Clown Looks For Fall

Off-Topic for Bipolar Musings, but...

The area of my store where I'm working now has many small sections of European Designer labels. I'm being asked who the designers are, and I feel I need to do my homework. (The styles amuse me no end, though most are unwearable by MOI. ) I was looking up this one designer, Frankie Morello, on Google, and I found the most alluring fashion ensembles. He mixes Jock-Wear, S&M Punk and Leather and a dash of Preppy. It's a potent cocktail!

Men In Skirts, yay!

Thursday Check-In

Blessed Thursday-- my Saturday!!! :-) :-) :-) It was a cool week: On Sunday I attended my sister's graduation from this wonderful school, California Institute of Intergral Studies... a small, highly-esteemed, EX$PEN$IVE, hippie-dippie university with an emphasis on grad programs in Psychology, the bridge between Eastern and Western schools of Philosophy and Religion, something called Transformative Learning, and the intergration of The Arts in all these areas. My sister is studying to be an Expressive Arts Therapist which is similar to an Art Therapist, the difference being that you get training in many different creative approaches to healing. Her passion for this career path is really inspiring to me.

There were all these folks getting PhDs and their dissertation titles were announced as they received their faux diplomas. I was VERY INTRIGUED-- enough so to start fantasizing about getting a PhD myself. Why write a humble little blog on Bipolar Disorder when instead you can sink tens of thousands of dollars into student loan debt to get a fancy-schmancy degree!?! I must think about this more!

Fashion Newz: I wore my tight-ass Hugo Boss jeans with a spiffy vest and my sis said I looked nice. See photo! The graduation took place at the Palace of Fine Arts theater, a beautiful setting for photo opps.

Clown in Yellow Theory Hoodie

I bought this hoodie at my store the other night-- $20 with my employee discount. Originally $125 if you can believe it! The brand is Theory-- beautiful fabrics and skinny "European" sizing. Perfect for Skinny Boyz and Sorta Skinny Aging Queens.

I wore it all day yesterday (with hoodie down of course) and it made me happy. Yellow is such a great color because it's such an anti-depression color.

I also drew this picture... because I've got to draw a clown doing whatever I'm doing each day.

Fashion Trends; Meds

The focus of many posts on this blog is going to be split-- I can tell.
Fashion News: I went out to the ballet last night for my birthday and saw Romeo and Juliet with my Balletomane Lady Friends. Unfortunately, the acting of the leads was disappointing, but the production, sets and costumes, swordplay and secondary characters all were excellent, and the score by Prokofiev is absolutely wonderful to hear performed live. I wore my Polo Ralph Lauren Clown Blazer for the first time. That's what I've dubbed it. I felt like a Fashion Victim but hey, it was my birthday so I'm allowed.

Bipolar Disorder Corner; MEDS: I've been taking medications for the symptoms of my Bipolar Disorder for just about twelve years now. I never ever miss a day. It took awhile to find a good combination and I've been through a number of variations over the years. Like everything else about this disease-- I had to go through trial and error, side effects which have greatly lessened over time, getting used to always making sure my prescriptions were refilled on time, going through my share of good and bad psychiatrists, etc. etc, etc. At one point my long-time therapist said to me: "Remaining stable with Bipolar Disorder is your full-time job right now." and I had to agree. I've put that goal before all others, at the beginning of my diagnosis and today. I can take a few more risks these days and I am able to live with more stress in my life, but the one thing I cannot do is stop taking my meds.

This is the NUMBER ONE LESSON I have to share with anyone just beginning to live with this diagnosis. Find a decent psychiatrist, find a decent medication or combination of meds, and stick with it. If one doesn't work, try a different one. Don't give up. IT WORKS!

Oh, and don't drink or do drugs-- because you might as well just throw your prescription meds down the toilet if you're doing that. More on this later!

Thanks to all of you who have checked this out so far...
luv ya, Grove/Alb./Madame G.