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February 28, 2006

we'd all like a bit of that

"I have always sought to be understood and, while I was taken to task by critics or colleagues, I thought they were right, assuming I had not been clear enough to be understood. This assumption allowed me to work my whole life without hatred and even without bitterness toward criticism, regardless of its source. I counted solely on the clarity of expression of my work to gain my ends. Hatred, rancor, and the spirit of vengeance are useless baggage to the artist. His road is difficult enough for him to cleanse his soul of everything which could make it more so."

- Henri Matisse

this is sort of how i see a great many things...

Posted by talkingcrow at 11:54 AM | | Comments (0)

February 27, 2006

if i were less busy it might bug me more

i guess it's flattering when someone is hitting on one's significant other. i guess. yes, he's great enough for that to happen. but it's also a bit disrespectful. whatever. be careful of your karma, girlfriend.

in other news the back pain is a bit better. that's good news. i'd like to cut back on the vico-candy.

entertaining work convo:
me: so how do you feel about that icon?
mrboss: well, you could make it wider across this part, sort of wider hips.
me: right, so child-bearing hips.
mrboss: (laughing) yes, and more substantial here...
me: ok, so more substantial legs, sort of. make it more like a dutch milk-maid. a 35-year-old dutch milk maid.
mrboss: pretty much.

Posted by talkingcrow at 05:03 PM | | Comments (1)

February 24, 2006

i've just turned five.

I was looking for something else and finally found my old archives. Hopefully I'll get to fixing (restoring) them proper this weekend, but in the mean time, my first blogger post was january 15, 2001.

between 1996 - 2001 i just did all the html by hand. and that domain has died, so we might just call that good and not pick at it. however, one day the archives here will properly go back to 2001. why? i don't know. once upon a time i had actual hits on this site (back when i posted consistently ) :) but it's more for me. and if the 4 of you who read this now want archives, well then, voila. all the old weird google searches will find me again.

oh, and the photos are back in the current archives. happy happenstance to look for one thing and find everything else.

Posted by talkingcrow at 03:01 PM | | Comments (0)

ah crap

i think grace is channelling through rob breszy. or vice versa.

my horoscope for this week:
Welcome to your crash course at Happiness School, Gemini. To begin your first lesson, say the following aloud: "In the next 20 days, I will rigorously test the hypothesis that it's possible for me to become far more skilled at creating happiness for myself. During that time, I will do everything within my power to make myself feel good." Now take a piece of paper and write a list of ten familiar experiences that you really enjoy and ten untried experiences that would fill you with well-being if you summoned the courage and initiative to actually attempt them. Finally, Gemini, do at least one of those 20 experiences every day for the next 20 days.

Posted by talkingcrow at 02:42 PM | | Comments (0)

February 23, 2006

package delivery!


ruh-roh. the amazon package came. i have to save this until after i get work done. i am admiring them from afar until tonight.

update: report from the field - B. works across the street from kinokuniya. he went to visit the new japanese craft book section today to scout for me and says that there were many beautiful things. i might have to go there just to look this weekend, if i am mobile at all.

Posted by talkingcrow at 12:39 PM | | Comments (0)

February 22, 2006

delicate and airy


lately i'm obsessed with the designs of denyse schmidt. but while trolling around flickr, i found several photos of this beautiful korean version of quilting. it's called pojagi. it's worth a little google time if you are interested in such things.

denyse schmidt brings standard (by which i mean grandma's) quilting into the 21st century with designs i can barely stop staring at. and pojagi is sort of quilting without the quilt. with beautiful and simple patterns that are very pleasing.

it is to quilting what lace knitting is to felted knitted.

Posted by talkingcrow at 09:47 AM | | Comments (0)

February 21, 2006

and now for the good news

the side effects of the drugs i got today are being overly emotional. could be weepy, could be cranky. i'll start a pool. just what everyone needs.

i should go back to cute japanese craft books now, before anything crazy happens.

and no, that last entry/outburst was not related. just part of today's general meltdown. i assume that people CAN READ MY MIND sometimes. why is that unreasonable?

Posted by talkingcrow at 07:45 PM | | Comments (0)

how to drive me over the fucking edge

1) don't acknowledge email
2) when i point out you didn't acknowledge the email, don't acknowledge that either
3) continue an email thread attached to the same mail, but never acknowledge any awareness of earlier mail NO MATTER WHAT.

jeebus.

p.s. because it's all i've got - no questions in said thread will be answered.

Posted by talkingcrow at 02:10 PM | | Comments (0)

February 20, 2006

inside voices

oh, that's funny, or it could be funny, i should blog that.

and then it would be funnier with that part in it.

yeah, blog that.

... 2.3 minutes spent on install shield wizard something something for CS2

so, now what was that? was i going to blog something?

no. must have been something else. is it time for more meds?


---addendum:
when the meds have kicked in, and you just need pics to look at, try this, or this.

Posted by talkingcrow at 10:45 AM | | Comments (0)

February 18, 2006

mmrrmm hellllllooooooooooo

time, the universe, reactions, and particularly knitting tend to slow down when combined with prescription narcotics.

i didn't really want vicodin proper, i kind of liked the vicodin-lite that b. had left over from something else. it really helped with the pain, but didn't make me loopy. or, as sis-in-law would say, it wouldn't send me on a vi-cation. so i asked the doctor (via the phone in rx line) for just enough vico-lite to last until tuesday when i have my appointment, at which point we could discuss pain management further. it's somewhat of a crap shoot on whether or not you get your prescription called in when you call the doc on a friday, but they did call it in. b. was nice enough to go pick it up today. he looked at it when he got home and said "uh, you didn't get the fakey vicodin". ruh-roh. i was almost as concerned about too much as too little. i get tired of being in a vico-haze. but, as it happens, that's where i'll be. probably just as well at least for the weekend. i need to be able to walk come monday.
the beginnings of baby blue jeans from knitty
i've cast on for the baby blu jeans which are perfectly easy and i don't mind the denim yarn nearly as much as i thought i would. i have to say, i may take the route that many i know have gone - only knit baby stuff! it's so much faster! you can finish projects in a weekend instead of a month and a half.

so, i recline, knit a little, nap a little. i did get up long enough to make coffee, do dishes and vaccuum (which was the absolute limit to uptime), here at chez talkingcrow, it's mostly naps with buck. i will now cave into a foggy nap for a little while.

Posted by talkingcrow at 05:32 PM | | Comments (0)

February 17, 2006

why i love the web #4,643

design matters podcasts with debbie millman.

these are just so good most of the time. there are a few which were slightly less interesting, but i've listened to a lot of them, and keep the rest as bonus treats on my ipod. the first couple you listen to you might have to get past ms millman's fawning over the guests, but after you listen to a few you realize that she is not all weird, but genuinely interested and sweet and absolutely great.

she's on voiceamerica or itunes (free on itunes!) definitely worth a listen. the one with milton glaser was fun, start with that.

Posted by talkingcrow at 11:53 AM | | Comments (0)

February 16, 2006

half a dumpling


i managed to walk to the other side of the house. that's good. i guess. everything is a mess, and there's nothing i can do about it, i have no attention span with the pain, blah blah blah. back problems suck.

anyway, this is from rowan babies, called the dumpling, made in rowan big wool. i managed to get that much done on two plane flights and watching a movie. quite slow all things considered, but since there were cocktails involved in all three of those and i needed 4 or 5 stitch holders and had one with me at the time, i did pretty well.

it will probably go off to it's unborn recipient soon, but i have to be able to walk first.

Posted by talkingcrow at 06:11 PM | | Comments (0)

ow ow ow

my back is killing me. i look like i'm 80 when i walk. crap. historically this would be time for MRI and surgery, but i'm hoping to skip that fun because they said if they had to do surgery again it wouldn't be the easy kind. need to find a physical therapist. and probably do the MRI anyway. feh.

in other news... well, there really is no other news. i need to finish some knitting ASAP, and will provide pics soon, but i'm kind of groggy and work is busy. work, for those of you following along is great. i like this gig, like the team, etc etc. although we're moving offices soon and given the way things go i'll probably still have 2 officemates in a tiny room only i probably won't be able to see outside across the hall. but the first lesson here a long time ago was not to worry about offices. it will always change again soon.

p.s. buck is hanging in there, doing just fine with his new look and pierced ear.


Posted by talkingcrow at 09:57 AM | | Comments (0)

February 14, 2006

patient (and patient) buck


little man got stitches in his ear at the doggy ER last night.

my fault entirely. which sucks, but there it is. i was trying to cut a knot of hair off, near his ear. too near. :( it wasn't all gruesome, just thought well, i can't tell what happened under all that hair, better to go to the vet and find out it's nothing than the other way around.

i know better. i knew better. don't do this at home. when trying to get tangled messes out do not cut across. if you must cut, put the end of the scissors in the matt of hair, and cut gently pulling away from the skin. do not use the action of the scissors to cut unless you are far far away from flesh. better yet, use a mat cutter, not scissors (little curved comb things that look like a rake and can only cut through hair.

he's doing fine though. he barely flinched when i did it, and it never seemed to bother him. even after they put surgical staples on the ear. he's a tough little sweet boy.

so i brought work home, he's resting and that's exactly the view that i have of him right now.

Posted by talkingcrow at 01:22 PM | | Comments (2)

i love when that happens

b. and i are at almost 3 years. that's amazing to me. it's the longest i've been in a relationship, and i am better than i have ever been. it is wonderful to be encouraged and loved and supported and to know there is someone amazing with the patience of a saint who's got your back and really honestly wants me to be my best. i am far from perfect (duh), but it really feels that way when you're loved very deeply. i really, really appreciate that.

valentines day is a dumb created thing. but i'm happy to have another reason to say thank you and i love you and you are the most amazing man who i adore. i love you rabbit. you are my be all end all forever. i am so happy that we will spend our lives together.

Posted by talkingcrow at 12:01 AM | | Comments (0)

February 13, 2006

hamachi and i visited grace


california weather was lovely as usual, a little foggy on sunday morning, but made for a nice walk to breakfast and precursor to spa time.

hamachi didn't go to the spa. i told him he couldn't go to the girls side and he decided to stay home.

i was taunted for saying "nice!" as a positive exclamatory about a million times a day. grace has now pretty much broken me of that habit. as a joke i started saying "i know, right?" which i am completely un-fond of, but i'm afraid it will stick. i can't let that happen.

so while we were talking about this, we were watching bridget jones diary, which might have been about the 56th time for each of us. in the movie someone used the phrase "ding DONG" where i might have used "nice". so the the response to my saying nice is now the reply of "ding DONG". generally followed by "i know, right?"

Posted by talkingcrow at 12:37 PM | | Comments (0)

February 09, 2006

the big O

it's working!

i got a note from the folks at birdseyetourst.com today. as much as anything because i've been submitting all kinds of silly things to the picture archive. i think they really just wanted to get a handle on whether or not i was sane.

a couple of emails later, i had a challenge "get a couple more donuts and you can have a donut category".

once the donuts outnumbered the cemetaries, i was golden.

Posted by talkingcrow at 05:57 PM | | Comments (0)

what are you packin'...

a couple of days ago, stephanie the yarn harlot was talking about packing the yarn first in her suitcase and then finding space for some underwear if need be. then someone commented that they knew weeks before a trip what they would take to knit, and have no idea of anything else until the last minute.

i have to confess that i'm also like that. granted, for new years we overpacked a bit. so, this time i'm determined not to. except maybe for knitting. i know about 15 pregnant women or their spouses and i have a whole lotta knittin to do. now, as usual i have delusions of grandeur about how much i can actually get done on a two hour flight. i've been thinking a LOT about which knitting to take. (and not at all about the fact that if i don't do laundry i will have to wear a party dress and my slippers with no underwear).

currently in progress there is:
+ socks in orange and grey striped Opal for brian
+ socks in a yarn i don't like (encore weird blue) for me, they were my first socks, they are 3/4 done, and have been for quite awhile.
+ boring scarf. love the yarn (rowan polar), still don't like the pattern that much, may frog it for something i love. which i cannot identify.
+ about an inch of lime green lace. right where it's been for months.

see? i have to figure out what to start. socks are fine to knit while travelling, but the ones i'm working on i'm so over. and most baby items that i would start would have to allow me to get to the yarn store. which brings me to the point of this in the first place. i may not have my laundry done, but i've looked up yarn stores near grace's place and found one within walking distance i think. i may be wearing a party dress, but there will be yarn.

Posted by talkingcrow at 01:36 PM | | Comments (0)

February 08, 2006

hamachi's day out


today hamachi got his name, and he spent some time out and about.

Posted by talkingcrow at 10:30 PM | | Comments (0)

February 07, 2006

donuts and guys in the women's bathroom

1) i'm starting a donut theme over here. because technically i'm doing my job.

2) there was a guy in the ladies' today. i felt bad for the guy. he just went in the wrong door, but i don't think he realized it until we were both coming out of the stalls. apparently only then did he notice the lack of urinal and presence of tampon machine...

Posted by talkingcrow at 03:45 PM | | Comments (2)

he waits patiently


my desk at work is small. i'm in a small small small office with two officemates. but you know, little green eraser bear just doesn't mind at all. he waits patiently next to the pink highlighter, which to him is the size of a shipwreck, waiting for me to come back to my office subdivision home.

i've also recently covered my serious work-branded design and computation notebook with sanrio stickers. about 30 of them. no one quite knows what to make of it, but that's what i like.

it's 2:22.

Posted by talkingcrow at 02:22 PM | | Comments (0)

February 06, 2006

improptu thursdays are for what the hell is this*

THERE'S A BEAR!
RUN!
A BEAR!
NO REALLY.
RUN!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think some sort of field testing is in order.

On the other hand, my mother, years ago, gave me a bathrobe which wasn't far off from this.

Posted by talkingcrow at 07:32 PM | | Comments (1)

we


this was taken about a year and a half ago (?) at mardi and dion's engagement party. we just got the photo from mardi last night.

we both like the photo, which is so rare that i'd say it's extinct.

my hair is long, brian's is short. but happy all around.

Posted by talkingcrow at 07:27 PM | | Comments (0)

because we've all got a little hor

go check out brian's new site, designhor.


it's just starting up, but big plans for pleasing like-minded design geeks out there.

Posted by talkingcrow at 11:20 AM | | Comments (0)

February 05, 2006

sock goes driving


so in honor of the first day of sunshine in more than a life time in seattle we went for a drive. to look at property. on the islands. i have this ongoing fantasy of having waterfront property in the outskirts of seattle. today we drove out to a rural island and tried to find a llisting i saw online - 2.5 acres, 165' of waterfront. the reality was we didn't find it, and we slogged through ankle deep icewater probably across the road from the actual property only to figure out we really weren't in the right place. but it's a quiet and peaceful island with no businesses. that's kind of cool.

the sock went too. it sat with the GPS for awhile. one day it will be whole.

we got to the superbowl party after a) it was over and b) everyone was totally trashed. sometimes it is sort of entertaining to be the sober one. sometimes.



Posted by talkingcrow at 09:44 PM | | Comments (0)

family tree


dad sometimes gets into scanning old photos. this is him in the middle with his grandmother and his great grandmother. i'm guessing about 1944. he lied about his age to get into the service, and then told the truth to get out.

my favorite story of dad's adventures was about him getting hijacked by pirates. he was moving a boat from cuba with a couple of friends (the same general time frame as this pic) and they had engine problems off the coast of florida. another boat pulled up and offered to tow them. when it was clear that the other boat wasn't going where they wanted to go, dad and friends just unhooked the boat. the pirate boat came back around and called shennanigans (actually they claimed whatever that "law" is that you get to keep what you find when on the water). at gunpoint.

i don't remember the end of the story, and how they managed to get out of the situation. maybe dad will fill that in.

Posted by talkingcrow at 11:39 AM | | Comments (0)

we saw the poster king


we went to jay ryan's show a couple of weeks ago. although we missed l'anniqua and company (but did catch up with them at sushi) we did hear his talk about his book and the slide show of silk screeny goodness.

we had every intention of doing our own art for this wall, but alas...



Posted by talkingcrow at 10:41 AM | | Comments (0)

February 04, 2006

the dog is asleep and twitching

...and I'm going to say that for the moment all is right with the world. we now live on dreamhost, and i'm excited about that. i'm sorry to have to say goodbye to drizzle, but unfortunately the cost analysis just doesn't balance out.

prior to moving, in addition to everything else my database got corrupted, and i was too lazy to fix it, so the whole blogging adventure pretty much died down for a long time. plus, my love affair with blogging comes and goes, but i've been dying to have this venue back, and now i'm here, and it's only taken several months to get around to really fussing enough to set it up. but compared to the length of the bathroom remodel i'm not doing so badly.

i haven't done the style sheets yet for this, so i'm on the basic template, but i've never been so happy to see boring blue.

more to come, i'll get the flickr pics back, etc.

hello world.

Posted by talkingcrow at 03:41 PM | | Comments (1)