Chicken Butt

Beginning to look like Christmas...

It's 11:13 PM and I'm trying to decide if I really need to take out the garbage tonight. I've stayed indoors and unshowered today. It's lovely to watch the snow fall on my driveway, but quite another to drive in the stuff. 

Today I engraved or marked all the tools I'm giving to nephews The First and The Third. Didn't take as long as I fears. As I write this I'm also installing iWork onto an iMac to be found under the tree in three days by The First. We all pitched in so Santa could be extra generous this year. 

I tried to set up the email to connect to a gmail account but failed. My main task was to set the wallpaper to something that Santa would have set it to. I found a bunch of potential images via Gizmodo. There are some really lovely ones that I really liked, but they were a bit abstract. I think NtF will really like this one. It looks really good on this 21.5" screen. Even with the plastic screen protector still on. 

This is really a sweet computer. Not sure I like the new mouse and the bluetooth keyboard is the tiny one without the number pad. I know wires aren't very stylish, but for a desktop I think wired keyboards make sense. It's bad enough when batteries die in your mouse, the bluetooth mighty mouse I bought for my MBP is lousy, but two battery hogging flaky controllers would drive me mad. Plus I like the extra USB ports in the wired keyboard (and the number pad). I don't use the keyboard much though. I mostly use my laptop from my lazy-boy. 

Okay. iWork installed. Now I need to close it down and wrap it up like new. "Leave no trace" is a good motto for Santa's helpers too.

Tasks for tomorrow:

1. Sew gift bags for everything. (Cheap X-mas fabric washed today.)
2. Make gift tags.
3. Sew set of zipper bags for sis. (optional, but I'd really like to do this)
4. Buy a lot of scotch tape for final present for the boys.
5. Buy green onions, bacon, Miracle Whip.
6. Make double batch of traditional Christmas Eve cheese-ball. Cooking the bacon is what takes me forever. I usually bake the bacon, but it still takes forever.
7. Make a mix CD or two for Dad.
8. Electrolysis appointment at 1:30.

Shit. I was thinking I was in good shape. I really should not have played WoW for 2 hours today. I thought of installing WoW on the iMac, but sis thought it might give it away. Certainly Santa knows that Max hasn't been able to play for many many months. Hm. Really tempted to Install it all including patches. Otherwise NtF will spend all day installing.

Updated 12-23 5:51 pm: I'm so screwed. iMac ready for delivery but I may not get around to the CD for Dad or Zipper bags for sis. 

Updated CB, a little

Well I added Mon's new blog, Monido this, to my Compulsively Clicked links. While I was in there tinkering I removed some broken links and some sites I just don't visit very often anymore.*

I also updated my Currently Reading list. The last time I updated was Jul 7, 2008. It did not take me 17 months to read Crooked Little Veins. I might remove that section if I'm unmotivated to keep it up.

Also, I thought that my most recent Twitterings were appearing in the sidebar, but they disappeared. So now, you should see the last four updates I've made. Let me know if you don't see them. The widget might be flaky. 

I'm struggling a bit with Facebook added into the mix. I don't want to link my real name to my blogs. But some things I want to write about would be equally appropriate on FB as CB. The decision between FB and Twitter is hard too. One big factor is that I'm friends with some work people that are not really friends. It's all getting a bit complicated isn't it. I like FB for the easy casual contact with old and current friends, but I miss some of the older social formats. One reason I finally joined FB was to keep up with the KarenWorld gang. It's just not the same.

I've also reconnected with some very special friends from my past. They ask me what I've been doing for X number of years and it is tempting to share CB with them. But no one should have to sift through four years of my ramblings. I certainly don't want to.

Yes, it has been four years. I started CB in August 2005. This is post number 358. My five loyal readers are now shaking their heads in disbelief at the incredible time suck I'v been. Thanks guys!

* Quite a while ago I had to cut some blogs from my daily reading because their blogs turned into mostly food porn sites. Love Smitten Kitchen and Apartment 2012(?) but too much food discussion and luscious food photography is not good for me.

It's a two-fer day!

I hung my Christmas stocking sis made for me today. She used some pieces of mom's favorite sweaters that she wore all the time. I made the MoM pin on the pocket in sixth grade. It is layers of construction paper glued together, sanded, and laminated. I always focused on the fact that I meant to write Mom and accidentally wrote MoM. Later when I mentioned this, other people assumed I'd meant to do it and that it looks good this way. It is slightly painful to me still. When I can look at the pin and not see my mistake I think I'll be a healthier person than I am now.

(Click to enbiggen pics)

I love this stocking. My sister does not consider herself artistic or crafty. I love that she made it anyways. The shape is a bit lumpy and we mock it sometimes, but I love that sis made it for me and I think of mom and sis whenever I see it (unless I'm too self-involved, then I see the glaring MoM first). Tomorrow would have been mom's sixty-eighth birthday. Christmas cheer is much harder without mom.

Do what I say, not...ah you know

I want my friends who blog to post new stuff everyday to entertain me. Which is hardly fair considering my own sporadic posting. Speaking of which, Monica has started a blog! Hooray! I cannot wait to see Monido this populated with crafty goodness. I hope she posts some of her past projects too. I've heard much about various projects, but haven't seen pictures of the results.

I've started several posts, but not published them. Mood, motivation, accurate judging of writing quality; take your pick of reasoning.

Here is some of what is going on with me:

1. Sis does not want me to post pics of her kids on Facebook. She will allow me to post a few pics of Halloween costumes here. This is on my big list of things to do.
2. I hardly ever go to parties. They stress me out. Especially if I've gained weight and don't feel at home in my own skin nor in my wardrobe. I have two parties to attend Saturday. The annual glug party I love and a friend's 50th birthday party. Though I look forward to the glug, parties with small talk and mostly people I hardly know exhaust me. I am trying to get into the proper spirit here. I think a pretty, flattering top would help.
3. I hung a wreath on my condo door and my stocking over the fireplace. Want to put up a few more things, but so far have not taken action on this.
4. Used a bunch of credit card points to buy B&N e-gift cards. Tired of saving the points for something practical, I blew the whole wad buying DVDs to replace some VHS movies in my collection. It's been really exciting to get packages at work this week. Shocking that some movies are not available on DVD. Either they are not released yet or have never been available. Or maybe just not on B&N. Compared to Amazon their website is painful to use and their prices suck. But who cares because now I have many shiney "free" DVDs.
5. I'm taking 2 weeks off. Five working days remain before vacation. Nope, no plans. Heaven.

Please forgive me if I've written about any of these things before. I've lost track between unplublished posts, twitter and Facebook.

If you know you're crazy are you still crazy?

I’m spending too much time in my own head lately. I should make an effort to talk with friends, but I’m out of the habit. Most of the time I’m perfectly content to entertain myself. I’m not lonely, but it isn’t healthy for my brain to spend too long in infinite loops with no external feedback.

Thankfully when I do reach out I’ve got friends willing to smack me upside the head with virtual sledge hammers to knock the crazy loose. In other words, I’ve started a potentially obsessive crush and am trying to nip it in the bud. This means, I’ve deleted many words from this post to prevent future embarrassment.

Full stop.

Oops! No title

Plenty of randomish thoughts, but no motivation to explore them. Rather than creating another post that will languish on my hard drive I'll post it anyways:

• Go Karen! 30,020 words completed with seven days to go. Karen is posed to win the NaNoWriMo challenge again this year. My hero. If you are stuck for a character take a look at this print: Characters for an Epic Tale
• I croqueted a hat over the weekend. I used some pink fuzzy yarn I bought years ago and cannot remember what I intended to make. It might have been a hat, so bad I only had two small skeins. It is a pointed stocking hat that I made up as I went along. If I had had more yarn I would have done single croquet stitch throughout, but instead did double until the brim. Tried to make a pompom for the end, but it was a fuzzy disaster that would leave a trail of fibers wherever I traveled.  It doesn’t match a thing, but I really like it.
• On Saturday I intended to sand the top for what will someday become my kitchen table. It’s been in my garage for about two years now. I started to tidy up the garage first and didn’t get to the table at all. I decided I probably could get my Christmas tree down from the shelves by myself and went for it. Not only did I not drop the box or injure myself, but it fit into the boot of my MINI with the passenger seat down. I took my tree, a batch of VHS tapes, a few DVDs and a stool to Goodwill. Weee! I have extra space in my garage now. Now I have room to move some more temperature impervious stuff out of my living space. I have a pile of Halloween costume pieces by the front door.
• When I pulled the random bits of Halloween stuff together from around my condo I noticed with a bit of shock how many pairs of funny eyelashes I’ve collected. I have nine pairs now. None are exactly alike, but really, I think I’m set for now.

Hm, there is more but I've pooped out.

Hey, I'm published

Go to The Morning News to read the story of my first horror movie. TMN's Of Recent Note feature is a collection of ~150 word stories from TMN writers and reader submissions on various topics. I usually start to write something for it, but this is the first time I've sent one. I'm pretty sure they use every submision. Also, I'm so used to posting comments as Dodi I didn't put my real name on it. I'm the only one using a nickname.

My story is third from the bottom. They embedded video clips for each story, which is pretty cool. The article was posted on October 29, but I just saw it today because I've been sick. Is it swine flu? I don't know. I think it is just broncitis. I didn't go to the doctor though. I never caught my fever higher than 99.7 and I've mostly had a killer headache, dry cough and low grade fever. My nephews, who do have swine flu are snotty, wet-coughing, feverish messes.

In case I didn't state for certain before. I am not doing NaNoWriMo 2009. Nor am I doing any other structured activity this month. I do intend to keep using my craft room regularly though. I have to take my sewing machine in for repair. The reverse function is broken. I hope the Creative Sewing Center doesn't drive me crazy with rotten service this time.

I haven't asked my sis for permission to post pics of her kids yet. So no Halloween pics yet.

Squeal piggy squeal

Nephew the First (NtF) was diagnosed this morning with swine flu. My sister brought him to the doctor for his cough. Poor kid has bronchitis and tested positive for the flu. Ever since her call I’ve been very aware of the throat and lungs. I call it psychosomatic, but maybe hypochondriac is more accurate. I only saw him for about 90 minutes on Sunday and we didn’t cuddle.

I really want to buy him a piggy bank or Webkin pig or something swine-y. Also, if my other nephews make it through without catching it I should make them “My brother had swine flu and all I got was this lousy t-shirt!” shirts.

Are you suggesting that coconuts migrate?

It must be time to watch Holy Grail again. The phrase “unladen swallow” has been buzzing in my head since last night. I think the DVD is in my possession. On my birthday I got a box full of movies I loaned out three years ago. All very good movies I recommended to a friend for a solo trip to Hawaii. They were stolen during a flight between islands. I was thrilled to have them back and have watched all except Crash, Elf and The Ref since their return*. I had lamented their absence on many occasions. I was especially happy to rewatch The Station Agent, Four Feathers and The Fifth Element. Should I admit something? (We’re all friends here right?) I now have two copies of XXX (with Vin Diesel)**. It was on sale and I needed it. Would someone like my extra copy?

In other news, a co-worker has discovered the joy that is xkcd. I saw him walking down the hall with a printout and he was itching to share. There is something joyful in xkcd, even at it’s most cynical.

* I still feel a bit of a twat for agreeing to replacements, but it was ~ 13 movies. Only one they could not locate and I said not to bother was History of Violence. Of course I saw it at B&N last week and now have an itch to see it again. I’ll have to Netflix it. (Possible future post: Why is it that LoTR actors are stunning in LoTR and never quite so good in other films? Is it the story? The cinematography? The director? Viggo is lovely as Aragorn and okay in everything else. I do adore Karl Urban in Star Trek though. He is such a good Bones.)

** How can I love a movie with such horrid dialog? Memorable Quotes page on Monty Python movie makes me chuckle and want to watch again right now. The Memorable Quotes on XXX makes me uncomfortable and ashamed of how much I enjoy it.

More thoughts on writing versus Writer

I thought about my sporadic urge to be a writer quite a bit this weekend.

I also want to work on the production crew of a major movie some time. I want to do a job to get my names in the credits, like Assistant to the Assistant PA or set building. I’d love to see what it is really like to make a movie. But I'm not going to move to LA or Montreal and try to break into the movie business. I want Oprah to grant me a wish so I can take a six month sabbatical from my real life and be a movie production grunt for a while. I think I want to be a writer in the same way. "Poof!" I'm a writer, I'll just pound out this novella and wrap it all up nice and tidy in a few months, get published and then, "Poof!" back to real life. Which is ridiculous, of course it is. I’m not even sure the published part is really important. I’m always drawn to the NaNoWriMo event, and that isn’t about publishing, it is about finishing a novel. I know this, but I love reading so much, I want to participate in the whole scene, not just the audience role.

One thing that attracts me to writing is the process of critique and discussion of the craft. I get excited about writing workshops and stories about mentors. It makes me homesick for the good parts of being a painting major. Chatting with a teacher at the studios about broad concepts and specific techniques was lovely. Critiques were great if I had finished my piece and wasn’t ashamed of myself for extreme procrastination. It would be so cool to go back to that environment now, with better discipline and an appreciation for that freedom and opportunity.

That might be the key: nostalgia. I read a lot of blogs by writers about writing. I read a lot of craft blogs too, but haven’t found many artists’ blogs. Actually, I have a lot of artist blogs bookmarked, but isn’t much activity on them or they are badly written or boring to me. Maybe I’ve glommed onto writers because they are there, active, well-spoken and entertaining.

I want to be a writer (Or Navel-gazing again)

I read a lot about writing today. The Morning News has an essay by a student of Annie Dillard and two related links in the links in the Weekend Edition of Headlines:

1. Annie Dillard and the Writing Life by Alexander Chee
2. Becoming a Writer by Junot Diaz
3. Why I Write by Stephen Elliott

When I read essays like these I want to be a writer. I want to learn to craft words that change how people perceive their world. There are so many things wrong with that ambition I’m not sure where to start:

• I don’t know much about technicalities of writing. I looked up gerunds while reading the Chee piece. I have to think twice about what adverbs are and cannot diagram a sentence. I remember my sixth grade English classroom and taking my turn at the board to make marks around sentences. I even remember that it wasn’t very difficult. I just don’t remember what any of it means. I could fix this. I could read some books about it.
• Writers write. Usually from an early age writers write out their hopes and fears. Writers write no matter what. It is a persistence compulsion. This is not me. I wish this was me.
• When I read about technical business of writing (narrative voice, structure, moving time) I lose enjoyment of reading.
• When I try to think of a story I’m blank. Maybe I could write non-fiction. I like to research things. I’m not very good at follow-through. I’ve started to write out details and results from my hunts for assorted information. Most of those posts never make it past draft status. Does anyone want to know what I learned about making pettiskirts (with source links)? Maybe when I get some pictures of my attempts I’ll fill it out with that info.

I think my craving to “be a writer” is just another way I’m looking for complements.  I have sometimes been casually praised for my writing and I want more. I want to turn a slight talent into a gift, into genius. Freshman year my teacher Peter told me he liked one little swirl on a painted sketch for a project in Drawing 101. I became a painting major on the strength of the one complement. (This is a slight exaggeration, but still true. I was disillusioned by Graphic Design and the Photography department was a political nightmare. There was also no portfolio was required to become a painting major. They took anyone.)

What I want is to be a great writer without putting in the work that must be done to get there. Once again reality puts the damper on desire. THPTPTH!*

So where does that leave me? Same place I started but with a belly-lint filled post on writing.  I’ll continue to live vicariously through Karen (You rock star!) and write here on Chicken Butt and live my life. I know my writing has improved since I started this blog. I don’t think I slip into a writerly voice anymore. I could still use a better editor than myself but who couldn't?

Oh, and go read the linked essays above if you haven’t done so. Especially the first and third.

*This is a Bill The Cat style razzberry. Calvin & Hobbes style adds a B: THBPBPTHPT!

Knock wood

Halloween costumes are in progress. So far I’m on track (I think). Three weekends left before school parades and H day. My goal is to finish all costumes on time without pulling any all-nighters.
Status:

Pirate vest: In Progress - needs buttonholes and buttons
Pirate pants: In Progress - needs waist elastic stitched, leg elastic waiting for boot cover completion
Pirate boot covers: Not Started
Pirate shirt: Not Started – considering buying adult pattern instead of altering child pattern
Pirate head scarf: Not Started
Snowman costume: In Progress – Fleece pieces cut
Snowman hat: In Progress – needs new band w/ flower. needs glue touched up to black from sizing changes. Should fit now, smaller felt hat glued inside too large top hat.
Ballerina tutu: Not Started - materials purchased.
Ballerina top: Not Started – probably needs embellishments to shirt sis will buy/find
Dark Fairy skirt: Not Started, materials purchased, ruffler foot bought, test gathering in progress.
Dark Fairy top: Not Started
Dark Fairy wings: In progress – wings purchased, need modifying if there is time

Ugh, so now that I wrote it out I don’t feel as impressed with myself. Maybe I’ll work on the boot covers so I can finish the pants too. I’d feel better if I had anything completely finished. At least this year I’ve got patterns for everything. Which is less stressful, but not as exciting either. It is frustrating figuring out what sewing instructions and unclear diagrams mean.

The pink chiffon and satin for Sis’s ballerina tutu arrived today. It will take time to get together, but once I figure out proper adjustment for the ruffler foot to gather 3-to-1 it should go pretty smooth. I will install my first invisible zippers for the snowman suit and do not have a special invisible zipper presser foot. I found this tutorial for using the standard zipper foot to sew invisible zippers, so I should be okay. Until this week I didn’t even know there was a specific foot for invisible zippers.

A huge thank you goes to Karen, who bought the snowman pattern in Canada and shipped it to me here in Illinois. Burda Fashion doesn’t sell it in the USA. Burda also doesn’t include seam allowances in the patterns. Both these things are very strange.

Apropos nothing, I read People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks this weekend. It was very good. I wonder why I let it sit on my to-read shelf for so long. (Please do not point out the correlation of reading a novel in three days to my costume progress. I do not acknowledge the implied causation.)

Blimey!

Today I gave away a book I’ve had in my car trunk for months.* I originally bought that copy of Little Brother, by Cory Doctorow, to give to a cousin on Christmas Eve. Then Dad and I skipped the festivities in Madison due to bad driving weather. The lovely metal measuring cups intended for the grab bag exchange migrated quickly into my kitchen. The book languished unread on my shelves.

I eat lunch in restaurants most work days (okay, every work day). Since I read at lunch I end up having many bookish conversations with restaurant employees. A young manager at Olive Garden and I had several conversations about reading. He wants to start reading, but wasn’t sure where to start and never gets around to it. I recommended a few things based on some books he liked. That evening I decided I’d give him my extra copy of Little Brother. Today is the first time I’ve seen him since. He said he has been working nights. I hope he enjoys it. I’ve now given away three copies of that book. Or is it four? It’s one of the books I grab now for literacy drives where you donate books at the book store counter.

*I tried to write boot instead of trunk but I just couldn’t do it. I love my MINI Cooper, watch way too much British TV drama and sometimes call my condo a flat, but I cannot use boot instead of trunk. Not naturally anyway. There is some kink in my mind that goes wonky if I try.