Blogs

SW questions through 8/30

***8/30*** Do you knit/crochet? Do you need any supplies? I can always use more yarn! Who here has an etsy shop? Not I. What are your two favorite etsy shops? Excely (a dear friend of mine from college – love the Major Tom necklace) and Noelle’s Noodles (an acquaintance from grad school). Are you active on any other boards/forums? If so please specify where and your username there. Not anymore. Once upon a time I was Lizzie on the Nora Roberts board (Adwoff.com), but I haven’t been there a while -- not deliberate, really, I just drifted away when I was in grad school. ***8/29*** What would you tell yourself 6 months in the past about 2008 so far? Depo-Provera isn’t really going to be your kind of thing. Start packing sooner. Take your meds. If you had one minute of fame, what would you do/say in the spotlight? Like others said, it would depend on what I’d achieved the fame for. To be honest, I like what Jerry Springer says: “take care of yourselves, and each other.” Robots versus zombies: who wins? Robots, provided they’re programmed right. What would zombie say? Hard to go wrong with the classic, “BRAAAAAIIINNNSSSS…” Where are a few of your favorite places? My best friend from college has a condo in the Boston area, and I love sitting at his kitchen counter/bar, letting my legs swing, drinking the French press coffee he makes, looking out the back window at the neighborhood. So that’s one. Boston in general is another. Hell, Massachusetts in general. I also adored Paris and Rome, and during my trip to the latter I fell in love with the Umbrian countryside. Love northern New Mexico, especially the Taos area. Parts of California are awesome, and I loved San Francisco the only time I made it up there (…in 1994). Love the Pacific Northwest. Love Montreal. (You know? I think maybe I gotta get myself out of the Midwest….) What is one (only one) object that you collect, that totally goes against your personality or beliefs? I don’t really have one, though I do think rosaries look pretty neat. Are you a soap addict? Anything you like to avoid in soaps (goat's milk, lye, dyes, etc...) or any particular scents you like or brands you want to try? If by “addict” you mean “buys soap because they smell good rather than because I actually need soap,” then yes. I like soap. Don’t think there’s anything I’d need to avoid, and I’m always happy to try new things! Do you like kilts and would you wear one? Love kilts. Highly doubt I’d ever wear one. Don’t think it would particularly suit me. What's your favorite book? Dude. That’s like asking a mother to choose which of her children is her favorite. What size socks do you wear? How about hat size? Shoe size is 6.5, and I think the corresponding sock size is 9-11? Hat size – I have no idea. Wouldn’t object to a nice ballcap of adjustable size (y’know, with the hole in back?) with a nice broken-in bill, particularly if it were a Red Sox cap, but as a general rule I don’t do hats. Do you read comics? Which ones do you love and which can't you stand? Adore Sandman, liked Promethea, haven’t really read much else. (Check out my GoodReads page for more info.) Symbols that are meaningful to me? The moon. Animals. Celtic knotwork. Flames. Water. The chakra symbols. Tibetan prayer flags. Lotus flowers. Doves. Ravens. Etc. By nature are you a morning lark or a night owl? Oh so very much a night owl. What's your favorite type of music to hear live, rather than recorded? Pretty much anything is better live than on CD provided the musicians are good enough, but I think that’s especially true of folk, Celtic, and bluegrass music. Plus any music that’s fun to dance to. What is your favorite autumnal-seasonal drink? Cider – hot or cold, mulled or otherwise, alcoholic or non, sparkling or flat.

September 8, 2008

SW questions through 9/2

***9/2*** How do people feel about receiving baked goods/kits to make said goods? Or other cooking items? Sounds good! (…in moderation. I’m currently having some weight issues, and I’m grumpy about them as I write this.) Would you enjoy oil or vinegar flavored with herbs grown at home? Strange and exotic spices with recipes to try? Cookies made with carnation petals? All of those sound excellent! What are your pet's names, and what are they named for? Seamus is the Boy’s dog originally (adopted before we were together), and his full name is Seamus Heaney Hislastname, after the Irish poet. Tiwa is my dog originally (again, adopted before we were together), and her full name is Tiwa Esperanza Mylastname – her first name is the language spoken on the Taos pueblo, which is where Tiwa came from. The middle name is Spanish for hope, which is very much what she represented in my life when she came into it. She’s my heart baby, and I don’t know what I’d do without her. The cats are The Professor and Mary Ann, from Gilligan’s Island; it just seemed to fit. The Professor’s full name is Professor Phinneas Hislastname; it just sounded appropriate. Mary Ann’s full name is Mary Ann Bastet Mylastname – I asked Bast to help us find the right cats for us, so it seemed appropriate to pay homage to Her in a name. ***9/1*** Who here is a complete, over the top, Alice In Wonderland fanatic? I think it’s neat, if creepy at times, but I’m far from an over-the-top fanatic. Are you a Trekkie? If so, which series do you prefer? Do you have a favorite character? I wouldn’t call myself a Trekkie, but I like Star Trek, at least TOS and TNG and the movies. (KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!!!) I love the camp of TOS, and the storylines and character development of TNG. Favorite characters… hmm. Hard to choose among the characters in TOS. From TNG, Worf (though of course I had a huge crush on Wesley Crusher and Wil Wheaton back in the day). Do you have phobias? I don’t think I have any full-blown phobias, but I don’t like buggie things crawling on me or flying into me, I’m not wild about heights when I’m in a precarious spot, and I have some mild claustrophobia, especially where crowds are concerned. How do you like your mix CDs? Random? Stuff you know you'll like? Happy to be surprised on that point! Would you rather get food or jewelry? Ooh, that’s tough. Given my current weight struggles, not-food would probably be better than food, but at the same time, homemade foodstuffs seem like a really sweet thing to include. Really, I would be abundantly happy with either. Do you like children's toys, such as jacks, those little things you tilt around to get the ball in the right hold (wtf are those called?), the aforementioned caplet dinosaurs, cap guns, etc?: Do I like them? Yes. Do I really really want to receive them? Not so much. Well, maybe the caplet dinosaurs. English candy/tea/marmite or other stuff that you love and can't easily get outside of England? I like Crunchie bars but I’m not sure I don’t like Violet Crumble more. Still, they’re yummy. Brits do tea right; I would enjoy that. Marmite? No thank you. Fanfic as a gift* - yay or nay? Your fandom? Slash preferences?*well, a virtual gift obviously. You know what I mean. Ummmm… probably not. I like the idea of my witch writing something for me, but I’m not really into any particular fandom. Someone in the SW thread mentioned that it would be neat if it were humorous, and I’d be down with that, but as a general rule, probably not so much my thing. Any beaders here? Need beading supplies? Beads are neat (ooo, shiny!), but I am not a beader. Do you like making up your SW packages around a theme, or prefer to mix it all up? See below. Band-aids: do you like the fun and funky ones? Love ‘em! I’ve never bought them for myself because I use band-aids so rarely, but they’d be fun. What's the scariest thing that's ever happened to you? It depends on the definition of scary. Getting pulled way out from shore by a rip tide when I was in Mexico when I was 9 or so really scared the pants off me. My first auto accident (I was a passenger – I haven’t yet gotten into one where I’ve been the driver, knock on copious amounts of wood) freaked me out pretty good, and it really wasn’t so bad. Having my academic and perhaps even professional career threatened in my last semester of grad school because of a person’s prejudices about sex workers (LOOOOONG story) was pretty f*cking scary, and I’m still working through that, mentally/emotionally (that ball got rolling about a year ago; I got my MFA in December). ***8/31*** What is everyone's favorite Halloween song?! I, too, enjoy the Nightmare Before Christmas soundtrack. But “Thriller” might well win out for my favorite individual song (though technically I suppose it doesn’t have anything to do with Halloween). How many of mah fellow witchies play video games? Platform? Do you like used games? I’m a bit of a Rock Band junkie: we play it on the X-box 360. We also have the first two Guitar Hero games for the PS2. I also have a Nintendo DS. Aside from the musical games, I mostly prefer old-school games (like Super Nintendo and earlier, esp. the Mario and Zelda games, plus, of course, Tetris) – oh, though we also have a Wii, and I enjoy Super Smash Brothers and Wii Sports. Used games are cool, especially since I often can’t be arsed to track things down for myself (e.g. they re-released Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past for GBA and I used to have a copy – well, technically it was my ex’s, and so I don’t have it anymore but would like to, and so on and so forth). What kind of music (genres, please) do you like? Folk (and most variations on that genre), Alternative Rock, Celtic, Classic Rock, Bluegrass, Reggae, some New Age (e.g. Loreena McKennit), New Wave, some Pop (e.g. Pink – I don’t actually own any of her stuff, but I like her), Classical, some Country (esp. Classic Country, e.g. Johnny Cash), World, R&B/Soul… do I really need to keep going? Have any of you ever received a book from a Witchy and loved it so much you ended up buying a copy for a later Witchee? Not as such, but I can imagine doing so. My witch from my first round sent me a bunch of books that I can imagine wanting to pass on to the right witchee. What kinds of eye shadows do we all like? On the rare occasions that I wear make-up, I wear Aveda. That said, I’ve gotten a whole bunch of mineral shadow samples from Back to the Earth in decant circles that I keep meaning to try. Love the pretty colors! Do you like lip balm? If so, do you like tinted, glossy, sparkly, pearly or just plain lip balm? Oh yes please very much so to the first question, and pretty much all of the above to the second question. I prefer just plain, because I’m always running out (or, more accurately, my lip balms wander off, get stuck in coat pockets, go through the wash, etc.), but the others can be fun, too. What are some of the SW gifts/finds from past rounds (or you can just name a gift in general that you found for someone if this is your first round!) that you are the most proud of in terms of your sleuthing skills? I’m pretty proud of the hat I knit for my Yule-round witchee. If “I got it” posts are anything to go by, I think it went over well. And, secondly, what is something you've been searching for but just can't find? A theme! One just hasn’t occurred to me so far. Maybe this round. Or maybe my theme will continue to be “stuff I think my witchee will like.” Random related note: here is my Etsy favorites page.

September 8, 2008

SW questions through 9/6

***9/6*** What's your favorite animal? Not counting my pets, I think I might have to go with wolves, with coyotes following close behind. What one (or two, if you really must) BPAL bottles are you most longing for? Maybe Snake Oil, since I still haven’t tried it straight-up. If you could have dinner/drinks/coffee with any 3 living people that are not your family/friends already, who would they be? bell hooks, Ani DiFranco, and... I’m torn on the third, but leaning toward Barack Obama – I bet that would be a lively evening! Ooh, or Rachel Maddow. ***9/5*** If you could bring back any TV show from cancellation what would it be? Firefly. I would also be very curious to see what David Lynch would have done with Twin Peaks had it had more than two seasons. I wonder if my witchee would like a blanket type thing. Would you? Sure! What's your favorite "I know it's bad for me but I can't help myself" treat? Um, food? Pasta, ice cream, the queso my Boy makes, chocolate, etc... Very important question: Are you planning on buying anything off your BPAL and/or other wishlists during the round? No, unless the Carnival is going to leave town before the round ends (I think we got another extension b/c of Lilith, but I don’t recall how long it’s going to be, if Beth even said), in which case I need to buy Temple Viper and Eisheth Zenunim (sp?). I also have Halloweenie decants coming, so if there’s something I fall in love with, I may have to buy it. Similarly, I may have to buy a bottle of Lilith Victoria, and would like to get a hold of a decant of Lady Lilith. Do you wear a watch? If so, what kind/style? I don’t currently wear a watch. I got out of the habit when I started teaching (in 2004), since the classrooms always had clocks in them. These days I’m always close enough to my phone or the computer that I don’t find it necessary. How do you feel about having a donation made in your name to something? If you like that idea, what types of organizations/groups would you want the donation to go to? I would be touched. Possible organizations/groups: Doctors Without Borders, the ASPCA, CARE, Amnesty International, Lambda Legal... ***9/4*** What is your favorite art movement and/or style? ie impressionist, surrealist, art nouveau, etc. I’m torn between impressionist and art noveau. – Oh, but I just saw cuervo’s mention of folk art, which I love as well, particularly Southwestern US/Mexican. Do you have a case for your mp3 player/digital camera? If you would want one, what size is your digital device? I think I’m all set on that point. For tea drinkers, do you bag it or prefer loose? I tend to stick with bagged tea because it’s easier, but I think I have a strainer somewhere, so if you come across a loose tea you think I’ll like, my witch, please feel free to pass it along! (Black teas I have loved: vanilla, black currant, apricot, ginger peach; I enjoy the tea one gets at Chinese restaurants which I think is jasmine? And fruity herbals are always good. And I just discovered the other night that I’m out of Sleepytime tea!!!) Does the weather change where you are, as in, does it get cold in the winter? Anyone need homegrown scarves, hats, mittens, etc? Oh yes, it gets cold here. I would be pleased as punch to receive homegrown stuff! Who are your forum buddies? People you know well enough online or IRL to help your Witch pick out stuff for you? Cuervosueno is a dear friend of mine IRL; she’s the one who introduced me to BPAL in the first place. Beyond her, maybe my past witches (Melusine and Meshuganah)? ***9/3*** My questionnaire is chock-a-block with ideas for Witching me on the cheap, and without sending "stuff for stuff's sake". And I just came up with another one--make me a Pandora, Finetune, or Last.fm station you think I might like! What manner of affordable Witchery might you covet? I love Pandora, but since I can’t listen to music at work, I fear a custom-made station would largely go unused. But downloads or burned CDs or what have you would be cool. And e-cards and personal notes and stuff like that make me smile, and don’t cost a thing! Does your cell phone have a place to attach charms? I don’t think so. If you drink coffee (and make it yourself) do you use a French Press, regular filter basket coffee maker, Espresso Machine, Percolator? I have a regular filter basket coffee maker that I hope to get back around to using someday, but lately I’ve just been drinking the coffee at work. What movie soundtracks (or scores) do you love? Scores: I like most of what Danny Elfman’s done, especially the original Batman score. I’ve always loved the score from The Piano. I have a soft spot for John Williams. Soundtracks: Singles, Sliding Doors, Back to the Future (actually, the score from that, as well), probably others I’m forgetting at the moment. How do you scent yourself? Do you layer soaps, moisturizers, etc. or do you go straight to slathering your bod with BPAL? I like soaps/body washes that smell good, but I haven’t really found any whose scents really linger on me, so I don’t tend to worry too much about whether or not they’ll go well with whatever BPAL I choose for the day. I have a couple of scented lotions, but I don’t always remember to actually put them on. So, mostly it’s just the BPAL. Do you/how do you scent your world? Candles, incense, diffusers, potpourri? None of the above? Candles and incense, and I have one of those little oil warmers from the Body Shop. (Is that something I could use tarts in, as well? ‘Cause I don’t have a tart warmer, but those Alternative Breeding tarts sound divine!) Plus some Glade Plug-Ins-type stuff. Sometimes the animals are smelly, so I am armed to combat such smelliness! BPAL is such a scent-ual experience. What are your other tactile, aural, or olfactory pleasures? Feeling yarn at yarn shops. Music. Rain hitting trees, the ground, the roof. Kitty & puppy fur. Fresh flowers. Things baking in the oven. Freshly chopped green onions or garlic. Etc...

September 8, 2008

SW questions 8/28

***8/28*** Crossword puzzles? Other pencil puzzles? *blink* I’m supposed to do those in pencil? But yes, I love those, and Sudoku. Favorite artist? I love Monet, Mucha, Chagall, Picasso, O’Keeffe, and Gorey, just to name a few. Favorite poet? cuervosueno. Also, I like Emily Dickinson, Yeats, Langston Hughes, June Jordan, Jim Daniels, and lots of others. Halloween. Do you like it kooky or creepy? Both, though probably more toward the creepy. Reserved or Raunchy? Both. Earth, Wind, Fire or Water? Fire and water. Tea or Coffee in the morning? Coffee at work, tea at home if there’s milk in the fridge and it isn’t scary. Fruity snacks or chocolate? Depends on my mood. Which is to say, both! Would you accept art? Absolutely! Antiques or Brand New? Very much depends on what it is, of course. That said, the only problem I usually have with antiques is that they’re out of my price range. What keywords do you use when searching for items for yourself on Etsy? You know, mostly I do my shopping on Etsy via links; I think the few times I’ve actually done random searches there I’ve searched for yarn. What was your favorite ghost/scary/campfire story growing up? I always liked the ones where, say, a nice boy drives a girl home, then calls her the next day to check on her and her parents are like “but our daughter died in a car accident 10 years ago!” I guess basically it’s the idea that you could be interacting with a ghost without knowing it. Bugs? Do you like 'em or not? I think butterflies and dragonflies and such are neat to watch, from a safe distance. I don’t like buggies crawling on me. I have a major thing about moths. i haz no imp storage. do you? I have this pretty little glass box, but it’s getting to be too small, and it leaves the imps on their sides which isn’t ideal, so I’ve been eyeing ammo boxes for a while now… and maybe someday I’ll actually get around to buying one…

September 8, 2008

Q&A

I have waaay too much stuff on my etsy wishlist. It's embarassing, really. But I'm looking around from things for my Witchee and I keep finding soaps that I would like to try!! But shipping!!! $3 for a bar of soap?!? Ugh. Please don't feel at all like you need to buy me anything. I would be ecstatic to get whatever you make!!! Maybe I need to have a public and a private list If I don't save them I know I'll never find them again though. Ok anyway. San Fran is back to it's usual windy weather it seems. I hope your weather is pleasant wherever you are!! About birthdays. do you expect/rely on other people to plans birthday outings and activities? In an ideal world my family and/or boyfriend would take care of it, but that generally ends up being a let down though he really does try ... I'm wondering if my witchee would like to try these types of things (like the caramel with sea salts or chocolates with chilis/bacon/salt etc.)? I'm not a big caramel fan, and I definitely wouldn't want any sort of sweet with any sort of meat in it. But chocolate and chilies or salt or lavender or whatnot? Sure! If you have pets, is there a SPECIFIC toy they like to play with; brand and size? Is there a treat/cookie they eat? What brand and size? Anything with catnip they'll love. Murphy likes furry mice, Liam likes those um ... (how to describe!) well krinkle balls. The ones that look like they are made out of shiny plastic foil stuff. Aiofe seems to love anything with feathers, but she likes to eat them too. Really, she's still partly kitten and will play with anything! Treats? They like the feline greenies. They go CRAZY when they hear the package. What is your favorite thing to do on a cool fall day: A walk through the woods, a drive through wineyards ... bonfires and marshmallows!

lucy gray's blog/commonplace book

September 8, 2008

ViolaVanWilde's Blog

And even more SW question ketchup...

If you have pets, is there a SPECIFIC toy they like to play with; brand and size? Is there a treat/cookie they eat? What brand and size? Nothing specific. She's on a diet so is not meant to eat loads of treats but sometimes she falls off the wagon a bit. She is quite picky about toys but likes long things she can chase after. She likes homemade catnip toys, and everything that makes plastic bag type sound (but obviously no actual plastic bags, although she would like them but kitty eating plastic bags = not good.) What's your ringtone? One of the standard ones from my phone. I mainly use my mobile for texting. Just to throw a silly question out there...Munsters or Addams Family, y'all? Addams Family because it's an inside joke, kind of... What think you about receiving tea accessories and/or miscellany (like mugs, cups, saucers, strainers/filters, honey, natural sweeteners [like stevia])? Tea accessories are good. I think I talked about tea bags and stainers in an answer to another question. What is stevia? Honey is good too but not sure if that's allowed in the post, especially if my Witch is international. How do you feel about copies of music or dvd's that your witch might have that you might enjoy? Not just mixes, but whole copies? DVDs from other countries might not work on my DVD player. Music is great, copies, mix CDs, anything! Tarts? Yes/no? Yes! I love Dark Candles tarts (I might add some to my wishlist, in fact) and Alternative Breeding sounds interesting, too. My home fragrance preferences are spicy scents, incense-y scents and rose. I'm wondering if my witchee would like to try these types of things (like the caramel with sea salts or chocolates with chilis/bacon/salt etc.) No bacon in my chocolate, please! Chocolate with chilli is great, though. And salty candy is fine, I'm used to salty liquorice being from Finland where we practically live on the stuff. What's your favorite animal? Cats. Then sheep and bunnies/rabbits. What one (or two, if you really must) BPAL bottles are you most longing for? More Hay Moon, it's a surprise hit on my skin. If you could have dinner/drinks/coffee with any 3 living people that are not your family/friends already, who would they be-? Tori Amos, Beth (as in kebechet) and... and... hmm, I can only think of dead people! I wonder if my witchee would like a blanket type thing. Would you? I would cherish it if I got one but I'm not especially in need of one. What's your favorite "I know it's bad for me but I can't help myself" treat? Chocolate, most definitely. What is your favorite art movement and/or style? ie impressionist, surrealist, art nouveau, etc. I don't know if there's a particular movement I like to be honest... Do you have a case for your mp3 player/digital camera? If you would want one, what size is your digital device? My MP3 has one already (handmade by me and I'm very proud of it...) but my camera doesn't. It's a pretty ordinary camera size, not super slim or anything. It's one of the older Fujifilm Finepix ones. My questionnaire is chock-a-block with ideas for Witching me on the cheap, and without sending "stuff for stuff's sake". And I just came up with another one--make me a Pandora, Finetune, or Last.fm station you think I might like! What manner of affordable Witchery might you covet? Ecards make me happy, I like knowing I'm still thought about. Does your cell phone have a place to attach charms? No, can't see a place - my old phone had one and this doesn't seem to. If you drink coffee (and make it yourself) do you use a French Press, regular filter basket coffee maker, Espresso Machine, Percolator? I don't drink coffee, ever. I used to try to teach myself to like it but never did so I gave up and now haven't had any for a few years. What movie soundtracks (or scores) do you love? The only one I can think of is The Hours soundtrack/score. (I have the CD.) I've been meaning to explore Philip Glass's music a bit more. How do you scent yourself? Do you layer soaps, moisturizers, etc. or do you go straight to slathering your bod with BPAL? I don't especially layer, I tend to put moisturiser on before bed so it doesn't have much scent left in the morning. Then it's straight into the BPAL! Do you/how do you scent your world? Candles, incense, diffusers, potpourri? None of the above? Tarts and incense are preferred to candles. I'm a bit worried about having open flame around because of the cat. Well, apart from spell candles but they don't have a scent anyway. And I like the BPTP room sprays but I'm well stocked on those. BPAL is such a scent-ual experience. What are your other tactile, aural, or olfactory pleasures? Tactile is probably the cat. And music, obviously, and chocolate. How do people feel about receiving baked goods/kits to make said goods? Or other cooking items? Would you enjoy oil or vinegar flavored with herbs grown at home? Strange and exotic spices with recipes to try? Cookies made with carnation petals? Baked goods are a-okay. Spices are great, I love cooking. What are your pet's names, and what are they named for? The cat is Iona and she's not really named after anything in particular, it just felt like a name that suited her. It's a Celtic name. Who here is a complete, over the top, Alice In Wonderland fanatic? I'm not a fanatic but especially since discovering BPAL I've got more into Alice. And Cheshire cat, can't forget Cheshire cat! Are you a Trekkie? If so, which series do you prefer? Do you have a favorite character? No, not at all. Do you have phobias? Spiders! How do you like your mix CDs? Random? Stuff you know you'll like? Random is good, I like exploring new music. Would you rather get food or jewellery? Jewellery. Or chocolate. Have you ever heard I like chocolate? Do you like children's toys, such as jacks, those little things you tilt around to get the ball in the right hold (wtf are those called?), the aforementioned caplet dinosaurs, cap guns, etc?: I don't know what any of those are but generally toys are fine. Or just little random things, Halloween stuff... Fanfic as a gift* - yay or nay? Your fandom? Slash preferences?*well, a virtual gift obviously. You know what I mean. I don't have a fandom, anymore. Any beaders here? Need beading supplies? Yes, and beads are always welcome. I use a lot of Czech glass beads (dark colours especially) and some semi precious gemstone beads. Do you like making up your SW packages around a theme, or prefer to mix it all up? Mine last round were a mix really. Band-aids: do you like the fun and funky ones? Yes! What kind of music (genres, please) do you like? Loads... but mostly I tend to listen to rock/pop/indie - the Tori Amos, Heather Nova, etc. type... Classical is fine, too, I like Sarah Brightman. And more jazz-y stuff is fine also. What kinds of eye shadows do we all like? Mineral ones - I've just discovered the She Space and their shadows/pigments seem good. And I like Fyrinnae, and MAC pigments. Usually shiny, metallic colours in different shades of browns and greys although occasionally I wear purples and greens, too. Do you like lip balm? If so, do you like tinted, glossy, sparkly, pearly or just plain lip balm? I love lipbalm! Tinted, glossy, pearly and plain (but flavoured!) are all good. I prefer tubes over pots. What are some of the SW gifts/finds from past rounds (or you can just name a gift in general that you found for someone if this is your first round!) that you are the most proud of in terms of your sleuthing skills? I think the donation to the ASPCA really hit the spot so to speak, and my witchee also loved the bottle of Snow White. And, secondly, what is something you've been searching for but just can't find? Self-control. But that might be hard to ship (although if you see it lurking around, tell it to come back asap!) so chocolate with peanut butter in it would be good, too. Reese's Pieces is one thing I can't find here and love. Do you knit/crochet? Do you need any supplies? I do although not much. So supplies are welcome although I can't think of anything in particular that I need right now. That's all... I hope that was helpful, dear Witch.

etienne

September 8, 2008

Random things I may want to buy in the future.

Note to my witch: this is really, seriously just for me. http://brucespringsteen.fanfire.com/cgi-bi...mp;sku=BSP42026 http://brucespringsteen.fanfire.com/cgi-bi...mp;sku=BSP42025 http://brucespringsteen.fanfire.com/cgi-bi...mp;sku=BSP42027 http://tedleo.littletype.com/cart.php?add=...hp&offset=0 http://tedleo.littletype.com/cart.php?add=...hp&offset=0 http://www.mexicansugarskull.com/mexicansu...rskullmolds.htm http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/pDetail.asp?i...amp;price=28.95 http://www.topatoco.com/merchant.mvc?Scree...egory_Code=BEAT http://www.sockdreams.com/_shop/pages/late...ductID_1248.php in Black Cherry, Navy http://www.sockdreams.com/_shop/pages/late...ductID_1282.php http://www.sockdreams.com/_shop/pages/sock...oductID_323.php in Antique http://www.sockdreams.com/_shop/pages/sock...oductID_733.php http://www.sockdreams.com/_shop/pages/sock...oductID_647.php in Royal, Sky, Pink

lucy gray

September 8, 2008

Melle Mel's Blog

Halloween SW Q&A

How do you scent yourself? Do you layer soaps, moisturizers, etc. or do you go straight to slathering your bod with BPAL? I like for things to match. I have a bunch of different soaps/body washes because of this. If I shower in the morning, it has to match. If I shower at night, I just grab the scent that I want to wear for the day. Do you/how do you scent your world? Candles, incense, diffusers, potpourri? None of the above? Candles. I have some oil burners but I rarely use them...mostly because I forget. I've thought about tarts, but I don't have a tart warmer and always forget to look for one. How do people feel about receiving baked goods/kits to make said goods? Or other cooking items? Would you enjoy oil or vinegar flavored with herbs grown at home? Strange and exotic spices with recipes to try? Cookies made with carnation petals? I'm not sure. I love the idea. I'm a bit picky about what I eat but I live with a human goat. He'll eat ANYTHING. And hey, if it's pumpkin, I'm in! What are your pet's names, and what are they named for? Answered in the thread. Do you have phobias? Latex balloons and wax people. And a hate for craft sticks. I actually answered this one in the thread. Do you like children's toys, such as jacks, those little things you tilt around to get the ball in the right hold (wtf are those called?), the aforementioned caplet dinosaurs, cap guns, etc?: Yes! Because I'm totally 3. Fanfic as a gift* - yay or nay? Your fandom? Slash preferences?*well, a virtual gift obviously. You know what I mean. No thanks. Do you like making up your SW packages around a theme, or prefer to mix it all up? I like to try for a theme. It makes me feel more organized. It doesn't always work out though. Band-aids: do you like the fun and funky ones? My Band-Aids are boring because I injure myself a lot. I love the fun ones, I just don't buy them because I can't get them in HUGE boxes. How many of mah fellow witchies play video games? Platform? Do you like used games? We have everything but a PS3 and we use them all. I buy most of my games used. Have any of you ever received a book from a Witchy and loved it so much you ended up buying a copy for a later Witchee? I did it with a game but not a book. What kinds of eye shadows do we all like? Either dark or bizarre colors. Do you like lip balm? If so, do you like tinted, glossy, sparkly, pearly or just plain lip balm? YES! I'm not a sparkly type of person though. Plain is good. Bonus points if if makes me want to eat it. Do you knit/crochet? Do you need any supplies? I do both (poorly) and have a massive yarn addiction. I'm not allowed to buy more but that doesn't stop me from looking. Needles/hooks would be cool...and if there was an OCD approved method of storing them so that I could tell which was which, that would be even more amazing! Who here has an etsy shop? I don't yet. I really should though. My lazy just gets the best of me. Are you active on any other boards/forums? If so please specify where and your username there. I don't know that I want to be tracked down on there. I'm not always nice because of the nature of the board and the people that I have to deal with. If you had one minute of fame, what would you do/say in the spotlight? "The Reverend" says that the only thing required to be famous is that a lot of people know your name. A lot of people know mine. ("The Reverend" is the nickname that I gave the singer of a band. Who would have guessed that it would stick?) Where are a few of your favorite places? Backstage at a rock show. Out of curiosity, all the fall babies who are celebrating their birthdays during the round - who are you, and when is your bday? November 6. The day after the round ends. Are you a soap addict? Anything you like to avoid in soaps (goat's milk, lye, dyes, etc...) or any particular scents you like or brands you want to try? Soap addict? I know nothing of this. Just, you know, stay out of my bathroom. Do you like kilts and would you wear one? I do and I would. BoiWitches? Question for you both.....Hath any of thou own a Kilt? Is not a BoiWitch but kilts are a lovely thing. What's your favorite book? This is not a fair question and I refuse to answer. What size socks do you wear? How about hat size? Socks come in a size? Oh! I know! Knee? I don't wear hats. Do you read comics? Which ones do you love and which can't you stand? Nope. By nature are you a morning lark or a night owl? Night. These 8am classes kill me! Crossword puzzles? Other pencil puzzles? Sudoku! Favorite artist? H.R. Giger Halloween. Do you like it kooky or creepy? Creepy! I'm not opposed to cute things though. Reserved or Raunchy? Both. It depends on the people that I'm around and how comfortable I am with them. Earth, Wind, Fire or Water? Heart! Oh. We're not talking about Captain Planet? I didn't much like that show anyway! Fire and Water. Tea or Coffee in the morning? Sobe Green Tea Fruity snacks or chocolate? I love chocolate, but I also love dried fruit snacks. Would you accept art? Sure! Antiques or Brand New? Either one. What keywords do you use when searching for items for yourself on Etsy? Whatever pops into my head. I've done Lovecraft, Cthulhu, maille, bats... Bugs? Do you like 'em or not? I have no problem with them. i haz no imp storage. do you? I made my own box. What incense scents do you prefer? I'm not really a huge incense fan. I've found some that were amazing, but it has to be great for me to use it. If my witch were able to find awesome incense though, great! Just no patchouli please? Bats, cats, skeletons, monsters, vampires, witches or what other ghoulies do you prefer? BATS! I love bats. Really. I'd have one for a pet if I could. Do you like horror flicks?Love 'em! I find most of them to be hilarious though. Who here prefers stylus and ink to ballpoint? Anyone invested time and effort into calligraphy or proper Victorian writing? I'm a brat and prefer to only use fountain pens. I've got 2 with me right now! That link for the writing set that was posted? Awesome. What about stationery? Need some? What styles do you like? I don't really write letters, so stationery would be wasted here, unfortunately. What is one item that you've wanted forever, could have afforded, but have never gotten and why (haven't you gotten it!)? I'm amazing at talking myself out of things. I won't spend the money on myself but I'll spend it on others without a problem. I can't think of one thing right now, but I'm sure there are plenty. What Halloween scent are you most looking forward to? The pumpkins and Sticky Pillowcase Tattoos! Do you have em? Do you want em? Whatcha got or getting? LOVE. I have 11. Reduce - REUSE - recycle. Do others feel the same?Sure, though I'm a bit strange about some things. What is your favorite crafting supply? Glass, fire, PMC, and rings from theringlord.com Weigh in...Are you right or left-handed? A bit of both. Mostly right, but I do do some things left handed. What's your favorite part about Fall? It's no longer 100 degrees! Do you like office/school supplies? If so, what is your favorites? Supply junkie. I'll buy stuff just because I like it! What's your favorite Halloween candy? Bottle Caps! Will you be participating NaNoWriMo? If so, is there anything you'd like to have for that? Nope What is your favorite pumpkin goodness? All pumpkin is good pumpkin.

Melle Mel

September 7, 2008

Odd Thoughts from an Odd Duck

Alternative Breeding

All the chatter about Alternative Breeding on the thread made me wander over. Here is a huge list of scents that sound yum-deli-icious, just in case mah loverly Witchy has a couple of extras lying around in teh witching stash. Ambush Bulletproof Dig Deep Dirty Vanilla Eternal Hunger Hell's Kitchen Hot Blooded Instant Wood Lights Out Mother Earth Spike The Way Back 3AM Similar scents from other candle/tart makers are equally welcome.

odd_duck71

September 7, 2008

ketchup and wishlists

What's your favorite animal? Any kind of Cat, but I love all animals, bears, wolves, dogs, hedgehogs, bats, etcetc What one (or two, if you really must) BPAL bottles are you most longing for? Hmm. Difficult question. Coral Snake, Eisheth & the 'Weenies (sorry it's hard to narrow it down!) If you could have dinner/drinks/coffee with any 3 living people that are not your family/friends already, who would they be-? Living? I would really like to have a good discussion with Obama and ... I don't know, I find dead people much more interesting If you could bring back any TV show from cancellation what would it be? I can't think of any I wonder if my witchee would like a blanket type thing. Would you? Yes, absolutely! I'm cold almost all the time. I would prefer one that can cover me from neck to toes cuz my toes and shoulders get cold What's your favorite "I know it's bad for me but I can't help myself" treat? ice cream makes my tongue go Very important question: Are you planning on buying anything off your BPAL and/or other wishlists during the round? The carnaval ones if it comes down, or possibly the Halloween ones since they come down at the same time as our round ends! So I'm going to post my wishlist links, and as many people mentioned on the forum, this isn't because I want all this stuff! I just want to give you (and my family for XmaS) ideas on what I like Amazon wishlist Aha! I found a way to link to etsy (yay!) Etsy Favorites

September 7, 2008

Mehrere Fragen und Antworten!

Greetings my lovely witch!! I can't wait to see what you make of all my crazy answers around here! I got my witchee as well and we have a lot in common, it's really great though I'm now afraid to get her something that she might already have since our interests are so similar. I'm sure I'll come up with something though, I started brainstorming at work today So onto the show; I'm not too happy with some of my answers from yesterday and today. If I change or add anything I'll change the color or italicize it or something, but I don't want to get too behind! I plan on looking at the questions from last round too and answering the ones that interest me at some point. What is your favorite art movement and/or style? ie impressionist, surrealist, art nouveau, etc. Hmm. I don’t think I love any particular art movement, I more pick and choose! I like color, fantasy, goddess images, mythology, nature …. Do you have a case for your mp3 player/digital camera? If you would want one, what size is your digital device? Actually I don’t have a case for my new 80G iPod. I went to look and everything is black or other dreary colors. I want something bright and cheerful!! My camera is covered :=) For tea drinkers, do you bag it or prefer loose? Either, though it’s much easier to bring pre=bagged to work. Aren’t there little bags that you can fill yourself out there somewhere? Does the weather change where you are, as in, does it get cold in the winter? Anyone need homegrown scarves, hats, mittens, etc? Not so much … but I’m usually cold & I do plan on moving back to the Midwest, so yes! Absolutely! My questionnaire is chock-a-block with ideas for Witching me on the cheap, and without sending "stuff for stuff's sake". And I just came up with another one--make me a Pandora, Finetune, or Last.fm station you think I might like! What manner of affordable Witchery might you covet? Postcards or letters, bookmarks, used books, poems or short stories you wrote on pretty paper, photos you took on a cd/dvd that I can print at home (or prints of yours) ... and anything homemade! If you put the time, love, and effort into it, I'm sure I'll love it! Does your cell phone have a place to attach charms? *goes to look* yes, yes it does! Do you wear a watch? If so, what kind/style? I don’t, and I honestly don’t know that I would unless it was artsy and fun and not too watch-like How do you feel about having a donation made in your name to something? Could be fun, but I'd want a picture or something! If you like that idea, what types of organizations/groups would you want the donation to go to? How about adopting an animal or tree or star or … I don’t really know all that’s out there, honestly. I think I can probably trust your judgement! (Just please ... not McCain ... ) Forum friends you could ask about me? I don’t think I know anyone well enough yet, but my bf has offered to help if needed! I don't want to post his email here though, so I hope you can contact me in a different manner? Some questions I apparently missed: What would you tell yourself 6 months in the past about 2008 so far? Stop feeling sorry for yourself and do something to make yourself feel better!! (I'm finally doing that I think!) If you had one minute of fame, what would you do/say in the spotlight? I have no idea how to answer that. Probably something about tolerance, letting people live their own life through their own choices (so long as they aren't hurting anyone), and world peace. I think I'd need more than one minute for all that though! I'm skipping the robot/zombie ones because I don't really get it. Wow, I just looked at the questions from last round and *gulp* those will have to wait for tonight! It's been really warm here (about 90 degrees in San Francisco!! That's pretty crazy) and Aiofe did NOT want me to sleep last night, so I hope to make that up tonight. *Yawn*

September 7, 2008

Questions from yesterday and today

More questions, more answers! Whew. How do people feel about receiving baked goods/kits to make said goods? Or other cooking items? Would you enjoy oil or vinegar flavored with herbs grown at home? Strange and exotic spices with recipes to try? Cookies made with carnation petals? Yes, absolutely! I'd love to try new and exotic food. What are your pet's names, and what are they named for? All my cats have irish names that I chose long ago for their sound and meaning and (most importantly) how they fit my furry kids. Liam (grey & white tabby) He's soooo picky and proper, he likes to follow us around and keep us company but he does NOT want to be held! Murphy (big part Maine Coon) The big chicken that only wants to eat (and eat) and cuddle. He's not the smartest & Aiofe (black) She's the youngest at just over a year old. She very mischievous and friendly. She likes to cuddle up on our laps or chest. Who here is a complete, over the top, Alice In Wonderland fanatic? I definitely like Alice & her whimsy, but I'm not over the top. Are you a Trekkie? If so, which series do you prefer? Do you have a favorite character? Nope and actually I believe I just watched my first episode of Star Trek last night. It was actually somewhat entertaining. My boyfriend is though (he's sitting right next to me lol), he prefers TNG (whatever that is) How do you scent yourself? Do you layer soaps, moisturizers, etc. or do you go straight to slathering your bod with BPAL? My skin is very sensitive, so I don't really use a lot of scented soaps or (especially) moisturizers. I'd love to find something that I can use So needless to stay I generally go straight to the BPAL! Do you/how do you scent your world? Candles, incense, diffusers, potpourri? None of the above? Candles and incense right now. I have a couple Lampe Berger waiting patiently in my boxes at my parents' house (not something I wanted to fly across the country) and some of those reed diffusers in the closet here. They haven't been put out since there are a couple kitties that would probably think they look fun and/or yummy. BPAL is such a scent-ual experience. What are your other tactile, aural, or olefactory pleasures (I was going to say, "And let's keep it clean", but what's the use fun in that?!? Quality fabrics. I looove wearing soft things against my skin especially jersey or silk. I love the smell of food cooking (sweets and savories). If you drink coffee (and make it yourself) do you use a French Press, regular filter basket coffee maker, Espresso Machine, Percolator? No coffee here, thanks! What movie soundtracks (or scores) do you love? Sleepy Hollow, The Piano, Gladiator, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars (who doesn't like that?!?), Nightmare Before Christmas. Hmm. I'll add more if I think of any! In other life news: I got called and asked to come into work today. I was afraid that I would be stuck working with D, but she ended up leaving (I think I mentioned earlier that she just had some sort of wrist surgery?). She has this way of twisting everything into poor me. If something happened to you, it's happened to her 10x worse. Anyway. I did get brownie points with the clinic owner and need the money. I put 50% down for a bed frame yesterday! It's from EQ3 and in the "magnolia" series. Doesn't the name just make you want to buy it anyway?? There are a lot of beautiful magnolias here in the city; they don't survive to well in the midwest (where I'm from). There was one in the front yard where I lived and I think the cold killed the flowers before they could bloom. Um, anyway, I can't wait to get started shopping and eagerly waiting for my witches first contact!! ... now where'd I put that darn chew toy??

September 7, 2008

First set of questions & answers

What is your favorite pumpkin goodness? Pumpkin seeds & pumpkin bread What is your favorite part about fall? The colors and the smell; the anticipation of the coming winter. Do you like office/school supplies? If so, what is your favorites? Pens. I love fountain pens actually. What is your favorite Halloween candy? Hmm. I’m not big into candy really. I don’t like candy corn, though. My secret candy bar cravings are snickers and almond joy, but I usually guilt myself out of them lol. Right or left-handed? Right. Any period of time that you love? I love them all really. I studied costume design and they’re all beautiful though I am drawn most to the Renaissance. What is your favorite crafting supply? Well I’m not doing much crafting right now, but I have a whole bunch of fabric at my parent’s house. Reduce - REUSE - recycle. Do others feel the same? Absolutely. Tattoos! Do you have em? Do you want em? Whatcha got or getting? I don’t have any, but I am open to one in the future. I haven’t come up with anything that is meaningful enough yet. What about the Halloween scents? I loved the pumpkins that I smelled at will call, along with Blade of Grass & Katrina Von Tassel. What is one item that you've wanted forever, could have afforded, but have never gotten and why (haven't you gotten it!)? A large print of “The Tree of Life” by Klimt. I suppose I just didn’t want to spring for it. I have hopes that this might be the year yet! Who here prefers stylus and ink to ballpoint? Anyone invested time and effort into calligraphy or proper Victorian writing?What about stationery? Need some? What styles do you like? I love fountain pens, and have one for calligraphy, but never studied actual calligraphy. Maybe I should J Stationary? I don’t have any and was recently looking for some black note cards because I wanted to send one to my mom, but I couldn’t really find anything. I don’t need a lot, just 3 or 4 would be sufficient. Do you decorate for Halloween? what sort of decorations? Dress up for Halloween? Not really, but I’d like to! When I get somewhere more permanent I will have to pick more stuff up. I love to dress up for Halloween, but I don’t think I will this year unless I start handsewing. Bats, cats, skeletons, monsters, vampires, witches or what other ghoulies do you prefer? All of the above Do you like horror flicks? Nope. Incense scents: I'm still exploring and learning my own preferences so any would be welcome! Symbols that are meaningful to me? Runes, moons, trees, triple knot Vanilla Creme Kisses? No thanks! If you have a garden/planter box, what do you grow? Herbs! Currently I have basil, rosemary, two types of thyme and sage, marjoram, and peppermint in pots on our apartment balcony. Kooky or Creepy?: Mostly kooky, a little creepy Reserved or Raunchy: reserved til I get to know you. Earth, Wind, Water, or Fire?: earth, then air Tea or Coffee?: tea, decaffeinated. (or cocoa!!) Fruity or chocolate?: I like both, but am rather picky about chocolate, it's gotta be the good stuff! Art as a gift?: Yes please!! I love art and need decorating stuff! Favorite Artist?: Klimt & Hundertwasser are my two most favorite, but I really enjoy Van Gogh, Waterhouse, David Delamare too (bright and colorful or fantasy/dreamy artists) … I also enjoy Asian and other ethnic art. Antique or new?: Either! Poets?: I don’t read poetry really, though I’m interested. There’s always Shakespeare of course Are you a soap addict? Anything you like to avoid in soaps (goat's milk, lye, dyes, etc...) or any particular scents you like or brands you want to try? I’m very picky about what goes into my bodycare. Basically if you can’t pronounce it, then I don’t use it (parabans, synthetic fragrances, sulfates etcetc) Where are a few of your favorite places? Vienna, Austria Pretty much anywhere in Austria lol The lake superior shoreline north of Duluth, MN Anywhere there’s a good storm Any forest that is quiet and I can be alone in Rocky Mountains Cliffs by the ocean Gardens Art museums Bookstores My parent’s house Do you like kilts and would you wear one? Uh, I’ve never had one, but I suppose I’d wear one … after all, why not? What size socks do you wear? How about hat size? Er, sock size? How about I wear a 9 or 9.5 narrow shoe. I have no idea about hat size, I don’t wear a lot of hats (though I always think they look fun on other people) Do you read comics? Which ones do you love and which can't you stand? I like ‘em but I don’t really go out to buy ‘em. I don’t like the ones that have women with their boobs hanging out everywhere. It irritates me so much I can’t really read it. By nature are you a morning lark or a night owl? Definitely night owl. What's your favorite type of music to hear live, rather than recorded? I’ve not seen a lot of live music, but I think anything that doesn’t get to crazy (irish, blues, jazz, new age etc). Oh and definitely opera and symphonic music. What is your favorite autumnal-seasonal drink? Hot spiced cider or mead yum! Crossword puzzles? Other pencil puzzles? Not really. What keywords do you use when searching for items for yourself on Etsy? I'm still exploring, I don't have favorites! Are there any of y'all who are allergic/sensitive to having natural fibers on your skin? Noppers. <3 natural fibers! What was your favorite ghost/scary/campfire story growing up? I don’t think I had a favorite, but I remember to this day being scared of this story of dolls coming alive at night and murdering kids. Bugs? Do you like 'em or not? I like the ones that leave me alone and eat the nasty bugs off my plants, but I HATE the ones that like to eat me (and they always come after me). i haz no imp storage. do you? Nopes. I need to get something too, because the organized part of me doesn’t like having these ugly random boxes laying around that are either too big or too small. Purses? I don’t like the big clunky ones. I do like brightly colored funky cloth ones. Scarves? Sure! I like scarves and don’t have many Anyone here like pecan brittle? Sure. What is your favorite beverage (adult bev. if you are of age)? Champagne & red wines If you were to get earrings from your SW, what kind would you prefer? Pretty ones? So what's everyone's favorite BPTP nail color? No idea (I don't paint my nails) Anyone need scent lockets? I <3 my clocket and am plotting for more! Do you like spicy/asian food? Yes! But not toooo spicy. My Space: None Did you ever attend a midnight showing of the Rocky Horror Picture Show? Do you know the callbacks? Did you come dressed as a particular character? I saw it once or twice, but didn’t go gaga. Lush you are lusting after? None ... I have to admit that I visited a Lush store and didn't find anything I desperately wanted *hides* First concert: Well I started playing the flute in fifth grade … as for a concert that I wasn’t in I’m not sure. Are you up to being gifted with anime? Sure, I haven’t seen a lot, but in general like it. Favorite Beatle? Uh I like them best all together. Floyd or Zeppelin? Sure?

September 7, 2008

Introduction =)

So I started this blog just to have one place to put info for my switch witch, so I hope s/he finds it useful! I have no idea how much you'll want to know, so just skim over the boring parts I suppose I will start with some background info about myself (I'll skip the boring parts). I was born in raised in Omaha, Nebraska. I began college studying costume design (theatre), music (flute/vocal), and German. I then studied in Austria at Karl-Franzens Universität in Graz, then later lived in Vienna for another six months before I moved back to Nebraska. After moving back to the States, I realized that I'm not really cut out for a life in the theatre so I changed my major to German and picked up a horticulture minor. I still love theatre and period costuming, though I don't practice much (no sewing machine and no where to put one). Last year about this time I ditched Omaha after some life changes and moved to San Francisco which I sometimes love and sometimes hate. I have to admit that I sometimes feel claustrophobic here! I love the diversity and location, but don't really appreciate all the people EVERYWHERE. My boyfriend and I like to visit the Napa/Sonoma wine country or go hiking on the weekends. I work as a receptionist at a cat clinic here, which is mostly ok. The office manager is currently out after having surgery and everyone (well except the one Dr. I suppose) is happier without her. Aaaand that's the summery. I have three cats that constantly amuse and challenge us. Liam, Murphy, & Aiofe. (I need to figure out how to post some photos.) And yesterday we painted our bedroom! The color is "Herb tea", basically a fabulous medium yellow-green; I love it!! It really makes this room comfortable. I'd like to paint the rest of this place but we don't plan on living here too much longer (6 months) and I'm not sure it's worth the time and effort. I'mna post some of the SW questions & answers in a separate post.