Bluestalking

Photos of the Day

2009-12-24T10:07:21-06:00

It's just too gorgeous out there today not to offer up a couple more photos:

Now it's time I shower and dress. I don't think I want to spend Christmas Eve in my pajamas.

On second thought ...

All my best wishes to you and yours!

Blessings ...

2009-12-24T09:14:49-06:00

... to you and yours this Christmas Eve.

We had an ice storm here last night. Outside the tree limbs are creaking, bent over from the weight of being encased in ice. All else is silence. It's otherworldly.

The snow has a layer of ice on top. Luckily the rain didn't wash it away. It just turned it into a frozen crust. If it doesn't rain today we should have our White Christmas.

Again, I am the crazy neighbor outside in her pajamas - coat on this time - clomping through icy snow to get a few photos of what's actually a rare occurrence here. We don't get very many ice storms. One a year, maybe, but most years not at all. It's something to take advantage of, to get excited about - assuming you don't have to drive in it. Driving in it is like slipping around on an ice rink in something that weighs a ton. Not fun.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I've warmed up enough to clomp around outside one last time, in case I missed anything the first time.

Wishing you and yours a happy, healthy and safe Christmas. Have a wonderful! And I will be back soon.

Photo of the Day

2009-12-23T09:42:38-06:00

A Minute on the Lips ...

... a lifetime on the Hips. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Whatever. We can always start that diet tomorrow, right?
Right?!

Sigh.

Here comes the rudest song in town ...

2009-12-22T12:17:04-06:00

Dude spends his year overseeing a bunch of trouble making elves so your snot nosed kids can have toys at Christmas, and all you notice are his food issues? Then, you enable him, leaving plates of cookies. You're all like, "Oh, fatty! Try swooping back up my chimney after eating the wife's cream cheese doodles!"

Ever thought of leaving him some lean protein? A veggie or two? Noooo...

You are SO lame. So lame. I hope your kids get coal this year.

And sew it goes.

2009-12-22T10:41:32-06:00

Along with my mad wool felting spree has come a mad desire to sew animals. As I had no pattern, I went searching at Etsy.com for other examples of what people were making. I copied what they'd made by freehand sketching, figuring since this was my first attempt what did it matter how it turned out? I could always fine-tune in subsequent attempts.

First came a dog:

"Cute!," said my daughter. "But could you make one with four legs?"

I pondered that, not quite sure how one goes about that.

In the meantime came the elephant:

Then, finally, my attempt at a four-legged dog:

The chubby, stomach-dragging dog. But he does have four legs. Can't argue that.

Time to find a pattern, methinks. I just need the general gist of how four-legged animals are created, then stand out of my way. I'm an animal-sewin' machine!*

* I know. I lead one exciting life.

Photo of the Day

2009-12-22T00:01:00-06:00

Shooting Stars

Nothing like setting your camera for a timed shot, then realizing your necklace is caught on the tripod, necessitating you hold yourself absolutely still lest you ruin the shot. Take that from someone who knows. The hard way.

Photo of the Day

2009-12-21T14:12:28-06:00

Brilliance

Poinsettias are beautiful flowers, but my question is why do they have no smell? How much more special they'd be if there was a pleasant aroma to accompany that scarlet red.

When I rule the world, things will be different. For one thing, people will drink chocolate instead of water. Calorie free, full taste chocolate.

Mmm.

And neither clutter nor dust will ever settle. Plus, that poinsettia thing.

Master of all I survey ...

2009-12-21T11:37:34-06:00

Yesterday evening, at around 9:30ish, I hit the SEND button submitting my final paper of my M.S. career. Pending one small detail centering on my practicum (an evaluation form), I AM OFFICIALLY A LIBRARIAN!

Yes, a LIBRARIAN!

Two years exactly in graduate school. Countless hours spent reading, studying, writing papers. Not one single test, but one quiz. And, of course, 120 hours spent performing my practicum duties.

Now, the wait for grades, the final GPA, and, dare I speak it? THE DIPLOMA arriving in the mail.

How, oh how, to observe this moment? It seems a major defining life moment, yet I'm left in that "how do I properly observe it?" void. It's a happy, though somewhat anti-climactic feeling. Being a distance learning student, I can't high five fellow students. I'm not attending the ceremony, which isn't until next year, anyway. It's just kind of a strange feeling.

But, in any event, I AM A LIBRARIAN!

Photos of the Day

2009-12-20T12:13:31-06:00

Mother Nature's Sketch Book

Another decent thing about winter - frost patterns on the windows.

And you thought I wasn't capable of being positive.

Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen

2009-12-20T11:51:07-06:00

Almost two thousand reviews for Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen, and an average of 4.5 stars.

Wow.

I listened to the book on CD, and wouldn't rate it as highly as the Amazon crowd did. In fact, I have to wonder how it came to be this beloved.

Let me backtrack. I thought the characterization was excellent, and the plot as well. A couple of things just deeply bothered me. The cruelty to animals, for example. I haven't buried my head in the sand; I know animal cruelty happens in environments such as circuses, and I believe bringing this to the surface is a good thing, if it results in an end to the injustice. But to listen to it read to me, to picture in my mind the horrors. That I can't stand.

The second thing - she killed off my favorite character. She built him up, drew him realistically, endeared him to my heart. Then she killed him. I know, real life and all that. It doesn't play favorites because a person is lovable. But nonetheless ...

Listening to the audio CD may have been a mistake, too. Having the same character voice both the lead male and female characters is distracting. I could barely stand his take on Marlena. Why didn't they have a female voice her? Other books do. It wouldn't have been nearly as distracting as a disingenuous falsetto.

The story was a good one. The book on CD experience not so much. It felt long; at more than one point I considered giving it up - as much for the animal cruelty as the somewhat drawn out plot line. I didn't, though. I pushed on, and thought the ending sweet and well-deserved. Not realistic, but sweet.

Because of my experience with the audio CD, and the other reasons I mentioned, I can't rate it as highly as the average Amazon reader. Four stars, maybe, but not four and a half. A small difference that may seem, but it really isn't. A half point on such a small scale is significant. Trying not to judge the voice, this is the rating I'd give it. Judging the voice it would be lower. More along the lines of 3.5. Again, that half point difference means a lot.

Keep in mind the extreme animal cruelty if you read the book. And if you read the book, read the book. Unless it's impossible, I don't recommend the audio CD.

Definitely a book that will stay with me, and not in all good ways. Even for me it was depressing, and that says a lot. I love dark books, but the brutality in this one upset me. Still, a great story line.

In a tizzy.

2009-12-18T09:35:15-06:00

I'm in a tizzy of Christmasness. Having the day off, I'm completely confused as to what to do with it. I know I have a million holiday-related errands, but which to do today? Which? Which?!

That's the problem with me. Well, one of many. Given unlimited freedom I can't get a grip. I need someone to tell me where to go, what to do, how to spend my time. Otherwise I wander like an aimless ... an aimless ... thing that wanders.

Wrapping gifts is one thing on the extended list. That would help me have a better grip on who's who and what's what. The problem is I still have stuff on its way from Amazon, and other virtual places. So, keep a list, you say. Practical, yes, but I tend to lose things like lists. One year I carefully tallied what gifts we were giving the kids, and which were coming from Santa. I lost it. Guess who found it?

Yep. I had to do some fancy talking about how I let Santa know the gifts of which I spoke were things I hoped he'd bring. Because they made my credit cards shiver in terror. The kids sort of half bought it, at least enough for them to fake it a few more years. For the extra gifts.

There's the task of sending off a few more holiday cards, too. There were a couple surprise cards I didn't expect, necessitating return cards. Don't you just hate that? But 'tis the season. You have to be nice to others, even those you barely know. OR ELSE.

Interesting message we give kids at yuletide, isn't it? If you're not good, you get nothing. If you are good, you get all sorts of material things. Because material things are what we give people who are GOOD. Bad people get no taste of capitalistic generosity, because they suck eggs. Rotten, rotten eggs.

Weird, but I guess that's our interpretation of what Christ intended. Though how he managed to be a good newborn I don't know, getting all that myrrh and such. Just what every baby wants. You can never have enough myrrh around the house. Hope it goes on sale soon. I'm running low.

Oh, and don't get me started on Christmas Carols! Some great messages of love and joy in those, too:

"Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying
Sealed in the stone-cold tomb."

Hey, let's party! Pass the eggnog before I get that image out of my head.

Then there's the idea Santa watches you through your windows. Nothing creepy about that. Otherwise, we'd call him a pervert. At the least a peeping Nicholas, and call the cops on him:

"Officer, there's a man in a red suit looking at me through my windows. I woke up and he was standing there, staring at me. And his reindeer? They completely stomped my garden, leaving droppings everywhere. One of them even has a red, glowing nose. Arrest that man!"

Shortly after he'd hang up on you. "Weirdo," he'd say.

The decorating I've finished - at least all I'm doing. It's pretty sad, actually, but I'm going the simple route this year. Certainly, it's more than I wanted to do. It doesn't look like a Christmas factory blew up in my house like it used to, in the old days. The tree is up, the mantle embellished by a handful of Santas from my collection. The stairway features a lighted garland, and every holiday card we get is taped to the kitchen doorway. Outside the house are "icicle" lights, which look like the natural thing - if they're attached to cords and multi-colored. We didn't stick our lighted deer in the ground, the ones that look as if they have Parkinson's Disease, then break less than a week into the season.

Wish you could see the Santa decoration down the street. Talk about creepy. It's a real-looking thing sitting in an easy chair, waving and shaking his head back and forth, I guess in an attempt to say, "Dream on, suckers! The recession hit the North Pole, too. Be happy with the sugar plums dancing in your heads, 'cause Santa's portfolio bit the big one."

I think I have my list ready. Miracle of miracles! See, and people say blogs are just navel-gazing. BAH! The world's a richer place for my having discussed my errands of the day with you. Could you have rested comfortably otherwise? I didn't think so. And today's schedule isn't too grueling. That's the best part. I can fit it all on an index card.

Now that's my idea of a holiday. Decorate as little as possible, buy as few things as possible, sing songs about death, and drink 'til you forget another year has passed and you've completely pissed it away.

Joy to the world!

Photo of the Day

2009-12-18T01:19:56-06:00

Fairest of Them All ...

Santa gazing at himself in an ornament. What says Christmas better than that?

Well, aside from the mile-long list of my present suggestions. Let me know if you need a copy, if I forgot to mail you one.

And never mind that woman trying to duck out of the photo. You're not supposed to notice her. Just because she's wearing a bright red sweater. Duck, woman! Duck!

Photo of the Day

2009-12-16T08:49:37-06:00

Obsessive-Compulsive

Yes, still captivated by things wooly, and still felting away. But that's not all I've been up to.It's the end of the last semester of grad school for me. I shall be a Master of all I survey in a mere week! Oh, but don't worry. It won't change me. Much.

I finished one of two final papers yesterday evening, submitting it a day ahead of time. I'm not sure I did my best work, but I worked on it until I thought my head would EXPLODE. I decided that was enough.

And my last paper is due December 20. Then I am DONE! Officially done! Brooo hahahahahahaha!

I'm a little happy about that.

Photo of the Day

2009-12-11T07:41:45-06:00

Futile

Telling children to put their things away? Don't waste your breath.

"But it doesn't matter! It doesn't matter!"

Telling that to those who paid for their possessions is like waving that red cape in front of a bull. Only we can see color.

T.G.I.F.!

2009-12-11T07:27:18-06:00

What a week, what a week... Seven hours in the emergency room with a daughter who officially has a concussion. One mysteriously hurt knee (mine), snow from hades, and icy, treacherous roads.

What's not to love?

Thank goodness I've found wool! I'm like Madame Defarge, knitting away, only I crochet as I can't do anything but make straight lines in knitting, but I've been crocheting since I was twelve or thirteen. Which was *cough* years ago, making it second nature by now. Between the satisfaction of going at a ball of yarn, then throwing the finished products in the wash to felt them and seeing what comes out, it's one excitement after another.

Mental note: I am a nerd.

Oh, and the fun of multimedia journaling (journaling isn't a word, by the way, as far as I know)! It's an outlet, and can look as awful or beautiful as it likes and it won't matter one whit. I look forward to it, and that's the point. My doctor loves looking at it. Since I know she will, I get a little obnoxious talking about her. Not mean, no no. I adore her. But obnoxious.

In January I'm hoping to take an art class. Not sure if I mentioned that. It's down to either the "found metal" sculpture course or the "let's find our core selves" metaphysical course. The first all but guarantees I'll seriously injure myself and be carried off via ambulance, squirting blood like a fountain. The second is sort of what I'm doing in my journal, only more structured and taught by someone who knows what she's doing. The first would make for a good battle story. If I can hand my camera to the EMT before I faint, just imagine the photos!

Yes, I consider beforehand how blog-worthy endeavors are before I choose them. See above mental note.

And for the weekend? Oh dear God, I need to call Galpal! Galpal, if you're out there, I WILL MAKE CONTACT TODAY! I'm a slug, though without the slime trail. Anyway, the plan is Galpal and hubby will come out and play tomorrow. But, note to Galpal, as of right now MY DOUBLE OVEN IS BROKEN, KAPUT, NOT WORKING!!! ARRRRRGHHHH! Want to play Yahtzee, instead? Paul's on the job, trying to figure out what's wrong, but the error code is saying it's a keypad problem. The error code reads "FO," which I think is a direct message to me.

Something out there hates me, but we can find something to play even if that nasty thing doesn't work. I WILL TALK TO YOU TODAY!!

(Like how I write notes to friends here, letting the world see? I thought so.)

On Sunday I'm working, and will be hosting a program on organizing or some such. (I'm not the one giving it, in case you're alarmed the topic isn't coming to me right away. I'm just the emcee/library representative, there to make sure no one gets out of line and no fights break out).

I don't think the weather's going to warm up appreciably anytime soon. It was in the single digits this morning, so I drove my daughter to the bus stop. I like to do random nice things for her, to keep her on her toes.

Oh, and I have two final papers to work on. Disturbing how often that slips my mind. Yes, I would like to graduate, and yes, it is the end of the semester. Silly me. One is about my experience with my practicum, though not so much an account of it as what I learned in library terms. The other, a comparison paper betwixt two articles, and my own take on what I think on the topic. So, no big research papers, but still. They must be done if I want that lovely degree. And I do. Lordy, I do.

Fate willing, there will be no major disasters. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! breath ... HAHAHAHAHAHA!

I hope the hospital has wi-fi.