Buttress and what?

While wasting yet more of the afternoon surfing for overpriced lingerie, I happened upon a little-known brand with the wonderful name of Buttress and Snatch. According to their Web site, their products are made in Hackney, London by honest, hard-working girls.

Here's a sample of what they produce - it's a bit too much for my taste but could be fun if I lost more weight:

Optimistic at last

Even though I've spent the entire week with a truly horrid cold - snotty, congested, and with sore throat - I also spent the week harboring the feeling that my life will improve considerably.

I think the catalyst to this was the unexpected loan modification I received and accepted from my mortgage lender. Now I can sort out bills and begin to renovate Chez Money Pit again. The battered BMW may finally get a new roof and front bumper. Most importantly, I can buy more lingerie.

So far, these are a few pieces I've shortlisted. I doubt I'll buy anything for the next week or so, though, as I haven't had time to do a Proper Budget for 2009.

from Lise Charmel. I'm particularly attracted to the waist cincher thingie, although I also have a thing for balconnet bras.

This is from last year's Simone Perele collection, which means it'll be hard to find if I decide to buy. But I thought the color would be a nice change from the black I almost always buy.

Since my other Vollers corset doesn't fit any more on a thinner Melina, I'd like to get another. Probably not in pink, though.

"If today is your birthday..."

I occasionally have a look at newspaper horoscopes - not that I take any stock in them, but I actually know a couple of copywriters who have penned daily horoscopes when there was no other work to be had.

Since today is, alas, my birthday, I nosed around the Web to see what was in store for me. From cafeastrology:

The Sun conjuncts Mars in your Solar Return chart, and you are more active, competitive, and impassioned than usual this year. Your desire nature is strong, and increased physical activity, including sexual, is likely. Independent work is favored.

Groovy! More sex!

From the highly reliable New York Post:

A Sun-Pluto aspect on your birthday this year will make you assertive in the extreme. You don't have to be domineering but you probably will be. The good news is it's a role you seem destined to play, so play it for all it is worth. It could be fun.

Huh?

From the Chicago Sun-Times:

You've the endurance and stamina to hang in there no matter what. And here's something fantastic: The only thing you must endure this year is an impressive string of blessings. Be responsible with your winnings. Give a portion back. Professional happenings make March adventurous. Scorpio and Pisces extend admiration and support. Your lucky numbers are 3, 2, 14, 49 and 18.

I'll believe it when I see it.

From the Dallas Morning News:

You can secure your position financially and professionally by staying on top of your investments and sticking to conservative alternatives. Buying and selling big ticket items or property will help you get things back on track. Reassess your relationships and consider who's costing you too much emotionally or financially. Be secretive about your intentions concerning sensitive issues. Your numbers are 6, 10, 16, 21, 30, 35, 41.

Okay...I have no investments to speak of, and these numbers have nothing to do with the Chicago Sun Times astrologer's numbers.

From the Sydney Morning Herald:

If you happen to be with friends today, take it under advisement that you shouldn't let them talk you into shouting lunch, or spending too much or impulsively on your credit card either.

This probably made more sense the the rest of them combined, especially as I'm meeting a chronically broke friend for lunch.

Not really safe for work

I was nosing around the Net for an archive of TV ads, frustrated that I hadn't kept some D&AD winner reels from the 1980s. I didn't find the ads I was looking for, but I still found some funny ones. This one is for the clothing brand Diesel, which I have no interest in purchasing - they've taken a bad porno film from the 1970s and kind of sorta censored it:

Fank you, Keef. Now go lie down.

While trying to catch up on my reading last night, I spotted a double-page spread for Louis Vuitton - an overpriced manufacturer of leather goods for the rich and stupid. Their latest spokesperson surprised me:

Yep, it's Keith Richard, complete with some badly done eyeliner.

Who at Louis Vuitton thought this up? I doubt Keith has the brainpower to pack his own bags, let alone go out and actually purchase one.