First Week of School

Day 1: I'm still alive. Exited the building after 11.5 hours.

Day 2: I went back. Attack of the poop-smearer. Exited the building after 12 hours.

Day 3: I hate lunchtime. Miraculously was able to leave at about 4:30

Day 4: Same miracle again! But I really really really hate lunchtime. 

Day 5: Finished up plans for next week and got ready to go away for the weekend.

I guess the second year is different from the first!

Project: Magnetic Spice Jars

I saw this at a friend's house. She probably got the idea from pinterest.

Anyway, I thought they would be very handy on the side of the fridge and our spice cabinet is overflowing, so it would help that situation too. So I ordered some small canning jars and strong magnets. I glued them on with some strong glue. Then I cut out circles of fun paper, wrote the spice names and used packing tape to attach the label. There you have it.

Project: Laptop Case for Bike Rack

Now I'm ready to ride my bike to school! I just finished this padded laptop case that secures on to the bike rack that I bought and had attached to the seat post. It seems like it will be pretty secure. This is not a work of art. In fact, it looks quite ugly. 

The bottom is quilted: with plastic grocery bags for padding. They are waterproof. Not that I'm going to let my laptop be out in the rain, but after I ride to school I'll just slip the laptop out and leave the case attached to the rack out in the elements.  

I sewed on two straps. One is long enough to tie and the other has velcro on it. I was just working with what I had; that's why they are different.

 I marked the places where I wanted the straps to go through the bike rack. I sewed the straps in those exact places so the case has four points where it is secured to the rack. This is a view from the underside of the rack.

Dr. Seuss Responds to Gregor Samsa

I've been pondering and savoring this: 

Dr. Seuss responding to Gregor Samsa (from "The Metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka) after Samsa solicits medical advice from the Doctor:

"Samsa, I need you to marshall your will.

There isn't a purgative, poultice or pill

or anything else on the pharmacy shelf

that will make you so healthy as much as yourself.        

You think your new body has made you a bother.

You hold yourself guilty while blameless your father.

Gregor, we'd all die if physical beauty

was needed for others to render their duty."

by David Rakoff

from This American Life episode #470

replayed Aug. 4, 2013

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Metamorphosis

http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/470/show-me-the-way