281. The camera fell, snow is melting and then turning to ice at night
March 3rd, 2010 § 8 Comments
Today I read Don Quixote in one sitting, deseeded an orange with my teeth, safely removed peeling paint and wallpapered the house with a love-soaked glance, translated Tender Buttons into Chinese, and revealed metaphors of racism and oppression in our everyday lives so stunningly that many people wept real tears. Just kidding/I wish. Sometimes the camera falls to the ground because my tripod is over 15 years old and my parents got it as a result of an elaborate scam, which tricked us into thinking we were getting a ten-day Bahamas vacation, and I told all of my friends at school that my family was going to get $200,000 and a free Caribbean vacation, and some kid, the one who always knew more than everyone else (like the difference between a wiener and a wiener,) was all like, Yeah but how about taxes? And I was like, Huh? And in the end, all we got was this tripod that sometimes tips over.
This skirt is really old, I got it my first year of living in San Francisco, which I am missing a lot after looking at Meggy’s San Francisco pictures. It’s a vintage Alice Roi skirt if that means anything. It was the first thing I’ve ever paid to get dry-cleaned. The lady running the dry cleaning shop loved me and tried to get me to consider dating her son, who was apparently ‘very tall and can cook good Chinese food,’ ignoring my boyfriend at the time who frequently came with me into her shop. Another time, this lady who was mopping the floor in my town’s Burger King came up to me and asked if I had a boyfriend because she thought I would be a great match for her son in marriage and didn’t I want to be with someone who was getting his Masters in Business? That story ended sadly because the manager fired her on the spot for talking to me too much and not mopping the floor. Well, I don’t know what any of this means.
(Outfit: Teal sweater from clothing swap; ruffle sweater from somewhere; Zara buckle boots; vintage Alice Roi skirt; coat from Shanghai; Saddle bag from somewhere; scarf from India.)
Love, Jenny
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
REPLIES (from Jenny) to the last two posts:
Catherine: Oh dear, Twilight. I showed the trailer for the third Twilight movie in class to make some point about writing fiction, which I now regret slightly. And what does being ‘wall-eyed’ look like? I’m intrigued!
Jessica Sue: We should really form a club and ostracize those who shriek at our double-jointedness! Just kidding, kind of.
Jen: I’ll trade you my double-jointed arms for your ability to wear cute shoes in cold weather. Except I can’t actually give you my arms for a day–I’m reluctant to give them up!
Eline: Yes, they are crisps like the kind you can get in a bag, except I think they make them by hand! And so they are extra crispy and delicious.
Amy: I love yellow too, even if it doesn’t love me that much. I’d very much like to be treated to a viewing of what your arms can do.
Rhiannon: Yes, let’s form an I Had Scoliosis as a Kid Club! I never had a back brace because every time the doctor at school suggested it, I would just run away and cause a commotion. Or somehow trick my parents into never making a follow up appointment. I was so terrified of getting a back brace, which is why I have terrible posture now.
Starr: Ha, I was afraid the studded booties would be too much. I don’t know why but whenever I wear my studded booties I always fear someone will come up to me and say, ‘Why why why are you wearing those shoes? You look ridiculous!’
Sally: Sadly, I am the sole possessor of this dress, but you should check out Caramelized Vintage’s Etsy store if you like the yellow dress. She has tons of cute things.
Everyone: Thank you for your sweet comments and reassuring me that my arms are not freak arms. Even though they are. And I love that you all know so many double-jointed people. I’ll show you how far my arms can bend and my bizarre fingers another day….
Violet: Latin homework is an admirable and lovely endeavor, and thank you so much for your kind comment. It made my day! It more than made my day, in fact, I think it made me feel as if I was walking around with the warm sun on my back, even in the evening when it became cold and slippery again. What kind of writing do you do?
Oh, that’s so funny/pathetic/weird about those matchmaking ladies! It’s sort of like being hit on, but in a really strange, indirect way…and that scarf is so beautiful!
The train made me think of Anna Karenina, which I’m reading right now (but obviously I already know the ending 
). I’m so glad my post brightened your day so much! As far as writing goes (thank you for asking!), I’ve written a few horribly trite and predictable novel-length stories that I refuse to share with anyone, even though my mom assures me I should try to get them published, but I keep reminding her that she hasn’t even read them….the confidence of mothers! 
I also have been delving into poetry lately. And I’ve never really worked much with short stories (unless you count the little fragments of writing that I always intend to turn into a story but never do), so that is sort my goal for this summer. I feel like I should know from reading, but what writing are you focusing on? What projects are you working on now?
Thanks so much for replying to my first comment, by the way!
wow lovely look
your blog is great!
xxx
Rhiannon & Jenny: I have scoliosis, too! I never had to wear a brace, but I remember having to go to the doctor, and when I go to yoga I am scolded for my skewed downward dog.
in one sitting? that is impressive. I read it 10 years ago for school
First things first–thank you so much for that glorious prize package love letter post–you are so lovely and gracious and should be showered with mailbox treasure at least once per week.
Scoliosis always frightened me, especially after reading Deenie by Judy Blume–anyone remember that old thing?
How I wish I could wall-paper my home with a single love-soaked glance.
xoxo,
Gina
The skirt is so cute. I love the color.
I had a co-worker at a bead store once who’d always ask me if I had a boyfriend. Then she’d announce, apropos of nothing, “I have my period. I want ice cream.” I’m ashamed to say it, but she made me scared to be a woman (at least when I was around her).
I LOVE the panels on that skirt! They give it a 1920s feel, but the white border makes it look moddish. Those three buttons are awesome, too. And the first pic totally gave me vertigo!
isn’t that funny about chinese parents? always doing the matchmaking even in front of your partner. fantastic alice roi skirt!