One of my senior Photos (still wasn't that into smiling...Oh look at me and my teenage angst!) 

The week before I left for Basic Training my friend Bob Hergert took this picture of me.

I looked all over for this picture! It was from when I went to prom with a bunch of friends my sophomore year of high school. I'm smiling funny cause I didn't want to show my braces... look at those skinny little legs! hahaha... 

Me and my date at my Senior Prom. I'm really annoyed and slighty high in this picture. That guy was such an ass, that was the worst prom ever... 

*warning* Fashion Post *Not about war or politics*

I am seriously worried about the state of fashion in the world. Since when did Denim vests become cool? Especially wearing them with long flowery dresses? I mean, some people never stopped doing it, but they live in the suburbs and drive mini vans…. Should we really be encouraging them?

I may not be a fashion guru, and I certainly don’t get any of my clothes from Neiman Marcus, but I try not to be a slave to trends. I’m a “classic”. I like the basic set of colors (black, white, blue) and most everything I wear is simple, and tailored.

I’m obsessed with knee length skirts, fitted trench coats and stiletto heels. I guess I'm more of a serious dresser. To me a jean vest says…”I’m frivolous and silly, but also ugly and frumpy”. *sigh* I saw in Lucky magazine that tapered, high waisted pants are coming back too. Who is responsible for this? I really think someone needs to realize that the 80’s aren’t ready for a revival yet.

The Naked Truth

I’m not naked right now, but I’m contemplating showing a little leg tonight… It’s just so damn hot. The golden sunshine doesn’t do much for my fair complexion and I’m not sure I want to throw my pastiness (is that a word?) out there. We irish girls aren’t much for the tanning, but it’s just not pants weather! What to do?

Speaking of naked, we watched Barbarella last night. It was a very very strange adventure. I haven’t seen a movie that weird in a really long time. As a bit of a Cosplay fanatic though, I couldn’t help but fall in love with her costumes… I feel next year’s Halloween costume coming on.

Tim and I are heading out to happy hour with Sheila and Justin, so I’ll write more lata…

~e

The justification of new crappy decisions based on old crappy ones:

Everybody has that black blemish of oops in their past. I have like a million. I was a foolishly trusting teenager and that continued on into my early twenties. The charge cards, the bad boyfriends, the back stabbing, and the "but I thought it was okay since you all were broken up"... It all lies in the darkness of days past and I'm happy to leave it there. But then my little sister comes along and justifies her own lack in judgment by saying, "But when you were my age, didn't you________?" Well, yeah,but I was a giant IDIOT! Don't you see that I'm trying to save you the pain and suffering that I went through? I had the misfortune of total trust in my gut instinct and as Rob Gordon says in High Fidelity, "I have come to the conclusion that my guts have shit for brains."

It's true. Had I thought less with my gut and more with my teeny tiny brain, I might have been able to circumvent some of the stupidity. Or maybe not... Maybe we are all destined to leave the nest, become the prodigal child, and then figure it all out later. Maybe everyone I know has hidden scars for past decisions that bit them in the ass. Maybe my sister needs to totally screw up and be miserable and then figure it out on her own. But why do I have to be here for the spiral of youthful misadventures? I guess it's because I love her. I talk to her, all the time, hoping that something will sink in and she will magically figure out what I've been saying all along. I like to live hopefully.

I think the most important lesson that I've learned, is that when you are making decisions, you really need to ask yourself, "What is at the core of this? Am I doing this because I feel needy or fat or sad or bored or angry?" Don't feed your symptoms, don't shop to feel better, don't eat when you're bored, don't fuck cause you feel ugly... Find out the source and then do the one thing that will make it better. It's about taking steps to fix instead of feed.

That's it kids... That's my method to life. If you don't listen to anything else, please remember that. Oh and pay your credit cards on time... Getting your credit repaired is a lot of work, but building it right from the beginning is way easier.

~e

mimi in NY

mimi in NY


At first I couldn't believe what I was reading, then I couldn't stop...

What’s on your desk?

Borrowed from an old post by Daniel:

What’s on your desk?

Bills
3 large stacks of cd’s that need to be organized
sunblock
body butter
my SSN paperwork
two bottles of advil ( you know, in case one runs out)
fingernail clippers
photo albums
design annuals
blousing straps
paper towels
windex
my digi camera
and origami flower
Darren Johnson’s Album
My workout diary
3? Half empty water bottles

And that’s AFTER I cleaned it yesterday…

Take a look at my new office chair! Tim bought it for me. :) I used to sit on an old folding chair, so this is a MAJOR upgrade. :) I put it together myself too... So um, I hope I did it right. It seems to be functioning alright... *sits carefully* 

John Mayer's on channel twelve
his eyebrows are jumping all over the place
and his mouth seems twice as big as his head
(that's really big)
The girls in the audience scream
whenever he slips a *&%$^ into a lyric
that had been PG before
and the stories he tells
I've heard before
but he's gonna wear them down
they'll forget and get bored
and then some day
10 years from now
it won't be so lame
to be a villanova (junction) baby.

Home Sick Slug

I got kicked in the stomach by a yucky flu bug on Monday morning. I’ve pretty much just been in bed since then. Ugh… I’m finally starting to feel better but I’m still kinda weak and shaky. I hate the flu. It feels like the gods are punishing you for something horrible. Plus you get that sick taste in your mouth that doesn’t go away even if you brush your teeth a bunch of times.

So, being sick yesterday allowed me to catch up on my daytime television. Nothing major but I did watch a documentary (“Pretty Things” on HBO) on famous burlesque dancers that was very enthralling. I’m not one of those people to ramble on about yesteryear but it really did seem like such a glamorous time and the women were so curvy and beautiful. Maybe what I’m trying to say is that there just aren’t enough occasions these days for me to parade around in fishnets. Someone should do something about that…

I got my kimono today! It’s even more amazing in real life… The colors are so brilliant and the drape of the fabric is so elegant. I just can’t wait to wear the whole outfit… Now if I can just figure out how to put everything on correctly, I’ll be set. :)

my electricity has gone out twice today and keeps on surging, so I'll make this brief.


1. Daniel, you sound down.... call me or write me.

2. My cat is overweight and she won't work out. Is there such a thing as south beach for pets?

3. Derek Stubbs is hilarious.

4. Charleigh is my new favorite person.

5. My hiney is sweating so I have to leave this hot sticky office.

6. My husband fixed our toilet today and he seemed hotter and taller afterwards. Am I nuts?


love,
~e

I was 19 In this picture... 

Distracting the people in our studio during light checks... 

Sorry, I'm going through old photos and have found interesting stuff so I thought I'd share, my prom pic from my junior year. I was dateless that year... 

another... 

a close up 

another view 

Photos I took back in 2003 of Statues at the St. Anne Graveyard in Annapolis, Maryland 

Old pic I found of me rockclimbing... 

The afro twins 

Charleigh as Marie Antoinette 

Charleigh playing dress up at my house... 

I am so freakin’ tired. We just helped Dane move. It wasn’t the moving that made me tired though, it was the 3 flights of stairs that we had to climb to his new apartment, over and over again. Good god, I guess I need to hop on the stair stepper at the gym a little more often. *whew* On the upside, Dane is almost completely moved into his new place which is in a much better neighborhood and is really nice (and has a DISHWASHER!), so yay for DANE! :o)

I’d love to write more, but I’ve still got tons of work to do before tonight. Lena, Blaine and Charleigh are meeting us for dinner at the Go Fish Grille tonight, so I gotta get crackin’. No, seriously…anybody got any crack? I need some energy! Sugar-Free Red Bull, here I come!

In case anyone missed my halloween costume from last year... I made it myself...Even the crazy dress frame and all the embroidery. I know... I'm psycho. :)  

Proof that I've always been obssessed with costumes... *meow*  

The lady across the street from us was robbed today. Computers, T.V's etc. all gone... Tim was at meetings all morning and it SO could have been our house. I won't sleep a wink tonight. I'm so freaked out!!!!

Maiko Costume Test 001

I got my Obi (Main Belt) and my Katsura (wig) this past week... and despite horribly hot tempatures, paraded around in my bathrobe seeing how it looks so far...

My own little slice of hell...

Those of you that have been reading my blog for a while might remember my visit to the social security office last year. It was a dismal failure. After that experience, I decided to put off going there again as long as possible.

Well, the time finally came for me to go. I have to sign up for tuition assistance with the state of Colorado and I need my new SSN card with my married name on it to do so. So, I did the research… Searched the SSN website to find out exactly what I needed to bring with me. Filled out my paper work ahead of time, brought every piece of I.D. I could find that they asked for. I got up at 0530 this morning, put on my uniform and drove out to Aurora so that I could be the first one in line at 0800 when they start letting people in, and then I’d planned to head straight to work. I was the first in line, had a pleasant chat with the doorman, confident in the knowledge that my trip inside would be brief and successful. Cut to me sobbing in my car at 9:20.

Why you ask? What was so horrible that caused me to have hyperventilating fits of hysteria in the parking lot? First of all, the SSN office is only open from 9-4 (I wish I had those kinds of hours) and people start filing in early and the room fills up fast. So, in the hour before the service windows open, you are forced to share the waiting room with everyone else. This is not like the DMV. It’s worse. The furniture smells of BO so badly. It’s like a bunch of sweaty people just came in and rubs their armpits all over every inch of furniture, carpet and walls. The A/C is broken, so in the record heat of Colorado, I’m sure you can imagine the steaming smell that permeated the room.

So, there in the stinky room I sat, waiting for my turn, reading a very good book (“A Walk In the Woods” by Bill Bryson). People were trickling in… This guy came and sits right next to me. I tried not to notice how close he sat and continued to read. “What are you reading?” he asked loudly. I politely showed him the cover of the book. “A walk in the woods huh? Don’t you spend enough time in the woods? (referring to my woodland camouflage uniform), I politely smiled and continued reading. “So where are you stationed?” he asked. “Buckley” I answered, still not looking up. The barrage of questions that followed are too numerous to list, but they grew progressively more rude and personal.

I quit answering and started texting people on my phone begging for them to call me so that I could ignore him without seeming too rude. As a woman I thought his behavior seemed invasive and creepy, but as a sergeant, I was conscious of everyone watching for my reaction. I have to be very conscious of my actions in public, especially when in uniform. I have found that when people ask impertinent questions (which they always do when they see a uniformed person) It is best to politely decline talking about the military for security reasons. But as soon as you open your mouth, the room around you grows silent and people are waiting to see if you are going to lose your cool.

His questions ( and my trying to ignore him) continued on for about an hour until the service windows finally opened. I was happy to escape his presence and hoped to get my new card and be on my way. I handed over my paperwork and ID to the lady behind the window and smiled expectantly. She started looking through my papers and setting each one to the side saying things like.. “nope. Not hardly, I don’t thinks so… What is this? This wedding certificate doesn’t have your birthday on it, we can’t use it. “ Her attitude was so awful, and I stood in shock for a moment trying to figure out if I’d offended her in some way that would warrant my being treated so badly.

I said, “ I’m sorry but I read the instructions on the SSN website and I even printed them out, I highlighted what it said I needed, and brought what they requested. How have I done wrong?” “ She said, “ well I don’t care what you read, but it’s wrong. You need blah blah blah… then you need to come back here and make sure it’s right this time. ” My frustration level after dealing with the jerk in the waiting room and now her, just reached a boiling point. And as often happens when I am angry about something I cannot control, my eyes started welling up. I gathered up my things and ran down the stairs so no one would see me getting upset. As soon as ran through the front door into the mid-morning sun, the tears started slipping down my cheeks. So much for the stoic military type.

There is no moral to this story really. Except maybe, if you are in a public place and you see a person in uniform, try to remember that they probably don’t want to talk politics, they probably are not acquainted with your sister in law’s cousin who is in the navy, and they probably don’t want to discuss their job or their last tour of duty. They are just people, trying to live their lives like anyone else. And if you see one of them crying outside in the parking lot of the SSN Building, offer them a tissue.

Sitting here with sopping wet hair letting my fan blow on me is the only respite I’ve had from the insane heat we’ve been having. I know, I know, I don’t have it as bad as those poor people in Italy who lost their power, but I might as well have… The house we live in is A/C free. Except for the bedroom, but there is only so much time you can spend in the bedroom. I wish I had a unit in my office, then I might be able to round up enough energy to scrape Paka’s little hairy hiney off my clean laundry and put it away… But no. I’ll just sit here and whine. That doesn’t induce as much sweating.

Tim and I just got back from an hour long bike ride. It was my idea to go in the afternoon while it was still nice and hot out. I’m so smart. :P But it was fun. We went and checked out lovely Cheeseman park and saw about 24 rabid squirrels and about the same number of rabid bums. It’s where they all hang out. The park is beautiful, but the variety of funky human smells is not. I can’t believe Emily wanted to live in that neighborhood! Yuk! Plus, I hear that it's haunted...

I spent a good portion of the afternoon scoping out animal costumes. I know it’s kind of mean to put animals in clothing, but I’m sorry, a puppy in a doggy tuxedo, is just damn cute. Puppies everywhere are sighing with relief that I don’t own of them. I’d dress of my cats but they won’t stand for it either. Especially Cleo. I got her this cute little collar, and she’ll wear it around for a while then she figures out some way to get it off and then looks at me proudly, like,” look! Look what I can do!”. Ah kitties…

I finished reading the rest of Derek Stubbs fiction today too. He writes emotions well. It’s a shame it’s all the sad, angry ones… After reading all his stories I feel a little bit sad about humanity. I can’t help it if I like to have happy endings. I’m a sap that way. I enjoy realism, but only in small doses. I can’t watch or read about misery for too long before it seeps into my subconscious and makes me really bummed out. Then I mope around in my pajamas drinking wine from the bottle, going, “Why do I feel so down?” Then I realize all I need is some sugar-free redbull and Madonna’s Immaculate Collection, then I’m fine. “Like a viiiiirgin, touched for the very first tiiiiiime…..”

Okay, sorry for the crafty talk back there. I get so wrapped up in my projects sometimes. :) If you haven't had a chance to check out www.derekstubbs.com and his short stories, you really should... Very good writing.

~e

Why doesn't anyone know how to make Hana Kanzashi??? The people that do know are hiding it cause they want me to spend $200 bucks on a hair ornament! but I won't! I'll figure it out.... somehow.... ( this is the stage of my project where I get frustrated and flip out a little bit...) :)

This is the wig I found... It's not as nice as a real katsura, but once again, my not being in japan forces me to get creative... This is the best one i found that looked the most authentic... 

For halloween, Tim is going as a Samurai Warrior (i'm building his armor myself, but that is a whole other post) and I am going as a Maiko ( a geisha in training). The costumes are going to be very elaborate and as accurate as possible... That being said, if anyone has any spare okobo, kanzashi, or a red collar juban laying around, it would be much appreciated...

Maybe I'll make a kanzashi like this one...

They are so intricate, but i think I can do it.. which is better than paying 200 bucks to have them shipped over... Wish me luck... 

So, I've got my furisode, my Obi, my tabi socks... now I've got to make my geta okobo and my hana kanzashi... It's gonna be tricky...they are very hard to make.  

More Maiko... 

The Okobo sandlas I'm going to have to make cuase you can't buy them in the US for less than $250... 

What I'm supposed to look like when it's done... 

My Obiage and my Obijime 

Close up of my Obi 

My butterfly Obi 

The back... 

The front of my Furisode Kimono for my Halloween Maiko costume... 

craftgrrl: Flower pin tutorial

craftgrrl: Flower pin tutorial

I finally found a place that shows how to make KANZASHI! Now if I can just fake my way through making some Okobo, I'll be set... Oh wait, I haven't told you all about my halloween costume yet, have I?

With the help of the wall, Cleo practices her own version of kitty yoga... This pose is called "sideways kitty". 

I am soooo sleeeeepy. I just got back from 12 hours of hanging with my sister and charleigh, shopping, eating, singing... IT WAS A BLAST! The highlight of the day was this place that Charleigh took us in Boulder calle the "Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse". It was amazing... (see the pictures below. I'd love to tell you more about my day, but frankly... I'm just too damn tired. :)

The inside of my "Snowblossom" Teapot... 

The front of the tea house... 

The hand painted ceiling inside the tea house... 

The courtyard at the Tea House in Boulder... 

Me, Charleigh, and Emma doing our Bug Impressions... 

Truths:

Ten years ago: I was 16, a sophomore at Pacific High School. I was skinny, with a Mia Farrow pixie, and braces. I fell in love with Cedric Reader and wrote his name all over the inside of my history note books. He liked all of my friends and everyone else except me.

Five years ago: I was stationed in Montana, about to leave for Denver. I was into singing with my band, rock climbing and juggling fucked up relationships.

One year ago: I had just gotten married to Tim. I was about 16 lbs heavier, hated my job, but ecstatic about my life with him.

Yesterday: Passed my fit test with a 96, 16 lbs lighter than I was last year at that same time, so happy with my life here in Denver and with Tim…

Today: Signed up for more GI bill money for school, supported my squadron UAC, tried not to think about the ice cream in my freezer…

Tomorrow: So happy that it’s Friday, going rock climbing tomorrow!

Five snacks I enjoy: Salsa & Sour cream mixed together, anything with peanut butter, fresh bread and olive oil/balsamic, hummus and crackers, cheese.

Five bands that I know the lyrics of MOST of their songs: John Mayer, The Beatles, Madonna, Paul Simon, Cole Porter

Five things I would do with $100,000,000: Buy a big beautiful house in Cherry Creek, Buy an amazing loft downtown for a storefront for Tim, Get some plane tickets and TRAVEL THE WORLD!, get my teeth fixed, give a bunch of cash to my Parents and Siblings

Five locations I’d like to run away to: Italian Coast, Japan, Brazil, Somewhere tropical, Greece

Five bad habits I have: Worrying, snacking, shopping, snapping, smoking (only once in a while though!)

Five things I like doing: Singing, Dancing, Riding my bike, Cooking, Being with my sweet sweet Tim

Five things I would never wear: Tapered pleated anything, tube tops, sports jerseys, an all pink outfit, anything from walmart.

Five TV shows I like: Family Guy, Sex and the City, Friends, Iron Chef, The Simpsons

Five movies I like: Empire Records, The Three Amigos, High Fidelity, Edward Scissorhands, Napoleon Dynamite

Five famous people I’d like to meet: Johnny Depp, Madonna, John Lennon, John Cusack, Willie Nelson

Five biggest joys at the moment: My backyard, My new bike, My husband, My kitties, my new computer

Five favorite toys: My canon, my computer, my bike, my food processor ;) and my webcam.

Maya was over with Sam, Rachel & Sarah trying on shoes. She's a girl after my own heart. ;o)