in which i've got a cape to keep me warm

It has been SO WARM here for the past couple of days--positively balmy. That springtime feeling is in the air, like everything has started to thaw even before freezing. Not that I'm complaining. It's just wacky in that "Day After Tomorrow" global-warming way.

(cape: goodwill; dress: thrifted/gift; boots: seychelles)

I'm taking advantage of this lovely weather by letting my bare legs breathe a little longer, and wearing this sensationally soft new cape/poncho that I scored at Goodwill this weekend. It may look warm, but my inability to wear a coat over its armless bulk will render it useless to me in the coming months. I do hope it snows a bit before Christmas, preferrably before K leaves for the west coast--I want to get in the holiday spirit!

This weekend was low-key. I didn't do much moving around, but I did manage to spend most of Saturday tip-typing away and getting a significant amount of work done on the novel. Days like that are the best. Plans to continue tonight...

Happy Monday, lovelies!

last night: gogol bordello

Last night K and I went to see Gogol Bordello perform at Higher Ground, and it was awesome. This band has to be the most genuinely cool group of musicians out there. Eugene is like a giant, pulsing slab of heart on stage, encouraging the audience to truly live on the dance floor--to revel in the pure "joy of existence". Of course, he was stirring up the mosh pit when he spoke those words, but in his exuberance he captured everything that I love so much about dancing. And boy, did I dance.

Dancing to me has always been a purely personal experience, and I totally go for it every time--no matter who is there or what the music is like, I will probably be the wildest dancer in the room. There is just something about it that is so freeing. I initially became interested in Sufi Mysticism for this very reason--the whirling dance of dervishes is their form of prayer, and the Sema represents a man's mystical journey beyond ego, through love and truth, and finally to perfection. I've always felt that way about dancing, and while I prefer a wide berth to the bruising, top-stomping of the mosh pit, Gogol Bordello is one of those bands that really makes you feel like you're whirling a little closer toward whatever version of Nirvana you aspire to.

The encore was at least an hour long--they just kept playing and playing and playing and we kept dancing and dancing and dancing. Eugene has roots here in Vermont (this is where he was resettled as a political refugee when he first came to the States), and it was obvious that he has great love and appreciation for the "fucking amazing" energy of his fans here. I'd never seen the band perform live before, but it was quite the show. And I basically want to be Elizabeth Chi-Wei Sun. I could totally rock those cymbals, no?

More Eugene:

The Pied Piper of Hutzovina

(An excellent and human documentary by a woman who was infatuated with the man and accompanied him on an adventure through Eastern Europe)

Everything is Illuminated

(I didn't even realize that Mr. Hutz played Alex in this movie, since I only watched it because I loved the book so much, but nobody else could have played the part. He totally made the movie--one of the best book-to-film adaptations I've ever seen)

in which it is the 11th hour

Today is the coolest day ever, because it is 11/11/11 AND it's Friday. I always used to say that 11 was my favorite number... which really only came up on those silly surveys we used to do in middle/high school (what is your favorite color? what is your favorite number? what is your favorite non-alcoholic beverage?), as if our answers to those questions somehow revealed something about our inner selves. Hey, maybe it does. What does my liking 11 say about me (I like symmetry? Repetition? I actually really like the word "eleven"--it sounds like a pretty name).

(shirt/scarf/belt: thrifted; skirt: vintage; socks: uo; shoes: lulu*s)

Anyway, I feel sort of like I need to seize this day and make something exciting happen because the date is cool. I probably will do nothing. Oh well!

I think the time may have come for me to find a new blog photo location. There is an elderly gentleman who lives on the road that runs perpendicular to the one I take photos on (above), and he did peer questioningly at me while getting his mail once last winter, but this morning he and his wife drove down the driveway and slowly inched forward and reversed to get a good look at what I was doing (through the trees). I got into my car, hoping I could wait it out and that they were actually going somewhere, but no such luck. They started driving toward me, so I turned around and drove off. They gaped as I passed them, and I saw in the rearview that they also turned around. Some pretty serious drive-by gawking. I just don't get it! The road is not your private property! Let me take my photos in peace! Whenever I see someone doing something strange I might watch creepily from afar, but I would never insert myself unnecessarily into the situation. Unless they were doing something... you know, dangerous. Or whatever. Even then...

Oy. I'm feeling snarky today. Happy Elevensies, everyone!

in which i am colorfolk and fancyfree

Apparently Thursday is the day I wear really obnoxious (in a good way) florals. I wore this dress in honor of Gogol Bordello because it has a folky Eastern European vibe (in my mind), but I'll probably end up changing before the actual show. It's not a great dancing dress because it's too puffy, which makes me self-conscious. And I don't like being self-conscious when I'm dancing. Still, it's fun for daytime, when I can attempt to tame it with a cardigan :)

(dress: modcloth; cardigan/hat/necklace/belt: thrifted; tights: hue; boots: seychelles)

Want to hear something crazy? I'm actually sort of looking forward to snow/winter! This is probably because I'm looking forward to the holiday season/eggnog, but still. It seems weird that we've really only had one blizzard so far this year and it didn't even hit where I live/had melted by morning. Maybe we'll have my favorite kind of winter (short and sweet with lots of snow and temperatures that don't make me want to cry)? I don't want to jinx it...

One more day until the weekend!

in which i wear camel on hump day

I think this is secretly my favorite kind of outfit. Classic colors, sort of preppy, with big, sixties hair and high, high heels. While I will always love a fun frock, I just feel so age-appropriate and sartorially organized in clothes like these. My coffee was the same color as my sweater today. It makes me think of a (movie?) where the assistant to someone high-powered (I'm thinking Devil Wears Prada, but can't remember) puts milk in the coffee so that it is camel-colored, but the bosslady had actual said "caramel-colored," not camel. I don't know why that amused me so.

(sweater: target; skirt/belt/scarf: thrifted; shoes: lulu*s)

My friends and I stopped at Target when we were in Plattsburgh, since Vermont doesn't have one and we all love it (I would be delighted if all Walmarts in the state were magically transformed into Targets). Apparently it will be at least five years before we get one here, which I actually really support (I hate box stores--our state is too little and lovely for them!), but it doesn't mean that I don't want to shop there when I have the opportunity!

Things have been pretty busy lately, which I have countered with then being lazy and going to bed early. K and I have been watching lots of Californication and I'm finally nearing the end of The Adventures of Augie March, which I actually really love but haven't been able to sit down and focus on for extended periods of time. Tonight will probably be no different!

Happy Hump Day from Camel-Colored Caitlin!

in which i've got that thanksgiving feeling

For some reason this outfit feels very academic. Maybe it's the plaid scarf and the headband. And the oxfords. Anyway, I really enjoy academic-chic, especially in the fall. I know we're nearing winter, but I'm going to milk this season for all it's worth!

(dress/scarf: thrifted; tights: hue; shoes: seychelles)

I am feeling pretty good about life this week. Don't you love it when that happens? K and I are going to see Gogol Bordello on Thursday night, which will be epic, and I really want to see Hairspray this weekend but I'm not sure I can afford it/anyone will go with me. But I'm keeping it in the back of my mind, just in case a wealthy benefactor wants to take me out (mom?) ;)

In the meantime, I've been feeling very appreciative of my job/boyfriend/family/friends/health lately. This does wonders for my mental wellbeing. I suppose 'tis the season for Thanksgiving, 'tisn't it?