Molly Ringle's Blog, page 30
March 27, 2011
Little thread on the royal wedding
A thread from Facebook a while back:
Molly: Cool, Prince William and Kate are getting married. Good thing I'm not invited. I'd have *no* idea what to get a couple who already has succession to the throne of the UK and Commonwealth. I mean, that's normally my go-to gift.
Rich: There must be *something* you can re-gift to them. Don't you have an extra Aston-Martin laying around, because somebody got it for you in the wrong color?
Molly: No Aston-Martins, but come to think of it, I do have Norway. Do you think they'd want it? I never use it.
Rich: Perfect! They can use it for their ski holidays!
Martha: I'm giving them Utah. They didn't register for it, but I certainly don't need it anymore. Norway might make a nice set.
Molly: Cool, Prince William and Kate are getting married. Good thing I'm not invited. I'd have *no* idea what to get a couple who already has succession to the throne of the UK and Commonwealth. I mean, that's normally my go-to gift.
Rich: There must be *something* you can re-gift to them. Don't you have an extra Aston-Martin laying around, because somebody got it for you in the wrong color?
Molly: No Aston-Martins, but come to think of it, I do have Norway. Do you think they'd want it? I never use it.
Rich: Perfect! They can use it for their ski holidays!
Martha: I'm giving them Utah. They didn't register for it, but I certainly don't need it anymore. Norway might make a nice set.
March 16, 2011
A "don't panic" reminder from the daughter of a nuclear engineer
For what it's worth, my dad, a nuclear engineer, sent this in email today. I'm not here to tell you that nuclear power is 100% safe and clean or anything like that, but I do hope to help you do what the Hitchhiker's Guide helpfully reminds you to do: namely, DON'T PANIC. For panic, there is no need. Here's my dad's message:
---
For more reliable info and status of Japan's nuclear plants, see:
1. Nuclear Energy Institute: http://www.nei.org/newsandevents
Click on the "information on the Japanese earthquake and reactors in that region"
This also gives links to other sites.
2. World Nuclear Association: http://www.world-nuclear.org
Also see their info sheets, such as 'nuclear power plants and earthquakes'
3. Japan Industrial Forum: http://www.jaif.or.jp/english
They give reports on the plant status of each plant.
Radiation measurements: 1 Sievert= 1 Sv= 100 rem, or 1 mSv = 100 mrem.
Normal background doses for a person in the US is around 500-600 mrem/year.(5-6 mSv/yr)
A dose of 40 rem (400 mSv) or less produces no detectable effects, such as increased cancer incidence.
Doses above 40 rem increase your cancer incident rate proportional to the dose. A dose of 100 rem increases your cancer incident rate by about 5%, and a dose of 200 rem increases the cancer incident rate by about 10%.
A dose of about 100 rem (1000 mSv or 1 Sv) would induce radiation sickness. Most people would recover from such a dose with treatment.
A dose of about 400-500 rem (4000-5000 mSv) would be lethal to about 50% of the people.
The Japanese plants do have a problem, but it is pretty localized to the plant site and to a lesser extent the area within about 10 miles of the plant. Any radiation reaching the US should be negligible and produce no effects. There's a lot of space and dilution between us and Japan, along with decay of the radioactive material.
Hopes this helps understand the situation.
---
Molly's addendum: Japan, you are strange and unique and beautiful, and I love you! I'm so sorry for all that has happened to you lately. I also applaud the infrastructure and engineering you had in place beforehand, which kept these disasters from being much, much worse. You'll pull through this just fine, because you're awesome that way. Much love, your buddies on the other edge of the Ring of Fire.
---
For more reliable info and status of Japan's nuclear plants, see:
1. Nuclear Energy Institute: http://www.nei.org/newsandevents
Click on the "information on the Japanese earthquake and reactors in that region"
This also gives links to other sites.
2. World Nuclear Association: http://www.world-nuclear.org
Also see their info sheets, such as 'nuclear power plants and earthquakes'
3. Japan Industrial Forum: http://www.jaif.or.jp/english
They give reports on the plant status of each plant.
Radiation measurements: 1 Sievert= 1 Sv= 100 rem, or 1 mSv = 100 mrem.
Normal background doses for a person in the US is around 500-600 mrem/year.(5-6 mSv/yr)
A dose of 40 rem (400 mSv) or less produces no detectable effects, such as increased cancer incidence.
Doses above 40 rem increase your cancer incident rate proportional to the dose. A dose of 100 rem increases your cancer incident rate by about 5%, and a dose of 200 rem increases the cancer incident rate by about 10%.
A dose of about 100 rem (1000 mSv or 1 Sv) would induce radiation sickness. Most people would recover from such a dose with treatment.
A dose of about 400-500 rem (4000-5000 mSv) would be lethal to about 50% of the people.
The Japanese plants do have a problem, but it is pretty localized to the plant site and to a lesser extent the area within about 10 miles of the plant. Any radiation reaching the US should be negligible and produce no effects. There's a lot of space and dilution between us and Japan, along with decay of the radioactive material.
Hopes this helps understand the situation.
---
Molly's addendum: Japan, you are strange and unique and beautiful, and I love you! I'm so sorry for all that has happened to you lately. I also applaud the infrastructure and engineering you had in place beforehand, which kept these disasters from being much, much worse. You'll pull through this just fine, because you're awesome that way. Much love, your buddies on the other edge of the Ring of Fire.
March 14, 2011
Take a literary visit to Jamaica: meet author J.L. Campbell!
I'm pleased to welcome another bona fide author to my blog for an interview! Joy Campbell, writing as J.L. Campbell, is the author of the romantic thriller Contraband, recently out from Nevaeh Publishing. Welcome, Joy!
What elements do your stories always contain?
I've come to appreciate that writers have themes and somehow, the same elements creep into my novels - choices, family, relationships, a little murder, a lot of mayhem, and of course, love.
One thing I find especially unusual and fascinating about your stories is their setting--Jamaica--because I knew so little about it before. What do you wish people understood better about your home land?
Half the time, the bad stuff is what gets into the news, and as always a few people make things bad for many honest, hard-working Jamaicans. If I lived abroad, I'd probably be inclined to crusade and tell everybody that we're not all bad people. But then they would probably think me demented.
I've learned over time that Jamaica is a good asset to my writing, so the island is a character in each novel. We have a rich cultural history, beautiful landscape, indigenous animals, lots of racial diversity, great athletes, and of course, the reggae music that has made the island famous.
What's one genre you would like to try writing in someday?
Historical fiction - maybe something set in Egypt – is something I'd like to try my hand at. I hold writers of historical fiction and fantasy in high regard. The thought of all that research and world building boggles my mind. It's awesome when a writer can bring a totally alien world to life with their wordsmithing skills. Not to mention those writers who can paint a wonderful setting without ever having visited the country around which their story is written.
And how about one genre you doubt you'll ever write?
I don't read much science fiction and I may have a mental block where such novels are concerned. I'm not sure I'm good at working through the science, technology, strange creatures and such that are involved. More than I can wrap my head around, you know?
What's your biggest, most far-fetched, dream-come-true wish when it comes to your writing? (e.g., Personal endorsement by Oprah and your favorite hot actor, etc.)
Dare I say the New York Times Best Seller List? Good thing dreams are free; however, having my book read by people worldwide (even if the numbers are only a few thousand) would be something of an achievement, and not so far-fetched when you think about e-publishing and the impact it has had on the reading public.
---
Thank you, Joy! Learn more about her writing at:
http://joylcampbell.com
http://thecharacterdepot.blogspot.com
What elements do your stories always contain?
I've come to appreciate that writers have themes and somehow, the same elements creep into my novels - choices, family, relationships, a little murder, a lot of mayhem, and of course, love.
One thing I find especially unusual and fascinating about your stories is their setting--Jamaica--because I knew so little about it before. What do you wish people understood better about your home land?
Half the time, the bad stuff is what gets into the news, and as always a few people make things bad for many honest, hard-working Jamaicans. If I lived abroad, I'd probably be inclined to crusade and tell everybody that we're not all bad people. But then they would probably think me demented.
I've learned over time that Jamaica is a good asset to my writing, so the island is a character in each novel. We have a rich cultural history, beautiful landscape, indigenous animals, lots of racial diversity, great athletes, and of course, the reggae music that has made the island famous.
What's one genre you would like to try writing in someday?
Historical fiction - maybe something set in Egypt – is something I'd like to try my hand at. I hold writers of historical fiction and fantasy in high regard. The thought of all that research and world building boggles my mind. It's awesome when a writer can bring a totally alien world to life with their wordsmithing skills. Not to mention those writers who can paint a wonderful setting without ever having visited the country around which their story is written.
And how about one genre you doubt you'll ever write?
I don't read much science fiction and I may have a mental block where such novels are concerned. I'm not sure I'm good at working through the science, technology, strange creatures and such that are involved. More than I can wrap my head around, you know?
What's your biggest, most far-fetched, dream-come-true wish when it comes to your writing? (e.g., Personal endorsement by Oprah and your favorite hot actor, etc.)
Dare I say the New York Times Best Seller List? Good thing dreams are free; however, having my book read by people worldwide (even if the numbers are only a few thousand) would be something of an achievement, and not so far-fetched when you think about e-publishing and the impact it has had on the reading public.
---
Thank you, Joy! Learn more about her writing at:
http://joylcampbell.com
http://thecharacterdepot.blogspot.com
March 6, 2011
'What Scotland Taught Me' - FREE, today only!
Fun and time-sensitive news! Today only, you can download a completely free copy of What Scotland Taught Me. This is in honor of Read an Ebook Week, which begins today.
Though my book will only be available free of charge for this particular day (Sunday, March 6), ireadiwrite Publishing will be putting up one ebook each day this week for a special free download, so keep checking that same link daily. I know I will be.
Also: If you take advantage of this, please consider leaving an Amazon review after reading the book. Scotland currently doesn't have any, and of course I'd like some. Thank you, and have fun downloading!
Though my book will only be available free of charge for this particular day (Sunday, March 6), ireadiwrite Publishing will be putting up one ebook each day this week for a special free download, so keep checking that same link daily. I know I will be.
Also: If you take advantage of this, please consider leaving an Amazon review after reading the book. Scotland currently doesn't have any, and of course I'd like some. Thank you, and have fun downloading!
February 28, 2011
Persephone Digs Herself Out
Some years spring comes gently and gracefully. Other years, like this one, it seems we have to fight endlessly for it through snow, slush, mud, wind, and rain. Currently, I long for spring and am wanting to throttle winter. So I wrote this. Other than a mood piece or a really weird short-short story, I'm not sure what you'd call it. But I call it...
PERSEPHONE DIGS HERSELF OUT
Persephone treads the stone passageway under the earth. The jewels in her crown, belt, and sandals light the path for her, surrounding her with a gentle white glow, like those little lights humans string on their houses at winter solstice. (She's never up there that time of year, of course, but she's seen pictures.)
The solstice was three months ago. She's done now with the winter half of the year. She's arranged and co-hosted the Underworld holiday party, supervised all the clean-up, and personally written the thank-you notes. (Honestly, did Hades ever help with those? Good thing he has broad shoulders and a world of jewels to recommend him--and the attractive habit of not talking much.)
Hours ago she locked up her winter wardrobe, kissed her husband goodbye, and set off. She passed the three-headed dog, who whined and yipped and jumped up to lay his heavy paws on her shoulders. She sent him into a stern Down-Stay, scratched all six of his ears, and moved on. She exited the hundred-foot-high gates of the Underworld, wiggled through the dense crowd of ghastly and sad and excited souls crowding for entrance, and set out on the lonely road that sloped gradually upward. A glowing soul, or a regular living cave insect, has sometimes crossed her path, but otherwise it has been nothing but her and the cool black rocks.
Now she feels grit beneath her sandals. Soon it turns to soft soil, and then squishy wet dirt. The smell of earth and mold fills her nose. Before long her foot splashes in a shallow puddle, sloshing cold water over her foot. "Crap," she mutters. She lifts her skirts out of the way and continues forward in the increasing muck, her glowing jewels reflected and twinkling in the puddles. As she advances, the walls of the cave narrow and the ceiling lowers until she has to stoop to keep from hitting her head.
Finally she finds herself at the end of the tunnel: a complete blockage in the form of a huge tangle of tree roots. They corkscrew down from above, covered with grime and dripping with chilly water.
Persephone stops with a sigh, looking up at the gnarly hunk of roots and earth. "I hate this part," she says, then takes a deep breath and ducks into the tangle.
She reaches up, fingers parting the roots to make room for her head. Taking hold of two sturdy, slimy roots, she hauls her body upward into the knot of dirt. She dislodges mud and groundwater, which splatter onto her hair and gown and face. Wincing, she mutters a lively curse Hermes once taught her (in Ancient Greek, even), and pushes her arms further upward into the wet clump. As she fights her way higher, the pressure of roots and earth squeezes her tighter. Pebbles and clods of dirt tumble down the back of her gown and lodge against her rear. Worms and insects crawl over her hands and feet. The roots score scratches in her arms and tear at the hem of her gown. Soil and dead leaves fall into her eyes and land on her lips; she grunts and spits them out, and continues to struggle up--painfully, slowly, up.
Just as she's wondering if this is finally the year some other bastard god or bitch goddess has played a mean trick on her and gotten her trapped in some endless hole, her fingers break through the surface. Through the narrow fissure, white daylight pours onto her skin. With a gust of relief, she shoves one foot against one root, her other foot against another, and stretches both arms into the free air.
Persephone hauls the rest of her body out of the earth and collapses on her back, coughing the dirt out of her lungs, and gulping down the cold fresh air. She's shivering convulsively. Beneath her crackles a crust of snow on top of a carpet of dead leaves. The sky, sensing her presence, parts its clouds and lets the sun spear a beam down onto her. The brightness and hint of warmth make her open her eyes, though she has to shield them for a moment against the glare. She casts a look around from her position on the ground. Beside her rises the massive oak whose roots she just battled. Around her is a forest of similar trees, their branches rising bare and their feet in the snow. Still, her arrival brightens the colors even as she glances about--tree buds swell and turn a deeper red, wildflower bulbs send their green spikes an inch higher, the earliest tiny leaves on a shrub unfurl in brilliant chartreuse.
She drops her hand and looks straight at the sun. "There you are. You'd better warm this place up. It's fricking freezing."
She sits up, and heaves herself to her feet, shaking dirt out of her skirts. "Ugh." She examines her clothes, arms, feet, and hair (which has completely come loose from its tidy twist and is matted with grime now). Her tongue finds a fleck of dead leaf stuck inside her lip, and she spits it out. Where her saliva lands, a clump of daffodils springs up and blooms, delighted to receive such honors.
Persephone plants her hands on her hips and addresses the sun again. "Here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to take a nice long bath in the hot springs, get a massage, and put on a clean gown. Then I'm going to come back out here and start taking care of things. You need to have all this--" She kicks at the crust of snow. "--cleared away by the time I get back. Understood?"
The clouds pull farther away from the sun, letting it shine brighter. Simultaneously, a gentle rain begins to fall, melting the patches of snow.
"That's better." Persephone turns and begins walking toward the rainbow that's appeared beyond the nearest hill. "Also, if you didn't get me a cute massage guy this time, we will have storms of trouble."
In obedience to the goddess of spring, thunder rumbles from dark clouds on the horizon, backing up her threat--but keeping its distance until she should give her orders. As she walks, violets sprout in every spot that her dirty, cold, scratched feet touch the earth.
PERSEPHONE DIGS HERSELF OUT
Persephone treads the stone passageway under the earth. The jewels in her crown, belt, and sandals light the path for her, surrounding her with a gentle white glow, like those little lights humans string on their houses at winter solstice. (She's never up there that time of year, of course, but she's seen pictures.)
The solstice was three months ago. She's done now with the winter half of the year. She's arranged and co-hosted the Underworld holiday party, supervised all the clean-up, and personally written the thank-you notes. (Honestly, did Hades ever help with those? Good thing he has broad shoulders and a world of jewels to recommend him--and the attractive habit of not talking much.)
Hours ago she locked up her winter wardrobe, kissed her husband goodbye, and set off. She passed the three-headed dog, who whined and yipped and jumped up to lay his heavy paws on her shoulders. She sent him into a stern Down-Stay, scratched all six of his ears, and moved on. She exited the hundred-foot-high gates of the Underworld, wiggled through the dense crowd of ghastly and sad and excited souls crowding for entrance, and set out on the lonely road that sloped gradually upward. A glowing soul, or a regular living cave insect, has sometimes crossed her path, but otherwise it has been nothing but her and the cool black rocks.
Now she feels grit beneath her sandals. Soon it turns to soft soil, and then squishy wet dirt. The smell of earth and mold fills her nose. Before long her foot splashes in a shallow puddle, sloshing cold water over her foot. "Crap," she mutters. She lifts her skirts out of the way and continues forward in the increasing muck, her glowing jewels reflected and twinkling in the puddles. As she advances, the walls of the cave narrow and the ceiling lowers until she has to stoop to keep from hitting her head.
Finally she finds herself at the end of the tunnel: a complete blockage in the form of a huge tangle of tree roots. They corkscrew down from above, covered with grime and dripping with chilly water.
Persephone stops with a sigh, looking up at the gnarly hunk of roots and earth. "I hate this part," she says, then takes a deep breath and ducks into the tangle.
She reaches up, fingers parting the roots to make room for her head. Taking hold of two sturdy, slimy roots, she hauls her body upward into the knot of dirt. She dislodges mud and groundwater, which splatter onto her hair and gown and face. Wincing, she mutters a lively curse Hermes once taught her (in Ancient Greek, even), and pushes her arms further upward into the wet clump. As she fights her way higher, the pressure of roots and earth squeezes her tighter. Pebbles and clods of dirt tumble down the back of her gown and lodge against her rear. Worms and insects crawl over her hands and feet. The roots score scratches in her arms and tear at the hem of her gown. Soil and dead leaves fall into her eyes and land on her lips; she grunts and spits them out, and continues to struggle up--painfully, slowly, up.
Just as she's wondering if this is finally the year some other bastard god or bitch goddess has played a mean trick on her and gotten her trapped in some endless hole, her fingers break through the surface. Through the narrow fissure, white daylight pours onto her skin. With a gust of relief, she shoves one foot against one root, her other foot against another, and stretches both arms into the free air.
Persephone hauls the rest of her body out of the earth and collapses on her back, coughing the dirt out of her lungs, and gulping down the cold fresh air. She's shivering convulsively. Beneath her crackles a crust of snow on top of a carpet of dead leaves. The sky, sensing her presence, parts its clouds and lets the sun spear a beam down onto her. The brightness and hint of warmth make her open her eyes, though she has to shield them for a moment against the glare. She casts a look around from her position on the ground. Beside her rises the massive oak whose roots she just battled. Around her is a forest of similar trees, their branches rising bare and their feet in the snow. Still, her arrival brightens the colors even as she glances about--tree buds swell and turn a deeper red, wildflower bulbs send their green spikes an inch higher, the earliest tiny leaves on a shrub unfurl in brilliant chartreuse.
She drops her hand and looks straight at the sun. "There you are. You'd better warm this place up. It's fricking freezing."
She sits up, and heaves herself to her feet, shaking dirt out of her skirts. "Ugh." She examines her clothes, arms, feet, and hair (which has completely come loose from its tidy twist and is matted with grime now). Her tongue finds a fleck of dead leaf stuck inside her lip, and she spits it out. Where her saliva lands, a clump of daffodils springs up and blooms, delighted to receive such honors.
Persephone plants her hands on her hips and addresses the sun again. "Here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to take a nice long bath in the hot springs, get a massage, and put on a clean gown. Then I'm going to come back out here and start taking care of things. You need to have all this--" She kicks at the crust of snow. "--cleared away by the time I get back. Understood?"
The clouds pull farther away from the sun, letting it shine brighter. Simultaneously, a gentle rain begins to fall, melting the patches of snow.
"That's better." Persephone turns and begins walking toward the rainbow that's appeared beyond the nearest hill. "Also, if you didn't get me a cute massage guy this time, we will have storms of trouble."
In obedience to the goddess of spring, thunder rumbles from dark clouds on the horizon, backing up her threat--but keeping its distance until she should give her orders. As she walks, violets sprout in every spot that her dirty, cold, scratched feet touch the earth.
February 23, 2011
Enough with the robes and marble! (Says Molly, five years ago.)
Found this amusing bit of complaining, which I'd forgotten I wrote, in this old entry. May all we writers who dabble in the paranormal take it to heart.
...please tell me, where is it written that when the magical people get together in their parallel universe, they need to be wearing long flowing robes sashed at the waist, with capes and hoods, and have long flowing hair of some vivid color, and violet eyes, and gather in palace-like buildings made of gold and white marble with delicate high arched ceilings and idyllic courtyards where they sit on thrones in a circle and have sober conferences? Can we blame the Council of Elrond for this? Well, Tolkien made it work, but the rest of us need to find some new fantasy-world outfits and building materials. That's why Neil Gaiman, say, is so good: he makes his fantasy worlds truly weird and often unpleasant, and doesn't require them to resemble an unusually clean medieval Florence.
...please tell me, where is it written that when the magical people get together in their parallel universe, they need to be wearing long flowing robes sashed at the waist, with capes and hoods, and have long flowing hair of some vivid color, and violet eyes, and gather in palace-like buildings made of gold and white marble with delicate high arched ceilings and idyllic courtyards where they sit on thrones in a circle and have sober conferences? Can we blame the Council of Elrond for this? Well, Tolkien made it work, but the rest of us need to find some new fantasy-world outfits and building materials. That's why Neil Gaiman, say, is so good: he makes his fantasy worlds truly weird and often unpleasant, and doesn't require them to resemble an unusually clean medieval Florence.
February 17, 2011
Win an ebook, kinda-sorta visit Edinburgh!
Thanks to my friends and family scurrying to cast their votes over at the Preditors & Editors site, I placed as a top 10 novelist of 2010 (heh!), and my novel What Scotland Taught Me placed as the #5 young adult novel of last year!
In celebration of this honor, I'll be giving away a free ebook copy of What Scotland Taught Me, with a (scanned) personalized signature, to one lucky winner, chosen at random from those who comment upon this post. Simply enter your comment before March 1, 2011, and upon that date I'll let the random number generator select a winner. My publisher can provide the file in any of the major ebook formats, so don't hesitate on that account.
Thank you so much to those who voted, and of course to those who have already enjoyed the story and let me know about it.
In celebration of this honor, I'll be giving away a free ebook copy of What Scotland Taught Me, with a (scanned) personalized signature, to one lucky winner, chosen at random from those who comment upon this post. Simply enter your comment before March 1, 2011, and upon that date I'll let the random number generator select a winner. My publisher can provide the file in any of the major ebook formats, so don't hesitate on that account.
Thank you so much to those who voted, and of course to those who have already enjoyed the story and let me know about it.
February 5, 2011
Grocery snobbing
Foods I'm a snob about:
Salsa. It has to be the kind you buy in the refrigerated section, not a glass jar on the dry-goods shelves with "Pace" or a similar name on it. Seriously, the difference is like that between homemade soup and canned.
Chocolate chips. I've fallen totally in love with the 60% cacao bittersweet Ghirardelli ones. Every other type, even other grades of Ghirardelli chips, now disappoint me.
Honey. Must be raw. Ideally from around here, or at least this continent, but I've made exceptions. Raw is not only far tastier, but healthier. And don't you dare microwave it to warm it up, as this destroys the good enzymes.
In my best ethical moods, I also choose food with labels like "organic" and "no antibiotics," but the items listed above are more about food snobbery--or love of what I eat, if you will.
What are yours?
Salsa. It has to be the kind you buy in the refrigerated section, not a glass jar on the dry-goods shelves with "Pace" or a similar name on it. Seriously, the difference is like that between homemade soup and canned.
Chocolate chips. I've fallen totally in love with the 60% cacao bittersweet Ghirardelli ones. Every other type, even other grades of Ghirardelli chips, now disappoint me.
Honey. Must be raw. Ideally from around here, or at least this continent, but I've made exceptions. Raw is not only far tastier, but healthier. And don't you dare microwave it to warm it up, as this destroys the good enzymes.
In my best ethical moods, I also choose food with labels like "organic" and "no antibiotics," but the items listed above are more about food snobbery--or love of what I eat, if you will.
What are yours?
January 31, 2011
Best perfumes sniffed in 2010
You'd be far out of the loop indeed if you haven't noticed that I love perfumes--or rather, I love the ones that work on me, but really I'm interested in sampling any. Chances are you've also noticed my frequent mentions of knows perfume, the small but awesome new shop that opened last year in my neck of Seattle. Thanks to that shop, my 2010 perfume sampling rate spiked dramatically upward to possibly an all-time high. My rate of finding new scents that do work on me, and which I do love, most certainly hit an all-time high.
Thus, for the first time ever, I am composing a list of...
Best Perfumes I Discovered Last Year,
in no particular order, since favorites change based upon mood, season, and other variables.
1. Tea for Two, L'Artisan Parfumeur. Notes listed by perfumer: smoky tea, bergamot, cinnamon, ginger, honey, vanilla.
What I get: leather and tobacco on top of a sweet, creamy chai tea, with some spice biscotti on the side. The smokiness never gets sharp, thanks to that honey and vanilla wrapped around it. It's dark and smoky and leathery, but I can't help loving it because it's so darn sweet. Amazing in cold weather, but I sure didn't mind wearing it in summer either.
2. Dee, Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab. (Scroll down to the D's.) Notes listed by perfumer: soft English leather, rosewood and tonka with a hint of incense, parchment and soft woods.
What I get: mostly smooth cedar, with some root-beer-like sweetness (must be the tonka), and a bit of spicy smoke (must be the incense). It's a soothing and subtle fragrance, but it's also strangely hot--as in sexy. (Must be the leather...) Androgynous, too. Despite its masculine description (it's named after alchemist of old, John Dee), I'd say man or woman could wear this. I know *I* reach for it a lot.
3. Koko Haze, Mbeze. Notes listed by perfumer: coconut, toasted hazelnut, mango tea and sweet orange.
What I get: coconut, absolutely, in a way that evokes both a warm palm-tree-dotted beach and a tasty macaroon fresh from the oven. I'm surprised how well this works on me, and how delicious it is. Coconut lovers shall swoon--and I don't usually even count myself among the coconut lovers. Perfect for summer, of course, but also comforting in mid-winter when you just want to dream of summer. Again, not something I usually find myself doing, but if summer smells like this, I'm happy to dream of it.
4. One, Smell Bent. (No link listed because it was a limited edition and is now--*sob*--gone! Except I do still have a bottle or two...) Notes listed by perfumer: cardamom, aging paperbacks, dark vanilla, dry wood, sweet musk.
What I get: cardamom, baby! Yes, I suppose the gentle smell of old paperbacks and woods, and the sweetness of vanilla and some kind of musk, are back there too. But cardamom on its own is a rich and complex scent, and it dominates this fragrance, and owns it in a mouth-watering way. Alas, it had to be a limited edition. Please, perfumers of the world, explore the cardamom note more!
5. Philosykos, Diptyque. Notes listed by perfumer: fig tree (leaves, green fruit, milky sap, and bark), and white cedar.
What I get: fig trees, yes, but in a rich and detailed way--the green juices of the leaves and stems, the wood, the soil, a hint of the beach and of coconut sunscreen. Fruitiest in its opening notes, then it ripens into a perfect woodsy-green-fresh blend, and finally lingers on a gorgeous cedar base. I never expected to love this so much, not being generally a fruit-fragrance fan. But it's like a summer vacation on a Greek island--or what I imagine that would be like, having, sadly, never been on one. Exotic yet comfortable. A winner well deserving of its popularity.
(Honorable mention: for a similar but lighter and less expensive scent, try Buddha's Fig by Infusion Organique.)
6. Cedarwood Tea, CB I Hate Perfume. Notes listed by perfumer: Himalayan & Moroccan cedars, black Indian Tea, incense.
What I get: I adore cedar, so trying this one was a no-brainer. But it's a different cedar than the usual shaved-wood smell that most fragrances capture. This is a fresh, living variety of cedar, like you're standing in an actual forest. I detect no incense, but the tea brings a slightly citrusy, lavender-like accord to the mix, making it especially clean. Apparently the perfumer originally designed this scent as a wardrobe spray, to keep clothes fresh, and indeed it would be great as that--"clean" and "fresh" are two of the words that repeatedly come to mind with it. But a clean, fresh forest, not a clean, fresh sheet of fabric softener. It's another limited edition, so find it while you can.
7. New Haarlem, Bond No. 9. Notes listed by perfumer: bergamot, cedarwood, coffee, vanilla, patchouli, lavender.
What I get: Makes me think of a Saturday morning--coffee, brunch treats like pain au chocolat or cinnamon French toast, a hint of manliness like my husband's shaving cream and/or deodorant, even a suggestion of newspaper ink. It also puts me in mind of an airport concourse, in a good way: the coffee and food and new-magazine scents, along with the clean, cologne-doused travelers wandering through. It's strong--only takes a drop or two to keep me pleasantly scented for the majority of the day (so just buy a sample vial off eBay; it'll last you a while)--but it's an approachable and comfy scent for me. In short, New Haarlem carries that mix of "cozy yet exciting" that I adore finding in a perfume. Smells great on me and would be fabulous on a man too.
8. Incensed, Smell Bent. Notes listed by perfumer: Omani frankincense, Kenyan myrrh, vanilla-soaked woods.
What I get: It's reminiscent of church incense, especially in the first hour or so of wearing, and I love the mystical spiciness of it. The mix gradually dries down to basically a rich vanilla, which makes me think of baking cookies or something--but they'd still be mystical cookies. This scent comes in both a fragrance oil and a spray variety. I got the oil, and it is indeed strong. A little dab will do ya. Good deal at around $20 for the bottle, though. That's practically free, in the perfume world.
(Honorable mention: for a somewhat similar blend of exotic woodsiness and vanilla, try Sands of Morocco by Infusion Organique.)
9. What I get: I'm fully on board with their marketing description--a twilight forest, mysterious, elusive. This scent is mellow enough to wear to sleep, but mystical enough to wear for Halloween. Earthy with a hint of green. Very well blended. Comes in a candle form too.
10. Elixir, Penhaligon's. Notes listed by perfumer: eucalyptus, cardamom, orange blossom absolute, white cedar, red Turkish rose absolute, Egyptian jasmine absolute, cinnamon leaves, mace, rosewood, benzoin, tonka beans, vanilla, incense, red sandalwood, guaicum wood.
What I get: That was quite the list of notes, huh? No wonder it took me several wears to get a proper feel for this fragrance. It kept shifting on me, like an alluring but opaque fog, seldom letting me settle on any one note. What I finally came away with, however, is church incense in a delicate, ethereal kind of way. I picture an ancient cathedral in a beautiful Italian city, tolling its bells for Mass on a misty Christmas Eve, and (when I'm wearing Elixir) can envision myself as the elegant wool-wrapped Italian woman walking home beneath the old city walls. Oh, I don't know. I still have a hard time figuring it out. But I keep wanting to smell it again, so clearly Olivia Giacobetti--the perfumer, who also designed Tea for Two and Philosykos--did something right. Again. I love her.
So. If you've read this far, you must like perfumes too. Thus, please let me know if you'd like samples of one or two of the above scents, and I will do my best to hook you up. Limited time offer! Scents I *can't* share: Koko Haze (can't see how I'd get the roll-on oil decanted into something else), New Haarlem (only have a small sample myself), and Elixir (same). Otherwise, go ahead and ask. I am standing by with sample spray vials ready to fill.
Thus, for the first time ever, I am composing a list of...
Best Perfumes I Discovered Last Year,
in no particular order, since favorites change based upon mood, season, and other variables.
1. Tea for Two, L'Artisan Parfumeur. Notes listed by perfumer: smoky tea, bergamot, cinnamon, ginger, honey, vanilla.
What I get: leather and tobacco on top of a sweet, creamy chai tea, with some spice biscotti on the side. The smokiness never gets sharp, thanks to that honey and vanilla wrapped around it. It's dark and smoky and leathery, but I can't help loving it because it's so darn sweet. Amazing in cold weather, but I sure didn't mind wearing it in summer either.
2. Dee, Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab. (Scroll down to the D's.) Notes listed by perfumer: soft English leather, rosewood and tonka with a hint of incense, parchment and soft woods.
What I get: mostly smooth cedar, with some root-beer-like sweetness (must be the tonka), and a bit of spicy smoke (must be the incense). It's a soothing and subtle fragrance, but it's also strangely hot--as in sexy. (Must be the leather...) Androgynous, too. Despite its masculine description (it's named after alchemist of old, John Dee), I'd say man or woman could wear this. I know *I* reach for it a lot.
3. Koko Haze, Mbeze. Notes listed by perfumer: coconut, toasted hazelnut, mango tea and sweet orange.
What I get: coconut, absolutely, in a way that evokes both a warm palm-tree-dotted beach and a tasty macaroon fresh from the oven. I'm surprised how well this works on me, and how delicious it is. Coconut lovers shall swoon--and I don't usually even count myself among the coconut lovers. Perfect for summer, of course, but also comforting in mid-winter when you just want to dream of summer. Again, not something I usually find myself doing, but if summer smells like this, I'm happy to dream of it.
4. One, Smell Bent. (No link listed because it was a limited edition and is now--*sob*--gone! Except I do still have a bottle or two...) Notes listed by perfumer: cardamom, aging paperbacks, dark vanilla, dry wood, sweet musk.
What I get: cardamom, baby! Yes, I suppose the gentle smell of old paperbacks and woods, and the sweetness of vanilla and some kind of musk, are back there too. But cardamom on its own is a rich and complex scent, and it dominates this fragrance, and owns it in a mouth-watering way. Alas, it had to be a limited edition. Please, perfumers of the world, explore the cardamom note more!
5. Philosykos, Diptyque. Notes listed by perfumer: fig tree (leaves, green fruit, milky sap, and bark), and white cedar.
What I get: fig trees, yes, but in a rich and detailed way--the green juices of the leaves and stems, the wood, the soil, a hint of the beach and of coconut sunscreen. Fruitiest in its opening notes, then it ripens into a perfect woodsy-green-fresh blend, and finally lingers on a gorgeous cedar base. I never expected to love this so much, not being generally a fruit-fragrance fan. But it's like a summer vacation on a Greek island--or what I imagine that would be like, having, sadly, never been on one. Exotic yet comfortable. A winner well deserving of its popularity.
(Honorable mention: for a similar but lighter and less expensive scent, try Buddha's Fig by Infusion Organique.)
6. Cedarwood Tea, CB I Hate Perfume. Notes listed by perfumer: Himalayan & Moroccan cedars, black Indian Tea, incense.
What I get: I adore cedar, so trying this one was a no-brainer. But it's a different cedar than the usual shaved-wood smell that most fragrances capture. This is a fresh, living variety of cedar, like you're standing in an actual forest. I detect no incense, but the tea brings a slightly citrusy, lavender-like accord to the mix, making it especially clean. Apparently the perfumer originally designed this scent as a wardrobe spray, to keep clothes fresh, and indeed it would be great as that--"clean" and "fresh" are two of the words that repeatedly come to mind with it. But a clean, fresh forest, not a clean, fresh sheet of fabric softener. It's another limited edition, so find it while you can.
7. New Haarlem, Bond No. 9. Notes listed by perfumer: bergamot, cedarwood, coffee, vanilla, patchouli, lavender.
What I get: Makes me think of a Saturday morning--coffee, brunch treats like pain au chocolat or cinnamon French toast, a hint of manliness like my husband's shaving cream and/or deodorant, even a suggestion of newspaper ink. It also puts me in mind of an airport concourse, in a good way: the coffee and food and new-magazine scents, along with the clean, cologne-doused travelers wandering through. It's strong--only takes a drop or two to keep me pleasantly scented for the majority of the day (so just buy a sample vial off eBay; it'll last you a while)--but it's an approachable and comfy scent for me. In short, New Haarlem carries that mix of "cozy yet exciting" that I adore finding in a perfume. Smells great on me and would be fabulous on a man too.
8. Incensed, Smell Bent. Notes listed by perfumer: Omani frankincense, Kenyan myrrh, vanilla-soaked woods.
What I get: It's reminiscent of church incense, especially in the first hour or so of wearing, and I love the mystical spiciness of it. The mix gradually dries down to basically a rich vanilla, which makes me think of baking cookies or something--but they'd still be mystical cookies. This scent comes in both a fragrance oil and a spray variety. I got the oil, and it is indeed strong. A little dab will do ya. Good deal at around $20 for the bottle, though. That's practically free, in the perfume world.
(Honorable mention: for a somewhat similar blend of exotic woodsiness and vanilla, try Sands of Morocco by Infusion Organique.)
9. What I get: I'm fully on board with their marketing description--a twilight forest, mysterious, elusive. This scent is mellow enough to wear to sleep, but mystical enough to wear for Halloween. Earthy with a hint of green. Very well blended. Comes in a candle form too.
10. Elixir, Penhaligon's. Notes listed by perfumer: eucalyptus, cardamom, orange blossom absolute, white cedar, red Turkish rose absolute, Egyptian jasmine absolute, cinnamon leaves, mace, rosewood, benzoin, tonka beans, vanilla, incense, red sandalwood, guaicum wood.
What I get: That was quite the list of notes, huh? No wonder it took me several wears to get a proper feel for this fragrance. It kept shifting on me, like an alluring but opaque fog, seldom letting me settle on any one note. What I finally came away with, however, is church incense in a delicate, ethereal kind of way. I picture an ancient cathedral in a beautiful Italian city, tolling its bells for Mass on a misty Christmas Eve, and (when I'm wearing Elixir) can envision myself as the elegant wool-wrapped Italian woman walking home beneath the old city walls. Oh, I don't know. I still have a hard time figuring it out. But I keep wanting to smell it again, so clearly Olivia Giacobetti--the perfumer, who also designed Tea for Two and Philosykos--did something right. Again. I love her.
So. If you've read this far, you must like perfumes too. Thus, please let me know if you'd like samples of one or two of the above scents, and I will do my best to hook you up. Limited time offer! Scents I *can't* share: Koko Haze (can't see how I'd get the roll-on oil decanted into something else), New Haarlem (only have a small sample myself), and Elixir (same). Otherwise, go ahead and ask. I am standing by with sample spray vials ready to fill.
January 23, 2011
2011: the year of keeping it simple
Things I've given up in recent years that I don't particularly miss:
Most of my hair products
Getting into arguments online (yes, email counts)
Cute but uncomfortable shoes
Seeing movies in the cinema
Watching violent or depressing movies
Keeping up with the news
I could also make a list of things I've given up that I do miss and hope to have again someday, but I'm focusing on the positive here. Comfort and simplicity are of the good.
Humor, meanwhile, is always good. So enjoy this inspired blend of Weird Al and Doctor Who, in which it is proven that David Tennant's Doctor is, indeed, white and nerdy. No wonder I loved him!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-4_kvxPBYY
Most of my hair products
Getting into arguments online (yes, email counts)
Cute but uncomfortable shoes
Seeing movies in the cinema
Watching violent or depressing movies
Keeping up with the news
I could also make a list of things I've given up that I do miss and hope to have again someday, but I'm focusing on the positive here. Comfort and simplicity are of the good.
Humor, meanwhile, is always good. So enjoy this inspired blend of Weird Al and Doctor Who, in which it is proven that David Tennant's Doctor is, indeed, white and nerdy. No wonder I loved him!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-4_kvxPBYY
