Thoughts On Stuff

I feel like a fat Tinkerbell, originally uploaded by sundaykofax.

Now I just need some wings — large wings. Or, maybe I’m aerodynamic like a bumblebee.

Fast craft: initial singularity, originally uploaded by sundaykofax.

I wanted to make a personalized onesie* for my friends’ baby, Emerson. First I had
thought of a heat-transferred or screenprinted image of Ralph Waldo,
but decided against anything that you couldn’t wash a million times,
or that might feel unpleasant against the skin.

This was the fastest craft I have ever crafted. Here’s how to make an
embroidered monogrammed onesie in 15 minutes.

1. Go to the thrift store and buy a onesie. I got this one for a dollar.
2. Using a pencil, draw the letter(s) you want to embroider. One of
the appealing factors to this aesthetic is the simplicity, so don’t
overdo it with the serifs.
3. Using sewing thread (I knotted the ends together, giving me a
doubled stitch), stitch over the pencil marks. I went for longer
outward stitches and short back-facing stitches. If the fabric were
see-thru, it would look like this: -•-•-•-
4. Knot the thread and trim ends.
5. Feel the bask of pleasure that comes with crafting.

*Jason’s taken to calling onesies (like this one) "singularities". I
think we are going to be awesomely nerdy parents.

Happy birthday/superbowl to me, originally uploaded by sundaykofax.

I’m 31 today. I’m 6 months pregnant, I just agreed to buy a condo, and
I’m in the Bahamas*. I feel like I’m getting adulty real fast.

Jason feels similarly. We planned the pregnancy, but the trip and the
home buying were very recent decisions. Everything fell into place. We
thought about taking a quick trip, and found cheap flights. We have
friends who recently bought a place and had a kick-ass realtor who
they recommended, who helped us find exactly what we were looking for
in less than a week. We’ll get the home-buying tax credit, and will
have our own home before the Soybean arrives. It feels overwhelming,
but all of our decisions have a great deal of logic behind them.

Now my brain just has to catch up.

*I was only mildly horrified to learn that people refer to our trip as
a "babymoon". Really, it’s our belated honeymoon. We never took one
when we got married, mostly because I had a no vacation days during my
first year at the Millicent library.

Magical pot roast night!, originally uploaded by sundaykofax.

This is the pot roast that will send Kelly into labor. I’ve promised
her.

I visited Al in NYC this past weekend, and she made a pot roast. I
couldn’t get over how good it was. Partly, it’s because it’s a beef
and potato dish, which I grew up eating. Secondly, it’s really easy.
Al (and I) used the Trader Joes Cabernet marinated pot roast, then
dumped some onions, potatoes, and carrots in. (I added crimini
mushrooms.) That’s it.

I absolutely cannot wait for dinner tonight.

Let’s play "Where’s Sonya?", originally uploaded by sundaykofax.

Can you guess? If you happen to read my Twitter (also referred to as
‘microblogging’ on the sidebar here, you’ll deduce that I’m at a book
conference, in Charleston, SC.

I pinch hit for Abby (who’s sick) by booking a flight then getting on
said flight yesterday.

My talk was on what LibraryThing is, and about social cataloging. I
think it was good – passable. I think it could be great if I get to
practice it more than once.

Kipping Sox, originally uploaded by sundaykofax.

But not kipping socks.

Sox redux, originally uploaded by sundaykofax.

Our game Friday was rained out. We’re back at Fenway for more baseball.

We can be only one place, originally uploaded by sundaykofax.

Oh, Red Sox Nation, you’re so intense. It’s mostly fun except when
it’s scary. Also, you can’t escape the loving warmth of Dunkin Donuts.

I know you might wonder – I did not bring knitting. I did once knit
dome Red Sox red socks for a friend after they won that first time in
recent history. Who knew I’d end up living in Boston? Not me.