But his girlfriend is the blond...

Ok, last week Lisa said I was going to talk about one of my 'cool' projects this week, and I am! (several actually) But, I'm probably not going to show you the one she was talking about. Why? Sewing machines... Apparently 1) they're more complicated than they look; 2) in spite of my skills in a number of areas I'm not really all that good at sewing; and 3) no matter how many cool settings your machine might have there is no sewing machine I'm aware of with a 16 gauge 1/4 inch European four in one setting!

I've got two chain mail projects that will be ready to put up soon. The metal part is done, but both require a fabric inner section that I haven't quite got worked out yet... Hopefully I'll have them (or at least one) worked out before the next time I post. I would have had one ready but the sewing part is taking longer than I planned (like I said sewing ain't really my specialty (I'm more of the cut/burn/explode persuasion...))

Both of these are classified as serious projects because they are my own developments and I'm planning on writing up and selling instructions for them both (both are simpler than the dreaded Christmas owls (sorry about that!))

Lisa's book chapter is ready to go. As of last I knew she just had to sign the permission to print form, scan it and send it in. But, as of last I knew she hasn't done that yet... So, Lisa, no publication party for you! (at least until you get the forms filled out and sent in)

On one level my novella is finished. On another level it's in that 'sensitive' phase of editing (that would be the one where someone who isn't me is reading it over and giving me notes on it). On the one hand I really hate this part. On the other hand this part, and the editing that follows, makes the story better and stronger.

In this case the first 'note' to come out of it is that I need to improve/clarify the voice for one of my characters...

In a weirdly related note...I do listen to music while I'm editing and in some cases writing. When I put on Youtube just before I started writing this post this is the first video that came up...



Now the question is: Is Rory standing in for me or my character?

In all seriousness I had some ideas how to fix things for the character and watching this really did cement what I need to do for him. This is important because in addition to the novella I'm working on a novel that has many of the same characters (related but different story) and the character in question moves into a more central roll in the novel.

Also in this area my other blog Words Mean Stuff will be up and running again this week (and this time I mean it!!!)

Well, that's about it for this week. (well except for cooking news (but that's not quite ready yet either...).

Lisa should be back next week (hopefully with a book chapter permission form sent in...) and I will be back in two (with either: pictures of a finished chain mail project or two, or pictures of Lisa's sewing machine on fire!)

Mini Breakfast Sandwiches, snow, and blocking

I'm finally jumping in and posting something.  Patrick has done a great job keeping you updated with the happenings around here.

This past weekend began with a new breakfast experiment, little sourdough biscuit breakfast sandwiches!  These were a roll out and cut type of biscuit as opposed to the quick drop biscuits he normally makes.  They were definitely good!  I kept eating the biscuits with butter and honey!

We had a little bit of snow on Friday night/Saturday morning, but were not expecting our front yard to look like a bean bag had exploded!  It has been a rather mild winter.  I understand there was snow over Christmas, but as we were in California, we missed it.

In January Patrick posted some strange looking wood pieces that he made for me (See 

What did he do this time...)  Now to add some more strangeness, I used them this past weekend to block a shawl I finished in January.  As is is a triangular shawl, I only ended up using two - although I was prepared to put the 4 together and use string for the angle.  It all worked out well, and the shawl was blocked and dry within 24 hours!

Patrick did keep asking why we had a hang glider in the house.  While it was a bit cumbersome, as I was trying to get the two lengths to stay at a nice angle, this was definitely easier than flat blocking - and I didn't have to clear off the table (which is currently piled with various other project components.)

Writing is coming along, slowly.  Thanks to Patrick and his amazing statistical support, I think my prospectus took a good turn and has settled into the use of a MANCOVA (don't worry if you don't know what that is.  All that really matters is that I'm comparing 6 groups across six measures to see if there are any differences, while controlling for the effects of 3 other things.  Not that that is much clearer.)

Next week you will hopefully get to see some of the pictures of the project that Patrick has in process.  It has really turned out pretty amazing - if I don't say so myself.

Apparently...

Ok, so, two Sundays ago I broke one of my rules and actually agreed to do the spiritual thought for ward council this coming Sunday. Last Sunday they decide to put a rotation system in place for the spiritual thought in Bishopric meeting, resulting in me giving the spiritual thought for that meeting next Sunday (That's two meetings and two thoughts...).  They also specifically ask me to help with the Friends of Scouting drive this Thursday. I also got word on some developments for my clerks office that I've been waiting for...

Then, while innocently taking an afternoon nap, I get a call from the bishop asking Lisa and I to speak in sacrament meeting next Sunday...

... so apparently it is all about me ;) (well, and sometimes Lisa :-) )

In other news... Friday was the much dreaded 'change the tumbler day' in Goblin Town (yes, for those of you who haven't heard that's what I named the basement portion of the workshop (anyone having a problem with it can take it up with the goblins...))

And...

This happened... (we are looking at the white circle around the center)

 That is actually polish compound that managed to sneak around the inner rubber lining, the inner metal lid, the steel washer and the nut to make a nice ring around the outside. Never seen this before with my tumbler. So I wonder what happened.

 I pull the rig apart and...

It was gas! Almost every set of instructions for tumbling rocks mentions burping the tumbler occasionally, this is actually the first time I've ever really needed to.

On analysis it could have been much worse (I've heard stories of lids blowing off), but I do have to do some forensic rockhounding and figure out what happened.

...so apparently even in the workshop things can get a little bit gassy :(


In other other news...

Lisa's dissertation is continuing. We're waiting to hear about a conference in Washington State. And, Lisa's article that was published has been cited in other published works!!! (kinda major it means her work is being recognized professionally (but I'll encourage her to write about that next week))

... So apparently I need to step up my game and start cranking out the books!

I'm really working on that last one... this last week I was so wrapped up in writing/rewriting the climax for this novella I'm working on that not only did I loose track of time but they sent a manager out to check on me... (Well that's what I get for writing at Carl's Jr... (On the other hand... hey, free refills on diet Dr Pepper (... so apparently my writing is motivated/fueled by soda pop (is any one surprised? (no, seriously is anyone really surprised by that one?))))).

Well, apparently that's it for this week! Hopefully Lisa  gets to write next week, and I'll be back in two with a whole new box of dots and parentheses :-)