Card Me

Posted by Shireen Sandoval  11/15/12, 11:54pm

It was just another day at the office, as I fluttered down the hall in a state of fashionable lateness. I was carrying my over-sized Kitson tote (black, with bright blue piping) and my newest conquest; a saddle colored Coach messenger bag that I practically stole from Macy's. I snagged it during a 30% off purse sale. I even fenagled another 20% percent off, with a fancy mail coupon.

As I approached my door, I breezed by one of my favorite human beings, and I know a lot of human beings. His name is Johnnie U. You may know him, he's our resident Deco Drive movie reviewer. I'm a critic (serious face); he's a reviewer (jovial face). He's smart, quirky and funny. He is, as they say, "Good people".

After unlocking my office, Johnny quickly launched into a story about a card he'd seen on a television shoot. He was convinced it was made in my likeness. So he bought it and slid it under my door. I kneeled down and picked it up. I studied it closely, squinting, I inspected the card for a good 30 seconds. It WAS me! Yet, it wasn't.

It was, say, me, if I were a glamorous caricature or fancy cartoon sketch (after my make-up artist, hair dresser and stylist had their way with me.) My brunette look-alike was sitting on a plush bench, coyly leaning forward in a green, body-conscious dress, with fabulous shoes on (with a few more scattered about.) She was rocking patterned, slouchy socks with her heels, like I often wear when I'm working in London. I also noticed her stacked, baubled necklaces. Perched proudly beside her was a fetching designer purse. Her eyes were light and her smile familiar. On the lower right-hand side of the sketch, in the tiniest of fonts, I noticed the word Pergamino.

Pergamino describes itself as a luxury card company made for the "Well-Heeled". It depicts the fashionably fabulous during holidays, birthdays, and almost every other scenario. But it doesn't stop there. This card company jumps colorfully out of its box, with categories like Biggie D, Dancing Queen and Fashion Runway.

The company is named after the ancient Greek city, Pergamon, (which is now the Turkish city of Bergama). During the Hellenistic Era, which is basically after Alexander the Great died, (323 b.c.). Pergamon was known for having one of the most important libraries in the world. It was also known for creating parchment (a thin material made from calfskin) due to a shortage of papyrus, a thin material made from plants. Both were used like our modern-day paper. Interestingly enough, years later (as legend would have it,) the 2,000 scrolls that made-up the library were bequeathed to Eygptian Queen Cleopatra, as a wedding gift from her lover, Roman General Mark Antony.

The ecofriendly Pergamino is based in Chicago, Illinois and was created in 2009 by Monica Luburich. All of the sassy, sexy and sweet characters in the house of cards, are carved from Monica's imagination. She's dubbed them Pergies and apparently, Johnnie U has dubbed me one, too. Believe me, it's a compliment!

Go ahead, hide your I.D. but as far as a Pergamino? It's a card you actually want people to see. You can get your own full deck for about $30 at http://www.epergamino.com/

The Gallant Gladiator

Posted by Shireen Sandoval

The Gallant Gladiator a blog story...

I know it didn't happen in slow motion but it felt that way. My feet danced around me; forward and backward, up and down, side to side. My body lunged in different directions, twisting and turning, in what I thought was a dazzling display of agility. So, imagine my surprise when my enemy sunk her dagger straight into my heart. I gasped in pain and my body grew limp. After she stabbed me, she pulled me close and whispered: "Rest in peace Gallant Gladiator."

Rosebuds, Mr. Herrick, Clover Canyon & Floggs

Posted by Shireen Sandoval

When Springtime approaches, the poem "Gather Ye Rosebuds While Ye May" incessantly runs through my head. It affects me in two ways. At first, I feel a renewal of sorts. Spring brings such possibilities. Then I feel an overwhelming need to inflict pain on Robert Herrick. He's the 17th-century English writer that penned the poem. It's basically a warning to young people to heed love ASAP. He states: "That age is best which is the first." My translation - love is better when you're young (virgin-like) so get it while the gettin's good.

Paula, Kookie & Molly my hair chronicle ...

Posted by Shireen Sandoval

I didn't lose my hair all at once. It came out little by little, here and there. It trailed behind me like a brillant mystery novel, leaving little clues to my whereabouts. First, I noticed it on my pillow. Then my shower drain. I'd find strands on my shoulders and frantically pick them off. Eventually a clump would follow. Each piece was like a string of rope coming untethered. The once strong, tightly bound fibers unraveled around me. Over time, my magnificent mane became minuscule. The bottom shed so much it turned see-through. The top, typically full, thinned-out into a lackluster, lifeless thing that just laid there. It was a case of "hair today, gone tomorrow" literally.

A Fashion Felony

Posted by Shireen Sandoval

I was in a deep sleep when the raid happened. It was the middle of the night. The sound of the front door getting kicked in jolted me from my slumber. My heart raced. I knew it was over. I had the premonition a few days prior. I just didn't think it'd be so soon. I'd prepared myself - going over and over it - hundreds of times in my head. But now that it was actually happening, I wasn't ready. I looked through the darkness, toward the door of my bedroom and saw flashlights flooding my apartment. A cop yelled my name, demanding my surrender. I couldn't let them take me. Not now. Not like this. I was vunerable, disheveled and undressed.