Skeleton Boots!

I don’t normally share things like this, but I can’t resist. A few weeks ago I bought a pair of Doc Martens that I just love to death (although I didn’t know they were in Guitar Hero before I bought them). These things are the most amazing shoes in the universe, and except for a painful breaking-in period, I’ve been wearing them nearly every day. They’re also great because it’s been raining/cloudy nearly every day since 2010 began, so it’s nice to have warm and dry boots.

Do you have a pair of shoes you wear every day? If so, what are they? What types of shoes do you love?

Giveaway winner!

The giveaway is now closed. I drew a name out of a hat according to the entries and the winner is Marie! Her URL doesn’t seem to work, but I’m hoping the email she provided does. Marie, I will be getting in contact with you shortly.

Thanks to all who participated! I have a feeling we’ll have another giveaway soon, so stay tuned!

ETA from Stephanie: Marie talks about her (fabulous) knitting adventures at Sel & Poivre

It’s apparently a new year

So, due to the lack of response I got for the giveaway, I’m going to extend it another week. To enter, comment here!

So far 2010 has not been off to a good start. Between work traveling and stresses in general, I’ve been pretty busy and stressed out. Fortunately, that’s all over now so I’m looking forward to pretending that none of that existed and instead 2010 is just beginning! I also realized I hadn’t made any goals or resolutions (or acknowledged the new year at all) so here we go.

Goals for 2010:

1. Move somewhere. It unfortunately will not be Chicago this year (in the future, hopefully soon!). It will be somewhere else.

2. Finally (FINALLY) get rid of things I don’t want, and buy things I DO want (and purge, purge, purge – there’s so much stuff that I have that I simply do not need/want/use).

3. Burn more candles, take more pictures, draw more pictures, and write more. In a letter from Stephanie that I just got, she mentioned how it’s funny that she had been wanting to take pictures downtown FOREVER, but hadn’t gotten around to it until just now. I think we all make plans like that, but never follow through, and I realized that I want to start doing stuff that I’ve been meaning to. So, for the sake of coziness and the fact that I Just Really Like Doing These Things But Damn It Is Easier To Be Lazy, this is going to be the year of DOING THINGS, documented on this blog every step of the way!

Things I accomplished in 2009:

1. I got another cat. I’ve had Augustus for a year and a half (!!!), but Sata has only been here for a year. I love that guy – I can’t imagine life without him. While he may be obnoxious when it comes to food, he’s also the sweetest, most affectionate, most wonderful cat ever.

2. I graduated university! It’s true. I obtained my BS in Computer Science from the University of Texas at Austin. I am quite proud.

3. I got a job! Gainful employment is nice, and I like my job a lot, actually. There have been rough patches, and also really good patches, and I’m grateful for everyone I’ve met at my job.

4. I met Stephanie in Real Life. I visited her in the summer and she came to visit here in the fall. Now we just need to decide when to see each other in spring!

How is your new year so far? Is it what you expected it would be? Are you doing your resolutions still or have you given up (assuming you made some in the first place)?

Giveaway!

At last! Lunsh is having its very first giveaway are YOU are invited. The giveaway item is sort of girly, so sorry, gentlemen (but you’re welcome to enter anyway if you’d like!). I’ve been wanting to do a giveaway for seriously months, because that’s how much I love you guys. I really want to give something back to you and giveaways are ALWAYS awesome.

So the giveaway is a Nancy Drew Secret at Shadow Ranch JOURNAL. It has the Nancy Drew book cover, and the pages are lined with smatterings of Nancy Drew illustrations inside from the book itself. The journal is paperback and lays flat, and is about the size of a paperback novel – perfect for taking with you to write all your thoughts in! I really love this journal, and so does Stephanie – and if you’re a big Nancy Drew fan like us, you’ll love it too.

Man, I sound like a salesperson.

Here is a lovely picture of it:

To enter the giveaway, simply comment on this post! The giveaway will end when I return from Boston, this Friday the 29th.

(Hurry, before Augustus eats it!)

Handling stress

Work this week has been stressful with deadlines approaching and I have yet another business trip next week to Boston (yes, I know, no giveaway today either but I realized I can do the giveaway while I’m in Boston! win for everyone!). In the meantime, I’ve been trying to keep my mind off stressful things by doing cozy things like snuggling with cats, crocheting, shopping (NO I DO NOT NEED TO BE SHOPPING AT ALL EVER but it is an addiction UGH), playing Pokemon Diamond, and just trying to keep my mind off the stress.

It’s funny. Sometimes it’s better to talk with someone when you’re stressed, but right now I really just want to not think about it. Because there is no good solution to work travel and the particular work stresses I’m experiencing aside from relaxing lots at home.

I also bought a betta fish for the office named Edgar. He’s awesome, and it feels good to be caring for something at the office as well as at home. And it’s great to just take my mind away from everything and focus on watching Edgar swim around or caring for him.

And of course doing things I love to do and taking care of myself lots.

What do you do when you encounter a problem you can’t solve? Do you prefer to talk or to not think about it?

I don’t mean to spam but…

… I’m having a giveaway over at my newly created website, Logical Answers for Sticky Situations! I know Stephanie will be mad at me for fixing this up instead of finishing the layout for Lunsh but… erm… I was excited. I hope you’ll come over and submit us a suggestion as to what you want to read about or ask us a question about which you need some advice using our handy form! Remember, you have to use the form to be entered in the giveaway!

(I promise, the new layout for here is almost done – just needs a few more tweaks!)

Now what are you going to give?

Yesterday I talked about your wishlist. Today I want to ask you what you’re getting everyone you care about. No, I don’t need super specifics; after all, you don’t want to reveal to everyone you’re getting things for what you’re getting them. But maybe people you know won’t read this.

Last night I realized that grinch as I may be about the holidays, it can’t hurt to get my friends a Christmas/New Year’s gift. Might curry a little favor even. (Har, har.) What could I get them though? Hmm.

There’s an Edward Gorey calendar at the local gift store that I’m dying to give to someone. Who would be perfect for it?

My idea for gifts for people I know here at college is to decorate a bunch of papers as holiday note-cards, then write lyrics or stanzas on each, individually suited to the best wishes I want to give each person. Most of the people I know are going abroad next semester, so I want to wish them well in their new adventures, and I think writing each person something special would work well. Then, because writing represents journeys and relationships, I think I’ll buy a bunch of cheap fountain pens in lots of colors to distribute along with these greeting cards. That way I give things that are personalized but not incredibly expensive, and still are connected to everyone.

And of course my closer friends and family I’m cooking up individual gifts for, which I’ll leave to your imaginations. My dad is a problem. I never know what to get him for his birthday or holiday. What do you get your dads?

What’s in your … wishlist?

Hi guys.

Sorry I don’t have the second part of the planner review done yet. I’ll let it bounce around and get used another couple of days, then review how well it’s doing. Let’s just say for now, I’m pleasantly surprised.

I’d also like to say that I am an handing in the towel on Nanowrimo for now, for reasons I may explain later. Instead I might pick up NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month, posting everyday in November. I love Nanowrimo derivatives, don’t you?) and Vestvember — a celebration of knitting vests in November. (The knitting mojo, it’s back. Oh it’s back.)

Today, however, I had a Very Important Conversation with my mother. It went something like this:

Mom: So I’m trying to figure out Christmas gifts… (she’s fishing. I know it.)
Me: I already told you what to get me. (A new Lamy Safari because I love my pen)
Mom: That’s not enough!
Me: But I’m working on a long birthday gift list!

(Mom, if you read this, hope you don’t mind being quoted as inspiration…)

So who else is thinking that far ahead? What are you hoping fervently for from the generosity in your life? Honestly I’m not a huge fan of Christmas gifts because it makes my birthday a month later feel pale in comparison, which I do not at all like. Being snubbed by Christmas sucks. So I have a small Christmas list and then a large birthday list. I’m going to be 21 next January, on the second day of the spring semester! Yeah, that’s a seriously AWFUL day to have a 21st. And it’s going to be a lonely one, with most people I know abroad.

Oh well. At least I’ll be allowed to legally drink.

So so far for Christmas I’m thinking:

• Lamy Safari (yay!)
• bottle of ink
• A vegetarian or gluten-free cookbook that I can use to figure out meals from and learn to cook through. I’m thinking of browsing some food blogs to find some recommendations for the ‘rents.

And for my birthday in January I’d like…

• A set of Harmony Options needles from Knitpicks.com. I’ve been wanting these for forever. I really love this wood, I have a couple of sets of needles made out of it.
• A Village Life: Poems by Louise Glück, hardcover and pretty please purchased from your local independent bookseller
• Refills in every color for my Pilot G2 pens

I’m sure you can also send me hand-dyed yarn (in the right amount for a sweater or vest) in January and I’d be happy, too.

So what’s on your holiday wishlist?

A scary revelation

I’m not sure I mentioned recently but my current room doesn’t have a closet, just a metal closet stand-in standing in the corner of the room, for everyone to gaze upon my clothes. Hanging up all my shirts, I noticed something quite worrisome…

When I was in high school my clothes were ALL orange and yellow. WHY IS IT NOW ALL BLUE?

Anyone got any cash they can lend me? I need to beef up my wardrobe… (Especially with long-sleeved shirts and sweaters for the upcoming winter!)

You asked, I answer

We didn’t get much of a response to our Ask a Question post, but we’ll answer your questions anyway. I’ll start, and Becky will answer them tomorrow. (Ohmygosh someone tell the butterflies to calm down. I’m a little nervous, baring all to you guys. )

First, Tara asked us a few questions:

1. If you could meet someone historical figure from the past (ie: Napoleon XD — I have Bill and Ted on my brain), who would it be and why?

How historical is historical? All my life I’ve been inspired by Jane Addams, characterized as “the first social worker”. She lived around the turn of the 20th century and her Hull-House in Chicago offered a multitude of services to the people in her neighborhood. She worked tirelessly for years and still managed to write a few books. While she’s not a well-known historical figure, I’ve always liked her and I would pick her to meet before anyone else.

2. We all have hobbies and we always come upon new ones! What would be a new hobby you’d like to check out?

I’ve always wanted to learn how to make my own blank books so I stop having to rely on buying them, but I simply haven’t taken the time to learn it. (And I have enough blank notebooks to feed me for a while.) Barring that, I wish I could draw and paint.

3. What is one song you could listen to all the time and never get sick of it?

A very good question. I would like to say “Drops of Jupiter” by my favorite band, Train. I just love the music AND lyrics. Especially the orchestra parts, I always feel like I’m being lifted up to space to explore the galaxy.

Caity asked:

1. What is your favorite article of clothing?

Wow, that’s a good question. Um. Probably my handknit socks, since I made them myself and just that thought makes me smile. My favorite article of clothing of the moment is an orange swooshy skirt I got while on vacation at the beginning of August. For someone who disdains skirts I’ve worn it a lot lately!

2. What if your favorite book you’ve ever read?

My favorite book of all time is A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle. To this book I attribute my love of science, science fiction, and reading in general. Madeleine L’Engle opened me up to all that could be in fiction, although it raises my standards for what I’m impressed by.

And finally, Chris asked us a few amusing questions.

1. If you were stranded on a completely blank desert island for the rest of your life, but were given provisions for living (e.g. shade, food, water), what two items would you bring to keep yourself entertained (or from going insane)?

The library and a craft store. The end.

2. Ketchup or Mustard (and why)? Coffee or Tea (and why)?

Ketchup because it’s a vegetable, and almost my favorite vegetable at that (tomato!), and tea because there are so many different flavors of tea. Plus coffee is bitter and I’m sensitive to caffeine. Also I have a new teapot that I love. I <3 tea. Any other questions on this subject?

3. What was the most awkward moment in your life?

My life is one awkward moment to the next. Okay, recently my 8th grade science teacher saw me at the pharmacy and stopped me to say hi, didn’t I go to his school, wasn’t I one of his students? I stared at him dumbly and thought of all the things I could be saying that didn’t make it to my mouth. Then I ran.

And now you all know why I use text as a medium of communication.

4. Typically, what are you doing at 8:34pm?

Cleaning up after dinner and trying to figure out what to do for the rest of the evening. Also, I am glad you picked a number divisible by 3 (and 6).

5. If you could instantly become fluent in one language right now, which would you pick (and why)?

I would pick Polish, because I don’t think I want to devote time to learning the language, but it might be a useful language to know. Or Russian. That would be another good language to know but I’m a little scared of trying to learn it.

Thanks for the questions, you guys! We’ll have to do another one of these sometime.

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