Of Begonias and Bandersnatches
After some internet begonia research, I'm attempting to revive my flagging begonia through increasing ambient humidity. So I picked up some smooth, pretty stones from Michael's and filled the begonia's plastic tray with them. The key is, apparently, to put water on the stones but not to fill it up so high that the water level is touching the bottom of the pot. However, it is still losing leaves at an alarming rate. I have a feeling that, at this rate, I will know by the end of the week if it's going to pull through or not.
I'll feel bad if I lose it. I don't often lose plants, and I never like it when that happens. And it's a very pretty-looking plant, and before that snowstorm hit, it was doing very well. But apparently rex begonias are finicky as a rule. So if it doesn't pull through, at least I know I gave it my best shot.
That said, my other begonia at work is still flourishing; let's hope it stays that way. Although it's doing well, I might go ahead and give it some colored stones, too. At the very least, I think it will look prettier that way.
On Saturday, Brian and I went to see that new Alice in Wonderland movie. The IMAX was sold out, so we went to see the regular 3-D version. Unfortunately, though, the 3-D wasn't that great. I'm not sure if it was a camera issue, or a glasses issue, but both of us got a lot of double-vision, and a lot of the lush background details blurred into an unidentifiable mess that was probably not intended by the filmmakers.
That said, I did enjoy the film. I've been hearing mixed reviews--some people really like it, some people seem to be "meh" or "it was good, but not great." Personally, I had a really good time. For one thing, I always enjoy weird takes on Alice in Wonderland. It strikes me as a world that lends itself well to being stretched or re-imagined in different directions. Heck, I even wrote (though never finished) a bunch of short stories back in grad school that was my own take on Wonderland. Plus, the movie featured a strong and slightly weird heroine who gets cast into an odd situation and given a sword with which she needs to fight a monster. Then she goes back home and has learned to be awesome in real life. That is a plot I can always get behind ;)
In other news, I splurged a little this weekend with my monthly spending cash, on a new stuffed dragon for the collection, and, strangely enough for a splurge, writing supplies. I got a pencil bag for the binders I keep my novel drafts in, and some new highlighters of a particular size and shape that I've come to really like, in a variety of colors (I use color coding to indicate different types of changes I want to make to a draft), and some post-it tabs to mark where I'm at. I also picked up some neatly-shaped novelty post-its (one set shaped like large arrows and another set shaped like dialogue balloons) that will be handy for inserting lengthier notes without having to squeeze tiny print into the margins.
And I have my eye on some fancy-nice red pens. I am very particular about my red pens, but after some experimentation, I think I've found ones that I really like. Should I get either of the two jobs I've applied for, and a commensurate pay raise, I know what I will be splurging on.
PENS.
It feels like it should be a strange thing to admit, but I do get a certain peculiar joy out of buying fresh school/office supplies.
That said, I'm moving right along on red-penning the Tanna story. I've only got three chapters left out of 22! And I'm pretty confident that I'll be able to finish that in another evening or two of dedicated time, tops. Then I can move right along to the actual nitty-gritty editing part. WOOT! Time to get messy. With WORDS.
I'll feel bad if I lose it. I don't often lose plants, and I never like it when that happens. And it's a very pretty-looking plant, and before that snowstorm hit, it was doing very well. But apparently rex begonias are finicky as a rule. So if it doesn't pull through, at least I know I gave it my best shot.
That said, my other begonia at work is still flourishing; let's hope it stays that way. Although it's doing well, I might go ahead and give it some colored stones, too. At the very least, I think it will look prettier that way.
On Saturday, Brian and I went to see that new Alice in Wonderland movie. The IMAX was sold out, so we went to see the regular 3-D version. Unfortunately, though, the 3-D wasn't that great. I'm not sure if it was a camera issue, or a glasses issue, but both of us got a lot of double-vision, and a lot of the lush background details blurred into an unidentifiable mess that was probably not intended by the filmmakers.
That said, I did enjoy the film. I've been hearing mixed reviews--some people really like it, some people seem to be "meh" or "it was good, but not great." Personally, I had a really good time. For one thing, I always enjoy weird takes on Alice in Wonderland. It strikes me as a world that lends itself well to being stretched or re-imagined in different directions. Heck, I even wrote (though never finished) a bunch of short stories back in grad school that was my own take on Wonderland. Plus, the movie featured a strong and slightly weird heroine who gets cast into an odd situation and given a sword with which she needs to fight a monster. Then she goes back home and has learned to be awesome in real life. That is a plot I can always get behind ;)
In other news, I splurged a little this weekend with my monthly spending cash, on a new stuffed dragon for the collection, and, strangely enough for a splurge, writing supplies. I got a pencil bag for the binders I keep my novel drafts in, and some new highlighters of a particular size and shape that I've come to really like, in a variety of colors (I use color coding to indicate different types of changes I want to make to a draft), and some post-it tabs to mark where I'm at. I also picked up some neatly-shaped novelty post-its (one set shaped like large arrows and another set shaped like dialogue balloons) that will be handy for inserting lengthier notes without having to squeeze tiny print into the margins.
And I have my eye on some fancy-nice red pens. I am very particular about my red pens, but after some experimentation, I think I've found ones that I really like. Should I get either of the two jobs I've applied for, and a commensurate pay raise, I know what I will be splurging on.
PENS.
It feels like it should be a strange thing to admit, but I do get a certain peculiar joy out of buying fresh school/office supplies.
That said, I'm moving right along on red-penning the Tanna story. I've only got three chapters left out of 22! And I'm pretty confident that I'll be able to finish that in another evening or two of dedicated time, tops. Then I can move right along to the actual nitty-gritty editing part. WOOT! Time to get messy. With WORDS.