Brrrrigaduuun

I am currently watching "Brigadoon" for the second time in two days. Not by choice, mind you. My mom and I have this annoying routine, she'll pick a movie I don't want to watch, then she'll fall asleep with the remote in her hand that I'm too lazy to get up and retrieve, so I end up watching the whole thing. Then, the next night my mom will say, "What happened in 'insert movie title here'? I fell asleep! Let's watch it again." I'll cringe and sometimes whine about how I just watched it but I never win. On especially obnoxious bouts she'll give it a good three or four tries to watch one movie while I continue to die a little inside.

This particular cycle isn't so bad. Although he's a bit of a pantywaste, I happen to find Van Johnson oddly attractive...well, the living version...from movies, not the dead version from real life. Gene Kelly, though, meh. He's a bit dramatic for my taste (*dodges irate old women*).

I've been fighting a headache all day for reasons I won't even admit to myself let alone on the internet. (Let's just say it has something to do with teeth and an intense phobia of dentists.) I'm going to go soothe my problems away with some cookies and milk. OH! I still have a scone from yesterday! Score.

Why? I Don't Know.

Right now, I'm having a love affair with my hazelnut latté which, interestingly enough, smells like a man.

Much like my last post, I still have nothing to say. That's not going to stop me.

Yesterday I had some down time at school, so I went to the little café area and did some drawing. There was a scruffy, seedy looking man just sitting there, looking around, watching people. I was jealous. I'm always tempted to stare unashamedly at all the different kinds of people that go to our school. This guy was just shady enough that people accept it without question, whereas if I were to do it, I would loose friends.

Blogification:

The trend for everybody who has an internet connection to start a blog whether they actually have something to say or not. (Snagged from International Make Up a Word Day.*)

Hmm...I haven't posted for a while simply because I have absolutely nothing to post. Except that my eye is twitching in a very awkward place. Sort of towards the front by that little ballish thing. Also, I've had a very strange week. I wouldn't call it stressful but just bizarre.

It's 2:03 am. School tomorrow. Bed.

*not a real day.

Oh. "Artistic" is a Nice Substitute for "Artsy". Sometimes I Feel Dumb.

Today was very nearly a very perfect day. I woke up early (despite a late night) and it was raining (hallelujah!). I heated up my apricot scone, made some coffee, sat down on my comfy couch with ye ol' laptop, Stargate Atlantis Season 1 playing in the background, my knitting in hand and took deep, cleansing breaths. I spent the whole day in this very exact position. Then tonight I had a Cup of Soup (speed meal of kings) a glass of merlot and...knitting. Surprisingly though, I've been at it all day and I have absolutely nothing to show for it. I keep starting and then restarting different projects, unable to settle on anything.

Here are some things I have finished lately, though:

Stella's Hat, which I love and will wear every time I feel "artsy". (I really need to learn a new word for that. I cringe every time. Every time! I'm thesaurus.com-ing it right now...)


Finally! The Endpaper Mitts from Eunny Jang. I've only made one, but I don't have the gumption (I can't believe I just used that word) to finish the other. Also, it turned out way longer than I thought it would so I might do a bit of adjusting...)


I have a series of new favorites lately:

New Favorite Music: ADELE (yes, it was a free iTunes download, and yes, I suck at music.)
New Favorite thing to Knit/Wear: Hats
New Favorite Danish (is it a danish?): Apricot Scones
New Favorite Food: Spaghetti (I've hated spaghetti my whole life and then suddenly, this week, I couldn't get enough of it.)
New Favorite Coffee: Soy Hazelnut Latté
New Favorite Dessert: Dark Black Chocolate. (I'd eat the bean if I didn't think I would die.)
New Favorite Website: Copenhagen Cycle Chic

I'm going to go see if I can force myself into actually finishing a knitting project...

Reality?! HUH! What is it Good For? Absolutely Nothing, Say it Again...

Life is much more real than I care to accept. I like to happily delude myself into thinking I can do absolutely anything despite annoying details like degrees, schools and regions. Tonight, while in the mist of researching some perfectly wonderful delusions, I came across a perfectly unwonderful slap in the face. Money. I think I'm just going to have to come to grips with the starving artist label and give up on the luxury condo idea.

I saw two movies tonight: "Juno" and "Becoming Jane". "Juno," despite the rambunctious tweenagers in the front row of the movie theater, was really cute. It ended up being completely different from what I was expecting and actually enjoyed it's weird quirkyness. My favorite character was Michael Cera who was so dang cute I just wanted to pinch his little cheeks the whole time. [Die hard "Arrested Development" fan. I have Gob's "Final Countdown" as my ringtone.] The only thing I didn't like was Jason Bateman's character which I liked until I hated. The situation between him and Ellen Page [Juno] was cute but then strange and a little unclear and I felt like I was left with some unanswered questions.

"Becoming Jane" was also good, but unfortunately based on real life so it couldn't be shallow and end happily like I wanted it to. Let me just say this, it ended without ripping a hole in my soul. Hey, I get very involved in movies.

I would give a synopsis of each but 1) I'm fading fast 2) you can find a much better one somewhere else and 3) to be honest I'm having a hard time distinguishing between the two. Did Jane puke in an urn? No, no, that was Juno. Was Juno in love with a Fawn? Dangit. No, that was Anne Hathaway. Did Jack Black collaborate with Mos Def to recreate VHS classics like "Driving Miss Daisy" and "Ghostbusters" while socially inept Jr. Highers made a spectacle of themselves and I contemplated chucking popcorn in their general direction? Oh. Yes. But that was during a preview.

In a gesture of self-pity, I'm going to snag the last brownie. Don't tell my mom.

Sweet Music to My Ears

I have just discovered the magical wonderland that is Last.fm. A friend from school told me about it and it looked interesting but, as usual, I couldn't be bothered to actually follow up on it because I was too busy doing absolutely nothing. Desperation for new music, however, drove me to check it out and now I'm afraid I will never, ever sleep again. I'll be too busy listening to hoards of new music.

Speaking of doing absolutely nothing, I had nothing to do because I was waiting for an art history book that for an unknown reason took a month to make it to my door. This morning however, a guy knocked with a rather beat up Amazon box in his hands and said he picked it up by mistake. That's okay my friend, I'll just fail my class because I couldn't do my homework for the first 3 weeks. I was really friendly though because he looked like a guy I had a crush on freshman year 'o college. And he was apologetic. Which made me feel bad.

So anyway, this means I no longer have any free time. [That's a lie. I'll find some.] I'm going to go play some catch-up.

Oh! I almost forgot! I finished one of those Endpaper Mitts! But I don't have a picture yet. I'm not sure if I have the energy to finish the other one. Maybe I'll try being artsy [gah! I used that word again!] and only wear one. Maybe not. In the meantime, while I get my act together, have a drawing:

And a Supervillian:

1 Ply = Atrocious

Somehow we have managed to acquire the most offensive toilet paper known to exist. I thought this sort of thing was reserved for perpetrators of hideous crimes and Wal-Mart bathrooms, but apparently not so. I'm so outraged by it, I'm tempted to write a letter to the company but I think I'll refrain.

Today I took another step closer in my quest to tie up loose ends in my life. I called prospective college and discovered that I'm a complete idiot. I have since fixed this mistake. Also [drum roll please] I made an appointment to take my drivers test. I know! I'm 21 years old and un-licensed. I drive...but I'm un-licensed. That makes me sound more rebellious than I actually am, so I'm going to leave it at that.

I'm almost done with one glove from Eunny Jang's Endpaper Mitts. I'll post the picture when I'm done. They're so exciting! It's my first experience knitting with two colors.

I'm going to skoot now because Jeopardy Teen Tournament is on and I can actually answer these questions!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Some single people see Valentine's Day as the blackest day of the year. I, however, care not. Well, maybe I care just a little bit but not enough to make me binge on chocolate and watch tragically romantic movies while sobbing uncontrollably at the pointlessness of my existence filled with cruel mocking and pain. Hm. Well anyway,

My mom went to the thrift store today and purchased this:

It has apparently been earmarked for my future children. Well, if you recall, I have decided to only own pets, not children, so it can be for my future husband's nieces and/or nephews. One of the many things they can do while coming to Auntie Ashely's [who is so cool] to be spoiled.

These thrift store excursions are usually wildly unsuccessful, filled with purchasing odd clothing, knick-knacks that will only collect dust and the occasional audio tape. Do they even sell cassette players anymore? Today however was totally different. I was very impressed. My mom got me 2 cardigans and a jacket, all of which are absolutely adorable. She also bought this amazing book:

It came with a little flashlight so you can project the shadow pages on the wall!

In other [political] news, Mitt Romney has now decided to endorse John McCain. If Mitt, by some freak chance gets put on the ballot with McCain and if by an even freakier chance gets elected president, I'm defecting and moving to Canada. That's all I have to say on the subject.

I Just Took Some Cold Medicine and I think It Has Caffeine In It!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I realized tonight that I have a lot of loose ends in my life. So many things unfinished, unfollowed through, unresolved. So I took my first steps in fixing this. I complained wildly to a seller on Amazon who has not sent me my book, completed FAFSA, did my taxes, and have resolved to finish "Huge Cable Bag" tonight. Here's the progress:


It's actually a (barely) modified version of Cap Karma Hat

With all of this picture taking I've been doing lately, I've noticed the lighting in our house is ridiculous! It's all yellowy.

Oh and here's the yarn spinning progress:
It looks horrible right now but I don't even care. It's so much fun!

I'm not really sure what's going on in California. It's the middle of February but it's nearing the 70s. What happened to my beautiful freezing cold weather? Where's the snow that we don't actually ever get? Boo! All of this sun is not conducive to my knitting mood. I'm going to go get some cookies an milk while sighing pitifully.

[Sneeze]

I think I used to have a sense of smell at one point in my life, for that matter, maybe even taste. It seems so long ago I can't even remember. Yes, that's right my blogging friends, I'm still sick and by still sick I mean sicker. I've never had a cold/flu that actually got better and then worse, but my mom and I both caught this one. I got sick after her and then she conveniently caught pneumonia which means I have gotten no sympathy/pampering/affection/chicken noodle soup; I have to give it to her. I'm not getting it at home so I've turned to other less scrupulous places, like the internet. I'm a broken soul!

Today, on the way home from my mom's doctor's appointment, we stopped at Lofty Lou's Yarn Shop just to have a look (because knitting is taking over my life). I did not meet Lou herself, but did meet her sidekick whose name I unfortunately didn't get. After much chatting and mental eye-poppage at how expensive this new addiction of mine is, I left about an hour later with a mission: I am going to learn how to spin my own yarn. It's officially #4 on my "Ashely's new and odd neuroses" list. I got some wool fiber and a drop spindle, of which I am very proud. See:

I'll post pictures on my progress. So far, all I have is some lumpy, spun yarn and a gob of sheep fiber up my stuffed sinuses. I'm very excited!

Also! On the knitting front, I got a bunch of yarn (not at Lou's) last night and now I finally have enough to start a sweater project I've been dying to do. I don't know which sweater project yet...I have about 298725.03 I would like to do. Anyway, it's just some dark gray. I figured I'd start relatively low key and work my way up to impressive.

Here are just some things to check off the "Shopping List".
While I was in picture taking mode I also took a picture of a scarf I've been working on for...about too long. It should have been finished ages ago, but I let myself get distracted with things like spinning my own yarn.

Alright that's enough for now. Time to convalesce. I need some tea, any body got any tea?

Cough, Sniff, Cough, Shiver.

Drum roll please? Ahem. I have the flu.

I just got through boasting to my mom (who is just getting over said flu) that I never get sick and have the immune system of a rock and what happens? I catch it. My whole body aches and I'm coughing like an old man with emphysema. Thanks mom, love you too.

I've been spending a lot of time online lately, so much that I'm running out of real world experiences to talk about. Unless, you want to hear about the latest drama in the Sci-Fi world. And oh, let me tell you. There's drama.

Hm, okay, I need some socialization. I'm going to locate, scope and track at least one socially proficient person (I go to community college, this may be difficult. They're chalk full 'o crazy here.) and force them to talk to me. Even if it's awkward. More so because then I can learn from their horrified but socially adept reactions. Something needs to intervene quickly before I can't distinguish reality from fantasy anymore, before I start laughing at internet jokes and posting on forums. Before I, myself, turn into HTML code. Ah! It's happening already!

Gasp, gasp, okay, I've worked myself up into a frenzy. My flu-ridden body can't handle it anymore. Time to go pity myself back to health.

I Voted!

Today was a very strange day. I drove like a maniac to school today, (only to go for half an hour, because my mom is sick and I had to take care of her), then went to our local voting precinct. Projections for California: Clinton for the Democrats and McCain for the Republicans. Meh. I'll take it. Something completely amazing, though, is the closeness of this race, especially on the democratic side. My gosh. That old cliché, every vote counts, is actually true this time. Who woulda known?

And the Winner of the Superbowl is...

Talking Stain!

Although the Bridgestone Squirrel and the E-Trade Talking Baby came in a close second and third.

See them all here.

I was among the many who watched the Superbowl only for the commercials. I've tried to get interested in football in the past and almost succeeded before failing miserably. I am happy, however that the Giants won. It's good to have the underdogs win once in a while.

I got this in the mail over the weekend:

Huzzah! I hadn't re-registered since I moved and I was afraid my procrastination was going to keep me from voting but not so! Super Tuesday, hear my roar! This year, seeing that my knowledge of current events comes from the "Most Watched" videos on YouTube, I had to do a bit of research on the important topics. I think I've finally made up my mind on how I'm going to vote. Nope! Not gonna tell!

You Can't Tell, but I'm Drooling

I got up at 5 am this morning. I don't have class until 9 am. It is now 6:40am. I'll spare you the reasons as to why I'm up now but I would like to say this: too freakin' early. The coffee floweth like water.

This weekend, a friend and I went to San Francisco to visit neighbour and her husband. I had never been to their apartment so it was really exciting and fun. We got there Friday afternoon and by Saturday afternoon I had already been accosted by a crazy woman on the MUNI. Finally, I had been christened. Saturday night was the best by far. We went to a girly potluck for neighbour's small group. There was amazing sangria and much hysterical laughter.

Here are some touristy pictures from our little trip:

Going across Golden Gate, the token picture for any San Francisco excursion.
Coming into San Fran which is, incidentally, not that big.
We went to the Farmer's Market on Saturday. It was really fun. This girl is looking at me funnily. I don't know if I like it. Harrumph.
Bay Bridge
Some creepy spider sculpture. I'm not sure how I feel about it, but I'm leaning towards no.

Dave

I realized my blog needed something visual to offset all the talking I've been doing, so I decided to post this!


It's Michaelangelo's "David." We did it as one of our final projects in Figure Drawing and then it was in a community art showish, more of a hole in the wall type deal for about a month. I got it back a couple nights ago so, voila! The medium is watercolor pastel and ink. I was playing around with it in Photoshop and I realized that I could make it look so much better if it were darker and was really tempted just to do it. That falls under the "unethical lies" category so I decided against it. I'll just have to do it in real life and re-post.

I did edit it a bit though (see: fig leaf), not because I'm a sissy about manhood, but just because I didn't really want to see Bill and Larry staring at me every time I logged into my blog.