Okay, so that's overstating it a bit. Still, hear me out.
I just added this to my Netflix queue. (For those disinclined to click the link, it's Benjamin Bagby's performance of Beowulf in Old English, accompanying himself with an Anglo-Saxon harp. I know. Awesome, yes?)
And then I decided to read the reviews, and there were a bunch of lamers whining, "I wanted the one with Angelina Jolie," or, "You sent me the wrong one; this is boring," or, "This isn't 'ye Old English;' it's some foreign language!" One person even called it rubbish.
Le sigh. Does anyone have an appreciation for history anymore? Anyway. For your (I hope) viewing pleasure:
May 6, 2009
March 27, 2009
Weird
I was looking at my StatCounter today, and I noticed that this post has gotten a ton of hits from random google searches. And really, those pictures are kind of hard not to look at.
February 17, 2009
Question
So. I was looking at the window stickers on the car in front of me at a red light today, and noticing how many of them were for different bands. And then I got this BRILLIANT idea. Why aren't there bumper/window stickers for authors and/or books?
BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE AWESOME.
I would totally put a decal on my car that said "Walt Whitman" or, "Things Fall Apart" or possibly, "'Gloria!'" and then something about Miss Trixie squatting like a Balinese dancer.
Confederacy of Dunces window decals. My mind just exploded.
And googling "window decal design" has given me all sorts of... ideas.
Hmm...
BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE AWESOME.
I would totally put a decal on my car that said "Walt Whitman" or, "Things Fall Apart" or possibly, "'Gloria!'" and then something about Miss Trixie squatting like a Balinese dancer.
Confederacy of Dunces window decals. My mind just exploded.
And googling "window decal design" has given me all sorts of... ideas.
Hmm...
December 19, 2008
COLD
(via weather.com)
There's almost 11 inches of snow accumulated outside. I measured. And we're supposed to have another big storm this weekend, with several more inches of snow.
What the hell.
WHAT THE HELL.
December 5, 2008
This is comfortable?
So, the cat's new thing is that she will jump into my lap while I'm at the computer, and hassle me until I put her up on my shoulder. Below, I present the evidence:
She frickin' loves it, though it does make it a bit difficult to type or, say, launch Photo Booth to take a photo. Cats are weird.
She frickin' loves it, though it does make it a bit difficult to type or, say, launch Photo Booth to take a photo. Cats are weird.
November 24, 2008
Well, ain't this a turd in the punchbowl of my life...
Saw the doctor today. He thinks I might need surgery on my ankle, and referred me to an orthopedic surgeon.
Balls.
Balls.
November 14, 2008
November 10, 2008
In which I become ridiculously annoyed and contemplate throwing things at the wall, or cursing like a fishwife.
First, it occurs to me that the 'fishwife' in the phrase 'cursing like a fishwife' is hopefully the wife of a fisherman, and not of a fish. That would just be strange.
So, I am a night owl. This tends to become rather extreme during periods such as this, when I am jobless -and- school-less. It's not unusual for me to stay up until 2 or 3 in the morning, and sleep until 9:30 or 10:00. So, I was just sitting at my computer, wiggling my ankle around and stretching it in what I sincerely hope is an adequate stopgap until I get back to Bellingham, AKA "the land where Anna's health insurance will cover a doctor's visit and physical therapy".
And I realized, "Hmm, this is quite sore. And my foot feels funny. And also, ouch. That really hurts." So I pulled off my sock to take a look, and was greeted by a foot and ankle that are SIGNIFICANTLY more swollen than they have been. Like, 2 weeks post-injury swollen (big lump over the ankle bone and on my heel, and lots of swelling on the top of my foot), rather than the lovely almost-six-weeks-post-injury swelling I've been enjoying (i.e., a teensy bit of puffiness around my ankle bone). And I realized that I spent all day either standing, walking, or sitting, and NO time elevating or resting, which is a first since I injured it.
So now I've got it propped up and covered with a bag of ice, and I'll probably have to wrap it in an ace bandage for the night (which I haven't had to do in over a week). I'm trying to keep cheerful. For serious, I am. But this is getting so frustrating. I'm sick of having to wear that stupid boot, and of having to try and get all this fricking packing and cleaning done when I have to stop every 20 minutes and sit down to rest my ankle (and myself, because I'm ridiculously tired ALL THE TIME). And now I realize that I've overdone it (hence the swelling), but at the same time I know I'm not working hard enough to get everything done in time. And, I can't find anyone to take my stupid couch away, and I think I'm going to have to pay to get rid of it, but at this point I just want it gone. And, also, how on earth did I accumulate so much stuff? I already took a whole carload of stuff to the Goodwill, and everything that's left is stuff that I absolutely use on a daily basis, but it's still A LOT, and...
Harrumph. Venting's over. I'd apologize but, well, it's my blog, and I'll vent if I want to. So there. ;)
So, I am a night owl. This tends to become rather extreme during periods such as this, when I am jobless -and- school-less. It's not unusual for me to stay up until 2 or 3 in the morning, and sleep until 9:30 or 10:00. So, I was just sitting at my computer, wiggling my ankle around and stretching it in what I sincerely hope is an adequate stopgap until I get back to Bellingham, AKA "the land where Anna's health insurance will cover a doctor's visit and physical therapy".
And I realized, "Hmm, this is quite sore. And my foot feels funny. And also, ouch. That really hurts." So I pulled off my sock to take a look, and was greeted by a foot and ankle that are SIGNIFICANTLY more swollen than they have been. Like, 2 weeks post-injury swollen (big lump over the ankle bone and on my heel, and lots of swelling on the top of my foot), rather than the lovely almost-six-weeks-post-injury swelling I've been enjoying (i.e., a teensy bit of puffiness around my ankle bone). And I realized that I spent all day either standing, walking, or sitting, and NO time elevating or resting, which is a first since I injured it.
So now I've got it propped up and covered with a bag of ice, and I'll probably have to wrap it in an ace bandage for the night (which I haven't had to do in over a week). I'm trying to keep cheerful. For serious, I am. But this is getting so frustrating. I'm sick of having to wear that stupid boot, and of having to try and get all this fricking packing and cleaning done when I have to stop every 20 minutes and sit down to rest my ankle (and myself, because I'm ridiculously tired ALL THE TIME). And now I realize that I've overdone it (hence the swelling), but at the same time I know I'm not working hard enough to get everything done in time. And, I can't find anyone to take my stupid couch away, and I think I'm going to have to pay to get rid of it, but at this point I just want it gone. And, also, how on earth did I accumulate so much stuff? I already took a whole carload of stuff to the Goodwill, and everything that's left is stuff that I absolutely use on a daily basis, but it's still A LOT, and...
Harrumph. Venting's over. I'd apologize but, well, it's my blog, and I'll vent if I want to. So there. ;)
November 2, 2008
Fantastic Fours Meme
Can't remember where I found this one, but it seemed fun.
Four family members:
Mom, John, Chelsea, Adam, Caitlin, Kaitlin (executive decision to turn the 'four' into an '-ish')
Four places that I go to over and over:
Target, Daiso, the library, school or work
Four people who e-mail me (regularly):
Chelsea, Andrea, Maegan, probably Chelsea again ;)
Four of my favorite places to eat:
Cafe Yumm, Holy Cow Cafe, Colophon Cafe, and (weirdly enough) Shari's
Four places I would rather be right now:
Bellingham, hanging out with a friend, Disneyland, Hawaii
Four TV shows I watch over and over:
Grey's Anatomy, Pushing Daisies, Lost, Bill Moyers
Four things in the room I’m in:
bed, 2 bookcases and more books than I can count, nightstand, a ridiculous amount of crap on the floor
Four concerts I’ve been to:
Um, none? That's weird.
Four things on my calendar:
(now defunct) work schedule, pay visa bill, moving weekend, Thanksgiving
Four fears:
heights, mice, things that go bump in the night, finding a job in Bellingham
Four things in your purse or wallet:
wallet, car stereo faceplate, gum, a bunch of old receipts
Four chores you hate doing:
scrubbing floors, cleaning out the shower drain, cleaning shower/bathtub, and (at the moment) packing
Four favorite animals:
cats, cats again, ferrets, any animal in its baby stage
Four speed dials on your cell phone:
Voicemail, Mom, Chelsea, Kaitlin
Four places you have called home:
Washington and Oregon. Maybe someday California (San Francisco) or Alaska.
Four favorite pieces of jewelry:
Nope.
Four websites you visit:
Bloglines, Feministing, Hulu, YouTube
Four people who have been in your car:
Kaitlin, Chelsea, Shirley, Lacey
Four things you are wearing:
pajama bottoms, unners, Relay for Life t-shirt, University of Oregon sweatshirt
Four things you are looking forward to:
the election (Obama '08!), spending time with my Oregon friends in the next 2 weeks, moving back to the 'Ham, Christmas
Four favorite types of candy:
those neapolitan coconut chews, dark chocolate (Endangered Species 88% bars), Mr. Goodbar, lemon drops
Four sports teams you like:
Oregon Ducks (duh), -er-, uh, that's it, actually.
Four things found in your fridge:
hummus, soy milk, peanut butter, leftovers
Four rituals you do daily:
take a shower, brush my teeth, contemplate doing something productive, geek
Four things currently within reach:
iPod, cell phone, water bottle, hand lotion
Four things you know how to cook:
spaghetti (and homemade spaghetti sauce), beans and rice, polenta, nanaimo bars (not really cooking, but they're frickin' delicious, so who cares?)
Four Halloween costumes you’ve worn:
a birthday present (thanks to my super-creative mom!), Angelina Ballerina, a princess, a farm girl
Tagged: Chelsea, Corrine
Four family members:
Mom, John, Chelsea, Adam, Caitlin, Kaitlin (executive decision to turn the 'four' into an '-ish')
Four places that I go to over and over:
Target, Daiso, the library, school or work
Four people who e-mail me (regularly):
Chelsea, Andrea, Maegan, probably Chelsea again ;)
Four of my favorite places to eat:
Cafe Yumm, Holy Cow Cafe, Colophon Cafe, and (weirdly enough) Shari's
Four places I would rather be right now:
Bellingham, hanging out with a friend, Disneyland, Hawaii
Four TV shows I watch over and over:
Grey's Anatomy, Pushing Daisies, Lost, Bill Moyers
Four things in the room I’m in:
bed, 2 bookcases and more books than I can count, nightstand, a ridiculous amount of crap on the floor
Four concerts I’ve been to:
Um, none? That's weird.
Four things on my calendar:
(now defunct) work schedule, pay visa bill, moving weekend, Thanksgiving
Four fears:
heights, mice, things that go bump in the night, finding a job in Bellingham
Four things in your purse or wallet:
wallet, car stereo faceplate, gum, a bunch of old receipts
Four chores you hate doing:
scrubbing floors, cleaning out the shower drain, cleaning shower/bathtub, and (at the moment) packing
Four favorite animals:
cats, cats again, ferrets, any animal in its baby stage
Four speed dials on your cell phone:
Voicemail, Mom, Chelsea, Kaitlin
Four places you have called home:
Washington and Oregon. Maybe someday California (San Francisco) or Alaska.
Four favorite pieces of jewelry:
Nope.
Four websites you visit:
Bloglines, Feministing, Hulu, YouTube
Four people who have been in your car:
Kaitlin, Chelsea, Shirley, Lacey
Four things you are wearing:
pajama bottoms, unners, Relay for Life t-shirt, University of Oregon sweatshirt
Four things you are looking forward to:
the election (Obama '08!), spending time with my Oregon friends in the next 2 weeks, moving back to the 'Ham, Christmas
Four favorite types of candy:
those neapolitan coconut chews, dark chocolate (Endangered Species 88% bars), Mr. Goodbar, lemon drops
Four sports teams you like:
Oregon Ducks (duh), -er-, uh, that's it, actually.
Four things found in your fridge:
hummus, soy milk, peanut butter, leftovers
Four rituals you do daily:
take a shower, brush my teeth, contemplate doing something productive, geek
Four things currently within reach:
iPod, cell phone, water bottle, hand lotion
Four things you know how to cook:
spaghetti (and homemade spaghetti sauce), beans and rice, polenta, nanaimo bars (not really cooking, but they're frickin' delicious, so who cares?)
Four Halloween costumes you’ve worn:
a birthday present (thanks to my super-creative mom!), Angelina Ballerina, a princess, a farm girl
Tagged: Chelsea, Corrine
October 28, 2008
Progress!
Still a little swollen, still pretty stiff and sore, especially in the mornings, but looking much better!
October 26, 2008
Random Blog Post of Randomness
So, there's this thing about me that I call my "14-year-old boy sense of humor." Basically, it means that I snicker and giggle at some really stupid, immature stuff, but whatever. It explains, though, why I burst out laughing just now when I opened up my Blogger dashboard and saw that my last post on this blog was #69. I know. Immature. At least I own it.
I finished The Audacity of Hope on my lunch break today (finally!) and so I'm trying to write up my post for Super Fly Book Club Extreme. Mostly, though, I'm watching Damien Rice music videos on YouTube and blogging here instead. Priorities, schmiorities. I was listening to "Rootless Tree" a bit ago and had one of those weird, super-strong and vivid memories. Last spring for about a three week period, I listened to that song every day on my walk home from the bus stop. And so the song came on and I was instantly transported back to that experience. Oddly enough, the same thing happens whenever I listen to the first two Jars of Clay albums––brings me right back to middle school. Weird.
I stayed up really late last night making what Little Sister calls "worry lists" about all the moving stuff. I bought a little notebook to use at work (I write things down obsessively, because if someone asks me to do something and then a resident comes up to the desk, or the phone rings, or something else happens, I'll forget). Except now that I've put in my notice, my new notebook has instead become my "write down everything I have to remember about the move" book. So I did one of those brain dump things last night and wrote down dates things have to be done by, and a plan of attack for sorting and packing (and donating) my crap and getting my apartment cleaned. Strangely, I feel better. Well, less stressed out, anyway, because there's been this stomach bug going around work and I think maybe I'm getting it because I've been feeling kind of sick and borderline-pukey since this morning, but that's got little to do with anything.
I really need to stop writing late night blog posts. I sound like a crazy person. Off to write up that book club thing and then to bed! Anon!
I finished The Audacity of Hope on my lunch break today (finally!) and so I'm trying to write up my post for Super Fly Book Club Extreme. Mostly, though, I'm watching Damien Rice music videos on YouTube and blogging here instead. Priorities, schmiorities. I was listening to "Rootless Tree" a bit ago and had one of those weird, super-strong and vivid memories. Last spring for about a three week period, I listened to that song every day on my walk home from the bus stop. And so the song came on and I was instantly transported back to that experience. Oddly enough, the same thing happens whenever I listen to the first two Jars of Clay albums––brings me right back to middle school. Weird.
I stayed up really late last night making what Little Sister calls "worry lists" about all the moving stuff. I bought a little notebook to use at work (I write things down obsessively, because if someone asks me to do something and then a resident comes up to the desk, or the phone rings, or something else happens, I'll forget). Except now that I've put in my notice, my new notebook has instead become my "write down everything I have to remember about the move" book. So I did one of those brain dump things last night and wrote down dates things have to be done by, and a plan of attack for sorting and packing (and donating) my crap and getting my apartment cleaned. Strangely, I feel better. Well, less stressed out, anyway, because there's been this stomach bug going around work and I think maybe I'm getting it because I've been feeling kind of sick and borderline-pukey since this morning, but that's got little to do with anything.
I really need to stop writing late night blog posts. I sound like a crazy person. Off to write up that book club thing and then to bed! Anon!
October 24, 2008
Ham-tastic (an update)
Everybody I know who reads this blog already knows this, so I'm not sure why I'm writing about this here, except maybe for posterity, or whatever.
So, I'm moving back to Bellingham. In 3 or 4 weeks, to be precise. There's a bunch of reasons: can't afford out-of-state tuition anymore, want to be closer to family, etc etc ad nauseum. But, to make a long story short and less boring, it's the best thing for me at this point. I'm sad to be leaving U of O, and all the glorious hippieness of Eugene (Cafe Yumm––sniffle), but I'm also looking forward to being back in Bellingham, and to see how I like WWU. They've got a BA of English there with a focus on teaching literature at the high school level, which is really sort of perfect for what I want to do, and hopefully being up there will make it easier for me to get into Woodring when the time doth come. The lame sauce part is that most of my U of O credits aren't going to transfer, but I'll be saving so much money by moving up there that it's sort of a wash in the end.
I'm all crazy with stress right now, though, because my ankle and foot are pretty much craptastic still, and I've got all sorts of packing and cleaning stuff that needs to be done, and not much of the mobility/energy to do it. Hmph. I gave notice at my work at the beginning of this week, and they're hiring someone at the beginning of next week, so when the work schedule eases up I'll hopefully have more time and energy to get things done. My ankle and foot have been noticeably more sore the last few days, and I'm not sure why. Just hoping to bide my time until I get back to the 'Ham and can see my doctor if I need to. Withdrawing from U of O means I can't use the Student Health Center anymore (had to stop physical therapy, too), and getting my insurance to cover a doctor's visit in Oregon is all confusing and more than I can deal with right now, so I'm just hoping everything will stay copacetic.
This is a long, boring, depressing post. Sorry 'bout that. Guess I'm feeling boring and depressing tonight.
:)
So, I'm moving back to Bellingham. In 3 or 4 weeks, to be precise. There's a bunch of reasons: can't afford out-of-state tuition anymore, want to be closer to family, etc etc ad nauseum. But, to make a long story short and less boring, it's the best thing for me at this point. I'm sad to be leaving U of O, and all the glorious hippieness of Eugene (Cafe Yumm––sniffle), but I'm also looking forward to being back in Bellingham, and to see how I like WWU. They've got a BA of English there with a focus on teaching literature at the high school level, which is really sort of perfect for what I want to do, and hopefully being up there will make it easier for me to get into Woodring when the time doth come. The lame sauce part is that most of my U of O credits aren't going to transfer, but I'll be saving so much money by moving up there that it's sort of a wash in the end.
I'm all crazy with stress right now, though, because my ankle and foot are pretty much craptastic still, and I've got all sorts of packing and cleaning stuff that needs to be done, and not much of the mobility/energy to do it. Hmph. I gave notice at my work at the beginning of this week, and they're hiring someone at the beginning of next week, so when the work schedule eases up I'll hopefully have more time and energy to get things done. My ankle and foot have been noticeably more sore the last few days, and I'm not sure why. Just hoping to bide my time until I get back to the 'Ham and can see my doctor if I need to. Withdrawing from U of O means I can't use the Student Health Center anymore (had to stop physical therapy, too), and getting my insurance to cover a doctor's visit in Oregon is all confusing and more than I can deal with right now, so I'm just hoping everything will stay copacetic.
This is a long, boring, depressing post. Sorry 'bout that. Guess I'm feeling boring and depressing tonight.
:)
October 22, 2008
The Badass Crows of Eugene
Yes, you read that right. Yesterday and today, there was a flock of crows in the middle of the road near the corner of Olive and (I think) 13th. Anyway. They're just hanging out in the middle of the road, and there's a whole mess of them, so the road's blocked on both sides. And they keep pecking at the ground, which is covered with fallen leaves, though I don't think that's the attraction. And, like you normally do when approaching a crowd of birds in your car, you expect them to move out of the way.
But not the badass crows of Eugene. Because the badass crows of Eugene––on two separate days now, mind you––will just keep hanging out in the middle of the road. And as they stare you down like they know where you live and will not hesitate to cut you, you have to brake more and more until you're literally creeping down the road and praying that you don't roll over any of them. And it's only when you're very nearly about to squish them out of existence that they hop just out of the path of your car with a sort of nonchalant swagger (and believe me, these crows can swagger). And you believe, for just a moment, that in a fight to the death between the crows and your car, the crows might actually win.
So, you know. Mad props to the badass crows. Except I think the thing they're so interested in on the road is possibly the leftover bits of some sort of dead animal, which kind of squicks me out.
But not the badass crows of Eugene. Because the badass crows of Eugene––on two separate days now, mind you––will just keep hanging out in the middle of the road. And as they stare you down like they know where you live and will not hesitate to cut you, you have to brake more and more until you're literally creeping down the road and praying that you don't roll over any of them. And it's only when you're very nearly about to squish them out of existence that they hop just out of the path of your car with a sort of nonchalant swagger (and believe me, these crows can swagger). And you believe, for just a moment, that in a fight to the death between the crows and your car, the crows might actually win.
So, you know. Mad props to the badass crows. Except I think the thing they're so interested in on the road is possibly the leftover bits of some sort of dead animal, which kind of squicks me out.
October 10, 2008
October 5, 2008
Anna's Sprained Ankle/Torn Scar Tissue Adventure, In Pictures (AKA Boot, Redux)
My apologies in advance for the picture quality. They're from my cell phone. (Still hoping to get a digital camera eventually!)
We begin our journey with a POV shot. Imagine you're me. Lying in bed like this. For three days straight:
These next two pictures were taken at the height of swelling-ness, but they don't show it very well. Just imagine a golf ball-sized lump over my ankle bone, and you've got the general idea:
After my first day back at work, I took off "das boot" at the end of the evening to find lovely, deep purple bruising all along the base of my toes. Apparently, gravity's started working its magic!:
And this is what it looked like tonight. You can't really tell from the picture, but the entire top of my foot has turned a gorgeous shade of brownish green. The swelling in my ankle's pretty much gone, but the top of my foot is really puffy still (thanks, gravity!):
And there we have it. I hope you've enjoyed your tour of Anna's Sprained Ankle/Torn Scar Tissue Adventure. I know I have. Well. At least the parts where I was zonked out on vicodin and watching movies. Maybe.
We begin our journey with a POV shot. Imagine you're me. Lying in bed like this. For three days straight:
These next two pictures were taken at the height of swelling-ness, but they don't show it very well. Just imagine a golf ball-sized lump over my ankle bone, and you've got the general idea:
After my first day back at work, I took off "das boot" at the end of the evening to find lovely, deep purple bruising all along the base of my toes. Apparently, gravity's started working its magic!:
And this is what it looked like tonight. You can't really tell from the picture, but the entire top of my foot has turned a gorgeous shade of brownish green. The swelling in my ankle's pretty much gone, but the top of my foot is really puffy still (thanks, gravity!):
And there we have it. I hope you've enjoyed your tour of Anna's Sprained Ankle/Torn Scar Tissue Adventure. I know I have. Well. At least the parts where I was zonked out on vicodin and watching movies. Maybe.
September 29, 2008
Wouldn't it just figure...
I tripped on the steps today at school and rolled my ankle.
It swelled up 2-3x its normal size and is a lovely shade of black and blue.
Nothing's broken.
Apparently, I tore scar tissue left behind from when I broke my fibula 2 years ago.
I'm in a boot and on crutches for the next 2 weeks or so.
Bugger.
It swelled up 2-3x its normal size and is a lovely shade of black and blue.
Nothing's broken.
Apparently, I tore scar tissue left behind from when I broke my fibula 2 years ago.
I'm in a boot and on crutches for the next 2 weeks or so.
Bugger.
September 18, 2008
Dear random, unacceptably loud drunk people cavorting around the streets near my apartment...
Who the hell gets drunk on a Wednesday night? And why do you feel the need to carry on conversations with each other over what sounds like a distance of several city blocks?
In completely related news, I cannot get back to sleep now.
Grumble grumble grumble...
In completely related news, I cannot get back to sleep now.
Grumble grumble grumble...
July 18, 2008
Breaking News...
Apparently, the sweltering summer heat (at least in my apartment) and my new obsession with eating vegan have somehow coalesced into a maniacal zeal for Billy Joel.
His music, that is.
I've always had a couple of his songs kicking around in my iTunes library, but one magical day last week, I listened to "Vienna" and thought to myself, "Self, you should listen to Billy Joel more."
And so I have. It's perfect music for making dinner with the windows open and the lights off and fans going. I'm an experience kind of girl, you know.
Or maybe I just have really lame taste in music.
His music, that is.
I've always had a couple of his songs kicking around in my iTunes library, but one magical day last week, I listened to "Vienna" and thought to myself, "Self, you should listen to Billy Joel more."
And so I have. It's perfect music for making dinner with the windows open and the lights off and fans going. I'm an experience kind of girl, you know.
Or maybe I just have really lame taste in music.
July 14, 2008
Oh, dear...
Um, so I've apparently become one of those people who names their knitting projects.
I know, I know––what a nerd. But can you blame me? The pink seed stitch scarf (with two rows of garter every eight rows) practically named herself! (Um, yeah, it's a 'she', too).
"Rosie the Riveting".
Cute, right?
Right?
I know, I know––what a nerd. But can you blame me? The pink seed stitch scarf (with two rows of garter every eight rows) practically named herself! (Um, yeah, it's a 'she', too).
"Rosie the Riveting".
Cute, right?
Right?
July 10, 2008
Things That Go Bump in the Night
Back in January-ish, I bought a couple of Neil Gaiman books, Neverwhere and American Gods, after I read one of his short stories. Because my life's been crazy, I didn't start Neverwhere until last night.
Those Croup and Vandemar guys creeped me right the hell out.
I had to sleep with the bathroom light on.
I am such a chicken.
Those Croup and Vandemar guys creeped me right the hell out.
I had to sleep with the bathroom light on.
I am such a chicken.
June 23, 2008
Things I'm Wondering About
1. WHY do I already want to go back to school, when summer's only a week old?
2. WHY did Mike Doughty have to put "27 Jennifers" on his new album? I love Mike Doughty, but I hate this song. Though, I have to say, "More Bacon Than the Pan Can Handle" is genius. (Do you have an appropriate amount of bacon for the size of your pan, Lacey?)
Actually, I think that's it for the wonderings.
I made this cake tonight, and topped it with coconut pecan frosting, and... oh my gracious. So good, I don't have the words.
I'm going to Bellingham later this week, which will be super fun because, hey, what do you know, it's MY BIRTHDAY (and my dear mama's) on Friday! And CHELSEA and I are going to get up to some shenanigans on Thursday! (Or is that antics, Chelsea?) I am STOKED. I think my mom is a little less excited about our birthday than I am, because she's got some crazy notion that she's getting oldish (which is NOT TRUE).
This is turning into a strange post. I've been cleaning and errand-ing all day, and I think I lost my mind somewhere along the way. Oh, well. Maybe I'm just getting giddy about seeing the fam. Strangely enough, I always kind of look forward to the drive. This time, I obtained LOTR on cd for the trip. It's always better with an audiobook, since I get tired of listening to music after two or three hours. My car's cd player can play mp3 cds (which hold about 150 songs), so I always make a big "trip mix" before I go. But I'm finicky about music, and none of my iTunes-bought songs can go on an mp3 cd. I have an FM transmitter for my iPod, but you have to switch to a new blank station about once an hour, and that's too difficult to do when driving alone.
That was a long explanation for why I got LOTR on cd. Well. I'm excited, anyhow. Mainly, I'm excited to see my mummy, my step-dad, my sisters, my friends, and the kitty-cat. I really wish I could have a kitty here in Eugene––I miss having a little furball to snuggle with while I'm reading or watching a movie! I think I'm going to make sure the next place I move to allows pets, so I can get a cat.
Um, I have no good sum up-y way to end this. So... toodles?
2. WHY did Mike Doughty have to put "27 Jennifers" on his new album? I love Mike Doughty, but I hate this song. Though, I have to say, "More Bacon Than the Pan Can Handle" is genius. (Do you have an appropriate amount of bacon for the size of your pan, Lacey?)
Actually, I think that's it for the wonderings.
I made this cake tonight, and topped it with coconut pecan frosting, and... oh my gracious. So good, I don't have the words.
I'm going to Bellingham later this week, which will be super fun because, hey, what do you know, it's MY BIRTHDAY (and my dear mama's) on Friday! And CHELSEA and I are going to get up to some shenanigans on Thursday! (Or is that antics, Chelsea?) I am STOKED. I think my mom is a little less excited about our birthday than I am, because she's got some crazy notion that she's getting oldish (which is NOT TRUE).
This is turning into a strange post. I've been cleaning and errand-ing all day, and I think I lost my mind somewhere along the way. Oh, well. Maybe I'm just getting giddy about seeing the fam. Strangely enough, I always kind of look forward to the drive. This time, I obtained LOTR on cd for the trip. It's always better with an audiobook, since I get tired of listening to music after two or three hours. My car's cd player can play mp3 cds (which hold about 150 songs), so I always make a big "trip mix" before I go. But I'm finicky about music, and none of my iTunes-bought songs can go on an mp3 cd. I have an FM transmitter for my iPod, but you have to switch to a new blank station about once an hour, and that's too difficult to do when driving alone.
That was a long explanation for why I got LOTR on cd. Well. I'm excited, anyhow. Mainly, I'm excited to see my mummy, my step-dad, my sisters, my friends, and the kitty-cat. I really wish I could have a kitty here in Eugene––I miss having a little furball to snuggle with while I'm reading or watching a movie! I think I'm going to make sure the next place I move to allows pets, so I can get a cat.
Um, I have no good sum up-y way to end this. So... toodles?
June 10, 2008
Knitting Schmitting: Update the Second
So, I finally got around to weaving in ends on the MOUNTAIN of dishcloths I'd made during my between-class/waiting for the bus time at school: it turns out, a mountain contains 11 dishcloths (12 total so far). And I still have more yarn. And I bought another 14 oz ball (700 yards) of Lily Sugar'n Cream. The new ball, though, is to be knit together with nylon strips to make dish scrubbies. If I have to knit another garter stitch dishcloth anytime soon, I might poke my eyes out with my size 7 needles, and we wouldn't want that.
I used the leftover gray yarn from Little Sister's scarf to start a Farrow Rib scarf for myself. I got almost 2 1/2 feet knit before I realized it was FUBARed and I had to rip the whole thing out. Well, I didn't have to, but after spending half an hour trying to rip out my mistake and then get all the loops back on the needle the right way, I got frustrated and decided to start from scratch. Ripped out the whole thing sitting in the lecture hall, waiting for my Philosophy class to start, which made for some shocked looks cast my way. No, I don't know why I decided to get rid of all that hard work. Sigh. Anyway, I'm leaving the me scarf alone until after I finish Grandpa's. Speaking of...
I finally wheedled a color preference out of my grandpa for the scarf I'm making him––I believe his exact words were, "Well, I guess I wouldn't mind a navy blue scarf." From Grandpa, that's pretty much a ringing endorsement. :) I bought a couple skeins of Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick in navy, and got the thing darn near half-way done before I finally admitted to myself that: 1) I didn't cast on enough stitches for the single rib pattern I was using, and the scarf was too narrow, and 2) I'd been knitting a little too tightly, and the scarf was ridiculously thick. I half expected it to stand up on its own. I decided to frog it, and I'm thinking about making some super-cozy, bumming-around-the-house socks out of it instead. You know. Once I learn to make socks.
Back to Michaels I went, where I bought two skeins of Lion Wool in "Midnight Blue". I'm knitting it in Farrow Rib (can you tell that I have a raging crush on this pattern?), and I decided to make it really wide––more of a muffler than a scarf, really. Of course, this meant that I realized I needed another skein, which I got yesterday (even found the same dye lot, miracle of miracles).
I knit a quick green garter stitch (shocker!) scarf for a friend out of Lion Brand Homespun. I decided I liked the feel and look of the yarn so much that I bought more yesterday at Michaels, though in a different color.
I also checked out Ben Franklin in Springfield yesterday. Except I've decided to rename it "Anna's Crack Den," because, seriously, there was so much pretty there I thought I'd never leave. I bought more yarn that I don't know what I'm going to do with yet, and I lusted after the incredible natural fibers/hand-dyed type stuff that's way out of my price range.
I think that about sums it up. I'm starting to get a serious itch to learn some new techniques and start tackling more ambitious projects. And I'm thinking about buying a digital camera so I can post pictures of my projects here, and add pictures to recipe posts on A Recipe Depository.
I used the leftover gray yarn from Little Sister's scarf to start a Farrow Rib scarf for myself. I got almost 2 1/2 feet knit before I realized it was FUBARed and I had to rip the whole thing out. Well, I didn't have to, but after spending half an hour trying to rip out my mistake and then get all the loops back on the needle the right way, I got frustrated and decided to start from scratch. Ripped out the whole thing sitting in the lecture hall, waiting for my Philosophy class to start, which made for some shocked looks cast my way. No, I don't know why I decided to get rid of all that hard work. Sigh. Anyway, I'm leaving the me scarf alone until after I finish Grandpa's. Speaking of...
I finally wheedled a color preference out of my grandpa for the scarf I'm making him––I believe his exact words were, "Well, I guess I wouldn't mind a navy blue scarf." From Grandpa, that's pretty much a ringing endorsement. :) I bought a couple skeins of Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick in navy, and got the thing darn near half-way done before I finally admitted to myself that: 1) I didn't cast on enough stitches for the single rib pattern I was using, and the scarf was too narrow, and 2) I'd been knitting a little too tightly, and the scarf was ridiculously thick. I half expected it to stand up on its own. I decided to frog it, and I'm thinking about making some super-cozy, bumming-around-the-house socks out of it instead. You know. Once I learn to make socks.
Back to Michaels I went, where I bought two skeins of Lion Wool in "Midnight Blue". I'm knitting it in Farrow Rib (can you tell that I have a raging crush on this pattern?), and I decided to make it really wide––more of a muffler than a scarf, really. Of course, this meant that I realized I needed another skein, which I got yesterday (even found the same dye lot, miracle of miracles).
I knit a quick green garter stitch (shocker!) scarf for a friend out of Lion Brand Homespun. I decided I liked the feel and look of the yarn so much that I bought more yesterday at Michaels, though in a different color.
I also checked out Ben Franklin in Springfield yesterday. Except I've decided to rename it "Anna's Crack Den," because, seriously, there was so much pretty there I thought I'd never leave. I bought more yarn that I don't know what I'm going to do with yet, and I lusted after the incredible natural fibers/hand-dyed type stuff that's way out of my price range.
I think that about sums it up. I'm starting to get a serious itch to learn some new techniques and start tackling more ambitious projects. And I'm thinking about buying a digital camera so I can post pictures of my projects here, and add pictures to recipe posts on A Recipe Depository.
May 19, 2008
Knitting Schmitting
So, I've been knitting for just about two months now (thanks, Chelsea!). Summary of projects completed so far and in-progress:
Project the first: garter stitch scarf, charcoal gray. Fringe to be added as soon as I stop being lazy and get around to it. Destined for my friend, Lacey.
Project the second: skinny, loosely knit, looong garter stitch scarf, blue. Destined for... me!
Project the third: another garter stitch scarf, also blue (albeit darker than project the second), this time knit on size 15 needles (yarn called for size 10). I'm keeping this one, too.
Project the 3.5-infinity: A whole mess of cotton dishcloths. So far, "a whole mess" is only 3, but I intend to keep making them for myself, family, and friends. I used a pattern for the first one, then decided that was too much effort for something like a dishcloth. Plus, they've become my "bring to school" project, and I can get a lot more done if I just make them in straight garter stitch. I'm finishing #3 tonight; I'm going to try knitting #4 on the diagonal (cast on 3 stitches, increase every row until desired width, then decrease every row) so that I can practice increasing and decreasing.
Project the fourth: Farrow Rib scarf, super-bulky heather green, for my mama (Mother's Day gift). I'm seriously in love with this pattern––it looks so beautiful. It flared out a bit at the bound-off edge, but Mum assures me she won't mind. I think my problem was that I used all knit stitches when I bound off; apparently, you can bind off with purls, too.
Project the fifth: Gray and sparkly white (knitting two strands of yarn together) garter stitch scarf for Little Sister's 19th birthday (which, she recently informed me, she is not looking forward to, since 19 is almost 20, and 20 is OLD). Ahem. Am contemplating the hypothesis that Little Sister is nuts. ;) I tried to do a pattern with this one, but it looked terrible––too much going on with the different yarns and all. Though I was loathe to knit ANOTHER garter stitch scarf, it's actually looking pretty cute, and I hope Little Sister agrees.
Project the sixth: Still in the planning stages, but will be a scarf for my grandpa. I'm kind of nervous about this one, if only because everything I've made so far looks very girly, and I know Grandpa won't wear anything that looks even remotely feminine. I'm thinking about doing another farrow rib scarf, but much wider than the one I made for Mum, and in a manly-man color.
Project the seventh: I've been looking into knitting-for-charity opportunities, like afghans for Afghans and Warm Up America!. My grandma's been knitting hats for homeless men for years, and this kind of thing really appeals to me. I can't inundate my friends and family with knitted goods, after all, but I like the idea of using something I enjoy to help others.
And, that's it. Once school is out, I'm going to teach myself to knit in the round, so I can make hats and other fun things. Someday, maybe I'll even get crazy and make a sweater (although the thought terrifies me a bit right now). I'll post more knitting updates as they happen.
Project the first: garter stitch scarf, charcoal gray. Fringe to be added as soon as I stop being lazy and get around to it. Destined for my friend, Lacey.
Project the second: skinny, loosely knit, looong garter stitch scarf, blue. Destined for... me!
Project the third: another garter stitch scarf, also blue (albeit darker than project the second), this time knit on size 15 needles (yarn called for size 10). I'm keeping this one, too.
Project the 3.5-infinity: A whole mess of cotton dishcloths. So far, "a whole mess" is only 3, but I intend to keep making them for myself, family, and friends. I used a pattern for the first one, then decided that was too much effort for something like a dishcloth. Plus, they've become my "bring to school" project, and I can get a lot more done if I just make them in straight garter stitch. I'm finishing #3 tonight; I'm going to try knitting #4 on the diagonal (cast on 3 stitches, increase every row until desired width, then decrease every row) so that I can practice increasing and decreasing.
Project the fourth: Farrow Rib scarf, super-bulky heather green, for my mama (Mother's Day gift). I'm seriously in love with this pattern––it looks so beautiful. It flared out a bit at the bound-off edge, but Mum assures me she won't mind. I think my problem was that I used all knit stitches when I bound off; apparently, you can bind off with purls, too.
Project the fifth: Gray and sparkly white (knitting two strands of yarn together) garter stitch scarf for Little Sister's 19th birthday (which, she recently informed me, she is not looking forward to, since 19 is almost 20, and 20 is OLD). Ahem. Am contemplating the hypothesis that Little Sister is nuts. ;) I tried to do a pattern with this one, but it looked terrible––too much going on with the different yarns and all. Though I was loathe to knit ANOTHER garter stitch scarf, it's actually looking pretty cute, and I hope Little Sister agrees.
Project the sixth: Still in the planning stages, but will be a scarf for my grandpa. I'm kind of nervous about this one, if only because everything I've made so far looks very girly, and I know Grandpa won't wear anything that looks even remotely feminine. I'm thinking about doing another farrow rib scarf, but much wider than the one I made for Mum, and in a manly-man color.
Project the seventh: I've been looking into knitting-for-charity opportunities, like afghans for Afghans and Warm Up America!. My grandma's been knitting hats for homeless men for years, and this kind of thing really appeals to me. I can't inundate my friends and family with knitted goods, after all, but I like the idea of using something I enjoy to help others.
And, that's it. Once school is out, I'm going to teach myself to knit in the round, so I can make hats and other fun things. Someday, maybe I'll even get crazy and make a sweater (although the thought terrifies me a bit right now). I'll post more knitting updates as they happen.
May 11, 2008
Eureka!
I started alternating between two shampoos every day (i.e., using shampoo #1 one day, and shampoo #2 the next), and my hair looks amazing! It's not weighed down (a constant problem with my fine hair), and it looks really pretty and shiny, even after sleeping on it all night.
Plus, I think the sun's starting to lighten it up a bit. Yay for summer!
Plus, I think the sun's starting to lighten it up a bit. Yay for summer!
April 24, 2008
5 Things that Distinguish Me from Most People I Know:
April 16, 2008
...
This is vent-y and rant-y, and I'll probably take it down in two days, but...
I just posted something on Small Potatoes about this YouTube video I saw that deeply upset me. I wanted to be a little more professional and restrained over there, but I'm sitting here stewing.
Bad things happen in the world; I understand that. But sometimes I get profoundly, ragingly angry at insensitive, idiotic people. I don't really want to talk about the offending video anymore. I just––sometimes I hate people. This dumb video provoked that rage in me today. It's not something I'm proud of, but there it is. I utterly fail to see how anyone could find anything humorous about beating up anyone, let alone a pregnant woman. This is the kind of crap that makes me want to drop the f-bomb a few times, but I'm working on not doing that, so...
I'm upset. Really, really upset. I'm pissed, in fact, and I can't quite find the right words to express that. This kind of shit is depressing.
I just posted something on Small Potatoes about this YouTube video I saw that deeply upset me. I wanted to be a little more professional and restrained over there, but I'm sitting here stewing.
Bad things happen in the world; I understand that. But sometimes I get profoundly, ragingly angry at insensitive, idiotic people. I don't really want to talk about the offending video anymore. I just––sometimes I hate people. This dumb video provoked that rage in me today. It's not something I'm proud of, but there it is. I utterly fail to see how anyone could find anything humorous about beating up anyone, let alone a pregnant woman. This is the kind of crap that makes me want to drop the f-bomb a few times, but I'm working on not doing that, so...
I'm upset. Really, really upset. I'm pissed, in fact, and I can't quite find the right words to express that. This kind of shit is depressing.
April 15, 2008
Like I needed another reason to procrastinate...
I am so incredibly obsessed with The Deadliest Catch. Like, so obsessed that I didn't start my Philosophy paper on Sunday until 9:00 PM because I got sucked into a marathon of it on the Discovery Channel.
It's like, really entertaining, and dramatic, and very, very edge-of-your-seat. I'm obsessed––and the new season started tonight. I need to finish doing dishes and clean my bathroom so I can have maintenance come look at my fridge tomorrow (which has totally stopped working, and I had to throw all my food out, and ohmygoodness I don't need this right now). Instead, I'm watching this fabulous show, and geeking, and generally not getting things done. I have no idea why I love this show so much.
Maybe it's the Norwegian in me?
It's like, really entertaining, and dramatic, and very, very edge-of-your-seat. I'm obsessed––and the new season started tonight. I need to finish doing dishes and clean my bathroom so I can have maintenance come look at my fridge tomorrow (which has totally stopped working, and I had to throw all my food out, and ohmygoodness I don't need this right now). Instead, I'm watching this fabulous show, and geeking, and generally not getting things done. I have no idea why I love this show so much.
Maybe it's the Norwegian in me?
April 11, 2008
You know you have sensitive skin when...
...it takes longer for the rash left behind by the band-aid to heal than the cut it was covering. Sheesh.
In unrelated news, I woke up 45 minutes before my alarm was set to go off this morning, and was unable to go back to sleep. And I haven't slept more than 6 hours in a week, and my eye twitch is back. What is up with that?
In unrelated news, I woke up 45 minutes before my alarm was set to go off this morning, and was unable to go back to sleep. And I haven't slept more than 6 hours in a week, and my eye twitch is back. What is up with that?
April 2, 2008
Dear Chelsea,
Thank you for reminding me to listen to my Secret Garden music!
Fondly,
Your sister, Anna
Fondly,
Your sister, Anna
March 9, 2008
All the Food That's Fit to Eat, Mar. 10-14, 2008 (Dead Week Edition)
This is called "Dead Week Edition" because I've got way too much end-of-term work to get done this week to make a new recipe. Little Caesars to the rescue for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday night's dinners.
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