Thursday Art Walk

 

In Which Today Was HOT.

I am a delicate alpine bloom at the best of times, despising any temperature above 75℉(23,9℃) and melting in high humidity like so much cotton candy.

Today was absolutely not the best of times.

Today never actually got above 80℉(26,7℃), but between the sun and the mugginess, it felt like around 92℉(33,3℃).

Needless to say today sucked.

But I wasn't about to melt into the living room rug and let the vortex of the ceiling fan whisk away my consciousness like a massive hypnotic aide, no.

I decided, soon after waking up to an oven of a bedroom, that it was time to collect the air conditioning unit from the basement and put it in the kitchen so it wouldn't be disgusting anymore.

Now, I'm not an overly burly individual. I used to be able to do a lot more than I can now, but now I'm woefully weakened.

This is not a small AC unit. This is not a gainly AC unit.

It's not a window AC unit.

No, folks, we have one of those cabinet ones that you stick the hose out the window. The ones that are almost counter-height and weigh as much as an obstinate middle schooler and have handles that are only an inch deep and are about 3/4 as wide as the stairs while being a good 4" deeper than the treads.

So it's not an easy task.

At all.

We're talking a decent logistical undertaking for someone who has been awake for 20 minutes and has only just remembered how coffee works.

Needless to say, it must've been hilarious to watch me heave that stupid thing up the stairs. I had to go up backwards, butt first. I was literally sitting 3-4 stairs above the AC, desperately trying to hold it in place while the wheels debated sliding it away from me, struggling to get my feet halfway between the AC and my butt, and once I reached the top of the stairs, I had to practically lay on my back and scoot it into the kitchen. It nearly crushed me at least once. I nearly dropped it several times.

But I succeeded in putting it where it belonged.

I hooked it up and re-duct-taped the hose (the clips broke because of course everything is plastic and everything plastic breaks in this house), and cranked it to 75℉(23,9℃) before finally collapsing in an exhausted heap in the living room.

So of course, I scrapped the random sketches I did yesterday and instead scribbled out an homage to the effort of moving the stupid AC lol:

"The Struggle Is Real"; watercolore pencil & ink on watercolor paper; 2023
[DEDBERT]

I was tiredly chuckling the entire time I drew that lol.

I hope you guys are all holding up well during this trying time.

For now, I'm gonna go listen to some music and rest. I advise all of y'all to do the same!

Go Enjoy Something!

FC

Talk About Tuesday

 

In Which I'm A Sleepy Birb Again (Still)

Today was strange. We got sleet and snow and rain at different points, and I was comfortable in my capris and flannel shirt, but I slept in shorts and a tank top under a top sheet and a light woven cotton blanket. I even kicked my socks off. My ceiling fan was running. There's no reason I should be so toasty at night...

Except that this is a brand new set of sheets, so they haven't softened up much yet. They'll be cooler over time, I think.

Regardless, today was wet and slow and my cat kept asking to go out and then being offended that I dared hold her in the rain instead of turning the weather dial to sun like a good cat person would. When things did clear off, in the afternoon, she lay in a beanbag chair in the sun, so I think I'm forgiven.

I got pants today, too. They're good pants. I'll enjoy wearing them.

Oh yeah, I also went for a ride in an RV weekend before last - that was super fun! And uh... I am maybe not brainy today. I honestly just feel super tired lately.

I'm pretty sure it's because I'm not sleeping well due to the season change, but hopefully I'll be sentient again soon. I'm basically a pool of demi-intelligent goo.

As for writing, it's been a slog lately. I keep staring at the cursor, knowing where the story needs to go, and then I'll get distracted by something not writing-related and fluff off, and by then it's past midnight and I've missed the day's wordcount again.

I wrote 139 words today. I'm only down by about 100 words this week, but man, I have felt off my game. 

Anyway, the plan for this week is to draw some stuff tomorrow to post on Thursday, work on too much crochet, and drink more coffee than the human body should be able to withstand in the vague hopes that I'm alive enough on Friday to enjoy the family trip Z and I are taking to a planetarium and a really good diner.

I am exciting lol.

I hope y'all are having better luck holding on to your brains than I am.

Go Enjoy Something!

FC

Talk About Tuesday

 

In Which I Am A Melty Birb

Well, summer has well and truly hit my hometown. It's HHH - Hazy, Hot, and Humid today, and I cannot believe how awful it is out there. Anyone from the US South can make fun of me all I want, but I'm a Yankee tubbins who can theoretically walk into the sea from my house in an hour or less, so I'm never going to be accustomed to such a wretched triple threat.

For reference, today's high was 90℉/32℃ with about 58% humidity. It feels like about 92℉/33,3℃ in the sun, but I'm not going outside. You couldn't pay me to be out there today. I'd die.

I'm not being dramatic, I know enough about the way my body traps heat to know that this is deadly weather for me. Pathetic? Eh, it's just life for me. I'm not 12 anymore. I can't just melt in the sun without consequences.

So what am I up to today?

I've... not been doing much. Most of my efforts are focused on not exhausting myself and not overheating. Water has been chugged, coffee has been drank, a shower was taken, and the massive AC we bought a few years ago has been dragged out of the basement and set up downstairs.

Which is great for my mom and the cat, who are downstairs, but upstairs is a good 10-20 degrees warmer!

I try to stay upstairs, even on hot days like this. It's not just my stubborn, hermitlike nature, though. I like to watch videos and read and write, and those are not easy to do when the tv is on and playing Price is Right reruns lol.

Popping downstairs every hour or so for more water, a bathroom break, a light snack, etc is how I tend to survive hot days like this. No one is expecting me to be silent and hidden in my room tonight, thankfully, so I'll be roaming the house after the sun goes down, pulling the shade in my room, switching the window fan from exhaust to intake, and again, seeking water.

For the most part, today has been alright. I've reached my limit a couple of times and had to retreat downstairs, but mostly I've been able to stay up here and blog, wind some yarn balls to get them out of the tangle, and listen to some N64 tunes.

The tentative plan for this week (in spite of the heat wave) is thus:

• Art on Thursday - I've had no suggestions yet, so if you're interested in buying me a coffee with your choice of category (Animal, Vegetable, Mineral, Location, Geometric, Word) please do!
• If the weather is good on Saturday, I'll talk about a game I've been playing!
• Next Monday should involve some more updates on the Secret Project, but if not, I've got other things I could talk about (like this massive yarn tangle I've been working on...)
• Next Tuesday I'll be back to blather and probably whine and cry about the heat lol

I'm excited to see where this sweaty week takes me, but hopefully if you're also enduring heat, you're taking care of yourself, so here are a few words of advice from one wilting wallflower to others:

• Your home should be as cavelike as possible during the day. Hide from the sun like a vampire. The sun is your worst enemy now. Close all blinds and shades and curtains!
• If you open a window for ventilation, find another window to open as well because otherwise it will do nothing - you must cross-ventilate!
• There are many instructions for a "swamp cooler" available on the internet. If you don't have an AC unit or any other kind of aircon, please build one. Heat kills.
• Hydrate or diedrate. I'm not even being funny - you must replace your fluids. Constantly be sipping clean water. If you bought bottled water, freeze some of them and use them as ice packs. You can also drink from them as they melt and refill them to replace the water you drank.
• If you have frozen treats, enjoy them. Slowly. Don't give yourself brain freeze!
• Damp washcloths on the back of the neck, forearms, and feet can help you cool off, too, if you're in front of or underneath a fan. This is evaporative cooling. Take advantage.
• Don't move if you don't have to.
• Stay out of the kitchen and block it and any room you won't be spending much time in off from the rest of the house, if possible. Believe it or not, your toilet can help keep your bathroom cooler than it otherwise might be, but your kitchen will always be hotter because of your refrigerator.

I think that'll do it for my advice. Hopefully you're already doing a bunch of this, but if I've given you any ideas that help you, that makes me happy.

Go Enjoy Something, fellow Toasted Marshmallows!

FC

Talk About Tuesday

 

In Which My Attention Has Been Pretty Shattered Lately...
Again

Every so often (okay, it's becoming more frequent lately) I have days where I cannot focus at all. I can't play video games, I can't read, I can't crochet, I can't paint, I can't write, I cannot focus on a single thing for more than five minutes... unless I'm so hyperfocused on something that I can do nothing else.

I do not like these bad-attention days. I enjoy being productive. I'd much prefer to do a few things than Just One Thing.

Caffeine does not help. Naps do not happen. I'm snappish and rude and argumentative when I'm scattered.

The good news is, I have been able to focus more today. I'm still a little distractible, but I managed to commit to a strategy on a game I was playing for 2 hours, so that was great.

So that's what happened to Monday's post, I got too distracted and literally could not commit to a project to show you.

Hopefully by Thursday I'll be back in action and able to fulfill any requests made via Ko-Fi. Possible art request categories are: Animal, Vegetable, Mineral, Geometric, Place. Just a lil shameless plug there, sorry lol.

Anyway, the weather lately has been pretty good (the sun is very hot, but the breeze is strong and the humidity was low). Sadly, today's weather was awful. The sun was bright, but it's about 73% humidity and windy as heck. Tonight's probably going to rain, too.

My mother went and got her 2nd Shingles shot, so it was a make-your-own dinner night. I made a Mi Goreng and topped it with a fried egg, and I have to say... it looked fantastic.

And yes, it tasted as good as it looks!

I learned 2 things making this egg.

1) Use a lid after the white sets so that the yolk can steam a bit - it's better that way.

2) Use a small pan and plenty of oil or cooking spray.

The 3rd thing I'd say if asked is this: The more saturated the color of the yolk, the more delicious it's probably gonna be, so if it's a yellow yolk, feel free to cook it through.

I let the runny yolk coat my hot noodles and then ate it, and honestly? Best food I've had this week.

I do wish I had a coffee though. Even if it is 7:30PM and my cutoff is 7...

I do have decaf...

I should make coffee....

Anywho, here's the plan for the rest of the week/weekend!

• Art on Thursday! I don't have a theme locked down yet (though I have taken some ideas under advisement!)
• I'll keep looking for games for Saturday
• Hopefully I won't get lost in the dozen or so projects I'm working on and I'll have something coherent for you on Monday
• Blather Next Tuesday!

Wow the sky is yellow now! The sun is setting through the light sprinkle.

I think I'll grab that decaf and settle in for the evening :)

Go Enjoy Something!

FC

Talk About Tuesday

 

It's too hot

I'm not a summer person. I don't like heat, I don't like humidity, and I don't like the sun.

Unfortunately, like a lot of folks right now, I'm experiencing Summer with a capital S. It's not anywhere close to as hot as it is in the PNW right now, we're only at about 90℉ (32.2℃). With humidity it feels around 97℉ (36.1℃), and it's slowly rolling between partly cloudy and sunnier than an optimist's disposition and twice as obnoxious to my pessimistic tush.

I've drank 2 liters of water today, had a bowl of cereal, ate a handful of cold, wet baby carrots (they were from a leftover veggie tray and still pretty good), and of course had my morning coffee (which was probably a mistake since hot beverages are a bad idea lol). I also took a cool shower (cold showers can cause shock! Just pick a temperature that's juuuust warm enough to be comfortable and don't go any higher!) and dressed in all breathable clothing. Natural fibers like cotton and linen are your friends!

You may have guessed already, but blogs will be slow to appear in hot weather. My laptop heats up quickly and uncomfortably in this heat, and my phone just hates the blog format. My bedroom has no AC, so I'm just cycling the warm updrafts from downstairs and across the hall as opposed to actually cooling down. It's 76℉ (24.4℃) downstairs, but up here has to be at least 82℉ (27.8℃). Thankfully, due to the downstairs AC, the air up here is nowhere near as humid as it could be, so I'm fairly comfortable so long as I take breaks from the laptop and spread out my limbs every so often lol!

But yes, tis very toasty this week. Looking forward to whenever it breaks and hoping it's not a traumatic event like a wind storm or something. It'll totally be a massive weather event, though. It always is.

Three days of light to moderate rain with thunder wouldn't be so bad, though. It'd give me a major chance to focus on my writing, which always goes better with consistent precipitation, weirdly enough.

This week will probably consist of a lot of research into how different people handle different elements in watercolor. I'll watch people make neon signs seem to glow, how they make shadows deeper or lighter, how they approach foggy landscapes or rain, etc.

It's been years since I took a class, and those classes mostly consisted of color theory and avoiding unintentional focal points.

No schedule this week because I have no idea what I'll be up for or when - there's a lot going on.

I will try to keep working on things, though, and I hope you do, too (within reason - don't exhaust yourselves!)

Keep an eye out for the following symptoms as you endure the heat:

• dizziness
• sudden chills
• you were sweating hard but now you suddenly aren't
• muscle cramps/weakness
• lethargy
• diarrhea
• nausea
• sudden/severe headache

If you feel any of that - if you feel off at all - get to shade, get something cool to drink and sip it slowly, place cool cloths or bottles against your lower back, the bottoms of your feet (if you're not diabetic and don't have Reynauds - don't do things that will physically hurt you!), under your arms, etc. You are overheating and if you can't get these symptoms under control in say 30 minutes you should probably go to Urgent Care or (if your symptoms are bad) get to the ER. Heat exhaustion is no joke and since you're probably not a ham, you should not bake yourself.

If you don't have AC/access to AC, make sure you have airflow through your whole living space - one open window on either end helps especially when you run a lot of fans. Block as much sunlight as possible with shades/curtains/tacked up towels or pillowcases/etc. Find cool tile, vinyl, or wood floors to put your bare feet on. Take a cool bath once a day and dip your feet in cool water. Anywhere you can feel a pulse, you can press a cool cloth for some relief.

Please, please, please take care of yourselves, and don't let your pets or kids outside without you - they can burn themselves on sidewalks, cement, fences, etc and none of them can really recognize the signs/symptoms of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

If you develop little clear bumps on your skin, that's heat rash. Yes, it's usually red bumps, but it's still heat rash. Go cool down.

If you don't think you're thirsty, take a sip of water anyway.

Take care of yourselves out there,

And Stay Inside and Enjoy Something!

Fiber Monday: Filet And Blather

In Which I Am Working On A Thing

I am a sleepy potato. It's been about 90℉ (32.2℃) and about 50% humidity all day. If you live in certain parts of the world, I'm sure you're laughing at me, and believe me, I do the same thing to you in January when you're complaining that it's half this temp and you're bundled up while I'm still walking outside in short sleeves, but please remember: in the cold months, you can add clothes to keep you warm. I cannot strip my skin off when it's hot, no matter how much I'd like to.

Gotta admit, too, that I'm not really crocheting today. I just wanted to show you the progress I've made on this design I'm making for my mom's new bread bowl.

Don't let the zoom fool you, this sucker is LONG!

Around 19" long (48.26cm)!

And it's not even half finished

so it could be about an inch or two wider before I'm done!

As things stand, though, it'll be just the right length

So I hope my mom likes it for her bread tray

I really enjoy doing filet crochet, to be honest.

Even if my tired monkey brain has a hard time counting the right amounts, and even though I seem to drop a block once every couple of rows, and yes, even though that means frogging for ages before I can hook back to where I was when I noticed the error...

But it's just a lot of fun, yeah? I love seeing the design take shape, block by block, in a way that I can't really get with colorwork. There's no extra ends to tie in (though if I ever find myself brave enough to take on the Godzilla Shawl, that will not be the case...), I have an easier time counting out multiples of 3 than multiples of 2 for some reason, and I really enjoy practicing my foundation double crochet stitches! This project has been a blast so far.

Yeah, I also had to take a break last Wednesday because I got my second jab, and boy was I sore afterwards. I'll try to remember to tell y'all about that tomorrow, but for now, I'm just gonna go enter some contests and go to bed because it is exhausting to be this overheated. Yes I'm wearing a tank top. Yes I'm wearing ridiculously tiny shorts. No it's not cool enough. No I don't have AC.

I may also be a wee bit cranky due to the heat :P

However this blog may find you, I hope you're able to get comfy and!

Go Enjoy Something!

FC