Steely Dan gets near to finished off

At christmas 2022 at Christmas I had a couple of Steely Dan albums I hadn't got then that were being issued by the american specialist company Analogue Productions on both record and Super Audio cd (sacd).

I had these two Super Audio cds that originally were issued in 2000 and 2003 part of a series seeing the entire Steely Dan catalogue remastered and issued in audiophile vinyl and Super Audio cd form by Kansas based Analogue Productions.

That was part of a projected ten disc reissue series that way back then I had set up pre-orders for  with a major specialist record and cd store in Wales.

This weekend one of the last three titles has eventually been delivered, November 1980's Gaucho although it had been released in the United States last month as apparently they give two company owned retailers over there a two week window before shipping out to the Rest Of The World - aka us here in Great Britain and Ireland.

It featured Hey Nineteen", reaching # 10 on theU.S. pop chart in early 1981, and "Time Out of Mind" (featuring guitarist Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits) was a moderate hit in the spring.

The whole series has been dogged by major delays even on the vinyl side due to pressing plant shortages and with the Super Audio cd, only two plants in the world make them and they're fully committed with other titles to manufacture.

This 1974 album came out around November last year with "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" which reached as high as #4 on the U.S. charts.

 

 Countdown To Ecstasy issued in 1973 home to the singles  "Show Biz Kids" and "My Old School shown in its case came out in June 2023.

 

 

1972's Can't Buy A Thrill that was their first ever album featured the hit Do It Again was issued in January 2023.

 

1977's Aja came out in March of this year although the record version came out much earlier.

That's how it came to be what normally would of been be a single launch of a bunch of titles on one day has been in dribs and drabs in two years so much so I go by my record at the store of what was ordered and what's still in the orders to keep track of it.

And much has happened since then that in many ways I'd lost some of the buzz around these coming out and even doing a full set of entries in them despite their expense so this week we're catching up.

With any luck I'll fire up the player the Saturday before posting and give this a good spin.
 

The modern sissy 2

We last looked at this topic in August given the distance and for that matter the amount of discourse over the last eighteen years at last we've been going and for that matter the highs and lows emotionally I have felt since I first realized I didn't fit in  and wasn't transexual.

I was something else - Sissy - but every other person had there ideas on what made you it and even a very narrow road map to just coming out and being it because they missed off something essential, your own sense of self.

A good question to sit and ask yourself is just what does that dolly mean to you?

It might just be a character in your childhood imaginary play or perhaps the child-like play you wish to return to where they world won't judge you harshly for being able to play with dollies this time.

On the other hand do you just look at that and say "That's just how I wish to be", that is the you in your minds eye maybe wearing something similar yourself at say a dolly tea party?

If you do then some elements of being a "Little Girl" and the associated appearance really do belong in your life as much as a scaredy-cat afraid of stepping out of your comfort zone may try to kick in.

This is described as a "Sissy Dress" and indeed a dress worn by a sissy could be described as being a "sissy dress" but it has more in common with Little Girl dresses with just a bit of frilly lace rather than the satin petticoat festooned sort.

It's purposely a little short in length as little girl dresses are want to be but you could get a mini slip underneath to keep your pretty panties from showing if needed and have either frilly socks or tights  to it.

The fit ordering from chest size and allowing for the elasticated waist proved to be spot on with enough stretch to take a well stuffed bra if that's you.

I got it from Dee's Boutique and it's simple, unfussy, but effective and a a sensible starting point to little sissy dressing beyond pinafore dresses and school type attire in settings where every one is in you (and others) just being little sissies.

You wouldn't visit a stately home or historic building ordinarily like that but just like sissikins here it's time to just let it out in the right settings.

Why shouldn't I be a dolly too?

Awaytime memories

 

Well I'm just sat here with an achy back having been on my feet for most of the day and having spent ten hours on the move with the twisted section also quite warm.

Really it should of been corrected by a surgical custom made jacket when I was in my teens but for some reason that never happened and my folks never really pursued that matter which is why most people I know in similar circumstances don't have the same level of discomfort as I do.

I was in Llandudno this weekend where you'll find  the White Rabbit monument in the gardens in Mostyn Street.

It is in the beautiful seaside town of Llandudno that the muse which inspired Lewis Caroll's Alice, from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland used to spend the summer.

The Welsh connection to Alice In Wonderland  runs much deeper – all the way back to 1861, when the eight year old Alice Pleasance Liddell (the real 'Alice' in Wonderland) spent the first of many summer holidays in Llandudno. Her holiday home 'Penmorfa', was built on Llandudno's West Shore.

I called into an icecream palace while hiding from flying tree rats with grey and white feathers after having cod and chips at a café in Mostyn Street.

The trip out generally went well with no traffic issues unlike last trip out but while the last time we've been leaving around four pm allowing for just under a two hour journey an initial offer of leaving at half four got extended to 5pm which meant we arrived back at 7 and had to get something to eat when you just feel shattered.

While walking about visiting various shops I stocked up on Coconut Ice and battled with the steep stairs to on set of conveniences, something patrons did notice strangely enough. 

 

On Tuesday September 3rd, we lost Brian Truman, aged 92, who wrote Dangermouse, Count Duckula its spin off series, Jamie and the Magic Torch, Cockleshell Bay plus Chorlton and the Wheelies all of which were amongst our favourite cartoons growing up.

He also presented Children's Hour, Clitheroe Kid, Scene at 6.30, Granada Reports, Brass Tacks and the much missed Screen Test that mixed quizes on current children's films with features on making your own short films.

He will be sadly missed by many of us.

Crashed out and playful thoughts

Sometimes the unexpected happens.

 After last weeks look into classic cartoons we're away from anything spinning this week although last Friday was rather more like this, crashed out part way talking with your BFF who also did cos we tend to run out of spoons rather quickly.

That said sometimes with the old Windows Laptop that's a bit temperamental having a tendency to switch off suddenly at ten minutes on mains but running fine off batteries until the Battery % amount gets critical  but it does charge the battery up when plugged in to the mains adaptor to 100%.

But when you feel flat there always stuff that really perks you up.

A soft touch dolly in 1970's brownies uniform but don't ask where the knitted hat ended up as I have no idea you can hug and cuddle up to and in the front room there's a more regular 8 inch (20cm) posable dolly on on the shelf looking out.

One LG seems to have a struggle to understand another at their website can indeed live in that mindset, sometimes the odd person has questioned it with me but honestly for some of us it's the most natural thing to the point you're not playing the mind games others around seem to be.

We just don't feel that way.

Bank Holiday edition

This is being worked across the bank holiday weekend  which has its modern life issues such as contractions of public transport service just as other things like special markets and that take place.

The other is of course Bank Holiday was the sobering reminder than having been off school since around the third week of July, return was juts just over a week away with being new forms, possibly even a new school too.

So for the Little Gurl Tammy, it brings back lots of memories of preparing for that and for something enjoying those last week or so's carefree fun playing on your swing swaying back and forth which I love to do even if I have to fight the insects off

Summer used to include much watching of cartoons back to back and in the late 1990's and early 2000's come the summer I'd sit with ice creams watching reruns of classic older cartoons from my youth.

Fittingly then I got this box set over seven sides of original Tom and Jerry cartoons including some some networks no longer show because of changed attitudes even though the "right" moral outcome is shown.

That's a load of fun for Little Gurl me.

Classics that were forgotten

This week we are catching up with things that arrived at Tammy's while away.

Hjalmar Borgstrom  the Norwegian composer has been well on the way to being rediscovered since the beginning of the new millennium. 

Some composers do long disappear from public consciousness over time and he is one of his most important works were performed in his native Norway until the Second World War.

No one seems to know just why that was.

 Until his death in 1925, he had also played an important role as a critic too.

With the premiere of his two operas and above all the rediscovery of his extraordinarily picturesque symphonic tone poems, a new page in this story of finding acceptance.

A contemporary of Richard Strauss who studied with Johan Severin Svendsen and Carl Reinecke among others, proves to be a legitimate descendant of Franz Liszt and Richard Wagner; it is difficult to escape the captivating boldness of his programmatic concepts and their unconventionally beautiful realization.

I found these works on regular cd from WDR radio recordings encouraged by a favourable Presto review highly enjoyable.

 

Some classical music composers are well known, being household names even amongst those who aren't greatly interested such as Mozart, Beethoven,Chopin and Holst and yet others are seldom heard and even less played regardless of their musics quality.

Clara Schumann a member of well known family that included Robert whose works are much programmed in concert halls is such an example.

Clara Josephine Schumann (née Wieck; 13 September 1819 – 20 May 1896) was a German pianist, composer, and piano teacher. Regarded as one of the most distinguished pianists of the Romantic era, she exerted her influence over the course of a 61-year concert career, changing the format and repertoire of the piano recital by lessening the importance of purely virtuosic works. She also composed solo piano pieces, a piano concerto (her Op. 7), chamber music, choral pieces and songs.

Part of the reason may down to her anxiety and issues with how she saw her own works, often requiring her brother's support to compose and have performed for the public in an era that required a certain amount of self publicity and getting sponsors to act as advocates for your music.

Secure employment even for the best was uncommon and thus over time we heard nothing of her works, indeed it wasn't until the 1996 Proms season a work was performed and on the opening night of this years prom in July we were treated to a performance of her Piano Concerto.

That artist made a recording a few years ago for Decca Records with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic coupled with selection of other piano works  and I recently bought a copy out of curiosity, finding the complexity of her scores fascinating.

The Modern Sissy

The genius of this goes back to last week where we were away at a Littles meet where we'd only taken skirts with matching socks and tights and the BabyDoll nightdress and french knickers working through the last year and a bit of getting together a look for me that worked.

We've explored over the decades various ideas and takes around what being a Sissy Gurl is, how being "Little" fits into that and different presentations from the classic more adult sissy gurl to the more child-like little one and really the latter is the one that needs the attention.

You can just go with bigger versions of what actual girls wear which works fairly well around the Schoolgirl/gurl look but that's never all she is, she goes and hosts parties and visits places like the entertainment complex with bowling rings and a cinema.

What would the legally adult gurl would want to wear as school socks while "regulation" were never cool enough to wear at a party and where do we start getting a more sophisticated look?

Tights are an option, can be patterned but do get uncomfortable and aren't always the easiest of things to put on while stockings are basically inappropriate for children and for some of us difficult to put on and attach suspenders (garter straps).

For those of us who might like the elegance and sophistication of skin smoothing tights without the struggle to get them in your feet and the right the way up, socks with an more group up wide lace band going just over the knee would work well.

A sophisticated more grown up look for a gurl at a social occasion, easy to put on, hygienic and going well with smarter dresses and skirts. 

There are other things like for those more on classic Little Gurl princess with hur plushie that need not involve ankle socks or school pereline socks.

A rose woven pattern  with an elastic top helps to take that look and add a bit of elegance and sophistication to it.

These are what I really do like though.

I've always loved the look of stocking tops although I found tights easier (but not easy with my damaged hands) and the appeal of lace but these socks are really made for Cosplay wearing with Lolita dresses both as a social thing and also at Anime and Manga conventions role playing characters.

Now there are two styles these heart ones and some rose ones and both come in packs of two, one white which works well with dark dresses and skirts and the black that you'd use typically with white.

For me they replace stockings which is something on the more adult side mistresses had found worked well on me, making the most of my legs without both some of fetish connections that stockings today had rather than until the late 1960's women who were "old enough" just wore them and the issues of fastening (and getting them on neatly).

They work with all sorts of skirts and dresses in satin, wool and mixed fibres from the more modest satin dresses aimed for sissies to mid and mini skirts in polyester  or even leather

They can easily fit within a glamour sissy look

The week saw me have with the one exception of white gym knickers for underneath a skort I wore for sports as I feel gurls like me really are better wearing feminine sports gear wearing just satin relatively plain knickers.

I found in one sense having to wear them really made me feel so much more a gurl for having soft materials, lace trimming and pretty bows.

I think in the context we are talking about here rather than what you might wear re-enacting being a school girl in the past, wearing fairly traditional uniform including the "regulation" school socks and knickers, the adult but little gurl having a social life should wear such knickers as a matter of course as they are pretty and as that gurl, you want to be pretty.

Thus going forward Tammy, who as we all know is definitely a Sissy Gurl will now be wearing such panties coupled with socks such as those shown above when she is not "at school" Tm from now on.

This is a look that is "Sissy" but is Little occupying the sweet spot that takes in Little Girl princess and adds the glamour of satins, lace without getting into anything "adult" but clearly recognizable to gurls.

Tammy is a pretty Little Sissy Gurl and benefits from presenting in a manner that suits Little Sissies.

Good Gurl!