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First post since 2007
Jan. 15th, 2009 | 07:30 am
mood: 
cheerful
I've been thinking about details, the small things that go undetected unless we look closely. It's been lovely to have a reminder to look. Walking is now filled with a hunt for the small, for the interesting tiny flourish, the hint of something beautiful or neglected.
I've also been contemplating fashion with the coming Edwardian Ball. Time to drag out a few precious pieces of finery.
I met my 2008 goal of making a finished dress. Don't think I'm using the correct term, "finished," but I mean something that is not slap-dash, but made with care, with all the interfacing and what-not. Sadly I nicked the fabric pulling out a sloppy seam, but a few days away from the project and I feel less perfectionist and more flexible.
I am feeling inspired this morning, if only I could call in sick and jump into the projects bouncing around in my head. But... one must work to make the cash that enables me to buy supplies for projects and an apartment to work in! A bit more coffee...and I'm off.
Welcome 2009, I have many plans.
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The Secret Life of Cats
Jul. 16th, 2007 | 08:47 pm
mood: 
impressed
Mr. Lee, a cat, has a friend Jurgen Perthold. Jurgen, who with his opposable thumbs, created a device that would sit comfortably (well, can't imagine Mr. Lee adores it) around Mr. Lee's neck and takes digital pictures every few seconds.
The device must withstand knocks and water, take a picture every few seconds and turn itself off before the battery dies. His labors enabled an intimate glimpse into the life of his cat. Most of the images are beautiful and shows that Mr. Lee carries on a stimulating lifestyle.
http://www.mr-lee-catcam.de/pe_catc
And Jurgen won me over with his attention to safety:
"Please consider that a collar on a neck of a cat is a potential safety risk. Because a cat wanders and crawls more or less in any place and can catch or trap itself with the collar on an object such as gate rods or tree branches. This may lead to dead of your pet. In the USA are collars common which provide a safety release if a certain amount of force is applied. Everything mounted to the collar will be lost in such a case. Please decide what is more important: The life of your pet or the device on the collar."
The secret life of Mr. Lee or the secret life of an engineer with free time?!
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Look what I made!
Jun. 22nd, 2007 | 07:31 am
mood: 
accomplished
Last night was hoping to attend a sewing workshop with my darling friend Raven. We got the wrong night, so back to her place for tea and a sewing lesson a la Raven!
She helped me out with some supplies and the most fabulous sewing machine ever!! It's German from the late sixties - a Pfaff. Wow, like butter this thing stitches! I was confused at one point when stitching the body, flap, and lining all together inside out, but she helped me reason through it. The diagram that comes with the pattern is woefully inadequate.
I didn't cut myself...no blood drawn at all. Wooo! And I remembered that for years and years I've had a pin of the letter 'A' and now it's come in handy.
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Pearl Bailey Has Been Captured!
Jun. 16th, 2007 | 07:47 pm
mood: 
content
But oh happy day! Can't believe I actually figured out how to record albums using Sound Studio and iMic.
I couldn't get levels: 1) I didn't configure in System Preferences that I was using iMic and 2) didn't put the cord out in the correct place on amplifier (Tape 2 Monitor Record). But it finally worked. Now I have to figure out how to clean up the recordings (although cleaning the record really good first might help).
Click link below to hear the fruit of my labors...
Pearl Bailey, I've Taken a Fancy to You
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Gussie Finknottle R.I.P.
Jun. 4th, 2007 | 10:21 pm
mood: 
sad
My sweet little rattie passed away. I am so glad she died at home in the comfort of her space and not at the vet. I am really sad, but comforted by the fact that she had a good life to the end. G___ stayed home with her and took good and careful care of her. She was loved and will be missed.
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Those Words I Should Know
Jun. 3rd, 2007 | 11:19 pm
You know those words you come across while you're reading and say to yourself “I know that word,” but then you think, if I had define that word for someone, what would I say? These are a few of these kinds of words I came across in the last few days:
effluvium
“she was encased in an effluvium of icy mist” - pg. 11 Ubik, Philip K. Dick
* a flowing out; an outlet from; to flow out
* a real or supposed outflow in a form of a vapor or stream of invisible particles; aura
* a disagreeable or obnoxious vapor or odor
recalcitrant
“a willful child, a moody, recalcitrant girl given to flashes of temper” - pg. 83 The New Yorker, June 4, 2007
* making obstinate opposition
* refusing to obey authority
puerility
“Seth Rogen is unceasingly likable as Ben, and the puerility of the tale, which would otherwise pall for anyone over the mental age of fifteen, is somehow redeemed by his tolerant sweetness...” - pg. 88-89 The New Yorker, June 4, 2007
* the quality or condition of being puerile or childish
* “puerile amusement” - childish, silly, trivial
And a quote I really liked from William Trevor's story “Faith” from pg. 86 of The New Yorker, June 4, 2007 (and the source of the word 'recalcitrant' above):
“Afterwards, Bartholomew told himself that what occurred must surely be no more than a mood of petulance, an eruption from his half-stifled impatience with the embroidery and frills that dressed the simplicity of truth...”
Philip K. Dick
