Confessions of a One-Track Mind

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....

I'm sitting here with color in my hair*. I've spent the day vacillating about what to wear to the Full Moon Ball. Mostly because I didn't FEEL like coloring my hair, but...my other options sucked. I can't find my one-size-fits-all emergency costume: horns and a pointed red tail---worn under a certain frock, I become the devil with a blue dress on. Entertained the idea of wearing a Hawaiian shirt with all-black everything else and going as a tropical depression, but that seemed too blah.

I don't know why I'm feeling so apathetic---usually I love dress up---but I asked myself what I really wanted to wear, and my self told me in no uncertain terms, my "disco ball" dress that I wore to Doc's wedding. And that I'd look ridiculous in it unless I touched up my roots. It's actually an upscale version of my original idea, namely Marilyn Monroe if she was fat and happy. (I have a black sequin and some glue to add the famous beauty mark.) Originally, I was going to wear my black and white polka-dot halter dress---either way, it would be with the corset underneath---but I've put SO much work into the disco dress AND it fits better.

Hey, at least it's a low-budget idea. All I had to buy was a cheap tube of mascara for my all-but-invisible lashes---everything else I had. Including the sequins, which I'm thriftily recycling from the leftover trim for the dress. Yes, I AM a Frugalista Fatshionista.

Note to self, take extra sequins with me, just in case.

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* I'm even bleaching my brows, although the color the dye has turned makes me look like Eugene Levy. Or Groucho Marx. Not such a great look....

/bleach

Tomorrow evening is the Full Moon Ball. Red is going to be there---yay! I don't get to see her nearly often enough. My costume is ready, I just have to tackle my roots this evening and take my hair to a Malfoy blondeness.

Tomorrow afternoon, I have lunch scheduled with missybrat---someone else I don't get to see as often as I like. (Last month, yes, this month, NO.) The chinese buffet beckons. (And no, it isn't the Turquoise Dragon.)

I need to do laundry and dishes---my back and shoulders have been giving me hell this week---not only have I not walked, I haven't done much of anything---and it doesn't help that the weather has been unseasonably hot: We've had multiple days of record highs; upper 80s today and projected for tomorrow as well.

My brain is playing with ideas for my Crossover Exchange fic; no trouble there. However, I'm very disappointed about Yuletide; NONE of my first four choices* made the list, and it's not because any of them are common fandoms. I've actually found more stuff on the list that I'd want to write than request. There were a couple that made me go 'oooh!' and one where I outright squee'd and bounced up and down. I predict NYR fics, if nothing else!

TV-wise, I'm very disappointed with CSI: Miami this season. The departing regular is one big reason, and complete absense of Kyle Harmon is another. That's made up for in part by my thorough squee at Sylar's storylines in Heroes. I'm also enjoying Trauma---Rabbit!---although apparently it's already up for the aex. Criminal Minds is keeping my attention---I'm wondering how the shake-ups in leadership are going to affect the team. Eastwick is pure awesome...as for Supernatural...it's had some good moments, but hasn't really hit its stride, IMO. Call me shallow, but I'm *tired* of the damn Apocalypse and I miss the monsters of the week.

The other new show (in additon to Trauma and Eastwick) that has me perked up is USA's White Collar---the pretty boy who plays the clever criminal who's working with the FBI is, well, pretty. (At one point, when he wore his hair slicked back, I was reminded of Christian Bale.) What makes me oh-so-very-happy, though, is the FBI guy he's partnered with: Tim DeKay, whom I've adored ever since I saw him in a ep of the original series Cupid (the one with Jeremy Piven). *His* boss is the guy who was Gray Anderson in Jericho. And if Diahann Carroll reprises her role regularly, I shall be very happy. (I remember her from Julia, when I was quite young---and what a to-do there was about what a ground-breaking series that was for its time. I even got the "Julia edition" Barbie for Christmas, although ironically---since the character was a nurse---one of her knees hyperextended on Christmas night. DC was beautiful then, and she still is. She's aged elegantly.) All in all, it's a series worth watching---or setting a timer for if you're otherwise occupied on a Friday night.

I have a sticky note on the side of my monitor which says "Leverage Meets the A-Team". Seriously, wouldn't it be way too much fun to have Murdock and Parker trying to out-crazy each other?!

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Secondhand Lions, Clan Destine, The Little Lady Agency and DeVour. Obscure enough for you?

I know, I know! I've been scarce this week. I've been trying to pace myself so I can time my 2,000th post to coincide with my 4th anniversary on LJ---October 31st, next Saturday.

It hasn't exactly been a wild and crazy week. We had a couple days of gorgeous weather, and it's gone back to, if not hot, certainly warmer than I'd like. Despite that, ang5fam and I have gone walking twice, Monday and Thursday evenings. Definitely my major accomplishment for the week....

The coming weekend: possibly a yard sale in the morning---we strolled past the sign: It's across the street from my former (next-to-last) workplace, which is completely shuttered. (Schadenfreude---yeehah, ain't it great?! Although knowing the wiles of the owners, I'm sure they've managed to make a shitpot of money out of it while screwing their workers.) Anyway, I've been to a few rummage sales there at the chapel, and nostalgia compels me.

Tomorrow evening, movie night at church, Saturday afternoon, possibly another walk with Ang, followed by canasta at Schnauzerland. Hmm, a thought: if the walking plans fall through, I might just head over to the beach early and stroll for a while before heading to S's. Here's hoping it goes better than the card party where S nodded out in the middle of the first hand.

Sunday is church, of course---followed by the advance decorating for the Full Moon Ball---which is next Friday, OMG! I've tried on the dress I want to wear for my costume, and can actually get into it---this makes me very happy! I have a ton of gel for my hair, but I'll need to attack my roots and make sure that I am uber-blonde. (I have in mind some performance art.) I'm delighted that Red is going to be there---I don't know as what, she's playing it as coy as I am---but it'll be a blast!

I got an email today from Replacements,, which tempts me sorely---except that the shipping costs more than the item! I got a stack of four of the soup bowls, because they go very elegantly with my regular tableware (Corelle Lyrics) and didn't look at them closely enough beforehand---one of the bowls has a big chip out of the rim. *sigh* Nuts! I'm just going to keep an eye out for the pattern on my travels---meanwhile, how often do I have three other people to sit down to dine with? That kind of social life is only in my dreams....

Speaking of soup, Soupy Sales died! Growing up on Staten Island, I remember his show fondly, even the musical signature of the station: "Double Ewe, Any Double Ewe, New YORK!" (That's WNEW) I'll bet he took a pie in the face from St Peter and was welcomed with happy laughter.

While autumn's Reapers may not be claiming the huge names that summer's did, it's getting its fair share of blasts from the past. I don't suppose it's a sign of the Apocalypse...?

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!

The second annual Full Moon Ball was less well-attended than the first one. It was fun, in a low-key way. Less audience participation, but still enjoyable. Last year, we had karaoke, this year we showed movies in a side room and had a drumming group come in. However, it DID make nearly as much money as the first one---only about $20 shy---so we cleared enough money to replace some of the doors that are rotting out. We had more readers---tarot, astrology and reiki---which probably accounts for the revenue. Instead of going til 11 as originally advertized, it broke up early. (I was home around 10.)

There were a bunch of fun costumes, including a Ghostbuster, a guy who went as roadkill, a Scotsman (I got lots of milage out of my joke about the difference between the Rolling Stones and a Scotsman), Queen Elizabeth, and PJ, who was Sergeant Pepper in a mullet wig. I was a belly-dancer again---last year my skirts were leopard print with a brown coin scarf, this year the coin scarf was green and my skirts were pink and black tribal print sarongs that S brought back from Hawaii. (Her taste usually runs to tchotckes, but these are awesome.) HHappy and I are talking about the possibility of having belly-dance classes on Sunday afternoons, which would be terrific!

I like the color of my hair, but not for me, if that's clear. It's a pretty shade, but I think it's intended for someone whose hair is true brunette. It doesn't quite work with my skin tone. Usually, I go blonde, and it looks natural, but this looks like I'm trying to look blonde instead of refreshing the blonde that was originally there. Oh well, I'm committed to it now, at least until next payday.

I need to put on some clothes and give missybrat a call so we can go shopping.
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( What's the difference between the Rolling Stones and a Scotsman? )

So, the church has been decorated---we took care of that earlier---and now I'm sitting here with color in my hair and a plastic bag over it to help kick it up a notch.

We're all pleasantly anxious, as word of our event was reported in the weekend entertainment section of the local paper, and there's no telling who's going to show up. Could be great, could be a load of fundamentalist whackadoos....

Because you never know---the love of my life might drop in.

Schedule for the next few days:


Thursday: Training (All Wet/Old Baggage), 9 AM til 1 PM, work til 5:30, Home in time for SPN, if I'm still awake.
Friday: OFF - Collect paycheck, pay bills, create/purchase dessert for Saturday, spruce up church, time TBD.
Saturday: OFF - Decorating the church 11 AM. 2nd annual Full Moon Ball 6-11 PM, drumming circle starts at 7.
Sunday: OFF - No regular service due to county-wide UU picnic (which I won't be attending, because no way am I driving to Satellite Beach at 10 AM on my day off). Shopping at new grocery store on M.I. with missybrat.
Monday: OFF - Pagans Behaving Badly monthly dinner, 7 PM.

And I don't have a costume finished for karaokegal's party OR the Full Moon Ball.

*sigh*

On the bright side, I *DO* have a four-day weekend to look forward to!