A Moment to Breathe

I had been costuming an opera that had it's opening night tonight. Finally. I thought that I'd never be done.

First off, the music director has the belief that big body = big voice. It doesn't always work that way, but there is never a shortage of large opera singers. Let us just say that our leading ladies had 45" waists. One of them was 5'2". Yeah. The music director liked to refer to them as "larger than life". Did I mention that the time period was the 1930s? There are very few large women in that time period. Ergo, clothing doesn't look right, nor is there anything that large already made.

The grand total of all that I made (and in just over 7 days to boot!):

-- 5 dresses (2 styles, one for each lady and one for the understudy before I realized I could shaft her)
-- 2 men's button dress shirts (and had to draft a pattern)
-- 3 little girl dresses
-- 2 choir robes (under and over-robes for 2 characters)

... y'know, looking at the list doesn't seem particularly large. Lemme tell you, when all my assistant created was 4 A-line skirts (and it took her a week to make them!), it makes a girl frustrated.

Also, the damnable machine in shop had a computer in it -- it knew I never had a button-hole foot to put on it. So it refused to make button-holes. So guess who had to handstitch all the button-holes? Yep. Did I mention that I didn't have any zippers? Just buttons? Yep.

All of the LL's dresses were based upon one of two patterns that we bought, the choir robes had NO pattern (who needs a pattern for a T-tunic?), the little girl dresses I made up (and had fun doing so), but the men's dress shirts I had to draft the pattern based upon measurements that I had, and some that I didn't and had to guess. :-P Joy. Also, the book I was using DIDN'T actually have a template for shirts -- just jackets -- so I had to modify it from that as well.

I am weary and happy that the show is pretty much done. I'll stick with it for the rest of the run, to see if anything destroys itself (the vintage clothing for the chorus keeps disintegrating...) but other than that I'm done. There was to be a black-tie affair apres the show, but I have zero energy for gussying up and being NICE to people. Gah. I should be there, but the amount of prep work that would have required... and it's raining as well. Not my idea of a fun time, although free food would have been involved. Le sigh.

Hopefully I'll be able to get back to regular postings within the week.

Awareness

So I brought all around town the "not-mine" Glass Dharma straw yesterday. Went out with a friend and grabbed chais (used my straw and chatted it up), and used it at work.

I discovered that, when using my glass straw, I became FULLY CONSCIOUS of the fact that my paper to-go cup should be recycled. And that there was no place to do so in the cafe. I simply started realizing exactly how much disposable waste I use! At work, I make a point usually to have a glass cup for drinking. Well, I added to that a plastic dish for ice cream instead of paper, and used my drinking glass for samples, instead of little paper cups.

I've never been that "gung-ho" recycling chick. I realize that I should be, and the fact that I'm discussing even stricter measures than recycling on here means I'm being an idiot about it, but it was still a huge slap in the face.

I spent the rest of my time with my friend talking about this awareness, recycling, and Glass Dharma -- she is not of the Doomer Persuasion, and I don't want to scare her off.

I know that recently I read a post on taking a vacation from your lifestyle -- only to have it follow you. That you CAN'T just go to the McD's and get a nasty burger with all of it's cardboard accoutrements. It just doesn't work that way once you've reached a certain level of awareness. [Can I remember who posted this? No. Guarantee they're on my sidebar though.]

Awareness. I will keep bringing my glass straws around -- I hope I get many many questions and strange looks.

Glass Dharma again

So with the mixup in shipping (my box got labeled for FL, and hers came here!), I now have two straws that I have no interest in. She got stupid ones! :-P

Glass Dharma is reshipping out my order (it went in the mail yesterday) and said that I should keep the ones I have, and gift them and spread the word.

So... anyone want a bendy straw and an extra long straw?

Glass Dharma revisted

So I get a call today, from a lovely woman in FL -- she received my order, and I received hers!

Wish that my real one was here...

Quick note

At this very moment, my baby kitten is sitting in the dishwasher. Comfortably. And quite happy!

Vet

So baby kitten went to the vet today (you call all see his picture on the sidebar there) for his annual checkup, some vaccines, and to test his urine. About 6 weeks ago, I had to take him in (luckily the vet is three blocks down my road -- no joke) for an emergency, as he was CLEARLY not doing well. Peed in the hallway, hiding under covers and whimpering, etc. Turns out, he had urine crystals.

For those who don't really have cats, or know about this, male cats can sometimes have problems with their food, and develop these crystals. If left untreated, it can block them completely, and they will die. These happens less often in non-neutered cats (I believe the testosterone limits this), and more often in cats which have been neutered EARLY (which Erik was).

So he's been on the "Good Food" for about a month, and we need to check how he is. I should have the results by tomorrow. He hasn't been having problems, but if he STILL has crystals, we're going to have to try different food again -- and it'll probably be even more expensive.

But, for the moment, he's a healthy, happy cat -- he got his rabies and feline leukemia vaccines, some drops for a minor ear infection, and lots of treats for being a Good Boy at the vet's today.

However, $224 later, it makes me wonder. What would I do if no one in my household HAD that money? (I borrowed my housemate's credit card.) What would I do in a sustainable household where there isn't cash flow because we don't need it? What will I do in the collapse?

I know that people like Sharon Astyk (from sharonastyk.com and scienceblogs.com/causabonsbook/ -- don't feel like making a hypertext) have discussed futures in which they pay for such services as doctors and vets with a barter system -- but can I see this happening in the city? I feel that this is less viable that I could see it happening in the suburbs or country.

Thankfully, we have the money now, and we'll continue to be able to afford Erik's expensive food and vet bills. And he'll keep being a happy cat and Zu'ul's mascot.

Valentine's Day

So the BF and I are having Valentine's Day dinner together at his apartment -- as he's wicked busy at work, I shall be cooking for him (aren't I nice?).

But that being said, it's not going to be particularly complicated.

Food that I'm Making:

Black Tie Cookies for dessert

Firecracker Corn Bread

Italian Meatball Soup

I will probably also bring my coffee grinder, and a wedge of chocolate, so that we can make some mocha.

My shopping list is:
-- 3/4 lb. ground beef
-- parm.
-- parsley
-- eggs
-- garlic
-- lemon juice
-- beef stock
-- tomato paste
-- onions
-- carrots
-- celery
-- cabbage
-- cornmeal
-- baking powder
-- buttermilk
-- frozen corn

I hope it turns out well!