I heard about this fabulous thing yesterday. Apparently, if you purchase a specially marked pack of Crayola Crayons, inside the pack there's a code. If you go to the crayola website and enter the code, you can upload your own photos and turn them into coloring book pages and then print them out. This feature is only available though if you have a code.
I thought this sounded pretty cool, so I went to one of the local dollar stores and bought myself a new 64ct pack of crayons. (I was actually pretty excited about this because this is the first new box of crayons that I've purchased in a very long time.)
Anyway, so I get the box home and open up the lid and enter the code. According to the website, the code is not available. I tried again. Still not available. I tried it in all lower case...still not available. I substituted what appeared to be "B's" for "8's". Still not available. I sighed and tried it again....and again...and again. Grrrrrr!
So, I sent an e-mail outlining my disappointment to the Crayola company. We'll see what happens if/when they get back to me. I may or may not have had some plans with what I was going to make on that site. Ugh.
So Christmas is drawing closer and I'm still knitting on several projects. I can't say what for now...but they're all going to be pretty sweet...IF I can get them all done on time. The hard part has been doing all of the knitting on the sly. I happen to live in the same house as one or more of the people that I'm knitting for. So, mostly this is meaning some really late nights and a lot of sneakery.
I'm going to New Moon tonight for the 3rd time. Part of this is that I'm fascinated by it. It's like cinematic crack...the whole Twilight series is. The cinematography is beautiful, the storyline is decent, the acting is horrible (for the most part)...but there's still something about it that sucks you in. Maybe it's the idea of unrequited love...or maybe it's more thrilling than that.
I think the roller coaster or horror movie theory applies here...you go on a roller coaster or see a horror movie for the thrill of it. (Unless you're wacko and enjoy watching people get mauled, tortured, gutted and dismembered...yuck!). Anyway, it's simulated danger/terror...it causes the came chemical reactions in the body that real danger/terror would. Thus the "rush" that everyone talks about after experiencing one or both.
I've never been able to stomach roller coasters and I absolutely can't stand most horror movies. But, I think that the Twilight Saga provides something similar, only in a different sort of way. It's emotional angst and torment. It plays on that desire that we all have to be loved. It plays on the notion of soul mates and true love forever. Not to mention having two gorgeous guys that both have issues of their own who are madly in love with the main character. Also, there's life-altering choices to be made, danger, action, and sparkle. I suppose there's still an angsty teenager living somewhere inside all of us...and this film appeals to that part.
Anyway. I'm off for some popcorn and some angst.
Here's "Monsters" by the Hurricane Bells from the New Moon soundtrack.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Friday, September 18, 2009
New Diggs or "Honey, We're Packing the Kids and Moving to the Hampton!"
I like staying in hotels.
I'm not sure if it's the change of scenery, the chintzy decor, the privacy or that staying in a hotel usually means something fun or exciting is happening. When I think of the different places I've been and the things I've done, the places I've stayed along the way always stick out in my mind.
I get a feeling like I'm in neutral territory. The room is mine for the night or weekend or however long I'm staying, but I have no ownership or responsibility towards it (well...other than making sure I don't trash the place...but for me that's really not too difficult).
I especially like nice hotel rooms.
I have no problems with forking over extra cash for a better room. If I have my choice of a 2-star room for $50 and a 4-star room for $100...if it's in my budget, I'll take the 4 star room. A softer bed, a few more amenities, less chance of seeing a really creepy looking bug crawl across your bathroom floor...totally worth it.
On the other end of the scale, I've never stayed at a truly upscale hotel. The fanciest place I've stayed up until this point is the Green Valley Ranch just outside of Las Vegas. I loved it and would totally go back there again if I had the opportunity, but what I'm really talking about are places like the Waldorf Astoria and so on. Places that cost more per night than my car is worth. If I had the opportunity and the money, I would totally stay at a place like that. I'm not sure how much I'd truly enjoy it though...I have a hard time relaxing at a place where things look like they cost more than what I have readily available in my checking account. Then again, if I was staying at a place like that, I probably would have a lot more in my bank account than I do right now.
Anyway, my absolute favorite place to stay is the Hampton Inn. I especially like how the new ones are decorated. I love the black and white photos and the elegant simplicity of the rooms. They have the best breakfasts, by far and the most comfortable beds that I've found in any hotel.
Either way, I do my best writing and my best thinking in hotels. Sometimes I get the best sleep in a hotel. (Depending on how the bed is). I can't speak from experience, but I think I could live in a hotel room.
Hmm...maybe I should become a travel writer or a hotel inspector....or just become independantly wealthy and move in.
:)
I'm not sure if it's the change of scenery, the chintzy decor, the privacy or that staying in a hotel usually means something fun or exciting is happening. When I think of the different places I've been and the things I've done, the places I've stayed along the way always stick out in my mind.
I get a feeling like I'm in neutral territory. The room is mine for the night or weekend or however long I'm staying, but I have no ownership or responsibility towards it (well...other than making sure I don't trash the place...but for me that's really not too difficult).
I especially like nice hotel rooms.
I have no problems with forking over extra cash for a better room. If I have my choice of a 2-star room for $50 and a 4-star room for $100...if it's in my budget, I'll take the 4 star room. A softer bed, a few more amenities, less chance of seeing a really creepy looking bug crawl across your bathroom floor...totally worth it.
On the other end of the scale, I've never stayed at a truly upscale hotel. The fanciest place I've stayed up until this point is the Green Valley Ranch just outside of Las Vegas. I loved it and would totally go back there again if I had the opportunity, but what I'm really talking about are places like the Waldorf Astoria and so on. Places that cost more per night than my car is worth. If I had the opportunity and the money, I would totally stay at a place like that. I'm not sure how much I'd truly enjoy it though...I have a hard time relaxing at a place where things look like they cost more than what I have readily available in my checking account. Then again, if I was staying at a place like that, I probably would have a lot more in my bank account than I do right now.
Anyway, my absolute favorite place to stay is the Hampton Inn. I especially like how the new ones are decorated. I love the black and white photos and the elegant simplicity of the rooms. They have the best breakfasts, by far and the most comfortable beds that I've found in any hotel.
Either way, I do my best writing and my best thinking in hotels. Sometimes I get the best sleep in a hotel. (Depending on how the bed is). I can't speak from experience, but I think I could live in a hotel room.
Hmm...maybe I should become a travel writer or a hotel inspector....or just become independantly wealthy and move in.
:)
Monday, September 14, 2009
Something New
My attempts at keeping a fairly regular blog have failed yet again. Or at least they were failing...I'm posting now, so technically not they're not failing at the moment.
Life is weird. Life is tough sometimes...things go one way and then they go the other.
I've been actually meaning to post sooner than later. I lost the piece of paper that I had my password written down on somewhere in the moving process. I've been doing a half-assed job of looking for it, but it's still nowhere to be found. I was previously too lazy to re-set things, but I really felt the urge to write something for some reason today, so I did the password recovery thing and re-set it. The double advantage is that now I don't have a reason to be frantically clawing my way through boxes to find what I was originally looking for. I've been home since the beginning of summer and I've only unpacked the necessities so far.
Right now is a time of reshuffling the deck. It's about picking up the pieces and putting everything back in order. Some of you know what's been going on in my life. Some of you don't. I'm not going to explain myself here because if I haven't told you anything, it's probably none of your business (no offense). It's time for new beginnings and something new. Not really sure what though.
I sort of have this feeling that the powers that be aren't really letting me go anywhere right now until I get a few things sorted out. My room would probably be a good starting place for that. I've been seeing the numbers 123 a lot. I looked it up in a book about messages that certain numbers may have if they start showing up a lot. My original thoughts were "123...maybe that means things should be/are going to be easy right now or from here on out". Actually, the meaning in the book essentially said that "now is the time to simplify your life". I suppose the vernacular of that would be "get rid of all of the shit you don't need and get the shit that you do need organized in some sort of a coherent manner" (my vernacular uses the word "shit" a lot).
Ugh, I hate cleaning.
I hate throwing things away...I never know if I'll need them again or not. More than once, I've thrown something away that I've ended up needing down the road. I never know what's safe to get rid of and what you need to keep. Old bank statements? Receipts? Cards? Letters? Concert tickets? Journals/notebooks? Socks? Sometimes it's a little more than "Will I need this?"...sometimes it's more like "Will I miss this?"
I've gotten rid of several items of clothing so far and quite a few papers from years back. I'm donating a lot of my craft supplies that I don't foresee needing in the near future (popsicle sticks, glitter, etc.) to the local pre-school. It still seems like it's a never-ending pile.
This is all complicated by the fact that all I really want to do right now is sleep. I get that way when I'm stressed or upset though.
Recently I decided to make an effort to do at least 15 min a day of cleaning/organizing/tossing...more if I can manage it. A little bit of progress has been made so far...I can see about 10% more floor (which desperately needs to be vacuumed). I'll keep you updated as to how this all goes.
I find that I've been narrating my life a lot lately...that's another reason I finally broke down and did a password retrieval on my account. I guess I figured that it was time I wrote some of this down and got it out of my head instead of letting it all collect and fester up there. Some of the narration is, in my opinion, quite good. Then again, things always seem to sound better in my head than they do coming out of my mouth...or out of my fingertips as it were.
I made a comment about being antisocial on Facebook today...that's a little out of character for me. I'm not really an introverted person...I've just been feeling that way a lot lately. I don't really know what that's all about.
On another note, I connected with a good friend last night that I hadn't talked to in several months. That was refreshing. It was good to hear her thoughts and perspective on the events in my life...she has a wonderful gift for being able to put a positive spin on anything. I've been doing my best to keep positive...but hearing what she had to say really helped. She's had some wonderfully exciting things going on in her life, so it was great to hear about all of those things as well.
On the needles right now is a cardigan. I call it my "Cookie Monster cardigan" because it's pretty much the same color as Cookie Monster. I'm using Malabrigo worsted weight in the colour way "Tuareg". It's very soft. My camera battery is currently charging, but I'll post pictures at some point.
I leave you with "Something New" by the Black Ghosts
Life is weird. Life is tough sometimes...things go one way and then they go the other.
I've been actually meaning to post sooner than later. I lost the piece of paper that I had my password written down on somewhere in the moving process. I've been doing a half-assed job of looking for it, but it's still nowhere to be found. I was previously too lazy to re-set things, but I really felt the urge to write something for some reason today, so I did the password recovery thing and re-set it. The double advantage is that now I don't have a reason to be frantically clawing my way through boxes to find what I was originally looking for. I've been home since the beginning of summer and I've only unpacked the necessities so far.
Right now is a time of reshuffling the deck. It's about picking up the pieces and putting everything back in order. Some of you know what's been going on in my life. Some of you don't. I'm not going to explain myself here because if I haven't told you anything, it's probably none of your business (no offense). It's time for new beginnings and something new. Not really sure what though.
I sort of have this feeling that the powers that be aren't really letting me go anywhere right now until I get a few things sorted out. My room would probably be a good starting place for that. I've been seeing the numbers 123 a lot. I looked it up in a book about messages that certain numbers may have if they start showing up a lot. My original thoughts were "123...maybe that means things should be/are going to be easy right now or from here on out". Actually, the meaning in the book essentially said that "now is the time to simplify your life". I suppose the vernacular of that would be "get rid of all of the shit you don't need and get the shit that you do need organized in some sort of a coherent manner" (my vernacular uses the word "shit" a lot).
Ugh, I hate cleaning.
I hate throwing things away...I never know if I'll need them again or not. More than once, I've thrown something away that I've ended up needing down the road. I never know what's safe to get rid of and what you need to keep. Old bank statements? Receipts? Cards? Letters? Concert tickets? Journals/notebooks? Socks? Sometimes it's a little more than "Will I need this?"...sometimes it's more like "Will I miss this?"
I've gotten rid of several items of clothing so far and quite a few papers from years back. I'm donating a lot of my craft supplies that I don't foresee needing in the near future (popsicle sticks, glitter, etc.) to the local pre-school. It still seems like it's a never-ending pile.
This is all complicated by the fact that all I really want to do right now is sleep. I get that way when I'm stressed or upset though.
Recently I decided to make an effort to do at least 15 min a day of cleaning/organizing/tossing...more if I can manage it. A little bit of progress has been made so far...I can see about 10% more floor (which desperately needs to be vacuumed). I'll keep you updated as to how this all goes.
I find that I've been narrating my life a lot lately...that's another reason I finally broke down and did a password retrieval on my account. I guess I figured that it was time I wrote some of this down and got it out of my head instead of letting it all collect and fester up there. Some of the narration is, in my opinion, quite good. Then again, things always seem to sound better in my head than they do coming out of my mouth...or out of my fingertips as it were.
I made a comment about being antisocial on Facebook today...that's a little out of character for me. I'm not really an introverted person...I've just been feeling that way a lot lately. I don't really know what that's all about.
On another note, I connected with a good friend last night that I hadn't talked to in several months. That was refreshing. It was good to hear her thoughts and perspective on the events in my life...she has a wonderful gift for being able to put a positive spin on anything. I've been doing my best to keep positive...but hearing what she had to say really helped. She's had some wonderfully exciting things going on in her life, so it was great to hear about all of those things as well.
On the needles right now is a cardigan. I call it my "Cookie Monster cardigan" because it's pretty much the same color as Cookie Monster. I'm using Malabrigo worsted weight in the colour way "Tuareg". It's very soft. My camera battery is currently charging, but I'll post pictures at some point.
I leave you with "Something New" by the Black Ghosts
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Letter to Santa...
I had nothing better to do today, so I decided to walk through the local Pamida. Actually, I needed painkillers...so I wasn't just going there to aimlessly wander around...although that's been known to happen.
I walked in and instantly noticed that it appeared as if Christmas had exploded all over the place. It's funny how stores go right from Halloween season (which starts in early September) to Christmas...which, last I checked...was just over 45 days away. (http://www.emailsanta.com/clock.html). Still, no time like the present to get a jump on the holiday shopping...or so all the major retailers are telling us.
(Btw, yes, I did send Santa an e-mail...it went something like this: (The bold portions are items that I filled in.)
"Dear Santa Claus,
I am a girl and I am already 27 years old!!! I live in the great city of Winner in the state of South Dakota. Of course, that's in United States, but I bet you already knew that!!!
This year I have been so good that I should be an angel on top of the tree!.
Santa, some things that I might like for Christmas this year are a quilting frame, a Xbox 360, and a boyfriend.
P.S. Santa Claus, I almost forgot to add these comments!!
I really don't care so much about the Xbox 360, but the quiliting frame and the boyfriend would both really come in handy. Oh and none of those crappy asshole boyfriends either...I want a good one! ...and peace on Earth would be a nice touch as well. Thanks!
Love,
Lindsey Nordsiden"
...and I enclosed some raindeer food for good measure. Oh, and before I submitted it, I changed the words "crappy" and "asshole" to "stupid" and "idiot"....I definitely don't need to lose points with Santa for dirty language!
...and I got a reply back! Here it is:
"Merrrryyyy Christmas Lindsey Nordsiden!!
Sorry the presents the last little while probably haven't been quite as exciting as they were when you were a little girl but, well, you know how these things go (*wink*). Anyway, Santa's glad to see some of the 'older kids' (not to mention anyone in particular!) still take the time to write. I also hear you've been a REALLY REALLY good girl. (Of course, you won't mind if I do a little checking, will you? HO!! Ho!! ho!!).
Let's see what you put in your letter for Christmas wishes: 1. quilting frame; 2. xbox 360 and; 3. boyfriend. Can I tell you a little secret? I love playing games on my xBox -- reindeer games that is! HO!! Ho!! ho!! They are a lot of fun aren't they! I guess that's why so many good little boys and girls asked for the same thing as you! I just wish there was room in my sleigh to give everyone one. HO!! Ho!! ho!! Well that *would* be quite a present if I brought you a boyfriend for Christmas! But, as you know, that's one present the elves can't make -- and anyway the last time I stuck a new boyfriend in my toy sack to deliver Christmas Eve they weren't too happy with me by the time I dropped them down the chimney! (Besides, I know you're going to find a very nice boyfriend all on your own without any help from me.)
Oh yes, before I forget Lindsey Nordsiden, the elves really want you to visit my new blog! It is called Santa Claus' Christmas Blog. My blog is all about Christmas, life at the North Pole, and me, Santa Claus ! You can even write messages to me and see what others have written. I can hardly wait to see what you write!
Santa Claus
"
Wow.)
Anyway, back to Pamida....
After a quick trip to the drug store section I wandered over to electronics. The one thing I have to say about big box stores is that sometimes you can find good deals on dvds and games and what not. Speaking of games...I happened to see a copy of "Beautiful Katamari"...the 3rd installment in the Katamari series on the shelves. Unfortunately, while the other 2 editions are for PS2, this one is for Xbox 360...thus the request in the e-mail to Santa.
One of the many great things about the Katamari games are their awesome soundtracks. I did some snooping on Youtube as well as an internet search or two...and found out that most of the songs are from 80's J-pop stars (Japanese Pop)...which I find intriguing and cool at the same time. One song in particular, "Harvest of Love" has itself firmly lodged in my ear...it appears the soundtrack to the 3rd game is just as catchy as the 1st two...now, to find somewhere reputable online to purchase it...hopefully for less than $50. If you're interested, look up "Beautiful Katamari" on Youtube...and after a bit of perusing, you should find the soundtrack listings.
Also, I found this awesome video on Youtube of the 2005 Paradigm Winter Guard. The song to their routine is the live version of The Dave Matthews Band's "Typical Situation."
Enjoy.
I walked in and instantly noticed that it appeared as if Christmas had exploded all over the place. It's funny how stores go right from Halloween season (which starts in early September) to Christmas...which, last I checked...was just over 45 days away. (http://www.emailsanta.com/clock.html). Still, no time like the present to get a jump on the holiday shopping...or so all the major retailers are telling us.
(Btw, yes, I did send Santa an e-mail...it went something like this: (The bold portions are items that I filled in.)
"Dear Santa Claus,
I am a girl and I am already 27 years old!!! I live in the great city of Winner in the state of South Dakota. Of course, that's in United States, but I bet you already knew that!!!
This year I have been so good that I should be an angel on top of the tree!.
Santa, some things that I might like for Christmas this year are a quilting frame, a Xbox 360, and a boyfriend.
P.S. Santa Claus, I almost forgot to add these comments!!
I really don't care so much about the Xbox 360, but the quiliting frame and the boyfriend would both really come in handy. Oh and none of those crappy asshole boyfriends either...I want a good one! ...and peace on Earth would be a nice touch as well. Thanks!
Love,
Lindsey Nordsiden"
...and I enclosed some raindeer food for good measure. Oh, and before I submitted it, I changed the words "crappy" and "asshole" to "stupid" and "idiot"....I definitely don't need to lose points with Santa for dirty language!
...and I got a reply back! Here it is:
"Merrrryyyy Christmas Lindsey Nordsiden!!
Thank you for sending me your email all the way from Winner! The Net sure is wonderful because now I can get emails from Winner and around the world in the blink of an eye. Even Rudolph gets emails... from pets! Why, here's Rudolph right now! HO!! Ho!! ho!! He just asked me to say 'Hi!' to you!
Sorry the presents the last little while probably haven't been quite as exciting as they were when you were a little girl but, well, you know how these things go (*wink*). Anyway, Santa's glad to see some of the 'older kids' (not to mention anyone in particular!) still take the time to write. I also hear you've been a REALLY REALLY good girl. (Of course, you won't mind if I do a little checking, will you? HO!! Ho!! ho!!).
Let's see what you put in your letter for Christmas wishes: 1. quilting frame; 2. xbox 360 and; 3. boyfriend. Can I tell you a little secret? I love playing games on my xBox -- reindeer games that is! HO!! Ho!! ho!! They are a lot of fun aren't they! I guess that's why so many good little boys and girls asked for the same thing as you! I just wish there was room in my sleigh to give everyone one. HO!! Ho!! ho!! Well that *would* be quite a present if I brought you a boyfriend for Christmas! But, as you know, that's one present the elves can't make -- and anyway the last time I stuck a new boyfriend in my toy sack to deliver Christmas Eve they weren't too happy with me by the time I dropped them down the chimney! (Besides, I know you're going to find a very nice boyfriend all on your own without any help from me.)
Oh yes, before I forget Lindsey Nordsiden, the elves really want you to visit my new blog! It is called Santa Claus' Christmas Blog. My blog is all about Christmas, life at the North Pole, and me, Santa Claus ! You can even write messages to me and see what others have written. I can hardly wait to see what you write!
Oh no! Rudolph just sneezed and now there's Nose Wax everywhere. I'll see you soon but now I have to go clean off my computer because it's glowing like Rudolph's nose! Take care Lindsey Nordsiden and don't forget to come back and visit me here at EmailSanta.com on Christmas Eve!! And remember... only 46 more sleeps until Christmas!!
Lots of Love,Santa Claus
"
Wow.)
Anyway, back to Pamida....
After a quick trip to the drug store section I wandered over to electronics. The one thing I have to say about big box stores is that sometimes you can find good deals on dvds and games and what not. Speaking of games...I happened to see a copy of "Beautiful Katamari"...the 3rd installment in the Katamari series on the shelves. Unfortunately, while the other 2 editions are for PS2, this one is for Xbox 360...thus the request in the e-mail to Santa.
One of the many great things about the Katamari games are their awesome soundtracks. I did some snooping on Youtube as well as an internet search or two...and found out that most of the songs are from 80's J-pop stars (Japanese Pop)...which I find intriguing and cool at the same time. One song in particular, "Harvest of Love" has itself firmly lodged in my ear...it appears the soundtrack to the 3rd game is just as catchy as the 1st two...now, to find somewhere reputable online to purchase it...hopefully for less than $50. If you're interested, look up "Beautiful Katamari" on Youtube...and after a bit of perusing, you should find the soundtrack listings.
Also, I found this awesome video on Youtube of the 2005 Paradigm Winter Guard. The song to their routine is the live version of The Dave Matthews Band's "Typical Situation."
Enjoy.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Okay, this was originally a knitting blog...now it's general blog.
I had to shelve the knitting for awhile...my hands just were not taking it so well. I've been working on a few projects here and there...and I have a couple of projects to get done by Christmas...but other than that, my knitting time has been severely cut down.
Suffice it to say, I've found plenty of other ways to occupy my time.
One of them is my new Air Blade. (I should have a picture to post here...but I don't...instead, check it out for yourself here: www.bandshoppe.com ). It's pretty sweet.
For those of you wondering, the Air Blade is the new color guard "weapon" that Band Shoppe released earlier this year. It's sort of an interesting cross between a rifle and a saber...all of which, along with flags and other props, are used in color guard routines that are choreographed to marching band shows. (The blog isn't called "In Defense of Geekery" for nothing.)
At $30 it's cheaper than most traditional guard weapons and it's unique curvature as well as ample places for hand holds make it very versatile. Due to it's construction, each one is also perfectly balanced and weighs the same. ...Plus, it's made out of the same material as Legos are...so that sends the geek factor through the roof.
I was able to enjoy it for a couple of weeks after its arrival, but sadly, it's been sitting in the corner tempting me the past couple of days while it's been snowing and blowing outside.
Instead, I've been filling out college forms and I've started the packing process.
My dad has warned me this time that he's not moving me unless I take only the bare essentials with...bed, clothes, kitchen...and that's about it. Apparently those 3 years of living on the 4th floor of Pierson Hall (and moving in and out) still haunt him to this day. So I've been doing a lot of sorting.
It's been rather therapeutic. I haven't gone through and gotten rid of stuff for awhile now. My space is feeling less cluttered and my mind is much clearer.
Well, I'm off to get a tea and to catch up on this weeks Private Practice and The Office. Later.
I had to shelve the knitting for awhile...my hands just were not taking it so well. I've been working on a few projects here and there...and I have a couple of projects to get done by Christmas...but other than that, my knitting time has been severely cut down.
Suffice it to say, I've found plenty of other ways to occupy my time.
One of them is my new Air Blade. (I should have a picture to post here...but I don't...instead, check it out for yourself here: www.bandshoppe.com ). It's pretty sweet.
For those of you wondering, the Air Blade is the new color guard "weapon" that Band Shoppe released earlier this year. It's sort of an interesting cross between a rifle and a saber...all of which, along with flags and other props, are used in color guard routines that are choreographed to marching band shows. (The blog isn't called "In Defense of Geekery" for nothing.)
At $30 it's cheaper than most traditional guard weapons and it's unique curvature as well as ample places for hand holds make it very versatile. Due to it's construction, each one is also perfectly balanced and weighs the same. ...Plus, it's made out of the same material as Legos are...so that sends the geek factor through the roof.
I was able to enjoy it for a couple of weeks after its arrival, but sadly, it's been sitting in the corner tempting me the past couple of days while it's been snowing and blowing outside.
Instead, I've been filling out college forms and I've started the packing process.
My dad has warned me this time that he's not moving me unless I take only the bare essentials with...bed, clothes, kitchen...and that's about it. Apparently those 3 years of living on the 4th floor of Pierson Hall (and moving in and out) still haunt him to this day. So I've been doing a lot of sorting.
It's been rather therapeutic. I haven't gone through and gotten rid of stuff for awhile now. My space is feeling less cluttered and my mind is much clearer.
Well, I'm off to get a tea and to catch up on this weeks Private Practice and The Office. Later.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Stop looking and start doing already!!!
I have a bad habit when it comes to knitting...I really like to look at knitting patterns.
I actually think it's the pictures that I like the most. I am a very visual person...I like bright, shiny things...as do most people from my generation that have been labeled "ADD"...I like to think of myself as more "Hyper-Imaginative" or "Uber Creative". Either way, I like color and I like interesting shapes and designs. They bring a sort of calm satisfaction on me that's hard to explain.
So really, it makes sense that I like to look at knitting patterns and at pictures of knitted items.
Here's the bad habit part of the whole thing...I could spend hours browsing around on Ravelry, or Etsy or other places on the internet doing this. Call it "yarn prOn" or whatever you want...but I've discovered that this has seriously cut into my knitting time lately.
I used to get on the computer to the basics....check e-mail, chat with friends, download music, etc. Now, first thing in the morning, I'm on Ravelry with morning coffee in hand perusing through patterns and pictures of FO's and yarn stashes, queueing things like they're going out of style and justifying them all..."I'll knit that for so and so for Christmas" or "I could really use another scarf and that one would look fabulous with my black felt pea coat"...and so on and so forth. (Personally, I think one can never have too many scarves....but I've got at least 2 in progress with several balls of yarn set aside for several others.)
Let's face it, my eyes can knit faster than my hands. I'm sure this is a common conundrum among the knitting community. But I think it's gotten a bit ridiculous on my end. Especially since I do have so many WIPs lying around, begging to be finished (including 3 pairs of mittens from Christmas, gifts to my mom, sister and grandma, that have yet to have thumbs put on them and ends put in).
The good news is that I've been slowly, but steadily making progress on it all. I could make more progress though if I'd cut back on the virtual knitting and spend that time on the real knitting.
I think 10 minutes or so of looking each day is healthy though. It inspires me and gives me ideas and sort of takes the edge off of the day. Speaking of which...
I actually think it's the pictures that I like the most. I am a very visual person...I like bright, shiny things...as do most people from my generation that have been labeled "ADD"...I like to think of myself as more "Hyper-Imaginative" or "Uber Creative". Either way, I like color and I like interesting shapes and designs. They bring a sort of calm satisfaction on me that's hard to explain.
So really, it makes sense that I like to look at knitting patterns and at pictures of knitted items.
Here's the bad habit part of the whole thing...I could spend hours browsing around on Ravelry, or Etsy or other places on the internet doing this. Call it "yarn prOn" or whatever you want...but I've discovered that this has seriously cut into my knitting time lately.
I used to get on the computer to the basics....check e-mail, chat with friends, download music, etc. Now, first thing in the morning, I'm on Ravelry with morning coffee in hand perusing through patterns and pictures of FO's and yarn stashes, queueing things like they're going out of style and justifying them all..."I'll knit that for so and so for Christmas" or "I could really use another scarf and that one would look fabulous with my black felt pea coat"...and so on and so forth. (Personally, I think one can never have too many scarves....but I've got at least 2 in progress with several balls of yarn set aside for several others.)
Let's face it, my eyes can knit faster than my hands. I'm sure this is a common conundrum among the knitting community. But I think it's gotten a bit ridiculous on my end. Especially since I do have so many WIPs lying around, begging to be finished (including 3 pairs of mittens from Christmas, gifts to my mom, sister and grandma, that have yet to have thumbs put on them and ends put in).
The good news is that I've been slowly, but steadily making progress on it all. I could make more progress though if I'd cut back on the virtual knitting and spend that time on the real knitting.
I think 10 minutes or so of looking each day is healthy though. It inspires me and gives me ideas and sort of takes the edge off of the day. Speaking of which...
Saturday, July 5, 2008
So this is what 6am looks like...
It's been awhile since I last posted...it's also been awhile since I last saw 6am. I have this weird thing where if I know that I have to wake up in the morning I have a heck of a time doing it, but if I don't have to be up at any certain time, I have no problem waking up much earlier than I actually want to. (Especially when I'm sick...ugh). Sounds like some twisted form of reverse psychology to me....anyway...
I rediscovered my flute the other day. I hadn't played it in a few weeks...mostly due to the drive-in being open and there not being enough hours in the day to balance work, house work, family work and drive-in work. It was a blessing though...I got a phone call from a student that needed a solo for music camp on very short notice and was wondering if I had anything for her. It was like a fire had been lit inside me. I hadn't taught a lesson in a very long time...much less had a good reason to get out my flute and play...other than just to play. I suddenly had an excuse to dig through my repertoire and come up with something on her level (which was a bit challenging since most of the stuff I have is advanced high school/college level material). I picked out 3 pieces that I thought she could handle and compiled a cd for her with examples of each piece (to help her learn them more quickly...whichever one she choose) and offered to give her a lesson before she left. Though it took some time out of my day and it was something I wasn't getting paid for...I really enjoyed it. The next day we had a lesson and though the stuff I had found was a little too advanced for her, I was able to find something in her method book that was perfect. In short...it was fun...a lot of fun. It sort of made me regret quitting my music major.
I think a lot about when I was a music major. I struggled a lot. I was very far behind on my instrument...I struggled to adapt to college life...I had a huge inferiority complex...etc. It clearly wasn't what I needed to be doing at the time...but I learned a lot from the 2 years I was in the program. I think I've come to realize that I was so immature and unsure of myself that I pretty much set myself up to fail. I look back and see that I never really gave myself the chance. But that was where I was at that point in my life...nothing will change that. I have matured and grown since then. I've realized that there are certain things in my life that I do have control over and that I am just as talented as anybody else that was in that program...I just needed to dig deep and work hard for it, instead of giving up before even trying. I've also realized that I don't think I would've been happy as a music teacher in a public school system. I enjoy teaching and working with kids...but I think I'd rather be a studio teacher than a band teacher.
So maybe going back to school to finish my music degree is a viable option...though I think I'd probably go someplace else other than SDSU...and I'd probably pursue another aspect, such as Music Industry or Therapy or something else. It certainly sounds better than all of the other things I've thought about going back to school for. We'll see...
As of my last post, I was trying to stick to a few knitting projects to whittle away at my heaping pile of yarn and things to do...
That really hasn't worked out as planned. While I have been making progress on my Hufflepuff scarf...I've still been jumping around...not really sticking with one project for very long. That's okay though...I hear it's good to vary techniques and needle sizes...supposedly it's better for your hands. I do need to get crackin' on my dad's socks...they were supposed to be a father's day gift for him (oops).
I'm still working on projects that I need to finish though...one of these days I might actually get one done!
I did start a new one...a shawl for the hospital shawl program. That I think is justified as it's something for a good cause (and it gave me an excuse to buy a new pair of circular needles).
:) I'm about half way through as of now...it's knitting up very quickly. (I'll post images of it soon).
In other news...I figured out how my drop spindle works. That's probably the main reason why I haven't been progressing very far on my knitting projects. I was able to procure about 3lbs of wool roving and have been spinning a lot ever since.
I'm saving up for a wheel right now but I've discovered that I really like the drop spindle. Maybe I don't really need a wheel...though I've heard wonderful things about them.
I guess there's a fiber festival in Watertown towards the end of Sept. Maybe I'll see if I can try a wheel out there...hopefully that will help determine whether or not I should invest in one.
In the meantime...I'm doing the best I can to spin what I have and hopefully I'll make something out of it at some point soon!
That's about all for now...I think I'm going to crawl back into bed and see if I can get a little morning nap in.
Chao!
I rediscovered my flute the other day. I hadn't played it in a few weeks...mostly due to the drive-in being open and there not being enough hours in the day to balance work, house work, family work and drive-in work. It was a blessing though...I got a phone call from a student that needed a solo for music camp on very short notice and was wondering if I had anything for her. It was like a fire had been lit inside me. I hadn't taught a lesson in a very long time...much less had a good reason to get out my flute and play...other than just to play. I suddenly had an excuse to dig through my repertoire and come up with something on her level (which was a bit challenging since most of the stuff I have is advanced high school/college level material). I picked out 3 pieces that I thought she could handle and compiled a cd for her with examples of each piece (to help her learn them more quickly...whichever one she choose) and offered to give her a lesson before she left. Though it took some time out of my day and it was something I wasn't getting paid for...I really enjoyed it. The next day we had a lesson and though the stuff I had found was a little too advanced for her, I was able to find something in her method book that was perfect. In short...it was fun...a lot of fun. It sort of made me regret quitting my music major.
I think a lot about when I was a music major. I struggled a lot. I was very far behind on my instrument...I struggled to adapt to college life...I had a huge inferiority complex...etc. It clearly wasn't what I needed to be doing at the time...but I learned a lot from the 2 years I was in the program. I think I've come to realize that I was so immature and unsure of myself that I pretty much set myself up to fail. I look back and see that I never really gave myself the chance. But that was where I was at that point in my life...nothing will change that. I have matured and grown since then. I've realized that there are certain things in my life that I do have control over and that I am just as talented as anybody else that was in that program...I just needed to dig deep and work hard for it, instead of giving up before even trying. I've also realized that I don't think I would've been happy as a music teacher in a public school system. I enjoy teaching and working with kids...but I think I'd rather be a studio teacher than a band teacher.
So maybe going back to school to finish my music degree is a viable option...though I think I'd probably go someplace else other than SDSU...and I'd probably pursue another aspect, such as Music Industry or Therapy or something else. It certainly sounds better than all of the other things I've thought about going back to school for. We'll see...
As of my last post, I was trying to stick to a few knitting projects to whittle away at my heaping pile of yarn and things to do...
That really hasn't worked out as planned. While I have been making progress on my Hufflepuff scarf...I've still been jumping around...not really sticking with one project for very long. That's okay though...I hear it's good to vary techniques and needle sizes...supposedly it's better for your hands. I do need to get crackin' on my dad's socks...they were supposed to be a father's day gift for him (oops).
I'm still working on projects that I need to finish though...one of these days I might actually get one done!
I did start a new one...a shawl for the hospital shawl program. That I think is justified as it's something for a good cause (and it gave me an excuse to buy a new pair of circular needles).
:) I'm about half way through as of now...it's knitting up very quickly. (I'll post images of it soon).
In other news...I figured out how my drop spindle works. That's probably the main reason why I haven't been progressing very far on my knitting projects. I was able to procure about 3lbs of wool roving and have been spinning a lot ever since.
I'm saving up for a wheel right now but I've discovered that I really like the drop spindle. Maybe I don't really need a wheel...though I've heard wonderful things about them.
I guess there's a fiber festival in Watertown towards the end of Sept. Maybe I'll see if I can try a wheel out there...hopefully that will help determine whether or not I should invest in one.
In the meantime...I'm doing the best I can to spin what I have and hopefully I'll make something out of it at some point soon!
That's about all for now...I think I'm going to crawl back into bed and see if I can get a little morning nap in.
Chao!
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