spinning-jennie: archives « October 2008 | Main | December 2008 »

November 30, 2008

Thirty and Out
Wow, November is over already? And I posted every day? No one is more astounded than I am.

Time is going to be a bit tight for the next couple of weeks. Of course I painted myself into a tight little corner with my final project, and I'm cutting things close. Very, very close. Oh, why mince words -- idiotically close. And then decking the halls and writing cards and all that. And then, just over a week before Christmas, my final exam (which is a real classroom buttnumber with Scantron cards and number two pencils and the attendant undercurrent of nausea). So I'll try to ride the wave of posting momentum I've generated this month, but things'll probably taper off. If I know me.
11/30/08 10:39 PM |  Comments


November 29, 2008

Giving
The bub is old enough to understand, so I really wanted to illustrate the meaning of the season in such a way that he could be an active participant.

Last month we read a story about a Heifer Project family, and how the simple gift of a single goat changed their lives drastically. The bub has been saving his change for a long time, and has well over twenty-five dollars socked away. I explained that we could choose an animal to give to a family just like Beatrice's, and he could use some of his money to help. He enthusiastically chose rabbits. In the name of full disclosure, but with some hesitation (fuzzy bunnies and all), we discussed that that the rabbits, who would have lots of babies to give to other families, too, would be food when they were older. "But not the babies, right?" He seemed okay with it after I reassured him. "No, never the babies."

So we counted out five dollars, and let him drop it in the Coinstar and watch it tallied up (very exciting stuff!). And today we ordered a rabbit. Heifer lets you customize a printable card, so I made one up to give to him as a little commemoration.
11/29/08 04:46 PM |  Comments


November 28, 2008

Pink Friday
I admit, the virus living in my head doesn't leave much room for seasonal cheer. Or anything else.

But I couldn't miss out on this, the single most pleasant grocery shopping eve of the year, when 96.3% of everyone else is a) in bed because they were part of some maniacal donut-fueled retail horde at hell o'clock a.m., b) still out in a less maniacal -- but no less unpleasant -- retail horde, or c) so stuffed from yesterday the very last thing they want to think about is food. It all makes for very leisurely meat and produce selection.

As I was strolling past the endcap of the baking aisle (yes, strolling. meandering, even! not a single soul in sight to jab my ass with a cart. woo!), I chanced on these peppermint sprinkles. Minty pink powder for my cocoa and cookies! Elfin magically, a teensy bit of my ho-ho-holiday spirit was restored to its former (er, maniacal?) glory.

I guess they also come in chips, which I didn't see at Lucky. But those just look like the crushed-up candy canes my rolling pin and I have made to use in peppermint bark in the past, so no huge loss.
11/28/08 09:31 PM |  Comments


November 27, 2008

Thanks
We went out. The homey hilltop place where we've been the past two years shut down a few weeks ago, so I had to scurry to find a new one. It was... well, it was a restaurant. Being able to choose between fish and prime rib and turkey is nice, but I'm growing kind of wistful (homesick???) for more home-grown dishes like green bean casserole and cranberry sauce with the can lines in it. And I'm really thinking that the practice of sitting in a booth for two hours may not be fair to/appropriate for a small child (or at least ours), to the detriment of the enjoyment of all. I think next year I want to be at home, tiny kitchen be damned.

I'm also sick, but it wouldn't be a major holiday if someone wasn't, would it? Regardless, I'm trying to feel appropriately thankful for my blessings, which are many, and include you. Thank you! I hope you had a nice day together.
11/27/08 11:50 PM |  Comments


November 26, 2008

Activities Director
Me: I'd like to color, too, please.
Him: Okay!!! You should do dat maze. I did it aready, it's kind of compa-cated [hee] but see, you can just do it again!
Me: I think I'd rather just color a picture right now.
Him: Okay. You should color dat one dere, I think.
Me: Oh. Could I choose my own, though?
Him: Oh, yesss!

...

But you could color dat one dere, you know.
11/26/08 04:16 PM |  Comments


November 25, 2008

ZINK
The Tomy Xiao camera/printer is fascinating -- it uses 2x3" crystal-embedded paper which is activated by the printer, so no ink!

Via Popgadget.
11/25/08 11:53 PM |  Comments


November 24, 2008

Fighting Words...
...I just don't have them. If I'm in a heated debate or argument, they usually *pwoof* disappear. My odd-wired brain feels like it shorts out on emotions, and I stand there, mute and neutered.

So I avoid conflict, sometimes to the boiling point, because I hate how idiotic I surely must appear when things aren't connecting quite right. As you can imagine -- not exactly healthy. No matter how I try to reason myself out of the avoidance and inevitable escalation, it wins out more often than not.

Once I let myself be kicked out of the house for a few misspoken words. The reaction came on so swiftly and relentlessly that I couldn't get my brain and mouth to work together fast enough to put things to right -- couldn't defend myself at all. And the rest was like a snowball on a hill.

I often wish I could just write everything down, have a few extra beats to process things visually instead of verbally. Be on more equal footing. But the world doesn't work that way (I know!).

The same thing happens if I'm put on the spot in front of a group. I can know an answer as well as my own name, but not be able to verbalize it. It's maddening.

Again, I feel more centered finally having a probable reason for this motley collection of neurostuff. Which I guess makes it easier to write about, too -- it's not just me babbling on about a random host of disconnected absurd and seemingly irrational behaviors. Thanks for bearing with my organizational monologues!
11/24/08 10:55 PM |  Comments


November 23, 2008

Satin Leisure Suits and Polyester Bellbottoms Galore
Ellen shared these Swedish dance groups from the 70s.

Oh, my. My.
11/23/08 11:57 PM |  Comments


November 22, 2008

Walk in the Park
3051376095_ff2aa4c921.jpg
11/22/08 11:51 PM |  Comments


November 21, 2008

And In Other Blogs This Week
- Michael Ian Black has been in my adopted snowbound hometown, Marquette, Michigan, and making fun of/at my alma mater. There's even a video clip courtesy the local paper.

- Heidi belatedly but very accurately mirrors and clarifies some of my own prominent political positions in this past election.

- Melissa Anelli shares some unpublished interview with J.K. Rowling regarding fan entitlement and shipping.

- Adorable turkey cookies at Billy and Green.
11/21/08 09:44 PM |  Comments


November 20, 2008

Leaf Garland
Daniel often brings home huge fingerpaintings, and I can't possibly keep them all. But the colors in his latest masterpiece were so rich and fall-ish, I couldn't let it go to waste.

So we collaborated! The simpler leaves are all his handiwork; I took care of cutting the complex ones.

Supplies were all things we had on hand already: pony beads, jute cord, miniature clothespins, craft glue (I prefer Delta Sobo for stuff like this), and an empty afternoon.
11/20/08 10:30 PM |  Comments


November 19, 2008

Season Status
Briefly, because it's late.


The Office - Still funny, if not as fervently in luff.

Pushing Daisies - I still adore it, but I'm trying to steel myself for the almost inevitable cancellation.

Heroes - Just couldn't take the brain pain anymore and tossed it like the bad egg it had become. Don't miss it.

Fringe - I've liked it just enough to keep watching. Didn't reeeaaaallly like it until last night, when it seemed to take off. Hooray Walter!

Desperate Housewives - for some reason, the DVR keeps skipping episodes. I think it's trying to tell me something, and that something is probably "STOP wasting your time, fool!" It's not a bad show, really. Just more soapy than I like nowadays.

Sarah Connor - One of those shows that I may always watch as long as it's there, but not mourn the passing when it goes. This is mostly because the character that I can usually identify with most is the cyborg.

Ugly Betty - I might (shhh) just be watching for Marc and Amanda.

Legend of the Seeker - Pretty! Shiny! Magick-y medieval sword-wielding horse-riding mayhem! Oh, original syndicated programming. How I've missed you.
11/19/08 11:54 PM |  Comments


November 18, 2008

"Meh" Is a Real Word Now
I have meatier stuff that I want to get out, I do. But I seem to be out of the practice of writing (anything, at all), and I put it off and off each day, and then we're left with eleventh-hour blurbs. Blurbettes.

And too, I feel so stationary right now. No plans. Or I should say, plans not coming to fruition. My body, motivation, and inspiration have seemingly conspired to betray me, at least for the moment, and it's a battle to not let frustration hold sway.
11/18/08 11:42 PM |  Comments


November 17, 2008

Happy Life Day
And if you know what that means without looking, my condolences.

See Also: RiffTrax.
11/17/08 07:36 PM |  Comments


November 16, 2008

A Long Time Coming
Last week I decided I couldn't take the IE crashes and glitches anymore and finally switched to Firefox. Stability is nice!

I'm sure I've hardly plumbed the depths yet, but I've been having a little bit of fun with add-ons. I admit I've been coveting some of the Flickr stuff for a long time, so I scooped that up first. The rest is mostly cosmetic (Gmail and my tabs are so pretty now). So if you have anything essential to recommend, drop a comment!
11/16/08 11:50 PM |  Comments


November 15, 2008

Busy Day
It's been so unseasonably warm! Today we took another trip down to the Bay Area Discovery Museum in Sausalito, and, considering where it's situated, I was surprised at the heat even there.

We had the sitter come tonight so we could see Quantum of Solace, but thanks to a lack of basic research on my part (I thought it released last week), it was sold out. So we just wandered around instead. Had some dessert. And I scored some half-off Christopher Moore (and found out he may very well be in town again for the release of his next book in February), so the evening wasn't a total loss!
11/15/08 11:10 PM |  Comments


November 14, 2008

"I don't think he knows about second breakfast, Pip."
Have you seen The Ack Attack's "Daily Dose of Lost?" Rachel Ack mashes up series of screen caps from Lost episodes very cunningly with bits of dialog from other television shows and films. Always, it's amusing. But sometimes it's inspired!
11/14/08 11:33 PM |  Comments


November 13, 2008

Pre-Holiday Notes
► It's getting tougher to shop around the kidlet. Packages have already begun arriving from afar, and he is downright indignant that I won't open them immediately, like normal everyday packages. Luckily I can still distract him with Halloween candy.

► There's a house just up the street that was already decked out and lit like a rainbow conflagration last week. I find it anachronistically annoying.

► I'm only 35% done shopping, but at least only 5% remains unpegged in my head.

► The forecast high is 83 tomorrow, which I can believe because it felt nearly that today. But also, I can't, because SOLSTICE IS ONLY THIRTY-EIGHT DAYS AWAY. Ungh.
11/13/08 11:20 PM |  Comments


November 12, 2008

Just What We Need This Close to Halloween
If you like Starbuck's Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate, you'll probably also enjoy Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramels:

3026994202_5a9bf490d6_m.jpg

Just poking idly around the 'net, it sounds as if they've been around a couple of years. I'm not a candy aficionado by any means, so no flowery gustatory descriptions, but I'm enjoying them quite a bit. I'd probably enjoy them even more if the sea salt wasn't quite so coarse (we're talking chunks).

And I love the packaging design -- wouldn't it make a nice small gift?
11/12/08 09:45 PM |  Comments


November 11, 2008

Veterans Day


I have a handful of photos, too, that I haven't put up just yet.
11/11/08 10:53 PM |  Comments


November 10, 2008

Today
The Good: the bub's fort-bed arrived on time, and all was rapidly assembled. Also, snatching perfect $148 CK dress pants at Ross for $24, not bothering to try them on, and finding they fit like a charm is pretty sweet, too. Sad (?), I can't remember the last time I owned a pair of pants dressier than khakis.

The Bad: The delivery people forgot a box, so we had to drive back up to Santa Rosa to get it. Service, harrumph.

The Ugly: Summons for jury duty next month. Ungh! I used one of my two annual postpone-your-"civic-duty-or-be-incarcerated" cards, though -- it's right at the tailend of my class, which is also at the tailend of my first certificate, and I can't have any potential conflicts with the final exam.
11/10/08 11:14 PM |  Comments


November 09, 2008

One Word
I've seen this meme a couple of places, and thought I'd give it a go.

Where is your mobile phone? counter
Where is your significant other? here
Your hair colour? dark
Your mother? far
Your father? dunno
Your favourite thing? media
Your dream last night? nonexistent
Your dream goal? confidence
The room you're in? busy
Your hobby? creating
Your fear? insanity
Where do you want to be in 6 years? here
Where were you last night? here
What you're not? aggressive
One of your wish-list items? cruise
Where you grew up? midwest
The last thing you did? forum
What are you wearing? jeans
Your TV? animation
Your pets? feline
Your computer? PC
Your mood? amused
Missing someone? often
Your car? ten
Something you're not wearing? extensions
Favourite shop? craft
Your summer? untravelled
Love someone? yep
Your favourite colour? brown
When is the last time you laughed? now
When is the last time you cried? recently
11/09/08 10:34 PM |  Comments


November 08, 2008

Barely Over a Week In...
...and I'm already at a bit of a loss, just remembering to post at the last possible moment. Sheesh. Like Blogathon, and it's 4:00 a.m., and the caffeine/sugar has pushed things over the crest and into a fantastic nosedive.

Nothing exciting today, just a trip to the library for a new pile of kidbooks (my Paperbackswap queue is massive, and I rarely interrupt it with anything else). Plugging away at Series Four of Doctor Who. Eating pizza. Rainy Saturday stuff.
11/08/08 11:46 PM |  Comments


November 07, 2008

"Magazine Death Watch"
Well, I figured the periodicals world was hurting -- I can't even remember how many freebie subs I've picked up in the past few months -- but I had no idea the extent. I refuse to agree that Entertainment Weekly (oh, you little bright spot in my mailbox, you!) could conceivably go down, though.

Via PCJM.
11/07/08 11:42 PM |  Comments


November 06, 2008

Hip Sticks
Oh! How I wish Hip in a Hurry wall decals had existed back in the nursery-decorating days! Would you look at those monkeys? Of course then I'd have probably had an even harder time dismantling it all.

You can find a decent selection at Michael's, and they're all 40% off until Saturday, too.
11/06/08 09:28 PM |  Comments


November 05, 2008

Return of Bessie
I hate to admit it, but the pink cruiser I bought three years ago hasn't seen a whole lot of action. You know those little spiky rubber nubblies that new tires have? Mine still have most of them.

I've had a host of reasons excuses: the coaster brakes are crappy, those high chopper handlebars impede steady navigation, and the kid trailer is just a big pain all around. I replaced the handlebars with something far more moderate and comfy (and I added shiny-shiny sparkle grips!), so that's one thing down. I'm thinking of installing caliper brakes; the ability to come to a complete stop without dragging my feet would be nice.

Lately, our feet aren't fast enough to keep up with the bub and his wheels (especially fueled by trick-or-treat trappings, ungh), so cue the bikes. It's been kind of nice. Enough so that I might even get brave enough to hitch up the trailer again.
11/05/08 08:34 PM |  Comments


November 04, 2008

DONE.
And not a day too soon.

My vote was blue, even if my whole heart wasn't. So you won't hear any raptures or gloating from me. Red(s), don't try to bait me with smacktalk (a-HEM). The candidate for whom I voted won, where my imaginary candidate could not. I'm resigned.

And that's pretty much all I have to say about that.

But you know what I can raise my glass to? It being OVER. Until, as Penn twitquipped, "One more day before Hillary starts running again."
11/04/08 08:51 PM |  Comments


November 03, 2008

More Things I Don't Understand
  • Why people, especially those driving neutral-colored cars, whip around our roads like idiots, not using headlights, when it's foggy.
  • This.
  • Lots of things about Facebook.
  • What the hell the people at Best Week Ever were/not thinking.
  • That goes for Heroes, too.
  • Why, when the only weather we get is rain, I can't find a single pair of boys' rainboots locally. Or a raincoat, for that matter. I guess little boys aren't supposed to jump in puddles anymore, now that they have Wii.

    • 11/03/08 08:48 PM |  Comments


    November 02, 2008

    Old Business
    So, I don't think I ever finished up my Eyeball Saga. Ancient news, I know.

    I ended up going for a second LASIK consultation, with the practice that offered blade-free IntraLASIK, and was, disappointingly, given the same verdict: my corneas were too thin for even THAT level of flap-making precision. They could still perform laser correction, but using LASEK, which involved scuffing the corneal cells off, doing the lasering, pushing the mound of cells back, and beginning a painful months-long healing process involving contact bandages and a gallon of steroid drops. Oh, and only one eye at at time, so that I'd have at least ONE GOOD EYE to see with. I'd mentally set myself up (well, you know, barely) for the almost instantaneous results of traditional LASIK, and even now the thought of LASEK makes me cringe hard.

    Because the self-persuasion to schedule the consultations was such a mentally tortuous, lengthy process, it took some time to get over the disappointment. But at least I've got some super-permeable contacts, and nicer-than-my-usual glasses.
    11/02/08 11:09 PM |  Comments


    November 01, 2008

    It's Not You, It's Me.
    My life has been a constant internal battleground. Concepts that seem to flow easily and naturally for others escape and exhaust me as a matter of course, and understanding why has been a long time coming.

    I've mentioned here, many times, I think, how introverted I am. This wasn't always the case; I can remember clearly when I felt the polar opposite was true. But as I grew older, my faulty grasp of social cues became more and more debilitating, and I started to avoid the exhaustion (it's work!) or even pain that encounters would often bring. I have a ridiculously videographic memory, too; gaffes stick with me for years (decades, even!), popping up unbidden.

    You can probably imagine that adolescence, which is hormone-drenched and fraught with difficulty enough for anyone, was a blast.

    So. I had this abysmal lack of social intuition -- following nonverbal cues, conversations (processing solely verbal content fast enough is the trouble; I seem to annoy others when I have to pause to catch up), emotional content. Along with physical clumsiness, problems with my own vocal modulation and use of body language, an abnormally high intolerance of light, noise, and too much physical contact, and dependence on routine or plan.

    I couldn't simply strong-arm my way past it (not for lack of trying -- I really WANT to at least understand why parties are fun), ignore it and carry on as if nothing was wrong (welcome to the land of Zoloft!), seek professional help (my counselor was so incredibly condescending I could never bear to bare again), learn by watching and practicing (thirty-odd years has only gone so far), or even, at one point, self-medicate (my liver doesn't trust me anymore). I couldn't explain what even I didn't really understand to others -- I just thought I was subnormal, flawed, and too weak-willed and/or stupid to do anything about it. And, consciously or not, that has been the current beneath anything that I have or have not accomplished.

    Enter the internet, treasure trove of invisible friends and information. And, for better or worse, self-diagnostic tools. I stumbled on some autism tests, took them on a lark, and got consistent results -- I was likely on the spectrum. So I found some Asperger-specific assessment tests, and those... well, those were written almost as if tailored to the workings of my own head.

    I'm usually hesitant to throw labels around, but somehow I'd feel better classified; if not exactly normal, at least maybe not so entirely out there. And perhaps not quite so alone (thank you again, internet).
    11/01/08 10:27 PM |  Comments