The Box O' Truth #5 - The Locks O' Truth

Kinda like mythbusters on a smaller scale. Involving guns. And bullets. And padlocks.

Fun stuff. Stupid movie cliches.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Had just another classic dinner at my aunt and uncle's house. Only two things worth noting.

The first was the the little table treats my aunt had placed at each place setting. Just some Hershey chocolates, but one was Cherry Kisses. It had a syrupy cherry center that just melted in your mouth. Wonderful. Apparently a limited edition. I think I'm going to need to do some hunting.

The second - I had gotten up to go from the living room to the kitchen, which means walking through the front foyer (it's a rather open house plan). I had just put a piece of homemade fudge in my mouth, so was pretty mellow when I saw the front door open and someone start to come in. I assumed it was my uncle who couldn't make it to the dinner, til I saw that it was an older black man with a beard, a heavy overcoat, and a driving cap. He looked at me, looked over at the dining table where everyone was sitting and chatting, said "Ooops!" and quickly shut the door. I continued back to the kitchen, wondering vaguely if I should say anything or just let the poor man hide his embarassment. A few seconds later my aunt realizes that the door had opened and closed and no one had left, and started trying to get a bunch of well fed, settled down in overstuffed leather sofa men to go investigate.

I'm not sure that I ever got anyone to understand that I had seen what had happened - someone had the wrong house or too many drinks. (wrong house is easy to do in her neighborhood, the houses are numbered funny and they all look alike!)

I'm also not sure why I reacted the way I did. Or didn't. I guess I figured nothing bad happened or even looked like it would happen, and why get everyone else upset (because they would) when it was just simpler to let everything slide. It was so very noisy with all the women chatting around the dining table and all the guys watching tv (loudly) in a house with high ceilings and an echo.

So happy Thanksgiving to everyone and that guy. I hope you found your family!

I did NOT just see snow in the forecast. and on the weather map. No. It was not there.

No snow. move along.

What's the deal with the cost of bedsheets these days? And the quality? and even the size? I've been vaguely looking for new sheets, but get turned off by the $75+ prices for several simple yards of fabric. If I ignore the price and examine closer, I discover the fabric is very harsh and of poor quality, or that they don't have my size. Everybody needs sheets, right? Are they sleeping on harsh, scratchy ones or paying a lot of money? No wonder everybody's cranky.

I've spent money on eBay again. Sort of. In a long, complicated deal, this is now my Christmas present from Mom.
This is the first artisan doll I've purchased. She was dressed and wigged by Barb Rogers, using a Parker Levi elf mold that was painted by Lucy Winsky. Barb also hand sculpted the base out of clay. I'm in Absolute awe of her talent. It's . . . inspiring.

She's screaming for companions. I have a lot of porcelain doll parts, and among them is another Parker Levi elf, with a different paint job. There's also a non-elf doll with a beautiful painted face that I think will work as well.

Sometimes I hate my phases of interest. They shift! It was furniture and decorating for a long time, now it's moving back to clothing.

QuizFarm.com :: Which Action Hero Would You Be? v. 2.0

Well?

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You scored as Lara Croft. A thrill-seeking, slightly unscrupulous, tough-as-nails archaeologist, Lara Croft travels the world in search of ancient relics perhaps better left hidden. She packs two Colt .45s and has no fear of jumping off buildings, exploring creepy tombs, or taking on evil meglomaniacs bent on world domination.

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Congrats to Paul and Bethany!

I have one word for you - elope!!

Spend that 20k on a house. Or a car. Or a really nice home theater system. Don't cave in to the media and magazines that insist you have to have a huge expensive wedding - they're just trying to sell you everything!

Oops. I ranted.

Congrats again!

shinji2a1st.wmv - 2005 World YoYo Contest - 2a division

Apparently the 1st place winner? This was most impressive. For being a yoyoer. With a funky haircut and clothes that don't fit.

I need a talent like this.

PocketMod: The Free Disposable Personal Organizer

Perfect! Exactly what I was looking for. My Christmas shopping will be over in a snap.

Um . . . did I actually post a link to an AOL site yesterday? That does it, there's definitely something wrong with my brain.

I think I know what it is. Smells. I can't get away from them this week. Yesterday was the very kind lady who brought me a Nutcracker and tickets. Her perfume arrived before she did and was still there when I left hours later. I was rather dazed by that point and ended up walking around the library hoping I could focus before I tried driving.

Today, there are apparently workmen replacing the hot water heater in the basement. Naturally, I'm down here editing. Do you know what solder smells like? Just an awful metallic burning odor. I have two fans running and a drafty window - why is the smell still here??

You're the News Editor

I went to AOL's web site to see if I could find more information about their press release regarding tv show downloads. Nothing obvious, but somehow I stumbled across this blog. I thought the linked news stories were interesting.

Dictionary.com/occasion

Two c's, one s.
Occasion. Occasion, Occasion.

One day I'll remember.

A bit of a relief for me this week . . . the ortho said I could stop wearing the annoying little rubber bands! Now I'm back to the black power chains, but they stay in place the entire time. I can yawn again!

I've been inspired enough that I believe I can finish up that last room for my class. Hopefully I can get it done this weekend!

Movie Review: The Legend of Zorro

If I hadn't been look at comic book covers the other day, and had a long history of watching B serial western films, I would have had a much worse opinion of the movie. But Zorro's a comic book fantasy, and comic writers will do all sorts of crazy things with their characters, other people's characters, and history.

It was a B film western of the 21st century. The United States is a wonderful place, and everyone's pleased that California is about to join the union. Except for a few terrorists plotting to blow stuff up. I don't know WHY they were plotting to blow stuff up, and what it had to do with California as a state, but that wasn't the point. The point was that there were explosions, swordsfights, trains, men in masks, a smart horse, a beautiful woman, a smart little boy, poor folk in danger, Pinkerton detectives, a priest in touch with the world AND God, and lots of crazy bad guys. Also references to lots of other movies.

It was fun. The plot of the first movie was better, but I won't complain.

Superman is a dick.

The FAQ section claims these comic book covers are original and unaltered. Quite amusing and very strange.

Chicago International Show - Hogwart's

I love Rik Pierce's work. I'd love to take one of his classes, but I just don't have the space for the finished products. (I'd certainly be willing to spend the money!)

Showing off my recent creative streak.

This is my new Obitsu doll I was talking about, with the many many joints and poses. I painted her face, created her wig, and made the shiny red shirt. I haven't gotten any farther with the clothes, which is why I haven't taken any photos demonstrating the incredible range of motion. She's currently wearing Barbie's capris. (They're too big. I used a fashion doll pattern for the shirt, and found I had to shrink it about 15% to get it right. Hooray for scanners!)

I find when I make dolls, they tend to take on their own personalities. I was hoping to create bigger versions of the 1/12th historic costumes I love copying, but discovered that, once I painted her face, it just wouldn't work. She seems to have attitude issues. So the hair became short, wild, and multicolored, and the clothes decisively modern.

It's actually a refreshing change. Modern's so much easier to do! I have a much broader reference base for clothing ideas - pretty much every catalog that comes in the mail. Now I can find a good use for the Victoria's Secret catalogs that seem to arrive every week. (Just how many ways can you organize the same clothes in a catalog, anyway?)

One challenge I want to tackle is her feet. I like the fact that they have magnets in the sole so that she can stand on a magnetic base, but they're so small! They're practically the size of the feet of my one inch scale dolls, and have the look and shape of the feet you'd see on antique Jumeau type dolls. They aren't shaped for high heels and other fun shoes. I have a couple of experiments in mind for making them seem more realistic, I just need to get the FIMO clay to cooperate.

Hey, it's a challenge. Keeps the mind active. If I'm good, I can create and sell patterns or clothes. Probably patterns. I hate sewing on the machine, and prefer to do things by hand. It's time consuming and a little inconsistent.

The Dimension's Edge, Inc. - Samples: Online Games

Fun games!

Very cool illusion

I think someone's using the Force. There is no green dot! Even though you see it, it doesn't exist!

I suspect people suffering from color blindness don't have any problems with this.