I'm seriously a master of procrastination. I'm busy as heck at work, and I get home and find a million things to distract myself from the things I really need to do at home. Like housework, the laundry, washing dishes and sleeping. I have a bunch of websites I go to on a regular basis that are wonderful, informative, fun and awesome. And then there are some that are total timewasters that keep me from accomplishing anything. Including sleep.
Here are some of my favorite timewasters (in no particular order). I am not responsible for your lost productivity. Don't say I didn't warn you.
Sushi Cat. My daughter found this site about two years ago, and I've since listened to the bizarre japanese music, and her truly weird descriptions of the game. And then I finally tried it. Damnit, the game is ridiculously addictive, and makes me crave sushi. God damn you, sushi cat!!
http://armorgames.com/play/5379/sushi-cat
The Sleep Talkin' Man. I blame my sister from S'toon for introducing me to this site. It's a man. Who talks in his sleep. And his wife records him. And then puts it on the web. It's truly bizarre and hilarious. And you can get t-shirts with your favorite sayings on them. "Doo... Doo... Do you want to eat me? Hmm? Gobble me up? Chew on my hindquarters? Do you? WELL COCK OFF YOU SON OF A BITCH, YOU'RE NOT TASTING MY MEAT! Fucking eat something else. I'm as tough as leather. Grrr. (sigh)" Yep. It's bizarre on an awesome new level.
http://www.sleeptalkinman.blogspot.com/
Not Always Right. Horror stories from the customer service industry. If you've ever worked any sort of customer service job, you'll love this site so much you'll cry.
http://notalwaysright.com/
Letters from an Asshole. They're letters. From an asshole. Or more like an asshole baits stupid people from Craigslist and Kijiji. They're so funny, my sides hurt from laughing. Stadiums are for PUSSIES!
http://www.dontevenreply.com/
Awkward Family Photos. Just like the ones in your photo album. Only not your family, so you can laugh. And be thankful your mother doesn't know how to work that scanner she got from Best Buys.
http://awkwardfamilyphotos.com/
There's more, but I gotta go, sushi cat is calling to me...
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
The Amazing Adventures of Koala Man
Sleeping in a tree. Probably pissed. What an embarrassment to superhero-kind.
Makes you kinda sad, don't it?
Thanks to The Sleep Talkin Man for my inspiration: www.sleeptalkinman.blogspot.com
Monday, July 26, 2010
I love it when a plan comes together
One of the design projects I eluded to at the last post was designing a book cover for an ebook written by friend Krista D. Ball. She posted on Facebook "who wanted" to design it, and I think I nearly tripped over myself to respond!
After a quick back and forth about size, color, theme, style, I suggested I be able to read the story before beginning on the cover. (I thought it was a bit cheap of me to ask, but she also thought it was a great idea!) I read the book, and my mind went into overdrive sketching out ideas. I had about a dozen sketches on paper before I started refining them. I always do my personal favorite first, and then branch out from there, ending with a contact sheet of fonts and logos. That was the case here. It took me about two hours from concept to finished design I was happy enough with to present. I am used to several back and forths, using the concepts I've come up with, adding, removing elements, redesigning elements, scaling, rescaling and scrapping the whole thing for something entirely different, but in the end, only ONE edit was required - the author's name in a different font. Are you kidding me? That's it?! I was tickled, and before the end of the day (heck, almost before NOON) I had the entire artwork package off to her, and my artwork was up on the website with her book.
Talk about a project coming together!I am very lucky to be able to take on design projects I'm passionate about on the basis of what I want to do, but in this case, it came together much easier than usual. Like it was meant to be. I love it when projects seem to be constructed by divine intervention. Because others sometimes seem like they came from hell...
Please see my first few drafts of the book cover. Inspired at the author's suggestion to draw style themes from retro horror movie posters, I came up with these designs. I love them all (they're like my children) but the first one (my favorite) was chosen. Awwww! Thanks Krista! And please please please check out the link to the ebook here: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/19781 and buy the book! It's a great story - an ending I didn't even expect!
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Holy Projects, Batman!
Summer's here, and mother nature has gone on holidays! That's what it feels like. It's been hot. It's been sunny. It's been raining nearly every single day! Now the mix of sun and showers have the farmers excited. I don't think I've seen canola grow that high in ... well, ever that I can remember! I also hear reports of crops being washed away, including friends' flower and vegetable gardens. That's a shame, but it also gives me a small shiver of delight for being lazy and not putting in a garden this year. Ha ha ha, such a rotten shame!
True - I'm not crafting like I would want to, and my photo projects aren't happening. However, I am working on a few things. A few things that has gotten me pretty excited.
One day at work while discussing that it is the 50th anniversary of Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird, we listed all the favorite classic books we read as kids and adolescents. Notably absent from the list: The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger. This had to be fixed! My graphic designer found a copy, bought it and brought it in. I'm currently halfway through the book, and really enjoying it. Made me a bit sad, however when my sister brought up the point that she's eager to re-read it to see if what she got out of it as a teen, and what she gets out of it as an adult will have changed. I'll never get that chance. Sigh. But, for Summer Project #1, it's a huge success!
I also am helping a fellow Fish & Game member redesign the club logo. It's a rather interesting story that begins with my mom actually designing the first (and current) club logo. I'm quite proud to be carrying on the legacy and updating the logo. See the contact sheet below for our first round of sketches. We want to show that the club is about nature, recycling, conservancy, respect for nature, education etc and not just fish and wildlife (and the hunting and fishing of). I hope we're on the right track. Please let me know your feedback!
And lastly, I'm working on my favorite project of the summer! I'm going to keep this one shrouded in a little bit of mystery, but it's also a design project. I suppose I'm finding the fun of design again after 13 years of newspaper ads and clip art logos. It was nice to have a break (by being a business owner) but I'm glad to get my arse back in the saddle and do some design projects. Luckily, as the owner I'm able to cherry pick!
The project I'm working on is fun. A bit of campy, retro fun! I already have a half a dozen designs done, and even though they're "not there" yet, just the freedom to be able to design something completely and totally my own way is refreshing. It's being done as a favor / fun project for a friend. Man, I need more friends who have more design needs! LOL I'll post those designs when I have them up.
My thrill of the design came rushing back to me while our shop was designing a hero card for a local race car driver. (Who happens to live in my small town. Who happens to be a teen. Who happens to be a friend of my daughter's. Who happens to be a Make a Wish Child) And they had an event at the Make a Wish Foundation fundraiser, and she was going to be signing autographs and needed hero cards. After our designer did some proofs, I nearly BURST with anticipation of being able to "try some of my own designs" for the one simple reason that I was inspired. And with that project, I'm finding the joy in design the way I found joy in music and crafting. And yes, Mario Bros.
Whatever you do, may you do it joyously!
True - I'm not crafting like I would want to, and my photo projects aren't happening. However, I am working on a few things. A few things that has gotten me pretty excited.
One day at work while discussing that it is the 50th anniversary of Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird, we listed all the favorite classic books we read as kids and adolescents. Notably absent from the list: The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger. This had to be fixed! My graphic designer found a copy, bought it and brought it in. I'm currently halfway through the book, and really enjoying it. Made me a bit sad, however when my sister brought up the point that she's eager to re-read it to see if what she got out of it as a teen, and what she gets out of it as an adult will have changed. I'll never get that chance. Sigh. But, for Summer Project #1, it's a huge success!
I also am helping a fellow Fish & Game member redesign the club logo. It's a rather interesting story that begins with my mom actually designing the first (and current) club logo. I'm quite proud to be carrying on the legacy and updating the logo. See the contact sheet below for our first round of sketches. We want to show that the club is about nature, recycling, conservancy, respect for nature, education etc and not just fish and wildlife (and the hunting and fishing of). I hope we're on the right track. Please let me know your feedback!And lastly, I'm working on my favorite project of the summer! I'm going to keep this one shrouded in a little bit of mystery, but it's also a design project. I suppose I'm finding the fun of design again after 13 years of newspaper ads and clip art logos. It was nice to have a break (by being a business owner) but I'm glad to get my arse back in the saddle and do some design projects. Luckily, as the owner I'm able to cherry pick!
The project I'm working on is fun. A bit of campy, retro fun! I already have a half a dozen designs done, and even though they're "not there" yet, just the freedom to be able to design something completely and totally my own way is refreshing. It's being done as a favor / fun project for a friend. Man, I need more friends who have more design needs! LOL I'll post those designs when I have them up.
My thrill of the design came rushing back to me while our shop was designing a hero card for a local race car driver. (Who happens to live in my small town. Who happens to be a teen. Who happens to be a friend of my daughter's. Who happens to be a Make a Wish Child) And they had an event at the Make a Wish Foundation fundraiser, and she was going to be signing autographs and needed hero cards. After our designer did some proofs, I nearly BURST with anticipation of being able to "try some of my own designs" for the one simple reason that I was inspired. And with that project, I'm finding the joy in design the way I found joy in music and crafting. And yes, Mario Bros.
Whatever you do, may you do it joyously!
Monday, July 5, 2010
Projects Undone.
After my leisurely four days off (it was marvelous, thanks) I started to feel a swelling of things left undone after my time off. I certainly crammed as much fun and rest as I possibly could, and managed to get all my housework done too. What more could I ask for?
Apparently a lot.
While taking my daughter on her shopping excursion this weekend, we stumbled into a bookstore. We spent more time in the bookstore than the clothing store, which made my nerdy heart happy. I'm glad I'm raising a beautiful AND smart kid. And in there, my book wish list grew! I have the list of books that I REALLY want to read, books I'd love to have the time to read, and all other books fall into the category. I'm never so lucky to always be reading the top of my wish list, but the good thing about it is that it never shrinks in size. There's always so many excellent books out there. And just setting foot into the bookstore, and my list did grow some more.
And I'm more and more interested in my daughter's interest in books and clothing and music as she gets older, and her book choice is much more interesting too! She was eying some Christopher Pike volumes that are being re-released. I remember reading those in Junior High! She started reading Buffy the Vampire Slayer novelizations, and was also very interested in VC Andrews. Oooh, a literary bug after my own heart! Makes me glad to know that I won't be the only one reading and re-reading some of my old favorites on the bookshelf downstairs. Ahhh!
But the little outing showed me that I still have too many things to do, and projects to tackle, and the genuine bliss of my time off has now paved the way for me to get some things done. And so, in true obsessive compulsive fashion, I've compiled a list of projects I would like to finish (or at least start) this summer:
- Read 'Catcher in the Rye'. Did you know that 'To Kill a Mockingbird' is now 50 years old? I will be reading this as a tribute to Lee Harper, but one good read deserves another. I've never read 'Catcher', and this is the summer to do it.
- Zombie Cross Stitch! OMG! I saw this in the bookstore this weekend. Super zombilicious! The creator of the kit also does a craft blog. I'm intending to try the kit out for size, and then make my own patterns.
- Get pictures framed. This is just a preliminary to the main event of getting my photo albums in order. Once I get my favorite prints framed, the rest will go easy right ... right?? It's a long overdue project!
- Finish Super Mario Bros. for the Wii. It's more of an obsession than anything else. Sad.
- Start work on the patio. I'm thinking of taking out all the grass to the one side of my walkway, putting in rock and wood chips, moving the firepit to this area, and having a cool rock patio. It'll happen. It just has to.
- Fix the bunny holes and other renovation issues. Nuff said.
- Read my wish list of books:
Chuck Palaniuk (part of my obsessive personality is to overdo things. Since I love Chuck, I must read all his books. It's obsessive, but I really love his writing.) I've yet to read: Survivor, Pygmy, Tell All. Must complete the collection...!
That's it for the summer. Part of me is sad that I didn't start any of these on my time off, but I think my mind is really glad I took the mental vacation. I needed it. Now the rest of the summer can be about work and serious relaxation activities! Once I get going on my zombie cross stitch, I'll definitely post pictures. Oooh, how exciting!
Apparently a lot.
While taking my daughter on her shopping excursion this weekend, we stumbled into a bookstore. We spent more time in the bookstore than the clothing store, which made my nerdy heart happy. I'm glad I'm raising a beautiful AND smart kid. And in there, my book wish list grew! I have the list of books that I REALLY want to read, books I'd love to have the time to read, and all other books fall into the category. I'm never so lucky to always be reading the top of my wish list, but the good thing about it is that it never shrinks in size. There's always so many excellent books out there. And just setting foot into the bookstore, and my list did grow some more.
And I'm more and more interested in my daughter's interest in books and clothing and music as she gets older, and her book choice is much more interesting too! She was eying some Christopher Pike volumes that are being re-released. I remember reading those in Junior High! She started reading Buffy the Vampire Slayer novelizations, and was also very interested in VC Andrews. Oooh, a literary bug after my own heart! Makes me glad to know that I won't be the only one reading and re-reading some of my old favorites on the bookshelf downstairs. Ahhh!
But the little outing showed me that I still have too many things to do, and projects to tackle, and the genuine bliss of my time off has now paved the way for me to get some things done. And so, in true obsessive compulsive fashion, I've compiled a list of projects I would like to finish (or at least start) this summer:
- Read 'Catcher in the Rye'. Did you know that 'To Kill a Mockingbird' is now 50 years old? I will be reading this as a tribute to Lee Harper, but one good read deserves another. I've never read 'Catcher', and this is the summer to do it.
- Zombie Cross Stitch! OMG! I saw this in the bookstore this weekend. Super zombilicious! The creator of the kit also does a craft blog. I'm intending to try the kit out for size, and then make my own patterns.
- Get pictures framed. This is just a preliminary to the main event of getting my photo albums in order. Once I get my favorite prints framed, the rest will go easy right ... right?? It's a long overdue project!
- Finish Super Mario Bros. for the Wii. It's more of an obsession than anything else. Sad.
- Start work on the patio. I'm thinking of taking out all the grass to the one side of my walkway, putting in rock and wood chips, moving the firepit to this area, and having a cool rock patio. It'll happen. It just has to.
- Fix the bunny holes and other renovation issues. Nuff said.
- Read my wish list of books:
Chuck Palaniuk (part of my obsessive personality is to overdo things. Since I love Chuck, I must read all his books. It's obsessive, but I really love his writing.) I've yet to read: Survivor, Pygmy, Tell All. Must complete the collection...!
That's it for the summer. Part of me is sad that I didn't start any of these on my time off, but I think my mind is really glad I took the mental vacation. I needed it. Now the rest of the summer can be about work and serious relaxation activities! Once I get going on my zombie cross stitch, I'll definitely post pictures. Oooh, how exciting!
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Dog Days of Summer?
Well, it didn't take long for summer to catch up with my familia. One day into her summer vacation, my darling daughter "forgets" to put on her sunscreen and ended up with a first degree sunburn. On her face, arms, chest and back. Blisters everywhere! My hubby and I were in the middle of a formal dinner with foreign delegates (ooh, very Bond-like, no?) when we got the call, and hubby goes racing out to take her to the hospital, leaving me to enjoy the five hour concert alone. Such a shame he missed it.
In addition to my daughter having to stay out of the sun and chlorinated water until she healed, our summer vacation plans were slightly derailed. We had a camping trip planned for the only sumer vacation we were to have (making Canada Day into an extended long weekend) Kind of sad that we call four days off in a row a "vacation". But regardless, our camping and boating had to be cancelled. Also, her swim meet. And we couldn't get out to enjoy the Canada Day festivities either. Disappointment all around.
But we're determined to make the best of a bad situation. Forced to stay inside during such gorgeous weather, we've been busy with our relaxation. And as I told my hubby - "I feel like cleaning the house from top to bottom right now, so I can enjoy these four days inside in spotless solitude...but I'm not going to". Yep, I'm not worried about having the house in order, just that we enjoy our time together as a family. We've managed to keep ahead of the dishes, so we can prepare each meal in relative order, and the table is remaining tidy to eat meals and play board games. We've played Yahtzee, Monopoly, Scrabble, Chattabox (don't ask), Killer Bunnies and the Quest for the Magic Carrot (again, don't ask - the most fun thing about that game is saying the name. Oy.) and lots of video games. Lots of family-time. I've made pancakes even! How domestic! Except for the not cleaning part. I'm letting four laundry baskets of laundry sit in the living room and mock me.
My daughter and I went to the LATE night showing of Eclipse. We had to go to the late show, so we could keep out of the sun. What better way to go see a vampire movie? And it was not as bad as I was bracing for. And, we get to see Bella kiss Jacob in such a way that poor, kiss starved wives everywhere could coo silently to themselves, and feel a slight adrenaline rush. Oooh! The excitement! And we have plans to do a girls day out shopping. After her slumber party guests leave, and before her special friend from Millwoods arrives to celebrate her birthday, since he won't see her on the actual day. Yep, we've crammed as much fun in there as possible!
I've even had lots of me-alone time. I've read a couple books, played way too many computer games, written a bit, but no crafting, sadly. Closest thing to crafting I've done is silk screen wedding napkins two weeks ago. And since my ever-loving hubby has refused to come to bed, I've had the entire bed to myself the entire time! Wheee! Not that I don't love sleeping beside him. He's not a bed hog, OR a cover hog, and really nice to cuddle to, but he claims he just can't get to sleep until he's so exhausted he can't move. Which means he falls asleep on the couch, and no love or money can move him. Seriously, if you wake him to try to get him to go to bed, he shouts expletives at you. Not pretty. I do without the verbal abuse and enjoy the bed to myself. When I actually go to bed, that is. I've seen the sun come up, AND go down, and slept very little on my mini va-cay. I think it's the lack of stress. Or the lack of work. I really appreciate our employees coming in on the weird Friday to allow us to have this needed time off. Last time I had any more than two days off in a row was LAST Canada Day, and the time before was a year before. One of these days, I'm going to take a REAL vacation. With or without my hubby. Even if it is a home-vacation. This was really fun. And relaxing. And no unpacking too. Yep, this was so needed.
Now I just have to figure out what to get my darling daughter (who has everything) for her birthday. And then find the time to buy it and wrap it. But I think I'll worry about that tomorrow. It's almost five in the morning - time for me to get a few hours of sleep.
YAWN
I love vacations!
In addition to my daughter having to stay out of the sun and chlorinated water until she healed, our summer vacation plans were slightly derailed. We had a camping trip planned for the only sumer vacation we were to have (making Canada Day into an extended long weekend) Kind of sad that we call four days off in a row a "vacation". But regardless, our camping and boating had to be cancelled. Also, her swim meet. And we couldn't get out to enjoy the Canada Day festivities either. Disappointment all around.
But we're determined to make the best of a bad situation. Forced to stay inside during such gorgeous weather, we've been busy with our relaxation. And as I told my hubby - "I feel like cleaning the house from top to bottom right now, so I can enjoy these four days inside in spotless solitude...but I'm not going to". Yep, I'm not worried about having the house in order, just that we enjoy our time together as a family. We've managed to keep ahead of the dishes, so we can prepare each meal in relative order, and the table is remaining tidy to eat meals and play board games. We've played Yahtzee, Monopoly, Scrabble, Chattabox (don't ask), Killer Bunnies and the Quest for the Magic Carrot (again, don't ask - the most fun thing about that game is saying the name. Oy.) and lots of video games. Lots of family-time. I've made pancakes even! How domestic! Except for the not cleaning part. I'm letting four laundry baskets of laundry sit in the living room and mock me.
My daughter and I went to the LATE night showing of Eclipse. We had to go to the late show, so we could keep out of the sun. What better way to go see a vampire movie? And it was not as bad as I was bracing for. And, we get to see Bella kiss Jacob in such a way that poor, kiss starved wives everywhere could coo silently to themselves, and feel a slight adrenaline rush. Oooh! The excitement! And we have plans to do a girls day out shopping. After her slumber party guests leave, and before her special friend from Millwoods arrives to celebrate her birthday, since he won't see her on the actual day. Yep, we've crammed as much fun in there as possible!
I've even had lots of me-alone time. I've read a couple books, played way too many computer games, written a bit, but no crafting, sadly. Closest thing to crafting I've done is silk screen wedding napkins two weeks ago. And since my ever-loving hubby has refused to come to bed, I've had the entire bed to myself the entire time! Wheee! Not that I don't love sleeping beside him. He's not a bed hog, OR a cover hog, and really nice to cuddle to, but he claims he just can't get to sleep until he's so exhausted he can't move. Which means he falls asleep on the couch, and no love or money can move him. Seriously, if you wake him to try to get him to go to bed, he shouts expletives at you. Not pretty. I do without the verbal abuse and enjoy the bed to myself. When I actually go to bed, that is. I've seen the sun come up, AND go down, and slept very little on my mini va-cay. I think it's the lack of stress. Or the lack of work. I really appreciate our employees coming in on the weird Friday to allow us to have this needed time off. Last time I had any more than two days off in a row was LAST Canada Day, and the time before was a year before. One of these days, I'm going to take a REAL vacation. With or without my hubby. Even if it is a home-vacation. This was really fun. And relaxing. And no unpacking too. Yep, this was so needed.
Now I just have to figure out what to get my darling daughter (who has everything) for her birthday. And then find the time to buy it and wrap it. But I think I'll worry about that tomorrow. It's almost five in the morning - time for me to get a few hours of sleep.
YAWN
I love vacations!
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