Because Some People Like to Witness Their Friends’ Drunkenness

Risque Valentine – by cmwest on Polyvore.com

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Out of Hand

This obsession with Polyvore is getting out of control. I have made two more cheesy valentines that I haven’t even posted on here (yet). I fear for my sanity and everyone else’s aesthetic sense.
On the other hand, it’s the easiest tool (analog or digital) I’ve ever used to help create something. So it’s cathartic in that “I have things in my brain that need to come out” kind of way and it’s immediately gratifying and it’s not messy. All favorable.
Side Effects: May become habit forming. May induce cheesy, greeting card style “prose.” May lead to incompletion of meals, homework, housework, and sleep.
Disclaimer: Check with your loved ones to find out if Polyvore is right for you.

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I Shall Give You a Kiss

I Shall Give You a Kiss – by cmwest on Polyvore.com

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Number 2

Ok, I believe I said it was addicting. If not, oh well. Here is my second submission to the ModCloth Valentine’s contest mentioned below.

Direct Love – by cmwest on Polyvore.com

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Ambivalent Valentine

I’ve entered ModCloth’s Send Us a Valentine contest. Here is what I’ve submitted using Polyvore. It’s a style/design/fashion site where you can import and move around photos to create collages. Very fun and addicting.

Ambivalent Valentine – by cmwest on Polyvore.com

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We Be Crafty

Jessicais following a craft-a-long to this effect, and now I shall as well. Comment, agree to the stipulations, and let me make you something!
The first six people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice. For you.
This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:
– I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
– What I create will be just for you.
– It’ll be done this year.
– You have no clue what it’s going to be. It may be wood. Possibly metal. Perhaps a picture. Or, I may bake you something and mail it to you. Who knows? Not you, that’s for sure!
– I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.
The catch? Oh, the catch is that you have to put this in your journal as well. We all can make stuff!

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Happy Inauguration Day

I am startled by my level of emotion in response to this inauguration day. I’m making my kids watch the coverage of this because of its historical significance. I want them to associate their childhood with a black president. And not just because he’s black but because of the way it changes our mindsets and expectations to have a significant minority represented in such a major way. It makes the world feel conquerable.
To quote Steven Spielberg who was just briefly interviewed in DC, “I want my kids to rub up against history.” So do I. My kids are still young, and providing Obama remains in office for two terms, they will be nearly old enough to appreciate the significance of being part of the youngest generation ushering in our first black president.
I realize I have friends and family who are less than enthusiastic about today’s events, but I hope despite differing politics (or ambivalence) we can all recognize that perhaps our country is growing up a bit and that’s demonstrated through our election of Barack Obama. I certainly don’t look at Obama like the second coming of Christ the way some people have, nevertheless, this is a momentous occasion and I’m excited.

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A Six-year-old’s Existentialism

Today Evelina has been wandering around the house moaning and whimpering. It is supremely annoying and mostly I ignore her. Then I walked into the living room and found her curled up in a blanket on a chair by the bookshelf. She was reading a space non-fiction book (cuz that’s how she rolls) and sporting a dripping wet wash cloth on the top of her head.
“What’s going on Evelina? You’re melting everywhere.”
In her most pathetic unintelligible groaning, “I feel like everything I’m doing is in a dream.”
“What?”
“Nothing is real. Ever since I was four I feel like everything I’m doing is in a dream. I even splashed water on my face.”
“That explains your melting everywhere. Why is there a sopping wet rag on your head?”
“Because I thought if I was dreaming it would wake me up. But I’m just wet.”
“Yep.”
So I walked away to try and soothe the hateful knives behind my eyeballs and left Evelina to deal with her crisis since I was getting nowhere. In a little while she pulled herself together enough to dry off and put a hood over her head and cuddle with me on the couch.
Then she decided to work on the crochet scarf we started a few days ago. She’s learning chains and single crochets and doing a great job; she’s excited by the prospect that her friends at school will see her glorious pink creation and beg to know where it came from at which time she will exclaim that she herself formed and molded it with her very own precious hands and of course she’d be glad to crochet one for you too since she’s so gifted at scarf making; she’ll even let you pick the color.
She had crocheted several rows on her own with minimal intervention on my part when she made the declaration of the ages:
“I’m so glad I’m getting the hang of this. It makes me feel so alive!”
The lesson folks is that fiber arts will cure your existential crisis.

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á la Jessica

I took the 43 Things Personality Quiz and found out I’m a Romantic Tree Hugging Extrovert

I took this last night and the above was my result. This morning I took it again, and got Creative Tree Hugging Extrovert. So I took it again for consistency, and got Creative Organized Extrovert. I’m pretty sure I selected all the same answers each time too because from last night till this morning, I certainly haven’t changed my position on cliff-diving.
The idea that I’m organized is laughable. And I’ve never known myself to be particularly extroverted, but all three times that was the only consistent description. So, I’m skeptical.

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