Month of Softies

Finally--a contribution (barely) on-time and digitally photographed for Loobylu's Month of Softies! The theme this month was "Alice in Wonderland", which was fortunate because I recently finished re-reading the classic.
Since I had a whole plan for January's "Vintage Catwalk" that I did not produce in time, I adapted it to this month's theme: a vintage Cheshire Cat! The fabric was from that big chest of my mom's I mentioned in an earlier post. His legs are attached with old buttons from my grandmother's sewing kit. When I showed BJ the face, he said "You really are bored! It's creepy!"
And, here is a photo of the handbag I made with the same fabric!

Illustration Friday-Sorrow

When I first read this week's theme, my first thought was a bottomless pit. I guess that's my visualization of "sorrow". So, rather than draw a Ring-esque scribble, I became inspired by my Zoloft sticky pad at work. Hey, I actually drew with Photoshop!
Illustration Friday

OMG

Like, oh my God! I was totally watching My Super Sweet Sixteen on MTV and I was, like, totally buggin'. These super-rich girls were walking on the beach, talking about who they were so going to invite to the party. Did you know that people think they are, like, daddy's girls? You know, whatever they want their daddy will get them? And, oh my gosh, lots of people look up to them for that! Seriously!

OK, girls--jealousy is not admiration. And, chances are, those people "looking up to you" are just kissing ass to use you for your cush "amenities". Grow up, get a job, and learn to live independently because you never know when daddy is going to get laid off or indicted by the federal government on tax evasion charges.

PS--Many thanks to you ladies out there for knocking me off my self-deprecating perch. It's sad how comfortable it can get. Tricia--you're right!

Day Off!

Oh, it feels good! As long as I don't think too much about what things on my task list I could be doing if the darn school district hadn't dictated a holiday. Ha ha!

Pretty productive day around the house, tho. I cleaned out my closet--big ordeal, since it's about the size of the bathroom in our old house. Have I ever mentioned how much I hate metal hangers? And I had about 20 of them still in the closet from the dry cleaners. Ugh. Ran up to JoAnn to buy some more stuffing for my Month of Softies project. Of course, I never can get out of JoAnn without spending a small fortune. This time, I came away with several armfuls of silk flowers for this arrangement I've been meaning to complete (pictures to follow later this week), handbag patterns, and the stuffing.
Why the handbag patterns? Well, while at my parents' house last night, I asked my mom if she had any old fabric lying around. My initial plan for the Jan. Softies has morphed into the February "Alice In Wonderland" theme and I wanted some vintage fabric. Turns out, she has this whole TRUNK full--yeah, a trunk, like an old steamer trunk she had in college. Great stuff in there. Anyhow, she showed me this tapestry fabric she'd gotten in 1972 (or so) when "everyone was making tapestry bags", she told me. Hmmm, great idea! I'll make myself a funky summer handbag! And I actually did! Got the pattern home, ate lunch, and got to work. Four hours later, it was done! I'll definitely have to take some photos of this little project.
Ah, days off!

QuizFarm

As if this is news:
You scored as Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Congratulations! You are obsessive-compulsive! You know nothing curbs images of mutilating your mother like a good counting/checking/washing ritual... wait, DID you forget to turn off the stove???

Which mental disorder do you have?
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You scored as Albus Dumbledore. Strong and powerful you admirably defend your world and your charges against those who would seek to harm them. However sometimes you can fail to do what you must because you care too much to cause suffering.

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I will admit--I see myself as more of Hermione, but I suppose I can accept being an old man with stringy hair and glasses (as she pushes her glasses back up her nose).

Unsuccessful

To blog or not to blog . . . is that a question?
Not so long story short, through my participation in Illustration Friday I've had a few communications with a fellow blogger, fellow Katherine about our mutual dogs. Being the nosy, curious blogger that I am, I began reading through past posts on her blog.
My point. I came across this post she did when first starting her blog, discussing the tips and tricks for a successful internet weblog (sorry--I was sick of the word "blog"). In short:

1. Write in short, fragmented sentences.

2. Vent about small trivial things.

3. Use your blog as a soapbox.

4. Have quirky humor.

5. Pictures. You can't go wrong with pictures.

6. Get people to comment. I would add "Comment on other people's blogs".

7. Snarkiness is always a hit.

8. Post recaps of things that happen to you. (See # 1, 2, 4 & 5 to make
recaps.)

9. Link words in your posts to give people visual aids.

10. Post random thoughts.

Fair enough, fair Kitty. But then she goes on to enumerate why she is not the kind of person who might have a successful, popular blog--though she would certainly like one. Here is my commentary, or response. First, I relate to how you feel. While I can be quite verbose, and was probably an English professor in a past life, I do not feel in any way witty or entertaining. I rarely get on my soapbox, and my random thoughts are usually both mundane and fleeting--I don't remember them quick enough to post them. Finally, I can't even get my family to make comments--they can't seem to figure out how--and I know my husband doesn't even read the blog. Am I a successful blogger? No.
However, and here is the second part--I like most reading blogs by people just like me. Nothing earth-shattering, or even particularly witty. Just the everyday happenings of like-minded individuals. I have a headache from work today, and there's someone else out there who did, too. Or maybe they had a great day, and I can feel happy for them. It's just human connection. Are we friends with people who are stand-up comics, or Capitol Hill lobbyists? Not usually. Usually they are "normal" people who have similar experiences and like interests. I guess it boils down to this. Kitty, I like your blog! I like catching up with Little M, BowlingKyler, and Ms Elle.
Uh-oh . . . I think I just stepped down off my soapbox. How did that happen?

IlloFri - Flight

This week's submission to Illustration Friday. The theme this week is "Flight", and I admit I had a hard time coming up with something. But, I was good--I did not look at anyone else's submission. I came up with this concept while listening to (and singing, as I do) Christina Aguilera. There are a couple of songs with the idea of loving yourself and letting your dreams "take flight". The song "Soar" really hit me, and here we are. I intended the wings to look sort of translucent, since they're not actual but imagined. But, the scanner didn't like the light blue pencil, so I darkened it. C'est la vie!

Criminal

I almost forgot! I got my renewed passport back yesterday. The good news is I'm now legal to leave the country and complete my spring break trip. The bad news is I look like a total criminal. Yes, I saw my pictures before I sent it off, but now it's permanent. Ever since the government decided you could no longer smile in your photo, we *all* look like terrorists. Maybe that's the goal. Apparently some people can truly distort their facial features with a smile. Whatever. I wonder what will happen if I smile at the customs agent . . . hmm. ;-)

Valentine's & Belly Dancing

No, not in the same day . . . but they could have been!
I've just finished my first session of belly dancing at the park district. What fun! I must admit, part of what made it fun is that I'm good at it. Those who know me know that I am not one to toot my own horn, but darn it, I can shake it! I also discovered several muscles that I did not know existed, like the ones right below where my thigh joins my hip--you know, where the fat likes to hang out. I'm totally into belly dancing now! I'm actually going to order a real hip scarf with jangly coins on it so I can be noisy when I shake it, because, yes, I signed up for the next session. Ha ha!
In other news, a belated Happy Valentine's Day to all! BJ and I stayed low key--after all, when you're married the anniversary becomes a bigger deal. I greeted him when he came home with his favorite drink--Electric Lemonade--and made dinner. I made this yummy filet with a sauce I found in Taste of Home, plus potatoes au gratin, green beans, and little individual chocolate heart-shaped cakes (also from Taste of Home). That was it. Oh yeah, and we "rented" Resident Evil 2.
OK, I like zombie movies. I like scary movies in general. And, I really liked Resident Evil. But, my friend, Vicki, was right when she said there was way too much shooting. There's really no story; it was just shooting zombies and trying to get out of the city. Oh, and dumb zombie movie decisions like walking through a graveyard, keeping bitten people alive & with you, walking around alone . . . Not my favorite.

Illustration Friday - Year of the Rooster

OK, here's the thing--since my first entry, I've been meaning to continue participating in Illustration Friday but, sadly, have slacked. Oddly, I've even done some drawings that never made it online. But this one did. A word of explanation: I do not profess to be an artist. Really, I like participating because it helps me stretch my brain and do things I'm not entirely comfortable with. Always good for growth. So, rather than get down on my drawings and grumble over them for a week I did the first thing that came to mind, in pencil, and scanned it in before I could hate it too much. That's why the typed explanation about the monkey & rooster--in case the public couldn't figure out my art. :) Phew. Done.

By the way: my Page-A-Day Feng Shui calendar suggests we should all have dinner with our families tonight, and put away all knives and brooms before going to bed in preparation of the New Year. Good advice. Ha ha!

Bad Katie

Whoah--I've let time get away from me. I've had to spend so much time on the computer at work that I really don't want to do it at home. (And thus, I am writing this at work--but it's lunch time, so that's OK) I will also blame my renewed work out schedule. You know: hit the gym right after work for an hour or so, get home hungry and tired, plop in front of the TV, "oh my!" it's time to make dinner, eat, curl up with the husband I haven't seen all day, go to sleep. So, here is a re-cap of what I've been up to since I last blogged:

• Celebrated my mom's birthday--great dinner at Jimmy's Charhouse. Excellent steaks, great shrimp cocktail.
• Celebrated BJ's birthday. Mom made lasagne one night, then on his actual birthday everyone had Chili's at our house. We attempted to plan a family cruise. Looks like we won't be doing that, now.
• Went to see One Man Star Wars at the Apollo in the city. HYSTERICAL! Highly recommend it. This guy was fantastic! Who knew you could do all three movies (Episodes 4, 5, 6) in one hour and it would still be entertaining?
• Met Carrie Fisher! Yeah, day after OMSW. She was speaking at the Behavioral Health Fair at Provena Mercy Center. She's a funny lady, and as a mental health professional, she gave a great talk about her battle with Bipolar Disorder and addiction. A great day both as a Star Wars fan and a psychologist.
• Went to dinner and bowling with my gal pals and their significant others. Fun as always! It's just too bad we can't do it more often.

And that brings us up to now. There's been some boring time in between, but that's about all. I will work on being more attentive to this blog. Ugh!