Happy Monday, my little chickadees. How’s every little thing? Do anything exciting this weekend?
Last week’s Lazy Monday poll was a rousing success. Violet and I chatted about how to store perfume, Deb was convinced after much cajoling from the gang that yes, she DID need to start getting a new Easter dress every year since she liked it so much as a child. Jen209 and I bonded over bad jelly beans and Janey revealed an embarrassing secret re: those marshmallow-filled bunnies that aren’t even really food. Our Lisa got tenure (yay) and there were several discussions on Easter Hats, candy and whether or not one ought to dress up.
Over the weekend I was thinking about how we observe spring. In Austin, the first sign of spring is South by Southwest, followed by the bluebonnets painting the roadsides blue and oak pollen painting our cars yellow. I’ve switched from my Big Important Perfumes to lighter colognes and spend as much time outside as I can before Austin returns to its normal place right on the face of the sun and I go subterranean until November.
I’m listening to more Beethoven and less Bach (Bach always seems wintry to me) and reminiscing on how spring meant strawberries from “my” strawberry patch as a little girl and polishing the brass on the famous Dentzel Carousel in Glen Echo Park with my Girl Scout troop.
I used to “run away” to the carousel –six blocks from my front door– far more often than most people knew. Pretending I lived inside the machine room, the animals would be my friends and save me from the monsters that lived in the calliope.
Okay your turn, what’s on your mind?
A magical carousel!
I am thinking about buying a place nearer the ocean and keeping my place downtown for long days on campus and Lakers games. And buying a nice set of Dodgers tickets for my hunny, who is away at his gran’s funeral, as a surprise treat for when he comes home. So my mind is on coastal real estate and baseball games, but I’m actually trying to keep my household going without my stay-at-home husband–so far I’ve forgotten to feed the cat twice (she’s very annoyed with me) and I’ve given up and plan to send the dogs to sleepaway camp tonight. I’ve eaten nothing but cereal since the fella left. Oh, and I have authors’ queries to deal with which I hate because they are BORING.
I hope the Manolo has some lovely shoes up for Monday. Maybe I will wear espadrilles to class today, even though it’s not terrible appropriate for work. Only two more classes before comps and summer!
Comment by Lisa — April 12, 2010 @ 2:09 pm
Oh let’s see: yard work, the fact that it will be 45-degrees tomorrow but is 60 today, however the daffodils are up, I’m seeing Michael Pollan tonight (“Omnivore’s Dilemma” author), my husband just gave notice at his job to go to one that pays less (by $5/hr), but has about a bazillion times less stress.
Comment by Mrsbug — April 12, 2010 @ 2:09 pm
Would anybody like to buy a teenager? Quiet, will work but needs direction, good with animals and little kids. Price EXTREMELY negotiable.
Comment by LL — April 12, 2010 @ 2:27 pm
Uh uh uh Officer LL, you’re not going to fool me with THAT one twice.
Comment by Plumcake — April 12, 2010 @ 2:37 pm
Hmm. Thinking about how I’m supposed to plausibly cover news from a trade show when my company is too cheap to actually send me to the trade show, meaning that I am forced to write up press releases, an activity that I understand is also practiced in the sixth circle of hell.
Also, whether the cold I have had for almost two weeks will ever go away, and how my beloved, cranky cat turns 14 this week and I can no longer reasonably maintain that she’s not really old.
On the other hand, I have a job, I don’t have to battle mobs at a massive trade show (yay!), I can sweetly foist off some of my phone calls on my co-workers because I have no voice, and my cat is healthy, hasn’t got a clue that she’s old, and still demands regular shoulder rides around the apartment.
So I guess I’m working on that whole perspective thing, in other words :)
Comment by Mifty — April 12, 2010 @ 2:43 pm
When did you get so cynical, Plumcake??
*heh*
Comment by LL — April 12, 2010 @ 2:51 pm
Mifty, keep us posted on “that whole perspective thing,” would you? I misplaced my sense of perspective last month and could do with a new one.
Comment by Suseo — April 12, 2010 @ 3:16 pm
The caning of those women for adultery in Malaysia and whether the madness will ever stop + how delicious Appletiser is + how I’m toddling off to buy me some Guerlain makeup tomorrow!
Comment by Frances — April 12, 2010 @ 3:21 pm
Frances, get the loose kohl eyeliner!
Comment by Plumcake — April 12, 2010 @ 3:22 pm
You mind-reader, you! That’s exactly what I was planning to get, along with a couple of red lipsticks to wear when I scowl at the neighbourhood children.
Plummie, advice needed. I have a gorgeous, gorgeous dark brown 50s style hat, with a large velvet band-y ribbon-y thing around the top (crown? I have no idea). It looks amazing, but what do I wear it with? I’ve got quite a strong diamond-shaped face, pointed chin and wide-cheekbones and deep-set eyes. Any tips? Also, coffee-coloured skin and jet-black long straight hair. I’m 20, by the way.
Comment by Frances — April 12, 2010 @ 3:41 pm
I’m thinking about buying some new underdelicates. It may not feel like spring in Oregon today, but my ass can look springy!
Comment by Janey — April 12, 2010 @ 3:42 pm
@Frances, 50’s hat doesn’t mean much to me, I think I need a little more info. Pill box? Picture (extremely wide brim)? Cocktail? Felt? Straw?
You’ll definitely want to wear your hair up, and depending on the slenderness of your face, you might want to try something like modified victory rolls. What sort of look are you going for?
Comment by Plumcake — April 12, 2010 @ 3:57 pm
I’m thinking about spring and how I used to have what I called “the bud watch” which consisted of me paying attention to the bare trees on the river banks and in the neighborhood, waiting for the magical day when they weren’t simply gray and brown anymore, but, wait, are they a little bit green? And then every day after that, greener and greener. I love spring because everything comes back.
Someone writing about rhubarb said that by her calculations, she had about forty more springs to enjoy the first rhubarb the season. I’m hoping to be a very old broad, so I’m planning on forty-three more springs to witness Opening Day in baseball, rhubarb, and the bud watch. Wish me luck.
Comment by Mrs. Hendricks — April 12, 2010 @ 4:19 pm
I’m thinking that the new leaves budding out on the tree outside my (windowless) office are the softest, most delicious-feeling thing ever. Also, the fact that they are growing before the winterberries have fallen (no idea what sort of tree, but it grows red berries in the late fall and keeps them through winter) seems to be the perfect juxtaposition of seasons for how our weather is in WI right now – hopeful, but resistant.
I’m also quite pleased that I replaced my purse camera a few months ago and can play around with taking photographs of the aforementioned glimpses of spring on my way to grab a cup of coffee to keep me from faceplanting into my desk.
I’m also thinking that my kitty made it to 16 (8 of which were spent ruling the neighborhood, and the other 8 spent being an FIV positive indoor kitty – get your kitties immunized!), and my grandma had a kitty for over 20 years that was already grown up when she first got him. You’ve got plenty of kitty-snuggles to come, Mifty. Do enjoy them.
Comment by Maria — April 12, 2010 @ 4:32 pm
I’ve been staring at numerous hat pictures and I think I’m going blind but as far as I can tell, it’s kind of a cross between a cloche and a derby. Does that even make sense? It’s fairly close-fitting and comes low on the brow.
As for the look, I don’t want to go costume-y so I’d like something a little modern? I’m not averse to strong makeup and brows, so any hints?
Comment by Frances — April 12, 2010 @ 4:46 pm
Also, Plum, could you please post more tips of taking pictures? I’m not sure I buy the whole ‘I’m a cartoon frog’ line, cos as far as I can tell, you are ‘a regulation hottie’.
Comment by Frances — April 12, 2010 @ 4:49 pm
Frances, is it straw or felt? Can your hair fit under the hat?
As far as being a regulation hottie, I photograph much, much better than I actually look. Any model worth her contact sheets (do they even do contact sheets anymore?) will tell you there’s a huge difference between camera pretty and real life pretty.
Not that there’s anything particularly wrong with the way I look (you’ll see a picture of me mid-exfoliation with my hair in clips later this week) but I yam what I yam and I yam a cartoon frog.
Comment by Plumcake — April 12, 2010 @ 4:57 pm
Oooh, I’m excited because I just picked up my favorite shoes from the BEST cobbler (or whatever, general shoe magician) in Philly. Red patent leather peep toe flats–nothing too fancy, but perfect for walking around the city in the spring and summer.
This is especially exciting because, seriously, these are favorite shoes and I was thinking they might be Beyond Hope. Nope, he not only replaced the bottoms with frankly, better soles than they came with (or maybe it was just that the old ones were that jacked up), but he fixed where the back was starting to come apart a bit. Basically, Mama’s got new shoes, and it is good. (I don’t want to link spam, but if anyone is in Philly, I’m happy to share the address…).
I have exams coming up soon, so I don’t have much else going for me right now. (But going with the whole perspective thing, this is the *last* time I have to take exams, not counting the bar exam!)
Comment by Genevieve — April 12, 2010 @ 4:58 pm
Felt, cher! I am categorically allergic to anything associated with the beach.
Comment by Frances — April 12, 2010 @ 5:02 pm
Genevieve, how exciting! By all means post a link. We share and share alike here! And of course it gives me the chance to sermonize that if you buy good shoes to begin with you can have them fixed again and again and again. It’s amazing what can be done by the hands of a talented cobbler.
Comment by Plumcake — April 12, 2010 @ 5:09 pm
What’s on my mind? Well, I’m just starting my second week at my brand-new job, and so am trying to get my feet under me. The baby is adjusting beautifully to daycare. I was watching Coronation Street on Sunday and just LOVED the lipstick shade that Rosie Webster was wearing. I’m hoping that at some point this summer, we can till the dirt farm (otherwise known as our yard) and actually put some grass seed in. I cannot wait until my hair grows out of this ill-advised Beckham bob so that I can wear a proper ponytail again. And I had the most delicious lunch today — asparagus and edamame salad with fresh mint.
Comment by La Petite Acadienne — April 12, 2010 @ 7:12 pm
This seems to be the best place to ask for help in finding a specific shoe.
I’m looking for a not particularly formal heeled or wedge sandal (2″ – 3″ high), preferably in a medium to dark brown leather or suede. I’m hoping for medium to dark brown leather or suede. I’m planning to wear these shoes to baseball games with jeans, a team tshirt, and my cute denim jacket (it is a much lighter denim than the jeans and has cute curved and bound edges so it’s not matchy-matchy) and some nice understated gold earrings. I’d strongly prefer no ankle strap – a heel strap is wonderful. The shoes do not have to go with skirts or dresses since I wear a dress maybe once a year, if that. I hesitate to write down a price range because I’m willing to spend more for the perfect shoe, but shoes in the $500+ range are Right Out.
Here’s the issue: I wear a 10W. The wide width is non-negotiable if I hope to walk in these more than a couple hundred yards.
Since it’s still what passes for Spring here (70F+ during the week, snow on the weekend), I have plenty of time to shop. But I’m not having much luck right now, so thank you for any pointers!
Comment by TropicalChrome — April 12, 2010 @ 7:57 pm
Chrome, let me strongly advise against
1) Suede
2) two denims
Suede is a fall/winter fabric, so unless you plan on wearing these in October, skip it.
Better people than you or I have thought two denims were okay because they weren’t the same rinse and have lived to tell the Texas Tuxedo tale.
Might I suggest these for your perusal:
http://www.zappos.com/lifestride-jess-tan-multi
http://www.zappos.com/naturalizer-jakarta-coffee-bean-leather
http://www.zappos.com/naturalizer-falconette-stella-coffee-leather-faux-snake-print
http://www.endless.com/J-Renee-Womens-Carola-Sandal/dp/B001MIZ1NA
http://www.endless.com/Amalfi-Rangoni-Womens-Woven-Sandal/dp/B002QXLB84
Comment by Plumcake — April 12, 2010 @ 8:31 pm
Tropical chrome – here are some options from Zappos:
http://www.zappos.com/search/shoes/filter/productTypeFacet/%22Shoes%22/gender/%22Womens%22/size/%2210%22/categoryFacet/%22Sandals%22/width/%22C%22/colorFacet/%22Brown%22/heelHeight/%22Medium+%5C%281+3%2F8in+%5C-+2+1%2F2in%5C%29%22/sort/isNew/desc/
If the link doesn’t work – I basically just used their series of filters to put in the size, width, color, and heel height parameters.
Comment by g-dog — April 12, 2010 @ 8:33 pm
I’m enjoying the final advent of spring in New England. Everything is budding and blooming – and let me just say that the magnolia trees are magnificent.
I’m contemplating changing jobs. I love, love, love what I do (technical writer in aviation) but I’m missing Texas more than I can stand. I am keeping my eye out for the best opportunity to see what I can make of the change.
Yeah, I’m ready to go home.
Comment by Melissa — April 12, 2010 @ 8:46 pm
I’m so glad it’s finally spring again! Can’t decide whether I’m happier about feeling the sun on my face through the sunroof, or smelling hyacinths in the yard. Tomorrow, my best friend is coming down and the next day we leave on a road trip/conference trip.
Of course, I have nothing to wear. Or if I do, I have no clue what it would be. Academic conferences are fun, but maddening in terms of what to wear.
Also? Not one, not two, but THREE weddings between Memorial Day and mid-September. Fnur.
Comment by Petunia Chowder — April 12, 2010 @ 9:47 pm
Plumcake and g-dog, thank you very much for the links! There are definitely some options there, and I’m looking forward to taking a much closer look at them! (And yes, these shoes are going to go into fall, since October and November can bring snow or 80F days, and if it’s 80 degrees out I’m going to be comfortable no matter what the calendar says!)
Comment by TropicalChrome — April 12, 2010 @ 10:05 pm
Hmm, I thought I posted links, Plumcake, but it might be stuck in the spam filter. Or my computer just sucks. Let me know at your convenience, of course…
Comment by Genevieve — April 12, 2010 @ 11:09 pm
Holy crap, I’m three months out from my wedding. I’m 24 and suddenly I’m a grown-up! All of my friends have sing-songy couple names and I hang out with a bewildering array of people linked with an ampersand. Hillary & Max and Sara & Alden and Laura & Ian are all going to the party. This is not how I pictured things going. Coming home from helping another friend move in with her boyfriend I called another friend and she starts mentioning how she’s got to start thinking about getting things together for work tomorrow because she has to go to sleep soon. It was 9:30! We just graduated from college 2 years ago and already this is happening. The stability is making me edgy and it makes me want to throw it all in to chaos just to shake things up. It’s stifling. I feel like I’m part of a really bizarre throwback generation. This stuff happens in Mad Men not in real life.
Comment by Sara A. — April 14, 2010 @ 12:12 am
Oh, Sara, my dear, just wait. Even with marriage, there will more instability. Never in short supply…
Comment by Lisa — April 14, 2010 @ 3:56 am