TheJenmeister

Happy Friday

noreply@blogger.com (TheJenmeister) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:01:00 +0000

Happy Friday...the 13th!!! (I cannot help but love this absolutely weird photoshop pic. It is demented. Who thought of doing this in the first place? And are they freely roaming the streets?!?)

Armistice/Veteran's Day

noreply@blogger.com (TheJenmeister) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:46:00 +0000

Downtown Seattle, 2:30 pm. Haven't had a chance to thank a living veteran yet, but thanked Grandpa & Papa in my heart.

Blinded

noreply@blogger.com (TheJenmeister) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:24:00 +0000

The Daystar! It burns!

Angry!

noreply@blogger.com (TheJenmeister) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:24:00 +0000

I have a few (not many) socio-political issues that really, really rile me up--there are many that don't. I could give a crap about paying taxes--there will always be taxes. Don't really care about illegal aliens--enriching our culture or ruining our social services, stealing our jobs or contributing to the economy, arguments can be made either way and I just don't think it is a priority concern. Not passionate at all about states' rights vs. the Federal government. But universal women's rights are basic and IMPORTANT. Women are everywhere, every race and religion, and are treated across the board as less-than-men for no logical or justifiable reason. I read an article about a legal measure with unknown consequences for women's rights and unforeseeable applications against women in the state of Colorado, which may be enacted even though it is 2009 and we are living in the future! My bullshit-o-meter pinged up past the red line for this one. Also, WTF is up with the Personhood movement?!? The language used by this group is laughable. "Pre-born child"? I guess unborn is "too negative." Just like "pro-life" sounds so righteous, when they really could have gone with "anti-choice" or "Babies: worth more than women." Why is it so difficult to treat women as people rather than either sacred, untouchable goddess-like creatures or simple, hollow baby vessels? Why should a woman's life decisions, good or bad, be any more or less legally actionable than a man's? Why is a collection of cells/baby ranked above the woman/mother who carries it in terms of rights? South Carolina, you have FAIL.

What to do about this? I went to the NOW website. I Signed the Pledge, and maybe you will at least look at it too...?

Side-note
My personal feelings on childbearing/rearing are a) I don't want a kid, but b) I'm happy for you to have one if you want one and I'll pay taxes to educate and care for your wee one and I'll smile at it on the bus and chat with it and admire its cuteness, however please don't bring it to an R-rated movie or sit-down restaurant late at night and don't try to tell me I should behave differently because there is a child present.

Exponential

noreply@blogger.com (TheJenmeister) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:20:00 +0000

This is a fabulous video proving that we are cursed/blessed to lived in interesting times. So it goes.

Halloween pre-show: Even Stevphens

noreply@blogger.com (TheJenmeister) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:47:00 +0000

I love this old clip from The Daily Show. The two funniest/cutest Stevphens ever plus re-lived childhood trauma, druidic cabal, and candy? AWESOME.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Even Stevphen - Halloween

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show
Full Episodes

Political Humor

Health Care Crisis

Saturday

noreply@blogger.com (TheJenmeister) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 19:12:00 +0000

Bakery Nouveau, West Seattle. Twice-baked almond croissant, here I come!

Stuck in my head! Sweet lemonade!

noreply@blogger.com (TheJenmeister) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 04:01:00 +0000

I am officially cursing the Upstairs Crowd for showing me the (NSFW--Not Safe For Work) video and getting the song stuck in my head! J and J, I curse you!!
http://www.getonmyhorse.com/
And some associated avatars I saw out and about using The Google:

"I think you'll find that the universe pretty much covers everything."

Look forward to a real post covering the Texas trip and this week's assorted miscellany on the morrow.

Color study 3

noreply@blogger.com (TheJenmeister) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 01:03:00 +0000

I think I need to stop taking artsy pics with my phone. The colors are far more vivid in real life.

Color study 2

noreply@blogger.com (TheJenmeister) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:59:00 +0000

Less light than I'd like.

Color study

noreply@blogger.com (TheJenmeister) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:26:00 +0000

Fall! Focus fail! Good thing this was about color, not composition.

Saturday morning in Texas

noreply@blogger.com (TheJenmeister) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 16:42:00 +0000

Plain Jane socks in Madelinetosh sock (Elfin colorway), outside at The Green Chai Cafe in downtown Bastrop. Sunshine and 70 today!

More sauce, please

noreply@blogger.com (TheJenmeister) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 22:45:00 +0000

The quintessential Texas experience: brisket at The Salt Lick!

Mighty Fine

noreply@blogger.com (TheJenmeister) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 18:53:00 +0000

Lunch! Lemonade shake & fresh-cut crinkle fries.

Texas, in bite-sized portions

noreply@blogger.com (TheJenmeister) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:59:00 +0000

Foodie update! Last night's dinner came from Guadalajara, one of Bastrop's nicest Mexican restaurants. I had the steak fajitas (with guacamole!) to accompany beans, rice, and copious quantities of fresh chips and salsa. Mr. Janssen's burrito came with [chili con] queso, which he gladly forked over in exchange for a bite of steak. Mmmm, queso. Breakfast this morning is homemade pumpkin pancakes with Greek yogurt and pineapple juice. I love visiting Mom!

The trip down was easy. I think that Alaska's new direct flight from SEA to AUS may be the easiest flight I've ever taken, in fact. The plane was mostly full but not packed, in-flight service was pleasant, and boarding and exiting the aircraft was a breeze. I even got to knit during takeoff and landing. (Note to @FreezeRae: I took the picture with my phone set to Flight mode, so no interference with equipment. Perfectly legal and safe.)

Emma, my parents' new dog, and I have bonded. She loves being loved. She is silent as the grave and has a piercing blue-eyed stare. She snuggles. She is a good dog.

I set up the Wii last night and gave my folks a demo using Lego Indiana Jones. (I do so love Lego Sean Connery.) Making a Mr. Janssen Mii was fun, and it includes the gray handlebar mustache and Klingon hairdo. Can't wait to see them test Wii Sports and their new Wii Fit, and to kick Mr. J's ass at Mario Kart.

Today Mom and I are off to the outlet mall at Round Rock (Le Creuset! Eddie Bauer! Gap!) and then "dunch", dinner/lunch, at The Salt Lick. Mmmm, barbeque and beer...

noreply@blogger.com (TheJenmeister) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:15:00 +0000

FYI: feeling better, still not great. All will be well!

Travel day

noreply@blogger.com (TheJenmeister) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:58:00 +0000

On my way to Austin, TX. SeaTac at 7:30 AM isn't awful, but coffee at SBX still makes it better.

Knitting: Fetching in Malabrigo Silky Merino, colorway Vigo. One down...

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Sad Fish

noreply@blogger.com (TheJenmeister) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:26:00 +0000

I saw a great avatar picture on Ravelry today:

This sums up my last 24 hours pretty damn well. I missed a single day's dose of Vitamin Anti-D--which means I went 24 hours without any pills in my system--and it sent me into a tailspin of epic proportions. Dizzy brain, nausea, loss of appetite, exhaustion, and uncontrollable crying jags. Sam knew something was very wrong from minute one, and proceeded to snuggle the hell out of me at every opportunity. I know things aren't right with my neural chemistry when I'm violently weeping while apologizing to the dog for stressing him out.

I called one friend last night and almost asked her to come over, but she was hanging out with her boyfriend so I pretended that I'd called just to chat. I scrolled through everyone else in my phone list and ruled all of my friends out as possible touchstones, sometimes with logical arguments ("She is in California and cannot come over for tea right now.") and sometimes out of embarassment ("How will >insert name here< react to me being in this state?"). I worried more about the consequences of having someone over on my relationship with that person than I worried about needing company. I ended up hanging out with the Upstairs Crowd, once I figured out they were home, and watching Discovery channel while not knitting on a dishcloth. Later, settling down in bed required over an hour of Plants vs. Zombies with my favorite golden lamp turned on nearby and lots of fluffy pillows. Falling asleep last night was tough, and I had vivid, angry nightmares.

I almost didn't get out of bed today.

I got up and took my pills and came to work this morning because I knew staying home would be worse.

I have not felt this horrible since 2001. I remember starting the descent into the black pit around mid-summer, and how I could still see daylight even after the numbing madness that was 9/11. By New Year's I was in wretched shape, sleeping 10 hours a day or more, playing computer games into the wee hours of dawn, cutting myself off from my long-time friends. I wasn't going to the movies (my major hobby at the time as I hadn't taken up knitting yet), I wasn't cooking, I wasn't dining (just eating), I wasn't shopping, I wasn't travelling, I wasn't reading. I got up, watched Law & Order, worked, and slept. Nothing interested me, and nothing mattered.

In late winter I figured out that I was depressed and needed help, that nothing was fundamentally wrong with my life at the time, and that I wasn't capable of going to (or even interested in) therapy. When I finally called my doctor's office (she was an Ob-Gyn) to make an appointment, I remember being in tears and trying not to let on that I was crying. The receptionist told me that she wouldn't be able to fit me in until a month away, and that I should see my (non-existent at the time) primary care physician instead. Which sent me into hysterics. On the phone. With a stranger. I made that call at 3 in the afternoon, and I was still in bed.

I saw the doctor that week and began a chemical journey into the unknown. I slowly got better, turning back into a functional human being who interacted with her environment and friends. By the following winter I was OK, even good. And over the last seven years prescriptions changed, dosages increased/decreased, and I've learned to read my tendencies and moods and mental chemistry. I have maintained the OK, staying fairly level--in short, functioned much like everyone else on the planet. Until yesterday.

What astonishes me is that it all came crashing down on me like a brick tower in an earthquake. It was so sudden, so unexpected, and such a complete destruction of the even-keeled mindset I've built up that I would catagorize the event as catastrophic. Natural disaster images come to mind. Why would a single missed dose cause this reaction? And what would have happened if I'd missed a second dose, or a third?

I am doing, moving forward right now, unable to focus much, but am not in the state I was yesterday or even this morning. I vacillate between deeply sad and ragingly angry, and am restless and irritated--but I'm not crying. I am taking Sam to the dog park this evening. I am seeing the doctor tomorrow, and the fact that I can think about tomorrow without wanting to weep means progress.

Letters from Jen: Cashier

noreply@blogger.com (TheJenmeister) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 22:53:00 +0000

Dear QFC checker,

Stop talking to me. If you don't understand the conversation I'm having with my friend, don't talk over us about something only vaguely related to what we were discussing and your birthday. Ring up the groceries and send us on our way. Seriously. That's all I want at 9:30 on a Sunday morning---my groceries and to be left to my conversation about pie, farmer's markets, whatever.

Cold hands, warm...lap?

noreply@blogger.com (TheJenmeister) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 07:51:00 +0000

All the recent marathon sessions with Plants vs. Zombies (along with the much cooler nights that October brings) mean my hands are constantly icy cold. As I sat with a numb hand on the mouse, blasting zombies into oblivion with Cherry Bombs and Snow Peas, something inside me clicked: Hey, I'm a knitter! I don't have to have cold hands at the computer/waiting for the bus/while knitting if I don't want to!

Above is a selection of yarn I gathered to knit myself a few pairs of fingerless gloves. Unless otherwise indicated, the patterns I chose are from Knitting New Mittens and Gloves.

Hand Maiden Sea Silk, silver color, from my stash. For Rusalka.
Blue Sky Alpacas Melange, colorways Orange Zest and Cornflower, from my stash. For striped fingerless mitts a la Penny's wristwarmers from Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog.
Rowan Scottish Tweed DK, colorway Brilliant Pink, for $2.90/skein from Little Knits. For Driver.
Rowan Tapestry, colorway Highland, from my stash. For Box Pleats.
Misti Alpaca Hand Painted Worsted, purple colors, from my stash. For Accomplice.
Malabrigo Silky Merino, a blue/green/grey color, from my stash. For Gothic.
Louisa Harding Grace, electric lavender color, from Little Knits. For Glaistig.
Debbie Bliss 100% Pure Silk, green color, from my stash. For another pair of Fetchings, perhaps? To be determined...

With season one of Dexter on loan from the library, I'm sure to get all this knitting done in no time. Right? Sam concurs: great idea.

Friday, in short

noreply@blogger.com (TheJenmeister) — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 09:43:00 +0000

Bus ride (saw ex-friend--weird--and knitting time)
Work (meh)
Burrito Payday (mmm...Chipotle)
Ravelry surfing (fingerless gloves are the new socks!)
Pattern queueing (Fetching--in progress, Accomplice, Driver, Box Pleats, Rusalka, Glaistig, Larus + Ardea, Endpaper Mitts, Winter Twilight Mitts, Dashing)
Christmas knitting plans (limited list--Mom, Art, Dad, Colleen, Mike, Maggie, Justin)
Virtual yarn shopping (the stash and Little Knits)
Plants vs. Zombies (level 5-3! Braaaaaaains)
Doggie hangouts
Sam to babysitters' (Sheldon and Amy, FTW!)
Trip to the movies (fail--passes no good until 2 weeks after the release)
Chocolate! (in lieu of film, at a restaurant with Mike and Maggie and Justin)
Knitting, beer, and hanging out (Sheldon and Amy and Tesla the puggle)
Prototype (watching, not playing)
Home for couch time with Cassie (the internets ate our evening)
Plants vs. Zombies (for the Mac! Level 3-4)
Sleepy times (technically on Saturday)

Catching up with earstwhile cohabitants

noreply@blogger.com (TheJenmeister) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 05:40:00 +0000

Today was roommate reunion day! At 11AM I got a call from Katie the Newly Married Lady, who I lived with for a year in 2006-2007. But I've known Katie since I was 19, when we worked at Liberty Bay Bakery together for a summer in Poulsbo. We went to lunch and split a burrito, then wandered around Weaving Works fondling yarns. Katie and I got a chance to catch up and chat in a way we haven't since she moved to Israel. It was certainly a delightful use of my lunch hour and a vast improvement over eating ramen by myself in the windowless breakroom.

On my way home on the bus I received a text message from Jill, who I lived with for a year in 2000-2001--my last year of college at UW. She took me out to dinner at Piecora's, where we got all caught up over pizza and beer (Boundary Bay Scotch Ale, which you should try as soon as possible because it is ambrosial--hints of caramel, but not too sweet). I haven't spent much time with Jill since last spring, and it was good to talk to her. Like lunch, it was an excellent use of my time, mostly for the company.

It seems strange to be on such good terms with my former housing companions, especially considering my personality. I know I can't be the easiest person to live with. Example one: I don't pick up on subtle hints. I expect my roommates to actually tell me if something I am doing is bothering them, otherwise I'm going to assume all is well. Example two: I want things my way and find it difficult to compromise sometimes, whether it be over how the bathroom is organized or how long it is reasonable to ignore the housework. Example three: I occassionally need to be left alone to putter around the house or read, without any conversation--including an explanation about how I'm feeling that day. It can't be much fun to try and chat with your roommate when she gives monosyllabic responses for no apparent reason.

And Katie and Jill and I not only survived living together with our respective friendships in tact, but we share the special bond that only people who have cleaned one another's hair out of the shower drain can form. So going to a meal with these people seems like a special treat, because they are sharing their lives with me still...even if they're not sharing the dishes.

Yesterday Fail, Today...Zombified?

noreply@blogger.com (TheJenmeister) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 06:21:00 +0000

I had a migraine yesterday.

Today I lost many hours to this game. (This game if you have a Mac.) So addicting and fun!

Braaaaaains...

Cartoon for grownups

noreply@blogger.com (TheJenmeister) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 05:32:00 +0000

I loved several cartoon shows as a kid. He-Man, She-Ra, Tiny Toons, and Animaniacs were some of the finest half-hour blocks of my childhood TV time. My love of the animated short has continued into adulthood.

The upstairs neighbors introduced me to a show on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim called The Venture Brothers. Imagine Johnny Quest all grown up into a jaded, bad superscientist (and self-centered douchebag) named Dr. Thaddeus "Rusty" Venture. He has two idiot sons, Hank and Dean, and their mother is nowhere in sight. Dr. Venture also has a massive bodyguard with a mullet and the voice of Patrick Warburton--Brock Samson. Dr. Venture's nemesis is The Monarch, a butterfly-themed supervillian with a second-in-command named Dr. Girlfriend. Much funnier than it sounds, the show makes a bevy of pop culture references in any given episode and debates the villain/hero dynamic. (While Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog had the Evil League of Evil, the supervillains in The Venture Brothers are governed by the Guild of Calamitous Intent.) The characters build over the course of the first three seasons, and my favorites are Master Billy Quizboy, Henchmen 21 and 24, Brock Samson, Dr. Orpheus, and The Monarch.

Sample dialogue:

Henchman 21: Here is where you are wrong, my friend. This woman has killed before.
Henchman 24: Allegedly.
Henchman 21: Okay, whatever. But she was a big girl. We are talking about a large, healthy woman of questionable stability.
Henchman 24: Oh, you are totally underestimating the never-say-die scrappiness of a survivor.
The Monarch: Hey, guess what? Nobody cares who would win in a crazy fantasy fist-fight between Anne Frank and Lizzie Borden. We never should have brought the henchmen. We're going to be the only ones there with henchmen!

Brock Samson: After the twist, you'll feel a snap and the body goes ragdoll on you.
Hank Venture: And that will knock him out... even more?
Brock Samson: That will kill him.
Hank Venture: Do I have to?
Brock Samson: Alright, fine crybaby. Tie him up and, I guess, gag him. But at the first sign of trouble I want you to at least break both his knees.

Dr. Girlfriend: Killing your arch-enemy on Christmas Eve - that's a gift for me?
The Monarch: Well, I got you some stocking-stuffers too...

Season four starts on October 18. Cartoon Network has whole episodes available to watch for free on their website, so get caught up while you can. Go Team Venture!!!

Things to do on a sunny October Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (TheJenmeister) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 07:57:00 +0000

Wake up with dog staring at you and whining softly, then using your face as a headrest.
Try to sleep in and fail due to persistent doggie interference (see: headrest).
Get up and dressed in clean but not too clean clothes.
Decide laundry may be in order.
Call friends with dog and invite over for breakfast.
Do a few handy dishes until friends arrive.
Watch dogs as they act like they haven't seen each other in years.
Make migas.
Watch dogs watching you eating migas.
Go to the dog park as a group, being sure to bring the holy Throwing Stick and the sacred (yet filthy) Squeaky Tennis Ball.
Throw ball until you are tired--because the dog never will be.
Come home and do dishes from last night's meal.
Strip bed and start laundry.
Knit.
Invite friend (who you haven't seen in three weeks and you usually see at least twice a week, occasionally wondering if she actually lives with you--but in a nice way) over for dinner and afternoon hanging out.
Talk on the phone with mom.
Move laundry to dryer.
Greet friend as she arrives.
Commence snacking.
Do snack dishes.
Watch The Two Towers extended edition, disc one, skipping only one Frodo & Sam section (the Black Gate).
Knit.
Use the between-discs break to go grocery shopping, do more dishes, and put dinner in the oven.
Watch the moon rise
Watch The Two Towers extended edition, disc two, until the beginning of battle at Helm's Deep.
Serve dinner and eat: Coq au vin with Big House Red, goat cheese mashed potatoes, and peas with a little butter.
Watch The Two Towers extended edition, disc two, through the fan club credits while discussing sock patterns for friend's Dream In Color Smooshy in Punky Fuschia.
Drive friend home with the dog as company.
Tidy living room, putting dishes in the kitchen.
Die a little inside as you realize you'll have to put dishes away before you can do any more.
Shower instead.
Put flannel sheets on the bed. (Yay fall!)
Lie on bed, letting back spasm until it stops and the muscles are relaxed.
Decide not to do more dishes.
Realize laundry is still in the dryer and may not be dry.
Use "dog asleep on my feet" as a justification for not getting off the bed and checking laundry.
Post meme to blog and go to sleep.