Take me back to the start
Freshly showered. Clean.
I barely feel like I've had a weekend. I have had my hands full with family functions-- as an aside, Happy Mother's Day to all you mommies out there. I know mine was overjoyed when she found out her present was a 6-pack of Skindazzles bath bombs, or, as she likes to call them, "those neat fizzy things that smell like Pixie Stix!"
Every spare moment I've not had anywhere to be, I've been snoozing. I haven't been getting enough sleep as of late, and my body's letting me know it. Even a constant stream of caffeine has had little effect on me, and so whenever possible, I've been hitting the sack early. Last night, I was in bed by 10:30-- that's saying something considering I usually go to sleep at around 2am.
Yesterday was my cousin Julia's First Holy Communion-- my father picked me up at 8:30 am and by the time we reached the church, I was already mildly irritated. My father is terrible in the car-- he's an aggessive driver, and he doesn't understand that as long as we reach our destination on time and safely in one piece, there is nothing to get upset about. Those five minutes are not crucial. Every ten seconds, he insulted another driver or changed lanes. Christ. My father drives me absolutely insane-- he's one of those people who likes to bemoan how he's been wronged all the time instead of admitting that he's not perfect. Every time something goes slightly amiss, he's the first to point fingers at someone and then explain how none of it is at all his fault. For instance, at the church, we moved three times before the service-- twice because the place we'd chosen to sit was reserved in one way or another. We didn't know, but the regulars who did explained this politely enough, and so we moved. My father, unable to see things for what they were, instead grumbled the whole time about how rude it was that we were being slighted. Slighted? For christ's sake, man. This is not drama.
At any rate, the service progressed. Cute girls in cute white dresses, etc. The presiding vicar really struck me though-- he was very young. I'd have guessed 25 or so, at the most. He was obviously wet behind the ears, as he faltered several times, forgot certain motions. He was perfectly personable when it came to the children, but he lacked warmth, as though he were trying to cultivate that special air that sets a priest apart from his flock. You could tell by looking at him that he was a good person, someone who genuinely wanted to do right with his life. But I could also tell that being a priest was not his calling-- I don't know if he's realized it yet, either. It was more than just his inexperience, it was something about his nature in general. He seemed to me, from across the room, to be someone who needs to be more immediate in the world, and I suppose I don't exactly know how to put it. Forgive me, Catholics, because I don't mean to offend, but in my limited experience, the priests I've known have been warm, gentle, kind, but also removed, as though their spiritual experience has set them apart from the world in some way. This vicar seemed like he was waiting to dig his hands into the sweet wet earth, and though I have no way to back that up, it's just the sense that I got from him. I couldn't picture him remaining unmarried for life, or in pristine garments. He struck me as someone who has a more immediate ministry, something more connected to the earth.
After church, I did the hanging with the family thing. Seeing as how being around my dad has been irritating me to no end lately, I spent most of it chasing the kids around in the yard. I'm not your usual child-friendly type, but I was surprised at how much I was actually enjoying myself. The kids were disappointed that Mike wasn't there-- he was always so good with them, they loved him dearly. In a way, I think I was trying to make up for that absence. It's so strange. But there were swinging contests (I need to get myself to a really high swingset sometime soon-- swinging is freeing in cleansing in a way that few things are), and I beat practically everyone in mock-lightsaber duels-- huzzah.
As for tonight, Skyler & I are catching a movie with his best friend Scott and Scott's fiancée, Sarah. After that, it's likely to be an early night. My first final is tomorrow, and I am not yet sure of my work schedule for the coming week, which is book buyback week and likely to be extremely busy. I've got to set to work on packing as well, and weeding out everything that I don't need to take along with me. I can't believe it's almost over.
Amidst all of the frustration, I was however reminded that sometimes life is strange and beautiful. A peacock in the middle of a razed corn field, its brilliant jewel plume puffed. No one else for miles, just a solitary figure bright against the flat dry land. Contrast. That's what I saw yesterday, in the middle of rural Pennsylvania. Uncanny, surreal.
On the BPAL front, Beth makes me poor. Poor, I say. Today's update was crippling, and I'm sad to say that I only had enough moolah for one bottle of Chaos Theory. Well, I suppose that trading is everything-- unless I *really* like my blend, I'll probably be swapping imps at any rate. I love the communal fun that is BPAL. I also bought a bottle of Queen of Clubs and Shub Niggurath (fresh ginger!) because they'll be discontinued soon, but
belladonnastrap warned me against spending too much. Apparently, there's an oil that I will *need* in the upcoming Friday the 13th update. Since it's not a Waking the Moon scent, I'm wondering if it's not a Tam Lin scent... I don't know. There are few things of which I'm positively desperate for an olfactory recreation, but Beth does know how to make a girl drool in anticipation.
Speaking of Karyn, however, she's a darling. She's going to send me imps of all five Panacea elixirs for review, because I've been very curious about them, but at $23/bottle, I can't afford to buy them unsniffed. She's also sending a sample of Midway, which is as-yet unreleased, and apparently smells just like a summer fair. It's sure to remind me of sticky August in South Baltimore, when the Little League carnival goes up and you can smell funnel cake for miles.
As reviews are coming in for Hexennacht and The Ides of March, I'm regretting not snagging them, and so I've set up a swap for samples of those as well. Generally speaking, if a blend has a note or two that I've known goes wonky with my skin chemistry (vetiver, civet, most florals), I'm generally too frugal to order them. King of Clubs, for instance has leather and oakmoss, which are some of my absolute favorite notes, but it also has vetiver and almond... which, not so much. And Ace of Clubs has rain orchid, but that will be likely overtaken by the rest of the florals of the blend. Thank god for the swap forums.
Also, I got a Click-N-Ship for my bottles of Beltane and Pink Moon. A couple of reviews have come in for each, with Beltane leaning towards the floral end and Pink Moon coming across very very sweet. Neither is what I usually go for, but I may be pleasantly surprised. At any rate, I'll be keeping Beltane for ritual use, and we'll see about Pink Moon. Plus hey, I'm acquiring a full bottle of Dead Man's Hand from a forumite. Very rarely will I ever need more than a half-bottle of a scent-- I tend to like to sample so many things, that I have few things that I repeatedly return to. DMH is pure rawhide and leather, and I don't think I've ever smelled a more unique oil. Gah, dead sexy. I want to bathe in it.
As I mentioned, I bought my mom Skindazzles bath bombs for Mother's day, and I wanted to give a quick mention to the thing I added for myself-- I got two of the 2oz. body frostings. One is Coconut Lime Verbena, an exact duplicate of the scent I love from Bath and Body Works, only coupled with Skindazzles' body frosting recipe, which is quite frankly, the most moisturizing lotion/butter I've ever tried and I plan to be faithful to it 'til death do we part. The other scent was Mayan Gold, which is primarily sandalwood and musk, with overtones of amber and spiced cocoa. It's sultry, deep. I want to try Little Black Dress in my next order, as well as a few of Candy's soy-blend tarts, but that's probably a little ways off. Also, Candy needs to get on duplicating BBW's Sandalwood Rose fragrance, and I'd love her forever.
On the LUSH front, I've fallen in love with 17 Cherry Tree Lane soap, of whichtennyo was gracious enough to send me a sample. It's got LUSH's Sakura fragrance, and I've never smelled a more true replication of freshly-blooming cherry blossoms. It's also pretty creamy for a LUSH soap, and I'm going to have to order more. Freeze shower gel is being discontinued, and even though I tend to shy from mint, I'm thinking I might get a little for the coming summer. My house can be very sweaty in the summer months, and I have a feeling that frequent showers with cool mint gel will most definitely help with the sticky factor. Also, the combo of Herbalism and AOBS has gotten my skin back into shape-- I was having terrible breakouts for a while what with all the stress I've been dealing with. Most of the dullness and redness has gone away, and my skin is smooth again.
There was an interesting thread on the BPAL forum-- what would a scent that is uniquely you smell like? I'm curious to ask you guys, since I don't really know your tastes all that well. For instance, mine would be:
Sihaya:: The open dune awash in moonlight-- a deep, rich sandalwood just touched with the dusty aroma of desert rose in full bloom. This earthy, sensual blend sweetens the skin just so with subtle notes of amber, patchouli, moroccan spices, a drop of stargazer lily, and a surprising note of ripe plum.
What would you smell like?
I barely feel like I've had a weekend. I have had my hands full with family functions-- as an aside, Happy Mother's Day to all you mommies out there. I know mine was overjoyed when she found out her present was a 6-pack of Skindazzles bath bombs, or, as she likes to call them, "those neat fizzy things that smell like Pixie Stix!"
Every spare moment I've not had anywhere to be, I've been snoozing. I haven't been getting enough sleep as of late, and my body's letting me know it. Even a constant stream of caffeine has had little effect on me, and so whenever possible, I've been hitting the sack early. Last night, I was in bed by 10:30-- that's saying something considering I usually go to sleep at around 2am.
Yesterday was my cousin Julia's First Holy Communion-- my father picked me up at 8:30 am and by the time we reached the church, I was already mildly irritated. My father is terrible in the car-- he's an aggessive driver, and he doesn't understand that as long as we reach our destination on time and safely in one piece, there is nothing to get upset about. Those five minutes are not crucial. Every ten seconds, he insulted another driver or changed lanes. Christ. My father drives me absolutely insane-- he's one of those people who likes to bemoan how he's been wronged all the time instead of admitting that he's not perfect. Every time something goes slightly amiss, he's the first to point fingers at someone and then explain how none of it is at all his fault. For instance, at the church, we moved three times before the service-- twice because the place we'd chosen to sit was reserved in one way or another. We didn't know, but the regulars who did explained this politely enough, and so we moved. My father, unable to see things for what they were, instead grumbled the whole time about how rude it was that we were being slighted. Slighted? For christ's sake, man. This is not drama.
At any rate, the service progressed. Cute girls in cute white dresses, etc. The presiding vicar really struck me though-- he was very young. I'd have guessed 25 or so, at the most. He was obviously wet behind the ears, as he faltered several times, forgot certain motions. He was perfectly personable when it came to the children, but he lacked warmth, as though he were trying to cultivate that special air that sets a priest apart from his flock. You could tell by looking at him that he was a good person, someone who genuinely wanted to do right with his life. But I could also tell that being a priest was not his calling-- I don't know if he's realized it yet, either. It was more than just his inexperience, it was something about his nature in general. He seemed to me, from across the room, to be someone who needs to be more immediate in the world, and I suppose I don't exactly know how to put it. Forgive me, Catholics, because I don't mean to offend, but in my limited experience, the priests I've known have been warm, gentle, kind, but also removed, as though their spiritual experience has set them apart from the world in some way. This vicar seemed like he was waiting to dig his hands into the sweet wet earth, and though I have no way to back that up, it's just the sense that I got from him. I couldn't picture him remaining unmarried for life, or in pristine garments. He struck me as someone who has a more immediate ministry, something more connected to the earth.
After church, I did the hanging with the family thing. Seeing as how being around my dad has been irritating me to no end lately, I spent most of it chasing the kids around in the yard. I'm not your usual child-friendly type, but I was surprised at how much I was actually enjoying myself. The kids were disappointed that Mike wasn't there-- he was always so good with them, they loved him dearly. In a way, I think I was trying to make up for that absence. It's so strange. But there were swinging contests (I need to get myself to a really high swingset sometime soon-- swinging is freeing in cleansing in a way that few things are), and I beat practically everyone in mock-lightsaber duels-- huzzah.
As for tonight, Skyler & I are catching a movie with his best friend Scott and Scott's fiancée, Sarah. After that, it's likely to be an early night. My first final is tomorrow, and I am not yet sure of my work schedule for the coming week, which is book buyback week and likely to be extremely busy. I've got to set to work on packing as well, and weeding out everything that I don't need to take along with me. I can't believe it's almost over.
Amidst all of the frustration, I was however reminded that sometimes life is strange and beautiful. A peacock in the middle of a razed corn field, its brilliant jewel plume puffed. No one else for miles, just a solitary figure bright against the flat dry land. Contrast. That's what I saw yesterday, in the middle of rural Pennsylvania. Uncanny, surreal.
On the BPAL front, Beth makes me poor. Poor, I say. Today's update was crippling, and I'm sad to say that I only had enough moolah for one bottle of Chaos Theory. Well, I suppose that trading is everything-- unless I *really* like my blend, I'll probably be swapping imps at any rate. I love the communal fun that is BPAL. I also bought a bottle of Queen of Clubs and Shub Niggurath (fresh ginger!) because they'll be discontinued soon, but
belladonnastrap warned me against spending too much. Apparently, there's an oil that I will *need* in the upcoming Friday the 13th update. Since it's not a Waking the Moon scent, I'm wondering if it's not a Tam Lin scent... I don't know. There are few things of which I'm positively desperate for an olfactory recreation, but Beth does know how to make a girl drool in anticipation. Speaking of Karyn, however, she's a darling. She's going to send me imps of all five Panacea elixirs for review, because I've been very curious about them, but at $23/bottle, I can't afford to buy them unsniffed. She's also sending a sample of Midway, which is as-yet unreleased, and apparently smells just like a summer fair. It's sure to remind me of sticky August in South Baltimore, when the Little League carnival goes up and you can smell funnel cake for miles.
As reviews are coming in for Hexennacht and The Ides of March, I'm regretting not snagging them, and so I've set up a swap for samples of those as well. Generally speaking, if a blend has a note or two that I've known goes wonky with my skin chemistry (vetiver, civet, most florals), I'm generally too frugal to order them. King of Clubs, for instance has leather and oakmoss, which are some of my absolute favorite notes, but it also has vetiver and almond... which, not so much. And Ace of Clubs has rain orchid, but that will be likely overtaken by the rest of the florals of the blend. Thank god for the swap forums.
Also, I got a Click-N-Ship for my bottles of Beltane and Pink Moon. A couple of reviews have come in for each, with Beltane leaning towards the floral end and Pink Moon coming across very very sweet. Neither is what I usually go for, but I may be pleasantly surprised. At any rate, I'll be keeping Beltane for ritual use, and we'll see about Pink Moon. Plus hey, I'm acquiring a full bottle of Dead Man's Hand from a forumite. Very rarely will I ever need more than a half-bottle of a scent-- I tend to like to sample so many things, that I have few things that I repeatedly return to. DMH is pure rawhide and leather, and I don't think I've ever smelled a more unique oil. Gah, dead sexy. I want to bathe in it.
As I mentioned, I bought my mom Skindazzles bath bombs for Mother's day, and I wanted to give a quick mention to the thing I added for myself-- I got two of the 2oz. body frostings. One is Coconut Lime Verbena, an exact duplicate of the scent I love from Bath and Body Works, only coupled with Skindazzles' body frosting recipe, which is quite frankly, the most moisturizing lotion/butter I've ever tried and I plan to be faithful to it 'til death do we part. The other scent was Mayan Gold, which is primarily sandalwood and musk, with overtones of amber and spiced cocoa. It's sultry, deep. I want to try Little Black Dress in my next order, as well as a few of Candy's soy-blend tarts, but that's probably a little ways off. Also, Candy needs to get on duplicating BBW's Sandalwood Rose fragrance, and I'd love her forever.
On the LUSH front, I've fallen in love with 17 Cherry Tree Lane soap, of which
tennyo was gracious enough to send me a sample. It's got LUSH's Sakura fragrance, and I've never smelled a more true replication of freshly-blooming cherry blossoms. It's also pretty creamy for a LUSH soap, and I'm going to have to order more. Freeze shower gel is being discontinued, and even though I tend to shy from mint, I'm thinking I might get a little for the coming summer. My house can be very sweaty in the summer months, and I have a feeling that frequent showers with cool mint gel will most definitely help with the sticky factor. Also, the combo of Herbalism and AOBS has gotten my skin back into shape-- I was having terrible breakouts for a while what with all the stress I've been dealing with. Most of the dullness and redness has gone away, and my skin is smooth again.There was an interesting thread on the BPAL forum-- what would a scent that is uniquely you smell like? I'm curious to ask you guys, since I don't really know your tastes all that well. For instance, mine would be:
Sihaya:: The open dune awash in moonlight-- a deep, rich sandalwood just touched with the dusty aroma of desert rose in full bloom. This earthy, sensual blend sweetens the skin just so with subtle notes of amber, patchouli, moroccan spices, a drop of stargazer lily, and a surprising note of ripe plum.
What would you smell like?