Day 89: Black hair dye

I have a chip on my shoulder about people thinking I have black hair. According to me, it is dark brown.  As a composite I admit it looks more like black but on a strand level I definitely have brown hair. Defensive about my hair color since '94.

Occasionally I dye my hair black, as if to prove a point. It is definitely a different look for me although I do not actually think it has ever swayed anyone about my natural hair color. I can not recall the exact circumstances but I purchased these hair products several months ago as a reaction to someone telling me I had black hair. In the end it was a silly purchase because I like the brown highlights.

Status: Dibbed

Day 88: MAC lipstick

I don't think I've ever used this lipstick. I almost never wear anything on my lips besides chapstick. I dislike the feel of gunk on my lips and it always wears off so quickly. This is one of the many purchases I used to make at the persuasion of the MAC girls that were rarely a good idea.

Now I stick to a simple routine and while I still don't bother more days than not it's not nearly the pain in the ass it once was. I use the same technique every time. Neutral lids, pretty color along the lashline, black eyeliner, a little concealer, blush. Exactly what I learned when I invested in a makeup lesson several years ago. Of course, the stylist told me I should fill in my brows but if I keep my bangs long I don't need to bother!

Status: Dibbed

Day 87: Yukata book

I bought this book during my first visit to Japan. It includes instructions for making yukata and accessories. I was hoping to someday try to make one but it seems unlikely to ever happen.

I do own a yukata; it was a gift from a woman I stayed with in Kyoto. This was part of our tour of mothers with young children. The yukata had been sewn by the mother when she was eighteen years old. I felt a little strange taking such a gift from someone I hardly knew; especially since she had a daughter a bit older than me. I've only worn it once to an anime convention.

Status: Dibbed

Day 86: Lord Peter Views the Body - Dorothy Sayers

I discovered the mystery novelist Dorothy Sayers when I attended a performance of her play "Busman's Holiday" at the Taproot Theater. She was my real introduction to good mystery novels, with storytelling and cunning that rivals Dame Christie.

Status: Dibbed

Day 85: Zachte Pastels

These pastels are left over from the one art class I talk during my freshman year of college. That class was hands-down the biggest time commitment out of any class I took. It was fun but I wasn't particularly interested in spending 8 hours on the same picture and I didn't know how to make those hours actually show. Of course I never actually spent that much time on them but I was graded accordingly.

Recently I retrieved my old sketchbook and drawings from my parents' house. They're decent but I think it's obvious that I was going through the motions of drawing and not that interested in the outcome.

Status: Trashed

Day 84: The Daughter of Time - Josephine Tey

Another classic mystery novel. I discovered her at the yearly Greenwood Garage Sale Day. There was an elderly lady selling a bunch of books and I asked her for her recommendations for mystery authors.

Status: Dibbed

Day 83: Daxter for PSP

I have a PSP for one reason. Disgaea. It was a gift from a friend who knew I loved the game on PS2 and felt like I should own it on PSP as well. He was right because Disgaea ported incredibly well to a handheld system.

Anyway, the PSP also came with this copy of Daxter. I've never even taken it out of the cardboard holder thingy.

Status: Dibbed

Day 82: Totoro PIN Badge

I love Totoro. Since I first saw the movie I have dreamed of owning a giant Totoro shaped bed. I can't decide if the belly would just be a zip off bottom sheet or if it would be a pouch that I could curl up in like a koala baby. I think it would have to be a smiling Totoro, so that it'd look like he was eating my head.

Status: Dibbed

Day 81: The Girls' Guide to Hunting And Fishing - Melissa Bank

I've been a regular patron of the library for as long as I can remember. When I was four years old I lost my first library book and threw away my library card so I couldn't be tracked. At six I donated a book for the library's collection that was written and illustrated by myself. Until my dad brought home a computer, when I misbehaved I would be grounded from the library.

Every year the Friends of the Seattle Public Library organization holds a massive book sale in a hangar in Magnuson Park. Stacks of books as far as the eye can see, and cheap too. If you enjoy possessing books and you haven't been yet, you should go. The next one is the weekend of April 16-18.

This book is from my second attempt at the book sale. It is evidence that I am not meant to be a book owner. I have not read a single book that I acquired in my box of twenty-something books. It turns out that I use the library due dates to prioritize my reading. If I own a book, the commencement of reading is delayed indefinitely.

Henceforth, I have decided I will no longer acquire works of fiction unless I have already read them and I was captivated enough to add it to the tiny list of books that I re-read regularly. If you love me, you will email or text me titles you think I should read and I will dutifully add them to my holds list.

Status: Dibbed

Day 80: Hot Glue Gun

For Halloween one year I put together a costume of Chell from the video game Portal. I purchased an orange jumpsuit online and tried to tailor it down to my size. My friend made me a portal gun. It was a lot of work for a costume that only about three people recognized. The saddest part is I didn't get any pictures.

Status: Dibbed

Day 79: CD stand

With the removal of Nana from my bookshelf I was able to create a shelf for just DS games and CDs. This is part of my plan to transfer everything that was sitting on my desk to another location and then getting rid of the desk. I'm excited about the prospect of getting rid of a largish piece of furniture, mainly because it is almost certain that I will need to move in 4-6 months. Either that or I'll need a new roommate.

After a string of bad roommates, living with my sister has been a breath of fresh air. She's definitely cleaner than I am, but I make an effort for her sake. We have different tastes for the most part but we have enough shared interests to enjoy each other's company. Fortunately for her (but unfortunately for me) she found a great boyfriend and is abandoning me.

Status: Donated

Day 78: My cassette tape collection

What's left of my cassette tapes. I'm a little confused about how I ended up with this particular selection.

Top 107 Countdown '96
Green Day / Insomniac
JPM 031.011 (For Japanese class)
Yookoso! (Came with Japanese textbook)
Gravity Kills
Beastie Boys / Licensed to Ill
3 mystery tapes

Status: Trashed/Donated

Day 77: There is a Tide - Agatha Christie

My friend is starting an English language library in Japan and all the books and Archie comics I've posted so far have been sent to his American address. I feel a little strange about sending some of them. I think I'm going to recommend he not add "Black As He's Painted" to the library. The book was published in 1974 but she frequently mentions what she calls the distinct smell of black people. As a Seattle liberal, her descriptions made me pretty uncomfortable.

Status: Dibbed

Day 76: Kay Kay And His Weathered Underground Record

I couldn't resist picking this up at their release show even though I have no way to play it. Fortunately it came with a code for a digital download. I love this band, their music is enchanting.

Status: Dibbed

Day 75: Starbucks Thermos

During high school I was a member of a mailing list called FoTGTSBRiC (Followers of That Guy That Sit's Behind Ranma in Class). It was a spin-off of the Ranma ML, a tribute to my first manga love. I have kept in touch with several FoTGTSBRiCers over the years and this thermos recently arrived in the mail with a bunch of other goodies. It came through in a pinch when I needed to send soup home with a guest.

Status: Gifted

Day 74: My Prom Dress

I'm never going to fit in a size five dress again so I have no idea why I've been keeping this all these years. I found this strapless red dress at The Bon Marche on sale and wore it with a tiara and pearls. Whenever anyone complimented me on it I bleated happily "It was only fifty bucks!"

Other than the dress, prom was pretty lame. I was a full-time running start student for the last two years of high school so I was disconnected from my peers. I went stag to prom but ended up tagging along with a "friend" and his date. I put friend in quotes because he was always a jerk to me. I did not have any money for photos so he offered to pay for my prom photos as long as they were him with a lady on each arm.

Status: Donated

Day 73: Spring Skirt

This skirt fits fine but I'm terribly uncomfortable wearing so much white. It's difficult to see in the photo but the white fabric has a pretty eyelet pattern.

Size: Small

Status: Dibbed

Day 72: Wool Skirt

A couple years ago I bought up a bunch of skirts from an online boutique called Boutique Ooh La La. I'm really fond of them but I was convinced I was a little larger than I am so most of them don't actually fit that well. If only I'd been living with my sister back then, she would have told me what's what.

Size: Medium

Status: Dibbed

Day 71: Josef Seibel shoes

I should have tossed these shoes ages ago but they are so comfortable. This was my second pair, the first were worn out by my last trip to Europe. I had only owned them for about four months so I took them to Nordstrom and they generously replaced them.

I'm sure you're thinking that any decent pair of shoes should not wear out after four months and you would be correct. These shoes have a fatal flaw - the soles crack across the middle. I'm talking an almost one inch deep fissure. Every time I wear them it seems to rain and I end up with soaking wet socks.

Status: Trashed

Day 70: Charm School issue 1

Never read past the first issue.

Status: Dibbed

Day 69: Barrettes

I have two packs of barrettes and have yet to use a single one. Can't quite bring myself to get rid of both since I'm growing my hair out but I can certainly spare these ones.

Status: Dibbed

Day 68: WoW Collector's Edition Box

I used to be a Warcraft addict. This was during the time that I lived in Lake City with the boy I wasted six and a half years of my life with. I don't like to use the term "waste" lightly when it comes to relationships but when I think of how my personal growth stalled during those years it is difficult not to think of him as a big mistake. This includes the two years we spent together in our basement apartment fighting with the Horde.

The Warcraft addiction was bad. My sister and a friend would come over every week to watch Veronica Mars with me. They would sit on the couch and I would sit at my computer and raid during the show. "Just a few more minutes, I have a chance at some new gear!" I would say. Sometimes I would get the coveted gear but it was never just a few more minutes.

By the time that I quit Warcraft for Lent* I had effectively isolated myself from everyone but my boyfriend.

Disclaimer: I was not actually the person who purchased this Collector's Edition. It was given to me by someone who had already quit. It is missing the art book and map.

Status: Trashed

* I'm an atheist but I was raised Catholic and still use Lent occasionally for behavior modification purposes.

Day 67: Brawl - Pearl deck

We used to play this game when I was a freshman in college. Unfortunately I only have one deck and I don't know of anyone else who has the game anymore so I haven't played Brawl at all since then.

Status: Trashed

Day 66: Makeup Case

I should have gotten a photo of the inside. It's pink with white polka dots!

Status: Dibbed

Day 65: The World In 2004

This came free with my subscription to The Economist!

Status: Dibbed

Day 64: Rock Band Drum Dampeners

I've never had a noise complaint so I don't use them. Shocking, because we're definitely the loudest apartment on our floor.

Status: Dibbed

Day 63: Nana 1-14

I enjoyed this series a lot at first. I like the characters, the cute clothes, the art. Lately though, it's become less of a cute drama and more of a tragedy. I like good things to happen occasionally.

Status: Dibbed

Day 62: CD Case with assorted discs

Flashback to my past, this CD case comes with burned CDs of anime, J-pop, and even some happy hardcore music.

Status: Trashed

Day 61: Pink leopard hat

The second of my two remaining hats. The ears are nicer on this one but I didn't take a new photo of it since they're almost identical.

Status: Dibbed

Day 60: Cooking Light

I had a subscription for a year but I never made a single Cooking Light recipe. Sigh.

Status: Dibbed

Day 59: Goth Loli Volume 3

Gorgeous full-page photos of cute girls dressed in goth-loli outfits. Also includes patterns!

Status: Dibbed