it grew 'til it touched the sky

My Basil Plant 

It was seeds in August, it grew and I haven't killed it yet! 

I am not the best with plants. I've killed cacti. It takes a high level of disregard to accomplish that! Unlike puppies or kitties, plants to not cry when they are thirsty. so it becomes difficult to remember when they don't grab you attention.

For years, I have wanted to grow my own herbs. I realized that my track record was atrocious, and decided to work out a system. A self watering system, that is. I used the design from this Instructable (with a prettier V8 Fusion bottle), some basil seeds and viola! About once a week I refill the water in the bottom of the bottle. It's been growing really well. I decided it was old enough to start using the leaves. 

Since my initial experiment has worked out so well, I bout a few flowers at Produce Junction, and am attempting to do the same. The reservoirs are smaller, so I might have to refill them more often. That is where HassleMe comes into play.  It is a website that emails you to hassle you to do things. You tell it to hassle you approximately every (blank) days, and it will! I set mine for approximately 3 days. 

It's not so hard to remember, now that they live inside. But it will probably be harder in the summer. 

We've got a baby

Meet Autumn Grace Waldin

Flying Fish

I want one! Plus I learned how to embed videos into my blog!

Something wicked this way comes

Doug's Halloween party was fun for all! Here is a photo of the sign I painted for the party. Skeleton and coffin will have to be added next year.  

This is a photo of Doug modeling his Jack Sparrow wig after he finished it while hanging at my place. 

And here I am, rocking the Juno look!

Not a bad match.

Graining a Hardwood floor

This week I've been painting a hardwood floor. I thought I'd take pictures of the steps. Obviously these are from my camera, so the colors are off a bit. 

distinctive dancer

This is one of the coolest things I've seen for a while.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Daddy!

more pictures

If you're not sick of pictures of Talley's Folly stuff - there are are more of the professional pictures on the McCarter website here.

sneak peek it is

Well - this is a rough idea of what it's going to be. The graphic might be a bit different, and it will probably say "jasonnixon.net" instead of just his name. But the color scene is pretty much on target. 

This was the first one i suggested. I thought it was pretty. but a little girly I guess!

PICTURE!

This is the first of the real photos that McCarter has put up on their site of Talley's Folly! 

Isn't it pretty!?

Pandora-licious

Since we have gotten our internet a whole week ago, I've been tweaking our chumby Darla with more fun widgets. A few days ago I made her into a digitital photo frame, but now it's even better. Since she has speakers, I went looking, and Darla can access my Pandora account! At this very moment I'm listening to my "Jem" Station. However - I've recognized almost every song it's played: Dido, Frou Frou, and Teardrop (the theme song from House). Makes me feel well rounded in the singer/songwriter/techno movement!

A yearly love affair

I was walking through Princeton today. Princeton in the fall. The grass is still green, but the burnt leaves fall around old stone buildings. Students walk, sit, read, and talk in the dappled light. 

All of autumn's light is indirect. That is one of the reasons I love the fall. The light is never above. It's always to the side. Always in your eyes. I don't mind the blinding ginger light of autumn. It doesn't burn the way the harsh summer sun does, or the cold sun of spring. in the winter I am desperate for the sun's heat, but in the fall it's a companion. I don't need it's warmth, but I welcome it.

Fall is a time of long pants, sweaters, light jackets, and a thin scarf. It's time to air out all of your browns, oranges, deep reds, and golds. Hiking boots, knee socks. Autumn is for slow, thoughtful walks, and deep, calm reflections.  

The smells of autumn are distinct. Crisp, and clean. The natural decay of leaves. Cinnamon and nutmeg. The fresh chill of a fall morning, and the inviting warmth when you come indoors. 

Just when the world is starting to go dormant, it comes alive with color. The handful of green shades breaks into a myriad of warm, fiery hues, like a light show sending the world to sleep with a flourish; like the firework finale right before the palpable silence that follows, as you solemnly watch the ash fall to the ground.  

THE GRAVEYARD BOOK

Neil Gaiman's new book has come out. I've finished it - and it is wonderful, as all his books are. However as a special treat, on his book tour Neil has been reading a chapter a night! If you have not listened to one of his audio books, he is a fantabulous reader. His voice is crisp, with a nice British accent, he does the voices, but not absurdly. And with these videos you can see his mannerisms, which is always fun.

The videos are at mousecircus, I haven't found any downloadable audio yet (besides the one you have to pay for - totally worth it probably), but when I do - i'll let you know!

Jury Duty

I was supposed to have Jury Duty today, but they didn't need me to show. I have to call again tonight to see if I'm needed. 

BUT, that gives me a day to do things I haven't done since we've moved: food shopping (we still have a fridge full of condiments), dropping stuff off at goodwill (it's been living in my car for a week and a half), going to the bank, laundry, and the continuous task of unpacking. 

I know that I've been tooting his horn, but now that jason no longer possesses my TiVo - have you noticed how much more often I've been posting than he has? And I almost always include pretty pictures, and he NEVER does? 

but we're both way better at it than Grant

Here is a photo of a sign in the works I am  making for Doug's Halloween extravaganza. It's actually in a more peeling state now. And it has gold trim.

It will be an old sign for a tavern called The Occupied Sarcophagus. 

It just so happened that he wanted a sign with colors that matched the set we're painting right now.  I found some old scraps of wood and presto.

TECH WEEK

The Talley's build is really coming together - here's a shot of the set almost done. I'm planning on taking my nice camera sometime tomorrow and getting some shots with an actual camera. 

Good news - everyone not building or painting the show seems to be very impressed. It's definitely the prettiest set I've ever painted at McCarter. We're just putting finishing touches on. Tonight is the first onstage rehearsal, so hopefully the actors can stay on the deck.

Grant's been spending his days attaching greenage to the set. EVERYWHERE. Apparently John Lee Beatty gave them a detailed list of greenery, so they initially bought triple what he asked for. Today, they are going out to buy some more.

Today was grant's first day at McCarter. It was also the first day of tech week. So instead of having a two hour introduction, he got a quick walk around, signed a bunch of papers, got some keys and parking permits with almost no explanation, and was quickly ushered into the theatre to work a ten hour day, helping with things he knew nothing about.  AND his department was having a foliage emergency.

But being the stalwart soul that he is, he jumped right in, and really loved it! He's so thrilled to be working in a theatre again that he didn't even mind that he was hanging fake foliage around the set all day!

The photo is of Grant talking to Chris ( the Technical Director who is precariously hanging a giant pulley) and Michelle (the new boss) while John Lee Beatty (Mr. Designer Man) looks on.

IN OTHER NEWS - we finally have our cable and internet hooked up. Grant was able to get the TiVo back from the incredibly gracious care of the glorious home of the splendiferous Nixons. Those illustrious folks also benevolently minded Grant while I was waiting for, and assisting the cable technician.

So our TiVo is hooked up, our wireless internet is functioning, and the hula girl on my Chumby is dancing happily.

goodnight world. 

The Haircut

Here it is! Not quite as short, but still cute!

My mom doesn't want me to get rid of the red, so i might be doing black chunks soon. we'll see.

The apartment is coming together. We made our first ikea run - we needed more shelves (obviously) and some kitchen solutions because there are only itty bitty cabinets and almost no counter space. 

We also got one of those magnetic kitchen knife racks - I've always wanted one!

Helpful, but lousy Photoshopping

This is a really crappy Photo-shopping job, but I think it gets the idea across.

 So NOW what do you think about me in the hairdo?

Shout outs

shout out to everyone 

but especially anyone who happens to be taking rockstar care of my tivo, which i do say I am missing badly. 

However I am probably getting more done by carrying my laptop (from now on to be called by her name - Quinn) around with me. Almost done Buffy season 2. Angel is bad, Oz is a werewolf, Miss Calendar is dead, and things are about to get crazy!