Figs and Things

Sometimes I think that, with my love of home and general domesticity and the lack of slutty clothes in my wardrobe and dearth of stories about the times I went out and got wasted and partied until sunrise with pop stars and artists and aimlessly wealthy European riff-raff-y youths, men might find me too dull to date and marry.

So I like figs and sweaters, big deal!

But then I think, "But SOMEWHERE out there SOMEONE has got to find my love of hearth and home appealing, right? ... RIGHT!?"

 Uuuuh...maybe not?  His sideburns are sweet, though.

**Kate Beaton, once again, you are full of wonder and joy. Gotta love a gal who uses profanity and writes cartoons that riff on The Yellow Wallpaper.

You Guys Gotta See This Baby, It's Crazy

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Kate Beaton, I love you.  Your comics bring me unspeakable joy.  As Anne Shirley would say, we are kindred spirits.  Why didn't you make Christmas cards of this?  It's concert week and whenever we get to the soprano recitatives in Messiah that start with "And lo, the angel of the Lord cam upon them..." I think of this guy now.

December, You Speedy Thing

So 2010 is drawing to a close.  Yes, it's only the 2nd week of December, but everything work and life related that has yet to happen that I KNOW is coming makes it seem like the month is already over.  I suppose I should try to live in the moment or whathaveyou.  It also makes me think I should take a look back at 2010.  When I was a consistent journal-er (say freshman year of high school through junior year of college) I used to do end of the year recaps.  I'd bullet point (I've said it before, I'll say it again, I'm a list-lover) the highs and lows and main points of the year.  It was interesting to do a list rather than an emotional "how far have I come, how have I changed?" sort of deal.  With my consistent inability to think well of myself and anything I do, looking in sort of grand LIFE-HUMANITY-PROGRESS terms I'd say, "well, I haven't done ANYTHING, I've wasted my year, my life."  If I literally list out things that have happened ("moved to new apartment" or "knit my first sweater") I'd realize that a lot more happened in my life than I'm willing to admit to myself and even if it wasn't all doctorates and orphan-rescues, it's still my life and still worthwhile.  One the negative side (at least in terms of feelings) it also shows me all the things I HAVEN'T done.  Maybe I'll recap this year.  It's fun to try and recall all the wacky happenings and doings, it makes life seem more like it happened and its effects stay with you rather than you just breezing through and forgetting all the stuff that's "over and done". But I don't know how willing I am to look at what I'm NOT doing...

Employee of the Month

To the man who pulled up at the next pump at the gas station then got out and asked me "You need any steaks at home?",

I thought you were just sorta crazy, then I realized you were driving a meat delivery truck.  Sir, you are a dedicated professional and always on the clock.  I salute you.


Sincerely,

Darcy

Ten

1. Way too long between posts, even when stuff is going on. Worst blogger ever.
2. Snow in Seattle.  It was so lovely. I didn't get into any accidents or fall on my ass. Thumbs up.
3. Cafe mole from The Java Bean.  Add a little cumin and it's heaven on a cold day. 
4. Re: # 3, I do mean "mole" as in the Mexican food item, not the little furry creatures. 
5. Cafe moles might be adorable, though...
6. The Walking Dead. So much joy, so few episodes.  I heart you, Andrew Lincoln.
7. Fall Conference at work over and done with.  It was on Tuesday and I'm STILL exhausted.
8. Liz and I are having our super Christmas weekend starting Saturday. We're buying a tree, putting up lights, eating and drinking delicious things, writing Christmas cards and watching Christmas movies.
9. Making molasses brined porkchops with sauteed apples for dinner on our super Christmas weekend.
10. So excited.

Snoooooooooow!

I was hoping we'd get snow this winter - I guess winter is early?  It started snowing yesterday (very very very lightly, for a few minutes at a time) then stopped, but when I woke up this morning we had a little dusting!  All day it's been lightly snowing on and off.  The roads are still clear here in Ballard, it hasn't really stuck, but the cars and trees are all covered and it's BEAUTIFUL!  I get so excited by snow.  Why am I stuck in this darned office!? It will be dark by the time I get off - I want to go for a walk in it :( 

Seeing snow fall is one of my favorite things in the world.  I love it so much it actually makes me feel almost sad.  I suppose sad is the closest word I can come up with.  I wish I could go out to the middle of nowhere at twilight and be silent and watch it fall.

The Gypsy's Curse

[VERY delayed post.]
Oh, Halloween, thanks for existing. I also totally want to punch you in the face.  After realizing that I own quite the collection of colorful skirts, scarves, and dangly jewelry, I decided to be a gypsy for Halloween.  All I needed was a corset.  Stroke of genius: alter the vest from my British street urchin outfit from last year:

I was house-sitting at the time and there was cable TV, so my hours of pinning and sewing were inspired by several episodes of What Not To Wear (then, oddly, Deep Blue Sea and Sin City).  I discovered that (1) I am quite creatively efficient in a fix (2) tailor's chalk is REALLY fun (3) shapeless purple corduroy vests make BITCHIN' gypsy corsets.

 Yowza!

Come Halloween, I layered the skirts, loaded on the eye make up, hooked on the corset and headed out.  I'm quite proud of myself.  It was an odd evening - started out later than we mean, waited in line way too long to NOT get into a club, then had a pretty darn good last hour and a half at another club. A vampire named Mike who had somehow lost both his fangs and his cape (so he just sort of looked like an old timey French dandy) offered to buy me a drink but Liz literally snatched me away from him (she's good at saving). 

Then, oh, then, my friends, on the way back to the car I managed to roll my left ankle and fall on my ass in a huge gypsy pile.  Within about 60 seconds it had swollen at least twice it's normal size and Liz had to shield it from my sight because it was unbearable to view. 

Kaushik drove us to the store to get a bandage while Liz and I sat in the car.  Her in the front seat shielding my hideous limb, holding it up in the air to elevate it ("I'm trying to give you zero gravity here"), both of us laughing somewhat hysterically and not quite sure why.  All the while I have tears rolling down my face.  Back at our apartment, Kaushik (what a ridiculously awesome dude) picked me up (tweaking his own back, booo - lift with yer legs!) and carried me in.  We must have been quite a sight: a tear-streaked, mangled gypsy being carried by an Indian pirate. 

Oh, Halloween, I wanted you to be so much better.  Can I wear my gypsy costume some other time, I'm WAY too into my vest to only wear it for a few hours. 

UPDATE: I'm much better now, not hobbling except at the end of a day where I've walked or stood to much (ie today - curse you grocery shopping and other errands).