spinning-jennie: Link archives

Something Entirely Not Fetus-Related
Shocking! I know.

I love my foaming soap. Love, love, love. And I'm happy they now make refill packs so you needn't toss the dispenser. I haven't been able to find them locally, though. The gel refills, though, yes.

So I tried Rob Cockerham's trick with the gel refill, and so far, it works like a charm. I get Method's yummy-smelling non-toxic soap, foaming, at a tiny fraction of the cost of a foaming refill. I'll have to report back on any "sliming" issues (could be brand-related? He used a generic), since I've only just filled my first dispenser this week.
04/08/10 09:31 AM in Link  |  Comments


For Next Year
A few after-the-fact Halloween ideas to use as inspiration for next year:

  • Dexter Blood Slide Suckers. Brilliant and fantastic.
  • How much fun would a Beaker costume be? Almost too much.
  • I can strive to be as clever as Lo-Res Girl, but my chances are slim.
  • ETA: I just had to add this interactive Operation board costume. Amazing!
    • 11/04/09 11:50 AM in Link , NaBloPoMo  |  Comments


    Circadian Cranium
    My Lego Cráneo portrait is up on Skull-A-Day today!
    04/15/09 11:39 AM in Link  |  Comments


    Year?
    The Mayfly Project is back -- sum up your year in twenty-four words.
    A year already? This one has been all about fast. Breathing and eating InDesign. Boy is four. Got some answers, finally. Inhale, exhale, repeat.

    12/06/08 11:59 AM in Link  |  Comments


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    - Melissa Anelli shares some unpublished interview with J.K. Rowling regarding fan entitlement and shipping.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


    SquEEEEEEEEEE!
    Joss Whedon. Nathan Fillion. Neil Patrick Harris.

    Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. A three-part musical coming to a computer near you, starting July 15th.

    </barely-suppressed giddiness>
    07/09/08 10:37 AM in Fun , Link , Movies  |  Comments


    It's No Schulz, But...
    Tim has been using Bitstrips to make blog comics for awhile. I thought I might try it out, too, and after an initial day of technical difficulties, this is what I ended up with.

    D. says that his little fake dude isn't a good enough representation, but, in my defense, the component libraries are pretty limited!
    07/08/08 02:36 PM in Fun , Link  |  Comments


    Round and Round
    Hey, look! A post! Because you deserve it. And also because D. keeps making fun of me.

    Earlier we were bored. So I used up an entire stick of sidewalk chalk to make a labyrinth, posted on Kiddley a few months ago, in the driveway. Totally worth it! The neighbors are envious -- I could tell when I was (most inadvisably) up on the garage roof getting more photos (which, now mastered, opens up whole new UNIVERSES of Halloween decorating options).
    07/06/08 05:58 PM in Fun , Link , Photo  |  Comments


    20 Disposable Things...
    ...to use twice before throwing out. Some of the same-old, but at least a couple new ideas. There'll probably be some good comments, too. Via Lifehacker.
    04/30/08 12:29 PM in Link  |  Comments


    My Pupils, They Are Dilated to Funky Freakdom
    It's been 2.5 hours, and it's making me woozy, and I don't want to write about the consultation (meh).

    So here's a fun post about DIY Magic Shell, which I'm sure is a hundred times less unhealthy than the store stuff. For D, because I generally prefer my ice cream sans crust. Via Parent Hacks.
    04/17/08 01:32 PM in Food , Link  |  Comments


    Some Signs the Day Might Be All Right
    -The artisan garlic bread arrives just as you have at the grocery store, all warm and fragrant. Too bad you have to restrain yourself from eating it with your coffee right away!

    -The bub is only contrary for the sake of contrariness once or twice before school. Aaaand, it's gorgeous outside, so you know they'll be running off a lot of steam in the park today (woot!).

    -Following this Roy Lichtenstein-y tutorial has been pleasant and fun.

    -It's not Monday!

    ETA: Oh, how could I forget? No horks! We're on Day 4 now!
    04/15/08 11:04 AM in Babble , Link  |  Comments


    150
    This year is our fair city's sesquicentennial. We'll be at the Butter and Egg Days parade as usual, of course -- well, in it, actually, if you count the special Children's Parade that precedes it (the bub's preschool has an entry). I'm working out our costumes. Oi.

    We might go to a sheep shearing at Vallejo's adobe this weekend, see how things were done one hundred and fifty years ago, give or take. We've lived a couple miles away for three years, and haven't visited it yet. As one of the oldest, most intact buildings in Northern California -- and one which is also in the crosshairs -- we probably should.
    04/09/08 11:06 PM in Link  |  Comments


    Whimsical Prints
    Oh, I just love these prints. Chickens, cherry trees, or koi?
    04/02/08 11:21 PM in Link  |  Comments


    haikuku
    midnight drawing near
    eyes burn like one thousand suns
    so here is a link
    03/25/08 11:35 PM in Babble , Link , Music  |  Comments


    Social Site Synchronization Saturday
    If you Twitter, and use Facebook, there's no need to post separate status updates to both. The TwitterSync application will automatically update your FB status to reflect your latest post on Twitter. I've been using it for weeks, and have yet to lose a single Tweet.
    03/15/08 07:18 AM in Link  |  Comments


    In Which I Slaver Over Tofu, Alliteratively
    That little web clip link above the Gmail inbox? I've never paid it much eye; usually it's just a recipe incorporating that most famous potted meat (praise to prurient purveyors of purported pleasure progression products! puke).

    But today. Oh, today...

    Caramelized Tofu, courtesy 101 Cookbooks. When even brussels sprouts sound dreamy, you know you're on to something. I'll bet it's a terrific match for TJ's quinoa and flaxseed rice. Mmm.
    02/06/08 01:01 PM in Food , Link  |  Comments


    Link and Drink
    The thought of writing (is that what I ever do, though? signs point to no) pains me in my thinky place. Here's a fun link, though: RecipeMatcher. Put in some things that you have in your cupboards, and it'll recommend recipes... which, now that I've typed it out, sounds pretty much like Ingredient Search on AllRecipes. Ah-hah! But AllRecipes doesn't do liquor! Err...
    02/04/08 04:32 PM in Food , Link  |  Comments


    February Funnies
    Some (NSFW -- or kids) videos to kick off the month. First, Sarah Silverman is, well, Matt Damon. Then, a series titled "You Suck at Photoshop," instructive and hilarious.
    02/01/08 11:18 PM in Fun , Link  |  Comments


    Scantastic
    I started following Wishbook's photostream for the vintage Christmas catalog scans, but lately I've been having more fun looking at all the terrific old ads.
    01/31/08 10:25 PM in Link  |  Comments


    ¿snoıxouqo sıɥʇ ʇ,usı
    ˙ǝɹǝɥ ɟlǝsɹnoʎ ǝɯos pɐǝɹds ˙punoɹɐ "ǝʌol" ǝɥʇ ɟo ǝɯos pɐǝɹds ʇɥƃıɯ ı ʇɥƃnoɥʇ ı os 'uıɐɹ ɟo sʇol puɐ pnɹɔ ǝɥʇ ɟo 3 ʎɐp ɥʇıʍ ʇɐɥʍ 'ǝɯoɥ ʇɐ ǝɹǝɥ ʎzɐɹɔ ƃuıoƃ ɯ,ı
    01/24/08 12:14 PM in Fun , Link  |  Comments


    Oatmeal Deal
    It's Saturday, it's getting late, I still have to walk, and I'm phoning it in with this Amazon deal on McCann's that D. sent me. Of course you'll want to read the Rifftrax blog entry, too.
    01/19/08 08:23 PM in Food , Link  |  Comments


    Literate Elf
    If you're like us, you might have a lot of different library materials checked out, all with different loan periods and due dates. Which makes for inevitable overdues, and those can rack up fast. Library Elf will send you notices before your books are due! So incredibly useful, I can't help but wonder why OPACs themselves don't feature this, at least on a simple level. I've been using it to track holds, too, and I receive Elf notices at least an entire day ahead of the official notice from the library.

    Check these notification delivery options:
  • Email and/or RSS alerts before items are due
  • Email and/or RSS alerts on overdues and holds
  • Consolidated list of yours or your family's library loans and holds
  • Cellphone text message alerts for holds (US and Canada)
  • Real-time checking by browser


    • And you can set your alerts to arrive as many days ahead of the due date as you'd like, on specific days of the week or month, or even every day. Fantastic!

    Lots of library systems like ours are already affiliated. I hope yours is, too.
    01/08/08 09:36 AM in Library , Link  |  Comments


    Same as it Ever Was
    My Electoral Compass (thanks Tim) holds no surprise. Little hope, but no surprise in that, either.
    01/04/08 07:56 AM in Link  |  Comments


    Blah Blah
    We've all had a turn being sick here, hence the long silence. It started with D. (bad cold), and then Daniel (bad cold, one day of wellness, and then an ear infection). I was certain I'd escaped, but no -- the most horrible, flu-like sinus infection I've had in years... and then the bad cold. Daniel and I are both still a little gunky, but I think everyone should be okay by Christmas (phew).

    I have to say, there aren't too many things that will make you despise nature, the universe, and Your Deity of Choice more than being fresh off a bad sick, and being awake all night with a fever-sick child. Especially if you're not exactly a spring chicken anymore. It does, however, renew the appreciation of fanatical handwashing.

    Oh, it's time for the Mayfly Project again. Let's see:

    Inlaw, family, playing tourist. Moving AGAIN? No. Adjusting to close quarters. Mild summer, fall. More inlaws. Reading, reading, reading. Bub in "school." 2008 calls.
    Now I'm going to sleep, and hope that my throat doesn't feel so raw in the morning. After all, tomorrow is "Fetch the ham and rolls, and make devilled eggs" day.
    12/23/07 09:55 PM in Babble , Link  |  Comments


    More Sweets
  • Decorate this sweet (virtual) gingerbread house, courtesy Jenny B. Harris. Kids will love it, too!
  • Okay. All-natural premade chocolate chip cookie dough? That's rated highest and the best buy by Consumer Reports? Evidently I haven't been spending enough time at Trader Joe's.
  • I didn't know until recently that Wilton makes pretzel molds (thanks to a rare wander down the cake aisle at Michael's). What a fun treat for parties (or stocking stuffers).

    • 11/27/07 02:55 PM in Food , Fun , Link  |  Comments


    Rice Rice Baby
    Educational, entertaining, and humanitarian? That's Free Rice. Where, "For each word you get right, we donate 10 grains of rice through the United Nations to help end world hunger."

    Be warned, it's very, very addictive. I tend to hover in the range of 40-46 -- my goal is to make the elusive 50 by Thanksgiving.
    11/18/07 08:09 PM in Link  |  Comments


    Perfect Day
    Well, my knitting and crocheting is at a dead standstill, but if you're like 75% of the blog world, yours isn't. So take a look at Sarah's brand-spanking-new shop of beautiful hand-dyed yarns and accessories, Perfect Day Yarns (and didn't Phaedra do a lovely design job, too?). Check out the blog, too, where you can enter her Grand Opening Contest! New ventures are so exciting.
    11/15/07 08:34 AM in Crafts , Link  |  Comments


    Linkin' Log
    Whitney's post on her evolution to all-RSS browsing and the subsequent out-dating of her old skool link list served as a reminder that my link list had also slowly degenerated into a hot mess for the same reason.

    So I spent the morning cleaning up my Bloglines subscriptions, culling out the dead links, setting most of the remainder to public, and putting it out there. The list is still hideously long, but then feeds cultivate that, I suppose. I only selectively read posts from sites like MeFi and Gizmodo, which can generate a few dozen a day.
    11/09/07 02:23 PM in Link  |  Comments


    A Good Man
    Charlie Rose interviews Charles Schulz in 1997, three years before his death. Via TV Squad.

    I feel fortunate that we live very near and can visit often the places where he lived and worked and created. Even though there've been some concerns expressed by his family that the upcoming bio (10/16) and American Masters documentary (10/29) portray him as far more dour and depressed than he was, I'm still excited for both, albeit taking them with a healthy grain of salt.
    10/10/07 10:52 AM in Books , Link , TV  |  Comments


    Putting the Scary in Halloween
    And skanky, too. Strollerderby talks a little about a shudder-inducing trend:
    I'm not some Puritan -- if you're an adult or my prom date and you feel like Witch Crack Whore looks good on you, fine, here's a pipe and $5 for a blow job -- but the thought of dressing up young girls in midriff-baring costumes, slinky skirts and laced-up baby heels had me spinning. It got worse as the girl costumes got older, as if every year in a girl's life means another inch of skirt above the knee.
    Frankly, the Bratz Cheerleader makes me relieved I have a boy.
    10/09/07 08:04 AM in Link  |  Comments


    PSA
    Definitely!
    09/04/07 02:57 PM in Link  |  Comments


    Cootchie Coo
    Happy Labor Day! I hope you're not. Laboring. Unless you're a) giving birth, or b) Canadian. Then carry on! Enjoy an epidural analgesic and/or a Coffee Crisp for me.

    On that note, there's a new bouncing baby blog in the house. Go give its cheeks a little pinch!
    09/03/07 08:51 AM in Link  |  Comments


    Over There
    "Hey! Do you have a secret blog or something?"

    When coming from your significant other, it probably means that you haven't posted in/about your Vox site in, oh, nearly a year.

    Yeah, I'd pretty much abandoned my Media b/log there. But hopefully I'll be doing the Random House Early Reviewers thing on a sporadic basis, so that seems like the perfect place to dump those. It's still right over there, where I left it.
    07/28/07 09:30 AM in Link  |  Comments


    See?
    My neighborhood's Walk Score (via Megan) is a sickening 22 of 100. And it shouldn't even be that high -- they've listed a Fuller Brush Store under Groceries (?????), and a cafe at the airport that, while charming, only serves breakfast and lunch (and not every day) under Restaurants, and someone homeselling Discovery Toys under Bookstores! A lot of the other stuff is way too far for walking, too.

    ETA: Quite unsurprisingly, the most walkable place I've lived is downtown Marquette.
    07/27/07 09:25 AM in Link  |  Comments


    Linkapalooza
    -I'm considering taking the bub -- solo -- back to Upper Michigan sometime after Christmas. My plan is to USPS Priority a bunch of stuff ahead, so we can travel blissfully light. Knowing that we'll still need a few essentials, I can't think of any transport I'd like better than to carry them on than this bag, with a built-in laptop compartment that allows for easy removal from below the seat in front of you.

    -Of interest to a very limited few (some of whom haven't yet given me their new email -- ahem -- but still read here): The FXGRRR 5 Memorial Race will take place on June 23rd behind my high school, all proceeds to the C. Douglas Fix Scholarship Fund. I can't think of a more fitting tribute than just that. I also can't be there to run it, but I can buy the shirt.

    -I'm stoked! Based on the books in my catalog, I was chosen as a good fit (921 of 205,000) for the LibraryThing/Random House Early Reviewers program, and was also one of the very lucky few chosen for an advance copy! Woot!
    06/08/07 11:13 AM in Link  |  Comments


    Shiny and Old
    Adding to my reads: Pyrex Love. Especially handy is their Vintage Pattern Identification Guide.

    ETA: I'm also watching the official Photo Pool. Woot! I should probably think about photographically cataloging my own wee collection, and joining up...
    05/13/07 11:16 PM in Link  |  Comments


    Dog Tales
    While at the Schulz Museum (yes, again) today, I picked up a card for PeanutsStories.com. They're looking for submissions to add to their upcoming book, Security Blankets. According to the site:

    What are we looking for? We’ve heard from folks who still own the plush Snoopy they received during a traumatic hospital stay; or exchanged the same Peanuts greeting card, back and forth, for years and years; or, while serving in the Armed Forces overseas, received a Peanuts card or item at an important moment … that sort of thing.

    Submissions that are used will earn the storyteller credit and a free copy of the book. Regardless of inclusion, all stories will be forwarded to the Schulz Museum here for archives consideration.

    I've loved Snoopy and the gang as long as I can remember, but I don't have any print-worthy stories to submit. Maybe you do!
    05/09/07 07:18 PM in Link  |  Comments


    Things
    More for my own reference later than anything:

    NorCal Pirate Fest! Vallejo, June 16th & 17th.

    North Country Trail. Can I walk the entire U.P. someday? Hmm.

    Grizzly Island, in the Suisun Marsh.

    Martha Stewart Crafts.

    And I'm waiting impatiently on this vintage Fisher-Price carousel "record" player. Paid one-third the catalog value, though it is missing two records and all the People (but that just adds to the fun of the hunt -- already scored a tidy pile of replacement records). Daniel loves music, and I think he's going to get a kick out of it. They really don't make 'em like they used to. Sigh.
    05/02/07 08:05 AM in Link  |  Comments


    New to Me
    I just added The Criterion Contraption to my reading list. He's going to watch every DVD in the Criterion Collection (a long-term goal of mine), and then review. He's been at it since 2004. Awesome.
    03/20/07 03:58 PM in Link , Movies  |  Comments


    No, I Won't Be Skewering His Toys!
    Do you have those sites? You know, the ones that you'll read if you think about it, but just haven't been driven to bother with adding it to your feeds. And then one day, one day, there's a post that makes it completely imperative that you read it ALL the TIME?

    DIY hood ornament was mine, today. Hee.
    03/11/07 04:23 PM in Crafts , Link  |  Comments


    hork hork hork hork hork hork hork
    Do you have a slightly off-kilter sense of humor? Do you like antique illustrations?

    Then do I have a daily webcomic for you.
    02/10/07 08:04 AM in Link  |  Comments


    I'm in Looooooooove...
    ...with Picnic by Ellie. The colors. The photos. The retro style. I want to come live at your house. That's not creepy, is it?
    01/12/07 10:34 AM in Link  |  Comments


    Mayfly 2006
    Time once again to sum up your year in twenty-four words or less. Here's mine, it's painfully accurate:
    Two already, really? Time flies. Routine, routine, routine. Photoshop, more photoshop. More friends going than coming. Case of the crazies, sane again.
    See my previous years:

  • 2005
  • 2004


    • Well, that can't be it, I know I've been doing it longer than that. I'll have to dig harder later.

    ETA: Had to dig into the Web Archive, but I found 2002:
    Tightening job noose chokes - one tired robot. Impromptu marriage in Reno! Love Sacramento (though summer dragged). 31 and ticking fast.
    And 2001:
    first green new year. missed michigan. sick (a lot). weblog turns one. tragedy bigger than comprehension. vegas! job overwhelms. Engaged!
    Looks as if I forgot about it in 2003, no mention in the blog. And no Archives entries. Maybe it didn't exist that year, and I was probably too busy being nauseous and craving purple Powerade, anyhow.
    12/29/06 08:52 AM in Link  |  Comments


    The Nose Glows
    I know I saw this riff on Rudolph last year, but it's making me giggle again.

    And: some of the original puppets have been located and restored, and will be on display at Atlanta's Center for Puppetry Arts. Neat.

    Also: have you checked out the "Rankin-Bass" site yet? While the setup itself is a bit hokey, it's all still a blast from the past and fun to poke around, especially this time of year. One holiday some time ago, I ordered my sister a signed copy of The Enchanted World of Rankin-Bass, and Goldschmidt sent extra goodies and a little hand-drawn cartoon, and it was just cool.
    12/08/06 11:57 PM in Link  |  Comments


    We Interrupt This Postlessness...
    This isn't my real post for today, don't fret. I just wanted to let you know that, barring one day, I've also been posting daily over at the Christmas blog, and I plan to keep it up!
    12/08/06 11:40 AM in Link  |  Comments


    More Reindeer Games
    Things are in full swing over at Bloggin' Around the Christmas Tree! Pull up a comfy chair, grab some cocoa and cookies, and join us, why don't you? And, bonus -- you get to check out more of my questionable Illustrator skills!
    12/03/06 03:42 PM in Link  |  Comments


    Thirty Days Have September, April, June and November...
    Coolest use of a school display window ever.
    11/29/06 10:48 PM in Link  |  Comments


    "Every New Flake Makes a Difference."
    An even better reason to while away the hours cutting out virtual snowflakes -- the more we create, the more money Popular Front will donate to the Salvation Army! Can't get more win-win than that.
    11/24/06 09:24 PM in Link  |  Comments


    Flake-a-Thon
    Remember the SnowDays snowflake maker? Well, it's that time of year again (not that you would know it here, no, I'm still wearing short pants and sweating upstairs during the day -- what is this, Sacramento?). If you'd like a nice show, hit Find-a-Flake, and enter "ENIGMA" in the name field. I doubt all thousand and some are by the same person, but it seems a lot of them are (especially recently). Tons of neat creations!
    10/24/06 04:09 PM in Link  |  Comments


    65 Days...
    A Very Bloggy Christmas is back for the season!
    10/21/06 03:07 PM in Link  |  Comments


    Don't Faint Now...
    ...but there's new Reusablogging today. Wow.
    10/06/06 03:49 PM in Link  |  Comments


    Media Blogging
    Yeah, I could just post about each book I've read right here. But, obviously... I haven't been! And Vox makes it nice and easy. You can find my new media (well, who am I kidding, book, and possibly movie) bloglet here.

    Hey, now don't you roll your eyes at me like that. It'll make me uninclined to give you one of my two invites.
    08/17/06 01:54 PM in Link  |  Comments


    In Other News...
    * Chris and Sarah are getting married this weekend. Congrats!

    * Should I hang a shingle for my new domain-naming-idea business? No?

    * Someone is having a birthday today! Someone who also had a fourth anniversary on Tuesday, and a son with a birthday on the 13th. Busy busy!
    08/03/06 01:36 PM in Link  |  Comments


    Psst!
    Hey, I'm over here! There's webcam action (just me, *sniff*), and a chat room.

    So far, as a group, we've made $86 -- slow year! Think we can do better?
    07/29/06 08:54 AM in Link  |  Comments


    You Know You Want It
    I barely pick up a needle these days, but I'd be remiss if I didn't introduce you to Spring's yummy hand-painted yarns.
    06/28/06 04:27 PM in Crafts , Link  |  Comments


    Linkfest
  • Shannon! Came back!


  • PaperBackSwap.com is my newest web addiction. Books, and lots! A constant stream of mail! And reuse, kind of! What's not to love?


  • LibraryThing is getting better and better all the time.


  • I know that locals do pop in here from time to time -- if you're a mom, why not check out SonomaCountyMom.com?

    • 04/23/06 02:00 PM in Link  |  Comments


    Bubberstuffs
    Some fun and funky kidstuff made by a Photoshop classmate. I particularly like the adorable little burp cloth/changing pad giftsets. And wouldn't a bub have fun in one of these pointy little hats? Hee.
    03/27/06 03:44 PM in Link  |  Comments


    Mayfly 2005
    Once again, it's time for The Mayfly Project. My 2005, in 24 words or less:

    Moved, again. Almost moved, again! Seattle rocks. Walking bub! Talking bub! Loneliness. Back to school. Michigan... ugh. Straight A's, baby. McFly gone. Remain optimistic...
    01/06/06 12:59 PM in Link  |  Comments


    Don't Worry, I'm Not Considering a New Profession
    Pimp My Nutcracker.

    Here's mine.
    12/22/05 07:18 AM in Link  |  Comments


    "Nowadays it's truly disgusting to see a pimp without a pimp cup in hand."
    I thought I wanted books for Christmas.

    But... I've changed my mind.
    12/06/05 07:13 PM in Link  |  Comments


    Something Cheerier
    I'll be posting now and then over at A Very Bloggy Christmas. Fun!
    11/10/05 03:29 PM in Link  |  Comments


    Le Vaccin
    Yeah, it goes pretty much like that. Except I usually cry, too. And we definitely don't get to hold him - he has to lie, limbs held down, on the exam table.
    07/25/05 06:15 PM in Link  |  Comments


    The Drunk Fresh Maker
    I'm super allergic to Febreeze - being in the same room with it makes me miserable all day. So this sounds like a great substitute!
    05/30/05 10:57 PM in Link  |  Comments


    Um
    I think it's great that Britain has a National Vegetarian Week (May 23 - 29).

    But the promo poster is just wrong.
    05/20/05 11:53 AM in Link  |  Comments


    Some Cake
    Happy 100, Vegas.
    05/15/05 11:25 AM in Link  |  Comments


    Aw, Man!!!
    I just missed my chance for a possible Coolest Reuse Project. Evah. Drat.
    05/11/05 02:13 PM in Link  |  Comments


    Born
    Of course the birth story of Rob and Stacy's baby, June, is entertaining stuff. That was our hospital, too. I guess it wasn't only us that felt overwhelmingly oppressed by being forced to stay in those claustrophobic little recovery rooms much longer than we felt necessary...
    05/06/05 07:10 PM in Link  |  Comments


    Hopefully No One I Know
    Have you (or someone you know) been refused birth control by a pharmacist? Take Planned Parenthood's survey - the stories and information gathered will help arm them in their fight against such grievously absurd behavior.
    05/04/05 07:38 PM in Link  |  Comments


    Down in the Valley
    Yesterday we went letterboxing again, in Sonoma. Definitely be returning lots - so much charm, and Traintown (!!!), and tons of historical sites. Lachryma Montis was a beautiful spot, I'll post a gallery soon. For now, here's my favorite shot from the trip.
    04/10/05 03:16 PM in Link , Photo  |  Comments


    Flickry
    I spelled it with Flickr. Via Kristin.
    03/27/05 12:44 PM in Link  |  Comments


    Look Out, Jennie Garth
    I'm number three! The thirdiest Jennie in the known Googleverse, even beating out Jennie-O turkey for the first time. Disturbing and fun simultaneously.
    03/27/05 08:28 AM in Link  |  Comments


    Good Excuse to Eat Pancakes
    I'm far out of shape and more than a little off my rock, so of course I want to walk Bay to Breakers. With the stroller. 7.46 miles, and a good bit of that uphill, too. I probably won't, though. Unless you're crazy enough to do it with me. Then I just might. We'll wear hats.
    03/22/05 05:44 PM in Link  |  Comments


    Wanna Be a Cowboy?
    Neat idea: Vocation Vacations. Time out from the daily grind trying out a dream job. For which you pay rather handsomely, I might add. I can't decide what I'd try - Architect, Innkeeper, or Baker/Chocolatier. If $$$ weren't an object, I suppose architect, since it's in Boston and I've always wanted to spend a few days there.
    03/21/05 11:12 AM in Link  |  Comments


    One More Addiction
    Lindsay. I so did not need another word game addiction! But like the VHS tape in Ringu, I'm spreadin' the evil love, leaving the entrails of productivity in my wake ;-)
    03/09/05 04:34 PM in Link  |  Comments


    Um, I'll Take Your Word for It
    "Don't you hate it when vertical cord friction heats your crotch to uncomfortable, even dangerous levels? Problem solved. Lindland Cordarounds mesh evenly, lowering the crotch heat index by up to 22%!"
    03/08/05 10:08 PM in Link  |  Comments


    Cont'd
    Now, doesn't this look like the perfect place to enjoy some wee pies?
    02/22/05 06:03 PM in Link  |  Comments


    Channel Your Inner Ho-stess
    Kitch 'n Glam has swell aprons. I like this one, myself. Apologies if this has been over-posted; I have a serious sense of deja vu when visiting.
    02/14/05 09:10 AM in Link  |  Comments


    Because You Don't Want Me to Write About Packing
    Well, I guess that explains the inception of the Jif Baking Sticks. If not explaining why I only realized they existed when I happened to bump into them on their sticky WalM*rt shelf as I narrowly saved my toes from being crushed by some crazy cart or other.
    02/01/05 07:22 AM in Link  |  Comments


    Extreme Cuppa
    Go, Tim, go!
    01/28/05 02:16 PM in Link  |  Comments


    Valerie Sasha
    Congratulations Kara! What a beautiful baby girl!
    01/18/05 09:41 PM in Link  |  Comments


    Someone Have a Magic Moving Wand I Can Borrow? Anyone?
    Packing with little Mister Must Always Move But Can't Crawl Yet is... well, it's going to be a bit of a bitch. In case you were wondering. It's fast and physical work enough without having a 17-pound weight dangling from the torso, to boot. I'm trying to put that off as long as possible, but he's not happy about being left to his Gymini or Jumperoo for time enough to pack to my satisfaction. And when I get in a swing, it's almost painful to break it, and impossible to return to. I've the feeling there'll be many late nights in the next two weeks.

    Perhaps I should join in the spazztastic fun. It's been over a year since I've had more than two cups of coffee, so imagine the high! I could pack at the speed of light during Daniel's micronaps! Woohee! (via Tim)
    01/17/05 04:12 PM in Link  |  Comments


    Bootie Cutie
    I knew there was a reason I still have to have a girl.
    01/13/05 08:48 AM in Link  |  Comments


    Dem Bones
    The weather really needs to take a break so we can make our next delicious find.
    01/08/05 11:26 AM in Link  |  Comments


    Giddy With Delight
    If you love Make-A-Flake, you'll glee out on SnowDays.
    12/11/04 08:47 PM in Link  |  Comments


    We're Number 10!
    Sacramento - where it's probably not the intersection's fault.
    11/07/04 03:50 PM in Link  |  Comments


    Found Objects, Cont'd
    Interesting to browse - collected found grocery lists. Via Tim.

    My lists are so mundane, they'd probably bore you to tears. Though I do tend to list things in the exact order I tour the store, so there is that Virgoan nutjob flavor.

    Yes, I'm pointedly ignoring what day it is. Since the way I figure, we're pretty much screwed either way.
    11/02/04 05:59 PM in Link  |  Comments


    OMG!!!
    The ROFL-3000 keyboard. Via Mr. McCLean.
    10/10/04 01:39 PM in Link  |  Comments


    You Can Take the Girl Out of Michigan...
    The dawn of autumn in the Sierras. I don't know how it is we never make it up there in the fall. The views over Donner Lake were breathtaking in summer; I can't even imagine what it must look like all ablaze. Sigh.
    10/05/04 09:17 PM in Link  |  Comments


    Back to the Positive
    Well, that's more than enough of that. Now I'm going to explain why those four causes I've sponsored over there to your right are worthy of at least my own attention (the fifth just goes without saying!).

    Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network - Let's just say that my interest in this organization is, unfortunately, not casual. RAINN provides crucial counseling and aid, and works towards prevention and justice.

    Transfair USA - You might think it difficult to reconcile my fervent belief in free trade with the idea of fair trade. Not so. As a free individual, I can choose to support businesses that allow their workers a dignified living. Transfair is dedicated to identifying and supporting those businesses.

    Depression Alliance - I've had my own battles with depression in the past. My entire family has quite a history of clinical depression. Depression Alliance, a UK organization, provides public education, research support, help for the afflicted, and all-around stigma-obliteration.

    Hygeia Foundation - This was entirely new to me, but they provide so many services... Check out their index page, it really tallies them up best. In a nutshell, they're "concerned with pregnancy loss, maternal and child health and narrowing disparities in access to information technologies and women's health services."
    07/24/04 03:31 PM in Link  |  Comments


    FU
    I'm lucky, I think, to be far enough under the radar that I've never received such nasty, judgemental correspondence (of course I'm not a mother quite yet, which could well catalyze the sense of bitchtitlement out there pretty instantaneously). But I've witnessed the snark elsewhere, and it's made me angry beyond reason, and I'd gladly join Heather in that screaming trip to the middle of the street.

    Really, people. If you're that asinine, perhaps you should leave the "it takes a village" concept to those that aren't.
    07/24/04 10:58 AM in Link  |  Comments


    Guesty
    Tomorrow early, 6:30 - 10:30 am PST, I'll be guest blogging for DJ. Come over and visit, maybe pledge a little something for the Callaway Hills Animal Shelter.

    On each half-hour, I'll be posting a little something about one of the many unfinished artsy-craftsy projects that I've had brewing far too long. It's all about procraftination. Hee.
    07/23/04 10:07 PM in Link  |  Comments


    Up All Night Vol. 4
    No Blogathon this year, but temporary stand-in Project-Blog begins this Saturday at 8 am EST. There's no way I can stay up all night this time, but it'll still be fun to watch. Go sponsor somebody - lots of bloggers don't have any supporters yet!
    07/22/04 10:30 PM in Link  |  Comments


    "But I Still Won Three Purple Hearts!"
    This Land. Or, that which makes me realize that I've perhaps been missing out by not visiting Atom Films more often.
    07/22/04 06:15 PM in Link  |  Comments


    Gotta Love that Disclaimer
    Okay, I need to learn some serious woodworking, because this bed is only the coolest thing ever. The price is of course a little prohibitive.

    Update: wouldn't it go really well with a lighthouse? Oooh!
    07/14/04 11:19 AM in Link  |  Comments


    Stop the Federal Marriage Amendment



    Just in case there was any lingering doubt about my stance on the issue ;-)
    07/11/04 01:05 PM in Link  |  Comments


    Sigh.
    Too bad this isn't at all a reliable election predictor.
    07/10/04 10:48 AM in Link  |  Comments


    Stream-of-Consciousness Linkfest
    Two things not horribly far from Milwaukee that I can't believe I never visited: The House on the Rock, and Taliesin. As kids our family always (always!) vacationed in Michigan's U.P., never in Chicago or our own backyard. Must make a trip to Wisconsin when the kidlet is old enough, and catch the Dells and Holy Hill while we're at it.

    Strawberry upside-down cake. I'm saving this one for later.

    FYI: if your local affiliate stopped carrying Martha Stewart Living, you can at least get some sort of fix now on Style.
    07/06/04 05:47 PM in Link  |  Comments


    20 Questions to Being a Better Person
    Your score as a human being is 85.65.

    You are close to ideal. So close, and yet so far. Amusing, really, to watch someone squirm so close to the vaunted ranks of perfection and still remain so very, very ordinary. It is all one can do to keep one's ingratiating smile from polluting one's perfect face.

    Actually, one recommends you take the quiz again and lie a little.

    via Fillyjonk
    06/30/04 10:14 AM in Link  |  Comments


    Here, Have Some Chocolate.
    Serious giggle fits - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban in Fifteen Minutes. Thanks to jessajune.

    more where this came from if you dig 'round her LJ more where this came from if you dig 'round her LJ more where this came from if you dig 'round her LJ
    06/19/04 07:54 PM in Link  |  Comments


    Bah!
    Apparently I'm the only girl-person in the world who can't get this [bleep] icon-maker thing to work. I can make it through about four steps, tops, before the whole thing chokes up. I've been trying daily for about three weeks. And it's not that it's, you know, of particularly monumental importance. It's just that... well, why doesn't it work for meeeeee?
    06/19/04 05:43 PM in Link  |  Comments


    Geekerrific
    Well, here's another good reason to visit Seattle: the brand-new Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame. Grand opening today.
    06/18/04 01:04 PM in Link  |  Comments


    Hare a la Mer
    Not too often you see a real beach bunny :-)
    06/08/04 08:02 PM in Link  |  Comments


    Someone's Been Testing the Wine Too Often
    Um. I think I stayed up too late last night...
    For us at Roshambo Winery, the sport of RPS is not simply a convenient marketing tie-in, said Brilliant. We are committed to promoting physical fitness as well as mental fitness. To be a successful RPS competitor both these aspects of your game need to be honed and developed. It can be a grueling activity for both mind and body.

    Of course they're talking about rock-paper-scissors. The 2004 Southwestern Pro-Am Invitational is June 5th at the Roshambo Winery in Healdsburg.
    06/03/04 08:55 AM in Link  |  Comments


    Knows When to Fold 'Em
    PhD robotics student develops an origami-folding robot! via Adorablog.
    05/28/04 08:40 PM in Link  |  Comments


    So Very Addictive
    I don't know how long I played with the Kaleidodraw demo last night. It was a bit hypnotic.

    Courtesy Metafilter.
    05/24/04 11:08 AM in Link  |  Comments


    Some Tea for the Little Lady and Her $90 Doll?
    Wendy and Shylo vamp up an American Girl doll impostor, and bring her to Chicago's American Girl Place (which borders on outright creepy. And I tend more to liking dolls than not. No, not in the HSN collector way). For, erm, tea. Hilarity ensues.
    05/22/04 10:18 AM in Link  |  Comments


    Get Your Map On
    Now it's time for some global geography fun! I already sucked hard at Canada.
    05/18/04 09:49 PM in Link  |  Comments


    Whee, I Passed the Third Grade.
    For funsies, a little timed US geography quiz. They should really think about country quizzes for continents, too. Now that'd be telling.
    05/14/04 12:43 PM in Link  |  Comments


    And Someone Else's Peas
    This post is one of the funnier I've read on Craigslist, maybe because I've been there, man.
    04/25/04 08:13 AM in Link  |  Comments


    Battlefield Brain
    The thought of labor is undoubtedly scary. But to someone who's been to the bowels of depression hell and back... this is downright terrifying.
    04/21/04 07:52 PM in Link  |  Comments


    Erm...
    Air Stocking: spray-on silk stockings. For obvious reasons, I have my doubts; I'd love to see a real person wear these (this?) in Sacramento for an entire working day in August.
    04/14/04 08:04 PM in Link  |  Comments


    Bunny Love
    New pics of Yuebing always make me smile, but this series in Yokohama is particularly cute.
    04/04/04 07:24 PM in Link  |  Comments


    All the Pretty Houses
    Look at this darling Portland bungalow D. sent me. Pretty much sums up my dream house (built-ins? stained glass? greenhouse?!?). Sigh. You'll never find a price like that for a 4-bedroom in California.
    03/02/04 02:04 PM in Link  |  Comments


    Paper to Gold
    Check out these wonderful paper creations. And be sure not to miss the animated models at the bottom!
    03/01/04 10:09 AM in Link  |  Comments


    Free Hand-Delivery is a Nice Touch, Though
    Sure, this historic miniature house replica is awesome. But my grandma sold her real three-bedroom house in Escanaba MI for $40K. Just to put it in perspective.
    02/21/04 12:35 PM in Link  |  Comments


    For A Good Time Call
    You can buy the Jenny number.
    02/16/04 05:32 PM in Link  |  Comments


    Great-Grandparents of Boohbah?
    Sure, you've heard Leonard Nimoy sing. Ever seen a video?
    02/10/04 08:35 AM in Link  |  Comments


    $475K Sounds Like a Steal to Me...
    I want my own koi farm!
    01/26/04 05:58 PM in Link  |  Comments


    I'm My Own DJ
    It's been a long time since I tinkered with my LAUNCHcast radio station on a regular basis. Listening at work was obviously out of the question, and I had a gazillion mp3s to keep me warm elsewhere. But playing those all day is getting boring.

    The station is slooowly improving. I think I've managed to filter out most of the unbearable stuff. You can listen, too, but I warn - it's a little eclectic. The only genres you won't find represented are urban/R&B/rap (oh, all right - I did let "Funky Cold Medina" slip by), country, thrash metal, and religious.
    01/23/04 12:33 PM in Link  |  Comments


    "Trudging to Mordor"
    Yesterday Tim sent me a link to this entry at Defective Yeti, which concludes - hilariously - "that the entire Lord of the Rings saga is an allegory for pregnancy."
    01/22/04 10:14 AM in Link  |  Comments


    Speaking of Modern...
    I must be living under a rock, not knowing that Oneida resurrected a line of Russel Wright (until I saw it on Martha this morning). The prices are pretty decent. But I wish they could've reproduced that incomparable glacier blue.
    01/22/04 10:03 AM in Link  |  Comments


    Have Your Brownie with Some Fava Beans
    Loving Ephemera Now, featuring retro illustrations. Which I'm almost certain I've seen in the long-ago, but rediscovered thanks to Claire.

    This one is kind of scary fun. As is this. Definitely not your adorable little Welch's tyke.
    01/21/04 11:07 AM in Link  |  Comments


    Notes to Self (While Half the Readership Flees in Hor-ror)
    Things I've got my eye on for the future kidlet room:

  • Candeloo Lamps (blue and green)
  • Blik wall decals (aruba and kiwi - see the theme?)
  • Ikea Löva bed canopy
  • Ikea Kryp Snigel mat
  • Something much like this Leap Frog crib set, especially in color


    • So, in a nutshell: frogs, turtles, dragonflies, and other pondy things - and light on the pastels.
    01/20/04 08:00 PM in Link  |  Comments


    Oolong
    It surely doesn't seem as if a year has passed already...
    01/08/04 01:24 PM in Link  |  Comments


    The Hat Antidote
    With all the hype, you're having a difficult time thinking of cats in any positive way. And it's Monday morning.

    What you need is a heapin' helpin' of kittens. via Metafilter.
    12/01/03 08:45 AM in Link  |  Comments


    Hey, It's My New Job!
    I can apply to be part of the new California administration - woot! How about the Acupuncture Board? or perhaps the Chief of Home Furnishings Bureau?
    11/25/03 07:33 AM in Link  |  Comments


    Ho Ho Hmm
    I'm not sure if I want to do Secret Santa this year or not. I did last year, and my SS dropped the ball! Which is just way too taxing on the old paranoia - did they visit my site and decide I wasn't worth the trouble? And I never heard from my giftee - did I choose poorly? Aaaack!
    11/22/03 03:33 PM in Link  |  Comments


    Believe it Or Not
    How could I pass up the 80's Lyrics Quiz? I got a pretty scary 100.5, and the ones I didn't get were mostly head-smackers. Loved the bonus questions, scored all three.

    I know someone who'll do even better...
    11/14/03 03:01 PM in Link  |  Comments


    Faux Snow
    I forgot all about Make-a-Flake! Kristin reminded me. I'm having fun, if not exactly creating masterpieces.
    11/11/03 07:34 AM in Link  |  Comments


    For the (Guaranteed!) Cleanest Seat in the House
    If you're more neurotic than I am, why not try the Underwear Boiling System? Via (appropriately, hmm?) poopscape.
    11/03/03 02:07 PM in Link  |  Comments


    One More for the Link List
    Introvert, the blog. As a lifetime member of the ISTJ, I find this a smashing idea.
    10/19/03 04:03 PM in Link  |  Comments


    March in April
    Rally for reproductive choice Sunday April 25th in Washington D.C.
    10/04/03 01:13 PM in Link  |  Comments


    On Fi-aaaah!
    "At what point did the carving of pumpkins turn into a "cute" event? When did boys stop carving pumpkins and moms start? Where did we lose touch with one of the years coolest events?

    "Today we will seize back this ritual. Today is the day we throw away those safe, cute carving tools. Today. We will buy a big, ugly, pumpkin so large one man cannot lift or move it. Today. We will carve that sumbitch into something ugly and plop it on the front porch. October 31st we will light it brightly enough to give visiting children suntans.

    "Pumpkin carving is reborn."

    via (and partly to blame) Mr. Cockerham.
    10/03/03 02:03 PM in Link  |  Comments


    Snackage
    One of my favorite things ever, JapaneseSnacks.com, is supposedly returning in November (you have to forgive a bit of skepticism; I've been on their mailing list for two years, and promises have been plentiful). Not like I can't get Pocky and Yan Yan a million other places online nowadays, but these guys were selling this stuff back when you were lucky to find it at Cost Plus.
    10/01/03 07:31 AM in Link  |  Comments


    "We Interrupt This Ill-Advised Fit for an Emergency Humor Advertisement."
    "What do Sydney Bristow, Buffy Summers, and even that itty bitty little spitfire Dana Scully have in common? They kick ass and chew bubble gum. And they are all out of bubble gum."
    09/24/03 01:23 PM in Link  |  Comments


    "Everything else is pure Shandling."
    We loves us our Fametracker, we do.
    09/23/03 05:26 PM in Link  |  Comments


    Neighbor
    I do want this Mister Rogers tee. Best - all proceeds go to the continuation of his work.
    09/12/03 06:46 AM in Link  |  Comments


    No piffle today. Go do something good for the world.
    09/11/03 07:47 AM in Link  |  Comments


    Labor Day Linkyloo
    I've been a fan of Heather (aka the Very Merry Seamstress) for a couple years. Her creations never fail to make me laugh, and swoon, and laugh again. eBayed some accessories before last year's renfair, B.P. (Before Pfaff). [gush] And now she has a weblog, of sorts!
    09/01/03 02:24 PM in Link  |  Comments