Bistro Bijou

[unpredictablebijou]

A whole new meaning to a sticky keyboard

*coffeespew*

nicely done. Yeah, it would be best to have cold hands when typing on that.

Speaking of keyboards, I've been exploring steampunk aesthetics lately, and found this, which kicks butt:

 

[Homburg]

There's a lot of really cool stuff going on in that arena right now. There's a steampunk laptop out there that was just mind-blowing. The artistry and vision is incredible.

I really dig the retro stuff. A friend of mine has a media computer that is housed in a case that is a repop of an old tube-based radio. It's gorgeous.

 

[unpredictablebijou]

And then, of course, there are the clothes. It's kinda all the things I love in one place. Corsets, leather, superfluous buckles, gothy style, and fabulous jewelry.

Here's one that blew me away:

 

[UnderYourSpell]

Mommmmmmmmmmm helppppppp ....... I clicked on a link on a serious poetry thread and got sex sites, needs patting and told it's ok

 

[unpredictablebijou]

Mommmmmmmmmmm helppppppp ....... I clicked on a link on a serious poetry thread and got sex sites, needs patting and told it's ok

I'm not sure I understand what the problem is... heh.

*pats you on the head anyway*

*pats you elsewhere...*

whoops. gotta go already. Annie, sweet, it's good to see you!

 

[Homburg]

And then, of course, there are the clothes. It's kinda all the things I love in one place. Corsets, leather, superfluous buckles, gothy style, and fabulous jewelry.

Here's one that blew me away:

Ferociously cool, wow.

 

[EroticOrogeny]

*coffeespew*

nicely done. Yeah, it would be best to have cold hands when typing on that.

Speaking of keyboards, I've been exploring steampunk aesthetics lately, and found this, which kicks butt:

Is it QWERTY?

Strange that we have that keyboard arrangement which they came up with to avoid keys jamming - purposeful inefficiency.

 

[UnderYourSpell]

The keyboard was obviously set out by a man a woman would have more sense. I wrote a comedy piece about that still have it somewhere

 

[unpredictablebijou]

Well now. Looks like the Bistro ought to be open this fine afternoon, since I saw that a few people are going through emotional distress and dealing with the ubiquitous silliness generated by anonymous comments and scores on their work.

Let's start with congratulating our Lil Annie:

I remember when you first got here, and you were struggling to find a voice and completely lacking in confidence in your work. Look, just look at you now, Dolly! You're a champ, a winner, a poetry goddess! Let your head get big, let your ego be stroked till it feels all tingly, and bask in the winningness of your stellar self.

Now then. Essential supplies.

For emotional stress and people dealing with PTSD and sadness and post-holiday stuff. I have cocoa, warm blankets, smooshy hugs, and bags and bags of gratitude and affection.

For people dealing with COOOOOOLD and SNOOOW (it's still Snowmageddeon in Kansas; I myself have been staying with friends for three days cause I can't get in and out of my driveway) I have more cocoa, more warm blankets, more smooshy hugs, and a reminder that it will be spring, sometime, sooner rather than later. Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose. The seasons always turn, and every day is different. Promise.

I can put a little drop of Kahlua or Irish Creme in your cocoa, if you want. It's a bistro, after all. We aims to please.

 

[unpredictablebijou]

oh yeah, and this:

 

[Homburg]

I have actually had to wear long sleeves recently. We have ICE on the mud puddles outside. It's unthinkable.

 

[unpredictablebijou]

I have actually had to wear long sleeves recently. We have ICE on the mud puddles outside. It's unthinkable.

Here, we have been around zero for about six days now, and the drifts are four to six feet high. Haven't had a winter like this for around 20 years.

On the upside, I am seriously going to marry my car. She starts for me, careens nicely through impassable country roads, gets out of tight spots, heats up just about as soon as I start her, and has 254,000 miles on her with virtually no problems. So yeah. Marriage certificate. I LURVE my lil Corolla.

Good to see you, Mr. Sir. I'll be back in tomorrow, even.

 

[Homburg]

We had a little snow. Something like 2" or so. This area is just not built for it.

Corollas are good cars. Best selling car in the world, actually, for something like a decade now. My Explorer Sport has been doing remarkably well. There are days that I still miss my 200sx, but I tend to be a truck guy more than a car fancier, so it is usually fleeting.

On other fronts, I'm lifting again. It is a good thing.

 

[unpredictablebijou]

We had a little snow. Something like 2" or so. This area is just not built for it.

Corollas are good cars. Best selling car in the world, actually, for something like a decade now. My Explorer Sport has been doing remarkably well. There are days that I still miss my 200sx, but I tend to be a truck guy more than a car fancier, so it is usually fleeting.

On other fronts, I'm lifting again. It is a good thing.

I hope you're around again tomorrow, and we can vent about our relative weather issues. Right now I'm low blood sugar and must make my way across the drifts to the pizza awaiting me next door.

I hope your household is as happy as it was last time I checked in.

 

[Homburg]

The household as a whole isn't doing too badly. Everyone has their own little foibles and concerns, and MIS is still adjusting to the job. I had similar issues with my first real job, so I don't blame her for being stressed.

I am currently trying to get over some allergy issues, but listening to this is helping.

Edit: [ul=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAMRTGv82Zo&feature=related]This one[/url] is helping even more.

 

[EroticOrogeny]

Unusually cold here, too.
Never got above freezing on Friday, and tonite may be our last with freezing temps for a while (December ?!)

 

[unpredictablebijou]

Today we had freezing fog. Lovely. It covers the trees with a layer of shiny frost. I can't wait until we get some sun, and the world turns to diamonds.

It has finally gotten up to just being regular cold, instead of stupid ridiculous bitchin' cold. And I might actually be able to go home tonight. I've had to stay with friends because I can't get in and out of my driveway. We'll see.

How is everyone, on this fine day?

 

[Homburg]

Sore as a motherfucker.

Fortunately, I earned it with a solid performance on the weights, so I don't mind. And the program I've written this time is a bit more intelligent, so I managed to come out of the session with my back feeling BETTER than when I went in, and that was after some serious spinal loading. I have apparently learned from past mistakes.

This was a good thing, as the day sucked, and I spent six plus hours driving to catch a coupla cars, whee. Always fun to end the work day 2.5 hours drive from home.

My attitude is pretty good right now though. It's amazing what good food and good sex will do for you.

 

[unpredictablebijou]

It's amazing what good food and good sex will do for you.

WORD.

To your mother, as it were.

So since the Bistro isn't really populated enough for conversation, I'm thinking it might be a fine little space for blogging for a while. I'm brainstorming on various topics and challenges. maybe even, I dunno, a poetry challenge or something.

Though I have some twisted ideas, topic suggestions are welcome.

have a lovely evening, everyone.

 

[champagne1982]

I'm sitting here chuckling about the weather discussion. Of course, being Canadian, as I am, the weather and all of its many features is fascinating and quoting The Weather Network stats is scintillating conversation. Now, as you may all well know already, I'm within 1200kms (yes, kilometres) meaning about 840 miles or so... of the Arctic Circle. So, it comes as no surprise, really, when the mercury dips below the 40 below mark in December and that's where it sat for nearly 2 weeks solid. Well, the past couple of days we've had our January thaw... seriously, the temperature rose from -42 celcius to -2 in less than 24 hours. Is it any wonder my dog never knows when to grow or shed its coat?

So, for now, I'm being quietly smug about our (relatively) warm temperatures while all you southern and eastern folk experience a taste of my winter normals. Welcome to the strange reality of global warming trends and funky weather patterns.

 

[EroticOrogeny]

We're back close to normal here, with close to 40 (4 C) for a low, and 60 (16 C) for a high.
Its an El Nino year, so the light hurricane season is expected, but not the severe winter.

 

[LadynStFreknBed]

I can only hope that our winter is more of the same here. We've had occasional light snow and cold temps, but not any significant snow or ice. I'm using my stepdad's pickup truck through February and I'd be afraid to drive it in more than a couple inches.

ETA:
Good to see you, bj.

 

[unpredictablebijou]

*yawn, scratch, mumble*

Don't worry. It's not that weak, nasty cafeteria stuff you usually get out of these machines. It's nice strong French roast. But no coffee outside on the verandah today; the local fauna has gotten aggressive.

I'm sure, Champy, that you must feel like buying us all fainting couches when we start being drama queens about the weather. Then again, there's a reason I don't live near the arctic circle.

I learned the other day that our local redtail hawks (the Kansas State bird) are in fact migratory. We see a lot more in the winter, because they've come down from points north to hang out here. I kinda like the idea of a bird that's so bad-ass it winters in Kansas.

So. Catch me up. Tell me all about yourselves. Three things you love, three things you need, three things you'd like to get rid of, and three things that are quite thoroughly on your mind right now.

ETA: *waves at Lady S* What a lovely, moody picture of you. You look pretty bad-ass yourself, sugar.

 

[UnderYourSpell]

moooooooooore bloody snow! We are not used to it anymore! What I can't understand is why they close the schools at the first flake or two! Never did that when I went it's discrimination and agist and every other 'ist' I can remember having to get off the school bus and walk because it couldn't get up the hill and when we got there we had to play hockey in the snow wearing only shorts and T shirts while the sports mistress ran around in a cosy track suit exhorting us to more speed to warm ourselves up! The little darlings now aren't allowed to play in the snow in the school playground incase one gets a snowball in the gob and sues!

 

[unpredictablebijou]

Did you walk uphill both ways, Dolly?

I think you're right; kids have it a bit easier. But it's hard to be sad about that; I would like to think that no one has to go through the crap that I endured. My walk was about a mile, and weather didn't matter...

I was barefoot too. In the snow. And we had to make our own gym clothes out of old burlap sacks and shoeboxes.