Defective Typewriter

A couple of too-bright photos

2009-11-08T09:09:00.001-05:00

Before:

After:

Crappy cell phone pictures, but you get the idea.

Shelley, Austen, and Gaskell

2009-11-05T11:51:00.004-05:00

Oh, people. Do you KNOW how difficult I'm finding it to read Frankenstein? It's very slow going. So slow, in fact, that I was less than half way through it when my book club met on Monday to discuss it. I'm not even to the second part yet. I pick it up with every good intention, but find myself distracted by the language/style/whatever. I read a sentence, then have to stop and translate it so I can understand it.

AND?

Austen is written in the same style! I LOOKED!

AND!

Elizabeth Gaskell. I love the movie versions of her novels (Wives & Daughters*, Cranford, and North and South) and would love to pick copies up to read but HOLY CATS, the LANGUAGE!

I'm stressing over this. I love the IDEA of the Shelley, Austen, and Gaskell novels but am not sure I'm cut out to actually READ them.

Please tell me I'm not the only one.

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*OK, I just read the first little bit of Wives & Daughters on gutenberg.org and it probably won't be so bad.

Monday Morning

2009-11-02T09:27:00.002-05:00

Today I am...

2009-10-28T12:27:00.003-04:00

... reading Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. I'm half way through it and have yet to begin to think of this as a horror story. Mostly it's just sad.

... listening to the hum of my computer monitor. I've not turned the radio on today.

... watching Wire In The Blood. Because one episode wasn't enough. I'm hooked on Robson Green and Hermione Norris. But mostly Robson Green. Holy cats, he's gorgeous.

... eating left-over coconut curry chicken.

... drinking water. Lots of it. This evening, I'll be drinking Sam Adams lager.

... making mom's shawl. Knit, knit, knit. It's getting huge and I'm on a roll and I can't wait to start the lace edge.

... waiting for a day off. One in which I don't have to call in sick to get. That'll be November 7. I'm waiting for November 7.

... wondering what I'm going to do with myself for two weeks while S is off sailing on the Atlantic.

... hoping S has a safe trip.

... thinking that stealing this idea from Badger, Blackbird, and Poppy was a grand idea.

The Reading Meme

2009-10-21T15:07:00.004-04:00

Eurolush tagged me for a meme last week. She got it from The Coffee Lady.

This meme is about one of my favorite things: READING. Here goes:

1.Most memorable place/experience reading a book?

One of my most memorable reading experiences was over the summer between 4th and 5th grade. I remember wearing my awesome lime green bikini, laying in a chase lounge in my front yard totally under the spell of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. My brain was like Augustus Gloop, sucked up into the chocolate machine and jamming all the works -- I wouldn't get anything accomplished until I got that book finished.

I was, in fact, so involved in the novel that when my 4th grade teacher, who just so happened to be a neighbor of ours, rode up our gravel driveway on his bicycle I didn't hear him. When he spoke to me, I about crapped in my awesome lime green bikini.

I remember being so excited for Charlie. I also remember, when I had finished it, going into my house, looking at my mom while holding up my just-read copy and saying, "can we go to the library tomorrow so I can get another book? Because this was fun."

I wasn't a huge reader prior to that summer. But once I discovered how much fun books were? Nothing could hold me back.

2. Most unusual place/experience reading a book?

Hm. Tough one. I would have to say it was the time when I helped move a 41-foot sailboat from Detroit to Port Huron. At one point on Lake St. Clair, we were under sail, and I was reading. But what can I say? When you’re in the middle of a big lake, even when sailing, there’s not much to do. So I read.

3. Most dangerous place/experience reading a book?

Sitting on the edge of Mooney Falls, Havasu Canyon, Arizona. I’m not actually reading in this picture, I’m taking a picture of S who is taking a picture of me. But see where those three guys are standing? I was sitting there and got about a page in before I said, self, it’s too pretty here to be doing such a singular activity. So I put the book down.

Clicky to make it biggie. You should see more details.

4. Most luxurious place/experience reading a book?

· In bed, every evening before turning out the light.

· On the front porch swing of our B&B on Mackinac Island.

· In the hammock in S’s back yard.

5. Funniest place/experience reading a book? Or, add a reading-place/experience description of your own...

I’ve read in waiting rooms, at the Secretary of State, and while treating myself to lunch. I’ve read on the bus, as a passenger in a car, on our cross-country (U.S.) train trip, and on the Chunnel Train from Paris to London. I’ve read while sitting in traffic jams, on my couch, and on my front porch. When I’m on a reading binge, I carry a book with me at all times. When I’m not on a binge, I tend to think about books I’ve already read.

Sometimes I decide to read them again.

I'm tagging the Hotfessional, LouCeeL, LeahBear, and anyone else who wants to play along. Just copy and paste folks!

PS-Coffee Lady's esteemed colleague and blog friend, Bean Photo, is collecting these reading experiences. If you decide to do this meme, please email him when you have published: mail@beanphoto.co.uk.

Thanks!

Walk

2009-10-16T13:49:00.003-04:00

Robert & Helen own/operate the Buckle Yeat Guest House (in the village of Near Sawry where Beatrix Potter wrote her stories).

Between checking guests in and out and running their guesthouse, they often go for walks.

Today's walk is the kind of walk I want to take.

See their pictures here, here, and here.

In my dreams, I'm off to the Lake District.

'Shake it off' isn't working.

2009-10-15T13:49:00.004-04:00

What do you do...

when you can't shake the don't-give-a-damn mood?
when you want to sit on your couch and do NOTHING?
when every. little. thing. that goes wrong send you into fits of anger?
when the urge to tell the world to fuck off and leave me alone is really strong?

WHAT THE HELL DO YOU DO?

Discuss.

On sneezing, furnaces, and books

2009-10-12T13:58:00.005-04:00

I've done nothing but sneeze all day.
This is what I get for not turning my heat on yet.
Speaking of heat.
I broke down and tried to turn it on last night.
Friggin' thing wouldn't start.
So I've got a service call in.
$130 for them to come look at the beast of a furnace.
I'm hoping it's an easy fix,
that the owner of the company takes pity on my pocketbook,
and that tonight I have heat.
Because our predicted low for tonight is 38.
Cripes.
So.
To combat the sneezes, I'm drinking Pomegranate Green Tea.
I despise green tea.
So I added a bit of blue agave sweetener to it.
Not sure I like the tea.
Or the sweetener.
Tastes like artificial sweetener to me.
But then, I may have added to much this time.
I'll give it another shot before I decide for sure.
Damn heater.
My copy of Frankenstein has arrived.
I tried to start it last night.
Got about a sentence in and nodded right off.
At least I don't have much to re-read.
Also?
The Jane Austen novels started arriving this weekend.
I've received Mansfield Park, Persuasion, and Emma.
The other three are en route.
I love paperbackswap.com
But I'm down to only two credits!
(I need to list more books.)
(Stat!)
Happy Monday.

Tied to my land line - should I break free?

2009-10-07T15:45:00.003-04:00

It seems more and more I'm hearing people say they don't have a home phone any more - they've switched to cell phone usage exclusively.

I can see the benefit of this, truly I can. No long distance charges, only one number to keep track of, and for me, it works out to be a bit cheaper each month to upgrade my cell plan and ditch the home phone service.

My concern is this: if I drop my home phone, will the phone company mess with my DSL service? I have this *probably* irrational fear that my DSL quality will drop if I drop my phone service. Have any of you been through the process of dropping home phones but keeping DSL? If so, what was your experience? (By the way, I don't have cable or satellite so getting internet through a TV provider is not an option I choose to explore.)

My phone company charges me more for DSL without a home phone. But even with the upgraded cell plan and more costly DSL service, I still come out ahead in the end money wise. But what about service wise?

What's a girl to do?

Reading

2009-10-06T11:12:00.002-04:00

I'm making a lot of progress towards my 30 Books in 2009 goal. Only two more books to go and not a single Jane Austen has been read yet! I am bitterly disappointed in myself. How in the world do I keep not reading her books? You know what? As soon as I hit "publish" I'm going to go order all six of her books. That way I'll have no excuse - the books will be right there, within reach.

I joined a book club. Frankenstein is our first book. Thrilling!

A knitting post without pictures

2009-10-05T11:15:00.005-04:00

I've not made a lot of progress on my mom's shawl. Holy schnikes, people. You really have to like the knit stitch in order to tackle this shawl. As a new-just-this-summer knitter, I'm still painfully slow - even with a shawl that is all knit stitch. Also? It doesn't help that I'm working with the tiniest needles ever. I want to make myself one of these shawls but, damn it, I'm going to at least triple the needle size when I do.

In order to break up the monotony of the shawl, I knit myself a scarf. Again, all in knit stitch. But! This one was knit in a 5-row sequence: knit rows 1-3; row 4, k2, wrap yard 3 times around right needle*, repeat to end of row; row 5, knit all, dropping the wrapped yarn. This is the pattern I used as a guideline. I CO 26 stitches, though, and used size 7 needles. Took one skein of this yarn an acrylic/wool blend which is perfect for autumn - even though the acrylic content is high.

Can I just go off on a tangent here about yarn? And how I think I'm turning into a yarn snob? I refuse to buy 100% acrylic yarns. I think *most* of them feel horrible. I'm always surprised when I pick up a skein of soft, fluffy yarn, only to read that it is 100% acrylic. I'm amazed at how nice it feels. But I always put it back. WHY? What is my aversion to acrylic yarn? It's usually cheaper than natural fibers, for sure. It may have something to do with all those acrylic sweaters I had when I was a school girl that would pill up like crazy. Also, they didn't breathe at all. Nor did they wick moisture. Get over-heated once and you'd be walking around damp all day. It was just gross.

Last evening, I cast on 100% wool to make a felted bowl. I'm learning how to knit in the round on four double-point needles.

So. That's it. My knitting post without pictures.

Three months late: My blog award appreciation fail.

2009-09-29T14:15:00.009-04:00

Way back on June 25 (!!!), Ree the Hotfessional gave me an award! I remember I commented saying thanks but I never did anything with it! Yeah, I totally fail.

Am I a sucky blogger or what?

Don't answer that.

Without further ado, here's my first-ever bloggy award:

"This award is given to the writers of blogs that “are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.”

In keeping with the spirit of this award and in no particular order, I pass the bloggy love on to:

Eurolush - Adventures In Germany
Eleanor - eleanor from the commentbox
Heather - Confessions of a Coal Miner's Granddaughter
Shannon - Welcome to The Nut House!
Red Hamster - In The Wheel
Wendy - Martha MacGyver
Penny - Miss Night Owl
Mrs. Coffee - The Coffee Lady

These are a few of my favorite blogs. They are all, in turn, funny, sweet, sensible, bubbly, charming, crafty, generous, a touch sarcastic, and very, very readable.

Thank you, Ree, for giving me my first bloggy award! If anyone chooses to bestow another upon me, I'll try not to let three months pass before I pass the bloggy love along.

Live birthday blogging from Mom & Dad's

2009-09-26T14:41:00.004-04:00

S and I brought the old camper out to my Mom & Dad's last evening for a night of camping and S'mores. (And wine - of which I was the only one who partook). Mom sat out with us until almost 11. Dad came out and stayed until 11:30 or so. We had a great time.

So here I sit at my parent's house, on my 37th birthday, after a morning of church rummage sales, yard sales, and a fantastic brunch. My mom is sitting across the table from me, muttering to herself about her crazy computer not liking it when she puts a black ten on a black jack. Every once in a while, she tosses in a well isn't that a bummer and proceeds to tell me what she has that should play but can't because, basically, the computer won't let her cheat.

My dad is firmly ensconced in his Laz-Z-Boy knock-off, watching the TV. He's muttering about how U of M coaching hasn't been the same since Bo retired and how the whole football program is going to hell in a hand-basket. Especially since they're currently losing to Indiana (Go Hoosiers! I tend to root for whoever is playing Michigan. U of M fans drive me frakin' nuts.) He's also talking to his dog. Maybe he's telling the dog about U of M football. Either way, he's covered from toes to chin in his maroon fuzzy blanket. I wish I had a camera.

About an hour ago, mom beat me three games in a row in Rummikub. I'm going to demand my re-match now.

I'm having a great birthday.

On fires and magic and sneaks

2009-09-23T23:02:00.004-04:00

This building is within three blocks of my house. I drive past it every day. It burned last night and I slept through all the noise. I am sorry to see it go. The Thompson block was built in 1861 and was used as a Civil War barracks. I had hoped the renovations that were underway would help revitalize that corner of my crazy, wonderful little city.

On a happier note...

The Wizard of Oz is magic. Pure magic. I sat there in that theater tonight and grinned through the whole movie. Poor S. I must've elbowed him a dozen times to make sure he was paying attention to scenes that I absolutely love.

On another happy note...

Saturday is my birthday. It's also the day of the sneak preview of Whip It! We bought our tickets for it when we were at the theater this evening. It's going to be fun to spot all the Ypsilanti locations in it that are supposed to be Texas.

In which I try to capture a little magic

2009-09-16T15:42:00.004-04:00

Bossy posted today about The Wizard of Oz. It appears that the movie is coming to theaters for one night (Wednesday, September 23) to be shown in hi-def. This is where I admit that I'm not sure I know what hi-def means when it comes to seeing movies in theaters - is it digital? Or is there some special hi-def reel-to-reel film that I don't know about?

No matter.

I totally bought tickets. I'm really looking forward to seeing TWOO all shiny and clean and bright.

I've never seen the movie in a theater, and I don't think I've ever seen it without commercial interruption (was it ever broadcast commercial free?). I remember watching it on TV every year and thinking it was magic. How did they switch to color like that? How did Glenda float like that? Golly, her pink dress sure is sparkly. The horses that changed color? Miraculous!

I thought the Scarecrow really was made of straw. No person could be all bendy like that.

What about you? You going?

The Weekend In Pictures.

2009-09-14T16:53:00.007-04:00

9/11/09 -- Friday Night --Flat tire at the Model T plant on Piquette & Brush in Detroit.

9/12 -- Saturday -- Old Car Festival. S finally bit the bullet and bought him some knickers. He was photographed more than the car.

9/12 -- Saturday evening -- Port Huron to Mackinac awards banquet at the yacht club.

9/13 -- Sunday -- Another day at Old Car Festival. Was fun! And gorgeous outside!

These are the cars that were being judged. (S's car has a 40 year old restoration so he doesn't have it judged.)

Conducting music or traffic?

Big-wheels! Everywhere we looked, big wheels! (Info about them here.)

This guy reminds me of Rich Uncle Pennybags from Monopoly.

My Denimless Summer: A Success Story

2009-09-08T10:21:00.003-04:00

I did it.

I went denimless all summer, where all summer = Memorial Day Weekend in May to Labor Day Weekend in September.

I wore jeans yesterday and while I had missed the look of them, I can't say the experience was any different from wearing any other pair of pants.

My addiction to denim has been broken. They are no longer my crutch, my style, nor are they my default go-to clothing item. I'm not giving them up completely but from here on out, my closet will no longer contain ONLY blue jeans.

Success!

60 second blog post, redux

2009-09-07T09:47:00.003-04:00

60-second blog post

2009-09-05T09:27:00.003-04:00

I'm sitting in a McDonald's in Kalkaska, MI (look it up - no time to link).

S is on day 3 of the DALMAC bicycle tour. Today is a 90 mile day for him.

I get to come to McDonald's and pay $3 for a decent internet connection.

And hit ever yard sale I can find.

Yesterday was the Amish Quilt Auction & Flea Market. I bought only three things. Not including lunch.

Marth MacGuyver (Again, no time to link -- sorry Wendy!) would be proud of my thrifting skillz. No wasted efforts on my part. I'm honing my "holy cats, that is JUNK" eye and avoided the stalls that only had crappe from someone's basement.

That is all. I must go kill, yet again, the stuffed raccoon that is sitting on top of the ice machine. The thing has been staring at me for an hour and I AM THOROUGHLY CREEPED OUT.

Corn fritters & canned tomatoes

2009-08-31T00:06:00.003-04:00

Friday night, S and I went to the cottage. The first time I've been there in almost a month. It was so relaxing. I made corn fritters. (Recipe found on Duyvken's blog here.) S kept remarking on how sweet the fritters were. I used no sugar, just wonderful Michigan sweet corn. They were yummy and will have to be made again soon.

Saturday, I canned tomatoes. I got 10 quarts of chunky tomatoes for S, and 4 quarts + 16 pints of tomato juice for me (which I plan to use in chili).

Sunday I worked 7 hours, then came home and canned 1 quart + 6 pints of Bloody Mary mix! I'm going to test one of the jars within the next couple of weeks. My plan is to give them as gifts - along with a small bottle of vodka and a jar of pickles (even though I prefer celery in my Bloody Marys - but pickles are more convenient to give since I'm not canning them). So here's hoping that the mix turns out well!

It's a Heavenly Day.

2009-08-28T10:35:00.002-04:00

Enjoy.

A funny Basset Boy Bart story

2009-08-25T14:20:00.004-04:00

Yesterday morning, I got up at super early because those pesky dogs wanted breakfast.

So I dumped some kibble into their bowls and trooped off back to bed for a little more shut-eye.

At some point, Bart woke me up because he was licking. Something. He was licking something. Licking, licking, licking, oh my god!, the LICKING. I grumbled, I scolded, I screeched "BART! Stop licking!"

Eventually he quit. Rather, he quit licking loud enough for me to hear him.

Which is saying something because as much as I ♥ dogs, I can't stand to hear a dog lick.

ANYWAY.

Bart.

He decided to cuddle with me at some point.

So when I finally peeled my eyes open, I became the big spoon to Bart's little spoon.

He looked up at me with his big brown Basset Hound eyes and implored me, "PLEASE! Get the kibble out of my nose!"

He truly tried to inhale his breakfast.

No wonder he was lickingLICKINGlicking yesterday morning.

And I can add "Basset Hound Nose Picker" to my dog-sitting resumé.

Lucky me.

A rant that has been brewing for awhile.

2009-08-19T13:33:00.008-04:00

S and I have been dating for over three years now.

We're asked all the time, "When are you going to get married?"

The answer is, "more than likely, never."

This never fails to astound people.

A couple of weeks ago a friend of S's asked me 'the question' and in the process not-so-subtly implied I'm delusional if I think S is going to ask me. (I had a hard time not losing my shit on this person.)

S is very vocal in his views on marriage - his friends all know his views:

He has no plans to ever get married.

He was upfront about this when we started dating.

I knew what I was getting myself into.

Do they think I'm not able to understand what S means when he says "I'm not going to get married"?

What people fail to understand...

what they fail to take into consideration...

what they can't wrap their minds around...

is that I don't want to get married.

WHY do they give me that you're-crazy!-what-woman-doesn't-want-to-get-married look? For fuck's sake that look pisses me off. I am not defective just because I don't want to get married.

People, I've been there. I've done it. It wasn't the best experience of my life and it wasn't the worst. But I don't want to do it again.

See, here's the thing...

I LIKE being single. I LIKE having my own house and my privacy and the freedom to do what I want, when I want because it's only me I've got to look out for. I like letting the dishes stack up and falling asleep on the couch and leaving books everywhere. It's my life and I'm tired of people making me feel inferior because I don't want to get married. DEAL WITH IT PEOPLE. This is your issue - not mine.

What S and I have? It's perfect for us. It works for us.

So stop asking us when we're getting married.

Because we're not.

(A word of advice - if you're one of those people who asks couples who have been dating a long time when they're getting married? For the love of God, STOP. It's not cute and it's not funny. It's an uncomfortable question to be asked, it's an uncomfortable question to answer -- because more than likely we can't tell you to take a flying leap -- and it's really none of your business anyway.)

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Now, just because I don't want to get married doesn't mean I can't appreciate the symbolism of the day. Check out what this bride did.

Comfy Couch for Russ

2009-08-16T16:44:00.001-04:00

We were out in the yard and S was playing with the dogs. He paused to take a break and with no prompting whatsoever, Russ decided to have a seat.

Who has time to blog?

2009-08-05T11:24:00.008-04:00

Not me, apparently.

So far I've had a very busy and most excellent summer. Which leaves no time for Defective Typewriter!

I've had a fabulous vacation to Mackinac Island, made especially nice this year because S and the rest of his sailing team took FIRST PLACE in their division of the Port Huron to Mackinac yacht race. So aside from some quality alone time on an idyllic island, I got to hang with some pretty happy sailors.

I've learned how to knit! And I'm knitting up a storm. I've progressed from kitchen items to shawls. I'm making my mom a shawl for her to take to church with her. (See the pattern here.) The body of the shawl garter stitch (knit every row) so you'd think it would go pretty fast, right? Wrong. See, the whole "new knitter" thing is working against me as I have to go slow to keep my stitch tension even. At one point, I had to rip out a dozen rows and reknit them because they looked awful. But, the more I knit, the easier it is. I've got the continental knitting style down-pat, let me tell you. (I took a 'learn to knit' class at Joann's at the beginning of June which was invaluable for learning knitting basics. The teacher taught us the 'throwing' method which, in my opinion, is super inefficient. While searching the interwebs for videos on how do different stitches, I hit upon this video which is what I used to learn the continental method. An interesting article discussing the merits of both methods is here.)

So here's the shawl in progress:

S think it looks like a loin cloth.

I've got about 11 1/2 inches done on each side. The shawl is supposed to be 40" on the sides and 60" across the top. I figure I'll get it done sometime in 2011.

The yarn is wonderfully yummy: Moda Dea Bamboo Wool. It's 50% rayon from bamboo and 50% wool. It's scrumptious and I love knitting with it.

Enough about knitting.

Bart is here! I've had him for a week and I am enjoying him so very much. Pictures from last Thursday evening:

Been working a lot at my part-time job, too. It's a blessing and a curse, I tell you. Blessing because, let's face it, having that extra bit of cash is nice and it's a curse because it's summer! And who has time to work a second job? Me, apparently.

Which is why I have no time to blog!