For the first time in 11½ years I cleaned up my friends page. Anyone whose name I didn't recognise is gone (because if I don't know your name it means we didn't interact much). I also got rid of a bunch of old communities that hadn't had activity in 3 or 4 years. I don't know why I didn't do this sooner. My profile page looks so much lighter now.
Anyway.
What news? I made caramel squares on Friday night. They are delicious. The caramel is more like toffee, but it is absolutely yummy. They come out of the fridge and they are so hard to bite into. I've taken to leaving them warm up for a bit. They are also horrendously bad for you. I think they are the most fatty sweet I've ever made. So I have to seriously control myself and only eat 1 per day. Yesterday I nibbled away on one square for the whole day and it was great. A nibble is all you need, really, to get the taste and satisfy the desire for yumminess.
What else? I'm back playing Skyrim again and after one day I was totally addicted. I just want to play all the time. I started with a new character (a destruction mage) and she is so much fun to play. I always thought stealth was the most fun way to go, but there's something delightfully chaotic about laying down fire runes (which are like magical traps that set off an explosion when they are triggered) and waiting for foes to walk into them, then shocking them with lightning as they stumble around on fire. That sounded so evil. But it's so much fun. Bethesda are really good at making games. I don't think I've stumbled into any of the same quests as last time and I'm doing things completely differently.
River went to the vet on Thursday to get 3yearly injections. She was fine afterward.
Ooh - last weekend we went tubing on Salt River. It was so much fun. They give you rubber tubes and a bus trip up to the start point, then let you off to drift back to the main area. It sounds really boring, but every so often the water gets shallow and fast and that is when it gets really fun. And just watching the desert drift by was great too.
We went to see Prometheus on Wednesday. I really enjoyed it. There were some super gory bits in the middle, but overall it was a fun story about a girl whose faith is challenged.
Showing posts with label river. Show all posts
Showing posts with label river. Show all posts
17 June 2012
30 May 2012
So Much News
I'm finally getting around to updating my livejournal. I have loads of news... I must also finish off the account of the wedding - even though I've done all the good bits already.
I'm trying this new thing of walking River at stupid o' clock in the morning (aka 5:30am) while it's a nice temperature for walking. It went well enough while I was still on jetlag time, but now that I'm coming out of that things are getting harder. I was so tired this morning getting up and while out walking. It's only now (because 7 is such a less early time :/ ) that I'm feeling a bit more awake. Though, I am very tempted to just go back to bed now. But I want to get this written first.
Poor River's a bit institutionalised after her month in boarding. The day after we got her home she went into her crate in the middle of the day (which never happens). She's also been going in there in the evenings (when she'd usually be up on the couch beside us). But I think she's coming back to herself again - which is good and bad. It's lovely to have mad, playful, loving River back, but with that side comes the barking at strangers, trucks and the UPSman. Very annoying.
Now, I know there was something else... Crochet - ever since penelope_stone showed me how to do it properly, I can't get enough of it. I'm making fingerless gloves and driving gloves. I'm trying to get the driving gloves done fast so that I can wear them. Contrary to all sane thought - gloves are necessary while driving in 40degree heat. And not because things are hot. No, indeed. It's to stop the freezing cold air coming out of the vent right next to my fingers from giving me frostbite. Okay - that was an exaggeration, but not by much. And if you are wondering why I don't just turn down (up?) the ac, it's because the air is a lovely temperature by the time it reaches my face.
Other things of note: I cycled 35km around one of Killarney's lakes last week (god, was that just last week?). I'm still not finished the string top I'm knitting. I'm making gnocchi for dinner today - from scratch.
I spent a good bit of yesterday driving around by myself. I feel like I shouldn't be allowed control something as freakishly frightening as a car. Every time I go, I feel like I'm going to be in a crash or something. But anyway - I got to the post office and the shop for food without any problems. I do think, though, that our car isn't the most efficient ever. I filled it on Saturday and it was a quarter gone by the time yesterday's jobs were done. And we didn't go anywhere far. The dog park was the farthest, at 13miles away. I looked it up and the Cruze does 22mpg in an urban area. That sounds about right, I guess. That's 250 miles per fill for just driving around (it does better on the highway). Does that mean we did 60 miles in a few days? *Off to google maps to add up journeys.* I suppose we did. Wow, driving really ads up.
Emm, right so. I haven't any other news. I think I have to sleep now.
I'm trying this new thing of walking River at stupid o' clock in the morning (aka 5:30am) while it's a nice temperature for walking. It went well enough while I was still on jetlag time, but now that I'm coming out of that things are getting harder. I was so tired this morning getting up and while out walking. It's only now (because 7 is such a less early time :/ ) that I'm feeling a bit more awake. Though, I am very tempted to just go back to bed now. But I want to get this written first.
Poor River's a bit institutionalised after her month in boarding. The day after we got her home she went into her crate in the middle of the day (which never happens). She's also been going in there in the evenings (when she'd usually be up on the couch beside us). But I think she's coming back to herself again - which is good and bad. It's lovely to have mad, playful, loving River back, but with that side comes the barking at strangers, trucks and the UPSman. Very annoying.
Now, I know there was something else... Crochet - ever since penelope_stone showed me how to do it properly, I can't get enough of it. I'm making fingerless gloves and driving gloves. I'm trying to get the driving gloves done fast so that I can wear them. Contrary to all sane thought - gloves are necessary while driving in 40degree heat. And not because things are hot. No, indeed. It's to stop the freezing cold air coming out of the vent right next to my fingers from giving me frostbite. Okay - that was an exaggeration, but not by much. And if you are wondering why I don't just turn down (up?) the ac, it's because the air is a lovely temperature by the time it reaches my face.
Other things of note: I cycled 35km around one of Killarney's lakes last week (god, was that just last week?). I'm still not finished the string top I'm knitting. I'm making gnocchi for dinner today - from scratch.
I spent a good bit of yesterday driving around by myself. I feel like I shouldn't be allowed control something as freakishly frightening as a car. Every time I go, I feel like I'm going to be in a crash or something. But anyway - I got to the post office and the shop for food without any problems. I do think, though, that our car isn't the most efficient ever. I filled it on Saturday and it was a quarter gone by the time yesterday's jobs were done. And we didn't go anywhere far. The dog park was the farthest, at 13miles away. I looked it up and the Cruze does 22mpg in an urban area. That sounds about right, I guess. That's 250 miles per fill for just driving around (it does better on the highway). Does that mean we did 60 miles in a few days? *Off to google maps to add up journeys.* I suppose we did. Wow, driving really ads up.
Emm, right so. I haven't any other news. I think I have to sleep now.
23 April 2012
dog park adventures
We brought River to a dog park with a lake (pond) yesterday. She swam for her (possibly) very first time. She really loved jumping through the water - I don't think she liked swimming so well, so she got around by doing this leaping-forward-through-the-shallow-water thing. It was cute, and pretty funny.
While we were there a little dog swam too far out and panicked. He swam around in circles for ages. His owners called and called him, but any time he started heading towards them he'd get turned around again and start swimming the wrong way. Eventually the man took his shoes and t-shirt off and went in to rescue the dog. Everyone got back to shore safely, but I'd say the little dog was wrecked for the rest of the day.
The weekend was seriously hot. The thermometer in the car read 41 at one stage. The thermometer in the house got up to 38. It's really too hot for doing anything much - we did manage to laze around in the pool for a bit yesterday, but I worried about getting burned (because obviously I was too lazy to put on suncream).
While we were there a little dog swam too far out and panicked. He swam around in circles for ages. His owners called and called him, but any time he started heading towards them he'd get turned around again and start swimming the wrong way. Eventually the man took his shoes and t-shirt off and went in to rescue the dog. Everyone got back to shore safely, but I'd say the little dog was wrecked for the rest of the day.
The weekend was seriously hot. The thermometer in the car read 41 at one stage. The thermometer in the house got up to 38. It's really too hot for doing anything much - we did manage to laze around in the pool for a bit yesterday, but I worried about getting burned (because obviously I was too lazy to put on suncream).
13 March 2012
disaster
Livejournal, I must lament to you. River ate my scones. I ate one, she ate eleven. I can't believe she got at them. They were on the high counter - out cooling. And they were delicious. The best scones I've ever had. So light and fluffy and crispy on the outside. And lordkilljoy didn't even get to see what they looked like, let alone taste one. I'm so annoyed.
21 February 2012
Pancake Day
On nom nom. I just made the most delicious pancakes ever (okay, maybe not ever - that honour may go to the pancakes I made for lunch last week). I used Alton Brown's recipe, but cut down to size (I ended up with enough for 4 pancakes). Anyway. I've never had a recipe before where I enjoyed eating pancake with nothing on it. I find them flavourless and boring. But this mix. Oh wow. It was like a delicious, fluffy, soft, warm bread. (That sentence may be subject to hyperbole, but not by much.) I ate them with nothing on them. Not even the charms of nutella worked. I did put a bit of grated parmesan cheese on the last one and it made it even yummier.
So... last week's lunch pancakes - also delicious. I didn't have any bread (still haven't made any) and I didn't have anything for lunch. There was some pancake mix in the pantry (we have a pantry :) ) but I didn't feel like boring pancakes. I also had some fresh basil and a half a can of tomatoes in the fridge, so I threw them into the processor and mixed them into pancake batter. I cooked them - putting some cheese on top and they were so delicious. I totally didn't even remember than pancake day was coming up next week when I made them. But anyway - two delicious pancake meals. Nom nom.
What else - we got a basil plant. Woo. Can't wait for it to get big enough so that I can take leaves off it without harming it.
I cast off the string top I was knitting and started an easier one. I would have stuck with the first, but I measured it and it was coming out 4 inches too big, and the pattern didn't work so well with the colouredy wool. So the one I'm working on now is plainer, easier to knit and looks lovely.
Was noch? We went out on Friday to a mardi gras themed dinner. It was quite a good night. I wore 5inch wedges and my feet weren't so sore at the end of the night (but I was sitting for a load of it) and I didn't trip over. Yeay.
Ooh - River's doing really well with the whole not barking when I tell her to be quiet. She actually listens to my command. Woo. She's still doing paw like mad, and she's mostly grasping roll over. She still has no comprehension that down means lie down, but I think that could be that we also say down when we want her to stop jumping on us.
Finally - I'm back playing Skyrim again. It's such a fun game. Steam opened their workshop (where they collect mods) so I've been having fun trying out different mods. I must download the creation kit and have a go messing with my own mod.
So... last week's lunch pancakes - also delicious. I didn't have any bread (still haven't made any) and I didn't have anything for lunch. There was some pancake mix in the pantry (we have a pantry :) ) but I didn't feel like boring pancakes. I also had some fresh basil and a half a can of tomatoes in the fridge, so I threw them into the processor and mixed them into pancake batter. I cooked them - putting some cheese on top and they were so delicious. I totally didn't even remember than pancake day was coming up next week when I made them. But anyway - two delicious pancake meals. Nom nom.
What else - we got a basil plant. Woo. Can't wait for it to get big enough so that I can take leaves off it without harming it.
I cast off the string top I was knitting and started an easier one. I would have stuck with the first, but I measured it and it was coming out 4 inches too big, and the pattern didn't work so well with the colouredy wool. So the one I'm working on now is plainer, easier to knit and looks lovely.
Was noch? We went out on Friday to a mardi gras themed dinner. It was quite a good night. I wore 5inch wedges and my feet weren't so sore at the end of the night (but I was sitting for a load of it) and I didn't trip over. Yeay.
Ooh - River's doing really well with the whole not barking when I tell her to be quiet. She actually listens to my command. Woo. She's still doing paw like mad, and she's mostly grasping roll over. She still has no comprehension that down means lie down, but I think that could be that we also say down when we want her to stop jumping on us.
Finally - I'm back playing Skyrim again. It's such a fun game. Steam opened their workshop (where they collect mods) so I've been having fun trying out different mods. I must download the creation kit and have a go messing with my own mod.
06 February 2012
News Things
I finished my skirt on Friday. Wore it on Saturday. It's a bit weird - not exactly even and I cut the material sidewards. So I'm not sure if I'll wear it that much; probably just wear it in the summer when I'm hanging around the apartment.
Did I mention at all that we taught River how to do paw. She does it for everything now. It's very cute: waiting to get lead on for walk - paw; want food - paw; looking at treats - paw. I think she thinks paw means I'll get what I want. Hee.
I went out with the girls on Friday. It was a good night - I got to dance, which is always fun. I think I'm good now for nights out for another few months. I can ignore all the things I dislike about night clubs when they only happen once in a while, but too often and I just get to hating.
What other news... Did I mention that I started on my cotton string top? I have 5 rows knitted at the moment. I've given myself until June, but this is going exceptionally slowly.
Dinner tonight was amazing. I did a tofu and veg stir fry and it was so delicious. Soy and oyster sauces make an amazing base for stir fry - add in a little stock, ginger and mirin and you get something absolutely divine. I love Mondays. I could eat rice and stir-fry every night.
Right so. I'm off to play Star Wars.
Did I mention at all that we taught River how to do paw. She does it for everything now. It's very cute: waiting to get lead on for walk - paw; want food - paw; looking at treats - paw. I think she thinks paw means I'll get what I want. Hee.
I went out with the girls on Friday. It was a good night - I got to dance, which is always fun. I think I'm good now for nights out for another few months. I can ignore all the things I dislike about night clubs when they only happen once in a while, but too often and I just get to hating.
What other news... Did I mention that I started on my cotton string top? I have 5 rows knitted at the moment. I've given myself until June, but this is going exceptionally slowly.
Dinner tonight was amazing. I did a tofu and veg stir fry and it was so delicious. Soy and oyster sauces make an amazing base for stir fry - add in a little stock, ginger and mirin and you get something absolutely divine. I love Mondays. I could eat rice and stir-fry every night.
Right so. I'm off to play Star Wars.
21 December 2011
Winter Sosltice
Happy shortest day of the year, everyone!
It's River's birthday today - she's 2. How cute.
Last night's dinner was a bit of a flop. It seems that I can't, for the life of me, add an egg to soup. It just turns to some kind of dense, opaque lumpiness. lordkilljoy didn't even finish it last night. Ah well. I'll keep trying.
(I hid the soup under the noodles, which is why the photo doesn't look too bad)
We're having pasta with some kind of nice sauce tonight. I'm also thinking of making little tarts for christmas. Not like mince pies, but maybe some kind of pretty apple tarty type things. Not sure. I went out for lunch with some of the girls today and they were all talking about making nice things. So I felt like making nice things too.
So, I'd heard of this street that goes mad every christmas with lights and music and stuff. We visited it last night and it is just a little crazy. Every building was covered with lights - most very gaudy, but some actually a little nice. The houses around us are way more tastefully done. The houses around us are actually quite lovely - I wandered around one evening just looking at them all.
I don't have much other news. River's just locked herself in the bathroom like a silly head.
It's River's birthday today - she's 2. How cute.
Last night's dinner was a bit of a flop. It seems that I can't, for the life of me, add an egg to soup. It just turns to some kind of dense, opaque lumpiness. lordkilljoy didn't even finish it last night. Ah well. I'll keep trying.
(I hid the soup under the noodles, which is why the photo doesn't look too bad)
We're having pasta with some kind of nice sauce tonight. I'm also thinking of making little tarts for christmas. Not like mince pies, but maybe some kind of pretty apple tarty type things. Not sure. I went out for lunch with some of the girls today and they were all talking about making nice things. So I felt like making nice things too.
So, I'd heard of this street that goes mad every christmas with lights and music and stuff. We visited it last night and it is just a little crazy. Every building was covered with lights - most very gaudy, but some actually a little nice. The houses around us are way more tastefully done. The houses around us are actually quite lovely - I wandered around one evening just looking at them all.
I don't have much other news. River's just locked herself in the bathroom like a silly head.
18 December 2011
More dinners
I'm quite proud of the dinners I've made over the past week. There were one or two I wouldn't be bothered making again - not that they were bad, just that they were a little too far from my palate's comfort zone. Friday night was a light chili made with pork and tomatillos (with are tomatoes that taste more like apples. not bad, but a little odd. i had to get them in the shop and i didn't even know what section to get them in or even what they looked like). It was one of the dishes that was only okay.
Yesterday we went out for dinner (Thai - it was lovely). And today I made Chicken Pot Pie (2 individual ones). It was delicious, even if I did totally miss that the receipe called for cream and I didn't have any, and that I didn't reduce the sauce enough. And making the pie topping was so much fun. I've never made pie dough before and it turned out really well. There was a tiny bit left over and I ate it warm with some jam - so delicious.
I was cooking for 3 and a half hours (even if the best part of one hour was chilling the pie dough). It was worth it though - it turned out so lovely.
We went out last night (as I already mentioned) with two of Liam's work friends. Niall came back to the house for a while and River went mental. She barked and growled and was altogether a very unpleasant dog. She did settled down eventually, giving a little grown each time Niall moved around, but then, at one stage she was lying under Naill's legs and when he moved he hit her (being totally unaware that she was there). She turned on him and nipped his leg. I'm so disappointed in her and last night before bed all I could think was that we'll have to put her down. That led to awful dreams of her and me being in a accident and she was covered in cuts and broken bones.
But I really don't know what to do with her. She does have a fear-based vicious streak in her, and now I'm extra scared of having her around strangers. I wonder now is this why her old family gave her up and what did they do to make her this way.
Anyway.
Yesterday we went out for dinner (Thai - it was lovely). And today I made Chicken Pot Pie (2 individual ones). It was delicious, even if I did totally miss that the receipe called for cream and I didn't have any, and that I didn't reduce the sauce enough. And making the pie topping was so much fun. I've never made pie dough before and it turned out really well. There was a tiny bit left over and I ate it warm with some jam - so delicious.
I was cooking for 3 and a half hours (even if the best part of one hour was chilling the pie dough). It was worth it though - it turned out so lovely.
We went out last night (as I already mentioned) with two of Liam's work friends. Niall came back to the house for a while and River went mental. She barked and growled and was altogether a very unpleasant dog. She did settled down eventually, giving a little grown each time Niall moved around, but then, at one stage she was lying under Naill's legs and when he moved he hit her (being totally unaware that she was there). She turned on him and nipped his leg. I'm so disappointed in her and last night before bed all I could think was that we'll have to put her down. That led to awful dreams of her and me being in a accident and she was covered in cuts and broken bones.
But I really don't know what to do with her. She does have a fear-based vicious streak in her, and now I'm extra scared of having her around strangers. I wonder now is this why her old family gave her up and what did they do to make her this way.
Anyway.
09 December 2011
Today
River and I went out for a cycle this morning. It was fun, but she doesn't pull her weight, so it's like going uphill the whole way. I was somewhat tired after 15 minutes. It took me ages to get my bike ready this morning, though. The mover guys had turned the handlebars sideways and it was a little hard to get them back right again (especially because I had the wheel backwards the first time and had to do it again).
River's barking has gotten really out of control since we moved. A lot of trucks and cars go by on the road outside (it's the main way into the estate - thank god we aren't facing the main road) and she barks at every one. She barks at dogs walking outside the window and dogs barking in other apartments. She's even taken to barking for attention. It had to stop. So yesterday I resorted to negative reinforcement. And it's working really well. Every time she barks I say no and tap her on the nose. Not only does she stop barking right away, but the amount of barking has lessened in the one day I've been trying it. So I' happy for that, but sad that it had to come to this. I tried all the positive reinforcement (treats for being quiet, etc) I could think of, but that just seemed to make her worse. I also don't think she's getting enough sleep. She's not relaxing at all. She's been getting about 8 hours sleep in the night time and not napping during the day as she usually does. I was making dinner this morning (stew) and her head was nodding as she sat beside me. The poor thing is wrecked. So I think the sleep deprivation is making her anxious too.
I don't have much else news. We ordered my dress last night. There's no way we could afford one in a shop so I ordered it online from a company in China who tailor the dress to your measurements. I'm really excited about it, but I really hope the company isn't bogus and that the dress makes it here. Well, it has until the end of January to arrive, so we'll see then.
I think that's all my news. Did I mention I got a new keyboard? It's a microsoft Arc and I really like it. It's small and fits my hands perfectly. The only problem is that I keep hitting enter instead of apostrophe. That will take a little getting used to, but I will eventually.
Right. I have to finish tidying away the last of our stuff. The things left are the things I haven't a clue where to put (that sentence was badly worded, but you get the idea surely). Here goes... I might have a little biscuit before I start for motivation. Oooh - actually. I saw these dog biscuits in Costco and they look delicious. The ingredients are like oats, honey eggs, and other stuff that I'd actually use to bake biscuits. But I couldn't just bring myself to eat something that was labelled for dogs. That would be a step over the line from being eccentric to being downright weird. So we didn't buy them. Even though, clearly, I'm still thinking about them :(
Anyway. later.
River's barking has gotten really out of control since we moved. A lot of trucks and cars go by on the road outside (it's the main way into the estate - thank god we aren't facing the main road) and she barks at every one. She barks at dogs walking outside the window and dogs barking in other apartments. She's even taken to barking for attention. It had to stop. So yesterday I resorted to negative reinforcement. And it's working really well. Every time she barks I say no and tap her on the nose. Not only does she stop barking right away, but the amount of barking has lessened in the one day I've been trying it. So I' happy for that, but sad that it had to come to this. I tried all the positive reinforcement (treats for being quiet, etc) I could think of, but that just seemed to make her worse. I also don't think she's getting enough sleep. She's not relaxing at all. She's been getting about 8 hours sleep in the night time and not napping during the day as she usually does. I was making dinner this morning (stew) and her head was nodding as she sat beside me. The poor thing is wrecked. So I think the sleep deprivation is making her anxious too.
I don't have much else news. We ordered my dress last night. There's no way we could afford one in a shop so I ordered it online from a company in China who tailor the dress to your measurements. I'm really excited about it, but I really hope the company isn't bogus and that the dress makes it here. Well, it has until the end of January to arrive, so we'll see then.
I think that's all my news. Did I mention I got a new keyboard? It's a microsoft Arc and I really like it. It's small and fits my hands perfectly. The only problem is that I keep hitting enter instead of apostrophe. That will take a little getting used to, but I will eventually.
Right. I have to finish tidying away the last of our stuff. The things left are the things I haven't a clue where to put (that sentence was badly worded, but you get the idea surely). Here goes... I might have a little biscuit before I start for motivation. Oooh - actually. I saw these dog biscuits in Costco and they look delicious. The ingredients are like oats, honey eggs, and other stuff that I'd actually use to bake biscuits. But I couldn't just bring myself to eat something that was labelled for dogs. That would be a step over the line from being eccentric to being downright weird. So we didn't buy them. Even though, clearly, I'm still thinking about them :(
Anyway. later.
03 November 2011
I'm so tired
I’ve been meaning to update all day, but Lj had signed me out and I'd changed my password sometime in the past and I couldn't remember it, so I didn't get around to signing in. Until now - because I changed my password... anyway.
I’m freezing. It’s freezing outside and I don't want to go walk river. I made this amazing 3 meter scarf while I was home and I have it wrapped about my shoulders. My keyboard is keeping my lap warm :) It's also 24 C in here (I had the heating on earlier), and yet I feel cold. Le sigh. River’s tired too. I don't think she sleeps well in the boarding place. She’s been asleep all day and I even had to wake her for dinner. That’s never happened before. So we're all tired.
The trip home was really good. I didn't do much - got to hang out with mammy and daddy and Askea and it was wonderful. We knitted lots. And I got knitting books. Highlights included the beach, tramping through the dunes of said beach, eating - I ate loads - emm, stuff and knitting :) It was a wonderful trip (I’ve said this already, but it really was). There was nothing mad of big or organised, it was just me at home - where I belong :) oh my god - now I’m making myself homesick. Right.
The trip back here was good - everything went well. We had a bit of an issue at immigration in MSP when I asked for my visa to be stamped for a year. I had to go to this special cases area where we waited for a bit for someone to look into it. Apparently, it is very uncommon to get your visa stamped for one year. I (according to the guy) was the first person to go through msp to get such a stamp. So that took about 40 minutes and he had to go up 2 (possibly 3 levels) to get the okay. He also explained that going through on my visa is just going to get harder and harder. Sigh, again. Anyway, I’m in for a year now. We’ll see what happens.
We had 19 hours of daylight yesterday. Travelling is amazing :) If you had a fast enough plane, and enough fuel, you could just have it be day all the time. Or you could just move to one of the poles in summer... but that's not the point. Abq had the most amazing sunset when we landed. The sky was the deepest shade of orange - just amazing. And we saw the apartment from the plane as we came in to land. That was exciting.
Coming back to the apartment was weird. It felt so generic, or something. Like, I woke up this morning and it felt like I was in a hotel. It was somewhat awful. And I got the feeling a few times through the day as well. I don't know what was causing that. The smell, maybe. Or maybe I’m just tired. We’re going to try to stay up until 10 - so 2 hours to go.
Right, I don't really have much else to say.
I’m freezing. It’s freezing outside and I don't want to go walk river. I made this amazing 3 meter scarf while I was home and I have it wrapped about my shoulders. My keyboard is keeping my lap warm :) It's also 24 C in here (I had the heating on earlier), and yet I feel cold. Le sigh. River’s tired too. I don't think she sleeps well in the boarding place. She’s been asleep all day and I even had to wake her for dinner. That’s never happened before. So we're all tired.
The trip home was really good. I didn't do much - got to hang out with mammy and daddy and Askea and it was wonderful. We knitted lots. And I got knitting books. Highlights included the beach, tramping through the dunes of said beach, eating - I ate loads - emm, stuff and knitting :) It was a wonderful trip (I’ve said this already, but it really was). There was nothing mad of big or organised, it was just me at home - where I belong :) oh my god - now I’m making myself homesick. Right.
The trip back here was good - everything went well. We had a bit of an issue at immigration in MSP when I asked for my visa to be stamped for a year. I had to go to this special cases area where we waited for a bit for someone to look into it. Apparently, it is very uncommon to get your visa stamped for one year. I (according to the guy) was the first person to go through msp to get such a stamp. So that took about 40 minutes and he had to go up 2 (possibly 3 levels) to get the okay. He also explained that going through on my visa is just going to get harder and harder. Sigh, again. Anyway, I’m in for a year now. We’ll see what happens.
We had 19 hours of daylight yesterday. Travelling is amazing :) If you had a fast enough plane, and enough fuel, you could just have it be day all the time. Or you could just move to one of the poles in summer... but that's not the point. Abq had the most amazing sunset when we landed. The sky was the deepest shade of orange - just amazing. And we saw the apartment from the plane as we came in to land. That was exciting.
Coming back to the apartment was weird. It felt so generic, or something. Like, I woke up this morning and it felt like I was in a hotel. It was somewhat awful. And I got the feeling a few times through the day as well. I don't know what was causing that. The smell, maybe. Or maybe I’m just tired. We’re going to try to stay up until 10 - so 2 hours to go.
Right, I don't really have much else to say.
13 September 2011
Loom Knitting
The thought going through my head right now is: I love having hands. I bought a loom knitting set today, and have just knit my first row (actually - I just cast up) and it was really fun and really easy. I've wanted to be able to knit my whole live. Ever since I was a girl I'd watch mammy knit with an ease that seemed rather miraculous to me, becuase whenever I tried it the wool got knotted, the needles kept slipping from my hands, the wool was too tight, or too loose, and my hands just couldn't handle it.
I've vaguely considered crochet, but that also involves holding a small implement and my hands get hot holding things and it's just really, really hard. Enter the loom. It's a circle with wide pins standing up. You wrap the wool around the pins, then use a hook to pull the loops over. Look up "loom knitting" if you want to know how it works.
So watch out, everyone. Hats, scarfs and other small knitted things will abound and will start to fill wardrobes and drawers :)
In other news (I wrote knews... sigh) River went into her bed-crate thing all by herself last night. It was about half eleven and I was off to bed. She walked into the bedroom with me, and I expected her to flop down on the carpet. But she didn't. In she walked to her little bed (the one she howled and whined to get out of when we first got her) and settled down, all by herself. We were so proud of her :)
We went to cienega forest again yesterday. After a slight wrong turn (or more precicely - not being able to follow the trail (it just seemed to vanish into about 5 different trail-looking things)) and a massive climb up the side of the mountain, we eventually found the trail and had a wonderful 2 hour walk. Ceader and pine smell amazing. I'd totally go there and just plonk myself in a glade and smell the air for a few hours.
That's all my news, I think. Now back to knitting :)
I've vaguely considered crochet, but that also involves holding a small implement and my hands get hot holding things and it's just really, really hard. Enter the loom. It's a circle with wide pins standing up. You wrap the wool around the pins, then use a hook to pull the loops over. Look up "loom knitting" if you want to know how it works.
So watch out, everyone. Hats, scarfs and other small knitted things will abound and will start to fill wardrobes and drawers :)
In other news (I wrote knews... sigh) River went into her bed-crate thing all by herself last night. It was about half eleven and I was off to bed. She walked into the bedroom with me, and I expected her to flop down on the carpet. But she didn't. In she walked to her little bed (the one she howled and whined to get out of when we first got her) and settled down, all by herself. We were so proud of her :)
We went to cienega forest again yesterday. After a slight wrong turn (or more precicely - not being able to follow the trail (it just seemed to vanish into about 5 different trail-looking things)) and a massive climb up the side of the mountain, we eventually found the trail and had a wonderful 2 hour walk. Ceader and pine smell amazing. I'd totally go there and just plonk myself in a glade and smell the air for a few hours.
That's all my news, I think. Now back to knitting :)
10 September 2011
Autumn
Autumn in New Mexico is an interesting time. Me and river have been rained on twice in the last two days. Today, we came to the channel. It was raining and the splashes were making little ripples in the brown water of the channel. I stopped there and just watched it for a while. It was awful, but pretty at the same time. The water was brown and murky, with bits of mud and twigs sticking out of it, but still - there was something compelling about the water and the rain.
The other really odd thing is that mushrooms grow in the grass around here. I think it's a sign that people need to turn off their sprinklers.
I'm a little worried about future walks. The goatsheads are growing wild and free and every grassy verge has thousands of them just waiting to fall off and lay in wait for some innocent doggie to come walk on them and hurt her paws. I'm sort of considering getting River little booties, because (she's stupid like this) she picks them out of her paw and eats them. Then she gets sick a few minutes later.
I haven't updated in ages. I should catch up on news... PAX was amazing. I'd totally go back next year. penelope_stone and Liam's visit was brilliant. We did so much and it was good to see them and hang out. Highlights include walking on top of a mountain in lightening, photographing same lightning that night, cienega canyon forest trail, UNM - actually UNM is cool. There's a geology and meteorite museum, and the atmosphere around campus is cool - just like college, really.
I don't know what else I can say... I suppose I'll just go then.
The other really odd thing is that mushrooms grow in the grass around here. I think it's a sign that people need to turn off their sprinklers.
I'm a little worried about future walks. The goatsheads are growing wild and free and every grassy verge has thousands of them just waiting to fall off and lay in wait for some innocent doggie to come walk on them and hurt her paws. I'm sort of considering getting River little booties, because (she's stupid like this) she picks them out of her paw and eats them. Then she gets sick a few minutes later.
I haven't updated in ages. I should catch up on news... PAX was amazing. I'd totally go back next year. penelope_stone and Liam's visit was brilliant. We did so much and it was good to see them and hang out. Highlights include walking on top of a mountain in lightening, photographing same lightning that night, cienega canyon forest trail, UNM - actually UNM is cool. There's a geology and meteorite museum, and the atmosphere around campus is cool - just like college, really.
I don't know what else I can say... I suppose I'll just go then.
04 August 2011
Lightning is cool.
The sky the last few evenings has been pretty spectacular. Lightning storms flashed on the horizon all around us (or at least the 180degrees we can see from our balcony), both sheet and fork. The forks are amazing to watch - split second flashes of brilliance that you miss if you aren't looking in the exact right spot. The sheets are incredible too, because the cloud formations are so beautiful, and when you get this dark navy sky and bright cauliflower clouds illuminated against it - it looks amazing.
I'd love if these storms are still going when penelope_stone comes over. They look amazing. They are too far away to hear any thunder, but also too far away for the rain to reach us. I think dislike of rain is built into the Irish psyche. I've not been rained on in 9 months, or whatever, and still at the first drops I'm like: "Ugh, it's raining. Better get inside." Even though it's warm and the rain dries off almost as soon as it lands on you.
River's been fine since her little bout of poisoning. She was a little tired the day after, but soon she was back to her old self again. We got to go to the cinema yesterday. We've been leaving her along for longer and longer stretches. Yesterday we went out for 3 hours (to see Captain America) and when we got back the place was the exact same as when we'd left it. We were so proud of her :)
Capt America was good... But not nearly as good as some of the other super hero movies. They spent too much time on montages of him winning battles and not enough time building up relationships between characters. Things happened where I would have been in tears at any other movie, but I just didn't care for any of the people because I didn't know them - I didn't have a reason to care for them.
I don't think I have much other news.
I'd love if these storms are still going when penelope_stone comes over. They look amazing. They are too far away to hear any thunder, but also too far away for the rain to reach us. I think dislike of rain is built into the Irish psyche. I've not been rained on in 9 months, or whatever, and still at the first drops I'm like: "Ugh, it's raining. Better get inside." Even though it's warm and the rain dries off almost as soon as it lands on you.
River's been fine since her little bout of poisoning. She was a little tired the day after, but soon she was back to her old self again. We got to go to the cinema yesterday. We've been leaving her along for longer and longer stretches. Yesterday we went out for 3 hours (to see Captain America) and when we got back the place was the exact same as when we'd left it. We were so proud of her :)
Capt America was good... But not nearly as good as some of the other super hero movies. They spent too much time on montages of him winning battles and not enough time building up relationships between characters. Things happened where I would have been in tears at any other movie, but I just didn't care for any of the people because I didn't know them - I didn't have a reason to care for them.
I don't think I have much other news.
01 August 2011
Sick River
We're just back from the vet with River. She got lordkilljoy's inhaler and bit into it - puncturing it. We have no idea how much medicine went into her, but about an hour later, she was drinking way more water than usual and a bit after that she got sick. At this stage, I was pretty worried that she'd been seriously poisoned, so we dropped everything and rushed her to the vet.
They induced more vomiting and gave her charcoal. She's really pathetic now - just lying next to her water and drinking every so often. She couldn't even jump out of the car when we got home, or walk up the stairs. She made it up 3, then just stopped. lordkilljoy carried her up. Poor thing.
The vet said she should be okay by tomorrow, but to keep an eye on her.
Okay, while writing this entry she's been sick again. She's now lying on the floor with kitchen towel under her head.
They induced more vomiting and gave her charcoal. She's really pathetic now - just lying next to her water and drinking every so often. She couldn't even jump out of the car when we got home, or walk up the stairs. She made it up 3, then just stopped. lordkilljoy carried her up. Poor thing.
The vet said she should be okay by tomorrow, but to keep an eye on her.
Okay, while writing this entry she's been sick again. She's now lying on the floor with kitchen towel under her head.
30 July 2011
Comic Con and Cosplay
Ah, Lj - I've missed you. Please don't go down for over a week again. And I've had loads to post about too.
I'm working on my portal gun at the moment. I've been carving the main back part from expanding foam (the stuff you use to insulate cracks in your house with). The can said it can only be used once, but I had no trouble clearing out the application pipe and using it 4 or 5 times. I emptied the can :)
Anyway - it looks kind of cool. Well, it's still really rough, but it has the shape of a portal gun, which is good.
I was carving today and I sliced my thumb. The cut is about a centimetre long and I have no idea how deep it is, but davidnarby thinks it's pretty deep because of the amount of blood that poured out. Anyway, I have a plaster and a bandage on it at the moment and it's not too sore. I poked at it earlier, though (silly, I know) and that really hurt.
Other news: Comic Con was good. We saw loads - it's kind of hard not to when it's the size of a small town. San Diego is lovely. We stepped off the plane and walked outside and the first think I said was "California has the perfect climate." For all that, it did feel cold in the shade (24degrees is cold these days). I think I'd live there, given the opportunity. Not in San Diego, perhaps... there is too much an undercurrent of a city that's not quite as nice as the façades of the buildings would lead you to believe.
I can't really describe the con itself... fascinating, crazy, colourful. We spent 3 days wandering around and we didn't see everything. It really is huge and there is so much to do. We managed to fit in some browsing, buying, Wii games, DS games, a SWTOR PVP session, celebrity spotting, artist signings, panels on comics, internet stuff, we saw the mythbusters, stood in mile long lines, didn't stand in 2 mile long lines (that's an exaggeration - it wasn't 2 miles, but it was long - it was about 1km, actually - that's pretty long for a queue). We ate in a restaurant that had been taken over by SyFy and made out to be the restaurant from a TV show - Cafe Diem from Eureka for anyone who watches that (it's good - give it a go if you are looking for something fun with a sci-fi twist to watch).
What really amused me was that we had to get the train in each morning and the main stop was 12th and Imperial Transit Station. It's funny because if you ignore the 12th, it becomes Imperial Transit Station, which has a very sci-fi tone to it - like something from Star Wars.
I don't know what else... River is well. She's really cute, actually. In the evenings when lordkilljoy is at work, she sits beside me just waiting for rubs and attention. I think she misses having someone to cuddle next to on the couch. She's gotten into a routine of sleeping until 8 these days - which is good. 7 was just a little too early for me. She even slept until 9 the other day. Amazing.
Right - I think I'll go now. Get some food, maybe. I'm thinking of just putting on dinner, because I have no idea what to have for lunch. It's a little early for dinner, though. Oh well.
I'm working on my portal gun at the moment. I've been carving the main back part from expanding foam (the stuff you use to insulate cracks in your house with). The can said it can only be used once, but I had no trouble clearing out the application pipe and using it 4 or 5 times. I emptied the can :)
Anyway - it looks kind of cool. Well, it's still really rough, but it has the shape of a portal gun, which is good.
I was carving today and I sliced my thumb. The cut is about a centimetre long and I have no idea how deep it is, but davidnarby thinks it's pretty deep because of the amount of blood that poured out. Anyway, I have a plaster and a bandage on it at the moment and it's not too sore. I poked at it earlier, though (silly, I know) and that really hurt.
Other news: Comic Con was good. We saw loads - it's kind of hard not to when it's the size of a small town. San Diego is lovely. We stepped off the plane and walked outside and the first think I said was "California has the perfect climate." For all that, it did feel cold in the shade (24degrees is cold these days). I think I'd live there, given the opportunity. Not in San Diego, perhaps... there is too much an undercurrent of a city that's not quite as nice as the façades of the buildings would lead you to believe.
I can't really describe the con itself... fascinating, crazy, colourful. We spent 3 days wandering around and we didn't see everything. It really is huge and there is so much to do. We managed to fit in some browsing, buying, Wii games, DS games, a SWTOR PVP session, celebrity spotting, artist signings, panels on comics, internet stuff, we saw the mythbusters, stood in mile long lines, didn't stand in 2 mile long lines (that's an exaggeration - it wasn't 2 miles, but it was long - it was about 1km, actually - that's pretty long for a queue). We ate in a restaurant that had been taken over by SyFy and made out to be the restaurant from a TV show - Cafe Diem from Eureka for anyone who watches that (it's good - give it a go if you are looking for something fun with a sci-fi twist to watch).
What really amused me was that we had to get the train in each morning and the main stop was 12th and Imperial Transit Station. It's funny because if you ignore the 12th, it becomes Imperial Transit Station, which has a very sci-fi tone to it - like something from Star Wars.
I don't know what else... River is well. She's really cute, actually. In the evenings when lordkilljoy is at work, she sits beside me just waiting for rubs and attention. I think she misses having someone to cuddle next to on the couch. She's gotten into a routine of sleeping until 8 these days - which is good. 7 was just a little too early for me. She even slept until 9 the other day. Amazing.
Right - I think I'll go now. Get some food, maybe. I'm thinking of just putting on dinner, because I have no idea what to have for lunch. It's a little early for dinner, though. Oh well.
20 June 2011
River Tam
This might seem to come out of the blue... but we got a dog :)
Her name is River (a good name :P ), she's small and cute and pretty good in terms of walking and things. She likes to pull on the lead a little, so we have a little bit of training to do with her. She's still young - 1 and a half. We picked her up from the animal shelter today - she'd been left there by her previous owner because they are out all day and hadn't been able to exercise / play with her enough to use up her energy, and she'd started to get a little destructive around the house.
We were given a little starter bag of food, but when we got home we realised it was cat food. So we bought dog food and gave it to River and she wouldn't eat it. We mixed it with a little of the cat food and she munched away happily. Funny doggie.
She was excellent in the car on the way home. We put the seats down, so she had full run of the back of the car, and she settled down and practically fell asleep. She was doing the head nodding thing and all. Awhhh :)
She's napping in the middle of the kitchen floor right now. She has a bed outside, a container for night-time sleeping, a good stretch of carpet, and she chooses to sleep on the hard kitchen floor. Maybe it's the coolest, or something.
It's great though. Now all of us can go out for walks in the evenings :) And she and I can go for walks in the morning and play during the day and things. Yeay.
Her name is River (a good name :P ), she's small and cute and pretty good in terms of walking and things. She likes to pull on the lead a little, so we have a little bit of training to do with her. She's still young - 1 and a half. We picked her up from the animal shelter today - she'd been left there by her previous owner because they are out all day and hadn't been able to exercise / play with her enough to use up her energy, and she'd started to get a little destructive around the house.
We were given a little starter bag of food, but when we got home we realised it was cat food. So we bought dog food and gave it to River and she wouldn't eat it. We mixed it with a little of the cat food and she munched away happily. Funny doggie.
She was excellent in the car on the way home. We put the seats down, so she had full run of the back of the car, and she settled down and practically fell asleep. She was doing the head nodding thing and all. Awhhh :)
She's napping in the middle of the kitchen floor right now. She has a bed outside, a container for night-time sleeping, a good stretch of carpet, and she chooses to sleep on the hard kitchen floor. Maybe it's the coolest, or something.
It's great though. Now all of us can go out for walks in the evenings :) And she and I can go for walks in the morning and play during the day and things. Yeay.
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