Fed Up

I am FED UP with my job. Fed up! (Can I say that a few more times?) I disliked it from day one, but I needed to eat, and move out, and pretend to be a contributing member of society, so it served a purpose. But now, now I just can't stand it anymore.

It was one thing when I thought I might get the assistant manager position that my best friend left behind when he left, but that carrot (indeed, the very position) has evaporated like so much morning mist (not to mix metaphors or anything...). And now it's been put to me that I might someday get the supervisory position which could replace it at some magical point in the future.

Which would not be so bad if, A) I believed this position would materialize some time this century, and B) that didn't mean I have to keep doing the work of the supervisors and managers at my current peon's pay in order to get it if it does.

I'm sorry, no. I'm done. I have to get the hell out of there.

Now.

Yesterday.

Anybody need an incredibly talented, efficient, charismatic, professional admin assistant? 'Cause I'm available.

Looking a Bit Forward

Seeing as how I can't sleep no matter how exhausted I am, I figured I might as well do something to keep my mind off the fact that the green goop in my lungs is keeping me from breathing. (Have I mentioned how I hate being sick?)

In my more energetic moments this weekend (which have sadly left me), I began construction on my Halloween costume. (Well, actually I began it last week, but I had only completed one little piece.) I think the description I'm going with is Victorian Masquerade.

The basic line up will consist of: chemise, corset, skirt, overskirt, stockings, boots, possibly spats, and, of course, a mask. There will also be accessories, like the collar shown below. In order to keep down costs, most of this stuff will be made out of crap that I already own but never wear.

Case in point, this chemise and collar were once a whole button-up shirt that has been sitting in my closet since January. But, with a little creative scissoring and some shirring (don't feel bad if you have no idea what I'm talking about here because I had to look up that term), I have a frilly top and a cute choker.

[Of course, I can't actually take any of the credit for this idea because I found it on ThreadBanger. They had a video tutorial on Steampunk attire (again, I had to look that up) that was very inspiring.]

And the corset (which you might be able to see a little better here) is something I wore for my wedding before it became a permanent fixture in my bureau. Thankfully, I had to take it in quite a bit to make it fit (woo-hoo!), and it still needs some sort of fabric covering. I have some pretty champagne jacquard that might look nice.

What I'm going to do about the skirts, I haven't quite decided. I think I have to spend some time scavenging the GoodWill outlet here in Boston. I tend to find good, cheap costume fodder there. Hopefully I'll be able to scrounge up some boots there, too.

I am also toying with the idea of a bustle (also to be found on the ThreadBanger video). I began playing around with the wire I got, but it will be awhile before I feel confident enough to post any pics.

The hardest part, tho, will be the mask, namely because it's the front piece and it will never look the way I intend it to look. The problem with working without a budget is that things can end up looking cheap. Hopefully, I've accumulated enough decorative junk in my lifetime that I can come up with something pretty cool.

I suppose we'll just have to wait and see.