Reviews

A book review!

I began a book on friday last week, I believe it was, and last night I finished it. "The Strange Case of Hellish Nell: The Story of Helen Duncan and the Witch Trial of World War II." I found it very fascinating. It was a well written historical fiction, which seems far more historical than fictitious. The author moved over seas with her husband, without work, and recently having sent her youngest child off to college, she had lots of time to start a hobby. Scrap-booking is probably obscenely expensive in Britain, and something about their voices would lead me to believe they were masters at it. I can't say for sure what gives me that impression, but for some reason tea and crumpets screams doilies and sparkly letter cut-outs. Then again, I also have a sneaking suspicion that they don't have nearly as cool of subject matter to work with. How many pages could one possibly create on tea and crumpets?

But, back to the story at hand. Nina Shandler, the author I mentioned above, stumbled across this interesting tale and became increasingly obsessed with it. This eventually resulted in plentiful enough sources to create a fairly detailed account, her own imagined details placed  where there were none to be found.  Actually, there are a few more intriguing details to the story, but I found that to be a crucial part of finding the story so entertaining, and I wouldn't want to give away any spoilers. Just in case.

All-in-all, well written, hard to put down and a conclusion that left you satisfied yet hoping that there was more. All the best qualities in my mind.

Earlier this week I had considered giving a day by day picture of my week, but I thought this would prove to be an enjoyable topic. This is why it came first. However, I should at least give you the highlights:

Sunday: IKEA! We bought orange chairs for Alex's birthday. He doesn't sit anywhere else anymore.

Monday: Dessert! We went to a restaurant called Pix that serves very little real food and focuses mainly on, you guessed it, desserts. We consumed far too much sugar and enjoyed the simple yet rich atmosphere. Why does my entire blog sound like a review so far?

Tuesday: I worked most of the day. I read during a good portion of work that evening as there wasn't much to do but greet students and their families and answer the phone if it rang. Easy yet still tiring.

Wednesday: I slept until noon. Alex's father had come by that morning and admired our chairs, though he was not thrilled with the orange cushions. I worked just a bit at the end of the day. It was actually quite warm and beautiful out, so I walked the mail to the mail box right away. On my way to the corner to cross at the signal, I heard a "damn girl!" from a nearby car. I just keep walking when this happens, but part of me secretly thought "I haven't gotten a cat call in awhile...". I don't think I secretly came to a conclusion of whether this was a good or bad thing, but it stands as a memorable part of my day.

Thursday: Worked more of the day than Tuesday. We're getting ready for our Open House on Sunday. I must admit, I am worried about turn out. We've invited a lot of people, I hope a lot stop by, and I hope more raffle tickets get purchased...

Friday: Day Off!! Granted I spent far too long stressing out over getting my residency application complete. Apparently, I am  was never listed as being on the lease at my apartment in Eugene. So that leaves me with the option of getting a letter from my property manager. Clearly, there is no reason to trust her responsibility as the paperwork I faxed to her for my lease never made it to the main office...  

Saturday: Work again. I'm tired. Tomorrow is the big day... I'm stressed out. After work, Alex and I went over to his sister's house to give her a break from baby and get a chance to get some errands done. The baby slept for most of the time we were there.

Today: I just got up an hour ago and ate cereal. I'll need to leave in an hour or so to go to work. 

Have a good Sunday! 

Feel the Power of my Paw! (or lack there of)

Two Saturday evenings in a row; perhaps I should consider making this my regular blogging time. On second thought, there are some nights that I do feel inclined to go out and party, they are just rare occasions. Now that I am in a living situation where I see more than just Alex on a regular basis, its a rare day when I feel inclined to go out and try to chat up those of his friends I find little in common with. There are a few that I really dig, but as of late I've just not been inclined to hang out with anyone. 

Last night we did get to have a family birthday dinner for Alex and his sister. They're daylight debut's were mere days apart so its easy enough to get everyone together on one night close to both of those dates to get dinner. As children, I'm sure this wasn't so cool, not only because they had to share attention, but also because they probably had nothing in common in taste for party favors and cake styles, leaving their parents no option but to have two parties. Or none. I've actually never asked Alex how that all went down as a child. I would be surprised, however, if both of them weren't treated like the king and queen of Toevsville during that week; separately, but equally.

Now, you must be dying to know, what did I get Alex?! Er... Um... its a... surprise? 

Okay FINE! I didn't get him anything yet, alright! I have loads of ideas, just not the time (or access to keys to our apartment)  necessary to acquire such things. We are going to IKEA tomorrow to procure a matching bookshelf to go in our second living room (and the one we've kind of claimed for ourselves), so I might pick up something there that I know he desires desperately and in a color I approve of. Well, of course he approves of it too! How could you ever imagine me being the kind of person that gets my significant other a bowling ball with my name etched in it. Or more appropriately in my family, a bowling pin lamp with my name etched in it.

Maybe I'll get two, in place of a couch in this room. I should probably get the vacuum fixed in order to clean them too. I know, I know, brand new vacuum, right? Its not the vacuum itself that I can't get to work, its the "Power Paw" that has mysteriously lost its Power, now its just a Paw...

More accurately, its lost its ability to make the roller turn. Dad, I hope you're paying close attention to this description. "Help me Obi Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope!". And yes, in case you're wondering, I did have to google that name for the proper spelling. 

Okay, so, I took apart the Power Paw, cleaned out the fur, and put it back together. No avail, the roller still wouldn't turn. I took it apart again and surveyed the method by which it made the roller turn. It appears that the suction from the vacuum hose is supposed to turn a sort of turbine wheel in the base of the Power Paw. The turbine has a little grooved knob coming out the side that the belt (also grooved) sits against, the other end of which wraps around the roller. Hence, the suction causes the turbine to spin and thus the roller spins. Its kind of nifty, really, except that the little knob is not turning so well. I thought perhaps the bit of fur wrapped around it was impeding motion, but if its the case, the hair is trapped on the inside of the turbine's casing, and is unreachable. Do they sell those parts separately? And is it even worth it if I broke it within two goes of kitty coat removal? 

Use the force Obi Wan. It is strong with you. The evil Darth Kitty, blah, blah, blah, insert more references to Star Wars here. 

Fix my vacuum damnit!

P.S. Did I mention I @#$&*%-ing hate cats. Specifically ugly, retarded, white, persian cats.

Hi Mr. Oak Tree.

Its 10:40pm on a Saturday evening and I have chosen to spend my time curled up in bed searching in vain for reviews on Scandia Down. I know my mother knows what this thing is, but if you don't, let me illuminate it for you. Scandia Down sells high quality bedding, specializing in goose down, of course. Its expensive stuff, a comforter costs into the quadruple digits if you wish to go that high. I, however, am allergic to down, but would love to find a good alternative to it. I have only heard good things about this company, but Alex insists that I do my research if I am going to lay down the dough for the faux down (say that five times fast). I don't blame him, its a good strategy. I managed to find reviews on another store selling the standard Primaloft filled hypoallergenic comforters, but not hide nor hair of anything on Scandia Down. In fact, I don't even know what they are filled with, all their website says is that they are synthetic. Its a vague statement in this day and age..
So, here I lay, at least managing to stay warm in our dropping temperatures under and old comforter that is too small and a handmade throw (thanks grandma, you make winter livable) slowly losing my hope that Scandia Down is within the radar of normal folks that write reviews online. Maybe its just too hoity-toity....

Despite my mild depression over a lack of comfort(er), you can bet your sweet buttooty that I found some glimmers of excitement. Nothing I can really afford, mind you. But I like these bed-time gems none-the-less:

First, there's of course Scandia Down.

Then comes my favorite find for a duvet cover, its from Pottery Barn, and I know I've probably railed against companies like them before in each and every one of your presenceseses (that word doesn't pluralize easily). A girl can dream though, especially under something as pretty as THIS. It comes in yellow and blue too, but who really gives a rat's rump.

There's also the idea of decorative pillows. I'm not usually one to go too far off the deep-end, but I once came across these in mine and Alex's favorite magazine (DWELL) and was reminded of them this evening. After a bit of searching I found them. Looolo. Kind of fun in that they are handmade, and sweatshop free and all that jazz. I do like jazz, afterall.

But, if we're talking about handmade, and limited edition fabric-y things, my sister should know that I am rather fabulous at finding some incredible, sustainable home and personal furnishings. She was kind enough to supply me with my new-recycled parachute purse and bedsheet wallet last year (granted, a second recycled purse was added later thanks to early christmas presents in May... or was is birthday? who cares, my seatbelt purse rocks!)

So, here's the most Kelly-rific part of all. You'll love these, and you won't be at all surprised that I am infatuated with them in an extreme way. TREE PILLOWS!!!!!

Holy Crap! Okay, I need to say that one more time for effect:

HOLY.

CRAP.

If I could write a song about pillows, I would. Well, really nothing is stopping me from writing a song about pillows, but its kind of weird in all reality. Its all fine and dandy to say in a blog, but as awesome as those pillows are I wouldn't write a song about them unless I was hired to do a jingle for them by some ad agency. Anecdote aside, I love these pillows. I love the little ones, I love the big ones, I would cover an entire couch with a grove of trees if I could! Perhaps not as this exact juncture in my life, as our couch sucks and we live with two cats who might destroy my awesome pillows. Then of course I would have to seek retribution and either marr or murder them, subsequently causing us to be kicked out by Sam....
I will not become homeless over pillows. I refuse.

Though... they're damn cute... damn cute!

Don't be surprised if I call in a few weeks from the underside of the nearest, warmest overpass, faux down comforter in tow.

A Land of Treasures (In Bulk!!)

Here we are again, back for more fun. 

A few realizations this week: 

1. I will never own a cat, let alone a white one.

2. I really don't like the smell of cooking meat, and thus am not a fan of atkins (vegetarian, makes sense)

3. Read all documents you have been sent from your college before getting stressed out. (Mom, I can explain later) 

Do you remember when I wrote that long intro about not making this into a bitch-fest? Lets just say I'm finding it difficult not to elaborate on the afore mentioned lessons of the week. Instead, however, I believe I will write about Costco.

I'm not sure if my parents did me a disservice by ingraining the Costco mentality into my little red head as a child. I loved that place! I still love that place! However, it seems that my extreme love of Costco may not be the most healthy, and by healthy I mean rational. An easy example to explain my point happened just today as Alex and I stood in the toiletries aisle discussing toothbrushes:

Me: "Oh hey, toothbrushes, I need a new one!"

Alex: "Yes, one. One toothbrush. Why do we need TEN?!"

My immediate thought: "But someday I'll need another one." I was there, the toothbrushes were there. It seemed like destiny! A serendipitous moment with oral care, how could I refuse?! My biggest fear, however, is that Alex may be right. Maybe we really don't need 10 toothbrushes, no matter how good the deal. And besides, I'm going home in less than a month, I can just get one then, my parents do believe in the momentous event of encountering toothbrushes in tens.

Toothbrushes... *sigh*

We did, however, add a mega bag of organic carrots to our cart, a large block of cheese, and enough yogurt to last until the expiration date, and no sooner. Ah, Costco plunder. Is it any wonder that I felt like I was uncovering a world of treasures? 

Perhaps next time, toothbrushes. But for now I must be content with an over stuffed refrigerator. 

... and apparently a room full of boxes to unpack, which I should probably get to, now that I have ensured grandma another weeks worth of life in the north. Its never a wise decision to deny grandma her stories.

adios!

ps, its raining again.