| A farewell poem. |
[29 Jul 2006|04:25pm] |
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Elisabeth (the musical): Japanese Takarazuka Cast |
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One day the girl decided
That she desired more
Not the golden colors the states provided
But those vermilion from a distant shore
This was not to say she didn't admire
The umber undulating hills of her home
Yet there was something that did not inspire
Which caused her heart to roam
There were reasons, yes, for her travels far
To begin, she wished to speak their tongue
Which to some seemed a strange occupation
And even with rigorous study, no end to frustration
Then of course there were personal reasons that she wished to meet
And she felt if she put her heart into it, she would surely feel complete
For it was her wish to blossom like a crocus beneath the snow
And despite attitude, and perhaps appereances, she was no wide-eyed doe.
However, her wishes and desire were no easy endeavor
And in her heart she felt daunted,
For with failure, her hopes it might sever.
Yet with firm resolve she packed her bags and bade her friends farewell
For her goals were laid out for her, a pearl encased in its shell
By the end of the year, she would have a creamy jewel of which to call her own
To treasure her whole life long, and like the budding crocus from under
the harsh white snow,
Had faced life, and resiliently grown.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Tomorrow, at noon (Sunday, July 30th, 2006), I leave for Japan. If you wish to join me and my travels, check me out at ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) ticklepenny as I will not be updating sore_de_ii_no during the time that I am in Japan.
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| Lack of tickets. |
[27 Jul 2006|10:19pm] |
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mood |
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 sad |
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music |
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fan whirling |
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Well...Yukiko couldn't get the Takarazuka tickets. I guess they sold like hotcakes. I can still try to go to the theatre and get tickets the day of the showing--but I would have preferred not to. *sigh* It just isn't working out quite right. Well, reguardless of the method, I still hope I can go see Phantom.
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| Close-ups of home. |
[26 Jul 2006|09:42am] |
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mood |
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 blank |
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music |
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Bathroom Girl: Air |
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It struck me today that I should take more pictures. I mean, that is one of the blessings of a digita camera, is it not? I decided that I should take more pictures of home. So, under the theme of "Close-up"--here are some close up images of my home.
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| If not for other reasons... |
[23 Jul 2006|12:20pm] |
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mood |
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 hot |
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music |
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She's All That (crappy teen movie) |
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I am happy to be going to Japan. At least it will be cooler there. So what if they have humidity? I would take a high of 84+humidty rather than 110+dry heat. I'm sitting in my living room, the fan whirling over my head--and sweating. Even our air conditioning doesn't make the house cold. It just can't compete with the Sacramento heat.
Oh, someone help me. That, or can we get a Delta Breeze going on in here?
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| Trying to Stay Cool. Chai. And random "Japanese" man. (PS) |
[21 Jul 2006|12:01am] |
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mood |
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crushed |
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music |
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Killing Me Softly With His Song: Roberta Flack |
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I headed out to the Bay Area today, Berkeley, to be specific not ONLY to try and beat the heat of Sacto....but to visit my friend Micheal who is taking super hard intensive Japanese classes there. I'm quite jealous, actually--he is learning Japanese there at this amazing level that I wish I had been taught last year. I think that he knows that he is doing this great thing, but the lack of relaxation and enjoyment of the summer is getting to him. I arrived there early, only to discover the city was QUITE warm, and not fogged in and winter-ish as I would have preffered. I bought a new Japanese-English/English-Japanese pocket dictionary, as I inadvertantly left mine in SB. Then, I wandered around the campus, and through their lovely redwood grove. I was so tempted to go wadding in their stream that runs through campus. I have a thing for streams and brooks. After meeting up with Michael at Rasputin Records, we went out for Dim Sum (my first experience ever!)--and I discovered much to my dislike the amount of shrimp they put in it. Is it always like this? But, I did have some really good pork buns, and other sucullent dishes as well. After that, he showed me where he lived--this gorgeous, and home I would like to own, off of College Street. My ideal neighborhood going on right there. I just want to take that house and make it my own. Arts and Crafts--hardwood everything, basement, built in cabinets...! (*HGTV geek*) Alas, after getting tea, I had to go--to beat the traffic on my way back to Sacto...
...But, I made my first trial of my own Chai today. I boiled up some cloves, caddomon, cinnamon sticks, ginger, and a bit of allspice--poured it over black tea, let it seep for a while, and then added sweatener and tea. It was most delicious. I still haven't explored the Indian Grocers in town, but I'm going to do that anyways...
Also, this random "Japanese" guy named Kenta contacted me via Craigslist Tokyo, asking me (NOW, of all times!) if I had found housing. I told him I had--and yet, instead of ending the chain of messages, he asks me about myself, where I am studying, where I found a place to live. Now, he is saying it would be nice if I IMed him. Should I be freaked out...or flattered? O_o
Tomorrow, here is the agenda:
1.) Go to Waldorf Supply School in Carmichael
2.) Go to Target to buy a new, cheap watch
3.) Explore Indian Grocers in town
4.) Come and clean the house for the Mexican themed dinner party my mum is throwing tomorrow...
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| A post. |
[19 Jul 2006|07:51pm] |
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mood |
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 had to work late.... |
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music |
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Sing, Sing, Sing |
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Working at a mall I can't help but notice how stupid (but it is that really the right word?) Americans are. At college, I sort of forget that ignorant, ghetto, uneducated people exist. Oh, how silly of me, I know. But, why not enjoy a good thing while you have it? Now, this is not to say everyone I run across is stupid, overweight off fast food, uneducated, and a bad representation of our country...but it's those people that stick out in my mind. They certainly do make an impression. How can they not, when they obviously attract so much attention to themselves with their attitude and unchecked behavior?
These are just some thoughts I have been having...as I sit here, while I am supposed to be working...but no one customers come to make me do so.
Speaking of independent research, although chai is not a very summery drink, I find myself longing to be experimental. I think that before I make the trek to Japan, I will finally go to the few Indian Grocers we have in town. (We also have a Indian Fabric store--Kasala fabrics that has always tempted me.) I want to get some good Indian spices to attempt to make some good Indian chai. Doesn't that sounds lovely? Too bad I associate chai with the winter time. Nothing says winter like a spicy cup of that brew.
If you want to make your own chai, here is a really good website I found that explains what chai is, and various recipes on how you can make your own.
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| Suppose I should mention it now. |
[15 Jul 2006|07:42am] |
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 complacent |
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music |
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ずっとひみつ: 新機動戦記ガンダム (aka, Relena's charasong) |
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My Bon Voyage Party is canceled.
It is has actually been canceled in my head for a while now. Mainly because, most everyone who I want to come or be there can't make it. No one's fault, because all my friends are spread through California and I can't expect people to drive that far of a distance just for me. Now, if you still want to get together on our own, or something that is perfectly cool! But, I'm not going to arrange anything, because I don't want it to be sad, and me to feel bad.
Peace out.
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| Life at Work. |
[14 Jul 2006|06:36pm] |
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mood |
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 hungry |
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music |
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News Hour with Jim Lehrer |
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As far as jobs go, mine isn't so bad. I work in an air conditioned mall--which beats anything in the 100+ degree weather of Sacramento. In addition, working in a mall is HIGHLY convinient for me right now--namely that I have to buy a lot of stuff for Japan. Plus, the people I work with are pretty cool, and the job is not too taxing. I can use the internet (sparingly), and when it gets slow--I can read a book, or write on the computer. Infact, I have written a couple of pages for my Beauty and the Beast story. There are only two bads points to the job--my boss, who although is nice, and understanding, is also extremely uptight and nosy. I like her, I really do! But, she has the kind of personality which makes me on edge. I don't feel relaxed around her. Now, maybe it is the role of ANY boss to be uptight, etc around their exmployees...but, she is very detail oriented. Something I am not. The other bad part about working at the mall is the constant temptation to buy stuff. I mean, it is constantly around me! If not food, then clothes. If not clothes, than accessories. If not accessories, than beauty products, etc. PLUS, the one thing I really want to buy--they don't have! This is winter clothes. I just want some turtle necks. I ordered some from L.L.Bean, but they were disgusting and I returned them. No one has any winter clothes yet, which I understand, but still it is annoying. This means my parents will get to ship them to me.
In other news, I really want to see other Beat Takeshi films! Too bad my local Blockbuster carries ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. Actually, most Blockbusters in general have crappy selection. Oh, I miss the days of Emerald Video when they actually had good videos...@_@ I hear Video Schmideo (or something) in SB is a really good store. My Shinto Prof, Grappard, recommended it. Anyways, I am gunna go scrounge up some dinner.
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| Death of the Green Beret, and SF Japanese Consulate Roadtrip. |
[11 Jul 2006|04:45pm] |
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Too much driving! |
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Today My Heart Desires: Monsoon Wedding |
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Well, I finally gave up on it today. My search for the Kelly Green Beret. I know where it is, next time I am in SB--so I will buy it when I get back from Japan. Instead, I bought myself a grey fuzzy one. I decided on grey because it would go with anything, and is a pretty neutral color, but not as neutral as black or white. This ends over three weeks of searching online--in the Sacramento area, and the SF Bay Area. May you rest in peace, kelly green beret, until we meet again in a year.
Other than that, me and mum made a road trip out to the Bay Area and to the Japanese Consulate. It was pretty sweet--only took about fifteen minutes once I was there to get the Student Visa paperwork underway. Afterwards, we went to Suisun and ate at the Athenian grill. Oh! How I love their soup...worth going out of our way just for it.
Now, to go cut up some potatoes and make oven-baked french fries...
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| The Stats |
[10 Jul 2006|01:00pm] |
Top Commenters on sore_de_ii_no's LiveJournal
(Of users in friends list)
( 11-43 )
Total Commenters: 74 (31 not shown)
Total Comments: 3320
Report generated 7/10/2006 12:58:47 PM by scrapdog's LJ Comment Stats Wizard 1.7
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| Doh! And for a second, I thought UCSB actually LIKED me! |
[10 Jul 2006|12:18pm] |
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mood |
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 good |
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music |
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These From Caravans by Vanessa Mae the Violin Player |
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I get an e-mail from UCSB saying "AWARD NOTIFICATION: HIGHLY IMPORTANT"--so, I go and check out the financial aid, where they say I am now eligible for funds. "Is the school actually going to give me money to offset the EXTRODINARY EXPENSE of Japan?" I think to myself. My heart flutters with happiness as I log onto the financial aid website--but then, suddenly, my happiness flikers. It turns out my "AWARD" is that I am now eligible for a loan. A loan. Damn. Pwned again by UCSB.
But, in other news, my stuff from EAP finally came in today so--
I am now an offical student of Sophia University!
And, with my newly acquired Certificate of Eligibility, I can go process my Student Visa at the Japanese consulate tomorrow in SF. Road trip, woo-hoo!
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| !!! |
[09 Jul 2006|01:43pm] |
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ITALY FOR THE CUP!
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| Obon Odori! |
[09 Jul 2006|11:06am] |
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mood |
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calm |
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Project Runway: 1st season marathon |
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For the third year in a row, I went to Obon Odori at the Buddhist Betsuin Church. It was SO hot omg, I was dying, and my parents kept on giving me water after every few dances or so...I was dying most of the time, it being 105 degrees at the time. But, we did get to go out to tasty Japanese food (tempera, yummmm), and then went out to Rick's Dessert Diner..! :D My parents had never been there before, so I am glad we went--I tried their red-velvet cake this time with my mum, and it was most tasty indeed. Now, what you are really interested in, I'm sure....the pictures....
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| Meme from Mayumi... |
[07 Jul 2006|09:24pm] |
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complacent |
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music |
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The Contest: Phantom: Takarazuka. |
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| I'm not complaining. I swear. Simply telling it as it is. |
[05 Jul 2006|03:58pm] |
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mood |
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 gloomy |
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Spanish Bombs: The Clash |
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SO, Mark knows about this--I'm sure! The "Certificate of Eligibility" which basically a peice of paper that needs to be completed by the Japanese host schools--saying "YES, this person WILL be a STUDENT for a year." Aka, this paper allows us to process our Student Visa. Now, I leave at the end of July--and I still haven't received any word about my C.o.E. I called the Japanese Consulate today, asking if they knew anything about it--and they basically said, "Eh, yeah, that is up to your school. Sorry." Alright! So, I call EAP to see if they know anything. "Nope! Haven't heard a word! Infact, it is always really last minute like this--one time, a school didn't even mail it out! Oops!" Well, that is great. So, here I am--getting ready to travel to Japan without the proper Visa. All I gotta say is that it BETTER come soon...or else the shit will hit the fan. I mean, the Visa takes three days to process. Imagine if...imagine if I receive the info a few days before I am shedualed to leave. O_o Well, I will just stay calm. Stay calm.
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| A Very Merry 4th |
[04 Jul 2006|07:36pm] |
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mood |
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 awake |
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Via Purifico: Nobuo Uematsu |
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Well, very unlike the Sanborns, we actually went on a hike today. Normally, we don't really do that sort of thing. The last time I can recall us doing that was at least six years ago. But today, we drove up to a lake about an hour away from my house--called Sly Lake, and wandered around. It was a nice lake, and here are a few pictures from it.
Also, I was working on a picture two nights ago--and thought I would share it with you guys. This is how the Ministry of Magic sees Harry--as a god-like figure who will save them. I'm rather pleased with how it came out, truth be told. (per usual--minus glasses)
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| Kids, Kids, Everywhere! |
[29 Jun 2006|09:19am] |
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exhausted |
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World Cup Quarter Finals-Germany vs. Argentina |
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So, on Wednesday night my Cousin and his family came to pay us a visit. They usually hail from Washington, but instead went camping down in California and decided to visit us on the way back. They had 4 kids, 3 of them under the age of 7. Now, for those who know me--kids, especially young kids really aren't my thing. But, actually, as far as kids did go they were okay. They weren't overly rude, or destructive--and although they were loud, it was a loud I could handle. The 11 year old girl--my cousin Annabeth, I liked the best. Mainly because she reminded me of me--or someone like me. She was really into reading and we talked about a variety of books--most importantly Harry Potter. I think she was really happy that I could talk to her about it. I liked her so much, I went and bought her a book, "Howl's Moving Castle" because she is really into Sci-Fi and Fantasy, and it seemed like a nice fit. Hopefully we stay in contact, considering I need to be in contact with more of my relatives...
Still, the two nights they were here--my sleep was TERRIBLE! I woke up at 4:45 this morning, when they were heading out and wished them good bye. Then, I went back to sleep--and you know what? I had the best dream I have had in a long time--full of two hot totured men, one of them with a southern accent. How odd is that?
----
Come on, Germany! And did I see JKR in the crowds, or am I going mad?
YAY!! GO GERMANY!!
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| ... |
[26 Jun 2006|05:53pm] |
Apparently, I was not meant to make Greek soup.
(sigh)
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| Funny How Things Work Out. |
[26 Jun 2006|09:23am] |
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mood |
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impressed |
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music |
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Edeilweiss: The Sound of Music |
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I was watching the Antoine Doinel series with my mother. It is a collection of movies, following the same character throughout his life, taking place in the 1950s-1970s in France. As I was watching the credits, and reading the little bit of information about the movie, I saw a name--Shintaro Ishihara. At first, I figured I didn't know who it was, but then I realized a few seconds later that I had just studied him in EACS 4B! He is the Neo-Nationalist governor of Tokyo, and former artist! I was sort of shocked, and pleased that I knew who that was. Turns out he won the Akutagawa Literary Prize--would that be the Akutagawa Ryunosuke who published "The Fool"--which we also studied in EACS 4B? Here is a picture of Shintaro Ishihara I managed to find when he was younger. Even though Prof. Nathan was kind of a jerk, he did teach me things about important figures in Japanese culture--important names, that show up anywhere, it turns out.
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| Fashion Bug! |
[24 Jun 2006|10:20pm] |
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mood |
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chipper |
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music |
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keyboard |
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Lately, all I have been thinking about are clothes, clothes, and more clothes. This is mainly because I won't be able to buy ANY clothes in Japan. Well, I'm expecting not to be able to. For Chrissakes, finding a size 11-13 size shoe is nearly impossible! Yes, it is offical, I have offically moved out of size 11 in closed-toed shoes and on to good ol' 12. How horrid.
In anycase, today I went shopping with my mum. I bought so many great things, that completed so many outfits that were halfway there. I bought this black lacy shirt, to match my black lacy skirt--which, with my black boots, and fishnets, and Edwardian broach will complete my gothic lolita outfit (if only I had a cute hat though...hmmm). So, when I go and visit Harajuku, I will be sure to wear it!
I bought an ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL summery dress. It is so great, omg. It is white, with green speckled designs on it. It is so billowy, and breezy, I can't explain. I found my dream summer dress! A perfect dress for a Sunday afternoon. *sigh*
Then, I bought a black vest--to replace my beloved brown one that finally died. How it died, I don't know--but it now looks like around the colar it is constantly wet. Whether it is oil, or dirt, I don't know--but the dry cleaners certainly can't get it out. So, I replaced it by buying a black one. Good for winter too. Oh how I love vests. I also bought a light knit brown vest, just for the heck of it. But, these items made so many more complete! I mean...I just feel so proud, and fashionable--and can't wait to sport them!
It is not that I have bought a lot. Well, maybe I have. But...everything seems to be coming together now. The peices of clothing I am buying are creating a variety of outfits, etc. So far, I did "cute urban" in my pleeted skirt I bought many years ago--"mod fabu" in a tunic and sandles, and "hip-hop" lexi. Crazy.
Alright....I've gotta get to bed soon, I've got a doctor's appointment at 8 am in Davis tomorrow. Gotta ask for a years worth of my meds. Hopefully that works out.
PS: I have a DINOSAUR as my mouse clicker! It is so great! You do too! Just go to Control Panel>Mouse>Pointer options>Dinosaur! And it is animated, how great is that??
(Should I post pictures of my various outfits? Maybe just the dress...? Let me know. ^_^)
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