Wednesday, December 09, 2009

It's going to be a white winter...

I counted my white hairs today. I now have SEVEN. I had thought I only had four, maybe five, but indeed, I have quite a few. They're all in the same sort of area on my head (near the front) so I'm hoping eventually I'll have a cool lock of white hair there, sorta like Rogue from Xmen. That would be sweet.

Hurray for money to pay bills. I'm going to be poor soon, but I'll be happily poor, with all my bills paid. Whew, such a relief!

This calls for a celebration. Hm, booze is expensive, going out is too, so I think I'll just dance around like a looney and smile a lot--it's cheaper. Christmas sewing will commence tomorrow. I even got a couple decorations (tiny blue ornament balls) and I'll go out and find some neat stick/branches tomorrow to make my own "charlie brown" Christmas-type tree. No extra $$ this year to buy a REAL tree. 'Sides, it's not like I really need one. I like my more simplistic idea, which I got from a 2006 holiday version of Better Homes and Gardens. Ha!

One thing I saw yesterday, however, that I really really really want; a succulent wreath. Yes, you heard me right--it's an environmentally (and water) friendly wreath. How awesome is that? You can even get them on ebay, of course. Not that it's any cheaper than the other site...but hey, if you've a fetish, there you go!

It might be fun to make your own, since according to the "experts"--or martha stewart, all you need is:
Succulents (Martha used Aeonium, Crassula, Echeveria, Gasteria, Haworthia, Kalanchoe, Sedum, and Sempervivum)
Scissors
12-inch wire wreath frame
Sphagnum moss
Moistened soil, or half perlite and half soil
Soil
Copper wire
Pencil (or screwdriver)

*drools* Yeah, somebody get me one?

Anywhoo, I'm off to get some fun ideas for project-makings at BH&G...ta for now!

Labels: , , ,

Saturday, December 05, 2009

Let the Christmas season...ooze in!

It's now December.

Damn, that's depressing. I haven't gotten as far as I'd like on all my Christmas-present making. Time to pull out all the stops, and get cracking. I've got some serious sewing (and handcrafting) presents to do--all planned out, but not even started. Bad me. Instead, I've been distracted by "self-presents" like this cool stitchery of a bike with flowers in the front basket with the words "it's all about the journey," (I know, perfect, right? I love biking, traveling around and actually SEEING the world) instead of being productive.

Bad me.

Thanks to those who commented about the Star Trek thing. I wasn't aware of the whole eleventh movie thing, but I think most of the people who WERE writing about the "new" fandom weren't aware either. It was a serious peeve of mine. Honestly, I'd totally campaign to have the movie labeled by the year it came out, since there are so many movies (and books, omg!) in the Star Trek compendium/universe.

As a "Generations" girl myself (haha, I remember being allowed to stay up and watch it with Dad if we were good), I have to admit that the original was never my first introduction to the Sci-Fi genre. Actually, some rather old books of my dads by Asimov and others (a short story collection that talked about ramjets and such, can't remember the name) was my first experience. And of course, lots of reading on my own, and eventual self-exposure to series like "Foreigner" and the book "Childhood's End" stand out especially in my mind as being particularly thought-provoking...

Tell the truth, I never really thought much of the original Star Trek. It was sorta (and let's be honest, everyone) hokey and cliched--but it was so unabashed at being escapist and fantastical that it was still fun to watch, years later. Frankly, I still think the beginnings of the SciFi genre (in the written form, naturally) from the 50's and 60's were a little more "ball busting" than the original tv show. And sometimes, entirely creepy. How people imagined such things, I'll never know.

However, it can't be argued that the TV show was immensely influential in getting scifi further accepted into mainstream pop culture. Or perhaps, disseminated or addiction-inducing would be better terms.

I still have to admit, I LOVE the new movie adaptation. It just adds so much more depth to the entire Star Trek Universe--so many more fun possibilities (that writers out there are enjoying playing with). Plus, it doesn't hurt that the new Kirk and Spock are HAWT. *drools* And it's an added bonus that the other backup players (Scotty is the dude from Shaun of the Dead--omg, my fav zombie parody movie! Sulu is the dude from the Harold and Kumar go to Whitecastle movies! Bones is the dude from the Lord of the Rings trilogy! YUM.) are pretty damn awesome too. Not to mention cute.

BUT, I still can't see Kirk/Bones pairings as being feasible. For god's sake people, it'd be like me and my SISTER and our love/hate/toughlove/smackdown relationship deciding to dance off through the daisies together. IE: WRONG WRONG, SO DAMN WRONG. Bleh. The imaginations that people have, as I stated before are SCARY. Superlatively so.

And I've watched almost all of the "newer" Star Trek series too--Generations, Voyager, Enterprise (with Archer), Deep Space Nine... all of them. (Have to admit, besides from the "sex it up" factor with Enterprise under archer, it was a pretty shitty series--I think the writers got bored or something, or were parodying themselves). Generations was freakin' awesome--I'll never forget John Parker (amazing man/pirate/sea scum/ lighting dude) "kidnappin'" me and my sister for the "take your daughter to work day" at Paramount Pictures...and getting to see Worf and Deanna Troy and all the sets of the show (including getting "beamed up" in the transporter room). It'll always have a particular spot in my affections for scifi---and thus explains why I have such trouble reading the ridiculous fanfiction that seems to get posted on FF.net about the series.

Eh, annnny way, aside from the rant...

I'm tired of being broke. I'm looking into internships here and there (and maybe a job) at the UCI medical center over the way. Hoping to find something a little more lucrative. Don't get me wrong, I love my job, but I need to do something that actually pays me enough to live on (and save away enough for a rainy day/ going to Europe). I really really HATE being poverty-stricken.

However, in other good news, I've qualified for the gas company and electric company discounts for being poor. Hooray! Let me tell you, money is never a consideration until you're living a life where every penny counts. It's tough. Thus, my need to MAKE presents (which are cooler than just buying shit anyway) this year.

Hm. Just had an idea. I think I'll make my friend's mom a wall hanging of some variety. She hasn't got anything up on her walls yet. That'd be kinda cool.

One of my other friends wants me to print out her novella (I'm a bit of a flaky beta) and give her a "red pen" commentary on all of it. Dunno if that means I'm a super critical nazi writing fanatic/bitch, or if I just provide entertaining (and occasionally annoying) commentary. Whatever, my printer works good, and I have to do SOMETHING for Christmas.

I've scaled back my advent calendar this year at school for the kids-- only 10 socks on my "stocking line." It's actually a really cute idea--just go to the 99cents store, buy a bunch of colorful socks, hang up 25 of them, fill them with candy, toys, puzzles, games, etc. and then count down the days until Christmas. Lack of funds, and a rather subdued air to this year's holidays (even Eid, Thanksgiving and Hanukkah) is making me more resourceful. The kids love it (they fight over who will get to pull down the stocking and get the stuff out of it, and all of them are FASCINATED by the hanging goody bags and want to squeeze/fondle them to "feel" what's inside). After this, I'm going to go searching for free stuff I can make to put in the stockings. There's got to be something!! Phooey that the 99cents store only takes cash or debit cards. Meh.

I've lots of ideas for the library after this last friday-- had a librarian collaboration at the district office, which spawned a lot of ideas for me. Still, I think we could have had a better turnout, so maybe I'll start contacting the other librarians via phone to get them to sign up for the email list serve. It was awesome.

Anyway...

I need applejack brandy for my dad's birthday celebration. I'm helping make a yummy sage-butter roasted turkey with apple cider gravy (bon apetit magazine is AWESOME, everyone should get a subscription, just for ideas!) for his dinner. That is, unless mom and I elect to do some other turkey recipe. Not like dad cares--he'll just happily eat whatever it is, and comment/compliment that "it's not poison" as usual. Helpful punk, reaaal helpful. Or maybe even a "put it on the hit list"--though knowing my dad, that's not too likely to happen. He seems to think all the food I make that turns out good is a fluke. Phooey. Somehow he doesn't realize that stroking a cooks ego results in more goodies (cookies) for him, rather than faint praise. Idiot man. Poo to him! Yet he is always hopeful, despite previous (recent) insults. HA!

Heh. Ah well, at least the two turkeys that I've had in my freezer will finally see some use. I never did end up using them for Thanksgiving, since we took a fun vacation to San Diego this year instead of a fancy-schmanzy dinner. So I've got one left for some sort of feast with friends or whoever. Hmmm. Will have to think about that.

Am excited; Dad's birthday is next monday, so I'm off to Disneyland with him for his free visit. Should be marvelous. No one does the Christmas season quite like the Mouse. Oh, and now I totally have an excuse to go bother my friend (who is now working in DCA and DL) whenever I'm feeling bored or just...bored. But first, I need to get more Christmas present-making done.

Sounds like the nightly fireworks bombardment is going off. Upp, yep. Almost over, I think it's the Finale. I haven't seen their Christmas display yet. I'll have to check it out tomorrow. I think. Must check my pass holder dates to see when I'm blocked out.

On another note, Disney is contributing to America--like the president asked; you donate your time to certain organizations, and hey presto, Disney will give you a pass for a free day if you sign up. Or you can be SUPER awesome, and donate your pass to somebody else. You can find out more at the Disney website. Seriously, how awesome is that? I'm totally up for that. Now who to volunteer for???

It's not like I've got money, but time is always something that can be given for a good cause. Being in a sorority and devoting a good portion of my life and time to philanthropy seems like an excellent habit to get into. Thus, I feel the need to "give back"--though I may not have money, my time is my money, and that is something that I can contribute. Spending all my time studying for the GRE's is rather boring after a while. Gotta figure out my subject tests pronto though. Ah well.

So yeah, got a lot to do. More to come later!

Labels: , , , , , , , , ,