How intense the arts are in other countries

Can we talk about Russia and India for a second?

First, Sergei Filin, the artistic director of the Bolshoi Ballet got acid thrown on his face because of infighting in the company. A masked man, presumably from the ballet company, came up to him and threw acid on his face because of disagreements over Filin's direction of the Bolshoi. Now one of Bolshoi's top ballerinas, Svetlana Lunkina has fled to Canada because her husband has received threats while working on a film about a previous ballet star. I've been reading all of this craziness and just can't believe it!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-21259905
Apparently putting glass in dancer's shoes and setting alarms to go off during their performances is old hat in Russian ballet...http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21081460

Second, Pakistan and India are having a war of words over the protection of my bestie, Shah Rukh Khan, Bollywood megastar. Khan has been reported as saying he's sort of held up as an example of an Indian Muslim not being treated well, which he says is not true. Pakistan meanwhile's all like "Hey India! Why don't you make sure Mr. Khan feels safe!" and India's all "Mind your own business Pakistan, he's doing just fine here." and SRK's all "Settle down guys! I like being Indian, and I'm not moving to Pakistan, but I would appreciate it a bunch if America would stop detaining me at their airports because my last name is the "Smith" of the Muslim world/I'm one of the most recognized people in the world, why can't they just Google me?!"
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-21256521
Bahaha, can you imagine if Canada was like "Hey America! We want Nathan Fillion back! Ya'll aren't treating him right eh" and America was like "Buzz off, he likes us better, so there!" and Nathan Fillion just kind of stood there with one eyebrow raised. Classic Fillion. 

A great week for New Girl and LBD

FINALLY! Nick kisses Jess (woof!) and the Lydia fiasco is unveiled on Lizzie Bennet Diaries, meaning Darcy gets to comfort Lizzie!

Good week.







Seriously though, Nick's kiss is phenomenal. Manhandler.

Merlot/Lace: working so hard today

I worked last night and had Monday and today off so it feels like I've had loads of time to work on my dress, because I have. I work for the next three days so I won't get back to it until next Monday, which is fine, because I need a break whether I want one or not.

This morning I had my bodice and bodice lining together. Now I have the skirt attached, the collar on and all but one side of the center back lining put in. It's been great fun as you might guess because the open back with a collar and all of that is a riot to line. No really, I love doing it. It's so precise, like making a million crotch seams, which are also a favorite of mine.

I must say I've been doing a bang up job and am really happy with how everything's been going so far. The collar looks smaller on one side, and did in the mock up too, but the pattern pieces are the same width so I don't know what's up with that. It's only a fraction of an inch, so I'm the only one that notices right? I feel like I'm so close to being done, and when you make the list (sleeves, attach lining waist, button holes and buttons, hem) it doesn't seem like that much, but it is. It's always more than you think it is in sewing. When I just have the buttons left to sew on it'll still take longer than I think it will. Ripping the button holes open might actually take a reasonable amount of time...

Anyway, I'm sure you want pictures. Because the form is so much shorter than me I can't really give you the best idea, but here are some shots to pique your interest.

bahaha, I'm so crooked.

before pressing, but still great. 

Instagram "5 things about me"

There's a "5 things you don't know about me" Instagram thing going around. I was tagged by two people and so made mine. I'm sharing on here bc I didn't want to post it on facebook for reasons unbeknownst to me.

1) I often fall asleep holding my own hand.
2) I don't let myself put on mascara until I've put on deodorant.
3) Most of what I see or do or read is on other's recommendations. I have a strong personal identity, but love to be able to speak other people's "languages".
4) I've worn high heels since I bought a pair at a garage sale when I was 12. I've been my current height of 5'11" since I was 14.
4.1) I'm actually 5'10.75"
5) Sometimes I miss my long hair, but never the headaches. 

Merlot/Lace: let's get going!

The Mill on the Floss aka I love my brother SO much

Honestly, I have no clue why I ever think George Eliot stories are going to end well. Maybe Middle March got my hopes up too high, but obvs with Daniel Deronda, and now The Mill on the Floss, Eliot just loves to squash anything and everything good in a really self destructive way. (Why do I always think Ethan Froam is Eliot? Probs bc it's awful).
**SPOILERS**
Ok, The Mill on the Floss. Maggie is SUPER close to her brother Tom. Their father is in a death feud with Philip's father. When they grow up their father's mill is sold to Philip's and the dad eventually dies. Philip's in love with Maggie, but Maggie promises Tom she won't see Philip. Eventually she gets permission to see Philip and they get the mill back, but oh darn, Maggie has fallen in love with her cousin Lucy's fiance Stephen (what?!). She eventually goes on an extended boating trip with Stephen (a whole afternoon!) and ruins herself, but not really. They just sat on a big boat together, which is so much worse than a small one. Philip forgives her, Stephen still wants her, she denies herself Stephen because...it will hurt Lucy? But Lucy's also forgiven Maggie so....? Eventually there's a flood and Maggie paddles over to Tom and he tries to jump into her boat but they both drown. Ta da!
Wikipedia tells me there is more to all of this in the book, big surprise, but obviously a 2 hour film has made cuts.

Da heck?!
1) The thesis is that Maggie and Tom's bond is so strong they sacrificed everything for each other: Maggie's love for other men and Tom's...personal life? Maybe if I read the book I'd get what Tom was saying near the end, but it all sounded rather incestuous  and I'm one of the last people to misread Victorian sensibilities (since I basically share them...)
2)Dear Maggie. I know how much it absolutely rots to want to be with someone you shouldn't, but guess what! You blew this way out of proportion! Everyone forgave you! What else was in your way? Granted Stephen was kind of a skeezy dude on the boat a little bit, and you were a good girl during that whole deal, but guess what, later you could have been with him! Dumbo. Although he did kind of have that thing with Lucy at the same time and no girl likes to think a man can switch that easily...
3)Poor Philip. Did I mention he's a hunchback?
4)Yet another ridiculously beautiful woman with too many men that love her. Wah wah.
6)Did I also mention George Eliot is crazy? I mean the woman has an agenda, a BIG one, in all of her stories (what writer doesn't?). I didn't expect a happy ending, I just wasn't seeing most of anything involving Stephen and the dying coming. She loves women to destroy themselves because of ridiculous promises to awful men.

I should probably read some of her books someday...

Case Histories Series 2

I think just Martha and I ever watched this show. It's awesome. I've blogged about it before (here and here). Well, Martha, this one's for you.

I finally got around to checking on the filming of series two. Seems like it filmed last October and is going to air on BBC1 this year. I'd guess we're looking at a fall PBS premiere.

Since Sherlock hasn't started filming series three yet, and we're most likely looking at a 2014 release, I'd say ya'll that didn't watch Case Histories the first time around might want to get on board to keep some amazingly written and acted British mystery solving in your life.



The trailer's got Johnny Cash. You know this is good.