Domestic Geek

When I was young, I absolutely loved getting a new box of crayons and some coloring books. I spend hours being entertained by that activity. I remember once that I got in trouble in 2nd grade for "coloring wrong." What kind of teacher tells you you're coloring wrong? I was fortunate that my mom always had craft supplies and drawing paper around, too, to encourage our creativity. As I was being nostalgic one day, I stopped to take a look at the selection of coloring books at a local store to see what kind of subject matter was now popular. I was shocked at how horrible the quality of the drawings were in addition to the books being really expensive. It made me a little sad.

Made me start to think that maybe one day, I'll release a coloring book. I can't do worse that what is already out there.

Someone on a forum I frequent posted a link to a site called abc distributing. While looking around over there, I saw this novelty toilet dog bowl that I absolutely must have once I get another dog. Since every single dog I've ever had in my life has been determined to drink out of the toilet, this thing would be perfect.

On a related note, my friend Amy found a great dog brush called a FURminator for her dog Grace. It's supposed to be absolutely amazing at getting those thick undercoats out. I know that was one of the biggest problems I had brushing Ursa and since I'd like to get another Malamute, I wanted to make note of this product before I forget about it. She got hers on eBay, but they sell them at PetSmart and Petco, too.

I wrote about Comedy Central pundit Stephen Colbert's broken wrist the other day. Well, the cast came off and he's auctioning it off for charity on eBay. Proceeds will benefit the Yellow Ribbon Fund. This bid is currently $6255.00. How cool is that?

Watch the videos about his WristWatch efforts and of Stephen getting his cast removed on last night's Colbert Report in the extended.

Wait—here’s more »

« All Done!

Last weekend I splurged and bought myself some Breyers All Natural Coffee Ice Cream at Target. I'm sickened to the core about how many chemicals and how much High Fructose Corn Syrup is in most commercial ice creams. It's just not right.

Anyway, Wednesday evening after dinner I got myself a couple of scoops and came back here to the old computer to enjoy it while surfing my blogroll and forums. Quite a bit later, Marcus informs me that my ice cream is melting all over the counter and is running down behind the stove. D'oh! I cleaned up what I could and I guess I get to pull the stove out on Sunday to clean back there before I attract bugs or worse. Dammit!

See, my memory really is impaired lately. That was so not cool.

*short for Goober, as in dork...not peanut.

So, I was rudely awoken from sleep the night before last thinking a huge spider was quickly dropping from the ceiling onto Marcus' and my bed. I jumped out of bed in fright and scrambled to turn the light on only to find absolutely nothing there. I hate dreams like that. I was terrified of going back to sleep for fear that it was just hiding. Poor Marcus. It's been quite a while, though, since I'd had such a bad dream.

Today I started looking up the meanings associated with spider dreams through Google (more out of curiosity than a fact-finding mission). I've outlined some of what I found below. It's quite interesting, even if it isn't true.

All spiders except tarantulas are omens of good luck. If you see a spider climbing the wall you will have your dearest wish come true and if you see a spider spinning a web you will have an increase in your income due to hard work. A large spider sitting on a telephone shows you will have a phone call that will benefit you greatly. The larger the spider, the bigger the rewards.

[via Dream Central's Dream Dictionary]

1. An ancient symbol for weaving, and thus for creativity. The dreamer may be going through a rough time in life, and need to find a creative solution to resolve the situation. Dreaming of a spider can be reassuring: You have it in you to find the solution.
2. If the spider seems threatening, or the web too intricate, the message is that you are complicating things unnecessarily and need to simplify your life.
3. If you are an artist of any kind, Spider heralds a rush of creative activity that could point you in a new career direction.
4. A sign of strength and resiliency. Whatever hard times the dreamer is going through now, she has what it takes to get through them.
[via MSN Dream Dictionary]

SPIDERS AS TRICKSTERS: If you have ever read any African fables, you may have noticed that the spider is a devious, tricky creature. Even in modern western society we associate spiders with trickery (come into my parlor, said the spider to the fly). This is most likely because spiders lure and ensnare their prey. If you are dreaming about spiders, there is a possibility that your dream is warning you that you may be tangled up in a web of deceit. Take a good look at those around you, especially those in whom you have put your trust.

SPIDERS AS WEAVERS: Another association of spiders comes from their ability to weave beautiful and intricate webs. There is an old Greek myth about a woman named Arachne who was an incredibly gifted artist and weaver. She was also insolent and rude, claiming that her abilities were greater than those of Athena, the patron Goddess of weaving. After challenging Athena to a contest, Arachne felt so bad for her disrespect to the Goddess that she hanged herself. Athena took pity on Arachne and brought her back to life as a spider, so that she could hang forever weaving her beautiful creations, as well as all of her ancestors. If you are dreaming of a spider web, it may indicate that you are ignoring your creative impulses. If you dream of a spider weaving a web, it could mean that inspiration is right in front of you. Either way, the dream is urging you not to resist or ignore your artistic impulses. Even if you do not consider yourself an artistic person, your psyche is encouraging you to explore and unleash your creativity in some way.

SPIDERS AS FEMALE ENERGY: When considering the symbolic meanings of spiders, one cannot overlook the image of the black widow, luring in the male to mate, and then viciously killing and cannibalizing him in order to nourish herself when her eggs have been fertilized. In this way, spiders represent the feminine energies within us. These energies are both the destructive and constructive, as seen in the cycle of death and birth. If dreaming about a black widow spider, or of a spider that kills its mate, your dreams may be telling you that you are experiencing a major transformation in your life.

SPIDERS AS CREATURES OF BALANCE: Spiders hang from slender threads, and walk delicately upon their webs. But, being delicate creatures, if they fall, they can die. A dream of a spider walking a web may indicate that you must take care, for you are walking a fine line in life, or that you are in need of finding a balance. Spiders also have eight legs, which are symbolic of the ancient wheel of the year, which is divided up into the solstices and equinoxes, and the mid-points between them. A dream in which a spider’s legs are the focus may indicate that you are currently experiencing a rut or an in-between stage in life.

SPIDERS AS CREATURES OF FATE: The weaving symbolism of a spider can be extended to the Fates, the demigods in Greek mythology which weave the fate of our lives. This can indicate a connection between the past and the future. It may also be telling you that you are the master of your own destiny, and should take charge in weaving the future you desire.

[via Dream interpretation: the meaning of a spider]