It is raining cats and dogs today

Categories: Just Some Thoughts, Random Neat Stuff

Whenever it's downpouring like it is, it gets me thinking about that phrase, "raining cats and dogs." It really sounds either incredibly fanciful and silly, or just plain gruesome to me. But how many people actually think about where that phrase came from? I know I have, but I never thought to seek the answer. But then the answer came to me. I don't remember when it was or even what station it was on, but I either heard it on the radio or saw it on TV and it just clicked. In a sick little way, it clicked.

Now, as with many English idioms, you really shouldn't take this one literally. Cats and dogs don't fall from the sky like rain--that's just really not possible. Unless they've been swept up in a tornado, or something freaky like that.

Etymonline has this to say on it: "Phrase to rain cats and dogs is attested from 1738 (variation rain dogs and polecats is from 1652), of unknown origin, despite intense speculation. One of the more idiotic assertions is that it refers to pets sliding off sod roofs when the sod got too wet during a rainstorm." But of course, anyone who would think that an animal would escape inclement weather by climbing onto a roof is beyond me.

In any case, it is much more probable that the phrase has its origins in the grimey streets of the 17th and 18th centuries. During a hard rain, debris of all sorts would wash down the streets. And yes, by "debris of all sorts" I do mean to include animals like cats and dogs. I'm pretty sure people were smart enough to know that the animals weren't coming from the sky, just washing out of the gutters and such. Jonathan Swift even wrote about this phenomenon in a poem (a satire, for which he is famous) called A Description of a City Shower (published in The Tatler in 1710):

Now in contiguous Drops the Flood comes down,
Threat'ning with Deluge this devoted Town.
...
Now from all Parts the swelling Kennels flow,
And bear their Trophies with them as they go:
Filth of all Hues and Odours seem to tell
What Street they sail'd from, by their Sight and Smell.
They, as each Torrent drives, with rapid Force,
From Smithfield or St. Pulchre's shape their Course,
And in huge Confluent join'd at Snow-Hill Ridge,
Fall from the Conduit, prone to Holbourn-Bridge.
Sweeping from Butchers Stalls, Dung, Guts, and Blood,
Drown'd Puppies, stinking Sprats, all drench'd in Mud,
Dead Cats and Turnip-Tops come tumbling down the Flood.

Pretty gross, huh? Swift is also the source of the first recorded use of the version of the phrase we are familiar with (in 1738). While it's not definitive proof of the origin of raining cats and dogs, I think it makes enough sense to me not to question it further. And that morbid part of me kinda likes that explanation.

*meow*woofwoof meeowww*

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iPhone Protector

Categories: Artsy Fartsy

I thought I would share the sleeve/protector I made for my iPhone:

It was really quick and easy... All you do is take your iPhone (or iPod, mp3 player, cell phone, digital camera... whatever device you're trying to protect) and lay it on the fabric of your choice. I have a lot of felt, so I decided to use some of the 'hot pink' variety. Then, you fold the fabric over the iPhone from the bottom up, leaving a little on back for a flap to cover over the opening. Then, you pin the two pieces of fabric together along the two sides so that they are snug against the phone. Remove the phone from inside the pinned sleeve and then cut the excess fabric from around the edges.

You can unpin it now, to make it easier for embellishment (like the little felt flower on mine) and for sewing the button on. Sew the button on, then, making sure that the sleeve is inside out (the button should be inside), repin the two sides together. Hand stitch (or use a machine if you are lazy) up the sides.



Notice that the button is on the inside! Turn it rightside out and put your phone inside. Fold over the flap and cut a small horizontal hole over the button. Err on the side of caution and cut a hole smaller than what you think you will need--you can always make it bigger! If you are using a fabric other than felt, you may need to sew around the edges of the hole. I don't really know how to do this, as I have never done it, so you'll have to figure it out yourself somehow.

In anycase, once you're done it should look a little like this:

And now your small electronic device is more protected in case you are like me and just stuff everything in your purse (or backpack, whatever). A bit of advice, make it snugger than you would think when you're sewing it. Felt does have a tendency to stretch out a little bit after using it for a little while. And my closure technique is completely open to interpretation. Feel free to make the flap as long as you'd like, or to even use a different method for closing. I wouldn't recommend velcro if you're going to be using felt, as the continued pressure from the pulling will weaken the felt and likely eventually tear it. A button is simple, in my opinion, and if you have as many lying around as I do than you don't mind having an excuse to use one.

I also made a little sleeve very similar to this one for my iPod nano, and for my Nintendo DS lite, except the one for the ds was wider. And I made one for a friend's PSP, as well as one for my sister's digital camera. I think it took me about a half an hour, at the most to make each one.

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Music I am Currently Obsessed With

Categories: Music, Currently Obsessed With

This is the first time I'm presenting my Music I'm Currently Obsessed With lost [my music COW, if you will], so this will be a bit rough til I get a format I'm pleased with.

I've decided to use embedded videos instead of just mp3s, because who doesn't like watchin music videos. Hopefully all the songs I wanna put up here will have [good, high quality] videos to go with them!

Also, I'm not on the staff of Pitchfork or any of those other music publications, so I will spare you my flowerfully profound opinion of the songs contained herein. Suffice it to say--I am obsessed with these songs and I just wanted to share them!

To start off...some girl power!


Duffy - Stepping Stone
(no official video on this one, but I didn't like any of the the live performances, so deal with the user generated one!)

Charlotte Sometimes - How I Could Just Kill a Man
(yes, this is a cover of the Cypress Hill song)

She&Him - Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?
(I love Zooey Deschanel, and I think this is a really cute video)

She&Him - Change Is Hard (live on Craig Ferguson)
(yeah, I said I loved her and I meant it!)

And now for some other videos!

Lost in the Trees - Fireplace
(local band at a local venue)

The Format - If Work Permits
(not a real video, just some crappy crap, but the audio's good)

The Matches - Salty Eyes
(ok, this is an old song for me, but none of the ones I'm obsessing over right now don't have any good videos out--I'm going to link to the songs after the video box)

The Matches - Their City
(one of those crappy crap [user generated] videos with good audio)

The Matches - Clouds Crash is another good one. I couldn't find my other favorite one, AM Tilt, anywhere, but it's worth trying to "find" it if you like the other two.


Brendan James - Green
(I haven't heard another song that I like by him yet, but this is a real good one)

Muse - Knights of Cydonia
(after their last album, I was hoping that they would come out with something better... and they DID)

And here are a couple of oldies but goodies...
Rocky Votolato - White Daisy Passing

Death From Above 1979 - Blood on Our Hands
(A little louder than the last one)

that's enough for now! I hope you enjoyed!

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Wall Decals: Felt Birds

Categories: Artsy Fartsy

I just wanted to share the felt birds I made as wall decals this past weekend

And closer:

This was a really easy project. The hardest part was cutting it out (because of the little details like the beaks and the little bits of branch). Basically, all you do is get a template [either find one you like online or design your own] and cut it out in paper. Then you pin it to the felt (or vinyl or whatever material you are using) and cut it out. It is also your choice how you choose to affix it to the wall. My birdies are up there with some packing tape, to be honest, but I think painter's tape might work well. Just make a loop with the tape, sticky-side-out, and you have instant double-sided tape!

I really tried to find the decal design I used, but I found it while I was at work, so that's where it's saved. If I remember I will try to find it from there, but suffice it to say, just do a google image search for wall decals and you'll come up with a plethora of goodies to choose from--or be inspired by! The next time I make a decal, I will do a step by step for y'all. I didn't document my work because it was pretty much an experiment. But now I know what I can do and the kind of time, effort, and materials that will be required for my next decal adventure! Until then!

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Thomas Doyle's Miniature Art

Categories: Artsy Fartsy, Random Neat Stuff

Hey y'all, I just thought I would share this really nifty artist I stumbled across last night. His name is Thomas Doyle and he creates these really intricate miniatures, sort of still-lifes with a twist.

Anyway, you can find his work here. I urge you to browse through all three galleries, there are some real gems in there.

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