Origami "Cat" -tastrophy!

 While folding possibly one of my best cat versions yet,  I ripped the paper in the final finishing moments.   It was going so well and I actually thought, " This is usually the time I mess with the model until I ruin it.  And that is when the Earth Shattering Rip happened.   Even Cheryl heard the sound from the Livingroom!


And RUIN it...I did!     I literally ripped the cat's FACE OFF!


Cheryl says I could glue the paper back on... Maybe.  I don't even know if it could be possible.   She suggested that I label the model a "Battle-Scarred Cat."   But this scar would end up being mortal, I'm sure.  (Hard to win over the ladies with your Face Ripped Off!)


As much as I doted on this model, it did not take as long as before to complete.  I decided to fold another one instead of trying to repair this one.  (If it is even "repairable".)

I think things are looking better.  I decided, since I was starting over,  I may as well attempt putting eyes on the face this time.   There is still room for improvement,  but I like how things are looking so far.

Hope everyone is having a happy Friday.   Thanks for stopping in.

Cheryl Gets Her Nerd On!

Waiting for Glasses

Cheryl got her glasses today.   That pretty much is it.   The entire visit was over so quickly I barely had time to take her picture with her new glasses on. The customer service rep was not much help either....

In the basement...Bargains! 

Waiting for Glasses Repair. 

He grabbed them off her face to adjust first adjust them... Then he took them off before she could even look at me so he could wrap them up.


At least she posed with them outside the store.  She had her contacts in the entire time, so I imagine everything was a blur. 

Looking Nice and Nerdy...

But now that she has a year's worth of contact lenses, I'm sure the small fortune we paid for these designer frames will be worth it.  And she will never wear them ever again.... Unless reading in just before bed time.

But other than that,   We went out for a run.   Saw a few eagles.


 Finished up folding the Star Destroyer. 

Finished Star Destroyer. 

A few Eagles. 

And finally have been folding flowers,  cats and eating banana bread.   Basically,   the same thing we do every other day.   I guess I could add in that I have been playing video games,  watching You Tube videos, and Cheryl has been beading and baking brownies.   It's a full time gig!

The engines need a little work
for next time I fold it. 

I guess I will keep this one short.  No need to pad the non-event days with unnecessary details.   Hope everyone is having a great week so far.   Looks like we will have to work next week... so I'm trying to prepare myself mentally for the task.   Time for more Videos and Banana Bread...  Thanks for stopping in.

When Doing Nothing Takes All Of Your Time...

I have discovered that being a bum suits me.  I could literally do this everyday!  It makes you wonder why old people die just when the living is getting good.   Playing bridge, shuffle board,  Bingo,  (Far Side of Fifty has it going ON!)   And fishing sounds like a pretty good life to me.   I'm beginning to think that the Longevity gene is a myth... and the people who live into their hundreds are actually "busy" doing nothing....

Yesterday.  Slightly warm-ish. 

But that does not leave much to blog about.   I suppose I could use these pages to put my philosophy on paper...(Hmm, I guess I actually DO do that...See the above Paragraph.) But mostly I guess I write about the little things.

She looks happy... But don't be fooled. 

Like weather.   It has turned a little colder.  Yesterday,  Cheryl wore shorts on her run.  Doesn't she look happy?

After a run... Time for a Banana.

But today,  a strong wind brought that temp back down to pants weather.   Rather bleak and overcast at the moment.  At least it did not rain.   ( Although there is snow in the forecast... maybe.)

Alaskan Beer and Banana Bread.
Such Healthy Choices... 

My first "Slightly Illegal"  Beer.  

But back home,  we're back to eating Banana Bread and enjoying beer.  Hey!  They had a sale on Alaskan Beer!  Believe it or not,  The Alaskan Amber beer was the first beer I ever had in a bar!  I was 19 and they did not card me.  (Ah, the good old days back in the '80's )   It was the ONLY beer I had as I did not want to push my luck.   And I thought it was the best beer I ever had. 

Love Hops. 

So many NEW choices.

But now, there are so many Great  beers out there,  it is hard to remember exactly what I was thinking.  I'm sure it was just the excitement of getting away with a "slightly" illegal activity that added to the flavor.  I was never much of a "adult beverage drinker" in college or even while in the Army.  In fact,  I rarely enjoyed beer before I came to Iowa.  ( It happened to be when the craft brewing industry exploded... so that is possibly  one of the reason I gush about beer these days.)  Beer always tasted "bad" to me until I sampled the  Alaskan Amber.   I heard that it had won several awards back then and it is still on the brewer's list  30 years later!  That must mean something...

And Alaska! 

And Dogs....  Who doesn't like dogs?

But now they have new stuff.   Galaxy Smash is a favorite...  Along with "Hopothermia"  ( I think that may have been a seasonal/ special addition beer.  I have not seen it since last winter.)   But Cheryl and I enjoyed the Husky the other day and wanted to sample a few others.  ( Can you Tell I love IPA's....  Specifically, anything with a Heavy Bitter Hop flavor....)  We bought the Sample pack to try several. I can't wait!

Looks better. 

Even from the side. 

Otherwise,  I continue to fold paper.   Cheryl is making Jewelry and I fold paper.  I guess you simply can't shelve the Crafting bug.   I managed to fold possibly my best sleeping cat thus far.   I figured out that if you work on the head first,  you can actually shape it before it stiffens up and becomes impossible.

Origami Star Destroyer.  6 Parts!

Additionally,  I folded a few roses and flower parts before tackling my greatest challenge.   The Star Destroyer  from Star Wars.   It requires 6 dollar bills!   And has taken most of my afternoon.   I still need to Hodge Podge it so as to give it a little stability.  Yesterday,  I folded NOTHING!   It was one of those "no folding days" where everything I attempt looks like crumpled paper.   But today, I must have felt a little better to tackle such a model.   I'll have to post pictures after it drys and is finished.

The best way to spend the day, 

Hope everyone is enjoying their down time.... if they have any.   I simply can't imagine anyone not enjoying their free time... But I know there are people who are driven crazy unless they are working. From a certain perspective, I guess I could be filed into that category.  But I mostly end up folding paper and giving it away.  Not  a very productive way to spend your time for society...if that matters to anyone.   Ah well,  what are ya gonna do....?

Warmer Temps, Muscatine Visit, And More Origami Progress.

The only thing I seem to be good at
doing. 

Heyhey!  Good news!  Our project does not start for another week!  This is great because I get to enjoy another week of relaxation and being a bum with Cheryl.  ( Who is also a "bum.")  Unfortunately,  the warm weather we are currently enjoying is not meant to last.

Cold on Friday. 

Oh!  Right!   The weather.   It is currently mid 50's ( maybe warmer by now.)  And the sun is shining and melting all of the snow... Including the snow man.   The neighbor kid from upstairs knocked down the last remaining bit of the torso...  so Frosty is officially "dead!'   He was never going to last very long with this heat wave anyway.  The temps are supposed to drop tomorrow, so Cheryl had plans to enjoy the great outdoors while the sun was shining.

Anything over 32 degrees, Cheryl
wears shorts now. 

Warmer on Saturday. 

Which means running!    Running in Iowa City... Note the change in the dress code as the temps change.   There is a correlation.    Any temps over 32 degrees calls for shorts. ( Unless there is a wind chill greater than 20 mph.)

Sunshine and warmer. Almost mid
50's

Shorts in Muscatine. 

And then, today,   we ran in Muscatine.   It was unfortunate that we ran 10 miles yesterday,  because she was feeling a little fatigued when we finally got to run along side the Mighty Muddy Mississippi.    The River is actually down quite a bit at the moment.   They are predicting flooding this spring from the ground water readings and snow falls from up north; but currently,  the  water is down about 10 feet from the low spot.   We could see sandy beaches!  And the little tug riverboat that we run by had moved their dock since the water was so low.   Fingers crossed the spring does not unleash a 100 year flood on us again.

7 miles Completed!

Addicting Banana Cake/bread. 

In the mean time,  Cheryl has been baking Banana bread which has been slowly killing us with abusive amounts of sugar and butter.  Ok, I think she replaced the butter with Olive oil and kicked up the bananas for a healthy "fruit" additive.  But the addictive qualities are still there... and we can not resist until the entire pan is gone.   We humans are such weak creatures when it comes to food.

Getting Closer.

Still need to fix the head. 

And finally...  Solving the Origami Puzzle that has eluded me for years.   Not only was the Sleeping cat still giving me trouble, but I have also attempted the Kawasaki Rose again.   Because I simply love and "easy" flower that everyone else can do... and have it not work out for me.

Kawasaki Rose.... "Anyone
Can do it!" They said....

Not only have I watched a number of videos on this rose, but I also have a BOOK with the design in it.   HOWEVER....  ( Drum Roll)  The directions in the book are upside down!  For years I have been blinking my eyes trying to figure out what the heck is going on in step # 20!   But finally,   I found a video on You Tube to clear things up.   I'll give you a hint:  at around step #20.. they flip the paper over and fold it from the top, not the bottom.  Completely changing the game!

Not a bad first and second attempt
The orange one is Cardstock

Well,  Now I have to fold it over and over enough to memorize the pattern.  ( did not take long after solving that hurdle.) and then I have to fold it over and over to perfect the folds so it looks presentable.   A number of earlier attempts were promising.

Add another in the Middle! 

And then I discovered that if you fold a smaller rose and place it in the middle,  it makes the rose look really sharp!   Let's attempt that one!

Then Glue it on a green thingy...

And then I discovered that if you fold some green paper into a sepals,   ( the green part of the stem under the flower... I had to look it up.)  It begins to look like a real flower.  With wet folded cardstock paper,  it almost looks real.

Ok,  Leaves look better... My finished
Kawasaki Rose.

Eventually,  I had to dust off a book to see how the "Pro's"  make their leaves.   I folded up something that looks a little more presentable.

Because the Kawasaki Rose
was not difficult enough...

The Robert Lang Rose.

Cheryl was so impressed, she ordered me another book of Origami Roses.  Like the book I have, only more difficult!  How fun!   We shall see if I can tackle any of those complicated beasts.   I still have yet to fold the "advanced Robert Lang Rose" in the end of my current book.   But for now,  I will be happy with finally conquering the Kawasaki Rose.   Some people fold nothing but this rose and sell them online.  I'm not sure how successful they are, but it gives me ideas.  ( a dangerous thing to possess!)

Wonder how they pay the bills?  

Hope everyone is enjoying their Sunday.  I know I will now that I know I will not have to go to work tomorrow.   Life is so full of other things to discover...  Wasting your life at work just does not make much sense to me. (Unless you are currently low on cash... then it starts to make a little... )  Still,  Enjoy the warm temps if you have them.  Sunshine if it appears.  And fresh air if you live anywhere outside a city.   Thanks for stopping in.

Cheryl Visits The Eye Doctor.

 Today,  Cheryl was able to accomplish her long  overdue appointment to the Eye Doctor. ( Also known as an Optometrist for those who know fancy vocab words...)  She has not had a check up since 2012.   That is 8 years without any guidance on how bad her eye sight could be.

Just how long can you
stretch out a month of contacts?

AND....  (Drum roll)  That is making her prescription last 8 years and her disposable contacts last a very long time.  ( Let's keep it vague... but say that her disposable contacts were only supposed to last a year...)   It was long overdue.

This makes reading so much
more fun....

Add in that the Pearson Project she was on strategically scheduled training every single time she had an appointment scheduled.   She had been wearing her 8 year old glasses...  that are outdated,  unfashionable,  and BROKEN! ( Oh yeah,  the cat's LOVED knocking them on the floor,  causing one of the lenses to crack in the middle of the focal point.)   To work every day for the last several weeks.   She only had one pair of contacts left and they would dry out her eyes after only an hour of use. 

So what took her so long to take care of such a thing as ...uh,  Her VISION?  ( Because being able to see and see clearly is kind of important, after all.)   Well... Money mostly.   Money helps when glasses cost more than Cheryl's down payment on her first car.   And with Stocking money running out, and Pearson projects trickling in,  the window of opportunity was getting more narrow. 

But then there is the fear and dislike of doctors.  It does not matter what kind of doctor.   Unlike my Mother,  who LOVED visiting the doctor for everything, Cheryl and I tend to visit medical professionals only when we need to.  And even then.... only sometimes.  ( That is probably why those 3 ribs and my shoulder still bother me when the weather changes...  But that is a different story.)   But eventually,  Cheryl  had to admit that if she wanted to wear sunglasses,  read student essays, and be able to identify Baking ingredients for her brownies,   she needed to tend to her vision needs.

The Proof how Popular BCG's
were for me. 

Army Birth control Glasses.

It did not take very long.   I barely had time to fold an origami cat.   It seemed like it took more time trying to pick out her frames for her glasses.   Basically,   they all look the same to me.   I base my choice on price.   (That is why I wore my "Birth Control Glasses" that the Army gave me for years after I got out.  I'll let you figure out why the BCG's were called that.)  But Cheryl wanted to look presentable without looking too much like a Librarian, Hipster, Mad Scientist, or  Millennial. 

Only a Mad Scientist would want this frames. 

All she is missing is the       mustache. 

The trouble was, those were the targeted customers for the selections of frames in stock.  Some of those frames were $500!   ( Without lenses! Good GOD!)   She disregarded my suggestions for "cheap and invisible." and chose a middle of the road pair for slightly less...  As long as  she is happy with them and can survive the cat's play time,  I guess I will be ok with it.

Works best, but leads to
being bullied by football players. 

Doesn't work.   Sorry. 

Back home, she was able to get her contacts for half their retail price by ordering them online.  So I guess we save a little money where we can.   I can't imagine going to the Eye Doctor (Optometrist...)  every year.    Back in grade school, it seemed like my glasses were breaking all the time and I had to duct tape them into some form of functionality more often than not.  ( Oh!  Super glue NEVER works.... Nor does Soldering.) I was also changing my prescription every year, so  I needed new ones even though they had just been replaced.

Ah,  The memories of my youth...

  It was not until  high school when I finally go Contacts did I stop the frequency of the prescription change.  (And I stopped looking like a nerd!)    Ah the memories of glasses past...  Enough  to give us both nightmares....  No wonder we dread seeing the eye doctor. ( Pun intended...)

Other than that,  the weather is currently in the 40's.   We ran and biked this morning... when the temps were in the teens with a bitter wind chill.   So happy we could enjoy the cold one last time before the warmer weekend hits us.   Cheryl has plans to run longer if the temps rise up to their predicted highs.   ( possibly 50!)  and it may do us a little good to stay out a little longer in the fresh air.   It certainly beats being out in the cold.

Happy Friday everyone!   Hope everyone has a great upcoming weekend.    Thanks for stopping in.