craft ideas needed

Pic's been very into several books lately, one being Don't Cry, Big Bird. Because we buy pretty much every book used, we occasionally come across rips, doodles and other injuries. Our copy of Don't Cry, Big Bird is missing a page (which didn't phase Pic and Baby K when I read it to them, but it did bother me).

This morning, though, Pic revealed that she had found another copy of the same book in her room (I promise, I'm working on the catalogue today...I just added thirty more books), this one completely intact. Of course, we immediately sat down and read it (solving the mystery of Betty Lou's kite ending up in a tree).

In cleaning up, I just found the copy missing a page and was about to put it in the giveaway bag, but...really? I loathe giving away something that is kind of ruined. So, although I'm still feeling trepidation about tearing out pages, I'm wondering if anyone has any craft-type projects we mght do with the remaining pages in the 'ruined' book?

At the very least, I was thinking we could frame some of the pictures for artwork for Pic's room. Any more adventurous ideas?

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Oh, and before I sign off, I'll share my donation for the day: another book. We were given this book as a gift...six years ago. Yeah, I'm not so good with the memory books. Ah, well. Perhaps someone else will love it and actually use it.


(Ha! No more Photo Booth photos. Ha! That doesn't make my 'photography' any better.)

donation and sales

Whoo-hoo. The title is fab, I know. Whatever.

So, I finally have a donation picture that doesn't completely suck. For the last year, Pic's pool toys have lived in her bathtub (she bathes in our bathtub). This bear floatie was a gift from Peecho when we went to visit two years ago. Pic has since outgrown it and I think it's time to give it up. (The baby will be kept, the floatie will be donated.)



Also, book sales. Yes, because, I know, we need more books. I borrowed the car on Monday and bought sixteen new books for Pic's library. Used books. Books that cost $.79 each. (I'll never be able to catalogue all of the books if I don't actually, finally put into effect my rule that I have to catalogue each book as it comes into the apartment.)

Oh, wait. I just totally sidetracked myself from the booksale announcements. This Sunday, Grassroots Books is having a $3.99/bag sale (standard plastic grocery bag sized bag, but you can bring a reusable bag of that size if you have one). Grassroots has moved over near Costco. It's at 660 E. Grove Street. The bag sale begins at 3p.

Also, the Friends of the Washoe County Library System is having their bag sale at 5202 Mill Street on November 8th. The sale begins at 9a and it's $6/bag (they provide the bags). The 7th, they are having the 1/2 price sale.

Finally, National Blog Posting Month (the official one with the prizes) is coming up next month. You can sign up now and the process is so much quicker than it has been (I'm not sure how Mrs Kennedy changed it, but it worked nicely). I know that I just went on about how I should be glad that people don't post more often (because then I'd be spending even more time reading blogs), but I'd really love to read more from everyone. Also, there're prizes (which you can contribute to through the end of November, I believe). I'm all signed up. I'm just waiting to see if someone creates a fun badge I'll want to post on my page. See you there? Ms B has already signed up...anyone else?

proof our our oddballness

-- Earlier tonight, Pic and I stood in Costco, transfixed by the coffee grinding area. We sang B-52s' songs and swept up the mess of coffee grounds with the attached brushes that look like giant makeup brushes.

-- I just translated my blog into Italian (well, only the first 500 words) and was pleased to see that 'stagno per anitre' wasn't changed at all (meaning, I either got that right, or the translation machine had no idea what I was going for).

-- I'm having a late-night roasted zucchini snack. (I'd really love to accompany that with some S'mores ice cream, but, alas, we have none.)

-- I turned on a movie the other day and Pic glanced at the screen and asked in ecstatic anticipation, 'Dolly?!' hoping that we were about to rewatch Hello, Dolly!

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P. S. I don't find these things odd, but you should see the looks we get from Papi.

donation: day six

First...I truly and deeply apologize about the picture. The camera is not in the apartment and it's cold outside (snow has dusted the ground). I will try to be less lazy tomorrow and get the camera for some 'better' pictures (let's face it, I'm no great photographer under any circumstances, but I can do somewhat better than Photo Booth.



So, then. Here are the nail polishes that no one else wanted when I offered them (with the tempting information about formaldehyde and phthalates, no less). I still can't just throw them away, though, so into the bag they go. We've got a fun, clear one with sparkles and then some Mardi Gras colors (teal and purple). Goodbye, dear hardly used nail polishes.

addictions/collections

I just checked and there are TWO HUNDRED blogs in my 'blogs' bookmark folder.

No, I don't read all of those. I just have a compulsive problem, adding more and more to the list, anytime something looks somewhat promising. My tastes keep taking off in different directions and suddenly I'll have a ton of parenting blogs, food blogs, crafting blogs. I really try not to add anything new and occasionally I'll pare a few off.

It helps that not all of these blogs are still being kept up. Some are completed, but I keep them in my folder in case I ever want to go back and read them again. (Yes, I actually have done this. I think I might have read through Bringing Up Ben and Birdy three times. Auntie L isn't a fan of rereading books, but I am. I love the familiarity. This is how I feel with blogs. And movies, but that's a whole different post (maybe).)

There are about thirty-three that I regularly read. I suppose I'm just lucky that most people don't post more often than they do. I know that I'm always whining (if not always here, at least to myself) that everyone should write more, especially people I know personally. However, perhaps I should be grateful that people don't.

I sometimes wonder when or if I will tire of blogs, if I'll stop writing here, move even further into this disappearing act I'm so lately trying to perfect. I'm hoping that time doesn't come, because blogs have been somehow so good to me and writing here seems to have been good for me.

Anyhow, I just thought I'd share that moment of insanity and self-reflection.

donation: day five

Hey, how about some more crappy pictures of the crap in my life? Okay.

A box of random cards. I have come to realize that I'll never be a person who sends out cards for any holiday. I'm lucky to even get birthday cards sent out. So, I no longer need these cards from high school. (Yes, high school.)




You've got your Little Mermaid, your Scooby Doo, your Hercules and your Sailor Moon. Yeah, I wasn't so concerned with the whole trademarked deal back then.

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P. S. I might just have to break down and start taking real pictures, because this is going to make me crazy. I can only imagine the fits these photos are giving you.

donation: day four

Surrender.

Yeah. Sometimes I buy random movies at the thrift shops. I figure, 'Hey, they're cheap. Cheaper than renting even. And, I'll probably at least be able to tolerate the movie and watch it occasionally.' And then there was this movie.

[I might hereafter include some spoilers, just to let you know in case you ever feel like watching this...without me.]

I loathed this movie pretty much throughout. I don't like to give negative reviews of anything, but I'd rather be honest here. There were plot elements that were so totally outrageous that I was actually shaking my head in disgust. People being taken hostage and tied up naked. It was just silly. And then? They requested to relive it. Oh, oh, and let's try not to let me get started on the whole winning of the money. What kind of insane, insane gaming machine (it's been a while since I've seen the film, so I can't remember exactly what the machine looked like) blasts money into the air? What kind of other casino patrons don't come running to snatch at it? (Well, so I wouldn't, and maybe I'm just being overly-cynical.) And the ending? Entirely too predictable.

Let's just say that if I never watch this movie again, it'll be too soon (or something like that). (Although, I might prefer it to Johnny Mnemonic...but I'm really not sure.)

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P. S. I have no idea how to flip the image. Any suggestions? I can crop it and rotate it and play with the color saturation and sharpness, but I can't get the mirror image.