked up some denim to make a skirt and some dark blue, almost denim type fabric for whatever. I really need to focus on home work, then I can sew this weekend. This weekend is also General Conference, so I will probably listen to it while sewing stuff when I get a chance this weekend.

Date today, wish me luck.

Doggie Bike Rack for Williamsburg

2007-10-03T18:03:00.000-07:00

The more I think about it, the more I want to bicycle around Williamsburg and the more I do want to take Luna with me, but worry about her behavior on the leash. So I'm buying this off ebay INSTEP QUICK N EZ BICYCLE TRAILER QE100 BK1351. This way Luna can come with me and we can walk on either end, but she doesn't have to run beside me unless she wants to. Also, this means I can give it to A if I get tired of it. She asked me about a baby bike trailer and this one would probably work for her, except I think its in sorry condition for a baby, but perfect for a dog. I've gone ahead and bought a harness too for when she's in the car and I think I'll bring her wire crate with me. This is to be such fun. :)

So I Never Entered the Sewing Contest...

2007-10-03T12:01:00.000-07:00

I was all set to senter something into the Vintage Sewing Contest at patternreview.com, but alas never got around to writing any reviews. I made 3 items I could have entered, but nothing made it and now the contest is over :( Oh well, I'm busy and don't have time to worry about it. I did vote for this write dress that looks well made and is styled like something I would wear.

What I need to do in the next two weeks
5200: Finish Draft 2
Submit PR checklist
Finish CB

5080: Finish Module 2
Finish Module 3
Prepare for midterm

Work: Update webpage
Update blog
Get to a stopping point for archives
maintain new books list

Home: Go out on Date
Take LS to Library
Ride Bike
Keep Luna healthy
Take car in again
Oil change
Safety inspection
Sew Dad's wedding costume
Sew my wedding costume (It was going to be Rennaissance, but Medieval would be easier)
Prepare any other cloathes I can for the trip
Luna's halloween costume?
Plan trip

So this is what I'm thinking of today, and you?

Procrastination and Trip Planning and Luna's Trip to the Vet

2007-10-02T17:15:00.000-07:00

So I took Luna in to the vet this morning for him to look at this weird knot/bump on her shoulder and get her microchipped in honor of the upcoming trip. Well, the bump is a button tumor and the vet says it should go away on its own in 4-6 weeks and he gave me a cream to put on it twice a day. I should have asked him if I should still use the anti-flea goo you run down dogs' backs, but I didn't think of it. Luna is due for that and heartworm right now, I love being a woman, otherwise I'd probably forget. Make of that what you will.

So I've been thinking more about the trip and am wondering if I should just drive through, this way I can see the farmer's market in Williamsburg and I don't have to worry about finding a pet-friendly hotel or stopping along the way. It's 20 hours and I can knock that out, maybe with a catnap or two in the middle of the night at some truck stop. After all I have Luna for a watch dog, right? Yeah, I think that's what I'll do. I'll leave Dallas at 9 am and drive through til after midnight and then pull off at a truck stop and nap in the back seat with my dog, or maybe I'll look for a rest stop. Anyway, rest a couple of hours, then off again and drive to Williamsburg with the intent to be there by 9 am. So that means 4 hours of sleep/food/breaks.

New ISSUE, my car didn't want to start in front of Panchos today, I waited a second and it did start, but before it made a clicking noise, I wonder if the connection to the battery may be corroded or need to be tightened so I'll look at it tomorrow morning. Hopefully its something easy and not major. Does anyone else notice that the more often you take your car into the shop, the more often it needs to go to the shop? Like I've taken my car to the shop 3 times in the past month and hadn't taken it in at all for 6 months before that. So far everything's been maintenence related, like brake pads, worn tires, and fraying belts. I'm just hopign it likes the drive to Williamsburg because I'd have to rent a car otherwise and don't think I haven't thought of that. If I could get a total everything included rental car for 2 weeks for under $250 I would take it if only for the peice of mind, fun of driving something new, and anything else I like. Of course, the benefit of my current car is that its older, a little beat up, and a nice calming color. All this is good if you're on a trip, and then I wouldn't have to worry about Luna going crazy in the back seat, not that she would. She's never got car sick or lost her potty training, so I've not worried, but she's also never been in a car for 20+ hours. Also I can save that money and stay in a real hotel on the way back when I'm not interested in getting anywhere quickly to see the farmer's market. Considerations, no?

So what to do... Right now I'm thinking of.....

Bicyling from Williamsburg to Jamestown

Walking around Colonial Williamsburg

Walking around the old part of town

Seeing Virginia Beach

Spending a day in D.C. and leaving Luna with a doggie day care

Nanowrimo within reason

I'm going to try to avoid eating out a lot and make the times I do eat out to be special. I do have a full kitchen in the condo and then I won't have to worry about Luna. I can take the opportunity to practice some recipes, try some smell ones out, and just do whatever.

I'll update when more stuff occures to me.

Oh and for a schedule

Saturday

Williamsburg Farmer's Market

Check in

Sleep

Have a special dinner or show

Sunday

See Colonial Williamsburg

Singles Ward in Virginia Beach?

Monday

See Jamestown

Tuesday

Washington D.C.

Wednesday

Virginia Beach

Something Holloweeny in the evening

Thursday

Stay in to cook, do some spa stuff, detox, do homework, start Nanowrimo. Maybe I will go out and get something spa-ish done.

Friday

???? Something with Luna

Saturday

Walk around Williamsburg again

check out

start drive home, stay at hotel on the drive home.

Sunday

complete drive home

So Luna's to get a walk every day and I'm thinking of trying to make it to the dog park every day. This whole everyday thing excludes Tuesday as she's gonna spend it at doggie day care.

Planning Williamsburg with my dog

2007-10-01T17:22:00.000-07:00

So this is a work in progress. I'm going to Williamsburg at the end of this month to spend some time with Luna and on my own again. I love being able to live with my parents, but I miss being on my own. It's just so easy when you have such security to be contented with life the way it is. I've lived with my parents a year now and nothing's really changed in my life. I'm still in school, still have a dog, still single, still dreaming of travel, still aging. Yes, my birthday is Friday, so I'm ruminating. Of course my life is the same in good and bad ways. The bad: my weight, inability to converse with anyone I'm attracted to, procrastinator, ability to start projects and not finish them and the good my dedication to my dog, staying with school, trying new things, being single ;), and striving always to better myself. I have changed a bit this year I suppose, I'm trying to focus more on fitness, I am going on vacation on my own and with my dog, I've taken up sewing and love, I'm blogging now, I WILL finish Nanowrimo this year, and I have red hair.

So I'm turning 26 and that's okay. That's to be my mantra for what spare time I have this week. I have 2 major due dates this week, I'm taking Luna to the vet tomorrow morning because she has a knot on her shoulder and I want to get her microchipped before we go, and I've switched shifts on Thursday so I work the day shift and we leave for the Rice Festival right after work, drive 5 hours, the drive back the next evening, on Friday, so I can be at work at 9 am and Kat can go to SeagoFest. Breathe

Okay, so Heroes tonight, I may blog about it afterward, maybe. Yay, gotta love it.

Oh yeah, I was going to explaint the schedule for Williamsburg. Let me think on it another night. Gotta work at it y'know.

More procrastination, although I have made progess...

2007-09-30T20:38:00.000-07:00

Sso I'm watching Ninja Warrior and not creating content and input rules for my database, but it is so much more fn to watch this. NW is the most awesome Japanese obstacle course show I've ever seen. I never watched it until bro moved in back in May and introduced me. Now its definitely a show I turn to when nothing else I'd rather see is on. I would say its in my top 20 shows though and rising. In fact, I might watch new ones if they came on G4, like the one they're doing to November. I like the girls, but I really watch for the sometimes hot and brawny, or not so brawny, men. They are the reason I'm posting a second blog today. Mhhhmmm, look at the pecs on that guy........... sigh. Yeah, there are lots of reasons to watch NW, so watch it if you can or not. They just get so excited.

Procrastinating on homework

2007-09-30T16:29:00.000-07:00

So I'm procrastinating right now. I have to finish the bulk of my assingment for SLIS 5200 tomorrow and I didn't really start until today. I'd worked out what I wanted to say, but hadn't said it yet. I've also got some due dates for SLIS5080 for this week and both assignment for that class are group, so I have to start discussing some articles before Tuesday, I think, so long as I have something to say, I may be able to put it off til later and its not like the group has to come to a consensus or anything or produce a report or posting, this is just us talking amongst ourselves, I think.

Went to hike with my Little today rather then church. I was prepared to go to church after dropping her off since church starts at 11:30, but it took a lot longer to get everything together, get out there, and well everything then I'd expected. I reckoned we'd hike for an hour, I would take her home, and that would be it. Instead, I picked her up and she still had to get ready, then she had no breakfast, it was 9 am, and so we stopped at McDonalds, where she wanted to play. I played hide and go seek with the kids, yes this includes crawling through the tubes and stuff. It was a lot of fun. I miss playing like that. The only thought you have is not getting caught and feeling like you're on the edge of your seat, waiting to be caught. :) Lots of fun and we played for almost an hour. None of the other adults played, but the sign says adults are allowed to play too, so I did.

Then we went to the DISD Nature Center and hiked for an hour. The kids really liked it, despite the bugs. I think they had more fun at McD, but still liked the nature. Other then the bugs, we saw some cool plants and the pond/lake. D said she's like to go fishing there with her Gpa. We actually saw a boy and his Dad, or whatever, going to the l/p with fishing stuff, so obviously this ideas occured to others too.

The D was again hungry, so we went up to McD again and had lunch and played on the equipment for another hour. This time I tripped over my feat while running to base and fell on my knees, ooh they are bruised now, just goes to show that I'm not as young as I used to be, a thought I will revisit on Friday ;)

So while I thought I would drop D and her friend off at 11:00, we ended up finishing at 2:30. Wow, it was a lot of fun, and my thighs are telling me I should play like a kid more often whilst my stomach tells me not to eat like a kid. Yes, I finished off D's fries, sad that. Oh and I had a caramel sunday that was SO good. mhhhhhmmmm, good.

Btw, did my roots again, I guess I'm going to stay red for a little longer. I am considering a haircut though...

Can't wait, Heroes is tomorrow, more awesomeness.

2007-09-29T08:32:00.000-07:00

So I did some cooking experimentation last night (no that is not a picture of my cooking, but one I got from http://cleanplateclubnyc.com/2007/04/18/taoism/ that looked good, my sister didn't give me back my digital until this morning :luv her: ) and today. I made a couple of dishes I’d never made before. I made a Quiche and Salmon. I also made that wonderful crème brulee I’d made before and it was just as wonderful today and yesterday. I finally picked up some real ramekins. The only ones I had were 2 I got from a garage sale in Worland. Now I have 8 more courtesy of the dollar section at Target. Susie-Q and I went there before the baseball game last week to kill time since the Church is near downtown and I assumed, even though we were going mostly against traffic on a Friday evening, that we’d be delayed where Woodall Rogers hits 45N/75N/ Central. We weren’t and traffic moved along swimmingly, so we had 20 minutes to kill and stopped an exit early at Target and picked up the ramekins and some sodas.

Okay, so I’ve got some ramekins and my wonderful stomach came to the rescue against because I ate all the crème brulee between last night and lunch today, that’s 6 portions, 1 right out of the oven, another after the salmon and another right before bed, then 2 for breakfast this morning. The upside to this gluttony is that I washed the ramekins and made quiche for lunch, and now the quiche is automatically portion controlled and I only ate one for lunch. Now for the recipes…

Never having cooked any sort of fish other then nuking fish sticks, I was trepidatious about cooking anything fish, but I persevered and went up to Kroger after work. Lo and behold, the Salmon was a manager’s special and I picked up 1.25 pounds for $5, more then I’d normally pay for a protein, but it didn’t break the bank. I actually went there for catfish, but they only has 2 packages left and both smelled faintly fishy, the salmon on the other hand had no fishy aroma, so you know which one I bought J. I looked at lots of dishes online and combined them to make my own

1.25 lb filet of atlantic salmon
1/3 yellow onion
½ green bell pepper
2 tbsp garlic
2 tbsp olive oil or more
8 oz of rotel style canned tomatoes, I used Italian seasoned ones
3/5 cup of mushrooms
8 oz feta cheese

1. Put the olive oil in the skillet to heat up on medium heat.
2. When you fell its hot enough, add the garlic, onions, bell peppers.
3. After about 5 minutes, add the tomatoes and let cook for about 3 more minutes.
4. Remove veggies to another plate, but leave as much of the juice in the pan as you can.
5. Add another tbsp of olive oil.
6. Raise heat to high.
7. Add salmon to skillet, skin side down.
8. Leave mostly alone for 10 minutes, then turn over and cook a further 7. Sprinkle half the feta on top
9. Remove from skillet and leave for a few minutes for everything to settle before eating it. Oh, and top with the feta.

I love this dish, the this dish is good for both feta-haters and fish-haters because the two flavors really neutralize the negative flavors in each other. The feta seems less sharp with the fish and the fish less fishy with the feta. Now the salmon I ate I’d bought in the store less then an hour earlier and when I got it, there were no fishy smell, so there was only the merest hit of fishiness in the finished product, but I have a feeling that even with a fishier fish, the fishiness would be cut down by the feta. Try saying that 5 times fast. J

I saw lots of bicyclists on my way to work today. Today is a beautiful day for it. The air has a bit of a fall crispness and the sun is shining merrily. I do love days like today. In fact, I think I’m going to bicycle to grandma’s house. It’s almost 3 miles away and I’ll be building on my last distance of almost 2 miles away. Hopefully, it won’t heat up too much before this afternoon. Today is also my Little’s b-day, so I’m going to call and see if she wants to do anything, or if she wants to go with me to her Fair day since the Fair started yesterday :celebrate:

Going down to Winnie next weekend. I got a coworker to switch shifts so I can leave Thursday afternoon. We should be gone by 5:00 and be at Ann’s by 10:00. It’s going to be great, or awesome. Then on Friday afternoon/evening (sometime between 5 and 8 depending) we’re going to return.

Williamsburg, VA for vacation

2007-09-27T16:53:00.000-07:00

It's confirmed, I've reserved at week at Williamsburg Plantation, a place with decent to excellant reviews in, you guessed it, Williamsburg, Virginia. The average temperature in Williamsburg in October is 70, making it eminently travelable with a dog. Why, you may ask, does this matter? Because I'm going to bring Luna with me. That's right, for a $75 fee and hassel of using a pet freindly room (I call this a hassle because I'll probably be put in the older one and I've heard a couple bad things about it from online reviews) I can bring my sweet ;) little doggie.

I'm going to be there from October 27 to November 3. This means I get to drive 20 hours to get there. I don't want to fly because of Luna and I'll want to drive around while I'm there. I considered a rental car, but it hardly seems worth the expense, most don't get any better gas milage then my Taurus and I know my car and won't have to worry about returning the cars with exorbitant pings anywhere. Also it would cost more, you know how it is. I'm to stay in a 2 beadroom, 2 bath condo, yes this is for one person and her dog. Certainly more then I need, but this is what they had available. My parents offered me a condo week for my birthday. It costs $139 to use the condo with a further $39 fee since I'm not named in their account. :( It's also going to be another $75 for Luna. This does add up, but I think it's worth it. It still costs less than $40 a night for a huge 2 bd, 2 bth apartment with a jacuzzi tub and you can't beat that. I'm looking forward to seeing Williamsburg with my dog. I found the names of several restaurants that allow dogs to sit with you on the patio and if the weather is nice, that will be a great option, as will just walking around with her. I do miss that dog when I go away without her, so why not bring her with me? Well, I'll answer that. She's yet to go potty in the house, but she did go sometimes when I lived in an apartment and she couldn't go out as frequently.

I fear she may regress and I will just have to stay on top of that. Also worrisome is that this is a pet freindly unit and they are in limited supply, but this is the off season and the chick on the phone said it wouldn't be a problem, but my reservation won't go into their system for a week, so I have to call back next week to confirm. Also with pet freindly units, a dog may have gone potty on the floor and other dogs can smell that and will go there as well. As long as I take her out after feeding her and also every few hours, she should be fine. It's not like I have a job while on vacation and will have to leave her alone all day again.

Another concern is that she does bark, if I leave her alone in the condo, I don't want her to bark. She'll probably sleep, but if something interesting walks by, esspecially other dogs, she will bark at it and she has a resounding bark. I've thought about using one of the bark shockers, but I hate to do it. Do I have a choice? Alsi, she's not trained to a crate right now, but I think I should crate her in the condo whenever I'm not there, but I would certainly need to start that now so I have to pick up a portable crate. Also she sleep most of the time while we drive, so she'd be much safer and not too terribly unhappy in a crate. Hmmm, vacation considerations, I'll talk more about them tomorrow.

Polygamy

2007-09-26T16:39:00.000-07:00

So I’ve been hearing about a case lately about some girl who accused her husband of raping her, and btw they happen to be polygamists. Everything about this case seems to tell me it’s a witch hunt. I mean what did he do that was worth prison time?

Now, some 14 year olds can handle marriage, my Grandmother was 14 when she married Grandpa and they are one of the most loving and connected couples I know. There are some 14 year olds who are too immature to marriage and this chick would seem to have been one of them. Also, this is a free country, that girl could have been pressured into marriage, but she could not have been forces. All you have to do is say ‘no’. Now, the girl also claimed that she tried to kill herself after the first time they had sex, really. Lol yeah right. Totally emo this one is. Now I’m just waiting for a twin brother to arrive and for her to accuse him of rape only for him to turn out to have amnesia and have come back from the dead. Yes, I’m thinking soap opera. I just look Elissa Wall up by name, wow, she’s kinda ugly too. You’d never think she would have an illegitimate child would you, but wasn’t she pregnant by another man when she divorced her first husband. Yeah, you all probably know what I think of her by now. It’s not a secret, I think she’s a misguided, pathetic, lying, manipulative 21 year old. There are plenty of other people out there who are just like her, but they aren’t encouraged to come up with stories against family like she was so they don’t get their 15 minutes unless they somehow become famous, like for murder, theft, acting, singing, assault, whatever.

Oh bother, don’t get me started in on her anymore, I might become mean J

So the whole polygamy thing. I mean what’s really wrong with it? Of course, now it has the reputation for being a kooky institution practiced by crazies living on the edge of society and using the poligamistic beliefs to force marriages and underage sex on women. Well, this is to be expected given that polygamy is illegal, who but a certain type of person is going to practice it?

All right, so these are my opinions, fell free to have your own…

Totally web 2.0, and Heroes

2007-09-25T17:41:00.000-07:00

So I'm going to do something a little different this year for my Nanowrimo. I'm going to write it via on online private wiki at http://www.netcipia.com. This will hopefully cut down on the whole emailing the document to myself and getting confused on versions and so forth thing that happens to me every year. Maybe I'll finish for the first time in 6 tries. Yes, I started in 2001 and the closed I've come is 21,000 words. I seem to get stymied around 15,000, also Nanowrimo is in November, a notoriously busy time for students and I started my freshman year in college and am about to finish my Masters, so I'm just so busy in November. Maybe if I can get all the planning done in October, I can really celebrate it. I'm thinkin of going on vacation the week of Halloween, so I can see Williamsburg in the Fall, I hear its quite beautiful in October. The weather should be cold, but not too cold, and I'll be able to devote at least a couple days to nanowrimo while staying in a condo. All these wins make it hard to resist, although this does mean I'll be out of town for Halloween, but who really cares, I'm not big on Halloween, although it might be fun to see what's happening in Williamsburg that night, just for funsies to quote Scrubs.

Saw Heroes last night. How awesome was that. I mean, we kill off Sulu, although I rather doubt that he'll be absent for the rest of the season, can we all say 'flashbacks'? We also see a stalking emo potential bf for Claire, the 'normal', and a scene with HRG going all assassin on his power tripping manager. Ooh, and that scene with Molly and Matt with the new villain was a bit creey. I hesitate to say super-creepy this early on when I know its going to get mondo worse. Also, to mention the previews which bro refuses to watch since he figures they may spoil it for him (for me they just whet the appetite), we see Syler on a beach getting a drink. So he doesn' drink blood, who knew?

Flat Tire

2007-09-19T21:45:00.000-07:00

I got a flat tire on my way home. Yes, I’d just left Eastfield, so it was THAT part of Mesquite. I was all prepared to do it all myself when I realized that my spare tire was undrivable. The rubber was literally cracked and showing a LOT of metal. First I was approached by an older black man. He offered to put the spare on for a few dollars. I wasn’t carrying any cash and he offered to do it anyway, but I didn’t really want to drive on that tire. Then some gentlemen from the service station across the way came over and kept me company until Dad got there. So this was my disaster of the evening. I used some sort of tire fill-up in a can and when to a nearby Chevron to continue filling the tire up. I’m heading to the store tomorrow to replace both the back tires since if one goes out, chances are the other one will go out to. I’m also going to have to remember to replace that spare. Maybe I’m a suspicious person, but I wonder if someone from Walmart stole my spare and gave me one in much worse shape since my spare was showing no tred when I used it last May and I’ve not used it since. Of course I’ve left my car alone several times since then, so who knows if someone stole it, or maybe it was seriously damaged the last time I used it. Although I drove it less then 5 miles and less then an hour.

I also found out my blog is accessible on Google, I guess it just makes sense with the whole Google Blogger thing. I search for Seagoville bikes and my blog entry of today was in the first 10 results. Cool. This reminds me of Jake Sisko from DS9. When told he didn’t have any readers, he was hopeful and replied that when people did read his stories, they would be interested. Could this be my philosophy?

Biking and Luna and Dog Training

2007-09-19T15:46:00.000-07:00

Well, my allergies were much less pronounced today. It’s like my head was encased in foam and the foam was eaten by some giant space anteater last night. Hmmm, I’m happy I wasn’t awake for that. J I’m still sniffly and the post-nasal drip still drips down the back of my throat and my ears still itch (which is odd since its usually my eyes that itch). I actually felt well enough to bike up to Minyards (about 2 miles with some hills) and pick up some more allergy meds and nasal decongestants. On my way home I had to grin. A motorcyclist rode by me and actually waved and smiled at me. Oh, the camaraderie of the open road. Well, my calves hurt during the ride, but I felt reasonably good, if overheated. I do wish I’d eaten first because there were a couple times I felt I could have eaten a house.

Which leads me to my next point. Dude, I’ve been hungry lately. I just keep eating. Like today, I ate steak and broccoli at about noon, then at 4 had a chili cheese dog from Sonic and lots of peanuts and a couple of cheese sticks. Now it’s 5:45 and I’m hungry again. What’s with this? Is it because of the exercise? Luna got out with the bike today and she ran beside the bike for quite awhile, having fun and gamboling away with her BF from next door. About half-way through, she got distracted. Since I didn’t intend to bring her or her BF with me anyway, I just allowed her to be distracted and went along my merry way to Minyards. When I returned, her BF and her and found their ways to their respective home with no harm done. I just hope they didn’t annoy anyone. I guess they treat the whole street like it’s their one big yard. Almost funny.

I’ve been working more with Luna lately on training. I think she’s finally figured out what stay is, now I just need to keep it going and get her to come when called. It almost works, but she’s still such a puppy and just wants to have fun.

Tomorrow’s bike ride is going to go through some of the back roads of Seagoville and Luna is not invited. Wish me luck (with not eating the cows I’ll see along the way).

Hay Fever :(

2007-09-18T13:42:00.001-07:00

That’s right, I’ve been afflicted with hay fever for the past few days. It started when I was down in Beaumont with my sister. We were shopping and eating and playing with my nephew and all I really wanted was to take a nap. Then I had to drive 2 and a half hours toward Dallas until my Mom took pity on me and took over. Thank goodness because I was feeling a bit woozy at the time and it probably wasn’t a good idea for me to drive.

So I stayed home from work yesterday to pamper my hay fever. The sleep felt great. It seems all I want to do right now is sleep. This really is the pits even beside the sniffling, sneezing, post nasal drip inspiring coughing and wooly head. I tried Dayquil but it did no good. I’m not sure that the anti-histamines work either, but I’ve heard they can take a few days to get started in your system. I usually only get hay fever when the weather changes in the Spring and Fall. I got hit pretty hard last February and it lasted for a very miserable 2 weeks in which I used up just about all my sick leave. I hope this time isn’t as bad. I’ve got what’s left from the prescriptions in the Spring and I’ll try Claritin again. It usually work on me, but didn’t last Spring for some reason.

What really bites is that I just bought a bike and was really looking forward to riding it this week. But with my muscles feeling like jelly and slow reflexes both from the hay fever and the medication, I don’t think a bike ride would be particularly enjoyable for me or random people I would run over or be run over by.

My sister drove part of the way down 45. She got an hour of freeway driving in the relatively un-trafficky freeway on Saturday afternoon. I stopped her about 60 miles from Houston and took over since I wasn’t comfortable with her driving with more than a few other cars on the road. She’d already drifted into the left-hand lane several times. Oh well, I’m extremely proud of her. She also drove for about an hour on 175 once we hit Kaufman. She was nagging at us to let her drive before that, but I did not want her driving my car on 2 lane highways. Not when, she’s already drifted into other lanes. However, on the second highway trip she was much better. I only had to remind her twice to stay in her lane and not take over the entire highway. I should mention that my sister is 15 and these were her first experiences driving on the freeway. She’s looking forward to getting her license in February, much more then I think any of us did except my brother Charlie. I waited to get my license until I was 18, as did everyone else in my family. Bro wanted it before he was 18, but was content to drive illegally since getting your license before turning 18 requires a class or your parent’s help.

It’s hard to sit in a car with a beginning driver and not freak out. I think I did a good job with calmly giving Kat suggestions and keeping her focused on the road and not allowing her to change the radio station or play with any controls until I knew she could handle it. Now I would feel more comfortable with it all. It was funny, she actually asked my Dad if he would let her drive herself to seminary in the mornings from now on. It’s about 10 miles, mostly highway and 6 am so the raids aren’t busy. I feel guilty now, my Dad asked me to drive my sister to school in downtown Dallas this morning and I said no. If I’d known to car was going to cost $3,000 to fix (it’s in the shop right now and they’ve got a rental car) I would have probably said yes, or maybe not. I don’t think my current slow reflexes would be good with downtown traffic. Besides, you would think Dad would want to enjoy driving that big SUV the car repair people gave him to drive as much as possible.

Bicycle Commuting

2007-09-15T11:19:00.000-07:00

Well, this idea first occured to me in the Spring, but I did nothing about it. Yesterday right there on my Google homepage was an article labeled "How to Bicycle commute" or something to that effect. I decided then and there to start and went to Craigslist. Picking at pretty slim right now with most listing either out of my price range or clear across town. I stopped at the thrift store and they had a sort of rusty, but reasonably decent used bike for $50 and that was it. Frankly, I wasn't going to pay $50 for a thrift store bicycle, especially since I don't know much about bikes. I suppose I could have driven to the nearest Local Bike Store, but didn't. I went to Wlmart and picked up the Ladies Schwinn Sidewinder. I really like the style and I sat on it and could feel myself cycling with it and it was marked down $30. I picked up a bike tool set, head and tail lights, and helmet as well, all for under $175. Now I did play around a little with tightening some screws and it took awhile to figure out the front tire release, but I feel really comfortable on my new bike.

Now why did I have to buy a new bike? Because it's been years since I owned a bike. I think the last one I owned was in Germany. I've wanted to own ones since then, but it hasn't worked out. I never get around to going out and buying one.

The weather in Dallas this past week has been perfect. This is another reason I'm thinking about bike riding. The air is so fresh, I just wast to cycle somewhere.

To get myself back in the bicycling groove, I'm going to try to do all my local errands on the bike. Eventually, I'd like to use it to commute to work a few times a week, except when I'm driving SuSu to school with me. I'm a little nervous about riding my bike home at 10 p.m. It's late and I don't work in the best part of town. Of course, it's not really a bad part of town either. There've been attacks at Eastfield before, but I'll be clipping away on a bike. I'm also a little nervous about the distance, but I'll work up to it. I could park my car in downtown Mesquite and ride the bike the 5 or so miles to campus. But you know, its only 13 miles from my house to work via side roads. It's doable and would certainly help me get my exercise thing going. Also another benefit of working at a community college is the women's locker rooms. This is irrespective of the weight room and pool which are also both awesome benefits. When I read about some people who commute and have no shower or changing facilities at work, I feel happy that Eastfield doesn't have that issue.

Oh well, time to sike myself up for bike butt. You know, that pain before your derriere gets used to the bicycle seat. It usually lasts about a week for me, but I've got to do it. You know, get in shape and save on gas. And in a nuclear holocaust, ala Jericho, I would be comfortable on my bike as transportation around the diseased and irradiated Dallasites (Dallas was one of the nuclear detonation points in Jericho.)

Wish me luck!!!

Ruminations on My Shows

2007-08-27T18:02:00.002-07:00

I love any shows on television. Of course nothing on the air today can compare to either DS9 or B5. Yes it is definitely possible to be a fan of both shows despite the historical rather rancorous relationship between the two fan-groups.

Deep Space Nine was great for its surprisingly quirky and appealing characters. Think Nog, at times, and the wondrous Garak, always good for a quote. I just loved it. Dad actually loaned his DVD with In the Pale Moonlight on it to a cowokers. Yes, the family tries to share the joy with others. That is one of the penultimate episodes. Now that I’m a sewer though, I look at the costumes on Star Trek and shudder. Most are just ugly. What made the costume designers think that just because humanity has evolved, we want to look bad. Do we become unfashionable do-gooders taking our fugaliousness across the galaxy?

Although I did like the dress Dax wore in the Fascination episode in Season 2.

Now B5 had the epic story line, good acting and vision. I mean, who can deny that Shattered Dreams was one of the most powerfully dramatic Sci Fi episodes, like ever. I still remember seeing that speech of Sheridan’s right before they secede and it gave and still gives me goosebumps. Now, due to the nature of the beast DS9 was able get more powerful specific episodes on average, but B5 had more meaningful seasons.

DS9 had the old Sisko episode, the Kira and the Spoonhead episode, the episode with the dead Captain, Section 31, Garak, Bashir and the un-curable disease, that whole arc at the beginning of season 6 and the final episode of 5, the one where Worf comes on the station, the one with Odo’s mistake.

B5 had dreamy Marcus, the Psi Corps, allusions to WWII (although to be fair DS9 had them too, but B5 had more and from a very different perspective), the coll end of the Shadow war, scenes with Marcus and Franklin, an actually interesting time travel episode (yes DS9 did them too, but more in the tradition of Trek versus B5 only going a few years into the past), very few really cringe-worthy episodes, the episode from the lackey’s perspective, the great Londo-G’Kar interactions. Sad that both G’Kar and Franklin are dead now….

Well, I’ve more current shows I keep up with. Last season I started, for the first time in since I was in high school and DS9 was on, I kept up with a currently produced show. That’s right, I watched Heroes and Jericho, and after they started showing reruns all the time of Scrubs, I began to watch it too. Now I also keep up with House.

I used to love Monk, but it’s lost its spark. I once watched it, then it then Psych, and now I watch Psych first, then Monk, gotta love DVR. Psych is such a hoot and those guys are seriously hot.

I got to thinking about this because I was wondering when the fall season starts again. Is it the beginning of October?

I think I should start to end every blog with a quote from something and guess what, I won’t tell you the source until the next week. You can mention it in the comments if you are smart enough to know it. So for this blog, how about…

Garak “How much damage do you think it would do to the timeline if Quark were to suffer a mysterious” pause for effect “accident?”

Sisko “I don’t know, maybe we should perform a little experiment and find out.”

They walk menacingly away. Name that episode of DS9.

Pondering Good Time Management

2007-08-27T17:40:00.000-07:00

So who has good time management skills? Not I, said the blogger. That’s right, I never work on what I need to do before I need it. I’m a time crunch person and this is not necessarily a good thing. I mean, I get everything done, but it’s so much more stressful to work on things on the wire versus slowly and steadily. And I use projects to procrastinate on other projects. Yes I often get a lot of housework done during finals and have been known to sew up a storm when I should be focusing on other matters. I’ve heard that the problem with procrastinators is that they underestimate the amount of time it will take to perform a task and this is true. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve said it will take an hour to do something, and then it takes 2 hours.

Well, I can’t say ‘no more’ yet. Lol. I need to take control, the semester started today and I need to finish all projects this semester with at least a weekend to spare. I’m going to hereby make Friday’s my wire days and just try to get everything done before I fall asleep Friday night. Now this may seem odd to those of you who don’t know me, but guess what, I have no life. I go to work, come home, do homework, sleep, read, and sew, and that’s the large portion of my week.

So what do I want to accomplish this semester.

1. I want to run a 5k, and worry about the time, not just that I finish.
2. I want to segregate Sundays for personal growth and spiritual enlightenment and stop using it as just another weekend day.
3. Hopefully that will mean I’ll be practicing twice a week on the piano.
4. I will limit my sewing to 2 outfits a week and 1 sewing shopping trip in 2 weeks, this will include Walmart.
5. I will bring my lunch in everyday, even if I must stop by at Walmart to pick it up.
6. I will eat at least 1 major portion of veggies with every meal, and they must look and taste reasonably like what they are.
7. I will sell on eBay to support my eBay habit, no more buying without selling balancing the buying out.
8. I will attempt to keep my sewing area organized and sewing patterns un-mixed up.
9. I will water my plants every Monday.
10. I will take Luna to the dog park every Friday morning.
11. I will take a second job during the Christmas holidays.
12. I will go up to Denton once a month.
13. I will go down to Houston once a month.

And I think I’ll stop at lucky 13. How feasible is this? Well, I’m not expecting to change myself overnight.

Here’s some things I CAN do to expedite these changes.

1. Go to the gym on Tuesday and Thursday nights.
2. Practice piano Sundays and Wednesdays.
3. Dog Park Friday morning
4. Studying Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
5. First Saturday of the month down to Houston.
6. Third Saturday of the month up to Denton
7. Run/walk with Luna every morning before 10 until it gets colder.
8. Cook lunches for the week on Sunday evening.
9. Every other Friday do manicure and pedicure for self and maybe a bubble bath too.
10. Water plants every Monday.

I think this is enough to keep me going with and I hope to keep with blog updated with pictures that WILL show me losing weight, right?

I'm at 168 right now. (Yeah, the scale is not pointing to my weight or any wieght I'd like, I'm thing 135 would be comfortable)

Musings over a Rotisserie Chicken

2007-08-27T17:36:00.000-07:00

Hmm, hmmm. So I picked up lunch before work today at Walmart. I got a rotisserie chicken and making for a salad. Then I undid my good behavior by eating the last piece of marble cake from MaryAnn’s retirement party on Thursday. Oh well. The 3 pieces Reece’s Peanut Butter Cups probably didn’t help matters. Sometimes I wonder about food. Don’t you? I wonder about making it and why it can sometimes taste great or lousy depending on hunger and composition. I’ve been making crème brulee more often lately and it’s been pretty good if I do say so myself, and I do. I don’t brown the top since I make it with Splenda and Splenda doesn’t act like real sugar when you burn it. I also use half n’half rather then heavy cream. I pour it into foil lined cupcake pans for automatic portion control. This recipe is also nice for ice cream, only you freeze it rather then cooking it.

From allrecipes.com...

Creme Brulee II
SUBMITTED BY: Brian Hengen

"A wonderful baked creme brulee. Use white or brown sugar for the top. If you do not have a kitchen torch, a regular propane torch can be used or simply place the custard under the broiler for a few minutes. "
INGREDIENTS
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 egg yolks
• 4 tablespoons white sugar
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C) and line the bottom of a large baking pan with a damp kitchen cloth.
2. Bring a large pot of water to boil. While water is boiling, combine cream, 1/4 cup sugar and salt in saucepan over medium heat. Stir occasionally 4 to 5 minutes, until steam rises. In a medium bowl, beat egg yolks and vanilla until smooth. Pour hot cream into yolks, a little at a time, stirring constantly, until all cream is incorporated. Pour mixture into four 6 oz. ramekins.
3. Place ramekins on towel in baking dish, and place dish on oven rack. Pour boiling water into dish to halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Cover whole pan loosely with foil.
4. Bake 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until custard is just set. Chill ramekins in refrigerator 4 to 6 hours.
5. Before serving, sprinkle 1 tablespoon sugar over each custard. Use a kitchen torch or oven broiler to brown top, 2 to 3 minutes.

Here's a quote to ponder.

Worf: Death to the Opposition

Contemplations on a Toad

2007-08-27T13:34:00.000-07:00

We got a lot of rain here in Dallas earlier this summer. It was nice while it lasted, but I, for one, was definitely ready to see the sun again. Well we have seen the sun a lot lately, but those little frogs that came out with the rain have not gone back home as expected. I still see them hopping about at night all around the neighborhood. I guess that means we water our lawn A LOT. So last Thursday I was throwing Luna’s ball to her and she was returning it and we were having a grand old time. When that dog of mine decided to chomp down on a passing frog as opposed to the ball. And she just chewed on it and wouldn’t let it loose. She gave me a look that plainly said, if you wait it, come and claim it. Yes, my dog has sat with me to see LOTR. Lol.

Anyway, I didn’t think much of it at the time. I just went inside shaking my head at her ickiness. Luna was fine, she didn’t barf, or wheeze, choke, and foam at the mouth. Now I’ve looked up the whole dogs eating frogs thing online and it seems to happen often and sometimes have a tragic result. If I’d known last week what I know now, I’d have called the vet after she ate it to ask about it.

I suppose dogs exist to make us laugh at ourselves, or at least for the warm, fuzzy feeling many generate. Luna is the sweetest dog and she can seriously be a hoot. I suppose that dog deserves a trip to the dog park (it’s 30 minutes away) this week.

Here's a pic of Luna as a puppy. Wasn't she just the cutest dog ever?

A sort of busy weekend...

2007-08-26T19:38:00.000-07:00

Well, I had a busy weekend. First there was the Mesquite Championship Rodeo on Friday night. It's strange, I went to school around the corner from the rodeo and never went there until Friday. It was very nice, if a little loud. I'll admit I was moe interested in talking to everyone else who was there rather then waatching the rodeo. Oh well, que sera.

Oh Saturday, I gave a library orientation lecture to a stadium full of mostly 18 year olds. Wow, they were actually well behaved for the first 10 minutes, but then I started losing them. My presentation was only 15 minutes long and they seemed to have some problems keeping still for that long, I hope they get better at it.

I ate Doritos today, not exactly low carb, but surely very tasty, lol. I'll try to be better this week. I get my school year schedule back tomorrow and its great. I dealy love not having to be at work until 10 and having Fridays off, of course, I have to work on Saturdays to get Friday off, but it all balances somehow, right?

School also starts for me tomorrow. I will admit to not looking forward to it. I will no longer have time to spend on sewing or other lazy hobbies. Man, that bites and on that note, here's a few things I completed this week.

From this pattern I made this shirt and the skirt comes from Simplicity 4047. I didn't do the skirt because I wanted to make a pencil skirt to go with it. I actually bought the shirt underneath from Walmart just to go with this ensemble.

I also made a wrap shirt that isn't quite ready yet to be photographed, uually I don't care, but its even more unready then anything else. So onto the forties dress I sewed.

...and my version with some obvious changes since I'm seriously lazy.

I worked on this one awhile back, but kept procrastinating on the buttons, I finally hunkered down and finished them.

---and my version again.

I suppsoe this is enough to post for now.

Got outbid last night

2007-08-21T09:08:00.001-07:00

I got outbid last night on some patterns. It was a serious bummer, and the person must have used some program because the final bid came in right before the lot expired, thus I could not outbid them. And I know they aren’t going to use the patterns. They just bought the lot to separate them and resale them on eBay. The bidder has over 3,000 feedbacks, yeah they sell rather then buy. Ooh, I am just so irked and whenever I see risingfeenix, I will never buy their stuff. Here’s the lot I lost. I suppose I only wanted a couple of the patterns anyway, the rest is junk.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=110159240962&ssPageName=STRK:MEDW:IT&ih=001

Patterns on my current at the store to-buy list

Mccalls 5466
http://www.mccallpattern.com/item/M5466.htm?tab=whats_new&page=1

I would love to make this the pencil skirted version out of a heavier material. I have some teal that would really highlight the upside of the pattern. Now, I’m all about blue and white right now, so I might make it from some blue challis with white bias tape around the neckline and sleeves. I am looking forward to playing with the sleeves.

Mccalls 5477
http://www.mccallpattern.com/item/M5477.htm?tab=whats_new&page=2

I love so many things about this jacket, the sleeves are so weird, but I like them. I also love the shape and how flattering it must be. I wonder how it would look made up with turquoise and some orange piping at the seams. It wouldn’t go with much else, but it would look good in the process.

I would show ya’ll more of the Mccalls, but the site’s acting wonky.

I sewed a wrap top yesterday. I was inspired by http://sewretro.blogspot.com/2007/08/tie-one-on.html . I love her shirt. Actually all I did was sew the bodice part of a wrap pattern and it ended up a couple inches short for shirt purposes. The pattern was printed in the 40s and doesn’t have a color, so that part of the wrap shirt wouldn’t work It goes great as a wrap over a dress, but with moderate rise pants, I have an inch of skin showing. It’s good that I made the shirt from the remnants of a soft cotton striped material. I used the rest of the fabric for a maxi dress that I’ve worn while sewing, so it has some holes in it from slipping scissors. Oh well, the fabric only cost $1 a yard and I bought 5 so for $5 I reused 2 patterns a got a wrap shirt and maxi dress.

Vintage Sewing Contest

2007-07-31T13:41:00.000-07:00

Yay, so I’m still inspired for this whole travel thing. I’ve been thinking of making European Spring Travel my theme in the vintage sewing contest at Pattern Review. It really is hard to pick what to sew. Each piece is considered separately. Hmm, hompefully this contest will force me to actually finish a project. I do hate to hem, that’s always what’s left over, but I’ll still where the dress to work, just unhemmed. I’m surprised that so few people notice unless there are threads hanging down.

Another goal is to use up my stash and do no more fabric shopping or pattern sopping until I have. This is, considering I’m still really wanting that Simplicity Jumper pattern, kind of unfortunate. I sold a book on half.com yesterday and sent if off today. Maybe I should post more of my random books that are just sitting in a box in the garage since I don’t have space for them on my bookshelves. If I take an RTW, I don’t want to stick my parents with everything, so it is probably a good idea to sell everything on ebay and half.com. I wonder what I should do about my computer. It’s great and I’d really miss it, but you can’t really take an expensive laptop backpacking through Europe, but it’ll be only a little over a year old when I leave. I’ll miss that old friend. And what about my car. I paid $2100 for it and I’ve put more than 20,000 miles on it. I’d probably be happy to get $1500 back. It’s been a good car to me. Anyway, I suppose that’s just more money for me. I can’t leave until after March anyway since that’s the final test that will determine whether I’m worthy of becoming a full-fledged librarian. Also, I should save money as long as possible. If I leave at the beginning of April, but have everything sold by the middle of March, then I’ll be prepared for the end. Goodness, it does make a body feel much trepidation, huh.

Well, I had some tacos for lunch, they were good, if not on my diet. If I’d waited I could have eaten at the art exhibit reception and not worried about the cost and eaten more low carb. Oh well, I’ll just remember that the taco supreme tasted really good.

So here are a couple potential patterns for the contest.

Vogue 2902

Vogue 2903

Butterick 4919

Butterick 4792

Simplicity 3780

Simplicity 4270

I have lots more true vintage to choose from at home that have come from that great haven of vintage sewing patterns, eBay. These are just some of the repro patterns I have too. I’d really like 4270 as a nightgown. And I love Vogue 2903, but it looks mondo difficult. But I guess we can stretch ourselves, right?

We just got a new book in on travel...

2007-07-30T11:55:00.000-07:00

Well, I've been getting frustrated with saving money lately for my trip and I just haven't been worrying too much about it. Today, we got in a Rough Guide to Europe, 2007 so its pretty current, so I can become less frustrated.

I'm really tempted to start in January. That's a low season. I should have about $10,000 saved by then, hopefully. This won;t get me far for an RTW, but I begin to wonder if I could still work it. I've three credit cards and my debt is below $2,000 and I can charge up to $7,000. I will pay down my debt before leaving and just using the credit card for flights and trains and buses and some accomadation. Hmm, there's also bunac. If I catch a cheap flight to London in January, then I can work in London for a few months and do the whole see London thing. Or maybe it would be better to fly into London and do the tourist, then travel for several months and come back to London and work for several months starting in May. Then leave for points more easterly. Anyway, this bears thinking over. Any suggestions?

2007-07-28T09:31:00.000-07:00

So yesterday, I took my Mom out to Town East to celebrate her birthday. We stopped at Jo Ann’s and bought some patterns and material. Don’t ya’ll love that clearance rack, and its even better during the half off the clearance rack sales Jo Ann does once in awhile. I’ll admit I really wanted Simplicity 3673. I even called Ann to look the number up on her computer since it wasn’t in the early Autumn book. Sigh. I suppose I should simply wait until the Autumn book comes out. It’s just such a cute pattern. Anyway, after pattern and fabric shopping wherein I picked up a beautiful paisley with a blue background in a silky polyester fabric that’s gonna be a great maxi dress with flutter sleeves since I’m trying for some modesty here.

After shopping we ate lunch at On the Border and while busy, the beef fajita salad was so good. I was just so hungry I couldn’t resist the hot chips and salsa. Slaps hand. Must not eat chips to be low carb. You know this low carb thing works great until I don’t plan well and get seriously hungry to the point I’ll just eat anything and do. Like last night I ate some of the delicious store bought red velvet cake for my parents birthdays. It was GOOD, but unnecessary, I’m trying to stay true to the diet today.

Anyone else hear about the vintage sewing contest at patternreview.com?

http://sewing.patternreview.com/cgi-bin/sewingclasses/board.pl?t=23896

I think it sounds like fun, 2 months to actually complete projects. Of course, one of those months is actually during school so pretty much worthless since I can’t seem to sew and do homework at the same time. But that does give me at least a month to work on it. Hmmm, I’m just waiting for inspiration right now in the three days before it starts.

First Posting

2007-07-26T19:20:00.000-07:00

I'm sort of new to this blogging thing so we'll see how this goes. I love vintage clothes, sewing, Harry Potter, fanfiction, Nanowrimo, Texas, my family, my dog, etc... I suppose I'll talk about them all.

What's important to me right now is sewing this specific dress. Here's the inspiration, it's a Maggy London dress and I love the top half, not so fond of the pleats, but when you're making clothes, you can cut everything you don't really need. lol.
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2942054/0~2376776~2374325~2384392?mediumthumbnail=Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=2384392&P=1

I'm a low carb eater and really enjoy it, except when I'm feeling depressed. Like most everybody else I also fall victim to marketing the the joy of getting the newest electronic gadget and still wonder where everything on my credit card bill comes from. I'm tried to detox on eBay right now, so wish me luck too. I love http://www.thefedoralounge.com and http://www.patternreview.com

Does anyone else on here get so excited when the newest pattern catalogs come out. I've seen several patterns from simplicity I can't wait to buy at the next sale. That is, if Hancocks or Jo Anns in Mesquite has the Fall patterns yet. I'm also getting interested in burda. They don't go on sale that I've seen and I've only seen them at Jo Ann's but no worries.