I helped my brother with a science project. We made a homemade trebushet out of a pencil, some cardbord, two ricotta cheese containers filled with rocks, some string, zip ties, and wire.
We launched a variety of objects to test it...much to my sisters chagrin.
Enjoy!!!
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
Visiting North Carolina
All Hail Local Transit Systems!!! Atlanta's Marta, eat your heart out!! Chapel Hills public transit system rocks. For a recession-friendly $2 I got a stress-free ticket from the airport to the campus in under an hour.
I relished the prospect of staying with my Dad, Step-mum and little Bro and Sis in N.C. First of all, I've had trouble shaking a cold which has been migrating around my chest and head with the persistence and form of a ragged poltergeist. My offended lungs balked at having worked the max 40 hours/ week during my illness. Sleeping normal hours and getting on a regular eating schedule seems to be helping me to get better.
Oh and the food. oh my god: The Food. My Dad and T (step mumsie) rock the foundations of culinary genius every night. The table is always draped in linen and adorned with silver ringed linen napkins- a fitting formality for a the ritual of nightly family dining. The first night we ate made-from-scratch bacon cheddar soup. The it was Penne-al-la-vodka with delicious melted blue cheese garlic bread. Last night topped the charts with my Dad's unbelievable Beef bourguignon. Dear God I ate so much I nearly tore a hole in the lining of my stomach.
The pain in my lower left side grew from the moment i set down my fork and persisted keenly while i washed dishes. Soon my breathing was so labored that T recommended a certain position that would alleviate the pain...I assumed this position immediately on the kitchen floor where my Dad and Brother Bear and Sister Bear promptly exploited my vulnerable position.
In-family mockery must be common. With my older step-siblings there is no end to the light-hearted jabs we are continually making at each other. It is the same in my Dad's house, where our pet-peeves are often used as fodder against easily bemused sensibilities and where laughter can always lighten a load and say without words how much we love one another.
See here how much my dad loves me:
And here is my brother bear and sister bear, enjoying the goofiness of over sized sunglasses
Then there's my Dad again assuming the evil villain with the napkin- ring -in -the -eye look.
It is amazing to see how much brother and sister bear are going up. Brother Bear is traversing that transitory stage between boyhood and manhood. He's thoughtful and intelligent and wildly funny and creative-a little carbon copy of his mum and dad. My little sister bear is on her own flowering path to growing up. Though initially shy, she is flagrantly outspoken and witty. Her imagination is unshakably vibrant. The two of them are personified joy.
The day of my arrival here, before even setting foot in the house, I went straight to my sister bear's school to watch her accept an award for scholastic achievement. I was in a room full of vivacious, healthy, beaming children. They all had arms and legs and shining clean faces. I was overwhelmed with emotion for the contrast of these healthy happy children to that of those in Cambodia that I couldn't hold back a few earnest tears.
After visiting the landmine museum in Siam Reap I became truly thankful for the protected and supportive shield of influence that protect my unknowing brother and sister bear. Spending time with them now seems to be of utmost importance. They are growing up fast, and these family moments are marking the passage of time with ferocious speed.
I spent the weekend enjoying my wonderful family-their cuisine and antics, and resting while getting better little by little. I've not been sleeping so well with disturbing dreams, night sweats, or nocturnal sneezing waking me from deep sleep. I did get to sleep-in today, but I probably slept too much as what sometimes happens.
So I worked on my resume, my blog, and kept up with CNN. I didn't get my paws on a NYTimes this weekend, breaking my New Years resolution but oh well, i suppose I could read it online. There just isn't enough hours in the day. I picked up a book about the early development of navigational equipment and theory that attempted to solve the problem of longitude...very interesting, but I've eaten already through most of it.
Ha i'm a book eater.
Should have ample time this week to post more. See yizall soon.
Croftee
I relished the prospect of staying with my Dad, Step-mum and little Bro and Sis in N.C. First of all, I've had trouble shaking a cold which has been migrating around my chest and head with the persistence and form of a ragged poltergeist. My offended lungs balked at having worked the max 40 hours/ week during my illness. Sleeping normal hours and getting on a regular eating schedule seems to be helping me to get better.
Oh and the food. oh my god: The Food. My Dad and T (step mumsie) rock the foundations of culinary genius every night. The table is always draped in linen and adorned with silver ringed linen napkins- a fitting formality for a the ritual of nightly family dining. The first night we ate made-from-scratch bacon cheddar soup. The it was Penne-al-la-vodka with delicious melted blue cheese garlic bread. Last night topped the charts with my Dad's unbelievable Beef bourguignon. Dear God I ate so much I nearly tore a hole in the lining of my stomach.
The pain in my lower left side grew from the moment i set down my fork and persisted keenly while i washed dishes. Soon my breathing was so labored that T recommended a certain position that would alleviate the pain...I assumed this position immediately on the kitchen floor where my Dad and Brother Bear and Sister Bear promptly exploited my vulnerable position.
As if that's not bad enough, after a few minutes of gentle harassment I went into the living room for some peace....my turbulence ridden full to bursting insides were relentless...as was my family's mockery...
In-family mockery must be common. With my older step-siblings there is no end to the light-hearted jabs we are continually making at each other. It is the same in my Dad's house, where our pet-peeves are often used as fodder against easily bemused sensibilities and where laughter can always lighten a load and say without words how much we love one another.
See here how much my dad loves me:
And here is my brother bear and sister bear, enjoying the goofiness of over sized sunglasses
Then there's my Dad again assuming the evil villain with the napkin- ring -in -the -eye look.
It is amazing to see how much brother and sister bear are going up. Brother Bear is traversing that transitory stage between boyhood and manhood. He's thoughtful and intelligent and wildly funny and creative-a little carbon copy of his mum and dad. My little sister bear is on her own flowering path to growing up. Though initially shy, she is flagrantly outspoken and witty. Her imagination is unshakably vibrant. The two of them are personified joy.
The day of my arrival here, before even setting foot in the house, I went straight to my sister bear's school to watch her accept an award for scholastic achievement. I was in a room full of vivacious, healthy, beaming children. They all had arms and legs and shining clean faces. I was overwhelmed with emotion for the contrast of these healthy happy children to that of those in Cambodia that I couldn't hold back a few earnest tears.
After visiting the landmine museum in Siam Reap I became truly thankful for the protected and supportive shield of influence that protect my unknowing brother and sister bear. Spending time with them now seems to be of utmost importance. They are growing up fast, and these family moments are marking the passage of time with ferocious speed.
I spent the weekend enjoying my wonderful family-their cuisine and antics, and resting while getting better little by little. I've not been sleeping so well with disturbing dreams, night sweats, or nocturnal sneezing waking me from deep sleep. I did get to sleep-in today, but I probably slept too much as what sometimes happens.
So I worked on my resume, my blog, and kept up with CNN. I didn't get my paws on a NYTimes this weekend, breaking my New Years resolution but oh well, i suppose I could read it online. There just isn't enough hours in the day. I picked up a book about the early development of navigational equipment and theory that attempted to solve the problem of longitude...very interesting, but I've eaten already through most of it.
Ha i'm a book eater.
Should have ample time this week to post more. See yizall soon.
Croftee
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
durka durka forests!
durka durka muhammad jihad durka durka durka!!!! 
So during Monday Dog Food Night we all go durka durka. Who knows how this got started. My roommate perpetuated it, obviously (he's pictured above). Sorry to anyone who finds this offensive. It really is just goofing off with my Cambodian Khmer Scarf...its not really even durka durka to begin with....
I'm waaay behind on lots of correspondenses and some writing projects, as well as my newest youtube vid to work on, so I gotta keep this short. Chow babes!
So during Monday Dog Food Night we all go durka durka. Who knows how this got started. My roommate perpetuated it, obviously (he's pictured above). Sorry to anyone who finds this offensive. It really is just goofing off with my Cambodian Khmer Scarf...its not really even durka durka to begin with....
Croft tells it like it is
Papa Grahamsies 
Zane tries it out too!
Dee goes all out
Camille is too pretty to make a face!
Zane tries it out too!
Dee goes all out
Camille is too pretty to make a face!
Anyhow, since I'll be moving soon, this will be one of my last in-house durka dog food nights. Durka always has people over Monday nights so I'll be over whenever I want, but there's nothing really like living the Dog-food Night Life. I'll miss it.
And I'll miss my durka-room mate, i really will! He's one of my greatest friends! He just cracks me up again and again, but then I think it will make the time we spend together even greater because they'll be spread out. Sometimes I get a little tired of the same durka antics over and over...So it will probably bring us even closer together not living together. if that makes any sense at all.....
I'm also super excited about renting a harp, which is happening day-after-tommrrow. I'll still be hunting for my very own harp as well, mind you. But this will be a good way to try out an instrument. Pictures will come!
Today I went for a well-needed hike with my friend Camille. It was just OUTSTANDING getting out of the house finally and spending some time in the sunshine. We went to my favorite spot and got dirty...mmmm! Her little dog came too!
And I'll miss my durka-room mate, i really will! He's one of my greatest friends! He just cracks me up again and again, but then I think it will make the time we spend together even greater because they'll be spread out. Sometimes I get a little tired of the same durka antics over and over...So it will probably bring us even closer together not living together. if that makes any sense at all.....
I'm also super excited about renting a harp, which is happening day-after-tommrrow. I'll still be hunting for my very own harp as well, mind you. But this will be a good way to try out an instrument. Pictures will come!
Today I went for a well-needed hike with my friend Camille. It was just OUTSTANDING getting out of the house finally and spending some time in the sunshine. We went to my favorite spot and got dirty...mmmm! Her little dog came too!
I'm waaay behind on lots of correspondenses and some writing projects, as well as my newest youtube vid to work on, so I gotta keep this short. Chow babes!
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Getting Down with Atomic Boogie
A crowd I can handle: that's rockabilly cats. Man, these kids are pretty predictable yet continue to challenge your consciousness in many ways. I thought my last boyfriend with tattoos was original-now every guy here tonight looked like him. I met my friend Chad who plays in a kickin band Atomic Boogie.
Guest list at Masquerade twice in one week (Derek Smith-Pretty Lights, same same) . thats not bad. I must be moving up in the world.
Everyone there will be looking straight out of the fifties. Most will look like auto mechanic/biker/punk-pomade sporting' cry-babies. Some though, wear demur fifties poodle skirts and sweater vests complete with a neatly tucked tie. Most people wear black thick rimmed glasses they don't need. Tattoos are everywhere on everything. Hearts, swallows, showgirls in martini glasses...and the hair: on men-generally repulsively caked with oil or pomade and swept up into pompadour which looks at best like Frankenstein and at worst like Lewie the XVI.
I went all day positively bright eyed and bushytailed and enjoyed it. I did not change into a new rockabilly outfit and drink heavily to enjoy this venue. I wore the adorable crofty kit I'd worn all day (thanks Ried-for the word kit) shown here
err...I hadn't really gotten into position yet..don't mean to look so...eagar! Hey! Get your mind outta da gutter! The other photos were kinda lame.
Anyhow: I drank me a sprite and danced my little brains out til my neck was sore and my ears were ringing and 3/5ths deaf. Here's Chad doin his thing: (only a few seconds...but pure joy!)
And dew check out dis AWSOME jammin action: they really GET DOWN! (same same)
It was fun catchin up with Chad, the bestest-upright-bass-player-dis side-o-the-chattahoochie. I've known him for as long as my longest friends. I've come to his shows for 5 or 6 years. He continues to perform and evolve along with his whole band. It's such a treat to joke around and hang out once in a while-tonight back stage for a minute where we took this goofing-off photo
Stayed for 2 more bands and was treated to more rockabilly goodness. I encourage anyone who hasn't tried the genre to give it a shot...it gets my feet moving so fast before I know it I'm flailing like a terrier plugged into a socket.
Guest list at Masquerade twice in one week (Derek Smith-Pretty Lights, same same) . thats not bad. I must be moving up in the world.
Everyone there will be looking straight out of the fifties. Most will look like auto mechanic/biker/punk-pomade sporting' cry-babies. Some though, wear demur fifties poodle skirts and sweater vests complete with a neatly tucked tie. Most people wear black thick rimmed glasses they don't need. Tattoos are everywhere on everything. Hearts, swallows, showgirls in martini glasses...and the hair: on men-generally repulsively caked with oil or pomade and swept up into pompadour which looks at best like Frankenstein and at worst like Lewie the XVI.
I went all day positively bright eyed and bushytailed and enjoyed it. I did not change into a new rockabilly outfit and drink heavily to enjoy this venue. I wore the adorable crofty kit I'd worn all day (thanks Ried-for the word kit) shown here
err...I hadn't really gotten into position yet..don't mean to look so...eagar! Hey! Get your mind outta da gutter! The other photos were kinda lame.Anyhow: I drank me a sprite and danced my little brains out til my neck was sore and my ears were ringing and 3/5ths deaf. Here's Chad doin his thing: (only a few seconds...but pure joy!)
And dew check out dis AWSOME jammin action: they really GET DOWN! (same same)
It was fun catchin up with Chad, the bestest-upright-bass-player-dis side-o-the-chattahoochie. I've known him for as long as my longest friends. I've come to his shows for 5 or 6 years. He continues to perform and evolve along with his whole band. It's such a treat to joke around and hang out once in a while-tonight back stage for a minute where we took this goofing-off photo
Stayed for 2 more bands and was treated to more rockabilly goodness. I encourage anyone who hasn't tried the genre to give it a shot...it gets my feet moving so fast before I know it I'm flailing like a terrier plugged into a socket.
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