Today I took the book to work since I couldn't find anything else that looked interesting and reread the instructions for the gift box. This time it actually seemed possible and I tried it on break. Whaddyaknow, it looked more like the book's photo than an origami boulder. Rock on! I started anew from home with larger paper and it worked. It still looks like I had a little trouble with the corners and the bottom seams arent' neat but I'm still quite satisfied with the results of my "practice" model.
Can't think of much else other than that my hands are FREEZING right now despite how much I've been working with them tonite. I'd like to turn the furnace above 60 but gas is expensive and I really only need to heat the one room I'm in. (c'mon, furnace, kick in already.) That, and I've been staying up way to late lately and sleeping til almost noon. I really should correct that but my bed is so warm and soft on these cold mornings mmmmmm.