Jump to content
Post-Update: Forum Issues Read more... ×
BPAL Madness!
Post-Update: Forum Issues

Blogs

Featured Entries

  • Silvertree

    Mod post: No wishlist posts in blogs

    By Silvertree

    Please be aware that we do not permit swap-related content on profiles or in blogs. Please post this content only in the For Sale, Swaps, and Wanted forums, or in the Wishlists topic. ~from Swapping 101  Thanks!
    • 5 comments
    • 5,847 views
Fishnets and Frankincense
 

The house hasn't burned down yet

My brother is about 12 years older than I am, and thus, I'm right in between his age and his oldest daughter's age. So once when I was about 19 and Lori was about 7, Lori decided she wanted to send my dad a letter, and she wanted to dictate it to me. It was really quite hilarious and I think my dad saved it for a long time. It started out: "Hi Grandpa. How are you? I am fine. The house hasn't burned down yet."   And therefore, the title of today's entry. For whatever reason, the firework lunacy around my town seemed to occur on the evening of July 3, rather than July 4. The next door neighbors have been out of town for over a week, leaving their 17-year-old daughter to care for the household. She was having an allegedly wholesome teen gathering at the house, complete with fireworks. Then, about 2 a.m., I was awakened from my slumbers because someone was frantically ringing the doorbell over and over. I got to the door and yelled "WHO IS IT?" and the response was: "YOUR FENCE IS ON FIRE!"   Great. I ran out the back door, turned on the hose and for whatever reason, ran to the right part of the yard. My DH was left standing confused and didn't even know where I went. But the time I got around the corner, the fire was almost out, for the neighbor's daughter had also turned out their hose and was spraying down the fence.   The explanation: although there were about 4 carloads of kids hanging around, they just all happened to be driving past, and hadn't been spending time there. They claim they stopped and rang the doorbell, couldn't wake us up, and went to her house and got her to come out and put out the fire. Yeah, right. I'm a light sleeper and one doorbell ding is all it takes to rouse me from horizontal slumber to a sitting-straight- up, wide awake state.   And the fire was really caused by a plastic gas can that was set on fire. The fence was scorched due to its proximity to the gas can. The kdis, of course, had no idea who had started it, or where the gas can came from, but it was a random act of arson.   Once the kids heard my DH has finally come to his senses and called the fire department, everyone who just happened to be driving by got in their cars and promptly left. This included the friend who was supposed to be staying with the neighbor's daughter. The neighbor girl's eyes popped out of her head when she heard the firemen were arriving, and that they would probably call the police. She yelped: "But the fire is OUT!" Apparently the two guys who knocked on our door felt it was a good idea to let us know the fence was on fire, while the others didn't want us to figure it out. Our neighbor's daughter feigned great innocence to the fireman and the cops and claimed she'd been indoors watching movies when the act of arson occurred.   The cops took forever to arrive, so we were up until almost 5 in the morning. The police just rolled their eyes at her story. By light of day, you could see where the gas can was on fire in their driveway, and someone kicked it (probably to get it away from her car, not a bad idea), it rolled down an incline toward our fence, and then it scorched the fence.   This is the daughter of people who have a patio chimnea in the the back and like to burn tree branches in it, but if the branches are too green to burn well, they dump charcoal lighter on it and get flames jumping 3 or 4 feet out of the chimnea. I am sure they will also take no responsibility for anything, because she's obviously copping to nothing. The firemen did take pains to point out to her how the fire could have really damaged her house a lot, because if it had continued, it would have gone up into a tree and hopped over to the roof her her house first.   And crap, just last week I had commented that she's very good at playing the wholesome cheerleader, fine Christian girl routine, but she's obviously a bit more of a handful than her older sister. But the parents don't seem to get it, because they're too busy acting like they're socially superior to their neighbors, while they guzzle beer and burn scrap lumber in their chimnea.   So why is it that when people act either superior or have to wear their wholesomeness on their sleeves, it's usually to cover up something else?
valentina

valentina

5
Eoywin's Blog
 

On inlaws and the holiday

My inlaws are driving me insane. I like them and all, but I hope they don't come back to visit for a long, long, long time.   My mother in law tends to be really, really, really judgemental, and tries taking over things. She basically took over the bbq yesterday. She also took the wallpaper off in our bedroom (which I should add, I did quite a bit of myself), and primer-ed and painted that wall. Well, splaking (I have no idea how to spell that this morning) took place because there was a bunch of holes in the wall, and yesterday she tried to vacum up the splakle (sp?).   Well, the vacum started to smoke, and she decided that it wasn't because she vacumed up the splakle, but because we hadn't changed the bag on it.   We have hard wood floors, and only really use one room with carpet, so we don't need to vacum that often. But she proceded to bitch about it the rest of the evening (she also vacummed our hard wood floors, which pissed Todd off to the point that he unplugged the vacum)   Plus their idea of cleaning is driving me nuts too. This includes Todd's grandmother too. I had to move stuff around in the kitchen because they put it away wrong (which isn't that big of a deal, but I'm wearing thin on patience because of tiredness). And what took the cake was this morning, at 6:30 am, I was in the bathroom getting ready for work. I went to comb my hair, and my comb was no where to be found.   I keep a comb in the shower, for combing my hair out in the shower, and that's where both my combs were! Why in the world would I need two combs in the shower? It really irritated me.   Plus, because of them being here, I haven't slept well since Sunday, so I'm exhausted. This is honestly the last thing I needed right now. What I need is a break, but instead I got a long weekend of being irritated and exhausted.   Yesterday wasn't all bad. Our friends, Alice and Josh came over for the bbq, and I'm soooo glad that they did. We talked and watched tv, until it was time to eat, then we ate. Afterwards, we played quite a few games of 'Apples to Apples', then attempted to play Trival Pursuit - the 90's edition, but ran out of time.   We headed over to Alice and Josh's place around 9, because we were going to watch the Lake Julian fireworks. But it started downpouring, thundering and lightening while we were driving over there, so Todd & I decided that we would just go home (after we went to their house and told them) because even if it stopped storming in time to have the fireworks, the ground would still probably be wet, and it wouldn't be that fun.   I was pretty bummed out though, I was looking forward to seeing the fireworks.   My inlaws are suppose to be leaving by 4 today, and I hope to God they are gone by the time I get home from work.
Eoywin

Eoywin

0
cranberry's Blog
 

traveling yet again

wahoo! I have no packages in my possession right now! I'm heading out of town tomorrow and can leave with a clear conscience; I only have about a gazillion imps of my own to test (to clear through what packs I've already seen).   ah, but at least I'm making progress. so far I've had 13 imp packs pass through my hand. canning and smoking fish is conducive to testing scents, you're in one place pretty much for the whole time the canning/smoking is going on.
cranberry

cranberry

0
Diplomatka
 

More Explosions--26 planned

A colleague just called, it is 9am here and already three explosions (there were two yesterday). One hit an Afghan Army bus and there were a high number of casualties.   I am at home today, however; I am not sure why, but sometimes I get migraines and I start vomiting for hours. After everything is out of my system I am OK. It doesn't matter what I eat or drink or my stress level, it just happens. Anyone have any ideas what could be causing this?   It's going to be a long summer.   Damn--the rundown as of 1:30 pm:   1. 0725hrs. Location. District 2, Asay Watt area, close to the Ministry of Communication. A Remote-Control Device/bomb (RCIED) in a trash bin beside the road exploded and 39 Afghan National Army (ANA) personnel were wounded. The bus then went out of control crashing into a shop selling gas bottles and fuel, causing an explosion and a fire.       2. 0800hrs.     Incident report: C2606015- 0049, Lab-e-Jar Khair Khana, District 11       Location: Lab-e-Jar Khair Khana , Kabul City, District 11,       Incident type: RCIED attack       Date/Time: 05 July, approximately 0800 hrs       Report status: Confirmed   Information: Reports received indicate that a handcart packed with explosives was detonated via remote control in the above mentioned area. The intended target was a bus belonging to the Ministry of Commerce. As a result of the explosion, 4 passengers were reportedly injured and one killed. No further information at this stage.   Casualties: 4 wounded and 1 killed       Arrest: Nil       Assessment: The exact motive behind this attack is unknown however these types of attacks are usually carried out by Anti-Government Elements (AGE’s). This is the second attack this week which has been targeted at government structures. More attacks of this nature; particularly targeted at Government facets should be expected in the near future.       3. 0840hrs. The US Embassy is allowing official Americans to travel in Kabul only for essential reasons. The Consular Section encourages all Americans to limit their travel in the city as well, and cautions Americans who do move about Kabul, to avoid those neighborhoods and to be particularly vigilant.       4. 0925hrs. British Military & ISAF have just placed the city Out Of Bounds (OOB) to non-armored vehicles, further emphasizing an increased threat across the city for at least the rest of the day.       5. 1200hrs. According to unconfirmed information received, the Terror Network Al-Quaida has allegedly claimed responsibility for the 2 explosions this morning in Kabul city. As reported the statement included that another 26 explosive attacks would follow today in Kabul city. This report is as unconfirmed as it gets in the moment but already circulating around Kabul city. In order to mitigate risk to our staff in case there is some credibility to this, I have advised our staff to stay clear of all Military/Government vehicles and compounds as they would be the most likely target and restrict movement to essential only for the time being.       6. 1230hrs. ISAF report that to date, 2 x Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) detonated and 1 x IED was found and controlled detonated in PDs 1/2. A further 3 x IEDs have been found around the city at undisclosed locations. No details of the IEDs have been released.
Confection

Confection

0
Do you have a flag?
 

Entire GC Swap Reviews - 13bodies Package #3

Cross-posted to the reviews forum.   This package contains: Oberon, Penny Dreadful, Port-au-Prince, Skuld, Tzadikim Nistarim, Urd. (I didn't have to test any of the imps from the package -- I already had all these.)   Oberon - Orchid, white musk, and bergamot wafting over juniper berries, with a gentle touch of soft, earthy patchouli. Based on the notes, I should like this. However, the first time I tried it I didn't like it at all. I tried it again as part of the GC circular swap. Now I remember why I didn't like it -- it is too sharply floral at first. It's a little too lemony for me (juniper berries and white musk both tend to smell a bit like lemons on my skin). If I got orchids and patchouli out of this I would be very happy. Instead it kind of smells like dirty lemons and old lady perfumey powder.   Penny Dreadful - Soft perfume evocative of noir heroines over rich red grave loam. (Reviewed 4/22/06) There's a sort of honey sweetness to this one, but unfortunately there is also a strong dirt smell, which doesn't agree with me. I like the way it smells in the imp though, so I think I'll try it in a scent locket.   Port-au-Prince - Dark, decadent and incomparably exotic: the rich scent of buttered rum flavored with almond, bay, clove and sassafras. Strange, I thought I reviewed this already. I can't find a review, though. I really like this oil -- at first the almond is strong, the clove is barely there, and the whole thing is buttery and soft. Then it morphs into a smooth clove scent. It's rich and full, and it definitely smells decadent. It has very good throw and lasts quite a while, too.   Skuld - Being. Ylang ylang, honey, Egyptian and Arabian musks and labdanum. When I first got into BPAL I really wanted to try Skuld because it seemed like it was terribly popular. Then I got an imp of it, eagerly took a sniff, and then wondered what everyone thought was so great about it. Poor ickle Skuld, shunned to the back of the imp box. I got the imp out to try it again as part of the GC circular swap, and now I see what all the fuss was about. This really does smell wonderful. Charming and bright, warm and soothing. Pretty but not overly feminine. This doesn't smell like perfume, it doesn't smell like flowers, it doesn't smell like fruit -- if someone else was wearing this, I would definitely ask her what it was. You wouldn't expect a person to smell like this. It's unusual and very intriguing.   Tzadikim Nistarim - The scent is one of unadulterated spiritual purity, with a taste of the world's eternal pathos, and the joy of suffering with grace: frankincense, olive, spikenard, hyssop and galangal. This smells exactly like a weed smelled in the field behind my house growing up. I don't know why, I have no idea what note is causing that. It's a sweet weedy scent. It's a little unsettling to me. I think it may be the spikenard -- I smelled spikenard oil once and thought it was revolting. But anyway, I really don't like this blend at all.   Urd - Fate. Muscadine, black and red patchouli, cereus and nag champa. Mmmm, nag champa and patchouli. There is definitely a grapey scent to it, but it's not overpowering at all. This smells good on me, but it truly smells lovely on my sister. On her skin it goes from rich and smoky to mysteriously sultry. She's not normally a patchouli and nag champa kind of gal, but even she had to admit that Urd smells fantastic on her.
filigree_shadow

filigree_shadow

0
Diplomatka
 

Happy "Independence" Everyone! Now GET YOUR WAR ON

OK, I try not to talk about domestic issues, because this is a blog about my experiences in Afghanistan, but this is very alarming.   So let me get this straight, seven months before September 11 my government decided to start spying on me? I hope a motherfucker gets impeached and thrown out of office on his monkey ass if this is true.   Speaking of "domestic spying", we have moved into a new house (our old house was looted and almost set on fire) and there are guys coming and going to do repairs. Last night about 7:00, one of the neighbors (an old, white-bearded Afghan) came over to talk to my husband (who had been drinking since noon because he had the day off). They were outside talking for at least 45 minutes--in times like these I am glad I am a woman in Afghanistan--and the purpose of the meeting? The neighbor asked my husband to inform him when people will be on our roof because he has daughters and the men could see them!   (Honestly, I was quite relieved because I thought for sure he had come to admonish me for prancing around the house and yard in my underwear.)   Meanwhile, just got a phone call that two improvised explosive devices have blown up at the Ministries of Internal Affairs and Finance.   Nothing left to do but post a little GET YOUR WAR ON:       The funny thing about the latter comic strip is that international donors (UNDP, for example) have poured millions of dollars into programs to disarm former militia members, and now Karzai wants them armed again because apparently the program was a fuck up and a little too premature, no?
Confection

Confection

0
Sourball Ho!
 

Head Shops!

I confess: I love shopping at head shops. I am not a pot-smoker -- I've tried it a few times at parties and I suppose I enjoyed it, but that was years ago and to me all the trouble of buying it on the "black market" (that sounds funny to say) isn't worth the mild buzz it gives. Not that I'm into stronger drugs, I've never tried anything stronger, but I guess the allure of alternate realities isn't tempting enough for me. Give me some friends and some beer or wine and I'm having a great time.   But head shops are so cool, probably because of the whole dorm-room chic -- I love the bamboo curtains and band posters and black lights. Maybe because I never lived in a dorm or an apartment with roommates and didn't have the "real" college experience, because I lived at home the first 3 years of college and then moved out with my then-boyfriend and now-husband. I kinda feel like I missed out on the fun.   We have a great head shop near us, called "Puff 'n' Stuff." Hee! They actually have a decent beer selection (I Boddington's) and wine and cigars, but they also have the crazy pipes and rolling papers and accoutrements of the serious smokers. I love looking at all the stuff in the glass cases -- maybe because it's illicit, but some of these glass pipes are really beautiful. I don't even smoke cigarettes, but it reminds me of opium dens and lounging on pillows and thinking deep thoughts.
dawndie

dawndie

2
Diplomatka
 

Top Ten

I know what you are thinking: Yes, you live in a shit hole, but what do you smell like? So, since this is a forum about BPAL after all, my top ten:   1. June Gloom 2. Persephone 3. Grog 4. Lady MacBeth 5. Queen of Sheba (which I named--look it up) 6. Bordello 7. Black Pearl 8. Jailbait 9. Trick or Treat 10. Maiden   I also wanted to share something cute I saw yesterday. Strangely enough, it rained for about 20 minutes in Kabul yesterday which never happens in July. While I was driving home, I saw a little girl about eight years old standing on a balcony with her pink and blue child's umbrella. She was out in the rain singing to the people on the street. It is refreshing to see a kid act like a kid for once in a country where most children are working and not going to school.
Confection

Confection

0
cranberry's Blog
 

kakiphony 2 - shipped 7-5-06. All reviewed.

picked this up today at the PO.   Kakiphony 2 Neo-Tokyo** - reviewed Vixen** - reviewed Tweedledee - reviewed Obatala** - already reviewed Leanan Sidhe** - reviewed   I've got all but one of these, I'm aiming to get this in the mail tonight!   ETA: ok, I've got Tweedledee tested, once I know where I'm sending this it's going out!   ETA 7-5-06: this is off to yellowrose!   ETA 7-10-06: ok, finally tried and reviewed all scents that were in this pack!
cranberry

cranberry

5
Eoywin's Blog
 

Of clean houses and kitties

First, an update on the grey kitty. Our neighbors are currently renting the house next to us, but are looking for a house to buy. They are currently feeding the grey kitty, and planning on taking it to the vet, and taking it with them when they move.   They don't have any pets, and they are rather nice, so it's for the best, since Todd and I don't have time to introduce a new pet into our house.   We spent nearly the entire weekend cleaning, so our house is as clean as it's ever been, and we are now completely unpacked. Of course, Todd's parents brought him a bunch of crap with them, but he'll have to deal with that.   They also brought our kitchen table, which I'm geeked to have. I have to go to Target today anyway, so I'll get a cool 4th of July table cloth.   I'm at work right now, then hopefully I can finish the wedding invitations today (did a ton yesterday after the cleaning) and kinda relax since I'm rather tired.   Our BBQ is tomorrow, so hopefully that will be fun!
Eoywin

Eoywin

0
Denise's Cool Blog
 

the ebay order, for my records...

* velvet 10ml 6/20 FROM EBAY * snow bunny 5ml 6/20 FROM EBAY * lick it 5ml 6/20 FROM EBAY * spooky 5ml 6/20 FROM EBAY * the sleeper 5ml 6/20 FROM EBAY * sugar skull '05 5ml 6/20 FROM EBAY * midnight mass 5ml 6/20 FROM EBAY * yuletide '05 5ml 6/20 FROM EBAY * the rat king 5ml 6/20 FROM EBAY * nuclear winter '05 5ml 6/20 FROM EBAY * sol 5ml 6/20 FROM EBAY * luperci '06 5ml 6/20 FROM EBAY * azathoth '05 5ml 6/20 FROM EBAY * kunstkammer 05 5ml 6/20 FROM EBAY * khajurajo 5ml 6/20 FROM EBAY * hearth '05 5ml 6/20 FROM EBAY * house of mirrors 5ml 6/20 FROM EBAY * snow moon 5ml 6/20 FROM EBAY * numb 5ml 6/20 FROM EBAY * the haunted palace 5ml 6/20 FROM EBAY * red phoenix 5ml 6/20 FROM EBAY * pumpkin patch 1 5ml 6/20 FROM EBAY * pumpkin patch 2 5ml 6/20 FROM EBAY * pumpkin patch 3 5ml 6/20 FROM EBAY x2? * enraged orang-Utan 5ml 6/20 FROM EBAY * zorya 5ml 6/20 FROM EBAY * the ghost 5ml 6/20 FROM EBAY * lightning 5ml 6/20 FROM EBAY * veil 5ml 6/20 FROM EBAY * whitechapel 5ml 6/20 FROM EBAY * succubus 5ml 6/20 FROM EBAY * lex talionis 5ml 6/20 FROM EBAY * pannychis 5ml 6/20 FROM EBAY * machu picchu 5ml 6/20 FROM EBAY * ave maria gratia plena 5ml 6/20 FROM EBAY * fenris wolf 5ml 6/20 FROM EBAY * roadhouse 5ml 6/20 FROM EBAY * santa eularia des riu 5ml 6/20 FROM EBAY
eviltemptressdq

eviltemptressdq

0
captain diana's log
 

SevenSins imp pack - Sephiroth

Chokmah Wet: sweet and spicy, almost like patchouli + sassafras Dry: Kind of a root beerish scent, with basenotes that smell a lot like Lust or Sin or Snake Oil. This smells a lot like my favorite scents—the ones towards which I gravitate most frequently. The warmer notes are nicely contrasted by the sweet sassafras and a small drop of warm, rich vanilla. LOVE. This one is destined for a bottle! I never really had any interest in the Sephiroth scents since I know nothing about them, but now that my nose has been introduced, I am one happy gal.   Geburah Wet: leather; similar but slightly softer than DeSade Dry: Still leather. I'm not getting much else out of this. I do enjoy leather scents, and this one is a nice, mild, warm note. I already own DeSade, so I don't know if I really need another similar scent, but it is one I will keep in mind when I need a bottle of something to fill out an order.   Hod Wet: something sweet, and beer? Something is almost hop-like in wet stage. Dry: This becomes a bit sharper, almost like a frankincense, but reading other reviews, I suppose it is carnation! There is a sweetness which smells a lot like almonds. The sharp note starts to become a warm spice after a bit, and it starts to remind me of a darker, heavier Dana O'Shee having an orgy with Alice and O. It still smells a bit beer-like to me under the sweet honeyed almonds & carnation. It's kind of kinky!   Binah Wet: a dry spice note, almost like allspice or nutmeg; a resin kind of note too Dry: There is a dry sweetness now, but it's punctuated by a sharp spice note. This is starting to smell like some of the various Voodoo oils; it has some slightly soapy floral notes and a resiny base, kind of myrrh-like. It reminds me a bit of Erato or Hymn now. A bit too cloying & floral for my tastes, but if you like the swoony florals, you might want to give this a shot.   Yesod Wet: WHOA, JASMINE. Dry: Jasmine. After a while, there's more of a green note, but if jasmine is the main component, I won't get much of any other notes. Meh.   Tiphareth Wet: very light & sweet; the note is familiar but I can't put my finger on it. Dry: This smells like a distant relative of some of the Yule blends, all thrown together. There's a sweetness that smells a lot like (I'm probably crazy for saying this) my beloved Snow White, under a light spicey-piney-resin type of thing happening. It is kind of soft on me, but that will change if I can get my hands on a bottle. Slatheration will commence!   Netzach Wet: fainy, soapy, sort of reminds me of Faustus without the spice. Dry: Waxy floral notes. There's a variety of rose in there for sure, and a few other things that smell a bit too cloying for me. This is a lot like Binah or Hymn; one of those super floral scents that smell more like a candle than something I'd want as a perfume. This is a definite no-go.   Malkuth Wet: sweet cinnamon, like oatmeal cookies Dry: still a sweet cinnamon, but sort of incensey now. It's drier in odor, and a bit less sweet. It reminds me of the scent of Samhain in the bottle, before all the woodsy-leafy-apple notes come out. It also reminds me of the herb & incense booth at the Maryland Renaissance Festival. It is really pretty! Another one for the bottle list!   Kether Wet: smells almost leathery with a bit of resin & spice added Dry: Powdery, but kind of spicy still. It's like men's cologne made into a dusting powder. A bit later it goes more powdery, and it has an odd sweetness to it that I'm somehow associating with Froot Loops. Yes, my wierd scent associations make this out to smell like fruity cereal & dusting powder. I think I will have to pass.   Chesed Wet: sweet, but herbal Dry: Peach pits, or possibly peaches and wood notes. Lovely! There aren't too many peach scents in the catalog, so this makes me very happy. This one smells just like the ripe fruit, skin on, standing in pretty pyramids at the grocery store, with just a hint of a warm red sandalwood as the basenote. Wowza. I am going to need a bottle of this!
Diana

Diana

0
Fishnets and Frankincense
 

Sangria Love, Part I

If you do anything this 4th of July season, make sangria! I made some first thing this morning and put it in the refrigerator, and by this evening, I had a lovely, lovely brew. I was deeply proud of my efforts. I'm steeping some sangria blanco as I write this, and time will tell if it's as good as the red. If you make red sangria, try to get a nice, fruity Spanish wine. It makes all the difference. Here's the recipe that I used -- it's a modification of "Sunset Sangria" by Rachael Ray, and you can find it on the Foodnetwork web site.   3 tbs. sugar 6 tbs. dark spiced rum with citrus flavor 1 orange, sliced 1 lemon, sliced 2 ripe peaches, peeled and cut into wedges 3 ripe plums, cut into wedges 2 cinnamon sticks 1 bottle Rioja or a good fruity Spanish red wine Club soda, for topping off glasses of sangria   Combine everything but club soda in a large pitcher. Chill several hours. I ran the wine liquid through a strainer to catch the excess fruit pulp prior to serving. Serve over ice, topped off with club soda for some fizz.   This is not the equivalent of bottled Cruz Garcia Real Sangria -- Cruz Garcia needs vodka or rum added to it in order to make it seem like an alcoholic beverage. This is just a smidge stronger. Thus, adding a bit of club soda will not turn your sangria into the alcoholic equivalent of Welch's grape juice.   I am very tempted to make some Sangrita Margaritas, which entails combining a margarita with sangria. Tasty, tasty. Sangria blanco review to follow tomorrow night.
valentina

valentina

3
captain diana's log
 

SevenSins imp pack - Muses

Melpomene Wet: Neroli is most evident. Drydown: Oddly floral, with another note that kind of disrupts it. After a bit it smells like a floral-scented olive oil soap. Not to say it smells bad, but it's just unusual and unexpected. After a while, it does become more of a sweet floral, but not really my type of blend.   Calliope Wet: Lemon rinds. Something herbal lurking behind the bright citrus notes. Drydown: more of an herbal lemon, like verbena rather than lemon rinds. After a bit more time, it develops a greener type of herbal scent, probably the thyme. There's a slight coolness to the scent, but it dries down to almost pure thyme. It's an unusual blend, but a bit too heavy on the dry-herbal notes for my taste.   Urania Wet: sharp, bright floral note Drydown: a touch of ozone and there is also a hint of cool flowers. I stayed away from this, because I thought with the flower combination + ozone, it would be too cloying and really not my style. But I'm learning that anytime the description says "crystalline" or "glittering" it is worth a shot; these almost always work. And this time, I'm really loving it. It is cool, soft & amazingly beautiful. I think this might be my favorite of all the muses.   Erato Wet: soft, smooth roses & other flowers. Drydown: The other floral notes fade slightly and one of the other notes comes into play. I'm not sure which specific ingredient is doing this, but it has almost a clay-like scent to it now, which later adds a dryness to the scent (it must be the orris). I really do like this type of rose used in here, but I think in conjunction with the other floral notes it vascilates between really pretty and a bit too cloying. However, the longer this stays on, the more it seems to be growing on me. It smells like dried flowers and fresh flowers all put together in one bouquet. An interesting blend; if you're a fan of rose scents, this one is really worth a try.   Terpsichore Wet: Neroli, mostly. Drydown: Wild. I can't nail down a specific scent, but a combination of sweet, floral, and fruity. I thought neroli & carnation were the two most obvious, but now it seems to be apple blossom and some of the sweeter florals. Sometimes I really like it, sometimes I am more ambivalent; it changes with each sniff. I really can't tell if I like this one. After a bit more time passes, a vanilla-iris scent comes out. It is creamy-sweet-floral now, and gets better the longer it sits. I think I could wear this, even though it confuses me.   Clio Already own 5mL. Reviewed here. Gilded oranges & parchment blend.   Euterpe Already reviewed. Pretty creamy-floral.
Diana

Diana

0
Filling the Periodic Table
 

Giant veggie update!

I'm going to start with the seriously most spectacular thing in my rarden right now:     The runners on my strawberries are putting out runners!   My tomato is gi-normous!!!   Check out the little green tomatos!     And my peppers are looking petty awesome too:     Finally, my vines have made it well up and over the railing:
antimony

antimony

1
Fishnets and Frankincense
 

Heat-addled mutated thoughts

I have not been the chattiest blogger in the world, lately. Bad blogger, bad, bad, bad blogger! Try to type "bad blogger" a number of times that not turn "bad" into "blad." I did it twice. ("Blad Blogger" sounds like the emo nephew of Dracula.) It's been over 100 degrees here the last two days. Blame any weirdness below on the heat.   Well, I've been quiet because I've been kind of angsty lately and I really don't like to subject people to my angst. I'm semi-finished with my angst, and I've basically decided, what's better -- to be someone who has a few things that I'd like to have, but don't, but in order to get them you have to be positively glacial, or to be sort of person who animals, little kids and old people tend to like. I guess it's best to just accept my gifts in the form of a trusting animal, smiles from little kids and conversations with old folks. And everyone else in between. I not a cold bitch, so I don't get the cold bitch acoutroments. End of story.   I'm going to try to brew up a good batch or two or three of sangria tomorrow. I associate sangria with the 4th of July. Now, WTF? A Spanish wine for an American holiday? It's just a summertime thing.   And what is it when you go to the pool and you see the man with his bald head, bobbing just above the water, and then he emerges from the pool, it is revealed that his body is one of the hairiest things you've seen? As in, more hair on the guy's back than on most men's chests, not to mention all the hair on the legs and the chest and arms? I know it's testosterone doing its thing, but it always amazes me. Not that I have a thing against a nice hairy chest or hairy arms or legs, for I like secondary sexual characteristics, but when the back is almost solid hair, I do draw the line. I'd be getting out the waxing strips and using them on the fellow. But it would be like trying to wax a Grizzly! It would be like pulling carpet! Jeez, and guys like that would clog up your drains all the time, and no one would be able to figure it out, because they have a cue-ball head. Where is that hair coming from?   You can see what I was looking at and pondering at the pool today!
valentina

valentina

4
captain diana's log
 

SevenSins imp pack - RG, MT, S&S

The Queen of Hearts This is one I'm surprised I haven't tried yet. Then again, I rarely order imps, so I guess leaving it up to chance to smell a specific scent is taking a slim chance with fate. Wet: floral-cherry. This is mostly floral, but not overwhelmingly so. Drydown: Lily overload! The lilies smell a little like canned air freshner--that "floral garden escape" type of scent. I am just not a huge floral-scent lover. The cherry's appearance isn't very strong in this scent, which is unfortunate, because I love the note. After a bit of time, the flower notes become a little less cloying, but they are still a bit too sweet & soft & pretty for my tasts. This reminds me a bit of Titania, which I also found to be too light & floral. If you like flowers, this might be up your alley, though.   Death Cap I'm so excited to try this. I'm a nerd, I know. Wet: dirt, with almost a sweet chocolately-carob type of note to it. Drydown: slightly earthy, but it's really mild. There is still an incredibly nice sweetness to it, almost like a light musk. This is so very lovely! I might need a 10mL of this to roll around in. This is a bit lighter than what I usually go for, and it doesn't seem to be very long-lasting, but the combination of the soil notes with the sweetness is just too nice to pass up.   Bow & Crown of Conquest Already reviewed. This one is a really nice woodsy-vanilla-leather scent that I love and own a 5mL bottle of. <3!   Baneberry Wet: ozone. slightly greenish, but mostly the ozone is the main note here. Drydown: Wow, there's a change. Now it smells very sweet, berry like, and almost juicy like a pineapple. There's still a touch of the ozone note, but it's not as noticable anymore. After a bit longer, there's a sharper pine-like note that appears, but it is about equal in strength with the berry note, but doesn't stick around with as much intensity. This is an interesting and rather yummy blend!   Black Hellebore Wet: really light, but a really nice fresh herbal scent. this scent reminds me of something, but I cannot place what. actually, I think it's a bottle of expensive hair shine mist that I have from England. Drydown: This is like being hugged by a soft pink sweater. This is not something I'd typically pick out for myself, but the herbal + light notes are really pretty. This is a really nice, non-offensive, light blend. I think I might need some of this for those "I want to smell nice, but not really smell a lot" kind of days.   Opium Poppy Wet: bandaids + sharp perfume smell Drydown: I'm not a big fan of opium-type scents, and this one is pretty much straight opium. It's not my taste at all; it ends up smelling soapy, perfumey, and sharp. This reminds me a bit of Debauchery, without the civet. After a little while, some of the sharpness fades, and it smells more like poppy flowers, but it's still not really my taste.
Diana

Diana

0
circe_blue's Blog
 

Living Dead Dolls

Living Dead Dolls Wishlist!! In no particular order:   1. Elisa Day   2. Dottie Rose   3. Bride of Valentine   4. Lottie   5. Kitty   6. Posey   Have:   1. Sadie   2. Hollow   Cute, yes?
circe_blue

circe_blue

0
Diplomatka
 

Other bloggers hate Ariana too

I was reading Christina Lamb's blog and came across this.   My favorite quote is about the Ariana Airlines hijacking: A few years ago when a group of Afghans hijacked an Ariana plane and flew it to Stansted to demand asylum, I called the Ariana head office in Kabul for a reaction. The man I spoke to was stunned. “I didn’t think any of our planes could fly that far”, he said.   True.   If you don't know much about Afghanistan, especially under the Taliban, I suggest you pick up Lamb's book The Sewing Circles of Herat.
Confection

Confection

1
cranberry's Blog
 

Cordia 3 - shipped 7-5-06. All Reviewed.

Picked this up 6-30-06 from the PO.   Cordia 3 Rage** - reviewed Dirty** - reviewed Szepasszony** - reviewed Bloodlust - reviewed Grand Guignol - reviewed Nuit - reviewed Zombi - reviewed   I've got half of these, so it'll take me a bit longer to get through this pack but it should still be pretty quick. I'll leave this one for last to get the other 2 on their way though.   ETA 7-4-06: I've reviewed all the imps that I didn't have and have started in on my imps to test. This is ready to go.   ETA 7-5-06: this is off to spacekitty   ETA 7-10-06: all scents in this pack reviewed!
cranberry

cranberry

7
cranberry's Blog
 

Cordia 2 - shipped 7-1/3-06 - all reviewed

Picked this up 6-30-06, hopefully I can turn this one around really fast since it's been waiting in my PO for a while.   Cordia 2 Alice** - already reviewed the Coiled Serpent** - reviewed Aunt Caroline's Joy Mojo** - reviewed Voodoo** - reviewed Libertine** - reviewed Lolita - reviewed Juliet - reviewed   I've got all the **ed ones, so I should be able to get this tested and reviewed this weekend.   7-1-06: shipped this out tonight, it was too late for the last mail pickup so it will go out with Monday's mail.   8-6-06: yay, all tried and reviewed!
cranberry

cranberry

7
cranberry's Blog
 

kakiphony 1 - shipped 7-1/3-06

Picked this up 6-30-06   Kakiphony 1 Ava Maria Gratia Plena** - reviewed Hymn to Prosperine** - reviewed Jazz Funeral** Jolly Roger** - reviewed Juke Joint - reviewed   I've got most, if not all of these, so I should be able to get this out within a day or two.   ETA 7-1-06: took this to the PO tonight, it was too late for the last mail pickup so it will travel with Monday's mail.
cranberry

cranberry

4
cranberry's Blog
 

June 30

A four day trip turned into an 11 day trip, so I have some catching up to do. Picked up 3 packages in the mail today so I have some catching up to do. Yikes!
cranberry

cranberry

0
×