Wednesday Banshee
Apr. 6th, 2011 03:53 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lavandarlizard2I need to add some more icons. O_o I just realized that I need Richard and I have no Richard. O_O Horrors!
I am up to my tail in bunnies, thanks to Merula. ^___^ They seem to be very small right now, but I plan on feeding them a lot.
I also have my first "dumbass!" sunburn of the season. I have sunscreen in my truck, but can I be bothered to get off my tail and retrieve it? Of course not! That would mean walking 50 feet. Each way. O_O I'd have to surrender my "idiot" badge if I did that. >_> So one knee is burned along with the same ankle and the other foot is striped in the pattern of my huaraches. And of course, my neck and shoulder resemble a tomato and my elbows are slightly pink. I really need to remember the damn parasol. I just hate most sunscreens. >.< Why do they always feel so... goopy?
Anyway, a little more of the Banshee's current project. ^___^ Enjoy.
BFB – Part 103 – Crazy is as Crazy Does
I expected a busy day; I didn’t really expect total chaos.
Okay, not *total* chaos. It was only a little chaotic and mostly controlled, but my head was somewhere else most of the day, so I wasn’t at my best.
Heero left early with Jake after giving me a fierce kiss goodbye. Another nice thing about my recent hair trim; my braid doesn’t drag in the dirt when Heero dips me. Jake was immensely amused.
I hit the dining hall immediately after and got a to-go box loaded with protein and carbs, as well as a marginal cup of coffee, and headed for the office. We would be coming and going from there with the porters to avoid conflict in the port room.
Trowa caught me at the door to tell me that he’d talked to the lawyer and he was thrilled to be of help to a real vampire. He even offered to put Ctik up if we didn’t find him a place by Sunday. Trowa laughed at that, since his cousin and the lawyer lived in a fancy condo outside Albuquerque. Still, it was nice of them to offer. I filed it away, just in case.
He also assured me that they had all found Ctik absolutely charming and certainly the least scary vampire imaginable. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing, for Ctik, that is. I expect he has scary-vamp moments, just not with the people who are trying to help him.
Tiffany had already left with the first appraiser; I had an email telling me that Gisela was lovely and the kids were funny and holy-shit-Gisela’s-brother-is-cute!
I inhaled my breakfast, checked my list and began wrangling appraisers. It’s not all that interesting unless you’re right there. The first on my list was relatively young – she kept thanking me for giving her such a wonderful opportunity, so I guess she hadn’t been doing this long. At the house, I turned her over to Gisela and headed for my next.
I went back and forth all morning and into the afternoon, fetching appraisers, going on walk-throughs and sending lists to my email. Cathy had left a few of those nifty handhelds for our use and we all used them to record the appraisers’ opinions.
I think we were all astonished by some of the offers for the stuff in the sub-cellars. Apparently, the junk was in excellent condition for all of being a few centuries old. A couple of people practically drooled.
The art and other pretties in Ctik’s suite made a huge impression on all of them. A few made tentative valuations, but most of them were very insistent that we get someone from one of the big museums in, to be sure. Tiffany whispered to me that one woman had muttered about Rembrandt and Michelangelo. I’m not a complete fool when it comes to Human things, of course, and I was shocked to think that Ctik might actually own Old Masters.
None of this crop of appraisers wanted to go on record with the art, and they all agreed that we should call the museums and the big auction houses. Among the starting suggestions were Sotheby’s, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Museum, the J. Paul Getty and the LA County Museum of Art.
Gisela and I were still slack-jawed when Tiffany came to take me home to meet Heero.
“Oh, my god,” breathed Gisela, the list in her hands shaking slightly. “A Rembrandt? A *Rembrandt*?! In this house all these years?!” She looked up at me. “I can’t believe Miles didn’t take them!”
Tiffany patted her shoulder. “Be glad he thought they were copies. If he *had* taken them and *Heero* found it out… Well, you’d be a widow, not a divorcee.” Tiffany has such a way with words. Gisela just stared at her, speechless.
“Would you like us to call?” I asked. I was a little concerned that she was going to just faint altogether.
Karl appeared then, and took the list from his sister. “I’ll start calling.” He looked a little stunned, too, but I figured he hadn’t actually lived in the same house with millions of dollars worth of fine art, so it probably wasn’t so scary to him.
“Good idea,” agreed Tiffany. “Duo and I need to get going; we’ll see you again sometime tomorrow. The rest of the horde will clear out in an hour or so.”
“Of course,” said Gisela faintly. “Thank you so much…” She looked ready to burst into tears, so we made a quick departure.
I am up to my tail in bunnies, thanks to Merula. ^___^ They seem to be very small right now, but I plan on feeding them a lot.
I also have my first "dumbass!" sunburn of the season. I have sunscreen in my truck, but can I be bothered to get off my tail and retrieve it? Of course not! That would mean walking 50 feet. Each way. O_O I'd have to surrender my "idiot" badge if I did that. >_> So one knee is burned along with the same ankle and the other foot is striped in the pattern of my huaraches. And of course, my neck and shoulder resemble a tomato and my elbows are slightly pink. I really need to remember the damn parasol. I just hate most sunscreens. >.< Why do they always feel so... goopy?
Anyway, a little more of the Banshee's current project. ^___^ Enjoy.
BFB – Part 103 – Crazy is as Crazy Does
I expected a busy day; I didn’t really expect total chaos.
Okay, not *total* chaos. It was only a little chaotic and mostly controlled, but my head was somewhere else most of the day, so I wasn’t at my best.
Heero left early with Jake after giving me a fierce kiss goodbye. Another nice thing about my recent hair trim; my braid doesn’t drag in the dirt when Heero dips me. Jake was immensely amused.
I hit the dining hall immediately after and got a to-go box loaded with protein and carbs, as well as a marginal cup of coffee, and headed for the office. We would be coming and going from there with the porters to avoid conflict in the port room.
Trowa caught me at the door to tell me that he’d talked to the lawyer and he was thrilled to be of help to a real vampire. He even offered to put Ctik up if we didn’t find him a place by Sunday. Trowa laughed at that, since his cousin and the lawyer lived in a fancy condo outside Albuquerque. Still, it was nice of them to offer. I filed it away, just in case.
He also assured me that they had all found Ctik absolutely charming and certainly the least scary vampire imaginable. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing, for Ctik, that is. I expect he has scary-vamp moments, just not with the people who are trying to help him.
Tiffany had already left with the first appraiser; I had an email telling me that Gisela was lovely and the kids were funny and holy-shit-Gisela’s-brother-is-cute!
I inhaled my breakfast, checked my list and began wrangling appraisers. It’s not all that interesting unless you’re right there. The first on my list was relatively young – she kept thanking me for giving her such a wonderful opportunity, so I guess she hadn’t been doing this long. At the house, I turned her over to Gisela and headed for my next.
I went back and forth all morning and into the afternoon, fetching appraisers, going on walk-throughs and sending lists to my email. Cathy had left a few of those nifty handhelds for our use and we all used them to record the appraisers’ opinions.
I think we were all astonished by some of the offers for the stuff in the sub-cellars. Apparently, the junk was in excellent condition for all of being a few centuries old. A couple of people practically drooled.
The art and other pretties in Ctik’s suite made a huge impression on all of them. A few made tentative valuations, but most of them were very insistent that we get someone from one of the big museums in, to be sure. Tiffany whispered to me that one woman had muttered about Rembrandt and Michelangelo. I’m not a complete fool when it comes to Human things, of course, and I was shocked to think that Ctik might actually own Old Masters.
None of this crop of appraisers wanted to go on record with the art, and they all agreed that we should call the museums and the big auction houses. Among the starting suggestions were Sotheby’s, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Museum, the J. Paul Getty and the LA County Museum of Art.
Gisela and I were still slack-jawed when Tiffany came to take me home to meet Heero.
“Oh, my god,” breathed Gisela, the list in her hands shaking slightly. “A Rembrandt? A *Rembrandt*?! In this house all these years?!” She looked up at me. “I can’t believe Miles didn’t take them!”
Tiffany patted her shoulder. “Be glad he thought they were copies. If he *had* taken them and *Heero* found it out… Well, you’d be a widow, not a divorcee.” Tiffany has such a way with words. Gisela just stared at her, speechless.
“Would you like us to call?” I asked. I was a little concerned that she was going to just faint altogether.
Karl appeared then, and took the list from his sister. “I’ll start calling.” He looked a little stunned, too, but I figured he hadn’t actually lived in the same house with millions of dollars worth of fine art, so it probably wasn’t so scary to him.
“Good idea,” agreed Tiffany. “Duo and I need to get going; we’ll see you again sometime tomorrow. The rest of the horde will clear out in an hour or so.”
“Of course,” said Gisela faintly. “Thank you so much…” She looked ready to burst into tears, so we made a quick departure.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2011-04-07 01:06 am (UTC)My bunnies are sitting in the fridge... *grin*
Oo! Nice to know that Miles didn't take all the good stuff! then again, Tiffany's right... she would be a widow!
*hugs*
no subject
Date: 2011-04-09 02:42 am (UTC)Probably a happy widow, after she got over the first shock. ^___^
I could have slapped myself when I got home. I totally forgot about the Starbucks down across from the CSU. It's got a lot more interior space, as well as more shade for the outside tables. I don't know why I never remember that one. >_< You don't even have to turn off Twin Oaks until you get to the strip mall it's in. ^___^
no subject
Date: 2011-04-09 07:46 pm (UTC)Oh we are so going there next time!!
*points at icon* there ya go!
no subject
Date: 2011-04-07 01:43 am (UTC)Maybe the sale of the paintings will help Ctik with his new place.
no subject
Date: 2011-04-09 02:51 am (UTC)I know I can begin to burn within 20 minutes, but still I leave the sunscreen in the truck. It's remembering to put the stuff on that is my main problem. *sigh*
Ctik is well-fixed for money and Gringotts will take good care of it until he starts finding his own investments. I think he just enjoys the art. ^___^
no subject
Date: 2011-04-07 02:09 am (UTC)& I live in Nuetragena SPF "OMG I didn't know it came that high" all summer.
no subject
Date: 2011-04-09 02:54 am (UTC)I have a tube of Neutrogena SPF55... I should probably stick that in my purse...
I'm of the generation that looked upon saddle-brown skin as sexy. >.< No sunscreens until I was past the age of stupid, so I never got the habit. Bad me. Bad. >_>
no subject
Date: 2011-04-09 03:15 am (UTC)I credit my worst sunburn ever to Mercedes Lackey. I had picked up a copy of Arrows of the Queen on my way to the beach. *damn you Misty!*
Then I grew up, got one of those so-called "real jobs" that kept me indoors all day during the summers. Lot all hint of tan. Got so pale I swear my skin had a faint blue tint, so pale they don't make a make-up base pale enough. I burn a LOT easier now.
no subject
Date: 2011-04-09 03:21 am (UTC)The worst burn I ever had - as an adult - was about 20 years ago at Sea World. I had sunscreen, but didn't reapply, and all that sun and all that water... I actually had to go to the doctor. I wound up with a permanent "tan" line from that burn on my neck and shoulders. I was never a sun bunny; I always preferred the shade. Definitely not a traditional California girl. ^___^
I did notice this week that the burn makes my cat scratches show up quite nicely. >.< Thanks Tekko.
no subject
Date: 2011-04-12 09:50 pm (UTC)I've been looking for that stuff ever since, and so far the only place I've ever found it was a Walgreen's pharmacy.
Anyway, it's been a long time since then, but it's a pretty vivid memory. I spent most of the time wandering around in my pj's because anything else was too heavy and painful.
no subject
Date: 2011-04-14 06:10 am (UTC)Hm... Now that I think about it, my worst sunburns have usually happened in the vicinity of water, but never at the beach. I got my knees and shoulders and the back of my neck burned playing on the paddle boats once. ^___^ That was a sneaky one. Didn't even realize it until I got home. =P
Zinc-oxide... Why is that so familiar? O.o Oh yeah! Desitin! Most mothers probably know Desitin - great for diaper rash. ^___^ Never thought about using it on sunburn, though. Before the advent of bottled aloe, my mother used to grow the plants. She had a huge thing that was her sunburn plant; that was the only one we ever cut for sunburn. Thing was about four feet across... O_O
Way back, there was some hand lotion called Cornhusker's Lotion that was a great sunburn fix. It was a clear gel, light, not heavy feeling. I used up my last bottle about five years ago. Don't know if it's even still around. I should look... Great for dry skin, too.
no subject
Date: 2011-04-07 03:54 am (UTC)Glad Miles is just a dumb a**. I hope someone tells him exactly what he missed... AFTER everything is same from him.
no subject
Date: 2011-04-09 02:56 am (UTC)I don't tan either; I 'beige'. With tiny red speckles. >_<
I think Miles will be getting a huge surprise. ^___^
no subject
Date: 2011-04-07 03:32 pm (UTC)Re sunblock: I switched to a baby-formulated, no-tear, spf 50 lotion, some 3 years ago and it was the best change; lighter-to-no scent, lighter weight, and no skin irritation, esp. on my face. Banana Boat brand but try any baby type to see if it makes a difference for you.
no subject
Date: 2011-04-09 03:05 am (UTC)It's a little like discovering that the costume earrings you've been wearing anywhere and everywhere are real diamonds. ^___^
I have a thing for funky Day-of-the-Dead style Mexican art, especially done in water colors and ink. Nice and bright. ^___^
There used to be a gel-formula sunscreen that I loved, so of course, it was discontinued. =P It took me about ten years to find the stuff I've got now, I just need to remember to use it. Maybe having a still-tender ankle will help. O.o
no subject
Date: 2011-04-07 11:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-04-09 03:06 am (UTC)Well, who expects to find an Old Master in the old family mansion in America? First thought is always going to be 'copy'. ^____^ Miles forgot just who Ctik is.
no subject
Date: 2011-04-07 11:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-04-09 03:08 am (UTC)I'm not sure what I have in the truck... I know it cost what felt like a fortune at the time and I know it didn't suck... but I think I've actually used my Neutrogena more often. O.o
I need to check the stuff in the truck, see if it even still works... >_>
^___^
no subject
Date: 2011-04-09 05:42 pm (UTC)How well does sunscreen even hold up in the truck? One would think that melting in the heat would take care of any lingering goopiness...
no subject
Date: 2011-04-09 05:48 pm (UTC)I shudder to admit that I don't buy sunscreen every year. >_> Just, you know, when I can't find the old one. O.o I really am totally not in the habit of sunscreen. I keep trying...
The cheap stuff I don't even look at anymore. I did learn that lesson. ^____^
no subject
Date: 2011-04-08 10:01 am (UTC)You are a red dragon this week? I hope it fades fast and doesn't peel too much. *pets the silly dragon*
Hey... maybe they'll make enough on the artwork to get the house back? *looks all hopeful and stuff*
no subject
Date: 2011-04-09 03:14 am (UTC)Mmmm... not that Richard, this Richard. ^___^
http://www.lfgcomic.com/uploads/wallpapers/7538538bbd89653d5cf37db835523b04.jpg
I hope that shows up right. ^___^ That's my kind of Richard. *snerk!*
The elbows and the knee are fading fast, but the ankle and the neck/shoulder are still ablaze with the spring color. I've been dousing myself with aloe, so maybe I won't actually peel, but I usually do. =_=
It all depends on what Ctik wants. ^____^ He may want a new beginning.
Art stuff
Date: 2011-04-09 08:08 am (UTC)*coughs and raises a hand* as an art conservator in Italy (Florence), Old Masters aren't actually worth all that much. For art to have decent sale value there has to be enough of it on the open market for trading to occur, but not so much that the pieces are still somewhat rare--the Impressionists and Picasso are a good example of this. Because of the complete scarcity of Old Master works and the fact that they virtually all belong to Italy or their respective countries of origin, they don't come up for sale and therefore wouldn't fetch a high price. Also--Michelangelo hated painting, it's pretty well documented that aside from the frescos in Rome he only produced 3, maybe 4, total--Leda and the Swan being attributed but not 100% positive, because there's no record of any such commission and at that point in his career the old drama queen could pretty much just take the jobs he wanted and damn those who tried to argue, Pope included. Seriously. While doing the Sistine Chapel and the tomb for Julius II, he ran off to Florence and hid for 3 months because he was sick of painting, producing the only remaining charcoal sketches that are confirmed from his hand--let me know if you'd like to see and I'll link you to my photos, can't tell you where they are because the director of the Uffizi would be really pissed. If something were to come to light as being produced by any of the Italian masters, Italy would practically kill itself trying (and succeeding) in getting them back.
Re: Art stuff
Date: 2011-04-09 05:36 pm (UTC)Wow! I knew I was mostly blowing smoke in this section, but... just wow! ^___^ I am in no way, shape or form an art expert, so I just grabbed a few names that stuck in my mind. I had no idea that Michaelangelo hated to paint. O.o I really appreciate the setting straight. Seriously! No sarcasm involved! ^____^ He really ditched the Pope?! *snork!* That's hilarious!
What I wanted to convey with this part was just that the appraisers - intended to appraise the fittings and furniture - saw something shocking and starting babbling names without wanting to go on record. Because it's Duo's POV, he's not an expert on anything like that, so he's perfectly willing to believe that there may actually be really old art in the house and that it could be worth a fortune, if Ctik wanted to sell it. The facts all await the examination of experts, and Duo has pretty much put it out of his mind as a Human thing and really none of his concern. And the notion that Miles - the jerk - may have actually been living with real art and never noticed. ^____^
Also, Americans (like me) tend to see dollar signs whenever European masters are mentioned, cuz most of us only hear about these things when a headline screams that something was sold for eleventy-million dollars somewhere. ^___^
If you've got a suggestion for something more in line with reality, please, please email me! I am a dolt where art is concerned (I'm a fan of sofa art, ffs) but I am always up for more information. And thank you for the smack upside the head. *snicker* I did skim Wikipedia, but... well... it's Wikipedia. And I really do appreciate learning something new - about most anything. ^___^
no subject
Date: 2011-04-13 04:51 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-04-14 06:15 am (UTC)I used to get mild sunburns in Okinawa because I couldn't find any sunscreen I liked. >.< But those were never the really bad ones. I had a parasol and I used it religiously. ^___^
Edinburgh is gloomy? O_^ My kind of weather! That would be the ancestral nest for me. ^___^
Re: art... Anon has gifted me with a lot of great info. ^___^ I am a veritable info sink; I suck up all manner of crap.
no subject
Date: 2011-04-14 06:45 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-04-15 06:35 pm (UTC)It all depends on what you're used to. ^___^ I grew up in the desert - 100+ temps in the summer and 30% humidity - then I spent a year in North Carolina. Summer temps around 95, with 99% humidity. Thought I was going to die. >.<
Okinawa was a joy, though. Oki has a breeze, NC does not. ^___^
no subject
Date: 2011-04-16 03:37 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-04-16 05:16 am (UTC)The same reason most Americans wind up on Oki; I was connected to the Marine Corps at the time. Most fun 13 months I ever had. ^___^ Loved the people, loved the culture, loved the tombs. I'd go back in a heartbeat if I could.
That was a long time ago, though; pre-Gundam. If I remember correctly, the hot anime was Macross. Didn't have a TV, so I mostly caught bits and pieces on shop TVs. Loved the manga, though. And the fact that children's animated shows often featured totally nude characters. ^____^