Here!

New Blog

2009-06-24T23:38:04Z

I am really not doing so well at picking the winner to my blog-opening giveaway: http://truenaturedesigns.blogspot.com/2009/05/giveaway-day.html

You folks should help me pick. The one about star trek is kind of compelling as far as creativity goes, but I am all wanting to give stuff to everyone. BLAH

Oh, yeah, I have a new blog. This space is still dedicated to my occasional interior-to-my-head ramblings. My Blog is really more for craft and cooking related things.

Technology Lust

2009-05-13T00:25:57Z

I want a netbook.

I want a teeny tiny device that fits in my purse and does not hurt my back or my hip, both of which hurt every few weeks from carrying too much crap around, including a MBP.

I don't mind ubuntu. I mostly want to web and ssh anyway, with perhaps a bit of document creation, but come on, google docs? whatev, I just need a good browser.

I want to buy a fun pink swirly skin to put on my netbook so I can carry it around and be totally geek stylin'.

I have no idea who wants this, however.

I don't want a contract, certainly, since i have an iPhone for on the go. I mostly want the netbook for places that I am (work, oakland, home, my parents) which already have free wifi. So I am not sure who Verizon's target market is.

Someone should enlighten me. Oh and they should also tell me which netbook to buy.

Things I want to do this weekend but prolly won't get to:

2009-05-01T13:59:38Z

http://www.instructables.com/id/Hammered-leaf-and-flower-prints/: Hammer some leaf and flower prints for that 5-pic frame I have failed to fill for a year now.
http://diyart.co.uk/index.php?option=com_mjfrontpage&Itemid=33: Make some fun pixel-ey paint by numbers art of Thomas for my bedroom.
http://www.craftstylish.com/item/44793/how-to-upcycle-a-t-shirt-into-a-cardigan: Learn to crochet an edging and use that knowledge to make this awesome cardi out of an old TShirt.

Jeff is at the lake house again, finishing up (hopefully) the new bathroom so I am home with toddler-boy, who I have got to stop calling "baby-boy" because I think he is starting to not like it. Also, he is calling me "mommy" instead of "mamma" which I find very disorienting and a little heart wrenching. *sob* The trouble and joy of babies is that they grow up.

Maybe I should start an actual craft blog where I put all this stuff I keep doing. So far, I have finished the top of the robot quilt (complete with a bonus mini robot and also a robot beagle. LOVES IT), finished my pink'n'brown big block quilt, knitted two dishcloths which are not super exciting but taught me about knitting in a circle and double decreasing.

I went to the bookstore with <lj user="jacquez"> last night and looked at a bunch of books, and I am totally madly in love with Modern Quilt Workshop and Last Minute Patchwork Gifts which are currently residing on my amazon wish list, where Jeff does not often check to look for, like, mother's day gifts, instead just telling me to buy things. Hm.

Thinking about Cold

2009-04-25T13:56:04Z

Hello Knitting Friends.

I am obsessing about trying to get a scarf and matching hat/kercheif-ey thing out of my 3 skeins of Rowan Tapestry.

Should I make:

Clapotis & Odessa:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/odessa
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/clapotis

Palindrome Scarf & Hat:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/palindrome-a-reversible-cable-scarf
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/palindrome-hat

Entralac Scarf & Quant:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-basic-entrelac-scarf
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/quant

Factors:

I think the yarn would look best in entrelac and clapotis.
Ever since I learned to do reversible cables, I have been wanting to do something with them, but have no idea what.
I like Quant since it won't mess up my hair too badly.
Entrelac may be a bigger pain that it's worth, though everyone says it's so easy.

I should really get back to locating some linen or soysilk and making a floaty seafoam wrap, but the grass is always greener...

Dear Carnival,

2009-04-17T20:53:15Z

It is not even COB Friday and I am already exhausted because of you. However will I get through Saturday!?!

kthxbai

Cut And Sew Studio Pittsburgh

2009-04-15T01:14:54Z

Dear sewing people who live in Pittsburgh,

Check this out!
http://www.cutandsewstudio.com/

Does not look like they sell the exciting fabrics that Jo Ann does not sell, so that's a bit disappointing, but I am SUPER SUPER interested in the knits class. I would like to sew with matte jersey without a serger! i do i do i do!

I especially don't want to bu a serger because I do want to buy a netbook. I was even advised by a professional to do so, in an effort to have better work/home separation. So, netbook. And sewing. And AWESOME.

Sew.

2009-03-14T01:31:03Z

So I totally caved and bought a new sewing machine.

So far, I have finished appliqueing a robot onto a patch of fabric that I am gonna make into a quilt for Jeff, sewed all the blocks together for a pink'n'brown quilt for the EstroDen, made 3 lunch bags, repaired one tote bag, sewed a little quilt for Thomas's Plex doll, and a napkin for a friend, with his name on it. (Oh, yeah, my new sewing machine has a stitch pattern for letters. Eee!)

http://www.amazon.com/Singer-Confidence-Model-Sewing-Machine/dp/B00176WYGY

It has been heaps of fun so far. After I finish the two quilts I have out, I am considering making some fabric art, or maybe some skirts. I have decided that I really would rather have a method than a pattern. I do have a skirt pattern, but I have been looking at the 'Sew What? Skirts!' book, which is basically a manual for measuring yourself and designing a coat around your shape, which is nice for me since I am petite, but have proportionally oddly long legs and a short waist.

Weekend Trivia

2009-02-23T03:19:11Z

I could not fix the tension in my sewing machine, so I took it into be serviced by these sewing machine folks on Babcock Blvd. It was kind of a funny little building. Looked like a garage or something and said "SEWING MACHINES" on it in caps. It has a name, but that was nowhere on the building. I hear they do good work, though, and hopefully my sewing machine will come back happy and problem free and I can finish the super secret project I am making for Jeff, and the pink and brown blanket for myself. (Damn, I need to pick up my futon cover. Keep forgetting to do that.)

I have also decided that I hate all my yarn. I hate the colors. I hate the stitch definition. I don't want to knit with it because I hate it all. I keep trying to swap it and failing. I should try again because I'm basically just up for anything right now. Want different yarn. Wah.

No sewing. No knitting. What's a girl to do?

That turns out to be cooking. I have a friend who finds cooking to be a bit mysterious and has some dietary restrictions and wants to eat tasty vegetarian food. Which is basically my dream problem to solve. Field tested a lentil soup recipe, a mattar paneer recipe, and a mung dal recipe. Everything but the dal was good. Did you know they make Pilsbury Paratha? I picked some up at the Indian market at the corner Surprisingly tasty. :) I also epic-failed to make fondue, but I am over it.

Grrrrrrrr sewing machine

2009-02-03T04:35:44Z

I am fighting with my sewing machine. The tension is too tight on top, no matter what I do. I have the tension dial below 0. I HATE MY SEWING MACHINE. I really don't want to have to pay another $200 for a new sewing machine because of the stupid tension problem.

WHY?

Grump

thwomp @ 2009-02-01T23:37:00

2009-02-02T04:37:40Z

I could never be a professional football coach. Every play, I yell "blitz! blitz!".

Go Steelers!

Yay New President!

2009-01-20T18:31:51Z

Gosh, I was so happy to see Bush get on that helicopter.

I joked at work when Obama talked to Bush the first time after his speech, he was saying "get out of my house".

In the kitchen today, a coworker told me "i feel like change just happened". I made a comment about the new president seeming so modern and literate and he said "yeah, that's the change". Hee.

The mood is pretty gleeful here.

Wow.

2009-01-14T13:44:07Z

Thomas just ate his toast into the shape of a hammer, told me "hammer! hammer! hammer!" and then proceeded to use it to bang on his high chair try like a hammer.

How did my kid get so freakin' smart?

Let's Get Together to Cook

2009-01-02T02:07:23Z

Just the Facts: I'm looking for Pittsburgh vegetarian-friendly folks who want to come over and prep/cook a bunch of meals we can all take home and freeze, to be reheated later. I think we can save some money, have a good time, save some time later, eat healthier meals, and also have a better environmental impact by not buying lots of things in throw-away containers. I'm not sure the best way to go about this, or the best meal plan, or the best financial arrangement, so please comment and let me know what you think!

Editted: Potential Menu Plan?
OK, I am thinking that some cheese and onion enchiladas would be great for this, especially on account of how the corn tortillas come in like a 400 pack and freeze well.

Some kind of black bean soup or tomato soup would be awesome frozen and super cheap to make.

I bet we could also easily do some kinda creamy pasta with asparagus and red peppers.

The Long Version and Rationale:
So, I have been reading and somewhat interested in a few different cooking concepts that I am thinking I can combine up to save myself and some friends money and time and also be better on the environment. I think.

I have flipped through a few of these "cook once eat for a month" type cookbooks. I have also flipped through an awful lot of crock pot cookbooks. Both of these I read intending to see if I can make food in advance and have it be ready to microwave or heat up when I get home, or pop in the crock pot and have it be ready to eat when I show up. This is especially important now that I have a toddler, who does not like to wait long for his supper.

Friends and family tell me with some regularity how awesome these "dream dinners" or "super suppers" places are. Near as I can tell, these are commercial kitchens you show up at to find pre-prepped ingredients that you assemble into bake'n'toss containers to take home and freeze, so you can thaw, heat, eat, and toss the container when you are done.

These are nice ideas, but they have some flaws for me.

- Cook once eat for a month seems pretty meat-tastic. The veggie meals they have either don't seem very filling, or seem SUPER cheese-and-fat-filled, or maybe they just aren't to my taste, as they are likely constructed by meat-eaters, who maybe aren't so hot at figuring out what vegetarians want out of their meals.

- Crock pot cooking always seems to be done long before I get home and then becomes over cooked, or not done when I get there and I still need to wait. Timing on these kinds of things is problematic. Still, this could be made to work with some sort of timer.

- Commercial kitchen things are, again, pretty much full of meat. Sure you can make some things vegetarian, but it seems likely to result in bland food that's not that filling. Also, you are using throw away containers, and I bet they are not good or safe to microwave in either (metal, freaky plastics). The big win there is that they chop veggies for you (which people or food processors can do) and they plan your meals for you. I kind of like thinking of the menu plan myself or coming up with it with friends.

So here is what I am thinking:
I can probably set up my house to fit 6 cooks. If I get together with a handful of other folks, we can plan out some good menu items in advance, show up with our own containers and prep and chop and assemble five or so meals that we can take home and eat.

Things I am thinking freeze well:
- Indian food
- Pastas
- Soups & stews
- Casserole of some variety

What do you think?

thwomp @ 2009-01-01T00:03:00

2009-01-01T05:03:20Z

Happy New Year!!!

thwomp @ 2008-12-25T00:02:00

2008-12-25T05:02:39Z

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Cookie Day

2008-12-21T01:05:38Z

Christmas Cookies Eatons
Originally uploaded by thwomp.

My pinkie finger is burnt, I have a sugar headache and I wore my apron for almost 12 straight hours today.

This is the damage from Cookie Day. My mom and I bake all our Christmas cookies the Saturday before Christmas. It's a marathon session of baking, bitching about men, baking, eating take out, baking, drinking coffee, baking, and taking occasional breaks to watch Home and Garden TV. The result is about 50 dozen cookies, give or take ten dozen.

This year, we made cutout cookies and Jeff and Thomas decorated some. Thomas seemed to really like this. He actually decorated some, ate dinner, and then came back and asked to decorate more. Hah! Maybe I will make him into a baker and not an IT geek. :)

female?

2008-12-08T20:06:58Z

when did I become such a girl? I just realized that I have on a purple top and i bought some pink lacy underthings. I have been listening to songs that have the word "rainbow" in the title (stanley jordan cover of "over the rainbow" and willie nelson cover of "the rainbow connection").

stupid estrogen!

thwomp @ 2008-11-28T22:03:00

2008-11-29T03:05:55Z

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1579909434

Man, I ran across this and I bet it's full of adorable.

I was talking with a friend from work who has a little boy about boys toys versus girls toys and how we kind of want to buy both for our boys so they don't get messed up ideas about the immutable nature of gender roles and other weird hangups.

Maybe I can sew him some funny monster dolls with dresses and pants and hats that will be in between boy and girl toys.

You know. In my spare time. :)

Thankful

2008-11-27T23:51:57Z

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

I am thankful that our year is going relatively well, our immediate family is relatively healthy, and our extended family has gone home for the night. :)

ATTN: STEPHANIE TOTH KATES

2008-11-20T01:10:38Z

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/chicago/the-gallery/the-gallery-bruce-riley-069893

I thought you'd like this link. Alternatively, you should see who buy's this guys stuff and start selling them your stuff.

kthxbai

Etsy Artwork: Breaking My Will

2008-11-18T02:22:05Z

Etsy has been challenging me to not buy pretty sets of art and hang them about the house.

When I someday get my own girlie bathroom, decorated in red and white and black, with a cherry print shower curtain:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=17346799
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=17150942

For hanging in the woman room, next to my futon at lounging/reading height (you know, if it were ever clean enough to go in there):

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15558888

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=17277692

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16846306

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14403562

and this one is my ABSOLUTE favorite:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14423331

For my sunken lounge. Seriously, I have one. I promise:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=13221178

For a mythical installation in Thomas's room, when he is older and it's no longer blue and green with orange goldfish colored polka dots:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=17116012

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=17445143

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14986556

Parenthood and Television

2008-11-09T02:16:29Z

When Thomas was an infant, it basically didn't matter what we watched on TV. As long as it wasn't loud, he could either sleep through it or play next to it, when he was older. In the past few months, he's been starting to talk more, and repeats everything that is said to him. I needed to stop watching certain shows before his bedtime, because of the regular bad language and violence types of things that parents don't want their kids picking up. That has really all seemed pretty natural to me. Of course I wouldn't be comfortable watching violence or sex or death in front of my innocent little cherub baby.

So I have been watching my crime dramas at night, after Thomas goes to sleep, but I think even that behavior may need to change. I used to really like CSI and Criminal Minds and the like. A few recent episodes have featured things like 'parents on a weekend away from their kids who get trapped by a lunatic who intends to kill them' or 'curly haired little boy abducted by wacko'. While these kinds of things used to be creepily entertaining to me, they have started to come down on more closer to unsettling. I also hate the advertisements for Changeling, which I made the mistake of wikipediaing about.

WTH biology? What's up with the hormones that make you love your kid so much you don't mind cleaning him when he is covered in varying nasty goos or read the same 5 page board book over a dozen (seriously, literally a dozen) times a day? Do they make you soft? Is motherhood supposed to make you soft? Is that why daytime TV is full of soap operas and daytime talk shows and other shows that have heartwarming chicken-soup-for-whoever bits?

Alternatively, I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that I would absolutely kill another human being if they were a realistic threat to Thomas's life without even batting an eye. How can one person switch from being soft and round and gooey to sharp and murderous? Maybe that's why I can't watch crime dramas anymore. Maybe biology is steering me away from shows that may make me flinch. Just in case.

In any case, apparently television needs to start showing better sci fi or something else that’s escapist but doesn’t get too close to mutating my suburban lifestyle.

16X2 Candles

2008-11-03T15:22:15Z

I just realized that I am 16X2 old. This fills me with an insatiable desire to watch John Hughes movies.

The Internet Owns You

2008-11-02T17:26:00Z

I was talking to a friend about how I met my husband. Jeff googled me to see what I looked like before responding to my desperate ploys for a fiance on zephyr. The friend asked my maiden name so he could try to find the picture of me. I remembered this today, and decided to google my maiden name, to see what I came up with. The normal things, amazon wish list, various facebook pages, an honorable mention for a short story I wrote.

It's the abnormal things which I find sort of amusing, and so I link to them here, for your amusement:

- http://Rottgrub.deviantart.com/art/Connie-in-Pencils-91736497
This is a drawing made recently by a guy I used to know, sketched from a photograph I took of myself in a dorm room with a webcam probably about 1996. Apparently my nose was removed and then put back on. I blame the aliens. (thanks to mav for coordinating the web cam purchase back then, by the way. :))

- http://www.vegan-food.net/recipe/334/Bruschetta/
I remember posting this recipe, but I think I posted it to like rec.food.vegan or something. That photograph is certainly not from my original recipe, as it appears to have cheese on it. See previous
vegan having bboard name.

- http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1598949/posts
I am apparently being quoted on this website in an article about dating shallow men. I don't entirely understand the connection.

Don't put anything on the internet ever folks. Once it's out there, it belongs to whoever wanders in and sees it. I guess I can't run for vice president now. :)

Happy Halloween!

2008-11-01T01:33:37Z

thomas gnome
Originally uploaded by thwomp.

I got home in time to help Jeff finish up Thomas's gnome costume, carve a pumpkin, and go trick or treating.

Whew!

I am pretty happy with how it turned out, considering the whole thing cost about $8.