Moody Summer

Well, what else could one possibly need for an averagely perfect summer. A Frankenstein dress, a bit of gold, blush flats, a bag made of softest leather, magic lens sunglasses and a scoop of dotty ice cream, a puddle of water and a patch of bright sky (friends or loves and probably air conditioning). And not to forget the wanderlust!

;)

*Serbian

My Head Is In My Bag

A few basic things that one should naturally assume about most of lady's bags are that: 1 they defy all the laws of physics, 2 they're much bigger on the inside, 3 things inside often go missing without a clue, but 4 most of the things that an average human being or two might need are probably there. That is unless the owner of the bag needs one those things, in that case only no. 3 is applicable. And although this is pretty much a common knowledge it might be written into some kind of laws of *physics or thermodynamics, just to make it official.

I remember a moment when I desperately stuck my head inside my bag one day and said -I'm gonna get in this bag and go to *expletive*, while trying to retrieve keys or something similar from it. Naturally, this sounds much better, angrier and dirtier in Serbian, but you get the point. And despite the fact that I always hid my bag, back in University, from a friend that adored roaming around people's bags, the internet in-my-bag craze got me crazy too. So I thought why not and while we're here let's do one more useful thing, let's see how much weight do we carry.

- First, the sunglasses not just to be pretty but because it's 2000 degrees and both Celsius, Fahrenheit and everyone else are scorched (about 50 g).

- Tiny make up bag and tiny make up that I rarely need and use but I always have and also if I didn't have I would often need (laws of physics as I said). Labello is always inside, in one of these darker shades. My favourite is passion fruit, but I currently use pomegranate because last passion fruit Labello I had was eaten by the bag and I can't find it in stores any more. And I love the dark ones because they are light but leave the lips stained and it's pretty and it's not wearing make up when it's 2000 degrees outside. Inside this tiny bag I also stick a pen, a hair clip and another lip balm that I almost never use but it's always there (physics!) (about 50 g).

- Mirror, that's this princess thing between pen and lip balms, can't fit inside the make up bag but the princess picture is 3D, she closes her eyes. Ridiculous, but that's the reason why I haven't replaced it for 5 years.The mirror is useful for when I get something in my eye or for spying purposes (about 20g).

- This is one book that I get to carry around and I can read on the bus since it has about 10 pages and a monster at the end. It's the most popular with my little gang of students so I often have it in the bag and it makes me happy  (about 20g).

- A bouncy ball (!?) I know, I know... but see above (about 30g).
 
- And this pretty sunny wood hides the thoughts of a ridiculous mind, all the crazy ideas, so far unseen calculations of approximate weight of a girl's bag and grocery shopping lists... it's mu notebook
 (about 10g, not including the weight of the ridiculous mind).

- My wallet and a disclaimer: no zebras were harmed in the making of it, maybe just a sofa... (average weight in Serbian, or any other, currency  close to 0, in grams about 100).

- The blue case is for my phone which I forgot to put inside for the picture but you must assume it's inside since it's a phone case, OK? And, just to mention another weird fact, this case makes people want to hold it, stroke it and repeatedly squeeze it, I suppose it's because it's the silicon rubber...
(weight with the phone inside about 140 g).

- The little metal box - You know when someone ask for a tissue and you dig around your bag and victoriously pull out what you think is a bag of tissue but is in fact a completely different feminine product. Well, this box is a saver from the said embarrassment, which use to repeatedly happen to the owner of this bag, but no more confusion (about 20g).

- My camera is orange and always, I mean always in it's purple case in my bag. Since I got the new phone it has been a bit neglected, I admit, but it's still always, and I mean always in my bag (but not in the picture since the picture is taken with it) (about 130g).

- The keys to my warm and loving home (it's really warm because there's no AC) and my favourite key chain with little Stitches. And yes, don't go and try persuading me those are not Stitches, people already tried and it didn't end well, for them...  (about 20g).

- And the last and here actually the least - public transport card... (weight about 0, both literal and simbolic).

So, there's about 600 grams of weight in here, not to bad, you'd think. But add a bottle of water occasionally, and then he asks if he can put just his phone, keys and a wallet in your bag, then take a pair of flats to change from the heels or those new sandals that are still not broken in, add some snacks maybe... should I continue? I also always have gums, if you need them, but only Orbit blueberry, no mints and eucalyptus, too strong for me, just the kid's kind, take it or leave it. And you know what, the weight, the stuff and everything, I still wouldn't change a thing...

* Surely, when it comes to physics don't listen to me, physics and I not a great match, but I needed the laws or something and I know these are really serious, so there you have it.

;)

*Serbian

A Cat in Stone

For 10 years we've been going to the same eye doctor and that's exactly how long it took me to notice this cat in the hall of the building where their office is. 10 years! For someone who can spot a cat from the plane that's a strangely long time, but was a nice surprise.

;)

*Serbian

On Reading and Riding (in buses)

You do know how much I like reading. As much as chasing random cats on the street and wearing patterned trousers with striped shirts. And for a long time I hoped to find a position (a paid one, mind you) where I'd be able to read stuff and then retell* it to well, anyone who needs stuff, and i would gladly work long hours for free. Because i like reading so much that I read anything and everything from books and today's papers to shampoo bottles and candy wrappers.

I do have one problem though, kind of my curse if you wish. I can't read in buses, train, cars any kind of transportation which is a real curse for someone who spends an hour and a half in daily commute to work. Whenever I put my nose in the book for longer than 3 minutes I get the worst nausea and I can either leave the bus and keep on reading on a bus stop or simply forget the book at home. Whoever cast this spell on me new their job well. I mean I get to read all the announcements and notices, all the toothpaste and shampoo posters, all the billboards along the way. I know how many sitting and standing places there are in most of the Ukrainian trolleys in Belgrade whether the vehicles are double or single. I know the stickers above the hammers for breaking the glass in cases of emergency (and I wonder if no AC in the vehicle counts as emergency). I peek into people's papers and books occasionally, just to stay informed and maybe evaluate someone's personality highly subjectively based on the said reading material. I'm quite discreet, no leaning. But that's it my books are left sad at home.

And when people say how no one's reading in the public transportation anymore I feel embarrassed I shrink to the size of a speck of dust I feel called out. And these days I rarely have a book in my bag in my bag when I leave home (a pound less, though). And some days I bring one, I keep it on my lap for a while, not to be seen, but to try again, and it still doesn't work. And I hate it that people are reading so little in the PT.

On the other hand I get to see this:

* I hope a degree in literature makes me qualified for the job, because that's exactly what I did for 4 (maybe a bit more) years of University.

** I found some great reads this way, although once I managed to read almost two pages of a great book over a lady's shoulder and frustratingly didn't get to see the title or the author...

;)

*Serbian

I Wish...

            ... you didn't forget me while I'm hiding under a blanket on my couch . And I wish I could wear this outfit soon, very soon...

The white shirt – I've read about GAP white shirts several times. How they're all great, amazing and all the other adjectives in superlatives. Then one day by chance I met and fell in love with one, in a second hand store, for under 4 euro. And it's all true what they say, the cut is great the material is sturdy but light and it hugs all my 'curves' very well.

Trousers – You've already seen them here when I bought them at the flea market for half a euro last winter. They've had to wait for the more appropriate weather to join the other crazy printed pants I currently own*. Although now the weather is cruel to them again.

           

The bag was a New Year gift and it (I) could hardly wait for the sun to start shining.

Sunnies – These are vintage all the way and I should know since my mother bought them in the early 90s which means I've been trying to get my hands on them for a long time. My sister and I call them the chameleon sunnies since we repainted this little strip of pink twice already when originally it was white with pink flowers. First we painted it deep purple but after about two years we decided we needed more contrast in our life so we made it pink. And what happens next, we'll see...

The Book – (The Salmon of Doubt, Douglas Adams) Although technically it's not a novel, at least not a complete one, this is probably my favourite book ever. It's made of Adams' articles, stories and interviews collected after his untimely death and also the beginning of the latest Dirk Gently novel he never got to finish. I will stay forever enchanted with the story of diving** at the Great Coral Reef with giant manta rays that left my head in the air (ocean) for days and days to follow. And the beginning of the novel The Salmon of Doubt is also included in the book and once you read it you'll suffer for the rest. Unfortunately for this world, planet and the rest of the universe we'll never know what happened next...

Nail polish, a crazy colour joined the collection.

The ring, one of those I never want to take off but I have to before bad to avoid serious injuries for everyone involved.

Shoes take a pick!

* I believe that anyone who's seen me in the last couple of months believes I do not own any solid colour trousers anymore. 

** ...said the woman of 29 who still has to hold her nose to prevent water from getting in and starts drowning after a swimming for 5 minutes and really, badly wants to go diving with manta rays at the Great Coral Reef.

;)

*Serbian