giggles

stuff I like

I've just finished this book called STUFF: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things. It's fascinating, absolutely fascinating. I've always been intrigued by people who hoard stuff (or animals or whatever) and this book really illuminates their struggles to deal with their problems. Wow. It also made me realize how easy it could be to fall into that trap. I've got so much JUNK that I save because it might be useful someday or I mean to repair it or someone gave it to me or ... the list goes on and ON.

I think I've got a problem with books. I just like books. I like having them all around me. I like having my STUFF all around me. I posted a picture of my really, really messy and cluttered dressing room recently. That picture was taken last Spring, but there's been no improvement. The piles wax and wane but never go away. I've been like that since I first got my own room (as opposed to sharing with a sister) as a teen. It was kind of a family joke that I'd switch rooms once my own room became unliveable. Truly unliveable; you couldn't walk through the room, you had to walk OVER stuff.

The problem extended into my adult years. I used to ask my friend, Furniture Girl(whom I've known for 23 years! WOW!!!), to come over and keep me company while I cleaned my room. She'd have to climb over stuff to perch on my bed while I dug through and organized all my stuff. geez-o-peets. I've always kind of left the mess in my bedroom and kept the rest of my living space clear, but lately, my mess has been expanded to the TV room, our "nest." This is where I like to make my crafty stuff and knit and crochet while Mr Handsome and I watch TV and videos. It's getting out of control. This is just the sidetable top:

Actually, this pic doesn't look too bad. To me, anyway (note the delicious hop-brew). But it's a real problem, the organization of all my crafty stuff. I think I'll have to take over a bookcase to get it all organized. But then, where will all the books go???

This book has shamed and inspired me to get rid of the stuff that's been sitting around for YEARS, literally gathering dust. This afternoon, I spent about an hour clearing crap out of the "office," which used to be where I'd do my college homework but now is just used as a catchall and as where we put the kitty litter. So, I'm in there at least twice a day. Also, it's where the door to the upper deck is, so we go through there often in nice weather. I'd like that room to be useable instead of embarrassing! I packed up over a dozen old textbooks (I am NEVER going to look up information in them again! I mean, c'mon! That's what the internet is for!), two paper grocery bags crammed full of recycleables, a bag of pure trash, and a big box of office supplies that I embezzled from my old secretary-type jobs (a few pens here, a few stickynote pads there, a bunch of old binders... they weren't using them and I could find a use for them, riiiiight???). I still feel like "oh, we might need those some day!" But we WON'T We won't EVER need six binders! Or 24 pencils! Or a sh!tload of cardstock! Oh, it's gonna feel good to take all that stuff to Goodwill. It's an office-in-a-box and I hope someone will be super happy to find it!

Next, I'll tackle the dressing room. But I have to admit, it really IS hard to get rid of all this stuff that I've purposefully collected and saved, saved for godonlyknows WHAT reason.

clearing out

In the spirit of clearing out stuff, here are a bunch of images that are cluttering up my desktop, images I REALLY like but haven't found a place to fit into a post.

I think it's no secret that I love cars. I want THIS one!



I've really enjoyed playing chess with Bro and hope to do more of that soon! This little travel set that James Dean is playing with is adorable (and so is JD)!



I would like to find this spot, find it and claim it as my own, a spot I can escape to when the world is just too big and loud.



I need this kitty to help me with portion control (I have lost five pounds, though. YAY!).



A good reminder, and I think it's pretty.

The snow is here

Earlier this week, I kept telling people, "I've decided it's Spring! I don't care what Mother Nature does, she can snow all she wants, 'cause it's gonna melt soon!"

I regret challenging Mom that way. We got dumped on. It's too early to get a decent picture of what it looks like; I'll try to get one later for you (sorry, by the time I had time, it just looked like old snow, not pretty, so no pic). It's a lot of snow. The bookstore is going to be VERY slow today. People just don't shop for books when there are snowstorms going on. Hundreds of schools across the state are closed and it's supposed to keep on snowing, there are all kinds of warnings, etc., etc., etc.

naps

I absolutely agree with this article that states that napping boosts brain power. I love to nap. I'm pretty good at it, when I put my mind to it. Now, sleeping at night is another thing. That's a challenge I've never mastered. I've had chronic insomnia since I was a kid.
Anyhoo, napping is GREAT! I've been wanting a "nappy chair" for years, but it's just not in the budget. Maybe one day, I'll have my nappy chair....

This one looks like a half moon - how "dreamy!"


This one is very ugly, but looks sooooo soft and squishy and comfy and NAPABLE!


I coveted this one for years, then it sold and I was BUMMED:


Well, since it's Sunday and I don't have very many chores to do, maybe I'll go take a nap right now!

mesmerizing

I just love this tune. You've all heard it on an ad featuring an amazing Olympian.



Now here's the band, the xx:


Mr Handsome and I have been watching the Olympics a lot this week. It's nice, being together, cuddling on the sofa, watching amazing athleticism. I've been nattering away at little crafty projects. I might have pics later, in an update, but right now, we're watching Women's Snowboarding!

ugh-er

So, Saturday, I left work REALLY early, came home and slept for over 6 hours. Went to bed early and slept hard for over 9 hours. This is very unlike me. I obviously am fighting something.
Sunday, I wanted to help Bro move back into his house. The Nephew was going to be there, along with the Almost Nephews. I went and helped with one round, but had to leave. I feel like a putz. The rest of the day, I napped and dozed and rested. It's hard work trying to feel better! Bubba helped me; he was being my very own personal hot water bottle kitty. I'd show you a picture, but I couldn't go get my camera, 'cause I'd disturb him and you KNOW you must NEVER disturb the kitty!
Mr Handsome planned on making a romantic and delicious dinner for Valentine's Day (he really is a treasure), but I'm afraid I wasn't much fun or very alluring. What with wanting to barf and all.... We just lazed around in front of the tube and watched the Olympics. Exciting and romantic times here at the homestead.

Hopefully, today will be MUCH better! I hope the bookstore will be busy and that I'll find some cheer and some energy in being out and about! Right now, it's dawn and I need to get to work. Have a great day!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I love any holiday that supports love and candy!

And I love this man:

ugh

Here at Homebody Central, the females of the house are feeling lousy. Cleo and I are both very chilly and our stomachs hurt. ugh. Maybe it's nap time.
(picture credit (I just realized I suck at doing this) http://hookedonhouses.net/2009/03/22/gone-with-the-wind-tara-twelve-oaks-aunt-pittypats-house/)

not a Snowpocalypse, after all

Well, all the frenzied exclamations about the HUGE snowstorm we were supposed to get came to naught, at least here in the Valley of the Grand. Other places got hit much, much harder, but here, it's just really pretty. We got about 6 inches, maybe 8, and now the sun is as bright as Miami in May; everything is so shiny, it hurts to look outside!

Yesterday, I had to shovel twice, at the store. The last time, as I finished up, I decided to take some pictures, even though it was very gray and heavy outside. As I took pics of the street, a scooter zipped into frame! Isn't it great?!?

I AM going to go outside, though. I've got the day off and I'm going Thrifting! First time in AGES. I've been on a bit of a craft kick recently and need more stuff. Ok, not really. I don't actually "need" more stuff, but I've got plans, man! PLANS! I'm going to make dog and cat toys, and some glasses bags, and some tee shirt tote bags.
I made this one from an old tee of mine during Super Bowl (before we switched over to the final episode of "Emma" which was FUN!). It's got an old placemat for a bottom. I just couldn't bear to get rid of this tee shirt. This was MY team!
I also made the potholders below. I still need to add a little alligator to the pink one. So, I need to find some green poly-fleece at the thrifts. Wish me luck!

amazing video!

Over 700 machine-knit pieces were created to make this video for the Tricot Machine band's song, "Les Peaux de Lievres" . I am in awe.



I wish I could stay home and knit today, only because the news has been crowing about this storm that's coming. It's been snowing for a while now and there's probaby 2" out there, no big deal, but I've been suckered into thinking we all need to hunker down and ride it out. I plan on going to listen to Dr. Sherwin Nuland tonight; I hope it doesn't get cancelled!

lovely.

A lovely man, reading. What a great way to start the day!

One of my first crushes was Easy Reader, on the Electric Company. Can you blame me? He is c-o-o-l.

Now, the reason we (ok, I) am especially enjoying looking at handsome fellows reading is because we're going to get dumped on again. Now they're saying 6-12 inches will fall. It's been a light winter, really, and not too cold (for those of us who have nice, warm homes, anyway), and I'm grateful. At the same time, I'm tired of being cold, of wearing at least two layers, of gray skies. February is my least favorite month because of all that. Thank goodness it's short and the Mud of March will come!

Good morning!

7:23 a.m.

Dawn.

Nice and warm in bed, dreaming I'm at a huge party or event or something festive like that, with people I really like and who really like me. Good dream! Lots of rich colors and a rock n roll soundtrack.

Then....

Four 100# spears jab my belly and chest! I hear a "humph hrrrrhmph" and feel air wafting on my face. I'm being attacked! By a five-pound, 19 years-old feline. It's breakfast time. She can put an amazing amount of psi into each of those tiny paws when she wants to. She's got her nose rightnexttomine, gazing intently into my face, waiting for my eyes to open. Then the screaming starts (hers, not mine). I wish I could get it recorded for you. It's truly horrible. It sounds like she's being tortured or has a limb stuck in a trap. She's loud, I mean eardrum crushing loud. And she expresses the most heart-rending despair! GEEZ!

I wait an hour, hoping she'll give up or that Mr. Handsome will get up and feed the kitties, letting me sleep in.

It's good to have hope, even when you know it's hopeless. He believes it's my own fault that Cleo does this, so I should be the one to suffer the consequences. He believes it's not his problem and certainly not his responsibility. He believes it's my own fault that I can never sleep in and he shouldn't have to get up early to feed them. I see his point, but I suspect he believes I deserve to be punished by the early morning harangue. He and I have very different beliefs.

Saturday

I'm fascinated by the Snowpocalypse in the Mid-Atlantic, particularly in D.C. It's so very strange to see the monuments covered in snow!

I just finished reading "The Piano Teacher," about the English in Hong Kong just before, during and after WWII. That's a super-simplified summary. It gave me nightmares. There's no joy in the book. It's gripping, fascinating, and I cared enough about the characters and story to stay up waaaaaaay past bedtime to finish it; then I had nightmares about brutality and prison camps. ugh. Why are depressing books so popular?!? If you liked "The Poisonwood Bible," you'll like "The Piano Teacher." ugh.

The sun is out this morning! YAY! Yesterday was very gray and heavy. Today is sparkly! I hope my workday goes quickly.

HEY!!! I was just looking at one of my FAVE blogs, Starlet Showcase, and C. Parker has visited here and gave me a shout-out on Jan 31! Thanks, C.!

(Later....)
I love the Internet.
see more Celeb Look-A-Likes

Lightning Round

Well, golly, lots of stuff going on, I just haven't written about it! I'll try to fill you in in a jiffy with a LIGHTNING ROUND!

The young woman who teaches the exercise class I'm taking looks JUST like Maggie Gyllenhaal. Spitting image, really. She (the teach) has no sense of rhythm, which both cracks me up (she's an aerobics instructor, for goodness sake!) and annoys me (she's an aerobics instructer, sheesh!). She doesn't keep count either on beat with the music she chooses or in a consistent beat. It certainly makes me focus more on what I'm doing!

Mr Handsome and I went to a wine tasing event a couple of nights ago. I learned a bit about white wines (balancing the tart or acidic with the sweet) and aromas. I love learning about wine! It was ok. The other people there were rather serious. I was just there for fun and learning. We did meet a couple, Nancy and Andy, who were very cute. They've been married for over 30 years and Andy isn't really into wine. He was just there to be with her. SWEET! He looked JUST like DeNiro. I kept staring at him! He had the squint, the facial ticks, the nose, just everything! hee hee! I had wine with DeNiro!


This morning, I got up at dawn to go have breakfast with Cinnamon. I've mentioned her before, but I don't think I've ever given our history. We were peons together in Retail Administration for a big bank. Sometimes, we were treated like team partners; other times, like office furniture. She's an inspiring woman, very calm, determined, elegant. Yet, has a sense of adventure and the ridiculous. Complicated. I like her!

So, anyway, it was worth getting up so early. I always enjoy talking with her and we've decided to take a motorcycle safety/driving class together this Spring and had lots to talk about. I'm excited and nervous and REALLY looking forward to it. We met at this little café that I've been meaning to check out, called Red Jet Café. It's in an old library (which was a bank before that), so you KNOW I'm predisposed to liking it! The food (Greek Omelet and coffee) was delicious! Too ginormous, though; I had to take half of it home and the waitress was worried I didn't like it. SWEET! She wanted to make sure I enjoyed myself! I love that. Anyhoo, hanging with Cinnamon was a great way to start the day! Look at her beautiful hair. I need to get a decent flat iron.

Well! I'm gonna go try to get warm, and do some more READING!

laundry

I like to joke that I can read so many books because I neglect household chores. Actually, it's not a joke. I REALLY need to do laundry (and organize the bedroom, geez, what a sty). Today, I'm wearing a sweater that someone gave me years ago. I hardly ever wear it because it's not at all flattering, but I keep it because it was A) a gift, and B) reeeeeeaaaalllly expensive (Peruvian Connection: most of their stuff is absolutely gorgeous. The sweater I'm wearing is dull, boxy, and matronly. Also, too small. Good lord, how ungrateful do I sound?!? It WAS a sweet though, getting me a high-quality, mega-pricey sweater. I just wish I liked it, so I'd wear it, y'know? I am grateful for the thought, though).

NEWS ALERT! There's a squirrel RIGHT outside my window! He's very hungry. He's chewing on the tree bark. awww..... But he's so close I could touch him (if the window were open, but, of course, it's not, because it's 21F degrees out).

...back to our regularly scheduled musings...
I'm also wearing jeans that I pulled out of the laundry pile. I know, "ew." But the jeans I was going to wear, I couldn't get past my hips! How am I getting FATTER?!?!? I swear I wore the now-too-tight jeans last month! I'm hoping I'll get my act together to walk to work today. It's only a 30 minute walk. I don't know why I don't do it every work day. Other than, there's this weird feeling I have about not wanting to be looked at. I don't want people looking at me as they drive by, or as they look out their window. I want to be invisible, drift through their neighborhoods like fog. Ironically, I enjoy looking at people as they walk or jog by my window. huh. Anyway, being looked at makes me so uncomfortable. I get really nervous, anxious. Stupid. This unpleasant feeling is why I very often never leave the house, not even to check the mail, on my days off. Thank god for a job: It gets me out of the house.

So, it's super cold, I'm wearing an ugly, unflattering, too-tight outfit, but hopefully, I'll shrink soon. I'm trying to remember that I AM making an effort. It might not be as gung-ho an effort as some would make, but it is a beginning. I'm tired of beating myself up for being fat and ugly. It's boring.