Deathcake review and some earrings

On the Deathcake:

It was good. It was CHOCOLATE. How could it not be? It was even particularly, especially, remarkably good. But, in essence, still just pretty much a large cube o' chocolate. Anyway, I've had it, it was tasty, and one was quite enough. My arteries are thanking me for setting limits even as I type.

Earrings I've been wanting for a while that finally went on sale:


I'm sure some of you will think these are completely over the top, and perhaps they are, but they're also quite 'me'. Oh, I am also getting them with posts instead of those long earwires. More stability for my ears, as my lobes are not very large. I have been looking for something other than my stuffed Shamu from 27 years ago (wow.... I'm old) to remind me of my Grandpa Steele, and these were called Orca Earrings by the artist. I stared at them for 5 months or so but was too poor to have them, even though the colors and swirls reminded me of the ocean and I thought they would do nicely.

When Grandpa was very sick he told my mother that he wished he'd been able to buy me a statue of an orca (not a big one, just something pretty that he knew I'd like). As I've mentioned, he bought me that little stuffed Shamu and knew how much I loved those whales. I was not shy in expressing my affection for all things orca, haha. Anyway, every time I see one I think of him. These make me think of him too, at least in the ocean-orca-grandpa way. My mind just sort of swirls all those thoughts together, and I think that would please him, if he knew.

So now I will have these that I can wear and not look quite as silly as carrying my poor old stuffed whale around might.

No, I don't want to smell like some other chick, thanks.

This is the marketing statement about Kim Kardashian's new fragrance: This sumptuous fragrance evokes Kim’s trademark sultry style and captures the many facets of Kim’s personality. Jasmine and tuberose reflect her captivating nature, while gardenia evokes her femininity. Tonka bean, jacaranda sandalwood add a warm, sensual base, representing Kim’s softer side.

How lovely. For her. Why would I want to wear something designed for someone else? That appears to have been specifically tailored to her personality? Nowhere in there does it mention how this is going to make me smell better or enhance my style and various personality aspects. Maybe a look-alike would want to wear this. Not I.

on ditching any lingering political party affiliations

I just read a very interesting article about a particular Super Bowl commercial, of all things. I, like the author, am opposed to legislation dictating what I can and cannot do with my reproductive parts. That does not mean I think everyone should have an abortion whenever they get pregnant. On the contrary! If you are ready and willing to have a child, go for it. In my case, I don't think that time will ever come, but if I were to get pregnant, I would think about it carefully and make my decision based on my current situation and not outdated ideology from back when I was 23.

Looking at the hollering people on both sides of the spectrum, the author might have a point. The pro-choicers aren't so much pro-choice as they are pro-abortion. There IS value to presenting both sides of the argument, and the people who think carrying potentially risky babies to term is worth it should have just as much air time as those who think unwanted embryos should be terminated when they're still just sacks of cellular goo than left to be dumped in a trash can or a public toilet.

Yes, abortion is sometimes a bad idea. So too can having a baby be. But I think we occasionally get so caught up in yelling about whatever particular position we espouse that we forget the other side might also have some valid points, and perhaps we should listen.

That's really, I suppose, what a true pro-CHOICE individual would say. That I support you REGARDLESS of what you choose and whether I agree with it. I support your right TO CHOOSE FOR YOURSELF. Remember what your mother taught you: treat others how you would like to be treated. Respect the choices of others and hopefully they will respect yours. Let's just all jolly well mind our own business.

With that said, over the past few months I've become disillusioned with politics on all levels. I once identified myself with the Democratic party, but as of now I have nothing but contempt for the vast majority of all politicians. There are a few notable exceptions, but on the whole I've had it.

I suppose there is such a thing as an Independent party, just as American Apparel claims to have 'brandless clothing', whatever THAT means, since obviously they're, you know, a brand and all... But I am no longer considering myself on any one party's side. I still agree with a classical liberal viewpoint more than a standard conservative one, but I neither agree nor disagree with either side on all points. Not that I ever did, but I suppose it took me a while to come to that realization.

The Difference Between Equality and Rudeness

This BBC article on how the purported 'service industry' in Paris is different from America quite frankly makes me never want to go there. The French seem to have confused 'being on level ground' with being able to be as rude as they like, under the guise of not appearing subservient. Some of the comments made in the article by various Parisians are unbelievably rude. I fail to see why a simple, "I'm sorry, but I can't do that" wouldn't have done just fine. Politeness does not equate to being lower in social status than whomever you're addressing. At least in my experience it doesn't.

What is the deal here? Am I just overly sensitive? Or is this behavior really as inappropriate as it appears to me?

A-line skirts

Does anyone know where to buy good examples of these for not too much money? I'm thinking of knee-length, fairly free in the hips, NON-elastic waisted items. Pockets aren't necessary, but are all right. I would like one or two of these, probably in solid colors, and hopefully in fabrics that tend not to wrinkle and can be washed at home. I would love any suggestions anyone might have!

Change-ups

I felt like it.

The End.

P.S. Apparently I can also play two lines of Cenerentola at once. And sing. And occasionally snap my fingers to keep a beat. I think I deserve a cookie.

The $1960.00 trash bag

This has got to be the world's worst waste of money disguised as 'fashion'. At least for today. Observe:


From Perez:

Maybe the Jersey Shore's Angelina Pivarnick was on to something when she brought her trash bags to Seaside Heights.

Louis Vuitton is selling a new bag fashioned after garbage. The purse called Raindrop Besace after the raincoat material used to make it.

So not only is it a fancy trash bag, it'll also keep you dry when it's raining.

And if you feel inclined you can remove the shoulder strap and actually carry it like you do when you take our your garbage.

Looking homeless chic will cost you just under $2000.

Derek Zoolander would be proud.

Being helpful without also being irritating

I've run up against another problem in small group rehearsals: FEEEEELINGS.

How do you help someone who is clearly struggling on a particular section when that person is a peer without coming across as an interfering know-it-all? I have seen so many issues crop up that could be easily fixed by trying a different approach, but I don't want to say anything because it might not be my place.

We had this whole speech at the beginning of the term (because apparently things happened last time when I was gone) about how we are never to give "notes" (i.e. telling someone they're flat or they need to do X), that only the teachers do this. But so how do small groups work then if no one ever points out the problem spots because there are no teachers to do it?

It just seems like it'd be an endless cycle of failing because everyone's too afraid to point out the problem or how to fix it, and that is not an effective use of anyone's time. Maybe I'll email Kristen... In the meantime, any ideas? I'm more than happy to step in and help, but I don't think I'm supposed to. Exasperating.

SLOTHS

Because you can never have too many pictures of sloths. These are some deeply strange-looking animals. I think one of the pictures might give me nightmares..

I must be getting old.

Because all I can think when I see any pictures of this Justin Bieber kid who's got teenage girls everywhere in an uproar is how he looks 12 and that his last name is the same as this guy who kept trying to sleep with me in college. (He didn't ever manage it, by the way.)

Bring on the denture cream!

I can't believe my 600th post is about fist pumps

But there it is.

I was just watching this video and it turns out they are not the '80s power fist thing. They are instead a sort of swirly fist-in-the-air deal, repeated over and over.

Anyway, I just thought I'd share my ongoing discoveries about pop culture. Who'd have thought there would be so many gestures you could make with a fist?

This sadly took me a few minutes to puzzle out.

At first glance, what would you say this is a picture of?


I spent about 3 minutes turning my head to different angles in an attempt to figure out if it was a dude in a wig, a semi-hairy squid with strange orifice problems, or a terrible Cylon disguise (they have glowing red eyes, if my sad attempt at illustration didn't demonstrate that connection).

It's apparently supposed to be a wolf in sheep's clothing (crappy sheep costume with the requisite demonic eye-glow of the opposition's obviously evil candidate). Guys, I've seen better Halloween costumes. Made by preschoolers. Come on. If you're going to dress someone up as a satanic sheep for a political ad, at least get a GOOD sheep costume.

So. Much. Singing.

This ensemble class is taking up insane amounts of time. I had an extra rehearsal Sunday for Dialogues of the Carmelites, and another one scheduled for the hour before ensemble class today. That, however, is being interrupted halfway through by a request from a fellow student to join her in her lesson to go through Cenerentola.

Then we're supposed to get together for a full-on extra rehearsal of Cenerentola at some other point before having YET ANOTHER ONE with the aid of an instructor, all before next week's class. And of course there are regular lessons thrown into the mix as well.

I like singing, but I didn't sign up for a part-time job. Guess it's time to learn how to say no.

I have stopped throwing up.

PAR-TAY!

Or at least less puke. At any rate, I feel better. I haven't had an episode of nausea since yesterday morning, so I'm hoping it is gone for good. I stayed home today and slept to try to get rid of anything that might be infecting me, and it seems to have helped. I slept til about 1:20pm and boy did it feel good!

I'm about to go sort through a bunch of old clothes and find things to give to my sister. I like doing that better than just throwing them away, and since she works on a farm in the summers she always has a use for old, ratty things. Most of them are in great condition, they just don't fit me anymore for one reason or another (read: too fat).

Hope everyone is having a lovely Tuesday!