Pleasure Notes

By Generate Design

I love time, how it disappears when I’m having fun and mysteriously lengthens if I’m bored, anxious or sweating profusely in front of a new crush. I don’t actually respect it very often, however. Which is why I love watches. I have a place in my heart for a particular Movado, but until then, I totally did this little cutie, from Generate Design and available in a bunch of different colors.

What color would you choose?

It’s digital, but in all the right ways. The hands and minute marker dot are LED, but in order to make sense of the light, you still have to know how to tell time the old-fashioned way. And if you set your watch like I do, you’ll then have to subtract between five and ten minutes from that. I always set my watches fast. That way, I’m on time… sometimes.

Price: Affordable. Available at Generate Design and other fine contemporary design studios.

Green with Envy

I’m heading over to Ireland tomorrow, after having spent the weekend playing amongst the manor estates outside London. I can’t imagine wanting to be anywhere else. Don’t hate me.

This vacation is an overt escape from the trials and tribulations of every day life back home, where I frequently feel a bit green when comparing the trappings of my life with those of many of my friends. I’ve decided, however, that I’m going to soak up as much green as possible while I’m here – green hills, green dales, and even little green males if I come across them at the end of a rainbow – so that when I return to “reality,” I will remember not to fall into the comparison vortex.

I have an amazing life. It’s not perfect. Far from. But it is amazing. And for today, I’m getting to do one of the things I value most, which is traveling to another country and absorbing all I can from the experience.

I’m in the midst of receiving a massive transfusion of hope and inspiration.

I’ll keep my eye out for a four leaf clover too.

Just a reminder: I’ve invited some awesome guest bloggers to have their say in this space in the coming week. Give them a hearty hello, will ya?

When I was a child, I wore thick glasses. I couldn’t see the big “E” on the eye chart, much less the alarm clock or people’s faces from more than a few feet away. Perhaps that is why I take such pleasure in the visual world. To clarify, I appreciate all five of my sense – and even my sixth when it’s working – but sight is the sense I value most, and the beauty I see around me is simply astounding. Specifically, the beauty of the natural world. Perhaps it is cliche, but nature’s got a damn good sense of color and design. We humans are constantly trying to capture that sense and bottle it. I am awed by the tenacity of our pursuit. And, on occasion, even grateful for it.

Going Green

After all, my world would be a lot less colorful if someone hadn’t decided to reproduce Forest Green.

Did I mention that I am humbled by the divine power of pedicures, too? And I don’t even have a foot fetish.

What is your favorite sense? And why?

I’m not a big drinker. I couldn’t tell you how to make a Manhattan. I shudder at the taste of Brandy. But these hand-blown glass Galaxy Martini Shakers, made by Urban Materials + Accessories, are so damn pretty, I’m tempted to forego water for vodka, or gin. They come in four different swirled colors – aqua, violet, orange and green. There are even martini glasses to match. If you were looking for an excuse to entertain, here it is.

Galaxy Martini Shakers from iloveuma.com

Which color would you choose? I’ve decided I prefer the orange. Just don’t make me drink an onion.

When I was young, I loved rainbows. At the time, they held no more political significance than leprechauns, or at least none that I knew. I simply thought they were magical – like unicorns, knights in shining armor and ballerinas. So the little girl in me couldn’t have been more pleased to discover the Rainbow Quiz, created by the folks at spacefem.com – home to random and unnecessary, but stupidly addictive, quizzes.

The Rainbow Quiz is basically a personality test of sorts. And I secretly love these things. I’m always curious to know what they profess to reveal about my identity.

I took the Rainbow Quiz for the first time a few weeks ago. Here’s the result:

My thoughts? Well. I’m actually not a big fan of yellow. I like green. And blue. And black. And red. And— well, pretty much every color BUT yellow. Maybe I should look at this. Does this mean my external tastes do not reconcile with my internal impulses? Am I paying too much attention to what I want and what brings me pleasure, but not enough attention to what I need? And what’s this thing about patience? Clearly, this test is flawed. I have the patience of a gnat. Ask anyone. And what exactly is this test inferring, saying I’m “good at getting people to like me.” It’s not like I’m forcing anyone into the back of the Bada-Bing to make a blood pact or having folks craft piles of friendship pins – although, now that I think about it, rows of seed beads in these colors might actually improve the look of my thrashed New Balances. Minus the yellow.

Clearly, I should have walked away at this point. Instead, I pondered the results for a few weeks, with time-outs for work and sleep and American Idol. I decided to take the Rainbow Quiz again. I really wanted a prettier rainbow. Here’s what I got:

White, huh? Is that even a shade? Now, I’m conflicted. The second rainbow is much prettier than the first – not as muddy. But what it says about me is so dreadfully boring! And I still see some yellow. Why can’t my rainbow look like sherbet? There’s no yellow in sherbet.

By Loguk

Or, perhaps, I should leave quizzes to those less likely to self-indulgently analyze the results ad nauseam. I’ve learned my lesson – leave rainbows to those who can handle them. I can find comfort in the fact that unicorns, at least, never disappointed me like this.

Why don’t you take the test? Just be sure to let me know how pleased you are with the results.