I shall hereby present Quicksilver Sanity with a brand new layout.
Now, for the first time, the background and header images have actually been made by me. This has certainly been a "Cobbler's children have no shoes" issue since I am a graphic designer yet it took me, what, ten months to create a layout of my own for my blog? On the other hand this is not that strange – a similar issue to what a photographer co-worker told me recently; when on a vacation abroad, his wife takes more photos than he does.
Now the layout looks more like "me" and features a quote by Poe too. However, had I known what a pain it would be to put it up, I would have considered twice! I had several problems from finding an image host which wouldn't automatically resize images to figuring out how the heck Blogger templates work. Mind you, I know HTML and CSS well, probably to the extent of being totally handicapped with graphic layout editors. Please excuse my language.
I think I certainly deserve some dinner now – maybe some noodles with green pesto, yum. I'm also going to dye my hair either tonight or tomorrow, will see how that turns out... So long!
"Have many things to do, open the door.
Yes, I live so true, without my lover
But tell me if the sky is blue, how old are you?"
...a year older as of today. Getting to the numbers where it no longer feels great to age, yet I don't feel desperate yet.
Last weekend I visited my parents. They gave me a birthday present in advance; a bottle of sparkling wine, some glasses and a bottle opener... They're contributing to my alcoholism, hmm?
I have a bottle of white wine and sparkling wine, yet "no one" to share them with, I think... My friends seem to be so picky! (Not that I wouldn't be, miss No-red-wine-or-beer-thank-you.)
My cupboard isn't that exciting with all those pints and such, yet I actually like the cupboard itself a lot. Behold the pretty handle!
The song which I quoted in the headline and afterwards is Miko Mission's hit from the 80's. I was going to link it from Youtube, but then I couldn't find my favourite version, thus... Go find one to listen to by yourself.
Besides my birthday, it's also a national failure day today. No wonder... Oh well, my day was nice enough, yet the weather wasn't that nice; it was blowing hard and uhhuh...
"And the wind, and the wind I know it's cold..."
A bit of an Emilie Autumnism. I don't like wind. Not at all.
This song, Tsumetai Kaze by Penicillin, is one of my favourite of their songs, and it means "cold wind". The video is perhaps a bit strange, but also very nice in a way. Enjoy!
I was going to write a more deep post today, but I've been working on this entry for a while now and I feel like playing or relaxing or something. Thank god it's Friday tomorrow! So long!
Firstly, I want to wish the new readers warmly welcome aboard!
As the days get colder and I can no longer ignore the fact it's autumn now, I also begin to notice all the little things I need to purchase, rather as soon as possible. However, I've had these "asap" needs for quite a while now. I've been looking for a new autumn/spring jacket for a few years. I've noticed how I seriously need to buy a bit of this and that, from the very top to the very bottom (on both y and z axes)...
Well, I've managed to find something I need. I truly hate lingerie shopping (+ tights and stockings) for a simple reason; most brands don't even have my size. That doesn't apply to stockings however – they're annoying simply because I would need new ones so often.
I won't be showing off the lingerie pieces I managed to find, because well... No. However, my attention was caught by a discount accessory with a price tag of 1 €. I took it, and later when I checked the receipt it had obviously cost only 0,50 €.
Imagine seeing a tone of green? Maybe it's not just your imagination. It's an interesting hue altogether.
A bit later I found an interesting bag – I had been looking for something like this to complete my corporate looks. I'm not yet sure if I should say it's compact or cramped – it's a bit tricky to cram my keys, cell phone, wallet, bus card, headphones, bottle of water and some lunch box into it. Yet I've managed.
Unfortunately enough, I also popped to a newly-opened shoe store nearby and ended up buying a pair of shoes. *gasp* On the other hand I needed something like these too, as a slightly similar pair I have had begun to fall into pieces. I'm trying to complete my corp goth looks with these as well, yet – no matter how lame it is – I'm often in such a terrible hurry in the morning by the time I notice I should be on my way to the bus stop already that I don't have the time to tie any shoe laces!
*sigh* I'm also looking forward to receiving a parcel from H&M with a few basic everyday need items + a dress I bought just for fun (still for the corporate looks). Lately, I've been more into dresses than skirts. Anyway, I have no idea when I'll actually get those – their estimated arrival times keep changing so often. I wished I'd get the dress by my birthday (the 13th) but that seems unlikely now. I will put off celebrating until the 22th, but it seems I won't get it by that day either.
Enough with all the shopping. I had great fun at the 80's party on Saturday. Wonderful music and awesome company. If one of the best party songs was on Youtube, I'd link it here, but unfortunately it isn't there. Instead, I'll link something else, which I had listened to before the party but never really fallen for it, but goddamnit, it sounded much better on the dance floor.
Ken Laszlo – Hey Hey Guy
I also found yet another slightly 80's themed party in the city – something I could be looking forward to, although I'm not sure if I'm going. Ah, but just the possibility of partying like it was the 80's keeps me happy. So long!
A quick update before I tend to other things. Currently I'm quite enthusiastic, looking forward to Saturday – yet another 80's party waiting for me.
Yet some troubles cast a shadow over my enthusiasm. Last week I got to hear that my dog will not recover. It made me upset since I had wished for her to live a long and healthy life as she was doing very well – she had proper nourishment, physical exercise and such. Everything was so fine until the pyometra. And although that was taken care of with the surgery, the unfortunate (consequent?) (hemolytic) anaemia is incurable. Thus, she'll be living on drug therapy for the rest of her life – and it's impossible to say how long it could possibly be, her condition could turn worse in a week or then she could keep going for years still. She's twelve, yet otherwise healthy – if you can possibly call an anaemic dog healthy.
Last weekend I popped to a sales event (again?) and found a truly good special offer; Grimas eye shadows for 3 €. I decided to buy three shades (and the shade options were quite limited) and I'm not sure if I can find good use for any of those.
The shades look strange in the photo, but basically they're reddish orange, bluish grey and well... purple, I guess – the shade looks quite warm in the image, yet it's cooler on the skin. I think the two darker shades are too dark for me – or then I'm just used to wearing pink, pink, pink... Or then I simply cannot make myself up properly. I think I look mean or too dramatic if my eyes are surrounded by merely dark shades. Or maybe I should just practise? The orange shade is energetic and basically nice, yet probably not the best choice for my skin tone. It would suit my blue eyes, being the complementary colour and all... I could probably use it together with my usual pink.
A useless peek-a-boo photo. Okay, I'm showing off my everyday (everynight, partynight) make-up. I guess I use pink since it stands out from my uneven skin tone and it's fresh in a way. Yet I could try some other shades... Suggestions and good tips on how to apply dark eye shadow nicely are appreciated. (Yes, I know the internet is full of make-up tutorials, but not all of those are good.)
While I'm still waiting for the 80's night on Saturday, I could announce that I recently entered a time machine and arrived in the 21st century. In other words, I got a new mobile phone, having used an old Nokia phone for years, years, years...
So yeah, Sony-Ericsson after an 11-year-long marriage with Nokia. And oh my, a smartphone. Now I can stalk my friends on Facebook 24/7 have many useful applications and and...
...and, well, sink into the deep sea of social media. A piece of homework I got from work, I guess. I had got to hear that without any real experience of mobile internet features, mobile social media features etc. I could barely be a credible designer in an advertising agency in 2011. However, I'm not the type to enter every social media service as I don't think I'm that interesting. I'm not using Twitter, because I don't think anyone would give a damn. I don't update my Facebook status daily because I don't have something to say that often! However, now my work mate has made me join the worst – Foursquare. Alright – I cannot deny it, it's a service with many good features. During the few weeks I've been using it I've already found some nice places and got a beer for half the regular price. However, I'm not particularly comfortable checking myself into everyday places and letting the world know that at 17.23 on Tuesday, I was grocery-shopping! Yet I do that. I've ended up having sort of a competition with my dear work mate. However, I'm not sharing all my updates on Facebook. I'm not that desperate.
Finally, I'll post a video of my newest 80's love – an italo disco song Slice me nice by Fancy. Enjoy ~ so long!
I think I could write about many recent events, but I'm being harassed into a roleplaying session, yet I think I should have dinner too. But I'll post a quick update about the Ofelia Market event. It was held in Tampere on September 11th, and I quickly popped there to purchase a few nice things.
A pair of skeleton key earrings. My boss already told they look cute.
A skeleton key necklace. This was from Sanna von Steam. I joked with my friends that I only need some locks now... Or then they're all in my heart. Oh so dramatic.
Although I just quickly popped in at Yo-talo, I decided to dress up for a change. The following (obviously edited) photo shows what I looked like.
I wear that dress quite rarely... Last time was probably at the Christmas party of my workplace. It's quite a nice dress although the heart-shaped hole makes it difficult to wear anything underneath as it would look a bit strange if a shirt's neckline crossed the hole. But now, I had better go get some dinner before the roleplay session. So long!
Ah, what a feeling – one of my dreams came true last night.
On Friday I didn't feel too good – I had caught a flu and thus had a sore throat. However, I'm not easily bedridden by such, and I went to work normally and so on. After work I went to see if I could still get pre-tickets to an 80's themed party held to celebrate the 25-year-old Sokos Hotel Ilves in the city. Fortunately I got the tickets, and then I spent the evening with:
Almost, at least. A true pirate like me cures a flu with a hot rum toddy. The problem is that I cannot really down anything hot. Yeah, a little detail of me; I don't drink coffee, tea or hot chocolate. And to be precise, I couldn't drink the whole toddy either. Hot and warm drinks make me feel like throwing up.
And then I prepared myself to finally see my everlasting music love live – that being Dingo! I've been their fan since I was twelve, and although there have been times when I haven't listened to them much, they still hold a very special place in my heart. Basically, of all bands I've ever listened to, I know their discography best, and their history altogether I suppose. However, I hadn't seen them live – and on the other hand I still think the band performing these days is not the "real" Dingo, it's Neumann performing their songs. Anyway, it only takes Neumann's original voice and some talented mucisians to make it sound like old Dingo.
Yeah, I knew each song they played by heart. And exhausted my poor throat by singing along too. How could have I possibly remained silent?
I took some photos, but they're all very poor, so I won't fill my blog with those. On the other hand I didn't go there to take pics but to enjoy the gig and had I wanted some good-quality documents, I would have taken my SLR camera with me.
I had a lovely night. ♥ Dingo, good food in a local Japanese restaurant, 80's music, White Russians, dancing and good good company! And yesss, I have another 80's party to look forward to! And since an 80's party without a memorable song is a rare occasion to me, I shall embed the video of such a song which will remind me of that night. Ladies and gentlemen, Silent Circle! So long!
I'm surprised to see I've got some new readers again. *gasp* You are all warmly welcome aboard.
Today I'm going to write about some revamped fairytales. I really liked fairytales when I was a kid, and basically I still do. However, having heard the traditional variations once or twice or too many times, I've got more and more interested in their alternative versions. Certainly, these ideas are not particularly new. Traditional stories have been used as an inspiration source in literature, movies, game industry... You name it.
One of my favourite titles is Ludwig Revolution, which I already briefly mentioned in my A-B-C~! post. It's a manga series by Kaori Yuki (whose most famous series is Angel Sanctuary, which hasn't yet got me on my knees). To cut a long story short; I was a much more avid anime and manga fan at teenage, and back then I went through hundreds of unknown titles. I never knew mainstream particularly well. However, I read many somewhat-entertaining titles, but after all these years, I can only remember a few which really stood out from the rest. Ludwig Kakumei, in other words Ludwig Revolution, was one of those.
The main character Ludwig is basically a prince, or the prince of many well-known fairytales. However, not all the stories revamped included a prince in the first place in their original versions, but what-bloody-ever; why not make Little Red Riding Hood run into Ludwig anyway?
"My face isn't my only useful feature. It's magnificent when I take off my clothes too."
"From the moment birth flings them unprepared into this world, humans are lonely creatures. Don't think that you'll gain anything just by sitting around waiting for something to be handed to you. So long, 'sleeping beauty'."
Another title I really truly like is probably also much better known; Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland. On the other hand it doesn't question the course of Alice's original adventure in her childhood as it tells a story of what happened when she returned there on the threshold of adulthood.
And the Wonderland turns out to be entirely mad, doesn't it? At least it's probably much darker and more violent than it was in Alice's childhood.
Some people said that the movie probably proved that Tim Burton had been cooperating with Johnny Depp for too long. I can barely agree because I liked Depp as the Mad Hatter. He was probably the strongest character – I mean, the most harmonious, the most interesting personality, the strength that kept the movie in one piece. While Alice was a bit flat, Mad Hatter saved the day.
Colleen Atwood won an Academy Award for best costume design for Alice in Wonderland, and in my opinion she truly deserved the award. Mad Hatter and the Red Queen looked amazing and imaginative. On the other hand the movie won the best art direction award as well – and it can barely be denied; it's full of eye candy.
Since this theme is of great interest to me, I'll probably delve more into revamped fairytales and eventually write more blog posts about them. I wonder if the new movie Red Riding Hood is worth watching? I think I read it got a bad reception. In 2012 Untitled Snow White will also be released – maybe it's something to look forward to?
So long (sleeping beauties)!
"I don't suffer from insanity – I enjoy every minute of it."
Quicksilver Sanity is a lifestyle blog dealing with the joys of being creative and enjoying others' creativity. A bit o' this and that, and madness – lots of madness.
• Art • Décor • Design • Fashion • Games • Literature • Movies • Music • Partying • Style •
I'm a graphic designer and a casual blogger. I cannot help but wonder if madness is the sublimity of the intelligence, and I would rather be a pirate than join the navy.
