Time to go shopping October 4, 2009

A week ago, it was brought to my attention that several of my work “uniforms” were not suitable.

Not that they were too revealing, just that they were too casual.

Of course, these just happened to be things that I’d been questioning wearing; The skirt too flashy/bright, the sweater a little clingy and the dress too tight and too short (for my conscience).

So, of course, I’m taking this as a thwack on the head (after I’ve ignored the whispers, pokes and hints) to move my wardrobe towards where it should be.

Mostly for myself, I shall type out a guideline for my upcoming shopping trip. This could also be considered a guideline for “where I am now” on the modes-dress scale. Might be fun to look back at

(By the way, the dress? I’m turning it into a skirt to make it longer and avoid the hugging top.)

[Some of the following may be stumbling blocks for male readers]

I will buy…

~Neutral colours, preferably of 100% natural fibers (wool, cotton, hemp, etc.)

~More slips and camisoles

~Tights (for warmth – my work is highly air conditioned year round)

~items that are not tight, hugging, clinging or otherwise revealing even if they cover everything

I will test…

~the neckline (with the “knee test” where I put my hands on my knees and look in a mirror)

~how long things are when my hands are above my head (the “Hallelujah” test)

~the view from the side when my arms are in different positions

~for transperancy when held up to light

And finally, I will not buy any outer garments that do not cover half of my calves.

Psalm 90 May 17, 2009

I just found this (heh) and I think it’s beautiful.

¹Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.

²Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.

³Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.

⁴For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.

⁵Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up.

⁶In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth.

⁷For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled.

⁸Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.

⁹For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.

¹⁰The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

¹¹Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath.

¹²So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

¹³Return, O LORD, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants.

¹⁴O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

¹⁵Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil.

¹⁶Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children.

¹⁷And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.”

Source: biblegateway.com/

Modesty? Psh, that’s old-fashioned. May 14, 2009

I live across the street from a High School, so I’m used to shuffling my way through, well, teenagers doing things that make me sad (smoking and swearing, mostly), but today takes the cake. One girl was wearing a silk loincloth to school. Not literally, mind you, just a mini skirt with a slit up to her hip.

Still, I stand by my definition; As far as I knew loincloths were two strips of fabric connected at the waist… which is exactly what she had on!

And I’ve seen quite a few girls wandering around with over-sized shirts… or I guess what’s supposed to be a dress.

I’m saddened and disgusted. These are the same girls who are wondering why all the guys they attract are only after their bodies. One day they’ll put some clothes on and figure it out. I hope

My New Kitty March 13, 2009

We got a kitty!

His name is Mellow. We’re not sure how old he is, but he’s not full grown yet.

He thinks that the toilet flushing is the most amazing thing ever!

He also enjoys being held up to see into the filling washing machine, or a sink full of dirty dishes. And he’ll watch you shower and peer into the dryer when it’s open.

Of course, kitten-like, he adores dangling strings and such. His favourite toys, thus far, are an empty cardboard box, an empty paper bag (with handles! oooh handles!) and a tag, duct taped up, and tied to a string.

We’re thinking of getting him a harness, since he adores exploring so much, and then he could explore outside as well. Yay kitty walks!

Goals and Washing Dishes – Metaphor March 10, 2009

So, this is kinda silly but it has been rattling around my brain for the last couple of weeks so I figured I’d post it.
A long term goal, represented by cleaning the kitchen/washing dishes:

I want in…
5 years: To have a clean kitchen
1 year: To have washed all of the dishes
6 months: To have washed all of the dishes except the pots/pans
1 month: To have washed all of the cutlery
1 week: To have washed all of the forks
Today: To have washed this fork

So yeah, kinda silly, but I like it so humph! (And no, I don’t expect it to take me 5 years to clean my kitchen That’s why it’s a metaphor!)

It’s a nice reminder to live in the moment. I’ve been trying to remember that, after I decide which ’section’ of dishes (all the plates, or bowls, or cups, etc.) next, I don’t need to worry about anything other than the particular dish I’m working on. It’s very zen-like. And it’s a nice stepping stone for me, because I’m horrible at living in the moment. I worry. I don’t think “clean this fork” I think “After I do this fork I need to finish all the cutlery then do that plate I forgot then do this pan, then I should probably do this pot next, or maybe this” (this applies to other areas of my life too). All in all, it makes doing dishes (or anything) much more stressful than it needs to be, so I’m working on changing it.

This ends my rambles!

Paying Someone to do the Work – repost March 7, 2009

I have a confession to make.

Part 1: I cleaned the bathroom today (big whoop)

Part 2: It was the first time I’d ever, ever cleaned a house-bathroom on my own.

Sure, I’ve cleaned bathrooms before, at work and such. Though not very well, since no one ever showed me how to do it.

Since my mom worked (she has a lot of reasons, I think it boils down to the fact that she never trusted that my dad wouldn’t leave and that she wanted more money than he could provide) full time, they fought about who would manage the housework. How it was divided. In the end they decided to hire someone.

Now, first of all the company that they hired did a real crappy job of cleaning.

Secondly, I was about 11 or 12 when this occurred and I only dusted and cleaned the windows. I would have been willing to learn more, but was never taught.

So the result was an unclean house and an adult moving out for the first time who couldn’t really cook; didn’t really know how to wash dishes (or even load a dishwasher); didn’t know how to vacuum, sweep, or mop; clean the kitchen, or bathroom; and who didn’t know anything about regular maintenance (like cleaning the oven, or washing doors).

Or, to sum it up, you had an 18 year old living with roommates who knew how to dust and clean windows/mirrors.

All in all, I felt pretty worthless when that picture became clear.

I just can’t understand, now, how not making me do housework has benefited me in any clear way.  I’m rather ignorant when it comes to housekeeping, I felt like an idiot when I ‘fessed up to my roommate that I didn’t know how to clean X and had him show me, and I have issues with laziness and discipline becaues I didn’t have a chance to develop either when I had someone to help keep me on track (“nag”).

And, I wonder, how many children are being allowed to “roam free”? How many parents are frowned upon and critizised for making their “babies” do a little work around the house? It just doesn’t make sense to me.

Abuse is one thing, but letting the kids slack (or worse, taking all their time up with activities… that’s another post though) is too far in the other direction. Is there a happy medium? Can children be taught basic housework without it being “child labour”? or some such nonsense. Surely.

Your thoughts?

New Direction – repost March 7, 2009

This is re-posted from A Day Closer to Fate.

I just haven’t been inspired by peak oil and climate change lately. I’m sure any readers I have have noticed the crickets here (or are those just from lack of readers? hmmm)

But it’s more than just the blog. My entire life has made a quick u-turn.

Lemme try to explain.  [The following is intended for an older youth audience. Parental discretion is advised. - cookies if you know where that's from!]

I was raised in a Christian household, though the Christianity my parents practice is very liberal.

When I was about 12, I decided that there was no way I wasn’t going to hell as long as I was Christian, so I had better find another faith to follow. Honestly, I don’t remember what triggered these thoughts, or why I was convinced enough to follow through with them.

For a while I was agnostic. I dabbled in several other religions, with an intellectual interest. Eventually I believed that our puny human brains couldn’t even begin to comprehend the power(s) behind the universe.

I’ve held that belief now, for several years.

God loves his flocks, however, and I’ve had a strong calling back into the Christian faith. While I’ve returned to my parents’ church, I have a feeling my path lies further into the faith. I’m currently working through a reading plan on http://www.biblegateway.com/ (King James Version, Chronological plan), attending church, praying for forgiveness and trying to repent.

Fwoo, that’s a lot. All at once. But I’ll try my best.

[End older-youth audience transmission]

On a lighter note, I was thinking of renaming this blog “The dreaded Christian” due to my dreadlocks (kinda like how I’m the Dreaded Hanson Fan on MSN) only, I’m not too sure how that’d go over… or if I want to keep my dreadlocks at any rate.

I see this blog becoming a touch more personal. Not private, mind you, just more about me and less about the world (that sounds selfish and perhaps it is).

Toodles!