Montly archives
Initiation
Initiation to Age of Venus...
Fork in my verse...
Yesterday began my great adventure in to the blog-unknown, the forum-unknown, and probably several other unknowns before I get the chance to hit the sack.
I'm quickly finding out that customizing these pages will be an exercise in self discipline as this libran graphic designer en-moi expects to handle a complete and full set of the following in all of a few mangly hours: redesigning the blog stylesheet, redesigning the forum, template-size an unworthy document on my non-work hours, webpage frontpage, and curing world hunger.
I will, however, put my best, er... fingers (?) forward to complete this task with all the glory of an elf from one of Tolkien's novels (anyone see Legolas and the elephany in ROTK? DAMN!). Maybe I'll take a nap first... all this thinking about making a decision makes a girl tired!
Keira - girlfriend, you still wanna help and show off your talented skills?
Creative Inspiration
Well the good news is that I'm finally starting to settle in to some colors for the site. The bad news is, that's about the only thing I've settled on :P. I expect a delivery date of roughly January 2006! before I can make any final decisions. I will post some of the ridiculous designs I played with in time. Imagine San Francisco meets the Hiltons, unraveled in shades of red and black. And for all you freaky friends out there, I now take this opportunity to announce to the world that I am posting these of my own volition, therefore there will be no making-fun of the ridiculous pictures. Hee hee.!
Today is the day Emily and I celebrate Christmas together!!!!! :D Our revolving schedules won't have us here at home on Christmas day, so today is the day we unwrap each other's gifts, sing Christmas carols, watch silly Christmas movies, and *hopefully* eat christmas cookies. I might try to get to the store before her soccer match is over so I can pick up some apple cider, amongst other Christmas necessities. Mmmm... hot apple cider!
Sum of a life is equal to = Mayfly?
I love the internet. I love the internet because it allows me to bump in the creative brainchild's'ren of the woman in the elevator, the sexy businessman who frequents Caribou, or the kid waiting for the bus --- all within a few keystrokes of one another (has anyone ever translated the idea of 7 degrees of separation to the internet? If not, I officially claim it as my own!).
Today I stumbled across the Mayfly Project. One completely random, tea-induced mis-click and BAM! "Describe the meaning of YOUR life, the past 365 days only, in 20 words or less?" is staring me down... at which point I promptly switched to winamp and changed the music so as not to think about the fact that there ARE no coincidences (classic winamp for all my fellow geekazoid compadres :).
The concept isn't entirely laughable - I quite suspect that seeing my relatives over the course of the next few days will result in their subtle cajoling to describe the meaning of life, universe, and the lost book of Enki in less than the time it takes for them to be utterly consumed by the sight of the cookie plate. What would you say that is, 20 words or less? I'm just getting warmed up!
And now, my humble entry:
"Libran belle loved, lost, & lusted. Creative zen en-tow, promise of tomorrow's, resolutions, love ad-infinitum, and musical interludes abound."
Sopheava Soliloquy
I woke up in a haze this morning, but as I now gaze through the steamy bay windows, I plainly see I was wrong.
All truths I once remembered, I've now misplaced. The pinnacle of clarity is a mirage. The light shifts but a fraction and instantly you're back in the trenches. The difference now is that I realize there IS a light. While I was previously so consumed with being in the trenches, I now realize I didn't even notice the light bathing me. I took it for granted.
I feel the warmth of the light. The gift of vision is perhaps the greatest Christmas gift.
I've driven round in circles for three hours
It was bound to happen that I'd end up at yours
I temporarily forgot there's better days to come
I thought that I would give it just one more chance
Cos' I want, tonight, what I've been waiting for
But I found, tonight, what I'd been warned about
You think that you are complicated, deep mystery to all
Well it's taken me a while to see, you're not so special
All energy no meaning, with a lot of words
So paper thin that one real feeling, could knock you down
And I've seen, tonight, what I'd been warned about
I'm gonna leave, tonight, before I change my mind
So see me when your 40, lost and all alone
being comforted by strangers you'll never need to know
not sad because you lost me
but sad because you thought it was cool to be sad
You think misery will make you stand apart from the crowd
well if you had walked past me today I wouldn't have picked you out
I wouldn't have picked you out
now I've seen, tonight, how I could waste my time
and I'll be on my way, and I won't be back
cos I've seen, tonight, what I've been warned about
your just a boy, not a man, and I'm not coming back
~Dido, "See You When You're 40"
Christmas of every flavor!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year everyone! I will be on dial-up-hell for the next few days unable to post anything of real interest, so I'm now taking this opportunity to wish all ya'll happy holidays! Just in case you don't understand, please refer to the following table:
God Jul och Gott Nytt År
Joyeux Noël et Bonne Année!
Fröhliche Weihnachten und ein glückliches Neues Jahr!
Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año Nuevo
Colo sana wintom tiebeen
Christmas Eve tips 101
1. Leave at 6:30 in the morning. You will avoid city traffic. You will also avoid cops who actually give a hoot about picking people up.
2. Travel WEST if you're driving at 6:30 in the morning. I had the fortunate experience of driving IN to the sun for several hours. Point #2 has a caveat - it really IS a pleasant experience if the weather is clear and the sunrise is magikal :).
3. If driving more than 2.5 hours, bring toys. Or music. Or cell phone. Or *insert your own politically incorrect noun*. ANYthing to keep you busy. Four and a half hours to hometown almost seems ridiculous for 2 days = get a hobby for the trip.
Have I previously mentioned how much I love buying gifts for the people in my life? Well I do! In fact, I usually get so excited that I start giving 1 or 2 of them around the beginning of December (DC would be the lucky recipient of those 2 gifts this year) and can barely contain my excitement for the rest of the packages to be completely ripped open! This year, I put the old noodle to use and started booby trapping the gifts with tons of "curlies", aka "The unequivocally, undeniablably, has no equal in strength ribbon certain to irritate everyone on your *list ribbon". Ha ha ha, ho ho, hee hee hee. So funny! I love the holidays! Tickets? I LOVE tickets!
Lady Christmas
I went to church with my brother's family and my parents last night. It was so lovely I actually got teary eyed.
Guess what was also lovely - a LADYBUG ATTACKING ME! From 6:30 to 7 several families and members of the congregation performed for our listening pleasure. Just as the music was draw(er)ing to a close I noticed a teeny black speck, swirling in the general direction of my head. And then smack! It landed on my head!
Now, the normal lass wouldn't be so affected by a ladybug landing on their head, however this one:
A) Was yellow,
B) giant,
C) my hair was pulled back making it stick to the hair that much easier,
and D) of the biting variety.
Additionally, consider that it was:
E) of the variety that stinks when you kill it, and
F) I was in church, making it morally illegal to even *think* about stomping on its tentacle ridden, spotted asian body.
I spared its life, telling myself that an angel was actually in the form of a ladybug kissing my head. Aaahhhhhhhh. That's probably why after the candlelight vigil at the end of the service, ANOTHER ladybug decided to become my own personal pet, setting up camp on my candle. Aaaahh, again, how sweet. I decided there was probably a deeper meaning to all this - so according to a website posted on geocities, the ladybug is *actually* a symbol of being visited by the Goddess of Love. Now there's a thought :).
Picture Perfect Samurai
I saw "The Last Samurai" tonight. The cinematography was absolutely amazing... the acting was wonderful. It sucked me in and even made me cry a bit, but I wouldn't put it on my list of top movies of all time. I would, however, put some of the still photography on my list. I'm going to Japan someday :).
Are lives for rent?
Today was a productive day. Why so you ask? I watched the movie "Dragonfly." For a brief moment I actually thought there was a void of any feeling or emotion leaning in the general direction of love or compassion left in this physical manifestation that calls itself a body. However, even having watched the movie once before and knowing how it would end did not deter the flood gates of tears from besieging the evening.
"If my life is for rent and I don't learn to buy, I deserve nothing more than I get because nothing I have is truly mine."
It's just a thought. Only a thought.
Let the 2003 lists begin
Margaret's Top 6 of 2003 (in random order):
- Moving to Yale Place with Emmie Sheb.
- New York to see Tori Amos
- New Year's last year with DB, SP, and DC
- Road trip to Kentucky with Em
- Reeling in and finally snatching the mysterious and elusive creative zen.
- Two life-changing events - one one July 7th, one on November 22nd
Remember kids, it's 10:53 in the morning. You can almost be guaranteed I will think of something while out today. Did I mention it's *SNOWING?!* Well it is, see for yourself! Ok, so you can't so much see the actuall "falling" of the snow, but I can assure you it's something right out of a movie!
2003 Music & Movies List
Top 5 albums I listened to in 2003 (in no particular order):
- Christina Aguilera - Stripped. I listened to this album so much I would have worn out the CD if I still used them. How 20th century :P.
- Tenacious D - Tenacious D. I also recommend their live DVD. Not for the weak of heart.
- Dido - Life For Rent/No Angel. No Angel has been out for a few years but I still can't get enough!
- Conjure One - Conjure One. There's something slightly arabian about this group that apparently only I hear. I will never get sick of this album.
- And by the skin of her teeth, Britney Spears makes it on my list. I swear to god(dess) if I hear one crack about how "In The Zone" made it on my list there will be a no holds barred smackdown. Sure she's a sellout, sure she's completely fabricated to top everyone's market list, but when push comes to shove her new album is a bootie-shaking, beat thumping, dance-a-licious groove fest.
- Lord of the Rings, Return of the King
- Under the Tuscan Sun
- Finding Nemo
- Seabiscuit
- Elizabeth
- Sliding Doors
- The Count of Monte Cristo
Peaks and Valleys
I am a bumbling fool. You must be thinking, "shocker!"
Yeah yeah. Well, it has just occurred to me I've become my worst nightmare - I'm just like Keira! Ha ha ha. I'm talking about being just like Keira in the movie-way (don't let her tough exterior fool you, she's *THE* biggest pussycat).
Tonight was "Fools Rush In." Come on now, a romantic comedy several years old and so predictable I could have written it myself with my hands tied behind my back. However, there she is at the end having the baby and I found myself a crying, snotting, weeping mess. Well, a happy mess :).
It occurred to me that I've become that sensitive, raw, emotional woman that cries when she watches movies at night when no one is around. So much for the tough exterior - the truth is coming out! The other night it was "Dragonfly."
Per my previous entry, I've been thinking all day about my "Top 6 of 2003" list. I should have added a disclaimer for those who don't already know - not all the items on the list are memorable in the happiest sense of the word. The summer of 2003 is forever engrained, scarred, on the unfolding fairy tale I live. Some person at some time once said that everyone has a top 5 list of turning points over the course of a lifetime. I had one when I was 20 - a strength I didn't know was mine took me to Sweden. The next one was summer of 2003 - a strength I didn't know I had centered my heart and my soul.
Brilliant! What I do with the fruits of my gathering will play out as surely as I am not going to work tomorrow ;). Only time can unfold a destiny and fate that's already mine. Guess it's not so bad being the girl who cries at movies...
Age old outfit controversy
Why won't men listen?
So I have this friend S, who insists he will wear a black turtleneck out tomorrow evening for New Year's. Granted, turtlenecks on men have their time and place but not on New Year's! He has a much nicer looking black button up shirt with an edge of trendy and style just perfect for picking up chicks. They'll be loving it (I already told him all this, but publically displaying my opinions may help the case).
E has her outfit picked out for the evening too. I, on the other hand, have no strong opinions on what to wear and can barely find room for the vague idea. Dress? Skirt? Pants? Looking for a little feedback here from the mass...
Idea #1) knee length black skirt with slits up the sides, form fitting. With form fitting top that only has one sleeve so as to show off my beautiful clavicularness! Topped off with a pair of black heels covering my toes (remember kids, I'm walking tomorrow night and it has been snowing here).
Idea #2) completely ridiculous red tube dress with barely visible black streaks and huge slits on the side showing waayyyy too much leg. This downside of this getup is that I don't have the body I once did. I really should be a couple sizes smaller to wear it.
Idea #3) Low riding black pants perfect for showing off my little waist and not so little hips. Topped off with a pair of black heels and a sexy back-baring top (either red, black, or peach). The classic going-out outfit.
Idea #4) Black tube dress I bought for my birthday. Barely knee length, shows off clavicular perfection, and has huge slit up one side only. It also has a red slip underneath that JUST peaks out the bottom. Downside is that this is the last dress I wore and I generally don't like to wear the same dress out twice in a row eventhough I'm the only one who knows that. Er, until just this moment! Dangit! Second downside is I'd have to wear sandal high heels. It's cold out there!
Need a little feedback from the masses now. Please feel free to add additional idea with the knowledge you will most likely be promptly ignored :P.
New Year's Itinerary
Written by E, sent to me and S ----> where E=girl, S=boy, M=ME!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Dearest Friends:
Today is the day we celebrate the new day of newness...ism. In honor of this special occasion I would like to take this opportunity to say that work is going way to "darn" slow today and I can't wait to leave at 5pm with you guys and freaking get our "new years" on.
Here's the down-low:
4:59:59 Log off our computers
5:00:00 Get our asses out of here
5:15 Get home and diddle around a bit
6:00 Nap Time
7:30 Arise from nap
7:30:02 Drinking begins
7:45 M and E take a shower (not together S, don't get excited... Of course ...it IS a new year - LOL)
9:00 Eat some brie and drink some more and talk about our past year and ideas we have for the new year
10:15 Hit our first/second/third/fourth bars (Tiberan?/King and I?/Brits Pub? Local?)
10:15:01 Upon entering the bar(s) M and E get champagne handed to them. They are told how beautiful they are. They reply, sincerely, "I know."
10:18 - Kisses begin - in less than 20 minutes S gets digital proof that he is fiz-ine in 25 beautiful ways.
10:45 S takes his shirt off to show off tattoo
10:57 S takes his shirt off for the second time
11:15 Hit our final destination bar Newsroom
12:00 Ring in the New Year, Sing "ole lang syde", M gets a text message
12:01 OMG it's F*ing 2004!
12:12 E is looking SUPER tipsy - hits on a very unattractive bald man at the bar
12:13 S takes his shirt off for the bald man E is hitting on... Just because
12:45 Drunken friends start stumbling home
12:46 Drunken friends start singing stupid songs on the walk home and singing random quotes out loud
1:00 Drunken friends eat mac and cheese that E makes with... OMG WE FORGOT THE BUTTER
1:02 Send S out for the butter
2:15 S returns without butter and with 4 sexy French women... In a taxi
3:00 Drunken friends FINALLY fall asleep
11:30am Drunken friends (yes still drunk) eat pancakes, eggs, and coffee and talk about how AWESOME last night was.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
For the record, I thought it was THREE french men, they weren't so sexy, and it was girlfriend S and male friend S who made me ride in the taxi with them. One of these days everyone will realize I'm the brains of this outfit.
J's entry
From my brilliant friend J, for the new year:
"Expectations & sentiment run high, especially now made more easier to slip up. Yet, the same time lends for opportunity to get back on the right track. There are no perfect solutions, just consistency that matters. Will still look forward to minor & even major setbacks this year. Still, must take bolder moves to see what can be gained before heading to the edge. Of course, expect there still to be situations which will stress one out. If only to be easily avoidable, though; if you're going to have a plan leave your house earlier, make sure you have enough cash in your wallet, and petrol in your car, for staying calm & cool are all about choices..."