Monday, November 23, 2009

Poor Lappy

My graphics card is broken. Or video card. Or whatever it is. Y'all already knew I was computer ignorant, anyway.

So, Lappy is in the shop. :) But I'll have him back tomorrow evening.

Tonight, I'm spending the night in the music building. Yep.

That's all folks.

Love and hippos,
LeahJoy

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Nerdy Things I Enjoy #1: Balancing my Checkbook

So, it'd been a while since I blogged. And I'm really excited to do the Series on Sentimental Heirlooms I Treasure (no acronyms, please), but that one requires pictures, and I haven't been home long enough to take any yet. So, I'll start with an easy one.

I don't understand why I get so much joy from balancing my checkbook. It could be that I love using my calculator. (In my Jazz/Rock History class in high school, we had to write a blues song. I wrote mine about my calculator as if it were a lover [without the awkward part of that insinuation].) I really do like my calculator. It's a TI-83+, which is cool because I like to see the numbers on the screen. When you just have one row of numbers, and the screen doesn't show everything else, I lose my place and forget what numbers I've added already.

I also like organizing my receipts. I have a big pile I've been collecting the whole month (yes, I only balance my checkbook at the end of the month... not every time I make a deposit or withdrawal like you're supposed to) and then I get to sort them by date and enter them all in and (occasionally) add and (mostly) subtract numbers! And then I get to see if they match up with my statement. And it's so delightful when they do! I feel like I've accomplished something great.

Maybe it's just 'cause I'm a control freak and when I see the numbers all work like that, I know I have control over one part of my life.

Regardless, I greatly enjoy balancing my checkbook.

Do you?

Love and highlighters,
Leah

P.S. Did anyone ever notice what an awkward phrase "chicken strips" is? Like, they're delicious... but kind of have a weird name.

Friday, November 13, 2009

The $39 Experiment

I'm not sure how many of you have heard of this before, but this is a really cool idea:

The $39 Experiment

It makes me want to try something like this with Crayola, or Neutrogena, or Sinful Colors. (Crayons... Anti-Acne Products... Nail Polish...)

Ramble:
Sinful Colors is my favorite brand of nail polish. It's pretty cheap, dries quickly, and stays on pretty well considering the price. Plus they have fun color names like "Daddy's Little Girl" and "San Francisco". Their brand name makes my siblings question me, though. I think it's false, though. God made colors, and they do not have agency, so they can't choose to be sinful.

Love and nail polish,
Leah

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

If I weren't a musician...

(Yes, I am aware that this is not in any of the series I promised, but I had several ideas for other blogs, too, and I thought I'd get those out of the way first. Actually, I had a note on my desktop to remind me of the other ones, and I wanted to clear up that space.)

You know how 'they' always ask people what they'd do if they weren't doing what they do? Like, "Hey Brad Pitt, if you weren't an obnoxious movie star, what would you be doing with your life?" And he would say, "Annoying people in other ways." Or something.

A while back, I had a fun time getting my headlight changed (Yay, Chryslers!) and had to spend a bit of time in the garage at my school. If I didn't go into music, I'd want to be a mechanic. True, I know very little about vehicles, but I would love to learn. I love the smells, sights, sounds, and feels of a garage. I love getting my hands dirty. It makes me feel like I have something to show for my work.

For the record, if my mom had to go back to work, she'd want to drive construction vehicles. We're definitely related.

How about you?

Monday, November 9, 2009

Veterinarians on Children's Television

The other morning, I put an adhesive bandage (commonly referred to as a "Band-Aid") over a cut on my finger. I used a Bob-the-Builder adhesive bandage that featured a picture of Scoop and the words, "Can we fix it? Yes we can!"

As I was brushing my teeth, I began thinking about children's television shows like Bob the Builder, with talking machinery, and Handy Manny, with talking toolbelt tools. And I thought, "They should make a show about a veterinarian with talking tools. Then every time a dog or cat came in to get spayed or neutered, they could say, 'Can we fix it? Yes we can!'"

This is apparently the sort of thing I think about while I brush my teeth.

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Upcoming Blogs

I've been brainstorming a lot lately, and I've come up with a few series I could do.

Therefore, in the future, look for these series, which may, and probably will, intertwine (a word here meaning 'not go in strict order and I will do one blog from any series whenever I feel like it so read the titles to find out what series we're blogging'):

- My Weaknesses/Obsessions - This will feature a blog about used books, for example. I have a friend who loves to buy DVDs. She has over 300 of them. I love used books. My mom loves picture frames and storage containers.

- Nerdy Things I Enjoy - Balancing my checkbook, for example. Or music theory.

- Embarrassing Things from My Past - Like my 7th grade poetry.

And here's my favorite, and will probably take up twenty or more blogs:

- Sentimental Heirlooms I Treasure - (I'd abbreviate this one, but I think I might lose readers.) However, I'm a big pack-rat. I try to be really good about getting rid of stuff, but when it's a hand-me-down of some sort, I just can't. From a chair to a doll, a sweatshirt to a suitcase, this series will feature all sorts of ... well, old things.

Anyway, that's up-and-coming. I'm also thinking of getting back into writing poetry, so if I do, some of that might be on here. And maybe I'll scan in what I do during class (no, not my notes. My "I'm pretending to take notes" doodles.) I don't know. I have so many ideas and want this blog to be blog-tacular, so we'll see what happens.

Today, my boyfriend and I went to see the new Barnes and Noble bookstore down at the mall. They moved like, not even a mile, but the new location is really really great. It's two stories and massive. We spent a few HOURS in there and I already want to go back and check some more sections out. While we were there, my boyfriend pointed out that every time we go to a bookstore, we end up in the children's section. I wonder why he's surprised, really.

Recently, I've discovered mylifeisaverage.com. If you have a few hours to kill (ha. ha.) and you like a good laugh, you may enjoy this website.

Love and Leather,
LeahJoy

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Christmas Crafts...

Hi friends,

Christmas is coming and my budget is as low as ever! So, like usual, I plan on making most of the gifts I am giving. (Except for my brother, because I always get him Lucky Charms and Mac&Cheese. And I feel perfectly safe putting this on the internet, because he already knows.) I'm knitting a zillion things, making some flower pens (thanks, Auntie Rachel!), making pop-tab bracelets, etc.... Anyway, for those of you who need ideas, here is my favorite craft website:

http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/

They have project ideas, photos of people's attempts at those projects, and a lot more that I've never bothered to figure out. You can search by item (i.e. bracelet), material (i.e. Pop tabs), colors (i.e. really?), and probably other things. There are even a few recipes.

Happy Crafting!
-LeahJoy