Amezri's other journal space

Well. I haven't written anything useful (or not whining) in a while, so how about a review of a tea gadget thing I just got? :D

My new Takeya Flash Chill Tea Maker arrived today! My brother showed it to me and I had to have one. Two-day shipping from Amazon FTW! It's a pretty awesome contraption that makes brewing & chilling iced tea easier and it only cost about $20.

The first thing I did was to figure out how to take the whole thing apart so I could wash it. The only piece that might get tricky is the infuser basket, but the sprayer on the kitchen sink seems to work well...at least for a first cleaning. All the other parts were very easy to clean with a sponge and rinse with hot water.

For my first pitcher of iced tea, I chose Everybody's Tea by daunt. I kind of dislike this blend as a hot tea - hot citrus is a no go for me - but I liked it cold with some sugar, so I thought it would be a good choice. And... also a way to use up more of the bag since I wouldn't be brewing single, hot cups.

In the booklet that comes with the tea maker, they tell you to use 10 Tablespoons of loose leaf tea to make 2 quarts of iced tea. That seemed like a ridiculous amount of tea, so I ended up putting in 7 Tablespoons. After brewing, that was still too much; next time I'm going to use 5 Tablespoons instead (8tsp for cold brew).

Anyway. Tea in the infuser. Fill the pitcher half way (or a little more) with hot water - whatever the correct temperature for your tea is.  Attach the infuser to the lid and place it in the pitcher - don't close it all the way. I am not sure about steep times for brewing a concentrated tea - for black it is the same as brewing a cup. Experiment I guess? :\

Once you're done steeping, take out the infuser and remove it from the lid. Add in your sweetener (I did 4T cane sugar and 3T white sugar) and fill with ice. Then screw the lid on tight and shake that sucker until your ice is melted and your sweetener is dissolved.

Ta-da! You now have some tasty iced tea! (And yes, Everybody's Tea makes a fabulous iced tea. The citrus & vanilla combo is really yummy once it's icy cold.)

I did find that the infuser basket was kind of annoying to clean out and I suspect it might get kind of gross after a few uses because it's so difficult to scrub (and it feels kind of delicate). However, once it gets more stained, I plan on using my travel mug cleaning trick - HOT water, a scoop of dish washing powder, and let sit overnight. That usually gets the coffee/tea stains off anything with little scrubbing afterwards.

I'm resolving to write more in my LJ about things. Life things, fannish things, anything. So, let's start with health insurance.

I've been on my mother's COBRA plan for about a year, since they extended the age to 29. Of course, I turned 29 earlier this montha nd I was confused about whether or not my coverage would be continuing until. Didn't think to much about it, really... until my bill came for the next month and I see they've raised the premium to $600. A month. $600. This is for basic medical coverage - exams, simple labs, some hospital coverage, a crazy high co-pay ($25 per office visit), no dental, and no vision.

Having seen that, I start immediately looking at other health insurance options. I don't qualify for Medicaid because I live with my mom and they take into account the total income of the people you are living with, which puts me out of the Medicaid bracket. Then I checked out HealthyNY again and it seems like they've managed to make their premium costs. That, or I'm just so jaded from the $500/month I have been forking over. I wasn't able to apply for HealthNY before because I hadn't worked in so long, but with my recent paycheck from working on a film project, I'd be able to say I had some kind of income.

Called CDPHP to find out about applying for HealthyNY through them and a nice lady told me that my coverage would be ending at the end of the month under the Age 29 extension. No worries, I'd be canceling it anyway. I also got confirmation of the updated premium, which would be $285 instead of $254. That's a much smaller increase than my current plan and also still less than half the current premium cost. The rep then transfered me to another department where I made an appointment to come into the office at noon. Done! Now to cancel my current Young Adult coverage, which, if anyone else needs to know, does actually continue through your 29th year, so it expires the day you turn 30. Of course, I am not looking to fork over $600/month for the next 12 months.

Calling to find out about my cancellation, I called the NYS Civil Service Department, which is supposed to be handling my eligibility. Well, after wading through a ton of automated menus, I was on hold for 15 minutes. Hung up. That was perfectly pointless.

Next, I called Empire and was able to wade through to an actual person. They've listed me as having two health insurance programs - one where I am a dependent and the other where I'm an individual enrollee. In both cases, I can't make any changes. My mother would have to contact them and deal with it. I still can't get an exact answer to when the Age 29 thing expires because the rep at Empire didn't seem to have any clue and just said that there was a different expiration date on file for my policy, but she also couldn't tell me any details about it.

So... now it was time to get to my appointment with CDPHP. I got there at noon and waited in the lobby for 15 minutes before I met with the enrollment person... whose name I've forgotten. Anyway, once I was in the office, she was very nice and helped my finalize my application and seemed to think my application would be approved. All I needed was the cancellation letter from my current insurance saying i was in good standing and had no pre-existing conditions. Fab. In and out in under 10 minutes.

I took a detour to the mall after that and did some "Good Job, Me" spending, which is always bad. Bought a 4-pack of True Blood and colored hair clip-ins from Hot Topic (they had me at 15% discount and bonus $5 off). Also snagged a Kat Von D Memento Mori palette that was on sale at Sephora for $24, which is $10 off their normal price. Interestingly, the JC Penny Sephora was having quite a sale while the actual Sephora store in the mall didn't seem to be having one. Weird. Anyway, also got a couple Color Club (Wild Orchid & Red Velvet [China Glaze Lubu Heels dupe]) polishes and one of the new OPI Swiss collection (Ski Teal We Drop).

Once I was home, I tried calling my current provider again. I was on the phone for - no lie - 40 minutes waiting for someone to pick up. The office closes at 3:00pm and it was already past that time, but I stayed on the phone. Finally someone picked up and all he told me to do was fax a letter to them stating that I was canceling my Young Adult coverage. Seriously. After 40 minutes, I get told that? I quickly wrote up the letter and faxed it over, so I hope that will take care of that and I will be on a comparatively more affordable crap insurance plan. If so, I'm thinking maybe I should get tested for hypoglycemia finally. (Though that's scary because the test for that includes not eating for 48-72 hours which is... not good for me.)

Speaking of... I need something to eat. All I've eaten since I woke up was a fruit bar.

I love buying accessories for my electronics and every time I get a new camera, shopping for a new bag is thrown in to the process. I've always thought the bags available weren't really fitting to my sense of style -- too utilitarian and definitely all screamed, "Hi! There is a camera in here!"

Well, Epiphanie bags are a stylish spin on the camera bag! They're padded inside with compartments, just like any Lowepro or Tamrac bag, but from the outside, it looks like a handbag. The three styles of bag all have removable crossbody straps if you don't want to use the double handles. I think the Ginger bag is my favorite; I love the contrast stitching.



Epiphanie is currently holding a giveaway where you can win a Canon 5D Mark II or a $2500 gift card to Southwest Airlines!

I've been wearing a certain greenstone fishhook since I got it when I was in New Zealand in 2003. Since the first day, I've worn it on a waxed cord, replaced once a couple years ago. You'll probably see it on me in a lot of my costuming photos. Last month I decided it would be nice if it were on a bail and I could actually take the necklace off without as much fuss as the cord is.

My mother found a jeweler in the area that she'd used a few times to turn some earrings into pendants and stuff like that. I decided it couldn't hurt. So two weeks ago, I go to the jeweler and have a talk about what sort of bail I want put on -- that I wear the pendant every day and I want it to be something small, but sturdy. He shows me a bail in a catalog and it's exactly what I'm looking for. He says he can solder the back so it definitely won't come apart. I'm happy.

Not one peep after a week; they are called and asked what the deal is. He says the part isn't in yet. Fine, no big deal. I can wait for a part. A few days later, we get a call saying it's done. Last night my mother picks it up. They charged her $25 for the bail work and the snake chain I told her I didn't need anymore. At the original consultation, he said if I wanted a chain, we could take a measurement and he'd custom cut the length. Instead, he foisted a 16", badly soldered snake chain on my mom, who'd gone to pick it up.

The funny thing is, she knew as soon as she saw it that I wouldn't like it, but she paid for it anyway. If I were there, I'd have demanded he remove it immediately and not have paid him at all.

( pictures )

This morning I called to A) correct an error on a ticket for my mom's new order and B) chew him out for the error. He answered the phone and after I calmly had him correct the info on the ticket (the phone number and name were all wrong... wtf), there was a pretty quick burn to angry. I told him that what he ended up doing wasn't what I wanted at all and that he should have called me before he did it because it wasn't what I agreed to and in fact, I could have just done a wire bail myself. He tells me that the bail I wanted had been discontinued, to which I responded that he should have called to tell me that instead of just putting something else on there. He then says that if I wanted it, he could fabricate it in his shop -- WHY DIDN'T YOU DO THAT IN THE FIRST PLACE?!

I tell him that were it up to me, I wouldn't have do the wire bail and now I'm stuck with something I don't want and it's not like I can get a refund (as is stated on his sales receipt). He says, "Why not?" I pause and then ask if he's saying he would refund the bail. He says, "So, basically you want me to do the work for free."

Yeah. Read that again. I totally lost it at that point. I told him that he did work that I didn't agree to, which is why I'm mad and want a refund, so yeah. I'm not keeping the bail and he should have asked me before he went ahead and did it. So finally he says he'll refund it, minus sales tax. Well, fine. Then he says if I wanted to bring it in, he could take it off. Yeah, No. I tell him I can take it off myself, thanks and I will have the crap wire bail and necklace brought in and he can put the credit towards my mother's new order or whatever.

I feel like kind of a bitch and normally I'd never do that to any sort of artist, but seriously, wtf? He had the piece for two weeks, knew the bail I wanted and agreed to was discontinued, then threw on a shit wire bail. I could have done that or I could have found (and did find) for a lot cheaper and nicer looking on etsy.com

This morning, I did place an order for bails and oval jump rings. I should have just done it myself in the first place. And people wonder why I have control issues.

So there it is, my bitch moment of the week. Actually, this whole week has been about me not finding what I'm looking for and running around like a crazy person and blowing most of my tax refund money without really meaning to, so this whole debacle is right in line with that.

And more archiving. Just boring daily stuff. Some photos. Possibly Twilight LOLz.

( tweeting is what I do now? )

Hey all. First real post in a long time!

Today was DVD release day and I ended up getting the Wanted 2-disc and... the Prince Caspian 3-disc. I know, I know. But I've ended up with money I can burn and I'm apparently trying to get through it quickly instead of being responsible and saving it. Oh well.

Last week I made a bunch of online purchases and most of them have come in - House season 1 - 3, Christmas gifts, Slither, and two corsets from Lip Service. Yeah. They are pretty nice, actually. I like the purple/magenta of the tartan one, but I think it needs a wee bit of fitting. Loving the underbust corset, but I'm definitely cutting off all the fringe. Mildly tragic, but I'm more likely to wear it without the fringe -- it was way more than I thought there was going to be.

smashedrecords was over again tonight watching some DVDs. Finished off Torchwood season 1 and started her on Buffy and Roswell. All fun stuff!

Watching Roswell.. we both couldn't help but laugh at the parts that Twilight seems to have in common. It was getting rather ridiculous!

Speaking of... tomorrow is finally Twilight day for me! I can't wait XD I haven't really been reading anyone's reviews except for some random reactions on twitter. . I'll be wearing my Cullen leather cuff! XD There's a small group of us heading to the mall and I'm hoping the craze has died down enough that theaters won't be sold out. Will probably live-twit reactions.

And now.... bed!

Got up at a fairly decent hour today and decided to take a trip to Target. Been having a craving for milk & cereal. So, quick shower and off I went.. after a one hour detour at the computer...

Right, so, stop at the bank for some money, then Target! It's been so long since I've been in there. Weeks, I think! Hit the sale racks first and snagged a black skirt of $6. Grabbed a box of frosted flakes and raisin bran (their store equivalents, actually) and debated over the kind of milk to get. Went with 1%. Then I did something bad... I headed for the DVD area.

SO MANY THINGS TO BUY! Seriously, I picked up a ton of stuff, stared at the price tags, and then put them down. It was awful! I almost wanted Veronica Mars season 3 -- not because I liked the show; haven't even seen it yet -- but because it was $18. And then there were movies... and other shows! Ack! I ended up getting Pushing Daisies season 1 because, erm.. it was a Target exclusive and had recipes inside? Yeah, seriously, not like I'll ever use them (like my special edition Waitress with recipes), but, oh, just to have them! And the packaging is cute -- the case looks like a diner menu and the discs inside have pies on the labels.

Of course, I get home and find a big, giant EW! The garbage people didn't totally empty out my trash so they left a bunch of packing foam and dead squirrels. So the can reeks. I decided that if they're going to sit there another week, they're def going to need to be double bagged, so I got seijitataki to help me. OMG GROSS.

I finally met with my new client to get the deposit for the website I'm supposed to be making. Hurray? It's absolutely horrible working with someone who have no computer and no internet. I just don't get it. Anyway. I guess I should start working on that soon.

Finally placed an order for Moo Postcards. I'll be giving those away at DragonCon along with some actual matted prints, if I ever get myself moving on those. Speaking of, I need to mail off my arc reactor and sidearm. Blah.

Erm. I also. Maybe. Just bought the first three Twilight books in hardcover to match Breaking Dawn. But, hey, Amazon! So they were cheapish. Honestly, I should have spent the money and gotten the Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy catalog instead. Srsly.

Ugh. I am having a spendy sort of day. After work (which was nearly bearable, but still torturous), I went to Target to pick up some things. Really, I just wanted to get a copy of Penelope to watch tonight... but of course I wound up buying some snacks for work, bathroom cleaner, and some other things. So... that was expensive.

I just now put some money in my Amie Street account... for the first time! Because I want to buy Blackmore's Night's new album. I'd only ever downloaded free tracks from the site and that always worked well, but buying a whole album? Could not be easier. And the tracks stay in your library, so if you need to redownload them -- there they are. Also? DRM free. Rawk. Who need iTunes?

In other news, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog -- Act I is online! I haven't actually been able to watch it yet because of all the traffic, but apparently they have switched to a server that has more robust :D So I will try again later.

Edit: Grant Lee Phillips' Strangelet album for $1.80?! *buys*

Yep. Still with the Iron Man disease.

I bought one of the glow in the dark arc reactor shirts from here.

And then I found this LED arc reactor shirt which is full of awesome. Seriously. If this person is willing to make more, I am all over that.

I also got myself a Plantronics Discovery 655 bluetooth headset because A) my Samsung one was pissing me off and B) I'm fairly certain that's the model that Pepper is using in the movie. Yes, I'm a dork. The one I got off eBay was most likely used as there are some scratches on the charger, but I've tested it and it works pretty well. And as a bonus, the thing actually stays in my ear without a giant-sized eargel and without a bunch of fiddling. The charging cradle make much more sense than the Samsung one and there's an included attachment that lest you charge the headset with a AAA battery. Sweet.


Okay, so here is a trailer for Tropic Thunder. I think I might have to go see it. And in all honesty, it has nothing to do with RDJ (though that will certainly be an interesting performance), but Ben Stiller entertains me and I love Steve Coogan.

And on a serious note, I have to say, YAY, NEW YORK! And YAY, Gov. Paterson!

New York to Back Same-Sex Unions From Elsewhere

ALBANY -- Gov. David A. Paterson has directed all state agencies to begin to revise their policies and regulations to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions, like Massachusetts, California and Canada.

In a directive issued on May 14, the governor’s legal counsel, David Nocenti, instructed the agencies that gay couples married elsewhere "should be afforded the same recognition as any other legally performed union."

So, it's not the same as allowing gay marriage in NY, but recognizing marriages from another state is a start at least.

And now I should go get dinner, do the garbage and various other productive things.