In other news I took the charger back to the store and turns out that they all are made the wrong way. We then stopped at a Target that’s out that way. They had a charger out there for $30, it looked like it would work. I didn’t get it, I’m going to wait until the money from the first store is credit back. But the more I think about it the more I have a problem. If I got the charger, the battery might be charged (that is if it’s not just a dead battery…I still don’t know if that’s the case.) but how will I get the pictures onto my computer. Macs don’t have built in memory card readers, that mean’s that I will still have to either buy the cable or buy a memory reader. I could try buying the cable and hope that it will charge the battery as well, but that means ordering it online. I don’t like buying things online I’ve had bad experiences so far. The other problem would be that I don’t have the software for the camera. If I had a PC I don’t think it would be a big deal but having a MAC…well it’s just better to have the software already.

I’ve come up with three options.

Option 1:

Buy a brand new camera that is the same (or close to) model as the one I have. Make sure that it has the same cable OR has a charger,that works on both,  so I can charge both cameras. I’ll then have two cameras, I can switch the memory cards to load the pics onto my new camera, if the computer doesn’t recognize the old camera.

Option 2:

Buy a camera that has the same battery as the old camera. Again I’ll have two cameras but I can just switch batteries and memory cards.

Option 3:

Buy the pieces I need for the old camera.

Right off the back it would seem like Option 3 is the best, a no brainer. But there’s more to it then just buying the pieces. I would be hoping that I can find the right ones, already know I would have to buy the cable online. THat will take hopefully, two weeks. And what if the cable only let’s you take the pictures off. I might still have to buy a charger. I hope the one at the Target will work but I’m not 100% sure that it will. And I still have the problem of not having the software. Like I said if it was a PC I might be okay. But Macs can be funny about that sort of things. This option could be the cheaper but it could still run me upwards to $70 plus it could take me a while to get all the pieces.

Options 1 and 2 could be rather expensive unless I got one on a good sale. I’ll try on Black Friday. I want one before December which is why I’m not really wanting to wait on piecing it all together.

Right now it’s not which one I can justify because I take tons of pictures with digital camera. And my walls are bare because I haven’t been able to take any lately and I don’t have the original files of my old pictures. The question is which one wold be the smarter/saner option for me. I ran it through my friend and that’s how I came up with the three options. I’ll run it by my sister and see what she says. Anyone else is welcome to give me their advice.

Yeah I know it’s still a week before Thanksgiving but everyone seems to have skipped that holiday I figured why not. I also don’t believe in Santa. Although one year when I was little and we were living with my aunt and uncle because my parents had separated that year. I woke up and some someone dressed in a santa suit sneak out of the apartment. I know now that it was my uncle but hey for a while there I believed.

I’ve never really been the one who had a long list of what I want for Christmas. I’ve always been happy with cash. Honestly I rather have cash than a present to open under the tree. Why? Because I’m kind of hard to shop for…my attention span doesn’t lend it self to anything for long periods of time. If I have cash I can hold on to it until I find something I really want. Like the year before last I saved and saved until I got my Nintendo DS. For Christmas that year I asked for money to buy games for it.

This year I want a stand mixer. When I first moved in I had planned on getting one when I had the extra money, but I talked myself out of it. I thought I wouldn’t do as much baking as I’ve been doing so I just got a hand mixer. It’s been doing well but it’s just as physically taxing doing that as it is hand mixing. Plus some recipes call for a stand mixer, and to make good icing, i.e. buttercream, it’s calls for 10 mins of just plain mixing…no way I’m gonna stand there holding up a mixer for that long. Target has a Kitchen Aid one for $199. I’m hoping that this Black Friday there will be some really good sales on them. And I can pick one up for cheap. We’ll see…if not that I’ve asked my mom, sister, and brother to go in on one. And if need be I’m really to go in on it too. Mainly cause I want a Kitchenaid one, they go up into the $200 bracket.

We’ll see, I’ve still got another major purchase I need to think about…but that’s for the next post.

After throwing some Chicken Frank corndogs into the oven I was kind of depressed because of the lacked of baked chicken happening last night. So I was talking to S.B. and he suggested I baked something. I had finished off the cake a couple of days ago (with help from my friend she likes big slices) so I opted to do some cupcakes this time. I sat there for a while looking at recipes and then I opted for some chocolate cake but I didn’t want chocolate on chocolate. I knew it would be to rich for me. I use to be a hardcore choco-holic but lately as I’ve grown older I’ve noticed I’ve been pulling away from chocolate. It’s sad really. So I came up with these little beauties…Devil Food Cake with Strawberry and Creme icing. Here’s pics XD

The batter was really thick…like it just wanted to stay together and then it didn’t want to stay in the bowl so when I was trying to pour it into the little cups it all wanted to go in as one giant lump.

Straight out of the oven.

After frosting…some I did with the back of a spoon and the others I did with the decorator tip.

Close up of my favorite one and the one I ate first XD

 

The combination of the strawberries and chocolate is always good…these are no exception. They were so yummy. And for a thick batter I thought they would be rather heavy little cakes but they aren’t, they’re very light and fluffy and melt in your mouth. Best part they aren’t overly sweet they’re like the right amount of sweetness. I wonder if it would be the same if I made it as a cake.

I’ve got to find a good combination because in LIS 600 we’re having a party at the end of the semester and I might have to bring in some cupcakes. I have to find the right ones.

 

I don’t think I’ll ever be one of those people who can write in a blog/journal every single day. I just don’t think my life is ever going to be that interesting. So anyway, I did start the NaNo story and promptly fell behind. But that’s okay I’m going to catch up one day…like soon. I promise. It’s just so many things distracting me. And I didn’t plan and so now I’m winging it and that’s not an excuse it’s just facts. I haven’t written in so long that I’m out of practice. So I’m not focusing on getting to 50,000 or even 25,000, I’m just focusing on writing a story. I think the basis of my story is awesome. Granted because I’ve been so wrapped up in Halloween the past month that it’s going to have a tinged of dark side in there. But it’s going to be an awesome story even if it kills me…which it probably will because as of now the plot stinks like no body’s business.

In other news I’m breaking down and going to pay for internet. I know shocking, but since last weekend my hacked connection has been very weak. And I don’t like that, not at all. I live off the internet.

I got an A on my fun project…she was really impressed with my knowledge of cartoons and creating websites. Go me. I’ve got some serious papers due this month, another reason why I need the internet, it’s not convenient to come up to the wireless cafe (these seats hurt my bottom) or ride up to campus. I don’t want to be there all day and then I don’t want to ride the with my friend back…her car is still not cleaned out. Plus her husband always wants to ride there and he doesn’t understand the fact that I’m not there to keep him company. It still wouldn’t be worth having a car over either.

So my mom and brother did come last weekend but we didn’t make it to the Faire, I felt like crap the next morning and then it was rainy and muggy and just plain gross. So we opted not to go. Instead we went out to Cracker Barrell, I hadn’t been there in years, in fact I’ve only been there once and I didn’t like it. But they love it so we went and it was a lot better this time. Still can’t eat a full serving of pancakes anymore but the syrup was so good. We then we shopping, so I could find a winter/fall coat…then I realize I don’t wear coats. So I got a hoodie from the man’s department in Target. It’s so comfy.

I tried one of those new recipes I found on MorningStar Farms site, and it was pretty good. I’m going grocery shopping again today because Harris Teeter is have triple coupon. I hope my friend’s husband has to work…I don’t like going shopping with him. He’s like a spoiled five year old who keeps asking are we done and throws a fit if he can’t get something special. I’m still trying to see what she saw in him other than a chance to have a kid without birthing the sucker. Oh well. Laters!

B.J.

Now that it’s getting colder everyone is so worried about getting sick. I’m worried to, I can’t really afford to get sick. I missed a class earlier this semester to deal with the funeral. I’m not trying to miss any more. Plus I don’t like being sick, I don’t like being sick at all. Now that I’m here by myself I wouldn’t know how to take care of myself. I must admit I’m still a mommy girl. So I’m debating on rather not I want to go get the flu shot. I’ve never gotten the flu shot in my life, well that I can remember. But I’ve never gotten the flu. I get sinus infections on a regular basis, and sometimes those morph into what I call death…but that’s usually once a year if that. Right now I can tell I’m having some allergy problems, but that’s because I went to the faire and didn’t take any pills before hand. I know not smart.

So I’ve got to get some meds to handle that, I’ve got allergy pills but that’s for everyday not for when they are bothering me. Yesterday I told my mom that I had awaken with a headache, and with me that’s a common occurrence. And she was like are you sure it’s not the bird flu, and I was like it’s a headache, not flu like symptoms. Any ways once I got home and ate something it went away.

This morning I got up and cleaned my bedroom and part of the living room. I vacuumed in there at least. I need to really do some picking up  and some straightening in there. I’ll do it tomorrow. One room at a time I’m lazy like this. Good note is that I haven’t seen any spiders lately. I read that if you keep everything clean and dust free they tend to go away. I just have to keep up with the dust thing.

I think I’m 100% sure that I’m changing stories for NaNo, I found some other ideas today while I was cleaning. I think they seemed more interesting. I’m sure all writers have ideas they never work on. I’m gonna go run some errands with a friend then I’ll figure it all out. I will do some school work this week even if it kills me.

Laters!

Wow I can’t believe that it’a  a new year already. I’ve been on wordpress for one whole year, and I’ve not change much since the beginning. Least I don’t think so. I mean there have been some changes since the last entry.

I got a part time job, well more like two part time jobs but I haven’t started one. The first one was for substitute teaching for my counties school. The problem was that not only did you have to pay to go to the orientation but also to have a physical and TB shot. Ofcourse I had to hear about my mom fussing about them not footing the bill, because alone the two aren’t that expensive but for anyone doctor to do both it cost an arm and a leg. Especially if you are in that group of americans who don’t have  health insurance. So I borrowed the money from my sister to pay for the orientation and then my mom was going to pay for the shoot and I found a place to do the physical free. But then she started fussing about how she didn’t have any money after she gave me the money for the shoot, so I was like screw it I’ll pay for it when I have the money. Because the day I was going to go get the shot, I got a call back from a job that I wanted more than the substituting one. Which leads me to the next job, it’s a part time job at my local library. I was so estatic to be back in the library setting. It’s tiring work for someone who hasn’t been working in a while, but it feels so good to be getting back into something to look forward to do everyday.

My computer is gone for semi-good, the powerbox blew and to replace that would be the same as buying a new one. So I have no way to get online from home. I’m using one of the computers from the library now and it’s an hassle to get on one of these. Jen did buy me a Fly pentop computer for christmas, but it does me no good if I can’t hook it up to a computer. Oh well I’m saving to buy a desktop this time. I’ve done the whole laptop thing and it’s just not for me.

Since being back in the library atmosphere I get to be around books all the time which means I have a ready supply of unread books at my disposal. You don’ t want to know how many I’ve read in the last couple of weeks since I’ve started working. I’ve been hardcore looking for series to read. I’ve finally started working through the Harry Potter series. I know I’m all sorts of late for the craze but that was the point. I never jump on the wagon when everyone else is on it. I’m the one person who waits and then jumps and misses it so I have to go it alone and end up lost and confuse and arrive at the destination two years later. I’ve started another one too, Artemis, this one has been out for a while maybe since the ’90’s but it’s a good series. And yes these are both series meant for young adult but I really don’t care. Since His Dark Materials, I’ve really been more open to looking in the young adult section for reading materials. I tried going back to my adult favorites like Elizabeth Lowell and Jayne Ann Krentz, but the last book for both of them were total disappoinment. So I’ve been reading new authors, like Janet Evanovich and  Sherilyn Kenyon, and some that I’ve read before like Jennifer Crusie, Lori Foster (although I read one book and stopped mid book cause it was boring me to depression.) and Carly Phillips. In some ways I’ve sort of kind of not missed not being able to surf the web….sort of…but not really.

I have managed to do some writing since being computer challenged, like finishing the short story that was waying me down since the begining of last year. And doing some research and planning for other stories. I’ve also seen some good movies lately like Eagel Eye, Kung Fu Panda, Hellboy 2 and National Treasure 2. I’ve seen some not so great ones like The Fountain…to complicated for my taste.

Gotta get going…time is almost out.

B.J.

As promised…here’s more of an update.

Graduate School
Everyone can relax I’ve figured out what it is I want to do with my life. Well sort of…I wanna work in a library. Is that really surprising. I didn’t think so. I want to do something with archival and yet something to do with computers. I haven’t really narrowed it down, because I’m not sure what all there is that is encompassed in a Library Science Degree. But at least I know the direction I want to go to. Now I have to work The Job, so I can pay for the GRE which is $130, I know there’s a fee reduction waiver, which would bring the cost down to $70. But I’m not sure if I qualify for it anymore, so I’m just going on with the thing that it cost the full amount. Then pay for the application fee, which is $45. I’m applying to old Alma Matter, they finally got word back that they will be keeping their accreditation as long as they follow through with some initiatives to get more minorities into their program. Which means scholarships, that’s a good thing. I’ve been trying to write my personal statement. So far my life is summing up to one paragraph, I think that’s kind of sad. At this point I’m kind of stuck, I need an opener and I guess I should talk about why I want to pursue such a degree. But that calls for more thinking on my part…booo to that!

Romance Life
So I hesitate to bring this section up, but ehhh why not. So I’m more than sure I’ve started an online thing with someone. I’ve never done such a thing, and in this day and age, it’s not that big of a deal. I think more people are finding love online than in real life situations. In all honesty I would have like it to be in a real life situations, but when you aren’t able to do much doing the day for lack of transportation. Kind put a hindrance on such things. For the purpose of the blog, his name is S.B. A little information on S.B., he’s Asian…and lives in Canada…go fig, right. I didn’t meet him in a chat room or anything, but on something that I wasn’t look to meet someone. It just kind of happened. We started off as friends, and somehow it’s manifested itself into something more. I’m not sure how much to put into the relationship, since you just never know. But as a friend I’m glad to know him. Super nice guy. Where it’s going, I have no idea. I know one thing I’m not buying a plane ticket to go visit him in Canada, anytime soon. But maybe next year, who knows.

Writing
As long as I’ve not really updated here, I’ve not written a thing. Well I started that short story, and I found that I was really writing to please my readers. They wanted it to go longer and longer, and well there wasn’t much of a story to make it a full fledge novel. It was becoming a soap opera. I hate those things, I can’t be an author of one. So I lost interest in it. But I’m gonna end it soon, despite whether or not people want me to .

So that’s all that’s happened in the last five months. Not much but yet so much. Ha! Now I’m off to get ready to go out with a friend. Check ya later.

You know I had a post planned all out but I can’t seem to remember what it was. But in other news here are some pictures of recent projects finished.

The Baby Blanket

And a wallet for my mom:

So the wallet is way bigger than the ones I’ve been doing, and it didn’t come out just like I wanted it too. But nevertheless my mom loved it and as soon as I gave it to her she started switching things over. I bet you can guess the theme I was going for…Neapolitan ice cream. I know the teddy bear fabric is not ice cream related but I put in there for three reasons 1) The colors worked with the brown, pink, and cream I used; 2) I didn’t want to have a solid color for the lining since I was using block colors for the details (plus I did want to piece together the lining like the exterior) and 3) I love the print and it’s a nice surprise when you open it up, you aren’t expecting this whimsical fabric. So I’ll be trying it again but not anytime soon I didn’t have the right kind of fleece which is why it ended up kind of off. On the plus side it’s very squishy!

The baby blanket came out pretty good, I think it’s a bit small but it’s just a decorative/top blanket so my mom said it’s a good size. I have to do some serious writing this week so I wont be doing in sewing. Plus the freelance work is starting to pile up.

 

You know what really bothers me? Is when someone can make assumptions about me and be so wrong. According to my Dad I have no ambitions and no plans for my life. I suck and I’m more than happy to be living with my parents, so his job as my father is to making me very uncomfortable because then I will be motivated to do something with my life. The sad thing is that’s not what bothers me, what bothers me is one he thinks I’m that lame, two he has never in my life asked me what I want to do with my life. How can you make assumptions about a person who you don’t know a damn thing about? Better yet how could have given life to someone, lived with them for 21 out of their 23 years of their life and not know them? But what’s really important how could I not know that I wasn’t that lame? I swear you learn something new everyday, so for those of you planning on being a parent someday. Your job as a parent is to be a total jackass, then your kids will grow up and want to do something with their life. Yeah, logic from a Baptist minister for you.

As you can see, I’m not taking what he said to heart, because one he didn’t say it to my face. And most importantly I know I’m not that lame and I know I have plans and right now I’m experiencing a major set back. Because five years ago a voice told a certain all knowing Baptist minister to quit a well paying job without any kinds of savings or backup plan a live off his wife who at the time had to go and find work, because she had been on disability for two years after being diagnosed with degenerate disc disease. Since that time I’ve given more than half my paycheck to my mom and all my savings that was earmarked to my future so I wouldn’t be where I am today. But then again I’m lame so that doesn’t count, in truth I planned this all out but I don’t make plans cause I’m lame.

In other news, I did do the bag for my mom, but it’s way to small for what it was meant for. So now I have to go and get some more fabric and make a bigger bag. She loved the way the first one came out and wants to carry it for personal reasons.Here’s some pics:

  

After I finished it my mom and I went to Walmart and I tested it out, it’s big enough for me and all my junk I cram into a purse and it held up. We then came home and my dad gave that little speech to my mom. I was kind of pissed because well I’m sure you can guess so I did what I always do when I’m pissed I organized. While we at Walmart I picked up some things for my growing sewing habit.

First a fabric container, yes it’s pink.

Before I had my fabric in piles on the counter:

 

But now they have a home!

Also got a container for my scraps:

A container to hold my tool things

 

But the coolest thing is the container for my buttons, I don’t have a empty shot but here’s some with it full:

 

 

I separated them in the ROY G BIV fashion and the neutrals in the back. Worked out pretty well. After all that I was mighty hungry so I fixed some pb&j tacos and was quite happy once again. I took pics of that too!

Just incase you can’t tell…I finally got some batteries for my camera!

As promised here are the pics from my recent sewing tries. It’s a image heavy post so sorry in advance!

I did myself another wallet, using the black flower fabric and the pink fabric. It turned out better than the one before. Both sides are evenly space, so the cards fit in just right and the dollar bill is amble enough. I didn’t use interfacing on it so it’s still a bit flimsy but I used it this weekend on the shopping trip and it worked fine. Since I rarely carry a purse when I’m not doing serious shopping, it fit right inside my pocket.

A shot with it closed

Opened and empty

and with my Christmasie cards!

After I came from the shopping trip with no new fabric I decided to use more of what I had. So I got the fabric that was originally meant for a dress I was going to make, I did this bag:

I had to make up the pattern because I wanted to see if I could. So I looked at some pictures of other purses and figured out a simple pattern and using some of the techniques from the “large purse” trail I came up with this. I love how it came out. I mean I really love it. The strap is the perfect length and it’s big enough to hold one of my writing tablets. I used some of my new buttons for decorations.

the button closure…I used a pony tail holder to create the loop.

the inside of the bag, don’t you just love that fabric? And I made the pocket, the slot on the left is big enough to hold a card or loose dollar bills, two pen/pencil slots and the slot on the right is big enough to hold other random things.

A detail shot of the back, I did a line of green around the top for decoration then did a “V” in the back to add interest. Here’s a picture to show the size or it, that’s a 9in x 7in notebook:

Then I did a wallet for Jen, cause she asked for one. She said she didn’t care what kind of fabric so I did a funky combination. I’m not sure the colors go…but I like it. I hope she does too…

A shot of it closed, it came out so much better than any of the one’s I’ve done before.

Opened

Dollar bill part, see I told you funky combination. Well you would think I was done but no. Remember how I said I can’t stand failure. Well the “large purse” ended up being a failure. The strap was too long, and one side started coming apart. I didn’t like that it was so long…nor that it did turn out right at the top. So I redid it. But this time I did a different style.

 Before                                                                     After!

I just used the same fabric. I didn’t cut any new pieces, just that for the inside, which is a different fabric. It’s smaller than the first one but it’s so freaking cute in real life. And because I reused the fabric the straps aren’t as long as I would have liked, they are long enough but I like mid-long straps, does that make sense? Here’s a detail shot:

I made the bow and the “ribbon” detail too. I’m going to hand stitch the bow some more just to reinforce it just a bit more.

A shot of it inside, it shuts with Velcro, I did a longer pocket this time. Here’s a shot with stuff in it:

I made slot just for my cell phone and also for my Chapstick. I always misplace my Chapstick…so I made a special spot for it in here. The pen actually fits but since I have it on the counter it’s pushing it up some, and that’s a 5in x 8in notebook, for comparison. They aren’t perfect but I’m so proud of them and that’s what matters right? And that’s it, I have to start on the bag for my mom, either tonight or tomorrow morning, then finish it after my interview. I’m kinda tired, plus I have to do this at the kitchen table, the chair in there is no where near comfortable…my butt is still numb.