FrouFrou and Frippery

Never underestimate the value of pretty underwear. I don’t necessarily mean hot lingerie in shiny flimsy materials, though those have their place, I mean, any normal underwear that comes in pretty colors and makes you happy.

While I never cease to remind my mother of the time she lifted her dress while driving some of my friends home to display the way her panties matched her outfit, the truth is, I’m just as keen on matching as she is, and I’ve got four new bras to prove it. Two of them are black, because my very favorite black bra finally had to be consigned to the land of dead clothing (which is largely populated by very lonely half-pairs of socks (but I digress)), and I wear a LOT of black, even in summer, so one plunges and one doesn’t quite. One is lacy and sheer and light. Hey, I like lace in moderation. And one is green, blue, and white, very springy and smile inducing. It actually matches the pajamas I also bought.

Speaking of which, why would you need a bra to match pajamas? Are there that many women who wander around in a bra and pj bottoms? Is it designed so that when you wear your green and blue bra and panties under a green striped t-shirt and blue jeans, you can still color coordinate when you switch to loungewear? I really want to know.

In any case, my grandmother, who always said you must always wear clean underwear in case you were in an accident, would be extremely pleased to know I’ve nothing to worry about after yesterday’s shopping excursion.

Got Zombies?

Yes, it’s Easter, and what better way to celebrate than with the first teaser for 3 Days Later a movie-length parody of the famous musical Jesus Christ: Superstar?

Okay, chocolate would taste better, but would it catch you between laughter and fear of going to hell? Probably not.

A good friend of mine is one of the creative minds behind this, but even if that wasn’t the case, I’d HAVE to share:

I’m in Love with Alienware

Or at least I’m in lust with one of their computers. It’s called the Area 51 m15x and it’s chassis is referred to as the “Ripley.” It’s all silver, and shiny, but you can customize the keyboard backlighting and command center lighting with different colors (is it any wonder I’m picking fuchsia?) and it even has this funky hybrid drive that I don’t quite understand yet.

But I will.

It also has lists of extra gear you can get – normal stuff like usb flash drives, and other things like a branded messenger bag or backpack.

Fuzzy was going to order a new Alienware system for himself, but a Dell ended up having more of the things he wanted, and we were going to replace my desktop, until we sat down and realized that I haven’t even USED it, except to print something, in over a month.

I work from bed, the living room, the dining room, the deck, more than I ever work in my office. (This also, by the way, reinforces my plan to get rid of my desk and put a day-bed in there)

In any case, yeah, I’ve got new computer lust, but I haven’t ordered it yet, and probably won’t be until mid-April.

I’ll let y’all know.

All Pink

Every so often, it’s good to unplug the computer, step away from the mass of CAT5e cables that wend their way through our house, and spend a few hours being completely girlish.

Today, Natalie and I bleached my hair all the way out to platinum, or most of it. She didn’t take the ends all the way out because they were pretty saturated, and she didn’t want to melt my hair. Of course, the very ends ended up on the floor, as we cut off five inches, leaving me with a sassy, flirty atomic pink bob.

To me, it doesn’t seem that different, except under fluorescent lights, when the very top is kinda purple. but not really. And yes, I know y’all want pictures, but I don’t generally put identifiable pictures of me on my blog, so those who desperately need them will see them via email or a locked LJ post.

After I get my eyebrows waxed.

It must look pretty cool to other people, because when we walked into Sushi Zone for dinner, the woman at the next table said, “Oh, my god, you have the best hair. You must stop and let me stare at you. You’re beautiful.”

I’m not, of course, but it was cool to feel so for a bit.

Also, the sushi was excellent, the service was great, and we’re so going back.

In other news, I bought four bras and a pair new pajamas.
Never underestimate the importance of good bras.
Or pretty pajamas.

Change is good…

I’m off to get my hair re-pinked, and I’ve just been playing with my site design (yes, again), because I liked the African Safari theme, but it was feeling dark and heavy, and sometimes I like whitespace.

I’m not sure if I’m going to keep the above image – it is both a nostalgic choice (when I was at USF we had regular midnight trips to the Mel’s on Geary on Thursdays, since none of us had Friday classes before 11 AM), and a play on my name, and I like retro and vintage. I have a thing for classic, vintage pin-ups as well, because they’re fun and flirty and I see them as empowering rather than objectifying. I mean the painted pin-ups, not actual photos.

Did you know there were several successful female pin-up artists?

Now you do.

Anyway, it’s the day before Easter, yes, but I think it’s okay for my blog to be wearing white a little early.

Happy Saturday.

Too bad Strength doesn’t equal Confidence

You are Strength

Courage, strength, fortitude. Power not arrested in the act of judgement, but passing on to further action, sometimes obstinacy.

This is a card of courage and energy. It represents both the Lion’s hot, roaring energy, and the Maiden’s steadfast will. The innocent Maiden is unafraid, undaunted, and indomitable. In some cards she opens the lion’s mouth, in others she shuts it. Either way, she proves that inner strength is more powerful than raw physical strength. That forces can be controlled and used to score a victory is very close to the message of the Chariot, which might be why, in some decks, it is Justice that is card 8 instead of Strength. With strength you can control not only the situation, but yourself. It is a card about anger and impulse management, about creative answers, leadership and maintaining one’s personal honor. It can also stand for a steadfast friend.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

Words, Words, Words (now with live links)

…or at least links to them

As I posted, I’ve become more active in my favorite e-zine All Things Girl, and they’ve given me the title of Sr. Editor. The mid-issue update will go live on April 1st (no, really) but in the meantime I’ve got some stuff in the March/April edition already:

Sun Hats and Fresh Tomatoes is a brief nostalgia trip to my grandfather’s garden.

and I also reviewed the book

Midori by Moonlight, by Wendy Nelson Tokunaga.

As well, tonight/tomorrow a new webzine, Pink Nighties, a new erotic e-zine is having it’s launch, and I have two pieces in that, as well as a “contributing editor” credit:

Chai is the first part of a short story that will be serialized there over the next several issues, and there’s also a
Product Review (bear in mind it’s a sex-positive, erotic fiction zine when considering that piece).

(Friday: 8:44 AM CDT: This post has been updated to include live links to the stuff at Pink Nighties. Enjoy. )

Enjoy!

Ouch!

So, Sara assigned me the task of coming up with ten things that begin with O, that somehow relate to me. I’ve done a Thursday Thirteen about both the letter O and the color Orange already, which is why I’m doing a podcast this time.

Or at least I was going to…until I realized it’s almost two am, and I broke a tooth earlier, and I really should sleep and stuff.

So…look for an audio post tomorrow.

Really.
Well, if I can talk.

I Love a Rainy Day

On Sunday, driving through Cedar Hill under ominous clouds, I looked at a line of men in plaid pants and cute hats, their golf equipment arrayed behind them, all along the driving range, and thought, “How peaceful. Wonder what would happen if it rained.”

It did not rain on Sunday, and while it threatened to rain all day yesterday, no real precipitation occurred, but this morning the heavens let flow a deluge and it’s been windy and rainy all day.

It’s the kind of day that makes working from home absolutely wonderful, because in between writing and researching, I could soothe the dogs, who are frightened of thunder, and make soup and a turkey sandwich for lunch, which I ate sitting in my comfy sofa, while watching lightning arc across the sky.

This afternoon, I went through the South Beach quick meals cookbook and found a recipe that would use a bunch of odds and ends I had in the fridge, and we’re about to sit down to an episode of Angel on DVD and piping hot pesto chicken with steamed broccoli on the side.

I love Rainy Days.

Monday Music Mambo – Feelin’ Green

Today’s questions from the Monday Music Mambo are about Irish bands:

1. What is your favorite traditional Irish artist or band?
2. What is your favorite non-traditional Irish artist or band?
3. What is your favorite instrument used in Irish music?

They’re old school, but I grew up listening to the Chieftains and they’re music is still among my favorite. Do they count as traditional or not? I have no idea. I’d say they count as both since they’ve been through several incarnations.

As to my favorite instrument? Other than the human voice, I’d have to say the fiddle. Fiddle music is always so merry and bright and while technically the same instrument, the style of music is so much freer than the much more formal classically played violin.

I love cello, but part of me wishes I’d studied violin, just so I could play fiddle music.