The snow settled in on the evening of the 3rd, and the cold weather seems to be here to stay now. As much as I don't like the cold weather, I know of a little beastie who likes the cold even less than I do.
Algerian Hedgehogs, like my sweet little Hazel, can't stand the cold. If their surroundings are too cool, they will become lethargic and will try to hibernate. However, since they are a desert species, they don't have the proper metabolism to hibernate properly, and most who do try will slip into a coma a die.
That's why I always have a heat emitter aimed at Hazel's pen. Unfortunately, I'd failed to account for the draft coming in from a nearby window. I'd checked in on her before we'd left for dinner on Sunday night, and she was showing the first warning signs of hedgie-hypothermia - cold paws, dry nose, and a wobbly gait.
Layne and I quickly rearranged her pen to move her bed more directly into the path of the heat lamp, and I gave her tons of extra blankets. She seems to be doing better now, but I'm still checking her regularly. When the radiator finally kicks in, it should more than negate any drafts getting into her pen, but I still worry about her. She's quilling right now - shedding last year's quills and regrowing a whole new set, which always lowers her immune system and her appetite, so any extra stress on her system could make her very sick. Poor little quillbeast.
And now, on a cheerier note : A Bunny Sticking Its Tongue Out At A Grumpy Hedgehog.
Monday, November 5, 2007
Sunday, November 4, 2007
I feel loved!
Tonight I met a whole bunch of folks out in St. Albert for my birthday dinner, since yesterday evening was pretty much entirely taken up with the game. The food was excellent as always. I had a fish and crawdads dish that was so delicious it actually caused me to forget what I was saying. I also got to try a root beer glazed dish, and even though it tasted exactly like A&W root beer, it still went fantastically well with the sweet onions and pork. The chef out there has never failed to please. (Well, except for not having any hush puppies. That made me sad.)
But, as great as the food was, far better was the company. We managed to fill a huge table, and I had a great time chatting with everyone, even though there were so many folks I had to migrate along one edge of the table just to speak to everyone! It was a ton of fun, and I am so lucky to know such awesome people. Yay! ^_^
Tonight I met a whole bunch of folks out in St. Albert for my birthday dinner, since yesterday evening was pretty much entirely taken up with the game. The food was excellent as always. I had a fish and crawdads dish that was so delicious it actually caused me to forget what I was saying. I also got to try a root beer glazed dish, and even though it tasted exactly like A&W root beer, it still went fantastically well with the sweet onions and pork. The chef out there has never failed to please. (Well, except for not having any hush puppies. That made me sad.)
But, as great as the food was, far better was the company. We managed to fill a huge table, and I had a great time chatting with everyone, even though there were so many folks I had to migrate along one edge of the table just to speak to everyone! It was a ton of fun, and I am so lucky to know such awesome people. Yay! ^_^
Saturday, November 3, 2007
My birthday, so far, has been wonderful and weird. I don't know if it was just the full moon or some wonderful serendipitous attempt to delight me on my birthday, but the world has seemed to conspire to endlessly amuse me today.
First off, there was the flasher.
I had decided early this morning, while playing Katamari in my pajamas, that I would like to go to the river to feed the birds. I puttered around for a bit, deliberately not thinking about the massive pile of things I still had to do, because, hey, it was my birthday and I would be damned if I was going to spend the day working. Before we left to go to the river, I needed to go across the street to the bank.
There was a woman standing on the corner, looking as though she also wished to cross. I stood beside her, waiting for a break in traffic, when suddenly she turns to me a lifts up her shirt.
"HI!!" she says, grinning hugely.
"err." I manage. "Hi. Nice day?"
I crossed the street. The ladies in the bank were lined up at the window, bemusedly watching the woman flash cars at random. They got back to work as I came in, and one of them halfheartedly suggested calling the police. Layne also got flashed as he came across the street to meet me, and we chuckled about it on our way back to the car. That little incident done, we picked up some sandwiches from the little cafe down the street, and then headed down to the river.
It was a little cooler than I would have liked, but it did mean that the river was nice and quiet. Layne and I found ourselves a picnic table, and had a nice lunch. While we were eating, I glanced over and saw a small figure in the distance. It was wearing a fox suit.
"Aww," I said, "Isn't that cute? That kid's still wearing his Halloween costume."
The figure came closer, and loomed larger. "I don't think that's a kid..." said Layne.
I spent the rest of lunch watching the furry and his photographer have a wonderful, frolicking photo-shoot in the leaves. I was highly amused by his antics (which included rolling in the leaves and general cartoonish romping) and by the sheer random weirdness. I kept wondering if his suit was homemade - it looked to be pretty well constructed, but after a moment or two of my inner costume-geek trying to figure out what one would use to make a full-sized mascot head (foam and lightweight tubing, obviously) I gave up the line of thought and continued on with my lunch.
After lunch, we wandered down the trails by the river and fed the chickadees. I normally would feel guilty about feeding wild birds, as it's a nasty habit to get them into, but man... I went for a walk down there a few weeks ago and was astounded that I could get them to perch on my hand if I just held it out to them. At one point I looked like something out of a Disney film - I stretched out my hand and a dozen little birds flitted about me cheerily. I half expected them to start darning my socks.
Anyway, they're pretty darned cute and I certainly enjoy watching them, so Layne and I strolled along and occasionally stopped to be mobbed by hungry little birds. The entire walk was, as usual, punctuated by me going, "Oh! Hoary Woodpecker!" and "That one, over there!! Are its wings barred???" and flailing at some nearly invisible bird off in the bush.
Tonight - Hell to Pay. Mmm - yummy demon game. I plan to wear something a little comfier this time, as it will be held at someone's house and goddammit, I want to be able to climb stairs. My other costume, fun though it is, is not made for doing anything more strenuous in than a brisk walk.
First off, there was the flasher.
I had decided early this morning, while playing Katamari in my pajamas, that I would like to go to the river to feed the birds. I puttered around for a bit, deliberately not thinking about the massive pile of things I still had to do, because, hey, it was my birthday and I would be damned if I was going to spend the day working. Before we left to go to the river, I needed to go across the street to the bank.
There was a woman standing on the corner, looking as though she also wished to cross. I stood beside her, waiting for a break in traffic, when suddenly she turns to me a lifts up her shirt.
"HI!!" she says, grinning hugely.
"err." I manage. "Hi. Nice day?"
I crossed the street. The ladies in the bank were lined up at the window, bemusedly watching the woman flash cars at random. They got back to work as I came in, and one of them halfheartedly suggested calling the police. Layne also got flashed as he came across the street to meet me, and we chuckled about it on our way back to the car. That little incident done, we picked up some sandwiches from the little cafe down the street, and then headed down to the river.
It was a little cooler than I would have liked, but it did mean that the river was nice and quiet. Layne and I found ourselves a picnic table, and had a nice lunch. While we were eating, I glanced over and saw a small figure in the distance. It was wearing a fox suit.
"Aww," I said, "Isn't that cute? That kid's still wearing his Halloween costume."
The figure came closer, and loomed larger. "I don't think that's a kid..." said Layne.
I spent the rest of lunch watching the furry and his photographer have a wonderful, frolicking photo-shoot in the leaves. I was highly amused by his antics (which included rolling in the leaves and general cartoonish romping) and by the sheer random weirdness. I kept wondering if his suit was homemade - it looked to be pretty well constructed, but after a moment or two of my inner costume-geek trying to figure out what one would use to make a full-sized mascot head (foam and lightweight tubing, obviously) I gave up the line of thought and continued on with my lunch.
After lunch, we wandered down the trails by the river and fed the chickadees. I normally would feel guilty about feeding wild birds, as it's a nasty habit to get them into, but man... I went for a walk down there a few weeks ago and was astounded that I could get them to perch on my hand if I just held it out to them. At one point I looked like something out of a Disney film - I stretched out my hand and a dozen little birds flitted about me cheerily. I half expected them to start darning my socks.
Anyway, they're pretty darned cute and I certainly enjoy watching them, so Layne and I strolled along and occasionally stopped to be mobbed by hungry little birds. The entire walk was, as usual, punctuated by me going, "Oh! Hoary Woodpecker!" and "That one, over there!! Are its wings barred???" and flailing at some nearly invisible bird off in the bush.
Tonight - Hell to Pay. Mmm - yummy demon game. I plan to wear something a little comfier this time, as it will be held at someone's house and goddammit, I want to be able to climb stairs. My other costume, fun though it is, is not made for doing anything more strenuous in than a brisk walk.
Friday, November 2, 2007
Post #13 - In Which Alina does Layne's nails and talks about costume stuff
Yesterday, being November 1st, was a good day to be a costume geek. I took full advantage of the post-Halloween bargains, and got a whole bag of goodies with which to supplement or add to my Tickle Trunk. Strangely, they had no carts or baskets in the store, so when I showed up at the counter with a full armload and a jack-o-lantern filled with creme makeup dangling from my wrist, I think I made the day of the girl at the counter.
I even managed to find several bottles of liquid latex, which was good, because the order I'd placed earlier this month didn't come through. The supplier, unfortunately, didn't have the neutral fleshtone I needed in stock, and hadn't updated the site. I got my money back, and made sure they knew of my displeasure at having to wait nearly a full month to hear back from them, despite my several emails.
The latex is for a pair of gloves for Layne. We're making some creepy clawed latex gloves, similar to the ones I made for my Ifrit costume. I'm hoping to take a few pictures of the process, because I want to make a tutorial. I had to figure the darned thing out on my own, and there's a few things I've learned.
a) It's easier to sculpt something on someone else's hands (duh)
b) Latex gloves worn underneath make removal of the sculpted claws a thousand times easier
Tonight I sculpted the claws on his left hand. I use the bone-colored sculpey, and then bake it until it starts to brown. It makes for a nice, natural looking claw color. Then, I put a few coats of clear nail polish over top to give it some sheen and to keep it from chipping.
Tomorrow - the latex gloves themselves, which should be nicely cured before Hell to Pay.
Also, tomorrow's my birthday, so I suppose that there may be something involving cake.
I even managed to find several bottles of liquid latex, which was good, because the order I'd placed earlier this month didn't come through. The supplier, unfortunately, didn't have the neutral fleshtone I needed in stock, and hadn't updated the site. I got my money back, and made sure they knew of my displeasure at having to wait nearly a full month to hear back from them, despite my several emails.
The latex is for a pair of gloves for Layne. We're making some creepy clawed latex gloves, similar to the ones I made for my Ifrit costume. I'm hoping to take a few pictures of the process, because I want to make a tutorial. I had to figure the darned thing out on my own, and there's a few things I've learned.
a) It's easier to sculpt something on someone else's hands (duh)
b) Latex gloves worn underneath make removal of the sculpted claws a thousand times easier
Tonight I sculpted the claws on his left hand. I use the bone-colored sculpey, and then bake it until it starts to brown. It makes for a nice, natural looking claw color. Then, I put a few coats of clear nail polish over top to give it some sheen and to keep it from chipping.
Tomorrow - the latex gloves themselves, which should be nicely cured before Hell to Pay.
Also, tomorrow's my birthday, so I suppose that there may be something involving cake.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Ok, this is bugging me.
I found this article on the Herald Sun. It claims that the revolving image can be interpreted as spinning both clockwise AND counter-clockwise, depending on how you look at it. Apparently, left brain thinkers see it spinning counter-clockwise, while right brain folks see it spinning clockwise. But, they also claim that it's possible to switch the direction she's spinning while you watch it.
I've tried. I've tried a lot. Hell, I've sat here for the last ten minutes, watching her revolve stubbornly clockwise, and the only thing I'm getting from it is that whoever animated her certainly didn't have their xy axis locked. Maybe that's where the trick lies?
I'm usually pretty good at these optical tricks. Magic Eyes don't phase me, and those concentric circles spin pretty damned fast. But this one? Can't do it. I can't even puzzle out the logic of how the illusion would work. I just see a poser model, spinning clockwise. Maybe my left brain's broken?
LINK! : Right Brain vs Left Brain
I found this article on the Herald Sun. It claims that the revolving image can be interpreted as spinning both clockwise AND counter-clockwise, depending on how you look at it. Apparently, left brain thinkers see it spinning counter-clockwise, while right brain folks see it spinning clockwise. But, they also claim that it's possible to switch the direction she's spinning while you watch it.
I've tried. I've tried a lot. Hell, I've sat here for the last ten minutes, watching her revolve stubbornly clockwise, and the only thing I'm getting from it is that whoever animated her certainly didn't have their xy axis locked. Maybe that's where the trick lies?
I'm usually pretty good at these optical tricks. Magic Eyes don't phase me, and those concentric circles spin pretty damned fast. But this one? Can't do it. I can't even puzzle out the logic of how the illusion would work. I just see a poser model, spinning clockwise. Maybe my left brain's broken?
LINK! : Right Brain vs Left Brain
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