Song of the Momement

Without trying to become to emo-myspacy, I do find comfort in mood matching songs and power lyrics. I plan on posting videos time to time but promise not to bog you down with too much back story. Basically it will be whatever is on repeat on my i-pod and you can cultivate your own opinion.

The video is quite 80'slicious...why artists are still making music videos is beyond me. But this is a great jam to pick up a girl up when feeling down. I don't know about you but I'm ready for a fist-pump raging, relationship stomping good time!

La Roux- Bulletproof

F (the past two months of) My Life!

One reason I started this blog was because I found myself with an abundance of couch time following a car accident not too long ago. Let's start from the beginning: About two months ago I was was rear ended while waiting at a red light. The accident seemed minor enough at first, although my mothers car (go figure I wouldn't be driving my whip which desperately needs replacing) was totaled. I was hit by a man driving a semi-esque pick-up truck, not exactly sure how fast but hit with enough force to push into four cars ahead of mine. I was extremely disoriented, one minute I was staring aimlessly - and apparently slightly off to the right- and the next there was a severe burning sensation turned numbness on the left side of my face. I hit my head in the middle of the steering wheel, resulting in a burn across my cheek bone in the shape of a Lexus symbol and a quickly growing eye lid. After what seemed like hours talking to the cops and finally being cleared of a concussion at the ER, I was sent home with a black eye and enough painkillers to keep my bitching to the minimum.

That would have been a very boring, pointless story. But a few days after the accident I visited my GP for a follow up as the bruising and swelling of my eye was pretty significant. Long story short, an emergency visit to the optometrist followed by an even more urgent visit to the ophthalmologist had me knowing something wasn't right. What the ER failed to notice in the CT scans was that I had blown out the side of my orbital wall and was suffering what is called enophthalmos with herniated orbital content. Basically the part of my eye socket separating my nasal cavity had been shattered and my eye and surrounding eye goo was moving into the cavity. Gross. I was booked for surgery the next week and given a lot more painkillers.

I could make this a long, drawn out account about how my quality of life plummeted the weeks that followed. I could rant about how the accident was just two days before my favorite holiday, Halloween, and how one of my most awesome costumes to date is still sitting in a shopping bag with the tags on somewhere in my closet. I could pour my heart about the strain it put on some of my personal relationships, and the mind numbing amount of down time that fueled my ever over analyzing thoughts. Or I could whine about my depleted bank account after being out of work for three weeks.

But I won't. Now that the ordeal is somewhat over (other than scarring, daily discomfort, high chance of glaucoma, the need for monthly optometrist check ups, and the now permanently damaged personal relationship) I feel that I have simply lost two months of my life, and they are two I do not want back. In my latest, though definitely not the last, visit with my amazing ophthalmologist I was prescribed what is to be my last medication. I think this one - a steroid to help with scarring and swelling - better sums up my experience than any amount of vicoden or antibiotics, flowers or get well cards.

This little tube says it all, and I can't wait to be done with it!

FML!

I do have to add - since this post turned out a lot more depressing and whiny than the witty, sarcastic bit I had intended to write - that I am very thankful to come out of all this with fine vision, both eyes looking straight forward and to have LOTS of friends that did come through and support me. Maybe if I ever write a more personal, insightful blog I can include more of the obscenities that really took a toll on me mentally, but especially for legal and insurance purposes, this should suffice. Much love.

Tiger Beat

And I thought I was done reading Tiger Beat when I was 14.

What were Tiger and his wife doing that infamous night?
Clubbing...with John Daily

Tiger said hitting a tree was due to something wrong with his Escalade.
Typical for a golfer to blame a bad drive on the Caddy.

When asked how many times Tiger's wife swung the club she said "I lost count. Just put me down for five."

He should know that you can't have a caddy drive you to the next hole.

The Evolution of the Hipster

This goes out to all you PBR drinking, Spirit smoking, fixie riding hipsters.


For the record, I ride single speed.

See enlarged spread here.

This was taken from Paste Magazine's November issue.

Have yourself another dose

St. Petersburg Technological University professor, Yevgeny Mokslaev, has discovered a method in which alcohol can be converted into a powder to be packed into pills. Yes, alcohol pills. Potentially, you can have your choice of drink (or is that drug?) as the new technique can solidify any type of alcohol: liquors, wines, beers and cognac.

When first stumbling upon this story, I thought there is no way this will ever be legal in the US. How easily and obviously will it be abused? Right away I'm imaging alcoholics, suicidals and frat boys cheering in unison. Now, I am none of these, but I personally do not care for the taste of alcohol and the idea of poppin' a pill to get my buzz on doesn't sound too bad. Rather, convenient actually. So when can have my doctor scribble me up a prescription?

The concept of getting absolutely hosed by tossing back a few doses is still one that has not - should not and probably would not - been made. These pills apparently have weak results and tastes like candle wax. Its true usefulness lies in foods, where the alcohol pills could be used as some sort of garnish. Mokslaev says he prefers his in ice cream.

Read more here or here or here.

Phabulous gift idea for the Reader

Crafting a Christmas list can be a tricky task. Of course it can be easy to scribble down all your material dreams in hopes St. Nick thought you were especially good this year, but if you're like me, you know the value in research and Christmas practicality.

One gadget that has caught my eye - and millions of others' - is the Amazon Kindle electronic reader. I love to read and the idea of thousands of titles at my finger tips definitely excites me, but with a $260+ price tag, I know it is an unrealistic wish.



However, with a little research, I found that the Kindle comes with certain features that not only are unnecessary for my use, but runs up the cost. For some, the ability to take notes and highlight certain sections can be helpful, as well as the wireless feature allowing you to download new books on the go. For me, the thrill is simply having a whole library available to me for joy reading.



So here I present to you Sony's version of the Kindle, the Digital Reader Pocket Edition. It costs about $100 less than the Kindle, mostly because of its more limited use (no note taking, and stores up to 350 books vs the latter's 1,500) and the requirement of uploading texts from your computer rather than having a wi-fi connection. Also, being the pocket edition the unit is a bit smaller, 1" x 4" x 6" compared to the Kindle's .35" x 5.3" x 8", so it might be more difficult for some to read. Personally, I do not see these as burdens, I will just be sure to prepare myself with several titles before enduring a long trip away from my computer (not likely). Besides, Sony totally makes up for the lack of bells and whistles by making it in PINK. Phabulous!

Black Friday is now Black Everyday

Happy Black Friday everyone! Although I absolutely love shopping and may have a slight problem when it comes to frivolous spending, pushing through tight crowds to get half off of something that no one would want anyway just does not sound like my ideal shopping experience. I'm the kind of person that will take their good, sweet time examining each item and appreciates not being rushed or pressured into a purchase (other than eBay, but that’s another excitement altogether).

So, rather than share with you the craziest slashed prices available at BestBuy until 10 a.m., I give you a website that offers top-of-the-line products at somewhat affordable prices, for a limited time. From red carpet suitable designer gowns to off-beat electronics, at Gilt Group there is potential to give all of your loved ones a gift to wow. The site releases a limited number of items each day and are only available for a certain amount of time. Things do sell out quickly, and this I have had to learn the hard way (we're talking Me&Ro Jewelry here).

Many items, although some more than half off their original price, are still rather pricey so their can be no accusations of being a cheapskate. I have done my research and the "actual retail prices" are accurate. Another appeal of Gilt Group is that not just anyone can register to receive the deals, you need to be invited to join. In return, that person receives $25 off an order if someone they invited makes a purchase. You can also request to join, but you will be put on a wait list. If you e-mail me at StephLo1987@aol.com, I will gladly send you an invitation and hope to reap the benefits.


I treated myself today - as any devout shopaholic would - to a Phabulous wool trench on GiltGroup. It was a bit of a splurg at $188 - an even $200 with shipping - but is much more swallowable than the orignial $490 price tag. Perfect for a winter in Denver!