Maia

I find my path following my inclinations

The Right Fit

I'm in a good mood. Good things just keep happening.

- I hate clothes shopping. Maybe there are some big women out there who enjoy it, but I am not one of them. It is a painful procedure that must be completed and over and done with as quickly as possible (just ask Boyfriend). Well, yesterday we were at the mall getting it over and done with as quickly as possible when I noticed that Lane Bryant has a new jean system. It's probably just a gimmick that won't really last but the fact that their sizes ran from 1-5 prompted me to ask the saleswoman about it. (I needed new jeans, desperately.) She said that I would need to be measured because the new "Right Fit" sizes don't correspond to regular sizes. Okay, I'm a good sport, I let her wrap the measuring tape around me. "Do you have any problems with jeans?" she asked. "Why, yes, the ones that fit around my waist are baggy in the butt and thigh areas." "Okay," she replied. "I'm going to put you in a 4 yellow. What kind of jeans do you like?" "Flare please," I said, then took them from her and made for the dressing room. I don't know what I expected but I did not expect to come bounding out of there like a goddess in dark denim. Yes, friends, it hugged all the right places without being tight or uncomfortable. I was in love. I must have said "Thank you" to this woman four times.

- I just went to Michael's for the first time. It was like this great nostalgic moment. All the memories of trips to the crafts store with my mother throughout my childhood rushed back to me as I smelled the cinnamon and looked through aisle after aisle of paints, fabrics, yarns, hoops, fake flowers and hot glue guns. I just felt happy in a goofy way. I bought some accessories for my costume and also a pack of colored pencils, just because I like to spoil myself. (I don't paint anymore; I draw. I realized I kept drawing decent pictures and then destroying them when I painted over them.)

- Friend From Work #1 gave me a big, warm, gooey chocolate chip cookie about five minutes ago.

Notes from Life

Today I got an email about my local feminist bookstore losing their lease and maybe closing, so Boyfriend and I threw on some clothes, went out for breakfast - omelette sandwiches, cinnamon strudel, juice and coffee ... mmm - and then spent some time in there. I bought Friend From Work #2 a birthday present. She saw my You Say I'm a Bitch Like It's a Bad Thing collection the other day, the one that Sister gave me that sits on my desk at work, and she told me that she loves those. So I got her a 2008 planner that contains tons of them.

I also bought a thank-you card for the friends who had us over for dinner last night, and a book for the next book club meeting. I am a beg, borrow or steal kind of woman when it comes to books. There are libraries and cheap Internet sites galore, so I never buy from bookstores, because why pay full price? But I don't want them to close, that would majorly suck.

So if you need to buy some Christmas presents, or birthday presents, or just something nice for yourself, please buy it from BookWoman. Do it for the Soj.

Last night was fun. CL Friend and her husband had us over for dinner, as I mentioned. CLFH cooked chicken breasts stuffed with ricotta and prosciutto and seasoned in the Italian way, and CLF made an arugula salad with sliced apples, walnuts and a raspberry vinaigrette. Boyfriend and I brought wine, no pudge brownies that I baked and vanilla ice cream. Before dinner, we all sat around in the living room eating Brie and Havarti cheeses with crackers and sipping wine, trying not to let their brand new Dachsund get the food. After dinner, we played Scattergories. A good time was had by all.

I like:

• coffee with friends


• burning incense


• greasy food - sometimes


• taking photos


• diet soda


• art


• light food - sometimes


• cats


• pretty clothes that fit comfortably


• laughing


• silver jewelry


• ethnic food


• weekends


• slow dancing in the kitchen


• songs that make you cry


• speaking in Italian


• Friend From Work saying "I am so glad you work here"


• audio books in the car


• books in general


• jazzercise


• writing


• autumn breezes


• no pudge brownies


• bubble baths


• libraries


• Boss saying "I like you"


• window shopping


• baking desserts


• singing alone in the apartment


• sunshine


• hugging my sisters


• being in love

I tend to get premonitions about things. Not always, and not about important things that actually matter, but often enough for me to notice. I don't understand, however, why I never listen to them. If I know I get them and they tend to be right, why do I not listen? Like today I was supposed to go to lunch with Friend From Work #2, and I thought this morning, "I should bring a back-up lunch in case it falls through," but I didn't. And she can't make it. We've rescheduled, which is cool, but I don't have lunch. Hmm.

Yesterday I took my Shakespeare final and I was so pleased with myself that I spent the night doing nothing but relax, even though I had other studying to do. I watched "Room Service," the Marx Bros. movie, that I took out of the library. God, that was what I needed - a few giggles.


Okay, so we've got these new disposable coffee cups in the office that are thin, slim, pretty and fuzzy instead of the white styrofoam boring ones, but these new ones hold 16 ounces so when I feel like I'm having one cup of coffee, I am actually having two. The other day I inadvertently had four (cups of coffee, not sixteen ounce servings) and my hands started shaking.

That said, I just finished one sixteen ounce (or two cups of coffee) and am wanting more. Resist ... the ... temptation ....

I bought a pair of beautiful grey slacks for work on Friday. They fit well and look good. I'm happy. I'm always happy when I find beautiful clothing for big girls.

I had such a lovely weekend with Boyfriend ... big surprise, I always do, but this one was really lovely because we got out of the apartment a lot. We went on a long walk and sat at a beloved outdoor coffee shop on the lake and ate at a new restaurant we had never eaten at before (with a Hawaiian theme and tikis everywhere). Fun fun.

Now it is Monday and I have two tests this week and two next. Yeesh!

Tonight is a poetry reading with Artsy Friend. God grant me courage.

I'm Cranky

This is Day #3 of the crankiness that comes with being a woman. You know? Why am I so cranky anyway? I have been having a grand old time the last few days.

Ah well.

I've worked out how to go home for a week, be there on the actual day of Thanksgiving, and still avoid the Thanksgiving weekend madness and too-high-fares. (And when I say "I've worked out," I mean Boyfriend did and I am taking credit for it.) I am happy to see the sisters and the Traveler, who is now their babysitter and living in my mother's house. I'll be happy to see my parents. Aside from that, I am experiencing the dread I always experience going home. It is always emotionally draining and much harder than you would think.

Slow weekend since we are recuperating from the activity level of Best Friend's visit. This morning B. and I participated in a walk for charity, which means getting up early and, you know, walking. Came back home and I snoozed the whole afternoon away. Now I'm trying to motivate myself to study and cook dinner - both things I actually want to do, but I'm moving slow.

Deep Thoughts... by Sojourness Handey

- I have had a Jennifer Lopez song stuck in my head all morning since I heard it at 7-11 this morning as I used the ATM machine. I am not happy.

- I found out today that a woman I worked for in Italy passed away. 37 years old -- cancer. She was kind of mean to the interns but geez... that is young to die. I am still very surprised, and a little frightened.

- To go home for Thanksgiving or not to go home for Thanksgiving? That is the question. Whether tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous plane fares, or to take arms against a sea of homesick emotions, and by opposing, end them.

- Which reminds me, I gotta take that damn Shakespeare final.

- I'm going to see a production of Death of a Salesman tonight! Arthur Miller -- my post mortem playwright crush! (Well, one of them.)

Summary of Best Friend's trip

Thursday evening:

Arrival
Dinner at a taco bar

Friday:

Wandering by herself while we worked
Shopping in funky neighborhood
Consumption of cupcakes
Inevitable visit to 6th Street and Pete's Dueling Piano Bar

Saturday:

Consumption of breakfast tacos
Swimming
Consumption of crepes
Oktoberfest
Viewing of "Across the Universe"

Sunday:

Austin Museum of Art and Mexic-Arte Museum
Dinner at Tex-Mex restaurant with CL Friend
Post-margarita viewing of much Sex and the City

Monday:

Wandering by herself while we work
Dinner at Stubb's BBQ

Tuesday:

Departure

Ishtar represents the fullness of womanhood and dares us to dream. Her
power is strongest at the full moon, when the essence of womanhood
heightens in response to the moon energy that is all-encompassing.

I have abundant energy and vitality

*Check out incredible Goddess art at ThaliaTook.com.

*Get these Goddess updates from Anita Revel's site.

Ole!

Trade show madness is over. No more clowns passing out fliers, no more smiling at strangers and whoring myself for business cards, no more carrying heavy boxes to my car parked in the garage a block away. *Breathes large sigh of relief*


Best Friend arrived last night. I was slightly late in picking her up from the airport because I had fallen asleep after getting home from the final trade show. She, Boyfriend and I went out last night for Tex-Mex that was yummy. Our weekend plans have not been finalized yet, but all I know is that we are going to have a great time!! I'm so glad she's here.

CL Friend and her husband have extended the invitation for Boyfriend and I to go to dinner at their house. How nice! This weekend is no good because Best Friend is visiting, but possibly next. It would be awesome if CL Friend's Husband and Boyfriend got along because then we would have "a couple" of friends that we could do things with. I am hopeful because they are both into sports -- that seems to be the common denominator with the male counterpart of the species. They play and watch the same sports so... *crossing fingers*

If not, no big, but wouldn't that be fun?

I have been running my raggedy little ass (little... *snort*) around to trade shows and such. It's not bad -- gets me out of the office and breaks up the week. At the last one, they had brownies and cookies, as well as coffee and pastries in the morning. That's my kinda show, baby.

Not much else to report. Hopefully I will have tons of great stories to tell after Best Friend's visit in the next five days.

Big Fat Carnival

Would love to send a thank-you to Sheana, who included one of my posts in her "Big Fat Carnival."

In Greek stories, Iambe is a wild goddess of sacred sexuality who used
poetry and witty comebacks to entertain others.

Shakespeare recognised Iambe's creative genius and emulated her style
– her iambic pentameter verse – in his plays.

I feel absolutely supercharged

I decided to continually click "Next Blog" to see what I found, and here is some of the stuff I found:

Mustaches of the Nineteenth Century

Dogpatch Journal: a 21st century Thoreau

Then I kept getting porn sites and had to stop.

Why I Love Children, and Particularly Those Who Are Related To Me

Me: "What are you learning about in school?"
Kid Sister #2: "About Christopher Columbus."
Me: "Really? Who was he?"
Kid Sister #2: "He had three ships. He was a sailor."
Me: "Wow. Where did he sail?"
Kid Sister #2: *Silence* "I don't know. To an island. In the east."

--

Kid Sister #1: "I love December, it's my favorite month. I love it because it has Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve and Christmas and... Kwanza..."

Trick or Treat

Before I begin this feminist rant that is cross-posted at the Feminist Pulse, let me say that the lightbulb went off today on the perfect costume. I'm not revealing it until after Halloween but it's amazing.

I never knew you could learn so much about socialized gender roles by looking through a party store circular, but apparently you can. I got one in the mail the other day and not having found a costume yet, I decided to peruse it. Well, I did, and what I found is quite interesting.

Here is a sampling of the male and female costumes in various age groups:

Toddler Boys

• Superheroes: Batman, Robin, Superman, Spiderman, Buzz Lightyear
• Male professions: Fireman, Policeman, Cowboy, Soldier

Toddler Girls

• Cheerleader, "Barbie Team Spirit," Princess, and to their credit, Supergirl.

Boys (sizes 4-14)

• Superheroes
• Male professions: same as before, now including Air Force Pilot, S.W.A.T. Team, and "Mac Daddy," which, judging by the costume, is a euphemism for pimp.
• Violent characters: Freddy, Jason, Warrior, Crypt Master, Zombie, Vampire

Girls (sizes 4-14, not teen girls, but children)

• Disney princesses
• "Pretty Bride" (though I didn't see "Handsome Groom" being sold to boys), "Runway Diva" with a very short skirt, "Major Flirt" (a sexy military costume), "Miss Behaved" (a pink striped prison outfit with broken shackles on the girl's wrist), "Devilicious" with pink hot pants and wings and - I kid you not - "French Maid."
• Female professions: Nurse, "Hollywood Starlet"

Teen Girls

• "Army Girl" with insanely short camouflage shorts and cleavage, "You Sexy Witch," "Barbarian Babe," "Fashion Police" and of course the French maid outfit.

Adult costumes are similarly divided. ALL women costumes (with the exception of the nun outfit) are skimpy and "sexy." NONE of the men's costumes are. Women are sexy cops and military babes, but never Police Women or Soldiers.

I think the most disturbing, however, is the hyper-sexualization of girl children.

I feel like I'm drowning in work. The two-week long dry socket has really screwed up my schedule and I am behind on all of my classes. Not to mention my housework. Normally, Boyfriend and I split all the household chores, with him occasionally doing more than me. Lately, I have been out of commission and I need to get back... in? I don't know how to phrase that, but my kitchen floor is yucky. Forget that, my kitchen is yucky.

Another reason for cleaning up the place is that Best Friend is visiting next week! I am so excited! No one has ever visited me here before except for Sister. She is here for about five days. It will be fun. A break from soliciting strange women online to be my friend.

(I'm just kidding; I haven't met anyone strange. Yet.)

Wisdom Tooth Conspiracy

I'm sorry, but I've gotta share this. I found this online and it struck me as positively hysterical.

Wisdom teeth are, in fact, the result of a wide-reaching, global conspiracy of the dentistry industry. They have known about genetic engineering for years, but they have selfishly used this knowledge to introduce wisdom teeth into the human gene pool for their benefit. Ever notice how dentists are so eager to remove your wisdom teeth? In fact, we suspect the nitrous oxide manufacturing companies are in on this gig as well.

Think about it. Wisdom teeth are not necessary for eating food, nor for any normal vital activity. They do nothing but take up space and cause pain, and perhaps incur cavities in the victim, since they are conveniently hard to brush.

Sure, you might hear archeologists talking about finding wisdom teeth in the skeletal remains of homo erectus, but they, too, have been manipluated and brainwashed by the dentists of America. Humans have no need for wisdom teeth, nor have they ever. It is a money-making ploy, and nothing more. Any evidence you see the contrary is the work of the conspirators as well.

I think I'm missing something here. Dentists are responsible for the fact that wisdom teeth grow in our mouths?

Don't believe the hype. Wisdom teeth are a hoax.

Oh, how I wish they were.

I found out today that I do have a dry socket. I knew it... when I read that a dry socket causes the worst pain imaginable, I knew that's what I have. I went back to the surgeon yesterday and he said maybe it was a muscle thing, since everything looked good. I went back today in desperation: "Please, help me!!" He decided to "go inside" and see what was up. Great.

Well, he found some knot of tissue that was covering my dry socket, which was why he didn't see it. Is that normal? No. Of course not. He took it out and now I've gotta... you know what? I don't remember.

I'm tired and drugged.

I also have to go back to the surgeon on Friday, then take a final that afternoon, and lose pay for practically the whole day.

Does someone want to kill me now?