Riding the Waves...

Last night my husband and I were having a discussion over some random incident regarding someone else and I said, "That just bugs the hell out of me." To which he replied, "Lately EVERYTHING bugs the hell out of you." He's right, 4 months ago I was happier than I'd ever been in my entire life. Lately though, I've been critical of everything and everyone I come in contact with. I looked at my husband and said, "I think I'm getting old and crotchety." To which he surmised that maybe it was a mid-life crisis BUT more than likely it was because of a personal issue I've been wrestling with lately. He said, "I have no doubt that's what's got you in such a blue funk."

I've been keenly aware of my bitter nature lately... If I hadn't been tuned into it I might've bitten my husbands head clean off, for even suggesting I'm anything less than wonderful to be around.

I understand quite well, how cyclic my life can be. It's not a manic thing, but more of a wave riding kind of ordeal. Allow me to explain... You know that feeling when you wade out into the ocean, just past the breakers, so your just deep enough in the water that your shoulders can feel the sun? You stand there and wait for the next swell and just as it approaches you push off from the ocean floor and get that giddy weightless feeling, as your body is carried up and over the crest of the wave... Then you come back down and wait for the next swell so you can enjoy the giddiness all over again. Sometimes though, you come down on a shell perhaps and hurt your foot... Or sometimes a wave comes along that's bigger than you predicted and you didn't quite push off hard enough and the results are uncomfortable because you end up with salt water up your nose and down your throat.... According to this metaphor I'm currently choking and spitting up salt water. I know I'm going to recover, get my footing and resume my wave jumping position. For now though, I think I'll fight my way through the tugging undertow... Make my way back up to the beach and rest on my towel until the salt doesn't burn my nose and throat anymore. Then I can remind myself of that beautiful weightless feeling of flying and head back into the ocean.

What's that in your pocket?

Went shopping for new jeans the other night for my daughter... I know, fun stuff huh?

We were running like a well oiled machine... She, slipping off one pair and quickly tugging on yet another... Me, grabbing a handful of denim... Running out of the dressing room whilst trying to keep the latest figures in my head (SO Brand Jeans - size 3 - Tall, too small & too-long... Go for a size 5, Average... Levis Brand 5 too big... See if they have a size 3... Bongo Brand Jeans, cut too low to even cover her underwear... Don't even bother...etc... etc. etc.)

Part way through the dressing room dash my daughter paused and reached into the pocket of the current pair of jeans she was trying on... "What's this?" she says, as she reaches into the pocket and pulls out a small whitish stone. "I think there's a rock in these jeans." She inspects the find and then drops it onto the small rectangular corner seat (which I KNOW couldn't hold my weight, in fact I'm not quite sure it's a seat at all, it must just be there to secure a purse for it would surely break off the wall if anyone ever tried sitting on it... but I digress)... So anyway, as the small stone lands on the seat/corner counter, rather than hearing the sharp click of a stone, the sound which we hear is that of a dull thud and that's when I realize, "I don't think that's a rock at all, in fact I think it's a piece of used gum." The face of my daughter, the 'Germ-a-phobe', proceeds to contort with all manner of disgust as she repeatedly shouted "Ewwwww, EEeeeewwww, EeeeeeWWWWWwwww, Oh my God... Who would do that, Eeeeewwww, I HAVE to wash my hands, I touched it, Eeeeewwww, I have to wash my hands NOW!" I must admit I wasn't exactly helpful as I stood there laughing and saying, "So what do you think of those pants, they look pretty good on you?" "These pants, I CAN'T get THESE PANTS, THEY HAD GUM IN THEM!!!" she keens. I of course, knew that would be the answer.

It wasn't long after the GUM incident that we made our way to the restrooms so my daughter could banish all germs from her fingers... I think she may have left enough soap for the next restroom visitor, though I'm not quite sure. She swears that the incident was SO damaging to her psyche that she may never chew gum again. I'm not sure if that will hold true, but time will tell.

You've got to wonder who would consider such an idea as to dispose of their tired old gum in a pocket of new jeans... Someone on the production line? Someone delivering the goods to/from the warehouse? Someone working in the store, too tired to take a break and search out a trash bin? Or someone trying on a new pair of jeans they disliked intensely? The wad wasn't stuck to the pocket so it must've been pretty dry when it was placed there... And WHY am I spending time speculating on it's placement there?

Roughly 48 pairs of jeans tried on.
One blister on my daughters thumb from yanking pants on and off.
3 pair of comfortably fitting jeans purchased (without any traces of gum in the pockets.)
And one nasty piece of old dried out gum sitting somewhere under the mock seat of the corner dressing room at Kohl's.
Hope she's set for clothes for awhile.

A Tale of Two Decorators

I remember when I was young (circa 1970's) and the holidays were drawing nigh... We'd beg my parents to pull out the decorations and prepare our house for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas... And I could never understand their apathetic attitude towards bringing in a holiday. My step-mother would often snap, "We'll get it out soon, just hold your horses." The same came with the excitement that would build in us kids over the idea of hopefully going to see Fireworks on the 4th... Only to be met with my dad informing us that he didn't want to "Deal with all that traffic!" My family could really rain all over a holiday parade like no other and I swore when I grew up I would never let the excitement die away.

Enter adulthood and the 2000's and here I am, kids almost grown and I'm as enthusiastic about digging out and unpacking my holiday crap as I am about taking a trip to the dentist. It just doesn't hold the thrill for me anymore. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing I enjoy more than seeing a home tastefully decorated for the seasons. Especially when I walk the neighborhood and see lovely porches decked out with mums & pumpkins and beautiful fall wreaths. I just wish I had the inclination, the energy and an accessible place to store it all.

Now let me introduce you to my dear friend 'Atlanta Rose'... A gal with an incredible eye for style, decor, and a great bargain! Rose sent me pictures of her GORGEOUS new home all warm and beautiful for the holidays... Here are some samples:





Breathtaking No? I'm sure it won't be long before her rooms are featured in Better Homes & Gardens.

After a long conversation with her the other day regarding me lackadaisical attitude towards decorating my home for fall... I finally went out of my way to do SOMETHING and here is the result:


So what do you think... Too much?

Smitten by a 'Foodie'

While on vacation I happened to catch TLC's (new?) show 'Take home chef' featuring this hunky little number...
And ever since, I've been smitten... Oh c'mon, I'm WAY more mature than that... Smitten with the need to try something new in the kitchen... Once I got home I perused my latest issue of 'Cooking Light' magazine and found several new recipes to try. I'm just getting SO incredibly bored with the same old, same old and this little cutie Curtis Stone reminded me that being adventurous in the kitchen can be so much fun!

Last night I made 'Beer Chili'... I don't drink beer but my brother-in-law will be happy to know that there's a six-pack (minus one) of 12 oz. long neck Budweiser's currently residing in my fridge. Along side the chili I made a dish called 'Easy Corn Casserole'... I was hoping it might resemble something close to Spoonbread but sadly no.

Tonight I have a Roasted Chicken with Onion, Potatoes & Gravy in the works... A recipe by Chuck Williams, founder of Williams-Sonoma... When it's complete I'll charge each of my family members an outrageous fee just for the privilege of getting to eat it... Seems appropriate for anything regarding Williams-Sonoma. It's currently cooking in the electric roaster I got for Christmas last year (only the second time I've used it, even though I convinced my husband it was a must-have item... Shhhhh!) and it smells delicious!

For dessert I found a Bread Pudding recipe online that I'm giving a try. While on vacation I ordered Bread Pudding for dessert, following dinner at one of our favorite restaurants 'Mangos' at Bethany Beach. My son decided to give it a try... A HUGE surprise as I've never known him to look even remotely interested in something made with wet bread. However, after one spoonful my lovely dessert became somewhat diminished by my ravenous, Bread Puddin' lovin' boy. I guess I should be pleased that he saved me from all of those extra calories, but MAN, that was good stuff!

Tomorrow night it's back to simple and easy as I have to work 'til 6:00 at the studio... However, now that the days are growing milder, being in the kitchen isn't really too bad. Especially in a house that's all relaxed and quiet during the day.

Wordsmith

Vacation... A time to bond with family & friends. Also a time to catch up on game competition... Scrabble to be exact. My friend Lori is a stellar Scrabbler... I on the other hand am rather lack-luster at the game. But last night Lori was really tired so I figured it was the perfect time to rope her into a battle of wordplay. It was even more fun when my sister-in-law (even more outstanding at Scrabble than Lori & myself) decided to join in the game.

Part way through the game as we were exchanging friendly jabs back and forth, most of them aimed at Lori... She announced, "I hope both of you lose, in fact I hope you both have Q's and NO U's.." Following that verbal tongue lashing she followed with, "By the way, did you know that Q-A-I-D is the ONLY Scrabble word that doesn't need a U?... I learned that playing one time and never forgot it!" and she finished up her turn by laying her tiles, counting her points and writing them down.

And then it was my turn.

"Q-A-I-D, you say?" I asked.

"Yes, that's right... but I don't know how you pronounce it." she replied.

And then right on top of the triple letter score I carefully lay down my first letter, a Q.

Then my second letter, an A.

After than my third letter, an I.

All attached to the letter D that was in the perfect position, giving me an obscene amount of points.

My sister-in-law won the game but better than that, I beat Lori.

So Long... Fare thee well!

Day before yesterday I did it!

I'd been meaning to, I'd been wanting to, I'd been longing to... Cut off the tangled mess of nastiness upon my head that some would refer to as hair.

Because my hair is SO curly it was often difficult to tell how long it really was until I went swimming or was caught in a really bad rainstorm... Then I'd often hear, "I never realized your hair is THAT long... Wow!" When wet it fell below my bra line, at least that stringy mid-section of my hair that grew faster than the rest of the hair on my head.

Of course by having my hair cut I've lost the perfect opportunity to terrify little children on Oct. 31... All I needed do was throw on a cape and fake wart and Broomhilda would have some fierce competition, but I just couldn't wait that long.

So now my hair is shoulder length... I probably wouldn't have gone that short but I told the hairstylist to leave as much length as possible but to be sure she got rid of all the dead stuff. It's been a LONG time since I've visited a hair salon folks... Trust me, there was a LOT of dead stuff. Of course, my husband had to point out that hair IS "Dead Stuff"... But you ladies know what I mean, am I right?

I admit my hair looked a bit fluffy and crispy (I hate the mousse crap they put in your hair when they style it!) after I left the salon... When I finally asked my son that evening over dinner if he'd noticed the MAJOR change in the appearance of my head, he looked at me as though he were looking at me for the very first time in say 3 or 4 years and said, "Oh nice! I think it kind of looks like Penn Jillette when he lets HIS hair down."

Now some of you may not know who 'Penn Jillette' is... Ever heard of the magicians 'Penn & Teller'? Yeah, that's him on the left...




And this is what he looks like with his hair down:














So I told my darling boy, "Yep, that's exactly what I was going for... I sat myself right down in the stylists chair and told her, No Jennifer Aniston cut for me... I want to look just like Penn Jillette... Minus the goatee of course!" Just so you know, MY hairstyle includes whispy bangs.

Fortunately, the next day when my daughter returned from her sleep over, she saw my hair and couldn't find enough flattering comments to shower me with... "Mom you look SO pretty!... I Love your hair!... You look SO good!" Believe it or not, SHE noticed the difference in my hair the first second she saw me, I didn't even have to point out the fact I'd gotten it cut.

Someday my son is going to marry a woman who will one day decide to try out a new hairstyle and when she calls to tell me that my son/her husband, has a big dent in the back of his head where she walloped him, I'll reply with... "Isn't that nice."

All Things Good For Mankind...

Omnia Humanitas, I invite you to check it out.

There's a kind of hush...

My kids went back to school today!

It's amazing how much one can accomplish when not confronted with:

"I don't know what to have for breakfast."
"So, what's for lunch?"
"Can we do something fun?"
"I need new _________ ."(insert article of clothing here)
"So what should we do now?"
"Can you take me...."
"Let's go out to...."
"So what are your plans for today Mom?"
etc. etc. etc.

Sure is quiet around here.... (: - /