Garage Salin' It Up

My sister Heather and I are sitting in the garage right now, waiting for prospective buyers at our garage sale. I have to say, I've never had much success selling at garage sales. My sister is making bank ("bank" being more than $20!!), but I've sold nada. Now, granted I have 3 things for sale, but still.

While sitting out here, however, I have made efforts at earning money a different way: I've set up an Etsy shop! For those of you who've never heard of it, Etsy is a website where people can "set up shop" and sell hand-made wares. Each person has an individual shop where people can come, browse their product, and buy directly from them. I don't have much up on mine yet, but you can check it out at: www.etsy.com/shop/kathartist.

In other news, I bought these amazing things at someone else's garage sale:

Can you guess what they are? I'll tell you in the comments so I don't ruin the surprise for you. I love a good garage sale find! Have you had any success at garage sales this summer? Do tell!

I Left My Life Back in 2005

I was recently reminded of the fact that I haven't blogged in over a month. And really, my last post wasn't much more than a bunch of pictures and instructions on how to make the same thing. In fact, that's all it was. I suppose part of my blogging hiatus has come as a result of a lack of anything interesting to blog about.

When I first started this blog, I meant for it to be sort of a joke - I blogged about the most inane things as if they were terrifically fascinating. (Which is why the tag line in my blog title is so very sarcastic.) Eventually I graduated into writing about things that were actually interesting, and kept at it for a while...until interesting subject matter became more elusive.

Then, a few days ago, I had a run-in with a fly. Oooh, it was a tricky bugger (no pun intended) (well, maybe a little pun intended), and it kept sneaking under the door of my room after I'd chased it out! I spent quite a bit of time chasing that stupid thing around my room with the best weapon I could find - a sombrero (which won out in the end, I'll have you know).

As I was battling the miniature beast, I thought to myself, I should blog about this. I even took a couple of pictures and had the name of the post picked out: Woman vs Fly: the Epic Battle of 2010. Then it hit me: I already wrote this post back in 2008, only then I was only joking about it! And now...now this really is the most interesting thing that has happened to me?! THIS is what I'm thinking about writing about in my blog?! Sigh.

In contrast, a month or so ago I came across an old journal of mine from the year 2005, and as I read through it, I marveled at the incredible life I led back then! I mean, I had a LIFE back then!! I was constantly hanging out with friends, I actually dated, there was drama right and left. And the good kind of drama! The stuff blogs are made of! What happened to me? It's no wonder I go so long between posts.

Over the last year or so, I've thought about reinventing my blog, making it more about art, etc, but I think that my website (coming soon to a web server near you!) will serve that purpose. So after careful consideration, here's what I've concluded:

1. I have no (or very little) life.

2. What life I have you probably wouldn't care to read about.

3. I like to be sarcastic.

The result of these conclusions is this: you might be reading more about epic battles with flies and people stealing my chocolate chips, but I'll do my best to make it entertaining. Perhaps I'll fool you and I both that my life is more fascinating that it actually is. For now, here's a picture that I took of some clouds. Enjoy.

Autobiographical Mosaics

My friend Jessica posted this idea on her blog recently where you answer some questions, find some images, and put them together as a mosaic. A fun idea and awful purdy! Let me know if you do one, too!

Directions
- Go to Google image search and do be careful.
- Type in your answer to each question.
- Choose a picture from the first three pages
- Use this website (http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/mosaic.php) to make your collage.

QUESTIONS:
1. What is your name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What is your hometown?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. What is your favorite movie?
6. What is your favorite drink?
7. What is your dream vacation?
8. What is your favorite dessert?
9. What is one word to describe yourself?
10. How are you feeling right now?
11. What do you love most in the world?
12. What do you want to be when you grow up?

When Bike Riding Doesn't Make You Fall Over

On Monday I ventured out on my bike for the first time since the Incident. I was a little nervous! But, thanks to the generosity of my mom, I was able to fill my tires using my new bike pump (low tires being part of the problem from before). I was really nervous coming up that hill, but then, amazingly, I made it! And not only did I make it up the hill without falling over, I felt good enough to just keep riding!

I rode around for about twenty minutes, and took a lot of pictures of the beautiful neighborhoods around me. I was such a perfect evening to ride! It was nice and cool and it smelled like summer, as well as like Maine, Thailand, and my hometown. Isn't it strange how smells can transport you somewhere? I was instantly in those places as I rode through the streets of Grand Rapids.

OK, enough gabbing. Here are some photos for you to enjoy!

A beautiful Grand Rapids street

I'm pretty sure a witch lives here.

I accidentally took a picture while I was riding!

The Meyer May House, a home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright! (Very cool inside - I've taken the tour, which is free!)

I Wanna Live Where the Green Grass Grows

What is it about green grass that makes me so happy? I just want to lay down in it, maybe roll around, squish my toes in it, run my fingers through it... Sigh! When everything first started getting all green a few weeks ago, I was walking by the library and bent down and let my fingers run through the grass as I walked by. I love it! (I wondered afterwards if anyone saw me and thought I was crazy...odds are I didn't know them anyway, so oh, well!) I find myself wanting to run around barefoot in every freshly mown lawn I come across so I can feel the grass between my toes! Is it just me, or does anybody else love grass this much? I'm OK if it's just me. But if you love it, too, let's go find some green grass to run in!

Descent Into Ridiculousness

It’s been a while since I’ve done much blogging, but now that my semester is over, I thought I’d try to ease back into things with a slightly embarrassing (but funny!) story.

About a month ago, when the weather started getting warm, I decided to start riding my bike to school again. The first rides of the season are always the toughest, but I know that once I get through those first half dozen or so rides my muscles (and other eh-hem…areas…) will stop being so sore and I’ll be able to enjoy the ride more.

I live at the top of one of the higher points in Grand Rapids, which makes for tricky bike riding. My ride to school is generally a pleasant, quick event, as it’s pretty much all downhill and I can coast most of the way, arriving cool and on time to class. The ride home is a different story.

The main problem isn’t the downtown portion of the journey, as that’s mostly level. But once I reach a certain point in my trip home, it’s all uphill – about a half-mile steady incline to my apartment building. I’ve tried several different routes, and last month found what I thought was the best one. It’s a beautiful residential street so there are no stoplights, which means a better build-up of momentum. That also means less traffic, and therefore fewer people to witness my huffing-and-puffing up the hill.

I rode my bike up this hill the first few times and, much to my chagrin, was unable to make it to the top without having to stop about halfway and walk my bike the rest of the journey. The third or fourth time as I was pedaling up the incline, I decided that, no matter what, I would ride to the top of the hill. I may have been crawling up the street (ants were speeding by me), but I made it! I got to the top of the hill (where the street I was on dead-ends into another road), and stopped by a lovely yellow house to catch my breath.

What happened next was ridiculous. I'm not sure why exactly it happened, either! All I know is that one second I was standing in exhausted triumph, the next second my bike was falling (towards the sidewalk, not the street, thank goodness), and I soon followed. I mean, I was stopped, standing there, and my bike fell! I couldn't stop it! I sort of laughed as I went down, catching myself before falling rather ungracefully with my bike. I got up quickly, righted my bike, and walked across the street to a beautiful grassy hill where I could catch my breath and laugh at myself.

I have no idea if anyone witnessed my graceful descent, but I honestly wish someone would have! I must have looked ridiculous!! I also wish someone would have videotaped me - I laugh about it just seeing it in my head - it would be hilarious to watch it over and over again!

On a side note, the next time I went out on my bike I discovered part of the reason for the difficult bike rides: my tires were half-flat! Yeesh. Next time, I'm checking that first!

Yes, Yes, I'm a Nerd

When I was in middle school, a motivational speaker came to our school and talked to us about being a Nerd. Granted, not your typical idea of a motivational speaker, but I think the idea behind this was that we were being taught to embrace our individuality and not to be afraid of being different. The speaker wore two different colored high-top Chucks and had a motto that has stuck with me through the ensuing decade and a half: “Nerds Rule!”

I remember asking my mom if we could go back for the assembly (discussion?) he was going to do in the evening that was open to the public, and she obliged. Finally, at last, here was someone who was validating my existence! I was a Nerd, and that was OK! Nerds Rule! I even got a button, which was square and had a cartoon drawing of his feet with the two different colored Chucks and the motto scrawled across it in bold lettering. I believe that button maintained a proud position on my backpack for quite some time after.

It’s been a few years now since that motivational speaker first reassured my awkward, middle school self that being a Nerd was OK, and the button is long gone. But the message has stuck with me. Nerds Rule, and there’s no sense hiding my inherent Nerdiness from the world.

The essence of my Nerdiness has been manifested lately in a very technological way. I am often tempted to quickly hide and erase all evidence of these Nerdy activities, but am reminded of that guy who once reassured me that Nerds were Cool, and to be confident with that fact.

I have learned to accept it, and think you should, too.

I am a Nerd, and I rule.*

I like Farmville, and will post things on my wall, because, darnit, I want to help my Farmville Neighbors out (and get free gifts in return). I may delete some of these posts after the prizes have been claimed, but that does not diminish my love of the game. It is only a way for me to keep up some semblance of a (pretend) non-Nerdy lifestyle. I believe I’ve fooled most people into thinking that I’m not a Nerd, and if I haven’t, I’d like to delude myself for a little longer that I have.

My friend Megan recently introduced me to a hilarious online show called The Guild. The Guild is a group of people who play an online game (it’s supposed to be something along the lines of World of Warcraft and the like) and the Nerdtastic antics they get into. Each episode is around 5 or 6 minutes long, and seriously funny. Hilarious’d.

While the type of game The Guild plays is rather different than Farmville, the sentiment is very similar. Those who play are often found to be discussing how to get more XP, the temptation to break down and pay real money for Farmville Dollars, mastering crops, and sending each other certain free gifts. You may mock, but you have to accept at least one fact: we’re having fun, and part of you thinks your friend’s farm is pretty and kind of wants you to start one yourself.

Give in, friends. We’re Nerds, and proud of it. Come join us!

*I mean this in the humblest way possible, of course.