tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-434455082227918392024-02-06T19:00:44.207-07:00gabbertlanda not-quite mythical place where small children roam wildeasyasbreathinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04183490849502969627noreply@blogger.comBlogger82125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43445508222791839.post-55133303778986412072013-11-18T17:20:00.001-07:002013-11-18T17:20:23.246-07:00Raoul SucksShould you so desire, you can watch the stage production of <b>The Phantom of the Opera</b> on Netflix. I absolutely adore it. The costumes, the sets--the music!--are all gorgeous.<br />
<br />
I've seen it a few times now, and I've realized something.<br />
<br />
Raoul is kind of a douche.<br />
<br />
Sure, he functions as Christine's white knight/Twu Wuv, and he's cute, but beyond that he behaves in ways that make me cranky. He bosses Christine around with no thought to ask about her needs and desires- the first time they meet he says 'to supper!' and Christine says no, and he won't hear it. He just assumes she is available to him. He's very proprietary about her.<br />
<br />
Later, during "All I Ask of You," he pretty much dismisses he experiences with the Phantom as imaginary and infantilizes her. To be fair, Christine seems ok with being wrapped in cotton wool, but still. <br />
<br />
Later, he refuses to listen to Christine's objections to their (frankly ridiculous) plan for apprehending the Phantom. Raoul also dismisses her fear of the Phantom.<br />
<br />
It's never explicitly said, but you can assume he's only treating Christine like this because she is female.<br />
<br />
Ths show was written in the 1980s. Does the main love interest really need to behave like a misogynist jachole? I don't think so. I will continue to love this show, but my word does Raoul make me cranky.easyasbreathinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04183490849502969627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43445508222791839.post-2852462821939937102013-05-13T17:58:00.002-06:002015-08-01T11:46:32.568-06:00clothedI am kind of obsessed with clothes right now. No idea why. I want to look like a cute fashionista, and keep running into some really annoying barriers.<br />
<br />
1. I'm broke.<br />
2. I could sew some cute stuff with what I've got, but my fabric stash is puny. See #1.<br />
3. Current fashion trends dictate showing ALL THE SKIN which, for various reasons, I will not do. <br />
4. Trying to find ideas for stuff to suit my figure is really hard!<br />
<br />
I'm not skinny, I'm not plus-size, I'm the just right sort of shape/size to fall in the style advice gap. It's really quite annoying.<br />
<br />
So here I am. I made myself a dress a couple weeks ago, and it's gorgeous, but I'm a beginning seamstress and didn't take into account that I am not the same dress size all over. I'm having to take the entire bodice apart to take it in, which is really quite unfun, especially since the actual sewing was done so beautifully the first time around. It's silly to have to alter something I made. I guess this is what they call a learning curve?<br />
<br />
Also, our swamp cooler is busted and it's 84 degrees in my house. I may not survive the summer.easyasbreathinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04183490849502969627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43445508222791839.post-54627003962456717622013-04-24T11:14:00.001-06:002013-04-24T11:14:10.790-06:00Project Sewn: A New Project.<a href="http://www.projectsewn.com/2013/04/a-new-project.html?spref=bl">Project Sewn: A New Project.</a>: Elizabeth and I are so excited to unofficially launch Project Sewn today! (We will "officially" launch the site next week with ...easyasbreathinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04183490849502969627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43445508222791839.post-6239175785324166812013-03-07T21:27:00.001-07:002013-03-07T21:27:18.394-07:00patterns... ugh...I need to give Simplicity Patterns a really good finger-wag of disapproval.<br />
<br />
My son has this problem, where he's huge. He's a little chubby, but mostly he's just <i>square.</i> He inherited my bum, too, poor kid. Which means that getting off-the-shelf pants that fit him is IMPOSSIBLE. So I've been making them myself, because I'm awesome like that. I made my own patterns, but they were a bit frumpy, so I bought a commercial pattern.<br />
<br />
This particular pattern claimed to be for kids with a 23" waist. My son is 27" inches around from top to bottom, so I enlarged it a little and went to town. Then, when I tried it on him, it was HUGE!! The smallest pattern size would've worked. <br />
<br />
Basically, the numbers lied to me, and I'm a little annoyed that I had to do a bunch of extra work (fitting and unpicking seams and stuff) that I shouldn't have had to.<br />
<br />
Also? This pattern is only a very slight improvement over the ones I've produced myself, in that I think I've figured out through it how to accommodate my son's spacious derriere The fly makes no sense, the waistband and button hole are just silly.... yeah.<br />
<br />
Basically, unless they are Super Fancy, I'm never buying a pattern for kid pants again. Ever.easyasbreathinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04183490849502969627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43445508222791839.post-81281331208636250052013-01-10T23:28:00.002-07:002013-01-10T23:28:37.229-07:00SnowmageddonToday has been utterly absurd.<br />
<br />
Up until 4pm, everything was pretty much normal. I took Darius to preschool, did homework/housework, snuggled December. At 4:15, I packed up and headed out to my night class up at WSU.<br />
<br />
Today a huge winter storm blew in- the weather people named it 'Gandolf,' of all things. I wasn't really worried, but I did leave a few minutes early to account for the slower speeds everyone would be driving at.<br />
<br />
It took me 2 hours to get to school. Not only was there a nasty storm, but it was rush hour, and it seemed like EVERYONE was on Riverdale Road. I got stuck in ice 3 different times, and one particularly bad stretch of 40th had every single car getting stuck in the same spot in turn. I've never smelled burning rubber in a snowstorm before.<br />
<br />
I finally got to school at 6:30, a whole hour late for my 3D Design class. Thankfully my professor didn't hold it against me (what sane person would?) and the rest of class went pretty well. <br />
<br />
At 8, class broke up. Being sensible, I checked the traffic and weather reports before getting in my car.<br />
<br />
Problem was, my car wouldn't move. It was very, very stuck in the parking stall. I got in touch with campus police, turned on my emergency lights, and sat reading a book waiting to be saved.<br />
<br />
A Suburban pulled up, and the very nice woman driving it--Sara--and her sister, Rachel, set about trying to help dig me out. The campus police showed up in the middle, and he helped us hook my car to the SUV.<br />
<br />
Sadly, it didn't help. My tires were/are so painfully bald that there was no way I was going anywhere in that weather. So we stuffed the car back in the stall, and Sara very graciously offered me a ride home. The officer seemed quite pleased with this, really- he didn't want me driving those on those bald tires and ending up in a ditch in the middle of a blizzard.<br />
<br />
So Sara and Rachel drove me home, and even helped me pick up the kids from my mother-in-law's. They were both lovely, and I am SO grateful that they went out of their way like that. I was up a creek, and they arrived to offer me a paddle. Faith in humanity restored!!!!<br />
<br />
It was 10pm before we got home, but we got home safe and sound, thanks to the kindness of strangers. Now I just have to figure out how to dig my car out of the WSU parking lot.<br />
<br />
<br />easyasbreathinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04183490849502969627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43445508222791839.post-61186733094549889842012-11-27T15:09:00.001-07:002012-11-27T15:09:06.358-07:00winterWhen December's nose runs, she comes up and says "My nose fall out!" Not sure where she came up with that one, but it's pretty darn adorable. I hear this phrase several times a day, lately.<br />
<br />
It's getting colder, though still generally warm enough during the day to only require a sweater. I'm going to be sad when we get to the point that there is permanent snow cover. Not my favorite form of precipitation, not even a little bit. It makes my socks all soggy, and it's sneaky about it.<br />
<br />
Also winter involves dry air. December and I are both slowly mummifying. Someone remind to pick up some more linen strips....<br />
<br />
I get static electricity shocks on an hourly basis. My computer, my car, my couch- all of them are determined to turn me into a walking Leiden jar. I suspect my hair as a co-conspirator.<br />
<br />
On the upside, I have 2 weeks left until Christmas break. I can't wait for finals to be over already- I'm up to my eyeballs in essays.<br />
<br />
Happy holidays....easyasbreathinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04183490849502969627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43445508222791839.post-12457078766747078052012-11-16T14:26:00.003-07:002012-11-16T14:26:47.653-07:00baby piercings?My daughter, who is all of 2 1/2, has recently started noticing things. Like what kind of clothing she wears. And the fact that Mommy gets to wear jewelry and she doesn't.<br />
<br />
The other day, I was putting on some earrings, and I told December she can't wear them because she doesn't have holes in her ears like I do. She said 'oh' and went on her toddler way. My husband, however, asked "why not?" Apparently he is on board with the whole piercing your little kid's ears thing.<br />
<br />
1. I firmly believe that no one should get piercings unless they can care for it themselves. I had my ears done at age 10 and still got a raging infection because I didn't take proper care of them. <br />
<br />
2. There are locking earrings for babies. My niece swallowed hers anyway. 'Nuff said.<br />
<br />
3. Honestly, piercings on little girls (or boys) distress me a little. It's very grown up. And I think they are too young to know if they are okay with someone poking a hole in their ears. <br />
<br />
I'm not saying parents who do this are bad at all. I just have some reservations about it, personally, and figure if my husband wants to pierce December's ears he'd better have some really good counter-arguments.easyasbreathinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04183490849502969627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43445508222791839.post-62598952510440707382012-10-11T16:54:00.000-06:002012-10-11T16:55:48.824-06:00I am seamstress of awesomeLook what I did!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNXW9C2bTooe27kfCbBiTSTuBVTTJm_mY8bOns7ulMz-bLJQlBIWT1oqK6OqTwFigKnaJ6N3AlMsPI5OgrsNiqwNSd-Ut08WaNPxwQmGOkcP_KbQhyFe4FuXWdklZsf4wdMGynl6xVzg/s1600/december+posing.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNXW9C2bTooe27kfCbBiTSTuBVTTJm_mY8bOns7ulMz-bLJQlBIWT1oqK6OqTwFigKnaJ6N3AlMsPI5OgrsNiqwNSd-Ut08WaNPxwQmGOkcP_KbQhyFe4FuXWdklZsf4wdMGynl6xVzg/s400/december+posing.png" width="185" /></a></div>
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<br />
I'm absurdly proud of myself.<br />
<br />
No, not about the child, though she is pretty awesome. I mean the pants! I did them all by myself, with no pre-made pattern, just with <a href="http://trulakids.blogspot.com/2011/02/button-fly-trouser-tutorial.html#more" target="_blank">this</a> tutorial. Even so, I made a few alterations, and had to fudge it in a few places because the tutorial is not very specific about how to attach the pieces of the fly, though I figured it out all right.<br />
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I added in-seam pockets, butt pockets, I used a 'flat front', and put these v-shaped things on the back:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVmJ_Z-bV3ITjlCJ5h0AqgEW75bNWVPsmEaYQixF-JxKDvc-BuMdiBtQVbhI2k5cAym1CM2Ti6vieTeF3pOEiHYrK_6tKw16LmnxaAf2sTxTDZqjdZoKZR1bhfgSwYkVm4HkazYyfxQA/s1600/DSCF0637.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVmJ_Z-bV3ITjlCJ5h0AqgEW75bNWVPsmEaYQixF-JxKDvc-BuMdiBtQVbhI2k5cAym1CM2Ti6vieTeF3pOEiHYrK_6tKw16LmnxaAf2sTxTDZqjdZoKZR1bhfgSwYkVm4HkazYyfxQA/s320/DSCF0637.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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My kids have prodigious derrieres, like their mom. I had to tailor the pants to fit December's butt- originally, without that change, it gaped to the point of absurdity. I didn't want a lot of bunching from elastic, therefore this. I think it turned out pretty good!<br />
<br />
In the future, I'll go to a much narrower wasitband, lower the waist a little, and ditch the in-seam pockets for jeans-style ones (I don't like the bunching/poofing in the front) and get rid of the flat front thing. Otherwise, these are awesome! December certainly approves, especially of the bird print I used for the pockets and stuff. Darius is madly jealous and keeps asking when I'm going to make him some pants.<br />
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These are corduroy, because the weather is getting cool and I happened to have some hand-me-down corduroy fabric in my stash. I'll be making her some from denim next, probably.<br />
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Anyway, learning by doing rocks!!easyasbreathinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04183490849502969627noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43445508222791839.post-53122936832334701512012-10-04T19:57:00.002-06:002012-10-04T19:57:52.693-06:00Boot Cuffs tutorialI've been on a quest lately to find cute patterns for either crochet leg warmers or boot cuffs. It's been really hard! These patterns tend to be really messy and hard to follow, because pretty much all the patterns out there are put out by amateurs and they don't get beta-read or anything. Well, these haven't been idiot-tested or anything, but I came up with these two boot cuff patterns and I hope you like them.<br />
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<br />
<h3>
Shell Boot Cuffs</h3>
Worsted-weight yarn (I used white Super Saver)<br />
H hook<br />
You'll also want to know the circumference of wherever on your leg it will be resting <br />
<br />
1- chain 8<br />
2- SC in 2nd chain from hook. SC across.<br />
3- Chain 1, turn, sc across. Repeat until it measures your measurement minus 2 inches<br />
4- Chain stitch edges together.<br />
You should now have a loop that should stay put on your leg without too much hassle, but isn't too snug.<br />
5- On edge, evenly space out the following- 5 DC in one stitch (fan stitch), skip 2, 2 DC in one stitch. You want to end on the 2 DC.<br />
6- Slip stitch to 3rd DC of fan stitch, ch 4, DC in same, *fan between 2 DC, 2 DC in 3rd stitch of fan, repeat to end, slip stitch together.<br />
7- ch 2, 5 DC between 2 DC, *2 DC in 3rd DC of fan, fan in between 2 DC, repeat to end, slip stitch together. <br />
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8- HDC in each DC of fan, sc in 2 DC, repeat to end, finish off.<br />
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You should end up with this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl5bzbp_oWxD_iexp1-KNWRrBSI8N8DvA__4kZDoeNjYn-YnD1_qHo9U5mmUvLA1DMeOMZW-nEd26Jh95lO9OMdpCb9G_CygSV7ginWgDYhnNPRJiK67qDwbEC8QpUpIwqjryTJ-49oA/s1600/DSCF0618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl5bzbp_oWxD_iexp1-KNWRrBSI8N8DvA__4kZDoeNjYn-YnD1_qHo9U5mmUvLA1DMeOMZW-nEd26Jh95lO9OMdpCb9G_CygSV7ginWgDYhnNPRJiK67qDwbEC8QpUpIwqjryTJ-49oA/s320/DSCF0618.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Of course you'll want to make 2.<br />
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<br />
<h3>
Ribbed Cuff</h3>
<br />
Worsted weight yarn (I used the Hobby Lobby-brand soft yarn)<br />
G hook<br />
<br />
Make 2<br />
1- ch 16<br />
2- sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc across<br />
3- ch 1, turn, sc in BACK LOOPS ONLY across<br />
Repeat until long enough to go around leg minus 2.5 inches<br />
4- ch 1, turn, sc 4, ch 2, skip 2, sc 2, ch 2, skip 2, sc to end<br />
5- ch 1, turn, sc across (1 sc in each ch)<br />
repeat row 3 2x<br />
Sew buttons onto beginning edge of cuff. You now have a ribbed, button-up cuff! Yay!<br />
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I haven't put the buttons on yet because my kids hid them, but here's a pic of it in progress.<br />
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SC in back loops gives you a pretty nifty ribbing effect, without the fiddlyness of some of the more involved methods of ribbing-making. And it stretches really nicely.<br />
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And here are the shell cuffs on my legs:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYuIOGbXPggD9E_XgMjhxuN5pGFqpo0N_487x4OKrz0IGiDUAJy9LgYFHbNc-DzqVuM0G2xQWaWdMfRDob4VhKBPkzFYEY_DnE1pDO1kE2LLe0kK605BT3MSv61fdY6tPFIqoEj54ykA/s1600/DSCF0622.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYuIOGbXPggD9E_XgMjhxuN5pGFqpo0N_487x4OKrz0IGiDUAJy9LgYFHbNc-DzqVuM0G2xQWaWdMfRDob4VhKBPkzFYEY_DnE1pDO1kE2LLe0kK605BT3MSv61fdY6tPFIqoEj54ykA/s320/DSCF0622.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I measured them to fit over my skinny jeans, which I am not wearing and am too lazy to go put on, so you get a nice shot of my rolled-up jeans and pasty legs instead :). I know, I know, I'm too sexy for words, right? Anyway, there will be a slight difference in the measurement depending on whether you want them over your jeans/pants or not, so plan accordingly! (With the ribbed cuff, you can just make them in the big measurement, then put on 2 sets of buttons- 1 jeans-measurement positioning, 1 bare leg).<br />
<br />
So there you are! My solution to being unable to understand the boot cuff patterns I found :) Enjoy!<br />
<br />easyasbreathinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04183490849502969627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43445508222791839.post-78924709164081313292012-09-26T15:28:00.002-06:002012-09-26T15:28:43.730-06:00adele poster<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmXZ7SxRq1at-KQwoyYxuBCvSMsghvCYK_vtfNx4mBgPiy6ESayHFTqaBepW-a85LIkxNUUCbZLtsb72Skj8gwiH2rChKa5z4hyphenhyphenHubQnPlQfp34uvVGmwEe63ixE0nAtLSWNoaWqgB3Q/s1600/adele+final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmXZ7SxRq1at-KQwoyYxuBCvSMsghvCYK_vtfNx4mBgPiy6ESayHFTqaBepW-a85LIkxNUUCbZLtsb72Skj8gwiH2rChKa5z4hyphenhyphenHubQnPlQfp34uvVGmwEe63ixE0nAtLSWNoaWqgB3Q/s640/adele+final.jpg" width="412" /></a></div>
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I'm taking a 2D Design class right now as part of my Art Education minor. Most of it has, honestly, been unbearably dull- we spent two weeks doodling "plastic shapes". However, we did get asked to do portraits in Photoshop. I've actually had a lot of fun with it, now that I'm starting to understand the software. I get to be my own Andy Warhol.easyasbreathinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04183490849502969627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43445508222791839.post-65797576487985948152012-09-24T19:09:00.002-06:002012-09-24T19:09:53.802-06:00triangularThe other day I got an itch to learn how to crochet triangles. I conquered granny squares long ago, and wanted to expand my repertoire into other geometric shapes. <br />
<br />
So I looked up <a href="http://crochet.about.com/od/motifs/a/tri5rnds.htm" target="_blank">a pattern</a>, and made a bunch of these:<br />
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Obviously, I can't just make a bunch of triangles--no matter how easy it is--so I ruminated over what to do with them. Of course, then I saw this.<br />
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December's bedroom is, while obviously a girl's room, kind of bare. Partially this is because my daughter loves to destroy things, especially her room, but mostly it's because I haven't been able to find much of anything to put in there. And then this project came along- quite possibly the fastest crochet project I've ever gotten my hands on. In about a day and a half, I had this.</div>
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That's right, I'm awesome. I want to make a couple smaller ones to put in other places around the room. Yeah, the individual triangles aren't really laying flat, but who cares?! It's cute! And the kids approve, so there's that.</div>
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Yes, this is how I spend my time when I'm supposed to be doing homework.</div>
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easyasbreathinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04183490849502969627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43445508222791839.post-43364725126405941922012-09-07T18:50:00.001-06:002012-09-07T18:50:21.042-06:00We need an audition process or something, srslyHere I am, at the beginning of a new semester. My lineup of classes is, theoretically, pretty darn awesome. Except for one thing.<br />
<br />
My Advanced Fiction Writing class is populated by idiots.<br />
<br />
Perhaps that's not fair. After all, I'm used to reading books done by professional authors, which these kids definitely are not. Published works have generally been gone over with a fine-toothed comb, while the stuff I had inflicted on me today has never before seen the light of day. That kind of thing.<br />
<br />
HOWEVER, there is no excuse for the following:<br />
<br />
1. Zero character development. I read 10 pages of someone's fantasy novel, and I had no idea who any of these people were.<br />
<br />
2. Atrocious dialogue. This comes in two subcategories:<br />
a. Convoluted sentences that are absurdly hard to decipher<br />
b. Dialogue that is forced. By this I mean that the dialogue flows from the author's needs, not who the characters are and how they think/speak. <br />
<br />
3. Expecting the reader to suspend disbelief past the point of reasonableness. I was presented with a world that was so out there, even I couldn't get in it, and I am a passionate Doctor Who fan. I love far-out stuff, and this was so far-out it even turned ME off. <br />
<br />
4. Egregious errors in grammar. 'Nuff said.<br />
<br />
Come ON, people. This is, after all, an ADVANCED class. You should have at least some grasp of character development by this point, not to mention all the other bits. I'm sure all this sounds terrible egocentric, but come on. I've had a grasp of this mess for ages. Catch up already!easyasbreathinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04183490849502969627noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43445508222791839.post-59130609888166299082012-06-23T13:05:00.001-06:002012-06-23T13:05:52.297-06:00end of the summerDue to a series of events entirely outside of my control, my summer vacation is coming to an end- ironically, only a few days after the official first day of summer. It will help me achieve my goals, on my original time scale, but it still bugs that I only get 2 months--which have been spent dealing with the aforementioned events instead of being all artsy-fartsy like I wanted--instead of 4. <br />
<br />
So I'm trying to suck as much creativity and crafting out of my last school-free weekend until August. Thus far today I've been working on <a href="http://jamesdarrow.deviantart.com/art/Bookbinding-Tutorial-292237490">this</a>, which involved tearing my house apart looking for the sketchbook (with very heavy paper) I've been looking for off and on for the past six months; I ended up using different paper. Sigh. The plan is to fill it with painting and doodles as soon as the glue dries(screw the cover). My mom got me a subscription to an art journaling magazine a while back and I've wanted to do it for ages, but lacked an actual art journal. Now I can't say that anymore. <br />
<br />
As for the rest of the day, the sky's the limit! I might sew, or scrapbook, or take a walk. I might even-gasp!-make dinner. Who knows?<br />
<br />easyasbreathinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04183490849502969627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43445508222791839.post-17710837589828195932012-05-18T11:53:00.004-06:002012-05-18T11:53:53.496-06:00rantOk, I admit it. I read fan fiction. I know, this probably makes me a terrible person who has no right to criticize real published authors like I do in my college classes, blah blah. Whatever. I've had an off and on relationship with fan writing since I was 12- both reading and writing it. <br />
<br />
Nothing makes me crankier than bad fan fiction.<br />
<br />
Yes, many out there say it's impossible to find fanfic that ISN'T bad. On some websites, this is painfully true (fanfiction.net is a particularly egregious offender). But come on, people. If you are going to dedicate a significant amount of your spare time to writing stories that take place in someone else's universe, at least take the time and brain power necessary to make sure you know the rules and the characters in that universe. If you're writing Harry Potter stories, don't put blatant Americanisms in the characters' dialogue. In Lord of the Rings, at least attempt to understand the social structure. In Hunger Games, don't give people in the districts refrigerators. (I saw that one this morning and it made me mad.) I mean, come on! If you really love the universe as much as you claim to, it should be no chore to do a little re-reading or research and make sure you are toeing the line, except where you are purposefully altering things in order to tell your story. Of course, if you are altering things to the point that the only recognizable element of the original fandom is a few of the names, you would probably be better off just writing an original story. Case in point- Cassandra Clare, author of a best-selling fantasy series, started out as a fanfic author. She actually wrote one of the most insanely popular Harry Potter fanfic series in, like, ever. So yes, it happens.<br />
<br />
And yes, fan fiction can't get professionally published unless you write Star Wars stories. (I maintain that the Extended Universe, along with all those other spin-off books of movies and TV shows and such, are glorified fan fiction.) But it is a great place to learn how to write a good story. Beyond that, it's a place to learn how to write, period. So if you are going to do it, do it right! easyasbreathinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04183490849502969627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43445508222791839.post-14015967951540291632012-03-29T22:59:00.000-06:002012-03-29T22:59:02.588-06:00I suspect I'm a terrible cynicThis past semester, I've been taking Neoclassic and Romantic British Literature. Again. When I transferred to Weber from BYU, they declined to accept it, for whatever esoteric reason colleges have for doing anything. Irrelevant. <br />
<br />
The point is that my professor--whose name I can't spell--has this thing about "commonplace books." Basically, it's a little notebook you carry around and write little thoughts and observations in. I occasionally sketch in mine, too, because it's a lot more portable than the traditional sketchbook. <br />
<br />
This is not a new concept to me. When I was in my early teens I carted notebooks around with me all the time, and wrote story ideas and character sketches in them. I filled a lot of notebooks that way. This time, though, it's much more loose- more about what is going on in my own head than trying to figure out the contents of a fictional character's.<br />
<br />
Thus far, I have learned a few things about myself. I'm kind of misanthropic- I'm convinced that the vast majority of people in this world are grubby, obnoxious beings who take little thought for others or for the future, because the human animal isn't very nice. Human beings are great, but evidently I feel that actually being a "human being" takes effort. I'm not sure I succeed most days.<br />
<br />
Also, I am very visual, but in a weird roundabout way. I will write down descriptions of images that pop into my head, or how I feel about what I see, especially color. I love rich, intense color, so much so I almost find it intoxicating. I painted a purple accent wall in my daughter's room and for a week afterward every time I saw it I wanted to swim in the color.<br />
<br />
I still try to figure out fictional characters, of course. I also spend a lot of time thinking about my kids' development, which I suppose is normal for a mother of small children. And I criticize other people for saying or doing stupid things. Like using the word "conversate". (twitch)<br />
<br />
I had a point when I started writing this. Honest. Now I'm just lost in the image of swimming through paint chips.easyasbreathinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04183490849502969627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43445508222791839.post-26871508334073073302012-03-16T16:46:00.000-06:002012-03-16T16:46:42.481-06:00snuggle bugsIf you ever find yourself struck with insomnia, snuggle a baby. I'm serious. You'll be happily snoozing before you can believe it. On the upside, usually the baby will too- and so everyone will be much happier.<br />
<br />
My daughter doesn't strictly count as a baby anymore--she's nearly 2 years old--but she's still great for a snuggle. And doing so is generally guaranteed to make me want to fall asleep right along with her. I did this afternoon, but then my son was free to watch silly TV shows and play with my husband's models.<br />
<br />
Darius is definitely not a baby. He's 3 years old, he's tall, and he's very precocious. And he has finally decided that he can sleep by himself, all night long. It's so weird- he's been climbing in our bed almost every night since he was just tiny. The past few nights, he has stayed in his own bed all night, and woken up happy in the morning. It's wonderful! You wouldn't believe how much space that kid can take up in a bed. At the same time, though, it's proof that he's growing up, and someday he won't be my little boy anymore. <br />
<br />
Oh well. No matter how big he gets, he'll always be my Darius.easyasbreathinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04183490849502969627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43445508222791839.post-57439837567451605812012-03-06T11:33:00.001-07:002012-03-06T11:34:05.983-07:00new yearDarius, my firstborn and the best little boy on Earth (when he's being good, anyway) is now 3 years old.<br />
<br />
To commemorate this, yesterday I took him to his 3 year checkup. He is 39 inches tall, weighs 41 pounds, and apparently this is really humungous for a kid his age. His doctor expressed some mild concern about his BMI, but I'm not worried. This kid has the body structure of a NFL player. As for the rest of his development, he is moving along swimmingly. Except for potty training. Potty training is the bane of my existence.<br />
<br />
Darius is so big! And getting so grown-up! He is learning colors, he loves counting, he has a deep a slightly overwhelming love for Thomas the Tank Engine and Buzz Lightyear. He has an imaginary dinosaur that he blames his own naughtiness on, and that apparently has spectacular adventures in the backyard. Darius likes to dig holes in the backyard, too. Yeah, he tends to push when he gets around other kids, and he and his cousin fight over toy cars all the time, but overall he's a good kid.<br />
<br />
It's weird to think that in only 3 months, his sister will be 2. They aren't really babies anymore (potty training notwithstanding). Even so, they're always up for a good snuggle.easyasbreathinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04183490849502969627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43445508222791839.post-64305298016345854192012-02-22T12:17:00.000-07:002012-02-22T12:17:36.288-07:00get away from my lady partsLately I've been following the birth control debates going on in Washington, because nothing makes me more cranky than a bunch of pasty old white guys trying to tell a bunch of women how their bodies ought to work. <br />
<br />
I'm sorry, when did YOUR "freedom of religious conscience" have anything to do with MY lady bits?<br />
<br />
The hearing last week, which starred several clergymen and pretty much no females, was just stupid. Find some info about it <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/blogpost/post/birth-control-hearing-on-capitol-hill-had-all-male-panel-of-witnesses/2012/02/16/gIQA6BM5HR_blog.html">here</a>.<br />
<br />
The worst bit? Someone afterwards said, in response to protests that nobody spoke about the actual health aspects of the thing, “...the hearing is not about reproductive rights but instead about the administration’s actions as they relate to freedom of religion and conscience...."<br />
<br />
Pardon? A debate about a woman's right to have reproductive health care is actually about a middle-aged man's right to pout about reproductive health care?<br />
<br />
People make me so mad!!!!easyasbreathinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04183490849502969627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43445508222791839.post-36383970413172624562011-11-15T18:19:00.000-07:002011-11-15T18:19:36.750-07:00Guess what I'M getting for Christmas....We're buying a house!!!!!!!!!!!!<br />
<br />
We've been looking since May, and we've had offers turned down 3 times, so I'm super excited to finally have everything working out. We don't close for another month, and a lot of things have to happen to make this go through, but! House! For meeeee!!!!<br />
<br />
For those who enjoy statistics, it's a split-entry, four-bedroom, two-bath near Ben's parents. At this point the only thing about the house that bugs me is the ATROCIOUS paint in the basement family room-- two-tone with burgundy and mustard yellow. It's like walking into a spoiled pizza or something. Blech. That and there's no pantry, but I can cope. After all, I'll have the entire kitchen to myself. ^_^<br />
<br />
Honestly, though, I'm a little afraid to start packing. For one thing, buying a house is never 100% certain until the keys are in your hand and the sellers have vamoosed. For another, I'm 2 weeks away from finals and I don't think I could handle the stress of trying to pack/dejunk on top of that. I have oodles of writing and studying to do. Once school ends the second week of December, we'll see.<br />
<br />
Even so, House! For me! SQUEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!easyasbreathinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04183490849502969627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43445508222791839.post-53146309055449625072011-11-02T09:40:00.000-06:002011-11-02T09:40:08.636-06:00Sane at last!A few weeks ago my doctor had me start taking Effexor for anxiety. For the first few days, it kept trying to make me wake up at 6am, even though I was still tired. And then, at night, it gave me insomnia. To think I had been worried about it making me drowsy! HA!<br />
<br />
As far as what it is intended to do, it's working pretty well. Being anxious at nothing seems to be a non-issue now, though I still have a pretty pronounced physical reaction to being genuinely nervous about something. Also, it has helped with my winter fatigue a bit- I'm still tired a lot, but without feeling like I've been force-fed Benadryl and had lead weights strapped to my ankles. It's a healthy tired, if you understand the distinction. It happens every year, really- I spend the winter trying to hibernate and getting a series of nasty colds. Last year I even lost my voice for 4 days because of a cold. <br />
<br />
Of course the kids have responded by completely going off their bedtime schedule and bouncing off the walls until 10 at night, especially December, who recently seems to think that sleep is for lesser beings in general. Halloween and a series of family parties haven't helped the issue. I got them to bed on time last night, but only just, and only because the exhaustion was finally catching up to them. Darius in particular is dependent on his sleep- he went to bed at 8 last night, and it's 9:30 and he's still snoozing away. Hopefully it doesn't mean he stays up late tonight. Fingers crossed, right?<br />
<br />
Also! I'm addicted to crochet, and to expensive yarns (because I refuse to wear anything made with <a href="http://www.redheart.com/yarn/super-saver-regular">this</a>, it's really rough and itchy and only good for making stuffed toys) and because a lot of cool patterns I've found are not crochet at all, I recently attempted to teach myself how to knit. It takes forever, but I can do the basic knit and purl stitches. I fail to see how knitting produces all those cool things I see on the interwebs, though. And it makes my hand cramp, because I haven't figured out how to hold my yarn and keep defaulting to how I do it for crochet. Which makes it get in the way. So that's on a back burner once more, but there are plenty of crochet patterns for me to throw myself at. Like the baby set I'm making. (Not pregnant, wanted to try something with sleeves that didn't require a lot of yarn/time. So there.) And I have a huge pile of sweaters and jackets I want to make.<br />
<br />
Of course somewhere in all this I have to find time to take care of the house, raise my kids, do homework, actually attend my classes, go grocery shopping, cook, participate in family events, keep up on my TV shows, and sleep. Guess which ones get shafted. (Not sleep!)<br />
<br />
Speaking of, my daughter is being incredibly cute and I must go pay attention to her.easyasbreathinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04183490849502969627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43445508222791839.post-43828141995196787712011-09-30T16:23:00.000-06:002011-09-30T16:23:33.378-06:00out-of-body experience.... kindaLiving in my body can be really obnoxious sometimes.<br />
<br />
Popular consensus has it that my food issues are related to low blood pressure. Amazingly, getting some kind of exercise helps a lot. Also, exercise is good for you pretty much all around, so, yeah. Trying to get some every day, even if just going for a walk. <br />
<br />
Today I've been a little sedentary, though, because I'm a little sleep-deprived and it has left me feeling foggy and disconnected all day. Plus, I went to the chiropractor at 9 this morning, and that one change to my routine has left me feeling wrong-footed all day. (I'm seeing him for a wrenched shoulder, which is still hurting 3 weeks after I hurt it. Lamesauce.) Desperate, I took a caffeine pill as I left to run an errand- and as soon as it hit my bloodstream, I started feeling woozy and shaking. Evidently my caffeine tolerance is at absolute zero. This not a good realization to have while driving on the highway, BTW. Having eaten a slab of banana bread (which I probably needed even before the stimulants hit my brain) I'm starting to feel better, if rather jittery. I need to just throw out those stupid pills.<br />
<br />
Oh! And my husband is completely bonkers! He's running around making plans for this weekend and then forgetting to actually let me know. He's wonderful, and adorable, and a lovely person, but this particular fault makes me crazy. (Among others. But my faults make HIM crazy, so it works.) He doesn't do it on PURPOSE, but still! He's turning me into a mushroom. (Punchline- Kept in the dark and fed bull. Old family joke that is probably only funny to Feredays.) <br />
<br />
To add to my wrong-footed-ness, the kids are totally off schedule today, and it's not helping. Caffeine notwithstanding, I still feel disconnected from my own thoughts. (I know, I hide it remarkably well.) I just need to get moving. On things like washing the dishes. (I hate washing dishes.)<br />
<br />
Back to the grind, I guess.easyasbreathinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04183490849502969627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43445508222791839.post-82468300930272604562011-09-19T21:18:00.001-06:002011-09-19T21:23:32.568-06:00Darius' Rules for Personal Hygiene1. Potty usage is never to be regular. This keeps them on their toes.<br />
2. Stinky feet are wonderful.<br />
3. Poop is a treasure to be jealously guarded. Anyone attempting to remove it requires a good kicking.<br />
4. Water warmer than 70 degrees will melt you. This is a scientific fact.<br />
5. Only the teeth on the left side of your mouth need to be brushed.<br />
6. Potties eat toilet paper, and they must be fed regularly. Toilet paper serves no other purpose.<br />
7. "Bath time" is code for "socially acceptable child abuse".<br />
8. Shampoo is a vile poison.<br />
9. The delicate fragrance of unwashed boy is to be cherished, even if this requires throwing a huge temper tantrum at the mention of washing.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And #10...</span><br />
<br />
Always use your napkin at the dinner table.easyasbreathinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04183490849502969627noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43445508222791839.post-6725408695113797892011-09-02T18:01:00.000-06:002011-09-02T18:01:31.568-06:00Navel tourTo date, I have found the following items (sometimes more than once) in my childrens' bellybuttons:<br />
<br />
Rice<br />
Peas<br />
Breadcrumbs<br />
A button<br />
Cheese<br />
Macaroni noodles<br />
Ink (they drew on themselves)<br />
<br />
Imagine what the future has in store for us! The possibilities are mind-boggling! easyasbreathinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04183490849502969627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43445508222791839.post-68568799222646285432011-08-12T11:07:00.000-06:002011-08-12T11:07:44.566-06:00report cardHoly poo monkeys, I got an A in Victorian Lit. I can only conclude that my professor didn't actually read my final paper. It was atrocious, in case anyone's wondering. I didn't even make the length requirements.<br />
<br />
<br />
My grades stand thus: B and B- in my 2 Spanish classes, A and A- in my two literature classes. Considering how obnoxious my summer was (burn out, wedding cake, crazy kidlings, unemployment, AND SO ON) I'm quite pleased that I did so well. <br />
<br />
Right now I'm on break, until the 23rd. Two whole weeks to lay around in pajama pants and be a 24/7 mom, as opposed to a 20/7 mom. The kids are celebrating by staying up til 11 and getting up at 7:30. You know, typical kid stuff.<br />
<br />
December is now going to sleep by herself 95% of the time, which is nice. I can just put her in bed and walk away, something I have never convinced Darius to do. CIO with Darius=barf. Every time. Someday he'll go to sleep alone, but that won't be until he gets through his various neuroses about sleep. Considering his parents, this may be never. Sigh.<br />
<br />
In the fall I only have classes 2 days a week! Glory be! I have annoying expensive textbooks, but I can SLEEP IN 5 days a week! HA! (By 'sleep in' I of course mean 'wake up with my daughter drooling on my face at 7 am' instead of 'alarm wakes me at 6:45'.)<br />
<br />
So yay.easyasbreathinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04183490849502969627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43445508222791839.post-196423740142517592011-06-30T16:55:00.000-06:002011-06-30T16:55:41.513-06:00child development snobs can suck itFor the first time since June 2008, I neither nursing nor pregnant and OH YES IT IS AWESOME.<br />
<br />
Granted, my daughter still wakes up screaming every night around 2am and only a bottle gets her to shut up. Everyone keeps telling me that she's just being a booger and to not give in, but my take is this: when I wake up at night, I am often hungry or thirsty, but being an adult I figure the kitchen is too far away to be worth it and just go back to sleep. Babies do not have this mental capacity; they just scream until someone gets them what they want. She'll grow out of it in the next month or so. Also: getting a bottle at 2am every night is better than her insisting on being attached to my boob for 4+ hours every night. Net win.<br />
<br />
I'm in my 2nd term of the summer semester, and doing quite well. I got good grades last term (a B and an A-, hooray!) and plan on doing just as well if not better with this one. So far, it looks good, but I'll let you know after I have my first Spanish 2020 unit test in the morning.<br />
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Ben lost his job a couple weeks ago. He's been around the house, washing dishes and playing video games, for most of the time since then. Thankfully, this morning he landed a job. He doesn't start until the 18th (that's the next training session) but he will be making the highest wage he's gotten in the entirety of our marriage. I'm pretty excited. It's not his dream job, but, hello! Money! Also, it will give him something to do that is not sitting on the couch watching Invader Zim all afternoon. It'll be nice having the structure back, too, even if it's a 11:30-8 structure. Meh.<br />
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December peed in the toilet this morning, like it was nuffin. Darius pitched a fit at the same. It looks like they'll be trained around the same time, which sucks because my son is getting rashes from his diapers being too tight. He is in size 6 diapers and we can barely get them strapped on his giant self. We are going to pull-ups soon as there's money. Of course, I would prefer buying real underpants, but we'll take what we can get.<br />
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So, that's goings-on around here in a nutshell. :)easyasbreathinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04183490849502969627noreply@blogger.com0