If ever there were a day to go out and make love in a field, this is the day. Alas, tonight is the first Beltane in five years that I'll be spending all by my lonesome. That's kind of disheartening, but I'll cope. I can start on my unblocking ritual, I guess. Or spend some time on the swings if I can get out a little early.

Overall, I'm just kind of frustrated today. First of all, it's Monday, the bane of my existance. Second of all, my stomach is tied in knots. Third of all, I've only been in the office for twenty minutes and already I'm fantasizing about taking off for lands unknown.

In honesty, I'm contemplating another move. Ashley was talking to me about how I'd be able to get a place in Annapolis relatively close to her & Heather for about $500/mo. If I worked for one of the firms down there, I could swing that. I'd also have the added bonus of being practically walking distance to lots of interesting places, plus I'd be much closer to my friends. And me not feeling so isolated all the time can only be a good thing, right?

While I'm grateful for this job and my current living arrangements, I can't help but feel that they're only transitional. I like my roommate a lot, but she's going through a divorce, and she's mentioned that she doesn't know how much longer it'll be until she packs up and moves. The house is too full of memories for her. I can understand that. And, as much as I care for Skyler, this job and that house are far too tied into his life, into his family unit. I can't help but wonder about the awkwardness if he and I broke up, so I think a little less overlap would probably be for the better.

I don't know when exactly this move would go down-- I guess I'm going to start checking into the job situation. See if it's financially workable and all that. That would send my bills up to approximately $1,250/mo., and that's without a car. Well, I suppose I could consolidate my student loans and all that.

There are three things that I am quite happy about, however. Thing one is the cutest letter ever from musie_muse, thing two is a care package featuring Pink Martini's Hang on Little Tomato from bellybalt, and thing three is that the four Twilight Alchemy Lab oils that I ordered on last Wednesday arrived on Sunday. That's less than a week's turnaround. That's unheard of. I'm quite amazed.

Why Hasn't Stephen Colbert Gotten More Press Coverage?

Like [Harry Taylor, who has also publically criticized the President], Colbert was faced with a largely unsympathetic crowd (where Taylor received boos, Colbert's critique was met with the scattered, nervous laughter of a audience uncomfortable with a clear exposition of the truth). So why did the Harry Taylor moment get more media play?

The answer perhaps can be found in the President's response. The clips of Taylor included the President's jokes which minimized the importance of Taylor's dissent. They also included the President's "tough guy" response to Taylor-- "I'm not going to apologize for what I did on the terrorist surveillance program... you said, would I apologize for that? The answer-- answer is, absolutely not." The media line then was that Taylor challenged the President, who responsed with a tough defense of his policy. Taylor: 1, Bush: 1, no net gain. It's safe to report on a wash for the President.

But the President's response to Colbert was nothing more than pursed lips, red face, and a cold shoulder goodbye. The result was that Colbert's painfully truthful analysis of the Bush administration had none of that faux balance the media loves to employ as a substitute for actual journalism. Add to the mix that the critique included attacks on the media establishment as well, and it's not surprising that Colbert's Harry Taylor moment has been brushed off as the shtick of a comedian rather than the dissent of an American citizen.

In other words: the American newsmedia are a bunch of wussies.

First, a five-question interview from belladonnastrap.

1) Would you consider yourself a Renaissance woman of sorts since you sing, write, know French and are generally beautiful?

I guess I'd say that I aspire to be a Renaissance woman-- I would like to learn bits and pieces of a few more languages, I'd like to continue learning to dance. Really, all I think a 'Renaissance person' is is someone who values learning, and continually seeks out new information and interests. In that way, I am a bit Renaissance-y, and I hope to remain that way.

And can I just say how weird this 'beautiful' thing is? I mean, sure, I think I'm attractive, but I grew up kind of an ugly duckling. This is all new and strange to me.

2) Elizabeth Hand calls and asks you to pitch a novella for a collection of stories about her characters. Only thing is you can't write about Sweeney or Dylan. Who do you choose and why?

I was actually thinking about that. I'd like to see more of Juda Trent from Mortal Love, because she absolutely stole her sections of the book, in my opinion. There was a lot to do with that character, and I'd like to see her once more. I'm doing a re-read of Waking the Moon right now, and I also am curious about Justine (formerly Jerome). Even though she's only on four pages or so, she strikes me as a character with a rich backstory, and you could easily write a Cajun mystery starring her. And of course, I'm endlessly curious about Angelica's afterlife.

3)If you could get a custom blend from BPAL what would it be?

Oh, that's easy. It'd be a pair of scents-- Tam Lin (Deep woods and fern, shimmering musk, bitter berries, and the twilight haze of faerie) and Janet (Brazen English ivy and wild rose with a hint of saddle leather).

Although if there were a definitive 'Christina' scent, it would probably be one of golden amber, a little spice, milky ginger, and sandalwood rose. Almost The Lion + Sudha Segara, with a little spicy kick. Possibly a little blackberry in there, too.

4) What is one thing that irks you that some may call "trivial"?

Do not read over my shoulder. It makes me irrationally pissy. I'm serious.

5) Favourite childhood memory involving ice cream?

Maybe not ice cream, but when I was young, it was never really summer until my mother bought a big case of those Freez-e-Pops. We squeaked by with as little air conditioning as we possibly could, even in the Baltimore sizzle heat. And so all the kids would gather in the alley to play kickball and not kick the ball into Ms. Lillian's yard because she eats babies. Afterwards, we'd go at those popsicles two and three at a time. My favorites were blue and pink-- I'd let them melt just a little, then mix 'em together. Although if you really want an ice cream memory, I remember countless nights sitting out on the front stoop, listening to the old ladies chatter, eating Crazy Vanilla ice cream from the malt shop around the corner.

1) Leave me a comment asking for an interview.
2) If you are one of the first five to respond, I will ask you five 'interview' questions.
3) You will update your LJ with the answers.
4) You will include this explanation and an offer to interview others in the post.
5) When others ask to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.


Today was a good mail day. I got packages from maewitch-- thank you so much for the extra imps. Both my roommate and I are in love with Golden Priapus-- and a few swaps. I did also, however, get a return to sender on some information that I sent the IRS. Uh. That's not so good, so I'm gonna fix that posthaste.

I got a lovely Beltane surprise, though. As I was walking home through the park, I took an indirect route so I could walk by the stream and smell the green and the water. I am so glad I did. I came upon a family of six deer, including some little fawns, playing in a clearing. It was so wonderful, like glimpsing a little secret world.