Tag: postaday2011

micro-impressions of my trip to the east coast
This is Strabo, one of Rich and Tamar’s amazing cats, December 2010.
- My sister, brother-in-law and I cracking up at our stupid groaning sounds we make to each other, like a sort of bizarre tribal call-and-response
- My nephew showing off the deprivation tank he built in his bedroom
- Wondering what that comical squeak toy sound effect was, then realizing it was coming from my own lung (dander issues)
- Marveling at how sharp gusts of wind can turn a lovely, swirly snowstorm into an icy, needly, awful experience
- Two old women discussing the lack of plowed streets in Queens and one of them pronouncing it “utterly ridiculous” in the best accent I’ve ever heard
- Staring up and in to the jazz singer’s mouth (I was sitting that close)
- For some (drunken) reason, doing the step-pause bridal walk in the apartment hallway
- Having a little dance party with Chriggles in his apartment before hitting the snowy streets. And later, him singing while I do something called the “Granny Dance”
- Laughing at the Massholes on the subway referring to it as “South California”
- Putting the first bite of the “sticky toffee pudding” dessert at a restaurant called Beast in Brooklyn and almost feeling tears at the utter deliciousness flooding my mouth
- The momentary soaring of my heart when it looked like I may have missed my flight, so I’d have to stay another day
January 6, 2011
going into the new year with a little flavor

From the Yoo-hoo website:

With all the chugtastic Yoo-hoo to get your hands on, we know you’re a little busy.

I plan on using that as an opening greeting in my emails to all colleagues from this moment forward.

January 5, 2011
seen on various walls in my life

At Government Center in Ventura, CA:

Are you ready for a pandemic?

On a Cadillac in Camarillo, CA:

Don’t let the car fool you, my treasure is in Heaven.

On the donor’s wall at a coffee chain in Port Hueneme, CA:

Dick Hertz

On a wall in the State Building in Boston, MA (many years ago):

SESH

A friend of mine worked in that building and would walk by SESH every day. He finally decided that it stood for Self Eddressed Stamped Henvelope. Every time I see an actual self-addressed stamped envelope, or see the acronym S.A.S.E., I think of SESH and giggle.

January 4, 2011
craftbox: manly embroidered scarf

For Christmas, I made scarves for my brother-in-law Mark and for my friend Rich. I thought that corduroy would be a nice soft-but-manly fabric. That may be true, but it was a bitch to sew. Something about the directionality of the fabric made it really hard to work with. A young man I know works with textiles for a living, and he basically said “duh, it sure is!” Who knew? I was hoping these would be prototypes for some mens’ scarves for my Etsy shop, but nope.

Here is Mark’s scarf. That is the “Om” symbol (Hindu symbol for peace). He looked really cute wearing it, but I neglected to get a picture. Here are more pictures.

For Rich’s embroidery, a squirrel was obvious — he hosts a radio show called Inflatable Squirrel Carcass. The issue was making a squirrel that wasn’t too cute. I led a couple of focus groups with men, who all agreed that there should be no acorn nibbling, nor should the squirrel’s tail be too fluffy. I worked a design of a semi-badass squirrel running up a tree.

My sewing machine (as mentioned before) is in need of some service. Let’s not judge the “slight” imperfections of the finishing job!

Again, I neglected to get a picture, though Rich looked equally fetching in his scarf, if I do say so meself. Now, I’m off to the only sewing machine repair shop in the city, and am bracing myself for the three-week repair delay.

January 3, 2011
little id, hear her roar

On the way back from the east coast, I used the free wifi on the plane (a Christmas present from Virgin and Google) to report:

Surrounded by little kids on this flight. Everyone keeping it together fairly well, except for the 1-year-old behind me who is channeling The Beast. Tell it, tiny Satan!

This was just before the toddler in my row started shrieking in short bursts, which inspired Tiny Satan to shriek as well, causing a call-and-response that definitely will be the Muzak that will accompany my elevator ride to hell.

I was sitting next to the toddler’s older brother, who was fairly well-behaved, except for the inability to honor personal space. He was pretty cute when he realized that, when looking out the window, those weren’t snowballs down there, those were clouds! His dad (on the other side of him, in the aisle seat,) had it good. The mom was across the aisle, dealing with the toddler, who was channeling her intolerance of all the injustice in the world.

The flight, the long long flight, ended. The toddler was shuffled into the seat next to mine while the parents were wrangling the overhead luggage. Physically, she was really cute — blond, cherubic features that masked her dark and evil soul. This transcript was not exaggerated in any way. Imagine the all caps dialog in a gutteral scream:

Me: I like your sparkly shirt. [note: this opener usually works, but not in this case]
Her: Well, I DON’T LIKE YOURS! [pummels my hands and forearms with her fists] What’s your name?
Me: Whoa there. My name is Becky.
Her: I HATE THAT NAME! [grabs her ladybug backpack and swings it at my head]
Me: You’re not supposed to hit, I’ll bet you know that.
Her: Well, I’ll PINCH YOU NOW! [pinches at my hands and arms]
Me: Or pinch. You know it’s wrong.
Her: [screaming] Eeeee! EEEEEEE!
Me: Or scream!
Mother: Ellen! [mouths to me] Sorry.

I waited till I was out of eye- and ear-shot before I started laughing. Meanwhile, they had to rush to get their connecting flight.

January 2, 2011
craftbox: quilt for annie

Happy new year. I am suffering from a megadose of jetlag, and am moving gingerly. I look forward to reporting on my excellent, and snowy, trip to the east coast as soon as my brainfreeze melts.

Now that the holidays are said and done (halleluyay), I can finally show some of the crafts that I made as presents.

So, I made a quilt for my sister. One could say that it’s a tetch overdue, as she made a quilt for me 32 years ago — a quilt that is still fantastic, and which planted the seeds of interest in sewing in me. I have her, and that quilt, to thank for all the sewing I have done over the subsequent decades. Once my life is my own again and my possessions come out of storage, I’ll take pictures of it. But for now, let’s talk about the payback quilt.

I bought some fabrics from IKEA last summer, some unusual bright and bold patterns, and used them as my starting off point. I filled in with other fabrics from my stash and from Jo-Ann Fabrics. Many thanks to Dave and Shana for offering supplies and advice. Shana also helped make the quilt sandwich, a much unfunner task than it sounds.

I was scared of the giantness of the print, and was worried that it would read as too juvenile or too “Target dorm bedding”. However, I persevered, hoping that the quilting and binding process would tone down the screamy quality. It’s tough, I’m sure any crafter could agree — one can go mildly bonkers second-guessing oneself.

I sewed an off-kilter, Japanese-y, improvised quilt pattern of general imperfect lines.

For the binding I used a really cool fabric from Jo-Ann. It’s so cool that I went back and bought the rest of the bolt for my next quilt. After binding I started to feel where this quilt was taking me — incredible how a little strip of fabric can really bring things together.

I washed it a few times to get it soft and crinkly. Annie’s been recuperating from an accident, so I wanted the quilt to come right out of my luggage and cover her up.

Front side. Trying not to trip about the pulling and bagginess of the quilt top. I used two unhappy machines and a new basting process, and had some issues.

Back side. I really liked the patterned fabric for this side, another Jo-Ann find.

I slept under it myself a few times before wrapping it up. Soft and Warm low-loft cotton batting never fails to impress — it makes for such a lightweight-seeming covering, but is really, well, soft and warm.

I intended this quilt (which is about 60″ x 80″) to be a secondary warmth provider — a versatile coverlet to be used for naps or extra cold moments — not as any kind of showpiece. I hope she uses it till it falls apart!

Why look! It’s already part of the family.

The quilt took up 90% of my carryon luggage. When I went through the security line at LAX, the TSA lady remarked on the lightness of the bag. When I mentioned what it was, she said “Oh! You love your sister!” I heartily agreed. And agree.

January 1, 2011
Morning Dew

Yes, friends, it’s a meme. Not only a meme, but one I put together more than a year ago. Hellooo, end of NaBloPoMo!

I don’t know if it’s been obvious but a large number of my posts this month were ones that have been living in the “pending” folder for ages. There were over 50 of them and now that number is much lower. I choose to think of myself as “green” as opposed to “super lazy.”

I have to say there’s some hilarious/tragic synchronicity in this meme, but even if there weren’t I’d post it anyway! Yay!

1. Put your iPod (or other music listening device) on random shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!

IF SOMEONE SAYS “IS THIS OKAY” YOU SAY?
Christmas Eve Can Kill You – Everly Brothers

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
Ring of Fire – Johnny Cash

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Panic in Detroit – David Bowie

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE’S PURPOSE?
Sun Sun Babae – Tito Puente

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
Stroll On – Yardbirds

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Bed is Where – Causey Way

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Oh, Good Grief! – Vince Guaraldi

WHAT IS 2+2?
If You Could See Me Now – Rufus Harley

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Recuperacion – Johannes Amon/Igor Tkachenko

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
England’s Glory – Max Wall

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Disillusion – Badly Drawn Boy

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
All Tomorrow’s Parties – Nico

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Mais Feliz – Bebel Gilberto

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
The Golden Age – Beck

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Ponle La Montura Al Potro – Tito Rodriguez

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Hawaiian Wedding Song – Martin Denny

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Reach for the Sky – Sun

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da – Beatles

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Mister 528 – Ballet Mecanique And Other Works For Player Pianos, Percussion, and Electronics

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
The Smartest Employee – Causey Way

WHAT’S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
Blank Expression – Specials

HOW WILL YOU DIE?
I’m an Idiot – Thee Headcoats

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
Bedside Story – Badly Drawn Boy

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
Jack-Ass – Beck

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
Bossa For Jackie (Dedicated To Mrs. Kennedy) – Fantastic Plastic Machine

WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
Dance this Mess Around – B52s

WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?
Hounds of Love – Futureheads

DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
Beautiful Day – Fantastic Plastic Machine

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
Geiger Counter – Kraftwerk

WHAT HURTS?
1984 – David Bowie

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
Morning Dew – Lulu

November 30, 2010