Harajuku Girls

I am forever fascinated by this Japanese fashion craze ever since I picked up my first copy of “Gothic Lolita.” This is a terrific magazine devoted to all things goth—but only in a way the Japanese can. The zine contained sections showing you how you can “gothify” ordinary objects such as a desk lamp, computer monitor, and even a trash bin! There are pages of models dressed in all things goth and posing in front of churches, clothing patterns, comic panels, and a recommendation page where they encourage a would-be goth to explore the world of Edward Golly, works by Edgar Allen Pole, and novels by Stephaan King. Terrific read, that Gothic Lolita.

The first of the double trio Harajuku set is, of course, the goth version of the lolitas.

The second set is a more light-hearted (and thriftier) Kawaii version.

Pretty Pie Girls All in a Row

I like PIE!

Glitterama

I consider myself to be a good friend who is guilt-ridden about leaving her peeps behind in a place where the homeless often dresses themselves in garbage bags and mistakes the 7 train as public lavatory. So when comments such as “I want a set of dolls!” are posted on my facebook page, I have no choice but to determine: A. Just exactly how good this facebook friend is to warrant a set of dolls and B. Will they be willing to pay for international postage?

Since I never do anything without a backup, I have a second set of blank dolls, which I cover with glitter and dub it “The Divas.” Along with a card it becomes a birthday present to a righteous former colleague who takes time out of her busy schedule to keep me in the loop with work gossip. There’s nothing I enjoy more than a story about how a student I used to teach threatening a teacher with a plastic knife.

Despite the fact that every surface of my place, including the cat upstairs, is covered with glitter once the dust settles, I am dying to visit that avenue again. There’s nothing like a pile of sparkling flecks to make a person truly happy.

Road Warriors

After interviewing a 13-year-old girl for a placement in an art school, I discovered that she’s spent a great chunk of her childhood on the back of motorcycles—her parents were members of Hell’s Angels. While I was not overly impressed by her portfolio, I was in awe of her. To think, she’s been on the road for most of her life and have really seen America. She probably even testified as a witness in federal courts as well.

The Road Warriors are thus born out of this 2-minute interview.

As far as I know, the girl didn’t get accepted to the art school. However, she was also trying out for culinary at another institution. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if she knew how to de-bone an entire cow with just a Swiss Army Knife.