The New Image of Me

"Another year older is another year wiser."

Yup, it's my birthday today. I haven't had much progress in reimagining myself. I have been since trying to do that in small ways- change my diet, limit my half-finished projects, ride my bike to school rather than take the bus. But it occurred to me that in order to truly remake Rhiannon, I would have to outline exactly what I wanted to be, how I wanted to live, and how I want to survive.

So to that end, I start with something that has been a part of me since the very first inkling of self-awareness: how I look.

1. I want to lose weight.

I am obese. I am obese and gooey-looking. I am obese and killing myself. My "ideal BMI" is roughly half of what my current weight is. Essentially, I need to loose 170 pounds. I'd like to be on the Biggest Loser; I'll make that a goal to find out when the auditions are for the next round. In the meantime, I'll work on loosing 10 pounds and trying to find a scale that won't reset itself when I step on. Oh, wait, here it is.

2. I want to wear all my own fashions.

Currently, I'm a jeans-and-a-tank type of girl. Which is cool, yeah, but it so screams "I'M IN COLLEGE" when I'd rather be screaming "I'M INTELLIGENT AND INTERESTING."

What's one way to do that? Make my own clothes. It would also be cheaper, too. You know how much jeans for a six-foot-tall woman go for? A lot. Only Fashion Bug's sales keep my butt covered- literally. If I can mix interesting- or vintage- fabrics and wrap them in new ways, I can get people going, "Wow! Where'd you get that fabulous dress?" Best part, I can make it as comfortable as I like- or, I can start wearing corset dresses.

3. I'd like to start making my own shoes.

Being six feet tall messes with your foot size: I wear size 13 (or 14, depending on the brand) in women's (American sizes). That's more than 14 inches long, six inches across.

Combine that with the abundance of horribly uncomfortable, ugly-ass shoes. Not too many places carry cute or comfy size 14 shoes. So what's a girl to do? Make her own. I've heard cork is a good medium for it.

4. While we're at it... I'd like to make my own soaps and shampoos.

I'm an eco-nerd: a geek that likes the environment. Have you ever looked at a bottle of shampoo? Do it. Like, now. I'll wait. While you're at it, look at a bottle of the clothing detergent you use. Chances are, it's either exactly the same, or just extremely similar. Yup, you put clothing detergent on your head. So do I. That's how scalp zits break out. And as soon as I can get a-hold of the ingredients, I'm going to make my own soap. Apparently it's not that hard. And I can make my soap smell like Abe Sapien.


Home and Hearth

Ahh, the American dream: a 4,000 square foot house, four cars, a pool in the back, and debt that would make Donald Trump curse like a... well, he already curses like a sailor. You get what I mean. Most people dream of having it all- why else would a show like MTV's Cribs become so popular?

Thing is, that lifestyle is killer on the environment. It's also- at least to my mind- more of a lukewarm thing; it looks good to all your friends who don't have the big, fancy house, or the pool, or the snazzy SUV. Your friends, however, probably don't think of the fact that not only do you have to clean that massive house, but you also have to pay a lot more to heat and cool it, too. Plus the more space you have, the more likely you are to fill that space with useless crap. So to that end...

5. I want to own my own house in less than ten years.

Well, really, I want to get on that bandwagon by the five-year mark. I'm already shopping out different places I could do a rent-to-own sort of thing. However, the sorts of places I imagine I could afford are a little bit... downtrodden. Places ranging between big piles of junk disguised as a house to smaller places that only need a little bit of TLC. Which brings me to a problem besides the finance part of it: I don't have any handyman experience. However, I have a ready solution to that: the local technical college is offering a wide variety of "side" classes, ranging from learning the guitar to learning how to make pastries. These classes are for the public- in other words, they aren't for credit. I'm signed up for a bunch of them: "Urban Chickens," "Permaculture," "Tools for Women," "Electrical and Plumbing," you get the idea.

My credit is a little bit meh (not too much history, that is) so I will probably have to have a cosigner. However, using an online calculator, I found that a mortgage for $30k will amount to approximately $180 a month at a 6% rate. Not bad. Between that and utilities I'd be at less than $400 a month... which is cheaper than my current apartment, and would most likely be bigger. And I'd have a yard. Which brings me to...

6. I want to grow most of my own food next year.

Did you see a couple of those titles for classes up there? Chickens and permaculture. For those unfamiliar with the term, permaculture refers to sustainable ways to grow food. It's usually done with organic methods and non-genetically modified plants.

There is a method of growing that I've been looking at called the "Square Foot Garden." Basically, you mark out a square foot for each type of plant, and fill up the square foot with that plant. It's condensed, so weeds don't have too much of a chance. You have to keep it decently moist, but that's easy enough. The easiest way to pull off this method, from what I can tell, is to build square foot boxes. This is useful if you can't bend down too well- put legs underneath the boxes, and you're set.

And, yup, chickens.

Very cool sewing website

I found what is arguably the best resource for sewers. It's called Burdastyle. I'm sure I don't know what all the features are just yet, but from what I can tell, people can post their sewing projects on it for evaluation. If they came up with a custom pattern for their project, they can choose to upload the pattern for others to print out, some for free, but a few require payment.

With your own account, you can find those projects and patterns that you want to try out, and put them in your own little bin. So far, I've got an interesting skirt saved, as well as a chemise/pantaloons/corset trio. I'll be snooping around more for some more interesting projects.

Find me- I'm listed as "rhisramblings." I know. It slipped. I meant to put "remakingrhiannon." Oops.

The Best Website on the Webbernet

Dear readers, I have found the best website on the Webbernet.

No, it isn't Facebook. And shame on those of you who think it is Myspace. Or Linkedin. Or any social network.

It isn't a banking website, Paypal, eBay, Amazon, or anything having to do with money or business of any sort.

It has nothing to do with calculating any equation, building rockets, stopping criminals of any kind, or donating money to feed starving children in Africa. (Although I highly encourage that last one when you have the dough to spare.)

It has nothing to do with e-mail, streaming music, playing games, or doing homework.

The website is http://allstepisodes.com/, where you can watch any episode of Star Trek ever released to the public. Except, of course, for Star Trek Phase II, which technically does not exist. My favorite episode is from the second season of The Next Generation, called "The Child."

http://allstepisodes.com. Go there now.

My new best friend

Lookie what I got for Christmas. It's got me so grinny that I feel like a 6-year-old on Christmas morning, rather than a twentysomething on Christmas morning.

However, I found that she's not quite my size. I've got the neck, bust, and hips just right, but I can't recreate my spare tire on her midsection. So, it looks like I will have to pad and cover my dress form.
(See also this)

Since receiving my new dress form, I've been reading up on using a dress form for drafting patterns and creating garments without any patterns. From what I understand, they use dress forms on Project Runway this way. I'll have to start watching that show. I wonder if it's online or on On Demand... I'll look after I post, and post the answer as a comment.


Here's some cool drafting websites:
http://www.ehow.com/how_4856229_drape-bodices.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_5106329_drape-fabric-dress-form.html
http://ezinearticles.com/?Designing-Garments-by-Draping&id=1228401
http://www.ehow.com/how_5016203_use-dress-form.html

I'd also like to use my dress form for corsetry. I've found some cool websites for that, including the best way to create your own corset patterns. See also:
http://foundationsrevealed.com/free-articles/74-draft-your-own-corset and
http://foundationsrevealed.com/free-articles


I've already got this book on corset building. It's pretty decent, actually. Notice I said "building." You don't "sew" a corset; because of all the boning and whatnot, you actually build it. Between that book and Farthingales, I should get my first one built properly. I also intend to get my supplies from there- when I get better at corsetry, then perhaps I can learn to modify objects more easily found nearby than ordered off the Webbernet.

I'll also be using this website, as this person appears to be on the same skill level as I... that is, not that much!

Rhiannon's Song of the Year Award

Being a major music buff, I've always wanted to do a Song of the Year award. Unfortunately, I've never had much of a medium to show it: friends and family didn't care all that much. However, this seems like a good time to start. It's an even number year- better yet, a year ending in a denomination of 10- and I now have this blog, which, though I have no readers at the time of this writing, perhaps someone will soon start reading, see what I wrote here, and agree/disagree and maybe comment... which would be really cool.

So, the contestants for Rhiannon's Song of the Year are...

(In no particular order...)

CEE LO- "F*CK YOU"
BLACK EYED PEAS- "THE TIME (DIRTY BIT)"
WILLOW SMITH- "WHIP MY HAIR"
KATY PERRY- "FIREWORK"
LADY GAGA- "ALEJANDRO"
LADY GAGA- "TELEPHONE" (W/ BEYONCE)


Now, here's my reasoning for these contestants:

1. Cee Lo- "F*ck You"
You have to admire the guy with the cajones to say exactly what he feels in a song- even if that song will never be on the radio, at least not without a ton of editing. It's gritty, it's dirty, and it's at the height of emotion. The girl you love with a rich guy? F*ck him. She's only with him for the money? F*ck her, too. Ultimately, I believe we're all like that.

2. Black Eyed Peas- "The Time (Dirty Bit)"
I truly enjoy the Black Eyed Peas anyway. That they took a song I like from the 80's, updated it and added their own twist makes me respect them just a bit more. It shows they know and enjoy the classics.
 

3. Willow Smith- "Whip My Hair"
Boy, isn't she cute! This little chicky definitely has her own style. The video also makes an interesting statement: That schools nowadays, and for a very long time, have seen students only as warm bodies and numbers, with no room for the individual. Little Missy Smith here is shown to combat that. I can't wait to see what she comes out with next- not only in music, but in fashion.


4. Katy Perry- "Firework"
This song is, by far, the most inspirational one I've heard in years. Or, at least, that has been released in years. The gist of the song: You're brighter than the sun- go out and shine. And the music video makes me want to volunteer at a children's hospital. Plus, I really feel for the girl with the body issues, and want to hug the gay kid, and hi-five the magician who quite possibly helped some gang members who had originally tried to mug him.


5. and 6. Lady Gaga- "Alejandro" and "Telephone" (w/ Beyonce)
Lady Gaga always has my respect for her fashion style, even if I don't understand it all the time (although sometimes I do- like the meat dress... Google it). The reason why two of her songs made it to my list is because they represent different things. "Alejandro" seems to represent fighting the military's "Don't Ask/Don't Tell" policy, which I agree must be gotten rid of, and sooner, the better. "Telephone" is just fantastic- it represents the technical age we live in, and that solo by Beyonce is just plain cool.


So, which one do I choose to represent 2010?


Drumroll, please...

Yup, that's right- Katy Perry's "Firework"!

This song is just too inspirational, and is the best call-to-arms of all those with golden hearts. We should all take Perry's advice- GO OUT AND OUTSHINE THE MOON!
















As an added bonus, here's the best Christmas song of the season:

This little chicky, Rhema Marvanne, is only SEVEN. I'd watch her, if I were you- with a voice that wonderful, and being that young, she's definitely going to have a future in music. Too sweet.

Contemplating a very long walk

One thing that interests me very much is travel. I travel as much as I can, and as much as I can afford. When I travel, I push my body to its limits, and sometimes beyond. I can walk for hours straight, for days straight.

I am highly interested, therefore, in walking or biking across the United States. I think I can do it.

This would be my plan: If I were walking, I would take a modified version the American Discovery Trail, which spans 15 states from Washington, DC to California. However- you notice that there are big chunks of road that loop around, and don't go in a general straight way.

Here is the route I would take instead, in purple:

I would basically follow the Lincoln Highway- I-80/90, through an area I know- upper Ohio and Indiana- skirt Chicago to the South, and pick up the trail from there. Then in Utah, I would follow what I believe is I-70.

If I were biking, I would take the most direct route possible, but not from Washington, DC. I would instead start in New York City. taking the most direct route according to Google Maps.

Now, I have a bike and a helmet. But there's a few other things I would need.

One, I would need a sleeping bag, such as this found at Wal-Mart:

Two, I would need a tent. This one, also from Wal-Mart, would be sufficient:

Three, I would need a GPS and a solar charger. This one would do fine for the trip.
Four, I would need a camera equipped with nightvision, preferably sturdy enough to withstand the elements and lightweight, with a lightweight tripod. I am having trouble finding an example for that. But being a filmmaker it would be necessary- because then I could turn it into a documentary.

So what do you think? Could I do it? Comments, please!

Who am I?

Good question. Well, here goes the stats: I'm a college student. Currently I live in Indiana and go to Purdue/Undiana U. However, starting in the spring semester, I will be going to Missouri State U in Springfield, where I will be majoring in digital media/film. It is my sincerest hope to be a filmmaker. Already I have written one short film, and am working on two features and a web show.

I am about six feet tall, and somewhere around 300 pounds. Yes, I am obese. This is something I wish to change- in fact, I will be writing about my adventures in weight loss once I get to Missouri.

I am a crafter- specifically, I sew and crochet. Sometimes I knit, too. I would like to learn to macreme sometime, too.

I am a pop culture fan, and go to as many comic book and movie conventions as I can afford. My favorite one is AdventureCon in Pigeon Forge, Tenessee.

Well... that's about it. That's what I will be talking about. I have an interesting life, dear reader. A very interesting life indeed.