Underwear, The IPO, and Blood and Smoke

I like wearing blue things. I think the blue color sets off my orange hair very nicely. I don't know what compels me to dress nicely one day at work (such as today) and then, the next day, I will wear tshirt and jeans and looked like I just dragged myself out of bed. Some days my dress is extremely conservative and other times, I will wear a short skirt and a sweater that can only be classifed as "flirtateous".

My mother buys almost all of my clothing. I don't like clothes shopping. I detest it for the most part. There's something unpleasant about getting into a tiny cramped space and trying on clothing item after clothing item to find one that fits "just right". The more expensive places have much larger dressing rooms, but then it's hard for me to justify the price of the clothing. Still, most of my clothing is very good. From the GAP and Talbots. Recently my mother and I were discussing underwear.

My underwear is cotton and has embroidered flowers that I got from the Philippines. I get new batches whenever one of my relatives comes here or a visiting relative from here returns from vacation. They are cheap, no nonsense, and I don't feel self-concious when I don't wear a matching bra.

"You know, ma, almost all my underwear is from the Philippines."

"What?! We should get you some nice panties from Victoria's Secret. They have really durable underwear."

"But the underwear I have from the Philipppines is still okay."

"No, you should get good underwear from Victoria's Secret."

"I've got one pair from there. They are kind of high cut and are a bit uncomfortable for me sometimes."

"They have full cut underwear there too and they are very comfortable and will last a long time. I'll get you some next time I go to Victoria's Secret."

"Okay." I decided to keep quiet then, even though my underwear needs are more than met now. Whenever my ma is determined to get me new clothes, I don't complain because she's determined to get me new clothes. I might comment on the color or style a little, but when she thinks I need more skirts, I'll get them even if I don't need them. My house is littered with Annie Sez bags. I'm not really complaining about it: who in their right mind would complain when their clothing budget is practically zero?

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Today, my company had an IPO.

I'm not quite sure if that is the proper term. They became an IPO? They are an IPO? They offered an IPO? I have no idea. I think IPO stands for "Initial Public Offering". So, our stock went on the market today. I wish I could be more excited about it: I just don't know what it all means. I'm not sure if this means that I will be making more money or what.

They had a special champaign toast in the afternoon where we all got these special Xpedior glasses where our logo is etched beautifully into the champaign flutes. Since I'm allergic, I have been bugging the office managers to get me sparkling grape juice or something comparible. For a while, they kept buying non-alcoholic wine/champaign, which is of no use to me because not only am I allergic to the alcohol, I despite its taste. Drinking the stuff was like drinking a mild vinegar. However, they have been really good recently and today, I got a bottle of sparkling apple cider. I wish it was cold.

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I recently went into a book store and spotted Anne Perry's latest novel...

... in the science fiction/fantasy section! That shocked me. She's venturing out of mystery, it seems. I couldn't believe that it was her: I had to pick up the hardback, Tathea, just to find her picture on the book jacket sleeve to see if it was her. It's supposed to be a reasonably good first shot into fantasy, with a dash of spirituality. It made me want to begin rereading her mystery novels.

I recently got Stephen King's newest offering, Blood and Smoke. It's only available in audio casette with King reading three novellas/stories. I've been listening to it on my way to work. I recommend it wholeheartedly. The three stories featured are Lunch at the Gotham Cafe, 1408, and In the Death Room. Each story features smoking or cigarettes fairly prominently.

I felt that I've read Lunch at the Gotham Cafe before, although I'm not quite sure where. It's about a man going through a divorce and quitting smoking at the same time. It's a bad situation, but then it gets worse when a maitre'd at the Gotham Cafe goes absolutely bonkers. It's comical, despite the murdering rampage one of the character goes through. I think what makes it especially funny is to hear Mr. King say "EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!" with the twinge of a bad French accent.

In the Death Room was a King story I haven't encountered before. A very Pit and the Pendulum tale, although again, this is very comical due to King's reading. His Mexican accent and New York one leave much to be desired. Otherwise, it has the feeling of "I've read something akin to this."

1408 is the real treasure in Blood and Smoke. It's the "novella" of the collection, long enough to warrent two out of the four CDs. It's about a man who writes books about supposedly haunted places, but hasn't encountered anything unusual in the thirty places he's visited so far. In his research for his fourth book, Ten Haunted Hotel Rooms, he visits the Hotel Dolphin in Manhattan and is determined to sleep in the supposedly haunted 1408.

The first CD of the novella consists of the hotel manager attempting to talk the main character out of it. The second CD talks about his encounter with the room. It is worth the weight of the CDs. It's deliciously creepy. King's descriptions are wonderfully vivid, akin to his work in The Dark Tower Saga. The way everything is described, slowly and carefully, reminds me of a Kubrick film. Everything happens one at a time, not all at once, so the enormity of what has visually changed in the room in the mind's eye can be chewed and swallowed.

It's a disturbing meal and highly recommended. Perhaps I might try writing it into a screenplay. I've never written a screenplay before, although I really enjoy reading them. Over the past half a year, I've read more plays and scripts than I have ever and I am slowly enjoying that format. However, I'm still surprised whenever I read a script. I'm astounded that directors can read the text and come up with such vivid and rich imagery. There is so much that the page cannot capture.

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I've been looking for book recommendations. U2femme of randoym recommends Caleb Carr who fictionally wrote about serial killers at the turn of the century. The Alienist was his first book; the Angel of Darkness his second. I'm looking out for them.