Confessions of a One-Track Mind

This morning I spent about 20 seconds trying to beat my snooze alarm to death before realizing I was hitting the wrong clock. Chalk it up to too much nightlife---not partying, staying up til 5 AM because it's just more comfortable at night.

Anyway, I got up and got into my zebra suit and went to church...very good talk on the First Amendment by AI. The expression, "Them's fighting words!" so beloved by cartoon characters like Daffy Duck and Yosemite Sam are linked to a Supreme Court ruling of the day (1942). There was a street corner preacher who was asked to move along by a police officer and became argumentative. He was arrested, and the conviction was eventually upheld by the Supreme Court. They ruled that include the lewd and obscene, the profane, the libelous, and the insulting or "fighting words" those which by their very utterance inflict injury or tend to incite an immediate breach of the peace. It has been well observed that such utterances are no essential part of any exposition of ideas, and are of such slight social value as a step to truth that any benefit that may be derived from them is clearly outweighed by the social interest in order and morality.

There was also content about biased news media, which is less concerned with accurate reporting of events than ensuring ratings and entertainment value. We're so in love with what we perceive as our right to have an opinion that even scientific fact is considered open for debate. Another abuse is the comments on internet news stories which are frequently "fighting words", often being either without value or relevance. It was very interesting.

I'm hoping I can crawl into bed and get to sleep early tonight. I'd really like to reset my sleep clock, which still behaves like I'm second shift, and the heat isn't helping. Eh, we'll see....

.

I wore The Hat to church today with the dark blue blouse (I'd forgotten it was new with tags---another feature that made me happy when I acquired it.) The winter white pants are in no immediate danger of falling off. Wore my new necklace with the ensemble instead of the scarf I had planned because I could NOT get the confounded thing to drape right and I was sick of fiddling with pinning it. Next time.

(Mind you, I'll need to either fix the elastic chin strap or sew in a comb, because the darned hat kept trying to migrate. Looked good, though!)

Service was a Dumb Supper ritual for the Day of the Dead. "Dumb" because it's conducted in silence, and because the dead are mute. I wasn't familiar with the term before this year, and suddenly I've heard it several times. Since the most recent of my losses is ten-plus years, I was okay, but a couple of people Lost It. Next year, I'm liable to be one of them....

Afterward, during hospitality, I squeed in church. Back around my birthday, AI had promised me a trip to Lush, and the purchase of two goodies of my choice. It got postponed; this, that and the other came up---I had pretty much written it off as 'Not going to happen, poor little me'. Then as I was sitting there, carefully consuming chili with napkins over my decolletage to protect the blouse, she passed by and said, "Next Saturday."

Okay, I'll bite. "Next Saturday?"

"Lush."

SQUEE! Sometimes it's very nice to be wrong. Of course, now I need to contemplate what I might like to get---back to the catalog!---although getting there and sniffing around may change any advance decisions I may make. There are some descriptions that sound good enough to eat, but my nose may think otherwise.

I know that a few of you gals use their products, and I hereby solicit your input. So far, I've used the cake shampoo (cinnamon), which I really, really like. It softens my hair like nothing else I've ever used. Great stuff. I've also thought of trying one of their exfoliants---or a moisturizer or a shower gel or ?!---I'd love to hear any recs or comments. Good results? Bad results? Anything you've tried that you wouldn't do again? Why not?

If you usually read my fiction but you've been busy lately, you may have missed the last couple stories I've posted. There's Zinfandel, a Heroes fic that plays some gender-bending mind games with one of the characters, and then there's The Inside Job, a Leverage caper which is one of the schmoopiest things I've ever written. Not quite picking-out-curtains schmoop, but close. Or you might just be looking for something new to read, whatever....

Tomorrow is Monday. I have gotten to where I dread Mondays and those damned doctor appointments. *le sigh* Better than the alternative, I guess....

Was up just after ten this morning---I am managing to wake earlier and earlier, go me! Tomorrow will be even better, albeit with the help of an alarm clock...

First thing I did was check email, then called GK, who was at Barnes & Noble with Kat and the Things. It was one of those conversations where she was talking to me, talking to the kids, looking at stuff they were showing her while I was reading her a list of the current-run movies at Merritt Square. Nothing we both want to see; the only ones I had any interest in are things she's already seen. She gets to a heckuva lot more films than I do!

Was barely off the phone with her than AI called...we didn't have a chance to talk yesterday, what with me dashing off to the reunion. Had a nice chat about the Full Moon Ball (3rd annual), and I'm so glad to know that this year I won't have to beg, borrow or outright steal a day off to attend. We had tentative plans to visit the nearest Lush store (at OIA---and contrary to the name, it doesn't sell booze---it's fabulous bath products) on my birthday, in lieu of a birthday dinner. Told her because of the job situation, finances are dicey, and she said no, I may get two products as my gift from her, so yay, Lushness! I've been pouring over the catalog she gave me in June---along with a cake of Lush shampoo---trying to decide, but I think I'm going to have to go in there and sniff around.

Created a playlist---it's time to burn a new CD for the car---and added to a WIP. Snacked. Called GK back late afternoonish since I hadn't heard back about possible thrifting. She was at the motel and was able to talk without multitasking...heard about her plans to pay off the loan on Kat's van and swap it for hers. Kat's has lower milage and is a couple years newer, and that way Kat won't have to make payments and will have more money for medications or whatever. Also broke the news that I'm unemployed---gave her the details, but she hasn't come up with a plan to rescue me yet. (She's like that.) Only plan is for me to show up at Kat's tomorrow morning at 9:30 and we're going to hit the mall when they open at 10 and look for a dress for Kat to wear to the wedding. Oh, and I agreed to help her lay tile (the peel and stick kind) in one of Kat's spare rooms....

Shortly after that came a knock at the door, and missybrat came by with the bottle of Diet (caffeine free!) A&W root beer that got left behind in her car on Friday.

The 6:00 WNTW was a rerun I've seen at least four times, so I divided my attention between that and more closet excavating...I never fail to unearth something I've completely forgotten, in this case a drop-dead leopard skirt. I must've picked it up early on in my Goodwill pillaging when I was less discriminating---it couldn't've fit, but it does now! Get ready...it's knee-length leopard print velvet with a black beaded fringe. Oh-la-la!

Oh, and I have some great short strands of rocks GK gave me---two different shapes of turquoise, some snowflake jasper, two of the same type rock in different shapes that I'm not certain of, and some lovely white shell cones. Told AI I might make some earrings for the craft table at the Full Moon Ball with little cards telling about the stones.

Hasta banana!

I just got in from the clothes swap a little bit ago. It was wonderful---I got rid of three boxes of stuff and only brought one back!

AI is a great believer in "free size" clothing, despite the fact that she's only something like a 16/18. I inherited quite a few gorgeous goodies!

For instance:

A brown and gold batik* dress and duster sewn with white beads and cowrie shells. A bit snug in the bust---I had to hike the girls UP and they're not going anywhere---but otherwise it's great on me and everyone said the color was perfect. (As a neutral, brown works better for me than black.)

A very floaty dress...kind of like a wrap dress, but not...a plum-brown background with taupe-ish tan flowers, irregular hem, very zen. I may get the sleeves shortened a bit, because they're somewhere between 3/4 and wrist length, and I'll get a lot more wear out of it above the elbow.

Ditto the pretty solid cornflower blue knit dress...the sleeves are sausage-snug, the rest of it is divine. The style reminds me very much of my eggplant purple dress, which has short sleeves and is made of fabulous.

There's a sweet little blue shrug with sequins, meant to go with denim capris, clearly.

A pair of aqua blue gauchos that are extremely stretchy, however I *will* be wearing something tunic-style over it because otherwise it looks like I'm smuggling a watermelon.

A purple and white poncho-type top with stars and moons and ringed planets and fringe. It's light cotton, beachy-summery, and fun for when I'm in a gypsy mood.

Finally, there were three things I got dibs on, fast---

A batik jacket, purple, red and brown, freeform colors, no particular pattern---and did I mention I got a pair of purple pants with that Target GC I had a couple weeks ago?

A tribal patchwork jacket from Wild Women---mostly dark green/teal with hints of aqua and lavender; will work with jeans, navy or grey, all of which I have.

A tribal batik tunic, primarily dark violet and teal, very drapey, longer in the back than the front, and it's going to be great on those days when I don't want to define my waist---in fact, I'd prefer to ignore everything altogether (IE, I'm bloated and crampy).

None of it is "fade-into-the-woodwork" type styles---because aqua gauchos aren't exactly subtle and even the solid blue dress can be dressed up---and I'm delighted and contemplating what to wear to work on Tuesday.

Whatever it is, it's gonna be fabulous!

============================================

* Batik is a theme, and most of this is handwash-in-cold-water rayon.

Today was delightful. Met AI and HG at the church and we headed over to Orlando for some quality time.

First up: a bead store. Their prices are higher than I'm used to, so I didn't do too much damage. I've got several projects planned---I'm glad I have a 3-day weekend ahead, I can manage some quality ass-on-couch time. I now have a ring mandrel! I've wanted one for ages, and this was quite a bit less than I could've had it shipped for from eBay.

Then we did Smokey Bones BBQ for lunch---yummy, yummy brisket!---and on to two new age stores, a herb shop and a used bookstore (I was good---only got three). Considering the fact that we got on the road a little before 11 this morning, I think we covered a lot of ground. I'm well-stocked for incense (violet), essential oil (tea tree) and sage (a small bundle to smudge with), and I got a bag of cardamom seeds, which smells heavenly. I got a coloring book that I'm dying to scan---very acid-trippy drawings of flowers and insects---a couple of greeting cards, and the usual assortment of rocks.

The only incident that marred the afternoon was a minor fender-bender coming out of the second new age place---someone else pulled out of a parking place that was at right angles to ours, and we scraped together. It was barely noticable, the guy refused to exchange insurance info---HG had a camera with her and snapped pix, so we have an official record, but our vehicle had one tiny paint-scrape---less than two inches long---on the bumper.

I've already let them know that I may end up staying home and sleeping in tomorrow, because with all the construction going on down the block, I won't be able to rest on Monday morning, that's for sure.

Now I'm going to scrounge up some dinner and then I think I'll bead something....

I didn't expect to wind up shopping today, but I ended up in Melbourne with AI and JZ after church, cruising a major sale at Katherine's. We had a blast! JZ declared herself my fairy godmother, and she and AI each picked out a top for me. I also got two skirts and a dress---first time I've shopped non-W*M retail in ages!

The top JZ picked was one I wouldn't've looked twice at---the black and white print was okay, but I never would've gone for the ruffle (which is adorable ON). It'll go with both skirts---one is a black and white faux tweed, the other is black with white polka dots. The top AI selected doesn't go with either of those skirts, but it's a jungle-ish print in brown, black and khaki, and I have all of the above in solid-color bottoms.

The dress is a polka-dotted denim shirtwaist---it buttons all the way down and looks awesome. I'm really looking forward to wearing it to work---and there's a Trendicrap bag that would be perfect with it---!

JZ picked up the tab---I'm not sure what prompted this sudden gift, but I thanked her profusely. NEW clothes---wow!

This morning, my eyes popped open at 8 AM and stayed open. I didn't give a rat's ass that the weather was sullen, I wanted to go play with the pretty rocks!

I hustled on down there---the show opened at 10, and I got there at 10:30, so I got a decent parking space, and remembered the last time I was there, which was in September for the job fair. That time, I was one of the few ladies wearing an actual business suit (olive green). Today, I had on my sand-beige dress under my newer Wild Woman jacket, and my leopard flats, which in retrospect weren't the greatest choice---no support---but damn, I looked good!

I spent so much money, I don't even want to *think* about it. It's not going to break me, but I'm ready to check into the Imelda Marcos Clinic for Shopaholics. OMG...!

I have a new turquoise ring on my left index finger (single biggest purchase), and *mind boggles* a lot of rocks and beads. A helluva lot. A slab of labradorite AND two strands of beads, different shapes. Four strands of lava rock, in as many sizes, two drilled pieces of jet, a strand of big red coral pieces and three strands of smaller chips, some tumbled turquoise, one turquoise donut---no, two donuts, one the size of a quarter, the other one about as big as the top of a soda can---um....hematite! A strand, a drilled heart and a piece of spectaculite. 35 pieces of jasper and agate, assorted shapes, most of them with holes in the center to frame a bead between the drilled holes.

And that's just the rocks. Beads---I snagged a little of everything, from dichroic and lampwork to cloisoinne and netsuke (I got a little carved bone rabbit that's going to become a plot bunny necklace or brooch.) I have a bunch of normal, boring beads already---now I've got some kick-ass focal beads to play with!

I hooked up with AI, who was just as profligate as I was---between us, I'm amazed there was anything left! We instigated each other, and finally took ourselves over to Bennigan's for lunch around 1-ish, by which time, I was feeling a bit hollow, as I'd completely bypassed breakfast. I had the Turkey O'Toole and we shared an apple sizzler for dessert, then I checked in with work to find out that SYT had approved my request to come in at 5 instead of 3 (as per my usual schedule).

AI dropped me back at the auditorium, where my car was. She headed for home, I made another quick sweep of the place (which was when I netted the Ring), and then went on to work, which was disorienting for the first hour or so.

I think I was the only one in our section who wasn't having a crappy night. That's not to say that I didn't have any fools, because I did have a couple, but none of them provoked me to howling or hitting my desk, as a couple gals were doing. Now, tra-la, I'm off until Tuesday, I'll be touching base with GK tomorrow and making plans, and oh happy day---her husband and kids are going back at oh-dark-thirty today, so Kat and I will have her to ourselves!

There are still things calling my name that I *didn't* get...an amber ring, some pretty apple green howlite, a cinnabar cross, and a hunk of raw sodalite the size of a bowling ball but more square. And some copper, but they wanted waaay more per gram than I'm willing to pay for common copper, no matter how pretty the beads are.

I was thinking that I'd come home, kick back with my tape of this week's Jericho and play with some of my acquisitions, but the long day is catching up with me. I'm off to bed!

Tonight, I stopped for gas on the way home (it's gone up 20 cents a gallon since the last time I filled up---a week ago!), and as I finished and was squeegying my windshield, the train came through the crossing across the street.

Forthwith, I got into my trusty Honda and hit the highway, because paralleling the northbound train gets you green on all the left-hand traffic lights (which is most of them until you get to north Rockledge). I made good time, but was stymied when the light at Viera Blvd went red as I approached, until I glanced left and realized I'd outrun the train. I laughed for the next couple of miles and paced it carefully until I started getting caught by those right-hand triggered lights north of Eyester.

My timing was absolutely flawless, though, because I made the left onto King Street with the green and approached the tracks just in time to see the last car clatter past and the gates go up.

Such are the small victories of my daily commute!
____________________________

Tomorrow's post will have all the shiny details of the gem show---I'm quivering with eagerness, since it's been a very long time since I've had cash to properly pillage an event like this. Then lunch with AI, and GK is in town Sunday and Monday, so I have her delightful company to look forward to, although we haven't formalized plans yet. Probably a thrift store or three or four....