31 October 2007

Happy Halloween!



Originally uploaded by girl_in_bleue
Love, Grendel, the little mermaid.

(Click the photo to see more on flickr.)

I have way too much time on my hands. Surely there must be something better I could be doing.

I don't like earthquakes

Here's the USGS map moments after that big one near San Jose:


See at the very top of the map, that square just to the left of Concord? I felt that one this afternoon. And see that other one a little below it, covering the "le" at the end of "Berkeley"? I felt that one this evening too. The first one was a short, sharp jolt. The second one was just a little wiggle.

Imagine how edgy I was feeling when the ground started shaking like crazy all of a sudden! There were creaking sounds and I decided that on a couch under a ceiling fan across from free-standing bookcases was not the best place to be, so I jumped across the living room to stand by the front door. The building just kept waving back and forth, back and forth. I didn't want to exaggerate on how long the shaking seemed to last so I low-balled it at about 20 seconds. (Definately longer than the one that freaked me out last winter, which was about 10 seconds long.) But official word seems to be between 20 and 30 seconds in most places. So, yeah, I felt that big one near San Jose.

I'm fine. Cats are fine. Building is fine. We're just a little shaken up, so to speak.

Check the updated map here: Recent Earthquakes.

I'm listening to the news right now, and an expert is saying that earthquakes along this particular fault tend to produce aftershocks that are even larger than the initial quake within the following 72 hours. Can't wait to see if that happens. I don't think I'll be sleeping much tonight.

29 October 2007

Woo-hoo!

Red Sox sweep World Series


Something that irks me...

Something that irks me... The perpetuation of unflattering clothing.
You can't tell me that model looks fashionable by any means. Part of the reason for home-sewing is to get clothes that fit you perfectly, unlike retail clothing that is mass produced (which most people should take to a tailor for altering, but do not). So why would anyone choose to perfectly fit a pair of pants that is inherently unflattering?

You would assume that someone who designs and sells patterns is part of the fashion industry. What part of the fashion industry says it's okay to let women buy this pattern? (According to the website it's "back in stock" and "available for immediate delivery," which leads me to believe it's pretty popular.) I'm sorry, but tapered ankles make your hips look wide. It may be an optical illusion. You may have perfectly reasonably sized hips and be proud of them. But is this really how you want to show them off? And that high waist! Waistbands are supposed to be below the belly button these days. Seriously. Stacy and Clinton grate on my nerves but sometimes they make good points, and two of those good points are tapered ankles and high-waisted pants. Whoever is responsible for this pattern is enabling bad fashion.

There's a reason the Mom Jeans bit from Saturday Night Live is still so funny. Because it's unfortunately true.

27 October 2007

Sewing down the stash

I've been in sort of a funk lately. Creatively, I've been cooking a lot. But cooking is not doing anything to help get the house cleaned up and organized. We have a big move looming over us, with the stress of still not knowing exactly where and when. I keep thinking that I have to take control over the things I can have control over, like the organizational state of the house. But I'm not actually doing anything about it. When I'm stressed out I tend to shut down for a few days at a time.

Stuff needs to be weeded through and sent to Goodwill. Books should be placed on bookshelves so they'll be easier to box up later. Cupboards need to be cleaned out of old food we will never eat. My giant wardrobe full of cloth has to be dealt with.

This weekend I've decided to deal with the cloth. Several months ago I bought this pattern with the idea that I can use lots of various-sized pieces from my stash. And last night I finally got around to cutting out pieces. These skirts are pretty quick to sew up, once you get the darts and zipper done. My hope is to get rid of some fabric and have some nice new summer clothes to pack into storage this winter, then be thrilled to unpack new clothes next summer. No matter where we end up, there will be summer weather at some point. (Minsk is no longer an option.) So I'm working on skirts right now.

Next weekend maybe I'll work on some real household stuff.

25 October 2007

Bug this.


Originally uploaded by girl_in_bleue
The other day there was a beautiful praying mantis skulking about the steps to my apartment. Luckily I (somewhat obnoxiously) now bring my new camera around with me wherever I go so I can snap pictures of the cool stuff, like this. (Click on the picture to see more on flickr.) If I had been thinking even more quickly, I may have put the camera in movie mode to capture it crawling around.


A little cross-promotion here... My mom and I made gluten-free pierogi and you can read all about it at pierogi part 1 and pierogi part 2.

20 October 2007

Ceramic Grendel


Ceramic Grendel
Originally uploaded by girl_in_bleue
My mom and I spent the day in San Francisco today. We spent most of our time visiting Japantown for the first time. I can't believe I waited so long to check out this area! Not only is there a whole store full of ceramic Grendels (for more on Grendel, visit his blog), there are stores full of fantastic Japanese stuff. I bought some tea cups at the dollar store, Ichiban Kan. I bought stationary for finally sending thank-you notes from the wedding at a book store. We had a great lunch (sushi, of course).

(Clicking on the photo will take you to the full set on flickr.)

We finished the day with a walk down the so-called crookedest street, Lombard Street between Hyde and Leavenworth. (It's not really the crookedest, it's just more picturesque than the actual crookedest street.)

15 October 2007

I don't have TB! And other news

Yesterday for the third day in a row I was at the doctor's office. This time to have someone look at my TB injection site. It had turned all red and bumpy, like a rash, but not itchy. I had no idea what they look for in the TB test, but it's apparently not little red bumps. I also needed to argue that "Yes, I do need a chest x-ray." I have the medical clearance forms right in front of me that say "chest x-ray." The doctor says I don't need it. Well, look, you're not paying for it, so what do you care if I get one? Just give me my referral please, so I can get it done and finish filling out my forms. Today might be the fourth day in a row I'm at the doctor's office, but I wouldn't mind a day off. If I can do the x-ray tomorrow, that would be good.

In other news, my mom arrives tomorrow night for a week-long visit. In between all these doctor's visits I'm trying to clean the house.

The Cats of Baghdad

This is kind of a depressing editorial about feeding the stray cats of Baghdad. It makes the people feel better, but many believe it ultimately hurts the cats. There are not many practicing veterinarians who can fix the cats to keep the population from increasing. The people living in the various compounds rotate so frequently that a cat can only be guaranteed table scraps for a few months, then is left behind. Only so many people are able to rescue them fully and bring them home.

Interesting footnote: Not only is Iraq the cradle of human civilization, but 10,000 years ago the banks of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers were also home to the felines that eventually became our modern housecats.

What Cats Know About War
By JOHN F. BURNS
Published: October 14, 2007
A reporter adopts cats to reconnect with life amid unremitting death.

cross-posted at what would grendel do?

13 October 2007

vampires

'Tis the season for them!

I had some blood drawn this morning for some tests. They took 7 vials! They wear you down by not letting you eat for 12 hours, then swoop in with their vials and needles and you're helpless to defend yourself. It's not like the sight of blood bothers me, in fact I always watch the vials filling up with morbid fascination. I just feel funny about sitting there with a needle sticking into my arm for the length of time it takes to fill those 7 vials. I'm so fair skinned that I'm going to have a bruise for a couple days probably.

And, for like the 3rd time within a week, I had to pee in a cup.

I'm doing it all for love. In case Mike's job moves us overseas, I need a medical clearance.

Yesterday I had my general examination. Today they took my blood. Tomorrow I have to go back so they can look at the pinprick from my TB test for 2 seconds and determine that I don't have TB. (I really wish they could come to me for that 2 seconds. Can't a nurse swing by on her way home or something?)

I've had some food now, but no where near my usual amount of coffee yet, so I'm still a little out of it.

08 October 2007

like coaxing a shy little bunny

Shhhhh. Slow and steady. Don't make any sudden movements or loud noises. Don't watch too hard. Remain calm and patient.

The Red Sox are creeping up. Round one under their belts.

Try not to get hopes up. But how can I resist?
For those who believe in omens, Boston's World Series championship run in 2004 also began with a three-game sweep over the Angels. (From Sox punch ALCS ticket with sweep)
Thus, the beginning of a very stressful month for me, as I restlessly flip channels back and forth, checking scores. Hardly daring to watch, covering my face with my hands and peeking through.

06 October 2007

Is this my grim?

In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry thinks he's seeing a grim, a large dog that appears before death. A strange dog has been appearing to me around our apartment complex. No one else is ever around when I see this dog. Sometimes it's on a leash, sometimes it's just sitting there. But there's no owner with him. I'll walk by on my way to the mail, see him emerged from shadows, then on my way back from the mail, it's gone!

It always startles me because it is so weird looking. At first I thought it was a shaved chow. Then I thought it was an unwrinkled shar pei. It's medium sized and has a deep, scary bark. I haven't gotten close enough to think about petting it. I tried telling Mike about it but I can't properly describe it.

Well, yesterday I got a picture of the thing:


What is it? And why is it haunting me? If I were the kind of person to see a grim, why do I get this one?

I wish I had gotten a close-up photo, but it started barking at me and I was fumbling with a new camera. I got all flustered and took off.

02 October 2007

Almost SWAP Time

It's hard to believe, but SWAP time is creeping up. The rules have been posted, and today's the first official day for fabric purchases. (For explanation, see my previous SWAP posts and the offical sponsor site, Timmel Fabrics.)

I have so many ideas. It's hard to focus. I went through my stash today and color-coordinated everything. I think I can get a black, white & blue or a brown, white & pink wardrobe out of the fabric I've got.

There's one hindrance to my planning. We will most likely be moving within the next few months but we have no idea when we'll move or where we'll go. Potential new climates vary, which makes it hard to plan what kind of clothes I'll need. Also, I fear that in January when actual sewing for the contest begins, we will be packed up and on the road, and my sewing machine will be locked in storage for 6 months. It would be impossible to participate in the contest then.

I may have to forego the official contest this year and sew along as best as possible. We are allowed to have 2 previously sewn pieces in the finished collection, so I may just start a sewing spree now and finalize the plan later with a finished piece or 2 when I know more about our location fate. It's not a very organized way to go about SWAP sewing, but it may be the best I can do this year.

I haven't been in the sewing room in months, but I think I'm ready to go back in.