[Signal Boost] Taken whole cloth from custardfairy

If you're looking for somewhere to send some relief to Haiti, this article may help. Actual links are on the Huff Post site, but here's a listing:

•The American Red Cross is pledging an initial $200,000 to assist communities impacted by this earthquake. They expect to provide immediate needs for food, water, temporary shelter, medical services and emotional support. They are accepting donations through their International Response Fund.

•UNICEF has issued a statement that "Children are always the most vulnerable population in any natural disaster, and UNICEF is there for them." UNICEF requests donations for relief for children in Haiti via their Haiti Earthquake Fund. You can also call 1-800-4UNICEF.

•Donate through Wyclef Jean's foundation, Yele Haiti. Text "Yele" to 501501 and $5 will be charged to your phone bill and given to relief projects through the organization.

•Operation USA is appealing for donations of funds from the public and corporate donations in bulk of health care materials, water purification supplies and food supplements which it will ship to the region from its base in the Port of Los Angeles. Donate online at www.opusa.org, by phone at 1-800-678-7255 or, by check made out to Operation USA, 3617 Hayden Ave, Suite A, Culver City, CA 90232.

•Ben Stiller's Stillerstrong campaign will be temporarily diverting all donations to support the Haiti relief effort.

•Partners In Health reports its Port-au-Prince clinical director , Louise Ivers, has appealed for assistance: "Port-au-Prince is devastated, lot of deaths. SOS. SOS... Temporary field hospital by us at UNDP needs supplies, pain meds, bandages. Please help us." Donate to their Haiti earthquake fund.

•Mercy Corps is sending a team of emergency responders to assess damage, and seek to fulfill immediate needs of quake survivors. The agency aided families after earthquakes in Peru in 2007, China and Pakistan in 2008, and Indonesia last year. Donate online, call 1-888-256-1900 or send checks to Mercy Corps Haiti Earthquake Fund; Dept NR; PO Box 2669; Portland, OR 97208.

•Direct Relief is committing up to $1 million in aid for the response and is coordinating with its other in-country partners and colleague organizations. Their partners in Haiti include Partners in Health, St. Damien Children's Hospital, and the Visitation Hospital, which are particularly active in emergency response. Donate to Direct Relief online.

•Oxfam is rushing in teams from around the region to respond to the situation to provide clean water, shelter, sanitation and help people recover. Donate to Oxfam America online.

•International Medical Corps is assembling a team of first responders and resources to provide lifesaving medical care and other emergency services to survivors of the earthquake. Donate online.

Some people say I want you for your money/ but I really want you for your body (yes, no, yes)

Random bits!

* Today I am going to hack off a bit of my hair, possibly in a "Keira" or "Jennifer" (Garner, not Aniston) fashion. Right now with its length being what it is, all I do is wear it in a ponytail which is omg boring.

* Last night I made a delish meat sauce

* We got Target giftcards (yay!) but our target looks like the Bolsheviks just rolled through (boo), so I went online and found a bunch of stuff (yay!) but they want $50 for shipping (boo!). So: outcome unclear. I'm going to attempt to just purchase what's needed (shelves for our kitchen, our lazy susan is a panther waiting to spring at any moment the way it's currently jammed full) or on clearance and I'm afraid we're going to lose it (new curtains for the bedroom)

* Our bedroom looks . . .unfinished. This is a problem we've had since the batcave. In the batcave, it was impossible to make it look "finished" due to the cavernous nature of the room and rotting computer/desk living there. So far we've painted (though it needs touching up), I just set up my bedroom altar (with "the ladies" as we carefully refer to them as - Nyx, Diana, and the Morrigan as well as my crow totem pole my mom brought back for me from Alaska, small statue of Yemaya, and tiny shrine to the Holy Family) on the window sill with shardkin's permission. It definately feels more "live" in there now with that, but still unfinished. We just bought a black satin duvet cover (mmmm satin) and a lush set of grey flannel sheets and I got a black faux fur throw for xmas, which will help. I have not yet installed new said bedding yet as the cats use the bedroom as their daytime sunroom currently and I don't really want them messing this stuff up. When JamesRoom becomes SpareOom, I will put the bedding together and keep the bedroom door shut at all times for them to not shed, claw, or throw up on said new bedding and then they can use Spare Oom for their sunning.

* Things I have been thinking about to "finish" the bedroom better: a frenchish theme, new bedding, new curtains (soon to be purchased), a bedcrown with curtains that I will hopefully make, frames for pictures, arranging pictures, more throw pillows (. . .always more throw pillows), and reupholstered vanity chair. . .This all sounds a lot more grandiose than it actually is. Everything new has been bought on clearance and often with giftcards.

* I am still patting myself on the back with the new flooring. Some day, new carpeting . . .

* J^1 and J^2's favorite reality show (as far as I can tell) is Tabatha's Salon Takeover. I'm not really sure why that is, I think they like how usually it goes, omg!!!!!problems!!!! Tabatha tells you why you suxxor! Tabatha fix! Salon is profitable and everyone is happy, the end.

* I have been dragging ass this week. I suspect it's because of my impending period. I bought sugar free red bull for this weekend in case.

* I'm becoming better organized. I know this, conversely, because my mom looks around my little rabbit hole (after making approving noises about the floor and questioning noises about the carpeting, and disapproving noises that I cook on too high a heat) and says I need her help getting organized. Mothra has never deigned to offer her organizational help before, I suspect because she felt I was beyond her help. I am now in helping range!

* dossy made me an awesome website that you cannot yet see as I need to write all the copy to faciliate the dramatic reveal, but expect to see it in the next week or so!

If you want cheddar/ if you want to smoke and roll better/ take off your sweater

to earn your varsity letter . . .

So, there are these chicks who always seem to have their shit together. A few of them are friends of mine, in fact.

You need a tylenol/hand sanitizer/tampon/stain wipe/hair tie/lighter/band aid? *BAM! Reaches into her Bag of Holding and pulls it out like maaaaagic!*

You're having a potluck party? *BAM! She's there with a ziti or something in an aluminium container so you don't have to worry about returning it, a bottle of wine, and box of chocolates or bouquet of flowers in a vase so you don't have to fuss!*

You gave her something? *BAM! Here's a thank you card with a picture of her using your item in a useful way!*

This chick not only has her shit together that way, but she also tends to have her hair, makeup, nails, and clothes not a mess. She's going to the gym! She's spending time with her friends! She's a good friend and a good girlfriend! She's reading Important Books . . .for fun!

Seriously! These women totally exist! And the ones I know aren't lobotomized Stepfords, they have charming and delightful vices to even out their perfection and have been known to drop the ball in one or more of these areas.

But it's what I aspire to. I want to be more gracious, I want to be more "put together". I admire the hell out of what I view as "put together" women. While obvs it's a function of my service, I also just want to be the best I can be and I always have. But generally, internally at least (and at times externally as well I suspect), I'm a hot mess. I needed a friend to hold onto my passport and Important Papers while in Europe as I had a tendency to forget it in the safe. I'm lackadasical in my appearance. My purse is often lacking Bag of Holding abilities. I don't want my house to look like BH&G, but usually there's dishes scattered about, empty tea cups, books all over the place, etc.

So, I've been posting about my efforts to become a samari. Samaris also cared a lot about having their swords cleaned and grooming, etc.

So here's what I've been doing for my appearance stuff:

Problem: Barbells often fall out of my navel piercing because they're too heavy. Not coordinated enough to manage captured bead.
Solution: Plastic barbell. If that fails, I need to go to a piercer and ask if they could just put the damn hoop in.

Problem: Hair is often limply tied back in a pony tail.
Solution: Hacking off a good bit of it so that's not such an enticing solution. Going to attempt to train self to wear hair down.

Problem: Disorganized closet, ill kempt clothes
Solution: Organized closet so I can easily find socks, tights, camis, cincher, club clothes, work clothes, going out to dinner clothes. Ill kempt clothes have just been bought to the dry cleaners where I will pay a heafty penance for not being more mindful of my clothes to begin with. Ill fitting clothes, clothes I've saved "in case", tossed.

Problem: Difficult to find the clothes I would like to wear in my size and price range.
Solution: Found a seamstress on etsy who is competent but looking to "make her bones", so her prices are low. She is a bigger chick too, so she's accustomed to sewing my size. She understands that I don't have a lot of $$$ but when I have the money, I will go through her for my clothes. She also (conveniently) works for a fabric store which = discount. She is putting together a "look book" for me so when I have the money, I can say I'd like x thing or y thing.

Problem: Makeup bag looks like something exploded inside it. Random bits of makeup in said make up bag.
Solution: Went through the make up bag and clean it out and threw out old make up or put in bigger make up box. Streamlined make up to pressed powder, mascara, cream blush stick, illuminizer, brow powder, liquid/cream eyeshadow, lipgloss. Most are "mini" sized so they fit neatly into my purse so I can be "date ready" at a moment's notice.

Problem: Manicures are impossible for me to keep, even when professionally done. Don't have the time, money, or patience for tips.
Solution: Will try out Sephora's significantly less expensive "faux-Minx" dry nail polish stuff (supposed to last better than regular nail polish)

Problems previously solved: skin care, foundation wear, finding a style that suits me, etc.