Jinxmas

"I am Mr. Jinx, and I am the only Christmas present you need."

Pearl Harbor Day

Earrings appropriate for Pearl Harbor Day are a little too easy. These are only some of my choices.

Gee, Wiz!

I could not a-void buying these earrings, and I've been waiting for an excuse to wear them. And here it is: November 19, World Toilet Day! Who knew?!

Of course, this day doesn't eliminate other viable occasions. I could wear them whenever I'm feeling crappy. On payday, when I'm feeling flush. When the NHL announces another hockey season has gone down the tubes. Or if they end the lockout and Buffalo makes it to the Cup finals -- because we all know who will come it at number two.

The possibilities for when to wear these earrings have me gushing.

I could wear them in honor of John's birthday. Or Lou. When Chuck finally takes the throne. Any time I ride the bus. To indicate I'm privy to a secret. After I catch the bitty who dented my car, take her to court, and sewer.

Next time I inquire about trail riding and have to go see a man about a horse. If only I were a man, I could wear these when I meet the Pope! If only I had kids, I could put these on when I drop them off at the pool!

I could don them while playing Scrabble to encourage a good vowel movement.

Maybe I can even wear them again this week - the day after Thanksgiving!

I suppose the neat thing about these earrings is, I don't really need to wait for a holiday or special occasion. They're good on regular days, too.

Guided by SpEARits

I have discovered new earrings in my collection just in time for Columbus Day! These are working compass earrings, and they kinda match a compass necklace I already had. I dig kinetic jewelry!

In the past, I used to wear these Star Trek Enterprise earrings on Columbus Day (because, hey - ships, explorers), but this year I explored cyberspace for other options. Along the way, I found this awesome Ouija board compass necklace, but I don't own it. Yet.

The Mother of Invention

Though I get no credit in the paper, the photo of the upside-down clown in this October 1977 issue of The Mini Page is me. The Mini Page is now syndicated and appears in 500 newspapers worldwide, but it originated in Raleigh the same year I was born.

Beyond circumstantial proof, I submit a more recent photo of the papier-mâché clown head that was part of the costume. I rediscovered it this year while cleaning out junk from the house I grew up in. While posting this photo, I noticed a happy coincidence that in the background you can see a basket full of thread and sewing notions that belonged to my mom...

Hawaii Statehood Day

The State of Hawaii flag hangs at our house to commemorate Hawaii Statehood Day. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a proclamation making Hawaii the 50th state on Friday, August 21, 1959. Rather than commemorate it on the 21st, Hawaiians celebrate Statehood on the third Friday of August. They usually get the day off, which is pretty cool because the rest of us don't normally have a good excuse to take off in August. This flag can also work for King Kamehameha Day June 11, but that's pretty close to Flag Day in the rest of the United States (June 14).

Aloha Earrings

Hula girl earrings for Hawaii Statehood Day, celebrated on the third Friday of August.

Olympic Spirits

Stick me with this pin if you must, but don't hold it against me. I prefer dark brews. Props to Budweiser, though, for being an athletic supporter.

I Got Seoul

I couldn't get a very clear picture with the iphone, but this Olympic pin is from Seoul, Korea, in 1988. It came with a box of Kodak film I bought. At K-mart. The one that isn't there any more. No, the other one that's not there any more. (Old Raleigh peeps should understand.)

Grand Torino

Here's my 2006 Torino Olympic pin. Ain't it grand? I have no idea where I got it.

Flags of our Fathers

These European flag earrings could be appropriate for the Olympics or a variety of national holidays. I didn't bother adding hooks for the photo, but they are easily made into earrings despite the fact that they were originally charms on a bracelet I bought at Busch Gardens around the age of 13.

I case you don't recognize them, these are the flags of (clockwise from top left) Italy, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. Naturally, I have Old Glory earrings as well.

Fake Lake

This pin is not officially licensed Olympic merchandise; however it was produced for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Lake Lanier hosted the rowing events, I believe.

Variable Pinterest

NationsBank? NCNB? Bank of America? Can't keep up with bank names any easier than keeping up with Olympic sprinters. Fortunately, they issued an official Olympic pin so we'd know what they were called in 1996.

Olympic Flames

I spent an embarrassingly large amount of time riding my broom around town searching for gold, silver, and bronze candles that would work on my candelabra.

O-pinning Ceremony

Olympic pins! I has 'em. This may be the only Olympic pin I actually purchased (in Atlanta in 1996).

Going for the Gold

These are my Olympics earrings. They are official Olympic merchandise. Can you guess where I got them? I'll give you a hint: I had a BLAST when I attended. They were sold in silver and gold, and of course I had to go for the gold.

Though I was not present for the bombing, I attended two events during the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. I barely remember what the events were. Something like Women's Basketball: China vs. Venezuela or something. Oh yeah, and a track and field event where we were supposed to be able to see the Marathon runners as they entered the stadium, but I was with some old farts who had to stop for coffee and pee twice on the way, and we missed the first couple dozen marathoners. Still, it was kinda cool to cheer just as strong for the latecomers as they would straggle in to the stadium.

It really was a great experience - the Olympics in general. Hard to describe the atmosphere. Everyone was friendly and helpful, despite the heat and the bombing, and if you ever got stuck waiting in a line, you could always kill time by trading pins with someone nearby. Over the next couple weeks, I will be uploading photos of my Olympic pins. I don't have that many, but if you want to trade, let me know.

Olympic Flag

Come and watch the Olympics Opening Ceremonies at my house! The Olympic flag and torch will guide you to the right place.

Ceremonial Drums

One of my familiars does her best Peter Cris impersonation.

Good & Wicked: The Magic of Presentation

These are my new discount cocktail napkins. The other side is pink and says, "Feeling good, very good." So I imagine the green side is the "before" and the pink side is the "after."

But I am not one to be defined by black-and-white (pink-and-green?) definitions. So by the magic of a form of Japanese transfiguration, I can use both sides of the napkin simultaneously, proving you can be both good and wicked at the same time.

Graduation is a BIG deal!

Graduation cap earrings in honor of my niece's high school graduation. These were a little larger in person than they appeared online. Who says hats are just for heads?

Palm Sunday

Picked these up on a trip to Charleston, SC a few months ago. You know, for those years when Palm Sunday doesn't fall on April Fool's Day. Because normally, I wear these.

Beware the Eyes of Marge

The Eyes of Marge can be just as portentous as the Ides of March. Mark my words.

Hey, Kids - Big Ben, Parliament!

These Big Ben earrings are useful for changes to and from Daylight Savings Time, as are these other timepiece earrings. Big Ben earrings are also an option for commemorating Guy Fawkes Night.

Conjuring Love

I don't want to brag, but my witch powers include the ability to conjure love out of almost nothing and send it through time and over great distances to arrive tangibly in the hands of unsuspecting, worthy recipients.

Some witches have special, ceremonial knives called athames, but one mustn't underestimate the power of scallop scissors.

Heart Flag

My house may not be clean or well manicured, but it is at least dressed appropriately for the occasion.

Phil Flag

Happy Groundhog Eve! Will Punxsutawney Phil predict more winter or an early spring? Two photos for either eventuality.

Chucks

The NHL All-Star Game is this weekend, and although I have official All-Star Game earrings, I figure these hi-top sneakers could also work for an all-star game, since they look like Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star sneakers. Ok, it's a bit of a stretch, but I've been wanting to post these for a while and figured this was as good an excuse as any.

In addition to earrings, my collection of collections also includes 11 pairs of Chucks (not including the earring or keychain variety). You can design your own Chucks at converse.com, which I did for my wedding. I think that might be fodder for another blog post.

In My Ear with a Can of Beer

Robert Hegyes, the actor who portrayed Juan Epstein on "Welcome Back, Kotter," died yesterday. So, in my ear with a can of beer!

(Really glad I don't have a nose piercing.)

Going Postal

Since I already blogged my Chinese New Year earrings, and since the postage rate increased today (well, technically, yesterday, a Sunday), I thought I would show you my postage stamp earrings. Because, yes, I have postage stamp earrings. Two in fact. Kinda two and a half even.

First, there are these earrings made from Canadian postage stamps. I do not remember why I have these. I didn't buy them in Canada. Somebody gave them to me. I suppose I could wear them on Canada Day, but I have other Canada Day earrings.

Then we have the Bugs Bunny postage stamp earrings, which were a gift from a postal worker who I think wanted to play post office with me. The denomination on them is $.32. How long ago was that?

I also have a Buddy Holly postage stamp pin, but it's pretty silly. Somebody laminated a stamp and glued a pin on back, punched a couple holes in it, and hung some charms off the bottom. But I took the charms off so I could use them as earrings. Of course.

Swearrings

Thanks to today's internet censorship (SOPA & PIPA) controversy, I now have an occasion appropriate for these earrings. I don't even know what to call them. Comic book swear word earrings? Censored curses?

Flake Flag

It reassures visitors they've come to the right place when they see a flag that says, "A bunch of flakes live here."

Wolfman Jack'n'Coke

Because don't all witches have a wolfman for a brother?

In Lieu of Freddy Krueger

These are my newest options to wear on Friday the 13th.

Other options include these four-leaf clovers or these black cats.

Pastafarian Earrings

My earring collection is big enough to include Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Native American, Egyptian, Pagan, and Pastafarian symbols. These are my Flying Spaghetti Monster earrings. As they are my only Pastafarian earrings, they will have to cover Holiday, Ramendan, and Pastover, as well as Fridays.

May He touch you with His Noodly Appendage.


P.S. I also have Invisible Pink Unicorn earrings; however, as no photo is available at this time, you'll just have to have faith.

Party's Here

This banner/flag is good for New Year's, birthdays, parties, or what the hell, any time. It's five o'clock somewhere.

Looking at the Year Ahead

Once people become aware of my quest to have earrings for every occasion, they have some typical questions. After a usually pathetic attempt at stumping me by mentioning some holiday they think is obscure (like Groundhog Day, for which I have not one but two pairs of earrings), eventually they might ask what holidays I don't have covered. I addressed that topic in a recent post.

They might also ask how many earrings are in my collection, to which I don't have a good answer. It's kind of hard to count because I have been known to use things likes Christmas ornaments or wine charms or safety pins as earrings. I figure I have around 300 pairs, but it's totally a rough guess.

So then the next question people typically ask is "Where do you keep them all?"

I have five of the plastic knick-knack boxes shown in the photo, which are usually sold for sewing notions or bead crafters. There are probably an average of five pairs of earrings in each compartment. If you look at this photo and multiply, I guess that makes my collection number more around 400, but some of the compartments hold rings and necklaces instead of earrings. I also have other jewelry chests.

This photo shows the tray that holds most of my holiday earrings beginning with January/February in the top left and ending with New Year's Eve in the bottom right (with the larger square on the left for some of the larger Halloween earrings). I keep my subcollection of Christmas earrings in another place altogether and only bring them out after Thanksgiving.

In case you are wondering, the parrots in the bottom left are for Talk Like A Pirate Day in September. I haven't blogged those yet. In fact, there are quite a few holiday earrings I haven't blogged yet. For example, I just acquired some for Palm Sunday, which this year falls on April Fool's Day. Apparently, in addition to a few more jewelry chests, I could use a few more holes in my ears!