Thursday, May 17, 2007
Yes, it is a video about airbrushing. I recently was reminded (I was looking at a friend's car that has ghost flames on it) that I have an airbrush sitting in my room that was given to me, and I thought how disappointed the guy would probably be to know that the airbrush he gave me to use and learn on is just sitting there. Then I got to thinking how much fun it was last time I had it out and I decided to airbrush another shirt. I really haven't done much airbrushing at all so it's still kinda rough. This is my third attempt at this kind of lettering I think. My freehand lettering just looks dumb so I'm sticking with this for now :D
Airbrushing Video at Youtube.com
I can't find the place to embed it in this page, I'd much rather do that because there are so many yucky ads everywhere :( I'll change it if I can figure it out.
A guy who's a really good guitarist (who also happens to be, and I'm honored to say it, a friend of mine) gave me permission to use his music for the background. So although I doubt anyone will make that mistake, I'm not playing the music. Visit Mr. Corbin's website here.
Airbrushing Video at Youtube.com
I can't find the place to embed it in this page, I'd much rather do that because there are so many yucky ads everywhere :( I'll change it if I can figure it out.
A guy who's a really good guitarist (who also happens to be, and I'm honored to say it, a friend of mine) gave me permission to use his music for the background. So although I doubt anyone will make that mistake, I'm not playing the music. Visit Mr. Corbin's website here.
Labels: video
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Hopefully my readers will be happy to hear that I passed my evaluation for the Massachusetts Motorcycle Safety Course :D The written test has more questions than the regular written exam at the DMV and that riding part was definitely more difficult than what I've heard the road test at the DMV consists of. (This is the secret about what I spent 15 hours doing on Monday and Tuesday.)
We had to do figure 8's in a rectangle written on the ground, points for touching the ground and for going outside the line, do a swerve, and a quick stop at a certain point (then they measure how much further past the line you went, and you get points for breaking early or for slowing down). It isn't hard, really, and it was a lot of fun. The school I took the two day course from is SM Motorcycle School. I've met both of the owners ( The "S" and the "M" of the name) and the course is really a lot of fun. Not only do you learn a lot of stuff, but if you pass you get a certificate to get your license without a roadtest (if you've prepaid at the registry, you get it mailed right to you) and a break on insurance.
I feel way more like I'm aware of what's going on around me on the road. I also discovered that yes indeed, I need a smaller bike than the one we have now. I haven't actually ridden ours yet because it needs some work, but when I stand on it my feet don't sit on the ground flat footed. On the little bikes we used at the course I felt much more comfortable and realized that it'd be an advantage to have a bike that's shorter.
After the course, I borrowed a bike and went out for just a mile or two. It was fun, but my dad reminded me that the thrill of doing something the first few times usually wears off. Yeah, I'm sure it will, but I'll have fun in the meantime :D

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I made a video Sunday that I haven't had a chance to upload or do anything to. I'm not sure if it's impolite to leave readers hanging (kind of uncomfortable!) but I'll wait to tell you what it's about until I get it all edited and stuff. It involves an art project and something that has to do with air pressure. Any guesses? (If my family guesses, it will defeat the purpose, since they already know about it!)
We had to do figure 8's in a rectangle written on the ground, points for touching the ground and for going outside the line, do a swerve, and a quick stop at a certain point (then they measure how much further past the line you went, and you get points for breaking early or for slowing down). It isn't hard, really, and it was a lot of fun. The school I took the two day course from is SM Motorcycle School. I've met both of the owners ( The "S" and the "M" of the name) and the course is really a lot of fun. Not only do you learn a lot of stuff, but if you pass you get a certificate to get your license without a roadtest (if you've prepaid at the registry, you get it mailed right to you) and a break on insurance.
I feel way more like I'm aware of what's going on around me on the road. I also discovered that yes indeed, I need a smaller bike than the one we have now. I haven't actually ridden ours yet because it needs some work, but when I stand on it my feet don't sit on the ground flat footed. On the little bikes we used at the course I felt much more comfortable and realized that it'd be an advantage to have a bike that's shorter.
After the course, I borrowed a bike and went out for just a mile or two. It was fun, but my dad reminded me that the thrill of doing something the first few times usually wears off. Yeah, I'm sure it will, but I'll have fun in the meantime :D

________________________________________
I made a video Sunday that I haven't had a chance to upload or do anything to. I'm not sure if it's impolite to leave readers hanging (kind of uncomfortable!) but I'll wait to tell you what it's about until I get it all edited and stuff. It involves an art project and something that has to do with air pressure. Any guesses? (If my family guesses, it will defeat the purpose, since they already know about it!)
Labels: motorcycles, video
Monday, May 07, 2007
I finished the bagel video!
Here, for my blog readers, is the altered recipe from The Bread Baker's Apprentice.
Sponge=
1 tsp instant yeast
4 cup high gluten (bread) flour (I used whole 50% whole wheat)
1 1/2 cup water
Mix yeast with flour. Add water. Let sit in bowl, covered, on the countertop at room temp for 2 hours.
Dough=
1/2 tsp instant yeast
3 3/4 cup high gluten (bread) flour (I used 50% whole wheat)
2 3/4 tsp salt
1 TB honey, dark or light malt syrup, or brown sugar
In the same bowl, add extra yeast to the sponge and stir. Then add 3 cups flour, salt, and malt. Mix till ingredients form a ball. Add remaining 3/4 cup flour.
Knead for 10-15 minutes (less if by machine. I did one batch by hand and one by Kitchen Aid). Immediately divide dough into 4 1/2 ounce pieces (for standard bagels, smaller for smaller). I used a scale the first time and weighed everything, including the flour. The scale wasn't working this second time when I did the video, so I just measured ingredients by volume and eyed the amount for each bagel.
Cover bagels for 20 minutes and let rest. Let them rise until one floats within 10 seconds in a bowl of water. If not, dry bagel and put back on counter. Test again in 10 minutes.
Place on pans lined with parchment paper (they stuck terribly since I didn't follow directions the first time. This time I used parchment paper and cornmeal on some, on others just a greased pan. Parchment paper worked much better).
The following day boil water in a big pot and add 1 TBS baking soda. Preheat oven to 500. Boil bagels in water 1-2 minutes on each side (as many as will fit comfortably). When all bagels are boiled, remove with slotted spoon and place back on trays. Bake for 5 minutes, reduce heat to 450, rotate and switch pans, bake another 5 minutes or until they get slightly golden (it took probably 15 minutes for me).
Eat up! They taste great plain, and the kids liked them toasted.
A word of caution before you put the whole wheat in there; I got some mushy bagels on the second round and the only thing I can remember I did differently was the flour. I also didn't watch as carefully how long they boiled. Keep an eye on that timer!
I reeeeally should have gotten a clip of the finished product, lol.
Here, for my blog readers, is the altered recipe from The Bread Baker's Apprentice.
Sponge=
1 tsp instant yeast
4 cup high gluten (bread) flour (I used whole 50% whole wheat)
1 1/2 cup water
Mix yeast with flour. Add water. Let sit in bowl, covered, on the countertop at room temp for 2 hours.
Dough=
1/2 tsp instant yeast
3 3/4 cup high gluten (bread) flour (I used 50% whole wheat)
2 3/4 tsp salt
1 TB honey, dark or light malt syrup, or brown sugar
In the same bowl, add extra yeast to the sponge and stir. Then add 3 cups flour, salt, and malt. Mix till ingredients form a ball. Add remaining 3/4 cup flour.
Knead for 10-15 minutes (less if by machine. I did one batch by hand and one by Kitchen Aid). Immediately divide dough into 4 1/2 ounce pieces (for standard bagels, smaller for smaller). I used a scale the first time and weighed everything, including the flour. The scale wasn't working this second time when I did the video, so I just measured ingredients by volume and eyed the amount for each bagel.
Cover bagels for 20 minutes and let rest. Let them rise until one floats within 10 seconds in a bowl of water. If not, dry bagel and put back on counter. Test again in 10 minutes.
Place on pans lined with parchment paper (they stuck terribly since I didn't follow directions the first time. This time I used parchment paper and cornmeal on some, on others just a greased pan. Parchment paper worked much better).
The following day boil water in a big pot and add 1 TBS baking soda. Preheat oven to 500. Boil bagels in water 1-2 minutes on each side (as many as will fit comfortably). When all bagels are boiled, remove with slotted spoon and place back on trays. Bake for 5 minutes, reduce heat to 450, rotate and switch pans, bake another 5 minutes or until they get slightly golden (it took probably 15 minutes for me).
Eat up! They taste great plain, and the kids liked them toasted.
A word of caution before you put the whole wheat in there; I got some mushy bagels on the second round and the only thing I can remember I did differently was the flour. I also didn't watch as carefully how long they boiled. Keep an eye on that timer!
I reeeeally should have gotten a clip of the finished product, lol.
Friday, April 27, 2007
Today I have a few videos to link to (sorry dialup people!).
I was searching at youtube for videos of people performing pull ups and found this 6 year old girl doing them. Pretty neat!
(and yes, I must include something about physical fitness it seems in EVERY post. Maybe I'll be over this phase soon ;)
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I haven't played guitar much the last few months but I really want to get motivated to practice. Just for fun, I made a tutorial for youtube of a few G runs.
I also compiled some funny reactions I got to the camera and put them on youtube.
I know my videos are kinda lame, but it's fun to make them :D
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Just an update on the bagel recipe - I'm making a video for youtube of the process of making them! The problem is, I can't bake them till Sunday morning (they sit overnight, up to two nights) so the video won't be done till sometime after then. At that point, I should be putting up the recipe. I hope they don't flop this time. I had to edit the recipe a little because I ran out of white flour and had to use whole wheat (ssshhhh!).
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My cold is getting a little better. In fact it's a lot better. I took a ton of garlic one day, but I haven't been loading up on it other than that.
I was searching at youtube for videos of people performing pull ups and found this 6 year old girl doing them. Pretty neat!
(and yes, I must include something about physical fitness it seems in EVERY post. Maybe I'll be over this phase soon ;)
__________________________________
I haven't played guitar much the last few months but I really want to get motivated to practice. Just for fun, I made a tutorial for youtube of a few G runs.
I also compiled some funny reactions I got to the camera and put them on youtube.
I know my videos are kinda lame, but it's fun to make them :D
___________________________________
Just an update on the bagel recipe - I'm making a video for youtube of the process of making them! The problem is, I can't bake them till Sunday morning (they sit overnight, up to two nights) so the video won't be done till sometime after then. At that point, I should be putting up the recipe. I hope they don't flop this time. I had to edit the recipe a little because I ran out of white flour and had to use whole wheat (ssshhhh!).
___________________________________
My cold is getting a little better. In fact it's a lot better. I took a ton of garlic one day, but I haven't been loading up on it other than that.
Labels: exercise, recipes, video
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Yesterday I got to the point where I was looking for something to do. So I pulled out my video camera, opened the emergency hatch to the bus in the bunk area, and commenced to taping myself playing guitar.
I also put up an edited clip type thing of our summer tour.
I've been thinking of making a video that introduces me, but I'm not sure if I've got the nerve.
I also put up an edited clip type thing of our summer tour.
I've been thinking of making a video that introduces me, but I'm not sure if I've got the nerve.
Labels: video
Saturday, December 16, 2006
I'm discovering that editing video takes a lot of time, a lot of computing power, and a lot of space on my hard drive. I made a 10 minute clip that was 2 GB large, and it's full of stutters. Yay. I'm disappointed with the video quality of my digital video camera. Yeah, I bought it for only about $70, but it was on SALE at Walmart at the time I purchased it for $325, so it isn't really a seventy dollar camera. I should have just coughed up the $3,000 it would have cost for a HD camera and bought a new computer so I could process it :)
I'm in the process up uploading a lower quality video to youtube.com, once it's completed I'll link to it for you to check out. Even though it's only 6:30 minutes long, and it's only 30 mb, it's taking forever to upload. It's basically a documentary on our summer tour. The best part of being the person with the camera is you're never the one in front of it :D
I'm in the process up uploading a lower quality video to youtube.com, once it's completed I'll link to it for you to check out. Even though it's only 6:30 minutes long, and it's only 30 mb, it's taking forever to upload. It's basically a documentary on our summer tour. The best part of being the person with the camera is you're never the one in front of it :D