Virgo:: In May 2005, while floating in a heated, heart-shaped swimming pool in Milan, Italy, Andrea Pedrani and Federica Di Venosa kissed underwater for 87 seconds. That's got to be a world record, right? If their mark is ever broken, I bet it will involve at least one Virgo and will happen in the next few weeks. By my reckoning, your tribe is in a phase when you're capable of peak performances in both the erotic arts and oceanic emotions; you're primed for transcendent acts of sensual pleasure and rich amusements in warm, watery depths.

Dude, I hope so. Right now, I'm totally lacking the sex appeal, and about the only body of water I crave is my bathtub. I'm so tired of winter-- is it spring yet? Please? I need sunlight. Sunlight and maybe tulips. I want to go climbing, I want to go camping, I want to run bases and remember how to swing a bat.

At least Dixie will be home tomorrow. I've enjoyed a little quiet, but I'm ready to have someone else around again. I held up surprisingly well while she was gone-- she left at a pretty fragile time for me, but my friends really rallied up and helped me pull through. I am immensely grateful.

Last night, Annabean and I had pad Thai and watched chick flicks while I made pretty shiny sparkly things with my new beads. Note to self: get bead crimpers. Actually, I'm going to put in an order to either Shipwreck Beads or Fire Mountain Gems today, so I might just toss some in. My first few bracelets are cute, but the ends look a little unfinished. At any rate, though I'm just playing and making gifts at this point, I'm pretty pleased with the turnout, and I could eventually sell some of the memory wire bracelets I'm making for some spare cash. The only thing is that I like to use high-quality beads (I love Japanese delica seed beads and silver-lined ones, too), so they wouldn't be particularly cheap because the components cost a little more than $1 rocailles. It's been so long since I made jewelry. It's fulfilling.

In other news, though, I smell really good today. I mixed Shub Niggurath and Mme. Moriarty, and now I smell like incense and gingersnaps. Warm and spicy and comforting.

LOL. Mark just ran up to me, whispered in my ear, "hey-- intern boy is here!" and ran away with his hand over his mouth, mock-giggling like a schoolgirl. Oh, co-workers. Which reminds me, I finally got pictures of the terrifying stuffed-animal-with-boss's-face, and I need to post them to creep you all out.

At any rate, this missive is becoming more and more random. I'm gonna try to get through this day fairly quickly, as I'm kinda twitchy about being behind a desk today. Tonight is the return of crack (ANTM), then Mr. Yancentric and I are gonna hang out and watch Lost. Please let this one not suck, amen.

I just placed the order to make my blue goldstone jewelry set.

130 pieces of 6mm blue goldstone rounds
1 30mm blue goldstone donut-bead
Two strands of silver-lined grey aurora borealis finish rocailles (6/0)
Two strands of silver-lined crystal matte rocailles (6/0)
12 4.5mm Czech Rhinestone rondells -- Silver/crystal
10 4.5mm Czech Rhinestone rondells -- Silver/light sapphire
1 pack of crystal 12/0 rocailles
1 pack of grey silver-lined bugles

That should yield a bracelet, a two-loop memory-wire necklace, and a pair of earrings. I hope that the blue goldstone is enough, but I can always order more. It was much, much cheaper at Shipwreck than it was at Fire Mountain Gems. I also got some pretty odds and ends and supplies. I'm on a total blue and green kick at the moment.

1 pack of Montana Blue matte 10/0 seed beads
1 pack of Emerald Matte 10/0 Emerald Green matte 10/0 seed beads
1 pack of Medium Green 10/0 seed beads
1 pack of Light Pale Green 10/0 seed beads
70 loops of bracelet-sized Memory Wire, silver (makes about 1 dz. bracelets)
1 pair of round-nose pliers

It's official, I've now spent approximately $150 on beads (including my Beadazzled trip) to get back in the habit of making pretty, shiny things. Sure, most of them are for gifts and the like, but you know what? It brings me pleasure.