lizardqueen

***9/11*** Legwarmers? Armwarmers? Oh yes, quite. What makes everyone stand out from the Switch Witch herd? Baa! I don’t think I really stand out. There are even other tuba players! I’m okay with not standing out, though. If you are into the original Nintendo system, what 3 games would you want that you don't have? I don’t have Tetris! I don’t know what else... What is your favorite category of the GC? I don’t know if I have a favorite category for wearing. Conceptually, I think I like Wanderlust and Excolo best. ***9/10*** Stance on Joss Whedon and his enterprises? Love Firefly and Serenity, like Buffy (currently four episodes into season 5), have no interest in Angel, enjoyed Dr. Horrible. He seems a little full of himself, but I appreciate his feminist leanings. Has anyone tried ice wine before? Do/did they enjoy it? I haven’t tried it. I’d be interested in tasting it, though I’m not entirely sure it would be my thing, since all you hear about it is how sweet it is... What other perfume companies (besides bpal) have you been curious about? Most of them! I would love a good clove cigarette scent, and I think there’s a company out there with just that, but I can’t remember who... Does anyone here do anything with grave rubbings? Nope. Would you enjoy art based on original Graveyard photography? That’d be cool! What's in your Netflix or Blockbuster queue, do you want any new Netflix/Blockbuster friends, if so how do we find you on there? I’m happy to have new friends on Netflix, but I have no idea what my username is. I bet you could find me via my e-mail address, though. ***9/9*** Do you play a musical instrument? Tuba is my primary. I’ve also played the flute for… shit, I think 18 years now. I’ve also played trumpet, trombone, and baritone, and I play the bass and guitar, though am still learning. What do you think of Irrelevant Disturbing and Surreal Crawdad Dream? Love it? Hate it? Kicking yourself for not getting a bottle? I was curious, but not so much that I had to have it or that I’m kicking myself now for not buying it. I’m still curious – but if it really is mostly berry, I’m not so sure that would be my thing. How do you feel about trinkets? You know - tiny toys or doodads that serve no purpose than to be cute, take up space and make us smile. Love them or waste of money? I would make room for the perfect trinket, but mostly I’m good on that point. Can melty things be shipped to you, or will they be in puddles by the time you open the package? I suspect we’ll have a last gasp of summer weather here before too long, but overall I think it’s probably safe to send melty things to me by now. Who likes pirates? Yarrr, matey. What are your feelings about Dia De Los Muertos? It’s an intriguing celebration, and I love the aesthetics of it. What do you think about the Nightmare Before Christmas? I’ve always liked it, and I have it on VHS around here somewhere… If candy is sent, would you prefer small amounts to a Halloween sized bag? Quality over quantity would be preferable for me. Do you like notes in your soaps or bath stuff that you don't like in your perfumes? If so which? I think it’s about the same, with the exception that I seek out more lavender bath products than perfumes because I often take baths before bed and for relaxation, and lavender is good for that. Do you like floral soaps or bath stuff? If so, what florals work and what don't? I like gardenia and other tropical-type flowers. Beyond that, if it’s in the “warm” spectrum of scents and isn’t too cloying, I’m happy to try it!

***9/8*** How do y'all feel about honey and maple? And different flavored honey, not just the standard kind? I’m game! What is your favorite thing to do on a cool fall day? Go apple picking or out to a pumpkin patch. Take a walk and crunch on leaves. Curl up near a window with a good book and a steaming cup of tea or cider. And actually, I’m not a huge football fan, but I always enjoy bundling up in a sweater, getting a cup of something hot, and heading out to cheer on a local team. ***9/7*** If you have pets, is there a SPECIFIC toy they like to play with; brand and size? Is there a treat/cookie they eat? What brand and size? The dogs have Kongs (of the big dog variety), and they enjoy killing stuffed animals, but mostly, as I think I mentioned before, they like playing with one another best. No particular treat goes over better than any other, but I personally prefer those that are low on things like preservatives and stuff. I’m not sure what toys the cats would prefer, and only the Professor has any interest in treats – and he’ll eat just about anything. What's your ringtone? A Russian dance (possibly faux-Russian) type tune. It was the only thing on my phone that I found even remotely tolerable. On my old phone I had “Jungle Boogie,” which was AWESOME. Just to throw a silly question out there...Munsters or Addams Family, y'all? Addams Family. What think you about receiving tea accessories and/or miscellany (like mugs, cups, saucers, strainers/filters, honey, natural sweeteners [like stevia])? I don’t NEED any more mugs, but I’ll happily make room for the right one! Every thing else sounds lovely, though I don’t need anymore Stevia (does Stevia go bad? Hmm… I should check on that…) How do you feel about copies of music or dvd's that your witch might have that you might enjoy? Not just mixes, but whole copies? In a perfect world, we could all afford newly-pressed copies of all the CDs and DVDs we want, but it doesn’t always work out that way. I’d prefer mixes, but if you copy a CD you think I’ll like for me, I’ll appreciate it and enjoy it and odds are good that artist or band will end up getting money from me further on down the road. In short, no worries. Say, witches, I have a question about birthdays. do you expect/rely on other people to plans birthday outings and activities? Nope. Nothing would happen if I did, and while I’m not a huge celebrator, I like to go out for dinner and/or drinks, so I’m perfectly content to make my own plans. Tarts? Yes/no? Sure! I'm wondering if my witchee would like to try these types of things (like the caramel with sea salts or chocolates with chilis/bacon/salt etc.)? I’d prefer to keep my meat products out of my chocolate, but I’m game for anything else!

***8/30*** Do you knit/crochet? Do you need any supplies? I can always use more yarn! Who here has an etsy shop? Not I. What are your two favorite etsy shops? Excely (a dear friend of mine from college – love the Major Tom necklace) and Noelle’s Noodles (an acquaintance from grad school). Are you active on any other boards/forums? If so please specify where and your username there. Not anymore. Once upon a time I was Lizzie on the Nora Roberts board (Adwoff.com), but I haven’t been there a while -- not deliberate, really, I just drifted away when I was in grad school. ***8/29*** What would you tell yourself 6 months in the past about 2008 so far? Depo-Provera isn’t really going to be your kind of thing. Start packing sooner. Take your meds. If you had one minute of fame, what would you do/say in the spotlight? Like others said, it would depend on what I’d achieved the fame for. To be honest, I like what Jerry Springer says: “take care of yourselves, and each other.” Robots versus zombies: who wins? Robots, provided they’re programmed right. What would zombie say? Hard to go wrong with the classic, “BRAAAAAIIINNNSSSS…” Where are a few of your favorite places? My best friend from college has a condo in the Boston area, and I love sitting at his kitchen counter/bar, letting my legs swing, drinking the French press coffee he makes, looking out the back window at the neighborhood. So that’s one. Boston in general is another. Hell, Massachusetts in general. I also adored Paris and Rome, and during my trip to the latter I fell in love with the Umbrian countryside. Love northern New Mexico, especially the Taos area. Parts of California are awesome, and I loved San Francisco the only time I made it up there (…in 1994). Love the Pacific Northwest. Love Montreal. (You know? I think maybe I gotta get myself out of the Midwest….) What is one (only one) object that you collect, that totally goes against your personality or beliefs? I don’t really have one, though I do think rosaries look pretty neat. Are you a soap addict? Anything you like to avoid in soaps (goat's milk, lye, dyes, etc...) or any particular scents you like or brands you want to try? If by “addict” you mean “buys soap because they smell good rather than because I actually need soap,” then yes. I like soap. Don’t think there’s anything I’d need to avoid, and I’m always happy to try new things! Do you like kilts and would you wear one? Love kilts. Highly doubt I’d ever wear one. Don’t think it would particularly suit me. What's your favorite book? Dude. That’s like asking a mother to choose which of her children is her favorite. What size socks do you wear? How about hat size? Shoe size is 6.5, and I think the corresponding sock size is 9-11? Hat size – I have no idea. Wouldn’t object to a nice ballcap of adjustable size (y’know, with the hole in back?) with a nice broken-in bill, particularly if it were a Red Sox cap, but as a general rule I don’t do hats. Do you read comics? Which ones do you love and which can't you stand? Adore Sandman, liked Promethea, haven’t really read much else. (Check out my GoodReads page for more info.) Symbols that are meaningful to me? The moon. Animals. Celtic knotwork. Flames. Water. The chakra symbols. Tibetan prayer flags. Lotus flowers. Doves. Ravens. Etc. By nature are you a morning lark or a night owl? Oh so very much a night owl. What's your favorite type of music to hear live, rather than recorded? Pretty much anything is better live than on CD provided the musicians are good enough, but I think that’s especially true of folk, Celtic, and bluegrass music. Plus any music that’s fun to dance to. What is your favorite autumnal-seasonal drink? Cider – hot or cold, mulled or otherwise, alcoholic or non, sparkling or flat.

***9/2*** How do people feel about receiving baked goods/kits to make said goods? Or other cooking items? Sounds good! (…in moderation. I’m currently having some weight issues, and I’m grumpy about them as I write this.) Would you enjoy oil or vinegar flavored with herbs grown at home? Strange and exotic spices with recipes to try? Cookies made with carnation petals? All of those sound excellent! What are your pet's names, and what are they named for? Seamus is the Boy’s dog originally (adopted before we were together), and his full name is Seamus Heaney Hislastname, after the Irish poet. Tiwa is my dog originally (again, adopted before we were together), and her full name is Tiwa Esperanza Mylastname – her first name is the language spoken on the Taos pueblo, which is where Tiwa came from. The middle name is Spanish for hope, which is very much what she represented in my life when she came into it. She’s my heart baby, and I don’t know what I’d do without her. The cats are The Professor and Mary Ann, from Gilligan’s Island; it just seemed to fit. The Professor’s full name is Professor Phinneas Hislastname; it just sounded appropriate. Mary Ann’s full name is Mary Ann Bastet Mylastname – I asked Bast to help us find the right cats for us, so it seemed appropriate to pay homage to Her in a name. ***9/1*** Who here is a complete, over the top, Alice In Wonderland fanatic? I think it’s neat, if creepy at times, but I’m far from an over-the-top fanatic. Are you a Trekkie? If so, which series do you prefer? Do you have a favorite character? I wouldn’t call myself a Trekkie, but I like Star Trek, at least TOS and TNG and the movies. (KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!!!) I love the camp of TOS, and the storylines and character development of TNG. Favorite characters… hmm. Hard to choose among the characters in TOS. From TNG, Worf (though of course I had a huge crush on Wesley Crusher and Wil Wheaton back in the day). Do you have phobias? I don’t think I have any full-blown phobias, but I don’t like buggie things crawling on me or flying into me, I’m not wild about heights when I’m in a precarious spot, and I have some mild claustrophobia, especially where crowds are concerned. How do you like your mix CDs? Random? Stuff you know you'll like? Happy to be surprised on that point! Would you rather get food or jewelry? Ooh, that’s tough. Given my current weight struggles, not-food would probably be better than food, but at the same time, homemade foodstuffs seem like a really sweet thing to include. Really, I would be abundantly happy with either. Do you like children's toys, such as jacks, those little things you tilt around to get the ball in the right hold (wtf are those called?), the aforementioned caplet dinosaurs, cap guns, etc?: Do I like them? Yes. Do I really really want to receive them? Not so much. Well, maybe the caplet dinosaurs. English candy/tea/marmite or other stuff that you love and can't easily get outside of England? I like Crunchie bars but I’m not sure I don’t like Violet Crumble more. Still, they’re yummy. Brits do tea right; I would enjoy that. Marmite? No thank you. Fanfic as a gift* - yay or nay? Your fandom? Slash preferences?*well, a virtual gift obviously. You know what I mean. Ummmm… probably not. I like the idea of my witch writing something for me, but I’m not really into any particular fandom. Someone in the SW thread mentioned that it would be neat if it were humorous, and I’d be down with that, but as a general rule, probably not so much my thing. Any beaders here? Need beading supplies? Beads are neat (ooo, shiny!), but I am not a beader. Do you like making up your SW packages around a theme, or prefer to mix it all up? See below. Band-aids: do you like the fun and funky ones? Love ‘em! I’ve never bought them for myself because I use band-aids so rarely, but they’d be fun. What's the scariest thing that's ever happened to you? It depends on the definition of scary. Getting pulled way out from shore by a rip tide when I was in Mexico when I was 9 or so really scared the pants off me. My first auto accident (I was a passenger – I haven’t yet gotten into one where I’ve been the driver, knock on copious amounts of wood) freaked me out pretty good, and it really wasn’t so bad. Having my academic and perhaps even professional career threatened in my last semester of grad school because of a person’s prejudices about sex workers (LOOOOONG story) was pretty f*cking scary, and I’m still working through that, mentally/emotionally (that ball got rolling about a year ago; I got my MFA in December). ***8/31*** What is everyone's favorite Halloween song?! I, too, enjoy the Nightmare Before Christmas soundtrack. But “Thriller” might well win out for my favorite individual song (though technically I suppose it doesn’t have anything to do with Halloween). How many of mah fellow witchies play video games? Platform? Do you like used games? I’m a bit of a Rock Band junkie: we play it on the X-box 360. We also have the first two Guitar Hero games for the PS2. I also have a Nintendo DS. Aside from the musical games, I mostly prefer old-school games (like Super Nintendo and earlier, esp. the Mario and Zelda games, plus, of course, Tetris) – oh, though we also have a Wii, and I enjoy Super Smash Brothers and Wii Sports. Used games are cool, especially since I often can’t be arsed to track things down for myself (e.g. they re-released Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past for GBA and I used to have a copy – well, technically it was my ex’s, and so I don’t have it anymore but would like to, and so on and so forth). What kind of music (genres, please) do you like? Folk (and most variations on that genre), Alternative Rock, Celtic, Classic Rock, Bluegrass, Reggae, some New Age (e.g. Loreena McKennit), New Wave, some Pop (e.g. Pink – I don’t actually own any of her stuff, but I like her), Classical, some Country (esp. Classic Country, e.g. Johnny Cash), World, R&B/Soul… do I really need to keep going? Have any of you ever received a book from a Witchy and loved it so much you ended up buying a copy for a later Witchee? Not as such, but I can imagine doing so. My witch from my first round sent me a bunch of books that I can imagine wanting to pass on to the right witchee. What kinds of eye shadows do we all like? On the rare occasions that I wear make-up, I wear Aveda. That said, I’ve gotten a whole bunch of mineral shadow samples from Back to the Earth in decant circles that I keep meaning to try. Love the pretty colors! Do you like lip balm? If so, do you like tinted, glossy, sparkly, pearly or just plain lip balm? Oh yes please very much so to the first question, and pretty much all of the above to the second question. I prefer just plain, because I’m always running out (or, more accurately, my lip balms wander off, get stuck in coat pockets, go through the wash, etc.), but the others can be fun, too. What are some of the SW gifts/finds from past rounds (or you can just name a gift in general that you found for someone if this is your first round!) that you are the most proud of in terms of your sleuthing skills? I’m pretty proud of the hat I knit for my Yule-round witchee. If “I got it” posts are anything to go by, I think it went over well. And, secondly, what is something you've been searching for but just can't find? A theme! One just hasn’t occurred to me so far. Maybe this round. Or maybe my theme will continue to be “stuff I think my witchee will like.” Random related note: here is my Etsy favorites page.

***9/6*** What's your favorite animal? Not counting my pets, I think I might have to go with wolves, with coyotes following close behind. What one (or two, if you really must) BPAL bottles are you most longing for? Maybe Snake Oil, since I still haven’t tried it straight-up. If you could have dinner/drinks/coffee with any 3 living people that are not your family/friends already, who would they be? bell hooks, Ani DiFranco, and... I’m torn on the third, but leaning toward Barack Obama – I bet that would be a lively evening! Ooh, or Rachel Maddow. ***9/5*** If you could bring back any TV show from cancellation what would it be? Firefly. I would also be very curious to see what David Lynch would have done with Twin Peaks had it had more than two seasons. I wonder if my witchee would like a blanket type thing. Would you? Sure! What's your favorite "I know it's bad for me but I can't help myself" treat? Um, food? Pasta, ice cream, the queso my Boy makes, chocolate, etc... Very important question: Are you planning on buying anything off your BPAL and/or other wishlists during the round? No, unless the Carnival is going to leave town before the round ends (I think we got another extension b/c of Lilith, but I don’t recall how long it’s going to be, if Beth even said), in which case I need to buy Temple Viper and Eisheth Zenunim (sp?). I also have Halloweenie decants coming, so if there’s something I fall in love with, I may have to buy it. Similarly, I may have to buy a bottle of Lilith Victoria, and would like to get a hold of a decant of Lady Lilith. Do you wear a watch? If so, what kind/style? I don’t currently wear a watch. I got out of the habit when I started teaching (in 2004), since the classrooms always had clocks in them. These days I’m always close enough to my phone or the computer that I don’t find it necessary. How do you feel about having a donation made in your name to something? If you like that idea, what types of organizations/groups would you want the donation to go to? I would be touched. Possible organizations/groups: Doctors Without Borders, the ASPCA, CARE, Amnesty International, Lambda Legal... ***9/4*** What is your favorite art movement and/or style? ie impressionist, surrealist, art nouveau, etc. I’m torn between impressionist and art noveau. – Oh, but I just saw cuervo’s mention of folk art, which I love as well, particularly Southwestern US/Mexican. Do you have a case for your mp3 player/digital camera? If you would want one, what size is your digital device? I think I’m all set on that point. For tea drinkers, do you bag it or prefer loose? I tend to stick with bagged tea because it’s easier, but I think I have a strainer somewhere, so if you come across a loose tea you think I’ll like, my witch, please feel free to pass it along! (Black teas I have loved: vanilla, black currant, apricot, ginger peach; I enjoy the tea one gets at Chinese restaurants which I think is jasmine? And fruity herbals are always good. And I just discovered the other night that I’m out of Sleepytime tea!!!) Does the weather change where you are, as in, does it get cold in the winter? Anyone need homegrown scarves, hats, mittens, etc? Oh yes, it gets cold here. I would be pleased as punch to receive homegrown stuff! Who are your forum buddies? People you know well enough online or IRL to help your Witch pick out stuff for you? Cuervosueno is a dear friend of mine IRL; she’s the one who introduced me to BPAL in the first place. Beyond her, maybe my past witches (Melusine and Meshuganah)? ***9/3*** My questionnaire is chock-a-block with ideas for Witching me on the cheap, and without sending "stuff for stuff's sake". And I just came up with another one--make me a Pandora, Finetune, or Last.fm station you think I might like! What manner of affordable Witchery might you covet? I love Pandora, but since I can’t listen to music at work, I fear a custom-made station would largely go unused. But downloads or burned CDs or what have you would be cool. And e-cards and personal notes and stuff like that make me smile, and don’t cost a thing! Does your cell phone have a place to attach charms? I don’t think so. If you drink coffee (and make it yourself) do you use a French Press, regular filter basket coffee maker, Espresso Machine, Percolator? I have a regular filter basket coffee maker that I hope to get back around to using someday, but lately I’ve just been drinking the coffee at work. What movie soundtracks (or scores) do you love? Scores: I like most of what Danny Elfman’s done, especially the original Batman score. I’ve always loved the score from The Piano. I have a soft spot for John Williams. Soundtracks: Singles, Sliding Doors, Back to the Future (actually, the score from that, as well), probably others I’m forgetting at the moment. How do you scent yourself? Do you layer soaps, moisturizers, etc. or do you go straight to slathering your bod with BPAL? I like soaps/body washes that smell good, but I haven’t really found any whose scents really linger on me, so I don’t tend to worry too much about whether or not they’ll go well with whatever BPAL I choose for the day. I have a couple of scented lotions, but I don’t always remember to actually put them on. So, mostly it’s just the BPAL. Do you/how do you scent your world? Candles, incense, diffusers, potpourri? None of the above? Candles and incense, and I have one of those little oil warmers from the Body Shop. (Is that something I could use tarts in, as well? ‘Cause I don’t have a tart warmer, but those Alternative Breeding tarts sound divine!) Plus some Glade Plug-Ins-type stuff. Sometimes the animals are smelly, so I am armed to combat such smelliness! BPAL is such a scent-ual experience. What are your other tactile, aural, or olfactory pleasures? Feeling yarn at yarn shops. Music. Rain hitting trees, the ground, the roof. Kitty & puppy fur. Fresh flowers. Things baking in the oven. Freshly chopped green onions or garlic. Etc...

***8/28*** Crossword puzzles? Other pencil puzzles? *blink* I’m supposed to do those in pencil? But yes, I love those, and Sudoku. Favorite artist? I love Monet, Mucha, Chagall, Picasso, O’Keeffe, and Gorey, just to name a few. Favorite poet? cuervosueno. Also, I like Emily Dickinson, Yeats, Langston Hughes, June Jordan, Jim Daniels, and lots of others. Halloween. Do you like it kooky or creepy? Both, though probably more toward the creepy. Reserved or Raunchy? Both. Earth, Wind, Fire or Water? Fire and water. Tea or Coffee in the morning? Coffee at work, tea at home if there’s milk in the fridge and it isn’t scary. Fruity snacks or chocolate? Depends on my mood. Which is to say, both! Would you accept art? Absolutely! Antiques or Brand New? Very much depends on what it is, of course. That said, the only problem I usually have with antiques is that they’re out of my price range. What keywords do you use when searching for items for yourself on Etsy? You know, mostly I do my shopping on Etsy via links; I think the few times I’ve actually done random searches there I’ve searched for yarn. What was your favorite ghost/scary/campfire story growing up? I always liked the ones where, say, a nice boy drives a girl home, then calls her the next day to check on her and her parents are like “but our daughter died in a car accident 10 years ago!” I guess basically it’s the idea that you could be interacting with a ghost without knowing it. Bugs? Do you like 'em or not? I think butterflies and dragonflies and such are neat to watch, from a safe distance. I don’t like buggies crawling on me. I have a major thing about moths. i haz no imp storage. do you? I have this pretty little glass box, but it’s getting to be too small, and it leaves the imps on their sides which isn’t ideal, so I’ve been eyeing ammo boxes for a while now… and maybe someday I’ll actually get around to buying one…

***8/27*** If you have a garden/planter box, what do you grow? I plant bulbs in the fall, but as a general rule I’m not much of a gardener. What incense scents do you prefer? Lurve Nag Champa, and that’s all I’ve owned for a while. I’d be interested in branching out, but don’t really know where to start. Not a fan of floral incense. An incense vendor at the SoCal Renn Faire (the one that’s out in Riverside or wherever) had this scent called Dreams that I absolutely adored as a teenager, but I don’t think I’d be able to describe it, so that’s not terribly helpful, I know – except there are enough people on this forum from SoCal that someone out there might know what I’m talking about… Do you decorate for Halloween? What sort of decorations? Dress up for Halloween? My primary decorations are always carved pumpkins. I LOVE carving pumpkins! It’s kind of a pain to hollow them out and everything, but it’s worth it. I may have to experiment with sugar skulls this year, too… Bats, cats, skeletons, monsters, vampires, witches or what other ghoulies do you prefer? Probably all of the above. Do you like horror flicks? Yes. I like thoughtful horror movies, ones that have a larger point than just being scary (e.g. Romero’s zombie movies) – but slasher flicks from the 70s and 80s can be fun, too. Movies that involve rape and/or torture hold no appeal for me. Who here prefers stylus and ink to ballpoint? Anyone invested time and effort into calligraphy or proper Victorian writing? Oh no. I don’t have the patience for calligraphy, and I get ink all over myself when using ballpoints and other more mass-market utensils, so my experiment with a fountain pen was a bit of a disaster, and I shudder to think of how much ink I could get everywhere when using a dip pen! What about stationery? Need some? What styles do you like? Yeah, I could probably use some. I bought a couple of boxes of cards when I was working at Borders (2001-03), and I’m nearly out now. I like a variety, nothing cutesy or too girly or anything like that. Cards with art or photos would be good, or stationary with clean lines, or… I dunno. I bet someone who felt moved to buy me stationery might well have a better idea of what would suit me than I would. ***8/26*** What is one item that you've wanted forever, could have afforded, but have never gotten and why (haven't you gotten it!)? Wow. Well, there’s definitely stuff on my Amazon wishlist that fits all of those requirements. Beyond that, I’m not sure. What Halloween scent are you most looking forward to? Probably Sugar Skull, since it’s so beloved and seems like it would be right up my alley, and yet somehow I’ve gone this long without sniffing it! Tattoos! Do you have em? Do you want em? Whatcha got or getting? I currently have four: a dove on the back of my left shoulder, a raven on the back of my right, a lotus flower at the small of my back, and the symbol for the Vishuddha chakra on the back of my neck. I want more, but haven’t settled on anything just yet. Reduce - REUSE - recycle. Do others feel the same? Very much so. I’m pretty good about recycling, but I could definitely be better about the reducing and reusing parts of the triangle. What is your favorite crafting supply? Yarn! I like to hug it and pet it and name it George… I really enjoy all the different textures and types, though I try not to buy it if I don’t have a particular use in mind for it. If it’s a gift, though… Weigh in...Are you right or left-handed? Righty-tighty! (Though, oddly enough, I often unscrew things with my left hand…) Any period of time that you love? The Rennaisance, the 1920s, the 1960s and 70s, today, the future… ***8/25*** What's your favorite part about Fall? I love everything about it. The cooler temperatures, the leaves changing colors, the smells, the holidays, etc. etc. etc. Do you like office/school supplies? If so, what is your favorites? Definitely. My favorites are probably gel pens, and while I really like little notebooks (esp. Moleskines) in theory, I really don’t use them often enough to justify buying them or requesting them. What's your favorite Halloween candy? I love a variety. I also enjoy those Mallo Pumpkins, much more than I like candy corn. I tend to buy a bag, eat them till I’m ill and call it a season, then do the same the next year. Will you be participating NaNoWriMo? If so, is there anything you'd like to have for that? I think I might well give it a shot this year. I haven’t written at all in a while (being out of the nurturing environment of grad school is difficult in that respect, not to mention the fact that my final semester was traumatic), so I think even if I don’t succeed (and I very much doubt I will), it’ll give me a good amount of raw material to work with. I don’t know if there’s anything physical I’ll need (though maybe caffeine and/or focus-y herbal tea or something like that), but pokes, reminders, motivation, etc. wouldn’t be unwelcome. ***8/22*** Where does everyone like to shop for witching goodness? I shop at a mix of brick and mortar stores and online stores, from Target to Magical Omaha, from Abe Books to a little British shop in Lawrence. What is your favorite pumpkin goodness? I love pumpkin! Pumpkin pie with a huge dollop of real whipped cream is probably my favorite. Pumpkin beer is up there, too, though.

To me, at least on my first try, SGA smelled exactly like The Hesperides with an added "cold" note (is that ozone? My nose isn't quite trained well enough, methinks -- it's a little bit minty, little bit perfumey...). At any rate, that (The Hesperides) might be worth checking out. I'm seriously loving my Diwali decant today, and kicking myself some more for not buying a full bottle. Any suggestions for that one?

In the imp and on me, wet: oh, YUM. A sophisticated cherry cordial coated in high-quality chocolate. Absolutely delicious. During drydown: it goes through a couple different stages -- in one, I can still smell the sweetness, but I also get a bit of floral (presumably the orange blossom), along with a hint of plastic. On me, dry: vanilla with just a hint of berry. Oddly reminiscent of the scent of a little toy version I once had of Strawberry Shortcake's cat. It's pleasant, if faint -- but oh, to have the wet stage back again! Overall: not sure what to do about this one. I'll certainly keep this imp around, maybe just to sniff rather than wear, though.

This smells lovely and complex in the imp: the honeysuckle and the jasmine and the lemon and spice all show themselves and twine together. On me, when wet and especially when dry, I get HONEYSUCKLE + jasmine. My skin seems to looooooove honeysuckle. My nose, less so. It turns kind of rubbery on me, not enough for me to say "hey, that smells like rubber," just enough for me to say "oh... there's the honeysuckle. Hrm." This might be a candidate for a scent locket, if and when I acquire one...

In the bottle: Spicy, herbal. On me, wet: In its initial stages this has a cherry-cough-syrup-in-an-evergreen-forest quality to it that I find oddly endearing. I feel fairly certain that there's some Dragon's Blood in this (both from the scent and from the reddish color), and maybe just a tinge of musk. On me, dry: an herbal, sweet, just-barely-musky Dragon's Blood. Medium strength and throw. As far as its intended purpose goes, I feel like Wolf's Heart is brilliant. It might be that, at this point, I've developed positive associations with the scent, but I find it comforting and encouraging, and when wearing it I feel strong and secure. In March I spent a week with my mom in the hospital, and I wore Wolf's Heart to bed every night. I still didn't sleep terribly well, but the oil made me feel better about things, and more secure in my self. It's one that I intend always to have a bottle of around.

In the bottle: a cool, crisp, juicy apple. Not tart, like a Granny Smith, but maybe more like a Fuji, where the emphasis is really on "cool" and "crisp." Something green and wet in the background, like a patch of ivy just outside the woods, coated in dew, first thing in the morning. On me, wet: much the same, with perhaps a bit more spice/woodiness, still very much in the background. I'm struck by the extent to which this is a cool scent, compared to the warmth of most apple-y blends I've smelled. On me, dry: pretty much the same. This is fairly light overall, and I agree with Delirium1009's take that this is an innocent apple scent, and I'd say this is a year-round scent, as opposed to many apple scents, which fall pretty squarely in the Autumn category. This is pretty, fresh, light, and sweet -- a nice staple to have around when one wants a scent that's more subtle.

In the bottle: I get primarily gardenia and/or Monoi tiare, I think. Something that says to me "sultry tropical flowers," at any rate. If I take a really long sniff it seems a bit like I get something weirdly like adhesive at the end, but that might just be that I'm huffing too hard. On me, wet: As soon as it touches my skin Marae displays a sharp green note, as if the stems of the above flowers have just been cut. The floral note is still prominent, it's just hand-in-hand with the green. On me, dry: Once drydown begins (i.e. just about immediately), Marae softens, mellows. There is the vanilla orchid; there is the incense. It's light, just the slightest bit powdery and/or soapy, and not too sweet, but still quite feminine. It's not terribly strong, and seems to stay fairly close to my skin. Overall, I think this will make a wonderful summer scent, and I'm quite pleased to have ordered it.

In the imp and on me: this smells like rose incense, plain and simple. When I was a teenager I had a packet of rose incense that I'd bought at some vaguely religious hippy-ish destination in coastal San Diego county. I put the incense in a ziploc bag, in a drawer, and could still smell it across the room. Rose Cross smells, to me, exactly like that incense -- not while burning, but while sitting in its packet in my drawer: I guess it's sort of like rose oil with a hint of powder. I eventually had to throw that incense out because it was just too strong (made me sneeze), and likewise, I don't think I can handle this oil. But if "rose incense" sounds like just the ticket to someone else, I'd recommend Rose Cross quite highly.

[Note: I bought this bottle when the Gaiman scents premiered, or soon thereafter, and I've definitely noticed that the scent has gotten richer as it's aged. However, even though I'm reviewing a year-old bottle, I loved the scent from the start, and all the elements in it now were there at the beginning.] In the bottle: This is foody and floral and very well blended. My nose can pick out the rose otto and the almond, and maybe the honey and myrrh.... maybe. On me, wet: I think I'm getting the apple now, too, and there's a warmth underneath that might be the musk, or maybe the myrrh, or both. If I concentrate I think I can pick out the lily, but really, this is exceptionally well blended. On me, dry: This is gorgeous. It's warm and rich, sweet and resinous; if it were a color I think it would be gold and/or a deep royal purple. Maybe tinged with burgundy. Good throw, good staying power. This was the first bottle I bought, and it's so appropriate, because I love, love, love it!

That's super-helpful, ivyandpeony! Your descriptions made a lot of sense to me, though of course I'm perhaps even more torn now -- or, more precisely, I have more scents I want to try! (Ah, the trials of BPAL...)

So, this is sort of backwards from how this thread normally works, I think, but I figured I'd give it a shot all the same. I trust that the mods will move it accordingly if necessary. Anyway, what I'm wondering is this: based on the description, it seems like The Passionate Shepherd to His Love may well bear some resemblance to our dear departed Dublin. Since I was a doofus and didn't buy a bottle of Dublin when I had the chance, I'm thinking I may well want to pick up a bottle of Passionate Shepherd while it's available. Any thoughts from those who've tried both? Thanks!

to you heysunshine. I wanted to echo wickedgoddess's recommendation from the previous page for TAL's Lionheart. I suspect other TAL blends would fit the bill, too, but that and Protection are the only ones I've tried so far. Also, not sure where you came from in NY or are now in the UK, but I wonder if the advent of winter at a higher latitude is part of what's affecting you? (I've struggled with SAD at higher latitudes, and I moved to Kansas from New Mexico a few months ago, and while it's only about a 4 degree difference, but I swear I can feel it.) If you think that might be it, could you maybe invest in a sun therapy lamp? (Too rich for my blood, at least at the moment, but they seem like they might be helpful...)

In the bottle and on me, at first: I get warm florals, with the blood orange beneath. It is to scents what magenta is to colors, if that makes any sense to anyone besides me. I have a hard time picking out individual notes besides the blood orange. It's a little intense, but still pretty. Then Patchouli shows up. We usually get along fine, but here she's wearing cheap perfume and shocking pink lipstick, and she beats me senseless -- then, when I'm still dizzy and confused, she takes me by the arm and starts introducing me as her date! (In real-world terms, this is what happened: I was out shopping yesterday, and a saleswoman suddenly said, "Are you wearing patchoil?" I blinked, then said yes...) Impressive throw (I didn't put much on, and the woman was standing a good five feet away from me). So: a floral patchouli. I wanted to like it, but it's very much not for me. Ah well.

I've only ever tried Wolf's Heart, but I love it. Love, love, love it. Soothing and strengthening, and I like the smell, too: a bit of an unusual combination that I have trouble describing, but I like it, and now I have positive associations with it from the effectiveness of the oil. Good, good stuff. (But LQ, how do you really feel? )

I've a question for the folks who use any of the BPAL or TAL oils mentioned to fall asleep: what, exactly, do you do with them? I saw one mention of a little dab on the upper lip, another of just slathering it on, and another (can't remember if it was in this thread or the Bedtime thread) of a drop of oil on a pillow -- so I was curious if these are the methods most people go with, or if others have different methods, or what have you. Thanks!

2007 In the bottle: I get flowers, with a hint of sweetness behind. Can't quite pin down a particular floral: maybe Jasmine? Or maybe that's the cactus blossom? (Based on vague memory on the ingredients of my one Aveda perfume...) On me, wet: um... still a flower -- again, maybe Jasmine, maybe cactus blossom, maybe even Gardenia? -- but now with a faint cloud of tobacco behind it. 5 minutes later: still mostly floral. It's a complex floral, though, which is kind of putting me at a loss for words... About an hour later: still mostly floral, with whispers of tobacco and -- I think -- dark chocolate. I mostly get said whispers only when I press my nose against my arm. I see what people are saying about it being incensy. I wouldn't have used that word myself, as it's not All Souls incensy, if you know what I mean. Overall, I'm not huge on florals, but this one works on me. It's complex and warm and autumn-y. (Rather stating the obvious, no?) Good stuff.

In the bottle: apple? Check. Rose? Check. Lemon? Check. On me, wet: same three. It's like I just bit into a Granny Smith apple and I've still got it in my hand. A rose in full bloom is on the table below, as is a lemon that's been sliced in half. As it dries down the apple fades and the rose strengthens. Fully dry: as Gertrude Stein once wrote, rose is a rose is a rose is a rose. (No, I'm not really sure what it means, either.) In other words, rose is what I get from Delirium once dry. It's kind of a sharp rose, which might be the lemon hiding out in the back. I'm not huge on rose-scented stuff, but obviously this is the closest to what a real rose smells like that I've ever encountered in a perfume, so I'll keep her around. (I have to confess that a big part of why I bought it in the first place is my affection for the Sandman comic character Delirium... ) I agree that this is primarily a summer scent. Good for those rose-y summer-y types.

Okay, here we go, first review... In the imp: Oh ye gods! Straight-up wheeze-inducing whiskey. On me, wet: still whiskey, but with a hint of spicy warmth. It dried really quickly! On me, dry: warm whiskey toddy, kind of gingery, with a hint of smoke. Not much throw at all. Verdict: an enjoyable scent in terms of seeing what the Lab can do, but not really something that suits me in terms of actually wearing it. Might pounce on the boy with it later to see what it does on his skin.