of strangers and smoky auras.

Today I weeded the garden, which was in a woeful state.  Well I weeded everything except for a patch that my good friend had stretched herself out in.  It took a couple of hours and I was covered in sweat and dirt when the task was done.

After cleaning up I walked all over the city, mostly looking for subjects to photograph for a new style column I’m gearing up for with RVANews.  To date, the people I have approached for this have all seemed very flattered and enthusiastic about having their pictures taken, but for some reason I still have difficulty approaching strangers for it.  This may be because I hate being approached by strangers myself.  As I walked all over the city, I thought about how silly it was for me to think that way, because if all it takes to make someone feel great and add an unexpected compliment to their day is for me to take a quick photo, I should be falling all over myself to do it.  But still I had trouble because (1) most people are wearing t-shirts and flip-flops, which I do NOT want to feature, and (2) some people look incredibly busy — talking on the phone, ordering food, etc.  And I hate to interrupt.

As I was pondering all these things after a three-hour walk and nearing my house, feeling defeated, I was the one who was approached.  This lady that I frequently see walking her dog (whose color changes almost weekly: green, purple, pink…I guess she dyes the poor beast) strolled up and said “Hello, I love the way you wear your bows.  Your hair is great, you have beautiful hair.”

“Thanks,” I said.  “I actually have a shop where I sell the bows; you should check it out” and I handed her a card.

She looked down at the card and said “I don’t have a computer.  I actually get a really bad aura from computers.  I’m a preschool teacher, and I try not to turn them on. “

There was an uncomfortable silence, as I didn’t know what to say.  While I wouldn’t want to reward someone for being afraid of technology — especially as simple and easy to espouse as it’s been made in recent years — I also think that people should be allowed to live however the heck they choose as long as they’re not hurting anybody else.  So I didn’t say anything.

She squinted at me and said “You have this smoky aura about you.  It’s very mystic.  There’s something very mysterious…”

Another long silence…I wasn’t really sure how to respond.  I had been wondering what that smoky smell was for the past several blocks, and had assumed it was something burning.  But I didn’t want to burst her bubble.  So then I said “Thank you.  Well I recognize your dog, so I’ll sure we’ll run into each other again soon when you’re walking him.  We must be neighbors.”

“Or even sisters!” she said.  And then we parted ways.  Oooooookay.  What a disturbing / bizarre / delightful conversation.  Sisters indeed.  And yet, we are kind of sisters.  Human beings, and ladies walking around Richmond talking to strangers.

Never a dull moment here in Richmond…and especially in Oregon Hill.  <3

And btw, it’s Formal Friday.

of summery looks and sneaking away.

The past week or so has been a guestbook-finalizing, program-folding, Hawaii-studying. agenda-making, schedule-sending blur.  This stuff must be done now because soon we go to the beach with the family, and at the beach there will be only relaxing and no working.  And when we get back from the beach, the showers take place.  And then it’ll be almost time for Dan’s parents to arrive.  And then it’ll be showtime.

Tuesday night was an amazing break from all of that for the RETURN of small group (yes!), drinks at Helen’s for Keith’s birthday, and sneaking away to grab a quick cheese pizza with extra garlic — our biggest joy in life — at Aladdin.  I kept repeating the phrase “I feel so refreshed!” over the middle-eastern music videos and hookah smoke.

Two nights ago I made new displays for my wares and last night I set them up with all the products they would hold in preparation for Black Market at Fallout on Thursday.  Come out if you want to get some drinks and browse through some gothy goodness.

Link time:

• Tech support cheat sheet: useful indeed.  Spread the word.

• My desk really needs this vintage letter holder.



• So tempting and yet impractical: this George Washington mask!



• Ugly buildings are inexcusable.  It’s what I’ve been saying forever.

• This lovely little number is like the grown-up version of those kids’ clothes I posted last time.  If only I had $100 and wasn’t morally opposed to the idea of wearing a “romper.”
  



• A doily pin.  That is all.
  



• So much inspiration and enjoyment of summery things pointed out by the amazing Liebemarlene Vintage.
  



• I can get into everything except that beret.
  



• Guys, the lace cravat is making a comeback.  IN MY DREAMS.
  

of goodness and girly things.

Things I’ve been thinking about…

• Guerilla Goodness, fellow RVANews writer Patience Salgado’s great idea about practicing random acts of kindness.”There is no selfless good deed but it doesn’t really matter, the world needs it all… I have been on both ends of kindness and decided this was the work of my life. When I looked back, kindness had been calling me all along.”

• Urban decay indeed.



• Exercise doesn’t “make you thin,” apparently.  O RLY?!  Thanks for nothing, crazy workout schedule.  Seriously, this article is an interesting read.  While I’m not ready to drop my workout schedule (it still helps prevent heart disease, so that’s a good thing) I want to start focusing on more frequent exercise rather than more vigorous exercise.”After you work out hard enough to convert, say, 10 lb. of fat to muscle — a major achievement — you would be able to eat only an extra 40 calories per day, about the amount in a teaspoon of butter, before beginning to gain weight. Good luck with that.”

• Neat woodcut prints from Tugboat Printshop, via Modish.



• A “Christian” DVD lending library: Really?  Why do we need this?  Are non-Christians suddenly inept at handling DVDs?  Or are Christians unable to expend the energy necessary to filter their own Netflix choices?  Just another brick in the wall of certain factions sectioning themselves away from the rest of the world — which they were commanded to love and do a good work within.  Ugh, see this sermon for how I feel about that.

• Adorable, doll-like, and fun.  See, kids can dress well too.



• I love the 1700s, when marriage, maturity, and motherhood were revered — versus today, when being or looking like a 12-year-old is considered hot.  Check out Mrs. Georgiana Smyth here, being sweet and looking good doing it.  The best part is that this is her son on her lap, not her daughter.

• Now, this is my idea of shelving.



• Although I love to cook, I’m not completely brainwashed by the slow food movement and I know the value of a quick meal without a lot of fuss.  So these cans that heat themselves are exciting to me.

• Quite possibly the best nerdy cross-stitch I’ve ever seen.



• An interesting article about panhandling.  This is an issue that directly affects our neighborhood, and this article makes some good points.  I think it’s difficult to say what’s “right” and what’s “wrong” — giving money that goes straight to a sixer of Natty Ice isn’t getting to the root of the problem, it’s just making a person feel better for a minute.  And I hate the idea of not making progress.  But at the same time, do we have a right to tell them what they “need?”“Over the years, I have been approached by dozens of people asking for money. When I said I would buy them a burger or take them where they need to go, the answer was always the same: ‘I just want the money,’ Martin said.’”

• TRUE.

  

  And the best part is that there are some attractive nerds out there.

while love is unfashionable.

Dan stumbled in from tour this morning, much to the amazement of the cats (who had long counted him for dead).  This was just as I was shuffling out to weed the garden and wrestle my rose buds away from the june bugs.  If you’re reading this and you know us IRL, you should bring a beverage and come over tonight for some belated birthday hangouts for Dan.  The backyard is weed-free and waiting, and it smells like summer out there.

Also, things are going as intended: I’ve done almost all the wedding planning I can do this early, and will be spending the rest of the summer hanging out and sewing and not doing any planning.  Alright!

Some links and some pretty things…

• Iran vs. Star Wars: can you pass the test?
• Also, I couldn’t resist: Heavy Metal Board Games.
• What do I think about MJ?  I don’t at all.  But if I had to, I guess this would sum it up.
• 18th-century Russian dresses are blowing my mind right now.  Similar to the French style, and yet distinctive and very official-looking.  I love them.

• I don’t want to be typical and love the apartment of those Blonde Redhead folks, but oh well.  I do.

• Suddenly, I’m interested in scooters after…not being interested for all these years.

• I’m trying not to want this dress.  A futile attempt!

fashion mileage indeed.

What I’d like to be wearing at work today:

But instead I’m wearing a black military-style button-up dress.  Which is fine and great, but I’d love one of these cute little numbers.  If anyone sees something like that at a local vintage shop, please let me know.  I enjoy receiving picture texts with subject lines like “OMG this dress is for you!”

In other news, my friend Courtney over at Little White Book posted a guest blog from me about my process for having my wedding dress custom-made.  Looks nice!  I enjoyed guest blogging, and will probably continue as the dress materializes.

Today so far: a sunrise run through the cemetery, Lost while primping, kittycats, skimming Jane Austen, work work, wedding work (readings, vows, favors), Midnight Society work.  I’m thrilled to finally be filling in our collection of Lore, so I hope my momentum keeps up.