I have two roommates that I get a long with pretty well. Its awesome most of the time, like a perpetual sleep over, but other times not so much. My roomie Richelle has a boyfriend. They like to have sex. A lot.
This wasn't always a problem. Last semester Richelle pretty much moved into his room with him and if I didn't have two classes with her I wouldn't have seen her at all really. But now she's moved back in, so to speak. The boyfriend is now here constantly, sleeping over a few times a week.
I mean, I get it. On the one hand it really annoys me when they get all mushy and she gets whiney when he's not around, but I probably wouldn't be all that better if I had a boyfriend. But what really annoys me is that I have to knock on my own door to make sure I don't walk in on them. On nights when he sleeps over they go into the girls bathroom next our room and do it in there. This is rather problematic when I want to use the bathroom for its actual purpose and they occupy it.
Richelle is a good friend. We all have our quirks. She doesn't study, she gets three day weekends, sleeps in everyday, has fun with her boyfriend, and enjoys the pleasures of life. Lucky her.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Following a Suggestion
Well, after reading fellow Rav member's blog, I thought I'd post a pick with ten facts about me. I apologize for the bad picture. I'm terrible in pictures! But, anyway, let's give it a shot.
Those weren't really facts but I think its ok if I put up these things. Close enough.
~Facts~
I love dragons. I've always believed that they are somehow real and that they've had an impact on human history. I even wrote a paper about dragons in high school.
I'm a budding gun enthusiast. I know, it's not popular for everyone but I come a from a line of hunters.
My favorite food is sushi. Raw fish is delicious, I don't care what anyone else says.
Sadly, I usually have a low opinion of myself. It comes from not having high self-esteem. But I'm working on it!
I'm pursuing and Asian Studies & Government. I'm learning Chinese and Japanese. I think I'm better at Chinese.
I love watching The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and The Colbert Report. They are the only news-type program I can watch.
I will one day run a bakery. It will happen. Nothing will stop me.
Ravens are the smartest birds. Each flock can develop their own culture, the can speak, learn and solve puzzles, and use and make tools.
I've been to 47 states and lived in 6 of them.
My aunt's cat Blondie is immortal. Seriously, he's older than me.
Those weren't really facts but I think its ok if I put up these things. Close enough.
St. Lawrence County Crafters!
Well, I just started my own Ravelry group and I'm excited. It's called St. Lawrence County Crafters, SLCC for short, and Foxdaughter2 and I are going to mod it. I really hope this works. There's a Rav group called North Country Knitters, but its not all that active. I'm hoping that this group will help bring in some students around here. Who knows, maybe we could start a club! Yarn and notions payed for by the school? Epic!
I wanted it to be mostly for SLU and other local students, but Foxdaughter2 thought that that'd be too narrow. She pointed out that she's met a lot of older, cool crafters at the LYSes. So why not? It's worth a try. We're going to design a flyer to put up around campus and town (and when we can, in the other towns around here too). Maybe we can get people who aren't on Rav to join up. Sweet, huh?
I've got some plans for the group. I was thinking maybe we could set aside a time maybe once a week or biweekly to get together and craft. Depending on who becomes members, we'll have to chose a suitable place. If it's mostly students we could just meet in the student center, but if it's also non-student members we could try the bookstore, or one of the cafes around here. Sort of a stitch'n'bith thing going on. We could also do mini yarn crawls. I'm going to see about posting flyers in the LYSes.
I'm thinking some sort of charity work too. I haven't mentioned that to Foxdaughter2 yet, but I'll see about that once we've got some members. If all goes well, I'd really like to start a club here on campus. It'd be awesome to give crafting some notoriety among us young people. Hell, maybe we could yarn bomb the campus! I'll try to keep progress posted here.
I wanted it to be mostly for SLU and other local students, but Foxdaughter2 thought that that'd be too narrow. She pointed out that she's met a lot of older, cool crafters at the LYSes. So why not? It's worth a try. We're going to design a flyer to put up around campus and town (and when we can, in the other towns around here too). Maybe we can get people who aren't on Rav to join up. Sweet, huh?
I've got some plans for the group. I was thinking maybe we could set aside a time maybe once a week or biweekly to get together and craft. Depending on who becomes members, we'll have to chose a suitable place. If it's mostly students we could just meet in the student center, but if it's also non-student members we could try the bookstore, or one of the cafes around here. Sort of a stitch'n'bith thing going on. We could also do mini yarn crawls. I'm going to see about posting flyers in the LYSes.
I'm thinking some sort of charity work too. I haven't mentioned that to Foxdaughter2 yet, but I'll see about that once we've got some members. If all goes well, I'd really like to start a club here on campus. It'd be awesome to give crafting some notoriety among us young people. Hell, maybe we could yarn bomb the campus! I'll try to keep progress posted here.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Make Up Stash~
Here's those vlog I mentioned, I had to do it in parts. Please excuse the poor lighting and my lack of makeup. I also stammered a little, sorry.
Pt 2 is coming soon...
Pt 2 is coming soon...
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Of the New Obsessions
Well it's been awhile so I figure an entry on my latest obsessions is in order. Namely, my new found love of yarn-craft and makeup.
We all need creative outputs. I'm very excited to add crochet and makeup to my first creative expression, cooking. Over winter break, which was longer than usual this year (about 1 month), I had the time to really dig into crochet. I've dabbled in crochet in the past, but in high school there was literally no time for it. Last summer, however, I had a lot of time. So, faced with tons of time, I picked up Crocheting for Dummies. I found that I'd been crocheting all wrong! Using a basic pattern from the book I made a scarf for my mom, which she's worn a lot this winter. I decided that I'd work on a blanket for my brother. At first I was going to do a simple, continuous granny square with colors that reminded me to the ocean. I talked my mom into taking me to a yarn shop (it was a little out of the way) and bought some awesome yarn. Before I started though, I thought that he'd like a Tetris Blanket instead. So instead of one really big granny square, I'm going to sort of quilt together smaller granny squares to make the Tetris blocks and possibly a black background. I've got a handful of squares, but it's going to take a while.
Also, last semester I made a new friend who knits and crochets. She also introduced my to Ravelry, an awesome resource for knitters and corcheters. We also found two LYS (local yarn store) that we've visited quiet a bit. It's really amazing. There's nothing quiet as satisfying as making something beautiful, soft, and practical. Over break I made myself a newsboy hat made of awesome baby alpaca wool. The yarn is so soft and the hat is wonderfully warm. The best part, though, is that I made it. I feel so industrious when I crochet.
I'll probably rave more about crochet later. Now on to makeup!
I never would've guessed that I'd ever be into makeup. I'm not very feminine and I'm not very stylish, so it never occurred to me to think about makeup. But after watching Lauren Luke on Youtube, I realized how creative a person could be with makeup. I wear a lot of black, grey, and dark blue, so makeup, particularly eye makeup, is a great way for me to add color to my general appearance. Despite the darker colors of my clothing, I really do love bright and vibrant colors but I can never seem to find clothes in colors I like in styles I like too.
So recently I've bought a bunch of makeup, probably more money than I should've spent. I'm going to do a vlog on all my makeup soon. I just got to do it when my roomies aren't around, don't want them to think I'm obsessed or anything...
I've found a lot of inspiration on the web lately. Between Ravelry, with all its members, and Youtube with its huge community, it's an amazing overload of creativity. I found another beauty girl on Youtube, Michelle Phan. Lauren Luke and Michelle Phan are, well, inspirations. They're not only creative artists but down-to-earth, successful entrepreneurs. They're able to take a passion and make it into a profession. How often does that happen these days? That's the true capitalist spirit and they give me hope that one day I'll be able to make my own living off something I love.
On another note I can't wait for Lauren's makeup brushes to come out! She said they'd be coming out in late January but they haven't yet.
We all need creative outputs. I'm very excited to add crochet and makeup to my first creative expression, cooking. Over winter break, which was longer than usual this year (about 1 month), I had the time to really dig into crochet. I've dabbled in crochet in the past, but in high school there was literally no time for it. Last summer, however, I had a lot of time. So, faced with tons of time, I picked up Crocheting for Dummies. I found that I'd been crocheting all wrong! Using a basic pattern from the book I made a scarf for my mom, which she's worn a lot this winter. I decided that I'd work on a blanket for my brother. At first I was going to do a simple, continuous granny square with colors that reminded me to the ocean. I talked my mom into taking me to a yarn shop (it was a little out of the way) and bought some awesome yarn. Before I started though, I thought that he'd like a Tetris Blanket instead. So instead of one really big granny square, I'm going to sort of quilt together smaller granny squares to make the Tetris blocks and possibly a black background. I've got a handful of squares, but it's going to take a while.
Also, last semester I made a new friend who knits and crochets. She also introduced my to Ravelry, an awesome resource for knitters and corcheters. We also found two LYS (local yarn store) that we've visited quiet a bit. It's really amazing. There's nothing quiet as satisfying as making something beautiful, soft, and practical. Over break I made myself a newsboy hat made of awesome baby alpaca wool. The yarn is so soft and the hat is wonderfully warm. The best part, though, is that I made it. I feel so industrious when I crochet.
I'll probably rave more about crochet later. Now on to makeup!
I never would've guessed that I'd ever be into makeup. I'm not very feminine and I'm not very stylish, so it never occurred to me to think about makeup. But after watching Lauren Luke on Youtube, I realized how creative a person could be with makeup. I wear a lot of black, grey, and dark blue, so makeup, particularly eye makeup, is a great way for me to add color to my general appearance. Despite the darker colors of my clothing, I really do love bright and vibrant colors but I can never seem to find clothes in colors I like in styles I like too.
So recently I've bought a bunch of makeup, probably more money than I should've spent. I'm going to do a vlog on all my makeup soon. I just got to do it when my roomies aren't around, don't want them to think I'm obsessed or anything...
I've found a lot of inspiration on the web lately. Between Ravelry, with all its members, and Youtube with its huge community, it's an amazing overload of creativity. I found another beauty girl on Youtube, Michelle Phan. Lauren Luke and Michelle Phan are, well, inspirations. They're not only creative artists but down-to-earth, successful entrepreneurs. They're able to take a passion and make it into a profession. How often does that happen these days? That's the true capitalist spirit and they give me hope that one day I'll be able to make my own living off something I love.
On another note I can't wait for Lauren's makeup brushes to come out! She said they'd be coming out in late January but they haven't yet.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Thanksgiving Break
So I'm back at my parents house for the week or so for Thanksgiving. Unfortunately it won't really be a break. Not only do I have to cook Thanksgiving dinner, but I also have a shit ton of homework for some bizarre, unknown reason. Although I consider cooking a labor of love, it's still rather laborious. The amount of homework I have to do amounts to about the same, if not more, of the amount I normally have during a regular week, a total downer.
But on the bright side, I'm here with my lovely kitteh, Lucy. She's missed me and lost a lot of weight so I'm going to make sure she starts gaining weight and eating healthily again. She's curled up right by me right now, all cuddly and cute.
It feels weird being here in my parents' house. Last Thanksgiving was the first time I ever saw the house because they bought it and moved in after I went off to school. Although I spent the summer here it still feels like it's their house. Of corse, I can't tell them that because they get all offended and such. Oh well, as long as I got my Lucy here.
Well that's pretty much all I got for now I guess.
But on the bright side, I'm here with my lovely kitteh, Lucy. She's missed me and lost a lot of weight so I'm going to make sure she starts gaining weight and eating healthily again. She's curled up right by me right now, all cuddly and cute.
It feels weird being here in my parents' house. Last Thanksgiving was the first time I ever saw the house because they bought it and moved in after I went off to school. Although I spent the summer here it still feels like it's their house. Of corse, I can't tell them that because they get all offended and such. Oh well, as long as I got my Lucy here.
Well that's pretty much all I got for now I guess.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Coon & Friends Ho!
Guys... there's a double rainbow outside...
How nice would it be if life lived up to what you read in books? Or in movies or games?
I love to read fantasy books, especially the ones with a really good story with characters that you feel are real. Too often these days (in movies particularly) that characters either don't have time to develop to their full potential or simply cut off before they have a chance to reach that reality threshold. For example, I spent a year excitedly waiting for Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland. I could not wait to see an more mature version of the classic. When I finally did see it I felt it was like the world's most delicious ice cream sundae, taking a bite, and then having it taken away. The movie was so short... I hardly got to know this new Alice, Mad Hatter, and White Queen when the movie ended. It was only an hour and a half! It had so much potential. I mean, I love the visual breath-taking environments of movies like Alice in Wonderland, Avatar, and such, but deep down you know it's all CG. It's the characters that bring us into these worlds.
I understand that movies have time limits. The average person has a very short attention span and movies are uber (yes, I said 'uber'... I like the word) expensive, but if I'm going to pay like $10 to see the movie, I want it to be worth it.
Books seem to have more of a chance to develop the characters and the worlds they bring us into. One of my favorite series, Lord of the Rings, does an excellent job at this. Tolkien's characters are richly detailed, and yet broad enough to relate to, to bring Middle Earth to life. Their struggles are both classic in nature (good vs. unimaginable evil)and original enough to keep you glued to the very end. Hell, the way the story 'ends' leaves it open for a sense of continued possibilities to return to Middle Earth, which continues to evolve long after the War of the Ring. In fact, one of the key elements of the story is the transition from the world of ancient magic (the Elves, Ents, Dwarfs, Orcs) to the world of Men. This story is but a glimpse of the grand master story, a transition in the grand scheme of things. The story transpires the characters as individuals and leaves us with a sense of awe at the sheer vastness of the possibilities of what could happen in the great Song of Arda (Silmarillion, you should read it).
And yet... there can be a down side to great fantasy epic. After the wonder and satisfaction you feel after the passing of the characters, and you close the book, you feel... a sense of disappointment. Or at least I do sometimes, because I come back from Middle Earth and realize I'm here. On regular Earth. I'm just me. You're just you. I'm not a brave sword brandishing heroine like Eowyn. I'm a college students who's going to school for something I don't feel passionate about so I can graduate and get a job to make money, which is supposed to lead to happiness and comfort. What adventures can I go on? Are there any quests anymore?
I know this sounds rather emo but it's something that weighs on my heart a lot. I don't want to be trapped in a cubicle, surrounded by douche-bags and tools bickering over petty office politics. It probably sounds like I'm just another whiney young adult who's seeking escapism and to 'get over it'. Go play WoW or something and stop whining! Sure, playing video games is great, games have a lot of potential for exploration, but a really good game can have the same effect as a really good book. You eventually put down the controller and realize you have to go back to work.
Maybe I'm trying to avoid responsibility? But, I want to believe there is another way. Remember how when you were a kid you were told by your Kindergarten teacher "You can be anything you want to be if you put your mind to it!", but gradually more and more restrictions are put on that ideal. Sure, you can be and do whatever you want, but... what about money? family? friends? the law? You can go for your dream, but after you do this. Life is full of obligation and responsibility!
I guess that's enough for a whiney rant. Coon & Friends ho!
How nice would it be if life lived up to what you read in books? Or in movies or games?
I love to read fantasy books, especially the ones with a really good story with characters that you feel are real. Too often these days (in movies particularly) that characters either don't have time to develop to their full potential or simply cut off before they have a chance to reach that reality threshold. For example, I spent a year excitedly waiting for Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland. I could not wait to see an more mature version of the classic. When I finally did see it I felt it was like the world's most delicious ice cream sundae, taking a bite, and then having it taken away. The movie was so short... I hardly got to know this new Alice, Mad Hatter, and White Queen when the movie ended. It was only an hour and a half! It had so much potential. I mean, I love the visual breath-taking environments of movies like Alice in Wonderland, Avatar, and such, but deep down you know it's all CG. It's the characters that bring us into these worlds.
I understand that movies have time limits. The average person has a very short attention span and movies are uber (yes, I said 'uber'... I like the word) expensive, but if I'm going to pay like $10 to see the movie, I want it to be worth it.
Books seem to have more of a chance to develop the characters and the worlds they bring us into. One of my favorite series, Lord of the Rings, does an excellent job at this. Tolkien's characters are richly detailed, and yet broad enough to relate to, to bring Middle Earth to life. Their struggles are both classic in nature (good vs. unimaginable evil)and original enough to keep you glued to the very end. Hell, the way the story 'ends' leaves it open for a sense of continued possibilities to return to Middle Earth, which continues to evolve long after the War of the Ring. In fact, one of the key elements of the story is the transition from the world of ancient magic (the Elves, Ents, Dwarfs, Orcs) to the world of Men. This story is but a glimpse of the grand master story, a transition in the grand scheme of things. The story transpires the characters as individuals and leaves us with a sense of awe at the sheer vastness of the possibilities of what could happen in the great Song of Arda (Silmarillion, you should read it).
And yet... there can be a down side to great fantasy epic. After the wonder and satisfaction you feel after the passing of the characters, and you close the book, you feel... a sense of disappointment. Or at least I do sometimes, because I come back from Middle Earth and realize I'm here. On regular Earth. I'm just me. You're just you. I'm not a brave sword brandishing heroine like Eowyn. I'm a college students who's going to school for something I don't feel passionate about so I can graduate and get a job to make money, which is supposed to lead to happiness and comfort. What adventures can I go on? Are there any quests anymore?
I know this sounds rather emo but it's something that weighs on my heart a lot. I don't want to be trapped in a cubicle, surrounded by douche-bags and tools bickering over petty office politics. It probably sounds like I'm just another whiney young adult who's seeking escapism and to 'get over it'. Go play WoW or something and stop whining! Sure, playing video games is great, games have a lot of potential for exploration, but a really good game can have the same effect as a really good book. You eventually put down the controller and realize you have to go back to work.
Maybe I'm trying to avoid responsibility? But, I want to believe there is another way. Remember how when you were a kid you were told by your Kindergarten teacher "You can be anything you want to be if you put your mind to it!", but gradually more and more restrictions are put on that ideal. Sure, you can be and do whatever you want, but... what about money? family? friends? the law? You can go for your dream, but after you do this. Life is full of obligation and responsibility!
I guess that's enough for a whiney rant. Coon & Friends ho!
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