Sunday, January 30, 2005

NEXT BLOG>>

I've spent some time hopping from one blog to the next to see what else was out there. It's good for my language skills, good for my wider awareness of the world I live in, and of course a good source of ideas to nick! I've yet to random jump into the blog of any the sisters-in-sparkliness I'm already familiar with, but I did find an example of the sparkly instinct thriving across the pond, and I've added a link below. You can never have too many recommendations!

Saturday, January 29, 2005

Saturday Night In The Pink

My weekends are frequently busy, so it's no surprise that I'm not entirely accustomed to the madness that is mid-afternoon shopping at an out of town shopping centre. I had an idea it wouldn't be easy, but finding a skirt I liked the look of on the shop's website, I figured it was worth a look. If they'd had the skirt in stock, it would have been, but I remain amused and bemused by how many people appear to take the hectic part of a saturday afternoon as a recreational activity. In the 24/7 modern world, it's not my idea of fun. In any case, failing to find the skirt I wanted I came home, and took a short trip up the dual-carriageway to a nearby out-of-town superstore. It's fair to say the location is on the frontier between cosmopolitan city life, and six-finger badlands. I'm not very in the habit of sparkly shopping, but I am used to that look that says who's that buying that? Nonetheless, I came home with a pale pink knitted top, turtle neck (natch), and a skirt in black with a diagonal pinstripe, and shaped so it flicks out a little on my knees. There's a little more room in it than I need, but then it's designed to hang off hips that are a little bigger than mine. So bath, finger nails, exfoliate, peel off mask, tinted moisturiser, eyebrow pencil, two pink eyeshadows and one grey one just along the upper lash line, sparkly blusher, Naturally Glossy mascara in brown/black, pale pink lipstick, and a trace of powder later, I just need to dry my hair and I'll be ready to go out. Not quite as Cathy Magowan as it sounds, or as this colour palette will allow me to indicate. There's a bottle of wine with my name on it when I get back!

Friday, January 28, 2005

A Brand New Day

Amsterdam - cracking band, you heard it here first. They'll be in the hit parade next week with any luck, and about time too - I've never seen any other band with a honey roadie, spooning bee-juice down a singer with a troublesome throat mid-song before!

Wednesday, January 26, 2005

Proofreading Between The Lines

I've been asked a question. Despite the clear-mascara-like transparency of what I do say, there's plenty that I leave out. I usually type something, read it, re-read it, edit it and re-read it again. And that's when I'm rushing. It's been suggested, purely in the spirit of curiosity, that the gender-specifics of my particular choice of bedpartner might be a matter of some small interest. And having been asked, I'm wondering whether that's something that's crossed anybody else's mind. I've a feeling that some sparkly ladies have a certain factual understanding in this regard, but if I could be bothered to do the work I'd put up a multiple choice poll to see if any impression has been given. It's not a right or wrong question, I'm just curious to know what assumptions I've invited, if any. You can add a comment anonymously by the way, so I'm quite happy for passing lurkers to take a random guess too! And in case there's any doubt, I'll come back to a fuller discussion of the subject in due course.

Tuesday, January 25, 2005

Sparkly Policy Statement

It goes without saying that I *heart* my sparkly ladies very much, but I'll say it again in any case. And here I am using the magic (though powder-free) world of the blog to expand on what I'm finding myself increasingly reluctant to say in another place. That occasional reluctance should be understandable in the circumstances, having spent the last year in occasional pub trips with people who live in the same city as me, and with whom the subject of sparkliness has never raised its perfectly coiffed head until someone recently made mention, to which one of my local people was quick to rise in a spirited setting-the-record-straight defence. And compliments about my hair, which I'm certainly vain enough not to lipgloss over. It was probably inevitable, and when it happened I wasn't and still am not bothered. Does this expertly over made up face look bothered? But really though? Does it? The anonymous world of cybersparkling means the world to me, but with decades of disclosure paranoia behind me it's still sometimes difficult to overcome that natural instinct. It can be a difficult line to walk, and my balance isn't always 100% in these heels. In the real world where I do also live from time to time, I have always worked hard to keep my business to myself, and that means all of my business, of which the sparkliness is but one part. It's not for no reason that I've not directly linked here, nor do I visit in the daytime. Sparkliness is a another conversation I've never yet had in a workplace, and I don't plan to start making a habit of it now. I'm here because I'm special, and you're here because I'm happy for you to know. This is mostly me talking to myself, about myself, but you're always welcome. And if you want me to explain myself better, feel free to point out what isn't sufficiently clear. * No sparkly ladies were described as cackling harridans in the process of making this post, for they are not and I will fight anyone who says they are.

Monday, January 24, 2005

Vampire Sparkling

Jealous, moi? On the one hand, sort of, I guess. On the other, no, not really. But the more of my employer's time I spend talking to my sparkly ladies, the more I feel that nearly eighteen months on from last time, it's about time I saw some of them again, and some perhaps for the first time. Now there's obviously certain practical problems associated with this, and a great big squealing and cackling en masse menacing of waiting staff is not really my idea of a good time. Nor is public places in daylight (see Vampire) much of an appealing prospect in general, though I guess that in company I'm familiar with it could be, and gaining that level of in person comfortableness wouldn't take long - I'm a fairly get-on-with-it kinda gal once I've decided I'm happy with something. I'm certainly not so needy that I'm unable to tell what is asking too much of people who know of intensely personal and private information, but who only get to that information by being people who have no obvious and direct link to who I am in *real*, and who therefore don't know me. Which is something of a Catch 22 carat choker, really. Hmm, I should do some thinking.

Everybody's Happy Now, Everybody's Singing

Just got home from the return of PWEI. Beautiful sunny day, lovely drive there in mostly open roads, with snow still on top of hills in places. Lovely drive back with a clear enough sky and full moon such that I could drive without headlights. In the middle, stung like hell for paying to park the car, saw a few old friends of mine and saw some fabulous kick ass rock n roll, including a couple of tracks I really wasn't expecting - a very pleasant surprise. Nice!

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Friday, January 21, 2005

Clear The Decks Of Paper Folly TraLaLaLaLa

Just taking a short break from sorting out six months' worth of bills, statements, direct mail and things I should both keep for ever and throw out the second they drop through the letterbox. I work in a state of the art modern paperless office environment, and the frequency with which we have to get our used paper taken away to be recycled is staggering. Wossallthatabahtthen?

Thursday, January 20, 2005

Tonight Matthew I'm Not Going To Be

In a coincidental conjunction of circumstances, I'm about to go out for the second night in a row. Which is a rare thing indeed for me. One of the joys of make up all over the house is the easy temptation to slip on one of my smarter dresses, which would be entirely suitable for going to a restaurant I'd never dream if going to if it were me doing the paying the bill. Part of me knows I'd have a great time, and part of me is absolutely certain that the consequences of so doing are way beyond what I'm prepared to sustain. Meanwhile I'm watching some dopey reality tv (boom boom!) and footage of a household litter tray name doing her mascara. That's another of life's little ironies I won't losing any sleep over.

Wednesday, January 19, 2005

I Always Feel Like... Somebody's Watching Me

And vice versa. C'mon lurkers, speak up. I can see you, you know!

Tuesday, January 18, 2005

Undercover Sparkling

Trying to do my hair and make up for another go at the flaming passport picture. It's a difficult line to draw, and I'm not talking about either of my eyebrows. Good job there's no pressure and I'm not running out of time, and really need to get the stuff in the post as soon as possible, oh no. Typing with fingers crossed is very tricky - back to mirror and brushes now. *Update an hour and a half later to announce the success of the exercise. The first picture was just horrid, and the second attempt last week was borderline ok, but just missing the very top of my head. Today my face looks fatter, and I look marginally older but there's a hint of smile in my eyes, my hair's ok and the extra pinkness makes me look like I have a complexion rather than a ghostly pallor. Despite using a rosy pink blusher, there's more than hint of my favourite sparkly blusher in the brush, which is also a little darker, so I imagine that helps. Even if it's not the most understatedly natural look ever conjured with cosmetics, I'm satisfied with the results, and that'll have to do. Which is just as well, as I have other things to do with all this time spent doing my hair and make up just to go to a 24 hour supermarket and waste money in the photo booth!

Sunday, January 16, 2005

Operation Sparkly Is Go!

Of course I have to document my first excursion en sparkly since starting this. Even if the checks on my skirt marginally clash with the jacket just a little, I'm happily sat here sparkling like a very twinkly thing, and enjoying the first glass of wine. A slightly more understated outfit is becoming the usual, and I really feel I've grown into my wardrobe now. I've spent a long time dressing older than I am, and now I'm close to dressing my age, and it feels great. I'm wearing something I've had a little while, which reminds me how much better off I am when I get something in the right size that fits me, and don't try to kid myself I'm a size or two smaller than is the truth, and I look fab. Yay me!

Wednesday, January 12, 2005

Good News Bad News

I'm having unspecified problems of a business nature, which I've already discussed elsewhere. On the one hand, it will save me money in the long and indeed instant run, but on the other hand I have a characteristically strong objection to having my chain yanked for no reason at the whim of some heavy-handed muppets with no reason to do so. I can guarantee that it does not stop here. Meanwhile, the non-TV-programme-driven life laundry appears to be making progress, and I have several different items which are currently filling up space in my house which will, all being well, shortly be out of my way, and I'll be a few quid better off in the process. Which can't be bad.

Sunday, January 09, 2005

And At The Weekend, Everything Will Be Ok

Something like sixteen hours of computer fiddling later, I'm about to take a bath and hopefully get a marginally earlier than normal night. I've got a lot more done than I might have expected, and certainly more than those publicity-hungry clowns in the CBB house. Lets hope tomorrow morning doesn't come with rain...

Friday, January 07, 2005

Job Security - Wossat?

My ESP is getting twitchy. There's a whole heap of signs that a keen observer like me is starting to line up together and see as a sequence, whose future path is looking roughly predictable. It's what I do for a living, I spot trends, I analyse, I work out what's going on and how. After over five years in the best job I've ever had, it'll do me no harm to start thinking about putting together a CV and investigating what's out there. Because if there's something I really don't like, it's surprises I haven't seen coming, and am in no way prepared for. If this sounds gloomy, it ain't. It is, however, taking the initiative and looking at what awaits if I jump before anyone starts looking like pushing.

Thursday, January 06, 2005

Something Bout This Time Of Year Turns My Head Around

Yeah, I know. I already said. But I've never ceased to find humour in important things from the past finding their way back to me again. This evening I had a weird sort of double historical echo thing going on, with someone reappearing unexpectedly and right in the middle of something else. If they can't look you in the eye, you've won. Even if there's no competition to win.

Tuesday, January 04, 2005


The Man's A Fool, The Man's A Crazy Mixed Up Foo-oo-ool

I'm Ba-a-ad, Nineteen

That's right, more than half my lifetime ago, nineteen years ago today, Phil Lynott died. I'm in the lucky position of having met almost all of my musical heroes, and here's one who got away before I had the chance. A little over a year ago I was within striking distance of the man's grave, and while I wouldn't have made that sort of trip as a pilgrimage in its own right, I couldn't miss it when I was just up the road. And what is there there to show for it all? A load of faded trinkets, some plastic jewellery, the odd guitar pick and a couple of pictures. I'll settle for playing the songs he left behind. Rock on!

Monday, January 03, 2005

Don't Think I'll Fall To Pieces

And I won't find something else to do. Everybody's got an itch they sometimes struggle to scratch. I've gone a long way out of my way to stay in touch with mine, to explore it, to pick the scabs off it and see how it looks on the inside to the point where it probably became more obsession than was healthy. The whole thing took many years out of my life, and the total rebuild job subsequent to that will always be one of my greatest accomplishments. My point? That dealing with stuff takes as long as it takes, and that doing that properly rather than rushing it is probably quicker in the end. I understand about indecision But I don't care if I get behind People livin' in competition All I want is to have my peace of mind And I don't forget, and I don't regret, and I ain't going to.

Gotta love myvirtualmodel!

That's mine below, and it's probably all you're getting unless I get exceptionally disclosure-friendly. Sure my hair's a little longer, and a little less yellow, and there's no option to accessorise, and I wouldn't wear shoes with what looks like diamante buckles unless you paid me very well indeed, but from the limited options available, that's about as close as it gets, and indeed, as close as you get. If you want to do the same, would it surprise you to hear that you can make a myvirtualmodel at http://www.myvirtualmodel.com? Yet another thing I found my way to with the help of Those Sparkly Ladies. In other news, despite failing to go out last night, I did manage to find that a very old skirt of mine completes an outfit with my new jacket in a way that's surprisingly successful, and following the suggestion of the M*A*C artist for how to do my make up also worked better than I might have expected. Even if I used vaguely similar shades rather than the prescribed M*A*C ones. Now it's time I was getting on with putting away all the make up and clothes that are spread around the house, de-gunking my lashes of last night's mascara and getting ready to go back to work tomorrow. Although that may well wait till West Side Story finishes...


What's it all about, Allll-fiiiiie?

It's about nearly six foot and thirteen stone of xy-chromosomed loveliness in a size 14 dress, it's about a pair of marginally over-muscled legs in sparkly tights and three inch heels, and on occasion it's about one bottle of wine and several coats of mascara too many. I've always had sparkly inclinations, and while I've rarely fought them, I've also never gone out of my way to publicise them beyond the obvious either. Over the last couple of years, it's been my privilege and pleasure to get to know, to limited and varying extents, a select group of sparkly ladies whose wisdom and savoir-faire in matters sparkly has enabled them to see fit to recognise and accept me as one of their own. Greater love hath no woman than to lay down her hair straighteners for another, or some such. Granted, I'm not your average girl. In any way. But I'm here, and I've got a pink handbag, to say nothing of a white wine enhanced smile And I'm very happy with that.

Greetings earthlings!

Hello, good evening, welcome, to nothing much... For now.
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