Blibber Blabber

No rhyme, no reason

 

10 Things You Don't Know About Women

http://youtube.com/watch?v=_O0Do0idci8

posted by: athenawj at 12:27 | link | comments (1) |

Pogo eating a piece of carrot on the kitchen counter:

Kiwi turned up his nose at the peas and carrots.  Silly little rat.  So far, they've tried these, cheese, croissants, and Nilla wafers (in tiny portions-- I don't want the babies having colon explosions).

They're still the sweetest little things.  When they're up and awake, they come running when anyone approaches the cage, and man do they like to climb the cage's sides.  You can't get too close when they do that, though, because they're like goats and will try to pull your shirt through the bars.  Hee.

Kiwi is the bigger one, and he's a bit more nervous than his more adventurous brother.  They cuddle when they sleep (usually under an old shirt that we put in there), and it's hilarious to watch them wrestle and "box".  I've also seen them wash each other from time to time (I don't know if it's a little-known fact about rats, but they keep themselves very clean).

Out of their food mix, they love sunflower seeds the best, and will dig in every time I give them new food: tucking a few seeds into their mouths and running to wherever they want to eat (they *will* take food from each other, although they're brothers, so we don't have to worry about the total Alpha Male thing).  They get the shell open very quickly, then either toss the shell aside or over their shoulders.

Ollie is still scared of the rats-- he still runs away when we hold one near him.  Salem is slowly getting used to them being here, and no longer looks like he's stalking the cage every time he sees them.  To be on the safe side, though, I bring the cage up front with us when the cats are out for the day, so I don't have to worry about leaving the room just to return to find a rat tail hanging out of Salem's mouth.  I don't think this'll last long, though-- from our weather now, it looks like it might be a pretty cold winter.  I don't think the cats will want to romp outside so much.

Off to say good morning to the babies! :)

 

posted by: athenawj at 09:59 | link | comments (3) |
rats

Mr. Calm and OD are off this evening to drive to Dayton, OH for "Flight Fest".  Although I'm a history buff, I can't imagine anything much more boring, so I'll be staying here with YD.  OD has a film project due this six weeks-- a project in which they have to film an event, so this is actually perfect for her.

You won't be seeing my story "Atomic Runner" online this weekend.  For reasons I won't go into, the editor and I disagreed on the final edits, and we pretty much agreed to withdraw my acceptance.  I just won't be published at any cost, especially when it changes the focus and underlying meaning of the story.

Remember the old friends I talked about last week or so?  If you get Family Circle magazine, you can see them featured in an article about what's great about their town (Salem, MA).  I get it (although I'm not renewing-- it's changed a lot and I don't like it much anymore), and got my copy yesterday.  Very cool to see them there. :)

Off to upload new artwork... and then start work on Thanksgiving and Christmas designs.

posted by: athenawj at 09:36 | link | comments (3) |
writing, family

First off, I've updated my and miss merserene's t.v. blog after a long hiatus.  You can find the link in my links (Two Ladies and Their TVs).

It's been a shitty couple of days, but things are pretty much back to normal.  I've done one piece of artwork and am going to draw the next one tonight.  While I'm shooting for three this week, I may upload after finishing this one.  If you want a sneak peek of the latest one, you-in-the-know can go to my Myspace page and take a gander at my new user picture.

I got a call from Pillsbury last week.  Actually, I got a message that they called (for someone else the first time, I might add-- she later called and apologized).  I didn't call back.  Yes, I was in a mean mood.  Probably ingrateful of me, but the hell with it.

Pretty grateful for the two checks I got yesterday, though.  I'm putting half of it away for our anniversary trip, because damn, Disney's full of pins that I just gotta have, but I'm using the other half for myself, right now.  I want some sneakers.  I want some candles.  I'm trying to decide whether I want wedges or not.  And I may get sweatpants.  Thank goodness sweatpants have changed since when I was a kid.

One of the things OD brought back for us was a tin of Harrod's White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Butter Cookies.  Normally, those would send me running for the hills, because if there are two things I don't like, it's white chocolate, and nut cookies. Man, did my taste buds change once I tasted one of them... and then two... and then three.... I want to duplicate those, since I can't just run down to my local Harrod's and pick up a tin or ten.  Whyohwhy can't Mr. Calm's aunt and uncle live near Gatwick???

Just letting you know what the best cookies on the planet are.

Going to decorate the yard for Halloween today.  And when Salem walks through the yard, it'll look perfect, heh.

posted by: athenawj at 07:03 | link | comments (3) |
art , food

O, Dunkin' Donuts...

I watched John Krasinski (one of my many t.v. boyfriends) from The Office on Conan O'Brien last night.  One of the things he joked about was that he was going to buy a Dunkin Donuts for L.A.  He's from Boston (Newton), and he misses it because the closest one is, "80 miles away".  This isn't the first time he's mentioned it-- the guy's got a hardon for DD.

Man, I so identify with him (except I can't get a hardon).  When we moved here, there were only two DDs in town, and the last one closed three or four years ago.  I LOVE Dunkin' Donuts.  Now, I've found a couple of Mom & Pop places throughout my life that are certainly on par with the chain, but I don't live near them, either (and in fact, one of them, in my hometown, is now a bar or porno place or something).  So, in my life, pretty much nothing's compared.  Entenmann's is okay.  Not even Jolly Pirate Donuts, which has a location in my hometown, measures up.  Certainly not Krispy Kreme.  Ugh.  Not even half as good.

(As an aside, I just remembered the Goodale Orchards up in Ipswich had the best cider donuts on the planet.  I wasn't the only one who came from miles away just for those.  But DD doesn't sell those, so they don't count for this ode.)

My friends and I would pool our meager money and go down to DD to get a couple of donuts.  My favorite has always been the chocolate-creme filled, but those little Munchkins go down just as well.  When I would, ahem, partake of a certain type of smoke, DDs were my munchies of choice.  Since my memory's, ahem, a little impaired, I can't really tell you how many I inhaled, but I'm sure it was quite a few.

When I lived in Salem, I would walk to DD for breakfast.  I'm sure the two miles (there and back) of walking helped keep off those luscious, sugar-dusted calories.  And right before I moved from Salem, a friend took me for one last night in Boston, and the first place she took me was Dunkin Donuts for a Chocolate Coolatta.  Oh. My. GOD.   Yes, God invented that drink. It says it right there in Ephesians.

Since the last closure here, the only time I've gotten my fix is when we've gone to Orlando, out on Int'l Drive.  The last time all four of us were there, I think we all loaded up on specialty drinks and a mammoth box of Munchkins.

O, Dunkin Donuts: come back to Nashville!

posted by: athenawj at 09:35 | link | comments (5) |
food

What would the world be like without Apex Digest?

Apex Digest is in trouble.

This is certainly sad news, and I can't imagine a good magazine like Apex going under.  There's no denying that it's become one of the best venues out there for high quality, enjoyable horror-sci/fi.  If you know any horror-sci/fi fans that might be interested in getting a subscription and helping Apex stay afloat, please forward the above link.

posted by: athenawj at 06:50 | link | comments |
the seriousness of it all

Yesterday was my dad's birthday.  What'd he get for his birthday?  Why, he got to go house/apartment hunting!  You know why?  Eminent domain, baby-- eminent domain.  Marshall University sucks ass. My parents have less than a month-and-a-half to move before their house, along with every other one on the block (and the next block) is torn down to make way for a... sportsplex.  Because that's exactly what Huntington needs.

We almost met up with an old friend of ours from Salem who was in town (only yesterday) for a convention, but at the last minute, an important client showed up and he had to go to dinner with him.  So, I only got to talk with him for a little while by phone.  Would have been terrific to see C.: we taught Sunday school together, his wife and I were deacons together, and we were good friends outside church, too.  Hell, I think he even came over when we went to Canada and fed our rats and cats.

Family is important, but sometimes I wonder just what the hell got into me to leave all the good friends we had.

My husband's best friend's mother may be dying.  She had a heart attack due to having one or both (I forget) legs amputated due to her diabetes, and her liver and kidneys failed.  She has a DNR order.  But M. texted Mr. Calm last night and said she was doing better (she's always been conscious). I don't know what that exactly means... I don't know.

I only met her once, when I was pregnant with OD.  She plied me with tamales and smiled a lot.  This is a big, close Mexican family and they're all there at the hospital.  Of course, Mr. Calm has a long history with them-- they all still get excited when he calls, and she adores him-- and I know this is upsetting to him, though he's very good at hiding his emotions.

Mr. Calm's computer died three days ago, but luckily, he'd backed up everything to my computer on August 30.  Yes, it was his work computer that died, and even more luckily, he only lost a few .pngs.  He didn't even answer the phone while he was fixing it (and thank goodness he knows how to do that).

My story "The Burnie Agent" was rejected.  Probably because of the huge penis that takes center stage during one section. ;)

What's good?  I have beauty in my life.  Autumn and its cool breezes have calmed me down.  And no matter how hard I can be on myself, I have to remember that I am loved.

But with my short and stumpies, how the hell did I produce two kids with such long lashes?  And to think: the little boogers won't even share with me.

posted by: athenawj at 06:44 | link | comments (3) |
family, kids, the seriousness of it all

Subjective

I told my parents to go to my shop and let me know which pieces they liked best.  I didn't mean leave comments, but my dad did, heh.  "not enough red", he said of Forget Not Your Teacup, Mother (which has a small bloodstain in the lower left-hand corner).

It's mainly because of my dad that I started reading horror, so it's not a surprise that he thinks the bloodstain should be bigger. ;)

I struggled with that when I was doing it, though.  My intent is never to be gory, but subtle.

posted by: athenawj at 19:40 | link | comments (2) |
art

I'm here to say: Vegemite is the absolute worst food I have ever tasted in my life. And coming from a picky eater, that's saying a lot.

posted by: athenawj at 20:26 | link | comments |
food

Art Show

We went to the Untitled art show last night over at Werthan Lofts, which is an old converted mill.  Loved it.  Got there about twenty minutes after the show started, and there were plenty of people there already (there was a HUGE turnout for this).  I think there are four floors in the building where the show was held, and each main hall, along with quite a few lofts, were turned into galleries.  Most of the artwork was single pieces from artists, but many of the loft pieces were collections.  I don't know how those artists finagled that, although I'm pretty sure that we toured one actual artist's loft.

I'll tell you what: if I was an urban dweller and didn't need a yard, garden, I'd totally go for one of these places.  Loft ceilings, large windows, terrace on each apartment, beautiful flooring... just gorgeous.  It actually reminded us of the first place we lived in Salem, which was an old converted schoolhouse.  Half our living room had a fifteen-foot ceiling, and our windows were huge.  Very nice, but hell on heating bills.

Anyway, digressing.  There were body-painted models walking around, and free wine and food (I did donate a few bucks to help out, since I had two glasses of wine), and there were four or so lofts on each floor that you could tour.  Almost like the deal was, You can use our building for free, and we'll try to sell condos!  But like I said, gorgeous.  And very RICH.  What a world.  Most folks were dressed like us, nicely but casual, but I got a couple of snobby looks at my flip flops, denim skirt, and nice cotton shirt.  Whatever.  There are always elitists.

We went into one loft that was just filled with art-- terrific, colorful pieces.  Most of it wasn't for sale.  Lots of children's drawings framed and hung.  I'm in the process of hanging some of OD's old art, so I loved that.

The rest of the art?  Most of it was well-priced, from about 2-500 dollars, but of course there were things over $1000.  We saw some copper sculptures that we loved but couldn't have, and my favorite piece, a mixed media print, wasn't even for sale.  My second favorite piece was an acrylic painting of a house in Nashville with lights strung out from the porch.  It almost seemed to be melting.  I think it was about $150.

Yeah... you know, I hesitate to buy art now, especially since I can make my own.  And, um, I have to spend my money to make it.  But it's nice to look at.

Spoke to one of the front door volunteers on my way out, and I'm definitely going to enter a piece in the next show.  $15 entry fee, one night to try to sell my piece, volunteer a little... sounds good.

I'm finishing up my first piece of Dark Fruit today, then heading over to HL to get tan paint... or brown and white if I can't find that.  I'm not showing anything til I have a few pieces.

 

posted by: athenawj at 07:36 | link | comments (2) |
art

A semi-exciting week.  Well, not really.  You literally would have to light firecrackers under our butts to have real excitement around here.

YD had not been looking forward to her first rehearsal for the repertory orchestra. "You wanted me to do it." "It's too hard." "Blahblahteenageangstblah."  After I picked her up, she got into the car and said, "IloveitIloveitIloveit."  HA!  Look who was right?  ME!  A lowly parent!  Imagine that.  I also think it helped that she's second chair (yes, I'm braggin' on my talented kid).

Her school strings class played "Stairway to Heaven".  How fucking cool is that?  I REALLY want to hear that.  They should play that in a performance.

I would totally brag on OD, too (well, she *is* first chair now for clarinets), but she hasn't drawn every day for years.  *I* continued to draw a lot when I was a teenager, but man, did I rebel.  I was going to be a WRITER, dammit!  She draws beautifully... just strange to me to give it up like that, a real talent.  But I guess there are people who have natural talents who lose interest in them.

Um, yeah, like writing? ;)

I was inspired by an article, not Christina Aguilera's song.  I am beautiful.  There are many beautiful things about me, and I won't be swayed by the media or my family or anyone else.  And holy hell, it's worked.  I do feel better about myself.  And that's really saying something, from someone who's felt like the ugly duckling all her life.

You still ain't takin' my picture, though.

I'm behind the times, but the best song on my list right now is "Just Like Me" by DMC featuring Sarah McLachlan.  I can't even begin to say how much it resonated with me.  And for miss merserene: I listened to it fifteen times in a row the other night. :)  I was doing something else, by the way; I wasn't sitting here like a lump (as opposed to other times...).

It is incredibly hard to find satin sealer for acrylic paintings.

I'm writing a magazine this morning to find out the status of my sub.  They've had it for five months, and yeah, that's long enough.

I got "The Office: Season Two" on DVD when it came out on Tuesday.  Trying to savor it, but I think I'm almost done now.  It's fanTAStic!

Mr. Calm and I are going to an art show tonight.  If I like what I see, I'm going to enter a picture of mine in their next show.  The problem will be deciding which one.

Pogo gave me a real kiss last night!  Baby rats are SO adorable. :D

Everyone have a good weekend!!

posted by: athenawj at 07:00 | link | comments (7) |
real blibber blabber

I'm in the middle of decoupaging.  I lurve mixed media.  I can't put my finger on what about it appeals to me so much, but it's high up on my list of styles.

Painting?  Eh, not so much-- doing it myself, that is.  A necessary evil, though, for what I'm doing right now.  I'll never be Beryl Cook, and I'm sure she's happy about that, too.

A nice surprise this morning?  Finding an unused package of paint pens.  Paint pens!  God's gift to those of us who don't paint well.

While I'm at it, thank the photography gods for PhotoShop filters, too.

***

Yesterday, I listened to the radio replay of the Howard Stern show from 9/11/01.  It's amazing, the misinformation and confusion that went on that day.  The utter shock.

I still have my vcr tape from that day.  Never taped over it; something tells me to hang onto it, though I don't watch it. I only put it in because I volunteered in the school library that morning, and when I left, the first plane had just crashed into the WTC and no one on GMA had any idea what was going on.  When I walked over to the school I and a few other parents told the principal and secretary- they hadn't yet heard.  By the time I got home, the towers had fallen and the Pentagon had been hit. 

posted by: athenawj at 08:12 | link | comments (4) |
art , the seriousness of it all

I forgot to say: I saw at the fair that my cake got an Honorable Mention.

Pity ribbon?  Methinks so... but heh, I'll take it. ;)

 

posted by: athenawj at 17:11 | link | comments |
state fair

Twas a good day yesterday.  I like good birthday days.  Got cards from my aunt, Mr. Calm and the girls, YD changed my desktop wallpaper to read "Happy Bday Mom!", got e-cards from miss merserene, miss funnyshoes, Apex, and Mickey Mouse himself (hee), and several writers over at LJ wished me a happy one.  I got money for art supplies so I can finally do a series I've been planning.  When I was driving YD and her friend to the fair, I heard them whispering, and then they broke out into "Happy Birthday to You".  OD had spent the night at a birthday party, so when she, Mr. Calm and her friend met up with us at the fair, she gave me a big hug, which isn't forthcoming so much from a sixteen-year-old, heh.

The inscription in my birthday card from Mr. Calm: "I'm throwing a big party for you this year!  I'll call it a 'fair' and I've invited the entire city! :)"  I love that.

Yes, I got bugged to buy a bunny.  But it was done in jest.

No one argued at dinner, which was the best.  Although I missed my dad, who goes to bed early, and my youngest sister, who's off to Catalina for the weekend, my mom called to wish me a happy birthday, and my middle sister did, too.

The money was a big thing, but it's the little things that add up and make good days great.

posted by: athenawj at 10:13 | link | comments (2) |
family

Pictures from the state fair

My Double Chocolate Cherry Pie. 

Judging my pie and many others:

I won!!!

My Fleischmann's rosette.  I don't know why, but these are my favorites.

Lovely OD models my commemorative gift from Pillsbury, an engraved pie server with a sterling silver handle.

Today we're off to the fair again, this time with a gaggle of kids, two ours, the others not.  My birthday wish (because yes, today I'm 36, although hey, you can call me 29 if you want)?  For everyone to get along, and for no one to ask me if they can take a bunny rabbit home.

And ironically, this cake decorator, who makes such lovely cakes for everyone else in the house, did not get a cake.  Not that my pudgy tummy really needs one anyway, so we can chalk that up to being a good thing. :)

posted by: athenawj at 08:35 | link | comments (6) |
state fair

Results

Out of ten entries, I placed in six.

Computer-generated artwork: honorable mention
Fleischmann's Yeast Competition: Fourth Place
peanut butter cookies: Third Place
herb bread: second place
Photography, black and white, special effects: first place
Pillsbury Pie Crust Championship: First Place

The Fleischmann's and Pillsbury were the national contests.  I got nice big rosettes for both, aprons, certificates, an engraved pie server from Pillsbury, (I think) $25 from Fleischmann's and $200 from Pillsbury.  Pillsbury's the biggest contest at the fair, and I finally conquered it.  It was a Double Chocolate Cherry Pie, by the way.

Oh, and I also get to appear on t.v. again, but unless I absolutely have to, I'm not going to.

Here's the photo I entered:

 

 

 

 

 

 

No, my cake didn't place at ALL.

I'm so fucking glad it's over, and that's the 100% truth.  I already talked to B. about volunteering next year. 

posted by: athenawj at 18:34 | link | comments (4) |
state fair

Fair Day Part One

Yeah, I'll probably blog a couple of times today.  Right now I'm trying to keep busy until one o'clock when OD (who's home for a doctor's appointment) and I go back to find out the judging results.

Got up early to make the biscuits.  They turned out lopsided, but I took them in anyway.
*
My nerves were shot to shit by the time we got to the fair (I enlisted Mr. Calm to help me carry everything), and when we got inside, at five minutes after opening, there was already a long line.  For some reason, the woman in front of me took one look at my cake and said, "I might as well go home right now."  Weird, because she wasn't even entering her cake in my category.

Anyway, nerves: the hen in the henhouse had fallen over, and I had to fix her.  It took my hands several minutes to stop shaking so badly that I could reach in and get her without squishing her.  Yes, I get really nervous, but it's only in my hands and tummy.  Thank goodness I'm not a puker.
*
Was able to calm down by chatting with the aforementioned woman about the untastiness of fondant.
*
When the little old lady asked me if I wanted to leave the cake to be sold at the bake sale, I said, "No, it's inedible."   Heh.
*
B., the bakery chair, remembered me, and loved the cake, knew that the bushes were made from corn flakes.  She let me carry my cake back and arrange it on the table.  The only other cake back there was a small one with a tall Xmas tree and some presents. 
*
Again, they couldn't find one of my entry cards, although I pointed out that it was on my entry forms.  This one was for the Pillsbury contest, which, I might add, I don't think I'll win AGAIN.  25% of the judging is for appearance, and making a pretty looking edge just escapes me.  I mean, it looked pretty BEFORE it went into the oven, but when it came out, it was sort of... spread out...
*
Afterward, I kept saying, "I feel like I've forgotten something."  Turned out I HAD, because Mr. Calm had forgotten to get my recipes from me for the nat'l contests.   Those are absolutely required.  So, we had to go back (halfway home at that point), and I had to yet again stand in line.  Passed the time by chatting with a woman who was entering for the first time (newbie to N'ville), and watching the old buzzard in front of me.  Bah, was she in a bad mood.  Her son must have been forty, and yet she talked to him like he was an ADD-riddled four-year-old.  She was also snippy with the little old lady, whom I don't think understands what a cake dummy is.  She had a wedding cake (which was a competent but boring design--no, I'm not being snotty!), and her cake entry in the same category as mine was hidden in a squishy box.  God help the person she takes her wrath out on if anything got messed up on that cake.

(BTW, she didn't even say thank you when I held the door open for her- hell, I *waited* for her.  BIG pet peeve of mine.)

I didn't see any more cakes, but I know there'll be more.

Okay, off to clean, and I'll post later on whether I place or not.  Gah...  I sort of don't even want to know.  Good thing OD will be with me.

posted by: athenawj at 10:28 | link | comments |
state fair

Minor catastrophes so far:
I was taking my perfect pie crust out of the oven when the pie plate tilted, and out came the crust, landing on one of the oven coils and promptly catching fire.
*
I was grating fresh nutmeg into my pumpkin bread when I accidentally grated the front of my forefinger.  Yes, it bled a lot, but did you know that grated nutmeg is a good coagulant?
*
I'm doing a heart pattern for the top of my pie.  Twice, and I've yet to get it right.  I've forgotten they've been in the oven both times.
*
Despite these ridiculous, avoidable accidents, everything's turned out well (once it's turned out...).  And despite those things, it's turned out to be a lovely day.

My story "Atomic Runner" sold to Electric Spec.  It'll be out September 30.

And YD got into the Nashville Youth Repertory Orchestra. :)

posted by: athenawj at 16:04 | link | comments (4) |
writing, kids, state fair

Da Cake

Since I highly doubt anyone else who reads this blog enters at the TN state fair, and they'd have to stay up day and night to replicate this by eight tomorrow morning, I'll go ahead and post the pix of my cake.  I'm not sure how satisfied I am with it; I had a few snafus yesterday (such as I had to switch from royal icing to coconut at the last minute), and that always gets me down.

One view of my Backyard Cake:

I purposely decorated the sides and borders in white, because the focus of the cake is supposed to be on the top.

Opposite view:

Closeup of kitty and ducks on pond:

The cat and ducks, hat and gloves are a combination of candy clay and gum paste; the grass is tinted coconut, the bushes are corn flake treats (like Rice Krispie treats), and the pond is melted blue cough drops, painted with corn syrup.

Closer look at chicken yard and veggie garden:

Like the kitty and ducks, all the veggies and the chickens are candy clay and gum paste. The hay is shredded wheat.  The hen house is made of butter cookies and edible Legos (the things you find at the candy store!), and yes, they really "lock" together, although I secured them with royal icing.

Everything on the cake's edible, although I'm not so sure how some things would taste, heh. Oh, but the cake itself is not, because it's a styrofoam dummy.  Makes for lighter transport.

Love to hear any thoughts, and think good things for me tomorrow.  I'd love to win a ribbon.

posted by: athenawj at 07:27 | link | comments (3) |
state fair

Meet the newest members of our family!

Kiwi:

Unnamed So Far:

These are two four-week-old handraised fancy rats.  Unnamed (although if he isn't named soon, I'm going to name him Scabbers or Rattigan) is a little friendlier than his brother, but they're both very sweet and totally domesticated.  Unnamed gave me kisses a few minutes ago. :D

BTW, the cats were totally freaked out by them at first, now they're curious (although Salem hissed once).  Our new boys, with the exception of spending the first couple of days out in the living room with us, will be living in the back of the house, away from big bad kitty eyes.

posted by: athenawj at 15:31 | link | comments (5) |
rats

Pototo???

I realized, while responding to a comment, that I spelled potato as pototo in an earlier entry.  I've turned into Dan Quayle's sister.

And apropos of nothing, I'm not covering my cake dummy with fondant.  I don't like fondant and it can't make me use it.  I'm going with royal icing.

posted by: athenawj at 14:10 | link | comments |
real blibber blabber