Thursday Art Walk

 

In Which The Universe Is Trying To Tell Me Something...

It was a very wet, very hot, very crappy summer here. My whole goal this year was to paint outside once a week.

I've done it maybe three times because the weather has Not Cooperated.

Today it was gorgeous out.

Puffy white clouds, slightly hazy sky, not that humid, gentle breezes, approximately 75℉ (23,9℃)...

I had to try it. I had to go for my stupid little walk for my stupid mental health! It was now or never!

Well, the walk was pleasant enough - traffic cooperated, I managed to check the produce that gets left out for free at the library (just kale and a few random peppers, but that's on me, I should've headed out before noon), and I even felt comfy enough to shed my flannel shirt.

Main Street was the kind of bustling you get from off-season tourists who just want to see what a small New England town is like when there are no cruise ships or leaf peepers (spoilers, it's cozy but largely boring unless you're into art and relaxation). I hopped onto a bench outside one of the bigger galleries and set up my clipboard and watercolor palette, sketching out a very sloppy view. My goal was to try out some brushwork ideas I'd had, practice glazing, maybe figure out how to do impressionism with watercolor if I was very very ambitious.

A gentleman set up near me with a violin. He had an interesting song selection that he was playing with speakers. Dunno if he was legit or one of the scammers, but that was besides the point.

The point is that this is when I started to get a familiar feeling in my gut that something might go wrong today.

I ignored it, because I'm anxious, so I feel that way a lot.

I mean, sure, I'm anxious because when I feel like something is about to go wrong, it does, but that's besides the point. People aren't supposed to give in to anxiety, right? So I keep painting.

I'm adding a bunch of dabbed brushwork leaves to a tree when I realize there's an older fellow in a western-style shirt standing close to me, watching me work. Okay, that's cool, he seems to be just watching my paints, trying to see what I see. It's a first for me, but I've seen other plein aire artists have this happen.

No sooner does he start asking me questions about my art (which I was really excited about, because this is new! People don't often take an interest in what I do in the real world!), than a yellowjacket starts hovering around me. We both remark on it and laugh it off.

Then it's joined by a friend, who lands on my thigh and starts moving... oddly.

And then they're both joined by a third yellowjacket who zooms aggressively towards my eyes. I hastily packed up and headed for home. I wasn't about to run because I know that a fast-moving target with hornets, bees, or yellowjackets around it is a stung target. I apologized for my quick departure to the baffled art enthusiast and trudged home.

The weirdly persistent bugs followed me.

They followed me for almost a half a mile.

They continued to aim for my face.

I finally lost them by leading them past a bottle redemption place with a whole swarm of drunken hornets outside. My stalkers decided that the booze was far preferable to my face, so they stuck around the pallets of broken beer bottles and crushed Mtn dew cans.

I bought myself a couple of 69 cent cans of soda at a nearby shop and went home, defeated.

Some days the universe just tells you "No, you're not allowed to enjoy yourself outside." This was apparently one of those days.

It's a frigging bummer.

No one has ever talked to me about my art on Main Street without prompting from someone who knows me.

Never.

So of course the one time it does, my stupid stinging-insect-attracting powers have to activate.

Heck.

Anyway, here's the watercolor sketch I was working on:

"God Said Stop Painting"; watercolor on paper; 2023
[ANIMAL, VEGETABLE, LOCATION]

As you can see, I was trying to use a flat brush and fill in the foliage of the tree I was looking at...

Those five dots in the sky are pigeons. Same with the dots on the background building.

And the buildings you can see are a secondhand store, a bakery, a movie theater, and a contemporary art museum.

I've probably just doxxed myself. It's been that kind of day.

Is this the universe's way of telling me not to freaking paint outside anymore? Telling me I'm not allowed to paint at all?

I feel pretty defeated, to be honest.

Weird crap happens every time I try to do anything like this.

Nature just likes to mess with me I guess.

Last time it was a freak rainshower. The time before that, a cruise ship arrived and I felt like I had to leave so that other people could sit down.

I want to sit somewhere with shade and paint.

Apparently the only place I can do that is at home.

That sucks.

Anywho, if you want me to make some art for ya, I'm happy to do that - you can commission me via Ko-Fi, DM me on Twitter (it's Twitter, not X, Elon's a doofus), if you're an IRL person I know, you can reach me via Facebook.

If you just want a say in what I post next week, feel free to drop me a small donation on Ko-Fi with a message telling me what category you want to see (Animal, Vegetable, Mineral, Food, Dedbert, Location, Geometric, Word) and I'll make it for next Thursday!

I'll just probably be painting or drawing it either at the local library or in my backyard.

Probably the library, to be honest, because last time my mom sat outside, she was swarmed by bees.

What the heck.

Anywho, Go Enjoy Something!

FC

Talk About Tuesday

 

In Which Heat And I Are Not Friends

I could not sleep at all last night. Between the heat and how hard it was for me to find my collection of tank tops, I was exhausted. I got up at 4:30AM to go to the bathroom and just... gave up. The sun was rising, the birds were singing, the cat was curious.

I got some coffee and went back to bed. The second time I got up, I went down for a second hefty mug of coffee and curled up on the couch while my head sloshed. It honestly felt like my skull was filled with hot water, I was so tired. Eventually I dozed until around noon, then I got my day started.

Today's temperatures were about the same as yesterday, but we had about 20% more humidity so it really just sucked.

I'm sleepy, I'm annoyed at how little I've done on the crocheted pouch, and I'm creatively washed out. It's hard to write when all you can think about is the way your armpits are sticking to themselves or the way you can feel steam building under your spine where you lay on your bed.

It's hard to draw, too - holding a pencil makes my fingers hot, and frankly, I just can't think of something to draw.

I'll figure it out by the end of tomorrow, but yeesh.

I'm pooped.

And we are not getting relief until Sunday. Our daily highs are 80℉ (26,7℃) and up, power rates just increased by apparently enough to double our bill, and we already had a brownout yesterday so it's just gonna be a really crummy summer, I think.

I hope they don't jack up the water bill, too, because I foresee a plentitude of cool showers in my future.

We'll see what the rest of the week brings, but I'm not going to fight through a heat headache to do art. If I make art, I make art.

Meanwhile, I've just dug up a bunch of old black pants that don't fit me anymore (and won't unless I drop an unreasonable amount of weight - one pair is from middle school, when I was about 13), which I might turn into various projects, I've got a pair of shorts to repair the waistband of, a winter coat in need of a zipper.

I've got work to do, in short, and I don't think this is the week it will happen.

In fact, I think tonight is just going to be for watching videos and relaxing until the glowing hate ball (the sun) rises again.

I'll do my best to keep posting.

Go Enjoy Something (maybe the beach if it's hot where you are, too),

FC

Thursday Art Walk

 

In Which I Did A Geometric Art!

I'll be honest, I haven't thought much about art this week. I started working on my promised Geometric piece.... yesterday.

Should I be drawing every day? Yes. That was my goal. I have not even met it by 10%. That's okay. I just haven't had the focus. Maybe I will soon?

Regardless, I'm pretty happy with how yesterday's art came out!

"MiterSquare"; digital; 2023 [GEOMETRIC]

Today's piece was made in Paint.net using a sequence of colors in 20x20 pixel squares, each spaced one pixel apart around. I'm quite pleased with the variety of colors and tones I got!

I wish I had more to report on, art-wise. I just haven't felt particularly inspired. I think it's this yoyo weather. I woke up to snow again. We've been having warm days lately, but no, yesterday and today were in the 30s. Boo.

And I'm still sleeping poorly. New pillow hasn't helped. New sheets have not helped.

In fact, I still overheated last night until about 7AM, when I woke up cold.

Did I get up to go draw or write? No.

I kicked the sheet and light blanket off and pulled my red fluffy blanket over me so I could sleep for two more hours.

Because I'm a horrid little goblin who hoards sleep, I guess lol.

Anyway, I think I should go drink some water, since my lips are dry and my eyes are itchy, and then I might try to sketch something for next week. I'll be out and about tomorrow, so I probably won't get much art or writing done then.

Next week's Guaranteed Category is MINERAL! Oh boy, let's try not to have any... inappropriate designs, I guess lol!

If you'd like a say in what I draw next week, feel free to send me a coffee over on Ko-Fi with a message telling me which category (Animal, Vegetable, Mineral, Dedbert, Location, Geometric, Word) and I'll draw or paint something in that category. If you pick the same category as me, that means I have to do two pictures in that category (two minerals, for instance). If you pick something different, you can tell me whether or not I'm allowed to roll it into my Guaranteed Category (if, say, you want an animal, but you're okay seeing what I come up with for animal + mineral, tell me!).

Anywho, that'll do it for me tonight. I'm already pooped, and I need that water.

Go Enjoy Something!

FC

Talk About Tuesday

 

In Which I Am Always Tired

I am always baffled when people talk about how sunny days make them feel more energized. I wake up, the sun is shining, and the most I can muster is an "oh, that's pretty" before the urge to burrow under my blankets and not encounter another human being ever again threatens to overtake me.

I am aware that this is a symptom of depression.

I am aware that I have a history of depression.

I am also aware that, while I feel unmotivated and incredibly sleepy, this is not depression. It does not feel like despair. It doesn't feel empty. It doesn't feel bad. I just feel tired.

And I know why!!!

I'm tired because I don't sleep well. I don't sleep well because I have anxiety. I have anxiety because it's a freaking pandemic and things keep. going. wrong. everywhere. all. the. time.

But I have a few secret weapons to make myself be less bed-bound and determined:

I have ~ h o b b i e s ~

Hold on, I have to stop cackling like Old Peddler Woman Evil Queen In Disguise from Snow White...

But seriously, yeah, my hobbies of watercolor and crochet get me to be more active than I otherwise would be one way or another. I'm either crocheting/painting/drawing, or... I'm avoiding them.

If I'm doing the arts & crafts, I'm being productive. If I'm avoiding the arts & crafts, I'm still being productive more often than not because I do things like "oh, I can't paint right now, I have clothes to put away" or "oh I can't crochet right this minute the cat needs a walk" or "hmm... I could write in my novel or I could go shopping a half mile down the road..."

See? Active.

Just... not today.

Today I just want to bury myself in soft blankets with hot coffee and thick socks and listen to a cute Australian lady find out what those ceramic molds she bought on Gumtree contain.

And that's okay.

It's okay to be unmotivated and need some coziness once in a while.

It's when it lasts more than three days that you need to worry. Trust me on that. If you feel like your bed is too welcoming to do anything you really should be doing and you feel that way for 72 hours straight? That's either depression or diabetes. You want neither, but if they happen, you want them to go untreated even less. Brains and Pancreases don't exactly regenerate well without assistance (and pancreases even less than brains!) so if you're having a sudden "Nope" period for more than 3 days (and you're not having a period, because let's be real, sometimes the ol uterus is the one saying "nope"...) then you should probably see a doctor.

If you can't see a doctor, have someone sniff your breath and if it smells like apples when you haven't been eating any, get thee to an ER - that's diabetes. And it's bad.

Uh, to be clear that last bit hasn't happened to either me or anyone I know, but I've known some people who've known some people who've seen some stuff, so uh... that's a thing.

Anywho, it's Tuesday, and it's beautiful looking out there. There's soft, puffy clouds in the bright, robin's egg sky, we've only had one bird-murder in the last week (today - red-tailed hawk took out another one of our pigeons), we've seen the wood rat (she's very, very fat and apparently likes snacking on the neighbor's compost pile), and we've also got a red squirrel passing through. It's currently 66℉ (18.9℃) and about 64% humidity. The crows are cawing.

And I had a hell of a Saturday. Which, come to think of it, might be part of why I'm so resistant to movement.

My mother's mother is, as many grandparents are, quite eccentric. Like the majority of my relatives and myself included, she's also a musician. I play flute and piano, my mother plays trumpet and piano, my father plays trumpet and flugelhorn and bugle, my uncles & aunt play other instruments, and both of my grandmothers play piano...

But my mother's mother also happens to play the organ, and having moved multiple times, her own electric organ has become unplayable.

So she wanted a new one and found one!

A free electric organ!

A free electric organ two hours (one way) away from my house.

Which she lives two hours away from.

And she's recently had surgery.

So she obviously needed assistance retrieving this marvelous find, right? Well, she's only got 2 kids - my mom and my uncle. My uncle is not able to help with something like this for a multitude of reasons, nor would he be willing. My mother should not have helped with this, but she was too well-aware that my grandmother, the human definition of stubbornness, would have attempted to lift a whole damned organ by herself just to get it.

So my mother volunteered, despite having a back injury and a torn bicep that still has not fully recovered.

She also, regretfully, volunteered me.

I was... less than thrilled, but guess what? There's literally no one else to do this and I love my mother and my grandmother, so it had to happen whether anyone liked it or not. That's family, sometimes.

Now, this four hour trip would've been rough under the best of circumstances, but unfortunately, the circumstances got worse and worse.

• The day started after noon for us.
• We hit every rumble strip from here to there and then from there to here.
• My grandmother likes to drive one-handed
• She didn't have the directions to the organ's location written anywhere
• She kept calling for directions on the way
• None of us knew where we were or where we were going
• She brought her 85lb neurotic German Shepherd mix who kept trying to hang himself by his leash because he kept jumping over the backseat so he could be next to my grandmother

That last one? That's why I have bruises and a very sore spine. At one point, this animal decided that he was tired of sitting in the back and tried to sit next to me. There was no room next to me because we had moving equipment piled up. Also his leash was shortened so he was hanging himself. And his butthole was planted firmly on my shoulder. And he was struggling.

Eventually, I managed to yeet him back where he came from, but he kept trying to come back up! I spent probably 3 hours with my left arm around the headrests of the rest of my row just to try desperately to keep him in the back. It only worked about 70% of the time, so the other 30% of the time was me desperately trying to remind the pointy-skulled garganth that he would choke himself out if he kept forcing himself forward. All while knowing that at some point I'd be getting out to shift an electric organ.

Before heading out, before she'd told us the make/model of the organ, I tried looking up how much electric organs weighed, and one of the estimates was around 425lb (192.8kg). My max lift/carry is 100lb (45.4lb), and that's with a hernia belt and spotter. It's also my estimate from 15 years ago. I was, of course, terrified that I'd be trying to lift a behemoth with my mother while both of us have compromised arms - her from the bicep tear, me from an old injury + holding the dog back for hours.

I needn't have feared. The organ weighed all of 125lb (56.7kg) and the gentleman trying to get rid of it helped us. Also we brought a dolly so that helped a lot.

The organ was the easiest part of the trip.

Needless to say, the dog was no better behaved on the way home and ended up strangling himself a second time before he finally exhausted himself and laid down in the back.

For ten minutes.

Before starting right back up on his bullmalarky.

Needless to say, my shoulder is still sore and I have bruises that make it look like I got battered by a poorly controlled baby elephant. Both of my wrists have bruises (resting them on the laptop to type is annoying), my spine aches from being at a weird angle for so much of the journey, and also I'm just... I'm tired.

Sleeping has been hard, as I've noted many times.

Sunday was great! I spent time with my boyfriend, we watched silly stuff on YouTube, ate pot roast, talked about stories we're working on, and we ate a whole bag of popcorn between the two of us. It was a 10/10 visit and I had a blast.

Yesterday sucked, unfortunately, with nothing going the way anyone wanted it. Today has also sucked for similar reasons.

I mostly just want to eat chicken sausage and go to bed, but I also want to be productive in some way, shape, or form.

My hope is that after I post this and eat dinner, I can get a small sketch out. Maybe not a painting. Maybe not even something in color, but a sketch of some variety so I can get these creative juices back to where they were on Sunday.

How is the week treating all of y'all? Have you also had a "bent at an angle with a dog's butt on your shoulder and the seatbelt strangling you" kind of week? Has your week been mediocre? Has it been marvelous? Feel free to vent, bleh, or even brag in the comments!

Also, the plan for Thursday is to post something properly autumnal, so keep an eye out ;)

Go Enjoy Something!!!

FC 

Talk About Tuesday

 

In Which Today Started... Weird

I am a creature of habit. No, not like a nun. More like a flower. I bloom in my own cycle and anything that disrupts that muddies up my whole vibe. So when I tell you today was a weird-vibe day, you can rest assured I am very thrown-off.

The morning started surprisingly early because my mother took our stale bread out for the crows. They were very appreciative and sang her the song of their people. You may take this to mean that I was annoyed to be awakened by crows, but you'd be wrong. I loved it! It was so nice to hear them happily cawing and the younger ones making "feed me, ma!" noises even though I'm pretty sure some of them have already paired off with mates of their own lol!

So the morning is going well - I grab my coffee and settle into an armchair, the cat is curled up on my lap, farting into my thigh like it's a race... which yeah, not pleasant, but I was happy she was so comfortable on my lap when she's usually quite antisocial in the mornings.

Then my mom lets me know her mother's visiting, and while I love my grandma a lot, I'm less enamored of her crazy dog - the big one who we had that saga with over the late winter/early spring and the lack of kenneling.

Okay, I can deal with that. My partner left me a date bar (delicious) and I brewed a pot of lemon tea that I enjoyed with a few nice vids from the Snake Discovery Enclosure Buildoff. Dog wanted cuddles under the tree so my mom and grandma set themselves up outside, letting the cat and I just chill.

Pretty good day so far!

And then a bonus! The paper that I ordered from Dick Blick 2 days ago and shipped last night? Arrived today! It's a nice cotton rag 5"x7" block of 100 sheets! Pretty dang pleased - especially since my fineliners and gelly roll pens were supposed to arrive...

Yesterday.

And then they were supposed to get here today!

And a package did arrive for my dad from USPS, but... they didn't deliver mail yesterday, and we got no mail today, either.

I'm beginning to think they lost my freaking pens... or that I've somehow pissed off our mailman...

Regardless, today started strong, but the disappointment of realizing my stuff isn't showing up until maybe even Thursday was crushing. And also my brain has been zooming all over the place all day, which isn't fun.

It's been very hard to concentrate - hence why it's past 11PM while I'm writing this.

Anywho, the plan for this week is basically just to try and make some art at the very least! If I can do more than that it'll be a miracle, but hey, miracles do occasionally happen, right?

Right?!

Yeah, that'll about do it for me today :P

Go Enjoy Something!

FC

Talk About Tuesday

 

Le Ouch Continues

So I'm still sore as heck.

My left thumb is still very tender where it attaches to my palm. My legs/ankles are still painful, especially when bearing weight or stretching slowly. I didn't sleep well because I could barely shift my weight laying down without leg pain.

So of course I've gotten nothing done today so far.

Hopefully, when I work on writing later tonight, it won't read like a whiny toddler wrote it, which is how a lot of my earlier attempts at the novel read today lol.

At least today has been beautiful - sunny and calm with only one birdur (RIP Pigeon #73) and temperatures of about 73℉ (22.8℃). The yard is alive with a pile of feathers that used to be said pigeon, chipmunks, about a half dozen squirrels, and the whole extended attempted murder of crows we have this year (we're up to 8!).

Aside from physical discomfort, here's some of my plans for this week:

• Gonna paint a little maybe tomorrow/Thursday
• Might check out Blender and see if I can model an egg (a standard simple-shape test)
• I will have to see if it'll actually run on my laptop though
• it probably won't run well
• I also hope to pick up some muslin or other lightweight/soft cotton for a lightweight chemise (preferably with spaghetti straps) because the pattern I have is... stupid simple and really only requires running stitches and backstitches.
• New Snap has an update, so I'll be checking that out!
• I'll try and keep everyone up-to-date on any other eventful happenings :)

I think that might be all I've got going on for now. Aches & pains, plans and dreams, etc.

Go Enjoy Something!

FC

Talk About Tuesday

 

In Which I Swear I'm Working Hard
And Not Just Hardly Working

It's been a Summer. Quite a Summer. Some days I feel like I'm endlessly floating in a humid pool of nonsense and others I feel like I'm hurtling towards some uncomfortable future at lightspeed.

Who knew...

Cereal makes me philosophical.

Today has been another hot and humid day (80℉/26.7℃ with 51% humidity). I woke up to cicadas outside, which I only hear when it's disgusting out. We don't get the constant summer scream where I live, and I truly feel bad for anyone with sensory issues who lives with an abundance of cicadas. Yikes. Sorry bros.

I think I mentioned yesterday that I tore up the backs of my ankles walking around town in the rain (worth it - that bookstore is loaded with sweet sweet literary goodness), and as of today they're still stiff and painful. Which means my plans for a walk were once more thwarted. I can't even use the treadmill. Wah.

I can, however, do crunches and situps (though not pushups, sadly), so I did those today. I also ate a bowl of Honey Bunches of Oats for lunch, which was awesome and gave me some nice clarity and focus that lasted 3 whole hours! For reference, the focus hit I get off of coffee lasts maybe 15 minutes tops. I'm 99% sure it's psychosomatic, but that's fine because I also haven't snacked since the cereal. Win?

I'm also 99% sure that the latest birdur (murder-of-bird-by-bird) in my yard was perpetrated by a redtail hawk! I heard what sounded like a FURIOUS catbird on testosterone and went to the window and an enormous reddish brown raptor was sitting on top of a flattened pigeon under the bird feeder (RIP pigeon, sorry you got smooshed). When he saw me, we locked eyes and he SKRAAAAA'd at me one last time before taking off. For whatever reason, my phone blows at taking photos through my window (USA = window screens = focus issues galore but also less cat escapes and bug intake) so I do not have any photos worth sharing, but what an encounter!!!

Besides the big bad birdle borg not much has happened since Sunday's bookstravaganza and blisterpalooza. I almost went back to the bookstore today but needed my shower and so did not end up going. Maybe next Sunday if it's not pouring?

I'm hoping to do some sketching later today, maybe prep for another watercolor piece and test out my new erasers and pencil sharpener. Hopefully I also get to cook this week - I would like to try making bao! I'll let y'all know how it goes if I succeed. If you hear nothing, I did not succeed :P

I'm also hoping to get to work on some old crochet projects and maybe also start a gag gift for someone... we'll see if I can get that to work. I don't know if it will.

Anywho, that'll about do it for me! I'm riding that cereal high and about to go supplement it with coffee, despite the heat lol.

Go Enjoy Something!

FC

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

Fiber Monday - Cyberstruggles

 

In Which There Almost Wasn't Even This Much Of A Blog

You may have noticed that there was a big ol' outage with a certain shitty web carrier today.

I didn't get anything uploaded and it's a little late to start now :|

Still, I did get a lot of crochet work done, and I got working on some art, too, while I was at it! No clue as of the blogging as to why the network was down, but it was. And it was super annoying.

I do hope to have more of a Fiber Monday blog up next week, but we'll see.

Actually, I do have a couple fiber-related things to report!

A) I ordered some silk hankies (mawata)! They're gold and should get here with the new Universal Remote so that I don't have to cross the room to fiddle with the volume anymore...

2) I'm going to try to build a drop spindle this week! Wish me luck because I have NO IDEA WHAT I'M DOING LOL

III) I started another new project but that's not really news so much as just another day of the week lol.

That'll about cover it for me on this gray and frustrating Monday!

Go Enjoy Something (provided your internet is functioning)

FC

Talk About Tuesday

 

In Which I Am Still Very Sleepy

Oh my god why.

Why did I stay up until 4AM.

Why am I like this.

I've been exhausted all day, which is pretty pathetic, considering I haven't even shoveled (my folks have an electric snowblower and they've been using that), and I barely even moved today.

Okay, that's not true. I ended up going up and down a few sets of stairs about 30 times today. Mostly because my memory has been truly garbage.

I kept forgetting what step I was on in the coffee-making process.

I kept leaving cupboard doors and drawers open.

I forgot to close the bathroom door (thankfully no one else was home).

I was in the basement for a while, set my phone down while I cleaned up a pc case, and when I was done, I started to go back upstairs.

But then I had to go back down because I'd forgotten my used cotton balls, the rubbing alcohol, my phone, and the scraper.

When I headed back up with the rubbing alcohol and trash, I had to leave the alcohol on the counter after throwing out the trash and go back downstairs. I'd forgotten the scraper and phone. Again.

I came up with the scraper. 

Headed back down for the phone.

Came up with the phone, put the scraper away, and started happily heading back up to my bedroom to finally rest and write this blog entry.

I'd left the rubbing alcohol on the counter. Ugh.

Headed back for the alcohol and put it away, setting my phone on the sink while I stuck the bottle of isopropyl in the closet.

I started to head back upstairs and thankfully finally remembered the damn phone.

Went back for the phone, then came upstairs, and now...

It's 8:30 and all I want is sleep.

Wah wah wah. I'm just whining.

So here's my plans that will probably fall through because I'm a lazy sleepypotamus.

Thursday: Art!

Weekend: Maybe tea if I remember?

Monday: Crochet!

Next Tuesday: More blathering. Hopefully more about the weather and my writing than about how stupid I am when I'm tired lol.

I hope you're all holding up better than my poor stupid koala brain!

Go Enjoy Something

FC

Talk About Tuesday 231

It's another edition of "The Filthy Casual Talks About the Weather"!

Well, fancy folks, it's hot out and muggy and I couldn't sleep very well last night, so please forgive me if I'm faintly incoherent :)

Today is sunny and hazy, and while we do seem to have a breeze slowly swaying the treetops like some sort of washed-out-chartreuse ocean's waves, it's not doing much to hide the fact that it's 84℉ (~29℃) and about 56% humidity. That makes it feel like 87℉ (~30℃)... and it's getting hotter. I predict we'll hit about 88℉/31℃ or so by 2PM, which will suck.

This week is going to be hard for me, not just because of the heat uptick but also because tomorrow begins the weekend from Hell in this little burb. See, my hometown is on the coast, and there's this obsession with eating everything the ocean vomits into a metal box thrown over the side of a boat. Crustacean celebrations are about to commence, and it's a terrible time to be a local. If you own a business, you get to watch the tourists climb into their cars and go to more glamorous towns to buy things that are overpriced even compared to our inflated values. If you're a local, you can no longer go to work on time because every available cab is catering to out-of-towners who can't find the bar they want to day drink at without someone literally driving them up to the door. You cannot escape the stench of boiled sea bugs. It permeates the soggy air with an undertone of unwashed carnie as the fairgrounds are set up and the Zipper and Ferris Wheel dominate the downtown skyline.

I'll admit, it can be a beautiful sight as the fog rolls in and begins to bloom the lights - neon and incandescence flooding the night - but it's murder to walk near. Public drunkenness laws go out the window, no one can follow the plentiful and clearly made One Way Only signs, and as a pedestrian, it's the worst. If you're going to go eat seafood at a fair in a small town, please take the locals into consideration and be on your best behavior. I'd do the same for you at a sushi festival or a taco extravaganza. Then again, I wouldn't be driving...

Complaints aside, though, I'm kind of looking forward to the coming week. I've got three great movies I can talk about, I've got more crochet to do, I've got art to create, I've got stories to write, I've got wrestling to watch, and I've got games to play... I also need to cook at some point...

Here's this week's tentative schedule:

• Tomorrow I'll be talking about some of the G1 matches I've been watching (which should be awesome)
• Thursday will involve art - possibly bread related, possibly sandwich related?
• Friday will be about a silly movie about evil cats, though I'll have to talk about the Wesley Snipes movie I watched at some point, and I also watched a weird nightmarish murder mystery last night...
• Saturday could involve pizza, but I'm not sure yet.
• Sunday is a bit up in the air - I haven't cooked cooked in a while, so there's no recipe currently photographed on my phone. I miiiiiiiight have to fudge things a bit, so I hope you'll forgive me.
• Monday will result in more skull progress, which I can promise is coming to an end soon because the ball of thread is now about the size of a Clementine.
• Next Tuesday, I'll yap at you some more about life and the upcoming week.

So how is everyone else doing today? I'm really doing alright, all complaining aside. The AC is on. I have coffee and water. I'm chilling out with my laptop and watching the temperature go up. I do plan on going out today, so that could be... interesting. Hopefully, I'll be able to snag a ride from someone instead of having to hoof it :P

I think that'll about do it for me today, guys. I need more coffee and I'm probably going to go watch some videos for a bit.

Go Enjoy Something!

FC

Talk About Tuesday 228

It's a warm, overcast day, and I've woken up twice. I woke up at 6AM, then I woke up at 10AM. Neither time have I felt fully rested. Oh well. That's life. Especially when you're mainlining art and crochet and really good movies!

But enough whining - let's talk about cool things!

Last night, after getting home from a great movie with Z and our Film and Editing Friendo, I puttered around a bit, doing a little crochet here, a little cocoa prep there, a quick trip to the bathroom to wash the popcorn butter off of my face... and I came back out to find my dad in the kitchen staring out the door onto the porch. He had his phone in his hand and he gestured me over.

My dad isn't very social at home, so this was pretty weird. I was wondering what he could be looking at.

"I heard a sound like something was trying to get in. Check it out." He said, gesturing towards the screen door with his phone. I peered out and there was a set of sweet eyes looking up at me from a fluffy ginger and cream face.

Someone's huge fluffy cat was sitting on our porch, looking lost and a little confused.

We debated letting our undeniably precious visitor in, but then my dad lost his grip on his phone, and the ensuing clatter scared the cat away.

I hope he has a home, and if he doesn't I hope he comes back for a visit - I'd love to take a picture of him.

Here's my schedule for the next week:

• Tomorrow, I'm going to be talking about NJPW's Dallas show!
• Thursday, I've got ideas I'll be working on!
• Friday will be about a really stupid movie Z and I watched a Rifftrax of - it starred Bruce Campbell and Sean Bean!
• Saturday will probably involve this chain reaction-based game I've been playing on Kongregate
• Sunday will be too much meat for two people...
• Monday will be more skulls
• Next Tuesday, I'll be back here with more tales from the middle of nowhere :P

It's been a good couple of weeks, if busy, so I'm a little scattered, but I'm excited about everything I'm working on, so it's all good!

I hope you all have a good week.

Go Enjoy Something!

FC

Fiber Monday 228: More Skulls More Problems

Guys, I didn't even close this latest group of skulls, so I'm sorry about that. It's been a busy few weeks - Pay Per Views, birthdays, cookery, national holidays... I've been on the move since the Thursday before last... wow.

Still, I made it to the upper lip, and progress is progress!

Kind of a wonky photo, but hey, it's here and it's a little bigger than it was!

That's all from me today!

Go Enjoy Something!
FC

Talk About Tuesday 227

Talk About Tuesday is a go!

Good afternoon, folks. I wish I could say I was sleeping this whole time, but I was not. Believe it or not, this morning was mostly spent in negotiations. I negotiated with the shower over whether or not I could use the warm water (it was reluctant, but eventually my persistence paid off). I negotiated with the cat over whether she'd let me have my coffee or not (again, persistence was key, though bribing her with cuddles and a serious brushing helped). I negotiated with one of my crochet projects to see if I could detangle it from the horde of yarn (this one failed, sadly, so I'll have to return to negotiations in the next week or so).

I've had a busy, busy week, and with the heat wave now beginning in my home town (it's already 78℉, which is a little under 26℃) coinciding with Festival Season, it's going to be a rough week coming up, too. Today was not supposed to leave the mid 70s. Tomorrow... well, they're saying it'll feel like 82℉ (28℃), but they're also saying it will be cooler than it is now for realsies. I have 0 faith in this prediction.

Basically, this week is going to be hot, sticky, miserable, and I'm absolutely getting a sunburn because I always do no matter how much SPF I slather on...

But enough about the weather and the state of my coffee cup.

Here's the upcoming schedule:

• Tomorrow I'm gonna talk about that FYTER FEST thing AEW came out with!
• Thursday I'll draw some more - I have ideas.
• Friday will involve a movie I've seen recently, possibly involving a wrestler.
• Saturday will involve DINOSAURS! I flippin love dinosaurs!
• Sunday will be tasty, as I feel it usually is
• Next Monday will have more skulls, but hopefully at least two repetitions. We'll see.
• Next Tuesday, you'll have me back here blathering away.

I'll be honest, the heat makes me really want to make some sorbet or shaved ice or something. I really do want to try to make shaved ice... maybe matcha or citrus flavored... mmmmmmmm....

I didn't get to go to my favorite ice cream place last year, so I'm hoping I can go this year and maybe even do a review!

I kind of hope that things aren't as toasty and awful as they tend to be in early July here, but we'll see :P

That'll be all from me today, guys!

Go Enjoy Something!

FC

Fiber Monday 227: Skulls, Skulls, Skulls

I can explain.

These wonky skulls are nowhere near done :(

So, I've only managed one more repeat on the skulls, bringing me up to (I believe) 14 across. There are many, many reasons.

I promise, there is a reason for such feeble progress.

Reason 1) I made the cat a blanket last week. It wasn't much, just a big green granny square. Still, that took up a lot of time.

Reason 2) I made a gift for a friend. This gift was a shark bag, but of course, being a lil' fella, he immediately decided it was a hat. Now I'm making more sharks. Some will be hats. Some will be bags. Some may be both. We'll see.

Reason 3) I'm tired. Like, unusually so. Among the late night crochet-bursts, worrying about cats, heckin' great Pay Per Views, and heat-induced insomnia, I've been getting more and more run down :( Sorry, but I'm a little too tired to spend four or five hours per repetition on the skull shawl.

And yeah, that's Reason 4.

Each new repetition of skulls takes about 4 hours now. I started at 10AM this morning with two and a half finished rows from a previous evening of work, and it still  took me until after 1PM to finish to the "Closing" row.

Basically, it's gonna take some more time than I'd thought to finish the poor thing :P

Thanks for hanging in there with me, though. I'm pretty thrilled with how this has gone.

Go Enjoy Something!
FC