I was going to finish cutting out the muslin of a jacket pattern tonight, but Grendel has other plans.
I cut out a couple pieces this afternoon but then got busy with working, napping, and a pesky little necessity called eating. I didn't want to lay the fabric out and cut on the floor--I was trying to avoid cats stepping on it. The coffee table was the easiest flat surface to clear off and use. But it's small (the perspective is hard to judge in the photo because Grendel is so big and he likes to flatten out; he expands to the size of the surface he's sitting on). I have to cut pieces in small batches because I can only fit so many on the table top at one time. For the most part the cats ignored the coffee table all afternoon. But I woke up from a snooze and there was Grendel.
Mike's gone for a couple days, yet the hotel room still feels small.
Mike has informed me that I may need a ball gown, or an evening dress, or two (because I wouldn't want to wear the same one to every gala) while we're in Burundi. While browsing patterns today I saw this at Lanetz Living. It's a vintage 1960s pattern. Isn't it adorable? Wouldn't it be great in silk? And I could get little gloves, just like the girl in the illustration!
In other sewing news, I've been working on a plethora of small projects. Before leaving Walnut Creek I cut out several garments and I also packed up some UFOs (UnFinished Objects). My sewing machine has been whirring away and fabric is transforming from a pile in a box to pieces of clothing hanging in the closet. I've also been stocking up on tropical weight wools whenever I see them for a good price. Jackets and skirts, jackets and skirts. I have a dozen suits planned in my head.
Obviously, no cat's breath smells like roses or peppermint or anything else delicious. But Grendel has some serious death breath. He yawns and you can smell it from across the room. We've talked to a vet and she said his tartar build up is about average for his age. She doesn't see any gum disease or other medical problems but he should get a professional cleaning before it gets worse, especially before leaving for overseas.
As a band-aid for the problem, until we get around to finding a good vet in this area (One wanted to charge us several hundred dollars for a laser cleaning. There have to be other options!), Mike bought a cat dental kit from a pet store. It came with two kinds of brushes: one that look likes a toddler toothbrush and one that's a plastic finger cap with bristles. The toothpaste smells like vanilla. (Ugh! I hate vanilla toothpaste!) We read the instructions carefully. Grendel's pretty mellow so getting him into a calm state was a piece of cake. But getting him to taste some of the toothpaste and then sit still for the brushing was more difficult. He squirmed, but I held him tight while Mike brushed. Grendel forgave us soon afterward--as soon as it was snack time, the snacks which then ruined his nice new breath. While the vanilla scent wasn't bad, it was very weird to have it coming from a cat's mouth.
Last Thursday we had hoped to see a special screening of The Princess Bride but it sold out. So we turned to Persepolis. It is amazing. It's funny, whimsical, and tender, yet tells a very serious story. It's the autobiography of a young woman growing up in Tehran in the 1980s and 90s, during the Revolution. She struggles with her veil and her manners. She covets Western punk and pop music. Girls in their teens are being arrested and imprisoned (and often executed) for wearing lipstick and nail polish and letting too much hair show from the veil. Eventually Marjane's parents decide to send her to boarding school in Europe because she is too free-spirited to live safely in Tehran. She struggles in Vienna as well, unable to fit in anywhere. She returns to Tehran, where the political situation isn't any better than before, but at least she has her friends and family surrounding her.
I was almost finished with Reading Lolita in Tehran when I saw Persepolis and what strikes me is that these are not unique, isolated stories of a handful of women. This is the way of life for thousands of women. Women who want to go to university and read any books that they want. Women who don't want to be molested or raped and then be arrested because they broke the law by tempting men. Women who want the choice of wearing the veil as an expression of their religious beliefs.
We saw it at the Cinema Arts Centre Theatre in Fairfax. (It's a decent little arthouse theater. Good hot chocolate!) It's still playing there and at a handful of other theaters in the metro area.
On Sunday after witnessing the robot uprising we went to the Landmark E Street Cinema to see the five animated shorts that are nominated for the Academy Award. (They also have screenings of the live action short films.) One of the stories, "My Love," a Russian film, left us wanting to tear our eyes out. The animation was cool at first, in the style of a Monet painting, but was headache inducing by the end. And the story was so sappy and sentimental. I also think it was the longest of the five. Maybe it just felt like the longest. "Madame Tutli-Putli," "Even Pigeons Go to Heaven," and "Peter and the Wolf" had fantastic animation. "Madam" and "Pigeons" had bizarre stories though. And now that I think about it, the ending of "Peter" was a little lame. But I still really liked all three of them. The last one, "I Met the Walrus," had simple pen and ink-type doodles, but it was an awesome concept. Many moons ago, 1969 I believe, a 14-year old met John Lennon and recorded their discussion. The film is this conversation animated. When you stop and listen to John Lennon in context, he sounds perfectly reasonable and rational in his message of peace. I really can't decide which of these I'd pick for the Oscar winner. For message, "I Met the Walrus." For animation maybe "Madame Tutli-Putli." However they made the eyes for those puppets was completely creepy.
The Landmark E Street Cinema is about three blocks from the Metro Center stop.
There's a hilarious South Park episode involving Cartman dressing up as a robot to play a trick on Butters, but the joke is on Cartman when the military thinks that he's an actual robot, who is super-intelligent and must be destroyed. He calls himself Awesome-o.
Well, we saw the real Awesome-o robot this weekend, the Honda Asimo. When you see clips on the news about Japanese robots doing amazing things, it's the Asimo. It was part of the Japan! exhibit at the Kennedy Center. (Sunday was unfortunately the last day.) And it truly was awesome. At one point during the demonstration I said out loud, "There has to be a kid in there." It runs and walks up and down stairs. It plays soccer. Not quickly, but hey, you can only get so much from a robot. I'm unsure of all the technical terms, but something like millions of sensors and gyroscopes are constantly in a state of monitor and correct, so that Asimo can actually balance on one leg and when he runs, both feet leave the ground for a tiny fraction of a second, just like when humans run.
There were also several art installations, like this one, called Day Into Night, which is part of a two-part project called Dots Obsession. (The other was Night Into Day, which was a black background with yellow dots.)
The Kennedy Center is open daily to the public with free tours. Visit their website for upcoming performance and exhibit information. There's a parking garage there and a shuttle from the Foggy Bottom Metro. It's not a very far walk from the Metro station though, and you pass the Watergate along the way, where you can pretend to be a spy or an investigative reporter:
I have lots to talk about regarding recent D.C.-Metro Area adventures. But I'm tired. For the time being, enjoy this educational song and video about George Washington. (Adult themes and language.)
Yesterday was my birthday, so today is an unbirthday. (I think that's the same birthday cake photo I used last year.)
It was a good birthday. Mike and I had the opportunity to meet some of the people we'll be living and working with in Burundi. We left the luncheon with even more excitement about moving there. And on cold, rainy days like yesterday and today, who wouldn't be yearning for warm weather, lush jungle, drinks on the lake while watching crocs and hippos and who know what other critters? That will be next year's birthday.
Our shipment of stuff from California arrived last Friday, so we now have winter clothes, the Wii, and my sewing machine. I think I'm going to work on one of my flowy Africa skirts today. I want to forget the so-called ice storm that's apparently going on outside my window.
Edited to add: The birthday present I ordered for myself just arrived. Betsey Johnson pumps for 40% off!
Go out and vote today! Even if polls are overwhelming in one side or another in your state, go out and vote anyway. Show your candidate your support.
Super Tuesday leads to presidents... presidents lead to presidential portraits... portraits lead to the National Portrait Gallery. On Saturday, Mike and I made a Heroes pilgrimage to the gallery to see a piece of the Colbert Nation in real life.
A couple weeks ago, Stephen Colbert began a quest to get his portrait hung at one of the Smithsonian museums, since he considers himself an important part of American history.
If you don't want to watch the whole video, the happy ending is that the National Portrait Gallery agreed! Colbert's portrait hangs outside of the second floor restrooms, next to the hall of presidential portraits.
You too can visit the portrait for a limited time, and then add your photo to the NPG's flickr page.
To make a day of it, pack a lunch or buy a snack at the cafe there and eat it in the gorgeous atrium. It was so pleasant to sit in the warm sunshine on a cold day. The Spy Museum is nearby and so is Ford's Theater. Chinatown and its awesome restaurants are also a short walk away. The NPG has free admission, so you'll have a few bucks in your pocket for a treat. The Gallery Place Metro stop drops you off right there. We didn't want to transfer so got off at Metro Center and walked about five blocks.
I'm feeling a little lazy today. It's early. It's Friday. (Actually, I just realized it's not that early any more.)
I've been working on convenience foods for bentos and hotel living at What I Eat.
At Flaming Tulle our Featured Bride Ashley is working on a 10-week challenge so she will be an awesomely buff bride on her wedding day.
Here in HotelLand I'm working on applications for jobs in Burundi. They are few and far between. I'm hoping that my smattering of French gives me an edge on any competition. (Unless the competition is fluent in French. Then I'm screwed.)
