Musings and Subtle Changes

Fireworks & Sage : LJ Smudging

2009-07-25T06:50:00Z

A haiku to celebrate all that which lights against the darkness.

Perception is not
without change; the world is full
of constant beauty.

Mwah-ha-ha-ha-ha!

2009-06-29T04:53:15Z

One of my favoritest LOLz ever. Tell me you didn't at least grin when you saw this.

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For my darling arachnophobes...

2009-04-15T15:18:02Z

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My home, love it or leave it.

2009-04-01T23:43:53Z

The scene: A few moments ago, Jer goofing with the doggboys in the other room, while Bec works on the Mac in the library.

Jer: "NananananananaDITKO! NananananananaDITKO!"

(Ditko frolics merrily about, inordinately pleased by the attention, and vents his ecstasy on the nearest dog toys.)

Jer: "NanananananananaROPEBONE! NananananananaBEAVER!"

Bec: (silence)

(ETA)Jer: "You know what would make a cool team-up? Ropebone and beaver."

Bec: *splorfle*

Jer: "You're thinking naughty thoughts, aren't you! What's wrong with ROPEBONE and BEAVER??"

Bec: "Well, it's so Eats, Shoots, and Leaves in the text in my head."

I heart Mike Rowe's voice.

2009-04-01T22:59:18Z

Hearing him say "manometer" is surprisingly thrilling.

Also, Sarah saying "Manometer!" immediately prompts a "Doo doo, doo-doo-doo!" from me, leading to another "Manometer!", leading to a second "Doo doo, doo-doo-doo!" from me.... and then, chortling for a few seconds at our common massive Muppetlove.

I really, really enjoy my home's level of geekery and humor. Ahhh, my Tremonsters.

4/1/2009 - Gmail's taking it up a notch.

2009-04-01T22:44:11Z

New! Gmail Autopilot

ohgodohgodohgodohgod... WORST DRAG EVAH!

2009-03-30T15:00:41Z

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Oh, it is...... yet so funny.

2009-03-30T14:54:49Z

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Horsemen Alert : Free Game Edition

2009-03-29T18:45:13Z

You know an underground revitalization movement/counterculture fad has hit the mainstream when a free online game service is offering Dress Me Up : Clockwork Couture as their newest, most popular game.

BPAL : Dragon's Milk

2009-03-25T00:46:44Z

Two in one day! Whooooo!

(Actually, I'm remarkably bored at work.)

Dragon's Milk : I acquired this imp quite some time ago, back when I first ordered BPAL, and never got around to trying it out. Now that I have, though, I'm glad I tried it while I'm recording my experimental process - as it turns out, this is a pretty nice scent. On the site, this perfume oil is described as "dragon's blood resin and honeyed vanilla". I'm not sure what dragon's blood resin smells like, only that it used to be used as a dye, and in incenses, laquers, and medicines, and thus I'm a bit hampered in my assessment of the layers of scent notes in this perfume oil. In the bottle, there's a very strong woodish/fruity/spicy/sweet scent, VERY strong, and a bit off-putting. Upon first wearing, the "resin" part of the scent is the dominant note, smelling sort of berry-like and soapy and woody/spicy, losing the offputting aspect to the melange that I noticed in the bottle. After a while, the resin mellows out and allows the honey and vanilla to blend into the overall scent, a very nice and rather sexy combo of scentplay. After an hour or so, the resin mellows even more, fading back to a very soft whiff of resin, leaving the honey and vanilla as the dominant scents.

Overall, I like this scent a great deal, far more than I first thought I would. It's a bit strong on the first dabbing, but after about 15 minutes or so, it smooths out and becomes a much more sexy scent than it first appeared to be when sniffed in the bottle. Still not better than O or Nanny Ashtoreth, but far better than some of the BPAL scents I've tried out recently.

Dragon's Milk : Win.

Useful And Decorative.

2009-03-24T20:46:20Z

Source

BPAL : Nefertiti

2009-03-24T16:08:28Z

Boy, it's been a while since I've done one of these.

Nefertiti : One of the free imps included in my order, I wouldn't have ordered this, based on the description. On the site, this perfume oil is described as "Egyptian iris and olibanum with red and white sandalwood, soft myrrh and a breath of North African herbs." See? See right at the beginning there? Iris = Flowers. I don't usually like floral scents - the process by which attar is derived from flowers to use in perfumes changes the chemical composition of the scent esters enough that the attar generally smells dead or wrong to me. At first, Nefertiti was no exception. In the bottle, the iris scent is overpowering the rest of the scents, and upon first dabbing, the iris is still overpowering. After a bit, the iris drops back, and the myrrh and olibanum come up more strongly. This pleases me, as one of the few fond childhood memories I have of church incorporates the scents of myrrh and olibanum/frankincense, but I don't really want to smell like a church. Within a couple hours, the myrrh/olibanum picks up more of the sandalwood base, and the "herbs" never really put in a whiff on me.

This is.... an okay scent. It's not overwhelmingly strong, and I like a lot of the base notes, but for some reason, this scent doesn't jive with me very well. Perhaps it's the "iris". I'm putting this in the trade/giveaway pile - I just don't see me wearing this again.

Nefertiti : Meh. Ok.

Also, this is TOTALLY my dog.

2009-03-24T15:32:02Z

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If my dog was younger, this would be him.

2009-03-24T15:26:52Z

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Socially Constructive Memeage : Electric Luvaloo

2009-03-23T16:45:42Z

So, last week, I decided to revitalize a meme that I enjoy a great deal - A Socially Constructive Meme! Anyone who's anyone who needs a bit of ego-boosting should totally participate. Instructions follow...

To wit...

"I'm reviving this meme, because I like doing it, and I think everyone could use more love in their life.

Awesome! Let me love all over you!

1. Reply to this post if you want me to tell you how cool you are.

2. Watch my journal over the next few days for a post just about you and why I adore you. (May be more then one person to a post in order to avoid spamming everyone.)

3. Post these instructions in your journal and give your friends a much needed dose of love and adoration."

And now, THE LOVE!

dylia

Here's to the hottest redhead in Columbus! You are one of the bestest reasons to attend a Barfleet party. You're bright, and pretty, and very very funny in that wry, sarcastic, cynical way that I totally groove on. I hope that your spinal stimulator works out well - you need to get back in the saddle and start being naughty again! Sending you hugs and luv.

xhollydayx

There are so many things to say about you, Hollydoll, but I'll start with the most obvious. You're cute as a button and smart as a whip, and one of the best-dressed people I hang with, as well as being most excellent at makeup and hair. You're a constantly-intriguing person, and I look forward to becoming better friends with you as time goes on.

sophocles

Here's to the only man I know who will wear a kilt in the South! You've got big balls to wear a "manskirt" down there, but that's nothing compared to the brass you wield at Dragon*Con. You're an intelligent, funny, oddly sexy man who will forever be pictured in my brain as wearing a maroon velvet smoking jacket, leather slippers, and smoking a pipe as you fiendishly cackle over a zombie-makeup-in-progress or an animatronic for a House. Super big hugs for you, and keep bein' nutty, it keeps you interesting.

I'm still accepting applicants - if you want some luvvin' from me, just ask!

HI new peoples!

2009-03-20T17:56:08Z

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Greetings and salutations to all that have added me as of late! You probably got here from a post involving linkage by Ferrett, or Cat, and while I'm pleased that my readership has gone up, I also feel a bit odd that I don't know any of y'all.

So why don't you say hello and tell me a bit about yourself?

Socially Constructive Memeage.

2009-03-20T17:30:15Z

I'm reviving this meme, because I like doing it, and I think everyone could use more love in their life.

Awesome! Let me love all over you!

1. Reply to this post if you want me to tell you how cool you are.

2. Watch my journal over the next few days for a post just about you and why I adore you. (May be more then one person to a post in order to avoid spamming everyone.)

3. Post these instructions in your journal and give your friends a much needed dose of love and adoration.

When All Four Quarters Come Together...

2009-03-19T01:46:27Z

... the magic happens. It was wonderful and fantastic and enthralling, what with creating this art and bringing it to our skins, and seeing it on us, and becoming a part of the mosaic of Palimpsest, makes me thrilled and tingly right down to my toes. A warm, heartfelt beam of gratitude goes out to Ferrett and Cat, for their most excellent write-ups and linkage, and to Gini for the extra pimpage, and Jeremy for the pictures. You are all precious, gleaming folken who make me feel special and help me be an artist. Thank you.

Our four quarters of a map....

... brought together. (Sort of - the lineup could be better.)

But it's really really hard to get them to line up!

In the end, though, we all come together, mapmaker and archivist and shaper and builder and progenitor, to share our love of the City.

We Can All Journey Together.

2009-03-18T23:45:11Z

The Palimpsest Launch Event was a fine, fine thing. You should be sorry you missed it.

Ferrett and Gini being damn cute at Tommy's before the event. (Taken by me)

[All following photos taken by Jeremy.]

SJ Tucker/s00j reading from Palimpsest.

Dmitri/justbeast reading from Palimpsest.

Cat/yuki_onna reading from Palimpsest.

Cat reading...

Cat and Sooj at the end of the reading concert.

[All following photos taken by me.]

Cat and katspaw156

Jer/zodarzone and Gini/zoethe

Ferrett/theferrett and A. and Gini

xhollydayx

Dmitri

Cat and khiron1416

My favorite picture of Dmitri

gieves and cynic51 with hooks_and_books in the signing line

xhollydayx and Jer

mysterg, xhollydollx, and Jer

[All following photos taken by Jeremy]

Cat being stunning...

My favorite picture of Cat...

And her outfit is absolutely fabu.

More photos coming along shortly.....

A City Just For Us.

2009-03-18T18:34:23Z

For those of you who missed the Palimpsest party on 3/16/09 @ Mac's Backs, you missed a hell of a shindig. It all began before that, though....

I'm sure, if you're a regular reader of me, you've already seen the sketches of the maps I created for me and zodarzone and theferrett and zoethe.

Sunday night, I began the process of hennaing those maps onto our skins. Everyone has a neighborhood, in Palimpsest.

Laying out La Libra Ultimatis Station on Jer/zodarzone

Jeremy wearing La Libra Ultimatis Station

~ La Libra Ultimatis Station ~ In the city, there is a Library. Every good city has a library, but the Library of Palimpsest is unusual. It holds volumes, true, thousands upon thousands of volumes, but they're rarely read and never loaned out. No one has a card for this library. There is only one book in La Libra Ultimatis - the Book of Names, and the number of volumes is so immense that it takes several annexes just to house it all. Everyone in Palimpsest is recorded in that book, everyone who has heard its clamor and walked its streets and lived in its buildings. Off to one side of the library complex is a clutch of round towers that stretch far above the city, the Spires of Sighs. In the Spires, you can walk through the giant arches, the long sloping ramps, spiraling up and up, and hear the first sigh emitted by each and every person after their first breath of Palimpsest's air. La Libra Ultimatis is surrounded by dormitories for students of the Book, and merchant streets jammed with papermakers and bookbinders and inksellers and quillerists. ~

Gini/zoethe wearing Chakrazoe Station

~ Chakrazoe Station ~ So many trains run through Palimpsest, it's hard to figure out how they connect. If you're lucky, you'll venture into a neighborhood with a wheelhouse, a place where the train lines come together before flying apart again, off on their way to other parts of the city. Everyone passes through Chakrazoe Station at some point, on their journey through the city, but the only ones who stay are the ones who need the hum of rails under trains, the shouts of porters directing luggage and stock, the scent of burning coal and hot metal and steam. The neighborhood around Chakrazoe is surprisingly peaceful and sedate. The residents live the small, quiet lives of temple builders, only expressing themselves in the beauty of the Stations they create, for this neighborhood is where the Stations are built, piece by piece and brick by brick, before being boxed up and shipped off on their beloved trains, to be assembled as a Station they've never seen and most likely will never visit. Every thing you see in a Station was created here, the shining brass bars on the ticket window, the curling wrought iron benches, the smoothly polished and inlaid wooden floors, the sometimes-ornate and sometimes-simple signs proclaiming the names of the Stations. ~

Ferrett/theferrett wearing Whalejack Station

~ Whalejack Station ~ Every city relies heavily on the transportation of goods. While the trains of Palimpsest are beautiful, they only run so far, and sometimes things need to come from farther away than the trains reach. Enter Whalejack Station, on the harbor of Palimpsest. Here is where the ships that sail the wide open sea come to be safe, to rest and be repaired, to be relieved of their burdens so they can skip gaily from wave to wave again, unencumbered by the weight of necessity. The warehouses of Whalejack Station are filled with things that will be made into other things, metal and wood and thread and rock, vast stores of potential. Stevedores live here, and chandlers, and boatbuilders - they draw comfort from living with their ships, from being so near the ocean, hearing the thwack of waves against wood, the cries of gulls, smelling the winds that blow the scents of far-off, unheard-of places. Yet, none appear tempted to jump on a ship as it leaves its safe harbor; they all seem happy to stay in Palimpsest, as if all things that matter eventually come to the city and they will be contented when it arrives, an adventure that no one has to leave home to experience. ~

Me wearing Crooked River Station

~ Crooked River Station ~ In every city everywhere, there's a place where the regulated order of streets break down, where margins blur and nothing is set in stone. Crooked River Station sits on the border of just such a place. The banks of the River are twisted and high, yet still people crowd to live here. This is where the river people dwell, those who make their living working the tamed, bounded waters of the River, ferrymen and washerwomen and basketmakers. This neighborhood is where the shantytowns spring up, all along the riverbends, and where the floating folk make their temporary dockings. It's the Gypsy part of town, and to walk its streets is an unparalleled adventure. Your pockets might get picked, you might see the love of your life, you may hear unearthly music you will never hear again, you might get your fortune told true, you might dance all night around a fire, you might be netted and whisked away to live a wholly new life, never to return. One can never truly know what happens in the Crooked River until you go there - everyone finds something different, something unique and just for them, an experience that will never be repeated no matter how many times you visit. ~

To see our map, whole and entire, and see photos of the launch event, follow the links.

Seriously..... have you seen any Horsemen around?

2009-03-17T17:02:55Z

Because, through luck and genius and being damned good at my job, I DO NOT HAVE TO WORK ST PATTY'S DAY THIS YEAR!!!

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Last night's reading concert with yuki_onna and s00j was brilliant. Jer got some great photos. The impromptu party after was a blast, too, but went very late, and I'm still recovering. More later, promise.

I love this photo.

2009-03-16T18:23:23Z

Maps On Our Skins, Parte Duo.

2009-03-14T22:08:16Z

Now, the plans for the (previously mentioned) other two maps.

This is quite the project - plotting out a city, discovering how the world fits together, and figuring out how to create that world in one color on a living canvas, are stretching my boundaries.

Here we go, stepping out of the known into the unknown...

Maps On Our Skins, Parte Un.

2009-03-13T18:19:18Z

So, if you don't know by now, yuki_onna is a *fantabulous* storyteller.

I love her stories, especially the ones printed as The Orphan's Tales : In the Night Garden & In the Cities of Coin and Spice, but a copy of her newest book, Palimpsest, was given to me as a gift recently.

It's awesome. I started it last night, and I'm already halfway through, and I want to visit Palimpsest so badly I can taste it, the urge thrumming my muscles, the sounds just on the edge of hearing. Sadly, I'll just have to settle for the Palimpsest launch event at Mac's Backs on Coventry on March 16, 2009, @ 8 PM. I'll be getting to meet shadesong for the first time, and get to hear s00j/SJ Tucker for the first time. How wonderful - an evening of words and art and music and song and books and food and love!

But, perhaps most important, I get to henna maps. What follows are two of the four planned interlocking maps of Palimpsest that we will bear on our skins, our passport stamps, our Foder's Guide to the magic world.

I do! I really, really do!

2009-03-12T15:47:40Z

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