Hey all! Meant to post the other day but– well, I’ve been in a strange mood as of late and haven’t gotten around to much, sadly that’s a very literal truth but I’m not willing to go into that right now. Right now I want to tell you about a very cool new skill I learned just the other night.
Crochet!
I’ve been telling myself for years now that I was going to learn but I just never got around to it. My mom in law and I have been thinking about getting together to have a crochet lesson for months but we’re both busy on an off and never made the time. Finally a friend of mine and a recent trip to an arts and crafts store convinced me that now was the time to learn.
I tried looking at a couple of different crochet books for beginners but… well, let’s just say when you need more than pictures to help you along it’s a sign– trust me. So, I got an idea. I’d look for a video on YouTube or something, deciding that and having no idea if I’d even find one in the first place I decided to pick up a basic set of hooks and some yarn (not the yarn below, a more basic solid color to start with, this is just some stuff I had lying around), pretty much just jumping off the cliff into an idea and not knowing if I’d even be able to figure it out.
In the end I was glad I did. I watched a series of three videos, paused them every three seconds or so or backed up (since Mowgli, my ever present lap warmer, decided he had seen enough and put his paws all over my laptop) to watch something again -and– now I can make Granny Squares!
I took these photos just a few minutes ago. These are Granny Squares but instead of stopping around the usual size I kept on going around a few more times because I want to make an afghan but it’s a lot easier for me to continue a square rather than start one. The first picture is of both my completed squares laying on Mowgli. He’s such a good kitty, let’s me lay yarn and such all over him and just sits there. The second picture I was trying to take a distance picture of my second square on my laptop but he kept sticking his head in the way of the camera. The one little moment I thought I was clear and pushed the button down he stuck his head right in the way again. Silly kitty.
Speaking of cats, I’m working on a new project I’d like to call ‘101 Reasons Why Every Writer Needs a Cat’. It’s basically a bunch of short stories and long thoughts about how my seven furry muses have helped me along my writing journey. I’m thinking of creating a private blog for it for awhile so I can compile it easily and show it to some of my friends out there but I’m not sure yet.
I’m thinking of changing the look of the site again but I don’t know yet.
Bear with me if this post seems a little off. I’m testing out this new desktop blogging software and well, have you ever taken a tour through an empty house possibly before buying it? That feeling of being in a completely new but yet somehow private place? That’s how I feel when pouring my thoughts and feelings into a new bit of software. I know it’s meant to be the private place it may become but that doesn’t stop it from being the foreign and alluring place it currently is.
For those who are curious: why am I trying out a new desktop publishing program?
Two reasons.
First, for the main part of this site (the .com without the /blog added) I’m going to be reviewing some of the different writing software I use. This isn’t one I typically use but I thought that this might give me a great excuse to download and play with things.
Secondly, Windows Live Writer takes too long to load for me and tends to go funny while I’m listening to music which pretty much means all the time. This program (BlogJet) isn’t half as pretty but it has less distraction. If I can figure out how to set up some sort of autosave feature then I’ll be all set but we’ll see what time has to say about the matter.
On another blog related note I’m going to start video-blogging. Not all the time obviously, just every couple of posts. I’m going to start as soon as I find some batteries for my camera but I’m also saving up some money for a regular camcorder that will last through my nature hikes, skits, songs, and some of my thoughts that would take more than any AA battery can offer. I’ve never video-blogged before (obviously) and I’m not really sure how I’m going to start it but it just sounds so fun and I love making videos anyways. If anyone has any suggestions, tips, tricks or anything else they’d like to share I’d be extremely thankful.
Let’s see here,… what else… hmm.
Oh, I got a new haircut. I had a friend do it at work just before New Years. She did an excellent job considering we were both trying to get through the experience in under twenty minutes since she had to catch a ride and I shouldn’t have been on break. That’s probably the first time I’ve done something like that at work– not something I plan on making a habit of but it was a fun way to break in the new year. She still has some tweaking to do she says but I love it, either way I’m willing to let her play with my hair again. I’ve had bad experiences with letting friends play with my hair before but she really did an excellent job that and it’s really nice to have a friend at work who isn’t just a work friend.
You know what I mean?
It’s… disappointing to come and go from work all the time, to have all these people I talk to and then listen to them talk to each other about their plans before or after work, to know that I’m not socially brave enough to ask to go along. I have been getting a little braver though– while I can’t make myself ask if I can ‘hang out’ I have been organizing these little outings between a few of us. It’s not too much but it’s enough for me.
On another note I’ve been a bit out of it lately– to my credit it’s been a really hectic week, but it’s just weird. I feel off balance. I have nothing to be depressed about, my life is wonderful right now. I love so much and I have so much I really am happy about. I’m not in a bad mood or anything -but– I’ve still been feeling kind of down for no reason. I know it’s natural for this to happen from time to time but that still doesn’t make it any less weird.
Anyways, it’s… well, I don’t know what time it but it’s AM and the sun’s been up for a few hours which probably means I shouldn’t be conscious. Good night all and thank you so much for everything.
PS– I’m adding something to my resolutions, I really want to do all I can this year to find a way to help others through my writing. I’d love it if anyone could point me in a possible direction though I’m sure something will come my way when the time is right.
