HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BFFHS!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my Best Friend From High School (and basically forever)! Since we had to endure the most cliched comments on the most cliched birthday (that would be the Sweet Sixteenth), I thought I would step outside the metaphorical Birthday Gift Box and present her with this Not A Birthday Card card.

In fact, this card is probably more appropriate for her to get me, as I would be the crazy one. This is called either

1) narcissism (my buying her a card that is actually all about me)

or

2) projection (my buying her a card that is actually about me).

I'll have to go with Door #1 as #2 would be a better fit if I really believed she was the crazy one. I think I just bought the card because it was funny and now that I really think about it, I remember why.

But wait...(dramatic pause!), this girl did stay up all night with me, just to see if we could do it (we did, it was hard, but not as hard as the following two days), and that's NOT ALL, we actually bought a chocolate cream pie and ate the whole thing on the way back to school during track practice, and...as you can see, we were really livin' on the edge!

These things, however, in no way qualify her to be crazy. They do, however, qualify her to be my Best Friend From High School and Basically Forever.

I HEART FASHION

It took me so many years of my life to admit to myself that I HEART FASHION. No wait, at first I knew it and reveled in it, then by about age 12 I learned that was "shallow" and so had to secretly revel in it, then I majored in it in college (yes, you can get a "real" degree (BS, and I don't mean BullShit) in it, and yes, even from a "good" school).

(long autobiographical pause) But now I often find myself somewhat hesitant to put it out there again...until recently. My fashion obsession has again swamped the canoe of sanity and has taken control of my life again. I cannot help it.

Fashion makes me happy. That's what I have all those magazines for. All those sketchbooks. All that...fabric. Truly though, if I am feeling down & out or cranked up & stressed or just plain overwhelmed, fashion pulls me up, calms me down and just makes everything better.

Perhaps it's the colors, the textures, the harmony of different elements blending together to make something new. Often it's just the "new" part. The visual presentation of ideas that delight, surprise, confirm, and ultimately stimulate new ideas.

It could be the promise of re-invention, of self-creation or maybe just the external expression of the mood of the day.

Whatever, fashion makes me happy. I heart fashion.

GOOD & PRETTY

I decided I'd better put a picture of something GOOD & PRETTY on here to make up for the post. No, this is not truth in advertising. I am pretty wrung out from a whole day of people demanding something from me.

Then when I click onto the little "thumbnails" tab and see the front pages of the sites I frequent, I find myself looking at this one, thinking, "Man, no one has updated that one yet. It's still the same photo!" Then I think, "Oh, right! I change the picture! I update the thing!"

Perhaps I was expecting the blog fairy to come and post something creative and funny for me, complete with a full-color photo? Hmmmm, not going to happen, you say? I'd settle for an uninterrupted hour, just to think read or write. Or sketch. Or drink coffee. By myself or with friends...

HAPPY NEW YEAR, PART I

HAPPY NEW YEAR! This is actually part 2 because I added it after the previous post, but it shall be considered part 1 as the REAL post is the previous one.

I did want this picture to be the first though, because one of my oh-so-important New Year's Resolutions is to drink more coffee. In keeping with my general list-making philosophy, I always put at least one thing on the list that I know I will actually do. Stuff like, "invest wisely in stocks and bonds" doesn't usually make the list.

Besides, I mean, Drink more coffee WITH FRIENDS. So read on...

HAPPY NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS

Damn! The chocolate photo is at the top again! I really wanted a cup of coffee there! Anyway, on to my HAPPY NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS! In case you didn't notice, that's a Wheel of Fortune answer to the clue: "before & after". The reason I know this is because my parents watch Wheel. Every day. Sometimes I happen to be over at their house at Wheel time. And frankly, their "clues" stink. Before & Afters are the only ones which really make sense to me.


The List (not in order of importance):

Eat more chocolate. Everyone should have this on his/her list. Why? Because chocolate is good for you. Not just good, good for you. GOOD for you. Good FOR you. Good for YOU!

Procure a really crazy, out there pair of shoes. Way crazier than the ones I have, some of which ressemble Munchkin footwear or which cannot decide if they are sandals or boots. Really crazy ones. I say "procure" as I may have to make them or steal them since the really crazy ones cost more than my car.



Make some super-cool baby shoes and give them to my friend who is super-cool and will need them in a few months. Thought I was going to say "have another child"? Never say "never", hahahaha. HA!

Own a real piece of Rick Owens clothing. May have to become a busker to raise extra cash. No, that is not vernacular for hooker. It is also not someone who clears tables in a restaurant. Look it up!

Wear Steger tall moosehide moccasins with something really fancy, like a ball gown or a silk suit or something...should be easy as mine are black and BLACK GOES WITH EVERYTHING!

Just a few more additions for which this format will not permit more photos...

Drink more coffee.

Be positive about as many things as possible. Look for the best in people, even if they are mean and have big hair. O.k., maybe not then. I could forgive the meanness, but never the big hair. No, let's reverse that.

Give random people some happiness. Tell them you like their shoes or that they have a nice smile or that they should "have a nice day" BEFORE they tell you. Sure, they might think you are hitting on them, but do it anyway. It will make their day and yours too.

So Happy New Year to You!

MmmmmWah!

WINTER BOOTS, HALF OFF

Winter boots, half off...it looks like it was the lower half this time, hohoho! When you spy something like this, how can you pass it up? These (Demeulemeester? knockoffs) were just too interesting, and such a bargain.

The singing Frosty with the light-up cheeks was extra, but well worth it as he balances out the edginess of the supple black leather and dichotomous, covered up/revealing concept going on.





Note the ankle-warmer effect the scrunched leather creates...perfect for the frozen northland where, when temperatures plummet, ankle warmth becomes paramount.

So good luck with your own post-Christmas hunting and gathering! May you find your own treasures...

THE FIRST CUT IS THE DEEPEST

O.K., These are not the World's Ugliest Sweaters, but they are looking a bit dated...one's too long, the other is too short (and in that "this-sweater-was-in-style-about-8-years-ago" way).

I still love the colors though, and the textural interest created by the different patterns, the open stitching (forgive me if that's an incorrect term, I do not knit) and the ribbing is lovely.

The soft pink mohairiness of it...it's like a pink wooly cloud.

This one has some silk in it and is not at all scratchy but quite soft.

You can probably guess where this is going.

It's really hard to get started. You feel a frisson of danger, of destruction and doom. The fear that even though every time you put the sweater on you think, "Nooooo...too short, too long, too can't find the right thing to wear under it", you will make it even worse.

But then you start to cut. And let me tell you, it gets easier. Almost frightenly easier. The lavendar one is already gone...

Come back in a few days and you will see...