2009 was the hardest year for us. my husband was laid off in 08 and still has not found a job ( manufacturing. a rough place atm) we survived by the skin of our teeth and fought foreclosure many times. ( on friday were paying 4 months worth. such a good feeling)

i mostly just worked. and was also a mom to my 3 minions. still have an active social life so its always nice to escape with friends.

herniated my disc in december. excruciating pain. never want to feel that again. i think giving birth was easier.

the good parts.

i set out to lose all my baby weight and did and then some. i am now down to 129!

i adore my job. i look forward to going to work.

my family is happy and healthy!

hoping 2010 is better. husband has been getting more interviews as of late including a second interview tomorrow!

some pics

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For those of you who know me, I'm a full time author. 2009 was all about the writing. I completed 7 RPG projects (3 as sole author - all of them horror related in some way), sold 5 short stories and produced a post apocalyptic anthology called GRANTS PASS. This morning, I found out that GRANTS PASS has made it to the 2009 preliminary Bram Stoker award ballot for "Superior Achievement in a Anthology." To say that I am pleased is an understatement.

As part of my job of being an author, I traveled to 6 conventions as a pro-author panelist and was the toastmaster at BayCon 2009.

Let's see. One year of marriage to my husband, 3 cats and a house. We did attempt to sell the house but failed. That wasn't so good.

This year is shaping up to be a good one. I have 3 books coming out and 3 anthologies scheduled including CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE URBAN KIND which is a mashup of urban legends and alien encounters.

If you'd like to know more about my writing, check out Wordslinger & Optimist! or my professional author LJ jennifer_brozek.

It's evident how many of us have been affected by this lousy economy.
In June of 2009, my boyfriend was laid off. I'm grateful to still have my job at Target Corporate headquarters (going on 11 years now) not my dream job, but as everyone says.."at least you have a job."
Sadly, travel that was planned had to be cancelled due to our financial situation, so we focused our energies on my 105 year old house. I prettified and painted it while my boyfriend put on a rubber roof on our outside balcony and other home projects that no one really wants to read about.
My mother broke her hip and had a stroke and my father's health unfortunately, is ailing as well. They're holding steady though. I'm looking forward to seeing them when I travel back to New York this month. I haven't seen them in over a year.
Still going out dancing, seeing bands, and keeping busy. I performed some reunion shows with the band I sang back-up with for seven years. I was a dancer in a friend's music video. MC'd my first show this summer, and was a stage assistant at the Minnesota State Fair for the oldest traveling show in the U.S. I also played a character a local gallery's "Haunted Basement" around Halloween. I verbally abused people for 6 hours a night. It was insane, exhausting, empowering in a twisted manner, and oddly therapeutic, to say the least!
Remembering to keep my sense of humor and grateful for the things I have. I've enjoyed reading your posts. Don't know about you guys, but I'm being pulled more and more into Facebook world. It's evident by how must less posting I've done (and seen) in LJ land. Sadly, LiveJournal is becoming a bit of a ghost town.



With my bf, shortly after he "surprised" me by shaving his head.

We opened for Voltaire!

My Yorkie, Nigel, who turned 19 in 2009!!! He's goth royalty as well, and deserving of the crown!


I threw a 20's speakeasy themed party for my birthday. It was a blast!!

2009 was a good year for me.

I finally cut my hair short again. So happy!

Had a fab vacation in California aboard the Queen Mary with many fine folks at Convergence 15. Experienced The Edison in LA :D

Still in school (Temple University in Philadelphia) getting my undergraduate in history. I maintained a 4.0 until last semester when an A- ruined it. ;P

My husband and I bought a house - yay! It's a 2 story brick colonial with a gas fireplace and a big back yard. I even have my own office/sewing room. Bliss!

All 4 cats are fine.

Still sewing a lot- you can keep track over at madamemodiste. It's public, so feel free to add.

Two of my bustle gowns placed in an online sewing contest. One got 1st place and the other got 2nd place in their respective categories. I know it's silly, but this made me so happy!

( Anyway, a few pics of the shenanigans of 2009 )

My 2009 was a roller coaster of a year, and that's putting it mildly.

Bad:

- Laid off in one of the rounds of cuts at Microsoft.

- Assorted medical issues.

- All the stress made me retreat into myself and stop talking to some of the most important people in my life.

- Which in turn led to me making some really bad, screwed-up choices.

Good:

- The screwed-up choices led to some much-needed communication with the most important people in my life.

- That communication has improved things in many different areas in my life. A LOT.

- Travel! I went to a lot of different places in 2009, and got to meet a bunch of fantastic people.

- Hey, did I happen to mention that I WROTE A BOOK? ;) It looks like people really liked the Gothic Charm School book, and the sales for it are holding steady. Which makes me really happy.

I'm hoping 2010 is even better than 2009. Emotionally, I'm pretty sure it will be. Now I just need to work on building the Gothic Charm School media empire. ;)

Goodness, 2009 was a strange, strange year. Let's see if I can do it in bulletin points, to keep it fairly organized.

• Gained someone I can consider to be a true best friend
• Learned that I really wasn't ready to go back to college
• Decided to get off my ass and get myself in action
• Started to seriously study the history of different subcultures
• Really decided I wasn't going to stop taking shit from people about my appearance

Hmm...Can't think of much more, really. It was a good year, I guess. Just gotta live 2010 on a good note.

If any of you play Audiosurf, feel free to add me. My name on there is Daiichi Kuronama. So far I only have one friend who plays the same music I do; it's be good to find more competition.

Will any of you fine and spooky seagoths be at the Voltaire show on Friday?

THE MICK 52 contains the most interesting in-depth interview anyone has ever done with UK DECAY.
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Happy New Year!

I am unbelieavably excited.  For the first time in my life, I am going to be in New Orleans.  I'm spending two nights there en route to Disney World (we leave Monday) and I think I may almost be more excited about New Orleans than I am Disney World.  But as our departure date draws nigh, I'm realizing that I don't know exactly what I'd like to do while in NOLA.  I know I want to enjoy breakfast at Cafe Du Monde and perhaps enjoy a ghost tour, but that is all I know for certain so far.  So I was hoping to enlist the help of NOLA goths or those of you who have visited the city in hope that you might share your favorite, "must see" places in New Orleans with me.  Are there shops I must visit?  A bar or club I must stop by?  Restaurants I have to eat at?  A tour I should go on, sites I should visit?  Please share your knowledge with me and I will be most grateful!

Goth magazine THE MICK 50 and THE MICK 51 are both now up for free download. All free, containing interviews with inspiring artists, from yours truly, the longest-running Goth writer in the world. There is also your chance to show Goth Solidarity by helping one of our own, with the Phoenix Marie appeal. You know I don't normally post covers here, or witter on, but the Phoenix Marie appeal is important so I hope people will understand. Details behind the cut.

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Stopped by a friend's store yesterday (Artifacts Boutique) and saw a number of items that made me think of you guys. If anyone is interested in anything, let me know and I'll contact her for prices and any other info.



( Day of Dead skull earrings, mini Victorian hat, more Victorian skull ornaments, and another pendant shot )

Plague Daddy and I will be DJing tonight at Outland on Liberty (95 Liberty St Columbus, OH). Plague Daddy will be serving up his relentless onslaught on EBM to get your ass out on the dance floor. I'm bringing out some lovely coldwave and deathrock import oddities. I've also dug out some goth rock that is so old it was dusty. Hell, if you partied right when the stuff first came out, you may not even remember it. So come out to the gorgeous new space and have a drink (and possibly a flash back) with us!

But I wanted to remind you of the upcoming Christmas holiday. If there are gothlings on your list, you may want to check out our store.


Thanks for looking; I've missed you all.

Having a lot of busy real life stuff going on, but I am still checking in on here. Will revamp and catch back up with the community again shortly. Please any other active mods please watch our membership requests and approve them as soon as you can.

I wanted to share my line of Gothic /burton themed Xmas cards !

They are for sale at my shop! Please check them out! Perfect for the Goths in your life!


( Gothic Greetings )


http://www.ravenofskys.etsy.com

New Art Doll on Etsy:A Old Blanket and a Withered Garden I should also be listing her on my website soon.
She is up for sale on my etsy here http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33907701
TITLE: A Old Blanket and a Withered Garden
MEDIUM:Paper clay,ceramic,clear glass eyes,cotton,string and a wooden base.The costume is made from one of my rotted childhood blankets which I allowed to decay in my garden where my pets who have passed on are buried.
SIZE: 16 X 12 inches.
STATUS: For sale 500.00
NOTE: Doll portrays the way we sometimes feel choked up and tied down to certain situations.The doll comes with it's base and is sitting on a latched,hinged trinket box that can be open and closed with the doll on top.The box also contains a secret message pasted on the inside only the buyer will see.There are also trinkets inside the hole in the dolls head.
Because of the eyes being clear glass depending on the way the light hits her,her eyes can sometimes look like they are following you.
Payment Plan is available:Doll is available for a payment plan.For around 80.00 each consecutive month,with a down payment of 50.00.A payment must be made EVERY month or you forfeit your item and are charged a 30.00 relisting fee.Also if you skip 3 months of payments you forfeit what you have paid on the time.I hate to be so strict about it but past experience have demanded it.E-mail me for info if you wish to purchase her on a payment plan.

Ugly Shyla
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I turned my gargoyle into a blood spitting fountain and had to share! Here is a short video of it!


Enjoy and Happy Halloween Royals!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9CoTK-ywp8