Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in snow maiden b's LiveJournal:

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Tuesday, November 24th, 2009
6:29 pm	I came into the craft room to sew a little. A couple of Christmas presents came along with my parents in Chicago and since I'm so particular about everything, the sewing machine will be put to use tonight. My projects-- each of them are minor and easily fixed, mended or pressed-- are waiting for me in various parts of the room. Yet all I've done so far is watching some doofus play Simon's Quest on youtube. Y'know, as hilarious as it was to see him imitate the hunched, humpback walk of the Belmont clan, my brother Chris really shouldn't be egged on after the second beer like that. Now all I want to do is play any Castlevania I can find. Ah, nostalgia. Well, good side: at least all the laundry got done last night and we did prosess some tasty Thai food tonight. (Comment on this)
6:13 pm	Got back from Chicago on Sunday but still exhausted. Must have been the night of drunken Rock Band with my brothers and my honey. Will put up my photos soon, so be on alert if you like sometimes fuzzily shot pictures. Lovelovelove, Bee (Comment on this)
Monday, November 16th, 2009
11:57 pm	I put my ear to the ground and felt the best whisper in the world. A rumor of a Moomintroll movie. I don't care if it's in Finnish with Swedish subtitles and only available on Beta-max, I will be there to see it. Heartiness! Happiness! I know a bunch of movies and television shows have been made already. And why on Earth was the anime series so appallingly, badly dubbed? Eugh! And you can see the Moomins's mouths every once in awhile. I find it really disturbing and much more satisfactory if their snouts just jostled as they spoke. They don't really need a mouth. Dear saints, this movie had better have real puppets made of felt and feathers and there had better be genuine creases in Snufkin's hat. Any CGI and I will fume. Also attached is none other than Björk. She's supposedly writing a song for the score. (Mummi Laulu?) I really hope she's plays the recorder like it's bloody fucking Wind in the Willows or goes all ethereal with harps and crystals like she did for Amphibian or maybe just a buncha Finnish clog dancers and playing the tines of a rake like a xylophone. *sigh* It could very well never exist. Nice to imagine, though, no? (Comment on this)
Sunday, November 15th, 2009
9:38 pm	Man, I am such a city kid. 'Oh, this calf drawing doesn't look like a cow. I'll make it into a lamb!' A half-hour later it has oodles of curls ... but a big bald stripe and spot on the head like a Holstein cow. Can you tell that the closest I've been to a farm has been a petting zoo and my step-mother's retired father's farmhouse? Soybeans don't tell you much. This oil pastel drawing is cute but-- good lawd-- it's goofier-looking than Michael Phelps. Current Music: Born under punches-- Talking Heads (Comment on this)
Wednesday, November 11th, 2009
1:01 am	Good to know... While I did the laundry this week, I noticed in our newly insulated garage (much toastier in this wet, dreary, rainy Seattle autumn) that we have not one... Not two... But three heavy steel axes with long solid handles. No vinyl here or fragile wood, they're solid handles. If those snap, they can be used to stab. So when the zombies cross the 520 from the city or whenever our elderly neighbors here in the 'burbs succumb, we have some heavy melee weapons available in the house. Just good to know I won't have to dash and dodge like Claire Redfield to the kitchen to get my cast iron skillets. Y'know... Current Music: Freaks come out at night-- Whodini (8 Comments |Comment on this)
Sunday, November 8th, 2009
6:17 pm	I cannot switch off teacher-mode even as I work at home, my shoes off, my own supplies, a 'whenever' deadline. And though this watercolor will most likely end up as Christmas present for family, who doesn't care if I miff a medium value shadow, I still hear my teacher-voice insist: 'Push that shadow, make it bigger and softer.' 'Less pressure on that brush, make a pointed line on top.' 'More color! More color! No white spots in that background!' Bah, I have to put it down. It'll be beautiful. It will be loved, relax. (Bah, that's more teacher-voice. ^-^ ) Current Music: Working for the weekend-- Loverboy (Comment on this)
Tuesday, October 27th, 2009
10:54 am	My deadline of Saturday is looming and I'm not quite all together for a costume. The blouse is giving me some fits if only 'cos I'm not sure about its finer details. Do I want the bias binding on the neckline to be bigger and more noticeable on top or half the size I cut? Should I use it as a facing instead? It will have a drawstring in it so discretion might be a better play. What really has me in a jam is that I'm making this blouse well enough so I can wear it as just a regular garment. (Dummy). All the pieces I've made can easily work together-- it's not going to be a sleek look but it's not meant to be. I'm currently really regretting the choice to leave my cheap-ass dressform behind in Michigan. I could really use it right now. :\ D'you think it's possible to put in a request for my own Tim Gunn? My sweet, sensitive boyfriend is not the best guru when I need a critique. Like Johnny #5, I need input! Some critical advice would be most excellent to help me make up my mind 'cos right now my brain is on panicked, rat-like survival mode. Maybe I'm still grieving the mysterious loss of two watercolor paintings. Er sumthin' And still no pumpkins to carve. I know that pumpkins won't all vanish immediately after Halloween but I haven't decorated at all and it makes all the ghosties and ghouls in my heart shrink a little. Augh, how do I get so busy unintentionally? Current Music: Girl, you'll be a woman soon-- Neil Diamond (4 Comments |Comment on this)
Tuesday, October 20th, 2009
3:02 pm	They wrote this song for Tori Amos to sing, didn't they? Dear me, we have a household now. It's cozy and warm, filled with kind people who like each other enormously. I keep commenting that we will have many more dinner parties now. And how happily, too! (And I'm one who loves making and having them). I imagine a lot of candles and happy times at the hearth. But why is this, my goslings? Our worst housemate has moved out, taking his dark clouds with him, and now his room is vacant. Er, was. It was vacant until about yesterday afternoon. The landlord, a painter in his younger days (who knew?), agreed to let me move my art and sewing supplies from our room into the newly vacated one. It was not of my asking but an extremely kind act on his. Who knows? Maybe I'll be teaching a little bit more, but at home? I have it mostly set up and I've gotten some candles to give it some mood. Honestly I wouldn't object to a cast of Buddhists and a priest around to exorcise whatever bad spirits remain from that guy. Eugh, I'm soft-hearted enough to feel badly about how miserable his last few weeks must have been. Nobody was on his side anymore, not even me. But then I'm a Catholic at heart, I know that all bad actions that fall upon you just 'cos you were born. My, my, how unforgiving I am! Mercy! An aside: how cute is it that-- yesterday, while I'm beat, dead tired my brother calls all energetic and wants to talk about Brutal Legend? Heh! I doubted that it was really Ozzy speaking his part (it is), but that my brother has so much trouble understanding Lemmy. Ah... maybe that's why he's so nervous and not wanting to go to Vienna and Prague this Christmas? What rot... Deciphering accents is part of the fun of being In Europe! Current Music: Frozen-- Madonna (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Friday, October 9th, 2009
8:24 pm	L'abeille, elle t'avait piquée! Some advice: teaching your boyfriend the phrases 'action button' and 'battle screen' in French only makes him tickle and poke you more. But to be fair, I did initiate it all by introducing them with a strident punch to his stomach. Maybe it's all the Demon Souls he's been playing lately. It's been influencing me. The obvious difficulty has me nervous to ever try it; his frustrations are enough second-hand to scare me off. However I like that everything looks believably medieval. The soot in the air, a slight tinge of tarnish on the armor, and the backdrops remind me of Pieter Bruegel since they are subtle primary colors, all suffused with light. And there's a mythology about in the game. He just fought off some salamanders with burning tails, for mercy's sake! I wonder what other alchemical creatures will show their faces. Speaking of sinister creatures lurking in the night, Bela Lugosi slept in his prop coffin while touring as Dracula during its theatrical run. He was a serious homebody who found hotel beds too uncomfortable. Who knew? I'm finishing up a biography I found of him at the Bellevue library. Apparently he treated crew members better than any of his castmates and had a pack of malamutes that he insisted accompany him on trips. Current Music: Concertina-- Tori Amos (Comment on this)
Tuesday, October 6th, 2009
11:16 pm	Beat. Beaten my cold. Being beaten up by travelling all around Puget Sound with my honey's mumma. (We saw the house she grew up in, which her strong, solid father wrought the bricks himself). She's wonderful, as always. I'm sad to take her to the airport tomorrow morning. We had a huge comfort food dinner tonight with our favorite housemate. The mushroom bourguignon came out only so-so. The real fun was washing dishes with my baby, teaching him a little French at the same time. That liquid trill of the French 'r' is still elusive. I think he feels self-conscious about having to purse his lips and cooooooo so much with the vowels. I guess it's more appealing if a woman does it. Oh, and it was crafts day, too. My honey has a Domo-kun cozy for his iphone. I'm not satisfied but he seems to be. *shrugs* I'm always up for some sewing. Maybe at some point there will be some Beatles Rock Band. ...probably. (Comment on this)
Sunday, September 27th, 2009
9:05 pm	'Some day we will blow clothes the way we blow glass...' 'It's ridiculous that fabric should be cut up to make a flat thing go 'round a round person.' I was having some troubles with my upcoming costume for Halloween. Mostly just how to get the loft I need in my skirt without much bulk. It's so easy to sketch it but so difficult to execute! My first thought was that quote of Mary Quant you see above. Wouldn't it be astonishing to load a bit of molten cloth on a pipe and then-- poooof! one long exhale and it's a ballgown. Then I recalled that the dirndl I made three (eek!) years ago has plenty of gathering at the top. The petticoat I made for last year's get-up would certainly prop it up. I have a jacket I can adapt and the rest is easy to make. No worries! All I have left to do are the accessories: a pair of out-moded, heavy goggles and a dense scarf. In other news: There was a small party this Wednesday for me and mine, four years of togetherness. We celebrated with rainbow cake that I made, a great success, and bottle of champagna~~~~ from our very thoughtful housemate. Next time I'll try a mushroom bourguignon for the dinner beforehand. :9 I taught one of my seven-year-old students the word and meaning of 'orthogonal' this weekend. It was completely unintentional and had scant relevance to the pencil drawing of hers. Both of us giggled like little gremlins as I demonstrated with my pencil the difference between that and 'diagonal' I hope there was some retention. Who knows? She might surprise her teacher with it on Monday. Current Music: Dear Prudence-- the Beatles, maaaaaan... (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Tuesday, September 15th, 2009
3:43 pm	An embarrassing admission: I have done nothing all day but be in pajamas, watch Purple Rain and The Ghost and Mrs. Muir. Well, that's not everything. I did spent a shocking amount of time reading a buncha forums. Only about two hours ago did I get dressed. Sweeping the room and playing some Smash Brothers is penciled in for tonight but ... eh, if I feel like it. My days off combined with no boyfriend make the time full of doing nothin' (Comment on this)
Friday, September 11th, 2009
8:00 pm	Ah, the best remedy to an evening of waiting after work is a spicy dinner. Come to think of it, the best solution to just about anything is a spicy dinner. I found an envelope of taco seasoning I brought way back at the beginning of the year. The vegan boullion I have around give my borth a tinny quality that's quite unlikeable. Why not a change of pace? I'm glad I used only a small bit of it-- it's very red meat, smokey-- and only so many red pepper flakes, too. Any more and they'd be picking up my head in Oregon. My honey should be home tonight but much later than I should stay up. That's the trouble with working the weekend; so often I get left out of plum plans and prime cuddling time. Very nicely though he's home on the weekdays. We'll have plenty of time to catch up... if you get my meaning... Anyway, movie with dinner? Well, why not, right? (Comment on this)
Monday, September 7th, 2009
6:39 pm	So much to tell vous: * met some of mah honey's friends, Anthony and the Ashleys. Very nice to have faces to names and made introductions. The Rock band bonding really helped break the ice. * said Baby has slipped and broken his foot. I'm in mondo Nurse Bee-mode as he clumps around in a big, plastic boot. Not the easiest patient I've had. * sewing like a fiend. It's all work-safe, washable tops so far. * all of this sewing has led me to my Halloween costume. ~~ Which I'm keepin' secret for now! Nyah nyah! ~~ * this weekend has been the time to get and receive phone calls from home. From all that I hear, it was probably for the better that I declined to attend my Nana's funeral; it was not a pleasant time for much of my family. The old wounds have left some serious scars. It's disappointing. In the meanwhile, we're here, playing videogames and having our old housemate from the 'Ham visit us. It's a recuperative time. Current Music: Skeleton boy-- Friendly Fires (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Thursday, September 3rd, 2009
1:16 pm	Why is it so hard to get going today? Eugh... (Comment on this)
Monday, August 24th, 2009
8:10 pm	Thank goodness for dads, especially when they send a little extra pin money to you. How adorable is it that my dad has ecru stationery with an embossed monogram on it? Sometimes he just reeks of taste. I spent a little of that extra cash today to get some fresh honey and Throat Coat tea. I can tell my body wants to be sick 'cos I'm going through the days with a scratch at the back of my throat. Ah, how fitting that the first symptom to appear is the very last one to leave! Any small act of prevention has been my focus at work. I've been vigilant about my vitamins and vegetables lately, as well as washing my hands constantly. Unfortunately I have the habit of wiping my eyes or scratching my nose, two of the most vulnerable places to get some grubby little germs rubbed in. However long I can stave off illness is a challenge. Time for some hot tea, yes? Boil the little buggers out of my system! (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Tuesday, August 18th, 2009
12:45 pm	The training is almost done for me and it's agonizing. .....augh.... I need a fainting couch. I want to be there so badly but we're working on oil painting so time is working against us now. I'm more than likely going to be at the studio solely to teach. A serious bummer. Good news, I'm first on the sub list. If the other teachers need a break, my phone will blow up. Good news, the major snafu that occurred on Saturday was swiftly dealt with-- lots of mis-communciations, parents taking advantage of our kindness and me just not having the experience to say no-- and I felt so relieved to hear the news that I handled it superhumanly. (Yay!) And hey! The second acrylic, a harder one for the older students, I finished and lawd-- it's a beauty. ---> A funny note, all the throw-away happy noises and comments, all my imitations of the other teacher I make-- I did my best Long Island 'Gorgaaaaas!' once my painting was glazed-- give my director and boss lady, the manager and my co-worker serious giggling jags. Girl, I didn' know you could get down like dat! Home is boring and my long patience with our particular housemate is spent. So where's the countdown to a full-blown chola fight? I can wax down my braids with vaseline in ten minutes, amorcita! Current Music: Shake the disease-- Depeche Mode (Comment on this)
Monday, August 10th, 2009
1:30 pm	So the first hug from a student happened this weekend. It's very gratifying to get a hug around the knees with a big 'thank you' from such a teeny-tiny person. She was catching on so quickly that I couldn't help but give her lots of praise and a high-five. What goes around, eh? I also taught one little boy from my afternoon Sunday class how to pop and lock a little. I'm sure he'll annoy his mother with that one. (His older sister is in the same class, a very serious and very skilled artist). I must have floated home, I was so happy after this weekend. Yeah, it's true love with this job. I've never felt so happy about work before. The director is even heaping on the praise. I've got great instincts for this and I'm catching on quite quickly. eee!!! I can't wait to go in tomorrow. Current Music: Move your feet-- Junior Senior (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Wednesday, August 5th, 2009
4:02 pm	New Schtuff! Lots of Kitty Punch! Meaning lots of handmade catnip toys. Easy to throw like a football, they bobble this way and that when they land. I'm testing the waters with fun things for the kitties of the world. And why not? --> Oh, and those are heavily laden with the 'nip so your cats will be floating for days. I do not believe in scrimping. I will have some funky, horned-lady drawstring bags photographed and the big, red Maroushka bag up this evening. Mega pinkie swear! Got that done, son! Current Music: The pleasure is all mine-- Björk (Comment on this)
Thursday, July 30th, 2009
12:40 pm	Man, what am I talking about? If we're going to dance, we gon' dance: (2 Comments |Comment on this)