Welp, the facebook page is live!
Here's hoping for those "likes" - we're aiming for early retirement off the back of our amazing games, ya know ;) Or just, you know, paying off my laptop would be really nice. And my recently broken wacom stylus I had to replace....
https://www.facebook.com/cafechocolatier
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Cafe Chocolatier!!!!!
 |
| Cafe Chocolatier - I drew this! |
Normally my dreams are about flying, running away from aliens, rescuing my cat after being attacked by a creature with the head of a raccoon, body of a trout. You know, standard stuff. But last night was different.
I had this rather awesome dream that I had written some best-selling novels. It was Christmas time and my publisher sent me a giant bouquet of flowers and some beautiful cut crystal sherry glasses. I was looking at the sherry glasses and flowers just grinning thinking to myself, "I can't believe I did it!!" and I felt amazing.
Well, crawling out of bed can be quite a come-down after a dream like that. Unless of course you have some really awesome news awaiting you!!!!
The app I DREW is now finally available on iTunes!
It was approved last night.
I just don't really know what to say at the moment because I am still buzzing that something I made is out there in the world. I just really hope it finds a niche of people who love it.
So I hereby officially present, a labor of chocolatey love, Cafe Chocolatier!
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cafe-chocolatier/id494429277?ls=1&mt=8
Made by us:
http://www.theotherplayer.com/
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Bicycle Love
I broke a tooth eating candy. Correction: A molar I broke eating Necco wafers in college broke a second time while eating Viola candies from Finland - which are delicious but dangerously sticky. They popped the filling straight out of the tooth.
Getting to the dentist turned out to be a total drag. I wanted to take a taxi but the sole taxi man in the village was unavailable. So I had two choices - hoof it or borrow a bicycle. In spite of knowing better, I went for the bicycle. Me and bikes - we don't get along. This one was no different - slightly too small, typical lean-over handlebars. Just mounting it made me feel like a clumbsy oaf. But I had to get to the dentist.
Truth be told I was more anxious about cycling there than the actual dentist appointment. So, leaving ridiculously early in case of disaster, I pedaled myself like a spluttering, sweaty moose into the village. I thought they were going to fix my tooth but it turned out that was just an initial getting-to-know-your-teeth visit. Imagine my disappointment that they hadn't made that clear to me when I made the appointment! Finding out I was going to need to come back 3 more times really, really stank.
So I left the dentist office, body aching from the 2 miles or so I had cycled to get there. Yes, I know, 2 miles is nothing. Keep in mind I am almost entirely sedentary due to my job and general laziness. It's pretty much a miracle I don't weigh 300lbs going by my diet and activity level.
Anyhoo - I somehow managed to get home but I was in agony. My body wasn't just protesting the exercise, it was protesting being mangled on a sport bike that was clearly not my friend.
Finally home, I parked that bike and stumbled into a hot shower. I whimpered, I faux-cried, I felt terribly sorry for myself. I would have to go back 3 MORE TIMES? I would have to mount the evil satan bike 3 more times?!?
As an adult there are so many things I hate about cycling. Leaning over to grab the handles on mountain bikes makes me feel like I am about to go flying headfirst into the road - not to mention the totally uncomfortable seats. No kickstands anymore, what's that all about? Where am I supposed to rest the bike when I clumsily dismount trying to get my giant leg over the cross bar thing? While riding I'd reflexively try to back pedal to slow myself while wooshing down a hill only to realize there are no coaster breaks on these mountain bike things. Moreover I don't have proper cycling clothing and even if I did I wouldn't want to wear it - spandex?? No thanks. I'm not sporty, getting on a sport bike always makes me feel like a total fraud.
I haven't had fun on a bicycle since I was a kid.
When I was a kid, I had a step-through. I had coast breaks and a kickstand. I had upright handles. I had a big comfy seat.
So let's get to the point of this long-winded blogpost.
After that trip to the dentist, and after my long hot pathetic shower, I went online and bought myself a Dutch bicycle.
This bicycle: http://www.dutchie.co.uk/bike-dutch-chic-3-speed.html
And you know what?
I totally love it.
The first time I took it out, my neighbor couldn't believe it - "Haven't seen an upright bike in years!" he said, looking a bit stunned.
Since then I have been taking it out for practice rides a couple times a day. Nothing special, just a spin before breakfast, before lunch. I definitely felt wobbly initially but it's easier now. Today the impulse to ride it a few more times & further than before was undeniable. I found myself grinning, whistling, singing. Memories of riding on summer vacation have started creeping up on me, I used to ride to the park all the time, but am I really remembering riding to the library too? (Up that hill?) Now I'm remembering riding around the Swedish countryside as a teenager. And today years later I'm coasting down an incline and shouting "WHEEE!" and the horses in the paddock are staring at me like I'm crazy.
So. I've got a dentist appointment tomorrow. Normally I'd be a nervous wreck just thinking about it, and I still have time to freak out - but right now I'm thinking, "Wheee!!! I get to ride my bike there!!!"
Getting to the dentist turned out to be a total drag. I wanted to take a taxi but the sole taxi man in the village was unavailable. So I had two choices - hoof it or borrow a bicycle. In spite of knowing better, I went for the bicycle. Me and bikes - we don't get along. This one was no different - slightly too small, typical lean-over handlebars. Just mounting it made me feel like a clumbsy oaf. But I had to get to the dentist.
Truth be told I was more anxious about cycling there than the actual dentist appointment. So, leaving ridiculously early in case of disaster, I pedaled myself like a spluttering, sweaty moose into the village. I thought they were going to fix my tooth but it turned out that was just an initial getting-to-know-your-teeth visit. Imagine my disappointment that they hadn't made that clear to me when I made the appointment! Finding out I was going to need to come back 3 more times really, really stank.
So I left the dentist office, body aching from the 2 miles or so I had cycled to get there. Yes, I know, 2 miles is nothing. Keep in mind I am almost entirely sedentary due to my job and general laziness. It's pretty much a miracle I don't weigh 300lbs going by my diet and activity level.
Anyhoo - I somehow managed to get home but I was in agony. My body wasn't just protesting the exercise, it was protesting being mangled on a sport bike that was clearly not my friend.
Finally home, I parked that bike and stumbled into a hot shower. I whimpered, I faux-cried, I felt terribly sorry for myself. I would have to go back 3 MORE TIMES? I would have to mount the evil satan bike 3 more times?!?
As an adult there are so many things I hate about cycling. Leaning over to grab the handles on mountain bikes makes me feel like I am about to go flying headfirst into the road - not to mention the totally uncomfortable seats. No kickstands anymore, what's that all about? Where am I supposed to rest the bike when I clumsily dismount trying to get my giant leg over the cross bar thing? While riding I'd reflexively try to back pedal to slow myself while wooshing down a hill only to realize there are no coaster breaks on these mountain bike things. Moreover I don't have proper cycling clothing and even if I did I wouldn't want to wear it - spandex?? No thanks. I'm not sporty, getting on a sport bike always makes me feel like a total fraud.
I haven't had fun on a bicycle since I was a kid.
When I was a kid, I had a step-through. I had coast breaks and a kickstand. I had upright handles. I had a big comfy seat.
So let's get to the point of this long-winded blogpost.
After that trip to the dentist, and after my long hot pathetic shower, I went online and bought myself a Dutch bicycle.
This bicycle: http://www.dutchie.co.uk/bike-dutch-chic-3-speed.html
And you know what?
I totally love it.
The first time I took it out, my neighbor couldn't believe it - "Haven't seen an upright bike in years!" he said, looking a bit stunned.
Since then I have been taking it out for practice rides a couple times a day. Nothing special, just a spin before breakfast, before lunch. I definitely felt wobbly initially but it's easier now. Today the impulse to ride it a few more times & further than before was undeniable. I found myself grinning, whistling, singing. Memories of riding on summer vacation have started creeping up on me, I used to ride to the park all the time, but am I really remembering riding to the library too? (Up that hill?) Now I'm remembering riding around the Swedish countryside as a teenager. And today years later I'm coasting down an incline and shouting "WHEEE!" and the horses in the paddock are staring at me like I'm crazy.
So. I've got a dentist appointment tomorrow. Normally I'd be a nervous wreck just thinking about it, and I still have time to freak out - but right now I'm thinking, "Wheee!!! I get to ride my bike there!!!"
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Needles for the Janome 9200d - HA-1SP
So today has been one of those days - my computer has been freezing up and dying and I'm currently running a backup which means I probably shouldn't even be blogging. (....Come to think of it running a backup might not even be a great idea while something is fishy about my computer....)
In the meantime I have been doing some research into what needles to use for my new Janome 9200d Overlocker! Oooh!!! Ahhhh!!! That's right, I finally splashed out. I own a serger.
I have finally hemmed the curtains (after only two years of procrastination!) and my next projects are throw pillow covers and flannel PJ bottoms. My machine calls for a HA-1SP needle - which is actually darn hard to find. Moreover, actually finding comprehensive information about those needles and my particular machine is also quite difficult.
I could actually write quite a long post about all the differing advice I found online, but instead I'll try to keep it short and sweet.
I phoned Janome.
As far as the Official Janome Helper People are concerned, with regards to the 9200d Overlocker that calls for a HA-1SP needle:
1. Any domestic ballpoint needle will fit.
2. There is no need to change needle type (i.e. to a sharper or universal needle) based on fabric type because of the way the holes are punched and loopers work together.
3. If you do use a different type of domestic needle you may find you get skipped stitches.
And that's all she wrote :)
In the meantime I have been doing some research into what needles to use for my new Janome 9200d Overlocker! Oooh!!! Ahhhh!!! That's right, I finally splashed out. I own a serger.
I have finally hemmed the curtains (after only two years of procrastination!) and my next projects are throw pillow covers and flannel PJ bottoms. My machine calls for a HA-1SP needle - which is actually darn hard to find. Moreover, actually finding comprehensive information about those needles and my particular machine is also quite difficult.
I could actually write quite a long post about all the differing advice I found online, but instead I'll try to keep it short and sweet.
I phoned Janome.
As far as the Official Janome Helper People are concerned, with regards to the 9200d Overlocker that calls for a HA-1SP needle:
1. Any domestic ballpoint needle will fit.
2. There is no need to change needle type (i.e. to a sharper or universal needle) based on fabric type because of the way the holes are punched and loopers work together.
3. If you do use a different type of domestic needle you may find you get skipped stitches.
And that's all she wrote :)
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
It has a Tardis but it isn't Doctor Who.
After this weekend's diabolically awful installment of "The River Song Show" I think I just might have to avoid the rest of the season. It doesn't feel right to call it Doctor Who since it bears almost no resemblance to the show I used to love.
It seems to me the only people that are happy with the current series are twitter hipsters who wouldn't know a celery stick from a jelly baby, and people who post things like this:
After trying to make sense of the dog's dinner that was "Let's Kill Hitler" I asked myself, is Moffat just surrounded by Yes-Men or are they all actually on crack? At no point during writing, filming, or post-production did any member of the entire production team say, "Wait a minute - what the hell are we doing???"
And so I think I might just be at the point where I'm done. I get no satisfaction from the show any longer, it bears no resemblance to it's namesake. I don't particularly like any of the characters, and I hate what is being done to The Doctor. It's better if I just ignore it all completely until Moffat goes away - which he will - and just watch classic episodes, and listen to Big Finish audio plays.
Sack Moffat, bring over the writers from The Sarah-Jane Adventures and Big Finish and give us our show back!!!
It seems to me the only people that are happy with the current series are twitter hipsters who wouldn't know a celery stick from a jelly baby, and people who post things like this:
After trying to make sense of the dog's dinner that was "Let's Kill Hitler" I asked myself, is Moffat just surrounded by Yes-Men or are they all actually on crack? At no point during writing, filming, or post-production did any member of the entire production team say, "Wait a minute - what the hell are we doing???"
And so I think I might just be at the point where I'm done. I get no satisfaction from the show any longer, it bears no resemblance to it's namesake. I don't particularly like any of the characters, and I hate what is being done to The Doctor. It's better if I just ignore it all completely until Moffat goes away - which he will - and just watch classic episodes, and listen to Big Finish audio plays.
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