Averygoodun's Personal File

Our pipes are clogged. Instead of using the snake (which I am pretty sure is what is needed), Geoff used chemicals to try and dissolve the clog. Thing is, I'm pretty sure the clog is made up of not-well-ground food bits, like beet skin... I don't know if chemicals work on those kinds of clogs.

Anyway, it's a nuisance because until the drains are clear, I can't run the dishwasher, or even wash the dishes by hand because there's nowhere for the water to go.


Babe's pipes are also clogged. Snaking, however, is the last option.

( TMI on the parenting front )

Speaking of poop, I am scared rather shitless by the idea for my exchange piece. The epic-ness is... daunting. My giftee will get a good gift, even if I chicken out of the epic gift, but I would really love to do the epic gift. I'm just not sure how to do it. Problem is, I don't know how to get from point A to point B. Not without turning what is already epic into something unachievable (in the limited time we have).

However, maybe I should focus on what is achievable. Both in creative endeavors and otherwise.

I went for a walk today using my knee brace for the first time. I think it worked nicely. I can't wear it for anything other than taking my exercise walks as it's prone to cut off my circulation if my knee is bent, but my knee doesn't seem nearly as tired as it has been after walks.

I made beef-beet soup last night and it was quite tasty except for being under-salted. I was going to make gluten-free bread today, but I'm not doing any cooking until the drains are clear.

And that brings me full circle, so I'll stop.

Cheers, all.

Is small. Really, quite small. Total size shown in the 'mat' is about... 6"x8"

Small.

And it took me damn near two weeks and who knows how many hours. I am NOT doing this kind of collage ever, ever again.

*sighs*

I don't even really like it!

However, I will say it looks better in person than it does in photograph.

If anyone wants it, I will gladly send it to them after I've figured out a way to photograph it properly. (After that much time spent, I should at least document it for posterity/portfolio.)

Anyway, here it is:

( Read more... )


ETA: Note: It is possible that I'm still not finished with it. The curtains might be removed. The panes might kind of go back in the muntins. The curtains (or just one) might be added to the muntins... I don't know. All I know for sure is that I need to move on very, very soon.

Very. Soon.

I will go mad, otherwise.

Hours of pod racing and fighter planes shooting and attention mongering have destroyed my good mood. Perhaps because it was beautiful out, and the little bugger refused to go outside with me. Or perhaps because my good knee hurts. Or perhaps because I've had a few good days and now I'm good-mooded out. *shrugs*

However, we now have Windows 7 installed and running, which means I can play with GIMP again. Yay. And I'm only a few hours from finishing the main stage of last week's art project, which hopefully will be successful once I add a bit of subtle interest. Blah.

So far I like 7. It's far less obnoxious than Vista, although one of these days when I'm particularly bored I'll need to play around with it a bit to figure some things out and tweak it to my liking.

Thank you all for your opinions. I haven't made up my mind yet, but your input has been both valuable and appreciated. Thank you!

( The observations: )

It's just beginning to get dark outside (and oh, how nice that it's only beginning to get dark! I love the lengthening evenings!) and I'm overcome with a fit of the bores.

(Of course, as I write this, I can think of all the things I need to do... Laundry to be washed, laundry to be folded, laundry to be put away. I already collected all the laundry, so at least that's off my plate.)

However, I also kind of want to draw some more. Yesterday's drawing wasn't very good, but I am satisfied with today's, though one of them needs to be finished. Snape needs his face.

Speaking of that, though, I wonder if anyone would be willing to look over my story "Curious Granger and the Half-Blood Prince" with a critical eye. I've posted the (slightly) revised edition under the cut for your ease. I'm going to start inking these drawings soon, and would prefer not to have to re-do any of them because of story failure.  Inking is a pain in the butt.

Just, if you do critique, please keep in mind that it IS written in the style of the <i>Curious George</i> stories, and therefore does use simplistic language and storytelling in a deliberate manner. (Oh, and yes, I am aware that it isn't quite canon-compliant because Harry had Hermione's wand... Oh well.)

The place I'm most concerned about is the ending. It seems a bit abrupt to me, even within this style.

Anyway. Thanks in advance!

( Curious Granger and the Half-Blood Prince )

This makes me gleefully happy. In a cynical, bitter kind of way.

In less bitter news, I love hearing Babe laughing like Ernie (from Sesame Street) as he and Geoff play War. Babe is winning, obviously.

I also love that Babe spent the better part of the afternoon outside, playing in the snow. Tomorrow, we go sledding (maybe right after church? If so, take nutritious snacks), this time there'll be enough snow on the ground to cover the grass completely! LOL.

Now... I need to go art. (On illustrative drawing #11 of 20. Making progress (though I'm not thinking about how much time it'll take to color them all)!) I not only walked today, but also shoveled. I think a hot shower or salt bath is in order for tonight.


Oh, one question: How long does a bruised bone hurt? My knee hasn't swollen, but the contact area (anterior fibula process) still hurts like a mother. I know it's not even been a week, but I'm getting tired of needing to be really careful with it.

Why should writing be so difficult? Writing on task that is, not this verbal diarrhea that counts as journalling (and should therefore probably not be public, but, hey, I'm a social dunce so therefore I'll ignore social mores for now).

Why is thinking so difficult? Concentrating. Discipline. I guess that's my answer, but why should something that is so... obvious, so... natural be so damn difficult to do?

Of course, it doesn't help when my verbal center shuts down and won't allow me to access my vocabulary.

( Read more... )


On the plus side, I have managed to write about 1,000 words of SMHC in the last couple of days, so yay. I'm that much closer to an update. On the down side, every bloody sentence is a struggle, and I'm afraid it shows. I dread the printed-out read-through edit. I expect it will be as bad as chapter 10 of MAC was before revisions. *shudders*

I want to get SMHC finished this year. I would like to get all of my non-abandoned WIPs finished this year. But first comes SMHC, because, yeah. It needs to be finished.


But I really need to go to bed now, as tomorrow is a school day for Babe, which means waking up godawful early. Oh well.

Well, I'm back. That trip was actually really good, circumstances withstanding. Actually, even that wasn't so bad as Grampa made not one but two recoveries.  As far as I know, he's still alive and kickin'.

The really great, albeit a little bittersweet, part of the trip was realizing where my muse has gone.  She's living in the Pacific Northwest.

Dammit.

I always, always get inspired when I go up there.  I always come back with at least three serious works in mind and many more basic ideas.

This time, I not only came back with three works in mind, but I also came up with The Plan.

Normally I don't make plans.  Plans and I don't get along, mostly because whenever I make up a plan, the Universe comes along and smacks me down, saying, "Uh-uh-uh!  You don't get it, do you?  You're my bitch, and you will do what I say!"

Normally, I don't have too much of a problem with that as She has been a good mistress for the most part.  I don't regret most of what's happened in my life as it's made me who I am, which isn't that bad.  And I've learned that fighting against the Universe is generally a bad idea.  Life is not only easier when I go along with Her plans (although that really isn't the right word... wishes, maybe?), but it's also better.

However, I'm thinking that because this plan has to do with my art, the Universe isn't going to interfere.  Afterall, that's the direction She's been steering me for ever and ever, amen.

But, now comes the implementing of The Plan.  It means the resumption of my resolutions.  It means adding a few more tasks as well.  It means I really need to apply all that latent discipline.  Dammit.


So, the short of it is that I probably won't be spending as much time online anymore.  I'm not going away completely (you all are way too interesting and important to me), but...  This is my form of relaxation, and relaxing ain't gonna get me nowhere, even if I do need to do it from time to time.

So, thank you to those of you who actually sent me a valentinr! I appreciated it very much! And to those of you who had valentinrs out there, but I didn't notice, I am so sorry! I wasn't snubbing you on purpose. I must have missed it. :-(

But, happy VD anyway. ;-j I hope yours was better than mine.


In car news, the other person's insurance company accepted liability and we don't have to pay the deductable! This is... well, a HUGE relief. It's also a big relief that we didn't have to fight about it. We'll be probably be getting the car back from the shop just in time for Geoff's birthday. Yay.

(And thank goodness for insurance! $2400 for just a wee corner taken out! Yikes!)

And, it's a little delayed, but here's week 6's painting that I finished at the end of week 6. That was only half a week ago.

( week 6 untitled )