No Zzzzzzzz

Saturday night my brother introduced me to the wonder that is visual novels.  These are hard to describe but it’s like a cross between a King’s Queste style adventure game and an e-book.  To the point, I found myself staying up to 5am reading.  What’s worse, last night I got absolutely no sleep at all.  (This is the one that kept me up, be careful.)  It’s not the first time I have had to deal with this kind of thing.  I recall when reading one of the Harry Potter books being unable to go to sleep until I find out what happens next and in the next chapter and et cetera, until I looked up noticed the sun was rising.  Don’t even ask about the Septimus Heap series.  What is it about these long epic stories that keeps me sleep deprived?  They’re just too stimulating for me the first time.  Again, it’s that “gotta see what comes next right now” thing.  And the visual novels are worse because most are interactive with alternate endings, so once you finish you want to start again to see what happen if you do this, this, and this.  Maybe I should just stick with Archie comics, they just put me to sleep.  Not because I find them boring, hardly.  They’re just more relaxing.  Yep, nothing like a relaxing book with a soothing cup of chamomile tea.  Sweet dreams.

Photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net.  Check it out, it’s really cool.

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Lemons to Ponder

Every time I buy lemons, most of them go bad before I can use them all up.  I love the way they smell, but I don’t know what to use them for as far as eating them.   I know several non-food uses though not all are things I’d actually do. 

• General cleaning – several recipes are available for homemade cleaner that use lemons.
• Air freshener – just mix juice in water and spray, but be careful what you spray it on.
• Bleach substitute – This is why you watch what you spray, and test on a small area first.
• Hair lightener – I think everyone has heard of this, spray in hair and go outside for natural highlights.  Just don’t forget the sunscreen, lemon juice will make your skin burn easier.
• Exfoliate – Cut a lemon in half and rub it on rough spots, especially elbows and knees.  Something about the acids help to remove dead skin cells.  It’s probably not something you’d want to do too often, and though with sensitive skin should tread cautiously.
• Kill odors – squeeze some lemon juice into your garbage can to keep it from knocking you out. 
• Houseplants – Save the seeds and try you luck at growing them, also try oranges.  They have pretty leaves and are so much fun when you actually get them to sprout.

Now if anyone knows of something to do with lemons as food, please let me know.  Live well and lemony fresh.

Lemon photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net.  Check them out, it’s pretty cool.

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Perfect Kitty Album, Nope!

 

I wanted to get a few good pictures of my cat, Midnight which wasn’t easy because she wouldn’t hold still.  My photography skills are crummy enough without having to shoot a moving target.  See here how she instinctively looks away when I point the camera at her.

 

Here I was super lucky.  Although technically she isn’t looking straight at me, but it's close enough.

 

Here’s about a second later, see it’s instinct, she’s avoiding the camera.

  

So close, but no dice.

 

Here is the blur of her moving away.

  

And again.

 

Look at me will you.

 

Success!  Except, now she’s got that creepy glowing eye thing that makes people scared of cats.  Whatever, she’s fine.

 

Oops, there she goes again.

 

And again, ironically she is moving around so much in order to get my attention.

 

Ah, the easy way to get her to hold still, and she’s looking at me too, or is that glaring?

 

Just let her enjoy her meal.  Bon appétit Midnight.

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A Square Project

Another task on the list complete.  Yay!  On the list this one was purposely left vague.  I find it helps me to think outside the box, or in this case inside it.
Here is my square monster doll.  He’s a cute little who loves to dress up.  I now need to think up a name for him, any ideas?
Now here’s the updated list:

• Ribbon headbands
• Jean waistband cuffs
• Jewelry with crescent moons and stars
• Tote bag with umbrella appliqués
• Something square
• Watermelon shaped oven mitts, maybe with matching accessories
• Cell phone sleeping bag
• Change purse key chains
• Monster plush key chains
• Strawberry pins and magnets
• Painted binder clips
• bottle cap pins
• zipper charms
• butterflies

Two down, Twelve to go.

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A Nifty Idea and an Update

While painting pencils and other stuff I came up with a decent way let the pencils dry without sticking to the table or getting smudged up.
I used an old plastic flower pot turned upside down.  What’s great is that this is one of those pots that usual get tossed out when the plant is put in the ground.  And I didn’t have to do anything to it, it’s like it was designed for this.

I also managed to tackle something on my list with all the painting I did, although it meant I didn’t get much sleep last night.  Check out my new binder clips, and yes I am still hooked on polka dots.  And so here’s the updated list:

• Ribbon headbands
• Jean waistband cuffs
• Jewelry with crescent moons and stars
• Tote bag with umbrella appliqués
• Something square
• Watermelon shaped oven mitts, maybe with matching accessories
• Cell phone sleeping bag
• Change purse key chains
• Monster plush key chains
• Strawberry pins and magnets
• Painted binder clips
• bottle cap pins
• zipper charms
• butterflies

One down, thirteen to go.

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Project List

The following is a list of project ideas I’d like to try next:

• Ribbon headbands
• Jean waistband cuffs
• Jewelry with crescent moons and stars
• Tote bag with umbrella appliqués
• Something square
• Watermelon shaped oven mitts, maybe with matching accessories
• Cell phone sleeping bag
• Change purse key chains
• Monster plush key chains
• Strawberry pins and magnets
• Painted binder clips
• bottle cap pins
• zipper charms
• butterflies

Well, better start cracking at it, but which should I do first?

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