Friends
Jul. 24th, 2008
03:35 pm - Maybe this is a joke. Please, let it be a joke.
http://www.mania.com/mtv-set-to-rem
Re-making the Rocky Horror Picture Show?
Good God. My first thought (after "Please, let it be a joke") was, they're gonna have Tim Burton do it, starring Johnny Depp and Helena Bohnam-Carter.![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
nick_kaufmann suggests they'll have the cast of "High School Musical" doin' the Timewarp.
Oh well. When life hands you shit...make shit juice! How would YOU cast the remake of Rocky Horror?
( My selected cast below the cut )
03:23 pm - Looking for a hotsling
My sister had borrowed my hotsling for her daughter and loved it. She returned it to me, since I'm still using it sometimes for my 16-month-old (it's nice to have in the diaper bag for when he decides he wants to be carried). But I know she'd like to have one for her 10-month-old daughter. Does anyone have a size 4 hotsling (or similar pocket sling) they'd want to part with?
12:06 pm - Dentist visit is over.
The dentist replaced my filling this morning. It seems to have been a relatively unobjectionable experience. It took just over an hour. He had to give me two doses of local anesthetic because the first didn't have much effect (as usual). The feeling is all back now (about 3 hours later) when he told me it would take 4 - 6 hours. I seem to have a high tolerance for whatever they use, which is unfortunate because I don't like pain much. In this case though I don't seem to be having any after effects so it's all good.
I would like to note that I nearly busted out laughing when I walked into the dentist's office just as the song on their musak system switched over, and wouldn't you know it my dentist Rick-Rolled me...
At least no more dentist until next year...
![[mood icon]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/square/b/content.gif){kind=small}
content02:02 pm - "I'm sick of sitting round here trying to write this book"
I keep starting LJ entries and abandoning them because I get into convoluted descriptions of events I'm trying just to list sparsely.
Come to think of it, that's a lot of my problem with this book. Finding a shape to put the first volume into has been exceptionally difficult, but I think I have finally found it a nice Jello mold, in an abstract shape that might be a library, or a unicorn, or an emotional situation. I have not, however, really made the text any shorter. Once I'm done with writing the (new) last chapter, I'll go over the whole thing from start to finish and see if anything can be cut. I'm talking about entire paragraphs, not a stray word here and there.
Other things I've done this summer have included:
Attending Fourth Street Fantasy Convention. It was good for my writing and my brain, but dealt a number of emotional and intellectual blows that I'm still wrestling with.
Gone to Itasca State Park with Raphael. We had never before seen so many dragonflies there. They were flying up from the road as we drove along, every few feet.
Coopted Eric to help me make gobi paratha for David, a fulfilling a rather old promise.
Hiked in Wild River and St. Croix State Parks with Raphael.
Gone to Pike Island with Eric.
Cursed the book a lot. I had better get back to this, as the deadline for Volume 1 approaches and I still have no title. My editor may yet be sorry that she made a CERTAIN ALLEGEDLY HUMOROUS REMARK ABOUT WHAT I SHOULD CALL BOTH VOLUMES. I mumble darkly and return to my toil.
I do read LJ and do think about all of you.
Pamela
05:45 pm - My husband's Babyhawk arrived today
We sold our stroller last month. With the proceeds of the sale, I got a Didymos Iris and he got a custom Babyhawk.
( Pictures of the Babyhawk in action )
![[mood icon]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/classic/smile.gif){kind=small}
pleased03:55 pm - Help Save Totoro's forest
Just stumbled across a reference to this at Lou Romano’s weblog —
Totoro Forest Project is an international charity effort to save Sayama Forest, also known as Totoro Forest. This endangered sanctuary on the outskirts of Tokyo is where director Hayao Miyazaki got the inspiration for his much-loved character “Totoro”.
Over 200 top international artists from animation, illustration and comics are donating artwork especially created for this cause. Find out more about the auction event, preview the incredible art collection, and please consider supporting the Totoro Forest Project with your generous contribution.
10:44 am - SUUSI, Day 3.
I don't have anything on my schedule today, so maybe I'll catch up with my recaps? At any rate: Tuesday was quite the jam-packed day. ( Sometimes those who wander are lost... )
01:42 pm - Guesting at StoCon '08 in Stockholm next weekend
There’s been no mention of this on the blog recently, so I thought I’d drop in a note about it now: I’ll be the Guest of Honor at StoCon ‘08 from the 1st through the 3rd of August. The convention venue is the Kulturhuset in Skarpnäck, a suburb of Stockholm (you can get there easily on the Metro: it’s about a 20–minute ride). If any of you are located locally, it’d be super to see you!
This is going to be a lot of fun, as while I’ve been to a lot of other cities in Europe, I’ve never yet made it up to any part of Scandinavia — and it’ll be super to be able to be there in the summertime.
(For those of Peter’s Swedish fans who might be wondering — unfortunately he won’t be able to make it: he presently has a work commitment that will be keeping him home.)
For some reason, the Google map I embedded below isn't displaying, but if you click on "View larger map" you'll see where the convention will be.
View Larger Map
12:12 pm - Here's a really nice BBQ grill
We’ve been idly looking for something to replace our old rusty hibachi. This looks like a nice possibility. It’s British (but the sales source is in the US: must see who’s carrying it locally).
The grilles both swing in and out and are height-adjustable (with the big one, the swing facility this means you can add charcoal or wood chips or whatever without fuss). The ash box underneath has a handle and pulls off for emptying. The chopping board is bamboo. Behind it you can see the utensil hooks.
Very neat!
Jul. 23rd, 2008
09:24 pm - I kill me sometimes.
During Flail-And-Curse, the workout music segued into "Brick House", and the ever-exuberant instructor was all, "YAY! Brick House! The Ultimate wedding music!"
Not sure I wanna think about that too much...anyhow, after that, it segued into "I Will Survive", and I said, "Ah! NOT the Ultimate wedding music!"
*****
Later on, I was at Trader Joe's, waving goodbye to a month's worth of disposable income. A woman there was having her SQUEE moment, gaping wide-eyed at everything and making excited noises. I smiled at her, and she was all "Omigosh, I've never been to Trader Joe's before, this is SO AWESOME!!!"
I said, completely deadpan, "Welcome, then, to a strange and magical place." I pointed vaguely toward the desserts. "This side will make you grow bigger." I pointed toward the pills and stuff. "And this side will make you grow smaller."
She took it all in stride. A second of thought, and then, "I need the side to make me grow smaller." I said, "But remember to pick up the key first." She bounced off, happy as Adam Sandler with a trash can lid on his head. I hope I helped make her day.
09:38 pm - Lake Harriet pictures
band at Lake Harriet
Hayley (sp?) conducting at Lake Harriet
02:17 pm - A good night.
The Giants won last night. Go team! :o) Spending time with crafting friends was good. Eating lots of garlic fries is always fun.
Anyway, during the game I finished my second hat to be donated to a woman who is the friend of a friend of mine. She is going to volunteer at an orphanage in the Ukraine and since she knits and knows so many knitters and crocheters she promised to bring a hat for every kid. We have until September so I may do some more hats over the next month, but here are the two I've finished so far.
( Pictures )
These pictures didn't come out very well, so it's difficult to see details, and the yarn kinda hides the pattern. Now, I know the yarn is not the most attractive (and the camera had a really difficult time focusing on it), but it's warm and I figured that kids often like brighter colors. I think the next one I make though will use a more standard yarn.
03:22 pm - SUUSI, Day 2.
03:20 pm - Babywearing in the airport, update
Thanks for everyone's advice to my previous post about which carrier to take on a trip, managing the airport, etc. I ended up bringing my mei-tai, wrap, and comfy joey. In reality, only needed the mei-tai. I was able to wear my daughter through security in both airports, but randomly had to remove her Robeez on the way home.
Everything went very well for her first flight!
07:33 pm - That crumpet recipe
For those (Twitterers & others) who were inquiring — the recipe is over here at The Foppish Baker. If I want crumpets, I have to make them myself: the local supermarket doesn’t carry them. This is okay, though, because there’s no way a store-bought crumpet can compare with one just baked.
There are a lot of crumpet recipes out there that don’t work. Either the batters come out too thick — so the bubbles can’t break and leave the necessary holes on top — or they’re too sloppy, and the bubbles either come out too small to let the melted butter in, or break too soon, so that again you wind up with a “blind” bake with no holes. This batter works perfectly, though.
My only alteration to this recipe: I add two packages of yeast instead of one. It seems to improve the flavor. Also, you don’t really need the two kinds of flour for this recipe — they’re preferable, but not absolutely necessary. Just make sure you beat the batter the full two minutes the first time. You want to make sure the gluten develops enough.
BTW, there’s no need for special crumpet rings: I use regular-size tuna cans with the tops and bottoms taken off (we have one of those can openers that mills the edges smooth). Butter them well inside between each batch. It’s pretty easy to use a flat knife to knock the rings up and off the crumpets as soon as the outsides are solid: that way you can set them aside to cool so you can handle them as soon as the crumpets in the pan or on the griddle or bakestone are done. (Yeah, there’s a crumpet recipe on that page. It’s not as good as the Foppish Baker one: I’m going to replace it. The English muffin recipe, though, is terrific.)
When you toast these, do it under the grill / broiler, or in a toaster oven that lets you do just one side. Then… the butter.
NOM NOM NOM NOM. :)
10:42 am - x-posted to pregnant
thought i'd put this up, not sure if anyone else has, couldn't find it when i was looking for it about a month ago, and haven't seen it since.
https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx
you can sign up for emails about all recalled items.
i was just looking through the list of childern's items (not including toys), and noticed a few items like baby carriers ( https://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prh
ETA: for all you Boppy people, just found this: https://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prh
09:13 am - Team Hoyt
I saw this inspirational video on SparkPeople this morning and wanted to cross-post it here. (lollardfish and buttonlass, I particularly wanted to point it out to you.) The person who introduces the vid says, "This is one of the greatst love stories of all time, a story of a father who climbs mountains and runs to the ends of the earth and back to give his son a better life, a life that transcends the limitations of this body."
Definitely worth ten minutes of your time.
07:10 am - More movie meme madness
Via weekendpbs
1. What movie have you seen the most times in the theater? How many times?
For me, the most times == twice. The ones I can think of that tied for that have been Star Wars, one of the Pink Panther movies, Grease, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Stand By Me, The Princess Bride, Reservoir Dogs and The Usual Suspects. Seen a lot of multiviewings on video, but it takes a lot to get me to the theater more than once.
( Cut because we love you )
Jul. 22nd, 2008
08:25 pm
vixyish, vixyish, you're a wonder
And when you are old and gray
We will all say, "Yes, By Thunder!
You were some girl in your day!"
HAPPY BIRTHDAY VIXY!!!
09:23 pm - Delia the creative dervish
omigosh
Remember I told you that Delia needed to be entertained and asked you for ideas?
So far this summer, she has made:
A denim skirt, sewn with the assistance and guidance of dlandon. A matching jacket will be made on a future get together
Ten necklaces and "about a billion pairs of earrings" (and she helped me design a necklace and pair of earrings for me to wear)
Knitted bookmarks (several of them), tiny Gryffindor scarves from the book Charmed Knits: Projects for Fans of Harry Potter, using yarn that aome sent her
Started a knitted blanket
Started a cross stitch project from a package sent by haniaw (Thanks, we got the box!)
Made several soulcollage cards
Taken jewelry-making lessons
Taken a cake-decorating course
Cooked several dinners
Practiced crocheting (no specific project yet)
Started making a quilt ("although I'm probably never going to finish it")
She has bullied Rob into driving her to Michaels, Arc (where she can get secondhand craft supplies) and JoAnne Fabrics repeatedly in the last several weeks. "She's relentless" says Rob with a touch of consternation. "I never need to set my alarm in the morning because Delia's always waking me up and ordering me to take her somewhere to get craft supplies."
![[mood icon]](http://pics.livejournal.com/pegkerr/pic/000cr5te)
awestruck at her busynessNavigate: (Previous 20 Friends)