In Which I Beg For Advice

About 16 months ago, my hair looked like this:

Cute, kind of flippy, but a pain in the ass to do, even to get that little bit of out flip on it. I'm taking 45 minutes with a round brush. I do not have that kind of time, even if I did have the inclination. Which I don't.

And I haven't had a hair cut since then. And now it sort of looks like this:

(Only longer. And minus the beard.)

And I think I'd like it to look sort of like this:

What do you think? I'm worried that the bangs might get in the way of the glasses (which are an almost-black tortoise type now - very librarian). And I'm worried that I don't have the cheekbones to pull it off.

I hate hair. I obsess over my hair almost as much as I obsess over my body.

And can I just add, I have such a girl crush on Dawn French. I luuuuuuuuurve her and it pisses me off to no end that the stupid PBS station out here Westa Wistah doesn't show The Vicar of Dibley.

And while I'm begging for help, I need some serious hand cream help. I have tried just about everything. Aveeno, Eucerin, Aquaphor, Vaseline (straight and in lotion form), Shea Butter, and some expensive shit by Shikai called Borage. Nothing worked. My hands are so dry that they peel and bleed. I'm allergic to lanolin which leaves out a lot of lotions (like Udderly Smooth, which my mother swears by) and I don't want anything too scented because those can affect my skin too. I put lotion on my hands constantly. I need to get gloves, I suppose, for when I wash the dishes, because I'm sure that doesn't help. But I need a good, heavy duty lotion. Any ideas?

And it other news, this is, quite possibly, the coolest staircase ever and I want one.

Hey, you! Yes, you! I need YOUR help!

This is my mug. I love my mug. I use it every day. It feels so good in my hand. I can slip my fingers thru the handle, my forfinger resting just perfectly in the indentation at the top. It's ideal for coffee, holding just enough that I can finish it before it goes cold. It's also wonderful for tomato soup and Ritz crackers, holding just the right amount, keeping it toasty warm all the way to the end. I love the colour. I love the vaguely Oriental feel of it. I. Love. My. Mug.

I got it at a craft fair. I don't like craft fairs. I don't GO to craft fairs. I'm not into country decor and I find craft fairs to be rife with such dreck. Graft fairs generally make me get the screaming heebie jeebies, so this is a big deal. I think it's safe to say that I'm not a craft fair kinda girl.

But this craft fair is different. First of all, it's outside, in Woodstock, CT, in the fall. There are horse chestnuts on the ground, the leaves are only gorgeous and there's a smell of apples and wood fires and pumpkins in the air. It's fanfuckingtastic. Second of all, it's at Roseland Cottage. I love Roseland Cottage. It's beautiful.

It's Gothic Revival. I do love me some Gothic Revival.

Anyway. Back to the fair.

In addition to some amazing kettle corn, this fair boasts a goodly showing of potters. I love pottery. I don't have too many pieces, but my other favourite piece was also bought at this fair.

TCBIM hates her, but I think she's gorgeous.

Today, TCBIM noticed that my beloved mug is cracked. I very nearly started crying. So my plea to you, dear internets, is this: Does anyone recognize this mug? Does anyone recognize the signature of the potter? I believe he's in CT, but it could also be NH or VT.


I've been trying the Google all day, to no avail. I'm so upset about this that it's bordering on ridiculous.