My Life. My Perfume.
August 17th, 2006
This week hasn’t been ordinary for me when it comes to this blog. I haven’t really done much of reviewing and haven’t really worn much perfume, for that matter. In addition to that, I gave my notice at work yesterday that made my stomach turn inside out and do back flips, so perfume was out of the question again. But today is Friday, and since we’ve already done some tagging this week, Marina from Perfume-Smellin’ Things came up with another outstanding idea. She suggested we shamelessly steal the American Express ads content, you know, the ones where it says: “My Life. My card.” that you can see in magazines and during movie previews. There was a questionnaire in those ads that she decided we should answer and replace the “my card” with “my perfume”. The woman is brilliant, no doubt. I said yes instantly, so here we go.
My name – Ina.
Childhood ambition – first, a doctor. Then – a teacher. In my early teens, I knew my calling in life would be a fashion designer. I’d draw clothes non-stop. Daily. I drew my own paper dolls, too. They had a perfect wardrobe (everything I couldn’t have) and a perfect life (same). That passion subsided towards high school where I simply fell madly in love with English and eventually went to college to be an English teacher. So, after all, I did become a teacher on paper but not in real life.
Fondest memory – walking down a long road with my dad. I was about 7 or 8, and we were out in the country on our way to Grandma and Grandpa’s house. He was holding my hand and at one point said, “You know, sweetie, one day you’ll grow up, and I’ll get old and grey-haired, and we’ll be walking down this road again just like we are now.” This memory is so bitter-sweet…
Soundtrack – “Broken Flowers”.
Retreat – my mom’s country house in Latvia.
Wildest dream – going on a road trip through Europe. This is as wild as I can get. OK, one more: going to India.
Proudest moment – seeing a dear friend make wise choices.
Biggest challenge – keeping my mouth shut.
Alarm Clock – overrated.
Perfect Day – stroll around Riga on a nice summer day.
First Job – a manual worker in a phone factory.
Indulgence – a professional pedicure (pathetic, I know).
Last purchase – Dior Poison parfum mini.
Favorite movie – Napoleon Dynamite.
Inspiration – genuinely empathetic and selfless people.
My life – a miracle and a mystery.
My perfume – sheer polygamy.
Please feel free to share your own in your comments! Happy weekend, all!
Image source: www.art.com
Entry Filed under: Uncategorized
25 Comments
1. Todd | August 17th, 2006 at 11:57 pm
Let me be the first to say… “Ads?!? Sell-out!”
2. chaya ruchama | August 18th, 2006 at 6:01 am
Good morning, brave soul !
Sounds like you’ve been housecleaning inside and out…
I hope your w/e is less exhausting, and more restorative.
I think I’ll wait awhile and give others a turn.
Thought for the day:
1) we are so much more than the sum of all our parts.
2) you are very precious, Zlata Moja.
3. March | August 18th, 2006 at 6:10 am
Wow — big changes. Sounds like you are doing Major Housecleaning. Well, having met you, I have no doubt you can find another job pronto… if you want one.
If you’re still feeling upset, my recommendation would be a cupcake from that outrageous bakery! That would cure almost anything.
Hugs!
4. Elle | August 18th, 2006 at 6:27 am
Ads! Yay! And leaving the job was the right decision. But your wildest dream? Ummm…time to get in touch w/ your inner wild child. Yep, you had to know I’d say that.
The perfume polygamy answer – love that!!
5. Marina | August 18th, 2006 at 7:44 am
With all of us keeping fingers crossed for you and sending you Great Job vibes, you’ll get one in a heartbeat, sweetie. Here is to luck and no more stress and to a road trip to Europe!
Paper dolls!! How I loved paper dolls. I had 100s of them that I made too. I even made paper furniture for them
6. Judith | August 18th, 2006 at 8:00 am
Sending youi more good job vibes (sounds like you made the right decision) and wishes for both road trips and more wildness:)
7. Ina | August 18th, 2006 at 8:20 am
Todd, hey, we’re already talked about it.
8. Ina | August 18th, 2006 at 8:21 am
Chaya, thanks for your thoughts!
9. Ina | August 18th, 2006 at 8:21 am
March! YES! That’s where I’m going after work tonight.
10. Ina | August 18th, 2006 at 8:21 am
Elle, you know me. No wild streak whatsoever.
11. Ina | August 18th, 2006 at 8:23 am
Marina, thank you, dear! Furniture? I did, too. Plus, I also drew baby paper dolls with baby clothes and even made little paper strollers! Oh, the memories…
12. Ina | August 18th, 2006 at 8:24 am
Judith, thanks! I do need more wildness.
13. Sara | August 18th, 2006 at 9:05 am
Sending you best wishes for a new job you love and the time and space to enjoy the open road. YAY!
14. Ina | August 18th, 2006 at 9:06 am
Sara, thank you! You’re always so upbeat – love it about you!
15. violetnoir | August 18th, 2006 at 11:40 am
Lovely, Ina! Your fondest memory is so poignant.
Hugs!
16. Ina | August 18th, 2006 at 11:46 am
Thanks, R.!
17. Todd | August 18th, 2006 at 1:10 pm
You’ll find a great job, I’m sure. One you can stay with for a while… until you’re a full-time blogger, carting away the advertising money in truckloads, of course. (I’ll just be glad when the ads offset your perfume spending!)
18. Ina | August 18th, 2006 at 1:37 pm
Truckloads indeed! Whoa! Can barely find enough wallet space to contain it. Thanks, sweetie!
19. Victoria | August 18th, 2006 at 6:00 pm
Oh, I did not realize that you finally did it! Congratulations. I will keep my fingers crossed for you. You have many talents, and I am sure that you will find a great job soon. As for professional pedicure, it is my indulgence as well.
That and a bottle of Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc (not necessarily together).
20. Tom | August 18th, 2006 at 6:29 pm
greatest good luck to you- if your stomach was doing backflips over quittting that place, how good of a place could it have been for you?
…mmmm cupcakes.. where are the good cupcakes in Chicago? I know Magnolia Bakery in Greenwich Village and Sprinkles in Beverly Hills, but one must know all the good cupcake places…
21. Ina | August 18th, 2006 at 6:40 pm
V., thank you! I feel very relieved today unlike yesterday. I’ll have to look at that Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc. Good luck with the move!
22. Ina | August 18th, 2006 at 6:41 pm
Tom, my stomach was reacting that way mostly due to stress over uncertainty but I’m very relieved today.
The best cupcakes in Chicago? Sara’s bakery on Oak.
23. Tom | August 18th, 2006 at 6:45 pm
Sprinkles is toying with the idea of opening in Chicago as well. Go to thier site and vote: http://www.sprinklescupcakes.com/locations.html#
I’m all for more and better cupcakes…..
24. Ina | August 18th, 2006 at 7:01 pm
Oh my word! Thank you! I’m with you on cupcakes..
25. SniffQ | August 26th, 2006 at 1:20 pm
What a lovely reveal!
When I was young, a lifetime ago, a beautiful woman named Ina, from Riga, Latvia, encouraged me to follow my dreams. She spoke around pins as she sewed my first prom dress, one I had designed. I will never forget her free and beautiful spirit. She would be in her late 80s by now. It is lovely to find another Ina with a beautiful spirit.
Best,
SniffQ