![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Science Fair fail
Apr. 19th, 2017 02:13 pmAll the experiments use the same description. Just light a match under the peanut, it'll burn, they say.
We cannot get ours to light. Even chopped into smaller and presumably easier to ignite pieces, sitting in a piece of aluminum foil that would presumably keep heat going. Nada. Admittedly, it's outside on a cold and damp day but huh?
We have discarded the matches and moved onto one of those gas powered lighters. If that fails ... I guess the propane torch, but I'm really not sure that won't obliterate the results. We don't want to do it inside the house because apparently burning peanuts smell horrible, but ... that might have to happen.
And did I mention this has to be done by tonight? (I mean, I suppose we *could* try it at the place we're going to on vacation, but they would probably kick us out.)
We cannot get ours to light. Even chopped into smaller and presumably easier to ignite pieces, sitting in a piece of aluminum foil that would presumably keep heat going. Nada. Admittedly, it's outside on a cold and damp day but huh?
We have discarded the matches and moved onto one of those gas powered lighters. If that fails ... I guess the propane torch, but I'm really not sure that won't obliterate the results. We don't want to do it inside the house because apparently burning peanuts smell horrible, but ... that might have to happen.
And did I mention this has to be done by tonight? (I mean, I suppose we *could* try it at the place we're going to on vacation, but they would probably kick us out.)
Wing Luke Museum field trip
Feb. 23rd, 2017 02:13 amToday was the roll-your-own vacation #fieldtrip to the I.D., mostly the Wing Luke Museum but of course also Uwajimaya & Kinokuniya Bookstore.
The Bruce Lee exhibit was awesome, the Internment Camp exhibit was sobering, and there were so many interesting things to look at; I think there is a chance that the desire to learn embroidery that all the amazing textiles elicited might survive? So I need to find my kit.
At the bookstore, we did *not* go home with figurines from O's favorite anime, but it was a near thing. New volumes of One Punch Man we didn't even try to resist. We didn't make it to dumplings; that will have to be next time.
http://ift.tt/2me5TKh
The Bruce Lee exhibit was awesome, the Internment Camp exhibit was sobering, and there were so many interesting things to look at; I think there is a chance that the desire to learn embroidery that all the amazing textiles elicited might survive? So I need to find my kit.
At the bookstore, we did *not* go home with figurines from O's favorite anime, but it was a near thing. New volumes of One Punch Man we didn't even try to resist. We didn't make it to dumplings; that will have to be next time.
http://ift.tt/2me5TKh
friday randoms
Jan. 6th, 2017 11:25 pmToday was root canal day! Woo.
And apparently becuase I am very special, I have an extra root on that tooth, so I get to come back for part 2 in two weeks. Yay.
After a rocky start, the kids seem to have gotten back to handling normal school stuff, though I need to get Dan to say "I have a migraine" instead of just groaning at me the same way he does when he's just sleepy, so I can actually get meds in him in time for him to be able to get to school on time. Getting the kids up for school is my little daily hell, as it takes multiple tries and their bedrooms are on different floors. There are no longer any morning people in our house, but I have to fake it or no one would get up before 10. Dan used to be a morning people. The other three are super solidly night owls. I am an afternoon people.
So I do have a dreamwidth, jeliza, which I guess I get to learn to use since 75% of my friends are moving. There has always been a weird conflict between the account and the openID, though, so I've never really been able to use it for things like commenting. And omona isn't moving, so I won't be leaving LJ altogether. Maybe I'll be the weirdo that cross-posts from LJ *to* DW.
I am now level 25 in Pokemon Go, which means now I get Max Potions -- I should really spend more time battling at gums so I can actually, you know, use potions.
Men at Work's Cargo is still one of the best full albums I own. There are no bad songs, and the good songs are really, really good. I wore out my cassette.
No Restrictions is my favorite song, but I couldn't find anything official to link.
And apparently becuase I am very special, I have an extra root on that tooth, so I get to come back for part 2 in two weeks. Yay.
After a rocky start, the kids seem to have gotten back to handling normal school stuff, though I need to get Dan to say "I have a migraine" instead of just groaning at me the same way he does when he's just sleepy, so I can actually get meds in him in time for him to be able to get to school on time. Getting the kids up for school is my little daily hell, as it takes multiple tries and their bedrooms are on different floors. There are no longer any morning people in our house, but I have to fake it or no one would get up before 10. Dan used to be a morning people. The other three are super solidly night owls. I am an afternoon people.
So I do have a dreamwidth, jeliza, which I guess I get to learn to use since 75% of my friends are moving. There has always been a weird conflict between the account and the openID, though, so I've never really been able to use it for things like commenting. And omona isn't moving, so I won't be leaving LJ altogether. Maybe I'll be the weirdo that cross-posts from LJ *to* DW.
I am now level 25 in Pokemon Go, which means now I get Max Potions -- I should really spend more time battling at gums so I can actually, you know, use potions.
Men at Work's Cargo is still one of the best full albums I own. There are no bad songs, and the good songs are really, really good. I wore out my cassette.
No Restrictions is my favorite song, but I couldn't find anything official to link.
(no subject)
Dec. 22nd, 2016 06:28 pmO just saw my "Black Lives Matter is not a radical statement" hoodie for the first time and was like "of course it isn't" *quizzical look*.
So, hey, doing something right.
Someday I will stop being a little nervous when I wear it in public. I definitely have some work to do on that front. I'll wear stuff repping my own issues (queer stuff, feminist, etc.) no problem, but I worry about f-ing it up with this.
So, hey, doing something right.
Someday I will stop being a little nervous when I wear it in public. I definitely have some work to do on that front. I'll wear stuff repping my own issues (queer stuff, feminist, etc.) no problem, but I worry about f-ing it up with this.
Going to the theatuh
Oct. 30th, 2016 03:20 pmOur educational afternoon: Fahrenheit 451 at the Driftwood Players.
O really liked it, and wants to read the book, so I will be finding/picking up a copy ASAP. D & the friend he brought along (R got sick and couldn't come) seemed not quite as excited, but liked it. Definitely the all noted it was a little challenging to know that so many of the lines were references but knowing almost none of them; I have to admit that I only recognized about half where I could actually put a title to it.
It was a nice, albeit clearly small town theater, production. There is something very special about the physicality of live theater.
O really liked it, and wants to read the book, so I will be finding/picking up a copy ASAP. D & the friend he brought along (R got sick and couldn't come) seemed not quite as excited, but liked it. Definitely the all noted it was a little challenging to know that so many of the lines were references but knowing almost none of them; I have to admit that I only recognized about half where I could actually put a title to it.
It was a nice, albeit clearly small town theater, production. There is something very special about the physicality of live theater.
Birthday Cone
Sep. 21st, 2016 04:47 pmO is not a fan of this being a teen-ager now thing, but is definitely in favor of birthday ice cream. Always a double scoop of pink bubblegum with rainbow sprinkles.
She picked this picture to post, and refused to make anything but Dubious/Grumpy Face.
She picked this picture to post, and refused to make anything but Dubious/Grumpy Face.
First day of school!
Sep. 7th, 2016 09:35 amThey're both in middle school now which blows my mind.
This year's inaugural fashion statements: O is psyched we found a Hatsune Miku backpack without having to order it online from Japan, plus the hoodie we got at the Oregon Vortex, and Dan's favorite thing from back to school shopping is the Pokémon Ghostbusters shirt. We've decided Pikachu is definitely Holtzmann but are debating the others.
This year's inaugural fashion statements: O is psyched we found a Hatsune Miku backpack without having to order it online from Japan, plus the hoodie we got at the Oregon Vortex, and Dan's favorite thing from back to school shopping is the Pokémon Ghostbusters shirt. We've decided Pikachu is definitely Holtzmann but are debating the others.
(no subject)
Feb. 13th, 2016 04:58 pmD got bored and went spelunking in our "library room" which is walls of full bookshelves and, um, not-unpacked boxes of things in the middle instead of the planned comfy chair.
He found Ranma 1/2 (though only volumes 2 and 3) and the Sam and Max video games. (And Dykes to Watch Out For, which he was originally interested in because comics but bounced off after about 2 minutes, understandably.)
I .. am not actually sure how to feel about him reading Ranma. There are so many more underpants jokes than I remembered, though the videos are guiltier of that the manga. But, you know, pandas are cool. And he's been borrowing the stuffed P-Chan Sue gave me on and off for ages.
Definitely the right age for Sam and Max though. We had already been talking a bit about Max in relation to my love of Stitch.
When I went spelunking in my mom's boxes of books in the basement at about 13, I found The Story of O. Which ... I don't think we have the equivalent of?
He found Ranma 1/2 (though only volumes 2 and 3) and the Sam and Max video games. (And Dykes to Watch Out For, which he was originally interested in because comics but bounced off after about 2 minutes, understandably.)
I .. am not actually sure how to feel about him reading Ranma. There are so many more underpants jokes than I remembered, though the videos are guiltier of that the manga. But, you know, pandas are cool. And he's been borrowing the stuffed P-Chan Sue gave me on and off for ages.
Definitely the right age for Sam and Max though. We had already been talking a bit about Max in relation to my love of Stitch.
When I went spelunking in my mom's boxes of books in the basement at about 13, I found The Story of O. Which ... I don't think we have the equivalent of?
Dan is following Olivia around "shooting a documentary" with my phone, and is doing the very anthropological-esque discussions of "native pastimes" in this improbably fruity faux-Brit accent.
I swear I haven't made them watch David Attenborough-narrated anything in years.
I swear I haven't made them watch David Attenborough-narrated anything in years.
I just walked past the bathroom to make sure O was brushing her teeth and she was crouched ON THE COUNTERTOP about to turn the water on.
Wut.
She just grinned at me. And then climbed down only stightly sheepishly.
(She's playing Audrey the shepherdess in As You Like It. Clearly born for comic roles.)
Wut.
She just grinned at me. And then climbed down only stightly sheepishly.
(She's playing Audrey the shepherdess in As You Like It. Clearly born for comic roles.)
(no subject)
Mar. 9th, 2015 10:45 amI wonder how often principals feel like the angels that came to Mary. "Be not afraid! This is not an injury or disciplinary call! I will not burn you with my eyes like flames!"
(D forgot his binder, which had a password in it he hasn't memorized yet. My heart is still beating a little fast, though.)
(D forgot his binder, which had a password in it he hasn't memorized yet. My heart is still beating a little fast, though.)
We managed something vacation-y today, for the last weekday of vacation, and went to the zoo, which really all went quite well and the kids didn't complain when I gently nudged them to go home early since my feet were doing their stupid feet thing (forgot my cane. again. Bless the meerkat/komodo dragon exhibit and its benches.)
Instagram with the flamingos, because LJ's embeds keep failing
I got all my ducks in a row for a Sekrit Project, but it involves writing which is super hard to get myself to sit down to do (my Dad spent years thinking I should be writing the Great American Novel, when I've never written any fiction of any length or quality. Aren't parents adorable?) It's hard to make time for anything that doesn't involve kids, work, or basic self-care, but I do think I would enjoy it and it would be a useful outlet. But... writing. At least it's more portable than all my preferred art mediums.
Instagram with the flamingos, because LJ's embeds keep failing
I got all my ducks in a row for a Sekrit Project, but it involves writing which is super hard to get myself to sit down to do (my Dad spent years thinking I should be writing the Great American Novel, when I've never written any fiction of any length or quality. Aren't parents adorable?) It's hard to make time for anything that doesn't involve kids, work, or basic self-care, but I do think I would enjoy it and it would be a useful outlet. But... writing. At least it's more portable than all my preferred art mediums.
vacation and miscellania
Feb. 17th, 2015 01:13 pmNot mine, the kids. Shoreline School District, in its infininte wisdom, turns President's Day into a week-long Mid-Winter Break. (Seattle only does an extra day off.)
I do not understand why there are so many vacations, and random days off. I don't think there is a month without at least a day of non-holiday based kid day off. Which I can accomodate, albeit stressfully, but has to powerfully suck for parents with "regular" jobs. As it is, while I can make the schedules work (usually by slowing up on work stuff), as I am so hella introverted that even having people in the house who are not even interacting with me can be draining, I really, really, miss the alone time. And it's only Tuesday. Though having the time to just cuddle with the kids for a half-hour, without the schedule demands of school and homework and swim lessons and appointments is nice. Also sleeping in.
S is taking the kids to recreation swim in an hour on his day off. I need to actually turn that 1.5 hour reprieve into productivity, not just collapsing into a semi-nap and reading ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif){kind=small}
omonatheydidnt which I am probably entirely caught up on anyway. (The new 4minute single is stupid good EDM/pop, and I wanna listen to it constantly, and it isn't up for sale in the U.S. yet. Hrmph. Having to refresh youtube instead of just sticking it into a WMP or Spotify playlist is irritating.)
The business has written a spectacular number of large checks in the last three weeks; always forgot in the immediate post-holiday order money-coming-in happy place how much of it is going to go right back out. I am almost tempted to pay book one of my regular advertising sites for a 6 month stint at the slightly higher rate so that then the yearly bill doesn't come in January. Advertising is my second largest expense, right after Cost of Good Sold, which is kind of impressive, but daunting.
Getting back to vacation, it has been suggested I take one. The few days I took at the coast last year were wonderful, even if the year then kicked my feet out from under me and took most of the rested-ness away soon after (and I still haven't even scanned in the film, or looked through the pictures to see if I want to print any/submit to stock. Oi.) Both my SLRs just died, so a photography retreat is probably not called for. I've been looking for an art workshop weekend, but mostly finding things that are too expensive, above my ability level, or too twee. Sometimes I really wish I liked playing with Just Pretty. I am beginning to regard my brain's tendancy to like the things that are hard and odd as a flaw.
I want to give them kevlar hoodies.
Jan. 8th, 2015 10:11 amYesterday the school district entirely shut down becauase a guy with a long gun walked onto Meridian Park Elementary (which houses my kids school), and pointed a gun at an employee and implied that he would be "visiting" all the schools. When they lifted the lockdowns halfway through the day (which let the middle/high school kids go home) we assumed it was because they had caught the guy.
Yeah, no. They don't have a suspect even. I am so incredibly tense right now. They have "increased patrols" at the schools, and it's just so hard to know whether or not to be scared. I also don't know if we should have had a talk with the kids about why school was cancelled. I expect O might lose her shit, but I also think the school staff is a lot more qualified to have that discussion.
I am glad we drive the kids into school, because there were news crews camped on the sidewalk trying for interviews with the families that walk in.
The gun nuts commenting on the news articles (yeah, I shouldn't have read the comments) implying that this was a stunt dreamed up by gun control advocates can go to hell.
Yeah, no. They don't have a suspect even. I am so incredibly tense right now. They have "increased patrols" at the schools, and it's just so hard to know whether or not to be scared. I also don't know if we should have had a talk with the kids about why school was cancelled. I expect O might lose her shit, but I also think the school staff is a lot more qualified to have that discussion.
I am glad we drive the kids into school, because there were news crews camped on the sidewalk trying for interviews with the families that walk in.
The gun nuts commenting on the news articles (yeah, I shouldn't have read the comments) implying that this was a stunt dreamed up by gun control advocates can go to hell.
I dislike winter today
Dec. 1st, 2014 06:30 pmIt is pitch black outside, and really cold outside, and not real warm inside, and I am hella stressed. I want to be curled up in my blankets, about to fall asleep with a mug of strongly spiked cocoa.
Instead, I am drinking weak green tea (okay, it isn't really weak, it's just that since my usual tea is black as tar, it seems weak) and getting the kids ready for swimming lessons.
Woo.
Instead, I am drinking weak green tea (okay, it isn't really weak, it's just that since my usual tea is black as tar, it seems weak) and getting the kids ready for swimming lessons.
Woo.
tech thoughts
Nov. 24th, 2014 12:31 pmI turns out I can, conceivably, afford a laptop that can run photoshop/indesign. (I'd probably still do all color correction on the desktop machine with the old but high-grade monitor); They've come down in price by about half since last year, which is to say, still four figures, but starting with a 1 instead of 2/3. The question then is, will it actually be sufficiently useful to justify it?
Pros:
Can go work places where it is
Cons:
Big chunk out of business budget.
The question then becomes if that would result in sufficiently improved productivity/parenting/health to be worth it.
(Also, the ex-boss/continuing client needs a new PC to somewhat custom/graphics workstation specifications, and it would be super awesome if she could get it from somwhere such that she has access to tech support that isn't me. Suggestions welcome.)
Pros:
Can go work places where it is
- warm
- in the same room as/easier hearing distance to the kids
- possible to work standing up
- out of the house
Cons:
Big chunk out of business budget.
The question then becomes if that would result in sufficiently improved productivity/parenting/health to be worth it.
(Also, the ex-boss/continuing client needs a new PC to somewhat custom/graphics workstation specifications, and it would be super awesome if she could get it from somwhere such that she has access to tech support that isn't me. Suggestions welcome.)
