Friend of the Devil

This week my parental paranoia is in overdrive.  I've heard two different stories about acquaintances' children who have been (allegedly) sexually assaulted by the adults who supposedly should be caring for them-- in one case a school coach and in another the father of the victim.  This is depressing and scary, especially as in the case of the father, this person had contact with my children.  Which, as my husband has told me repeatedly, has little impact on us.  The child he (allegedly) assaulted is not a minor and my impression is that this wasn't a factor, but that makes no difference to me really... and most certainly not to the victim.

Even my mother said to me last week "It's getting so you're too afraid to let your kids out of the house."  Which is normally not an attitude she subscribes to at all.  But times change.  When I was The Big One's age we just lived a different life.  I know that bad things happened then too, but it seemed like the world was kinder and gentler to us. 

In waxing nostalgic for the rosy past, I have The Grateful Dead stuck in my head today (which I guess is about as bad as Fugazi but infinitely superior to the Taylor Swift that was stuck in there yesterday - thanks to vocal stylings of TLo: SUPERSTAR!).

So check it out: A very grainy (and apparently French) "Friend of the Devil".  As performed by Ministry.

You heard me.  I said Ministry.

Duuuuuude.  I totally saw them groove at the Country Fair.  No wait.  I didn't.  Who WAS that then?  Wow.  Now I remember why I don't go to the Country Fair.

 

And now I'm off to paint a rainbow on my face or something.  Peace out, people.  Think good thoughts.

Fast AND Easy

Have you ever wondered if you’re a Pattern Whor---?  Um.  A Pattern Floozy?  (Ooooo.  “Floozy”.)

I have a lot of patterns.  Patterns for things I will never, ever make.    Am I really going to make a car seat organizer? Or velcro paperdolls? I think I can definitively say, "No.  No, I am not."  I know that most of the patterns I have, I probably will never use.  I view them more as collectibles, not so much as functional items.

But then sometimes I really do get some use out of a pattern.  Take this one:

Butterick 4176

I've owned this pattern for about four years.  It's still in print.  This is telling, right?  I've made some version of this top at least five times since I’ve owned it.  (I probably would have made it more, but I’m easily bored.)  We’ve already established that I’m thrify.  Using one pattern for four whole years?  Totally thriftyawesome!

And here’s the latest version.  Last week it was 92 on at least two days.  (Right.  Ninety. Two.)  This is the last item from The Big One's Great Uniform SWAP.  She didn't wear it all winter because it's cotton lawn.  Perfect for a 92-degree “spring” in Texas.

(When you ask The Big One to “show off her dress” you get something that looks like a prisoner-of-war mugshot.)

I added a little collar because the uniform policy requires one.  It’s just a simple flat collar finished with bias binding at the neckline.  Otherwise, I think I mostly made this as-is.  Well, I think I added a cuff to the sleeve instead of the elastic they used.

I then tested out some decorative stitches with my Brother.   -yawn-

All in all, this pattern was a good bargain.  It’s sized 2, 3, 4, 5, which with the Big4’s humongous sizing means I can probably keep making this dress for The Big One until she’s at least, what… 16?  Thriftyawesomeness!  And here she is, our delicate size 4 flower:

People at work wonder why I show up in the morning looking frazzled.  I’d like to see you deal with Zombie Girl every morning and be, you know, groomed.  Or coherent.

100

 

So I just realized that I'm coming up to my 100th blog post.  In fact, this is it.   Hmmm... seems like it wasn't that long ago that I was mildly amazed to get to my 50th blog post.  No wait. It wasn’t that long ago.  Man, I really can talk.  (Psssht. Like this is a surprise to anyone who knows me.)

But is it important, this counting of the posts?  You got me.  It did start me thinking about "100".  So here's what you get when you Google "100" (disclaimer: these links will take you to outside websites, the which I have no affiliation with, control over or great knowledge of.  They may or may not have random advertising, annoying pictures, offensive text, etc. etc.).

#1   A Wikipedia entry on the number "100". 

Really? This is necessary? This just proves that literally anything can be in Wikipedia.

#2   The webpage for Hottern' Hell 100. 

Now this is interesting.  And a little disturbing.  Did this come up as #2 because the computer knows where I live?  Or is it just a coincidence?  I do not know.  Perhaps it’s a sign that I should actually volunteer this year instead of, you know, being annoyed at the inevitable extra, last minute work that this thing somehow always causes me. 

Nah. 

#3    Something called "The Living To 100 Life Expectancy Calculator". 

Yikes.  This is also interesting and a little disturbing.  I don't need to take this test to know that my life expectancy is probably not 100.  And do I really want it to be?  Unlikely.  Besides, this site is creepy and looks like the kind of thing that if you give them your information, they’ll never ever leave you alone.  (I don’t know this, I’m just saying it looks like that.)

 

I don't know.  Maybe 100 isn't that exciting after all.  Unless you count the 100 pieces of Easter candy The Big One ate this afternoon.  Or the 100 times I've said to myself tonight that next year we will not be having any holidays that involve the giving of or eating of sugar.  It's Halloween lima beans and Christmas turnips for everyone, baby.   You can all have 100.