2 double oh seven can kiss my grits!

Happy last day of 2007 everyone! T minus 17 hours and counting. I don't know about you, but tonight I'm going to party like it's 1999 (minus the clubs, drugs, and glitter)

I'm back in Baltimore, and oddly relieved to be here. Kitty is bugging the dog, the dog is bugging me, and I'm "working" (no seriously I actually am!) with my feet firmly ensconced in higher than knee high wool socks and kicked up on the couch while listening to pirated podcasts (thanks ich!) and it's pretty nice to be home.

Last time I talked I was kind of blah. Nothing a couple of seriously long walks and QT with buds can't fix. Friday I lunched with grandmother, dinnered with Holly and her "I ate a baby" pod, then Star and I just kicked it on the quite possibly most comfortable free couch I've ever met with a good mystery book. Somewhere in there somewhere my attitude began to lighten. aaah.

Sat involved sleeping in until 9, then heading out for some free breakfast and time with Dad who was a man on a mission with the xmas present, and I ended up with a pretty sweet porcelainized cast iron pot. I was dragged from store to store looking for the right kind of pan, but I cannot complain. It is in fact just the right pan, and thus was worth the trip. It was also funny to watch my dad be like that, because it explains so much about my own self, which is always funny for me. Anyway the pan is blue and I kind of love it. I'll cook something delicious today and take a photo of it in use, you need to see this. Plus I feel like I'm on the verge of something great with soup ideas.

The rest of Sat was spent walking, eating *delicious* steak (MOO!!) and hanging out with JG, followed by another long walk. A phone call from HN from parts abroad, and Bob's your uncle. After all of that I was pretty much right again, and I woke up Sunday morning with a whole new outlook on life, ready to hit the road and get my sh*t cracking.

The drive back was *much* less stressful than the ride up was, and as a result I got home at a decent hour, with just enough time to do the urgent chores (catbox, fish funeral, trash), put in a nice pan full of roasted veggies for dinner (lessons learned: turnips OK, mushrooms not a good addition), take a long hot shower, unpack and hit the hay with a book stolen from Dad.

All in all a good night. I have a few things to wrap up to cap off '07 but I'm feeling good that I can get rid of most of the list today. I aim to have a productive workday, a good run, a delicious disco nap, then an utterly carefree evening followed by a restful and quiet tomorrow. There will be pictures.

Productivity and peace to all. Ok, to most. :o)

Sugoi means superior in Japanese...

This is all mine now...

So, if we've spoken at all lately, you've probably heard my whinge about how my heart just wasn't in christmas this year. I did some of the requisite shopping, but overall I just wasn't feeling it too much, and as a result I didn't get as much out of getting things for people so I didn't do it as much or as well. The only thing that really motivated me to go shopping at all was the obnoxious amount of stuff I ended up buying for myself each time I went. yeah, I spoiled me good this year but even that was pretty lackluster.

I don't really know what it was, it just seems like so many bigger things happened this year -births, deaths, weddings, whatever- that christmas was kind of a non-event in comparison. Anyway, it was all very french black and white film non-committal "eh" for me.

I seem to be recovering though, as evidenced by the fact that I went retail shopping the 26th (which was really only because I woke up at 5 am and couldnt get back to sleep and had nothing else to do, but I did it!). I got a couple of things for people for "non christmas" presents, and I started to warm up a little. Then I hit the yarn store and got way warm. As in, I went on a binge of epic proportions in my history. I don't even know where it came from, I was just in the yarn store minding my own business, looking for 3 skeins of yarn, maybe 5 because I'm going to make this camisole tank top thing, whatever and I found my 3. and my 5. and 4, and 2. yes, I bought 14 skeins of yarn. All different kinds of yarn, mostly very soft and fluffy, and while I rationalized that it was on sale, and mostly paid for with gift certificates, and 6 of the skeins are practically able to take away from the total because they are supposedly going to be gifts for people (and if it's for other people it doesn't count right?), today I found myself looking at 4 of them like they might be the nicest shawl I've ever met.

The irony here is that just before I left for Boston, I cleaned out a bunch of crappy yarn someone bought me and I was so proud of myself for refusing to gather a stash, which is something I can totally see myself having a problem with some day.

But anyhow, I sort of digress. I've also been doing a bit of the sewing thing lately, so I popped into Fabric Place today, because I was looking for something cute I could make into an apron. I CAME OUT WITH MORE YARN. Le Sigh.


So I admit I have a problem, both with my attitude and the yarn, but I don't know what either of them is from. maybe it's the winter slowly killing my soul ?

Here are some pics to make you forget my troublesome attitude.

This is Neko. She is also not very impressed by Christmas, unlike her fool sister.

I was happily working on this, from old yarn I have kicking around and being proud of me for using old stuff. Kind of like when you eat leftover's and you're all "look at me, not wasting food" Pride cometh before the fall alright. The white yarn is like if the abominable snowman used really good shampoo and conditioner and would let you hug him. It would feel just like that.

Office cat Martin. Shown on a computer tower box for scale. He's f*cking massive and very grouchy. I pretty much let him sit whereever he wants, because I am afraid of him.


new shirt! SO WARM. Must never take it off!(and bought on sale with a gift card = FREE!)

But I feel slightly like a contestant on the Running Man game show:)

Dog making comforter vortex in order to ensure all areas of the butt are sealed up and draft free.

I honestly never thought I'd say this...

But I think I love Brussel Sprouts. I've tried them several times, because I know alot of people who like them and I have never enjoyed them. Last week I went to a dinner where they were serving oven roasted BS with toasted pine nuts and I liked those ok. I was shopping the other night and happened upon a container so I bought it just to see what I could do, because I know they're ridiculously good for you. I just tossed them with onion in olive oil and roasted at 400 for 40 minutes. HOLY SHIT. delicious!

I am the BS master!!

No seriously, there *is* news

I'm just too lazy/tired to blog it all. I've finished a crapload (scientific term) of projects, I almost know how to sew now, except apparently I don't because I talked to someone who does know how to sew and she was all "do you do this? do you know this?" etc etc. so there's still a bit for me to learn, but I am becoming convinced I can do this, if I only practice, which I hate to do. Should be a trip.

The boy is packed up and headed off to parts in warmer hemispheres, xmas is almost upon me and the next week should hold lots of alone time in environments conducive to spending a lot of time on the computer. Hopefully I will get around to catching you up on the domestic goddess that is myself and what I can do with the proper tools; sewing machine, knitting needles and elbow grease.

For now I shall have to content myself with preparing for travel. I just returned from NC and am trying to get my crap together to head to Boston. There are record amounts of laundry to be done unless I want to drag dirty laundry north with me (I've done it before, I'll probably do it again but I don't think I want to do it this week) and there are animals that need to be dealt with, and I spent a lot of time I didn't really have napping then taking myself out for a nice xmas dinner tonight (I am so worth it). Why is it that people feel compelled to try to converse with someone out dining alone? If I wanted to talk to anybody, I probably would have brought a companion, no?

Let sleeping (lumpy, puking) dogs lie

Even when you want to push and shove them to wake them up just because it's not fair that after keeping you up all night puking and gagging and having weird breathing episodes due to some SERIOUS allergic reaction they have going on, suddenly when you have to get up and get some work done they are able to sleep quietly.


I am trying to be a big person right now but it's very hard. I literally slept for no more than 15 minutes at a go last night, because whatever the dog is allergic to affected her throat and the only way she could breathe well and/or quietly was if her neck is extended fully and level with her head and shoulders (i.e., no hanging head, no resting it on the edge of the bed) It had to be EXACTLY in line or these wretched gaggy/snoring noises come out of her. Naturally this is not a position she intuitively sleeps in. Nor, as it turns out is it one she is particularly willing to sleep in, so we basically wrestled all night long while I tried to explain to her who does not understand english or common sense that I was doing this for her own good. Interspersed of course with wrestling Benadryl down her throat.

And now she seems to be on board with the plan and has curled up in her bed to sleep off the latest dose and is suddenly instinctively sleeping perfectly still and flat.


bitch.

Martin!

Shocking!

Hmmm....

Me = sick. Not feeling too bad today finally, but worn out and tired. Miscellaneous bugs seem to be just another one of the joys of spending my days working in the hospital. I'm borderline a Purell addict.

Dog = sick. Feeling poorly. Not only is she throwing up (bile, yum) she's refusing food. I think that might be a first, or second at most. We're on 24 hour watch now, then to the vet with us.

I do have tons of pictures of finished stuff and stuff in the works to post but I'm too blah to bother. Apparently my only reason for posting was to whinge.

mission accomplished.

good morning!

It's Thursday, my favorite day!!!!
It's beautiful out, (which won't last long once people start driving around in the snow) and I am -temporarily at least- in an excellent mood.

Yesterday was a fairly productive day in terms of work and crafty goodness. Star and I took some practice shots for our Christmas card, I will post some of the outtakes later. Prepare to be wowed, all I'm saying (not by the outtakes, by the real thing)

All the time I have been spending at NSI lately really makes me appreciate the days when I can stay at home and work. I got a shitload of stuff done, worked on my quilt for a little over an hour, got some knitting done (I might actually finish my current project in time to wear it for the winter!) and finished putting up my xmas decorations. Expect pics of all this goodness soon, I am just too lazy right now.

In the meantime, entertain yourself with this little number:
The Holiday Party Excuse Generator. Keep your eye on the snowman when you choose an answer.

I feel so loved!

Today I was in the middle of doing a whole lot of nothing when I realized I had not paid rent yet this month. DOH!

Even though it's the great blizzard of '08 in Baltimore with a panic-inducing *2 INCHES* of snow expected to accumulate on the ground, I immediately threw on my jacket and high tailed it up the street to make things right. My landlord rocks, and I always feel bad when I'm late with rent, especially since there is no good reason for me to be. L-A-Z-Y. The last time I was late I was *really* late and he kind of bitched me out, then he immediately took me next door to buy me homemade cookies at Rose's Cookies. Totally forgiven man, totally because I am easy like that (and also in other ways HA!).

Anyhoo, I went bombing into his shop waving the check and yelling (per usual) and the counter lady said "Kerry?" then started reaching under the counter. I hate being recognized, I have an issue where I always think I'm in trouble. probably because I was a bad child, but I digress. I asked if she was evicting me, and she just looked at me weird and handed me a present. My first xmas present! Yay! and totally unexpected too!

me and present are dancing in the streets

And here's the note on the present. I'm glad he doesn't want me to move.

Now that is a thoughtful note.

So I am now the proud owner of the Kidde Nighthawk CO and Explosive Gas monitor. I feel safer already! Not that I need it, because as someone pointed out, I am not using heat yet (and its snowing. I AM WINNING. Still don't know what I'm winning yet though)

Mine all mine. Even if I move!

Update

Day 600 of the cold: 50 degrees in the house, still no heat on. Why do I do this? I still don't know, but I'm winning. What competition I have no idea. The rules are no heat and no jacket. Everything in between is fair game, so I'll probably light a fire in a trash barrel tonight or something.

I admit I have a problem, isn't that the first step?

I shrink wrapped the windows last night, and today I hang my giant *handmade* "if it worked for castles in the medieval times it will work for me" tapestry that goes down over the door and windows on the north side of the house at night when it's windy. I might even address the whole doorknob conflict issue and try to shore up the front of the house completely. Maybe not though.

Monday, monday

Let me start this show by saying BRRRR! For no particular reason, this year I've decided to see how long I can go without turning on the heat. Seriously, there is no reason I just apparently have issues. Anyhow, it's 48 degrees in the house right now and I'm wearing a hat, boots, a scarf and 2 bathrobes, under my blanket under my computer (blessed be the Windows spaceheater!). I think I can go another month or so, this is totally livable, I'm not even wearing a coat yet. My fish are in semi-hibernation mode and I think it's because the water's cold. People keep asking why I'm doing this: I have no answer dammit!

So I'm finally back home after an adventure filled couple of days. This weekend was that traditional time of gifts, love, and gluttony known as Slob Thanksgivmas. I spent Friday night preparing the T-Shirts (I had to pause from making my GIANT HANDMADE QUILT to make some T-shirts. Because I am the golden craft god SUCKITJH) The T-shirts came out smashing, will post piccies soon. I might be onto something with this T-shirt business. I bought extra transfers and am already looking around to see what else I can make.

Saturday began mostly innocuously, my flight out was at 830, so I got to the airport around 7:30, brezzed my carry on having, pre-checked in self right through securi-tay and went to hang out by the gate. Then I was struck by how many people were milling around and I thought "uh oh" Checking around for a status monitor, I was struck by the fact that the money AirTran saves for you seems to cost you in terms of information and helpful people. Sigh. After asking 3 people, I was finally able to find someone who knew *some* stuff about my flight. More specifically I was told "you're being delayed I don't know how long I don't have time for this right now" Fine (bitch), I'll be at the bar. And don't leave without me!
For those of you with issues regarding day drinking, let me explain: There is no "morning" on vacation. And I was on vacation. The *second* my foot hits international air terminal soil, all things "acceptable" and "normal" cease to bind me. Things like "breakfast cocktails" and "wet breakfast" become totally ok. DON"T JUDGE ME!!!

so where was I? Oh yes, at the bar, having breakfast:

Mmm. Fruit juice, with vegetables and stuff. mmm.

So, after a round of fruit juicy delicious spice drink and witnessing some fantastic harassment of one bar employee by the other 5, I wandered back to the terminal to get an update on my travel plans. In the end the delay would total an hour and I still had time to kill. A little airport shopping (a serious hobby of mine) and some knitting (BECAUSE I AM A GOLDEN CRAFT GOD!) later and it was time to board. Flight =1hr, some bumps, nothing memorable. Except getting my whole own row and being able to put my feet up and enjoy myself a little. Woohoo!

Slob thanksgiving ensued and that has to be it's own post once I get some pictures. There's just too much to tell. The short version is I got the dinner I deserved on Thanksgiving and I might be over the whole goose thing. I ate until I was paralyzed, and I would do it all over again.

Sunday was a treat because I LOVE SLUMBER PARTIES and especially the morning after slumber parties. We hung out, had coffee, cinnamon rolls, more girl chatter before most people wrapped up and shoved out. Jenn and I are not most people, and we made ourselves quite at home on Holly's couch until mid afternoon, when we checked to find out my flight home was going to be delayed (Boo airtran!). I tried calling the airline to see if I could work out some arrangement that would mean I didn't just have to go sit at the airport for the extra at least 2 hours, but the girl on the phone was not much help. She told me she couldn't help me for less than $100 and that she didn't really understand what I was asking her and she didn't think I was making sense. I told her what I was asking did make sense if she thought about it, and that I doubted that her being confused was so infrequent an event that I needed to look inward for the reason. I left her pondering that one and hung up, then made my way to the airport. I decided as a gesture of conciliation that I would split the time with AirTran. They said I was going to be delayed 2 hours, so I went to the airport 1 hour late. Only I ended up being delayed 3.5 hours, so I guess they won in the end. It's ok though, I'm going to write them a letter. And since I'm right on a lot of major points, I'm hoping for a credit of some sort. Wish me luck!

So I finally got to Baltimore at 10:30 last night, instead of 7pm, which is not the same. I had planned to work more on the quilt, but there is a child in the rowhouse next door and I think my sewing machine would wake her*. Plus, I was tired from my long day at the airport. On the plus side though, I did finally knit through an entire skein of my alpaca yarn, which is rapidly turning into a big smushy, warm, soft scarf. Might be a xmas present, but very likely for myself.

For reasons including but not limited to this "I need to be sewing in the middle of the night" I think I am moving the craft studio at least partially to the basement. In addition to logistical concerns, the current location is also the coldest room in the house, and even with the windows all shrink wrapped n shizz when the wind blows in the winter, shit moves in the craft room. It's just not feasible that I'm going to work in there in the cold. The basement however is underground, near the heater, hot water tank and the dryer and remains a pretty reasonable temp year round. Plus is wind free (yay!) I think winter craft headquarters is down there. Not to mention HN's patio set. I stole it when he wasn't looking and figure that would make the perfect winter craft table. And so it shall be. But probably not today. I'll post pics when it's time.