urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:seanan_mcguire The Journal of Seanan McGuire Seanan McGuire 2010-08-17T02:10:28Z urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:seanan_mcguire:263618 2010-08-17T02:10:28Z 2010-08-17T02:10:28Z Talis Kimberley, "Velvet." I am going to Australia.<br /><br />I am going to Australia, and I have been nominated for the Campbell Award.<br /><br />Because I am going to Australia, and I have been nominated for the Campbell Award, I am attending the Hugos.<br /><br />Because I am attending the Hugos, I needed a dress.<br /><br />Originally, I was having a dress made, but time got away from us, and now this year's fabulous pumpkin patch of a dress will be <i>next</i> year's fabulous pumpkin patch of a dress (which gives me something to look forward to in Reno). I wound up in the unexpected, somewhat awkward position of needing to find a formal dress at basically the last minute. Oh, and did I mention that I have a wacky build and wear a size 16-18 right now? SUPER-FUN.<br /><br />Thanks to a fantastic crew (Kate, HappyCat, Jeanne) and a fantastic saleswoman at the Walnut Creek Nordstrom's, we found me a dress. Floor-length, one-shoulder, teal and peacock, Grecian-cut...seriously, I put this thing on, and I am suddenly both thirty pounds lighter <i>and</i> thirteen feet tall. It is A DRESS OF MAGIC.<br /><br />Because I have a dress, I needed shoes and jewelry.<br /><br />Due to the cut of the dress, a bracelet was mandated; no necklace, which eliminates most of my jewelry collection (I'm planning to carry a Chimera Fancies pendant in my strapless bra, because I am a superstitious bunny). I found a lovely blue and silver swirl bracelet, and ordered a pair of beautiful blue glass earrings from Beckett's Etsy store. My shoes are two-inch tarnished silver heels with a sling-back.<br /><br />Because I have shoes, I need a pedicure. Because I have a formal dress, I need a haircut.<br /><br />Being a girl is <i>difficult</i>, yo. But it's all going to be worth it. My little sister (<a href="http://www.livejournal.com/rsearch/?tags=%232">#2</a>, the gothic Betty Page) spent yesterday working out my makeup, and Cat and I are going to have our hair done before the Hugos. I will look like a princess. A weird blue princess who may have a chainsaw somewhere under there, but still, they don't depose you for that.<br /><br />I am going to Australia, where I will wear my dress. To the Hugos, where my name is on the printed material.<br /><br />Wow.<br /><br />That is all.