Songs on Current Rotation in Our House

1. "Otis" - Jay-Z and Kanye
2. "Walking Far From Home" - Iron and Wine
3. "Tonight" - Lykke Li 
4. "We Don't Want Your Body" - Stars
5. "Wait So Long" - Trampled By Turtles

3 Documentaries that I Love

1. Fog of War
2. The Times of Harvey Milk
3. What Would Jesus Buy?

Things That I Have Loved This Summer

1. Nerds in all shapes, sizes, and versions.
2. Pocketbooth on my IPhone
3. Museums. Lots of Museums.
4. Avocados in dip, guacamole, burritos, tacos, and other delicious things.
5. Lazy mornings watching documentaries.
6. Arnold Palmers.
7. My friends.
8. Thunderstorms.
9. Bare feet and blue toenails.
10. My new desk. Even if it isn't here yet.

Character: the cut of your props

Today's bit was inspired by this little piece of craftsmanship that would make a wonderful addition to any post-apocalyptic game. Lately I have been thinking a lot about subtle ways that I can enhance the level of immersion in games without detracting too much from the humor my games tend to attract. While often I do like to inject a level of absurdity into the game itself, this definitely doesn't help during those moments that I want to create a little serious drama and tension.

Not crafty? Fear not (I'm not sure how crafty I am either)! For many items exist that are within your grasp and need very little modification to serve as excellent props.

1- Argentinian Ninja Mask: This one is real simple, but I find it useful for a variety of character representations. You may know it better as the t-shirt ninja mask. Simply stick your head in the appropriate color t-shirt (long sleeves actually work better, as you get the cool streaming effect in the wind as they flap in the breeze behind you) so that your face is poking out of the collar. Pull it back a bit so the edge rises up above your mouth and nose. Then, pull the sleeves back so that the top has to scrunch down just over your eyes. Remember to keep those eyebrows covered if stealth is your game! Tie the two sleeves together, and voila! Now your faceless ninja legions have a bit more life!

2- Potion bottles: While you could devote a slavish amount of time to constructing a dusty receptacle of ancient eldrich liquids, or comb the internet looking for olde tyme reliquary, you can pull off some impressive stuff without it. First, try applying external paint! Don't think about it too hard. The more messy you apply it, the better. A long time ago, we made some snowmen out of plastic drink bottles:



At that point, what you fill the bottle with, liquid wise, isn't all that important (but just enough to give it some weight). You can do this to add texture to the bottle as well.

3. CARDBOARD! Oh, how I love thee, cardboard tube sword! Just imagine requiring your weapon toting player characters to have their players be literally armed with pretend weapons! Make them draw said weapons when they do, holster them when in polite company. I think the idea here is to make people have to think a bit more about physical-space stuff connected to the game than they would otherwise. If you attach it to in-game importance (perhaps a bit cruel, but then, what else are you GM'ing for but to inflict punishment on your friends?), then things get really interesting.

What are your simple prop ideas? I'd love to hear them!

Pic courtesy us and Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Kitchenwitchery- Top 5 Tips for Cleaning

When I try to explain when I feel most spiritually fulfilled, I sound more like Martha Stewart then Buddha. I feel that I found myself when I found the role as the keeper of the hearth and home.


In the past, my practice has been very on the fly and not really a practice. More of a general acknowledgment that kitchenwitchery felt right to me, and the disinterest in explaining it to other people.


But on my 26 for 26 birthday list, exploring my spirituality was very high on the list. This includes meditation, visiting spiritual places, reading, and speaking honestly about how I feel.


So to start things off, my top 5 tips for cleaning


1. No chemicals! Don't use anything that you would think twice about eating off of. If you are willing to make out with a bathtub after spraying a foaming cleaner, then you are braver then I.

I went to a strict no chemical cleaning process about 4 years ago. I was really examining the different aspects of my environment that can influence my life, and I thought what it meant when I used a bathroom cleaner that made me woozy when scrubbing the sink or that my window cleaner was not a color you could find in nature. I had a transition period where I used mostly natural brands (e.g. Method) but now I'm averaging about 75% of cleaning materials made in the house. I make some exceptions for myself when it comes to laundry and dish detergent, but I buy smart and examine labels when buying anything.

How does all of these relate to your health and happiness? Consider how many chemicals the average person is confronted with on a daily basis, consider the possibilities in mixing your own cleaning solutions, and definitely consider how nice saving a little bit of extra money can be. I use vinegar solutions for the majority of surface cleaning and when vinegar can't do it, baking soda normally can. Dr. Bronner's smells better then most soap on the market and had the extra perk of being an inspirational read. I even bought a steam mop eliminating the need for chemicals on my floors.



When I clean my house, I'm trying to create an environment that I will grow in. Clouding it with unnecessary chemicals and smells goes against all of my goals.


2. Take your shoes off at the door.

You will spend less time vacuuming and mopping the floors.

You will have pretty floors with fewer scuff marks and no footprints.


You are ensuring that everything from the outside is staying out. From bad energy to bad chemicals, you want to leave all of that at the door.


3. Act with intention, use your cleaning as meditation.


Have you ever gotten into the scrubbing zone? Or the dishes zone, where you are completely aware of the fact that you are doing dishes, but you are relishing the experience? When you set forth with the attitude that you are not just cleaning your surroundings, but you are preparing the staging area for your life, you can live in those moments and enjoy them more.


I go into autopilot far too easily, so using my cleaning as meditation with the intention of improving my quality of life, I know that I can accomplish great things.


4. Make it a daily practice.

Too often do we leave cleaning to the weekend, allowing ourselves to spend an entire day finally getting the house back into order. I'm part of this guilty party, I spent the majority of Saturday getting our kitchen back in working order. If you do that cleaning trying to be present, by the end of the day, you are tired, cranky, and very drained.


If you try to leave a little bit of time to clean each day, it becomes less daunting and you are able to make your little contribution to your tomorrow by having things in line.


5. Dress the part.


I have aprons that I put on while cleaning. Even if I struggled to brush my hair and are wearing clothes that don't match, I'm prepared for battle. The apron becomes my symbol, this house is mine and this is my crown.


If you don't like aprons, I'm not sure what to tell you. Aprons are awesome. Maybe a special cleaning hoodie would work, but I'm telling you, given the apron a try.

The Continually Growing Craft List - One in a Series of Things I Hope To Accomplish

I have lists and plans spread over multiple e-mail accounts, notebooks, post-its, and calendars. I have been collecting ideas, but I have been less then focused on checking things off of the list.

To give myself some accountability and to judge my own personal accomplishments, I'm posting this list and commentary. This is my crafty to-do list, of half-finished and not-yet-started projects.

1) Scrabble Letter Coasters - I have a basic plan of attack for this to prevent future water stains on my living room table. - FINISHED!
2) My embroidered napkins - Carpal Tunnel sucks. Majorly. This has pushed this project back months but I'm getting back into it.
3) Mike's scarf
4) A felt terrarium - Starting to gather the tools for this one.
5) The Peeps Bunny Bunting  - I just love this project.
6) Mustache Wine Glasses

6) Fabric Dry Erase Board - For the door by the kitchen.
7) Framing Rillakuma pictures for the Kitchen Wall
8) A pup tent with this fabric

This list will be added too throughout the day, I'm still going through all of my saved projects.

Powers & Skills: the bleeding edge fantastic

It's Saturday, and I find myself at the office.

I'm drawing a crab. In exchange for a seal. Not a real one, or the kind you get from stamping hot wax with a signet ring. Although it is made out of paper.

I just finished checking out some promising character stills from the new 3D Castlevania (which, if you know Konami's history with 3D versions of this franchise, you know why I'm a bit concerned. Though I will still defend my love of Castlevania 64's opening screen violin sequence to this day).

Now I'm listening to some Sufi music. That guy can pick! I also love the drum/daf that is the woman's portrait (which strikes me as odd considering the source). I've been interested in listening to more west and south Asian music lately. Now I'm checking out the more complex sounding Kashmir Sufiyana Mousiqui. The description is a bit tragic, but makes this even more special. Here's the part 1 (I always start checking things out in the wrong order!).

Thinking about longevity. Thinking about the fecundity of worms. Thinking about methuselah invertebrates.

One of the advantages of having had scientists as parents is that I totally already knew stuff like why the sky is blue. Mostly. I forgot the important parts (but I knew it had something to do with refraction!).

Image courtesy us and this pyramid head cosplayer from the 2008 Wondercon in San Francisco. I wonder how far Silent Hill is from the Bay Area...