Maura's Illuminated Manuscript

I've reached the point where the gaps in some of my C-cup bras have disappeared. This would be an OK point for my breast growth to stop.

(Yes, I can hear some of my cisgender girlfriends' bitter laughter from here.)

But even if it doesn't stop, which is likely to be the case at least in the short term, I've got the relatively large chest and shoulders to support bigger boobs without backaches. And it'll probably never get truly out of hand because it took me fifteen years on hormones to get where I am now.

Oh: last night went to latex drinks in my civvies — yes, you can do that without being awkward — where I got to (Yay!) see K again. Then briefly to the Merc, where things were just picking up just as I had to go home: I didn't take today off. Pity I didn't get to see any of the regulars I know; apparently the night to do that was the night of the 25th, but I was all partied out that night.

I went with the Tickler to the Mercury's annual Hardcore German Sparkle Party last night. The Tickler, as so often, arrived nearly an hour after they said they would. I had visions of us waiting in the around-the-block line, but Dancer rescued us! I felt a tiny bit guilty about joining her, but it sure beat waiting.

The Coat, my great big red and black one from Dracula Clothing, was the last one into the coat check. It filled up in half an hour. We filled up the coat check. Bananas.

SFDs: the theme was Hell, so I was the high-key version of the Devil Girl, natch. I didn't wear my Grand National boots because I'm not that kind of masochist, but I was astounded to see a certain venerable kinkster wearing their Grand Nationals. I'm pretty sure I saluted.

There were people who put so much effort into their outfits and makeup that as at every HGSP I've been to, I felt a little underdressed.

One of the DJs was a veteran of the well-known Bootie mashup night in San Francisco, so I did dance to some glorious mashups.

It was a sardine scene to match or exceed the best of the aughts. The decoration was amazing, including a throne covered in gilt pool noodles. seelenschwester outdid herself, which is saying quite a bit.

I had a chat with the unfairly attractive Vienna La Rouge, who was, unusually, not in the company of my least favorite Mercury regular. In fact, he was nowhere to be found. Icing on the cake.

The Tickler & I didn't last much past midnight because places to sit were hard to find, and it was so loud and crowded that it wore on even me, someone who loves crowds and noise.

I woke up early due to the warm night. Then I got my phone blown up by on call at 0710. Brunch at Made In House, adieu to the Tickler, the usual Sunday chores, and then this: Marmalade, the gelato joint that's been under construction since I moved in two years ago? Opened tonight! I may have been the first customer! The pistachio gelato was the stuff. Said the lady behind the counter, crepes will start next week.

On Friday evening I took the commuter train to Tacoma, where the Tickler and I went to the Church Cantina, Tacoma's official goth joint. I found that:

• The Cuban food and drinks are right on!
• The DJs, too, are right on.
• The dance floor, however, is nonexistent. There isn't even a vestigial spot on the floor. In truth, such a spot would likely have been overwhelmed because the place was crowded despite its considerable size.
• There were a few craft booths out front.
• There were actual, factual Black people there, way more than you'd see at any goth gathering in Seattle. The Tickler says that's because Tacoma simply has a higher proportion of them.
• They have a pool table, which is apparently common in goth joints.
• Some Tacoma goths have style, some don't. Both geographically and fashionwise, Tacoma is somewhere between Seattle and Portland.
• A group of about a half dozen young people dressed as gnomes showed up fairly late in the evening. Many cheered as they entered. That, folks, is Tacoma.

I spent much of Saturday at the Tickler's, playing with their cats and hanging out in their yard. I had to insist that we eat lunch, which the Tickler doesn't usually do. (?!) The deal was, they had a thing to go to late in the afternoon on Saturday, so I carpooled home with them.

Went to the Merc for A's birthday. I was surprised at how many people expressed, unprompted, displeasure at the presence of jengalicious's ex. Surprised, but also pleased: every one knows how vile he is, as they ought to.

I thought I'd nap for maybe an hour this afternoon. I napped for three. I've done all my weekend chores. Happiness.

To reepeat, this entry is not about Wave-Gotik Treffen. It's about two going away parties, both for friends who've fallen in love and are moving across the country to be with their respective sweeties, and the Mercury's 25th anniversary.

Shallow fashion details, one of which is relevant below: violet brocade corset from Dark Garden, violet accessories, black boot licker skirt from Gallery Serpentine, and the Fluevog Atria boots that I got for my fiftieth birthday. Yes, the knee-high boots with the rococo heels. I dropped a lot of money on rideshares yesterday because transit was not happening in those boots, and indeed couldn't happen to one of my destinations.

Party #1: The Purdy Persian roasted a whole piglet, dubbed "Pigcasso", and served it up with many other goodies on the roof of her apartment building. I'm glad I didn't listen to the Florida voice in my head and wore a coat, because it was windy up there. Honestly, I'm kind of glad I had an excuse to go, because a lot of the guests were tech bros or bro-adjacent. I wish the PP all happiness in New York State.

Party #2: R of J&R fame has found his lady love in Pittsburgh, PA. He located his party at a friend's house south of Seattle. Honestly, I had more fun here. Many Burners, and R trying his darndest to give away all his booze because movers don't want to deal with it. (I brought a bag and left with a couple of bottles, even though I'm not much for cocktails.) This one is going to sting, because R, for all his imperfections, has been there for me when I needed him. As I told Tacoma Girl, I'm 65% happy for him, 30% jealous, and 5% worried it won't work out. She expressed a qualitatively similar opinion.

The Mercury 25th Anniversary: Let me tell you how sweet Dancer is: she drove us there, and she brought a camping chair for me to sit in as the line to get into the Mercury stretched down the block. It was quite the sardine scene, on a level with membership drive nights. The difference was that old-timers who I hadn't seen in the Mercury in at least ten years showed up including the ever-dapper Graves and the Empress*. A of A&J fame dressed in silver sparklies because of course she did. Despite stopping by home to drop off the booze and take my boots off briefly, my feet were pretty trashed not long after arrival. I didn't get up much, but that's OK because we really needed a table bitch.

I gotta love it when Dancer asks me, "How flexible are you?" The answer turns out to be, flexible enough to put my boot on your shoulder from a sitting position. I made a spectacle of myself. That, Dreamwidth friends, is what the Mercury is for. It's also for getting flirted with for the second time by a certain lady M.

Oh, the Merc is also for rather strong drinks; Shiny G had something that I could smell from a couple of feet away, possibly poured even stronger than usual because the drink line stretched all the way to the far exit at one point.




*I'm the only one who calls her the Empress. Cyrus, Cyra. Get it?

No journal entries lately because busy. I hit the Mercury twice in one weekend because on both nights, I had friends ask if I was coming. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Friday night: I didn't stay out very late at all, but I did get to see Shiny H and confirm my suspicion that her ex is once again her ex. I hope this time it sticks. I also got flirted with by M, whom I met at one of C's basement parties. Or was it one of her barbecues? Anyway, that got my attention.

Saturday night: I got to see R, formerly of J&R fame, which is always lovely. I also ran into a lady I've written about before whom I met twenty years ago (!) in the context of... the kinds of activities I put in locked entries. She hasn't been engaging in such activities much lately, but she looked favorably upon my suggestion of a play date. She drove me home, and I got to hear in further detail how rough the last few years have been for her. But just a few minutes ago we tentatively arranged that play date! Aw, yeah. It doesn't hurt that I'm physically attracted to her. And she's a particularly outrageous flirt. Are you seeing a pattern here?

Oh yeah: I questioned C about M, natch, but she doesn't know much. I'll just have to find out for myself.

I've started working through Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain. The professional artists I know need not fear for their jobs. It's just something I've always wanted to learn how to do. That, and I can draw my own pr0n. As with sex toys, I think some DIY is in order.

And speaking of a professional artist I know, the Stroppy One accurately described Vienna La Rouge as a "staggeringly beautiful wom[a]n". How fabulous, then, that I should run into her at the Merc last night in a Bettie Page wig and a very fitted Catwomanish outfit. Who me, gaze into the flawlessly made up eyes of an unfairly attractive lesbian exactly my height while I told Australia stories under the influence of nice absinthe? Yes. Yes, I did. (Shallow fashion details: the Sydney outfit.) Someday I'll ask her why her partner never comes.

Also at the Merc: Temptress, but without jengalicious's ex, praise Goddess. I didn't ask about that either, because as gift horses go, that's a Belgian. Maybe I'll ask if it becomes a pattern. She was with another fella, awfully dapper, who seems all right.

I punked out of the Merc, more or less as planned, at 2300 because I've forgotten how to sleep lately. I've only had one solid, seven-or-more-hour uninterrupted night of sleep in the last week. The Tickler has been nagging me to see somebody about it, and I'm beginning to wonder if they may have a point.

And now for something completely different: even with a new Mac, my (mechanical) backup drive had a few of the same issues. So, I replaced it with an SSD. It's so physically small it was hard to make it lie flat when connected to my Mac on its stand. I've kept the old drive for now.

And for something even more different: it occurred to me while I was doing my morning leg lifts that I might be able to make the little chair in front of my Mac comfier with a lumbar support. But why buy when you have a completed bum roll from an abandoned sewing project? The experiment begins.

Plan for tonight: ravey goodness at Substation. I shall abuse caffeine.

This is what happens when I neglect to write an entry for a few days. You get all the things at once. Sorry?

I went to the Mercury last night perfectly aware that many of the people I usually get to see there were at the VNV Nation show across town. DJ Hana Solo spun a more danceable (by me) than usual set, but shortly before midnight I got tired of waiting for people and just bailed. The universe obliged me by granting reasonable transit mojo on the way home, and now that I have tea and a nap in me I'm not a zombie. Apparently everyone showed up right after I left and had quite a time.

So I've had zero socializing this weekend. Anyone who's spent more than half a minute reading this here Dreamwidth knows how I feel about that, to wit, poo. And on Wednesday I'm heading alone into the unknown of Roanoke, VA. Apologies in advance to a certain pair of ladies if I seem a little crazed when we meet up. I think I'm ready for Halloween weekend a couple of weeks early.

Why wasn't I at the show when all my friends were? Because VNV is another one of those artists beloved by the black-clad masses who've struck me as OK, but not worth the rigors and expense of a show. I have all their biggest hits.

Long time no post. The most noteworthy thing in my life in the last five days was going out with Funny Lady on Saturday night. I texted her that morning saying I had no plan, and asking for suggestions. She's mad for sushi, as you may recall, and there's a new place called Sakana in her neighborhood.

A good value? I guess. As good as Shiro's, which FL also turned me on to? Definitely not, despite her being sold on it. But I spotted my favorite sake on a shelf above the counter, and Funny Lady ordered a small bottle for us on the spot. She also bought me what, two drinks at the Merc? She said she was just paying me back for all the times, which weren't that numerous, when I footed the bill when she was unemployed. But that was a lot of alcohol, even for a five-hour outing. Yesterday's hangover wasn't very painful, but I didn't catch up on sleep until half an hour ago.

After Funny Lady went home at a reasonable hour, I got to talk to I. We both noticed something about the Merc that night: DJ Hana Solo seemed to be playing a lot of the goth standards, and not playing much that was "stompy", which is I's jam. She's said in the past that she doesn't like doing that. Non-theme Saturday nights haven't been as busy as in years past. I worry about the Merc. My plan before calling FL was to go there twice this month, above my historical average. Now I don't feel so bad about going there three times this month.

And why do I worry about the Merc? By way of illustration, there was another trans woman at the table next to ours. It's the most trans-friendly joint in the city. Looking around at the crowd, we weren't all geezers, but there seemed to be a disproportionate number of us. How to attract the young darklings?

Donned my purple latex skater dress and headed on down to the Mercury on Friday night. The Seattle Latex Circle showed up, which is always nice. My fave outfit, though, was DJ JQ's panniers made of black zip ties. Some of them were heavy duty and sharpened to points; she was very careful about how she walked, especially around the people wearing expensive but fragile rubber clothes.

Good: Temptress was there in her own latex.
Bad: The dude who made it, theda's ex, was there with her, unsurprisingly enough.
Good: Vienna la Rouge was there in latex...
Bad? ...with them.

The first thing I said to V was how awful that dude has been to his trans son. She said she's aware, and that she's told him in no uncertain terms that she's not down with it. Like most cis queers, she knows plenty of trans adults. Oh by the way: J of A&J fame* expressed similar disapproval, and J is as cishet as they come.

But I did get to talk to Vienna a little! I gave her a very quick summary of my last fourteen years, making sure to tell her about my (ahem) extracurricular activities. After she realized that she's a lesbian, not bi, her first relationship was abusive, which may partly explain her presence in Seattle. You know, as much as I complain about being single, I've never been in anything like the relationship hell that a lot of my friends have experienced. She was noncommittal about going to Folsom this year; given the expense for anyone who isn't a Bay Area resident, I don't blame her.

I spent much of yesterday recovering. No Goth clothing swap in Volunteer Park for me this year, but that's OK as far as my wardrobe goes.



*A&J are just gal pals. Really. I just usually happen to see them together.

I did all the things yesterday morning – getting my purse repaired, repotting violets, circumflatulation, and the on-call grind – so I rewarded myself with an evening out.

Funny Lady had arranged to meet me at the Wildrose and, characteristically, forgot her ID. Luckily, she doesn't live too far away and got it.

I guested her into the Merc, wherein were R; C, a certain strawberry blonde kinkster of my acquaintance; Temptress; and Autumn from Dark Garden corsets.

I knew Autumn was in town; she comes up here once or twice a year to sell corsets. I wasn't planning on seeing her this trip, though, because every time I do I end up buying something from her. Autumn was looking low key perfect in, of course, one of her corsets; she may well be the most attractive and stylish woman my age whom I know personally. Fun facts: she mentioned in passing having a partner – not a business partner – but not what gender. Both of these facts are surprising as the sunrise.

And speaking of the Devil Girl outfit that Autumn's company made, C said that wearing that outfit and holding a sign telling people to do evil things is too subtle for most of its intended audience to grasp. Le sigh. C would know: she's from rural Missouri.

'Twas the night of the exes: Autumn was there with Shiny H's ex, whose place Autumn has used for fittings, including one of mine. Temptress was there with jengalicious's ex, whom I'd rather never see or speak to ever again if I can help it. Even R is the ex of a friend of mine. And oh yeah, Funny Lady and Temptress are both my exes. It's starting to freak me out a little.

seelenschwester played my request as her first song of the night. I'm honored!

Stayed out well past the last train home. Lyft it was. Je ne regrette rien.

By the way, I now have nineteen (19) violets in pots. I'm well on my way to becoming a crazy plant lady.