Cooler than You: Stupid Things I Say and Do

While in Greece, I have clambered down a gorge, floated in Poseidon's waters, probably tempted the wrath of Zeus (this is me after all), wandered aimlessly, made a friend or two (I think), and nearly forgotten what the word trouble means.  Then again, I did say nearly . . . yet, along the way, the biggest thing that has awakened me is the shelling out of a disproportionate amount of my budget on new clothes.  As in, I went to a few big box stores and bought summer attire.  I shelled out some dough at local, Greek shops too.  I mean, I have certainly given more than my fair share to the Greek economy this summer.  I'm here for a few more weeks, and I'm certain local coffee shops (like the one near my flat), some restaurants, and maybe another bar or two will see my cash.  Tis the nature of life.  Yet . . .  I won't say I'm a skinny mini.  Hell, I've never been that.  In high school, my junior year, there's a pic of my Dad and me at the JR...

It's been a while it seems.  February, when I was in the throes of a broken foot and a doubly ruptured plantar fascia.  In all this time, I've thought about writing, longed to, and yet . . . I wrote for other places, I wrote for books, I wrote in my mind. I stopped time, in many ways. 2019 has been brutal to me. It's been an unending barrage of punches to the face and gut. As I type this now, I shiver a little wondering what will happen next. Will the universe serve me another blow? What insult and injury awaits me this week? I hold my breath. In the fires of memory, I spent a large portion of August in Colorado. Per usual, I found myself footing myself up and down mountainsides, and most pointedly, I made it 3/4 of the way down an expert level hike in Black Canyon. I didn't make it all the way as lupus and asthma said hello, more than once, and my sister from another mother and father--Jen--and I agreed that wrecking myself to make it up and down was not an...

So, among the many things I say and do making my own workout gear is now  one of them.  Posting said photos of that gear is now a given.  Read on, as I may regret this in the morning.   First up: Sewaholic's Dunbar Top .  Yea . . . let's just say I was in desperate need of running tops and pants since I painted, overhauled, and revamped my tiny city apartment this summer.  As in, 90 percent of my running gear found its way to the bin with paint marks and rips.  C'est la vie.   Anywho . . . the top. I used some left over black swimsuit lining from the suit I made last summer, left over mesh from the bra rabbit hole , and some band elastic from the previous venture.  The purple performance knit my Mom got me over the summer, I had slightly less than a yard.  I was going to make a bra, but hey . . . sports top with a built in bra is even better!  For a truly wearable muslin, this bad boy was 1.5 hours from PDF purchase, p...

As this year has run, and as I've attested, there has been a bought of Lupus hell and body image horror.  Okay, probably more horror on my end  . . . but still.  No matter how secure a woman is, shit still creeps in.  Everyone, and I mean, everyone has had it at come point.   With that being said, last summer I bought Heather's first pattern--that Bombshell --and some inexpensive black swimsuit material to try it out.  Then I lost the will to scrutinize myself in the mirror, in a swimsuit.  I mean, come on . . . who in the hell enjoys that torture? Even at home, in decent lighting?  So, it sat.  On my shelf.  Glaring at me like a maladjusted bitch ready to pounce.   And then I found myself inventorying my patterns and fabric.  In that midst (which the patterns are nearly half cataloged and the fabric is all noted and marked), I told myself I had  to do this.  Had to do it by summe...

I believe it was last summer that By Hand London caught my eye . . . maybe last spring.  What I do know is that the Anna came out last summer, and in BHL fashion it did not disappoint.  As much as I love my Charlotte's (which more will be made next fall, after  hopefully long and gloriously hot summer some wool will come out for a smaller grey and one in black . . . yes, my grey one will be on ESTY in about three weeks as after this winter with weight dilemmas and body image galore it's too loose in the waist--if you can believe that!), I might love this bad boy more  . . .Well, the dress not the color.  Anyway . . .  I actually made her Easter Weekend, took less than an afternoon.  I see her as a quickish make, with some nice potential to alter her look.  ;) Pattern calls for one slit, which you will want on the long version . . . I went all ballsy and did two.  FYI, for folks of a normal height the slits are...

As of late the days are getting longer, or so I hear.  Though, there's still stale, dingy colored snow lurking on the ground . . . in March.  C'est la vie en  New York.  Word is that there is snow, there isn't snow in the forecast.  Who knows . . . all I know is that the pace of life and the dreary days of winter take their toll on anyone.  I've craved and eaten more citrus fruit than I have in my entire life, and in the course of that I've struggled with the toils of Lupus and swollen joints.  When I had to see my doctor for international clearance and got the godsend of a plaq script (while still being devoid of health insurance) it all came in the perfect moment. A little more than a month later and, well, I'm near my mojo again.  C'est la via.  Plus vrai . . . Of course, as I've mentioned more than once (most recently  ) body image is always a Pandora's Box of hell shaped goo that leaks and seeps out a...