That Girl Charity

Busy!!

2010-08-04T16:49:00.003-04:00

There is so much I need to blog about! So I'll make a "need-to-do" list and you'll be learning something! Specifically about books, gardening, blogging and a blog award I was awarded. Even though the blog award seems to be a pass it around type. Someone special to me says my little blog five people read is interesting. So yeah, my friends like me, as they should.

Need to do:

-state of the garden with photos
-photos and blog about my Smoky Mountains/Blue Ridge Mountains vacation
-write an article regarding genre fiction for To Grow On
-perhaps another article about my journey with books (which would take some time). I just read the damn things, for the most part.
-respond to my Oh My Blog award
-save the world?? Might as well throw that impossible task in the mix and see what happens at the end of the week. Anything is possible.

For now I'll be having a one sided chat with someone who disappeared on Google Chat. What is more important that an afternoon chat with me right now?

The Vegetable Garden

2010-06-29T15:19:00.002-04:00

Lots of tomatoes. I love tomato sandwiches.

This year's garden is huge. I extended it another 10 feet. I wanted to be able to plant more than tomatoes and a few squash plants. So a pack of green pepper seeds was potted and nearly everything germinated. So I just added them a week ago with a line of Hummingbird attracting flower seeds. That have yet to pop up.

I had this urge to grow pumpkins and all I did was make work for myself. I had to dig more! So I took advantage of the vertical space of a dirt mound from when we built our house 17 years ago! Pumpkin vines can grow to 30 feet long so I needed "out of the way" space for them. One week later and I have seedlings popping up! Hopefully they will be ready just in time for Halloween. I do plan on growing some "prize" sized pumpkins. The packet states they can grow up to six feet in diameter! Now that is a pumpkin!!

Hot Tub Time Machine on DVD 6/29

2010-06-17T21:03:00.003-04:00

I'm a funny person. I like to laugh, a lot. I find humor in all sorts of things. A lot of the times I am the only one laughing at stuff you shouldn't be laughing at. So I laugh at everything, stupid or not in movies. A stupid joke is not the same a a bad one. So moving on...

Hot Tub Time Machine (HTTM) is fecking hilarious. I think I saw it three times maybe four. What is that you say? Movies are expensive! Don't worry I'm not rich! I just play one at the theater. See that was stupid but gave me a laugh. I make myself laugh. *Ahem* So I let the ticket seller pry out dollars from my white knuckles at Cinema Cafe. It's the $1 night and $3.50 Wacky Wednesday. So I spent about $6 total.

I don't even know where to start with this movie! I'd start bootlegging it out the back of my car if I were morally corrupt! I could toss around a few quotes from the movie but you won't get it. Out of context it's NOT funny.

I can tell you a couple things. Rob Corddry is a thief! A comedy movie scene stealing thief! None of these trailers do the movie justice. Also a mustachioed Billy Zabka, the bad blonde guy in Karate Kid and Just One of the Guys makes an appearance. BUY IT. Have some drinks.

See The Trailer

Poems in a pocket.

2010-06-17T02:31:00.003-04:00

Digging through my tiny storage room of junk I will need later,I found my old high school/early college journals. As one does I read them. This blog isn't about that well-worn subject. I'm talking about long lost poems tucked away in the pockets of notebooks that I could never utilize in school. Pockets in notebooks, I dare say it is frivolous! Excuse me, I've been reading fan-fiction of Pride & Prejudice. I might begin speaking backwards, too! I was pleasantly surprised to find one poem, that now, as I type this I can't find...

Ah, here we are. Yes, apparently I secretly plagiarized an entire song to no one but this scrap of paper. The words far off my style to be my own. Tucked away with my name to it and no date. I do often take stanzas from poems I like and put them somewhere to inspire some particular mood. So all's well and good. Then I see that it has the lines "I need you tonight" and all I can think is INXS. So it's hopeless as far as poems and lyrics go, when everyone is making it all so familiar.

One thing always leads to another. As Douglas Adams' Dirk Gently (holistic detective) would say "the fundamental interconnectedness of all things" has ruined my poetry. It was probably due to some alien five billion years ago wanting to fix a mistake or some other nonsense. *Poof* Here are humans scratching words on bits of manufactured wood pulp that secretly provide instructions on how to reverse the alien's mistake. So with that confusing bit out of the way. There are no infinitesimal poems. One cannot understand the purpose of some of the things we do, so just tuck it away in a notebook pocket.

In a recent issue of Entertainment Weekly...

2010-02-04T22:11:00.005-05:00

There is a little section titled: Lauren Conrad's Literary Life. She has a three book deal basically writing about herself but it's all fictionalized in as much as a reality star's life can be. So she was asked about her taste in literature and hey, since she is writing all these books and wants to write for a living, one would think she would have some real books under her literary belt. Typically, some nice "meat and potatoes" tomes that have survived the ages and not just forced upon you in English class. I really haven't had to read too many of those myself but I've read all sorts and some good stuff, too. I highly recommend Gabriel Garcia Marquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude, Dave Eggers' A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius and William Least Heat Moon's Blue Highways. Marquez's work has been translated from Spanish but ay dios mio! those first two pages were...amazing! I would have to get a thesaurus to find a word I have never used before to describe it. There is no analogy to give you that isn't trite.

So I am digressing, let's get on with the books she said she has finished. As a teen Conrad read "a lot of Chicken Soup for the Soul" and instead of reading the required reading in school, she read a lot of SparkNotes. She has repeatedly read The Great Gatsby because she is obsessed with the 1920s and faked reading The Lord of the Flies. But wait! She did see the movie The Notebook and immediately purchased the book! There is more, she did read Chelsea Handler's books, two of them, because Handler doesn't have a "filter". She did download, for her Kindle, The Contortionist's Handbook"and is just a few pages in, recommended by her boyfriend, who is on a show I love.

So, yes my opinion is what a fecking idiot and my second opinion is maybe I should be an idiot, too. I do not have the ability to get on a reality show nor the wherewith to do so. It seems a person's 15 minutes is easy to come by if you a)urinate on someone, b)have sex with someone, c)show your underwear, or lack of, d)do any of the above on TV or e)be a sibling to anyone of the above.

Sadly, I was interrupted while ranting and lost my steam. Still, the point is made.

A Book Review...100 pages in

2009-03-05T21:47:00.002-05:00

I think I might lobotomize and blind myself if I read anymore of Christine Feehan's Dark Prince. Torture. If I was into romance and needed some one handed reading it would be fine, it goes on for pages. I can't read this book fast. Three days I have been reading it and I think I am 100 pages in. I could have finished at least three books in that time.

I am mad at the book, it's kill me already pacing and far too much sex. I cannot read a book that refers to vaginas as "centers" while being moist, expanding, ready, sheaths, and other countless euphemisms! Can't they use something that doesn't lower my IQ and make me laugh. Not to mention a man's penis. It's always his hardness! She could feel his hardness or bulging hardness. Blah! No imagination. Boring. If I ever read romance again I need it smutty and quick. Not laughable. I can't finish it. I gave it plenty of time. I'd rather read my college economics course book.

The vampires sucked, too, and not the way I like them to suck.

Next up...Generation Dead. Teens and the dead won't stay dead. No vampires.

Then and Now

2009-03-04T22:23:00.002-05:00

There isn't much to write about. I've locked myself in my room so I won't catch the stomach bug going around. Seems to have worked so far. It's made me feel a little uneasy though.

I've been having dreams of a lost friend that I let go. The guilt is manifesting.

I even might let go of another, at least in my heart. I'm still reconciling that. It could be a vacation. Although I feel a little relieved. Mind you I haven't put thought into anything, it's something that is just happening. I am surprised about my feelings though. I imagined it would be more difficult but it seems organic. It scared me a little the other night. I was in bed ready to sleep telling my subconscious to not let me dream of my lost friend again when I thought of the other friend. I imagined a brief conversation saying "I've moved on" and it was okay. So maybe some daytime thinking is required. Not late night, tired from reading vampire fiction thinking. For now I'll go with what's happening naturally. Seems to be working.

However do I find these books?

2009-02-09T17:41:00.001-05:00

I've been reading vampire books with a few months off between binges. Teenage vampire books. Who knew I'd be on the slippery slope of vampire fiction. My book preferences tend to be more cerebral.

I read at least 25 books, 16 in two weeks. I was devouring them. Quite a few were just quick 2 hours reads so I wasn't spending days with them. Now I've read a book a day. More are waiting for me. I had run out of books and then somehow I discovered teen vamps. I don't know where they were hiding! How they didn't show up on searches, I'll never know, I think is a conspiracy.

I call it a secret pleasure and it makes me feel like I'm renting porn. Completely weird, I know. Constant trips to the library, unending hold requests, secret hand offs in dark alleyways!! I don't know when I'll read a normal book again. As soon as I read all the vampire ones.

I am reading the House of Night Series and Vampire Academy Series and nearly done with all.

Now another discovered series Blue Bloods...

Hopeful Knitting

2009-02-02T16:45:00.003-05:00

I'd like to knit some scarves like these. I love cables, it's the best knitting.

I just need to find the perfect yarn.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

2009-01-30T21:01:00.003-05:00

What more could and Austen and zombie fan ask for (besides a movie)? All of our other favorites zombified, of course!

I am eagerly awaiting my advance copy. Get your own when it's released in June, I believe.

“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains.” So begins Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, an expanded edition of the beloved Jane Austen novel featuring all-new scenes of bone-crunching zombie mayhem. As our story opens, a mysterious plague has fallen upon the quiet English village of Meryton—and the dead are returning to life! Feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet is determined to wipe out the zombie menace, but she’s soon distracted by the arrival of the haughty and arrogant Mr. Darcy. What ensues is a delightful comedy of manners with plenty of civilized sparring between the two young lovers—and even more violent sparring on the blood-soaked battlefield as Elizabeth wages war against hordes of flesh-eating undead. Can she vanquish the spawn of Satan? And overcome the social prejudices of the class-conscious landed gentry? Complete with romance, heartbreak, swordfights, cannibalism, and thousands of rotting corpses, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies transforms a masterpiece of world literature into something you’d actually want to read.

JANE AUSTEN is the author of Sense and Sensibility, Persuasion, Mansfield Park, and other masterpieces of English literature.

SETH GRAHAME-SMITH once took a class in English literature. He lives in Los Angeles.

Lost in Austen

2009-01-29T13:06:00.003-05:00

I must tell you about this series from the UK, Lost in Austen.

A woman discovers Elizabeth Bennett in her bathroom then she leaves just as quickly. The next day is when they switch places, rather accidentally on Amanda's part but Elizabeth knew what she was doing. So Amanda finds herself in the middle of Pride & Prejudice her favorite story...ever. As they say in the UK it all goes tits up but surely it is made right in the end...

Mr. Darcy is fantastic he isn't crossing any fields like in the 2005 movie but he is a little over developed for a gentleman of the time. Not that I minded seeing him come out of the fountain all smoldering and wet looking like he was having his way with me with only his eyes.

Not that I find that attractive, men standing around being muscular and wet, some how, and staring me down. It doesn't hurt when the time is right for staring which is pretty much every time I sit down for a movie. So don't get me started on 300 and all those thighs running around in leather underpants. Which should be edited to my own personal liking with only thighs and butts for the most part. I'll take stomachs and whatever else as long as it's not all talking and fighting.

But yes if you are a devote Austen fan or even Jemima Rooper fan, make haste!! If you want to know where to find it, free and safely, ask me.

Such a liar.

2009-01-28T01:44:00.003-05:00

I said I was going to do this and that but I haven't. Even with the computer I haven't done anything.

I will admit to too much British TV.

Do not be surprised if I develop an accent and have at least one of the following abilities:

-solving crimes only a genius can figure out
-a sharp-tongued comedienne from Ireland. "I'm a happy drunk!"
-super hero
-character from any of Jane Austen's novels...a TV series as well!
-a lonely janitor in space (with robots, I made) forced there by crazy scientists and made to watch horrible movies all while making you laugh hysterically at my jokes (not British)
-taking a holiday in Benidorm, Spain. It's all inclusive!
-one of two gardeners who happen to work where a murder always happens and I solve it!
-70's era Mr. wizard who explains it all without the Mr.wizard but stupid, wrong and fun all at once
-in space (again!) but in charge of a lackluster crew of hapless idiots trying to stay out of trouble but then again I am Simon Pegg's best friends, in real life.
-an attractive teacher with a great voice...oh I turn myself on
-psychic working at a Scottish University solving paranormal phenomenon. Yeah for finally being a Scot!
-a witch who gives birth to some devil child or whatever, he's so hot I'd fuck my own kid but too bad I die.

Let's not start with American TV. Nor my love affair at living at the top of the world. I know I would be miserable for the 9 months of unimaginable temperatures but it's irresistible for now and I like thinking of living there for a year. Driving on rivers and seas and for 4-6 weeks you can only come in by plane. The Dempster Highway into town during the summer is dusty, which is an understatement and there is just one gas station on it's 375 mile journey. They manage to have more than my own county has...go figure. I should mention it's Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada. If you have heard of Yellowknife and thought it was really far, Inuvik is further north.

I'm A, Inuvik is B...Canada is too big.

View Larger Map

Halloween 2008

2008-11-21T14:14:00.002-05:00

Brooke

Logan

Both of them

The War Will Never End

Proposition 8 Protest 11/15/2008

2008-11-20T15:20:00.003-05:00

We all must live equally in this world, allowed the same freedoms and rights. To remove or deny those rights to anyone removes your rights, as well.

I attended the protest in Raleigh, NC on November 15, 2008. I will continue to fight for the rights of all at future protests.

Find your local information at Join The Impact

Just a warning

2008-08-20T13:16:00.002-04:00

I am going to post very, very soon.

I've become a reading machine and nothing seems interesting after entering the great worlds of the books I have been reading. Two series. I finished them both. So that means I read 8 books in a week. Then about 5 before that. I had to wait for them to come in. It sounds like a lot but one series was a quick read like 2.5 hours per book. Mass market author. So I want to talk about them.

Having to share a computer is annoying. I can't wait to get mine fixed. Then I can do all the things I love and I can focus. Focus being an important part. With TVs, PlayStations, kids (hey not mine!) and an adult in the background I can't tap anything other than annoyance.

cough cough bitch bitch

2008-05-17T22:17:00.000-04:00

I'm tired and sometimes when I cough my head feels like it's slowly filling with air and will gently explode. Which makes me moan, the only cure I can think of to deal with it. Unless I can suck the little mucus and inflammation out somehow. I'm enjoying hot tea to try to melt whatever is forming and sitting upright to prevent inflation :)

My latest copy of Entertainment Weekly is 63 pages full of Sex and the City. I show I could never watch. I didn't see the point. I didn't identify with them and the few episodes I have seen included Parker wearing shorts the same size as underwear. I am apparently a prude. I couldn't take it. Whether it makes sense or not.

The other day I was discussing the latest book I read and the author with my brother. Who then tells me I need to stop reading junk. I was just shocked that was the first piece of junk I have read or can remember reading. Unless he thinks Harry Potter is junk. I don't think so but with him it could cross a line BUT he read the entire series and had to get to the library to get what I didn't have. I wasn't reading it for it's literary merit! Entertainment. I have always avoided junk. I was offended! He doesn't even know what I read!!! I can lose a debate on not reading philosophy or history, which is like a secret buried deep within. I don't know why I haven't. My brain is craving this. I like to understand a broad spectrum of topics and my lack of history (they never teach you the good parts) and modern theories on post modernism or whatever it was. I once read a book by a doctor of psychiatry (or something fancier) based on the mind-brain or something and it was my most beloved book. I even had to argue with a girl who was too stupid to understand the book was nonfiction and not literature like her beloved Girl, Interrupted or whatever. Which I am sure had tons of fact in it and explorations simple enough for the masses and was based on a real person, therefore making it real. But to argue! With me about nonfiction and what it is. Hey I'm not the smartest person in the room, at times, but I'm definitely not the dumbest. Whatever...

People...

My next book is an historical narrative retelling of the Norman Invasion of England. I think it is 1066 The Year of the Conquest. I am ready for it!

nonstop brain.

2008-05-16T15:37:00.001-04:00

I had a shit night after I watched an episode of the mini-series of Cranford that has 5 episodes(2 hours each)! I was tired, listless, annoyed, mildly aroused, depressed and superficially pensive all at once. I wasn't thinking of anything in particular, I wasn't focusing on anything. It's as if fractions of all these thoughts and feelings hit me at once and I didn't have to fret with the details just the leftovers. I was up until after 5 am. Let's not forget the sinus congestion and headache I started to get when I finally tried to pretend to fall asleep.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

2008-05-09T16:27:00.004-04:00

I have to profess my LOVE for this character. He appears in That Mitchell and Webb Look on BBCA. You can find a few clips on Youtube. I highly recommend it. I wish there was a TV show just for this character.

I love the camera and escape music.

A book review before I've finished it.

2008-05-09T15:35:00.003-04:00

I'm reading Christopher Moore's The Stupidest Angel. It's supposed to be this hilarious read. While its humor isn't appealing to me there are a few things that gave me a chuckle. I keep seeing blog post saying it's hilarious. Ugh. I am eagerly awaiting the zombie that appears. There is of course the stupid angel and the former movie star who was a horrible equivalent to Xena that is on, currently off, anti-psychotics. Her "narrator" in her head is funny enough.

Sometimes I don't enjoy books until I have finished them or had a thought about them. This is the only thought. So far this is the funny stuff. Oh wait. The guy that gets killed by his ex-wife is immediately hit on by a former alcoholic pilot who owns a fruit bat and helps her bury the man. Takes her to dinner, has sex with her and I imagine they continue some sort of relationship. I haven't gotten that far. It was amusing.

Another thing I am tired of shit that is supposedly funny not being funny. What some weird shit happens and I'm supposed to laugh? I know it's subjective and I know I can laugh at anything, I do all the time. Hey, I still laugh at farts. I'm not high and mighty with my humor. I guess I am saying we need to find better people who label things as comedic, humorous and especially comedy in our entertainment. End rant.

a new decade.

2008-03-29T01:14:00.002-04:00

One day this blog will be updated regularly!

Other than that.

Things are changing. As I am approaching my 30's the way and things of the 20's must pass.

I will be sorting out my messy details. Not that I am that complicated or have complicated situations.

I'm sticking the stamp on the envelope and we all shall see.

I'd make it!!

2008-02-06T17:19:00.000-05:00

76%

I love zombies SO much!!!

DRUNK!!!

2008-01-29T00:57:00.000-05:00

Try it.

Painting spaces.

2008-01-20T15:28:00.000-05:00

I've been trying to paint my bedroom forever. I couldn't decide what color to paint the ceiling and when I finally did I had to wait forever to get it. So I had begun the hole filling and sanding. Well now I don't want to finish. ARGH!!!

I must. I woke up thinking about just painting my closet and then installing the hanger cabinets or whatever they are. I would have to bring all that crap out of my closet. I could then sort it out and get rid of crap and store suitcases! I haven't traveled anywhere, I don't need them taking up day-to-day space. Which is always a bonus.

I'll start small I'll assemble the cabinets and see how they will fit.

Yeah I should show you the color! It's a turquoise called Niagara Mist by Glidden but that isn't descriptive enough. I just did a Google image search and this is good enough. It's primarily the color right in the middle that is the truest. I no longer have the paint chip but I'll post photos once there is an entire wall painted. During the day the color is more green but at night it takes on the blue and is jewel-toned. I love that vibrant color.

Christmas Presents

2007-12-12T14:25:00.000-05:00

Snickers 2006

I've been working on Christmas presents for my friends. I am nearly done. I have only photographed three things so far and I can't post those until they are opened. Who wants to ruin the surprise? This year everything is handmade. The only reason being I don't have any money and I do enjoy it.. The most expensive thing I have purchased were some magnets. Which compared to the cost of the other materials was worth about a million dollars. The cheapest being my free magazines I used to make some items.

I do wish I could have made some other things like some clothing accessories for some people but I wasn't able to get my hands on the cash in a timely manner to buy the stuff. Which is highly annoying and we should all band together to beat down the person that owes me the money.

Whatever. I will save that stuff for next year and will start working on it in a couple months that way it's done and then I can wrap and ship.

Halloween

2007-11-05T09:57:00.000-05:00

Grim Reaper and a Princess

The Pumpkins

Words in Real Life

2007-11-01T14:26:00.000-04:00

My life is so boring and unfocused that I haven't been able to focus on what I want to do with this blog.

I've wanted to focus on my writing. It's mainly poems and it's difficult to share with the public although I have no problem sharing it amongst friends. It's intimate, the words are little pieces of my emotions that I seem to keep bottled up and never share with those until I must. I want to break out of this prison and let it out publicly.

With regards to my poetry some I think are good, others are ok and I usually only love one or two lines from it because of the imagery or they just sound nice.

Moving away from poetry and into real life. I have words that need to be said. I am torn between my head and heart and do not know which I should put on the paper. During times when my emotions are running high the heart writes but all the times the unreasonably unoptimistic brain grabs hold it produces a paragraph of a few sentences. Then I continue to rattle on explaining myself and/or speaking of the future hopeless possibilities. I've produced lots of rough drafts of this letter.

So that is what I've been thinking.

Peanut butter and knitting, weird?

2007-06-02T01:10:00.000-04:00

I have been knitting so much the past week I have a sore arm muscle. The kind of sore muscle that feels so good to have it rubbed but it still hurts like hell. It feels so good!

I do have a beautifully cabled strip that will be, a long time from now, attached to other strips of knitted bits to create an afghan. As soon as I get it as long as I need it there will be a post with photo. So my poor forearm will have something to show for all it's hard work.

In the meantime I am craving one of these below, strawberry, cherry or various types of raspberry jam ONLY, never GRAPE!

The feel of a book

2007-05-30T15:18:00.000-04:00

I have been reading The Time Traveler's Wife, and it is extraordinary. I have a paperback copy but it has to be the best feeling book I have ever touched, so far to date. The pages are smooth like they are dusted with powder and I expect them to smell like roses. My hands should look like I've been playing in my grandmother's body powder. The cover is satiny except for the embossed letters of the title and author and the spine's photograph is shiny and acts like a no slip grip for the reader. The book is heavy with words and while one is carrying it it bends so gently like rain soaked flower petals. Flowers are so delicate and I worry when the rain is pounding them closed and stuck to one side of the pot, you are sure they will wither and die before it's over. The book never fails to open and and it lies flat. The pages are thinner than other books I read but it's a pleasure to turn them and continue with the story. It has a sense of fluidity, an ability to adapt to any reader's hands and become what is required of it and go where one needs it the most. This is exactly how this novel, this story of two lovers should feel.

I imagine that the perfect copies of One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Blue Highways by William Least Heat Moon will feel this way.

*the book image is the exact edition I have, go out and give it a feel

Another year has passed.

2007-04-09T20:19:00.000-04:00

I'm another year older.

Dismal Swamp Bike Trail - 5 miles

2007-01-04T15:58:00.000-05:00

Just a couple handfuls of photos from my outing today.

A curve and my favorite pic

Click to see a vine, a huge vine, to me anyway.

Click to see part of an old mill or barn!!

Schwinn! "It's hot"

The Bridge, a wee one

The other side and ghosts!

The marker

A few more curves...

A Reappearance: I thought I lost it.

2007-01-02T20:53:00.000-05:00

I really tried to have an excellent New Year's Eve. I couldn't get in the mood for anything or find anything for my mood. I did drink an entire bottle of wine, which left me, the next day, feeling a little poopy for a few hours. I did talk to Lulu for forever and that was fun!

Yesterday I took my bike out for a ride (6 miles). It took too long (because of Brooke) and we had a spot of hard rain but we were at the rest area, under shelter, when that happened. The rest of the time it was sprinkly and beautiful. I could have easily have mistaken it for fall because it was warm and leaves were all over the ground and LOTS of gum balls everywhere.

I have to give credit to the folks who made the path, except for that 1/4 mile part that is exposed to the highway! It was curvy and had some great views (as great as they could be of the Intercoastal Waterway/Dismal Swamp, hand dug by slaves, poor fellows) and a few bumps that would allow me to coast on forever it seemed. There were a few interesting markers with 1916 etched into them and one for a nautical mile marker or something, I don't know, but I know it was for boats. On the way back it was nearly 5pm and it was getting ever so slightly cooler and fog started to form over the water and it was fantastic!

I must make note of a possible ghost sighting. Now I'm not 100% sure but I cannot deny I "saw" something. I wasn't moving fast and yes I did take another look as soon as I saw it and made sure it wasn't a stump, a tree or shrubbery(!) behind it. There was nothing that looked like what I saw beside the tree where I saw it. I saw it move, a man, transparent and gray with a hat and he hid behind a tree and popped out on the other side, crouched down or bent over in the sneaky way one does. As soon as I saw it I rode up to my brother and told him with 95% certainty that I just saw a ghost.

Historical info for my area includes The Battle of South Mills; where the Union wanted to blow up our locks, a captain burned his own ship and the fighting stopped because of the oppressive heat. Sympathizers and deserted soldiers hid in the swamp along the canal and attacked federal ships carrying important war supplies and all that kinds of stuff. Yeah, yeah, yeah all very interesting.

Today and well since about a mile into the biking, my ass hurts! So I need to get some huge gel pads for my seat for my pelvic pressure points. I mean really do I need to feel like I've been abducted and probed?

Lulu's Bag

2006-09-15T10:23:00.000-04:00

Alexander Henry "Jazz Age"

A simple tote.

I've done you wrong

2006-09-09T16:10:00.000-04:00

I've been so distracted that I couldn't keep up with this blog but I assure you there will be stuff soon.

Like today I am going to show you some photos that I took with my Yashica Electro GSN. An old camera. They are from the new development called Town Center in Virginia Beach, VA.

I was just trying this camera out after I replaced the light seals to see if it worked properly. So I wasn't trying for some amazing photos, but I think they are decent.

Off to celebrate my nephew's 7th birthday.

Just another Wednesday

2006-06-07T10:43:00.000-04:00

Life has been pretty dull lately but that is okay...what am I going to do about it?

Still waiting for the car which will cost $464 plus the cost for 2 belts being replaced. The car hasn't had that much, if anything done to it so it's fine. Cheaper than getting my car going.

I am immediately going to schedule an appt with the optometrist. Yeah for clear eyesight!

I've been watching MST3K: Prince of Space and it was funny but I can scarcely remember anything about it now. It like an 8 out of ten. Ten being Space Mutiny and Mitchell. I also watched MST3K: Boggy Creek II: And The Legend Continues which was a 8 as well. Then Blow Dry. With Alan Rickman. It was funny and silly but not the best. I love Alan Rickman and seriously enjoy any movie with Bill Nighy being odd. So that was good but eh...it did have Rachel Griffiths, too. Anyway.

I am getting MST3K: Merlin's Shop of Mystical Wonders and My Science Project.

I also am going to purchase on eBay the stuff I need for the Nikon Coolpix 4500. Some things have gotten cheaper. I need to get a USB cable for it as well that should cost only 5 bucks total. I want to get film for my Yashica GSN, but I need to make sure the pictures I took after replacing the light seals, are fine. See if I did my work correctly. Why can't I remember to throw them in my purse and get them developed at walmart!?

On Movies

2006-05-24T08:51:00.000-04:00

Since I changed my Netflix to 4-at-a-time, I've been watching TOO many movies!

The Producers, Bride and Prejudice, The Day of the Dead, Last Holiday, MST3K: Girl in Gold Boots, and still watching MST3K: Phantom Planet.

So let's review!

The Producers was great. While I hate watching musicals on TV, this one was pretty good. They can't really seem to hold my attention, which means I fast forward through really uninteresting songs. I prefer them on stage. I pay attention to them better on stage and can tolerate the singing. Although, when a particularly great song is playing it is spectacular!

Anyway, the movie was beautiful, it looked like a stage, was lit like one, built and so on and so forth. All I wished was that it was a stage and I was in the house.

Bride and Prejudice was good. Aishwarya Rai, yes I can remember and spell her name but don't ask me to say it correctly, was her usual good self BUT really I didn't like her character. I haven't seen the real Pride and Prejudice, but will very soon. She was so annoying. Poor William Darcy was getting words put into his bumbling mouth by this bitch. Yeah she was so smart and headstrong, huh? Last I heard smart people tend to discuss things and really not sit on their fucking high horses much huh? Give the white man a chance to fucking talk. Of course Darcy seemed like a spineless sap that I can't believe he was an American. Actually, I don't know even know why I said that. Like all Americans are like that! Anyway, that is the story and characters. It has nothing to do with the movie as a Bollywood meets Hollywood film. So you get the dancing, the singing, the colors, the no kissing, the girl, and the interesting characters all in one, in English.

I was delighted to see Naveen Andrews (from Lost) in it and Alexis Bledel popped in for a few minutes for no reason at all. Anybody could have done her part and it didn't require her to exercise ANY acting muscles whatsoever. So that was joyless. Um see it if you want a nice clean English Hindi flick. But I can recommend others.

Last Holiday with Queen Latifah. She should really stop calling herself that. It's so old school! Anyway, DANA, ok Queen Latifah, is kind of a small screen favorite of mine. She is a funny lady that should come out of the closet already, but that is beside the point. So this movie is lighthearted and fun. The whole thing with the story is little strange I think. The owner of the store is vacationing at the same place she does, what are the damn chances! Alicia Witt is in it! Gerard Depardieu, LL Cool J, AND that weird guy who went nuts and killed his boss, a couple of employees, then himself in an episode of Six Feet Under was in it as well. I hate seeing him, he has been burned into my gray matter forever!! Anyway...um see it if you are interested but I don't think I would buy it or pay too much to rent it.

The Day of the Dead was a bit crappy and boring. Zombies were good and they were freaky with their ability to remember how to do things. So zombies good movie not so good. I think I like a bit more action and fun in my zombie movies.

MST3K: Girl in Gold Boots was a fucking awful movie. Whoever thought it was a good idea should be shot! Anyway, I wasn't getting too many laughs out of it, it was funny enough, sometimes these kinds of movies require you to have partner. Oh my god, the way they danced!!! Now I know the 60's had that whole particular way of dancing but really I have seen other movies where they danced like that and this ain't no dancing!!! It was awful and I don't even think you can call it dancing. I MEAN AWFUL!!! I CANNOT PUT IT INTO WORDS TO EXPLAIN HOW AWFUL THIS DANCING WAS. There was a guy named Critter!!! Don't you love 60's nicknames. And Joanie, she was so oily and shiny. She needed her face washed and powdered. I understand what they were going for but it doesn't translate to film folks. So I appreciate the effort and she was such a bad actress. She can yell though. So I don't know if I can recommend it, but watch it with someone perhaps.

MST3K: Phantom Planet is fabulous so far. I have gotten half way through and had to go to bed. But yes very funny. Yes, I've been laughing!!! It's just so "beautiful".

Pants-off Dance-Off

2006-05-12T01:25:00.000-04:00

Yes the show on Fuse, if you get this channel watch it! Or go to the website where you can see their peters and ho ha's all you want.

These people from the general public elect themselves to dance on the show and if they get the most votes they get to come on the next night and dance some more for MONEY!

OH MY GOD!!

Did I mention I am drunk?

*Edit: I watched one dancer and I didn't see any peters or ho ha's! Damnit!

Zombies!!

2006-05-11T20:42:00.000-04:00

I adore zombie movies and I am finally going to watch the original Dawn of the Dead, I love the remake! I have seen a part of the original and it just seemed kind of boring but I will give it a try. Why do I love zombies?!?!

Hide and Creep is on SciFi now and I didn't get to see the beginning but it is a low budget film, that is well humorous and kind of cheesy. Oh, with actors that are not really actors. Anyway, you can't help but try to make a good zombie flick, they can be tricky, especially if you don't have a budget for MAKEUP!

Oh look what I found! Knitted characters from the original Dawn of the Dead. My love of zombies and knitting together. This is exciting as The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy's scene of them turning into knitted characters! Arthur throwing up variegated yarn! It was fabulous! I need to learn how to make a Marvin.

Boo!

2006-05-07T23:22:00.000-04:00

I feel like posting something but then I don't want to do it. The problem I am really having is that I want to write something with breadth to it and the other part of me doesn't want to. I just need to clear the air and start fresh.

I have been watching the Ghost Hunters Marathon all day long. Geez, I am lazy today.

On movies:

I've watched The 40 Year-Old Virgin, Shopgirl, andThe Family Stone this week.

I loved Shopgirl and The Family Stone! Really I could throttle Sarah Jessica Parker's character in The Family Stone, so uptight. It was a family christmas movie. I enjoy sentimental pap! I love holiday movies! So much so that even Surviving Christmas with the mostly horrible Ben Affleck is a favorite on my list.

Shopgirl was perfect. I see no flaws! Um...okay it wasn't perfect. The movie was much better than the book. I do have this problem where I will read a book and it was good and enjoyable but I was just not "into it." Days later I'll think about it and work out whatever it is I need to work out and I will find the better book in the book. I just need to discuss these books or at least think about them when I remain void of an honest opinion afterwards.

On everything else:

I've been getting my affairs in order. Seeking out and questioning medical folks for appointments and how much money they want. Making appointments for a couple weeks from now...ick.

I also get to purchase some contacts and eyeglasses, that work! I guess that will be next week.

On May 23rd, I get to begin watching Brooke all summer long. Logan gets out of school June 9th, and I get to watch him as well. Aren't you jealous? I will make money!!! It will only be a couple hundred bucks but I don't have any at at all. Brooke will get a summer with NO school before kindergarten starts and my brother gets a break from daycare fees. I also will be able to get a car to use. It will be the VW Beetle but that is okay. I am sure I can wrangle the keys out of my Dad's fingers. I want to take the kids on field trips to parks, libraries, etc.

The old road in Virginia, Hwy 17, was closed when they built the four lane road. It ran right along the Intercoastal Waterway canal, in the middle of the Dismal Swamp and was quite dangerous, eg., no room to pull off, two lanes, 55 mph limit, ditches. I did love that road, it was so pretty in the spring and summer. Well, anyway, when the road finally comes out on the other side, out of the thick bear infested woods, it was turned into the Dismal Swamp Canal Trail. With hiking, biking and horse riding paths! This was my first visit to the website and it seems the trail is just where the road was. Hmm...I'll have to check it out with LOTS of insect repellent on and maybe some bear spray.

My increasing thirst and strong desire to watch tv means I must leave.

Haus Frau

2006-04-13T13:30:00.000-04:00

I've disappeared off the face of the internet.

I haven't felt like posting or doing anything else.

I do have things to write about. Like MST3K, what I've been doing, my birthday. Geez, I didn't even do a birthday post. I've never had a birthday quite like that either.

I must make rolls and do a load of laundry. HAUS FRAU!!

I've Gone So Far

2006-04-04T14:16:00.000-04:00

To Skokie: Friday 12:30 PM EST to Saturday 8:00 AM CST
To Home: Sunday 8:30 AM CDT to Monday 4:30 AM EDT

NEVER NEVER NEVER DRIVE THAT IN ONE SITTING.

It was fun and tiring. I had been there and there wasn't much that new or impressive to me. Now if I had the time to do some serious thrifting and visiting unique stores, perhaps. If I could have been able to enjoy the city at a leisurely pace and do things how I like to, leisurely. I would have been very pleased.

Next time I will fly. Or drive with lots of time available to do it all.

The pictures that were taken stink. I didn't take most of them. There are seven that I like that I took and the only interesting ones. The rest are blurry because there were taken at night. I took photos on the way back during the day through Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia. By the way, there isn't much in Indiana on either of the roads we took. So I don't think it would be a state I would like to explore further. Unless someone has something interesting to say about it. Ohio maybe.

I do love West Virginia. I could see myself there one day. I am definitely taking a road trip around that state. Only that state. No other states shall cross my path except the one I must cross to get to it.

I had to get something posted about the trip and there will be more once I can recover to my normal brain functions.

It is Daylight Saving Time. NOT Savings. Irksome!

Destination Known

2006-03-28T01:01:00.000-05:00

Roadtrip! On Friday.

Skokie, Illinois

I am SO excited. There is NO other way to express my EXCITEMENT!

Sure I will hate it for some parts. I'll just be tired from sitting or something. All part of a roadtrip.

Random Photos

2006-03-27T00:32:00.000-05:00

Mountains, in Virginia if I am not mistaken.

Town Center in Virginia Beach. From the top level of the parking garage.

Elizabeth City, NC. Fountain beside the public library.

Mitchell 'waka-chicka-waka-chicka-waka-chicka"

2006-03-26T23:47:00.000-05:00

Mystery Science Theater 3000: Mitchell

If you love MSTK3 I highly recommend this movie. If you are the bitter sort that doesn't laugh, oh you poor thing. I have actually known people who rarely laugh. I think you should slit your wrists already. And for god's sake don't procreate. Where is the joy, the fun, the something to distract yourself from the stick up your arse? Although I do understand your inability to focus while dealing with something so...painful.

How can you NOT laugh over such funny lines such as:

"Santa?!"

"Hot Merging Action"

"Whose the puffy guy who's a big dirty sex machine? MITCHELL!"

"Mitchell - Heart's pounding
Mitchell - veins' clogging"

"An empty plate breaks my heart"
Man I love pullin' my gun out when I go into my apartment it scares my cats half to death.

Linda: "He sleeps with me and then busts me"
Crow: "First things first"

Enough. Watch and you will know. For maximum laughter enjoy with friends and remember there is a chase scene where the driver downshifts in an automatic transmission.

If you don't understand these quotes, get the movie!

Ghost in the Window?

2006-03-26T23:14:00.000-05:00

A sunny day in downtown Charlottesville, VA. I find myself in the passenger seat of a rental mini van. I'm parked and waiting at the curb for Andre to return from his search for clove cigarettes. He stops a young woman that looks very similar to Louise, the friend we are picking up in Chicago, to ask about a store. While Andre is away pounding the soft streets of an old city, I sit with a camera.

I snap away. Okay, well, really I push a button a few times. He returns and we have to drive a few blocks away and I am in front of another building. A handcrafted jewelry shop, a building door with a hand and a hope they turn out alright.

Cut to a few days later. We have returned home and are worn out. One horrible argument between us and lots of photos to download and sort. I find the above photos interesting and fun.

If you see the face, yeah, if not, shame on you. If there is one thing humans can do well it's seeing faces in things that do not have faces. Why do you not possess this innate ability? I find it interesting. I love ghosts. There are too many pictures out there that are completely unbelievable and plenty that have you wondering. So do they pop up in photos? Who knows but I like looking at creepy photos.

So what do you think? Ghosts in photos? Have any in yours?

Amsterdam, Netherlands. The Photos

2006-03-22T23:45:00.000-05:00

Obviously I didn't take these so do not comment about their quality. Half of them were shot at dusk and well I had to adjust the brightness so you could see them. Click to see larger images at Flickr.

I love the 4th one, the little shop or whatever it is. I haven't asked what any of these buildings are but they aren't too bad. I have some "coffee shop product" pics if anyone wants to see those.

Also there are a couple pics of some Red Light District things, not included. You know cause it is SO seedy there. Place is cleaner than any American city.

Did you know they have bikes that people can move their sofas with. I'm not talking American sized sofas, love seats. But on a freaking bike. The place is far too interesting to never visit.

When you can get weed cheaper than beer....something is well, strange, huh? Or better? And you get your mushrooms straight from Columbia AND wrapped and served like food to take home.

Reading other blogs can be detrimental to your...

2006-03-21T17:26:00.000-05:00

Mail.

I have been a loyal subscriber to Interview Magazine for two years and have never had any sneak peaks at covers. Until last month on Pink is the New Blog. Which I love. He shared with the "world" Michelle Williams and the photos!

I was irate! As much as one can be regarding a magazine cover and a guy with a blog.

Well this month unexpectedly, but really it arrives the same time every month. Much like a period...ha. Oh, um there is it with someone one the cover I don't know. I've only heard the name and unknowingly watched in the movies.

I am sad to read on the cover that Lindsay Lohan is interviewing someone.

Wait for commentary.

On a similar note, I kind of disliked John Travolta's interview with Scarlett Johansson a few months back. I have been thinking of that often due to the Hurricane Katrina disaster and the movie A Love Song for Bobby Long. Which I LOVE. I will have to get back to you on that, after I read it again and see if the problem is me or him.

Book Review Charity-Style: The Field Guide

2006-03-21T00:55:00.000-05:00

The Field Guide - The Spiderwick Chronicles Book 1
By Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black

Yet again another children's book that I love. It's so cute with its kids and the faeries that aren't all "fairy tale". It's a single parent home and they have to live in the family "mansion" that has been abandoned for far too long. The father left them, the book is so modern like that.

There are 5 books in the series, currently, and I think there are a couple more in the works. It takes but a lunch break to read the book cover to cover and enjoy the illustrations.

So yes I highly recommend these!

Amsterdam, Netherlands.

2006-03-19T23:10:00.000-05:00

My brother returned from Amsterdam yesterday. I really want to go now, as much as I want to visit anywhere else in the world. I am hoping that next year I will be able to make it!

So these are Tijgernootjes or Tijger nootjes, I've seen it both ways. They are pretty good and probably make the good thing inside worse for you. They are peanuts that are covered in some sort of crunchy shell and probably fried. They have good flavors: barbecue paprika(pepper), bacon kaas (cheese) and chili lime, some curry kind, and one more I can't remember. I have been waiting all year to have a taste of them again. Although you can always get them shipped to you. You can get anything online these days.

For over a year I have meant to scan the postcards he gave me last year and put them online. He doesn't really take many photographs, but I can't expect someone who isn't interested in photos to feel the same as me. He said everything is worthy but you can't just take pictures of everything. I say no. I will have to raid the camera and see what I get and check out last years pics.

It's the little things.

2006-03-18T23:52:00.000-05:00

I have been knitting two afghans. Yes you may call me crazy. I am in one for the long haul. It's going to be for me or perhaps my niece.

I chose acrylic yarn, Caron Simply Soft, because it is really soft and inexpensive. I don't want to make anything with a fancier yarn since we have cats and children. I need it to be durable and easy to clean. I will post photos of it as soon as I take them. It does have a moss stitch border and stockinette with knot stitches throuhout. I have only begun the pattern. Which I worked out all on my own. It took me ages to get through the border.

The other afghan is child sized of Bernat Baby Boucle, I think, bought with coupons! I am making it for the niece and her dolls. It was going to be smaller but I might as well make it bigger. It would be good for in the car or at daycare, if I finish it before she starts kindergarten in the summer. The yarn works up into this baby soft thick blanket, that even I want to cuddle up in. It is pink, purple and blue, so it goes with all the dolls. I vow never to work with boucle again. It just wants to stick to the needles. The pattern I am using is like Grandma's Favorite Dishcloth. I have seen a baby blanket with the same pattern although the border was 5 stitches and mine is just 2. Why learn a "new" pattern? It lays flat and has barely there eyelets.

I did manage to pick up two colors of cotton yarn for some more facecloths. I need it to distract me with instant knitting gratification while knitting blankets to cover the world. I normally use Sugar'n Cream but at Wal-Mart (ugh) they had Peaches & Creme. Which sounds even better than Sugar! I had a choice of white, ecru, and the two I bought. I was eyeing a lime and white ombre but they were all out. I wanted some color for the Spring. It seems I have bad timing for these things. I was about to say screw it and drop into AC Moore or Michael's or anywhere, where the selection is vast, always full and on sale. I have named them as well. They only come with lot numbers. They are Denim and Fiesta. Yes, I know, very deceiving.

*Well wouldn't you know it, there is a name and I got them both right. I tell you I have seen too much yarn.

Those were the days.

2006-03-18T00:46:00.000-05:00

The past few weeks I have been daydreaming, every now and then it would pop into my head, of drinking a $4 chai latte at B&N and looking through knitting books or magazines or something. Something at a leisurely pace and without rushing because they will be closing. The chair must be comfy or I must not be near people, seats away.

As I was just walking downstairs to get a bowl of fresh honeydew melon, YUM, I had a tiny epiphany. I must get out of the house to keep the bats out of my belfry, so to speak. Then I came back up, sat in my chair and spun around a few times eating pieces of melon. Then I stopped and thought about posting.

My honeydew was half ripe with some good spots and some GREAT spots of sweetness. I was reminded of my single days in my apartment driving to the only store that consistently had the freshest, ripest honeydew. The warm nights and returning to my lit apartment that was clean and perfect. Opening a bottle of chardonnay and having a little feast. I would watch a movie and get ridiculously silly-drunk on the wine.

I also enjoyed this ritual at my last apartment in Greenville, that I was allergic to and way more crammed in. I, again, would return to a lit window and a cat peeking out at me. I would drink some wine, go outside. There was a stillness at that busy apartment that just settled my soul. Sitting on my stoop, staring at cars. Listening to the distant traffic and the neighbors returning home. As usual, I would return inside and watch a movie I rented.

The difference now is that I don't have the wine, the car or money. I am barely social. I can't go outside and sit on the porch without disturbing someone and there are more bugs here than in the Greenville.

What a feeling!

2006-03-17T23:53:00.000-05:00

I am completely excited to begin a new path on my journey through blogging.

I want to post more photos, knitting, sewing projects, baking, book reviews (Charity style), writing and, well, anything I'd like to share.

I hope to have a few readers and to branch out in the blogging world.

I can do anything so this should be easy peasy!