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The world exploded into woots

There's a Bob Schneider song that goes: "The world exploded into love all around me..." and my version of it today is: "The world exploded into woots all around me..." Hell, I got a CnS on my big order last night! There's just something about knowing that your deferred gratification is about to be consummated. And this is a big order (for me, relatively) of Kali, O, Osun and Ogun. I love O so much and I was afraid I was going to use up the bottle that I now have prior to getting another. I'm probably going to have to order a big bottle the next time that I break down and order a LE. I need to get ready for work. I'll ramble more later.

April 18, 2006

Current Doings

I'm not on LJ, but I like how you can post what you're currently listening to. It's a nice snapshot into someone, plus I'm a voyeur in that I like seeing what people are reading and watching and listening to and putting up on their walls. To me the ultimate superpower would be invisibility, because I would love to go through houses, especially with no one home, to see how others live (as long as they're not slobby). What do people collect? What do they have sitting on a shelf? Location: Dallas, Texas, where it hit frickin' 100 today! Ugh. It's too early to be this hot. Currently reading: Jazz from the Ken Burns PBS series. It's very interesting, as I know very little about jazz. My biggest beef is that I wish there were accompanying CDs so when they talk about how revolutionary so-and-so's recording was, I can listen to it. But that just means I need to see the PBS series. Currently listening to: Lindsey Buckingham compilation in my car. I called it "Conducive to Creativity" because in one interview he was going on about how he left Fleetwood Mac when it was no longer conducive to creativity, and that cracked my ass up. He's a very interesting musician but seems like a beating to hang around with and talk to. But that's probably how a lot of musicians are in real life.

April 18, 2006

What does 'publish' mean?

*cough* *cough* AHEM. I told you I was new to this blogging stuff.

April 17, 2006

The Star

I snagged a bottle of Tarot:the Star a while back and promptly forgot about it. (I keep my 10ml bottles in a different container than my 5mls, so I don't tend to "see" them in the morning when I'm deciding what to wear, and out of sight, out of mind, as the saying goes.) Damn, but this is pretty. It's a delightful sweet, creamy lime, and reminds me a bit of the lime Italian sodas I've been making lately by adding sugar-free vanilla syrup to lime-infused soda water. I could truly dump this stuff on me...just spectacular. I now understand what all the fuss is about.

April 17, 2006

Lotus Moon

As far as the actual lunacy perfumes go, I anticipate that this will (likely) be my least favorite, since Lotus and I don't get along. On the other hand, as an artistic endeavor, the lotus is rife with some wonderful sexy symbolism. And I think I know just what I'm going to do....*cue evil theme music*....BWAHAHAHAHA...err....ahem. Sorry about that. I get carried away. Something a little different than the normal style. And my goal is to have it so the boys can wear it too. May not be possible...must play... (At this stage, of course, I have no clue what the perfume itself will smell like. That's pretty normal.)

April 17, 2006

Dragon Moon Shirt Finished

Finally managed to get the Dragon Moon design to Beth last night. Of course, what I didn't realize at the time was that I probably sent it about 5 minutes after Ted's computer had its meltdown. Fortunately I was able to resend the art, and *crosses fingers* with luck it should go up soon. But the way the Lab goes through computers, I'm not taking bets or anything. *wince* As far as the shirt goes...I'm quite happy with it, and I'm a bit dragon obsessed, so there ya go. (I can vividly remember being an absolutely incensed twelve-year-old who, upon being asked to tone down my mural of Tiamat fighting Bahamut for the Girl's Club Tea Party, put my hands on hips and said "Tiamat is not CUTE!") Ahem. Not sure what that has to do with anything, except that I was quite a dragon-loving geek then, and still am. Oh, and am counting the seconds until Beth comes out with that Tiamat blend she mentioned, obviously. Anyway, Dragon Moon. I likie. Oh, and it just went live here.

April 17, 2006

Wistfully warpedly yours

Anyone who is even vaguely inclined to listen to jazz, go listen to "Modern Cool" by Patricia Barber. I think that CD might be the soundtrack to one side of my personality. Patricia is an openly gay women in a genre that typically rewards pretty, femme singers and piano players, which means she kicks ass so hard that she can't be ignored. One has to admire such a force of talent. The soundtrack to the other side of my personality would be anything by Bob Schneider, who is sadly not well-enough known outside of Austin, Texas. Although I am not in Austin, and I do know about him. Bob is the coolest thing on earth, and damn purdy. As in, I consider Bob to be my prototype hottie. Do you ever get yourself into situations that you think will be fun, but make you really, really sad? At best, wistful? I've done that to myself. Again. If I'm good at anything, it's that. At least I'm also good at taking responsibility for my own actions and my own moods, so I won't make the rest of the world miserable. This morning I was sitting at my favorite coffeehouse and damn, I saw so many cool things going on around me. People just being kind of awesome, and jerky, and just hanging out. Why do we think we need to go to church, when the temple of the world is all around us? Oops, that was really Zen of me and I'll stop all that mumbo-jumbo. I did have a friend send me a Buddha figurine; it just arrived in the mail. Her father went to India and she asked him to get one for her so she could send it to me. That was sweet of her. I'm so hankering for the CnS on my next order, which is a biggie and includes, among other things, a bottle of Kali and a bottle of O. I'm probably giving the Kali to my friend who sent me the Buddha, since she loves Kali beyond reason. So much so, she asked her dad to bring back a Kali statue for her. That's devotion. Do you ever feel like you have so many choices that it almost feels like you have no choices? That's called confusion. I think I'll go take a bath and listen to Patricia Barber and chill it down a bit. Peace and love to all...

April 17, 2006

Lazy Easter Sunday

Normal Sunday for us is running errands, then going out for a late lunch + beer and watching Sopranos. I kinda feel bad as we were invited to the big Easter bash at uncle & aunt's house and we blew it off. Yes, since we were invited we probably should've gone. On the other hand, we weren't invited by the uncle and/or aunt, but the sister of the aunt, so it's not as important, right? Plus it was going to be a huge gathering, and did they really miss us when we didn't show up? No way. I feel like, since it's our day off, we should do what we want. We went to Home Depot and bought stuff for the house like A/C filters and aerators for the faucets. We also went to The Labyrinth, a witchy herb store that I've been wanting to go to for a while. Lots of incense and oils and books and stones, and it was great. It seemed like we went on the perfect day, as Easter came from the spring renewal rituals, so why not go to a pagan store on that day? The owner was talking to me about rituals and what would be best to use. I've always been interested in different religions, not just growing up Catholic and Christian but learning about Buddhist and Pagan too. I really felt comfortable there -- I felt like things were going well for us and I wanted to give thanks, and she was open to that. It's more than financial, just a peaceful feeling in life, and it seemed that to "ask" for more meant being greedy; I just wanted to give thanks for what we had. That's all.

Court's Vices and Musings

April 17, 2006

discountanimedvd.com order

My discountanimedvd order arrived in the mail Friday.... Berserk Vol 5 (manga) Angel Sanctuary Vol. 4 (manga) Howl's Moving Castle (anime movie on dvd) Howl's Moving Castle is a lovely movie...but the book was still better, as there was more depth to the characters actions/backgrounds. I watched it on Friday night. The animation is overall excellent, the script is well written and the characters are brilliant (especially Sophie). Initially, I was expecting a somewhat watered-down theatrical version of the novel, but the end result was true enough to the book that I felt satisfied by it. Now, to refrain from ordering from discountanimedvd.com again so soon...

Court Analyst/Strategist

April 17, 2006

'tis I

For anyone who would be doing some back reading in my blog, first I have to say, "Why?" Then I have to say thank you for reading this far back in my blog. What are you looking for? Anyway, you won't find photos of me anymore. For reasons I won't get into, I decided to take them down. I think my descriptions are pretty vivid, let your imagination do the sight-seeing. It's more fun that way! This is me. I've never posted my photo in the thread where everyone posts their photo. Most everyone on this forum is very young and very gorgeous. Sometimes I feel so ancient, but hell, I'm immature, so that makes up for my chronological issues. I cropped my friends out of the photos. While I'm choosing to put my picture up online, but I'm not infringing on my friend's privacy by including them in the shots. Let's see... I've been told I look like Frances McDormand, Wendie Malick and Jane Fonda. I dunno. I think I look like I'm at a former Aerosmith groupie reunion in this picture. For the record, I never was an Aerosmith groupie, but if I had been, I would have been all about Joe Perry: I looked subdued and confused here, and I did have a migrane. I was also sitting on the floor talking to a 2-year-old. However, it is a damn fine shot of the highlights I had put in my hair and I love my new hairdresser. Let's give Brandi a round of applause for her handiwork. So that is me, patron saint of lost dogs and lover of all things that look and smell really really nice. If you ever see me around, do stop and say hey...

April 16, 2006

Whiskers and Whispers

Chocolate overdose!

Currently smelling of: Gluttony and Midway Currently burning: Darkswan Egyptian Honey candle I have eaten too many Easter eggs today. I got the pricey one I wanted (not the one I originally planned to get, since I discovered that it contained something a bit icky) and also got loads of other choccies from my mum and dad. I also ate brownie ice cream and chocolate cake. I still want to eat choccy, but stomach says no. However, despite this chocolate overdose, I am craving...pizza. Which is odd. But I am seriously jonesing for a proper pizza right now. The most annoying thing about bank holidays is...NO POST! And that means no new BPAL! I am looking forward to my Peony Moon so much that it seems my life won't be complete until it arrives... Oh, and Doctor Who was really good. I think David Tennant is fantastic (sorry CE fans, but although both are very good actors, I think DT is cuter!!) I can't wait for next weeks episode. From the looks of things, it's going to have ninjas and werewolves!!!

yeahbutnobut

April 16, 2006

This Old Snark

House P0rn

The Snarkys are addicted to HGTV. They watch famlies in their intimate spaces, delving up the tender secrets of their everyday lives to intruding strangers. They watch as these odd bedfellows work in sweaty, dusty, passionate union to create something better with their homes. The Snarkys dream of doing it too. They are beginning to believe that this might become their backdrop. Cue bamp-chicka-bamp music: Where all the magic happens... But wait? What's behind this little hobbit door? Secks-SAY!

darkitysnark

April 16, 2006

Most Haunted II: Even More Haunted!

OK, last night's episode was awesome. Lots of stuff happened: a ton of ouija-type glass movement, the TV turning off and back on, and pool balls being thrown. It was great! Plus it was so cool to hear all about the building. I was a bit disappointed they didn't do more in the rooms upstairs, but they spent a lot of time in the cool bar in the basement which was rad. I left a pretty giddy message yesterday for my sister to watch the show -- Mom and I are into haunted stuff more than she is, so she was probably like, "Whatever, it's Friday night and since we have a social life we're not sitting at home watching TV." I haven't heard back from her. I wish I had a stronger psychic sense about things, but nothing weird has happened to me. DH, on the other hand, has had a ton of stuff happen to him and he said he didn't feel anything weird in the building. But since there were 150-200 people there, there was probably too much going on for anything to hang around. I'll put his experiences in another post -- he has some great stories to tell.

April 16, 2006

poisonapple's Blog

peonies! I love the peonies

I just traded for a second bottle of Peony Moon. This is how I wish roses smelled on me. Though i was a dumb ass and read the wrong wishlist...she was kind enough to swap the Luna scent for the Red pheonix. I thinK I will take my trades slowly. I have 8 packages going out two weeks ago and that was a little much. LOL I am a bit disappointed.I really haven had good luck with the L.E.s. I love love snake oil. And dirty and Blood Pearl, but there is not an L.E. i have that I really like expect for Peony Moon. I guess concidering the odds..that is pretty good. I love getting my new orders and with the three outstanding orders, (I went ahead and got the bunny) I am bound to have something in there I like.

poisonapple

April 15, 2006

Most Haunted!

I have a few stop-down TV shows: Sopranos, Intervention on A&E, original CSI, and Most Haunted on Travel Channel. It's a British show that up until a couple of weeks ago runs around England (with occasional jaunts to Ireland and Scotland) to spend the night in a haunted house, pub or wherever. The first half is the best part, they go into the history of a place and grab a psychic or two to find hot spots. The second half are the vigils, where people will split up and sit in different places with night-vision cameras and freak out over every little bump. The second half is kind of a drag, unless you like hearing people stare bug-eyed into darkness asking, "Did you hear that?" BUT!! The past couple of weeks they've been in America! Southern California to be exact, my old stomping grounds. I'm mad that I missed the first episode on the Queen Mary, but the next episode was at the Whaley House in San Diego and I really liked seeing the house and hearing the stories. I'm so excited, because tonight they are at the American Legion Hall in Hollywood, where my sister got married a few years ago! What a crazy place. The ceremony was on the ground floor, where they have a two-story atrium with a balcony all the way around. Next to that is a theater that was way spooky. Upstairs was a crazy-ass library that I'm sure will be referenced in the show -- that's where we were dressing and doing our hair. Then the basement was a ballroom and a separate bar area and that's where the reception was. It really was a great place to have a wedding, because you didn't have to drive from the wedding to the reception afterwards. I don't remember anything weird happening, other than before the wedding Dad and I were hanging lights from the balcony in the atrium -- they were red and white Christmas-type lights wrapped in white tulle. Of course everything worked great as we were hanging them up, then just before the wedding one rope went out. Then afterwards I remember going upstairs from the ballroom and they were on again. Probably nothing, right?

April 15, 2006

This Old Snark

Everybody Limbo!

Snarky's still in that purgatorial "will they or won't they?" place, but the expected immediate dismissal of the Snark's addendum to their offer on the house did not happen. So they've entered a counter-counter-offer suggesting a credit for all the little fixes they listed on the addendum. She hasn't dared to look at the 70+ photos she took of the house during the home inspection. She's been trying to let go already of all the future days she was projecting into all those fanciful rooms. It didn't help that Snarky had the whole day off to wallow and sulk. She did manage to get out for a walk to the library (and, ahem, the LUSH store) but now she's back at home with an hour to burn before The Mister makes it home. Must. Be. Strong. Don't look at the pictures! She's going to go and knit in a corner.

darkitysnark

April 14, 2006

Lost dog karma, or spirit messenger?

I think I must have lost dog karma. Or maybe some lost dogs have valentina karma. Anyway, I got up this morning and looked out the window, and there was a German Shepherd-type dog running loose across the street. No collar, looking very lost. I went out and called it, but it was scared and ran off. I called animal control and told them to go looking for it. I don't live that near to a main street, but if the dog went about 6 or 7 blocks, it would encounter a busy street. This afternoon after I went to lunch with my friend, I decided to drive back down to my office, because I'd left something there that I wanted to take home. I was kind of in a state yesterday when I left, and would have forgotten my head if it wasn't attached to me. So I'm crossing the intersection of a really busy street, and there's a smallish, German Shepherd type dog, running around the intersection. I turned and watched as people drove around it or slowed down, but didn't help it. I flipped a "u" turn and went back, pulled over, got out and got the dog. A man was right behind me trying to do the same thing, and we took turns hold the pooch as we waited for animal control. This dog was a young fella, collar but no tags, just been neutered, a sweet handsome pooch. So was that my lost dog karma in action? And is it me, or was it a little weird that I saw two lost German Shepherd-type dogs in one day? They just wandered into my path. It seemed really symbolic, and considering my mood of the last couple of days, it really makes me wonder what that was all about. I have a book on animal totems, and dogs are commonly associated with the various goddesses, especially huntress goddesses such as Artemis/Diana, Sarama (Vedic mother of the Dogs of Yama) and the Hounds of Annwn, the Celtic goddess. Dogs are seen as symbols of dependability, loyalty and faithfulness and my book says whenever the spirit helper is near, you will feel strong emanations of love surrounding you. Lost dog karma or a spirit messenger, I'm glad I was able to help at least one avoid death by a 50-MPH SUV. I do loves the poochies!!

April 14, 2006

to sleep, perchance to dream

Well, there's nothing like a good night's sleep to revive a person and my dream state must have cleansed my psyche of last night's abnormally wistful and weepyish fit. I have the day off work, I'm going to meet a friend at a brewpub at noon for beer and burgers, and then I'm going to run off and enjoy the sunshine. I would gather that BPAL cultists have really vivid dreams. Even if you didn't before, I'd wager that you did after you started using BPAL, because I think it has that effect. I think Beth is a shaman. But dreams are great. Wild-ass shit can just whorl up out of the depths of the subconsciousness and you can have a real show for a while. (Does my adoration of the movie "Waking Life" make more sense now?) I can tell the difference between "junk dreams," when my brain is simply blowing off the residuals of my day, and "big dreams," where I'm trying to tell myself something very important. I have gotten more efficient in my big dream process, for I had two of them last week, and they were brisk events. They got right to the point and I woke up from the power of the message. I know a bunch of y'all are the same way, aren't you? Dreams are fucking amazing. Ever had one that was a harbinger of something that was going to happen? That sense of deja vu, once it happens in your waking life, is pretty wild. However, I've gotten to the point that when it really happens, I think to myself: "Oh hell, I knew that!" Did anyone else love "The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" as much as I did? You can pretend you've wiped your brain's slate clean -- but your heart still remembers. There's an enormous number of nerves in the heart center, I believe the concentration in that area is second only to the brain. I don't think their functions are entirely physiological machine-control, just like the brain isn't all about being a mechanical control center. There's something going on in the heart center that just doesn't articulate into words right away, but the emotional message is very clear. I still am in a bit of a mood, aren't I? Well hell, that's OK. Tell me your weirdest dreams and make me laugh. Or tell me your saddest dreams, or most profounds dreams. I love 'em. And for today and every day, smell divine and feel beautiful... someone always notices.

April 14, 2006

Whiskers and Whispers

Ooh-wooooooo...ooo-ooo-oooooh...

If you hadn't guessed, that's the Doctor Who theme tune! I'm so excited because the new series has returned and is starting tomorrow! I love the new Dr Who, and I really want to track down some of the older episodes now. Dr Who fans may want to check this silly link out for a laugh! From time travelling doctors to real ones now...I think those sleeping pills my doctor prescribed me are really working. I needed something to reset my sleeping patterns into something a bit more normal (I go to sleep at 2am and get up at 11am-something induced by the drunk and stoned flatmates from hell at campus) but now thanks to those pills, I'm going to be early, and getting up early and feeling bright and awake (which is pretty incredible since I'm not usually a morning person at all!). I think that little ritual with TAL Determination helped a great deal with me getting my coursework done-it's not finished yet, but it just gave me the impetus to get going and do some good solid work without distraction. I love getting those challenging questions done...they are daunting at first but when I get them done, I feel good! I'm also excited because my Peony Moon order is winging it's way to me! I hope it gets to me before I go back to uni!

yeahbutnobut

April 14, 2006

(sigh)

Divas! The empress of this blogdom is going to fall under the spell of darkitysnark's third person Bob Dole-certified writing style tonight, since valentina wishes to disassociate herself with this sort of mood as much as possible. valentina is terribly wistful, and almost sad. She may have to go sit around and cry to see if that helps. It was an emotional day at work, a long story that valentina doesn't care to recount, since it would turn into a detailed politics and government lecture and 'tina does know how deathly boring that becomes. Long story short, it was a day of goodbyes to people that valentina has known and worked with a lot of years, because they're leaving. Some of them 'tina knew longer and liked more than others, and a couple of them tugged very hard at the heartstrings. It was an ending and it was bittersweet. Goodbyes are never easy, but valentina has to be thankful that she was able to forge such relationships. And there's also a beginning. The beginning is a little scary, maybe. Beginnings bring mystery and uncertainty, and like anything in life, there will be joy and sadness in what lies ahead. valentina also realizes that she can be such an empath, but she normally assumes it's her imagination speaking. Several things in recent days have shown her that she should get out of her own way more often. 'tina has a bad habit of ignoring her inner voice, and her left brain and right brain spend a lot of time arguing with each other. Usually the left brain will overthink what the right brain is channeling out of her heart. Then the left brain realizes that the right brain was correct, and her right brain and her heart in unison say, hahaha, we knew it all along. And even in the middle of all of this, there's a part of 'tina that is so fucking happy, she can't believe it. The empress of this blogdom wishes to inform you that tomorrow she has the day off of work and will resume her breezy first-person lingerie and shoe and BPAL chatter.

April 14, 2006

Idle hands

I thought I'd be heading down to my boss' house, but she emailed me last night and said she had a haircolor appointment that will suck up the morning so don't bother. So I caught up on a few little things, but then the afternoon became eerily quiet. I went for a walk and came back to no emails or messages. I watched Dr. Phil (while cleaning up in the kitchen & den), and no one called or emailed. I think people are unofficially planning tomorrow off -- Boss Lady will be going until noon and her kids get up, then she's off too. Tomorrow's going to be dead dead dead. You know what that means: shopping! I'll probably place an order for the Villainess update. I should decide what to get Mom for her birthday next week. I need a small clothes and shoes update, so I'll poke around. I should also do practical things, like vacuum and hang up a couple pictures that we bought frames at Michaels for and I've put the pictures in. If I'm really motivated, I should lug out the sewing machine (it must weigh 50 pounds, my grandma's old one) and finally finish my sleepshirt -- with cute bacon-and-eggs fabric! I have a pile of fabric that I've bought to make shirts and pillows and I should finally do something. Or take the embroidery silk I bought at an estate sale (a big bag, probably 50 spools, for $3) and add a design to a shirt or sweater. Or, knowing me, I'll do none of the above