Trace and the Lawn, Part II: Whacky Weeds!
Traceroo Uses the Weed Whacker
Yesterday I followed up my stunning debut using the lawnmower by attempting use of the weed whacker in the backyard. This was more difficult, less fun, and definitely far less gentle on both my allergies and my back. I didn't get too far. Still, I think use of the weed whacker is not only manageable but indeed very healthy for me in small doses -- maybe a little smaller dose than what I attempted yesterday. Close to bedtime, my back muscles started to ache quite fiercely, which is no doubt a sign that a little hard work is indeed a good thing and in fact should be attempted far more often. I took some Alieve, asked Ian to rub my back, and try in a couple of ways to crack it for me. The aching grew quite acute until I could get my spine to adjust, and then I was able to sleep. This was not nearly so comfortable a trial as the lawnmower the other day.
On the bright side, I have a much neater border around my back porch than I did before, that's for sure! Previously we'd planned on hiring some landscapers to do a spring cleanup of the yard before we move. I am hopeful that by doubling our capacity to manage the lawn, we might avoid that expense which could be a couple hundred bucks. Ian and I have $2,200 in various deposits riding on this rental house, and you can imagine we're quite anxious to recover that money in full. I still hope to hire a maid service to do a final cleanup. Our landlady plans to put the house on the market shortly, so I'll ask if she plans to replace the carpets, and if not, we'll have them steam cleaned, too.
Traceroo Attends a Book Signing
The other night I tried something new that was really neat: I went to a bookstore for an author's book signing. I'd never done that before. In fact, I was such a rube in this regard that all I had in mind was the idea of a long line to get a book signed. I didn't realize that authors usually do readings and answer questions at these sort of things! How fun!
samiraalthores is a big fan of local Austin author Elizabeth Moon, who is doing but one appearance to promote her new book, Oath of Fealty. My penpal asked if I weren't doing anything else on the evening of the 16th, might I possibly go to the signing for her? I really wasn't doing anything at all that night, so I was happy to be a little generous with my time AND try something new all at once. And what a reward of fun! The author's talk was neat, and the independent bookstore in which she appeared (Book People, Austinites) was a real find as well. Three stories, larger than most Barnes & Noble locations, and full of knickknacks and gewgaws and crafts and things in between bookshelves. As a rather conscious habit, I don't like to collect books randomly. I keep my favorites which I will reread more than once (and I do). The rest I'd much prefer to check out from the library than buy. As a result, I don't into bookstores too often, particularly in this era of trying not to spend money unnecessarily. While sitting in that beautifully organized store, I felt the stirrings of my inner consumer screaming to reach the surface! I wanted to run through the store unrestrained, picking up shiny objects and rubbing them all over my face! Fill up a whole shopping cart full of books and wind chimes and incense and things I don't need, oh, how wonderful! Ahem.
The Rest of Traceroo In Brief
Ian has one week left on the job. I'm going to bake chocolate chip cookies today for him to bring in tomorrow as a last cookie hurrah.
One of Ian's coworkers went to work at Zenimax in Baltimore, and a second just had an interview there a few days ago. The second person walked in not too interested, and walked out of the interview considerably more interested since the company and people seemed so very cool. Looks like Zenimax is hoping to hire quite a few people all across the board fairly shortly, and lots of artists included. Great news for us!
Meanwhile, poor Ian has reached the Long Dark Teatime of the Soul with his portfolio. He's doing the final textures and adjustments on the machine gun piece on which he's been working these past few weeks. He's always said that the last 10% of work on any given piece takes the most patience and the most heart as the artist gets bogged down in excruciatingly tiny details. I think he's literally lost perspective on how wonderful this piece is! Ian found a gun modeled on the same real world item in Left 4 Dead, and he was very pleased to discover that his version is considerably more detailed, true to life, and still well under Valve's poly count (meaning Ian's version is more efficient at a technical level). I think that speaks very well of Ian's work. Ian, of course, just feels the weight of the world on his shoulders with getting this done and out the door, and it's starting to suck out his soul, which is completely understandable. Let's just hope there's some of his soul left when all is said and done and we can move on to the next chapter in our lives.
I finished the Landreth baby blanket yesterday, and its blocking now to take shape. I'm so very pleased to have finished that in plenty of time for the baby shower in April! I returned to work on a sweater for myself. Mama and I watched "Godfather" parts I and II and had a fine time. Since then, I've made it through "Goonies" in the DVD alphabet. I don't know what's coming up next.
Trace
Yesterday I followed up my stunning debut using the lawnmower by attempting use of the weed whacker in the backyard. This was more difficult, less fun, and definitely far less gentle on both my allergies and my back. I didn't get too far. Still, I think use of the weed whacker is not only manageable but indeed very healthy for me in small doses -- maybe a little smaller dose than what I attempted yesterday. Close to bedtime, my back muscles started to ache quite fiercely, which is no doubt a sign that a little hard work is indeed a good thing and in fact should be attempted far more often. I took some Alieve, asked Ian to rub my back, and try in a couple of ways to crack it for me. The aching grew quite acute until I could get my spine to adjust, and then I was able to sleep. This was not nearly so comfortable a trial as the lawnmower the other day.
On the bright side, I have a much neater border around my back porch than I did before, that's for sure! Previously we'd planned on hiring some landscapers to do a spring cleanup of the yard before we move. I am hopeful that by doubling our capacity to manage the lawn, we might avoid that expense which could be a couple hundred bucks. Ian and I have $2,200 in various deposits riding on this rental house, and you can imagine we're quite anxious to recover that money in full. I still hope to hire a maid service to do a final cleanup. Our landlady plans to put the house on the market shortly, so I'll ask if she plans to replace the carpets, and if not, we'll have them steam cleaned, too.
Traceroo Attends a Book Signing
The other night I tried something new that was really neat: I went to a bookstore for an author's book signing. I'd never done that before. In fact, I was such a rube in this regard that all I had in mind was the idea of a long line to get a book signed. I didn't realize that authors usually do readings and answer questions at these sort of things! How fun!
samiraalthores is a big fan of local Austin author Elizabeth Moon, who is doing but one appearance to promote her new book, Oath of Fealty. My penpal asked if I weren't doing anything else on the evening of the 16th, might I possibly go to the signing for her? I really wasn't doing anything at all that night, so I was happy to be a little generous with my time AND try something new all at once. And what a reward of fun! The author's talk was neat, and the independent bookstore in which she appeared (Book People, Austinites) was a real find as well. Three stories, larger than most Barnes & Noble locations, and full of knickknacks and gewgaws and crafts and things in between bookshelves. As a rather conscious habit, I don't like to collect books randomly. I keep my favorites which I will reread more than once (and I do). The rest I'd much prefer to check out from the library than buy. As a result, I don't into bookstores too often, particularly in this era of trying not to spend money unnecessarily. While sitting in that beautifully organized store, I felt the stirrings of my inner consumer screaming to reach the surface! I wanted to run through the store unrestrained, picking up shiny objects and rubbing them all over my face! Fill up a whole shopping cart full of books and wind chimes and incense and things I don't need, oh, how wonderful! Ahem.
The Rest of Traceroo In Brief
Ian has one week left on the job. I'm going to bake chocolate chip cookies today for him to bring in tomorrow as a last cookie hurrah.
One of Ian's coworkers went to work at Zenimax in Baltimore, and a second just had an interview there a few days ago. The second person walked in not too interested, and walked out of the interview considerably more interested since the company and people seemed so very cool. Looks like Zenimax is hoping to hire quite a few people all across the board fairly shortly, and lots of artists included. Great news for us!
Meanwhile, poor Ian has reached the Long Dark Teatime of the Soul with his portfolio. He's doing the final textures and adjustments on the machine gun piece on which he's been working these past few weeks. He's always said that the last 10% of work on any given piece takes the most patience and the most heart as the artist gets bogged down in excruciatingly tiny details. I think he's literally lost perspective on how wonderful this piece is! Ian found a gun modeled on the same real world item in Left 4 Dead, and he was very pleased to discover that his version is considerably more detailed, true to life, and still well under Valve's poly count (meaning Ian's version is more efficient at a technical level). I think that speaks very well of Ian's work. Ian, of course, just feels the weight of the world on his shoulders with getting this done and out the door, and it's starting to suck out his soul, which is completely understandable. Let's just hope there's some of his soul left when all is said and done and we can move on to the next chapter in our lives.
I finished the Landreth baby blanket yesterday, and its blocking now to take shape. I'm so very pleased to have finished that in plenty of time for the baby shower in April! I returned to work on a sweater for myself. Mama and I watched "Godfather" parts I and II and had a fine time. Since then, I've made it through "Goonies" in the DVD alphabet. I don't know what's coming up next.
Trace