Otakon

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So, before Saturday, I had NO idea about this thing called Otakon.  According to Wikipedia, it is this: "a fan convention in the United States focusing on East Asian popular culture (primarily anime, manga, music, and cinema) and its fandom. The name is a portmanteau derived from convention and the Japanese word otaku. Otakon is traditionally held on a Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in late summer at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, Maryland's Inner Harbor district. Otakon is one of the longest-running Anime conventions in the United States, and the second largest, averaging over 22,000 paid attendees since 2005.[2] Even so, the convention has expanded since then, with attendance above 26,000 in both 2008 and 2009[3] and attendance officially surpassing 29,000 in 2010.[3]"

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What all that means is that when we arrived in the vicinity of where we planned to park in Baltimore, we soon realized that more than a baseball game was going on.  Besides the inordinate amount of traffic, there were people in costumes everywhere. 

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It was surreal at first, because we had no idea what was going on at the Convention Center.  We'd just catch sight of a person in a brightly colored kimono or a man with pigtails, a kid with a stuffed animal on his head or a lady with oompah loompah hair.  If I had been alone, I would have worried that I'd finally gone 'round the bend.

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As the day went on, the novelty did not wear off.  As hot as it was, I just could not get over the sheer number of people in these outfits!

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No, I did not ask permission to take any of these photos.  I figured that if people were going to parade around like this, some part of them would be disappointed if you DIDN'T take their picture.  Right?  Who needs an Aquarium when there is this kind of free entertainment all around you?

Makeover Monday: 7/30

We spent Saturday at Baltimore's Inner Harbor. Our intention was to go to the National Aquarium, but the crowds were insane. They actually were only letting people in in 2 hour increments. We decided there were plenty of other things to do, and that we would either do the aquarium during the week sometime or wait til the fall.

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It was a very hot day, so we were thrilled to happen upon this little water park for Sophie.  We said, sure, go in.  Just don't get totally soaked.  You know where this is going, right?

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She tried so hard to stay dry.

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But those crazy fountains just kept going up and down.  And it felt so good!

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The *trying to stay dry* bit soon went right out the window, and a blast was had.

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A little drenching never hurt anyone, right?  I have more crazy goings on from Baltimore to share later this week.  Until then, stay cool!!

CIJ

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Christmas in July!  A new thrift shop opened in our area while I was in Utah.  It's a chain store called Savers, and I've been in twice now.  Pros: clean, organized store with good lighting, friendly staff.  Cons: most items are on the pricey side.  I caught up with this 1973 Empire blow mold cookie jar before it hit the shelves.  An employee was wheeling out her stock cart, and I snatched it up.  I did a little internal "oh jeez" as I turned it over to see the price.  99 cents!!  Shwing!!

Just a Number

Image found: http://victorianrose.ecrater.com/p/2450803/this-is-number-eight-a-happiness

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When I made the commitment to change my habits, weight and life on January 1st, I was scared witless.  I had no idea that I would be successful. I'd never had a substantial amount of weight to lose, and the psychological triggers behind my overeating were overwhelming at times. Maybe I would be the human who would defy physics and continue to grow fatter no matter what!

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Anyone who makes that first serious step toward making a change - be it weight loss or some other goal- should be commended for their bravery. It is, after all, a major leap of faith. They have no idea how much work, perseverance, willpower or stubbornness it will take to succeed. They only know that the unknown finally looks better than what they see in the mirror.

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Seven months ago, I avoided full length mirrors at all costs. I'd find myself in a dressing room trying on clothes ONLY when I had outgrown everything in my closet. I'd change as fast as I could, and glance up only to see if the fit would be passable. That feeling has slowly changed over the past few months, but it will take time for my mental body image to catch up with my physical one. I put on about a pound a month for 4 and a half years, and have lost over 35 pounds in the past seven months.

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I had a "use it or lose it" coupon for Old Navy last week. For the first time in over 5 years, I put on a pair of size 8 jeans and stared at myself in wonder. Not only did they fit, they looked damn good. Sophie stared at me and said, "You look HOT, Mom!" In my head, I thought, "I KNOW!"

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It's way too warm to wear those jeans now, but you know what? If I have a bad day, I'll be putting them on and dancing around in front of the mirror. NOT going through the MacDonald's drive thru. Eight may be just a number, but right now, to me, it's a badge of honor. A certificate of amazing achievement. I have many things in my life to be thankful for, and proud of, but this ranks right up there. Anyone who has been there knows exactly how I feel, and anyone who wants to be there, I sincerely wish you all the best. You CAN do it!!

Friday's Favorite Fabric Finds

It's a citrussy day in the neighborhood!  Enjoy these orange, lemon and lime finds:

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If I have to choose a fave, it's probably the last one.  Mod dandelions and butterflies on the flowery gingham background... so busy and groovy!  Right on!

Thursday's Treasure

Image found: http://ceramiccanvas.com/2009/05/fresh-coconut-cachaca-sorbet/

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Lately it seems everything just tastes better with a little shredded coconut on top.  From pancakes in the morning to peanut butter sandwiches at lunch, this treat gives Sophie's sweet tooth a smile.  Do you or your kids have a special secret ingredient?

WiP Wednesday

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I've been busy working on this custom basket for a sosorosey order.  It will be used as a fruit bowl, and I sure hope we get to see photos of her all filled up with bananas and apples and oranges in her new home!  She is currently 12" across and a little over 2" tall.  One more inch of height to add and she'll be all set to fly off to Australia :)



Oh Poo...

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...dle.  Hehe. Just another tchotchke I found while digging around the craft room.  It's an expedition full of adventure whenever I enter that room.  Does anyone else have a room like that?  Please say yes!!

Makeover Monday: 7/23

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Remember THIS post about the vintage gingham fabric spool I bought in Pennsylvania?  Well, I took said spool to Moab, and crocheted this coaster/trivet on the way to our rockhounding spot one morning.  I thought it would make something larger, but that whole spool came down to this 7" little thing!  As I often say, determining the amount of fabric needed for a crochet job is a very inexact science!

Watermelon Wonderfulness

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Today I had a lunch meeting to learn about my new job for next school year- PTA Vice President.  The gathering was held at the President's house, and all of the outgoing and incoming board members attended.  I wanted to bring something light and summery to share, and this watermelon treat was just the thing! 

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I saw the main recipe for this in this month's Real Simple magazine, listed as a healthy snack.  I changed it up a bit, and here is what we have.  For every 2 cups of cubed watermelon, add one tablespoon of freshly squeezed lime juice and two teaspoons of crushed roasted pistachios.  I added chopped fresh mint as my contribution to the original recipe.  Then the secret ingredient?  Cayenne pepper.  Add as much or as little as you like- just be sure to warn guests that this treat packs a little punch. 

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In my wildest dreams I would not have combined these things together, but the result is fantastic!

This would be an awesome dish to bring to any summer BBQ or soiree- it doesn't require refrigeration and probably won't be something anyone else brings.  Super simple ingredients and an awesome gourmet taste.  Win win!

Daily Dose of Cute

 Just look at this adorable swashbuckler!  Apparently, back in the day, Hallmark did "Gift Wrap N Trim".  I found this unopened set at the thrift today for $1.  It was only 85 cents in the 70's, but who am I to quibble?  The pirate boy embellishment measures 11" by 8", and...

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... he came with over 7 square feet of this sweetly printed paper.  If vacation HAS to be over, a good score at a favorite store makes the mountain of laundry a little less daunting!  What have you found lately?

Friday's Favorite Fabric Find

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One of the hikes at Miner's Basin (see post below) takes you to the long defunct gold mine that gives the place its name.  Along the way there are several wooden cabins in various stages of decay.  I thought I was seeing some sort of mirage when we rounded a corner and I caught sight of this lovely vintage sheet. While part of me longed to disregard the "No Trespassing" signs and grab it up, another part realized that this isn't a bad life. Swaying in the mountain breeze and adding a spot of delight to a home that bade farewell to its best days long ago.

Thursday's Treasure (aka Treacherous Thursday)

So, there's a lovely little place in the mountains near Moab called Miner's Basin.  At almost 10,000 feet, the clean air and scent of pine trees fills your whole self with joy.  A place like this isn't easy to come by, and it's been about 7 years since we've all been up this way.

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Now that Sophie is old enough to enjoy a day in the mountains, we decided that it was high time we managed to get up here.  I say "we" loosely- Nana wanted nothing to do with this particular adventure.

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I don't have any pictures from the actual ascent, because it wasn't pretty my friends.  Like the responsible adults that we are, we checked with the visitor's center before heading up to make sure that the talus slopes had been recently cleared and that there were no surprise issues on the road to Miner's Basin.

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See, it's a rock and gravel one lane road with sharp switchbacks and about a 20% grade.  3 miles long, 4x4 only, sharp rocks and holes to navigate.  And did I mention the several hundred foot sheer dropoffs on the mountainside?  And no guardrails?

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We had two rental cars.  Mike and I were first in the Nissan Rogue.  Nana, Pa and Sophie followed in their Toyota Rav 4.  About halfway up the mountain, I noticed that Mike was driving extremely slowly.  Dangerously slow- you have to keep moving over this terrain or you'll get stuck!  He told me he was doing the best he could and to please be quiet.  It may not have been such a civil conversation.

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Imagine please that everything in the car is bouncing all over the place, and that the side of the road drops off on my side.  One glance out the window, and all I see is down.  Once again, the car is barely moving.  When I pleasantly (ha!) mention that he needs to GO, Mike informs me that the car engine has absolutely no power.  It will not go.

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It won't go?  I radio Nana and Pa to let them know that we are stopped in the middle of the road.  Is there any special reason why, they ask?  Oh no, I answer, not wanting to alarm anyone.  We're just getting ourselves together for a minute.

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It becomes clear that we are not only NOT going forward, but that every attempt has our wheels slipping toward the ledge.  I get out of the car and we come clean to Nana Pa.  We can't go up. 

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The course was clear.  My father and Mike backed the cars down to a flat spot near one of the switchbacks.  Nana, Sophie and I waited in the road, with 3 differing ideas about what we should do.  Nana wanted to leave.  I wanted to walk up.  Sophie wanted to catch grasshoppers.

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Losing power, say from a storm, at your home is unpleasant enough.  Losing the power to GO in your vehicle, in such a scary situation, is kind of terrifying.  We decided to assume that our car overheated- though that wasn't indicated on any of the panels etc.

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We all piled into the Rav 4 with our picnic supplies and headed up the last leg of the trip.  We made it!  Nana made sure to let us all know, however, that this was STUPID, STUPID, STUPID and that we NEVER should have attempted this trip.  Never, never, never.

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We got to the top, got as unbunched as possible, had a picnic, took a hike, and enjoyed each other's company.   Later, we slowly edged down the road to our car and were all relieved when it started up easily.  It had cooled down sufficiently, and we were able to navigate our way down the slope without further ado.

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Nana says she will not go up to Miner's Basin again.  It will take all of us some time to get over the stress, but one thing is true.  It's the times like these that create the stories that get told and retold in families.  If everything had gone without a hitch, we'd have great pictures and great memories but no STORY.  Now, fortunately for all of us, we have all three!

Tuesday's Tourist Treats

I thought you might enjoy seeing a few of the "wall art" murals around Moab.  What a fun way to bring a little life and color to an otherwise drab side-of-a-building :)

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 Poison Spider bike shop

 Woody's Tavern, facing The Moab Diner

 The main sign by the Utah Arts Council on the side of a hardware store by Swannie Park

A peek at the rest of the artwork by the community public art project

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I hope your week is going as well as ours!  I have a couple of fun/crazy stories to share with you once I've had a chance to upload some new photos.  I'm beat tonight, though, and tomorrow is our last full day here.  We plan to use up every last minute of our time.  Looking forward to catching up with all of your blogs and happenings when we get back home :)

Moab Monday

It's hard to show a made over feeling.  That's what these Utah vacations do for all of us, though.  Here are just a few of the photos from our trip so far.

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Sap beads on pinyon pinecones

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No matter how big she gets, there are still plenty of  "Sophie sized caves" around

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The Colorado River from our off-road hiking vantage point

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A rugged group, rockhounding in the shade of the cliff for the "afternoon adventure".  We usually get out around 8am for our morning trip, come back for pool/lunch/rest, then back out for more fun before dinner.  We know how to navigate this heat!

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Pa and Sophie take a moment to share a snack beside the river

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Daddy and Sophie - my two mountain goats!

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A hanging fern garden fed by a "seep" in the rock wall

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Nana and Sophie- ready to "rock"

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Father/Son-in-Law bonding time

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Daddy is on the edge!

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She gathers rocks wherever she goes

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You don't even want to know about the steep dropoff behind him!!

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I hope you enjoyed the photo tour.  No, (Donna, lol) I am not in any of these.  As the *photographer* in the family, I don't see the other side of the lens very often.  I'm hoping to get some whole family photos at some point, though... it's about time for another Moab family Christmas card!

Starstruck Sunday

OMG!  OMG!  OMG!

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OK.  I've calmed down now.  Guess what????  Disney Studios is currently- right this very minute- filming The Lone Ranger in Moab, Utah!!!  And guess who is starring in it???  JOHNNY DEPP!!!!! 

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As we rolled into town on Thursday, we passed a huge group of trucks and tents on the side of the road.  It was clearly a "happening", but we had no idea what was going on.  When I spied a train engine in the middle of the cluster, I realized there was probably some movie filming going on.

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A quick check of the old smart phone and sure enough, we found out what movie was in the works!

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We've seen a bunch of "star studio" trailers being shuttled up and down the river road, and a bunch of food trailers set up in an area near Castle Valley. 

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These three photos were snapped in the staging area close to town.  Mike took us down into the parking lot where there are several coal cars and trains set up on flatbeds ready to head to locations.  These big old wind machines are something you don't see every day, either.

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According to news reports, the film is set for release at the end of May, 2013.  It has a $215 million dollar budget, and is directed by Gore Verbinski from The Pirates of the Caribbean 1-3.  Johnny hasn't turned up to hike with us yet, but I have my eyes open!!