Kitrona

CHAOS THEORY VI Chaos is the score upon which reality is written. – Henry Miller An old take on Chaos! A new take on Chaos! This year, we are offering the traditional chaos of the original Chaos Theories, manifested as Eris’ Tilt-A-Whirl, and a new Recursive Self-Similarity series. Each CT:6 scent under the auspices of Recursive Self-Similarity, has a base of one of the following scents, in wildly varying proportions: Amber Frankincense Vanilla From these bases comes a new series of flowing, fragrant fractals that emanate from these three roots. Random combinations of oils have been added to every individual bottle, retaining their sensitivity to their initial component, resulting in a truly unique blend that swirls merrily around its core oil. This is an exercise in the joy of chance and uncertainty! Each is a one-of-a-kind, utterly random combination of scents, the composition of which is based on whim, mood and gut instinct. I got #44. Not sure what's in it besides vanilla, but it does remind me of one of the Halloweenies or Yules, I'm not sure which, or which scent. Unfortunately, on drydown it fades to almost nothing (or maybe it's just very faint compared to the frankincense CT on the other arm). Still, I like it. Might have to invest in a scent locket for it, though.

CHAOS THEORY VI Chaos is the score upon which reality is written. – Henry Miller An old take on Chaos! A new take on Chaos! This year, we are offering the traditional chaos of the original Chaos Theories, manifested as Eris’ Tilt-A-Whirl, and a new Recursive Self-Similarity series. Each CT:6 scent under the auspices of Recursive Self-Similarity, has a base of one of the following scents, in wildly varying proportions: Amber Frankincense Vanilla From these bases comes a new series of flowing, fragrant fractals that emanate from these three roots. Random combinations of oils have been added to every individual bottle, retaining their sensitivity to their initial component, resulting in a truly unique blend that swirls merrily around its core oil. This is an exercise in the joy of chance and uncertainty! Each is a one-of-a-kind, utterly random combination of scents, the composition of which is based on whim, mood and gut instinct. Am I really the first? Hmm. With the forum downtime, I guess it's possible. Mods, if I mess this up, please be gentle; it's the first time I've been first. #58 In the bottle: Definite frankincense base, but my nose isn't sharp enough to identify anything else. Wet: Similar to in the bottle Dry: A ghost of incense, a comforting scent in a small chapel In short, I love it.

I made three goals to be accomplished in three months. One is to start leadership classes with the Grove; one is to make and post things on Etsy; one is to start a regular exercise program. I talked to the HP of the Grove and I'm supposed to start classes next Thursday, though I need to firm that up. I have a goal of posting three things per week to Etsy; I haven't started making things but I've been paying attention to things that inspire me. I've made the most progress on the exercise program. I decided to start running, using a Couch to 5k program. Fantastic, but if I try to walk or run while watching a stopwatch or timer, I'm going to run into something... and that's a best case scenario! Fortunately, I found a couple of C25K podcasts that give cues on when to run and when to walk, so I downloaded all 9 weeks' worth of programs. Mar found me a Minidisc player I can use until we can buy something else; I'm currently waiting for it to charge. Eventually I'll need new shoes, but until then, my trainers will work, although I may take out the insoles until the blisters on my heels heal. When I put them back, I'll stick some duct tape on my heels to give them some protection and reduce friction. In the meantime, I have those protective blister things that Band-Aid makes, except mine are Target brand, yay cheap but same quality! I even asked my orthopedist, aka knee doctor, and he encouraged me to try, as long as I do it smart. He approves of the C25K program, so that's good, and he suggested some pre-emptive Aleve or ibuprofen, and to make sure I ice. So, here it is. Tomorrow when I get up, I'll grab some breakfast (probably a granola bar and maybe a yogurt) and find a water bottle and start running. I'm a little nervous, and I don't want to let myself down... I know it's gonna suck at first, especially when I first wake up, but I can do it. I'm gonna start running. With bad knees. In the middle of winter. Yeah, I'm crazy... but I like to think it's a GOOD crazy.

http://www.wild-hybrid.co.nz/shop/default.aspx - Wild Hybrid, galahad's shop: sells Chain Maille Jewellery, Other jewellery, Soap, Perfume oils http://www.etsy.com/shop/origamiornaments - colormonochrome's shop: will include lots of extra things for Witches who buy something, and I can also make custom jewellery or artworks if they have a Witchee's special interests in mind http://www.etsy.com/shop/VoyeurWithWings - GirlInDenial's shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/cyrenemyst - SyreneMists's shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/darksideofthesun - MelleMel's shop http://www.taranova.us/ - jupiternf's shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/mothermoongems - Coldfire's shop Solstice Scents http://team.etsy.com/viewteam.php?id=786 - TeamBPAL http://www.etsy.com/shop/sevencatsco - Kitrona's shop: jewelry, especially gaming dice jewelry http://www.etsy.com/shop/paintboxsoapworks- Tartchef's shop

Switch Witch Questionnaire Basic Info Birthday: 7/29/78 Pets: 3 cats Children: 2, one lives with his dad and the toddler lives with me Religious orientation: Pagan Favorite Holiday: Thanksgiving? I guess? Or Yule, maybe, I like the return of the light Occupation/Major in school: Jewelry artist and stay at home mom Living arrangement (by yourself, with roommates, etc): With husband and toddler Livejournal/Blog/Website: http://kitrona.livejournal.com Organizations/Causes/Activities (Things you belong to or causes you believe in): Gay rights, human rights, feminism... basically, everyone should be treated with basic decency and respect! BPAL Favorite BPAL oils: Velvet, Leo, Snake Oil, pumpkin stuff Favorite notes: Frankincense, vanilla, cocoa, clove, chai, musk, cream, dragon's blood, sandalwood; I'm open to trying most anything Favorite non-BPAL perfumes: Nocturne Alchemy Least favorite notes: Most florals Least favorite non-BPAL perfumes: Whatever people bathe themselves in. If Beth made a custom blend for you, what would the notes be, and what would you want the label art to look like? Something foody, vanilla, cocoa, clove, chai, sandalwood, and pumpkin. No idea on the art, other than "anything but abstract"? Clothing & Jewelry Hair type: Thick, long, medium-fine Skin Type: extremely pale, dry to normal Allergies (specifically B&B related): flowers/florals Other things to avoid: Barbie Pink makes me want to stab someone. Tub, shower or both? Shower mostly, tub is a rare indulgence Favorite bath & beauty products: Villainess soaps! Everything else comes from Target. Clothing Style/Fave garments: Comfortable but awesome. I think my current favorite shirt is a plain black t from Old Navy, scoopneck, and I kind of live in jeans and shorts. Favorite clothing colors/colors to wear: Dark colors, jewel tones. Type(s) of jewelry worn: Chunky/chips of semiprecious stones, necklaces, rings, some bracelets, anklets, earrings Ring/wrist/collar size: Ring size 7 1/2, wrist 7 in, neck 15 1/2 in, ankle 8 in Jewelry - gold or silver? Silver Do you have any allergies to metal? A bit to nickel, I think. Favorite gemstones: Moonstone, garnet, lapis, sodalite, sapphire, malachite... basically greens, blues, reds, and shimmery whites. Sock/Shoe Size: 7 1/2 Lifestyle Style/home decoration style: Wait, we're supposed to have a STYLE? I guess "messy geek den" is a style... Favorite decorating colors: Same as above, greens, blues, reds Things you collect: Broken dreams? Um, actually I was collecting dice, but then I started doing things with them like wire-wrapping for jewelry, so I'm not sure that counts anymore. BPAL, obviously OH, I know! Cats! I collect things with cats on them, though I tend toward the realistic rather than cartoony. Favorite music: The Decemberists, classical, atmospheric, things I can sing along to Least favorite music: Today's rap. 90s rap was WAY better. Vegetarian/Vegan?: (Please be as specific as possible to reduce confusion!) Neither. Carnivore. Other food restrictions: I have a thing about mealy-textured foods, I can't eat them. For instance, I don't mind the flavor of banana in banana bread, but I can't eat an actual banana. And I have a thing against artificially blue foods. Favorite flavors: Vanilla, chocolate, chai, clove, ginger, etc. I like spices and savories. Favorite foods/drinks: Sushi! Cookies, chocolate, ice cream, steak, baked potatoes... (this questionnaire is making me hungry!) Favorite authors/genres: Cherie Priest, Seanan McGuire, urban fantasy, steampunk, historical fiction, Mercedes Lackey, some Anne McCaffrey, fantasy, sci-fi Least favorite authors/genres: Laurell K. Hamilton, Stephanie Meyer, recent/"sexy" vampire fiction (I'm ok with the emo ones), straight romance in general Books/authors you'd like to read, but haven't yet: Almost anything! I have an Amazon Wishlist, but I'm not sure it really reflects what I'm interested in. How do you feel about receiving gently used books as gifts? I would love my Witch until the end of my days if I got books of any sort. Gently used is perfectly fine! Favorite stores (including clothing stores): Um. Target? I don't shop much, at least not for stuff for me. Craft stores OMG. Favorite online stores (including B&B stores): Villainess, Om Shanti Handcrafts (they're the only two I've really tried besides BPAL, and I'm assuming that you're assuming that that's in there, since we are on the BPAL boards!) Nocturne Alchemy? I haven't actually tried them, just been frimped, but what I got I loved. Magazines you subscribe to: None. Magazines you like, but don't subscribe to: I don't really read magazines. Favorite movies: O Brother Where Art Thou?, Pulp Fiction, The Big Lebowski Favorite TV show(s): Dr. Who. I don't watch much TV, just online TV Hobbies/crafts done: Jewelry making, some laughable knitting, lots of computer stuff if that counts Wishlists BPAL Wish List (including SW/SF Help): http://scentbase.com/profile.php?id=2009113006130530427 (click on My Wishes for my wishlist) Other website Wish lists (amazon.com, etc): http://www.amazon.com/wishlist/19VPC2SRMGU04 Random Questions: - On a scale of 1-5, how organized are you? Um, probably a 2. Maybe a 3. It depends on who you're comparing me to. - Where, outside of the U.S. would you love to visit? (if you're international, this can be anywhere) London. I've been once and I'd love to go back. - Do people tell you that you act older, younger, or your age? Younger, I guess... people don't really tell me I act any age. - Have you ever been skinny dipping? Yep! - Do you wear pajamas to places other than at your house? Sometimes. Usually not, though, unless I'm sleeping someplace that isn't at my house. - Your least favorite feature about yourself: My stomach. - Do you live in a neighborhood or in the middle of nowhere? Neighborhood - Do you like to shop? Sort of? I hate clothes shopping because it's depressing (very few things I can afford actually fit me), but I like to shop for fun things. - If you were a shoe, what would you be and why? Big, well-worn-in stompy boots. I can make them go with almost anything. Plus they're comfy and supportive. - They're making a bio-pic based on your life. Who's portraying you? Keely Shaye Smith. -Have you ever thought, "oh, I'm going to get myself one of those one of these days" but then never do? List 1 under $10 and 1 over $10. Um. Probably one of those blankets with the arms, and... books? Maybe a cheap watch, I keep meaning to get one and then don't. - Sunrise or sunset? Sunset, unless I'm approaching the sunrise from behind. - Has a stranger ever told you that you did something really well? What was it? I'm apparently very friendly and approachable. - Do you like garage sales (boot sales)? I do! I don't like the smell of them, but I like the deals and finding random treasures. - I like to slather my food in …: Ketchup? A1? Soy sauce and wasabi? Chocolate? Caramel? Depends on what it is. - State fairs or carnivals? State fair! (I'm assuming "county fair" could be substituted) - Do you like to splash in puddles after it rains? Did the thought make you smile? Yes, unless we have to get somewhere. And definitely, because Ben loves splashing in puddles and it reminded me not to yell at him for it, and that I should participate! Notes (Here's where you can add additional information you'd like your Switch Witch to know!): Can't think of anything right now. ================================ My notes (aka "Things I should have put on my questionnaire but forgot at the time"): I do like to play with my hair, but anything that's overly complicated will frustrate me, as my dexterity is pathetic (gamers: my DEX is like 3. Seriously.). I'm pretty easy-going, I like lots of things, and there is no such thing as a "simple answer" for me; I think it's the Gemini in my birth chart, but I can like one thing and the exact opposite AT THE SAME TIME. Or when my mood changes. Things like that. Although I will always hate Barbie Pink. I like gargoyles and pirates and lots of things that aren't terribly gory. I like medical stuff (like the Mutter Museum, I would love to go there!) and weird stuff and historical stuff but massive amounts of blood either make me feel gross or I start nitpicking them. I love knowledge and stories. Oh, and in general I'm not a fan of patchouli, as it tends to be way too heavy. Amber notes in general tend to go weird baby-powder on me, and jasmine is a HELL NO. (However, if I do get something with jasmine, I have a friend I will lovingly give it to, so no worries.) OH! I do have an Etsy wishlist. http://www.etsy.com/people/kitrona/favorites?ref=favorites I really like purple. Gifts for other household members / pets? Sure! Ben loves getting things, and my husband would be pleasantly surprised. The cats don't know what's going on most of the time anyway (they're fairly low on the intelligence scale, but generally sweet) so that one's entirely "whatever". By the way, if it's acceptable/easy, Ben would love to get a letter. He watches Blue's Clues and is so excited about letters! Home made goods? Sounds good! I do have that texture issue, but most baked goods don't have that as an issue. (Pumpkin pie being the exception, and which I do like but still have to force myself to swallow. But most people aren't going to be mailing pumpkin pie!) Including the recipe would be awesome! Are you someone who'd rather have lots of small testers of different things on your wishlist, or would you rather have one or two "big" things? I'm ok with whichever, although I admit that a bottle would really amaze me... but then again, testers/imps are pretty awesome too. Names on other sites: I'm Kitrona pretty much everywhere, the only variable is if it's capitalized or not. Oh, and Facebook. But I mostly use Facebook for promoting my business. http://kitrona.livejournal.com http://kitrona.dreamwidth.com http://twitter.com/kitrona http://twitter.com/sevencatsco Would you like to receive Groupons or similar deals/gift certificates from your Witch? I'm not sure what they are, but if they're like a gift certificate, sure! Top/bottom sizes: men's XXL for comfort, XL for more fitted-ness in tops (also size-wise 18), men's XL/XXL in bottoms (size-wise 20). Mix CDs? Sure! I tend toward lyrical, melody-heavy stuff, but some good rock can really brighten my mood too! Girliness: Depends on the moment, I guess? I have long hair and I sometimes wear skirts, but I loathe high heels and rarely wear makeup. ("High" being defined here as "more than 2 to 3 inches".) I like certain shades of pink for certain things, but they really depend on the thing. I'm not one for fussing, I guess that's the best way to put it? Nail polish is a yes; I used to collect nail polish, but it all got tossed. Are you into Austen's books? Not really; I've never read them, but I've picked up enough from context that I think I'd enjoy them, but I haven't really been particularly motivated to read them. I may check into them on Project Gutenberg. Do you read Tarot cards? If not, would you be interested? I do! I only have one deck (standard Rider-Waite clone) but I would love to get other decks. So for those of you who are into Harry Potter at all, which house do you think you'd be sorted into? Ravenclaw. What, if anything, is your guilty TV watching pleasure? I don't watch TV except online. Even then, I just watch Doctor Who. If you cosplay or need a costume for your bellydance/burlesque hobby (or any other hobby which needs dressup/different from your normal wear), is there anything you need/want for it? Anything steampunk would be awesome. Celebrity crush?: David Tennant! Knitted things?: Yes please! Half-finger gloves would be amazing, and socks are always welcome. A scarf would be awesome too. I'm set on hats. Anything else is kind of a maybe. Ebooks: I have a fairly large collection of ebooks, but my crappy ebook reader refuses to acknowledge that I've transferred them now. So I do love ebooks, but I can only read them on the computer. Scented tarts: Sure! I don't have anything to melt them in but that can't be too expensive, I don't think. Lip balms: Yes please! I tend to use a cocoa butter stick for my entire face during the winter, but having fun cute happy lip balms to carry around would be awesome! Body mods: 2 tattoos on my right leg, ears pierced once (although I'm thinking of getting them double pierced) and one cartilage piercing in my right ear. I want more tats! (Not that I'm expecting this of a Witch, but it's useful information because I want them SO BAD.) Booze: Sure. I have two bottles of imported Irish whiskey, but variety is good. Just nothing blue. Favorite artist or art style: Um. I'm not sure, actually. Not a big fan of impressionists or Picasso-type stuff. Everything else I'm kind of open to. Art deco is lovely, like Mucha... I love the Four Seasons takeoff that Jeph Jacques did (Questionable Content). Mixed or non-mixed DVDs? Sure! As long as it's not something gory. DVD format: Widescreen, please. MP3 or CD: Either is fine. Favorite snack food: I'm not sure... depends on my mood, whether I have a taste for salty or sweet. Although I've been trying to stay away from sweet stuff, because the HFCS makes me feel gross afterward. And "low fat" anything is really gross to me. So if you're sending store-bought snacks, anything savory, like honey mustard pretzel bites, or nuts (although I'm not terribly fond of peanuts), or things of that nature. Ooh, or jerky; I'd love to try venison jerky or other "exotic" things. And if I try it and it's not a huge hit with me, my husband will most likely eat it! (Or Ben. He likes spicy things, oddly enough.) What hobby/craft would you like to learn how to do? I really like making things, so anything of that nature would be awesome! For those who decorate for Halloween, do you prefer cute decorations or creepy ones? Definitely cute, but not sugary-sweet cute. Like, weirdly cute or creepy-cute. No gore/blood. Also, as part of the cute-or-creepy question, would you want hand made, molded, glazed ceramic decorations (napkin rings, potporri/tart warmers, etc) to add to your stock? That would be lovely! How do you feel about mortars and pestles? I like them, but mine broke. So I am mortar-and-pestle-less. Do you have a special symbol or totem that is meaningful to you? Cats. Eye of Bast (eye of Horus backward, aka the left eye) Anything Bast. http://seppukukitty.deviantart.com/#/d2ybha4 That. Skunks. Do you need a box for your bpal bottles? Your imps? Your something else to put in a box stuff? Sure! I love boxes, I always need more. If you could be any person, being, or animal from Fantasy what or who would you be? A dragon, River Song (if we're including Sci-fi), a dragonrider, a hobbit If you could go back to any point in time, where, when, why? Phaoronic Egypt, to experience the whole Bast thing. Favorite Halloween Candy/Treat? Not sure. I like most of it, except those stupid peanut butter taffy things that always seem to be a million years old and try to pull your fillings out. Socks? Sock Dreams? Anyone? HELL YES. I can't find any of my socks, and I just put a ton of socks on my wishlist. Handknitted, store-bought, whatever, I like socks. What is something you use to comfort yourself when feeling yucky, depressed, or in pain? Computering (is too a word!), reading, tea, snuggly blanket, a nap, sometimes chocolate (the total irony and unfairness is that too much sugar makes me feel worse!), basically things to distract myself. Favorite Halloween/Scary movies/books The Stand was pretty scary (I know, I'm a wuss) but I love it. Hocus Pocus, The Witches (not necessarily Halloweeny but still good), The Shining, book form only please. Umm... Silent Hill? Not a book or movie but still has that scary atmosphere. Well, the movie captured it pretty good, I guess, I forgot about the movie. (Personal incident: we went to a con last year and someone was cosplaying as Pyramid Head, with a girl in a wheelchair who was twitching, and OH. MY. GODS. it was freaky-good. I got a picture but it doesn't really do the whole thing justice. I have a love-hate relationship with Pyramid Head.) What would the name of your custom blend be? The description? I'm gonna have to think about this one and come back to it. COMIC BOOKS. Do you read them? Are there any series you like, or some you would like to try? I was reading one, I think it's called Runaways? but I never bought them, I just read them in the store like a little punk. I enjoy Linkara, but I don't really read comics/graphic novels. Except webcomics, I read a couple of those, like Questionable Content and Basic Instructions. Warm drinks? Where? Where?!?! (I love warm drinks. Tea, cider, coffee with lots of flavored creamer...) When you go to an etsy wishlist, it will tell you what things are sold. If you click on the sold item, sometimes it will give options that are similar to what was sold, but not identical, would you like the similar item or prefer not to get it at all unless it's the same item? How picky are you? Usually I favorite shops instead of items, because it's really a whole... *handwavy* aesthetic that I like. Do you wear make up? Sometimes. Disney movies, Yay or Nay, and favourites if you do like them? Meh, I can take them or leave them, I guess. I loved the Frog Princess one, though, that was very cool. (I have to admit my "meh"-ness is because my mother loves All Things Disney and thus this has soured me on them. Also, I love Nemo and Monsters, Inc. but if I have to listen to them one more time.... thanks Ben.) Do you have A VCR, DVD Player or Blue Ray or a combo of the three? I have a VCR! And a DVD! (pronounced "dee'veedee") Would you like custom icons as a gift? Sure! I can make simple icons, but between my lack of patience and my wonky hands, more complicated things are rare. Would you like a bag of dried Honeycrisp apples? Yes please! I love Honeycrisp and they were completely out of them at the orchard! If you were to receive a knitted item (such as a scarf, hat, etc), what colors would you like? And do you have any sensitivies/allergies to any materials? I prefer natural materials. Color-wise, everything goes with gray, which is the color of my winter coat. I just ask for you to go sparingly on the orange and yellow. Gift Certificate: physical or email? Either is fine. Favorite Yankee Candles? Or other brands scents? No idea, I haven't had a Yankee candle in years and I don't really pay attention to the scents. But foody ones are always good, Clean Cotton (I think?), basically anything I mentioned above in scent notes. would you like a zuni animal fetish? And if so, what animal? That would be awesome! Skunk or some version of cat, please. And how does everyone feel about glow in the dark radishes? Those are cool but I don't think I would ever end up wearing them. http://www.etsy.com/...=cat1_gallery_8 What places to do you visit that you'd like a gift card to? Starbucks, Target, Wal-Mart, B&N, a favorite restaurant or clothing shop? I'm good with anything, really. Cake or Frosting? Yes. What movie scared the bejeezus out of you as a child? ET. Gods, I hated that movie. Name a couple of sites you frequent other than this one: Etsy, LJ, Echo Bazaar, Facebook, Amazon Do you like the Muppets? Which is your favorite? I love the Muppets. Miss Piggy is my hero, but I like all of them. Pepe is hilarious. If you could have any creature (real or imaginary) as a pet, what would it be? Firelizard! Or the quail-winged ocelot kitten I dreamed about (literally). Comfort Rereads?: Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman, Anne of Green Gables (the whole series, really) by L. M. Montgomery (I used to have the whole set but sadly, they were lost in a move.) Will you be going out of town during the round, or is there any other time during the round when it would not be ideal for you to receive a package from your witch? Not that I know of. If you are in school now, what classes are you taking? Does anything you are currently studying really interest you? (if you are not in school, is there anything you are trying to learn?) Not in school, trying to learn how to run a business and how to get things to SELL without exhausting myself. What animal would your daemon be? Alternately, your patronus. Some sort of cat or skunk, probably. I did dream about the aforementioned ocelot kitten with quail wings. What's YOUR favorite word? I... don't know, there are so many to choose from. Douchecanoe is one, but I can't think of any others off the top of my head. Steampunk, yay or nay? If yay, what part appeals most? The clothes. Cake truffles? If YES! Cake/icing/chocolate type? Very very YES. I'm good with pretty much anything; unusual combinations would be really fun. are you interested in mini bottles(under 100ml for hand luggage) of bath and body products? Sure. Vampire shows, literature, etc? Yay or nay? Nah. I've already read all the vampire stuff that even remotely appeals. If you play console video games, what game systems do you have and what games would you love to have? Wii, PS2, and a broken Xbox. I'm not really panting after any games, but I tend toward puzzles and RPGs. How do you all feel about flowers and plants? Flower and plant seeds? Drawings of flowers or plants? Pressed flowers? They're useful to recycle oxygen? Um, anything that can't make noise or nudge me when it needs something will die around here. Drawings are good, though, I can always use things to decorate the walls around here. How do you feel about marzipan? Also useful, but too sweet for me. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to go to last.fm immediately and create an account! Download the scrobbler! Link us to your account! If you reject this assignment, maybe just tell us what your mp3 player says you listen to a lot? The Decemberists. But I haven't listened to my music in a month or more. I did, however, download the scrobbler and I'm finally putting my music on my computer again, so hopefully that will update soon. Any countries you're interested in? Not off the top of my head. I like England, I guess. Would you enjoy homemade bath products (bath salts, fizzies, etc.) and/or linen sprays? Esp. if scented with some of your favorite BPAL scents? Yes! If you witch made you something and it didn't come out just right, would you still want it? Yes, it's the thought that counts (as long as the "not just right" isn't, like, hazardous to anyone's health or anything...) Are you a foodie? I am. In both senses. I collect recipes I'll likely never make but they sound AMAZING. Any sports fans in the house? What's your favorite sport/team/player? Nope, no sports. For holidays, do you decorate? Would you like decorative stuff, weenie or otherwise? If so, do you lean towards the elegant, the crafty/folksy, or the more, erm, campy? I try to decorate, but nobody else around here really gets into it. I still have Christmas decorations up from 3 years ago (not all of them, but some shiny snowflakes and mistletoe and stuff.) Do you like journals/notebooks/sketchbooks? I do!! If you could have 3 BPAL bottles fall (gently) out of the sky right this second that you've been looking for or pining for - which 3 would they be? Hmmm... Storyville, just because I'm THAT curious about it. Pumpkin Latte, because it sounds like it would be AWESOME. Another bottle of Leo, just to have a backup. Are there any international treats that you love and have a hard time finding? Those chocolate Smarties things. I haven't really tried any international treats but I would love to. Is there anything from the 'Ween BPTP update that you would like but haven't ordered for yourself? Pretty much all of it except the Licorice Bats and Halloween: New Orleans. If you are a crafter, would you like to receive supplies from your witch (beads, fabric, yarn/roving etc?) That would be awesome! Find your iPod (or other MP3 device), put it on shuffle/random. What are the first five songs to come up? Er. No musics yet, still transferring. Soundtracks you'd like? Lord of the Rings, Firefly/Serenity If you could see one concert right now, who would it be? The Decemberists. They put on an amazing show. How do you feek about silly, funny knick-knack, dollar store stuff, stickers, magnets etc? Would you like receiving that kind of stuff or rather not? I love that kind of stuff! Stuff that's not expensive but is fun is perfect. (I mean, I like expensive things too, but who has that kind of money?) Is there a specific book you've been wanting to get but haven't found the time or the opportunity to? An Artificial Night by Seanan McGuire. I love her writing. And her music. And... she's just cool. Do you read mangas/watch animes? Which ones? Do you have a particular favourite? Would you like to receive managas or anything related to them? I don't, but the husband is, sort of. Are you open to receiving things that are not on your wishlist, maybe something your Witch thinks you might like? Absolutely! My wishlist is by no means exhaustive. If you have something on a wishlist that we could craft INSTEAD of buying, though it might not end up identical to the wishlist thing, would it be okay to craft it instead? Obviously we don't want to copy anyone else's design, but if we can replicate the flavour or intent that you like without stepping on toes? Again, absolutely! Creativity is awesome, and if it saves someone money, yay! OK, I know that lots of folks love socks. Do you have a preference of length? Materials? Patterns? I... just like socks, I think. Which is odd because I prefer to go barefoot as much as possible. Anyway, my wishlist has a range of stuff I like, so that would be a good guideline. And if they're handmade/homemade, anything is good! Handknitted socks are just awesome. How do people feel about word magnets? I feel I could get myself in a lot of trouble with them, but as long as I keep them high enough on the fridge that Ben can't grab them, it's good trouble! Chocolate or other types of candy? Hell yes. For tea drinkers, do you prefer loose leaf or tea bags? Either is fine. I don't have a teapot, though. If you would enjoy something of a knitted persuasion, do you have a preference on type of thing? Since making a scarf for someone who has 10 might be a smidge excessive? Also, how do people feel about shawls? I WANT A SHAWL LIKE BURNING. ... ahem. A shawl would be lovely! (and that's a difficult word for me to type, odd) Is there a TV, movie or literary character that you are a lot alike, or would like to be alike? Umm... I'll come back to this one when I'm more awake. Is there anything you need for your kitchen, ie measuring cups, spoons, grater, ect? Random gadgets that just have one use are good. Ooh, jar opener thingies, like the little rubber thing that makes gripping easier, or I've seen one with a handle that would be fab. Music, DO you prefer Live or Studio? Edited or explicit? Either is fine, as long as the sound is good. If you are an animal lover, is there a specific type/breed that you love most? Cats. Greyhounds. Corgis. Rotties. (they're so lovable and loving! As long as they haven't been treated like crap. I used to work at a pet supply store and the Rotties were always so sweet!) Also flowers and plants- If you like flowers/plants, do you have a favorite(s)? I like lilacs, peonies, lavender... do not like roses and honeysuckle. Anything but roses and honeysuckle has at least a 50/50 chance of me liking it. Do you have a favorite quotation? Song lyric? Book passage? WhateverthehecktheycalltheanonymousregionalwisdomthingiePROVERB! that word. I have a giant text file of quotes that I love. I can put it on my blog if you like? Just let me know. What is a bpal scent that you've been dying to try for awhile but just can't find? (A scent where even a tester would do) I can't think of any right now. I'm assuming "dying to try" is equivalent to "would sell your firstborn for". Let's say, hypothetically speaking, that you have some children/spawn (1 or more), and, hypothetically speaking, your witch would like to spoil them a little but knows nothing of kids these days. What do they like or dislike? Also is there anything a (sane) adult might think they would like that you don't think is appropriate for whatever reason? (I'm thinking of things like temp tattoos, make up, things that make noise, or anything else that might be bad for non-obvious reasons.) Things that make noise are a big NO. Ben likes things like Wallace and Gromit, non-princessy Disney movies (although he loved Ponyo!). Cookies. (LOL I just asked him what he likes and he said, "Um... water? I think?") Snacks are a big hit. He likes Goldfish, too. If you want to bake or whatever, that's fine, he has no allergies. And movies and videos. There was a gif of a cat falling into a bathtub that made him laugh til he fell down. I almost forgot, he LOVES stickers. Doesn't matter what they are, he'll stick 'em to his forehead happily. Is there anything you would like that can be delivered over the internet? Things like fanfic recs, cat macros, mp3s you are looking for, how-to or amusing videos, things like that Cat macros are good, new music is good, videos are good... yeah, pretty much everything but the fanfic. (It's not that I don't like fanfic, it's that a. there is some HORRIBLE fanfic out there and b. I have a ton of ebooks to read. Although so-bad-it's-funny fanfic might be good!) What would your last meal be if it could be anything in the world (sky is the limit, drinks too, the whole shebang) Oh dear. Sushi, fresh raw sugar snap peas, prime rib, Irish cream, eggnog chai, cheeze curls (the puffy kind, not the crunchy kind), gourmet chocolates, a whole dessert cart from a fancy restaurant, something salmon, broccoli, various cheeses and wines that match them, a good whiskey... I could go on, but yeah, food is a THING of mine. NaNoWriMo? I did it last year but I think this year I'll be too busy. Maybe. We'll see. what interests you from the latest lab update? It's all on my ScentBase. (Sorry for such a cop-out answer but I can't remember! That's why I wrote it down.) How do you feel about stationery, like nice pens or notepaper? And if you're in favor, do you prefer classic/contemporary or cutesy stuff? I LOVE THINGS LIKE THIS. Office supplies, stationary, pens, notepaper, post-its, all of it. I'd love a decent-quality fountain pen. But anything of this nature is win. Would you like homemade preserves (e.g. marinated vegies, pickled onions, chilli jam?) Sure! I haven't tried most of those but they sound interesting. If you've got stuff on your BPAL wishlist, would partial bottles be okay? Absolutely! Would you like something you have to make yourself? It depends on what it is. I have a low DEX score and I have a bad history of not finishing things. Like the washcloth I'm knitting that I haven't touched for over a year. (But I found it! So now I can finish it! In theory anyway.) Say you were my witchee, and I found things on your wishlist that I could totally make. Would you want me to make it? Or would you rather it be purchased for you? Please make it! Not only does it save money, it's more personal that way. Who is your favorite soap etailer? I can't pick just one! Paint Box Soapworks, Villainess, and Om Shanti Handcrafts. What about vintage decoration items, teacups, etc etc? That would be lovely, except for the part where a small boy or an obnoxious cat breaks it. Then I would be sad and feel guilty. With regards to your gifts, would you prefer your presents' awesomeness evenly spread out (several packages of pretty terrific things) over the round or a slow build-up of awesomeness (going up from pretty cool things to something super-duper cool at the end) to go out with a bang? Do you have a preference? I have no preference. I think anything is pretty awesome. What kind of make-up do you wear? What colors? Is there anything you'd like to try but haven't yet? I don't really wear makeup. I'd love to try some, though... all the stuff I have I got at Target. (I'm sure there's someone who just had a heart attack reading that. oops.) Who would be on your top 5 (IE famous people you’d date/have relations with) David Tennant. Um. I think everyone else I was crushing on ended up crazy. Maybe I should not have a list. Do you crave many Ecards and contact or are you okay with little contact from your Witch? I'm ok with whatever you are comfortable with, but little bits of "I was thinking of you" are always nice. Do you have a place where you list all the BPAL you have or have tried? ScentBase! Do you like maple sugar candy? I like maple anything. What is your position on the chocolate & bacon flavor combination? I have not tried it, but if it's good-quality bacon I'd be willing to try it. And good-quality chocolate, of course. (Gods, I sound like such a snob, but I'm not, really! I just can't put in all the smilies where I normally would!) If you are a tea-drinker do you need a tea-cozie for your pot? I need a tea cozy and I need a pot. I think we have one, but it's my husband's and probably needs washing. Go to your spice cabinet, what are the three most used spices? Adobo, garlic, salt. I use a bunch of others, and herbs, but I just sniff them and throw in what smells right. Microsoft or Apple? Linux. Ok, not really, although I did have an Ubuntu laptop at one time. I use Win7 currently. Where was your last vacation? What did you like most? New York City to visit the husband's parents. It was ok but nothing to write home about, except when I got my tattoo. Would you appreciate receiving handwritten letters and/or postcards (anonymous or not)? How about sending them? I would! I'm not good at actually sending things, although I could manage a postcard. (Writing hurts sometimes.) Do you hate any food things with a passion?? Capers. Brussels sprouts. Fennel has to be ground. Would you be opposed to receiving a digital version (via email) of a magazine you like but don't subscribe to...you know, in the interest of saving a tree? That would work.

One of my favorites. I'm glad I got a bottle. Incensey and musky and patchouli-ish though not overly strongly. Much love for Scherezade!

Adam: It's subtle. Wet: Somehow reminds me of Ben. Why? No idea. Maybe it smells like his bath stuff. Dry: Subtle and almost floral, but not overpoweringly so. I like it. Same on Adam. Verdict: Mine.

Adam: It's yellow! What did you put on me?!?! I can SEE it!!! Wet: Yep, that's incense. Dry: On me, lemony. Weird. Pledge much? On Adam: Still a bit lemony, but more incensey as well. Verdict: Nah, swap.

In imp: Heavy. Wet: Mm. I likes... definitely the Earl Grey in there. Dry: I like it. Oddly, there's an undertone of, like, hospital antiseptic or something that reminds me somehow of a hospital. But I like it. Verdict: Mine. Mar's verdict: Sharp, perfumey, ambergris-y, fruity.

In imp: *wrinkles nose* Wet: Dunno about this... it could go either way. Dry: Oh HELL YES. This is awesome. Definitely feminine, but not delicate. I love this. Verdict: Considering a bottle. Mar's verdict: Not sure. Seems decent.

Oh boy, this does not sound terribly promising, what with the jasmine. In imp: Deep, dark, and warm is what I'm getting. Wet: O.O Immediately morphed into a generic "men's cologne" scent. Dear gods I hope this gets better as it dries. Dry: Ugh. No, just no. Does not like my skin. Swap pile.

Hmm. Not sure about this one; sounds awfully flowery, but I'll try anyway. In imp: Very delicate and pretty, not horrifically gross flowery like I'd anticipated. (Florals + me = ick generally.) Wet: Not bad. More than tolerable, which is more than I'd anticipated. Dry: Meh. Too flowery. Verdict: Swap pile.

Hmm. Sounds like it could be interesting. In imp: Strong baby powder scent. Ugh. I hope it improves or my nose is just off. Wet: There's a weird top note I don't like, but everything else is nice. Labdanum? Are you the culprit? Dry: Ooh. There's the honey, and the musk. And the ylang ylang. They play nicely together. Mmm. Verdict: I like it, quite a bit more than I thought I would, or thought I did originally. I'm keeping this one.

This sounds promising, but I'm unsure about the civet. We'll see. In imp: It's dark. This is good; dark-colored scents usually do well on me. *sniff* Sharp. Interesting. Wet: For some reason, this reminds me of my grandparents' house. I doubt they had a civet cat hidden away, or smoked opium, and the thought of them anywhere near Egyptian musk does not compute. No idea here. Still sharp. Dry: Still reminds me of my grandparents' house. Sharp and vital, yes, but completely at odds with how they were. This is a puzzle, but I'll likely never solve it. Verdict: Meh. It's ok, I won't run to wash it off, but it goes in the swap pile. Later: OH GODS HEADACHE.

This sounds good. In imp: Mmm. Candles, but good candles. Wet: There's some neroli, I think? Slightly astringent is the description that comes to mind, but I don't think that's right. Dry: The berries ran away! Well, ok, not entirely, but it all evened out. Still smells like a yummy, yummy smoothie, but one that got spilled hours ago. Verdict: I like it, but it's not something I'd wear often.

Sounds good. More neroli, whatever that is. In imp: Ok, THIS is astringent. But I like it. Definitely not foody. Wet: I smell the rosemary and lavender strongest. Nice, mysterious. Dry: I like it, but it gives me a headache. Disappointing, as I like most of the notes singly.

In cataloging my imps, I found a need to retest most of them. This is one of the first to be retested. When I saw the description, I thought, 'Aww, crap, I didn't know it had jasmine. Oh well, I'll try it anyway.' In imp: Very almond. Wet on skin: Still very almond, though some of the other notes seem to be pushing their way through. Drydown: This is a deep scent, pretty nearly the opposite of Bess. The almond's definitely the predominant note, but some of the others are definitely there. So far, the jasmine has been absent, thank gods. Verdict: Woohoo, a blend that hasn't been (so far) ruined by jasmine! I really like this, all dark and deep and musky... 'heady' is a good description. Later: Ew. Something went horribly wrong and it now smells rancidly too-sweet. *sigh* My husband's Verdict: "Kind of musky-ish, sort of reminds me of a fruitier Velvet."

Inspired by the tragic, ill-fated love of Queen Elizabeth I and the Earl of Leicester. This is our modernization of a 17th-century perfume blend favored by British aristocracy: rosemary, orange flower, grape spirit, five rose variants, lemon peel, and mint. No idea where I got this; I just cataloged all my imps and started testing those I don't remember, and Bess was among them. In imp: definitely smell the orange and the rose, but it's mild and sweet. Very British, yes. Wet on skin: Hello, rose, would you like to let the other notes come out and play? Drydown: Now the mint comes out stronger, and the roses hang back. It's pretty, but very light and almost floral-y. Verdict: I like it, but not enough to get a bottle. Summer scent, definitely, or when I have to pretend to be respectable. Later: Oops. There goes the rose again. Nope, this is gonna have to go. My husband's verdict: "Mellow, I like it. Fruity, almost peachy."

I've been having weird dreams. Dreams of betrayal, mostly, like the one where the company of soldiers I was counting on to help me win the battle were asleep when I went to give them the order to move out. Turned out they were enemy soldiers, posing as our side to give us false confidence and think we had a company that the enemy didn't know about. And I acknowledged my health issues in one of the dreams. I think the two are related. I think I'm feeling betrayed by my body far more than I realize, and moreso as I come to accept that I will never go another day without feeling pain for the majority of it. I will never again be able to push myself and have the consequential achiness and whatnot be proportional to how much I pushed; it will always be twice that. I will never be who I was, the girl who, despite being out of shape and overweight, could still pull physical exertion out when needed. I will always be the one who needs taking care of, always be the one who needs instead of the one who's needed. I always thought that I'd have that freedom. I mourn it now.

Oh hey, it might be nice to update this thing, huh? I'm doing ok overall. Got the house, got into the house. Now just dealing with details, some of which are rather large.

I got this today, and I absolutely love it! I forgot there was Egyptian amber in it, but apparently that's one of the kinds of amber that works with my skin. It's overall a rich, mellow scent, and although I can't identify specific notes, I want three more bottles of this so I never run out! My husband likes it on me, too.

I swear, one of these days I'll remember I have this thing when I have GOOD news. But for now, notsomuch. A friend just found out that she can't get the money to go to Thailand to get her surgery. She's getting gender-reversal surgery, or whatever the technical name is. As she puts it, she's making her outie an innie. Except that now, due to the selfishness of certain people, she can't. And I'm terribly afraid that this may be the last straw between her and her wife, who is taking the side of the selfish people. (I'd give more details, but it's not my story to tell.) I don't want that upheaval for her. I want things to work out, desperately, because she is a very dear friend. If I had the money, I'd give it to her, no questions asked, no repayment. She NEEDS this. Another very dear friend is having family issues as well. And while they somewhat mirror some of my family issues, yet again, there's nothing I can do to help besides listen and be a shoulder. Apparently that's enough, but I feel like I could do more... but I can't figure out what. I have no idea what's going on with the house, because after the owner verbally accepted our agreement to his counteroffer last Wednesday, and told the realtor to fax the papers to him, he has been incognito. No contact with anyone that we've heard of, and both we and the realtor have been calling him. My husband finally got ahold of the owner's boss (although I think the owner is actually just another realtor or something, not sure) and the boss said he'd look into it and call us back. Nothing yet, but we found out the other day that the listing isn't on the website anymore. Could be good, could be bad. I don't know, because, oh yeah! WE CAN'T CONTACT HIM. Another random 'friend' IMed my husband out of the blue and started whining about how his wife is leaving him and he's so put-upon, blahblahblah. Whatever. Only contact us when you want something? Sorry, got enough worries on my plate right now, leave a message and I'll call you back. I blocked my ex from my IM list today, after his amazingly insensitive and ignorant performance yesterday. I'd go into detail, but eh. Suffice it to say he was quite the know-it-all despite the fact that I've had depression about, oh, 12 years longer than him? But my life is great, I have no reason to be depressed. Hi, ever heard of clinical depression? And yeah, beta-blockers are just fantastic for depression. Except for, y'know, being for heart disease and not depression. And pregnant women just LOVE being called lazy for sleeping in! So I told him I didn't appreciate that, and he logged off in a huff. Oh well. And now it's bedtime. Mrrrrrr.

... because today was a terrible, horrible, no-good very bad day. Ok, so my son's name is Alexander, that's close enough, right? I had weird dreams all last night, which isn't unusual, but I was cranky to begin with because I was woken up at (what I presume to be) a good part by one of the cats deciding the bed was a good scratching post. RAWR. Then my husband got home and barely spoke to me, although he did tell me I missed the UPS guy with my computer part so my lappy can be fixed. RAWR again. Then he snapped at me over trivial shit and we ended up having a big fight. No apologies on either side. So I went to hang out with my son, see what he's doing, and after laying on his bed for a while, I get a strange pain under my belly, right over my pubic bone in front, like I overstretched a muscle. Not enough to scare me or send me to the hospital, but enough to really hurt and be annoying. So now I COULD have a working lappy but I don't have the part, I'm cranky and in pain, and I'm generally ready to snap at anyone who says anything stupid to me. RAWR. (And I have a headache, too.)

So we got the mortgage, but not the house. Odd, considering I could've sworn it'd go exactly opposite. I won't go into the details; I'm already in a bad mood, no need to make it worse. I'll copy/paste from my LJ the list of things I'm stressed out about. Things I'm dealing with: 1. a possibility about my personality issues that fits 2. waiting for a call back about getting tested for said issues 3. same for Alex 4. frustration/pissed that the hospital that was supposed to help me never called us back despite the fact that Mar left several messages (but I sent them a nasty email about it) 5. various friends and troubles and worry 6. hearing back about our offer on the house... apparently they called and said they were counteroffering, but the paperwork is nowhere to be found 7. everything I consult, tarot cards, runes, whatever, are saying to be patient and i really cannot be patient and stop worrying 8. the possibility that #1 could change both me and Alex's lives for the better 9. the good possibilities of #6 and the accompanying anxiety over the possibility of not getting it 10. the overwhelming possibilities of everything and that my life and my family's lives could drastically change for the better and how much I want that and how I'm trying so hard not to get my hopes up so that I don't end up disappointed 11. someone being a dumbass on the BPAL board and changing a thread title I started because she "didn't want to offend" anyone, despite the fact that the term I used I GOT from the people with the condition, who proudly call themselves that. Also the fact that the new title is misspelled, and apparently the feelings of the hypothetical people that would be offended are more important than the feelings of me, who was and is offended. 12. the utter uncertainty of everything right now 13. people who don't get hints and ect. 14. changes in plans 15. the stress of trying to come up with all the potential ways I could inadvertantly piss people off and subsequently trying to cover all my bases As is evident, there's a lot on my mind. It makes me very... well, "rawry" for lack of a more accurate term. Monday cannot come soon enough. Answers cannot come soon enough. Good things cannot possibly come soon enough.

Yay, February's over, Mercury retrograde is over, and we found a house we fell in love with! Now to get a mortgage. Seriously, that's about all I've done for the past month, kept my head down and got on with life. And ate and slept and peed, on a personal, physical level. But the day that Mercury went direct again, we found our house. 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, a nice backyard, 2 car garage, washer/dryer hookups, an attic that can easily be converted into living space (aka, hi, master bedroom and family room and magic room!).... and the attic even has a mysterious old chest in it. It was built in 1900, and it's very narrow... hell, the lot is narrow, 25 x 125. But it's perfect for us. The kitchen is great, with tons of counter space, and it's got a dining room, even! Except for needing a refrigerator (the stove is there), and the fact that we don't own the place yet, we could move in tomorrow. C'mon, mortgage. My husband just sent in some information to the credit bureaus about the tax liens that showed up on his credit report that aren't his. (Yet another reason NOT to name your kids anything Junior... the liens are his dad's, who has the same name.) Hopefully we'll get some good news on Monday. Cross your fingers for us? In case I haven't mentioned, the price is ridiculously low. It's been on the market for a while, and I think the owner wants to get rid of it, but also it faces a parking lot and an oil refinery. Not that I care; I'll be hanging out in the backyard all the time, and when the wind blows the wrong way, I've got incense. The wind doesn't really blow the wrong way all that much, though... the lake is to the north, and the refinery's to the southeast. Ok. Going back to wibbling and worrying. All good wishes are appreiciated.