031.

Things I love Thursday Friday!

» Fridays off. Somehow, my class schedule this fall worked out so that I have Fridays absolutely off. Now I can use this day for homework, or working on graduate school applications, or writing. But today I think I'm going to go shopping.

» School starting again. I swear, I'm going to be a perma-student. I love the rush of learning new things; love the feel of the university; love the students and teachers in love with their subjects.

» Crazy ex-hippie professors. My drawing prof falls into this category this fall. She wore all black, with a red&yellow scarf at her neck, hella nerd glasses and combat boots on our first day, and the second thing out of her mouth was "and I hope you all are registered to vote." (Which I am, by the way.) She has a lot of good things to teach, good wisdom. I'm excited to learn from her.

» Chorizo and Kale Soup. Even when it turns out spicier that expected. Yummm. (Funny, Firefox doesn't think chorizo is a word. But I don't think Horizons and Kale soup sounds very appetizing, do you?)

» Chia pets. I don't own one, and probably never will, but knowing they exist in the world makes it a better place.

030.

Monday is my scheduled cheesy tv night, starting with Gossip Girl, and continuing with One Tree Hill if I feel up to it. And sometimes The Hills (haters to the left; I'd rather watch drama on tv than have it in my life, okay?). Since I really don't want to endure the ribbing I know I'd get from my father and brother, I had been using the tv upstairs. Tonight, however, I've been preempted by my mom's love of Dancing with the Stars, and banished to the basement. Surrounded by piles of fabric, faux fur, trinkets--down here, I really get inspired to create things (I've started sewing a pencil skirt for fall; it's going to take forever because I'm completely out of sewing practice, but I don't think I can get a pencil skirt that will fit otherwise). It's nice down here, though I expect a spider to jump out at me any minute.

PS. One Tree Hill is turning into a really bad version of Passions, or some such. Except without a crazy witch and monkey, it's definitely lacking.

029.

Last Saturday's trip to a neighborhood flea market (well, really a grotty old house filled with junk for sale) yielded the best. find. ever. Well, possibly not ever, but still pretty darn awesome nonetheless. I am now the proud owner of a vintage Royal typewriter.

Sure, it reeks that old-dust smell, one of the handles is missing and the roller is cracked, but the glass side panels are intact and it emanates sit-down-and-type-something-brilliant. It looks so pretty sitting on the flowery yellow tablecloth in the dining room. And it's been enticing me to write more (a short story/skeleton novel and a poem--my first in months).

This blog needs more pictures (meaning pictures of my typewriter), which I will get to posthaste. By which I mean as soon as I procure batteries for a camera.

028.

It's been hideously long since I updated, I know. I've been meaning to, but slipped back into the trap that is thinking-it-makes-it-so. Avoiding that trap was the reason I started this blog in the first place...so. There you go.

I think I'm going to follow Gala Darling's lead and celebrate a Things I Love Thursday.



» Good days. Y'know, the ones where even when things go wrong, you have an underlying sense of rightness and joy. The can never come often enough.

» Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Of all the tv shows I never thought I'd enjoy, this show has been amazing. From Joss Whedon's amazing stories (and wit) to the great characters, costumes and actors, this show is a joy to watch. And think about.

» Fancy dinner parties. My friend Biscuit and I have decided to have bi-monthly fancy dress dinners. Our first was tonight, although it was a bit more casual, talking around her 1890's dining table over pasta and salad. Here's to many more dinners like this.

» Summer-turning-into-fall. The leaves are tinged with red, burning bushes are starting to smolder, mornings have that bit of chill: it's almost autumn!

» Reading until one falls asleep. It's such a lovely feeling.

» Bluegrass. For being appropriate for nearly every occasion.

» Natural peanut butter with a touch of honey. Such a delicious snack.

» New York Fashion Week. Even though I'm super-behind on all the shows, I love the excitement that surrounds this week, and all the ideas it brings. I'm most excited for Paris Fashion Week, though, with Alexander McQueen's show.

027.

With all the recent blather about the Republicrat National Conventions, I made the offhand comment tonight that Awesome Dead Presidents were way past rolling in their graves, more toward the dance party side of things. (Or maybe they could be a source of energy?)

I think it would be best for everybody if George Washington and Thomas Jefferson got turned by vampires when they died, and have waited lurking in the shadows these 200-odd years for the government to get so bad that they felt it necessary to step in. Co-president, restorers of the Constitution, generally badass:

Vote Undead Presidential Vigilante Squad 2008.