On online identities .... no sock puppets
Oct. 29th, 2013 10:51 pmOkay, this multiple online identity thing is annoying. There's me, for my real life; there's LJ, for fandom life; and there's the pen name. Why didn't I just fold the pen name into the LJ profile? It would have been easier. I am not good a this building a brand thing. Annoying ... meanwhile, who's on Tumblr? Anyone? Trying to figure it out. Not brave enough for Twitter.
This is taking way too much of my life and isn't half as fun as writing.
This is taking way too much of my life and isn't half as fun as writing.
those days ...
Oct. 5th, 2013 12:30 pmIs it important WHY I want to go home? Why can't it be enough
that I just do? But I'm trying not to be difficult, practicing
that resolution from two years ago, attempting to be a kinder,
gentler me. So, I say, I'm cold and I just want to sleep in my
bed. I tell you, I just want to go home. But you push and no, I
don't want another drink or to hang out or to sleep at Brat the
Rat's place or to continue the party. ZuzuQ is driving and she
wants to stay, I can see it in her eyes and suddenly it dawns on
me that this little trip down to the shore has less to do with
hanging out with Bacardi Girl then it's some desperate attempt
to get in time with Brat the Rat. Because all of the sudden, the
"I'm sick, I want an early night, I'm on antibiotics and can't
drink" thing goes right out the window.
I should have stayed with Sin, she was celebrating her husband's
birthday in Beverly Hills and I was perfectly happy, but you wanted to leave.
"Don't worry about it," I say. "I'll take a cab. Not a big
deal." Cause really I'm tired and cold and bored and starting to
get cranky. I want my bed and my pj's, my lamp and the
Flintstones playing in the background on my TV.
"No, no," ZuZuQ insists, ultimately, after she realizes that I'm
not bending. "Are you mad at me?" she asks.
I'm not, although everyone likes to believe, always angry. I
just don't want to stay out any longer and it's already nearing
last call and I've been up since 7.30 a.m. I've shampooed my
carpets and spent an hour and a half at the gym. I've been to
birthday dinner and been dragged to two other bars before this
last one. I've consumed two cocktails, two beers and a shot, all without dinner. I'm weary and PMS'ing, hanging out with people that I've never really liked and fast approaching the end of my rope.
"I'm not mad," I tell her as gently as possible. "But if you
want to stay, that's fine. I'll take a cab."
She says she'll take me home. That was the plan, the agreement
and I won't say it, but I don't think its fair that she wants to
ditch me for a guy who's been playing her for months (and the
worse part is that she knows it and complains about it, and then
sets herself up for more).
ZuzuQ wants pizza and I cuddle up with Brat the Rat's spare
friend outside the pizzeria. He sat down beside me and put his
arm around my shoulder. Maybe it's not fair, but he's easy to
lean against and I'm tired and really cold. We chit chat and I'm
amazed at how much body heat he doesn't give off. I sit there
with my eyes slowly blinking at the unfortunate shenanigans of
girls looking for attention and try to talk him into going
inside and eating, too. I'm really not hungry and I definitely
don't need a babysitter. So, if he wants to eat, he keeps claiming that he's hungry, I can sit by myself very easily. But I feel like he's staking a claim, marking territory for the unattached guys looking for a last minute date to help fill up the leftover hours of the night. I'm not interested. Not in anyone or anything.
Dropping the guys off is when I start to get pissy because I'm
tired of repeating myself. Tired of the questions, the why's.
I've made my statement and I should have just walked out of the
bar and gone to get a cab. It would have been easier.
After we drop off a slightly annoyed Spare, Brat the Rat makes
an unfortunate comment.
"See, that's why we think you don't like guys," he says. As if
I'm supposed to be flattered by a last minute pick-up. As if
that's supposed to be enough and I'm supposed to be thankful
that some guy I don't know wants to pass the time. Like he's
doing ME the favor. And that's what tips the scale, but I'm
still trying to reel in my temper.
"I'm tired, I'm cold and I'm on my fucking period," I say.
His stupid, typical guy response is: "I've made out with girls
on their period before."
It's quiet and I think he might have realized the line he just
crossed. I take a deep breath and try not to yell and not to be
angry because I don't care about this guy and I hate expending
energy on stupid people and I really, really, really hate
loosing my temper.
But I took a deep breath and proceeded to do just that.
"I'll be fucking bleeding for the next four days," I say. "Just in case you didn't know what that means and I don't want to be touched by anybody." And that's the truth. Probably more truth than he was expecting. Definitely more than he bargained for because then I peeled off on a tangent about how good ZuZuQ was at wasting her time on guys and how he was the biggest waste of her time.
I went off well and truly and I regret it in a teeny, bitty
portion of my soul because I was being bitter and a little
foolish. But I get that way sometimes. I don't care and things
don't bother me until they do. Until someone drops that last
hair on the pile of hay and the camel's back cracks like an egg.
ZuZuQ laughed the whole time and thought that it was awesome
that I did her dirty work for her. That I was the one to tell him off and if I burned a bridge or two, then who cared.
The thing is, I like Brat the Rat. He's a nice guy, but he seems
to be working really hard to be an ass. He's a guy, pretending
to be nice and meanwhile he plays a girl for all that he can
get.
that I just do? But I'm trying not to be difficult, practicing
that resolution from two years ago, attempting to be a kinder,
gentler me. So, I say, I'm cold and I just want to sleep in my
bed. I tell you, I just want to go home. But you push and no, I
don't want another drink or to hang out or to sleep at Brat the
Rat's place or to continue the party. ZuzuQ is driving and she
wants to stay, I can see it in her eyes and suddenly it dawns on
me that this little trip down to the shore has less to do with
hanging out with Bacardi Girl then it's some desperate attempt
to get in time with Brat the Rat. Because all of the sudden, the
"I'm sick, I want an early night, I'm on antibiotics and can't
drink" thing goes right out the window.
I should have stayed with Sin, she was celebrating her husband's
birthday in Beverly Hills and I was perfectly happy, but you wanted to leave.
"Don't worry about it," I say. "I'll take a cab. Not a big
deal." Cause really I'm tired and cold and bored and starting to
get cranky. I want my bed and my pj's, my lamp and the
Flintstones playing in the background on my TV.
"No, no," ZuZuQ insists, ultimately, after she realizes that I'm
not bending. "Are you mad at me?" she asks.
I'm not, although everyone likes to believe, always angry. I
just don't want to stay out any longer and it's already nearing
last call and I've been up since 7.30 a.m. I've shampooed my
carpets and spent an hour and a half at the gym. I've been to
birthday dinner and been dragged to two other bars before this
last one. I've consumed two cocktails, two beers and a shot, all without dinner. I'm weary and PMS'ing, hanging out with people that I've never really liked and fast approaching the end of my rope.
"I'm not mad," I tell her as gently as possible. "But if you
want to stay, that's fine. I'll take a cab."
She says she'll take me home. That was the plan, the agreement
and I won't say it, but I don't think its fair that she wants to
ditch me for a guy who's been playing her for months (and the
worse part is that she knows it and complains about it, and then
sets herself up for more).
ZuzuQ wants pizza and I cuddle up with Brat the Rat's spare
friend outside the pizzeria. He sat down beside me and put his
arm around my shoulder. Maybe it's not fair, but he's easy to
lean against and I'm tired and really cold. We chit chat and I'm
amazed at how much body heat he doesn't give off. I sit there
with my eyes slowly blinking at the unfortunate shenanigans of
girls looking for attention and try to talk him into going
inside and eating, too. I'm really not hungry and I definitely
don't need a babysitter. So, if he wants to eat, he keeps claiming that he's hungry, I can sit by myself very easily. But I feel like he's staking a claim, marking territory for the unattached guys looking for a last minute date to help fill up the leftover hours of the night. I'm not interested. Not in anyone or anything.
Dropping the guys off is when I start to get pissy because I'm
tired of repeating myself. Tired of the questions, the why's.
I've made my statement and I should have just walked out of the
bar and gone to get a cab. It would have been easier.
After we drop off a slightly annoyed Spare, Brat the Rat makes
an unfortunate comment.
"See, that's why we think you don't like guys," he says. As if
I'm supposed to be flattered by a last minute pick-up. As if
that's supposed to be enough and I'm supposed to be thankful
that some guy I don't know wants to pass the time. Like he's
doing ME the favor. And that's what tips the scale, but I'm
still trying to reel in my temper.
"I'm tired, I'm cold and I'm on my fucking period," I say.
His stupid, typical guy response is: "I've made out with girls
on their period before."
It's quiet and I think he might have realized the line he just
crossed. I take a deep breath and try not to yell and not to be
angry because I don't care about this guy and I hate expending
energy on stupid people and I really, really, really hate
loosing my temper.
But I took a deep breath and proceeded to do just that.
"I'll be fucking bleeding for the next four days," I say. "Just in case you didn't know what that means and I don't want to be touched by anybody." And that's the truth. Probably more truth than he was expecting. Definitely more than he bargained for because then I peeled off on a tangent about how good ZuZuQ was at wasting her time on guys and how he was the biggest waste of her time.
I went off well and truly and I regret it in a teeny, bitty
portion of my soul because I was being bitter and a little
foolish. But I get that way sometimes. I don't care and things
don't bother me until they do. Until someone drops that last
hair on the pile of hay and the camel's back cracks like an egg.
ZuZuQ laughed the whole time and thought that it was awesome
that I did her dirty work for her. That I was the one to tell him off and if I burned a bridge or two, then who cared.
The thing is, I like Brat the Rat. He's a nice guy, but he seems
to be working really hard to be an ass. He's a guy, pretending
to be nice and meanwhile he plays a girl for all that he can
get.
Now Available: All This and Love
Sep. 25th, 2013 07:29 pmKids!
I'm really excited, giddy even, to announce that my debut collection of short stories, All This and Love, is now available on Amazon in the Kindle Bookstore! It's published under a pen name, J. Libby. I'm crossing the streams here on LJ, but the RL gets to remain compartmentalized.
The collection will be available at other retailers soon. In the meantime, if you have a Kindle or a Kindle app, go download a free sample and check it out. If you like, buy it, read it, tell you friends about it, and review it!
All This and Love:
Summary: Love in many flavors takes center stage in All This and Love. From a wolf hunt in the catacombs beneath an unnamed city to the last kiss shared by a fallen angel and his immortal, human lover, love gets complicated by some of the things that go bump in the night. Explore lust, betrayal and star-crossed romance in five short stories in J. Libby's debut collection.
Check it out!
Connect with me online:
Facebook
Goodreads
Smashwords
You Tube
Pinterest
Happy Reading!
Love,
seraphcelene
I'm really excited, giddy even, to announce that my debut collection of short stories, All This and Love, is now available on Amazon in the Kindle Bookstore! It's published under a pen name, J. Libby. I'm crossing the streams here on LJ, but the RL gets to remain compartmentalized.
The collection will be available at other retailers soon. In the meantime, if you have a Kindle or a Kindle app, go download a free sample and check it out. If you like, buy it, read it, tell you friends about it, and review it!
All This and Love:
Summary: Love in many flavors takes center stage in All This and Love. From a wolf hunt in the catacombs beneath an unnamed city to the last kiss shared by a fallen angel and his immortal, human lover, love gets complicated by some of the things that go bump in the night. Explore lust, betrayal and star-crossed romance in five short stories in J. Libby's debut collection.
Check it out!
Connect with me online:
Goodreads
Smashwords
You Tube
Happy Reading!
Love,
seraphcelene
So, I got it into my head yesterday to make sugaring wax/paste and de-nude my pits. (Sorry if that's a little TMI!)
Well, it was an experience, let me tell you! Messy would be the key word. MESSY! And, I don't know how many candy makers I can count amongst my LJ pees, but I have mad respect for you guys. Sugar burns so fucking easily (and not just the tips of my fingers), like the sugar burns easily.
The recipe was a simple one. Not that I actually noticed that anyone had a particularly complex recipe. It was made up of:
1 cup white granulated sugar
1/4 cup water
1 tsp salt
2 Tbsp white vinegar (most recipes called for lemon, but the consensus was that any acid would do).
Dump all the ingredients into a pot or a skillet, depending on the recipe, and cook it down. There's a sweet spot after the sugar caramelizes, but before it burns that results in a perfect sticky, tacky hair remover. In all other directions there is only disappointment and great heartbreak.
My first batch was a DISASTER! Burned into a black-red mess. And it smelled. What does smelly sugar indicate? Yeah, you guessed it. I burned it! I was optimistic though, and I thought, "hey, maybe it just looks and smells bad, but maybe it'll still work."
It didn't.
It was only sticky in the very brief moment between me prying it out of the pot and trying to mold it into the "hard candy ball" that indicates you've successfully achieved sugar paste. Sugar paste, unlike sugar wax, doesn't require strips. You get to just slap it on and rip your hair out by the roots. Unfortunately, this particular mess didn't adhere to anything. All it did was kinda get onto everything and then harden into glass at the bottom of the pot.
Thankfully, sugar is water soluble (cause it's like food, yay)! I re-heated the pots contents, scrapped out what I could, and then soaked the pot until the sugar dissolved into some pretty questionable looking water.
I was about to throw in the towel and then decided to give it another whirl because I Am NOT a quitter, and I still had hairy pits!
The second batch was ... actually a success. After, of course, I did the one thing that the girl in one of the videos warned me not to. I touched the sugar on the back of the spoon to check the consistency and ended up with a blister on my left index. I know. I know. Kids! The key to the success of this batch turned out to be in just undercooking it. I stopped just short of what I thought the perfect color and consistency should be. And lo! It continued to thicken and darken after I took it off the fire.
There's a couple of methods for cooling it down, but I opted to let it cool in the pot and then I dipped the bottom of the pot into cool water.
The legs of an old pair of jeans were cut down into strips and voila! My pits are hairless!!
The biggest issue? Besides not burning the damn sugar! That successful batch of sugar wax was so sticky which is so obvs, but man, trying to get it from the pot to my pits without it getting everywhere in between was not easy. Again, thank gods it's water soluble because nothing gets damaged that way. It'll dissolve off with a suitable application of water.
It's also not as painful as you may think. If anyone has tried sugaring before (and I used to do it way back when in college, but I only did my legs), sugar wax adheres to hair without sticking to the skin, so it's much less painful than traditional wax. Except for the awkwardness of trying to stretch the skin in my armpits and make a clean yank of it, it was all tolerable. But then, too, I've been getting waxed (brazilians to clean up the good girl. sorry TMI) for years.
So, would I do it again? If you had asked me yesterday, it would have been a resounding no! But today, in light of my smooth, hairless armpits at a fraction of the cost (I usually spend around $20), I am seriously contemplating giving this another whirl in a couple of weeks.
Dude, I am such a crunch beauty girl these days. I make my own hair cream, body butter, bath scrub, face scrub, face masks, and I've made flaxseed gel for my hair. Now I've made sugaring wax! WTH?! A diminished budget can really drag out the creative, yo!
Well, it was an experience, let me tell you! Messy would be the key word. MESSY! And, I don't know how many candy makers I can count amongst my LJ pees, but I have mad respect for you guys. Sugar burns so fucking easily (and not just the tips of my fingers), like the sugar burns easily.
The recipe was a simple one. Not that I actually noticed that anyone had a particularly complex recipe. It was made up of:
1 cup white granulated sugar
1/4 cup water
1 tsp salt
2 Tbsp white vinegar (most recipes called for lemon, but the consensus was that any acid would do).
Dump all the ingredients into a pot or a skillet, depending on the recipe, and cook it down. There's a sweet spot after the sugar caramelizes, but before it burns that results in a perfect sticky, tacky hair remover. In all other directions there is only disappointment and great heartbreak.
My first batch was a DISASTER! Burned into a black-red mess. And it smelled. What does smelly sugar indicate? Yeah, you guessed it. I burned it! I was optimistic though, and I thought, "hey, maybe it just looks and smells bad, but maybe it'll still work."
It didn't.
It was only sticky in the very brief moment between me prying it out of the pot and trying to mold it into the "hard candy ball" that indicates you've successfully achieved sugar paste. Sugar paste, unlike sugar wax, doesn't require strips. You get to just slap it on and rip your hair out by the roots. Unfortunately, this particular mess didn't adhere to anything. All it did was kinda get onto everything and then harden into glass at the bottom of the pot.
Thankfully, sugar is water soluble (cause it's like food, yay)! I re-heated the pots contents, scrapped out what I could, and then soaked the pot until the sugar dissolved into some pretty questionable looking water.
I was about to throw in the towel and then decided to give it another whirl because I Am NOT a quitter, and I still had hairy pits!
The second batch was ... actually a success. After, of course, I did the one thing that the girl in one of the videos warned me not to. I touched the sugar on the back of the spoon to check the consistency and ended up with a blister on my left index. I know. I know. Kids! The key to the success of this batch turned out to be in just undercooking it. I stopped just short of what I thought the perfect color and consistency should be. And lo! It continued to thicken and darken after I took it off the fire.
There's a couple of methods for cooling it down, but I opted to let it cool in the pot and then I dipped the bottom of the pot into cool water.
The legs of an old pair of jeans were cut down into strips and voila! My pits are hairless!!
The biggest issue? Besides not burning the damn sugar! That successful batch of sugar wax was so sticky which is so obvs, but man, trying to get it from the pot to my pits without it getting everywhere in between was not easy. Again, thank gods it's water soluble because nothing gets damaged that way. It'll dissolve off with a suitable application of water.
It's also not as painful as you may think. If anyone has tried sugaring before (and I used to do it way back when in college, but I only did my legs), sugar wax adheres to hair without sticking to the skin, so it's much less painful than traditional wax. Except for the awkwardness of trying to stretch the skin in my armpits and make a clean yank of it, it was all tolerable. But then, too, I've been getting waxed (brazilians to clean up the good girl. sorry TMI) for years.
So, would I do it again? If you had asked me yesterday, it would have been a resounding no! But today, in light of my smooth, hairless armpits at a fraction of the cost (I usually spend around $20), I am seriously contemplating giving this another whirl in a couple of weeks.
Dude, I am such a crunch beauty girl these days. I make my own hair cream, body butter, bath scrub, face scrub, face masks, and I've made flaxseed gel for my hair. Now I've made sugaring wax! WTH?! A diminished budget can really drag out the creative, yo!
I am really excited to say that I sold a copy of my anthology today!! OMG!!
So, for anyone who already has a Smashwords account, All This and Love is currently available.
If you don't have a Smashwords account, never fear! The official release date is Tuesday, September 24th and should be available at a couple of different online retailers including Amazon. I will let you know as soon as it goes live.
In the meantime:
All This and Love, available at Smashwords.
So, for anyone who already has a Smashwords account, All This and Love is currently available.
If you don't have a Smashwords account, never fear! The official release date is Tuesday, September 24th and should be available at a couple of different online retailers including Amazon. I will let you know as soon as it goes live.
In the meantime:
All This and Love, available at Smashwords.
I guess I've got a future somewhere
Aug. 21st, 2013 07:50 pmApparently, yesterday while I was out sick, my co-workers voted me best choice to lead an army, and most likely person to survive a zombie apocalypse. I don't know if they just really respect my skillz or their scared of me.
Hello, beautifuls!
Aug. 8th, 2013 09:40 pmSo, here I am.
I am breathing.
I went to Jamaica and got a sunburn. It's peeling. So. Not. Fun. Now, sadly, I am home. Slaving away at the job that is Hell and working on an anthology that will be self-published as an e-collection on Amazon before the month is out. It's almost done. I've got one story to finish edits on. Cover is done, back copy is done. Going through final edits one everything else starting today and through the weekend.
It's short. Five stories. I have no perspective. It feels mediocre. There is only one story that I rather like. This is not unusual for me. I NEVER like anything that I write until years later and then I can step back and say, hey, that's not so bad after all. However, everything that I've written has been fandom related. This is a different kind of difficult. It's also very embarrassing. Rather like standing up in church and flashing my underwear. So, I'll be publishing under a pen name. I'll let you know what it is when it's done.
Wow. I can't believe that I'm actually going to do this.
Let me say, though. This is obviously not a project intended for fame and money or glory. I love writing. Publishing something is on the bucket list and since my ego is in the toilet with my writing even though intellectually I know that I'm a decent writer, I figure this will guarantee me that one thing, at least, gets crossed off the list. And I've always wanted to do it. So. There you go.
LJ, I hope you're well!! I've been MIA and I am LOST in this whole social media environment. I feel adrift. *sigh*
Congrats to![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
my_daroga and lettered and their third Hello Earth production of Star Trek in the park. I'm sure that it was awesomely amazing. I wish I could have been there.
Also, of note, I brought back coffee flavored Rum. It's way too tasty to be believed. It's orgasmic when paired with Rum Cream.
Things you know about me ... I can be such a lush. HEY! Aren't all great writers alcoholics?! Maybe I really am on my way.
I am breathing.
I went to Jamaica and got a sunburn. It's peeling. So. Not. Fun. Now, sadly, I am home. Slaving away at the job that is Hell and working on an anthology that will be self-published as an e-collection on Amazon before the month is out. It's almost done. I've got one story to finish edits on. Cover is done, back copy is done. Going through final edits one everything else starting today and through the weekend.
It's short. Five stories. I have no perspective. It feels mediocre. There is only one story that I rather like. This is not unusual for me. I NEVER like anything that I write until years later and then I can step back and say, hey, that's not so bad after all. However, everything that I've written has been fandom related. This is a different kind of difficult. It's also very embarrassing. Rather like standing up in church and flashing my underwear. So, I'll be publishing under a pen name. I'll let you know what it is when it's done.
Wow. I can't believe that I'm actually going to do this.
Let me say, though. This is obviously not a project intended for fame and money or glory. I love writing. Publishing something is on the bucket list and since my ego is in the toilet with my writing even though intellectually I know that I'm a decent writer, I figure this will guarantee me that one thing, at least, gets crossed off the list. And I've always wanted to do it. So. There you go.
LJ, I hope you're well!! I've been MIA and I am LOST in this whole social media environment. I feel adrift. *sigh*
Congrats to
my_daroga and lettered and their third Hello Earth production of Star Trek in the park. I'm sure that it was awesomely amazing. I wish I could have been there.Also, of note, I brought back coffee flavored Rum. It's way too tasty to be believed. It's orgasmic when paired with Rum Cream.
Things you know about me ... I can be such a lush. HEY! Aren't all great writers alcoholics?! Maybe I really am on my way.
Yummy yet cheap wine for all, I say!
May. 2nd, 2013 07:29 pmSo.
Things I have learned about me on a bottle of wine:
1. I do not care about the Jeopardy answers.
2. My spelling is highly suspect.
3. My hand to keyboard coordination is lousy.
4. I am weepy about serious shit and stupid shit in equal measures.
5. I will not be watching Grey's Anatomy tonight of all nights.
6. That last glass does not stretch as far as you (I) hope.
On the plus, it's Thursday. The weekend is nigh. I am going watch stupid TV and finish my wine, take a shower, and pass out. I should be in bed by 9.
Love you guys!
Things I have learned about me on a bottle of wine:
1. I do not care about the Jeopardy answers.
2. My spelling is highly suspect.
3. My hand to keyboard coordination is lousy.
4. I am weepy about serious shit and stupid shit in equal measures.
5. I will not be watching Grey's Anatomy tonight of all nights.
6. That last glass does not stretch as far as you (I) hope.
On the plus, it's Thursday. The weekend is nigh. I am going watch stupid TV and finish my wine, take a shower, and pass out. I should be in bed by 9.
Love you guys!
2012 in Review
Jan. 1st, 2013 09:56 pm1. What did you do in 2012 that you'd never done before?
I made body butter and hair gel ... from scratch. It got all Martha Stewart up in here, yo!
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I set some goals. One goal that I totally nailed was the successful completion of the 50 Book Challenge. BOOYAH! I have goals for this year, one of which is to read 10 classics among all the other things that I will undoubtedly read.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My cousin had a baby boy.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Not that I can think of. Thank You!
5. What countries did you visit?
Nada. This is very sad. Although, I did go to Huntington Park. That's almost like another country, right?
6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?
More money. A new job. A new apartment. A new stamp in my passport. A published book (a self-pub'd anthology will do). A completed draft of The Novel. Balance.
7. What dates from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
January 25th because I turned 35, OMG! September 8th. Wackiness ensued, that's all you need to know.
8. What are your biggest achievements of the year?
Finished the 50 Book Challenge. Unfortunately, that was kinda my only achievement.
9. What were your biggest failures?
Still being at the same job. Figuring out that K-12 isn't for me, which isn't really a failure except that it means that I'm still at the same job and at a bit of a loss.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No. YAY!
11. What were the best things you bought?
I didn't buy much. My first book for my kindle was pretty exciting, though. I bought The Night Circus.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
The Crazy Jamaica, always. Bacardi!Girl.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
OMG! Pretty much every political participant across the spectrum.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent. Student Loans.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
My brother graduated from dental school. I came up with A Plan.
16. What song will always remind you of 2012?
Call Me Maybe and Fantastic Baby (They played the shit out of Carly Rae Jepsen, and I totally discovered G-Dragon and the gang this year).
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder?
Probably the same, although I am more hopeful
ii. thinner or fatter?
Fatter -- OMG, I didn't think it would be possible.
iii. richer or poorer?
Poorer. Thank you, student loans.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Writing.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Panicking
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent an awesome Christmas with people who love me.
21. What was the best holiday for you in 2012?
Many things were resolved towards the end of this year, so, probably Christmas.
22. Did you fall in love in 2012?
Why is this question still on the list?
23. What was your favorite TV program?
The Walking Dead
24. What was the best book you read?
With My Body - Nikki Gemmell
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Big Bang
26. What did you want and get?
A Kindle (even though I didn't actually know that I really wanted one until I got one)
27. What did you want and not get?
A job. More money. A new stamp in my passport.
28. What was your favorite film of this year?
Cabin in the Woods
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 35 and I had an awesome homemade dinner with friends and family.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A new, better job, more money, less chaos and panic. A stamp in my passport.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?
Loser chic? No, that's self-deprecating. Slouchy casual.
32. What kept you sane?
There was no sanity this year; although, reading alot helped take my mind off things.
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
William Levy (My brain literally shuts down).
34. What political issue stirred you the most?
Generally, partisan politics and ass-hat rhetoric.
35. Who did you miss?
Oddly, I don't think I really missed anyone this year.
36. Who was the best new person you met?
Angela
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012?
I cannot be responsible for another person's happiness (no matter how hard I try). It's ok to let go.
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Last year it was all about being a firework. This year? It's old, but Anna Nalick described this year perfectly: "Cause you can't jump the track, we're like cars on a cable and life's like an hourglass glued to the table. No one can find the rewind button, girl, so cradle your head in your hands and breathe. Just Breathe."
Of course, because you can't keep me down, David Guetta stepped in with the perfect pick me up tune to carry me through to 2013: "You shoot me down, but I won't fall. I am titanium." Thanks, David Guetta.
I made body butter and hair gel ... from scratch. It got all Martha Stewart up in here, yo!
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I set some goals. One goal that I totally nailed was the successful completion of the 50 Book Challenge. BOOYAH! I have goals for this year, one of which is to read 10 classics among all the other things that I will undoubtedly read.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My cousin had a baby boy.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Not that I can think of. Thank You!
5. What countries did you visit?
Nada. This is very sad. Although, I did go to Huntington Park. That's almost like another country, right?
6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?
More money. A new job. A new apartment. A new stamp in my passport. A published book (a self-pub'd anthology will do). A completed draft of The Novel. Balance.
7. What dates from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
January 25th because I turned 35, OMG! September 8th. Wackiness ensued, that's all you need to know.
8. What are your biggest achievements of the year?
Finished the 50 Book Challenge. Unfortunately, that was kinda my only achievement.
9. What were your biggest failures?
Still being at the same job. Figuring out that K-12 isn't for me, which isn't really a failure except that it means that I'm still at the same job and at a bit of a loss.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No. YAY!
11. What were the best things you bought?
I didn't buy much. My first book for my kindle was pretty exciting, though. I bought The Night Circus.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
The Crazy Jamaica, always. Bacardi!Girl.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
OMG! Pretty much every political participant across the spectrum.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent. Student Loans.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
My brother graduated from dental school. I came up with A Plan.
16. What song will always remind you of 2012?
Call Me Maybe and Fantastic Baby (They played the shit out of Carly Rae Jepsen, and I totally discovered G-Dragon and the gang this year).
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder?
Probably the same, although I am more hopeful
ii. thinner or fatter?
Fatter -- OMG, I didn't think it would be possible.
iii. richer or poorer?
Poorer. Thank you, student loans.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Writing.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Panicking
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent an awesome Christmas with people who love me.
21. What was the best holiday for you in 2012?
Many things were resolved towards the end of this year, so, probably Christmas.
22. Did you fall in love in 2012?
Why is this question still on the list?
23. What was your favorite TV program?
The Walking Dead
24. What was the best book you read?
With My Body - Nikki Gemmell
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Big Bang
26. What did you want and get?
A Kindle (even though I didn't actually know that I really wanted one until I got one)
27. What did you want and not get?
A job. More money. A new stamp in my passport.
28. What was your favorite film of this year?
Cabin in the Woods
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 35 and I had an awesome homemade dinner with friends and family.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A new, better job, more money, less chaos and panic. A stamp in my passport.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?
Loser chic? No, that's self-deprecating. Slouchy casual.
32. What kept you sane?
There was no sanity this year; although, reading alot helped take my mind off things.
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
William Levy (My brain literally shuts down).
34. What political issue stirred you the most?
Generally, partisan politics and ass-hat rhetoric.
35. Who did you miss?
Oddly, I don't think I really missed anyone this year.
36. Who was the best new person you met?
Angela
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012?
I cannot be responsible for another person's happiness (no matter how hard I try). It's ok to let go.
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Last year it was all about being a firework. This year? It's old, but Anna Nalick described this year perfectly: "Cause you can't jump the track, we're like cars on a cable and life's like an hourglass glued to the table. No one can find the rewind button, girl, so cradle your head in your hands and breathe. Just Breathe."
Of course, because you can't keep me down, David Guetta stepped in with the perfect pick me up tune to carry me through to 2013: "You shoot me down, but I won't fall. I am titanium." Thanks, David Guetta.
So, I got a fix it ticket for my back break lights in June. I got my car repaired the exact same day, and then a month later, I got the stamps to say that I fixed it and then I went to pay the ticket. I went like two days before it was due according to the instructions on the ticket that I was given. I go in and, guess what, there's no fucking ticket. NOTHING has been filed. WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT SHIT?!?!?!? And the chick at the Court House tells me that the cop has something like a year to file the ticket, and that she will track it for 90 days and let me know if the ticket gets filed.
I don't hear anything back and after a while, to be honest, I'm really not thinking about it. THREE FUCKING MONTHS, PEOPLE!! NOTHING!!! And then TODAY, I get a letter in the mail stating that my license will be suspended as of Dec 26th for failure to appear or failure to pay a fine. I haven't receved ANY REQUESTS for any goddamned thing!!! I haven't received a phone call, an email, a letter, or a fucking smoke signal! WTH?!?!?
But let's back the truck up a little, the day after Thanksgiving I get pulled over for driving too fast in the fog. The guy takes my license, goes back to his car, makes me wait, and I don't know, I assume he checks my license and gives me a warning to slow down. He doesn't say a god damned thing about any tickets, any revoked licenses, any pending or missed court dates, nada!!!!! I roll away with no thought, but fuck you now I'm late for work, because MAYBE I was going five miles over the posted speed limit.
Now, I've got this fucking letter from the DMV without hearing a goddamn thing from the San Pedro court house regarding any fucking tickets! SERIOUSLY?!?!?!?
That is some major ass bullshit! He has a year or something to file the ticket and then based on the date on that ticket I'm in trouble for not paying?! Even after I hauled my ass into the court house to take care of the stupid ticket, but his stupid, lazy, behind-the-paperwork ass hadn't filed the ticket a month after he gave it to me?!
I'm all for supporting public servants, but that is some bullshit! I took care of my game. I took care of my part of the deal and he failed to take care of his, but now I'M being penalized?!
OMG!! OMG!! SERIOUSLY?!
FUCK YOU, LAPD!
I don't hear anything back and after a while, to be honest, I'm really not thinking about it. THREE FUCKING MONTHS, PEOPLE!! NOTHING!!! And then TODAY, I get a letter in the mail stating that my license will be suspended as of Dec 26th for failure to appear or failure to pay a fine. I haven't receved ANY REQUESTS for any goddamned thing!!! I haven't received a phone call, an email, a letter, or a fucking smoke signal! WTH?!?!?
But let's back the truck up a little, the day after Thanksgiving I get pulled over for driving too fast in the fog. The guy takes my license, goes back to his car, makes me wait, and I don't know, I assume he checks my license and gives me a warning to slow down. He doesn't say a god damned thing about any tickets, any revoked licenses, any pending or missed court dates, nada!!!!! I roll away with no thought, but fuck you now I'm late for work, because MAYBE I was going five miles over the posted speed limit.
Now, I've got this fucking letter from the DMV without hearing a goddamn thing from the San Pedro court house regarding any fucking tickets! SERIOUSLY?!?!?!?
That is some major ass bullshit! He has a year or something to file the ticket and then based on the date on that ticket I'm in trouble for not paying?! Even after I hauled my ass into the court house to take care of the stupid ticket, but his stupid, lazy, behind-the-paperwork ass hadn't filed the ticket a month after he gave it to me?!
I'm all for supporting public servants, but that is some bullshit! I took care of my game. I took care of my part of the deal and he failed to take care of his, but now I'M being penalized?!
OMG!! OMG!! SERIOUSLY?!
FUCK YOU, LAPD!
Srsly?!
Apparantly, I am not very employable. It's officially been one full year and I've had a total of two job interviews. Both interviews were for the same company (LBCC) and required pre-testing. The first pretest rotation I choked on, and the second on I passed with an 80 on the interview portion. I thought that was damn good, but with all the myriad of points spread out across their bureaucratic asses, I landed at number 24 with a bullet. Only the top 3 are considered. Okay, whatever. But what really gets me? Just spent 3 hours preparing an application and cover letter for a job that I am COMPLETELY qualified for except for one year of experience. Deal breaker. I submitted the app and it got kicked back immideately. I am baffled as to how I'm supposed to get one year of experience for an entry level position. Isn't that the point of entry level? It's the point at which you first enter ...
*hands*
I don't even know what to do at this point.
Apparantly, I am not very employable. It's officially been one full year and I've had a total of two job interviews. Both interviews were for the same company (LBCC) and required pre-testing. The first pretest rotation I choked on, and the second on I passed with an 80 on the interview portion. I thought that was damn good, but with all the myriad of points spread out across their bureaucratic asses, I landed at number 24 with a bullet. Only the top 3 are considered. Okay, whatever. But what really gets me? Just spent 3 hours preparing an application and cover letter for a job that I am COMPLETELY qualified for except for one year of experience. Deal breaker. I submitted the app and it got kicked back immideately. I am baffled as to how I'm supposed to get one year of experience for an entry level position. Isn't that the point of entry level? It's the point at which you first enter ...
*hands*
I don't even know what to do at this point.
do not judge, lest ye shall be judged ...
Sep. 14th, 2012 05:18 pm... or something like that.
I have this horrible habit of peeping into people's shopping carts and totally judging them! I KNOW!!! It's horrible AND WRONG!! But I can't help it. I mean, it's nothing personal, but if you want to buy five cases of Dr. Pepper, three family sized bags of Doritos and two tubs of processed lunch meat, who am I to say anything. I don't actually think less of you, but I do kinda flash back to the obesity epidemic and Super Size Me. If your cart is full of fresh veggies, quinoa, and garbanzo beans, then I probably feel guilty that I'm not eating better. Happily, I am somewhere between the two extremes. But then there are moments like this:
The guy ahead of me in the checkout line at Target had in his cart: a cheap microwave meal, dog treats, and John Cameron's documentary Ghosts of the Abyss.
The entire kit and caboodle had BACHELOR written all over it.
And then I unloaded my handbasket: 2 count paper towel, 4 count toilet paper (the cheapie Scott variety), a bag of mini-Reese's peanut butter cups, and a bottle of Fetzer Chardonnay.
Whoa. The entire kit and caboodle screamed GIRL!BACHELOR.
If you could get in my head, it's possible it would all be worse. I have every intention of freezing those peanut butter cups for cool, sweet, nummy treats to savor through this blistering 90+ degree heat, and that bottle of wine will be GONE before Saturday is out. I have no plans to share. I don't even have plans for real food, just Reese's, pineapple, and chardonnay. I might go by cheese. And crackers. I don't have to cook either one and I can get them for cheap.
DON'T JUDGE ME!!!
Also, I need to stay out of other people's shopping carts.
I have this horrible habit of peeping into people's shopping carts and totally judging them! I KNOW!!! It's horrible AND WRONG!! But I can't help it. I mean, it's nothing personal, but if you want to buy five cases of Dr. Pepper, three family sized bags of Doritos and two tubs of processed lunch meat, who am I to say anything. I don't actually think less of you, but I do kinda flash back to the obesity epidemic and Super Size Me. If your cart is full of fresh veggies, quinoa, and garbanzo beans, then I probably feel guilty that I'm not eating better. Happily, I am somewhere between the two extremes. But then there are moments like this:
The guy ahead of me in the checkout line at Target had in his cart: a cheap microwave meal, dog treats, and John Cameron's documentary Ghosts of the Abyss.
The entire kit and caboodle had BACHELOR written all over it.
And then I unloaded my handbasket: 2 count paper towel, 4 count toilet paper (the cheapie Scott variety), a bag of mini-Reese's peanut butter cups, and a bottle of Fetzer Chardonnay.
Whoa. The entire kit and caboodle screamed GIRL!BACHELOR.
If you could get in my head, it's possible it would all be worse. I have every intention of freezing those peanut butter cups for cool, sweet, nummy treats to savor through this blistering 90+ degree heat, and that bottle of wine will be GONE before Saturday is out. I have no plans to share. I don't even have plans for real food, just Reese's, pineapple, and chardonnay. I might go by cheese. And crackers. I don't have to cook either one and I can get them for cheap.
DON'T JUDGE ME!!!
Also, I need to stay out of other people's shopping carts.
Exhaustion: Trying to open your bedroom door with your car's remote keyless entry. Stupidly, I pressed the damn button twice and couldn't figure out why the door wouldn't open.
Curly Girl: My Natural Hair Journey
Aug. 22nd, 2012 10:15 pmI have naturally curly hair.
It's big, fluffy, wild, kinky, curly, crazy hair. It's wavy in some places, tightly coiled in others, and there's still that chunk of bangs in the front that's nearly straight as a board from years of flat ironing. But those bangs are getting the idea and falling in line. Six months after I started this transition and I can measure a good four inches of fluffy new growth clouding above my forehead.
It's awesome.
I love my hair more than I ever have before. And I am not a woman with major hair issues. The women in my family all have strong hair, a genetic gift from my Grandmother. Our hair grows well, it grows even better when we leave it alone. But like many black women we did a variety of things to our hair that weren't always for the best. A straight press was standard issue. I am intimately familiar with the peculiar scent of a heated pressing comb. That distinct combination of heated iron, oil, and burning hair.
( Black Hair )
It's big, fluffy, wild, kinky, curly, crazy hair. It's wavy in some places, tightly coiled in others, and there's still that chunk of bangs in the front that's nearly straight as a board from years of flat ironing. But those bangs are getting the idea and falling in line. Six months after I started this transition and I can measure a good four inches of fluffy new growth clouding above my forehead.
It's awesome.
I love my hair more than I ever have before. And I am not a woman with major hair issues. The women in my family all have strong hair, a genetic gift from my Grandmother. Our hair grows well, it grows even better when we leave it alone. But like many black women we did a variety of things to our hair that weren't always for the best. A straight press was standard issue. I am intimately familiar with the peculiar scent of a heated pressing comb. That distinct combination of heated iron, oil, and burning hair.
( Black Hair )
Help Me Name My Kindle
Feb. 19th, 2012 12:47 pmFor my birthday, way back last month, I made out like quite the bandit. I wasn't expecting it. I had a dinner party, very graciously hosted by my BFF's parents. Her dad who is an amazing cook, served us Jerked Chicken, Rice and Peas, Fried Plantains, Snapper, Salmon, and Salad. We had the yummiest cupcakes ever, for dessert. Then there were gifts. My friends know me well. I only wanted everyone to get together for dinner and drinks, and a good time, but, well ... All together I received: adorable coffee and tea mugs, a full on make-up palette (YAY)!, wine, an Amazon gift card, and a Kindle Touch. You guys, my BFF got me a Kindle Touch. I don't even ...
I really love it. It holds 3000 books. 3000, you guys! I will never want for literature again. So, now, I need to name it. It's sleek and sexy and gray. But I don't know what to name her. And she does feel like a She. What do you guys think? Help me name my Kindle.
I really love it. It holds 3000 books. 3000, you guys! I will never want for literature again. So, now, I need to name it. It's sleek and sexy and gray. But I don't know what to name her. And she does feel like a She. What do you guys think? Help me name my Kindle.
let me see that one-two step
Feb. 5th, 2012 08:59 amIt has been a very long time since I crippled myself by dancing all night while wearing inappropriate shoes.
Bacardi Girl invited me to tag along to Bacardi's 150th Birthday celebration at the Conga Room in L.A. I need a little pick me up, so of course I went. Who am I to turn down free booze and tasty apps. Good times were had by all, let me tell you. I hung out with the swank peeps like in olden days. I also shook my money maker like I was trying to break it. My dance partner was Angel Face's awesome fiance. You would never know that boy can get down like that. Not just by looking at him, anyway.
Fun was had. I wore a 3/4 sleeve cream and red paisley Cristinalove mini-dress with 4" red sling backs. It was quite the hit. Most girls were in black, a few were in red. There was one stunner in a gorgeous structured blue dress. So, the dress stood out. It was nice. I kinda needed the ego boost. It was really good times. Now, I'm ready for an afternoon of watching the Super Bowl and kicking back. I've got a recipe for beer battered banana fritters with caramel peanut butter sauce to try out. If it goes well, I'll send you guys the link.
Happy Sunday!
Bacardi Girl invited me to tag along to Bacardi's 150th Birthday celebration at the Conga Room in L.A. I need a little pick me up, so of course I went. Who am I to turn down free booze and tasty apps. Good times were had by all, let me tell you. I hung out with the swank peeps like in olden days. I also shook my money maker like I was trying to break it. My dance partner was Angel Face's awesome fiance. You would never know that boy can get down like that. Not just by looking at him, anyway.
Fun was had. I wore a 3/4 sleeve cream and red paisley Cristinalove mini-dress with 4" red sling backs. It was quite the hit. Most girls were in black, a few were in red. There was one stunner in a gorgeous structured blue dress. So, the dress stood out. It was nice. I kinda needed the ego boost. It was really good times. Now, I'm ready for an afternoon of watching the Super Bowl and kicking back. I've got a recipe for beer battered banana fritters with caramel peanut butter sauce to try out. If it goes well, I'll send you guys the link.
Happy Sunday!
So, I just sat through an hour of an exam for an Academic Assistant Admin at the local community college. I am always hesitant about Admin positions because I am not big on my workload being dependent on someone else. This particular exam was all budgeting all the time. Assuming that I pass the exam, they are scheduling interviews for Friday. In my heart of hearts, I am not interested in this position (especially not after all the budget and financing on that exam). This makes me sad. Also?! By some wild hair, if I did get the job, I would probably no longer qualify for the Faculty Internship at the same school. I really, really, really want that Internship.
Anywho, any of you guys good at writing cover letters? I suck balls at it. And not in the fun way. Just the bad, bad, bad, hair in your teeth way.
Now, off to find some lunch, and then I have to get to work. Dude, I'm going to be there til closing. argh!! I don't know HOW I'm going to deal with that.
Wha?!?!?
Anywho, any of you guys good at writing cover letters? I suck balls at it. And not in the fun way. Just the bad, bad, bad, hair in your teeth way.
Now, off to find some lunch, and then I have to get to work. Dude, I'm going to be there til closing. argh!! I don't know HOW I'm going to deal with that.
Wha?!?!?
Services for Hire ...
Jan. 26th, 2012 06:57 pm67wpm in 5 minutes with 1 error. Who knew?!
Anybody need something typed up?
;)
Anybody need something typed up?
;)
3 Tbs Caramel Sauce (in the squeeze bottle)
4 Tbs Ganache
6 oz Milk (I used Almond Milk and it worked just fine)\
Whipped Cream (canned)
Pinch of Sea Salt (coarse)
Home-Made Ganache
12 oz Ghiradelli 60% Cacao Bittersweet Chocolate Bars (chopped)
1 cup Heavy Cream
Place the chopped chocolate into a glass bowl. Heat the cream over medium high heat just until it boils. Remove cream from the heat and pour over the chocolate. Stir until well combined and the chocolate has melted and become glossy.
In a sauce pan, mix the milk and Ganache over medium high heat just until hot and starts to boil. Drizzle 2 Tbs of the caramel into your glass, and then pour in the hot chocolate. Using a spoon, combine the caramel and the cocoa. Top with whipped cream then drizzle on extra caramel sauce, sprinkle with the pinch of sea salt and enjoy.
My notes on the process:
If you like your salted caramel hot chocolate a little more salty, I recommend adding sea salt into the glass after the caramel and before you add in the hot chocolate. Play around with the amount of caramel, as well, the chocolate is insanely rich and can overpower the caramel a little once you get down into the cup. The Ganache recipe makes a lot of Ganache. I have a bowl full left over. I've never made it before so I have no idea how well or long it will keep. So, adjust your ganache recipe according to how many people you are serving. AMAZING!!!!!
Oh, and let me also recommend an apron. I managed to get caramel sauce everywhere. Still not quite sure how ...
4 Tbs Ganache
6 oz Milk (I used Almond Milk and it worked just fine)\
Whipped Cream (canned)
Pinch of Sea Salt (coarse)
Home-Made Ganache
12 oz Ghiradelli 60% Cacao Bittersweet Chocolate Bars (chopped)
1 cup Heavy Cream
Place the chopped chocolate into a glass bowl. Heat the cream over medium high heat just until it boils. Remove cream from the heat and pour over the chocolate. Stir until well combined and the chocolate has melted and become glossy.
In a sauce pan, mix the milk and Ganache over medium high heat just until hot and starts to boil. Drizzle 2 Tbs of the caramel into your glass, and then pour in the hot chocolate. Using a spoon, combine the caramel and the cocoa. Top with whipped cream then drizzle on extra caramel sauce, sprinkle with the pinch of sea salt and enjoy.
My notes on the process:
If you like your salted caramel hot chocolate a little more salty, I recommend adding sea salt into the glass after the caramel and before you add in the hot chocolate. Play around with the amount of caramel, as well, the chocolate is insanely rich and can overpower the caramel a little once you get down into the cup. The Ganache recipe makes a lot of Ganache. I have a bowl full left over. I've never made it before so I have no idea how well or long it will keep. So, adjust your ganache recipe according to how many people you are serving. AMAZING!!!!!
Oh, and let me also recommend an apron. I managed to get caramel sauce everywhere. Still not quite sure how ...
