Signs

Not watching TV is hard.  No, really.  The first week or so was surprisingly difficult.  I had no idea I had become so dependent.  Hi, my name is Heather and I am addicted to streaming stupid shit on Netflix.  We're talking Piranha, (actually, Piranha was highly entertaining -- in a cheesy horror, show-all-the-boobs kind of way), The Vampire Diaries (I should be ashamed, but I'm not.  I regret nothing.), Without A Paddle (I have no excuse for this one).  The list goes on.  With the exception of Breaking Bad and maybe a few others, we're not talking quality programming here.  I'm filling my brain with utter tripe and I miss it.  I miss tripe!

The word "filling" is key here.  I realized I use TV as company.  I'm alone most evenings after work (no "woe is me, I'm so alone" -- just stating the facts) and having the TV (or laptop) on is company of sorts.  It's noise, it's laughter, it's man-eating, boob-shredding, demon piranhas from the depths of hell, etc.  The first few days of no TV I felt very alone and I almost caved on numerous occasions.  It was also reminiscent of my 'Mediate Every Day' challenge in that, again, any time I am faced with quiet or an opportunity for introspection, I get itchy and uncomfortable.  That's a sign of ... something.  Yep.

But, as the month has gone on, it's gotten much easier.   I'm listening to music, tackling the pile of books (virtual pile, in the case of my Kindle), Snickers the Cat and I have had some deep, philosophical discussions about life and the joys of tuna, and that pesky junk drawer is still full of junk, but it looks neater.  It's been grand.  I also started drawing this:

I have nothing of my own to show yet, but I'll share the finish product when it's done.
I'm sure it will look exactly like this.  Only better.
(And maybe with an ox.)

When November rolls around, I have no doubt I will spend the first week huddled in bed catching up on all the shows I missed in October (I feel a cold coming on already), but I am starting to wonder if I'll go back to watching six straight hours of White Collar (... well, not that I've ever done that; it's just an example).  It's been nice not wasting hours watching bullshit and actually reading the book I want to read but normally set aside to instead get sucked into a show laden with teenage angst and werewolves.

That being said, I still have two entire seasons of Breaking Bad to catch up on.  Those episodes aren't going to watch themselves, folks!

In other news, walking down the hall at work this afternoon I realized I am supposed to be walking 15 miles this month.  I haven't done that.

Also, our team, Have Fun Storming the Castle, won at trivia tonight.  Don't hate.

Picasa does a great job of fixing 'red eye'.

Double Rainbow All the Way!

Colleen told me to google "melted crayon art", so that's what I did.  I do what my friends tell me.  They're smart.  And pretty.  And have great hair. 

Melty goodness.

I thought it'd be a fun project for me and my nieces to do together, but Sarah and I basically took it over, pushing the kids out of the way when they messed with our crayon arrangement.  WE HAVE A VERY SPECIFIC STRATEGY, CHILDREN.  YOU'RE RUINING EVERYTHING. 

I follow directions good.

Lydia did help a little.

White crayons are the tastiest of the crayons.

The color scheming and gluing were the easy bits.  The next part got a little, um, hot and boring.

The family that melts together, stays together.

First drips.  Hallelujah.

About 15 or 20 minutes into this, our expressions say it all.

Lydia:  Why are we doing this?  It's hot as shit in here.  I'm over it.  Give me a banana.

I don't know how you're supposed to blow dry this stuff and not have it spray everywhere.  But I like the effect, so I'm choosing to pretend I did it on purpose.

... though I guess saying that here just gave it away.  Hmph.

Crayon says, "I will not blow in straight lines."

Still, overall it was a fun venture.  It took us about an hour all said and done and Penny squealed with delight when she left the room saw the finished product.

My flowers lost all of their color.

You cut me open and keep bleeding, keep keep bleeding love...

Snickers is not impressed.

Swing and a Miss

Today was a bit of an odd day.  I was at work for around 15 hours.  Fifteen.  I counted.  I even used my fingers because I thought for sure I was wrong (math hard), but nope.  Fifteen.  I was creative at work today but I can't share it on here, so instead, here are some pretty flowers.

Roses are red
Violets are blue
I am very tired

Jennie's lovely BF sent her these flowers today.  (Is it ok to call a man "lovely"?)  She wasn't there to pick them up from the front desk this evening, so I grabbed them for her and brought them safely to my her office.  I had to cancel my own V-Day date to be responsible an' shit, so I had a bag of chips and an orange for dinner.  Shockingly, I am still hungry.

Figured I'd work off that crap "meal" at my volunteer shenanigans... where I saw this:

Sure is a lot of space on this table.

WHERE'S MY GIFT BAG!?  I VOLUNTEER SO I'LL GET FREE SHIT!  FUCK YOU, CUPID.

(Actually, that's not true at all; I volunteer so I can lord it over other people and feel superior.)


(No I don't.)


(I need a hug.)


(And possibly a cupcake.)


(Or three.)


(I'm going to bed now.)


(With my cat.)


(And no cupcakes.)

Dissolve and Saturate

Jan 14th was "Bond as a Family Before Going Back to School" day for Kristy (Now with parents! (picture not included)).

I love having an almost-DSLR camera and an aptitude for self-portraits, as they enabled us to dissolve into silliness and giggles at The National Arboretum.

Puffy coat is puffy.  Tilted head is tilted.

Kristy wins for Best Giggle Face.

I will eat your braaaains.

We were in public, but like the honey badger, I don't care.

Betwixt the giggling, I took pictures of flowers.  So many pictures of flowers.

(prettiest flower)

Next stop, the American Art Museum and fun with shutter speeds:

Head's up!  (bah dum tss)

 

Creepy, yeah?  Apocalyptic Horse?

Also, more clouds.

I took 60+ pictures,  tough to choose only ... nine.