I've decided to set weekly missions. This is purely for my own enjoyment.
Your mission this week takes place in a restaurant containing a bar or just a bar.
Send a random object to a stranger sitting at the bar by way of waitstaff. Tell the waitstaff the person will know what it's about.
The first person to complete this mission and verify it by some sort of media (photo, video would be best) will receive a polymer clay animal made by me. (So you'll have to be comfortable sending me your address.)
Leave your response with links to proof in the comments.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Monday, February 7, 2011
Can we skip the 14th?
I don't know what it is about this year (I'm lying, I know exactly what it is) but I really don't want to deal with anymore pink or red or chocolate or gooshiness. I think we should skip Valentine's day. Who's with me?
Nevermind the fact that the only valentine I'm getting this year is from Disney Movie Rewards. I'm doing this for all of us. I say we go straight from the 13th to the 15th and make the former 28th the 29th. It'll be like the tacky decorations and the pointlessness of a lovey dovey day in the worst month of the year (Minus the second day of it, because we love Miss Willow) based on, among other things, slapping young women with bloody goat hide never happened.
It may just be the overuse of decorations and emails offering recipes for 'romantic dinners for two' but I'm just done with it. And February. Let's get to March and 80 degree weather. The end.
Nevermind the fact that the only valentine I'm getting this year is from Disney Movie Rewards. I'm doing this for all of us. I say we go straight from the 13th to the 15th and make the former 28th the 29th. It'll be like the tacky decorations and the pointlessness of a lovey dovey day in the worst month of the year (Minus the second day of it, because we love Miss Willow) based on, among other things, slapping young women with bloody goat hide never happened.
It may just be the overuse of decorations and emails offering recipes for 'romantic dinners for two' but I'm just done with it. And February. Let's get to March and 80 degree weather. The end.
Friday, February 4, 2011
the exception
Yesterday at work we were talking about being sick and still having to run errands. I mentioned that I don't have anyone to take care of me when I'm sick (room mates? HA!) so many times I just have to suck it up, drive to the store myself and hang onto the cart while I struggle through the store.
Then, JOKINGLY again, I said "See, this is why I need a husband! So he can take care of me when I'm sick!"
And then something really disheartening happened. They all started talking about how, no, he can have a cold and it's the end of the world but if you get sick you are still expected to cook, clean, and go to the grocery store. And how he will not take one ounce of care of you if you are sick because he probably won't notice.
And that made me really sad for them.
Because that's not the kind of man my father is. My dad was so anxious to take care of us when we were sick that he would wake me up to see if I needed anything. He would do his best to make sure we ate if mom was sick. Yes, sometimes it was pizza or cereal, but we were fed. And he would protect Mom from our craziness when we she was sick.
And he would go buy feminine products for us if we were out. And he would get the right kind. He would volunteer to do it, too.
On my way home, I called him and thanked him for being the exception. Because when my co-workers entreat me not to settle, I know I won't. I have wonderful measuring stick. Not a perfect one, but a really good one. And better than many.
Then, JOKINGLY again, I said "See, this is why I need a husband! So he can take care of me when I'm sick!"
And then something really disheartening happened. They all started talking about how, no, he can have a cold and it's the end of the world but if you get sick you are still expected to cook, clean, and go to the grocery store. And how he will not take one ounce of care of you if you are sick because he probably won't notice.
And that made me really sad for them.
Because that's not the kind of man my father is. My dad was so anxious to take care of us when we were sick that he would wake me up to see if I needed anything. He would do his best to make sure we ate if mom was sick. Yes, sometimes it was pizza or cereal, but we were fed. And he would protect Mom from our craziness when we she was sick.
And he would go buy feminine products for us if we were out. And he would get the right kind. He would volunteer to do it, too.
On my way home, I called him and thanked him for being the exception. Because when my co-workers entreat me not to settle, I know I won't. I have wonderful measuring stick. Not a perfect one, but a really good one. And better than many.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
"And we are oookaaaaaay."
So, I don't know if anyone else has been feeling a bit chilly lately, but here in central Texas it's the coldest it's been in about 20 years. And in my neck of the woods, it's just cold. No snow. And lots of wind.
Texas has used up SO much energy on heat that today it had to resort to a series of rolling blackouts so we didn't result in mass electricity loss. Or at least that's how I understand it.
SO, cut to this morning. I called in to work to make sure everything was okay, and one of the teachers answered the phone. The power was out, and had been out since 7:30 that morning. We had to delay drop-off until it went back on around 9. Yeah.
So everyone was off schedule and we were all trying to just get through the day.
Then, just before lunch, the power went out again.
We had 3 emergency lanterns. No elevator. And about 60-70 kids. And because of the way licensing operates, we were required to feed all of them lunch. So, the front desk worker and I grabbed a lantern and walked up and down the stairs several times, talking about how cool it was to eat in the dark, how we were going to be safe walking up and down the stairs by being careful and holding the rail (especially after the emergency light in the stairs went out).
And only two of the children cried.
And only one of the crying fits was about the dark.
When the lights first went out, my favorite class, the toddlers, were already in the cafeteria. I came in to check on them and they were all eating quietly. I sat down and said "Oh wow, everyone's having a good time eating in the dark!"
The teacher looked at me and said, in her talking-to-the-kids voice "Yep, and we are oooookaaaay."
And we were.
Isn't the power of suggestion amazing?
Texas has used up SO much energy on heat that today it had to resort to a series of rolling blackouts so we didn't result in mass electricity loss. Or at least that's how I understand it.
SO, cut to this morning. I called in to work to make sure everything was okay, and one of the teachers answered the phone. The power was out, and had been out since 7:30 that morning. We had to delay drop-off until it went back on around 9. Yeah.
So everyone was off schedule and we were all trying to just get through the day.
Then, just before lunch, the power went out again.
We had 3 emergency lanterns. No elevator. And about 60-70 kids. And because of the way licensing operates, we were required to feed all of them lunch. So, the front desk worker and I grabbed a lantern and walked up and down the stairs several times, talking about how cool it was to eat in the dark, how we were going to be safe walking up and down the stairs by being careful and holding the rail (especially after the emergency light in the stairs went out).
And only two of the children cried.
And only one of the crying fits was about the dark.
When the lights first went out, my favorite class, the toddlers, were already in the cafeteria. I came in to check on them and they were all eating quietly. I sat down and said "Oh wow, everyone's having a good time eating in the dark!"
The teacher looked at me and said, in her talking-to-the-kids voice "Yep, and we are oooookaaaay."
And we were.
Isn't the power of suggestion amazing?
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
Travel advice?
Wow. So I'm going to Savannah for a conference. Anything I really need to see while there?
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
off to china in a packing crate...
So, judging by the overwhelming response to my resolutions post, I'm sure you're wondering how I'm doing so far!
Well, I'll tell you.
I've eased into my resolutions, keeping them in mind and looking for opportunities. I walked Penny to the mailbox a few times (which is a 2 mile round trip because this housing development is...well, evil), and this is only made more interesting by my dog's crippling fear of storm drains.
I've looked into the rock gyms, but it's really expensive ($15 per visit plus $10 for equipment OR a $60/month membership plus equipment...eep), and the one on campus MIGHT be a good option, but just for bouldering. I really don't trust the safety regulations they have for belay climbing (belayers aren't anchored to the floor, no safety stops on the ropes, and while the floors are padded, they're hardly the two feet of shredded tires I'm used to), however my lack of climbing partner makes bouldering (climbing below an eight foot level without a rope and with mats beneath to focus on flexibility and holds) perfect for me (plus I'm kind of good at it...or I was when I climbed regularly).
I was beginning to despair when on a whim I decided to record a few shows from FitTV. Let me say now and forever more: I. LOVE. Namaste Yoga. It's a show. And it's awesome. I've only taken one session of yoga before and the room was hot, filled with old people (who were BETTER at it than me), and the instructor's breathing instructions made me lightheaded. This made so much sense, was only 30 minutes long (and had commercial breaks!), and was pretty fun to do! Plus, it was an added challenge trying to do yoga with this little lady getting in my face:
Well, I'll tell you.
I've eased into my resolutions, keeping them in mind and looking for opportunities. I walked Penny to the mailbox a few times (which is a 2 mile round trip because this housing development is...well, evil), and this is only made more interesting by my dog's crippling fear of storm drains.
I've looked into the rock gyms, but it's really expensive ($15 per visit plus $10 for equipment OR a $60/month membership plus equipment...eep), and the one on campus MIGHT be a good option, but just for bouldering. I really don't trust the safety regulations they have for belay climbing (belayers aren't anchored to the floor, no safety stops on the ropes, and while the floors are padded, they're hardly the two feet of shredded tires I'm used to), however my lack of climbing partner makes bouldering (climbing below an eight foot level without a rope and with mats beneath to focus on flexibility and holds) perfect for me (plus I'm kind of good at it...or I was when I climbed regularly).
I was beginning to despair when on a whim I decided to record a few shows from FitTV. Let me say now and forever more: I. LOVE. Namaste Yoga. It's a show. And it's awesome. I've only taken one session of yoga before and the room was hot, filled with old people (who were BETTER at it than me), and the instructor's breathing instructions made me lightheaded. This made so much sense, was only 30 minutes long (and had commercial breaks!), and was pretty fun to do! Plus, it was an added challenge trying to do yoga with this little lady getting in my face:
(Yes, old picture. But I likes it!)
Yoga. Yes. I love it. I used to be very very limber and I'm thinking it will come back quickly if I make an effort to work out with that program regularly. I also recorded a Zumba and Bollywood show. Let's see if I can get room mates in on it!
Speaking of the lovely puppy, Penny and I celebrated our one year anniversary about four days ago. Yes, I have had this girl for a whole year, and she has changed so much! I plan on doing a little video about her story once we get our Canine Good Citizen certificate. To go from a crazy dog on her way to death (that people refused to believe could be a good dog), who would growl and snap if you got near her, to a snugglepuppy who lets me hug her, puts her head on top of my legs when we sleep, and LISTENS to me (most of the time) when I give her a command is an awesome thing. I am beyond proud of her and beyond grateful to the folks at Petsmart for their amazing training system. Seriously, I will point anyone and everyone there.
As far as creativity goes, I've done the first exercise in my book: draw 30 cats while lying in bed. Since my scanner is old and has no driver software compatible with Windows 7 and I DON'T feel like trying to take a picture of a drawing again (project 365: you were awwwfuulllll), you'll have to trust that I did it. I actually really liked a few of them! The object was to just let yourself go and focus on expressive lines.
This week's exercise: blind contour drawings of giraffes. Yup. Isn't this fun??? Don't you want to go get one and do one along with me??
And then the reading: I've been working on Sailing Around the Room by Billy Collins (poet extraordinaire) and also Five Children and It by E. Nesbit. I know, I know, Nesbit=children's author, but look her up sometime. She lead a scandalous life and even adopted and raised both of her husband's children with his mistress while letting the mistress live in the house as their maid. Crazy crazy crazy. If my husband was a philanderer and had children with some floozy I would send her off to china in a packing crate (on a cargo barge if I was feeling REALLY charitable) and then I'd get him a house arrest anklet. Maybe not. What's even worse, Nesbit was really good friends with this mistress. She also at one point, in order to seek revenge, had a brief affair with George Bernard Shaw (philanderer as well...he wrote well but he was not exactly a boy scout). She was a feminist before it was popular (the FIRST time) and she used her pen to support her WHOLE family because her husband was almost perpetually out of work. Plus, her prose is full of little jabs at society that would go over the little one's heads.
Anyway, that's what's been going on. How are you guys going?
Speaking of the lovely puppy, Penny and I celebrated our one year anniversary about four days ago. Yes, I have had this girl for a whole year, and she has changed so much! I plan on doing a little video about her story once we get our Canine Good Citizen certificate. To go from a crazy dog on her way to death (that people refused to believe could be a good dog), who would growl and snap if you got near her, to a snugglepuppy who lets me hug her, puts her head on top of my legs when we sleep, and LISTENS to me (most of the time) when I give her a command is an awesome thing. I am beyond proud of her and beyond grateful to the folks at Petsmart for their amazing training system. Seriously, I will point anyone and everyone there.
As far as creativity goes, I've done the first exercise in my book: draw 30 cats while lying in bed. Since my scanner is old and has no driver software compatible with Windows 7 and I DON'T feel like trying to take a picture of a drawing again (project 365: you were awwwfuulllll), you'll have to trust that I did it. I actually really liked a few of them! The object was to just let yourself go and focus on expressive lines.
This week's exercise: blind contour drawings of giraffes. Yup. Isn't this fun??? Don't you want to go get one and do one along with me??
And then the reading: I've been working on Sailing Around the Room by Billy Collins (poet extraordinaire) and also Five Children and It by E. Nesbit. I know, I know, Nesbit=children's author, but look her up sometime. She lead a scandalous life and even adopted and raised both of her husband's children with his mistress while letting the mistress live in the house as their maid. Crazy crazy crazy. If my husband was a philanderer and had children with some floozy I would send her off to china in a packing crate (on a cargo barge if I was feeling REALLY charitable) and then I'd get him a house arrest anklet. Maybe not. What's even worse, Nesbit was really good friends with this mistress. She also at one point, in order to seek revenge, had a brief affair with George Bernard Shaw (philanderer as well...he wrote well but he was not exactly a boy scout). She was a feminist before it was popular (the FIRST time) and she used her pen to support her WHOLE family because her husband was almost perpetually out of work. Plus, her prose is full of little jabs at society that would go over the little one's heads.
Anyway, that's what's been going on. How are you guys going?
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