Miracle Gro Orchid Potting Mix ruined my orchids. I have to say the mix is incredibly rich and made the orchids look great after potting. But a day later, we noticed a tiny black fly, then another one, and another one; soon we had an infestation. We picked up two kinds of insecticide. They helped, but the flies persisted. Putting the orchids ( Read more... )

My latest youtube find is Keepon, a small robotic creature with cameras in his eyes and a microphone in his nose. He is developed for emotional and attentional play with children using dance. But more importantly, Keepon is so cute.

Click to view

Also he has face recognition. Watch his reaction to the researcher.

Click to view

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Brandon and I signed up for a photography class at the Cambridge Center this term. Based on the description, we thought it was going to focus on composition and pushing our digital point and shoot cameras as far as they will go. However, when the first lesson was "do you know how to turn on your camera", followed by "how do you know how much ( Read more... )

Brandon is in California this week at an accessibility conference.

Random side story:
Brandon: So Stevie Wonder was five feet from my booth today.
Ollie: OMG, that is so cool. Did you talk to him?....Wait can you even appreciate the greatness that is Stevie Wonder?
Brandon: No, but I Wiki'd him.
Ollie: *forehead smack*

Back to the main story:
So ( Read more... )

As an avid reader of historical romance novels, I come across many descriptions of the clothes, jewelry, and decor from the Georgian and Victorian periods. Thus, I really loved finding The Three Graces, which sells antique jewelry and other objects. After searching the site, I realized that Victorian people were pretty messed up. A very popular ( Read more... )

Brandon and I are engaged!

Look what Brandon made in figure drawing tonight. Six months ago, he could only draw stick figures and bizarre anime.


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Happy Birthday and Valentines Day, Brandon!!!

It's a snow day in Massachusetts. And no birthday/snow day is complete without a dining room table pillow fort. Also I am broke and can't afford to buy him anything.


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My heater can't keep up with the cold. It is 12 degrees out but the wind chill makes it feel like -2 degrees. It is freezing in this apartment. I am sitting right in front of the space heater and I am still shivering ( Read more... )