November Challenge Wrap Up

NaBloPoMo: Missed a few days and contributed very few meaningful posts. I think after that first day of missing i lost the thrill of the challenge to keep a perfect record.

Art Every Day Month: I did not by any means fulfill my desire to post at least one picture/project a day. I do regret not putting more effort into this monthly project.

National Reading Novel Month: I only posted about the book once. Frankly, i think the second section of the book was rather boring. I only have a few chapters left to finish. Over all i'm not exactly sure what makes this book so amazing except for shock value of the unashamed honest portrayal of a mans obsession with little girls.

I'm not sure what i did in November but it obviously wasn't contributing a great amount of time to all the challenges i signed up for.

bargains!

I got all this for $150 dollars today - thankfully thanksgiving sales are all weekend:

- 2 bras {buy 1 get 1 free, that's awesome}
- 2 shirts {one is that popular kelly green, never owned something in this color before!}
- 2 pairs of shoes {casual nice brown, drk purple slip ons}
- 1 pair of jeans {i can only seem to find jeans that fit at Lane Bryant}
- 1 sweat shirt {zip up, bright teal, love it!}
- scarf & hat set {light pink and super soft}

***
This evening i worked on my sister's birth announcements. Hand writing the addresses, it's going well. Recent pictures were taken of Noel in a white dress and bonnet, super adorable, each one gets a 4x6. Tomorrow is the big day to start printing the announcements. My printer supposedly* prints 4x6 prints just fine and the paper is only a little bigger at 4.5x6.25 - i'm hoping it takes it ok.

*i've never actually tried it.

Black Friday

I'm at work. Boo.

Thought about going and doing some clothes shopping. I need a few essential items. Not really sure i want to do that with my evening but i have to and i may as well buy it all on sale.

- Can i just ask, what makes under wire in a bra snap so frequently? Drives me crazy!
- Why do dogs eat underwear? A weeks worth in fact. {yeah it was right before laundry day}
- Why are jeans going back to the high waist? Really that can't be comfortable for anyone. I wasn't real excited about seeing girls undies or butt cracks with the short waist jeans either but maybe if girls bought the right size jeans and length of shirts we'd be better off.

Did anyone find good deals or stay home?

Thanksgiving

Have a wonderful day of relaxation, food, family, friends and good times!

Tropic Thunder Review

Yup, it was boy humor. It wasn't horrible but not hysterical either. I actually enjoyed the 2 minor characters performances better than the 3 huge stars. However, Robert Downey Jr's performance was good.

Tonight it's Wall-e which I already reviewed as Great. Originally saw it on the 4th of July. Not sure i'm going to watch all of it tonight. Need to get up at 5am tomorrow for a press check. At least i can get to work with out any traffic.

Tropic Thunder

Ok, i'm giving the movie a try. My husband says it's hilarious but i have a feeling it's a guy hilarious and not a universal hilarious.

I'll let you know.

Apartment Living

We're looking to move in a couple of months. Some of the apartment managers thing we're looking a little early considering we can't move in until April 1st. However, we see it as a way figure out now where we want to move and not panic at the last minute and just pick something that might not work.

We're currently looking at our options for places downtown. The first building we looked at was too small, 750 sq ft. i just can't image us and the dogs living in that size of space. We went today to a building along the south water front on the edge of downtown, it's beautiful! It makes you feel sophisticated just walking in. I'm completely sold on the building. Of course i'm curious to find out about their other building opening in April that's in the heart of downtown.

Never thought i'd live downtown. I was pretty sure my husband would never agree to it because he originally said he wouldn't want to. Fast forward a few years and add in a new job that's down there... well, he now loves it and it was his idea to move there.

I'm questioning if we can afford it and this weekend i'm starting plans to figure that out. As i've previously stated money stresses me out so i'm taking it a little bit slow with going through the bills and not freaking out, it is what it is. My husband is all "I think we can do this" - of course he does, Mr. Optimistic-But-Has-No-Plan. So, what i'm trying to say is, i'm willing to take responsibility to figure out how to make this boat float downtown because i think it would be exciting to live down there. Of course if we can't eat, a pretty place to live means squat....

Keep ya'll updated as i figure things out.

It's the little things that make me happy

Finally Gmail has themes for it's online email accounts. Best part? I like them! One account is ninja themed and another is an office desktop. Yes, I have more than 1 account. I have, let me count...
1
2
3
4
.... Yup 4 and i use them all but only 2 frequently.

Hope you have a good Friday night. I plan on getting The Oliver Garden for dinner, yum.

Thanksgiving?

I'm so excited about Christmas that i've basically written off Thanksgiving this year. I know it is sad but honestly i don't feel very festive for Thanksgiving. We're going over to my husband's, uncle's, wife's sister's house - home of friends loosly related to us through marriage. I'm flattered that they wanted to host Thanksgiving but since moving this has been the hardest holiday for me to enjoy away from Dallas. Mostly because the food is not my family's food and food is one of the main things about the holiday. Which reminds me that i need to find out what i'm responsible for bringing.

Have any good T-day plans?

What have you done?

Time for a meme - copy and bold the things you've done. I picked this up from A Girl & Her Journal.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelos David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain {this is easy when you live in portland}
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie {home movies}
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching {not on a boat but you can from shore}
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

Holiday Stamps 1964

A little inspiration for my Christmas cards. When we were at the coast this weekend we did a little antique shopping. Found a stash of old letters with these great holiday themed stamps. I have the wood type letters of JOY that i'm going to combine with a block print based on one of the stamps. I'm thinking of doing the holly. I've never done a two color print so i'm thinking i'll do two carvings, one for the leaves and another for the berries.

Going to the art store friday to pick up blocks and paper. There is also this gel that can be mixed with the ink to make it transparent, the more added the more transparent. I'm wanting to pick up a little to experiment with.

Months ago i picked up some velvet felt powder that i thought about using on my cards... maybe the holly will be dusted with snow... i'll have to try it.

Sunday Make Up

Happy Birthday Love!

{it was really sunday but we came home from the coast with no internet but it wasn't our fault this time, comcast thinks the router box is bad or their crazy and didn't really know what the problem was... so, i didn't get to post again.}

His top gift is a winter coat. We were talking just this weekend about him needing a new one. With out even knowing it, his parents got him one for his birthday. Great timing!

His favorite gift is probably Gears of War 2. My brother had been tonting him about how great a game it is. Finally, they can play it together... as soon as the internet's back up.

Who's Right?

I'm right. It's 9:51am and we're still here. We haven't even packed, let alone cleaned out the car to put the dog crates in. Yeah, it looks like it's going to be a really late start to our weekend plans.

Have a good weekend!

World Tour

Finally, tonight, i get to buy Guitar Hero World Tour - which includes a guitar, drums, and microphone. I don't really care about the mic but everything else sounds great. I've heard great reviews from a few friends who have it.

But this is not what i'll be doing all weekend. Actually, i might not even get to play till Sunday night. We're going to the coast this weekend. Our goal is to leave the house by 9a, yeah, lol we'll see how well that goes. I'm actually really looking forward to it because we haven't been out to Newport in about 4 months. It'll be nice to visit with Grandma {in-law} too. We have plans to take her to see Madagascar 2 in the theater {it's been a while since she's been in the theater}.

I'm also hoping to squeeze in a little antique shopping as well. There are a number of place to go look.

My plan is to blog before we go but i'm not stressing about it since i already missed a day.

Zine Pages

I participate in a group zine every 3 months. The premise of the zine is to have a theme, produce as many pages as players {for example 12 people sign up, i need to create 12 identical pages}. Then i mail the pages to one designated woman who binds them together {with help} and then mails them back to the players. So in the end i have a book of 12 pages, 1 page designed by each person playing. It's a lot of fun and i've been doing it for 4 years... wow, can't believe it's been four years! I missed the first book but i've been in the other 13 books {14 total, there has been fluctuation on how many were made per year}.

I always have fun making the pages. The 14th edition had the theme of Positive/Negative. I had help from my husband with the idea. I had the idea of using film negative but then i couldn't figure out a positive {course now i thought of an actual photo of the other sides negative would have worked but i'm just as excited about this concept}. Then he suggested the use of x-rays, i knew i married him for a reason.

A note on construction:
- Printed the x-ray images {after a little color correction} on transparency paper
- Masking tape to tape the corners
- Office file labels for the titles
- Hand stamped each letter {figured out late but for the positive side i had the bright idea of stamping "positive" all down the sticker sheet before adhering it to the page, i got a lot clearer looking labels for the positive side}

No internets

Boo - i'm now out of the running for a NaBloPoMo prize because i didn't get to post yesterday. Turns out we got home and had not internet, something about them wanting money to supply the service, who ever heard of such a thing? Anyway, it left me out for a day. I'm still here though.

Two morals of the story - no three:
1) pay your bills on time
2) post from work if you have time {only do this option if you know you won't get in trouble}
3) keep going even if you'll only get your only little finish line badge

Something to blog about

On the way home tonight my husband was telling me about this last minute appointment at the vet clinic.

V.: What was wrong with the lab?
M.: Oh an ADR
V.: What's that? {i'm thinking something bad}
M.: You may not believe me but this is the technical veterinarian term, Ain't Doin' Right.
V.: {laughing} You can look that up in a vet medical dictionary and that's what you'll find?
M.: Yep
V.: {laughs & laughs}
M.: There you go, something to blog about.

Yes, indeed.

NaNoReMo - Lolita

This post contains spoilers for the book Lolita.

These are just my personal thoughts on the book. This weekend it's kept my attention to the point that i only have 90 pages left to finish it. I think for posts later on this month i'll have to skim sections for things to write about.

Lolita Chpt 1-8 of Section One

1- intro to the girl's name Lolita, which really isn't even her name but a nick name of the main character Humbert.

2 - Bio info on Humbert - is this a hint of foreshadowing that his father sets up his perfume business in America? Humbert uses fate a lot in the book to blame/praise any situation. The main character would probably see it as fate that his father would set up in America for him to later find his Lolita.

3-5 - Covers him meeting a girl named Annabel both are age 12 (13?). This meeting starts the whole obsession for little girls going. It seems because Humbert didn't get to conquer Annabel, he then gets it stuck in his head that that type & age of girl is the ideal girl. He coins the term Nymphet, which according to Humbert is not really a little girl but a girl that is possessed by a demon who is wiser so there for older and negates the fact that the girl is about 12. I believe this new definition is just a way for Humbert to rationalize his perverted desires for young girls.

6- Has a good experience with a young prostitute only to get bold and try to find a young one that is really just a black mail scheme.

Humbert shows escalation in his addiction:
- watches them in the park
- still battles with morality issues
- tries to justify his desire by presenting arguments that it's legal in other countries
- looks for satisfaction in an older girl to help quench his desire for a younger one but doesn't work
- only thing stopping him by end of chp 6 is the legality issue

7 - Because of what happened chp 6 Humbert chooses to get married! I think that's a ridiculous idea. Why do men with addition think it's a good idea to get married? The woman they marry is not the one they really want. It just makes them both miserable.

8- Of course, Humbert seems to think moving to America will further help solve his problem. When really moving to another city rarely, if ever, fixes problems because usually the problem is the person, not the place.

The other issue that comes up is the reveal that his wife is having an affair and is leaving him for the other guy. Humbert is furious at this and my first impression was to be angry at Humbert because he's proving him self to be a pervert and he married her as a desperate act. Didn't realize he was so attached to her. I'd think that in the long run, he'd prefer not to have wife in tow. However, i got to think about it, can a pervert not feel angry at a betrayal? Unless i missed it {correct me if i did} but Hum was faithful in actions but not necessarily thought. Regardless i thought the Hum strong reaction to the breakup was odd because to me it had been portrayed as a loveless situation.

Let me know if you have any thoughts.

Dinner

Went out to dinner with a large group of friends that get together about every other month. Some are old co-workers, others are new people at my previous job and then there are the misc. significant others. Lots of laughing which was so nice for a change {it's normal to laugh with this group, i'm just saying i haven't been doing much laughing in general}.

I'm really full and kinda tired now. My husband is out side instructing the dogs to "go to the grass" over and over and over again. They're not listening.

Today has been one lazy day which means the kitchen is still dirty. I am however way head of the reading schedule for Lolita/NaNoReMo. I've made notes on the book, of course after about chapter 10 the notes drop off as i got involved with the plot but mentally noted things.

Tomorrow i hope to post at least a slightly thoughtful post about Lolita. We'll see how it goes considering i think i'm spending the afternoon at the in-laws.

Blogging Harry Potter - Sorcerer's Stone

Watched the first HP tonight and a little ways into it i thought it would be fun to blog my thoughts to some things and any dialog i really liked. It got long and doubt it's entertaining but there you have it. I wish blogger offered the "continue reading" option to cut your posts.

***
Hogwarts Express Train number: 5972

Introduction of Ron & Hermione

Ron: "wicked"

Herm: "you know you've got dirt on your noes, just there."

Every time the characters go to the school its by some new transportation. First years, it's by boat across the lake.

Houses:
Hufflepuff {they never get any notice}
Raveclaw {barely a little notice than Hufflepuff}
Gryffendore
Slytherin

Intro Malfoy the nemesis

Ron: "mental that one, i'm tellin' ya." Ron about Hermione

Oooh first ever scar pain for Harry when he noticed Prof. Snape staring at him. Prof. Snape is also talking to Prof. Quirrell at the same time.

Harry convinces the sorting hat not to put him in Slytherin which will haunt him for the next 2 movies.

Dumbledore: "Let the feast begin" - what you later learn in the books is that house elf's make the food in the kitchen below the dinning hall.

"Nearly headless, how can you be nearly headless."
"Like this" [sr. nick pulls his head off his shoulders]

Intro moving stair cases and moving paintings - both have various degrees of importance from one movie to the next.

Oh, they changed the fat lady painting between the first and the fourth movie.

Ms. McGonagall {who is named after some obscure Scottish poem/tale} - transforms from a cat to her human form. "Then perhaps a map. I trust you don't need one to find your seats"

Prof. Snape: "There will be no foolish wand waving or silly incantations in this class... for those select few you posses the predispositions, i can teach you how to bewitch the mind and ensnare the sense, bottle fame... and even put a stopper in death."

I enjoy the typography and design of the Daily Prophet.

Madam Hooch is introduced but never to be seen again after this movie. She gives flying instructions: place a hand over your broom and firmly say "Up."

Longbottom has an incident with his broom, of course but when his rememberable gets lost it gives the Malfoy and Harry and chance to have their first conflict. It ends well for Harry when he's seen catching the little thing and given the Seeker position on the Quidditch team.

Malfoy says "fat *ss"! I didn't realize there was cussing in the first one.

Oooh Oliver Wood, love his accent!

Fred & George Weasely, funniest twins. "We make sure you don't get bludgeoned to death".

Filch's cat Mrs. Norris - creepy red eyes.

Ron: "That's it, we're done for" - always one for the dramatic.

Herm: "I'm going to bed before either of you come up with another crazy idea to get us killed. Or worse, expelled".
Ron: "She needs to sort out her priorities"

Prof. Quirrell : "TRrrrOoooLL! Troll in the dungeon!" The trio's first challenge to over come. Save Hermione and defeat the troll.

Harry: "Yuck, troll boogies."

Prof. McGonagall: "5 points for each of you for sheer dumb luck!" - which carries them through about half of the things they do.

Ron: "That's not just a broom stick. That's a Nimbus 2000."

Hagrid "Who told you about fluffy?"
Herm: "that thing has a name?!"
Hagrid: "Of course he's got a name."

Hagird: "I should not have said that."

Keyword: Nicholas Flamel

Christmas! Lots of snow that i'm thankful we don't get. Ghosts are caroling. Ron & Harry are playing Wizards chess, a foreshadowing. Ron's brother is in Romania who's working with Dragons there, also a foreshadowing.

Ron: "I think we've been a bad influence on her."

Harry gets his invisibility cloak - i'm still not sure who really gave it to him.

More plot... the mirror that gives neither "knowledge or truth" but shows Harry his most deep desire which is to have his parents back. Again, something that will be brought up to be used in future books. It's amazing all the things J.K. Rowlings linked between one book to the next.

Ta-Da! They figure out what Fluffy is guarding.

Mr.Filch: "At one time detention was you hanging by your thumbs in the dungeons. Oh, i miss the old days."

Herm: "As long as Dumbledore is around you can't be touched" - well, wouldn't you know, he went out of town.

Gees this movie is long...

Ron: "you're a little scary sometimes, brilliant but scary"

Harry, taking it upon himself to protect the object and herm and ron. Don't you think it's odd that a bunch of old, knowledgeable wizards would put spells and blocks up to protect the stone and then first years can come in and do basic magic to get by? Hm, anyone find that convenient? It is nice that each challenge does cater to one of the threes abilities, so with out one of them, all of them couldn't make it.

The larger than life chess set has to be the best one of the movie.

Voldemort: "Ha, bravery! Your parents had it too."

Harry's hands can some how burn Pro. Quirrell's body. What, really, how? Apparently love did it. Harry's mom died trying to save him and gave Harry and special protection of love. This theme is also continued on through the movies.

Things never to be seen again: The awarding of house cup, points taken and given, and those pointy hats they wear at the end.

Cat Fight

I went to a casual social thing tonight. I had a little anxiety about it because i'd only know about 2 people and i don't do small talk to strangers well. Turns out a girl that i have legitimate reason to hate was there and doing little things to help the hostess out. She was nice to me! She asks me if i want something to drink and instead of saying f-off, i request a beer. She even comes over and checks on me 2 times through out the couple hours i was there.

She was NICE and i did the socially acceptable thing and put on my smiley mask and was pleasant towards her. I refuse to like her. I will not be won over by her niceness!

p.s. don't drink beer with out food it goes right to the head and causes wild, dramatic thoughts and scenarios to run through it.

Time

Here is the catch with NaBloPoMo, it actually takes time to write interesting blog posts. I seem to forget this, i imagine that every day i'll be able to whip up something interesting but quickly.

Needless to say, it's been a day when i get home and my mind is numb and i give into the urge to watch a movie with out doing anything productive. Tonight's selection is Get Smart with Steve Carell and Ann Hathaway. We saw it in the theater and laughed and laughed! I recommend it if you need something light hearted.

Good note, i mailed off my zine pages tonight. I'll have a scanned version tomorrow.

Banner

Ah, that's much better! The prior banner was ok but something about the type size and aged background was not working. This one is much better.

You can see previous banners on my flickr account at the request of Marillaane. Tag: blogbanner. Except i didn't post the bad one that was up for a few days you only get to see the good ones.

***
There is a lot of buzz today about the election. Finally got my ballot filled out last night and dropping it off after work {closes at 8pm here}.

Harry Potter backwards

My hubs and i watch a lot of movies. We're currently on a Harry Potter kick, we don't own it so we've been renting them but in reverse order. It's most interesting to watch all the kids getting younger. It's pretty impressive how much they change between movie 4 and 5. Currently watching Chamber of Secrets, i don't really like this one, as i recall it leaves a lot of the book out and in general i don't like Prof. Lockheart.

Also, i just realized it on this watch through, that Harry uses magic every summer and always gets out of the rule "no underage magic out of school". For that matter there is a lot of special treatment for those 3 on all the school rules. Guess it wouldn't be as good if they were not helped along all the time.

Ok, that's it, i've got to get back to the zine pages.

Day 2

Day 2 and i'm already lacking things to report about. I've been working on my zine pages - they're turning out excellent. Post them when i'm finished.

Here's a photo for AEDM. A few months ago my husband and i went out for dinner and i ordered pomegranate lemonade. It was pretty good. Even though it's old i only just got to edit it.

A Good Start

November is off to a good start.

I've picked up my copy of Lolita and i'll be starting it this weekend. The reading syllabus won't be available until Monday but i figure i can't go wrong reading the first few chapters.

Started on that mission statement. It's going a little slow. I let my self be distracted by looking for a new place to live - even though we won't be moving until the end of March. There is this perfect little house near my work but i don't think it'll be available when we're ready. Maybe something exactly like it will be available.

For AEDM I've uploaded a little video of a tree that lives outside our apartment building. It had AWESOME color this fall. This is straight from the camera {cannon A630} the thing is, the quality is crap and i'm not really sure what to do about it. Probably access to a video editor that could compress it correctly for the web would probably be good. If anyone has any thoughts, let me know!