Iiiiii don't even.

[shadesong]

The trouble with writing Cicatrix is that, after writing time, I am absolutely no good for anything else for the rest of the day. Absolute brainfry.

So Friday memage:

Wearing: When I find something that actually fits, I buy it in every color and wear it until it falls apart. I'm oddly-shaped, y'all. So today: the charcoal grey version of the slightly-cabled Target Vneck sweater that I wish was warmer, plus jeans and stripey socks.

Reading: Design for the Real World: Human Ecology and Social Change, by Victor Papanek. (Judah loves that I was reading design books way before I met him.)

Writing: Cicatrix. Writers who post metrics, how do you know how long your book is going to be? I see y'all out there posting like "2% done!" and I have no idea what percent done I am. More than 2%. Possibly 10%? But I don't know. I feel like I never know how long something is going to be until I'm almost done.

Knitting: I finished the last row of the body of the Dover Castle shawl yesterday; now only the edging remains. I don't know why I've developed this dislike of this project. The pattern is nonintuitive and the yarn is stiff and crunchy, which surprises me because it's Sundara - I love their FSM and Silk Sport, but I have this hate on for the Sock. Anyway. Also the baby sweater, which is pure knitting bliss.

Planning: Family dinner tonight. Lasagna and cheese rolls or cheesy breadsticks, I don't know which yet. Tomorrow is slightly up in the air, but hopefully I'll get to run some necessary errands in the morning, and I might get writing time in the afternoon. Sunday we're finally going to go see Sherlock Holmes 2. Other than that, I do not know, I have the brain fry.

I am going to go knit on the baby sweater, because at this point in the pattern it is just stockinette, and my brain can probably handle that. No other writing does this to me, I swear.

Feel free to post silly things in the comments while I'm gone!

EDIT: Oh, related to absolutely nothing else, my skin has been horribly painfully dry lately. And I'm one of the unlucky few who actually has reactions to topically-applied gluten and soy. Um, try to find a lotion without soy or gluten. Yeah.

Paintbox Soapworks Slip in Gingermilk. Is on me right now. I took the chance because I don't react to her soaps. This is the inside-forearm test right now, and I have no hives and my skin is soft! So if you react to gluten and/or soy topically, this is probably safe for you. So endeth the pimpage.

Comments

[lawbabeak.livejournal.com]

If your skin is that dry, oil might not be too oily. Not sure where Vitamin E oil is sourced from, but it was the only thing my skin would tolerate for a while after the Great Poison Oak Disaster. Jojoba oil, sesame oil (Neutrogena used to have this in a non-cooking form), heck, even olive oil.

[pale-chartreuse.livejournal.com]

http://www.amazon.com/Corn-Huskers-Oil-Free-Hand-Lotion/dp/B000RO3EMA

Corn Huskers' Lotion?

About skin creams...

[shweta-narayan.livejournal.com]

fwiw I use CeraVe (http://cerave.com/), which is, like, miracle stuff for eczema. It's saved me from having to use hydrocortisone creams this last year.

It's definitely gluten-free (http://www.celiac.com/gluten-free/topic/73849-cerave/); I checked the ingredients on my lotion and it *looks* soy free? But maybe it'd be better to ask; the GF link above says their contact number is 800-321-4576.

[miss-lisa-ma.livejournal.com]

Holy hives, Batman. It never would have occurred to me to check body lotions for either of those. Egads!

My skin's been rather touchy late, and one thing I find that helps is oil. Right now, I'm loving my bottle of skin-quality grapeseed oil from the hippie store near me. Calms my skin right the freak down and leaves it softer than the proverbial baby's butt.

[ivy]

I too have been looking for a moisturizer that works that I'm not allergic to. I'm with you on the soy issues, don't have the gluten problems, but do have issues with latex, so that means no shea butter. That's in EVERYTHING body product wise.

[moonfire77.livejournal.com]

latex allergy means no shea butter? Never heard that. I have latex sensitivity (not severe enough to call an allergy I think) and I've never had problems with lotions.

[ivy]

They're close relatives; here is a reasonable explanation. Doesn't get everyone with a latex allergy, but it certainly gets me.

[brightlotusmoon.livejournal.com]

I don't think this has soy or gluten; I checked for lecithin and there was none. I'm not sure how many ingredients themselves are gluteny. I got mine at Whole Foods.
http://andalou.com/index.php/body-care/body-butters/passion-fruit-body-butter.html

[handful-ofdust.livejournal.com]

Because CZP (my publishers) used to insist on 100,000 words as a draft limit, I'm always shooting for that, but doing it word-by-word rather than in percentages, 'cause my math skillz are shitty. I've seen metrics conversion engines all over, though.

[rowangolightly.livejournal.com]

When I was having the full body itching during the time of the divorce and move to KC, the only thing that I found really helped was Organic Coconut Oil. I still use it because it's cheap and easy and I know what's in it. I get mine at the local 888 Oriental Market for about $8/pint.

I use it in my hair, apply it on my skin when I'm still wet, have been known to put a dollop of it into my bath water. I also use it in my cooking...although not from the same jar.

off topic reply

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

Hey, we have TWO friends in common, it seems - one here in the Boston area, when out in the middle of nowhere'Stan.

Re: off topic reply

[rowangolightly.livejournal.com]

Wow, what a coincidence. Jason is truly one of the dearest to my heart on the face of the earth; he could tell stories (but I trust he won't tell SOME of them!) I knighted him, hence that one tattoo.

Re: off topic reply

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

Yes, he and I met through the open circle on Bagram - in my last two months we really clicked while I was dealing with some trauma issues.

Re: off topic reply

[rowangolightly.livejournal.com]

It truly is a small world. I'm very glad that you and he met; he's a very wise young man. I hope you are doing really well now.

[alumiere.livejournal.com]

I use http://www.burtsbees.com/other/top-rated-products/aloe-linden-flower-after-sun-soother-6-fl-oz.html - while I tested not allergic to gluten recently I still stay away from it, and soy and I have such a bad relationship that we've found things that have minute amounts of soy, soy oil or lecithin (sp?) make me sick so I'm almost certain this is soy free.

[alumiere.livejournal.com]

And it's reasonably priced and available at most drugstores. I swear by their colored lip balm too - it's perfect.

[setfiretolife.livejournal.com]

Try oils. Extra virgin/first/cold press olive oil may be your best bet.

Almond is fairly moisturizing, though grapeseed may be the most odorless.

[encarmencita.livejournal.com]

I love Paintbox Soapworks slip! Gingermilk is a gorgeous scent.

[marajs.livejournal.com]

a quick Google search produced this: http://www.celiac.com/gluten-free/topic/64395-gluten-and-soy-free-lotions-shampoos-cosmetics-etc/

in short, California Baby products from Whole Foods makes a lotion free of both gluten and soy.

[grimmwire.livejournal.com]

Design for the Real World: Human Ecology and Social Change, by Victor Papanek

Ah, a great book. I loved it when I read it in high school. Inspiring stuff.