GLITTERING SIDEWALKS

Isn't she a beaut?! Christmas has been good to me this year.

IȾ iϟ Ẇrittɇn.

MEET ME HALFWAY

Wow, what a year. I truly hope your's was as wild as mine...and despite my negative 'tude, I mean that in the best possible way

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DIRTY CHRISTMAS CAROLLING

Songs...

Listen...GnR is stil amazing, by the way. I was blown away nearly to tears at their show the other day.

My brother is coming home for Christmas tonight after his first semester of Uni. Very excited to see the freshman year changes...

IȾ iϟ Ẇrittɇn.

POUND FOR POUND

two things I just can't get enough of right now. Get on it.

Other than that...I am dying to go to Creamfields Abu Dhabi. I am dying to see Guns 'n' Roses in December. Machete has been on my radar for eons and I still have yet to see it (did you? Is it good?). Excited to possibly go home for a short break before Christmas. Want to finish my can of Stella but it's from my dad's special stash and the folks just got home. I wish my mum would just cut the act and give me the bike we both picked out for me for Christmas - could really use it. I am adoring my tiny Christmas tree, which I'll soon start decorating with obscure things. I am sort of panicking about my new workload at the mag but the pay raise will make it worth it. Fight training has been awesome - hit up the gym for 1.5 hours of torture first thing this morning and surprised my trainer. Only problem is I am becoming more violent. Took my spike bracelet for a spin today. Mouthed off a local - a total no no around these parts. Mouthed off a bus driver. Probably shouldn't have because he works my neighbourhood. Nearly mouthed off a girl over-eying my man. Thought better of it because she's not even his type. The boyf will meet my father tonight at his birthday party. I will drink a lot and post all the little details on Twitter. Be there. I have been dressing well. Kayaking on the mangroves a little too early in the morning. Hence, goodnight.

IȾ iϟ Ẇrittɇn.

GIMME THAT SALT ALL AROUND THAT RIM

 Hello! I didn't type for a while because I nearly sawed off my left middle finger while feverishly attacking a block of cheese - I started a no carb thing a couple days a week so...it was bound to happen sooner or later. Anyway, isn't that just a fucking awesome album cover? No shame in saying it...the skankiness of her, the wigs, the dirty mouth, her rhymes, the Barbie fascination....the fact that she is ALSO from Trinidad....it all just makes my labia tingle lol.


Disgusting, isn't it? Yet I would wed and bed this girl in a heartbeat (or bed then wed her, doesn't matter...). Throw in the new Kelis (who I'm seeing live tonight) and some Kesh (also Trinidadian) and I'm set for life.

In fact, I would love to sit in on some Young Money meetings (I don't listen to rap regularly but I am highly impressed with this crew, namely Nicki, Drake and Lil Wayne. Young Money is to the world of Hip Hop what Jack Kerouac is to Fiction, and I just hope they can keep it going, even while in prison.

Oy vey...straying very far away from my metal/punk/electro home...

IȾ iϟ Ẇrittɇn.

A GOTHIC ROMANCE

Call it a poor girl's mental block but I've seen this scent just about everywhere before, heard everyone's gushes, even thought the name - Black Orchid - sounded exactly like something that I should be smelling like for the rest of my very dark life, but never bothered to test it out until last night at the mall. And only because I was smelling a tad sweaty from hopping buses all day and about to sit in a darkened theatre with several other people. The Fox - who is taking a shot at courting me once more - and I went on a date and ended up finding our perfect scents - and I presume - each other's perfect christmas gifts, before catching the 8.15 showing of The Devil (yeah, I dunno). His would be Bleu de Chanel and mine would be aformentioned heady otherwordliness. Funny thing is it also smells just like this eggnog-y type drink we guzzle at Christmas time in Trinidad, but made for your neck! I can't quite nail it in writing so just go sniff for yourself next time you hit up the department stores.  

3 things I'm stoked about right now:

Tackling Adrien Brody on the red carpet when he comes here for the gala screening of his latest film 'Wrecked'. The Abu Dhabi Film Festival hits the capital this weekend, baby!

My next swap social happening next week! Business is booming! More later.

Modeling in early November for students at a photography workshop. Save for a few Kill City shots taken by Panda back in the day (and a shoot done two days ago to promote my next swap social), I don't - and am certainly no - model, but I'm thinking why the fuck not? From what it looks like, I'm on a mission to be as out of my element as possible for the rest of 2010 (I just competed in Abu Dhabi's Dragonboat Races, got picked up on by some male high school biology students I was giving an exam to, started a business overnight, and literally just got asked to train with the country's national triathlon team...). So modeling? Piece o cake.

IȾ iϟ Ẇrittɇn.

SUSIE BY RUMI

I love this photo of Susie in Stockholm, snapped by Rumi of Fashiontoast.
More Stockholm diary photos here.

Today was such a great day. I hosted my very first clothes swapping event and snagged the sweetest fitting black blazer, some battered black skinnies and some other great pieces. And the best part? I wasn't even expecting to find anything I liked because I dress like no one else in this city. I haven't been this happy in probably over a month. Pictures to come.

P.S. Yesterday I went indoor skydiving for my new freelance writing job. It was mad fun.

IȾ iϟ Ẇrittɇn.

LIFE IN A CAPELLA

Really lovin' this woman right now, especially since we now share a third nasal opening (it's good to be bullringed again now that I'm miles from an office).

As usual, The Fox and I are not friends tonight. He still hasn't quite come to terms with the fact that I actually am a social alcoholic (I hate people who laugh and nod and say they are too) and it bums him out. So I've left him a box of donuts in the fridge with an apologetic Post-It note attached and Rehab tonight is at my parent's place. I'm updating my CV, changing my Facebook name and snuggling up on the sofa with the girls watching Kendra's E! True Hollywood Story.

FUCK ME, DO YOU KNOW WHAT'S SOOO GOOD? Spicy tomato and rice soup. Staying true to my new 'life's a bitch but I can handle myself now that I own a flat' stance, I brought over my own canned food. Mother dearest still pried it from my hands to heat on the stove, though, and made sure I had every last drop! That and tea with cardamom spiced milk just does it for me these days. I'm losing hella weight, though, obviously.

I just had a really easy, breezy talk with Panda (it's been a long time coming), and I actually have no ill feelings towards his new girlfriend. I get great vibes from her. I hope he reads this. I mean that.

IȾ iϟ Ẇrittɇn.

MURDER YOUR LITTLE DARLINGS

Yesterday I quit my job.
I feel like this right now....

Last thing you ate: home made pasta

Last thing you drank: chai tea

Last thing you watched: Isao Takahata's 'Grave of the Fireflies'. And I cried and cried and cried. There was a thunderstorm up in my bed last night.

Last thing you bought: some takeout from Bricco Cafe - THE best fast food Italian in town, I have to say. Just waiting until it hits 6.38pm so I can eat it!!! (fasting)

Last thing you returned: An Arabic phrase book

Last thing you dreamt of: running into my now ex-boss at a chinese restaurant cum bowling alley

Last thing you fought with someone about: Honestly? I can't remember the last time I fought with someone.

Last thing you regretted: nothing, but I was thinking if I still had my job, I would probably be able to go to London in October like I had planned.  

Last thing you forgot: how much more exciting life is when you're just wingin' it (yeah, I say that now since I only got paid a week ago)

Last thing you wrote: a resignation letter

Last text you received: I dunno because I lost my phone. AGAIN! And I knew it was going to happen so I didn't splash out a new one, thank FUCK!

Last thing you laughed at: The Fox telling a serious story but with very cute, very flawed English.

Last thing you read: I'm reading a book that's banned here called 'Abu Dhabi: Oil and Beyond'. It's very enlightening. My ex-boss lent it to the team to read hoping it would shed some light on where we're based and where we're writing about. It does, but I no longer work there.

Last thing you felt proud about: having the guts to leave and branch out even before I had a plan. Stupid. But exciting.

Last thing you considered: teaching Creative Writing...

Last person you spoke to: I'm holed up on the couch with my mum catching up. She just got back from trips to Canada and Chicago.

Last thing you saw that you wanted: Kelis' style!

Last thing you stole: some small food items from my mom's kitchen. It's going to be a tough couple months.

Last thing you realised: that I'm actually doing well for someone my age and that I shouldn't freak out so much. I'm 21! I'm just getting started!

Last thing you decided: to take on a couple one-off jobs from my adoring mother until I find my feet. I will now be my mum's personal trainer three times a week, and will double as her style consultant and wardrobe sorter.

 
 
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PICTURES OF HOME

I've been dreaming of seating a lot over the past few months. I guess it's a new home (studio) owner (renter) thing...

Above are my favourites at the ridiculously swanky Fairmont Hotel opposite my house. Sometimes I just go sit in their lobby with the cheapest beverage I can find on the menu just to enjoy them. I even already have the contact for the chair buyers and will spit out shitloads to grab those rope ones before anyone else does the next time the hotel does a design/decorating overhaul.

But like Fairmont furniture, rent in Abu Dhabi is merciless, and I don't have shitloads.

So I was well excited when I stumbled upon my very own chair project one day on the bus home from work. I somehow managed to find a pair of dusty wing-backed armchairs perched on the edge of a construction site one day. And with some less than flawless Arabic conversation with the labourers - thanks to the boyf - I got them for free (AND they put them in the back of the car for me!). Since then, dumpster diving has become my new thing.

BEFORE...

MIDWAY...at the upholsterer's

MOVING DAY!!!...

TODAY!!!...

WITH ITS SISTER!!!

Very much in love! I almost never sit on them, or let anyone sit on them. If I do, I'm constantly vigilant for spills and stains coming from their person......that's how much.

Seriously though, Abu Dhabi is the best place to dumpster dive because it's one of the most wasteful cities in the world. My daily 30 minute jogs around my hood on an evening reveal many a secondhand pleasantry! I always come home with some great junk or other that keeps The Fox's eyeballs rolling.

P.S. Speaking of chairs, while I was away on holiday last week, someone replaced my comfy office swivel chair with a uncool, uncomfy stationary one, and I am not at all pleased....but with these babies, I easily let that slide by the end of the day.

IȾ iϟ Ẇrittɇn.

EASTERN GLOW

This is where I work. Beautiful, isn't it?

One thing I seriously adore about this city is that there is nowhere you can't lay your weary bones and just appreciate life without people thinking you're a dork and/or a sick gazer. The working class just roll out a scrap of sheet and picnic on the side of the road with friends (no space at home) and the muslims just roll out their prayer mats wherever and whenever they please to keep Allah posted. And when I say wherever and whenever, I mean like stopping their cars at the side of the road during rush hour and genuflecting. Why not? I fucking love that. Just came back from watching an open air movie with The Fox (yes, we're on attempt number 3 and 5 months in), and on our way home I made him lie wth me on the grass at the side of the road. Even though he said 'you know, people spit here. Anyway, I know you'll shower after this' then looked at his watch after I brushed him off with a smile, the five minutes spent gazing up at the glistening facade of my towering building (there weren't any stars to speak of, or look at) made him realise the beauty in my spit and grass madness, and maybe something bigger. He just got home and sent me a text message saying:

'I'm having such a wonderful time with you. You're making my life happier. Thanks for a lovely evening. I love you'

For the record, I'm not showering.


IȾ iϟ Ẇrittɇn.

A FELICIDADE

IȾ iϟ Ẇrittɇn.

EIGHT DAYS A WEEK

LAST NIGHT! WOW! Like..what did you get up to? Anyways this is me stirring this afternoon.

I've really taken to cat ears since not being able to get over how cute Jessica Stam looks in that one Nina Ricci perfume ad?

So it's going to be part of my 'signature' accessories collection this year (fuck, I'm seriously turning into an anime character)

MUMMYYYY!!!! I know a lot of people go partying at some club with friends and make out with strangers in plaid shirts while sloshing Pabst/Red Stripe all over everyone for their NYEs but I honestly prefer being with my fam for it (well, this time the bro and sis hit up that Rihanna concert, which I heard was a snore). We used to throw the biggest parties back home on our lawn for hundreds of people and wear fancy dresses and drink champagne and light fireworks - I miss that...


DRUNKENNESS!!! It's so nice to see her happy again because her mother died on Boxing Day and I've been nursing her and trying to make her laugh with back to back Little Britain (Rest In Peace, Mama - we love you)


Outfit deets...(and speaking of...one of my bloggerly NY resolutions is to post more of what I wear because I've always been intimidated by that since there are so many straight fashion bloggers out there doing stellar jobs already. I don't like to think of this blog as strictly fashion but I do think it would make it more homey and personal if you saw more of me, yeah? I'll try.)


My dress cost 25. American. cents. at. this. gay. people's. yard. sale. and. my. mother. doesn't. want. you. to. know. that. but. what. kind. of. blogger. would. I. be. if. I. didn't. share. that. wackness?

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND ALL THE BEST WITH YOUR RESOLUTIONS! About to go write in my new journal, discuss business plans, eat leftover salmon and re-play last night. Love you all.

PS. Apologies to anyone who was offended by the 'thinspo' reference in my last post, but honestly I'm not in the blogosphere to support/mock/help any anorexics/bulimics (I was pro-ana AND ana myself back in the day and I know that trying to help someone who doesn't want to be helped is useless so do what you like, I don't care). What I really want to say, in the nicest way possible, is that in my personal space, I say it like it is and those photos were honestly inspiration for me to maintain skinny-ness. But...for what it's worth, ANOREXIA/BULIMIA IS BAD!

TAKING IS THE NEW GIVING

Christmas 09 by thelonelylondoner

Just some of the things I might want to receive (or have) this year, not including pilates classes at Soma, a hula hoop, money for my Philippines trip, a nipple piercing, a tattoo or 2, gift certificates at Zara and Topshop and A LOT OF OTHER THINGS! But feel free to click for details if you see something you'd like to get someone last minute though. I'll probably do another one of these because dreaming trumps everything else I'm doing right now (which is why I haven't been blogging).

SHIT, it's been a minute! How you been? My grandmother's visiting for the holidays and has taken over my room so I now room with my 14 year old sister. I also got offered a small gig for the next couple weeks and was turned it down a couple days later due to them finding someone with more experience last minute (hence twiddling my thumbs madly while waiting for this other pay check to come in). I also became a chocolate junkie over the last few days without even realising it which, while having a one to one moment with my stomach today, we realised is due to my severely limited diet of no meats or carbs, because I have NEVER been one of those chocolate frenzied women - in fact, I don't usually eat it at all. So shit's been a bit lame on this end, which is why I'm happy to have Into the Wild, Almost Famous and back to back CSI on Show On Demand on our TV right now, as well as a newly bought bottle of Absolut Rock (featured above) which I bought in Duty Free on my way back from Trinidad.

OH! And my mother and I are thinking of starting a business! I don't know...we have a wild idea (that's not really so wild, but more than doable) and I'm not going to fuck it up by saying anything just yet so I hope this Polyvore set will suffice for now until I'm back in top form.

AND WELCOME TO NEW FOLLOWERS! I would advise you otherwise but I no longer give advice - whatever floats your boat.

BLAME IT ON THE A-A-A...

Fuck it. Love you fuckers.
But I'll be back. Gone drinking, dancing and sexing at Etoile.

ALL THE WHILE I WAS DREAMING OF REVELRY

Every night to put myself to sleep.

So it turns out you don't have to wait for good things to come to you (as if I ever did in the past). I snarled and bickered when I couldn't get tickets to see Kings of Leon at this year's most expensive event worldwide, no doubt, then when I finally gave in 2 days before it, bought fangs and red eye contacts to accompany all the eerie black and gold pieces I wear on a regular basis in order to get drunk at this event...
...my sister called saying her friend's parents were giving up 2 tickets because they only wanted to attend the races (and the night time concerts were included in the tickets). I was kind of over it at this point as I was on my way to the salon to get the bone-straight blue/black hair that I pictured a couturable vampire donning, but I caved in because we had to get there in 2 hours. It suddenly hit me how many times I've tried to see KOL (in London just before I moved, and in L.A. this summer) so I just couldn't live with myself if I gave this up for glow in the dark paint.

Well, what can I say about Kings of Leon? They're...consistent? Their performance, which they claimed was their last for a while, was pretty much the same as the recordings, which is super, of course, but I would've liked it if they did something more (I mean, I'm not sure concert crowds want to experience the same thing they do when they listen to your album). But I am grateful. It was free.

In other news...ME! I'll be over there quite a lot as of now so do rummage occasionally. And I got a super email from Meghan from Kill City today and it looks like I might be blogging there soon too. I also applied for a job working in the Writers' Centre at Soho Theatre. Not ideal but certainly interesting. And hey, it gets me back to London. Wish me luck.

AND WHEN I WOKE NOT KNOWING, I KNEW I LED THE DOUBLE LIFE

You know you're in Abu Dhabi/Dubai when the view from your room looks like this:

Anyways, so after 2 extra days stay in LA because of over-booked flights, I've finally made it back to the Emirates (but for how long? As a stint in London is now on the brain - I think this is the start of something that will never end, this moving around business).

But California was something else this time around and I've got a small but promising pile of material pleasures to show you and a mountainous stack of memories and crazy times to entertain myself with in bed while scarfing down proper hummous - work as an extra in an independent film, partying it up at places Lindsay Lohan was spotted shamelessly taking her little sister *smirk*, covering kinky medical fetish nights with hot girls in latex administering saline injections, touring dungeons, seeing and meeting one of my favourite authors on tour, conforming to twitter, having 'whatever happens in Vegas...' moments that didn't actually STAY in Vegas, apartment hunting and shopping with boyfriends, both fantastic and embarassing blog associations leaving me with awesome free clothes or nail-biting and blog archive reviewing, and shitloads more spent with lots of new and old friends and of course, my Panda.

Speaking of Panda (who I obviously miss to shreds already), this stuffed animal I've come to sleeping with over here that my brother gave me one christmas looks curiously like Panda.

I know. Panda looks like a penguin. I know Part 2 - call me racist, but this is my boyfriend - the slanted eyes, the beak that looks like his plump lips and the hair. I cuddled it a little too closely last night (while he spooned a pillow, he said). He's been begging me to take a pic of it for ages. Anyway, I'll stick to Panda around these parts to banish any confusion.

Yes, we are that pathetic, and loving it.

I'M ONE STEP FORWARD AND THREE STEPS BACK

Panda still hasn't offered to marry me so, not only is today the day I leave Los Angeles, but it's also the day of Kill City's launch party for their collaboration with I-shit-you-not Brian Lichtenberg!! Lauren, who works at the Melrose store, told me about it ages back so I already died 9 times over my loss. I just thought it would be nice to leave you trendy LA-ists with a little Friday evening gift (so you can't say I'm a bitch for all the flaunting I do about getting free shit from them). Anyways, here are the deets:

Today's been crazy. Panda and I shopped for secondhand furniture for his new place, he took some shots of me for Kill City, I panicked and packed, stocked up on septum piercing jewelry, and we gorged ourselves on sushi. We just came back from watching The Surrogates for kicks, then snuck into the midnight showing of Zombieland (also for kicks, and also where I started to cry over having to leave him). Now we have the luxury of sleeping for 4 hours before we rent a van, pack it with his shit and move it to his new place, have sex, cry and say goodbyes at Terminal 'Long-Distance-Blows'.

I'm also arriving the day after this huge bash my mom's been planning since before I left for L.A.. The only thing I CAN say I won't be missing is Dubai and Abu Dhabi Fashion Week and my brother's birthday on the 4th. Seriously different adventures to come soon at A Dirty Word. See you soon in a different time zone (isn't it always?).

COLLECTING THINGS

First off, 'Collecting Things' is a really good sound snippet created by Jon Brion (legendary!) for the Eternal Sunshine...soundtrack and I'm listening to and adoring it right now. He is such a talented composer, and one of my faves. Also, Jon Brion does stand-up at Largo most weeks apparently. I'd like to check him before I leave. ALSO, speaking of Largo, funny person Aziz Ansari is performing there this Saturday. Check it! Yes, as you've probably observed, this post is a catch-up of all the cool knowledge I've gained on my adventures around LA. I've been slightly shitty at documenting the trip and it's almost up. And this is me today running errands:


I have to say, the crowd of bare-backed mexicans rigorously competing at handball around the corner really appreciated the fluttery skirt today. It was sooo hot that when my bare legs were resting on the seat of the leather chair as I lay back to get my eyebrows threaded, it looked like I had pissed myself when I got up. MUCHO EMBARASSING! And here's a better look at my necklace. It's in progress...collecting things...
And then all other accessories worn today. Vans with purple lacings were my shoes of choice. I am really shit at doing the whole daily outfit documentation. I love the speckled bathroom mirror in full length shot above. Can't be bovvered.

I know. I still have to show you what I bought at Cobra Snake's yard sale. He was...delightfully messy. He also couldn't understand what the fuck I was saying when I asked for a mirror to see my purchases so I had to americanize it and slow it down: MEE-RURRREE. But anyways, apart from those purchases, I received the best fucking things in the mail this week.

#1
One of my favourite authors, whose awesome book I reviewed way back while interning at Skin Two (before I could write reviews very well, might I add), well he started following me on twitter and then proceeded to send me a free copy of his latest book, which came out like a week ago, and which I've omg'd about in the past here. Yes, reader; just die! Anddd he's stopping in LA on the 24th and 25th for his book tour, where I will be in full stalker swing. Really, he's very talented. Like, my boyfriend's worried talented.
#2
Of lesser importance in my eyes right now, my temporary free Vistaprint business cards came in the mail too. As I briefly mentioned before, I'm working on my career and so there's a wordpress page for the 'no-bullshit' me in the works too, until I can pay for a domain etc. Shit's getting serious, yo.

Apart from that, I've been spending loads of money experimenting with beauty and body enhancing products, drinking sangria, hanging with awesome pretty-haired friends, interviewing loads of kinky, crazy people in dungeons and fetish clubs, and this weekend I've been invited to a tight immobilizing bondage workshop (YES HAHAHAA - Panda is not impressed). I'll probably also spend a day in the cinema watching It Might Get Loud, 500 Days of Summer and The September Issue, and I'm also meeting up with the Kill City store manager on Melrose to pick out some free shit. As much as you don't want to hear it, life is good. IT IS! Seriously, do a double take.

I have a cheesy american dinner and a movie date now with Panda and he just got home. Must run.

FAITHFUL TO MY FREEDOM IN A SELFISH KINDA LIFE

2 pictures from yesterday.

Nothing that isn't already understood has to be said about Kiki de Montparnasse, but if you were ever looking for the best ice cream in the world and got tired of doing so, it's because you never encountered Rose & Saffron Ice Cream on the corner of Wilkins and Westwood in Los Angeles. It's this humble little Persian ice cream place with the best flavours.

I don't really do ice cream but when I do, green tea ice cream is my choice. It's been my favourite flavour over the last year or so. Before that, I would occasionally reward myself with a scoop of Tiramisu from Oddono's in South Kensington. Failing that, I'd welcome kulfi (Indian ice cream) every now and then, but that's hard to come by. Minus those three, I would never eat ice cream.

But then last night, Sebastian suggested Panda and I go to that Persian ice cream place. I tried 1 scoop of Saffron & Pistachio (thanks for the tip, Seb!) and 1 White Rose (still obsessed with rose). And you know how in that movie The Ramen Girl how the guy had magic in his ramen soup and could make his customers burst into tears or burst out laughing etc.? (there's another even better movie like this that I can't remember) Anyways, the point is, I went through a similar experience eating that ice cream. I fell in love with life. I sat outside (freezing and inclusive of mountainous goosebumps) but just sat there anyway and peacefully watched life go by. It was beautiful. I ended up asking Panda to buy me an extra scoop and nearly took a tub home. I'm going back for that tub next time we're in town.