The Full Moon Ball

I pitched a small hissy fit trying to get into that damned corset. It's cheap, massed-produced, with plastic boning, a lace-up-the-back number from Lane Bryant and it gives me serious uni-boob---I would sell my grandmother for a proper corset with a busk and garters. But since I haven't been able to find a black, strapless bra to fit me anywhere, I'm kinda stuck with this one. Stuck being the operative word: I thought I was going to spend the whole night with the bottom edge jammed up the back...I killed my shoulders and tore a nail, but I got into it.

By the time I got to church, I was STRESSED. Nauseous. Tearful. Honestly? If it weren't for the fact that I was meeting Red, I would've stayed home. Which, as it turns out, would've been a huge mistake.

For one thing, I got my admission comp'ed---there were a couple tickets set aside for low-income guests. (I was prepared to pay---that allowed me to take some of my cash on hand and buy extra tickets for door prizes.) Costume-wise, the sequin stayed stuck, and except for one young person who guessed Nicole Kidman, everyone knew who I was supposed to be. Someone had made a really yummy wine punch---this REALLY de-stressed me!---and some great chili. I felt better after Red and I sat down and ate.

The crowd wasn't that big this year, but it was mostly people we're tight with. RHappy was our karaoke DJ. I got up multiple times, both as part of a group and solo. Did "It's Raining Men" with several of the gals, StormValkyrie and I belted out "Bad Bad Leroy Brown"---dead easy, that one, it joins "Bad Moon Rising" on my bombproof list---although I didn't resort to that old standard this go-round.

Solo, I did Meatloaf ("Anything for Love"), AC/DC ("Thunderstruck")---both of which turned out to be a helluva lot trickier than I expected from singing along with the CD. Then after something---I forget what---RHappy was busy, so the machine automatically went to the next selection, and I grabbed the mike for the hell of it and got torchy with "Jack and Diane". Yes, John Cougar before he was Mellencamp...that took me back to the year and a half I spent working in the paper plate factory circa 1982-83. The funny thing was, they played that song so much then that I despised it---and now it's just a blast from the past and I had a great time with it.

Oh, and the door prizes? I won two---a much-coveted necklace contributed by AI, and, miracle of miracles, a gift certificate for a half-hour massage.

So it ended up being totally worth it. Then I wandered home, watched White Collar on DVR, and now I'm trying to stay awake for CAYN to open. Maybe, maybe not....

The Full Moon Ball

I pitched a small hissy fit trying to get into that damned corset. It's cheap, massed-produced, with plastic boning, a lace-up-the-back number from Lane Bryant and it gives me serious uni-boob---I would sell my grandmother for a proper corset with a busk and garters. But since I haven't been able to find a black, strapless bra to fit me anywhere, I'm kinda stuck with this one. Stuck being the operative word: I thought I was going to spend the whole night with the bottom edge jammed up the back...I killed my shoulders and tore a nail, but I got into it.

By the time I got to church, I was STRESSED. Nauseous. Tearful. Honestly? If it weren't for the fact that I was meeting Red, I would've stayed home. Which, as it turns out, would've been a huge mistake.

For one thing, I got my admission comp'ed---there were a couple tickets set aside for low-income guests. (I was prepared to pay---that allowed me to take some of my cash on hand and buy extra tickets for door prizes.) Costume-wise, the sequin stayed stuck, and except for one young person who guessed Nicole Kidman, everyone knew who I was supposed to be. Someone had made a really yummy wine punch---this REALLY de-stressed me!---and some great chili. I felt better after Red and I sat down and ate.

The crowd wasn't that big this year, but it was mostly people we're tight with. RHappy was our karaoke DJ. I got up multiple times, both as part of a group and solo. Did "It's Raining Men" with several of the gals, StormValkyrie and I belted out "Bad Bad Leroy Brown"---dead easy, that one, it joins "Bad Moon Rising" on my bombproof list---although I didn't resort to that old standard this go-round.

Solo, I did Meatloaf ("Anything for Love"), AC/DC ("Thunderstruck")---both of which turned out to be a helluva lot trickier than I expected from singing along with the CD. Then after something---I forget what---RHappy was busy, so the machine automatically went to the next selection, and I grabbed the mike for the hell of it and got torchy with "Jack and Diane". Yes, John Cougar before he was Mellencamp...that took me back to the year and a half I spent working in the paper plate factory circa 1982-83. The funny thing was, they played that song so much then that I despised it---and now it's just a blast from the past and I had a great time with it.

Oh, and the door prizes? I won two---a much-coveted necklace contributed by AI, and, miracle of miracles, a gift certificate for a half-hour massage.

So it ended up being totally worth it. Then I wandered home, watched White Collar on DVR, and now I'm trying to stay awake for CAYN to open. Maybe, maybe not....

The Inside Job: A Leverage fanfic

Title: The Inside Job
Authored by: vanillafluffy
Pairing/spoilers: Nate-Sophie And if giant spiders squick you, you might want to pass....
Rating/Work-safeness: PG-13
Approximate word count: 3200
Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the Season One DVDs. Heaven knows I'm not making a profit.
Betaed by: mojavedragonfly
Summary: Nate's crew of thieves is being even sneakier thaa usual. They're up to something, the question is what---and how does Parker's new pet figure into it?


( A high-pitched noise overhead sounds ominously like a shriek. Nate stands motionless, listening. Great, they've built themselves a torture chamber up there and incarcerated an unauthorized mark. )

Thanks for your shiny comments!

The Inside Job: A Leverage fanfic

Title: The Inside Job
Authored by: vanillafluffy
Pairing/spoilers: Nate-Sophie And if giant spiders squick you, you might want to pass....
Rating/Work-safeness: PG-13
Approximate word count: 3200
Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the Season One DVDs. Heaven knows I'm not making a profit.
Betaed by: mojavedragonfly
Summary: Nate's crew of thieves is being even sneakier thaa usual. They're up to something, the question is what---and how does Parker's new pet figure into it?


( A high-pitched noise overhead sounds ominously like a shriek. Nate stands motionless, listening. Great, they've built themselves a torture chamber up there and incarcerated an unauthorized mark. )

Thanks for your shiny comments!

2.000th post -- 4th LJ anniversary -- Happy Halloween!

Set off the fireworks, fling the confetti, cue the acrobats! This is my 2000th LJ post, and today is my 4th anniversary here. Woohoo! Good times!

In the spirit of having something to celebrate, let me invite you all to visit The 4th Annual Come as You're Not Party, a ficathon produced by the indefatigable karaokegal, with lots of fandoms represented and fresh stories from a bunch of fine authors (including a schmoopy Leverage fic from yours truly).

It's a beautiful day, the weather is warm without roasting, and I'm feeling chipper despite the back still not being a happy camper. I had an email this morning from ang5fam, who announced she was off to do some thrifting. This sounded like such a good idea that I hustled into some clothes and hit the road myself. I started the day with $9 cash and came back with folding money (so I have something for the collection plate tomorrow)---but I did put $10 on my debit card.

The first place I went to was the St Vincent dePaul on 520---they're fairly new and I've been wanting to check them out---there was nothing amazing; the don't separate plus sizes, didn't have any aluminum or anything else I collect, but I picked up a couple of newish pot holders and wash cloths for cheap, namely a buck and a half.

Then, since I was in the neighborhood, I wandered into the Sharing Center. It wouldn't have been so bad if I hadn't fallen in love with the hat---it's navy, very High Church, and I have a dark blue silk blouse that I picked up over the summer that it will compliment beautifully. It was $10, and they threw in the copy of Belle Armoire I found.

I meandered out to their furniture barn and discovered a sweet little area rug---4'x 6' in Neapolitan colors: pink and white flowers (with a smidge of green trim) on a chocolate background. For $5, I was not going to pass that up! Since my bedroom has brown walls for the time being, I figure it'll work in there---I'm planning to put it in front of the closet door---and when I get the other two rooms swapped around, it can go into the library, probably under my desk to keep my feet warm.

Total for the day was about $18 and not much gas to speak of. I'm contemplating my ensemble for tomorrow---the hat, the blouse, a scarf that will add a note of color, paired with some winter white pants that I really ought to try to wear more before they get too big for me.

Happy Halloween A splended Samhain to you, my darlings! Blessed be.

2.000th post -- 4th LJ anniversary -- Happy Halloween!

Set off the fireworks, fling the confetti, cue the acrobats! This is my 2000th LJ post, and today is my 4th anniversary here. Woohoo! Good times!

In the spirit of having something to celebrate, let me invite you all to visit The 4th Annual Come as You're Not Party, a ficathon produced by the indefatigable karaokegal, with lots of fandoms represented and fresh stories from a bunch of fine authors (including a schmoopy Leverage fic from yours truly).

It's a beautiful day, the weather is warm without roasting, and I'm feeling chipper despite the back still not being a happy camper. I had an email this morning from ang5fam, who announced she was off to do some thrifting. This sounded like such a good idea that I hustled into some clothes and hit the road myself. I started the day with $9 cash and came back with folding money (so I have something for the collection plate tomorrow)---but I did put $10 on my debit card.

The first place I went to was the St Vincent dePaul on 520---they're fairly new and I've been wanting to check them out---there was nothing amazing; the don't separate plus sizes, didn't have any aluminum or anything else I collect, but I picked up a couple of newish pot holders and wash cloths for cheap, namely a buck and a half.

Then, since I was in the neighborhood, I wandered into the Sharing Center. It wouldn't have been so bad if I hadn't fallen in love with the hat---it's navy, very High Church, and I have a dark blue silk blouse that I picked up over the summer that it will compliment beautifully. It was $10, and they threw in the copy of Belle Armoire I found.

I meandered out to their furniture barn and discovered a sweet little area rug---4'x 6' in Neapolitan colors: pink and white flowers (with a smidge of green trim) on a chocolate background. For $5, I was not going to pass that up! Since my bedroom has brown walls for the time being, I figure it'll work in there---I'm planning to put it in front of the closet door---and when I get the other two rooms swapped around, it can go into the library, probably under my desk to keep my feet warm.

Total for the day was about $18 and not much gas to speak of. I'm contemplating my ensemble for tomorrow---the hat, the blouse, a scarf that will add a note of color, paired with some winter white pants that I really ought to try to wear more before they get too big for me.

Happy Halloween A splended Samhain to you, my darlings! Blessed be.