Michellevember-A Neurtoic Tale of Shopping

Michellevember wrapped up on Sunday with a nice little bow.  I had pizza and beer with my family and watched my favorite Serial Killer, Dexter. Have to elaborate on my fascination with serial killers and crime shows in another post. Every day was a joy and a blessing in some way, and I enjoyed eighteen days of it! The celebration was extended a few days so I could be with family and friends, and to drink on their dime, quarters and benjamins. LoL

Thursday, the big day! it started off with a morning breakfast at IHOP. My husband and I go to the one in Columbia Heights. Yes, we travel for better service and immediate seating.  During the week in the morning is not crowded, not like closer to the lunch hour. A breakfast plate is enough by itself, then they add pancakes on the side, then add coffee. Way too much food for me, so I eat what I can without over stuffing (how many people have this problem?). Gotta be able to walk, not roll out of the place! LOL After the wonderfully filling birthday breakfast, we ran a few other errands then I prepared to hang out with my buddy Sarah.

Hanging out with Sarah is always a lot of fun. We had decided to check out Third Thursday at the Touchstone, mainly for the wine, the art was nice too. Plus, this lasts until 8pm, with restaurants close by.  We hung around the small gallery discussing various pieces.  What a nice change of pace! to be able to discuss art with someone who is not the artist. Usually, I attend openings alone, but this time I had company with an opinion.  It was great! Have exciting new exhibits to write about, but that's for another post.

After a few cups of Pinot Grigio, we decided to walk down to Austin Grill for a light supper and a few drinks. We sat at one of the bar tables and ordered margaritas and guacamole with chips. We split a casadilla and I had two drinks.  We laughed and talked for a long while. We tried to take a picture, but it came out grainy cause it was so dark in there. It wasn't a party till you drop type of night, it was long enough to make me feel all warm and fuzzy with just enough going on to keep me awake without sensory overload. The ride home on the train was sobering, kept me on my "P's & Q's". Forgot what they are, but I was on them!

Michellevember, included lunch with my co teaching partner Kasi, some cool beauty products from Whole foods (who knew!), a few new pieces of clothing. Yes, can we talk about that! I hate shopping! all shopping, grocery shopping especially.  Who ever said shopping made them feel better, they LIED! I was more distraught coming out of the store, than when I went in. Just wanted a new pair of jeans and a top, why was this feat so difficult? Well, thank you (not really!) to whoever decided to put spandex in their fabric, while it allows a nicer fit, it also allows for a smaller size....some people should avoid this maneuver, it perpetuates the sausage body look. Anyway, it makes me have to try on pants, ugh! Depending on how the pants are cut I can drop down two sizes.  I should be delighted by this knowledge, however it prolongs the amount of time spent trying on shit. Don't want a tight fit, just a nice fit! So after trying on three different sizes of the same thing, I was ready to go. Ended up buying more than what I went for...isn't that how it works!  They lure you in with the promise of discount prices, shiny bobbles and things!  I ended up with a turtle neck, jeans, a faux fur vest (this was nicely priced) and a jacket-top that has gold metal studs down the front, open shoulder sleeves and zips.  Think its a sweat suit jacket, didn't want to entertain the idea trying on the pants to match, I was through.

After I was satisfied and becoming more distraught by the moment, I went and paid for my items. Spending more than anticipated, I wanted to run out the store screaming "take it back!, take it all back!" I became a babbling brook talking to myself about how this bamboozling happened. Frantically, I called my husband to whine, yes whine about my purchase and how it didn't feel good, but I couldn't make myself turn around and go back into that  forbidden clothes hole Ashley Stewart to return my new things.  He laughed at me and said, "happy birthday! you spent a little over a $100 enjoy, treat yourself, be happy!" BE HAPPY! I quip, how can I do that when I bought all this stuff?! Why doesn't the new purchases feel good.  It was so overwhelming that I forgot to buy me a salad from Quiznos before going home. I just made a "B" line for subway, had to get away from that place. Felt like there was some weird spell put on me to part with my money. It took me a day or two to get over it and wear the items. The faux fur vest made be feel all furry and fuzzy, especially when a light jacket was put over it.  Its too light weight to be an outside vest, maybe if it was a tad warmer, it could be worn alone with a turtle neck. I'm always cold so that idea was out of the question, especially in the evening.

Well, now that you've experienced my neurosis, you can imagine what it's like for me grocery shopping! I make a list, stick to it and get the hell out as soon as humanly possible. My distraught-ness is superseded by the need to get make the next bus. If anything is forgotten, oh well. I will go back eventually, and get the forgotten item.

My first gift, The Vonda Boot, by Dr. Marten are still "all that" and the shitkickers are worn proudly every chance available. Saw some studded leggings and a jean skirt that would look nice with the leggings and my boots.  Been there, done that with leggings, so I'm not especially excited about repeating history.  But obviously its a new history, cause leggings are the new "gross wear" in women's clothing. Sistas need a better way to wear them (like a top that covers your ass), its not cute. Gotta work up the mental juices to go in and get the skirt and leggings without purchasing anything else and without getting too distraught over the whole process.

front

side

Switching gears, I'm working on a new piece.  The image has not been totally fleshed out cause she changes position when the angle is different. This is going to be a difficult bitch.  The stone is really beautiful and like most pieces, photographs good when its a dusty piece of rock, when polished not so great a photo does it take. From the front, the head is down and the hair will hang down in the face.  She is sitting in a squatting position, although one leg can lay sideways as if they are sitting in a partial butterfly pose, or the leg can be up so the entire body is supported by the legs and butt. Its complicated to explain and she is revealing herself slowly. I need to take her outside and put some definite cut lines in areas to help me flesh her out. Very hesitant to do that because they are hard to take out, if things are off proportion wise. Must take a chance, sometimes they come out better when I have no clue as to if it will work or not. The red numbers is the vend number used by store, they will be sanded off as the piece progresses. The shape is more visible from the side, the leg and head positions are clearer to see than from the front. Check StoneWomynArt New Works tab, will post an update picture when more gets done.

Now that Michellevember has concluded, its back to focusing on the art scene and other items of interest, such as my serial killer fascination! Thank you for reading my posts, hope you enjoyed my neurotic moments exposed!

See you next time at the....

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Celebrating Me

My thoughts and prayers go out to all those suffering the aftermath of Sandy.  We were fortunate to only have lost the TV signal for a short time.  So many others have lost much much more. Hopefully, everyone will recover and be able to move forward and rebuild.

Most posts are not about me, unless its about my work. This November which is my birthday month, I dubbed  Michellevember, a month where the first fifteen days are celebrated in some way culminating on my birthday the 15th. Long ago, this warrior womyn figured out that she gave herself the best gifts, always remembered to wish herself a happy birthday, and never missed out on an opportunity to celebrate with herself and others (when available). Something I can't say that all those in my life participate in, no offense to anyone, but it is what it is people.

So I created Michellevember, a period of time that I would celebrate me, and all those who want to join in can.  No pressure, but I will celebrate with or without company. Everyday, I treat myself to something small and significant to me.  It could by anything, from Starbucks coffee to a 24 oz beer (sipping on it now), a trinket a bobble or or an accessory. 

One thing that I bought me and I'm so tickled red and roses, are my new shit kickers! The Vonda Boot, made by Dr. Marten. Got them online from Amazon and I got a book called the Female Nude figure - A reference for Artist, but that's another glee story. These boots y'all are everything!  They are so...overwhelming! I had been drooling over them for the past few months and decided to splurge, (it was a big splurge!) and get them. I hesitated all day last Tuesday, waiting until late in the evening to go online to get them.  Arguing with myself about spending money on such a material non essential item. When I went on line and picked my size, it was the last one in stock, the book was the last in stock too.  Don't know if it was true, but the thought of missing out, accelerated my plans of purchasing.  Didn't want some other on line shopper to think they could snatch the last pair of shit kickers that I so desired by clicking on the checkout button first! They arrived by Friday,w/regular shipping, ain't it great! The book came by Monday, a new and much needed addition to my reference collection. When I pulled the boots out the box, I was flabbergasted! these magnificent boots were mine,! mine I tell you!(mad cackle) There were so...big and...clunky, and....wow! I just drooled happily in boot heaven goo! (menacing smile included).

The embroidered flowers down the side, only accentuates the militant style of the boot. I felt that an outfit had to be configured.  I had to avoid the thoughts of wearing fatigues, or some extremely fitted skinny jean or tights.  Fought off the feeling that my hair should be shaved in some Mohawk fashion with spikes to accommodate the over powering style of the boot. I want to wear leather, chains, all black. This thought troubled me somewhat, so I looked for a calmer solution to my outfit woes. I talked to another Dr. Marten boot owner named Nicole, she suggested a rolled up pair of jeans and a top, keep it simple stupid and let the boots dominate as the ultimate accessory.  Great thinking! SMH!, why couldn't I think that minimalistic?! Originally, I had resolved myself to wearing a pair of tights that I bought a while ago and some lacy tunic that required a top underneath, cause its sleeveless. Way too much! The jeans outfit was the perfect outfit solution to show off my grand shit kicking womyn boot! I rocked them with black rolled up jeans & and a top, it was just fine! & age appropriate too! Hate to say that sometimes that's a worry of mine, but it is. Anyway, Happy Birthday to me! Glad I got'em.  Six days into Michellevember and I have new boots, a new book, had a great time out Saturday, saw my loved ones yesterday and today, had some chocolate, beer and potato chips (not all at the same time).  What more could a gyrl ask for? Totally rocking out over this! (shit kicker grin included)

Recently, I finished my latest piece called "Cantante-The Singer", he is black Alabaster and looks different depending on which side you see.  I am pleased he came out so well, but also fascinated that the piece became a he.  Every now and then, the male image will come out of a piece of stone. He is alone among the harem of female pieces. What's so fascinating is that the ears are different.  This is because the shape of the stone dictated this oddity.  But it's what makes the piece unique and the almost fish like shape of the stone creates wave like hair.  I realize that he's been talked about before, but he is the lead in for the new piece, which is still being fleshed out now.  The new piece is a marble looking cream colored alabaster.  It has gray and yellow striations and beckons for me to stroke it with my tools.

Working with the Alabaster wasn't bad once I got started.  He was finished rather quickly and the image was easy to pull out of the stone. Womyn are so complicated to do sometimes, requiring a lot more time and effort from start to finish. What womyn doesn't require work! LoL This new piece may be a womyn, it's hard to tell right now. Still contemplating it's position within the stone. Such a song and dance I do when starting a new piece. But that's okay, every piece is different and presents their own challenges. The black alabaster has flecks of green and gold and is very opague.  Will there be another male? At this time, I cant say, all things are possible. I have other pieces of stone waiting for me to touch them.

To bask in more glee goo, I'm excited to finally get a few new editions to my Fables collection. The graphic novel that has ties to the TV series Grimm. That's coming up next week, must spreed the glee goo out and make it last.  Fifteen days go by fast, but these memories are for life and things I am grateful to have, do and see. Have to entertain the geek in me and catch up on the story. Can't wait to go and get one or two!!

Maybe get a new choker or some other accessory to enhance my "forever 31"appearance (in my world its 31 not 21!). Maybe break down and buy an outfit, ugh! have to be in the mind set to shop for that. Maybe some more jeans to go with my shit kicker boots! As I move through these next few days, hopefully they will be filled with wonderment and excitement either real or fabricated by me! (smirk!) Happy Birthday to me!! To all those who acknowledge my day, thank you, I appreciate your sentiments.

Thank you for reading about my time of the month! Will see you on the......

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