what did i get myself into

So! Things are happening. I did some sewing this week, though I have very few photos to share as I stupidly forgot my camera at my parents' house. But still, sewing happened! Awesome.

I went to an amazing show last night. I missed the first band (Stacian) but Manic Zamboni and Bzybodies get better every time I see them (NB: both started out awesome) and Possible Fathers was pretty great. Bzybodies is one of Nathan's bands, and I don't want to get all cheesy or whatever, but every time I see him play, I'm kind of blown away by how great he is.

Today has been less awesome! It is getting super hot again (kill me now), and I finally had some time to sit down and work on my thesis proposal, which reminded me how much work I still have left before it'll be ready to submit. And then I'll still have to write the thesis itself! (Kill me now again.) But at least I'm actually getting some of that huge mountain of work done, I guess? I stopped by the studio arts & craft center on campus, and apparently I can stop in whenever I want to work on sewing, so that's kind of amazing. They have AC and large tables, both of which my sad little sewing room lacks. The Madison Craftacular is now less than a month away (which I just now realized and okay I'm sort of freaking out), so it'll be nice to have somewhere to work on super-hot days.

Alright! I have so much to do, so maybe I should go work on things? Yes, definitely. Oh, and the photo is of the two ducks that live at my sister's house. They also have five chickens! Moving to Milwaukee next month will be a bit of a change for her and her boyfriend.

things i have done instead of doing my homework

1. Grocery shopping (Woodman's!!!)

2. Dishes (most but not all)

3. Cleaned my bedroom (moved some furniture around, rearranged + refolded all my clothes)

4. Found a Pad Thai recipe for dinner tonight (at this blog, Chez Pim, which looks pretty great)

5. Watched a lot of episodes of Real Housewives of Various Locales (well, NY + NJ) and also Law and Order: Criminal Intent

And the homework I'm avoiding? Reading 2 more articles and then writing a 250 word response to those and a few other articles + chapters. Ugh.

shoot me now

Can you spot the problem here? I just finally realized that all of the work I've done this morning was wrong and pointless. Trying very hard to believe that doesn't say something meaningful/symbolic about my stupid life right now.

pride goeth before the fall

Oh, you guys, I was so excited to make my new red dress that I decided to cut it out yesterday, even though I didn't have all the notions necessary to actually sew it here. What the hell, I thought, I'll cut it out here and then be ready to sew it as soon as I get back to Milwaukee.

Here's the thing--you know how they have those cutting layouts on the pattern instructions? And also, the note on the pattern about whether you should cut it on the fold or on the selvedge? Okay, maybe you don't, but both of those things exist, and it is really really important to actually pay attention to them. Which I knew! I know that! Normally I am super crazy nervous about cutting out pattern pieces and check the layout 300 times before I cut. But yeah, I cut out the front of the dress on the selvedge, because I was not paying enough attention! Also, I was a little too proud of myself for properly trueing the fabric. UGH. There is not any way to really salvage it at this point, as I am about a quarter yard short from cutting everything out from the fabric I have left, and there is really no way that dress would work with a seam down the front. I don't know, maybe I could possibly use the fabric for a dress with princess seams? Maybe it would work for Vogue 8408, which I would really like to make soon. Or maybe I'll give up and make a bunch of bags out of it.

Seriously though, I was feeling so good about sewing until I realized I screwed up that dress. I guess I still do feel pretty good about sewing, which is exciting. I had so little time to do anything last semester, but I'm quite excited to make a few dresses and sew some new clothes for myself. I also found a few pairs of pants in my closet at my parents house--I think I found them at thrift stores one of the last times I was here--and I cut pieces for 16 zip purses from 1 pair of pants. 16!! I cut out some cat toys as well, and I want to maybe do some handwork when I get back. Something like this; make something is such an awesome blog, and Karyn's shop The Workroom makes me want to move to Toronto just to take classes there. I have another two weeks (or so? don't want to think about the exact time) before school starts; I just want to sew as much as possible and get myself organized so I'll be able to make time for sewing once school starts again.

חנוכה שמח

There's a strong possibility I'll be going to Laos next winter, and I'm also beginning background research to possibly write my thesis on Hmong embroidery, so I'm going to start learning Hmong. The only thing that bums me out about the idea is that Hmong uses the Roman alphabet. I want to learn a new alphabet; that would be impressive as fuck, right?

hmm

Maybe I should start a tumblr? They seem easy to update, and totally the "in thing" among the young people. Well, I actually already have a tumblr that I started when I was bored [http://marinatina.tumblr.com of course!!!]. I was going to post a photo a day; I lasted like three days. So--maybe I'm an idiot? Never mind, I don't need another blog to not update.

hello!

I am still alive! Just ridiculously busy. There will be words and photos sometime soon, probably Friday when I have time to breathe. I hope you are having a good, less busy week. You should tell me what you've been up to! That's fair, right? "I don't have time to write my ridiculous blog entries, WRITE SOME FOR ME." Good deal. In the comments, tell me (a) what did you have for breakfast today, (b) what your favorite [non-meat based] Thanksgiving-type side dish is and (c) ten reasons that I am awesome. Kidding! I don't care what you ate for breakfast.

[Kidding! I really do want to know, I am tired of scrambled eggs and toast.]

tar-zhay

Today was a pretty even mix between awesome and totally fucking dumb. Oh, you guys, do not join a student club. Well, do not be an officer in a student club. STUPID STUPID STUPID decision on my part. UGH. I do not give a shit about your damn forms. I don't! I just wanted to hang out with people! We don't even spend any money! Do not treat me like I'm an asshole! When you put the notice about the Really Super Important Deadline in an email and then put "Monthly Update!" in the subject heading, I WILL NOT READ IT. UWM SENDS ME 234 EMAILS A DAY. Okay, not that many, but no lie, I get at least 10 emails a day from UWM. I read nothing unless it says "Required!" or "Important!" or "Free Food!" And only if there's an exclamation point; then I know they're serious.

FIRST WORLD PROBLEMS. Whatever. Target was awesome. I bought lots of things that are definitely going to make my life better. Except I cannot find the spray bottle full of chemicals that will bleach away the mold stains* on my shower curtain.

I could be at the Cactus Club, watching Nathan's new band's first show, and instead I'm here, reading about Chinese immigration during the exclusion era and doing all of the things that I forgot to do (by which I mean I keep thinking I'm caught up, then I remember something, and then I'm all [CURSE WORDS HERE] and looking for things to punch, and then I calm down and do it).

UGH. I will read and go to sleep early and wake up tomorrow morning at 5am and finish everything. YEAH.

*Yes, I know, GROSS. I know! That's why I'm bleaching them away. And if you can tell me how to avoid mold stains in a bathroom with no exhaust fan and zero circulation, then I will not have mold stains anymore!

sometimes i can't shut up

First class of grad school was today.

Things started to go wrong even before class started. I knew the building and floor where the class was meeting, but I did not know the room number. Something was up with the UWM servers today, so for about 20 minutes all three sites where I could get course information were down. One of them finally started working about 20 minutes before class started, so I didn't have to wander around the ninth floor of Curtin, looking for people talking about colonialism and culture. I did not, however, have time to eat dinner. That, combined with my year and half break from anything academic or in any way mentally stimulating, meant that I had no real ability to think clearly or make a coherent argument. Of course, that did not stop me from talking constantly. I just couldn't stop; we were talking about colonialism in India and in France, and I had anthro classes about both countries, and no one else was talking, and I really honestly had something to contribute, and I could not stop myself from spouting off every two minutes, even though I knew I was making absolutely no sense.

So... yes. Mixed feelings, I guess. I was not shy about participating, which is good. And, um, I guess I'm cautiously optimistic that if I do the reading and go to class prepared (and fed) next week, I will not make an ass of myself again.

confusing

The subway stopped at 47-50 Streets/Rockefeller Center (Top of the Rock). A girl got on, dressed in a white flouncy skirt and a blue polo shirt. "Gross eew preppy," I thought to myself. Then I realized I was wearing a blue flouncy skirt and a pink polo shirt. Gross eew preppy, indeed.

i am a terrible daughter

actual [abridged] phone conversation from earlier tonight:

marinatina: happy birthday mom!
[blah blah blah "how's san francisco?" etc]
marinatina: so mom, for your birthday, i was thinking i could pay for half your ticket when you visit me? you know, if you wanted to visit me... and if not, maybe i could get you something else? but maybe the plane ticket? that's a good present... right?


i am terrible at the whole "presents" thing, especially the presentation part. i gave my sister an amazon gift certificate, but i sent it to her two days late, and when i called her on her birthday, i was like "so, i was thinking i could get you an amazon card? so you could buy the cds? or maybe something else? or whatever, let me know." because i am all class. SOMEONE HELP ME.

whatever. happy birthday to my mom, the coolest mom in the whole damn world. someday i will learn how to properly celebrate her birthday, but until then, she'll love me even though i'm a total spaz.