Snow Day

Today I am having a self imposed snow day.

I woke up to discover the train I had intended to get had been cancelled. As I continued to update live departure information for my train station every train got more and more delayed. If the trains can't run the buses won't be any better.

So today I shall hibernate in my nice warm house, with Gilmore Girls and my two assignments.

I don't really like snow.

I mean, its quite pretty, and when the sun shines on it it makes everything look alot brighter and happy. It reminds me of Christmas, and all the lovely things associated with it.

However, I hate snow driving. Its exhausting. You have to concentrate properly, and go slowly but in high gears, and the car doesn't like it, and every time you need to break I panic because I am terrified of skidding.

Also, it ruins all other transport options. Snow on train tracks and main roads means messed up bus and train services. Which is just quite inconvenient.

Plus, I don't have any good snow footwear. I refuse to wear my newest boots because they are nice and leather and will get destroyed. I have wellies but they aren't very warm. I need some good snow boots, that can get destroyed if necessary. But I can't buy snow boots if I can't get anywhere can I? Stupid snow.

Mostly I just don't like the cold. Snow makes everything extra cold.

On the plus side the tree in my front garden looks exceptionally pretty.

Oh look its snowing again. Wonderful. I shall now close the blinds, and hide from it all.

Another day, another crazy.

I'm sorry, I lied. I didn't knit a snowman. I got distracted, I don't even remember by what. I apologise.

However, I have crocheted some more. Crocheting with garden twine can be painful though, so I wouldn't recommend it. Also one must be careful when dying garden twine not to also dye your fingers blue. It looks a little odd.

I have recently begun re-watching Ally McBeal again from the beginning. I'm not sure how much of a good idea this is. It makes me a little crazy, because Ally is so crazy. And yet at the same time it is quite lovely. It makes me think what my theme song might be. Usually I would say "Broken" by Lifehouse but I think theme songs are supposed to be more up tempo (and possibly a little happier). So I don't have a theme song, but I do find daily life easier with a soundtrack. That's why I am so thankful for the invention of mp3 type devices, and little little headphones. They help me be more anti-social, and at the same time allow me to walk around without being terrified.

I have also been making progress on my making of Christmas presents. I have finished quite a few, and I think I have all the materials to make the rest. (Yes, I know, its too early, but I must be prepared, or I shall panic)

I am also enjoying the latest Taylor Swift album. I like country music, it has lots of emotion. Maybe "Haunted" can be my theme song.

Also I would like to marry John Cage possibly. And I am scared to watch Season 3 because that is when the bad things happen. But Season 4 has Robert Downey Jr, which is just lovely (sidebar - Due Date is an hilarious film, everyone should watch it).

I had to read my happy ending book the other day. I can't figure out why I needed to. Also I have stopped going to my diet sessions, because I am sick of being disappointed. I don't need to pay £5 to have someone make me feel rubbish. I can still be on a diet (although this week I didn't, because I wanted chocolate caramel shortbread, and chips, and ice cream), I just can't be so stressed about it.

Tonight is the Big Bang Theory. I LOVE that show. Sheldon is the funniest person ever to have lived ever.

Knitting & Crochet

Tonight I think I might knit a Snowman.

I taught myself to crochet yesterday. I can only do 1 type of stitch (a surprisingly complicated one, which is a little odd), but I have been practicing that stitch and I only mess up every 3 rows now, instead of every 3 stitches.

This is a development from my recent knitting phase. I am learning to crochet with the intention of crocheting some form of basket for a christmas present for someone. First I must find blue garden string. Or dye normal garden string blue. It will be an adventure.

I haven't read a book in a week, and its making me feel weird. But I don't know what to read. I am in the middle of a book, but I'm just not terribly inspired to finish it.

What I really want is Heaven's Spite by Lilith Saintcrow, or Side Jobs by Jim Butcher. But alas I am broke. If I wish to get the bus for the next few weeks there can be no book buying. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to carry on with the hundreds of books I already own.

Maybe its time to re-read some things again.

This weekend I will sort through my recent collagraph prints in preparation for an upcoming workshop. I also need to discover what happens when I put polystyrene through the printing press. Wonderful, wonderful printing press. I also intend to have a good diet week, so fingers crossed for that.

It's bonfire night tomorrow. Which isn't really all that exciting. I anticipate a lack of sleep due to extremely noisy and probably unnecessary fireworks, and sounds of fire engines rushing around dealing with all the unruly bonfires being monitored by drunk people. Do you get the impression I don't like bonfire night? Its not that I don't like it, I just don't see the point (although I do like fire, its pretty).

Now, time to knit a Snowman. (photographic evidence will be forthcoming)

5am makes me sleepy

Over the past few days I have had to wake up at 5am (or thereabouts) twice. I am not a morning person. I hate waking up in the dark. I especially dislike 5am.

Mostly because no matter how hard I try I can't sleep early the night before, so I end up with not enough sleep. So now I am contemplating bed at 7:20pm, which is just silly.

Thankfully tomorrow I get a lie in. Then I have a little mini expedition planned. Then I must get to work on my University assignments.

I have just been looking at random things (because I am avoiding doing any real work), and found my way inadvertently to some exciting things.

Firstly I have discovered that I am quite obsessed with contemporary art in heritage locations. Or at least I really quite like it, and think it is a wonderful idea. I was first introduced to this idea in the form of public art, and more recently the lovely exhibition "Extraordinary Measures" at Belsay Hall. Now I desperately want to see "Not Forgotten" at Townley Hall. It sounds awesome, and thought provoking and quite lovely. I'm not sure why this whole concept interests me. The juxtaposition and contrast is fascinating. So hopefully I can talk my mum into a road trip to see this latest incarnation (and its research for university too!)

Heres the place where you can find out about "Not Forgotten" http://www.midpenninearts.org.uk/visualarts

They are planning more such things in the future, which is terribly exciting (or at least it is to me).

I'm also going through a knitting phase at the moment. I spent 6 hours of coach journey knitting yesterday. And the whole day Saturday. Even my bus journey this morning. It's quite addictive.

Some of the things I am knitting are presents. Mostly I just like knitting I think. Its quite therapeutic. I think I might knit snowmen, and Christmas tree decorations, and other random things.

I want more yarn though, so I can knit more things, but I am trying not to spend money in November, because I am quite poor right now. Why do things always have to cost money? Damn it.