Jeez

[altivo]

No luck on the sleep last night. I was awake by 2 with cramps and then a sinus headache. This thing needs to go away, and soon.

Gary stopped by a Border's store that is closing, and got some things on sale. One of them was a nice lapboard for using a computer. I've been balancing my netbook on a big clipboard that I use for drawing outdoors. It works, but it's kind of awkward and the board is really too large. This new toy works really well. It has a wrist pad and cushions on the bottom side to rest on your lap. Room for a real mouse on either side, and even zipper pockets on the bottom to hold a power adapter or whatever else you might need. Very thoughtful and useful. And now when it's really cold I can finally write or do network stuff from the comfort of the fireside instead of having to go back in my chilly office studio room. I love that room in summer, but in the winter it's just too uncomfortable.

Some may remember when I mentioned literary dioramas using marshmallow peeps a few weeks back. Well we are going through with it, and the invitation was sent out to the schools today. Kids and adults may enter, and there will be prizes. I was asked to make one as a sample and I finally settled on a subject. I'm going to illustrate Wicked: the Life and Times of the Peep of the West by Greg Maguire. I didn't realize until this week that there are now green peeps, which is what sealed it. A green peep in a black dress, with a little broomstick, stands on the ramparts of Kiamo Ko, with her yellow peep winkies guarding the gates below as Dorothy, the Tinman, the Lion, and the Scarecrow approach. I'll make Dorothy and friends from the peep bunnies, and use the original chicken shapes for Elphaba and the winkies. How twisted is that? The competition is to be called a "Peep Show."

Comments

[hrrunka]

Ugh. I hope you shake that bug soon...

"Peep Show" sounds suitably silly. :)

[altivo]

Much better this morning, after sleeping all night without interruption, thanks.

Yeah, the whole thing is suitably silly. A little poking at Google will reveal other instances with similar results. I'd not heard of it before, but people have been doing this for a while. Makes more sense than eating the things, I guess.

[songdogmi.livejournal.com]

Ooh, I hadn't thought about the lapboard. I've seen them for a few years at Borders and haven't taken the plunge while they were full price. But we have four closing Borders here, so maybe now is the time.

Calling the competition a "Peep Show" is what's really twisted.

[altivo]

The brand name on this one is "Lapdesk" and it's made of some sort of plastic with fake leather pads applied to the surface. Not sure how durable it is, but I do find the design to be very ergonometric. After years of fiddling with various arrangements, this is the first really comfortable one I've found that lets me use a computer from my favorite spot on the sofa, where I can also see the yards and the horses through the windows.

I imagine the discounts will increase as the stocks go down, but you probably don't want to wait too long. I think he said it was 20% off.

[songdogmi.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the tips. I heard their stores were slammed last weekend (or two weekends ago? I don't remember when the sales started) but maybe things will be a little calmer. Especially as we're supposed to have nasty weather this weekend, rain/freezing rain/snow.