gement | Life, the Universe, and Joker Boots

I haven't posted much lately because I've been practicing just enjoying life and not worrying about all my "oughtas". LJ is a big one of those for me. I'm cutting this because when I see something really long in my friendslist, I tend to skim. Go on, open a new tab, read me at your leisure.

Daily Life:

I love my job again. I'm so grateful that my company believes in employee retention and found a space for me in my old department as soon as was feasible. I'm almost two months back, and it's felt like home again since day one.

I love living with J, still again, some more. We are so comfortable with each other, so careful of each other's feelings, so thoughtful. We're getting along well with each other and our housemates. We folded laundry while watching Poirot last night.

I love spending weekends with

arjache. We help each other get stuff done, we geek out, we play hero and sidekick, and sometimes it's not clear which of us is which. We discovered yesterday that my Earth Lady costume, with only minor changes, is the spitting image of Zoe (2nd Doctor companion). Gallifrey One is going to rule.

It is still surreal for me that there are people who want to pamper me and treat me like a princess, with only my adoration in return. Princess Marilee is pleased.

meowse comes home from a six month programming contract in two days. I have sent him a postcard every day he was gone. I feel rather triumphant about that. Also, I get to be his groomsmaid in January. While our relationship has scaled back, I'm very much looking forward to seeing a bit more of him before he is eaten entirely by the responsibilities of parenthood.

I have started tentatively stepping out with

oosid. I have never had much luck with Dating as opposed to slipping into relationships with good friends. So, we're trying to see if we can become good friends concurrently with seeing if we are a romantic match. Lots of talking. We shall see. He's a lifer Trekkie and interested in becoming indoctrinated in Who, which is a good sign.

Music:

I'm listening to music again, and I'm trying to broaden my collection with things I actually like, as my music collection has tended to be "whatever I got as handmedowns". I actually purchased a song on iTunes for the first time the other day (Amanda Palmer, "Ampersand"). I bought a CD of [local radio station] KEXP's live performances when I don't know any of the artist names, just to see if I like them.

I bought three CDs from Vagabond Opera the other day. Any of you who like cabaret, accordions, European folk music, or operatic tenor sung in six languages? Do yourself a favor and check them out. If you have a chance to see them live, take it. Eric Stern, the accordionist and operatic tenor, has enough charisma for ten. They play all over, including NYC in January...

Connection:

I've kept up with reading LJ lately. Even though I haven't posted, I've felt connected to all of you who do. Thank you.

I've been sending postcards on PostCrossing and should reach card #20 in the next day or so, which will allow me to send them faster. It's sending little presents to strangers, and it does my heart good. (Edit as of 11am: Number 20! Whee!)

I'm going to start keeping an address book again. Now that I'm in the habit of putting things in physical mail, I want to start doing so for my real friends too. (Following post will request addresses.)

Luxury:

I've been spending money on things that I like, and appreciating that I make a very decent salary during a hard time. I'm expressing my gratitude by actually enjoying some of it instead of madly throwing it all into my retirement fund. I'm buying pretty postcards, and good cheese, and little spontaneous presents for people, like YakTrax for me and J in anticipation of this year's unanticipated snowstorm. (Y, HELLO THAR, CLIMATE CHANGE!)

I bought my first pair of Doc Martens on Saturday. They have a "For Life" collection now. Just a couple classic designs, but made of better materials (the leather is almost buttery) and they'll replace them as long as you and the company continue to exist. I was fretting about buying the black ones because Black Leather Stompy Boots feel pretentious to me (leather, butch, and military connotations that I'm not sure I want to project)... But then I saw the green and purple shoelaces.

Ever since I dressed as the Joker last year, I'm painfully aware that purple and green in the vivid shades I like are Joker Colors. But I love me my mismatched Joker boots.

So that's my life. I was going to do a big linkpost, because I saw some awesome awesome links, but come to think of it, everything I wanted to post was from a single post of

rm's, so look there for an awesome Iranian protest (men wearing women's headcoverings) and a gingerbread TARDIS (whoops, that was elsewhere, added a link).

I enjoy RM's links pretty much every day. RM, thank you for that.

*deep breath* That's a good snapshot of right now. Oh, and my hair is long enough to be comfortable again; it lies down and responds to combing. This is a relief, as there was a really awkward month where all it would look like was a 16 year old boy who thought spikes were the best thing ever. I used no product for this effect.