What qualifies as an unacceptable side effect of medication? If I tough it out for a few more weeks, will my body adjust?
I recently had the dosage of my second medication upped a bit. On the smaller dose, I had some side effects, but nothing too major. Now my muscles are achy, I'm somewhat shaky, there's a bit of nausea, and worst of all, I've lost most interest in food. Decrease in appetite is one thing - I wouldn't complain if I ate a little less and lost a few pounds. But a lot of food has become flat out unappealing to me, which is weird. The past few days I've had to force myself to eat. I feel hungry, but I don't know what to eat. I've been doing okay as long as I stick to dairy products and fairly bland/mild foods (yogurt, cheese sandwiches, fruit cocktail, etc.), but yesterday I had some Thai fried rice for dinner. It was okay, but then I bit into a bit of onion and felt kind of nauseous. I'm hoping that this will go away after a few weeks, but I'm wondering if I can make it that long without going crazy.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
People frustrate me. On some level, I can understand littering. You're outside, you have something to throw away, there's no trash can in sight, you drop it. I understand it, but I don't condone it. What I don't understand is leaving your trash laying around inside when there is a trash can nearby.
People do this in the library all the time. They leave used scrap paper on desks, empty (or sometimes full) water bottles, empty coffee cups, soda cans, candy bar wrappers, and takeout containers. The scrap paper is annoying, but not that big of a deal. I find the water bottles extremely wasteful, but whatever. The real issue is the other trash. For one thing, you're not even supposed to have food in the library. There are numerous signs that proclaim this. (Not that people read signs. I could probably print up a sign that says "Die in a fire" and hang it by the circ desk. I bet only my boss would notice it.) Still, I'm willing to let coffee, soda, and some candy slide - just throw stuff away when you're done! The sugar and such attracts vermin. I know we have mice (I've seen more than one), and we probably have roaches too (though I've only seen one, and it was some time ago). When the critters get done with the trash, they move onto the books, which, needless to say, is bad.
What I really don't understand is the residue of full meals - sandwiches, salads, etc. It's rarer, but it still happens. There's a lounge on the floor above us. USE IT. The library is not a cafeteria. If you must study while eating, check the book out; just don't spill anything on it.
My biggest problem with the trash, however, is not the welfare of the books. That's important, but I know the average person doesn't care about it as much as I do. The real issue is that it's just plain rude. (I feel like a cranky old lady - "Kids today! No respect, no consideration for others! No one cleans up after themselves, they just expect it to be done for them! Lousy no-good punks!") It's not like it's inconvenient to throw the stuff away - there are trash cans everywhere in the library. If you're sitting at one of the desks, I guarantee that there's a trash can within nine feet of you. If that's too far to walk, wait until you leave. There's a trash can right by the main door. You'll pass it no matter what, so throw your shit away. Hmph.
People do this in the library all the time. They leave used scrap paper on desks, empty (or sometimes full) water bottles, empty coffee cups, soda cans, candy bar wrappers, and takeout containers. The scrap paper is annoying, but not that big of a deal. I find the water bottles extremely wasteful, but whatever. The real issue is the other trash. For one thing, you're not even supposed to have food in the library. There are numerous signs that proclaim this. (Not that people read signs. I could probably print up a sign that says "Die in a fire" and hang it by the circ desk. I bet only my boss would notice it.) Still, I'm willing to let coffee, soda, and some candy slide - just throw stuff away when you're done! The sugar and such attracts vermin. I know we have mice (I've seen more than one), and we probably have roaches too (though I've only seen one, and it was some time ago). When the critters get done with the trash, they move onto the books, which, needless to say, is bad.
What I really don't understand is the residue of full meals - sandwiches, salads, etc. It's rarer, but it still happens. There's a lounge on the floor above us. USE IT. The library is not a cafeteria. If you must study while eating, check the book out; just don't spill anything on it.
My biggest problem with the trash, however, is not the welfare of the books. That's important, but I know the average person doesn't care about it as much as I do. The real issue is that it's just plain rude. (I feel like a cranky old lady - "Kids today! No respect, no consideration for others! No one cleans up after themselves, they just expect it to be done for them! Lousy no-good punks!") It's not like it's inconvenient to throw the stuff away - there are trash cans everywhere in the library. If you're sitting at one of the desks, I guarantee that there's a trash can within nine feet of you. If that's too far to walk, wait until you leave. There's a trash can right by the main door. You'll pass it no matter what, so throw your shit away. Hmph.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Ah, library patrons. What wacky hijinks will you come up with next?
Today I spent a good five minutes on the phone with a patron, debating his late fees. Our system usually sends out courtesy notices via email to remind people that they're books are due soon, but the emails have been unreliable since our switch to the new system this summer. Because of this, this patron didn't receive a notice, and he didn't receive an overdue notice until 2 weeks after the books were due. I was arguing that while the courtesy notices are lovely things, they are a COURTESY, and you're still responsible for knowing when your books are due (it's stamped in the back!) and renewing/returning them on time. He wasn't having it. I gave up and transferred him to my supervisor. I think the patron finally won, but geez. Mind you, this was over $6 in fines. Not a minuscule amount, but really not that much, either. I wonder how he would have acted if it had been $20 or more.
The other excitement of the day came while I was sorting books for reshelving. I noticed a slip of paper in a book, so I pulled it out. (PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: please remove all bookmarks, sticky notes, labels, paperclips, etc. from books before you return them. They can cause damage to the books when left inside for long periods of time.) But this was no ordinary piece of scrap paper. It was a check. A signed check, no less. Date and amount filled out, but not the recipient. If I had far fewer scruples, I could have added a nice chunk of change to my bank account.
Today I spent a good five minutes on the phone with a patron, debating his late fees. Our system usually sends out courtesy notices via email to remind people that they're books are due soon, but the emails have been unreliable since our switch to the new system this summer. Because of this, this patron didn't receive a notice, and he didn't receive an overdue notice until 2 weeks after the books were due. I was arguing that while the courtesy notices are lovely things, they are a COURTESY, and you're still responsible for knowing when your books are due (it's stamped in the back!) and renewing/returning them on time. He wasn't having it. I gave up and transferred him to my supervisor. I think the patron finally won, but geez. Mind you, this was over $6 in fines. Not a minuscule amount, but really not that much, either. I wonder how he would have acted if it had been $20 or more.
The other excitement of the day came while I was sorting books for reshelving. I noticed a slip of paper in a book, so I pulled it out. (PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: please remove all bookmarks, sticky notes, labels, paperclips, etc. from books before you return them. They can cause damage to the books when left inside for long periods of time.) But this was no ordinary piece of scrap paper. It was a check. A signed check, no less. Date and amount filled out, but not the recipient. If I had far fewer scruples, I could have added a nice chunk of change to my bank account.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Psychosocial evaluations are weird. A lot of the questions are pretty basic background information, but then there's the part where you have to quantify how bad you feel. How often do you feel tired? How often do you feel like hurting yourself? How often do you lack interest in activities? Some of these are easy enough to answer (How often do I feel tired? ALWAYS. Wait, scratch that - 90% of the time. There are occasional bouts of energy). Other ones are harder, especially because they don't really give you a guideline of how to phrase your answer - x times a day, a week, whatever? x% of the time? I went with percentages and kind of felt like I was just making numbers up. I don't know exactly how often I feel bad; I just know that it's more often than I feel good.
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
As of around 11 pm EST last night, the United States had a new President-Elect: Barack Obama. This makes me very, very happy. (Though I do admit that my glee was somewhat lessened by my cat's decision to celebrate by puking.) Red states went blue, voter turnout was great, history was made!
More good news: the various anti-choice state propositions and measures were voted down. The bad news: the various anti-gay state propositions and measures were passed. A nice succinct summary of the various propositions can be found at Feministing.
It's so weird that a single election can represent great hope and progress, yet also reflect such inequality and close-mindedness. I wish we could do away with state-sanctioned marriages in general. Just make everything civil unions; reserve the term 'marriage' for the religious rite and leave its definition up to the churches, synagogues, mosques, covens, etc. Separation of church and state: it's good for all involved.
More good news: the various anti-choice state propositions and measures were voted down. The bad news: the various anti-gay state propositions and measures were passed. A nice succinct summary of the various propositions can be found at Feministing.
It's so weird that a single election can represent great hope and progress, yet also reflect such inequality and close-mindedness. I wish we could do away with state-sanctioned marriages in general. Just make everything civil unions; reserve the term 'marriage' for the religious rite and leave its definition up to the churches, synagogues, mosques, covens, etc. Separation of church and state: it's good for all involved.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Blergh. It has been a long week. Yes, it is only Monday, but since I didn't really have a weekend, I feel like last week never ended.
Fun and exciting things that have happened in the past 7 or so days: I did not do the homework I was supposed to do, my grandmother died, I discovered some of my clothes no longer fit, I flew home for the funeral, I saw about 100 McCain signs in the country (and 3 Obama ones), my flight back to New York was cancelled and I had to fly on a different, later one to a less convenient airport, my cat puked on my bed in the wee hours of the morning, the construction in the building was really loud and actually knocked some stuff off the bathroom shelves and into the toilet, I had an eye exam, they broke the nosepiece of my glasses while trying to replace the pad bit, I still have not finished my homework, and I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow.
I'm going to go eat cheesecake for dinner now.
Fun and exciting things that have happened in the past 7 or so days: I did not do the homework I was supposed to do, my grandmother died, I discovered some of my clothes no longer fit, I flew home for the funeral, I saw about 100 McCain signs in the country (and 3 Obama ones), my flight back to New York was cancelled and I had to fly on a different, later one to a less convenient airport, my cat puked on my bed in the wee hours of the morning, the construction in the building was really loud and actually knocked some stuff off the bathroom shelves and into the toilet, I had an eye exam, they broke the nosepiece of my glasses while trying to replace the pad bit, I still have not finished my homework, and I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow.
I'm going to go eat cheesecake for dinner now.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
I should be in class right now. I'm not.
There are a few reasons for this. One is that my homework isn't done. I got the arts-and-crafts type bit done with no problem. (Drawing and coloring is very soothing. I should do it more often. That and yoga.) As for the rest... well, my concentration and focus failed me, partially due to a killer headache. This leads to reason number two - I feel like shit. Physically, I have a cold or something along those lines. So I am very tired and sniffly and headachy. Good times! But really, the cold isn't the worst of it. The problem is that I feel like shit mentally and emotionally.
I made a promise to myself a few months ago. I would take care of myself, find a doctor, get my medication adjusted. I haven't. Not even close.
I've made half-hearted attempts to find a shrink, but I got frustrated quickly. Trying to find someone covered by my insurance, someone who is taking new patients, someone who answers their phone or at least returns messages... So far, no real luck. (Bonus! While I was typing this up I got a return call. It started off okay, until I said that I was mostly looking for medication management. I know me - if the pills are right, I'm generally pretty good. But all her med management spots are filled. So once again, I'm screwed. Yay!)
At this point, my meds have almost run out. I feel guilty about this, because I really should not have let it get to this point. For heaven's sake, I've been dealing with this for about eight or nine years now. I should know better than to wait until the last minute.
But when I'm feeling okay, I don't really think about it. And when I'm feeling bad - well, then I don't really want to deal with it, because I'd rather be curled up in bed or distracting myself with hours of crime shows than making phone call after phone call. I procrastinate with everything, why should my own health be any different? Of course, there's the fact that it's my health and well-being, but clearly that's not enough motivation.
The truth is that I'm tired. I'm tired of trying, caring, worrying, and working. I'm tired of being a responsible adult. I'm tired of feeling stressed, feeling isolated, feeling alone, feeling out of place. I'm tired of crying, of waking up in the middle of the night and not being able to get back to sleep. I'm tired of being tired.
Forgot!
by Stevie Smith
There is a fearful solitude
Within the careless multitude,
And in the open country too,
He mused, and then it seemed to him
The solitude lay all within;
He longed for some interior din:
Some echo from the worldly rout,
To indicated a common lot,
Some charge that he might be about,
But oh he felt that he was quite forgot.
There are a few reasons for this. One is that my homework isn't done. I got the arts-and-crafts type bit done with no problem. (Drawing and coloring is very soothing. I should do it more often. That and yoga.) As for the rest... well, my concentration and focus failed me, partially due to a killer headache. This leads to reason number two - I feel like shit. Physically, I have a cold or something along those lines. So I am very tired and sniffly and headachy. Good times! But really, the cold isn't the worst of it. The problem is that I feel like shit mentally and emotionally.
I made a promise to myself a few months ago. I would take care of myself, find a doctor, get my medication adjusted. I haven't. Not even close.
I've made half-hearted attempts to find a shrink, but I got frustrated quickly. Trying to find someone covered by my insurance, someone who is taking new patients, someone who answers their phone or at least returns messages... So far, no real luck. (Bonus! While I was typing this up I got a return call. It started off okay, until I said that I was mostly looking for medication management. I know me - if the pills are right, I'm generally pretty good. But all her med management spots are filled. So once again, I'm screwed. Yay!)
At this point, my meds have almost run out. I feel guilty about this, because I really should not have let it get to this point. For heaven's sake, I've been dealing with this for about eight or nine years now. I should know better than to wait until the last minute.
But when I'm feeling okay, I don't really think about it. And when I'm feeling bad - well, then I don't really want to deal with it, because I'd rather be curled up in bed or distracting myself with hours of crime shows than making phone call after phone call. I procrastinate with everything, why should my own health be any different? Of course, there's the fact that it's my health and well-being, but clearly that's not enough motivation.
The truth is that I'm tired. I'm tired of trying, caring, worrying, and working. I'm tired of being a responsible adult. I'm tired of feeling stressed, feeling isolated, feeling alone, feeling out of place. I'm tired of crying, of waking up in the middle of the night and not being able to get back to sleep. I'm tired of being tired.
Forgot!
by Stevie Smith
There is a fearful solitude
Within the careless multitude,
And in the open country too,
He mused, and then it seemed to him
The solitude lay all within;
He longed for some interior din:
Some echo from the worldly rout,
To indicated a common lot,
Some charge that he might be about,
But oh he felt that he was quite forgot.
I hate a lot of things when I have a headache. And right now I have a headache. So I hate the homework I'm working on, I hate the noises coming from upstairs, but most of all I hate the cellphone conversations. People aren't allowed to use their phones inside the library, so they stand just outside the door by the elevators and talk there. Sometimes they talk at length, which is how I learned much more than I ever wanted to know about one guy's evil landlady and the troubles he was having getting his security deposit back. This one girl has been out there for a good 15 minutes or so, and I can hear just enough to be annoyed. Her voice is grating on my last nerve, and I don't even get the minor pleasure of learning random useless factoids about her life, as she's speaking in French (I think - I could be wrong). Grar.
Oh. She's done now. Thank heavens. I'll just go back to hating my homework, then. Maybe I'll go get some Advil.
Oh. She's done now. Thank heavens. I'll just go back to hating my homework, then. Maybe I'll go get some Advil.
I'm sick, and I have been for a while now. I don't know what it is. Allergies? Maybe, but my eyes aren't itchy and I am not sneezing much, so I doubt it. Flu? Probably not, since I don't have a fever. Cold? This is the likely culprit, but why is it lasting for so damn long? Seriously, this is at least week 2 of this. And I am tired of it.
Admittedly, the cold-thing has been evolving and changing all this time. It started with a non-stop runny nose, then everything became congested and stuffy, then all the mucus moved into my chest, and now it seems to be split between the chest and nose. I've been doing a decent amount of nose-blowing and sniffing, though at least it's no longer all the time. And since I got some Robitussin, my cough has been mostly under control. (Though I forgot to bring it with me to work on Tuesday night, which led me to coughing so hard that I threw up. Fun!)
Maybe the problem is that I'm continually exposed to germs. I work in a library, so I'm constantly touching books and things that have been touched by tons of other people. And I haven't had a real weekend for a a few months (1.5 days off does NOT count as a real weekend in my book, especially when much of it is spent cleaning or doing homework), so I'm tired and worn down, so my immune system probably isn't at its best. To be honest, I don't really remember the last time I wasn't tired or didn't have at least a bit of a runny nose. And that's worrisome. I want to be healthy, dammit!
Admittedly, the cold-thing has been evolving and changing all this time. It started with a non-stop runny nose, then everything became congested and stuffy, then all the mucus moved into my chest, and now it seems to be split between the chest and nose. I've been doing a decent amount of nose-blowing and sniffing, though at least it's no longer all the time. And since I got some Robitussin, my cough has been mostly under control. (Though I forgot to bring it with me to work on Tuesday night, which led me to coughing so hard that I threw up. Fun!)
Maybe the problem is that I'm continually exposed to germs. I work in a library, so I'm constantly touching books and things that have been touched by tons of other people. And I haven't had a real weekend for a a few months (1.5 days off does NOT count as a real weekend in my book, especially when much of it is spent cleaning or doing homework), so I'm tired and worn down, so my immune system probably isn't at its best. To be honest, I don't really remember the last time I wasn't tired or didn't have at least a bit of a runny nose. And that's worrisome. I want to be healthy, dammit!
Sunday, September 28, 2008
My iBook died last night. It froze up and the trackpad stopped responding. I restarted. It made all the right noises, but the screen didn't light up. I turned it off, tried again. No good. Today I took it to a repair place. The verdict? The logic board, the brain of the computer, had died. My hard drive is fine and can be salvaged, which I'll look into soonish. But the computer is unusable without the logic board. Replacing it would cost somewhere around $700 - not worth it since the computer was 4 or so years old. So I went to the Apple store and picked up a shiny new MacBook. It's lovely, but it doesn't feel like mine yet. Right now I'm transferring music and some other stuff from my external hard drive, trying to get the settings just so, etc. And the computer is similar to what I had, but it's different enough that not all the shortcuts and habits that I had will work. I'm sure I'll get used to it, but for right now, I miss Athena.
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Tonight was a TV night. Some Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune on in the background while doing dishes and eating dinner, and then the 2 hour premiere of American's Next Top Model. This season features Isis, a MtF transgendered woman, and she's amazing. She was sought out by Tyra and co. after being one of the background models in the homeless shoot last season. Homeless woman becomes model? Good TV fodder. Transgendered homeless woman becomes model? Wow. But Tyra and the show's judges and producers are dealing with the issue in a pretty respectful and cool way, as are many of the contestants. Some of the other contestants? Not so much. Grr. But Isis took great photos and wowed the judges (2 of whom didn't know she was trans until the panel discussion) and got called second, so she she'll be sticking around for a bit, yay!
And then we switched over to the Republican National Convention. Why? I don't know. First up: Rudy Giuliani, with one of the most mean-spirited and condescending political speeches I have ever heard. Seriously, my jaw dropped at the way he said "community organizer." The level of cruel mockery in that speech was appalling. It was followed up with Sarah Palin's speech, a horribly bland thing that spent way too much time talking about her family. Yes, family is important. Yes, you are a mother. (Side note: Piper Palin is frigging adorable, and the camera caught her licking her hand and then slicking down her baby brother's hair. Hilarious.) But come on. When people are questioning your experience and ability, is it really a good plan to spend about half the speech focusing on your family? Mention them and move on. Of course, while I was bored with the family talk, I got grumpy when she talked about politics, so maybe I'm just hard to please. Or just too liberal to listen to that crap without my blood pressure rising significantly.
Oh, and one last political note: I am now registered to vote in the state of New York. Twice. That's right, the state of New York essentially committed voter fraud for me and sent me two different voter registration cards. Exact same info on both except the serial number. I tried to call them and straighten it out today, but I couldn't get through to a an actual person. I guess I'll have to go to their office next week. Fun times!
And then we switched over to the Republican National Convention. Why? I don't know. First up: Rudy Giuliani, with one of the most mean-spirited and condescending political speeches I have ever heard. Seriously, my jaw dropped at the way he said "community organizer." The level of cruel mockery in that speech was appalling. It was followed up with Sarah Palin's speech, a horribly bland thing that spent way too much time talking about her family. Yes, family is important. Yes, you are a mother. (Side note: Piper Palin is frigging adorable, and the camera caught her licking her hand and then slicking down her baby brother's hair. Hilarious.) But come on. When people are questioning your experience and ability, is it really a good plan to spend about half the speech focusing on your family? Mention them and move on. Of course, while I was bored with the family talk, I got grumpy when she talked about politics, so maybe I'm just hard to please. Or just too liberal to listen to that crap without my blood pressure rising significantly.
Oh, and one last political note: I am now registered to vote in the state of New York. Twice. That's right, the state of New York essentially committed voter fraud for me and sent me two different voter registration cards. Exact same info on both except the serial number. I tried to call them and straighten it out today, but I couldn't get through to a an actual person. I guess I'll have to go to their office next week. Fun times!
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
It's possible I'm drunk (okay, it's certain I'm at least a bit tipsy), and it's true that I was already a little bummed out today. But neither of those fully explain why a few minutes ago I was bawling in front of the TV during the introductory video to Hillary Clinton's DNC speech. On this day in 1920, the 19th Amendment was put in effect, giving women the right to vote. 88 years later, we have 18 million cracks in the glass ceiling. But the ceiling is still there. Hopefully it won't take another 88 years to finally smash it.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Dear 20th Century Fox: I hate you.
What is this crap about suing Warner Brothers over Watchmen? More specifically, what the hell is with this: "Surprisingly, Fox said it would rather see the film killed instead of collecting a percentage of the box office." Seriously? Do you want to have the fans screaming for your heads?
Do you think you can make a better movie? Because I highly doubt it. Have you seen the trailer? It's fantastic. Visually, it's stunning. It looks like the graphic novel come to life. I'm not sure who thought to cast Jeffery Dean Morgan (aka Denny Duquette on Grey's Anatomy) as the Comedian; I associate him with rom-com type shit, but I'll be damned if he doesn't at least look the part. The casting look great, especially when you consider some of the earlier casting suggestions (Robin Williams as Rorschah? Richard Gere or Kevin Costner for Nite Owl? WTF?). The Smashing Pumpkins's song is perfect too. I love the trailer. I just finished the book, and I'm anxiously awaiting March so I can see the movie.
Don't ruin this for me, Fox. You already pissed me off with some of the stuff you did to the X-Men movies, and while I enjoyed From Hell, it was nothing like the graphic novel. I haven't read The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, so I can't compare it with the movie version, but the movie wasn't that great. Just step away from Alan Moore's work. Take your cut from WB, but for heaven's sake, let this movie be released. I need it for my soul.
Oh, and Warner Brothers? If for some reason you've attempted to water down Watchmen to get a PG-13 rating, I will find those responsible and kick them in the shins.
What is this crap about suing Warner Brothers over Watchmen? More specifically, what the hell is with this: "Surprisingly, Fox said it would rather see the film killed instead of collecting a percentage of the box office." Seriously? Do you want to have the fans screaming for your heads?
Do you think you can make a better movie? Because I highly doubt it. Have you seen the trailer? It's fantastic. Visually, it's stunning. It looks like the graphic novel come to life. I'm not sure who thought to cast Jeffery Dean Morgan (aka Denny Duquette on Grey's Anatomy) as the Comedian; I associate him with rom-com type shit, but I'll be damned if he doesn't at least look the part. The casting look great, especially when you consider some of the earlier casting suggestions (Robin Williams as Rorschah? Richard Gere or Kevin Costner for Nite Owl? WTF?). The Smashing Pumpkins's song is perfect too. I love the trailer. I just finished the book, and I'm anxiously awaiting March so I can see the movie.
Don't ruin this for me, Fox. You already pissed me off with some of the stuff you did to the X-Men movies, and while I enjoyed From Hell, it was nothing like the graphic novel. I haven't read The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, so I can't compare it with the movie version, but the movie wasn't that great. Just step away from Alan Moore's work. Take your cut from WB, but for heaven's sake, let this movie be released. I need it for my soul.
Oh, and Warner Brothers? If for some reason you've attempted to water down Watchmen to get a PG-13 rating, I will find those responsible and kick them in the shins.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
I mentioned in an earlier post that many of my favorite Jez commenters have started their own blogs. You can find most of them listed over in the sidebar, but I thought I'd highlight some of them, starting with the fashion blogs.
geometricsleep.
Laia reviews fashion shows, posts pictures of things she likes (and things she hates), and showcases some of her own fashion choices. She is much cooler and way more daring with her style than I'll ever be; the site serves as a nice reminder to take some risks once in a while. The site has also been featured on elle.com.
Fit for a Femme
Skinny Bone Jones chronicles her outfits and occasionally shows off her tomboy. This site is wonderful, and Jonesy tells you what the items are and where she got them in addition to posting photos. At some point I should go through the archives and compile a list of designers/brands/shops to check out, but I'd probably end up spending too much money. Besides, I could never look as fabulous as SBJ; I certainly can't compete with her shiny, shiny hair.
Nadarine: I'm not drunk, I'm brilliant.
Nadarine writes about more than fashion stuff, but she often posts photos of her awesome outfits, so it definitely needs to be on this list. I want to steal many of her dresses as well as her vintage Mary Janes.
All of the the ladies listed above have inspired me to step up my fashion game a bit. They make it look so easy! Of course, since I was stuck in a jeans and t-shirt rut, there wasn't really anywhere to go but up. But still. Today I'm wearing a dress and gladiator sandals. Sandals that aren't flip flops! Will wonders never cease?
Perhaps a bit more practical than inspirational is Frugal Kitten, who finds and shares deals. She hasn't been posting much recently, perhaps because it's not always easy to find cheap but nice clothes and accessories. Or maybe she's just busy at the moment. Either way, hopefully she'll be back in full force sometime soon.
geometricsleep.
Laia reviews fashion shows, posts pictures of things she likes (and things she hates), and showcases some of her own fashion choices. She is much cooler and way more daring with her style than I'll ever be; the site serves as a nice reminder to take some risks once in a while. The site has also been featured on elle.com.
Fit for a Femme
Skinny Bone Jones chronicles her outfits and occasionally shows off her tomboy. This site is wonderful, and Jonesy tells you what the items are and where she got them in addition to posting photos. At some point I should go through the archives and compile a list of designers/brands/shops to check out, but I'd probably end up spending too much money. Besides, I could never look as fabulous as SBJ; I certainly can't compete with her shiny, shiny hair.
Nadarine: I'm not drunk, I'm brilliant.
Nadarine writes about more than fashion stuff, but she often posts photos of her awesome outfits, so it definitely needs to be on this list. I want to steal many of her dresses as well as her vintage Mary Janes.
All of the the ladies listed above have inspired me to step up my fashion game a bit. They make it look so easy! Of course, since I was stuck in a jeans and t-shirt rut, there wasn't really anywhere to go but up. But still. Today I'm wearing a dress and gladiator sandals. Sandals that aren't flip flops! Will wonders never cease?
Perhaps a bit more practical than inspirational is Frugal Kitten, who finds and shares deals. She hasn't been posting much recently, perhaps because it's not always easy to find cheap but nice clothes and accessories. Or maybe she's just busy at the moment. Either way, hopefully she'll be back in full force sometime soon.
Monday, August 11, 2008
It's Olympics time. I've been watching some of it, at least when my television lets me. (Seriously, it's a matter of if the TV is cooperating or not. My reception of NBC is fairly crappy - if you cross your legs with the right leg on top, it might be crystal clear; left leg on top, nothing but static; uncrossed legs, picture but no sound. It's highly unpredictable.)
So far I've managed to catch some men's gymnastics, a bit of beach volleyball and women's gymnastics, and some swimming. I don't really care about volleyball, and the women's gymnastics always creeps me out a tiny bit, though I do think it's awesome that there's a 30-something year old woman on the German team. Men's gymnastics is insanely impressive, especially the rings, high bar, and parallel bars. I also love the pommel horse - I'm curious if any of these guys have tried break-dancing before; some of the routines would translate pretty well, I think.
Swimming I find less interesting, mostly because all you can really see is a bunch of splashing. Enter technology. They have the World Record line projected onto the screen during some races; it's this green line that moves along the pool showing the WR speed. Usually people are a bit behind it; sometimes their hand is a bit ahead of it and they narrowly beat it. Or in the case of the men's 4x100 freestyle relay last night, half of the pool is keeping up with the line and a couple of people are a full body length ahead of it. It was insane. The US's B team beat the record in the semi-final; the A team obliterated it in the finals. It seems a record is broken in every swimming event - I watched a heat of the women's 400m freestyle semi-finals; Katie Hoff from the US beat the Olympic record that had been in place for about 20 years. The very next heat an Italian woman beats this new record. Craziness.
So far I've managed to catch some men's gymnastics, a bit of beach volleyball and women's gymnastics, and some swimming. I don't really care about volleyball, and the women's gymnastics always creeps me out a tiny bit, though I do think it's awesome that there's a 30-something year old woman on the German team. Men's gymnastics is insanely impressive, especially the rings, high bar, and parallel bars. I also love the pommel horse - I'm curious if any of these guys have tried break-dancing before; some of the routines would translate pretty well, I think.
Swimming I find less interesting, mostly because all you can really see is a bunch of splashing. Enter technology. They have the World Record line projected onto the screen during some races; it's this green line that moves along the pool showing the WR speed. Usually people are a bit behind it; sometimes their hand is a bit ahead of it and they narrowly beat it. Or in the case of the men's 4x100 freestyle relay last night, half of the pool is keeping up with the line and a couple of people are a full body length ahead of it. It was insane. The US's B team beat the record in the semi-final; the A team obliterated it in the finals. It seems a record is broken in every swimming event - I watched a heat of the women's 400m freestyle semi-finals; Katie Hoff from the US beat the Olympic record that had been in place for about 20 years. The very next heat an Italian woman beats this new record. Craziness.
Friday, August 08, 2008
I got back from my week-long trip to my parents' yesterday, and I took today off work to regroup. Vacations are never as relaxing as you want them to be. I went to a wedding, caught up with a friend, visited family, did some shopping, and went to the zoo. Oh, and I got sick. That part was especially fun.
In some ways today was more relaxing than the rest of the week had been. I'm feeling a bit better (though still not great - curse you, runny nose!) and got to sleep in a bit. I also went to the DMV. Not relaxing, definitely time-consuming, but also happily uneventful. I now have my interim NY state driver's license and have filled out my voter registration form. The rest of the day was spent lazing about, napping, and watching some Buffy. I'm re-watching the series (when it was on TV, I watched until they went to college) and I'm on season 2 now. This means Spike and Oz, yay!
In unrelated news, the weather needs to stop thwarting me. Specifically the clouds. The temperature is great right now (so nice after the horrible heat of the Midwest!), but it started to pour just as I got off the subway at Coney Island today. I went to a tiny bit of effort to look decent for my ID photo, and then I got drenched. *shakes fist at sky* Hopefully I won't look too much like a drowned rat in the picture - waiting in line allowed me to dry off somewhat, at least. When I left the DMV the weather was lovely again, so when I got home I decided to sit out on the fire escape and get a bit of sun. Cue dark clouds and yet another downpour. At least the second time I made it indoors before the rain. And tomorrow is supposed to be nice, so maybe I'll go out and head over to the park at some point. Don't thwart me again, clouds. I need the exercise.
In some ways today was more relaxing than the rest of the week had been. I'm feeling a bit better (though still not great - curse you, runny nose!) and got to sleep in a bit. I also went to the DMV. Not relaxing, definitely time-consuming, but also happily uneventful. I now have my interim NY state driver's license and have filled out my voter registration form. The rest of the day was spent lazing about, napping, and watching some Buffy. I'm re-watching the series (when it was on TV, I watched until they went to college) and I'm on season 2 now. This means Spike and Oz, yay!
In unrelated news, the weather needs to stop thwarting me. Specifically the clouds. The temperature is great right now (so nice after the horrible heat of the Midwest!), but it started to pour just as I got off the subway at Coney Island today. I went to a tiny bit of effort to look decent for my ID photo, and then I got drenched. *shakes fist at sky* Hopefully I won't look too much like a drowned rat in the picture - waiting in line allowed me to dry off somewhat, at least. When I left the DMV the weather was lovely again, so when I got home I decided to sit out on the fire escape and get a bit of sun. Cue dark clouds and yet another downpour. At least the second time I made it indoors before the rain. And tomorrow is supposed to be nice, so maybe I'll go out and head over to the park at some point. Don't thwart me again, clouds. I need the exercise.
Sunday, August 03, 2008
Friday, August 01, 2008
I hate writing papers. You would think that as an English major in college I would have found an approach that works for me, but no. Unless procrastinating and writing at a rate of about a paragraph an hour counts as a valid approach. It certainly doesn't count as a good approach. It's like pulling teeth. Write a bit, distract myself until the pain eases up, write a bit more.
I don't mind the research and outline portions of papers -- in fact, I usually enjoy those. As long as I'm at least slightly interested in a topic, I'm happy to seek out articles, essays, etc. and skim them. Taking information from those and coming up with a rough outline usually isn't too bad either. It's just taking everything and pulling it together into a coherent lengthy paper that I have trouble with. By the time I sit down to write, I've generally thought about the topic so much that I'm tired of it. I just don't care anymore. This is one of the reasons I'm going to become a librarian. I'll just need to find information and resources; it'll be up to other people to take those things and create a paper from them.
Of course, right now I'm in library school, and guess what? I have to write papers. Currently I'm working on writing a research proposal, a mockup of something that could conceivably be published if I actually performed the study, sent out the survey, etc. I'm interested in my topic/question (How have advances in technology and digitization impacted artists' book collections?) but as usual, the paper-writing process is brutal. (Note to self: try to avoid jobs that want me to actually publish things. An academic librarianship with faculty standing is probably not in my future.)
On the plus side, I'm learning some interesting things, such as the names of places that have collections of artists' books. Did you know that Yale's Arts Library has an Arts of the Book collection? It does! This is from their website: "The Arts of the Book Collection (AOB) / Arts Library Special Collections Reading Room is a research facility housed in the Sterling Memorial Library. Wooden bookshelves with decorative carvings hold the collection, which contains both examples of and reference materials about the arts related to the book. Topics such as binding, book history, illustration, calligraphy, graphic design, paper making and decorative papers, typography and more are represented. Contemporary examples of artists' books and fine printing are housed alongside more traditional publications." Someone please give me a job here when I graduate, okay?
Sadly, in order to graduate and be qualified for a job at a place like that, I really need to finish this paper. Curses. Back to work I go.
I don't mind the research and outline portions of papers -- in fact, I usually enjoy those. As long as I'm at least slightly interested in a topic, I'm happy to seek out articles, essays, etc. and skim them. Taking information from those and coming up with a rough outline usually isn't too bad either. It's just taking everything and pulling it together into a coherent lengthy paper that I have trouble with. By the time I sit down to write, I've generally thought about the topic so much that I'm tired of it. I just don't care anymore. This is one of the reasons I'm going to become a librarian. I'll just need to find information and resources; it'll be up to other people to take those things and create a paper from them.
Of course, right now I'm in library school, and guess what? I have to write papers. Currently I'm working on writing a research proposal, a mockup of something that could conceivably be published if I actually performed the study, sent out the survey, etc. I'm interested in my topic/question (How have advances in technology and digitization impacted artists' book collections?) but as usual, the paper-writing process is brutal. (Note to self: try to avoid jobs that want me to actually publish things. An academic librarianship with faculty standing is probably not in my future.)
On the plus side, I'm learning some interesting things, such as the names of places that have collections of artists' books. Did you know that Yale's Arts Library has an Arts of the Book collection? It does! This is from their website: "The Arts of the Book Collection (AOB) / Arts Library Special Collections Reading Room is a research facility housed in the Sterling Memorial Library. Wooden bookshelves with decorative carvings hold the collection, which contains both examples of and reference materials about the arts related to the book. Topics such as binding, book history, illustration, calligraphy, graphic design, paper making and decorative papers, typography and more are represented. Contemporary examples of artists' books and fine printing are housed alongside more traditional publications." Someone please give me a job here when I graduate, okay?
Sadly, in order to graduate and be qualified for a job at a place like that, I really need to finish this paper. Curses. Back to work I go.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
I am, by and large, a creature of habit. I don't like being daring. I am hesitant to try new foods. I like finding a routine that works for me and sticking with it. This is true for hygiene/beauty products as well. I've pretty much stuck with 2 lotion scents for the past 5 or 6 years. Unless I have a strong desire for burgundy, blue, or black nails, I general paint my toenails silver.
The drugstores, however, seem to be conspiring against me. It started with the body wash. I have tried many over the years, but some time in college I settled on Caress's Berry Indulging. Then I couldn't find it anywhere. So I switched to something else. Next time I ran out, I couldn't find that one, either. Last time I got St. Ives Vanilla; I ran out recently and haven't been able to find any, so I've gone back to an Oil of Olay body wash I've used before. It's annoying, because I can have some trouble finding a scent that I like, but it's not the end of the world.
The real catastrophe? The apparent disappearance of my favorite shampoo. I occasionally use anti-dandruff or clarifying shampoos, but the bottle that has always been there for me is good old Suave Strawberry Shampoo. More recently it's been Suave Fresh Mountain Strawberry, but it's basically the same. I spent lunch today attempting to track down a bottle. I visited 3 different drugstores with absolutely no luck. They have Suave Green Apple and VO5 Strawberries & Cream, but no Suave Strawberry. This is a problem. I cannot bring myself to buy a different shampoo. The scent is part of my shower experience, and I refuse to part with it.
Thankfully, I don't think the scent has been discontinued; a quick Google shopping search yields plenty of results. Of course, I'd feel a bit absurd buying cheap shampoo online, so I'm going to try to see if I can find any while I'm visiting my parents. But if that fails, I'm probably going to cave. I need that sweet strawberry smell, and buythecase.net is selling a case of 6 bottles for $15.42.
The drugstores, however, seem to be conspiring against me. It started with the body wash. I have tried many over the years, but some time in college I settled on Caress's Berry Indulging. Then I couldn't find it anywhere. So I switched to something else. Next time I ran out, I couldn't find that one, either. Last time I got St. Ives Vanilla; I ran out recently and haven't been able to find any, so I've gone back to an Oil of Olay body wash I've used before. It's annoying, because I can have some trouble finding a scent that I like, but it's not the end of the world.
The real catastrophe? The apparent disappearance of my favorite shampoo. I occasionally use anti-dandruff or clarifying shampoos, but the bottle that has always been there for me is good old Suave Strawberry Shampoo. More recently it's been Suave Fresh Mountain Strawberry, but it's basically the same. I spent lunch today attempting to track down a bottle. I visited 3 different drugstores with absolutely no luck. They have Suave Green Apple and VO5 Strawberries & Cream, but no Suave Strawberry. This is a problem. I cannot bring myself to buy a different shampoo. The scent is part of my shower experience, and I refuse to part with it.
Thankfully, I don't think the scent has been discontinued; a quick Google shopping search yields plenty of results. Of course, I'd feel a bit absurd buying cheap shampoo online, so I'm going to try to see if I can find any while I'm visiting my parents. But if that fails, I'm probably going to cave. I need that sweet strawberry smell, and buythecase.net is selling a case of 6 bottles for $15.42.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Information you will hopefully never verify for yourself: If you drink a large glass of apple juice and end up throwing up soon afterwards, the vomit will in fact taste/smell vaguely of apples. This does not make the experience any more pleasant.
Related: Does anyone know if preserves (standard store-bought strawberry preserves) go bad? The jar was refrigerated, it wasn't that old (certainly wasn't past the expiration date), but it may be responsible for my unhappy stomach.
Related: Does anyone know if preserves (standard store-bought strawberry preserves) go bad? The jar was refrigerated, it wasn't that old (certainly wasn't past the expiration date), but it may be responsible for my unhappy stomach.
Friday, July 11, 2008
I'm redoing the layout and look of this site, and it'll probably be changing a lot until I find something I'm happy with. I'm also thinking I'll switch from my current commenting system to the built-in Blogger comments (which didn't exist when I started this site in 2003!), so old comments will disappear, unfortunately. But the archives will reappear, so if you have a craving for high school and college angst, you'll be able to get your fill. Yay?
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
There's been a bit of a kerfluffle over at Jezebel, a site that has been very near and dear to me this past year. In many ways it's a complicated bit of internet politics and grudges, but this Salon article sums up many aspects of the recent shit-storm pretty well.
A lot of the "old guard" commenters have been leaving (or getting banned), and the quality of the comments has been changing for the past few months. I used to read all the comments on certain posts, but lately I can't get through many unless the subject is very important to me. (I did skim all 1000+ comments of a recent post discussing Moe and Tracie's appearance on Thinking and Drinking, but this is because a) I'm insane and b) I was working the evening shift and didn't have much to do.)
Jezebel got me through some rough periods this year - feeling lonely and friendless in NYC, a heart-wrenching breakup, bouts of renewed depression. And for that, I am grateful to it and for it. I met some great people because of it, and I'm hoping I'll stay friends with many of them. Some of them have their own wonderful blogs, and I'm turning to them to feel the procrastination void.
I'm not going to abandon Jezebel completely - there's still some great posts on it. I strongly recommend reading things posted by Megan C and Dodai, and some of the other contributers are good too. The "Fine Lines" feature on Fridays is great. But I'm going to pare down my 'friends' list, maybe use it to track great commenters so I can read their stuff without having to wade through the rest. I'm going to try not to get emotionally invested. It's draining and time-consuming, and the costs aren't worth the benefits anymore.
In some ways, I guess I'm just fickle. I'll get devoted to or obsessed with something - a band, a website, a comic strip - and then I'll get burned out and just stop. The best of the bunch manage to renew my interest; these are the things I stick with. We'll see if Jezebel manages to make the cut.
A lot of the "old guard" commenters have been leaving (or getting banned), and the quality of the comments has been changing for the past few months. I used to read all the comments on certain posts, but lately I can't get through many unless the subject is very important to me. (I did skim all 1000+ comments of a recent post discussing Moe and Tracie's appearance on Thinking and Drinking, but this is because a) I'm insane and b) I was working the evening shift and didn't have much to do.)
Jezebel got me through some rough periods this year - feeling lonely and friendless in NYC, a heart-wrenching breakup, bouts of renewed depression. And for that, I am grateful to it and for it. I met some great people because of it, and I'm hoping I'll stay friends with many of them. Some of them have their own wonderful blogs, and I'm turning to them to feel the procrastination void.
I'm not going to abandon Jezebel completely - there's still some great posts on it. I strongly recommend reading things posted by Megan C and Dodai, and some of the other contributers are good too. The "Fine Lines" feature on Fridays is great. But I'm going to pare down my 'friends' list, maybe use it to track great commenters so I can read their stuff without having to wade through the rest. I'm going to try not to get emotionally invested. It's draining and time-consuming, and the costs aren't worth the benefits anymore.
In some ways, I guess I'm just fickle. I'll get devoted to or obsessed with something - a band, a website, a comic strip - and then I'll get burned out and just stop. The best of the bunch manage to renew my interest; these are the things I stick with. We'll see if Jezebel manages to make the cut.
Thursday, July 03, 2008
More informative tidbits about life in New York:
1. The times you desperately want to sit on the subway because you're dead on your feet are inevitably the times that you can't find a seat. Sometimes the world will taunt you with half a seat, someplace where you could rest if only that guy would close his legs and that woman would put her purse on her lap.
2. New York is a big place, but once you've settled into a routine, it doesn't feel that way. At some point, the coffee guy will start to make your coffee (just the way you like it) even before you've finished saying good morning.
1. The times you desperately want to sit on the subway because you're dead on your feet are inevitably the times that you can't find a seat. Sometimes the world will taunt you with half a seat, someplace where you could rest if only that guy would close his legs and that woman would put her purse on her lap.
2. New York is a big place, but once you've settled into a routine, it doesn't feel that way. At some point, the coffee guy will start to make your coffee (just the way you like it) even before you've finished saying good morning.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
I've lived in New York City for a little over a year now, and I've learned a few things.
1. Do not make eye contact with anyone holding a clipboard on the sidewalk. If you do so accidentally, break it quickly and keep walking. The clipboard people general support good causes (Greenpeace, the Democratic party, gay rights, etc), which makes the guilt that much harder to deal with if you actually engage with them.
2. I apparently send out vibes of friendly direction-givingness, at least when I'm near Washington Square Park. I get asked for directions all the time, even when I'm wearing headphones. The lost souls will let half a dozen people go past and single me out. I think I've only (accidentally, I swear) misdirected a few of them.
3. Mixed drinks are more expensive here, but they're also stronger. I don't know why, really, but just know that your usual limit is not a good gauge of how much you can drink. Trust me. If you end up ignoring these words and smashing your forehead into a window that is closer than it appears, well, that's your own fault.
4. Speaking of deceptive windows: do not lean in closer to examine those pretty decorative eggs or whatever is on display in that gallery. It will only bring about embarrassment and pain. Again, just trust me on this one.
1. Do not make eye contact with anyone holding a clipboard on the sidewalk. If you do so accidentally, break it quickly and keep walking. The clipboard people general support good causes (Greenpeace, the Democratic party, gay rights, etc), which makes the guilt that much harder to deal with if you actually engage with them.
2. I apparently send out vibes of friendly direction-givingness, at least when I'm near Washington Square Park. I get asked for directions all the time, even when I'm wearing headphones. The lost souls will let half a dozen people go past and single me out. I think I've only (accidentally, I swear) misdirected a few of them.
3. Mixed drinks are more expensive here, but they're also stronger. I don't know why, really, but just know that your usual limit is not a good gauge of how much you can drink. Trust me. If you end up ignoring these words and smashing your forehead into a window that is closer than it appears, well, that's your own fault.
4. Speaking of deceptive windows: do not lean in closer to examine those pretty decorative eggs or whatever is on display in that gallery. It will only bring about embarrassment and pain. Again, just trust me on this one.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
I'm trying to convince myself that it's okay to spend money.
There are certain areas where I have no problem with it, mostly when it comes to buying books. I've started buying CDs again, though I'm trying to get used stuff when I can. I even bought some new video games a couple of weeks ago. Where I have trouble is when it comes to buying clothes. I have to talk myself into spending more than about $20 on a single item. I'll stand in the dressing room, going through what I could wear it with, question if I actually need it, looking for fitting problems that will make me put it back on the rack.
This wasn't a problem when I was younger, probably because I was using my parents' money. Actually, that's not quite true, since this problem first manifested while they were still paying my bills. I guess after going through my closet so many times, after getting rid of so many barely worn clothes, I started to feel guilty. I started to analyze my purchases more, to reconsider things.
In many ways, this is a good thing. Most of the clothes that I have now are items I wear on a fairly regular basis, except for the fancier dresses and such. (On that note - someone, please invite me to a swanky cocktail party. I have the dress, but no place to wear it.) However, I'm also in a bit of a rut. I'm afraid to count and see how many grey and black t-shirts I have. I'm trying to branch out slowly - for instance, I've gotten a few shirts that are a bit nicer and aren't grey, black, or navy. But each purchase is a battle for me, especially if it involves colors. Will I actually wear a purple blouson tee? (Answer: Yes. But hesitantly.) Will I wear something with ruffles or flounces? (Answer: So far, no.)
The battle becomes much more involved when the price increases. It's not like I'm shopping in designer boutiques or anything, either. (Confession: I am terrified of going into nice, non-chain clothing stores. I stare at the windows wistfully and then flee.) I'm talking about J. Crew or Banana Republic. And it's not like I'm buying trendy things that can only be worn for a season. The black eyelet a-line skirt I wore today? I think I've had it since 8th or 9th grade. I like simple, classic stuff.
In theory, this sort of clothing is what one SHOULD spend a bit more money on. They're the wardrobe staples, the investment pieces. But I have so much trouble doing it. I'm an adult now. (Supposedly). While I can get away with wearing jeans and a t-shirt to work every day, I feel like I should be stepping it up a notch. I want to dress nicer. I pet soft sweaters, sigh over lovely pinstriped skirts. But as soon as I see the price tag, I freak out a little.
Today I made progress. I went to J. Crew to look at a dress that was on sale online. They didn't have it, but I tried on some other stuff, including a dark grey knit dress and a navy blue a-line skirt, which I bought. Of course, I'm still not 100% convinced that I should have bought them. That's why the tags are still on them. If they past the roommate test, they'll get moved into the closet. Then I'll force myself to wear them. And I'll continue my baby steps toward dressing more like an adult. Admittedly, these steps are being taken in cheap flip-flops, but that's an issue to deal with another day.
There are certain areas where I have no problem with it, mostly when it comes to buying books. I've started buying CDs again, though I'm trying to get used stuff when I can. I even bought some new video games a couple of weeks ago. Where I have trouble is when it comes to buying clothes. I have to talk myself into spending more than about $20 on a single item. I'll stand in the dressing room, going through what I could wear it with, question if I actually need it, looking for fitting problems that will make me put it back on the rack.
This wasn't a problem when I was younger, probably because I was using my parents' money. Actually, that's not quite true, since this problem first manifested while they were still paying my bills. I guess after going through my closet so many times, after getting rid of so many barely worn clothes, I started to feel guilty. I started to analyze my purchases more, to reconsider things.
In many ways, this is a good thing. Most of the clothes that I have now are items I wear on a fairly regular basis, except for the fancier dresses and such. (On that note - someone, please invite me to a swanky cocktail party. I have the dress, but no place to wear it.) However, I'm also in a bit of a rut. I'm afraid to count and see how many grey and black t-shirts I have. I'm trying to branch out slowly - for instance, I've gotten a few shirts that are a bit nicer and aren't grey, black, or navy. But each purchase is a battle for me, especially if it involves colors. Will I actually wear a purple blouson tee? (Answer: Yes. But hesitantly.) Will I wear something with ruffles or flounces? (Answer: So far, no.)
The battle becomes much more involved when the price increases. It's not like I'm shopping in designer boutiques or anything, either. (Confession: I am terrified of going into nice, non-chain clothing stores. I stare at the windows wistfully and then flee.) I'm talking about J. Crew or Banana Republic. And it's not like I'm buying trendy things that can only be worn for a season. The black eyelet a-line skirt I wore today? I think I've had it since 8th or 9th grade. I like simple, classic stuff.
In theory, this sort of clothing is what one SHOULD spend a bit more money on. They're the wardrobe staples, the investment pieces. But I have so much trouble doing it. I'm an adult now. (Supposedly). While I can get away with wearing jeans and a t-shirt to work every day, I feel like I should be stepping it up a notch. I want to dress nicer. I pet soft sweaters, sigh over lovely pinstriped skirts. But as soon as I see the price tag, I freak out a little.
Today I made progress. I went to J. Crew to look at a dress that was on sale online. They didn't have it, but I tried on some other stuff, including a dark grey knit dress and a navy blue a-line skirt, which I bought. Of course, I'm still not 100% convinced that I should have bought them. That's why the tags are still on them. If they past the roommate test, they'll get moved into the closet. Then I'll force myself to wear them. And I'll continue my baby steps toward dressing more like an adult. Admittedly, these steps are being taken in cheap flip-flops, but that's an issue to deal with another day.
Monday, May 19, 2008
All the fluff/down in my comforter has shifted to the bottom, so in an effort to redistribute it, I decided to hang it and another blanket over the fire escape this weekend. For awhile, it was fine. It was a little windy, so I sat out there with it, keeping it anchored. Then I decided to check my email, so I crawled back into the apartment. Just then, a big gust of wind came and grabbed the blankets. One fell on the ground 3 floors down; the comforter got caught on a bush.
So I got to climb down the fire escape and retrieve the blankets. This led to a few discoveries: 1) The fire escape ladder is HEAVY. God forbid there's ever a fire in my apartment that prevents me from going out the front door. 2) Once you're in the 'back yard' of the building, there's no easy way out, at least not that I could see. I got my blankets and stood in the yard, looking for a way out. The only option, it seemed, was to climb back up the fire escape - a tricky feat when laden with a 2 double-bed blankets.
"Do you need help?" I squinted and looked up. It was two of my downstairs neighbors; the little boys that helped me and my roommate move in. One of them climbed out the window. After I explained the situation, he climbed halfway down the ladder, and I handed him one blanket, and then the other. Then I climbed up and, with the help of the boy, pulled the super-heavy escape ladder up. Thanking the boy profusely, I took my blankets back upstairs, shook them out, and took them inside.
My new effort to redistribute the down involves flipping the comforter over. It means that I have a tag in my face while I sleep, but it's a hell of a lot easier than doing battle with the ladder again. Also, I think I'll be looking into clothes pins for any future airing attempts.
So I got to climb down the fire escape and retrieve the blankets. This led to a few discoveries: 1) The fire escape ladder is HEAVY. God forbid there's ever a fire in my apartment that prevents me from going out the front door. 2) Once you're in the 'back yard' of the building, there's no easy way out, at least not that I could see. I got my blankets and stood in the yard, looking for a way out. The only option, it seemed, was to climb back up the fire escape - a tricky feat when laden with a 2 double-bed blankets.
"Do you need help?" I squinted and looked up. It was two of my downstairs neighbors; the little boys that helped me and my roommate move in. One of them climbed out the window. After I explained the situation, he climbed halfway down the ladder, and I handed him one blanket, and then the other. Then I climbed up and, with the help of the boy, pulled the super-heavy escape ladder up. Thanking the boy profusely, I took my blankets back upstairs, shook them out, and took them inside.
My new effort to redistribute the down involves flipping the comforter over. It means that I have a tag in my face while I sleep, but it's a hell of a lot easier than doing battle with the ladder again. Also, I think I'll be looking into clothes pins for any future airing attempts.
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
It's spring cleaning time! I've closed/deleted my Hotmail accounts, finally. I kept forgetting to check them every 30 days, so I lost all of the emails I had been saving anyway, which was sad. I also got rid of Friendster, since I never used that, and I think I'm going to take down my personal website as well - it hasn't been updated in 4 years or so, I've lost interest in it, and there's not too much there anyway. I'm not sure if I have the originals of those files anymore, though, so I probably want to try to copy things before I remove them for good. At some point I may even update the various links that I have here - try to actually reflect what sites I'm interested in now.
I should probably do some physical spring cleaning to the apartment too, instead of concentrating on the online stuff...
I should probably do some physical spring cleaning to the apartment too, instead of concentrating on the online stuff...
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
It's been ages since I've posted. Life is fairly good,and I start my MSLIS classes next week. MSLIS = Master of Science in Library and Information Science. And it'll be an MSLIS with a concentration in Rare Books and Special Collections, so maybe I should make it MSLIS:RBSC, or something. Whee.
The real reason for this post, however: shiny things!
1. I am now the proud owner of the beautiful Heavy Red red and black brocade Victorian corset, an item that I have drooled over for at least a year. It was on clearance (I may have gotten the very last one - it's no longer available), it was in my size, so I bought it. Practical? No. Amazingly gorgeous? Yes!
2. Apple is ridiculous. To be more precise, the MacBook Air is ridiculous. Between 0.16 and 0.76 inch thin? 3 pounds? Craziness. I do, however, want the Time Capsule. Automatic wireless backup AND a Wi-Fi base station? Too cool. But I don't have the right operating system, and I already have an external hard drive and a wireless router - so it's completely unnecessary. But damn cool anyway.
The real reason for this post, however: shiny things!
1. I am now the proud owner of the beautiful Heavy Red red and black brocade Victorian corset, an item that I have drooled over for at least a year. It was on clearance (I may have gotten the very last one - it's no longer available), it was in my size, so I bought it. Practical? No. Amazingly gorgeous? Yes!
2. Apple is ridiculous. To be more precise, the MacBook Air is ridiculous. Between 0.16 and 0.76 inch thin? 3 pounds? Craziness. I do, however, want the Time Capsule. Automatic wireless backup AND a Wi-Fi base station? Too cool. But I don't have the right operating system, and I already have an external hard drive and a wireless router - so it's completely unnecessary. But damn cool anyway.
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