Y'know how I love y'all's 12 of 12 posts and try to join in every month? And every month I completely forget about it on the actual 12th and then fail at joining in, so as a result I've only done it once, I think, last June? Yeah, not working. So instead I'll just do it whenever I remember it, and make it __ of __. So there.

juls_chuls: Here begins your Disneyland present.

( 18 of 18 at Disneyland. )

Yes, that is a snakeskin stiletto. Or, as close to it as I'm going to get.

I found heaven on earth last night: the Target clearance aisle where size 11 Isaac Mizrahi heels go to die. I'm used to not having a lot of choice, to getting to try on one pair, two if I'm lucky. I can't tell you how happy I am that shops are carrying larger sizes more regularly. There were heels, flats, boots, converse, (JULS! CONS! AND NONVERSE! I got the cutest pair and totally thought of you! Pictures coming!) wedges, sandals, bows, patent leather, satin, croc embossed... an embarrassment of riches. I've never been a shoe girl because well, I just didn't have the oppotunity, but I could definitely get used to this.

Miss Cherry Josefa Corazon, Cherry Bomb to her friends.



Ain't she pretty? Who's a good car? Who's a good car? She is! Yes, she is! Good car! Goooooood car!

I love this car. What?

Saturday morning bright and early I went to Target and got a new Thomas guide, jumper cables, a flashlight, a first aid kit, a SF Valley map, and a tire repair kit. Then I went and sold my old car for $50. In with the new, out with the old.

I am thankful for:

1. Extra steak at lunch today. Thanks Commissary Dude!

2. I GOT THE CAR LOAN!

Oh, I didn't tell you Cesar Jose Lima died? Yes. It was sad. And not a little scary. Three hours of non-fun at a 76 just off the 5. But! I got a loan! For a new car! The one that I want is pretty! With features! I would say 'mit funktionen' but I think the only person who would get it no longer reads this. Still! I got the loan!

3. NEW CAR. I KNOW I ALREADY MENTIONED IT, BUT IT DESERVES ITS OWN LINE.

4. I now like "Chinatown." That makes two Polanski movies that don't bore me to tears. But don't worry, I didn't drink all the kool aid, "Rosemary's Baby" still sucks.

5. The mere fact that this exists:



Seriously, is it not awesome? Also the toothpick holder. I would enjoy looking at him on my table while I eat dinner.



PS-- I really really like Chinatown. It's beautiful. What can I say? Sometimes you just grow up.

THEY ARE INDEED.

The hot ankle strappy high high heels with teeny tiny platforms are here too, but they're slightly less awesome because they're really uncomfortable. Within ten minutes my toes were cold (I think they were cutting off my circulation) and pinched. Those are definitely special occasion shoes. But, oh, these boots.



I think I'm getting them in brown ASAP. And maybe these.



How sweet is that shoe?

ANSWER: VERY.

I WILL: dress better. I'm sick of t-shirts and jeans all the time! It's lazy, it's sloppy, and it's not my best. I can do better than that. I have plenty of cute clothes in my closet. So in January, I'm going to wear them. My boring comfort zone of t-shirt/ jeans/ sneakers will only happen twice a week. Other than that, I'll show off my style! Starting things off right today with a very cute oversized houndstooth check skirt. Whee!

FOR THE ROOM: my closets are a disgrace. I've started clearing my clothes closet with a preliminary sweep of everything I knew I didn't wear anymore and shouldn't have in there. That included getting rid of my lovely long brown dress, the first thing I ever spent quite a bit of money on when I was 16. I've actually never spent that much on a single piece since. I loved it, I felt beautiful in it, I knew I'd never wear it again. I have pictures of myself very happy in it, I don't need it hanging uselessly in my closet. Besides, it went to a good home where it will be appreciated all over again. I'm clearing those closets, taking care of what I keep, and passing the rest on to those who can use it.

I figure I'm due.

How awesome is this jacket?



Answer: VERY.

It's cute, it's long, it's got extra long sleeves with thumbholes, and it's slim, so it won't feel bulky and boxy like my grey wool peacoat. Oh, this jacket. Instant love.

I might even do something with my room soon so that I could use the word "decor" in connection to it with a straight face.





Well, that clock I would actually want to hang in my cubicle, because chiming or playing music every hour on the hour would drive me batty at home, but the candlelight campfire! So wonderful! And the frame would be great for snapshots blown up or the the photograph I bought last month, and the tape could be used for oh so many things. They're wonderful. They're inspiring. They're pretty.

Sorry. It's a thing that we do out here. Pretty much any number of any things someone says ends up in a fountain. You'd be surprised how long this can stay funny.

From mondaysabitch:

Random Joy

1. What are your thoughts on sites like Facebook/Myspace/Friendster etc.? I dig 'em. I'm listed on all three, but haven't been to Friendster in months, and have only stayed on Myspace in the hope that even more random schoolmates from the past find me. I'm pretty active on Facebook though. Very fun.

2. What was the last play you saw? As in stage performance? Avenue Q. But if you consider that a musical instead, you nit-picker you, I think the last straight play I saw was Fat Pig at the Geffen. Excellent, highly recommend it.

3. What's your opinion on the vegan lifestyle? An amazing commitment I could never make. Takes a lot of work to do it properly, which many who attempt to follow it do not do. It's not for me to judge. Also, it means more steak for the rest of us, so it's cool with me.

4. If you were to give your current home a name, what would it be? Hmm. Laverne? If you don't open the blinds deliberately there's no light in there, so I always feel a little like I'm in Laverne & Shirley's basement apartment if I get home and my roomie didn't leave the blinds open.

5. How do you like your eggs? Ugh. NOT AT ALL. I hate eggs.

MEME NUMBER TWO, From stepliana:

Post 10 things that recently made you happy. Then tag 10 people and force them to post this meme on their LJs.

Apparently this is a Texas edition of our regularly scheduled meme. Sorry about that. Deal.
1. Finding out our contact on a show went to UT. Investigated this because his email address involves Earl Campbell. Awesome.

2. Fried chicken wings and a Belgian waffle at the Breakfast Klub in Houston Saturday morning.

3. Running into a friend from high school and college at the nail salon in Sugar Land Saturday afternoon. Some of those people were great.

4. Biggio's last game as an Astro at Minute Maid Park. Every time he came up to bat he got a standing ovation and had to wait a minute before he stepped into the box. After the game he ran around the entire field and high-fived every fan he could reach from the field. The man is made of class.

5. At one point at the reunion I and another unmarried classmate were showing each other pictures of other classmates' babies that we carry around with us. This amused me to no end.

6. My Dad getting me a Chick-Fil-A fried chicken biscuit Saturday morning before we went out for breakfast, even though he knew this meant I would not eat much of what I ordered.

7. Spending lots of time with Eleanor, the most darling girl who lives inside the loop.

8. Going shopping with my mom Saturday afternoon before we got our toes done.

9. Knowing that I have a wing and a biscuit from The Breakfast Klub in the fridge for dinner tonight.

10. Knowing that I'll be back in Texas for over a week at Thanksgiving!

I don't tag. Tag, you're it!

I just turned into a person who buys art. I've never done that before. It's nice.

Admittedly, art that costs $20. But I liked it. A lot. I couldn't stop thinking about it.

I recommend it to everyone. Buying art is fun. Especially when it's this.

From mondaysabitch:

1. Do you bruise easily? Goodness, yes. I'm always spotting bruises that are completely new to me. I have no idea where or when or how, just oh. That's purple now. That can't be good.

2. What does your name rhyme with? Um. Many present tense verbs with dropped Gs: "bearin'" in mind, "carin'" a lot, sea"farin'" man... I guess. Oh, and BARON von Munchausen.

3. If you could have any famous piece of art to display in your home, which would you choose? Ow. This is hard. Degas' The Little Dancer, or a Sargent portrait, or a rosy Bougereau?



Pretty, huh?

4. What's the most inconvenient thing about the place you're currently living? I haven't properly unpacked yet. The kitchen's a bit small, I wish there were windows in the bathroom and kitchen, and sometimes it's annoying when the cops pull speeders over on the freeway 20 yards away at 3am, but other than that, I pretty much love it. So much better than the shoebox.

5. What book are you reading right now? The Russian Debutante's Handbook by Gary Shteyngart. I love it.

Stolen from honore:

Two Names You Go By:
1. Erin
2. Oona (it's a long story.)

Two Things You Are Wearing Right Now:
1. new dress!
2. white flip-flops (take that Labor Day!)

Two Things You Would Want (or have) in a Relationship:
1. An unshakable bond
2. Humor

Two of Your Favorite Things to do:
1. Read
2. Be with people I love

Two Things You Want Very Badly at the Moment:
1. A job in the archives
2. An organized life

Two pets you had/have:
1. Sandy the WonderDog
2. Many many fish who I don't think had names

Two people who will fill this out:
1. Huh?
2. Screw tagging, it sucks.

Things you did last night:
1. Rewatched the first two episodes of Mad Men (I cannot recommend that show enough, WATCH IT ALREADY.)
2. Went to bed at 10.30pm.

Two things you ate today:
1. Hot tea
2. Salad for lunch

Two people you Last Talked To:
1. Mom
2. Dad (Happy Birthday, Dad!)

Two Things You're doing tomorrow:
1. Either shopping or games
2. Working-- the new season is a'comin' and the pace will pick up here again very soon.

Two longest car/plane rides:
1. Sugar Land, TX to Lincoln, Nebraska - car (TWICE)
2. Concord, CA to Whistler, BC, Canada - car

Two Favorite Holidays:
1. Christmas (far and away my favorite)
2. Thanksgiving (family, family, family)

Two favorite beverages:
1. Tea!
2. Milkshakes... mmm...

It fit alright, but the fabric was really cheap and there's a seam running all down the front from the empire waist to the hem! No thanks! Am returning it this morning.

Doesn't hurt that I hit Target on my way home last night and got two dresses for the price of this one, both of which I like much more and will wear much more often. And one of them is perfect (and far less dressier!) for the wedding and reunion. Also got a darling little jacket that I intend to wear all fall. You will get sick of it, you will see it so much. I love it.

And well, hmmm. Fabric is horribly crushed from the packing and going to need more than a few shower steams to de-wrinkle, due in no small part to its being a bit slighter (read: cheaper) than it looked online (I see those quality issues you mentioned, playmayt,) which erases my doubts about it not being quite appropriate for my cousin's morning wedding (yep, I was wrong about it being an evening ceremony.) I managed to stop myself from trying it on in the bathroom. Will see how it looks the second I get home and let y'all know tomorrow if the emergency shopping days tentatively scheduled for next Tuesday and Wednesday will be necessary.

I followed clndestyn's excellent advice and checked out Newport News. I've never been particularly thrilled with their catalogues, but you never know. You never know indeed. Found this. What do y'all think?



I thought it looked too long and formal on first review, but the description says "hits below the knee, 25" from waist." And it's in my size. So? Evening wedding and high school reunion. I think this might do it. And it's on sale! $39!

So? Yea or nay?

WAIT! EDIT:

Just found this. Also cute. Also on sale.



So I guess now the question is black or red? Also, cute or keep looking?

I find a dress I love and that would actually work for my cousin's evening wedding and the reunion coming up next month, and it's $195. And gorgeous.



Of course. Sigh. Back to the drawing board.

From mondaysabitch:

Metallics

1. Gold or silver? Which looks better on you? Hmm. I suppose gold does, but I've always liked silver better. Though I am becoming more fond of gold.

2. What is your favourite Olympic sport to watch? Ice skating. Toe pick!

3. "Goldfinger" or "Goldmember"? Would you rather watch a James Bond movie or a Mike Myers comedy? This one was a little hard, but James Bond movie. No doubt.

4. Have you ever won a trophy? Yep. Dance contest? Trivia contest? On the cruise when I was five.

5. Do you set off metal detectors in airports? Not usually.

Oof. So. Tired. OC Fair fun, but oof. So. Tired.

PS-- Donuts make good sandwiches.

How cool is that? So pretty... too bad it costs $100, serves no discernable purpose except to collect dust on your shelf and look pretty, and the "affordable" packages that would allow you to try to buy it start at about $45 and go up to $795 (though for the top three you do also get hotel rooms.) The Art of Disney Parks event looks really cool, but unless there's a significant cast member discount, odds are I won't be there. Even if there will be awesome stuff, like a few of the 50s in Mickey heads that hung all over the park during the big celebration, including the web from the Haunted Mansion, the Tiki's 50th and the Indy tin model on auction. And a "Dream Sale" where smaller 50th keepsakes will be offered. There are so many cool things in the merchandise and auction categories, including some truly gorgeous original art, that I'm not even posting pics of them, you'll just have to go look for yourself.

Sigh. I'm keeping the dates in September open all the same.

Oh! And wouldn't this be just perfect in a $35 print on my wall? I love it, but don't worry Dad, I'm not even thinking about the $4,700 original or the $580 giclee on canvas reproduction.

Lofty goal for June didn't quite work out. I've got a first act I like and the rest of it outlined, but 20,000 words and a complete screenplay? Not so much. So I'm making it a little calmer this month.

I will not buy a single thing in July.

Toiletries, food, and gas only. Usual bill payments as well, of course. No books, no clothes, no DVDs, no CDs, no makeup, no jewelry, no concert or play tickets. If you have a birthday this month, expect a donation to be made in your name.

There's this really cool article that I'm printing and pinning up over my desk, and from the looks of my datebook I've got enough prepaid events and activities to last me most of the month. I've long thought that the Wardrobe Refashion pledge and blog was a really cool idea.

Due to the impending car payment, I need to check out this budgeting and living below your means thing. (How much you wanna bet that this will be the month that Amazon puts Freaks & Geeks on some crazy $20 sale? If that happens, I get to get that and only that. I reserve that single exemption here and now.)

I am allowed to buy lunch at work twice a week, and dinner out as I see fit (I don't expect it to be often.) Also, I don't see many movies in the theatre lately, so I'm still allowed one a week. I'll probably see one all month.

Wish me luck! It may seem little and silly, but it's probably going to be harder for me than you or I think.

EDIT: Just to reassure y'all that I'm not going all warpath responsible, here's a clue as to how I spent Friday night. Other San Francicso pics up as well, family dinner pictures (all featuring Brady the adorable, I believe) to follow tomorrow.

Almost done with pics from the Huntington. There's not even a single pirate, elephant, flying boy, castle, Swiss Alp, canal boat, princess, train, ice cream cone, ghost, bouncing stuffed tiger, white steamboat, droid, speeding amphibian, rabbit, prince of the forest, or tiny fairy in any of them. How are they holding my interest so?