December 30, 2010

A note, in case my dates don't mesh with the date that blogger puts up: I count today as I'm writing this as yesterday's date still. Even though it's after midnight, I'm still awake, so I count it as yesterday still.

Just thought I'd clarify.

Anyway, so on one of the blogs that I read, there was a "Resolutions" entry.

I'm not a resolution-ing kind of person. I usually don't stick to my goals. Let's be serious who we're talking about here.

But I did like hers: Clean the craft space.

I can do that, I thought.

And I will chronicle the journey. Now she had this "start anew" thing, about cleaning it on the 1st of January. I hope to be nursing a hangover and sleeping in on January 1st after a Star Wars Movie Marathon.

Besides that, I have a feeling that it will take me a little bit longer to clean than one day. Even if I worked really, really fast.

Especially since I never actually had to organize craft stuff before. It was just papers, markers, glue, scissors: marker bin!

Here's what I've got as a mess now:

My kitchen, a "makeshift" sewing table... and kitchen table, and storage space...

One side of the craft room that I commandeered

and the other side of the craft room th at I store stuff on.

And that's not including my desk area. We won't get into that, even though I should be organizing it first since I work at it, like, every day or so during school.

But I got a new to me computer that runs well, and splurged on a wireless keyboard and mouse set...

Look, now I'm far away from my computer and ta da! Still typing to you!

So I shall be happy until it breaks again. And I also purchased some shoes, on sale for $11.00. Woohoo!

Until tomorrow (Tonight, to you people who are sleeping)...

And to all, Happy New Year Celebrations! Be safe and drink smart. Also, don't drink and drive. Seriously. I have to walk everywhere. If I were driving I wouldn't worry so much, but as a pedestrian... there is nothing separating me from your SUV's grill. Keep me in mind, if nothing else.

December 27/10

Christmas was pretty awesome. I got a new camera in replacement for the broken one (WOOh, Santa!) and so now there are randomly interspersed pictures throughout.

<--Panorama on my Camera!! Cool, eh? From Right to Left, it's my Dad, Uncle Bobo, and my mom's arm.

I did a few crafts with the sisters. A tonne of baking at the Grandma's.

I also got a Whirly-Pop (which is the coolest popcorn-popping thing since sliced bread... maybe even before) and a magic bullet...

Mmmmm.... Food. Tasty. Some of the stuff we do at Grama's for xmas.

And the nutcracker that I got was an M&M nutcracker. It's funny.

You eat the m&ms from his mouth that opens when you push the paddle at the back.

One day I'll figure out the boyfriend thing so that we can, you know, be TOGETHER around xmas. Yeah.

His mother's not "celebrating" Christmas anymore, but she still wants to have dinner and a family get-together, at Christmas. Makes Super-Duper sense, right?

Not really.

Sorry. Confusion is one of those things that I've learned I can't deal with. Illogical ideas are other things I can not wrap my mind around and therefore, they frustrate me.

I'll figure it out?

December 23/10

(In the corner (upper right corner), you can see the ribbon wreath my sisters and I made--these are most of my awesome little siblings. The oldest of the five siblings is upstairs, likely on his lappy.


I know! So long since I last updated. I've been busy. Not even crafting--fooding with my siblings and grandma for xmas goodies. Today we went for a walk to the store (a side-effect of not having an accessible car) and picked up stuff to make popcorn balls with.

The Smarties failed. We pretty much just ate them after we made the balls. One day I'll find a way to do it that works. It was good, though; my baby sister found that she helped a lot more.

(Pictures, I know! It seems my camera only works in the dark, but as soon as there's light the camera has wee lines all over the picture... hm..)

Anyway, I'm off back to PTBO tonight courtesy of my brother who drives (and has an accessible car at the moment).

Tomorrow's Christmas Eve.

Busy time for us now--'specially my 'rents who are working again tomorrow. Yeah. On Christmas Eve. Nice, right? They work just about every day. It sucks, but it's life, I suppose.

Gotta finish dinner. Parents will be home from work soon, and it's nice to eat at a reasonable hour.

December 16, 2010

Bwahahaha. I have finished and wrapped several, yes several gifts. I also have not really done much other than gifts in the last little while... but still.

Here's one I made (started out as a brown frame, and the one I accidentally blue-d up the bathroom floor with) for my friends Becka and Pat; they're getting married this year, and this is a silhouette of them dancing:

Yay! Now, soon, off to dinner with them.

Dec 15 2010... again

Well, I finished my brother's sweatshirt: (On the front it says danger like a danger sign):

I finished a few other things...

And I spray painted my floor accidentally after spraying it outside on a plastic bag (in the snow, I live in Canada, people...) and then bringing it in to my bathroom. I think I might be a little high from the fumes, but the window's open. And then I noticed the floor...

It was a BIG puddle of blue splotches from the dripping paint. Off of the plastic bag. *facepalm*.

So I vimmed the crap out of it:

And good as new!

Now, to take off my pants and switch to crappy old pjs so that my jeans don't get ruined from cleaning with bleach. And also, to moisturize and drink three glasses of water. For some reason, I'm as dry as the Sahara Desert!

On to more!

December 15, 2010

So, I didn't get around to a second post last night. I did get some work done though (I made three of them for three people that I like a lot)<-ETA: that parenthesis:

These are super cute, and I stole them from here:

http://iammommahearmeroar.blogspot.com/2010/11/cozy-button-wrap-with-disney-from.html

And they came from here: http://www.rufflesandstuff.com/

I think that in all good bloggy-ness, I should tell them that I linked to them, but I'm not going to tell them on their own blogs.

Good blog givers, I have linked up to you. And stole your ideas. Repeatedly. I love your ideas.

There.

--Hold on for my amazing leftover beef and barley stew break--

In case you didn't notice, it was so good that I ate it in under two minutes. I love beef and barley stew.

Anyway, I'm off to do more. I've stolen most of it from other places... But I have too much to do and only really tonight and tomorrow to do them...

:S

December 14, 2010

In four days, I go to my Grama's and then my Mum's house! (That means that in four days, I have to be done ALL my Christmas gifts...) It's a good thing I only have one exam and no classes this week!

I guess I'm excited but I feel kind of stressed about it.

It's a lot of work, you know? I feel like I should have started these crafts/sewing projects months ago. Oh, wait, I did. I just never finished them...

That's okay. I'll do it all. And I'll get my laundry done. The house just might not be clean.

I was going to get a Christmas tree this year, for the first year ever!

But, I don't know, it's the 14th and I'm leaving on the 18th, so I'm not sure now.

Anyway, gotta go out and pick some stuff up (like tape. Yes. I ran out of tape while halfway through wrapping presents the other night and haven't had time to buy more since I worked all weekend).

So, to go out! (Nothing like a bright and early lunch-time start to your day--I slept in for a long time :D)

Depending on what I get done today, I might double post this evening when I need a break from hand sewing.

Dec 12/10

Well, I'm klutzy. I broke my glasses last night. I've been wandering around all day, half-blind since I worked and it's Sunday. That also means that the stores aren't really open today. Tomorrow they are, but I work 10-5 so the likelihood of me getting out and buying glasses is nil. Those are pretty much the hours of any store where I live. Except for my store, which is generally open 9-9 (even on Saturdays, but not Sunday), and also Wal-Mart (Which I love for it's 24 hour Christmas shopping season. If only it were open 24 hours year-round).

I did however decide that if I'm gonna be klutzy, I'm gonna look good. So I slapped on some makeup and left my hair down.

And then it snowed. Like crazy. For hours.

And now it's freezing. I just figure my only chance of survival is to stay indoors. So much for that spray painting I wanted to do to that frame... I can't do that outside now! Maybe Tuesday...

December 11/2010

As dumb as this sounds, I have started going to see a counselor (which for some reason I always initially spell "counsellor") at my school for depression.

I've been pretty bummed, on and off, for several years. I haven't really had any reason for it that I can think of. Last year it got really bad; I pretty much got kicked out of school and had to give a heck of a tonne of reasons that I should stay because I just couldn't seem to get up or develop any motivation to do anything. It wasn't a pretty sight, and I'm kind of ashamed for wasting a year. What I honestly recall isn't pretty, and what I don't recall, I'm told, is worse. For some reason, I seem to have HUGE forgotten chunks of time.

Anyway, one of the people I had to talk to at school to get back in suggested a counselor. I finally gave in when I realized that even when I'm happy, I'm generally not really happy.

Stupid, right? I'm not really happy, even though I'm happy.

And I don't know why I'm not happy. There's no real reason for it other than I just don't think correctly.

So anyway, my counselor suggested I start paying attention to negative things that I think since I am an angry person who also struggles with self-deprecation, minor anxiety and negative self-speak. (And several other things which I shan't get into).

Which leads me to this: I was reading some blogs on a link party (because that's what I do with my free time, read blogs) and I came across a few that were like "WILL FOLLOW BACK"...and I was like: "I'm not sure I'd want someone to follow my blog."

Isn't that silly? I don't want someone to read what I'm writing because... and here's the kicker... it's not good enough.

Yeah. Negative self-speak, right there.

I know, my blog's not pretty. It doesn't follow an idea trail. It's all over the place. It's messy. It's truthful...

But you know what? That's okay. I'm okay with that. I don't want it to be pretty. I don't want it to be solidly dependable. That's not what I'm about.

I'm about being messy and unpredictable. I love myself for that; it's a part of me being an aquarius. I'm confusing, I'm out there, I'm aloof, and I don't think that I should feel bad about myself because of that. And damned if I'm not the one who'll tell you that that shade of lipstick does NOTHING for you.

Except I'm already going to be damned for everything else I do that goes against me going to Heaven (You know like blasphemy and greed and sins and stuff)... I think I prefer to believe in reincarnation, or something equally as unimportant.

Also: Does anyone know what the purpose of a panda bear's canines are? I was wondering since I was under the impression that canines were for tearing flesh, incisors were for ripping vegetation and molars are for chewing and mushing up foods? (Eg: a cow is a vegetarian: they have incisors for ripping up grass, and molars for chewing it. Repeatedly.) Do pandas eat meat? Why do they have canines?

Even the bio majors that I know didn't know the answer to it. The answer I repeatedly got was: They use them to eat bamboo? (That was a question; they aren't really sure).

...No, I did a quick Wiki search: (from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_panda)

Despite its taxonomic classification as a carnivoran, the Giant Panda has a diet that is primarily herbivorous, which consists almost exclusively of bamboo.^[21] However, the Giant Panda still has the digestive system of a carnivore, as well as carnivore-specific genes,^[27] and thus derives little energy and little protein from consumption of bamboo. Its ability to digest cellulose is ascribed to the microbes in its gut.^[28] The average Giant Panda eats as much as 9 to 14 kg (20 to 30 pounds) of bamboo shoots a day. Because the Giant Panda consumes a diet low in nutrition, it is important for it to keep its digestive tract full.^[21] The limited energy input imposed on it by its diet has affected the panda's behavior. The Giant Panda tends to limit its social interactions and avoids steeply sloping terrain in order to limit its energy expenditures.^[29]

Basically: We're looking at a normal bear that traveled to the wrong part of the world and got stuck. Oops.

Interestingly, the article goes on to describe how the bear must find at least two different kind of bamboo to survive since bamboo has a synchronous cycle.

Hm.

I figured that since it had canines, it would likely have eaten meat. I wonder if it will eventually evolve to not have canines?

I wonder if it's been there in China for a short (And by short I mean only a few thousand years) time?

I wonder if it can still eat meat like a black bear would?

I wonder if there were food for it to eat, if it would eat other food, or if it prefers bamboo? It would probably prefer bamboo, just from having eaten it for so long and not having known anything else. Although, just because a kid never eats ice cream doesn't mean he won't when he's finally offered it...

8/12/2010

You know, I wonder why after years and years of understanding that "divided we fall..." how it is that everyone is so divided...
I'm not saying that everyone needs to be the same, I am saying that everyone who is trying to be different for the sake of difference needs to realize one thing: We are all people. You can be anything, but those people you're denouncing are also people. They may not have "morals" because they offended you, but they're still just like you.

Just my thought of the day.

Chili-December 5/10

Firstly, I'd like to point out that I did use a title today. The reason that I never really use titles is that sometimes, I really just can't think of a title (you know what they say[mostly my mom]: If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all). But other times I do think up titles that kind of just seem like the right thing to say. All I can think about right now is how awesome Chili is.

So that's the title.

I love chili. I'd like to point out that while I was sick and feeling gross, I made chili. A friend of mine who is picky with food sincerely enjoyed it. I'd say that's good :D

I made mine out of my head.

Chili:

1 1/2 lbs ground beef

1 can kidney beans

1 can diced tomatoes

Some water (I think I used about three cups, maybe a little more-I think I added another cup later on since it was getting too thick for what I wanted)

1 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper, dried (to taste. I think I used a little more, but I didn't really measure)

1 packet reduced salt taco seasoning (Because I didn't have cumin or any of the other spices you're supposed to have)

pepper to taste

Brown ground beef in the soup pot if possible. If not, make sure to move over the ground beef runoff to the soup pot. Add diced tomatoes and kidney beans. I didn't drain either, feel free to do so; mine was quite watery after the fact and I think that this is why. Add some water so while it's cooking it doesn't stick to the bottom or boil down too much. Cook on med-high heat for about 20 minutes, hopefully it will start to bubble a little. Turn down heat to about a medium, maybe medium low; add spices. Cook for a while longer-about 40 minutes. Hang out.

Serve in one of the many ways that chili serves best.

The really awesome reason that I love chili is that it can be used in so many ways.

On Friday, I used it as chili. On the chili I put a dallop of sour cream and grated some cheese and some green onion on top of it, stuck two nachos (the cheap kind) on top, and served it as a chili. Makes sense, right?

Last night, I used leftovers as a chip-dip. Instead of a big bowl of chili, I put some chili in the bottom, mixed in sour cream, shredded some cheese and onion on top. (You could add a layer of lettuce if you'd like, too). Then I used some more nachos to dip into it. (You could use a flatbread, or any more healthy version of a crispy chip-like substance--I'm cheap, so compliments nachos it is).

Tonight, I'm eating a bowl of pasta, topped with chili.

A. MAZ.ING.

So tasty, my grama showed me that one. I wonder what I'll do with the awesome chili tomorrow?!?

Anyway, that was what was on my mind. I think it's time that I start the beginning of my Christmas crafts for the night. (This might post as the 6th, but it's actually the 5th. I worked all day, and then shopped for my brothers' and sisters' and parents' Christmas gifts.

Awesome.

December 2, 2010

Eughhh. I am so sick. It is gross. My eyes are watering and they hurt to keep open because my upper sinuses are swollen, my face and teeth hurt because my sinuses are backed up. I can't properly blow my nose; it's so stuffed that no matter how many times I blow it, it doesn't get un-stuffed, and all I blow out is clear (or bright green, depending on which nostril it is) goop. Lots of it. I went through ten tissues in an hour and a half today while I was in class--that means I was using them until they were folded into little, tiny balls so that they last longer.

I have raw nostrils now. Owwie. I'm hot, and then I'm cold, and then I'm hot. I try to stay hopped up on pills, but they don't work well enough to really do anything. I feel yucky. I'm dizzy and my balance is off. Damn sinuses.

And to top it all off, if I sit still for longer than ten minutes, I fall asleep. I took three naps today while I was doing homework that should have taken thirty minutes. It took me two hours to get it all done- and it's not like, *yawn* I'm tired. It's like, I'm totally awake... *facepalm* *snore* I had to sit in an uncomfortable position where I couldn't possibly nap on my desk/floor/couch/coffee table (yes, I tried to do homework everywhere without falling asleep). I just have too much to do to stay sleeping. And then I slept again right after dinner, because I sat still to eat (a box of stale, on-sale chewy chips ahoy). I think I'll have some chicken soup and clean the rats' cage and do some laundry and then do some of the infinite crafts I have to do before Xmas-

I'm going home on the 18th! I get to stay with my family for ten days! Wooh! I'll miss the BF, though.

Man I'm thirsty. And tired. Time to drink some water and take some more sinus cold and flu pills.

It's not a flu though. It's mostly in my head and throat.

I hope I didn't give it to anyone while I was working or at school, because you know that all the days I'm totally sick like this are days that I have classes that I ABSOLUTELY can't miss and I work on Wednesday that just passed--I don't always work Wednesdays.

Ugh.

Okay, now I'm done ranting and complaining, have a look at these guys: http://www.paulandstorm.com/lyrics/me-make-fire/

I've known about them for ages. I went to see a Jonathan Coulton show and they opened--but I knew about them before that.

It just never occurred to me to put it up here. If you don't find that particular song absolutely hilarious, try: http://www.paulandstorm.com/lyrics/frogger-the-frogger-musical/

or: http://www.paulandstorm.com/lyrics/grandmas-christmas-dinner/ *Beware. They talk about Grandma cooking a dog*.

If that's not your bag of shoes, then I suggest floating around their website. It can't hurt, right? And it's free. I mean, they're awesome. Their music is ... music to my ears? It cheers me up when I'm grossly sick and am snotting all over.

That's why it's on this blog post. It's a pick-me-up. It's hilarious.

One last one, definitely listen to this one, if you do nothing else. It's hilarious and I find myself singing it as much as the me make fire one: http://www.paulandstorm.com/lyrics/ten-finger-johnny/

And if none of these amuses you, I really think that you're a little too serious. Congratulations, you downer.