whew

Major apartment progress today.

I did laundry, lots of annoying errands, hit floor in my room, cleaned out the freezer and emptied out three bins of stuff. Patty and I also talked through some more logistics, which felt productive even if it wasn't.

Megan did absolutely scads of stuff and used these mesmerizing vacuum seal bags for her clothes and there's already a lot more space opening up.

There's a lot more to do, but it finally feels like it's happening and getting done.

I am so sweaty and disgusting there are not words.

BUT, I did find the photos of me that I use as proof for my creepy Snape-like personality as a child. I'll scan them later.

In other news:
- did a lot more on this pivotal scene in my novel last night, but it's still not done. I'm hoping I can finish it tonight.
- agreed to a trip with my parents that should be moderately stressful but should also buy me a lot of peace
- can't wait to get to fencing tomorrow despite the heat. I've missed it terible with teh short weesk from holidays and then because of filming. I need to get back to it as it really has become this grounding force in my nature.

kid pics!

January 1982.
I was nine.
This was taken at a B&B in East Hampton.
Yes, those are brown velvet knickers.
And my mother sewed all those little decorations on the cardigan, which was pink and I found objectionable. The shirt is eggshell satin, my first men's poet sort of shirt.
I remember when this was taken, and I had wanted to look powerful, like I owned things that were old.
I think it's interesting to look at now. You can tell I was sick.
We saw ghosts on that trip.

My guess is that this is December 1983, making me 11.
That's my mom.
The dress was given to me by my cousin Cindy who was a follower of the Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and could only wear red, and so always bought me things that were red. This was from Cerutti, a very expensive NYC children's store. I now own the jacket my motehr is wearing there. See! I grew up in the wizarding world! At least aesthetically.
ETA: for those who have read drafts of the book so far -- Mairome is older than this by a few years and isn't white, but my facial expression here is very very her.

My best guess here is that this is May of 1986, making me 13.
The hair is horrible. And was the result of Vidal Sasoon not listening to my instructions. My mother bought me gold earings that year, so that I would look like a girl.
The outfit is horrible.
But I can't believe my face.
At the time, I had no idea I looked like that.
Although I did understand by then that I stared at people like that and that it was bothersome to most of them.
You can kind of tell I am sick here too.
I used this photo for beauty pageant applications, including Miss New York National Teen-Ager 1987, which I eventually competed in in Albany.

(no subject)

FUCK EVERYTHING I WAS JUST SPOILED FOR DEATHLY HALLOWS!
it may have been fake, but now I am freaked out

in an attempt to be less cranky....

Here, look at my cat:



This is pretty Kitty, as captured by Megan on her phone.