Because Coco Chanel once said, "The best color in the whole world is the one that looks good on you." She was born this past Tuesday in 1883 and you best believe I wore a black dress in her honor.
Have you ever looked back on something and thought how crazy the journey has been from point A to point B?
Let me be the first to tell you that I never envisioned I would leave Franklin County, PA, move to Gettysburg, and then from there to Sandy Springs, Georgia. Fifteen minutes away from the Atlanta city line.
There have been so many incredibly good things that have happened to me since then and it is so funny to reflect on life events and see how they've funneled you one way or another. But here I am, and I am loving life.
In case I ever get famous and anyone ever reads back this far, my name is Moose. My real name is Jennifer but no one calls me that. There are a copious amount of Jennifers in the world anyway, so I keep it simple and go by Moose. The story behind my nickname is a story for another day, but it will come out eventually. Now, two years after my last post, I am 25 and living outside Atlanta, Georgia. I work for an insurance brokerage firm after leaving the nursing home I was working at during the time of my last post, going back to waitressing, and then working at the welfare office. I have the best job for the best firm, living in the best city. I am beyond happy with where I am in my life!
Since I've moved to Atlanta, I've tried to make some healthy changes in my life, especially since my new employer really places an emphasis on wellness. They gave me a free Fitbit!! How cool is that!! Just one of their many wellness incentives. I've been doing some reflecting on my eating habits and lifestyle. I have been a vegetarian for 5 years - celebrated my anniversary last month! When I gave up meat, I dropped 10 pounds right off the bat. I've never regretted it, but now it's time to ramp it up a bit. Just because you give up meat doesn't mean you get a free pass, but I certainly started out thinking that. After a few weeks in to my new veggie lifestyle, I looked at myself and thought, "No, seriously, Moose - you need to learn to eat your vegetables because you can't live off pasta for the rest of your life. Although it is possible, it is not healthy, and isn't that why you went veg in the first place?" And so, I expanded my palate and started trying veggies. What do you know - 75% of the veggies I HATED as a kid, I LOVE now!!! Isn't it funny how things work out! I LOVE broccoli. I LOVE onions. I LOVE mushrooms. I am still ambivalent about carrots and if you feed me olives I will gag and spit them out in your face. You have been warned.
So anyway, back to my thought about examining my eating habits... I've noticed that while I'm maintaining my weight, I'm not steadily losing like I want. I feel like I have a layer of fat that sits on my lower belly and hips and thighs and that it is just hanging out there because it has nothing better to do. I should make it clear that I do not see myself as fat. But I don't see myself as skinny, either. Do I see myself as healthy? Yes. But could I do better for myself? Yes. Which is why I plan on severely restricting the dairy in my diet.
There. I said it. I just can't eat dairy and expect to lose weight. Which is a sad realization if you know that if it weren't for cheese and bread, I never would have survived childhood. (Oh, I guess now you know anyway. So pity me. Okay, that's enough.) When I was a kid, I could eat blocks of cheese for days with no gastrointestinal consequences. Now, I can't eat as much, but I can still put it away. Thanks to the awesome technology known as teh intranuts, I've been exposed to a lot of awesome blogs while searching for vegetarian recipes. A while back, I made an unofficial commitment to myself to be more self-sufficient - to cook my own meals and try to make as much as I can myself. Even to the point of where I will roast peppers and garlic for recipes instead of buying them at the store. I came across an amazing and inspirational blog called Oh She Glows by Angela Liddon - she has fantastic recipes, which is great, but she is self taught! In both cooking and photography! Now photography isn't my thing - I am much more comfortable in front of the camera than I am behind it - but cooking? Hell yeah! Reading her blog inspired me to dig this one out of the closet, dust it off, and put it to good use again. I'm excited to be sharing my experiences, both in and out of my kitchen, and hope that if anyone comes across this, they will enjoy it too.
Now with all that rambling done, who is excited for the WEEKEND?! OMG. Pick me. PICK ME!! Yes, I did say a few lines ago that I love my job, but I have NO insurance background and so it has truly been a learning experience. I'm trying to learn so many things at once that by the time Friday rolls around, I am fried, and I feel like my sweet little Leopard Gecko who, when she is really tired, will splay herself out on the floor of her tank with her limbs in all sorts of directions and just veg out. So after I finish this blog post, I'm going to the eff to bed. Here's what I have going on for tomorrow...
Some kind of physical activity at some point during the day.
(A walk in the morning?)
Drop off recycling
Farmers' Market!!!!!
Kroger!!!!!
Petco? Lizard may feel like crickets...
I think that's it. I get paid next Friday and my mom gave me a butt-ton of coupons, so there will be trips to the mall (ick! ick! ick!) next weekend.
What's On The Stove
What am I cooking tomorrow? Why, let me tell you.
Lentil Walnut Mushroom Balls with Cranberry Pear Sauce
Italian Bean Balls with Spaghetti Squash Noodles (although I have a bunch of pasta I need to use to clear out my one pantry cupboard so I won't be doing the sketti squarsh.)
My Favorite Vegan Chili with Homemade Vegan Sour Cream (thinking maybe if I start to make soups and chili, fall will come sooner. Along with my Yankee Candle catalogue with its coupon.)
Soft & Chewy Baked Granola Bars
One Bowl Double Chocolate Chunk Cookies (if I get to them, I get to them. If not, that's a sign that I have had enough sugar this week.)
All of the recipes are, of course, from Angela's blog Oh She Glows since I'm fairly well obsessed with it right now. Since Atlanta traffic is awful, I really don't have time in the evenings to come home and cook, so I save it all up and do it for a day on the weekend and freeze things. It's such a time-saver, and I love being able to warm up something good for me made by me! (Plus it makes my coworkers jealous when I bring stuff like homemade veggie burgers and pizza quinoa stuffed mushrooms to work.) I'm a little ambitious this weekend but I hope to be able to get everything done if I start early enough. It has to happen tomorrow because part of my day Sunday will be dedicated to a bellydance workshop!! Stay tuned for deets!!
<3,
Moose
Friday, August 22, 2014
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Blog Update Update!
So here's the thing. I'm kind of turning this blog into a sewing blog because of a lot of reasons. I'm really getting into this hobby to support my hobby (of reenacting, if you've been living under a rock for the past 6 months) and now others are supporting me support my hobby to support my hobby. Roundabout speaking, I'm starting to get commissions. So by fine-tuning my subject matter, maybe you won't have to hear about it as much on Facebook! I can laud my successes and lament my oopses here. Now that *that's* out of the way...
Life Updates
Since I last blogged, I quit my job as the assistant memory care coordinator at the personal care home where I was working. Now I waitress again and I am so stress free it's ridiculous. That came about because of a host of reasons, but mainly because I am going back to school! Yeah! I've been accepted to Clarion University for my MSLS - Masters of Science in Library Science. Woop! Just keep your fingers crossed for me a little while longer... that's only part of the puzzle solved. ; )
I'm power cleaning Trianon Le Trois (my house! Cool Points to the first person to translate and explain where that came from) because my friend LEAH CULLEN is coming to visit me tomorrow night!!! She is staying 'til Wednesday because I have three days off from work! Plenty of time to do lots of sewing... I hope I don't bore Leah too much!
150th 2nd Manassas on Friday with the 6th New Hampshire Volunteers. I've got twice the gear I had at Spangler's Spring, so I'm really excited that my impression is improving. I have a new Miss Janet dress that will be making its appearance at the dance on Saturday evening! Eee! Hmm, what else do I have now... well, I got my bucket in the mail on Friday! How exciting is that! I ordered a lidded wooden firkin for my water bucket at events. I can't handle the nasty tin water taste so I upgraded to pine-flavored water.
Oh wait, that's gin!
I also ordered my hair! I can't dress my hair to save my life, so hair pieces are a must. I got a pretty tucked bun with a braid and also got sausage curls for more formal occasions.
Sewing Projects
Up!
My two commissions at the moment are two men's civilian vests for Civil War. The Boys (my Big Brother Bear and Pete) asked me to make them. Well, actually, here's how it went down. Pete asked me to make him a vest. Okay! He told me specifics n'at, and I ordered the pattern and got to work. He must have told Brother Bear that I'm making him a vest. So then I get a text from The Bear telling me to make him a vest like Pete's only better. ... Okay! I need to have them done by Friday afternoon. I think I can, I think I can... Pete's vest is a sand/natural linen front with a chocolate linen back/lining, straight bottom. Brother Bear's is a wine linen front with a pewter duchess satin back/lining, pointed bottom.
On Deck!
The day after I decided to start making myself a camp dress, Pete told me to make him a vest. There's no way on earth that I'll get anything done on this until after Manassas (sad face...) but I have all of my notions and other stuff. I call it a camp dress, but upon further research, I learned that they really didn't have garments known as 'camp dresses' during the Civil War. They referred to their dresses by color/pattern and fabric rather than purpose, since their dresses had many uses. "My blue watered silk" or "that old brown calico" are more appropriate terms for dresses. I'll use myself as an example - instead of two day dresses, I have my rosebud sheer and my blue checkered sheer. I actually just ordered some more fabric at Jo-Ann's yesterday - let's hear it for coupons! It should be in next week, so I'm going to "railroad" those two dresses much like I'm doing to those two vests. Railroading means making several of the same item at once - you do each step a few times in a row and it saves you some time. This is most commonly done with chemises. When I did that with my chemises, I made two in the time it took me to make my first one. (Or maybe that's because I was so improved. Heehee.) So I'll end up with a navy checked homespun and a brown plaid homespun to add to my sheers.
In The Hole!
I'm doing three Civil War events in a row (150th 2nd Manassas, 150th Antietam, and Cedar Creek) so I'll be working on another Civil War project. Most likely a privacy petticoat for over my drawers (if I ever decide to wear them! Teehee!) and under my hoop. Maybe I'll just continue with the railroading theme and make a few for over my hoop! Time will tell.
Alright, enough procrastinating! If I wait any longer to mow the grass, I'm going to have to bale hay!!!
Life Updates
Since I last blogged, I quit my job as the assistant memory care coordinator at the personal care home where I was working. Now I waitress again and I am so stress free it's ridiculous. That came about because of a host of reasons, but mainly because I am going back to school! Yeah! I've been accepted to Clarion University for my MSLS - Masters of Science in Library Science. Woop! Just keep your fingers crossed for me a little while longer... that's only part of the puzzle solved. ; )
I'm power cleaning Trianon Le Trois (my house! Cool Points to the first person to translate and explain where that came from) because my friend LEAH CULLEN is coming to visit me tomorrow night!!! She is staying 'til Wednesday because I have three days off from work! Plenty of time to do lots of sewing... I hope I don't bore Leah too much!
150th 2nd Manassas on Friday with the 6th New Hampshire Volunteers. I've got twice the gear I had at Spangler's Spring, so I'm really excited that my impression is improving. I have a new Miss Janet dress that will be making its appearance at the dance on Saturday evening! Eee! Hmm, what else do I have now... well, I got my bucket in the mail on Friday! How exciting is that! I ordered a lidded wooden firkin for my water bucket at events. I can't handle the nasty tin water taste so I upgraded to pine-flavored water.
Oh wait, that's gin!
I also ordered my hair! I can't dress my hair to save my life, so hair pieces are a must. I got a pretty tucked bun with a braid and also got sausage curls for more formal occasions.
Sewing Projects
Up!
My two commissions at the moment are two men's civilian vests for Civil War. The Boys (my Big Brother Bear and Pete) asked me to make them. Well, actually, here's how it went down. Pete asked me to make him a vest. Okay! He told me specifics n'at, and I ordered the pattern and got to work. He must have told Brother Bear that I'm making him a vest. So then I get a text from The Bear telling me to make him a vest like Pete's only better. ... Okay! I need to have them done by Friday afternoon. I think I can, I think I can... Pete's vest is a sand/natural linen front with a chocolate linen back/lining, straight bottom. Brother Bear's is a wine linen front with a pewter duchess satin back/lining, pointed bottom.
On Deck!
The day after I decided to start making myself a camp dress, Pete told me to make him a vest. There's no way on earth that I'll get anything done on this until after Manassas (sad face...) but I have all of my notions and other stuff. I call it a camp dress, but upon further research, I learned that they really didn't have garments known as 'camp dresses' during the Civil War. They referred to their dresses by color/pattern and fabric rather than purpose, since their dresses had many uses. "My blue watered silk" or "that old brown calico" are more appropriate terms for dresses. I'll use myself as an example - instead of two day dresses, I have my rosebud sheer and my blue checkered sheer. I actually just ordered some more fabric at Jo-Ann's yesterday - let's hear it for coupons! It should be in next week, so I'm going to "railroad" those two dresses much like I'm doing to those two vests. Railroading means making several of the same item at once - you do each step a few times in a row and it saves you some time. This is most commonly done with chemises. When I did that with my chemises, I made two in the time it took me to make my first one. (Or maybe that's because I was so improved. Heehee.) So I'll end up with a navy checked homespun and a brown plaid homespun to add to my sheers.
In The Hole!
I'm doing three Civil War events in a row (150th 2nd Manassas, 150th Antietam, and Cedar Creek) so I'll be working on another Civil War project. Most likely a privacy petticoat for over my drawers (if I ever decide to wear them! Teehee!) and under my hoop. Maybe I'll just continue with the railroading theme and make a few for over my hoop! Time will tell.
Alright, enough procrastinating! If I wait any longer to mow the grass, I'm going to have to bale hay!!!
Friday, May 18, 2012
Corsets And Camping And Ghosts - Oh, My!
Lots of fun and exciting things happening!!
Last weekend, I was lucky enough to hang out with the 6th New Hampshire Volunteers over at Spangler's Spring in Gettysburg - I camped out with them and there was lots of great music and fun times! For those of you who don't know me all that well, please know that I'm obsessed with Gettysburg and the Civil War in general. So of course I was just in my element (and my dress... and my corset...) this past weekend. I have a lot of stuff to do today so I can't go into too great of detail of how much fun I had, but I wanted to share a particular experience I had.
When I say we camped out at Spangler's Spring, I mean we actually camped out. On the battlefield. The spring was just a couple of feet away. As in, around 149 years ago, there were Union and Confederate soldiers walking around and dying exactly where the encampment was located. (Go here for a picture of the area not taken by me - you can see the Spring right in front - the encampment was to the left, around the rocks and the trees. That little cabin-esque building in the far right was renovated into a men's bathroom and a women's bathroom.) So for my first real camping experience, you can bet that it was pretty damn awesome.
Due to the lack of tent and then the sudden temporary acquisition of a tent, which is another story in itself, I stayed Saturday to Sunday. Saturday night, after some great camp music, the guys called it quits around 1AM. It was about time for me to get out of my corset and get into my blanket nest. I grabbed my little toiletry bag and MagLite from the tent. I made my way to the bathroom facility, roughly 50 yards away. The little building was divided in half with the men's bathroom on the left and the women's on the right, doors on opposite sides of the building. Flushing toilet, running water, paper towel dispenser, hand soap. Quite clean, barring an odd few bugs, and clearly renovated within the past year or two.
I entered the bathroom, pushing open the spring-loaded door. Spring-loaded because let's face it. Who really wants to walk into a bathroom occupied by an angry raccoon? "Not I," said The Cat. I gingerly closed it, letting the tongue of the latch rest on the strike plate. I didn't want to let it slam shut with a bang lest I either wake some guys up or startle the ones still awake into thinking that the Confederates had shown up. So obviously, that means I didn't lock it, the lock being a wee little sliding bolt lock. I really didn't think I had to, since most of the guys had turned in for the night anyway, and the ones that were awake knew where I had gone and would use the guys' bathroom on the other side. Besides, there was woods enough and brush underfoot that I would have been able to hear anyone coming.
I sat my stuff down on the deep windowsill (oh goodness, I just love deep windowsills... the kind you can sit in and read?) and trained my MagLite on the mirror above the sink. I performed my evening ablutions and constitutions, applying my lotions and potions, and finally pronounced myself fit enough to go back out to the tent and go to bed. I repacked my bag, zipped it, gathered up the MagLite, and turned around, reaching for the door.
You will be interested to know that I found it both shut and bolted. I'd like to thank the spirit of the soldier who was concerned for my modesty!!
Here's to a great weekend hanging out with the men of the 6th and many more fun times! Thanks for putting up with my petticoats, guys!! =D
Today, I've already finished my dirndl for the Reading Air Show coming up in two weeks. Right now in two weeks, I will mostly likely be in Reading and the 1940s!!! *Eee!!* More on the dirndl later. In case you don't know what that is, think St. Pauli girl.
Now it's time to dig crap out of the yard sale pile to list on eBay. Fingers crossed. I need to get rid of this junk.
Last weekend, I was lucky enough to hang out with the 6th New Hampshire Volunteers over at Spangler's Spring in Gettysburg - I camped out with them and there was lots of great music and fun times! For those of you who don't know me all that well, please know that I'm obsessed with Gettysburg and the Civil War in general. So of course I was just in my element (and my dress... and my corset...) this past weekend. I have a lot of stuff to do today so I can't go into too great of detail of how much fun I had, but I wanted to share a particular experience I had.
When I say we camped out at Spangler's Spring, I mean we actually camped out. On the battlefield. The spring was just a couple of feet away. As in, around 149 years ago, there were Union and Confederate soldiers walking around and dying exactly where the encampment was located. (Go here for a picture of the area not taken by me - you can see the Spring right in front - the encampment was to the left, around the rocks and the trees. That little cabin-esque building in the far right was renovated into a men's bathroom and a women's bathroom.) So for my first real camping experience, you can bet that it was pretty damn awesome.
Due to the lack of tent and then the sudden temporary acquisition of a tent, which is another story in itself, I stayed Saturday to Sunday. Saturday night, after some great camp music, the guys called it quits around 1AM. It was about time for me to get out of my corset and get into my blanket nest. I grabbed my little toiletry bag and MagLite from the tent. I made my way to the bathroom facility, roughly 50 yards away. The little building was divided in half with the men's bathroom on the left and the women's on the right, doors on opposite sides of the building. Flushing toilet, running water, paper towel dispenser, hand soap. Quite clean, barring an odd few bugs, and clearly renovated within the past year or two.
I entered the bathroom, pushing open the spring-loaded door. Spring-loaded because let's face it. Who really wants to walk into a bathroom occupied by an angry raccoon? "Not I," said The Cat. I gingerly closed it, letting the tongue of the latch rest on the strike plate. I didn't want to let it slam shut with a bang lest I either wake some guys up or startle the ones still awake into thinking that the Confederates had shown up. So obviously, that means I didn't lock it, the lock being a wee little sliding bolt lock. I really didn't think I had to, since most of the guys had turned in for the night anyway, and the ones that were awake knew where I had gone and would use the guys' bathroom on the other side. Besides, there was woods enough and brush underfoot that I would have been able to hear anyone coming.
I sat my stuff down on the deep windowsill (oh goodness, I just love deep windowsills... the kind you can sit in and read?) and trained my MagLite on the mirror above the sink. I performed my evening ablutions and constitutions, applying my lotions and potions, and finally pronounced myself fit enough to go back out to the tent and go to bed. I repacked my bag, zipped it, gathered up the MagLite, and turned around, reaching for the door.
You will be interested to know that I found it both shut and bolted. I'd like to thank the spirit of the soldier who was concerned for my modesty!!
Here's to a great weekend hanging out with the men of the 6th and many more fun times! Thanks for putting up with my petticoats, guys!! =D
Today, I've already finished my dirndl for the Reading Air Show coming up in two weeks. Right now in two weeks, I will mostly likely be in Reading and the 1940s!!! *Eee!!* More on the dirndl later. In case you don't know what that is, think St. Pauli girl.
Now it's time to dig crap out of the yard sale pile to list on eBay. Fingers crossed. I need to get rid of this junk.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Quilts, Sims, and Other Things
Got my first quilt pattern in the mail today!!! How exciting is that! However, if I would have known that I could purchase them at Sew'n Place, I would have gone there and bought it instead!! However, I did get a bunch of fat quarters to piece together for my quilt. I'll be making an appearance as Asyneath Bellhurst Grey at Spangler's Spring on Friday/Saturday/Sunday/IWishForTheRestOfMyLife and will be hand-piecing it as I hang out with the guys and sing rousing Civil War songs.
I had to ask one of my coworkers at our PCA meeting tonight if there was smoke coming off my ass. She looked at me like, "Wtf...?" I proceeded to tell her that I thought my pants were on fire because that salesguy at Sew'n Place was HOTTT. But of course, when I went back to actually purchase the fabric (stopped before my work meeting, was overwhelmed by the amazing fabric selections, had no time to browse, let alone wipe off the drool from my lipsticked kissers) I noticed he had a ring on. Which confirmed my suspicions that he was either married or gay. Dammit anyhow. I'm pretty sure that if God made me, like my mother says he did, he did so for the sole purpose of amusement. "Hmm. How can I disappoint Moose today?" I bet that's what he says as he sits on his celestial throne with a beer in his hand. I feel like I need some Sims upon which to take out my frustrations.
I had to ask one of my coworkers at our PCA meeting tonight if there was smoke coming off my ass. She looked at me like, "Wtf...?" I proceeded to tell her that I thought my pants were on fire because that salesguy at Sew'n Place was HOTTT. But of course, when I went back to actually purchase the fabric (stopped before my work meeting, was overwhelmed by the amazing fabric selections, had no time to browse, let alone wipe off the drool from my lipsticked kissers) I noticed he had a ring on. Which confirmed my suspicions that he was either married or gay. Dammit anyhow. I'm pretty sure that if God made me, like my mother says he did, he did so for the sole purpose of amusement. "Hmm. How can I disappoint Moose today?" I bet that's what he says as he sits on his celestial throne with a beer in his hand. I feel like I need some Sims upon which to take out my frustrations.
Monday, May 7, 2012
"Moosey's got a gun..."
I had a little scare last night, which resulted in emails to my three trusted guys containing a link to a handgun from Cabela's.
I have my bedroom A/C in the window, but just haven't gotten around to plundering my workbench for an extension cord and outlet adaptor. I sleep with my bedroom door shut so that the cats don't come in and wake me up and locked because the door is slightly wobbly on its frame but wobbly enough that when I walk around (or move around) in my room, it bumps against the frame and just irritates the crap out of me. Locking it keeps it mostly still, if that makes sense. (Ah, the joys of living in a 1940s cottage!) I decided to leave a window open while I slept so that it wouldn't get hotter than the seven hells.
I laid down last night and blissed out for a second. It was about midnight before I finally got to bed. I laid there, pleased as punch I have today off, which all of a sudden I heard a baby crying. My eyes flew open and I tensed up. Spidey senses tingling. There is only one baby I know of in the neighborhood, and there's no way they would be taking it for a walk at midnight. Besides, I didn't hear other voices or the crunch of stroller wheels on the street.
I immediately thought of an email I'm sure you've gotten or heard about.
"Someone just told me that her friend heard a crying baby on her porch the night before last, and she called the police because it was late and she thought it was weird. The police told her "Whatever you do, DO NOT open the door." The lady then said that it sounded like the baby had crawled near a window, and she was worried that it would crawl to the street and get run over. The policeman said, "We already have a unit on the way, whatever you do, DO NOT open the door." He told her that they think it is a serial killer. The man has a baby's cry recorded and uses it to coax women out of their homes thinking that someone dropped off a baby. He said they have not verified it, but have had several calls by women saying that they hear baby's cries outside their doors when they're home alone at night. Please pass this on! and DO NOT open the door for a crying baby."
www.hoax-slayer.com says it's untrue, but I didn't know that at midnight last night. Sounds a little far-fetched? Sure. But at night, when you're a single female alone upstairs in your house in a tiny village, everything can be real. Especially when you suddenly realize that you can't consciously remember locking your back door. I hate sounding vulnerable because I'm perfectly capable in any circumstance, but I had shit to do tomorrow and wasn't about to be bested by a serial killer.
I grabbed my Maglite, biggest one I could find at Walmart which is about the size of one of those fancy pepper grinders at a restaurant but five times as heavy, unlocked my bedroom door, and flipped on the lights. I know they say you're not supposed to turn on the lights because then the perp will know you're onto them, but how the hell else am I supposed to see what's going on? Besides, I just wanted to make it to the back door before anyone else did. I knew my front and side doors were locked.
I crept down the stairs, through the little hallway, through the family room, and saw Tabitha sitting in the dining room window, watching something in the back yard. I got closer and in the brightness of the moon could see two small lumps sitting in my grass. One was dark, one was silvery grey. So of course, I went over to the kitchen door, turned on the porch light, and proceeded to yell at Kinsey to get inside. Apparently he invited one of the neighborhood kids from the feral cat colony next door over for a slumber party and their caterwauling was what I heard. Don't ask me how it sounded like a baby crying, but honest to god, that's what I thought I heard. Kinsey, of course, slithered right across the street towards my grandparents' house. I stomped back up to bed.
So this morning, I'm redeeming credit card points for Cabela's gift cards. Just a deterrent to all potential breakers-and-enterers, horse thieves, pirates, cattle rustlers, and cat burglerz of teh hoomin variety.
I have my bedroom A/C in the window, but just haven't gotten around to plundering my workbench for an extension cord and outlet adaptor. I sleep with my bedroom door shut so that the cats don't come in and wake me up and locked because the door is slightly wobbly on its frame but wobbly enough that when I walk around (or move around) in my room, it bumps against the frame and just irritates the crap out of me. Locking it keeps it mostly still, if that makes sense. (Ah, the joys of living in a 1940s cottage!) I decided to leave a window open while I slept so that it wouldn't get hotter than the seven hells.
I laid down last night and blissed out for a second. It was about midnight before I finally got to bed. I laid there, pleased as punch I have today off, which all of a sudden I heard a baby crying. My eyes flew open and I tensed up. Spidey senses tingling. There is only one baby I know of in the neighborhood, and there's no way they would be taking it for a walk at midnight. Besides, I didn't hear other voices or the crunch of stroller wheels on the street.
I immediately thought of an email I'm sure you've gotten or heard about.
"Someone just told me that her friend heard a crying baby on her porch the night before last, and she called the police because it was late and she thought it was weird. The police told her "Whatever you do, DO NOT open the door." The lady then said that it sounded like the baby had crawled near a window, and she was worried that it would crawl to the street and get run over. The policeman said, "We already have a unit on the way, whatever you do, DO NOT open the door." He told her that they think it is a serial killer. The man has a baby's cry recorded and uses it to coax women out of their homes thinking that someone dropped off a baby. He said they have not verified it, but have had several calls by women saying that they hear baby's cries outside their doors when they're home alone at night. Please pass this on! and DO NOT open the door for a crying baby."
www.hoax-slayer.com says it's untrue, but I didn't know that at midnight last night. Sounds a little far-fetched? Sure. But at night, when you're a single female alone upstairs in your house in a tiny village, everything can be real. Especially when you suddenly realize that you can't consciously remember locking your back door. I hate sounding vulnerable because I'm perfectly capable in any circumstance, but I had shit to do tomorrow and wasn't about to be bested by a serial killer.
I grabbed my Maglite, biggest one I could find at Walmart which is about the size of one of those fancy pepper grinders at a restaurant but five times as heavy, unlocked my bedroom door, and flipped on the lights. I know they say you're not supposed to turn on the lights because then the perp will know you're onto them, but how the hell else am I supposed to see what's going on? Besides, I just wanted to make it to the back door before anyone else did. I knew my front and side doors were locked.
I crept down the stairs, through the little hallway, through the family room, and saw Tabitha sitting in the dining room window, watching something in the back yard. I got closer and in the brightness of the moon could see two small lumps sitting in my grass. One was dark, one was silvery grey. So of course, I went over to the kitchen door, turned on the porch light, and proceeded to yell at Kinsey to get inside. Apparently he invited one of the neighborhood kids from the feral cat colony next door over for a slumber party and their caterwauling was what I heard. Don't ask me how it sounded like a baby crying, but honest to god, that's what I thought I heard. Kinsey, of course, slithered right across the street towards my grandparents' house. I stomped back up to bed.
So this morning, I'm redeeming credit card points for Cabela's gift cards. Just a deterrent to all potential breakers-and-enterers, horse thieves, pirates, cattle rustlers, and cat burglerz of teh hoomin variety.
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Sunday, SUNDAY, Sunday!
First, I'd like to ask a question that's really been bothering me.
Do we really have a bobwhite somewhere in the neighborhood or it just some idiot practicing his bobwhite call?
Now that I've gotten that out into the open, I feel a little bit better and a little bit more confused.
While I'm waiting on my Morningstar Farms chik'n tenders to fry their little selves (yes, I'm a vegetarian. Did I mention I also strive to find the most amazing recipes I can and post them?) I figured I'd work in another post. Let's talk about...
BOOKS!!
Just finished Mistress of Nothing by Kate Pullington.
Verdict?
Not a fan.
In French Cinema, a class I took in college, Monsieur said that one of the main differences between American and French cinema is that Americans need happy endings. We need closure. We need everything to be okay. We need the guy to get the girl and ride off into the sunset. I can understand a majority of American movie-goers wanting that, since that's how most movies end up. But I like a good open ending every now and again, a movie that makes me think. Sometimes I just need a movie that makes me bawl like I'm two years old again. (The Time Traveler's Wife, anyone? I cried at the end of the book and knew what was going to happen at the end of the movie, and I sat there sobbing anyway.)
But I'll sum up the entire premise of the book for you. Lady's maid Sally Naldrett, about as loyal as a Labrador retriever, follows her mistress (referred to throughout the entire book as My Lady, slightly irksome) to Egypt because her mistress suffers from tuberculosis. I want a summation, not a spoilation, so I'll just say that shit happens and Sally's lady refuses to have anything to do with her. Ever. Hate hate loathe. Subsequently, Sally spends the second half of the book wondering what she did wrong and why her lady doesn't love her anymore.
The writing is fine, the book was well researched. I just don't like the main character. She's too Bella Swan. (Oh girl, don't even get me started on her.)
On a more positive note, I started The Bird Sisters by Rebecca Rasmussen. On a slightly more pessimistic note, I'm waiting for whatever ominous thing it is to be revealed. Almost halfway through. Still waiting. Though I enjoy the characters of Milly and Twiss much more than I enjoyed Sally.
In other news...
Happy birthday to my grandmother - Gree!! She's the woman who originally taught me that it's okay to dress up in crazy outfits. The only person you should be worried about is yourself, and if you're having fun.
Game of Thrones tonight.
Day off tomorrow.
Plans?
Sweep the house
Finish my dirndl for the Reading Air Show
Trim my RevWar duck butt hat.
Draft a Civil War chemise pattern???
Eh. Mow the grass.
Do we really have a bobwhite somewhere in the neighborhood or it just some idiot practicing his bobwhite call?
Now that I've gotten that out into the open, I feel a little bit better and a little bit more confused.
While I'm waiting on my Morningstar Farms chik'n tenders to fry their little selves (yes, I'm a vegetarian. Did I mention I also strive to find the most amazing recipes I can and post them?) I figured I'd work in another post. Let's talk about...
BOOKS!!
Just finished Mistress of Nothing by Kate Pullington.
Verdict?
Not a fan.
In French Cinema, a class I took in college, Monsieur said that one of the main differences between American and French cinema is that Americans need happy endings. We need closure. We need everything to be okay. We need the guy to get the girl and ride off into the sunset. I can understand a majority of American movie-goers wanting that, since that's how most movies end up. But I like a good open ending every now and again, a movie that makes me think. Sometimes I just need a movie that makes me bawl like I'm two years old again. (The Time Traveler's Wife, anyone? I cried at the end of the book and knew what was going to happen at the end of the movie, and I sat there sobbing anyway.)
But I'll sum up the entire premise of the book for you. Lady's maid Sally Naldrett, about as loyal as a Labrador retriever, follows her mistress (referred to throughout the entire book as My Lady, slightly irksome) to Egypt because her mistress suffers from tuberculosis. I want a summation, not a spoilation, so I'll just say that shit happens and Sally's lady refuses to have anything to do with her. Ever. Hate hate loathe. Subsequently, Sally spends the second half of the book wondering what she did wrong and why her lady doesn't love her anymore.
The writing is fine, the book was well researched. I just don't like the main character. She's too Bella Swan. (Oh girl, don't even get me started on her.)
On a more positive note, I started The Bird Sisters by Rebecca Rasmussen. On a slightly more pessimistic note, I'm waiting for whatever ominous thing it is to be revealed. Almost halfway through. Still waiting. Though I enjoy the characters of Milly and Twiss much more than I enjoyed Sally.
In other news...
Happy birthday to my grandmother - Gree!! She's the woman who originally taught me that it's okay to dress up in crazy outfits. The only person you should be worried about is yourself, and if you're having fun.
Game of Thrones tonight.
Day off tomorrow.
Plans?
Sweep the house
Finish my dirndl for the Reading Air Show
Trim my RevWar duck butt hat.
Draft a Civil War chemise pattern???
Eh. Mow the grass.
And here I am.
Well. Sunday seems as good a day as any to start a blog, so here I am, at the behest of one Spec, or Speckles as I like to call her.
"By the way, you should have a blog. I would follow haha"
This made me wonder if others would feel the same. So like any good psychologist, I'm testing that theory.
I guess now it's time for the obligatory introductory post. My name is Moose. I'm 23 years old without a single marriage prospect in sight. Hence the Miss-Adventures part of my blog title. A lot of what I get into happens because I'm on my own and refuse to hire anyone to do things for me. (Except for making me dresses for my reenacting career. Now *that* I will spend money on.) Sometimes they turn out really well, sometimes they turn out absolutely dreadful. It's always touch and go, but at the end of the day, I always learn something.
This is a blog about being a Moose, being a single, empowered female, being a reenactress who plays in three time periods, going back to school for a Master's degree, and having two cats. (And my subsequent struggles to maintain a clean household.)
Comments are welcome, free samples are encouraged.
"By the way, you should have a blog. I would follow haha"
This made me wonder if others would feel the same. So like any good psychologist, I'm testing that theory.
I guess now it's time for the obligatory introductory post. My name is Moose. I'm 23 years old without a single marriage prospect in sight. Hence the Miss-Adventures part of my blog title. A lot of what I get into happens because I'm on my own and refuse to hire anyone to do things for me. (Except for making me dresses for my reenacting career. Now *that* I will spend money on.) Sometimes they turn out really well, sometimes they turn out absolutely dreadful. It's always touch and go, but at the end of the day, I always learn something.
This is a blog about being a Moose, being a single, empowered female, being a reenactress who plays in three time periods, going back to school for a Master's degree, and having two cats. (And my subsequent struggles to maintain a clean household.)
Comments are welcome, free samples are encouraged.
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