MrsBrown's philosophy of life and stuff

Feeling a bit clever, also... International Holiday!!!

2012-01-24T11:30:55Z

It turns out I'm cleverer than a travel agent at working out flights at a reasonable price. I have flights on a premium airline, with multiple stops around the US, for the same price as the travel agent wanted to sell me a flight with United.

I just had to get clever about dates and stops and their order.

We're off to Boston, Washington and San Francisco. I'll book internal flights to get to Pittsburgh from Boston(or maybe New York) and to Washington.

The dates co-incide with Pennsic, but we don't plan to be there for more than 7 days - there are so many other things to see and so little time!

I still need to arrange:
Accomodation in Boston (I need this for the visa)
The US Visa waiver (if you have to apply, and there's a fee, why don't they just call it a visa?)
Flights to and from Pennsic
Pennsic bookings
Connection with the Lochac contingent to sort accom at Pennsic
The other stuff we want to look at/visit
How we get to the other stuff.
Frequent flyer membership for mr-bassman

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Now is the time

2012-01-11T21:39:12Z

to try and cram in the activities I had planned for my holiday. I go back to work in 5 days. I have 4 days to complete the following;

~~complete the christmas process without embarrassing myself due to a lack of appropriate gifts - this includes at least 3 sewing projects by Sunday.~~ mostly. It's over now and I can't do anything about it, although I still have to finish the buttonholes on one gift.

~~finish knitting my cardy~~ I also started a jumper for Rose, that's almost finished too but I don't have time to do it if I'm to do any of the other things.

make the dress that in my head goes with the cardy
finish the dress that was in my head last summer
finish the other two sewing ufo's hanging over my head
Nope! No sewing done yet - looking unlikely, see kitchen note below.

build a back fence and gate
draw the renovation that I've been drawing for 6 years
Today I decide if the back fence gets done or I do something else.

~~lie on the couch reading or watching television for 3 days in a row~~ I may have done more than 3 days of this...
~~go shopping for new work clothes~~

mend work clothes
~~buy a new fridge~~
~~spend a couple of days hanging out with friends~~
a couple of easy ones so that I would have stuff to cross off. Although the new fridge prompted me to decide to pull apart the kitchen and re-surface the floor. That's been made harder by the moral collapse yesterday, but it should be finished today - as soon as I buy more paint, wait for people to have breakfast and showers and close the kitchen for the day.

pull apart Rose's room and put it back together
This may be easier to do as MsNotaGoth is nagging for it, so the amplifier collection can get out of her room and into her sister's.

and some other stuff
I started using asana these holidays. It's been good to just keep adding projects and then reviewing and moving the from the "today" or "upcoming" lists to the "later" list. It removes the guilt of not doing them, but keeps them as possibilities for my future. Based on the asana list and my calendar, here's how I'm going to spend the next 4 days;

finish kitchen
do work thing that's due on Monday but I didn't finish before christmas
work on Jumper
See Sherlock Holmes 1
See Sherlock Holmes 2
attend conference thingy for morning
attend birthday gathering in arvo
clean my bedroom
sort finances, and book keeping process
review back gate project for feasibility and planning
update tent blog

Let me see... what can I do while I lie here in bed...?

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Portrait of a holiday

2012-01-03T23:23:35Z

the tabs I currently have open.

Researching plastic free flour storage options, as suggested by sjkasabi and the dying of my (plastic) flour containers:
http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=en&q=stainless+steel+food+storage
www.shopnaturally.com.au/food-storage-safe-non-toxic-bpa-free.html
http://www.foodstoragecontainers.com.au/glass.html
https://www.ashnjuls.com.au/kb_results.asp?ID=65 (my favourite so far)
http://www.ashnjuls.com.au/Stainless-Steel-Food-Storage-Container-Leak-Proof-p/taihsinfoodstorage.htm
http://www.greenurlife.com.au/online-shop/stainless-steel/storage-containers/airtight-stainless-steel-food-storage-containers-set
http://lifewithoutplastic.com/boutique/food-storage-c-66.html
http://mightynest.com/shop/reusable-lunch-gear/food-containers/uno-stainless-steel-food-container
http://mightynest.com/shop/kitchenware/food-storage/stackable-glass-jar-with-lid-multiple-sizes (too heavy)
http://mightynest.com/shop/reusable-lunch-gear/food-containers/round-stainless-steel-food-containers-leakproof
http://mightynest.com/shop/reusable-lunch-gear/snack-sandwich-bags/reusable-sandwich-wrap-hemp-stripes (why would people pay for these?)

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/that-weasley-girl

http://mrsbrown.livejournal.com/friends
http://splodgenoodles.livejournal.com/977189.html?nc=2#comments
http://mrsbrown.dreamwidth.org/read#entry-289188

Awesome chocolate cake recipe - with (one of) the monster succhini from my garden
http://catescates.wordpress.com/2011/12/27/recipe-spicy-chocolate-and-zucchini-cake/

http://www.ebroadcast.com.au/TV/static/MelbourneNight.html?

http://www.bom.gov.au/forecasts/graphical/public/vic/

Didn't like this pizza enough to buy it again - although ordering online with a credit card was cool
http://crust.com.au/pizzas#!product_categories/vegetarian-pizzas/products

http://yourmovies.com.au/movie/42055/puss-in-boots/review
http://www.hoyts.com.au/Times_and_Tickets.aspx?visSearchBy=mov&hcState=VIC

http://www.gtdtimes.com/2011/10/18/gtd-best-practices-collect-part-1-of-5/
http://www.gtdtimes.com/2011/10/25/gtd-best-practices-process-part-2-of-5/
http://www.gtdtimes.com/2011/11/01/gtd-best-practices-organize-part-3-of-5/
http://www.gtdtimes.com/2011/11/21/gtd-best-practices-review-part-4-of-5/
http://www.gtdtimes.com/2011/12/12/gtd-best-practices-doing-part-5-of-5/

http://archiveofourown.org/media/Books%20*a*%20Literature/fandoms
http://archiveofourown.org/tags/Little%20House%20on%20the%20Prairie%20-%20Laura%20Ingalls%20Wilder/works
http://archiveofourown.org/tags/MONTGOMERY%20L*d*%20M*d*%20-%20Works/works?page=2
http://archiveofourown.org/tags/Phryne%20Fisher%20-%20Kerry%20Greenwood/works
http://archiveofourown.org/tags/Pride%20and%20Prejudice%20-%20Jane%20Austen/works?page=2

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/easy-childs-hoodie
http://www.redheart.com/free-patterns/easy-childs-hoodie-0
http://www.redheart.com/files/patterns/pdf/LW1843.pdf
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/0-577-pot-holders-with-christmas-pattern-in-paris
http://www.garnstudio.com/lang/en/pattern.php?id=4355&lang=en

http://www.flexicar.com.au/modules/news2/article.php?id=215
http://www.facebook.com/
https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&shva=1#inbox
http://www.asana.com/

Awesome! now my window is clearer, my computer will run faster and I can work out how to do the neckline of Rose's jumper.(easy child's hoodie above)

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Rose should have a good time too

2011-01-06T00:25:53Z

I'm on holidays. but so is Rose, and dragging her around everywhere we go is fine for a while, but I think we need to remember to program some stuff she will enjoy. If I'm careful I can do stuff that I will enjoy too.

I wrote a post of stuff to do last summer, and we only did one of the things on that list so it's a good start.

I'm more tempted by the Wind in the Willows this year - I think she'll enjoy it much more.

mr-bassman and I have been talking about getting more live music into our lives. We've discussed Sunday arvo's at a pub, but this Friday night Supper Market at the Convent also looks worthwhile. I just have to find a Friday night - maybe in February.

We need to get to the Disney exhibition at ACMI and they also have movies. Movies in the next week, and the week after. Next week they also have a story telling, craft thing.

Given Rose's most recent craft interest, we have to go to this:

Tape it!
To accompany ArtPlay’s Colour! exhibition, help us colour in our new lounge room with tape. Choose a coloured tape and use lines, dots, criss-crosses and more to draw all over the lounge room! We’re filming the progress of this collaborative drawing to make a time-lapse video that we’ll post online. Put your handiwork into the picture.
When: Tuesday 18 to Sunday 23 January
Cost: FREE, no bookings required
Time: 1pm to 3pm
Age: 5 years and above.

She'd probably also enjoy this:

Preschooler Snap-a-colour
Some like to “shoot from the hip” … but what if you’re only hip-high to start with? Artist and early childhood teacher Ben Goodes takes little ones on a journey of discovery, using colour-coded cameras to capture the changing colours in the world around you. We’ll print and post your photos to you at home after the workshop.
When: Friday 14 and 21 January
Cost: $25 per child (includes development of film photos, plus postage of the CD and negatives)
Time: 10.30am to 11.30am
Age: 4 to 5 years.

In terms of live music, mr-bassman will be making it on Jan 16 at the Werribee Zoo. I think we'll try to spend the day there too - can't go past free entry! He'll be there some other days too. I think it's Sat 29 Jan.

What about some more craft? Building a city with the Polyglot theatre.12/01/2011 to 16/01/2011, 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM, 2 shows daily - 10:30am & 2pm - each show runs for approx 2 hours

I went and saw Peter Pan at the Polly Woodside with my other children about 15 years ago. I should go again.

Maybe we should enrol her in circus classes next term.

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end of holiday update

2010-01-11T12:00:59Z

We didn't buy ceiling fans :( I miss them already.

We didn't rearrange the TV corner, or buy a TV.

Ms NotaGoth got her licence

Ms NotaGoth announced her return to school - probably.

Rose's room is still too hard to play in - except if you're a small girl who wants to try on every dress in the bag of clothes we were given by my cousin. 3 so far tonight and counting, I think I've seen about 10 on the floor - how many does she need?

We've failed in expanding Rose's gender stereotyping. When Sneetch wore one of Rose's butterfly hair clips her major objection was that boys aren't allowed to wear pink!

The kitchen building has started! We have wood and most of a wall.

The composting toilets are most of the way to completion. The boxes are made, the containers obtained. Now I just need to install taps and some aggie pipe for oxygenation and drainage. Also, obtain large quantities of sawdust and sort out placement and privacy screens.

aaargh! hot! and work tomorrow! aaargh!

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Stuff to do with Rose in the holidays

2009-12-29T07:35:47Z

From an article in The Age;

Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne Explore the vegie garden with a story and gardening fun (Jan 6, 14, 19 & 20, 10am-11am, ages 4-8, $10). Ian Potter Children's Garden, Birdwood Ave, South Yarra. Tel: 9252 2429, www.rbg.vic.gov.au

Abbotsford Convent's new Supper Market, Fridays 6pm-10pm to Feb 26, Heliers St, Abbotsford, suppermarket.com.au

Melbourne Museum Get up close to the animals in Wild: Amazing Animals in a Changing World with activities themed around this new permanent display including making an animal mask in Creature Features (Dec 26-Jan 31, daily 11am-3pm); or take part in a 20-minute Wild party in the Milarri Garden with music, dance and games (Jan 1-31, noon, 1pm & 2pm). Open daily 10am-5pm (closed Dec 25). Nicholson St, Carlton. $8, child/conc free, all activities included in entry. Tel: 131 102, museumvictoria.com.au

NICA @ Fed Square Try your hand at basic circus skills at fun drop-in workshops with experienced NICA trainers. Suits all ages. Jan 14-Mar 18, Mondays noon-2pm. Fed Square Amphitheatre, city. Free. nica.com.au

ACMI The bumper program of films includes the popular Kids' Classics with free screenings of Eloise: Little Miss Christmas and the all-chimp spy spoof series from the 1970s Lancelot Link: Secret Chimp (Dec 14-Jan 30, Mon-Fri 11am, Sat 11.15am). The Kids' Flicks program screens nine films including Meet Me in St Louis (G), The Muppet Christmas Carol (G), Tarzan, the Ape Man (G), Dunston Checks In (G), Curious George (G) and the computer-animated Space Chimps (G) (Dec 13-Jan 30, dates vary, 1pm; $5). ACMI Cinemas, Fed Square, city. Tel: 8663 2200, acmi.net.au, thatsmelbourne.com.au

The Wind in the Willows Kenneth Grahame's story of life on the riverbank is an established family fave. Dec 29-Jan 30 (no shows Jan 1 or 26), 11am & 6pm, Tues-Sat. Royal Botanic Gardens, Birdwood Ave, Gate F, South Yarra. $25, group of four $90. Tel: 1300 122 344 or 136 100, australianshakespearecompany.com.au

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Progress!

2009-12-29T07:20:04Z

Despite having to cancel building today due to a lack of wood, we have made progress.

We have 8 containers to make composting toilets from.

Also a box of mango and a box of strawberries - ice cream or drying?

Now to catch up on my lying on the couch.

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My bumper list of things to make and do

2009-12-26T23:13:34Z

I don't seem to be as broken this year as I have been other years. It's only 2 days since christmas and my mind is overflowing with the things I'd like to get done. Here are some of the things on the top. I'll use this whenever I get bored.

Repaint the hallway floor
Reorganise my books - get my authors together
Sort out my bedroom, throw out clothes, put away others and revise clothing storage so I don't have to throw them all in a pile
Finish sorting out Rose's room - organise better clothes storage and get rid of stuff that doesn't fit
Install new kitchen cabinets so I don't have to have cutlery in a drawer on a chair
Paint the wall above the stove
Finish assimilating stuff from giving Rose her own room and find more room in the Family room
Rearrange the television corner so it isn't
Justify buying a new TV that we can use to watch iview and photos from our laptops
Rearrange the backyard to fit more vegie garden and a chook run
Build a medieval kitchen shack with my friends
Finish the plumbing for sjkasabi
Spend an hour a day driving with MsNotaGoth in preparation for her driving test
Buy ceiling fans for our bedrooms
Resolve the lighting in the Family room so we can install ceiling fans without suffering from flicker but keep the room as a workroom (we have strip fluorescent lights, ugly but very functional)
Draw up sjkasabi 's existing kitchen and laundry to scale so she and martinlemechant can draw all over it
Arrange printing of the business cards that monstah so cleverly designed, but I never got to.
Make Mr-bassman's christmas present
Make Mrpeacock's christmas present
Take Sneetch shopping for his christmas present
Work out what to give MsNotaGoth for christmas
Have a faux christmas day with pancakes, a tree, a large lunch and all my children
Spend a day sewing with rain_and_snow
Organise/build composting toilets for Surveying

and, to make sure I can cross some things off this list in 17 days;

Read several books
Nap when necessary
Go to a New Years Eve party
Sleep in

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