it’s just plain ridonkulous
January 31st, 2010
Call me a grammar snob, but I’m not the biggest fan of people making up words. Sure, sure, it’s how our vocabulary grows. Whatever. I just think it makes people sound ridiculous. Or, as some might say in current culture instead – ridonkulous. Right. Like that’s a word.
For those of you who don’t know, I named this blog after a long standing frustration with the word “tornadic”. Let me explain the root of my frustration. It’s – Not – A – Real – Word. Well, I guess it is now (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/TORNADIC), but it shouldn’t be. To say “there’s tornadic activity” seems weird to me. Especially when you’re Katie Horner and you say it 8,000 times in the course of an hour when a storm moves through Kansas City. There’s either a tornado or there isn’t. There might be cloud formations. There might be wind. But unless there’s a tornado, there isn’t a tornado. I rebuttal with the claim you should also then say “there’s hurricanic activity”. But people argue there’s either a hurricane or there’s not. It’s just bad logic.
I had a ridonkulous conversation with Jared over this very thing one night. “The weather’s awfully lightastic out there!” “I’ve never seen weather be quite so thunderific!” All things that follow suit in my brain when people start using words like “tornadic” and they catch on and meteorologists across the nation adopt it as a legitimate descriptor. Jared thought I was being, well, ridonkulous. I knew, however, it was a slippery slope. “Tornadic” was but the gateway drug into a future mayhem of vocabulary debacle. Imagine my shock and awe when watching the weather forecast a couple weeks back when Joel Nichols threw out the word “frizzle”…not only in verbal form, but in text on the graphics screen as he showed the cold front moving into our city. What?!? FRIZZLE?!? Are you serious? People, he was referring to FROZEN DRIZZLE. Oh…frizzle. Right. A clear alternative to simply saying frozen drizzle, because saying frozen drizzle is just too many syllables, I guess. Or, well, maybe he’s a big fan of Snoop Dogg and his music has started to take effect as he speaks to the general public about weather.
I’ve been trying to think of stupid words I could make up to write a blog entry out of words that don’t exist, but it’s taking too much time and effort for a joke I’m sure only I will enjoy. Sorry, kids. And while I’m on it, let me just say I feel like my life somehow has become substantially less entertaining since I’ve stopped dating. All I have to talk about is home remodeling and the weather. Man, I’m lame. I’ll try to start living a life full of adventure and craziness again so you have something to read about. Maybe I’ll start taking fencing classes or dressing Kodak up in outfits each Monday and pulling a play on William Wegman or something just so you aren’t subjected to entries like this. Yeah. Maybe I will.
hello, 2010
January 11th, 2010
It’s been way too long since I updated things here at hurricanic.com. My apologies. As I last shared, I had quite the task ahead of me trying to complete three quilts before Christmas. I’m proud to share, however, that they all were finished, wrapped, and given a few weeks back – and as far as I know, they’re keeping my family awfully warm during this tragically cold and bitter winter we’re having.
I’ve also been busy completing my new living room. I had mentioned something in early November about hoping to continue making my home a place I love dwelling solo. Mission accomplished, I will say. And as I attempt in 2010 to become a more proficient reader, this living room of mine is providing many new places to rest my hind parts as I drift off into worlds and times not my own. Ahhhh…
More than one person has realized I have a trend in my life going. Apparently when a serious relationship in my life ends, I buy furniture. Some people eat ice cream. Others drown their sorrow in alcohol. Me? I redecorate a room. I told several people that there’s reason to this madness. The way I figure, if I can’t change the status of my love life, I can at least change the color of my walls.
To justify this, I will share that I 1) have been saving for this, and 2) had my last furniture for 10 years. It was time for a change. Conveniently, that time corresponded with a break-up. Whatev.
So, without further adieu…a reminder of my old living room…
And now…my fantastic new dwelling spot…
Having more seating room? Awesome.
I’m pretty sure my favorite thing in the room is the green lamp.
The shelving unit? I put it together by myself. That’s right. I’m a real man.
And purple shag carpet? Yeah. I know. It’s…amazing.
I also sewed the curtains. But don’t go getting too impressed. I haven’t hemmed them yet. And…the lining isn’t sewn on entirely straight. But they work for me.
Conveniently, my sister Janel finished working on a quilt she had been making me, so I have a new look to my bedroom, too. Thankfully I already had the furniture, so all I needed for this were new curtains and pillows.
This project actually started last summer when Janel told me she wanted to make me a quilt. She’s hoping over the course of her life to make one of her masterpieces for each of her family members. I, luckily, got to be first in line. We chose a pattern together, as well as all the fabrics, which was a ton of fun. She’s got such an eye.
I think at last count she and her husband figured out she’d logged at least 200 hours in this. Yeah. I know. (My quilts?? No where close.)
Kodak’s pouting because there’s NO way he’s ever allowed on my bed again. (Or the living room furniture.) It’s been a rough transition, but we’re getting there.
And yeah…could that new painting be any more fantastic? I acquired it at a recent art benefit for an almost criminal deal. It’s by my best friend from high school, Jeremy Collins. He’s brilliant. I love waking up to look at this piece everyday. It’s entitled “Seeking Balance”. A good message for me.
So, well, there’s the decorating update. More to follow, regarding things less aesthetic. I hope your 2010 is off to a great start. Mine ain’t been too shabby.
in the spirit of full disclosure
November 19th, 2009
I admitted not that long ago that love can sometimes lead me to do crazy things…like sew. I mean, wasn’t it just in August I was disassembling and stitching together beanie babies? Yes. Yes, it was.
What I haven’t admitted to was that I had invested in yet another project that Aaron sadly will not receive this holiday season. Why? Oh, let’s first set the scene, shall we?
Aaron and I had traveled to Central Missouri one fall afternoon to spend the day with his family. As his family tradition goes, they tour local church feeds – the kind where you pay like $8 and get to eat ungodly portions of sausage, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans amply garnished with bacon, and cobbler. Just the thought of it makes my stomach turn. I poked politely at my plate seeing as I 1) don’t eat red meat, 2) hate fried chicken, and 3) wonder why even eat vegetables if you’re going to douse them with pork. To “walk off” the cattle call feed, we headed upstairs to the United Methodist Women’s craft fair. Granted, most of it was more of a bake sale (as if anyone could really imagine eating zucchini bread or rice krispie treats after all of what tragically unfolded in the Fellowship Hall)…but it was the route to the parking lot. As we politely meandered through the booths, Aaron spied a Mizzou blanket…the kind that’s made out of two pieces of fleece and then notched and knotted together on the sides. This one? Side A: tiger stripes. Side B: Mizzou helmets. He immediately fell in love. I, simulateously, threw up a little bit in my mouth. At this point in our relationship, he had started talking to me about his hope of getting married next fall…so as I saw him emotionally bond to this incredibly tacky blanket, all I could think about was having to battle it’s appropriate use over the course of my life (tailgating vs. living room throw).
I creatively averted him away from purchasing said fleece and instead lead him towards the kettle corn. It was then I knew if things were to continue forward, possibly toward an altar at one point, I would have to figure out ways to accommodate his obsession with Mizzou a bit more tastefully. A week later I found myself at a quilt store with my mom staring at a wall full of flannels thinking, “What have I gotten myself into?” Now, you should know my mom, sister, and aunt are all die-hard quilters. They love it. It courses through their blood, ironically much like Mizzou does in Aaron. They’ve always invited me into their little twisted world of cutting and binding and batting. I’m frankly all together too ADD, too impatient, and too “Jackson” to be a good quilter. Quilters need to be Swedish and full of precision. But this was the perfect opportunity to join them as I sought to bless the man I was dating. I was decided: I would embark on a black and gold rag quilt.
Forty-five minutes and $95 later I was walking out of said quilt store with 10 yards of fabric and a huge, first-time quilt project ahead of me. I had my mom, sister, and aunt elated at my step into QuiltLand. I was a bit less enthusiastic, as I literally said as I walked out of the store, “We better not break up.”
We broke up.
So very quickly after saying my goodbyes to Aaron, I realized I was $95 poorer and the owner of 10 yards of fabric I had no desire to use. Why? I’m a Jayhawk, for crying out loud. A week or so later, I made my way back to the quilt store. I plopped my bag of flannel on their counter and declared, “We broke up.” They looked at me in terror, thinking as a first time quilter I was trying to return my fabric. Well…I’m no idiot. I know you can’t return cut fabric. What I did hope was that they could help me either 1) figure out where to sell it and hopefully recoup my costs or 2) find fabrics to blend in with the stupid Mizzou inspired prints to make it less “this was supposed to be for an ex-boyfriend” when all was said and done. Well…an hour and $130 later, I walked out with enough orange, green, and brown fabric to add to what I already add to make (wait for it…) three quilts.
Let me say that again: THREE QUILTS.
May I remind you I’ve never quilted before?
And so tomorrow, I am going to meet my mom and my sister for a day of sewing as I attempt to stitch up ridiculous amounts of flannel into Christmas gifts. I’m sure there’s some sort of metaphore in there about quilting and salvaging and whatnot in regards to moving on after a break-up, but I just don’t even want to hear it. I just want this damn flannel out of my house.
whoa-o
November 18th, 2009
I tried to pretend like I could pass it up.
I talked all about budget and financial responsibility.
I reasoned that it hadn’t been that long ago and that I could wait.
But then I saw a commercial…
Something within me drew me to my credit card.
And I smiled with joy as I clicked the button.
That’s right, everyone…
Me and Jon are reuniting (and it feels so good).
March 15, Sprint Center, Section 118, Row 2.
It’s going to be epic.
I even scored an extra seat for a lucky soul to join me.
Now….who should I choose?!?
my thoughts on thanksgiving
November 10th, 2009
I’m going to be 100% honest here. It makes me crabby that we hop straight from Halloween to Christmas. It’s like November 1st we fix our eyes on all things red and green and forget to relish in the last part of fall. I spent the better part of last night shopping for a lamp, and the more and more stores I visited, the more frustrated I got for the poor ol’ turkey. I’m not forgetting about you, Thanksgiving. You’ve always been my favorite. You’re like Christmas, only without the pressure and greed. I will not contribute to your being America’s red-headed stepchild holiday. No. I won’t. It just ain’t right.