Saturday, July 28, 2012

Someone make it be Halloween already!

source: Facebook 


General Happenings

Kind of a non-post, but Sam has recently started a new (higher paying) job, and we are going to be moving house in the next two weeks. It's a three bedroom house just up the road from where we are living now; I'm just excited to get out of this trailer. I might not be blogging very much during the move, but I will be back with a vengeance once everything is set up.

Here's some Rob Zombie for your trouble:


Thursday, July 26, 2012

Pastel Goth

Urmm, I'm .... not sure how to feel about this.


Ok, the bats I can get behind, but I digress.

I realize that this has been covered before on other blogs, but I just began to look into it and discovered that I has some pretty strong feelings about it. Namely, that this isn't Goth.

*Small rant: before I get all sorts of comments about "everyone has a right to their opinion of what Goth is!" yes, I agree. I also agree that everyone should have a right to their opinion of what Goth isn't. Everyone has the right, feel the equality.*

I can't find the 'Goth" in this. Ok the bats, but that's about all I've seen. It doesn't have any of the traditional markers of a Goth offspring.

Something I've noticed is that this seems to be consistently referred to as a trend. Such as here.  While I understand that Goth itself has been touted as a trend by the mainstream before, we were underground first. I wasn't aware of this thing until it showed up on tumblr in droves and in online retail stores. It maybe that I just wasn't aware of its existence before then, but to me it seems like it was created more in the mainstream than the subculture.

And what is with the upside-down crosses? I wonder if all these people buying them from retail chains have any idea of the symbols connotations in religion. It has been used in the Catholic Church as a symbol of St. Peter, who was crucified upside-down at his request because he didn't think himself worthy of dying in the same manner as Jesus. It has also been used as a Satanic symbol. Most people recognize it as Satanic, so you should be prepared for assumptions being made when you wear it. (Even if they are true, because the term Satanist means different things to the mainstream population and true, honest to darkness Satanists.)

Either way, it is a religious symbol that means something to somebody, therefore it does not belong on your ass.


But, even if I can't see Goth here, maybe it's not a bad thing that this is being called Goth. It's bright, happy, and therefore contradicts a lot of stereotypes about Goths that really don't do us any favors. Like we are all depressed and suicidal, for instance. 

But please, can we not be so shlumpy as to wear baggy sweatshirts? Please?


Ok, I've had my say, now it's your turn. What do you guys think about this?

And I'm talking to you too, my new followers, welcome!




Sunday, July 22, 2012

Oh, the things that Non-Goths say

"Don't you wear anything but black?"

Umm, I have green in my outfit right now.

People don't pay attention to details, and yes, the print on my shirt does count as a color.

And if you ask me where my spaceship is, don't be offended when I don't want to talk to you.

On a slightly related note, here's a song:


Friday, July 20, 2012

Behold!

The spiderweb-skull twins!




He loves this shirt; I am the shit right now!




Thursday, July 19, 2012

Surprise for Zach


Zach spent the night with his grandparents last night, and while I was out today I spotted this and decided to surprise him with it when he gets home tonight.

And why yes I bought myself one just like it. I don't consider the fruits of the child's department beneath me, not when one finds a fantastic treasure like this one. 

All hail the spiderweb skull!

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Sunday Outfits

Sam and Zach matched today:



Those tuxedo t-shirts we got from Walmart on a Halloween clearance.

Note the cute skull detail:


I didn't go to church this morning because I had massive trouble sleeping last night. Weird dreams and slight case of insomnia. But this is what I would have looked like had I gone:




On Being a Christian Goth, Part II

Warning! This post contains religious beliefs that are entirely my own.

I feel that the first time I entered this subject I became a bit....well, whiney. "oh poor me, look how rejected I am," instead of explaining what it means to be a Christian Goth.

I find beauty in all of God's creations, whether or not they are considered "nice" or "pretty" by the majority of people. Skulls, skeletons, bats, spiders, all of these are creations. Somehow it has been decided by the great nameless and faceless "they" that these things are dark and scary, and only suitable to be enjoyed around October.

A brief tangent about wearing black: I've seen some Christian Goth sites say that they wear black as a symbol of dying to sin, mourning our Savior's death, or mourning for a lost and dying world. I think this is a bit extreme when trying to find a religious theme for every aspect of your personality, when in reality it is perfectly ok for you to like something just because you like it. I wear black because I like it, that's it nothing deeper.

God gets credit for all of our greatest attributes, but seldom do people give Him credit for their very personalities. God made you who you are for a reason. I firmly believe that God meant for me to be a Goth. No, really. Because of my particular walk and experience with the Church, I have had the opportunity to talk to people about spiritual issues who would normally never talk to a Christian or set foot in a Church. One of the strangest things I've realized is that I seem to attract questions from Atheists. (Me being a Christian, having numerous Atheist friends, yeah that's weird to me).



Let me be clear for a second, I am not in the business of saving any one's soul; that's God's job. However I am responsible for sharing what I can, and if that happens to make someone think about spiritual matters, then I consider that a blessing.

I am a Christian because I've seen numerous things in my life that have proven to me God's presence. I am a Goth because I am attracted to things of a dark and spooky nature. I am a Christian Goth.

By the way, my husband has started a blog on this very subject: check out Gothic Christian Ministry.

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Friday the 13th Outfit Post

Yes yes I know it is Saturday the 14th, but my internet would not work properly when I got home from work last night. Have I mentioned that I hate Verizon's internet? Friends don't let friends get their fiendish hotspot.

Anyway, this is what I wore.



Dress: etsy, you guys have seen it before
Cross bone tights: should have gotten a close up of those, I got these at a Halloween clearance sale.

Actually, here is an ebay picture of what they look like:


I paired the outfit with this necklace, bought at Spencer's.



Unfortunately, I had to work last night, so tell me what you guys did for your Friday the 13th so I can live vicariously through you. 





Thursday, July 12, 2012

Interesting Article

A friend of mine posted this article on Facebook and I thought I would link to it here:

Ten Things Americans don't know about America

This pretty much covers why I didn't post anything for the 4th (Independence Day). I'm not exactly what you would call a patriot. I feel that America think a lot more highly of itself than it should, and that blind patriotism itself is what starts war. Not to mention the vapid consumerism with which even our most 'patriotic' holiday is celebrated (which inspired a rather cynical poem of mine by the way) that generally makes me nauseous.

Anyway, great article.


Wednesday, July 11, 2012

A Sampling of Tattoos

I mentioned in my last post that Sam and I had gotten matching tattoos for our first anniversary, but I neglected to post pictures of said tattoos. Bad me, here you go:

Sam's

Mine, no they're not exactly the same; my artist never does two tats identically. 

I thought I would also take this opportunity to show off some of my other pieces. This isn't all of them, but seeing as I have ten, I thought that would be a bit much for one post.

My butterfly skull.

My first foot tat. I've had my ribs done, shoulder, shoulder blade, none of them ever hurt, but being tattooed on the foot, that freaking hurts.

Second foot tat. Pretty bats against a moon. 

As I said, this is only a small sampling of my ink. I think I might be slightly addicted. 








Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Zach's Outfit Today

Check out the outfit that the gremlin picked out for himself today:



Orange and black, Halloween colors! It gives me a warm glowy feeling inside to know that I'm corrupting a young child. 

Monday, July 9, 2012

On Music vs. Fashion, and a little Rob Zombie

I've seen this debate in many places, from online to in print (most notably in Gothic Charm School, The Lady of the Manners approaches the subject quite charmingly) - which is more important to Goth culture, fashion or music?

Personally, I lean more toward fashion. I know that the scene proper really got started around the Goth Rock genre, and I do know my Goth music history, but do I listen to it religiously? Honestly, no. I listen to more metal than anything else, with the possible acceptation of Voltaire. But the metal I listen to usually has some spooky or scary lyrics and imagery.

I just think it takes more dedication to turn your wardrobe into a mass of dark delight than it does to do so to your playlist. Does this mean that I'm snubbing Goth music and those who favor it? Absolutely not, I just mean to counter those who would say that if someone does not listen to Goth music, then they are not a real Goth.

While we are on the subject of Goth music, I've also seen many debates on who is and isn't Goth in the music scene, which always leads to furious diatribe about Marilyn Manson. While I do like Manson (my husband and I danced to "If I was Your Vampire" at our wedding, and we have since had that phrase tattooed on our arms with matching Jack-o-Lanters for our first anniversary), I would like to shift the debate to Rob Zombie.



I've never seen him being debated as Goth or not Goth, but I really don't understand why. Sure, his music is obviously metal - as Manson's is - but look at his subject matter: witches, werewolves, zombies, and Dragula! Most of his songs have spooky overtones, and he makes horror movies; I think he at least deserves a look in.

And might I add, if it were possible to have ones own theme song that played whenever one entered a room (how cool??) this would be mine:

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Fangs!

It occurred to me that you all have not met my kitty cat; her name is Fangs.




















So named because the first thing she ever did was bite me. Since then she has become quite the princess.




















We have had her for about a year now.




















Oh look, something shiny!




















Cute upside-down face.

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

On Fear Appeals

By now it should be apparent that I do a lot of random ebay shopping; I found this sometime yesterday and thought it was actually more disturbing than "funny," as the item was described.

 source: eBay

It coughs and screams when you smoke to remind you to quit.

Ok, we get it, smoking is bad. But is it really that bad that you have to market products to leave a phycological scar on a smoker?

I'm not really a smoker myself, but I find this to be going a bit far on the fear appeals front. No one who smokes thinks it is good for them, and yes maybe if you are going through a carton a day you should slow it down a bit, but people have been smoking for hundreds and hundreds of years - no amount of 'smoking is evil' compaining to rid the world of all cigarettes is going to stop everyone. And I'm sure there are some things you could do to your body that are far worse than having a smoke every now and then.

That was kind of on the ranting side, wasn't it? What do you guys think about this?

Sunday, July 1, 2012

On Georgia Summer Heat

Just to give you guys an idea of how hot it is in Georgia right now:


This candle was sitting beneath a window.

Sunday Outfits

I just thought I'd share what Sam and I look like on a typical Sunday, going to Church.




















Purple skull and spider web top: Spencer's
Black lace chocker: DIY gift
Skull and bone cross: this is my favorite cross necklace and has given me ample opportunity for debate amongst church folk. It was a gift from my sister, Emily.




















Lace skirt: Goodwill
Iron Fist heels: shown here before, came from HT


Sam looked very handsome in Church today as well, usually he shows me up quite magnificently.




















Top hat: ebay
glasses: ebay
Shirt: Walmart Halloween special
Tie: ebay





















Black pants: Walmart
Boots: these are Demonia, but I can't remember where he got them.

Yay! Christian Goths in their natural habitat.