red hair and black leather

Just spent some time trying to explain why I wear black all the time and the aesthetic/ethos of Goth (& punk, tangentially) to a co-worker. She's nice and we work closely together, which is why I took the time, and she's more informed than your usual bear, but it was still... odd.

Trying to explain my personal aesthetic is tricky in any circumstance: I'm not one or t'other - as in most everything in my life, I'm wandering merrily along my own little weird path, picking and choosing what I like best to (often inadvertently) create the Juliana Aesthetic. The constants are black nails, silver rings, black clothing, short & dyed hair. Everything else is negotiable, as long as it's flattering/cut close to the body (I'm aware that the two are occasionally mutually exclusive). I don't like extra fabric or things that get in my way - I'm clumsy enough that extra fabric/fripperies are just an accident waiting to happen.

Or, I can just admit that I still try to dress like I'm in The Matrix, but with more skirts.



ION, I really wish people would learn to apostrophize properly. Seeing crap like "All manager's must be [blah]" and "Product1 is discontinued, Product2 is taking it's place" is business writing is driving me batshit. Especially when it's (short for it is) my boss. Bob the Angry Flower is much more eloquent on this subject, of course.

I know, I know. Much more important things in the world, plus I abuse commas like it's going out of style, but there are times when someone needs to take a stand. Dammit.

So - went to see Sisters at the Warfield last night. They were good, but the sound mix was hella muddy, even after I moved out of the pit, and the copious smoke started bothering me after a while. (Gods, I feel old typing that. Stupid bronchitis.) However, we got in for free and got semi-VIP treatment, so I'm not complaining a bit. I was just happy to see them.

The Warfield is possibly one of the most beautiful theaters I've seen. Wow.

I was too lazy to go all-out, so I went for my Standard Gothy Concert Ensemble - all black velvet - tank, long skirt, swoopy overdress, with black boots and the usual makeup. There was some beautiful corsets wandering around last night.

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Diablo Cody rocks my world. If you haven't heard of her, check out her blog and then read her book.

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I am in lurve with the shirt I'm wearing today. The cut is a pretty standard women's button-down, but the cuffs and the fabric make it. It's a black stretchy fabric with satiny pinstriping, and the cuffs are long enough to be French cuffs, but with only one buttonhole. I know they're meant to be folded backl, but I'm wearing them down which makes me feel like Rusty Ryan, who would totally be my Seekrit Fictional Boyfriend if he weren't so in love with Danny already. (Apropos of Teh Pretty - I think this picture should go up on a certain site, iff'n the admin likes. Such nice hands he has.)

Right. Back to clothing. (Rusty is such a clotheshorse. See! He's perfect!) The shirt is from H&M. Their selection is pretty hit-or-miss when it comes to things that flatter me, but when they hit, they hit. I have my new favorite blazer from them, too.

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I definitely need this Avenging Unicorn Play Set.

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I think tonight will be mellow. I'll probably try to run, and then maybe walk up to Safeway & Trader Joe's. I need to break down and get one of those wheely-cart dealies that the old ladies in Chinatown are always dragging about. A mile is fairly long to be carrying groceries & 20 pounds of cat litter & 10 pounds of cat food all by myself. Oh, and I have Hustle & Flow from Netflix. Awesome.

The new Fifty Foot Penguin Theater webpage is up, and it's verra nice. I love the MacBlank photo.

I had my first fitting for the wedding corset Thursday night. The stitcher kept gushing about how wonderful the fabric was to work with. I don't know from a dropped seam, but I can tell you that it will be one of the most luxurious items I've ever owned. It is So. Damn. Gorgeous. I can't wait until it and the skirt is finished.


I haven't told the bunny story yet, have I? Remind me later and I will. It's very funny.

Erm. I had some other things, but I've forgotten. Damn.

So I took Friday off to help me catch up on my sleep and generally recover from this horrific mood I've been in for the last few months. Good idea, right? Not when I decide to drink like a fish (I'm not the only one who had this idea - check out stephl's description of her weekend).

Friday, we slept in, lolled about, and then went to lunch. I LOVE having the day off and hanging out in a bar for lunch. It always feels vaguely seedy and fun. Came home, worked out, and then Z & I went to the opening of "Driving Miss Daisy" at the Showboat. It went fine, but Z had had to correct a few bad habits that had formed during the St. Cloud run. The audience was smallish, but they seemed to like it. We were convinced that the Artistic Director of the Guthrie was in attendance until we actually heard the man speak. No Irish accent - no Joe Dowling. Hmmph.

Prior to the show, we went to dinner at the only restaurant near the Boat. It was, to say the least, odd. The place tries to be about 5 different things at once - a neighborhood bar, a swanky club-style restaurant, a sports bar, a family restaurant, and a party area. There is a pull tab booth next to the mahogany-inlaid bar. I've decided that every place I eat in St. Paul that is not located in the immediate downtown area will have a surreal experience or two for me. Part of that has to do with the fact that St. Paul is a small town in its heart. I don't know what the other part is.

So we drank before the show, and then during the show, and then we decided that it would be wise to go to the Market after the show for a few drinks. Oooof.

Saturday, Zach had to go to work, so I got up, drove him in, and then came home and worked out and cleaned for the party that I hosted that night. Baked bread, made pico de gallo, usual things.

The party was a lot of fun, even though there was a moment where I wished I wasn't hosting so I could go home. But people enjoyed themselves, ate up all the food, and it ended with my friend David and I staying up until 4 a.m. discussing politics, which is the usual cap to my parties. All well and good. What was not good was my falling asleep on the couch when David left. I didn't even change out of my dress. Zach had to come get me at 8 when he woke up. Le oops.

Sunday, I finally returned Carl's Buffy DVDs to him, and he gave me a ride to the Market so I could get Z's truck. I went to the airport to meet an Anarach friend of mine during his layover, and we ate at the Mall of America. Dropped the friend off, realized I had forgotten my purse, and went back to the MOA to fetch it. While I was there, I decided to wander around a bit and lo and behold, I found a Coat. A full-length black leather coat on sale for $135 down from $400. I lurve it. I wasn't planning to spend that much, but I lurve it. It's heavy, and as it slid home on my shoulders I thought, "Yep. This is the one." So, got the coat, picked Zach up, we went over to Sally's for dinner. Had an incredibly tasty dinner, Zach dropped me off at home, I ran lines for a bit and then went to sleep.

Woke up today, still stiff and sore, and walked in to work because the bus drivers are still on strike. It's been snowing on and off for the past 2 hours or so. I'm not looking forward to the walk home.

I cannot go out at all this week. Cannot. Remind me of that, will you?

If I ever look half as wonderful and amazingly stylish as Diane Keaton did last night, I will die a happy woman.

Also? I would pay good money to have a suit just like hers in black or dark grey. Yes.

God, I adore her.