Progress Update

Believe it or not I have made some progress on my corset. It has been slow going. It doesn't help that my sewing machine broke on me either. I have borrowed one from a friend and hope to be able to finish before Thanksgiving. We shall have to see. I thought I would include a picture of the first layer to be finished. I have two more to make before I can start to put in the bones.


I have been working on another project as well. A good friend of mine wanted to be Belle from Beauty and the Beast for Halloween. So I made the dress and apron for her. Here she is looking pretty darn good if I do say so myself!

Literature?

I have been discussing literature with two people whom I consider very knowledgeable on the subject. My brother is currently finishing his Masters degree in English at BYU and Michelle did her undergraduate in English and is writing a novel. I on the other hand have a degree in Humanities. Which basically means that I dabbled in English among other things (mostly art) and could never really commit to one subject.
The main thread of our conversation ultimately came down to the idea that the only good literature is depressing literature. Of course it was the two English majors who felt this way. As the only sensible person in the group I argued most strongly for the happy ending. Well, this continued for several different conversations. My brother ultimately claimed that depressing literature was the only literature with depth and intellect. Michelle, of course, agreed completely with him! I finally did what I always do when I seem to be at a conversational loss, I quoted Jane Austen. I think that her philosophy of literature is one of the finest. She begins the final chapter of Mansfield Park with this delightful thought:

"Let other pens dwell on guilt and misery. I quit such odious subjects as soon as I can, impatient to restore everybody, not greatly in fault themselves, to tolerable comfort, and to have done with all the rest."

Of all of her novels, I find that Mansfield Park is one of the most moralizing. I feel it is a tale of meekness and weakness and the vast difference between the two. There is great depth in her characters and the struggles they face. Yet ultimately, there is a happy ending. As Mary Poppins says, "A spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down." Hooray for the optimists in literature! Thank heavens for Jane Austen!

Frankly my dear, I don't give a ...

This is a companion piece to a post on Michelle's blog (The Innocent Flower) called "Top 10 reasons a best friend hates my novel". Some of you know Michelle and some of you don't. She is a dear friend of mine who has been working on her first novel for the last six months. I have been doing all that I can as a friend to support her in this. It has led to some very weird conversations and weeks that go by when we seem to have the exact same conversation every time she calls, usually beginning and ending with the phrase "No you are not a bad writer..." or "No I mean it, it is a great story. I am sure it will be published". Some days it is like having asking my children to do something, they just don't listen to me. So here in all its glory is my top 10 reasons why I hate Michelle's novel:

Number 10:
When she sent me the first draft after 3 months of writing: "I have not finished reading it yet! stop calling me!"

Number 9:
Can you say baggage?

Number 8:
I have spent the last six months telling her she is NOT a lousy writer! And I'm still telling her . . .

Number 7:
Poor, poor, poor Adam (her abandoned husband)

Number 6:
It used to be that I could have a crisis!

Number 5:
She even writes when she's at my house

Number 4:
If your name isn't Karen, Eric, Naomi, or Jesse, you don't matter

Number 3:
All of the emotional trauma of a real-life crisis - none of the resolution

Number 2:
If I have to talk her down off the ledge one more time, I will jump!

Number 1:
Michelle who?


Heather, I know you are reading this and you better comment!

Just a little rant?

Any one who knows me knows that I do not like the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice (the one with Kiera Knightly). Well some how on Saturday night I got sucked into watching it. It started out innocently enough. I would just flip to it during the commercials of the show that I was actually watching. Well that show ended and there was nothing else on (and I mean nothing!). So, Justin and I watched it. I spent the whole movie explaining in great detail what was wrong. It didn't help that every few minutes Justin would look at me and say "That can't be right."

Of all of the things that bug me (and trust me there are plenty). I think the thing that drove me crazy was the costuming. The extras were better dressed than any of the principle actors. I am no expert by any stretch of the imagination, but I have spent a great deal of time researching regency costuming. Like I said in the title I am trying to keep this rant on the small side (too late I know). I will conclude with a shout out to Caroline Bingley at the Netherfield ball "Woman go back to your room and put you dress on!!!!!!"

Jane Eyre

I have always said that I did not like this novel. I never liked it. From the first time that I read it in High School to the last time I read it in college I hated it.

Now I will be the first to admit that it is a well written novel. It deserves its place in classic literature. It is one of many classics that I have grown to hate. Again just because I hate them doesn't mean that they are not good. It just means that I don't like the story, characters, etc.

With Jane Eyre my biggest problem is with Rochester. From the first he lies. He lies to the community and he lies to Jane about the fact that he is married. I am sorry that a mistake in his youth has tied him to a mad woman. That makes his situation very difficult and he does not deserve his fate. I feel that he should not use that as an excuse. If he truly loved Jane as much as he said he does his first concern would be for her. All he thinks about is what he wants. If he wants her happiness, he would know and understand that she could not live a lie and still be the person that he fell in love with. He never seems sorry that he has lied. He is only sorry that he got caught.

I hope that I have explained myself well. I really tried not to rant and I am not responsible for what Michelle my say about it ;).

Progress

I am making progress on my corset. It goes slowly. There are three of us working together so we have a hard time getting together. I will take pictures when I have something interesting to show.

In other news I went with a group of girlfriends to go see Pride and Prejudice the musical. We had a great time together. The musical was fun too. I am not sure that a musical was the way to go with this particular Austen novel. P&P is a dialog driven novel. That is where most of the action happens. It looses something when you take out the verbal fencing and replace it with song. I also came to the conclusion that Mr. Darcy should NOT sing. My favorite tall, dark and broody character can not burst into song. I really believe that it violates some cosmic law of broodiness. I could keep going but I don't want to get violent. I am just a little obsessed with the topic.

Proof

I know that many of my friends, my family and especially my husband have long suspected me of being somewhat insane. Well the moment of truth has arrived. I have proof for many of you that I have lost my marbles (and for those who identify with me I think you should check on your own level of insanity). With the help of a good friend of mine I am making a regency corset. I have ordered the pattern today and when it gets here we will take measurements and order all of the pieces that we need. Things like stays and busks, laces and grommets. Doesn't it sound fun. We shall see how it goes.

Summer

I really think that summer goes faster than any other time of year. I am not sure if it is the vacations, the holidays or what but, it flies by. Even the weeks when there is not a whole lot going on time flies. I am either doing something or planning for something or recovering from something. I really do enjoy everything that is going on I am just amazed at everything that happens in such a short time period. It doesn't help that I have been on the go since March. July is the first month that I have not gone to either Colorado or St. George. Not to worry though, the family reunion is this month and so next week everyone is coming to my house instead. I am trying to get everything cleaned and organized yet again. Now if only I could figure out how to keep it that way for more than 5 minutes together. Oh well, I just look at it as training for my future job as super mom. (By the time I figure it out the kids will be all grown up!) In parting I miss Seaside!

I love playgroup!

Playgroup is all about the children. It teaches them to play together. It helps them learn. It furthers their mental and physical development. (Well mostly.)

I will let you in on a deep dark secret. Playgroup is about the mommies getting out of the house and having contact with other adult humans. There are weeks when it is the only thing that keeps me from yanking out my hair and running down the street. Long live playgroup and the mommies it saves.

Blog pressure

Alright you win. I am posting. I am not promising that it will be interesting or even make sense but I am posting. The entire month of June I spent somewhere else. I was all over the place. Some of it was amazing and wonderful (thank you Heather and Michelle)! Some of it was fun but exhausting (girls camp). At last I am home and beginning to get my life back into some semblance of order. I am definitely thrilled to put the suit case back up in the closet. I hope that it is quite a while before I have to even think of looking at it again. It really is nice to be home. I missed my family. Surprisingly enough I think they may have actually missed me. Maybe my next post will be all fancy and have all sorts of pictures on it. Until then be grateful that I posted at all ;)

Vacation!!!!!!!!

I am on vacation! I am on vacation. I am with the two best girlfriends in the whole world for the next week. No laundry, no dishes, no mommy for a week. I am having so much fun. I think I have giggled more in the last two days than I have in months. I could not have better therapy if I paid for it. Thank you to my sweet husband for letting me go and to my parents for taking my kids. I love everybody 'cause I am on vacation!

Make-up

Alas, another thing that I love. I am not as bad with make-up as I am with some things, but I love to get new make-up and to try new things. I don't have to wear it all of the time. There are times when I go days without it, but I love to play with it.

It is so much fun to get that new eyeshadow or compact. I love lip gloss. I used to be a lipstick person. I would have to dress up for work so I wore it almost everyday. Since I have had kids I am all about the lip gloss. It is less messy, it doesn't smear as easily and can be put on without a mirror as I run out the door (or in the car or the store or not at all).

Duels

I have been giving a lot of thought to the comment Darkthane made on my last post. He suggested that dueling was a source of entertainment. The idea has merit, but I discovered a few flaws.

It seems that the duel would be between two men that I liked, one man that I liked and one I didn't or two that I didn't like. The first would be bad because someone I liked would be wounded or dead. The second could have the same result and to add insult to injury I would be stuck with someone I didn't like. The third wouldn't be any fun at all because I wouldn't care or would again get me stuck with someone I didn't like.

If my understanding of period etiquette is correct a proper lady couldn't watch anyway. That is if the men involved actually told her about it in the first place. If you chose to go, you were most likely not proper in which case you would have just run off with the guy in the first place.

Finally, if everything went well and it all turned out for the best, your hero would be sweaty and/or bloody. He would want some kind of a kiss and that would be the end of your dress. Can you imagine trying to get blood out of lace or velvet? Your maid would surely give notice and without a good ladies maid there is no telling what you would look like.

I am afraid that when all is said and done duels are much more fun if you are the duelist. Hmmm I think I need to get a sword.

Lady in Green

Do you see her off to the left? Sitting there in her pretty green dress. I bet she never has to do laundry or clean the house. I bet someone else does her hair, gets her dressed and makes sure her shoes match what she is wearing. I bet she spends her time walking in Tudor gardens while handsome young Lords quote Shakespearean sonnets. She gathers flowers and sings. The only thing that she has to do is be polite and pretty.

Some days that sounds like something I would like to do. Hmmm, it might be fun for a day or two but with my luck I would be bored senseless in a very short amount of time. Drat my practical side. Oh well, it was a nice thought while it lasted.

Ode to a nap

This is bliss. I sit in the living room in silence save for the clicking of my keyboard. Both, I repeat both of my boys are sleeping. No one is climbing on me, yanking at me, yelling at me or telling me that if they don't have crackers they will starve to death right now. I really should have taken a nap myself but I could not stop sitting here and reveling in the quiet. There are so many things I could/should do. None that I actually want to do and in a very few minutes they will wake up and the bustle will begin again. But for now I sit and think about how nice it is to sit and do nothing.

To cake or not to cake...

Some how I have gotten into birthday cake decorating. When I think about it, I know which steps I took to get where I am now, but I don't totally understand the escalation. I spent more hours than I want to think about decorating a Winnie the Pooh cake that got eaten in about five minutes. I love my kids and if this makes their birthday special than I will do it happily. I just never saw myself as the cake decorating type. I don't really even like cake decorating. I don't hate it and I don't love it either. So I spent most of the day coated in frosting of one shade or another. It doesn't help that their birthdays are right on top of each other and I have to do two cakes in less that two weeks. I am just glad that birthdays are once a year.

Technitis Part 2

My Mother-in-Law just recently bought a new camera. I am now suffering from a major case of camera envy. I am hopeless. I have spent most of the evening doing research on different cameras. As my dear Cardinal says when I get an idea in my head (especially tech toys) I can not let it go until I have a list ten miles long as to why I need said object. Heaven help me if the object in question can be found in the color purple. I think the only thing I love more than purple is Dr. Pepper.

Technitis

Somewhere along the line I got addicted to technology. I am not sure exactly when it happened but I am fairly certain that it happened after I got married. I know that I am addicted I have to be. How else can I explain a day spent "tweaking" my blog, adding and organizing music on my ipod, checking email, playing on the Internet, and finally posting to my blog. To make matters worse I discovered why Cardinal was so excited to get a 24" monitor. It is fun to open multiple windows and be able to see both at the same time. I am not sure what has happened to me. I don't know what to do if I don't have my laptop, wireless Internet, ipod, palm pilot, cell phone etc. I just have to hope that technitis is not fatal. I doubt that I will find a cure and what is worse I am pretty sure that I wouldn't want to be cured anyway.

Today's Special

On our menu tonight we are featuring an old favorite Left-over Mommy. This dish comes with a side of exhaustion and a dash of impatience.

Some days just get to you. I got caught up on some chores around the house and the laundry is no longer an avalanche waiting to happen. The kids are outside playing (I love warm weather). I am actually starting to wind down and feel something vaguely resembling normal ( at least as normal as I ever get).

Maybe tomorrow I will feel better. Maybe I will have time to think.

Oh no I did it again

I started a new project, finished the dragon book and did not work at all on the shawl that is almost done. My life is a series of unfinished projects. My house is still a mess. I still have not settled on the background for my blog. My Saturday was way too busy. So I start the week in pretty much the same place that I started last week. Hopelessly behind on my to do list with more to dos appearing as I sit here blogging.

I did get to go to the theater last night. I saw "The Miracle Worker" at the Hale Center Theater.
It was an excellent performance. I love to go. It reminds me that I have an education and a brain. I have always loved the theater. It opens a window to a new world or a new way of seeing the world I live in. Lately I have been more interested in costuming and set design than anything else. It is especially fun when it is a play that I have seen before and I can see how the differences change the feel of the story. It gives me something to think about for the next several days.

Babble

Life can be so noisy. You get used to the noise and then when it is quiet you are not sure what to do with yourself and you can't think because it too quiet. Sometimes I think that I concentrate better if I have something to ignore. My favorite way to ignore things is to read. I read to escape. I love to read fantasy. Once upon a time in a land far, far away.... How I love the feelings that come with those words. The possibilities, the vistas, the potential that opens before me every time I open a book. I rarely meet a book that I don't like or isn't worth reading at least once. I could spend most of my life buried in a book. (Cardinal with argue that I do that anyway.) I am in the middle of a lovely book about dragons right now. Dragons have been done to death. It takes a skilled author to do dragons well. I will have to let you know when I finish the book.

And so the Insanity Begins...

Never say never. Well here I am. We will have to see how this goes. I now have a place for all of the random ideas and weird thoughts that pop into my head. I just hope that I make sense every once in a while. The "man of the house" has informed me that he wants credit for this venture into blogging as he is the party responsible for this new project. He has also asked to be referred to as Cardinal when mentioned. Of course I have to be the one to try this out as he has not set up his own blog.

I have been reading in my spare time lately. Unfortunately my other projects have fallen by the wayside. I have a shawl that is soooooo close to being finished. I really need to just sit down and do it. I just haven't been in the mood. Silly that it is so dependant on a mood to get it finished. Perhaps I will be inspired to tackle it in the next few days. I would not count on it as I just went to the library tonight and came home with a whole new pile of books to read. There is nothing quite like the excitement of a new book.