29 September 2007

Oh...I've been tagged...here in the middle of the weekend, and while I was relaxing too...now I've got to come up with something wise to say (we may be in trouble)

The idea is to copy the list, star your favorite ones, add your own tip at the very end, and then pass it on.

1. Look, read, and learn.
2. Be, EXCELLENT to each other.
3. Don’t let money change ya!
4. Always reply to your comments.
*5. Blog about what you know & love.
6. Don’t use filthy language-buy a dictionary.
7. Blog about something educational.
*8. Be yourself; others will follow.
9. Don’t have too many blogs that will become a chore to maintain.
10. Keep it simple, user-friendly, interesting and organized!
*11. Keep the blog simple and sweet!!!
*12. Share with others your thoughts and don’t be shy!
13. Never ask for link exchange. Blog hop to increase traffic.
14. Don’t clutter your blog with ads all over the place. IT’S IRRITATING.
15. Don’t comment for the sake of commenting. Some looked too fake and its a big turn off!
16. Share something interesting and you will gain more readers.
17. Show that we care to all bloggers, treat each other as friends.
18. Pictures say a million words. Keep them coming!
*19. Blogging should be fun or you’ll get tired of it pretty soon.
20. Don’t think people will come to your blog if you’re not willing to pay a visit to them.
21. Everyone loves read short posting and best, illustrated with a picture.
*22. Try not to publish more than 5 posts in one blog a day. Even if it’s from feed reader, it’s quite hard to digest and catch up reading everything.
23. Blog: the other window to peek into people’s life, minus the trouble. Keep a certain level of privacy to yourself.
24. Never tell your readers that you are going on vacation. That’s basically telling them to not visit your blog for a week. Instead, write several posts, and take advantage of the timestamp feature.
25. Try and write with people in mind that are “somewhat similar to you”. Allow your audience to identify with your blog and feel “at home”.
*26. The key to a good article is a good introduction. A joke, a question or a picture does wonders.
27. If you are looking to earn an income blogging read StevePavlina.com and Problogger.net, you will be amazed at what you can learn.
*28. Write for yourself first. Remember that it takes time, effort, patience…and above all, daring. [The Laidback Buddhist]
29. Photos for your blog should always be shot in the RAW! No, not in the buff, but in RAW format. That leaves you a lot more room to play with your subject. Finally, make sure not to step on your subject (see below).
*30. Blog about what you’re interested in, and what you want to share. And it’s your blog, you make your rules, which is why I can make 2 suggestions, I make the rules here. :)
31. Don't try to impress anyone...or write to anyone else...stay true to yourself...no matter what that looks like.

Phew...done.

Now, I tag...

A Fanciful Twist
Mommy Marzie
No Appropriate Bahavior
Velvet Brick

So...get going with your advice ladies...

28 September 2007

Jilted Lovers Of The World Unite...

A little something I've been involved in the background with...give a visit...write a story...tell your friends...

We've all had relationships
in the past, and may even find ourselves in relationships this very moment. Some of these relationships were or are even satisfying...and other times, they were disasters.

Have you ever gone on a date or been in a relationship that horrified you when you look back (hind sight and all) ?
Have you ever been dumped?
Have you gone on an "interesting" blind date?
Met someone on through the internet?
Have you been divorced?
Cheated on?
Lied to?
Do your past relationship stories make you shudder with horror or even laughter?
Do you need to issue a warning to others? Or just get something off your chest?
Are you seeing a friend in a destructive relationship...or need to tattle on someone from your past?
Is there a trait of a past lover that drives you up a wall?

Vent...
Tell your story...
Read the stories of other jilted lovers...

http://stupidextricks.org

Because all is fair in love and war...

To tell your personal story anonymously and submit documents click the "submit your tale" button...

PLEASE take the time to tell all of to your friends and family...

If nothing else, your story can serve as a warning to others...

27 September 2007

Welcome To My Life Of Crime...

Let me first start by saying thank you for all of the quilt love! I tell you, it's obvious that y'all like it when I create because I get so many more comments (damn. I'd better get crack-a-lackin) just a small observation really...and the recipient of said quilt is also enjoying it immensely (unless he's lying or humoring me...but, I really don't think that's the case)

SO...
I've been in a bit of a weird space, and I thought I'd punish myself further by not blogging today, or blogging about some deep stuff that's been going through my head...but then I realized I'd be punishing you by doing either of those things (har-har) And, all of those thoughts have been racing through my head while tripping through my morning...also finding me tripping through my bedroom, where I spied one of my latest thrift acquisitions wadded up...I mean, waiting patiently for it's turn in the wash.

First of all, when the Thrifts put out Halloween costumes, it often means super groovy vintage items they have no idea what else to do with. Which is supergoodnews for those of us who thrive on the vintage and bizarre...Last week one of my thrifts started in on the Halloween costumes.

I scored this vintage 7-11 shirt.

Oh man...seriously, is this thing cool or what?

It has the original
name tag on it, and on the lower left hand pocket a button that says "Thank Goodness For 7-11" or some such nonsense, with "VINE" in large letters, and the name "Doug" on one of those sticky plastic things. It made me think of my friend Doug (who's never worked for 7-11 as far as I know) and I thought of sending it to him, but I won't...because I'm selfish like that.

For the $4 price tag hanging on this evidence of convenience store memorabilia, I was humming excitedly under my breath (please remind me of this the next time I complain there's too much stuff in the house) as I took it up to the counter.

Then, what we shall refer to as the "stupid thrift store conversation" began:

"Oh, you found a goodie!"

"Yes, I did." (I try to play it low key, because I don't want them catching on to the fact that someone may want this stuff, and mark it sky high...it happens often at this thrift)

"Well, it has the name tag on it"

"Yes, it does"

"Well, let me take that off"

::blink blink::

"UM...NO."

"Well, we can't sell it with anything that identifies the store on it...it's our policy"

::blink blink::
(this is when I realize that I need to do some quick talking because I'm starting to get both panicked and impatient)

"Well, one of the reasons I'm buying it is because it has all the stuff on it...you shouldn't have put it out with things on it you do not intend to sell...besides...correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the entire shirt say 7-11 on it?"

"Well, someone (and I'm sure she wasn't naming names here) might wear it, and go into the store and pretend to be an employee!"

::blink blink::

"You can trust me...I won't do that"
(because as this point in my life, what stability I have I am holding tightly to, and do not fancy a life in prison because of impersonating a convenience store employee)

"W e l l l l ...OK" (I'm doing you a very big favor here...heavy sigh)

Yeah. A few things:

1. We don't have a 7-11 up here, which means I'm gonna' have to drive all the way down to the valley to carry out any evil plans I may have for thwarting the 7-11 corporation...and we all know how often I drive down there.

2. This is a VINTAGE shirt...don't you think that if I walk in pretending to be an employee, someones going to notice that I'm not in "proper uniform"? I mean, I've worked corporate before, and they get 9 shades of pissed if you're not in the right uniform, berate you and send you home.

3. I don't think that people who work at convenience stores are stupid...don't you think that someone would notice that they'd never seen me before, I'm not trained, I have no idea what I'm doing, and my name's probably not Doug?

What would I even take from a 7-11? A large soda and some chips? Gas? The $20 they have in the register? (I mean, they don't even keep large amounts of money where the employees can get to it anymore...according to the signs that are up everywhere)

Then again...maybe I could drive to Texas and get my friend Doug to help me in my life of crime...

26 September 2007

Heat...

I turned on the heat for the very first time yesterday morning...I was sitting here shivering, and decided to go for it...the gas bill be damned. So, I changed the heater filter and on it went...I then rushed into the bathroom and closed the door. Since it's the smallest space in the house, it's also the warmest...specially when I'm taking a bath with the door closed...I'm trying to figure out how to haul the TV and my bed in there. Then again, I suppose I could use the MacBook and sleep in the bathtub...

I also think the cat was in pure bliss...

She's rediscovered the lovely covered down pillows I made for her to lie in the sun in front of the big picture window...to make the large vintage chest that lives there more comfortable for her. One of them is topped with a super special added bonus...

A thin cushion that has a crunchy inside (kind of like a Butterfinger without all the chocolate...we don't want a chunky kitty girl) and is covered by leopard fur...Oh yeah, totally sexy for the kitty to stretch out...

meow.

Anyway, the crunchy inside is some sort of space aged material (well...that's what I told her, because she likes being on the cutting edge you know) that reflects her own body heat back to her. So, as she lies there, she's perpetually warm. Since she has this weird habit of pestering me to go outside in the mornings...where she stays out long enough to get really chilled and either runs in and looks for a spare lap or jumps up into her cushions...She's weird...but it's always been like that (she also likes to eat avocados)

I wonder if she would mind if I borrowed her leopard cushion and brought it into the bathroom too?

24 September 2007

Fall Equionx Surprise...

Well, you've caught me...sitting in the Airstream out for a little visit with Rich (or the couch...we've had that discussion before...this is a super comfy couch) And waiting...

Eagerly...

For the start
of the next season of Heroes. This last Saturday started early (up desperately trying to finish the latest huge project of mine) listening to the rain. Which came down down down, in torrents, all day long. Making for the perfect Saturday...of flopping on the very couch I am currently sitting on right now for a marathon of Heroes...an all day one at that. I had decided that I wanted to "get into" the series, and Rich happens to have it all on the computer, so, we sat and watched...Until a particularly sad episode (which did leave me sobbing) and shortly after, we called it a night. Of course, we were running out of time to get some quality rest, and did have several hours set aside to watch the final episodes the next day.

It was the perfect rainy day...I needed the rest. I had been quite busy...all week.

You see...

Rich wrote a post recently about being homesick and it really struck a chord with me. I actually feel quite homesick this time of year as well...and I'm living in the very town I grew up in. I am thinking for me that it is a serious case of nostalgia...of the winding down of the year, a beginning of firsts. Closing the windows in the house, putting the flannel sheets on the bed for the first time...pumpkin flavored baked goods, and home made soup...and Rich and I were talking about all of this (well, the sheet part especially stuck with me) and I was feeling sad that he was feeling sad...

So, I had an epiphany...

I must create something for him...just for him, to have in the Airstream so that he can celebrate the fall too...

I ran down to the fabric store, got a pile of fleece, some batting...and not a lot of time (this was last Tuesday and I gave myself until Saturday morning which led to sewing into the late hours of the evenings) to make a applique quilt. You see, I wanted to give it to him for a Fall Equinox present...So, I got super busy...

I hand tied the middle which is the large plaid part, to hold in the natural cotton batting between all the fleece and the 300 count cotton sheet I used for the back. The quilt is Full Sized and was a little unwieldy to run through my tiny machine in my tiny space...so, I laid it down in the basement and crawled around sewing the middle together, before I hauled it upstairs again to quilt the border...

Ahhh...the border.



I designed and appliqued
little Airstreams and little Nissan Titans (with campers) together...and Rich pointed out that I had the tires not quite right, but not to change the design, "...because it's cute"







On the long sides of the quilt, I made the Airstream traveling during the daytime with the sun and clouds and cactus all around...









On the short sides of the quilt, I made the Airstream traveling at night with the crescent moon out, surrounded by pine trees...

I love the way it turned out, and the size is perfect for the bed in the Airstream and hangs over just the right amount on every side, and a good weight for the coming cold this season...plus, it's super soft and fuzzy and snuggly (Rich really likes fleece, so it was the perfect choice of fabric)

Happy Fall Equinox!

The Baby Shower...


OK...let me start by saying that last week was a full creative week...

Which seemed to make it go very fast indeed.

I had a baby shower to go to for a good childhood friend this last Sunday down in Phoenix, so I had some things to make for her soon to be real live baby boy...

(and yes, this is the hand of the baby shower hostess who was joking around...and it happened to be the only picture of the cake I took that was in focus. sigh)





I went to Wal-Mart (ugh, I know) and got a set of these organic baby oneseis and hat, mitties, and several pairs of socks. I wasn't too impressed with the designs they came with, and mom-to-be like me, is an avid sock monkey fan (in fact, she brought me a purprise...a whole pack of cards with sock monkey's on them!) So...I ironed on and sewed some sweet little sock monkey's (from my much hoarded sock monkey fabric collection) onto the onesies, and the hat for her...

There's just not enough sock monkey baby clothes out there, is there?


And why stop there?

I thought he also needed a little tee with one of the Mexican Fortune cards on it as well...I have a couple of more things to make him, that I didn't quite have time to finish as I got totally sucked into another major project (I'll show you that tomorrow)

It was a lovely trip, and I went just early enough to run by Trader Joe's to pick up some yummies for myself. I wanted to go shopping as well, but realized that I have enough stuff, and clothes...and am wondering if it is indeed a sign that I am growing up that I am not going clothes shopping in trade for food...

On the way home...there was some sort of major traffic problem that backed the freeway up on the other side about 50 miles or so...I was super excited to be heading the opposite direction, I can't imagine when those people got home...

21 September 2007

Some People Should...

Come With a Warning...


This week, after the incident with the person at my shop, I went walking for my PM mileage. On the way home, I had to stop by the grocery and pick something up. Upon arriving at the grocery, I had been absolutely torturing myself, as Millstone has come out with the Pumpkin Spice flavored coffee (which is divine this time of year) and I couldn't buy because I am no longer drinking regular caffeinated coffee.

I then walked down the ice cream aisle. Just to torture myself? Probably. I stopped halfway down and pressed my nose against the glass door steaming it up in the area all around my face...Dryers has also come out with their limited edition Pumpkin Ice Cream (at this point I was ready to lie down into the fetal position and cry) I can't eat ice cream either (dairy problems you know) I mean, I could take a lactose pill, but I only really want a taste, and that's a silly reason to have something that tempting in my house...although maybe I could talk someone into keeping it in their freezer and I could visit it every once in a while?

I continued to the back of the store (cause' this innocent trip to the grocery could only get better right?) where I was a witness to a very interesting conversation indeed. An employee of the store was talking to the guy at the meat counter (I was hiding out in the chips)

Guy: "hey, I'm cooking dinner for a special lady tonight"

Meat Guy: "Oh yeah?"

Guy: "Yeah. So, what do you have that's really cheap or on sale?"

Wow...what a stellar person. Some poor girl is out there somewhere thinking she's really gotten a great guy because he's actually cooking for her...and she's going to be subjected to some cheap meat...This man needs to come with a warning that says:

Do not get naked with me, it can only end badly.

Some people need to come with warnings...

20 September 2007

At The Shop...

The majority of my days are spent at my resale clothing store...Snap Snap, and they have been for the past 12 and one half years (approximately...it always makes me feel good though, when someone comes in, looks at me and says..."so...you started the shop when you were 15?" blush.) And anyone who works with the public knows how trying it can be to one's spirit (yes, that's a fancy way of saying there's a lot of spoilt people out there who demand a whole lot, and are unwilling to give back...plus, I've been doing the retail/cashier gig since I was 11, so I'm about ready to retire any day now....unfortunately, the millions my family has amassed has never been all at one time, so I've got to work for a living) For the sake of the funny and the head shaking I have been toying with the idea of devoting one day a week to shop talk...that is, what weird and annoying and potentially funny things are going on in my corner of the world...

Cause' I'm tellin' ya'...I could write a book...

Time: Late afternoon.

A woman walks in to look at skirts, and asks to try one on. Now, there's actually no dressing rooms open at this time, but I promise her that I will jump up and run and get her as soon as one becomes empty. As always, I am surprised at the things people want to try on...not so much the styles, because we're living in the land of "anything goes, as long as it's comfortable" (which probably explains why people were wearing slippers and pj bottoms there a while back) but, the actual size. Now, I am not a terribly thin girl...but, compared to where I was, I'm loving where I am now. This woman was certainly bigger than I am, and tried on a skirt that was an 8. She seemed bummed it didn't fit. hmmmm...really?

We then got into a discussion about the music. I love to play all sorts of different fun world and upbeat/danceish music.

She made me write down the name of the CD set.

She then admired
my glasses frames...She made me write down Gianni Versace and was trying to talk me into telling her how much I paid for them (I was still trying to be nice at this point in the conversation not realizing that I had a real live odd one here...plus, I don't tell anyone how much I paid for my frames, because they were expensive and I feel a tiny bit guilty...plus, they may look a little different on someone with that thick of lenses...I'm just sayin.)

She left.

She came back in.

She told me that she had originally came in to find a brown skirt, and what was the size of the one in the window? Well...it's a size 5. As we've previously determined, she's not an 8...so my guess would probably be, she's not a 5 either (deductive reasoning my friends) Now, I do not usually like to wrestle things off the mannequins when there is no hope whatsoever that it will be bought, because that means I have to part all the tank tops and crawl through the window, leaning over the bottom bar of a rack somewhat like a trapeze artist, and if I wanted to join the circus I would dress up in one of those sparkly leotards, put feathers in my hair and ride an elephant (it's a height thing, cause the tightrope does look fun and sound fun in theory) So, she says:

"boy, I bet the little girls find all sorts of things to buy in here, because no one else is buying anything"

Weirdly enough, the store was full of people, and some woman who was just shopping in the larger section brought up an armload of stuff to buy (by now, I determined I needed to try to cut short any communication with her so as to possibly not prolong her visit to the shop. Plus, she was starting to give red-heads a bad name...as she was sporting a particularly bad hair dye job...or maybe it wasn't the dye job as much as it was the really "I cut my own hair with a flow-bee" hair cut...) So, I think I retorted with a witty:

"...well...someone's buying something, cause' I've been running the shop for 12 and a half years now"

I was trying to wait on someone at the moment, and this was becoming plain tiresome.

She actually bought a hat and wrote a check and said "...this is from the bank here in town, so it's good" ???? Really? Is that how it works? How nice...I think I shall go write a check for a new car, you know, because it's from a bank here in town. OK...I actually did write a check for the Rav4 but that's beside the point.

People.

I swear.

19 September 2007

My Name Is...

Exhausted! I decided on the spur of the moment to undertake another sewing project...that I need to have done this week (it is exciting me and freaking me out both at the same time) I have also been making some things for a dear friend's baby shower this weekend (and am mostly done, only I can't show them to you because she reads the blog daily

I also got a 500 G external hard drive so I could back up my now massive iTunes library...I can't figure out how to use it...Rich went through the process quite rapidly last night, and I can't remember what he said (does anyone else have this problem? Computer stuff does intimidate me until I figure it out...well, that's silly...that's how everything is isn't it?)

In true Prescott style
it's turned cold....all of a sudden. So, it's in the upper 70's during the day and about 45 at night...this is after coming out of the 90's last week. This does not surprise me. I just am now throwing on my fleece sweatsuit when I go out in the morning (may I add that I did not go on my PM walk today because I'm sooo into my new project) I had to take a hammer to my window frames (old windows) and beat the living crap out of them so that they would close, and I wouldn't freeze during the night...Thre's a pile of clothes for me to try on and decide if I should keep or take to the shop, the house could also use a quick vacuum...and there's a spider in the kitchen sink (maybe it will wash the dishes?) sheesh.

And for the rest of the week, I have appointments before work. I hate to do that to myself, but it just happened to work out that way...

I found this great Name Game on Stiletto Heights yesterday, and I love it...so play along with me (if you blog this, let me know...I'd love to see your names!)

1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car)

Smokey Rav4
(ok...that sounds dumb...maybe I should use what I named the car? Then it would be Smokey Honey...I like that better)

2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie)

Vanilla Bean Iced Sugar

3. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal)

Red Owl

4. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born)

Kathleen Anaheim

5. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first)

Con-sa

6. SUPERHERO NAME: (”The” + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink)

The Pink Martini

7. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers)

Robert Douglass

8. STRIPPER NAME: ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite candy)

Rose Neroli Jr. Mint (good heavens)

9.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names )

Faith Douglass

10. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter)

Davidson Dewey

11. SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday, flower)

Autumn Daisy

12. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now + “ie” or “y”)

Strawberry caprisie

13. HIPPY NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree)

rice cake maple

14. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: (”The” + Your fave hobby/craft, fave weather element + “Tour”)

The Ephemera Rain Tour

Oh...fun!

I'm gonna' go for now my friends...I need to hurry up so I can eat some of that non dairy dreamsicle ice cream I got thawing on the counter...

(Rebecca...I would love to give you some thoughts on Sedona, but I've lost your email...could you email me and give it to me again?)

18 September 2007

Last Saturday Afternoon...


In a moment of pure boredom...I mean, spontaneity (that and the fact that I had a morning appointment on Saturday...and Rich forgot and scheduled a climb for Sunday...but, actually that happened to be the only day that Brooke and Andy could go...and as I said to him, "don't cancel if that's what you want to do"...cause' lets face it, the boy is a climbing fool) Rich swung by and picked me up to kidnap me and take me to Sedona for a late afternoon and evening hike.













Does it still count as a kidnapping if he called me before hand and I knew about it?

It sounds so much more romantic that way doesn't it?

So, we'll leave it...









We headed up
to Sedona, because Rich wanted to take a good sunset photo of Cathedral Rock, and we thought we could get in a good hike as well...

Sedona is so beautiful,
and hot...it was hot.











Let's face it, we were there at 3-ish and that is the hottest part of the day...

and as we headed up the trail (cause' it was certainly up in some places)

We were both sweaty and out of breath
(doesn't seem too romantic now does it?)












We hiked Devils Bridge.
It was awesome!
(and not a long hike...which was fine, as I mentioned before...the sweating)

And fun...one thing I haven't mentioned is that Rich is a terrible tease, and has me laughing most of the time we do anything together (well, oscillating between that and pushing him off the trail...and pouting...I do a mean fake pout)






Plus,
he's super supportive. I love to hike, and have been for the last 2 years, but only around here, and nothing too challenging...so, when I go with him, it seems like I'm always pushing myself through things that I don't normally do...and I'm finding that I am more and more comfortable, and Rich is usually there checking on me, and telling me that I can do it (it's wonderful to have my own cheering section)












For instance...
there was this one part of the trail that was straight up. But, there was this little steep stairway of red sandstone steps (but, with no railing...why railing doesn't form naturally in nature is beyond me) and it's up high (I have a height thing...makes my palm sweaty) And, I happened to mentioned I was feeling a little freaked out...but he reassured me that I was fine, and that I'm good at this stuff, and that he's not worried that I can't do it..and that I only have to take it one step at a time. So, I put on my super concentratey face and did it...and he was right...I was fine!










And here he is...
in all of his Goof-Ball glory...standing under the bridge, looking a bit like Indian Jones (it's the hat) making faces at me...

Do you know how hard it is to hike and clutch your stomach at the same time because you're laughing so hard?

He made me hike up there so I could touch the sandstone...it was really smooth feeling, and quite beautiful with all the different shapes it's made over the years.









And here's the all illusive photo of Cathedral Rock...which as you can see by the poor lighting (hey it was a cloudy kick off to the now fall weather that is sweeping through N. AZ...it will be in the 40's tonight after all) which shall remain elusive...

Which only gives us more reason to go back...

Yeah, like we need reasons.

16 September 2007

The Last 2 Days...

We have discussed the fact that I have a new MacBook

Oh yes, I do.
And, I love it!
I really do...

Rich transferred my picture library, and my iTunes library from the HP the day after I got the MacBook...I organized my pictures into iPhoto almost instantly, as I used iPhoto everyday...it is a wonderful program that comes with the computer...and this weekend I sat down to really finally organized my iTunes.

I've been doing it for 2 day now.
Sitting in my chair...ripping CD's into iTunes.

I decided on Saturday morning, after I had organized what was already in iTunes into play lists (for walking and such) and various little individual folders, to tackle the rest of the CD's that have been sitting around here...waiting to be added to iTunes.

So...now there are 2 large bags filled with CD's that no longer need to be here in my home. After a little call to Rich in wich the words, "um...is it OK for me to just rip all these CD's into iTunes, and get rid of all my CD's? Can I do that?" (just questioning the certain legality of tech things) were heard to be uttered out of my mouth. And Rich kindly assured me that I could just back everything up, and the the CD's could go elsewhere (probably to be traded in for credit)


The bestest thing about owning a Mac (OK, just one of the bestest things) are these special little things that pop up on the screen...called Widgets. Now, with iTunes, sometimes you do not get all of your album cover art (and that drives me nuts, because I want everything to be all pretty) so...I found a widget that lets me search Amazon.com for album cover art...and then it will import it into iTunes for me...

pure bliss.


I have 9.78 GB of music now...
that's 2407 songs
and, 7.3 days of music.


OH...I found a little special something at the store when I went to the grocery (because I did actually take breaks here and there) so my back wouldn't atrophy from sitting in my chair. So, I found myself in the frozen foods section of my local health food store...and to my surprise, excitement and amazement, I found 2 new flavors of Soy Delicious. Since I am lactose intolerant, the thought of having vanilla and orange sherbet swirl and vanilla and raspberry swirl was an exciting one to me. It was quite good...and another welcome break from all the CD ripping...

I did also go on a hike with my favorite guy on Saturday afternoon as well...but, that recount will have to wait until tomorrow...I'm gonna' get up and stretch.

14 September 2007

7 Things...

* Always a bridesmaid, never a...OK, so my day yesterday ended a little differently than I imagined it would. For those of you who are holding their breath...no, I did not get married (you may kindly exhale now) but a good friend and customer of mine (someone who I've become close with because of owning Snap Snap) came into the shop yesterday with the news that she and her finace' were getting married...today! (Well, yesterday) and did I know anyone who performed ceremonies? We put our heads together and came up with someone, and she asked me if I would come out to Lynx Lake after I got off work to stand up and be a witness. I did, and it was sweet. How lovely to get married on the fly like that! It was also the officiants wedding anniversary, so it was doubly special. This is also the first time I met her finace', who seems just as great as she's been telling me all these years. It made me think that when/if I get married again, I would love to go somewhere in nature...do it simply with my partner...and have a party afterwards. I wish them all the luck in the world!

* I watch the same movies over and over again. I like to watch new movies sometimes...but there's something comforting in watching the same thing happen...and knowing it's going to turn out OK...or badly, I suppose, depending on the movie. I am watching The Fifth Element right now...It's on TV, plus I own the movie...and I watched it not too long ago with Rich.

*I believe in love. I do. Even after the divorce. It's just one of those facts of life. It has to be. It's one of the only things that keeps me going. I have noticed that hearts have been coming to me more and more...just showing up everywhere, I don't fight it anymore, but acknowledge them, and put them around my house when appropriate (maybe they're just little reminders for me? In case I forget) I am hopeless romantic, and I love anything that is romantic or reeks of romance...you could give me a rock and say, "I was thinking of you" and I will swoon. Reach out and touch me in even a distracted way...Swoon. You can remember some little detail of something I once told you...swoon again. Because romance is so often in those little gestures of living your everyday life. Just to know someone somewhere was thinking of me? Swoon.

* I am an avid reader. I simply adore books and can go completely overboard with collecting them. I have a library in my house, and am constantly both adding to it and culling it. I love the way they smell and feel. I usually enjoy all sorts of books, reading in a rhythm of self help, fantasy, kids fantasy, science fiction, craft books, books that make me think, 30-something love stories...but during the holidays? All I can read are trashy romances. It is the weirdest thing...but, they're the only thing I can wrap my mind around.

* I have a chicken pox scar right under the outer corner of my left eye. A little over, and it would have been in a nasty spot. When I got the chicken pox in Jr. High, it was the week of cheer try-outs (damn. And, suppose that if I would've made cheer, it would have changed the entire direction of my life...considering most of the girls that were on the cheer team were pregnant when we graduated...my life may have been very different indeed) But, when I got the pox, I had them all over from the torso, up...including in my mouth, throat and ears. I had one pox on my legs...

*I wear make-up. I have since Jr. High (not just to cover up my pox scars) not a lot but some. If I do leave the house with the minimalist amount of make-up...the least I can get by with, that would be face powder and mascara...then, I'm still good to go. Otherwise, I don't feel quite right. I kind of got a whole lot more girlier sometime in my recent past, and now even carry my glittery shiny lip gloss in a little bag in my purse...along with stuff for putting my hair up.

*I was on the flag team in High School. Yes, I was in band. Yes, I lettered in band. Yes, I have a letterman's sweater from Prescott High School...and Yes, I went to band camp. I did not stick a flute or my flag anywhere it shouldn't have been...they weighed like 25 lbs. and that would have been a tad bit awkward (to say the least)

Now...I dare you to tell me 7 things about yourself in either the comments or on your blog...

I also dare you to have an amazing weekend!

13 September 2007

Prescott's Burning...

A prescribed burn...but a fire nonetheless.

It started
this morning after my morning walk, and by the time I got to work, it was starting to permeate the downtown. You see, the downtown is sitting in a small valley...or The Prescott Corridor. So, anytime there is a fire, the smoke sits right on top of the downtown.

I live downtown.

I also have juniper allergies.

They burn a lot of juniper in these fires.

I have a headache and my nose is stuffy my eyes are burning and I feel sick to my stomach.

I also notice that during these fires, I feel weird, claustrophobic. Probably as weird as all the ants do, only I don't run around and freak out quite so much (I can't, I'm short of breath) I'm thinking it's one of those preservation cellular memories that is lodged in the reptilian part of my brain:

Fire=Bad=Run Away

Frankenstein knew what he was talking about.

On the way home from the Airstream tonight, the smell of smoke was getting a little uncomfortable in the car. Then I drove into the downtown, and there was so much smoke I could barely see to drive. My house smells like I've gone camping.

I may have to go camping to get away from this smoke...

cough...

cough...

sniff...

12 September 2007

The Changing of the Seasons...

It's here...

the changing of the weather (like the changing of the guards: serious...and nothing to be messesd with, only without so much ceremony...) the coolness of the evenings and mornings (I donned a light jacket for my AM walk) So...with the natural changing of the seasons, comes all the changes around here...

A new mantle display...the changing of the light...the changing of the lotion...

Ah yes, the lotion.

As mentioned somewhere in this little recording of my life, I like floating around in bubble baths...and what naturally follows a bubble bath?

Why yes, that would be the lotion.

And wait a minute...that would also naturally include the bubble bath as well wouldn't it?

Ok...to be more specific...it's the changing of the scents.

I have lighter
flowery scents for the spring and summer for my lotions, bubble bath, hand soap, and the various candles that find themselves light up here often...and heavier scents for the fall and winter.

It's those little ceremonies and rituals that mark my life.
(or, perhaps I have too much time on my hands)

My grandmother
once commented about the fact that I usually change out my duvet covers as well. I didn't have the heart to tell her, with all the thrifting I do, it's next to impossible to pass up beautiful duvet covers I find (and now I'm making them as well) So...I have to put them on the bed...I'm just using the seasons as an excuse. I'm thinking this hearkens back to my mother putting the most fabulous crazy quilt on my bed for the Christmas season...it was special, just for me...and only for that one time of year.

And, perhaps it gives me the excuse to also buy scillions amounts of lotions and bubble baths (oh...and body soap) But, to be fair, I have stopped myself from buying anything new, until I use up all the ones I have...unless it's on sale, or at a thrift (cruds...I haven't stopped myself at all have I?) For instance, I bought an extra Pumpkin Pie Spice bubble bath last year because I knew they would immediately discontinue that scent, and I'm tellin' ya', it's almost as good as baking yourself into a pie, and eating your way out. I also came across a Philosophy gift set a while back...and while I don't normally go for the food scents in soaps (cause let's be honest, who wants to be caught licking their own skin all day?) But, in it's defense, it did have some great coffee and chocolate combinations (and we all know that I no longer have chocolate in the house...unless, unless...I wonder if they make that stuff with real chocolate? I mean, it does smell good enough to eat...hmmmm...) And, then there's the peppermint candy one just for the Christmas season (it goes out the day after Thanksgiving, somewhat like the biggest shopping day of the year)

You know...it does all sound amazingly frivolous, but it all lives together in the bathroom wall cabinet, and can be switched from front to back in mere minutes.

Cause' you know if I really had all that extra time...I'd probably be organizing the house, and getting it ready for the winter months ahead (snort) Oh...but, really, it's only September, and that thought is just a wisp of what's to come...as soon as it starts cooling down during the days, I'll be cleaning and reorganizing and putting the winter clothes where they belong and banishing all the summer away...

Until then...

I'll be floating in a sea of Chocolate Hazelnut Espresso Cream bubbles...

11 September 2007

I Don't Play Monopoly...


I was reminded of that tonight on The Peavine Trail (of all places, sometimes in the rain, sharing an umbrella) while on my evening 4 miles with a favorite person of mine.

We were in
a discussion about many of life's challenges...and out popped,

"I don't play Monopoly"

and he stopped.

In his tracks...
just staring at me.

"Well, I don't. My mother refused to teach me because she claims everyone always ends up arguing and in a bad mood afterwards"

Then again, I really don't know how that would differ from most things my family did...

And then I
started thinking about all the other things I don't do:

  • I can't ride a bike very well (my dad was teaching me and let go of the bike and I fell...I thought it was horrible of him to do that, and I didn't really feel like trying again. I did win a mountain bike in college, and a friend of mine taught me how...it still scares me a bit)
  • I've never kayaked (I did do a 2 person outrigger canoe on my honeymoon...not a good experience though...we didn't work well as a team most of the time)
  • I've never gone rock climbing...and it was only recently that I realized that I felt comfortable hopping around on rocks, and hiking around...and that I'm good at it.
  • I don't like to ski (although, I've tried both downhill and cross country...I don't find it fun, put me in a cabin in the snow with a good book and some cocoa, and I'm there)
  • I've never backpacked anywhere (unless you count Italy...mostly that was me in the rain tromping around lost trying to find my hotel...but, I just loved it, and I've always wanted to backpack somewhere)
  • I've never shot a gun.
  • I've never hang glided or gone up in a hot air balloon (I'm a little nervous around heights, although, I love to fly in a plane)
I'm sure there's even more...

But, why concentrate on the things I don't do, when there's so many things I do actually do.

For some reason, I never thought of myself as an adventurous person...probably because I was scared out of my mind to do anything for a lot of my life. Then...a few years ago, I decided that I would try to do new things...even if I was scared:

  • I took and Italian class and went to Italy (planned and booked the entire itinerary all by myself...it was my dream trip)
  • Got a divorce.
  • Tried a whole bunch of slides at a water park (I don't know what was scarier there...the slides, or having to get in a bathing suit and go out in public)
  • Learned how to knit (and yes, I do plan on finishing my winter scarf before it gets cold again)
  • Started sewing again...made my first quilt, a lot of gifts, and quite a few bags that I sold in the shop.
  • Started making ephemera cards and art...selling those in my shop now too!
  • Hopping around on a bunch of rocks...and hiking more and more regularly.
  • Trying desperately to eat the right foods and exercise for only the reason of my health.
Because somewhere in the back of my mind, I realize that life is too short to be holding myself back from anything I want to try...and besides, if I do try something and I don't like it, I'll never have to do it again right?

And who knows?

Maybe I'll even learn to play Monopoly...

(What are you holding yourself back from trying?)

09 September 2007

The Perfect Day...


What does the perfect day look like?


Well, I'm sure that to different people it looks mightily different. If you were to just run into Snap Snap and ask me on an ordinary day, I may look into the distant recesses of my mind, and find Italy.

Florence
to be exact.






I could stay and wander
around in Florence for a long while and never get done sighing and taking it all in...the colors, the antiquity, the art...It's a feast for the eyes and the intellect. You feel like you're a part of something bigger there...









Or, the ocean.

I love the ocean,
and I haven't been in quite a long while. I can imaging myself dipping my feet into the water, letting the waves wash over me, and feeling my feet sink deeper into the soft wet sand. At sunset? Forget about it...the metallic pink coloring the edges of the silver and blue waves is breathtaking as well.


Or...

One may step into their own backyard. Travel a smallish distance, with great music, some rice cakes...a few handfuls of dried fruit...and a special person...



To Sedona...

Doe Mesa to be exactly exact.




I've never been out there, and am chomping at the bit to go back to Boynton Canyon (I love WestFork because it's so near Oak Creek, but the Mesa is in a totally different place)


We didn't get started too early...just right. And, found ourselves at the base of the Mesa, planning on going up to the top. Rich had seen some great lizards and wanted to go back, and while we didn't see any lizards...we still had plenty to photograph.


It's nearly impossible to take a bad photo in Sedona...it's just amazing there.

And...we hiked and hiked up the switchback to the top of this Mesa. The trail is not a killer, and the temperature was perfect, as it was an amazing day in Northern Arizona...moving towards fall with a little breeze every now and then. Plus, we were on the shady side of the mountain, so that made it much easier to hike.










Up at the top is the most amazing views and look outs towards all different points of Sedona and the Verde Valley. There are times when being in Arizona, looking at the true raw beauty that abounds than not only leaves me breathless...but, makes me want to cry for the sheer amazement that I am allowed to be in the world just witnessing it all.








We hiked down making plans to hike later in the day, and were off to the camera shop for a bit of lens fixing for Rich's new camera. There was a bit of shmootze inside the thing, and they blew the heck out of it with one of those cans of air at the camera shop...so, it seems to be fixed for now.


After that...and wandering a bit around Old Town Sedona, we headed to New Frontiers for a little food. Now, Rich stayed out in the car and polished up the lens and I ran in...dang. I almost wished I didn't. Their New Frontiers is so much nicer than ours, I was a bit jealous...but, I did get some organic guacamole and chips for us, and some qinoa tabouli salad for me (the traditional bulgar wheat one kills my stomach...and I have been craving this like mad...I need to learn how to make it myself)




We then popped over
to Huckby Trail...ate a little picnic (well, I did, and Rich ran around photographing and stopping by for some guac here and there) We both looked at each other at some point right around this time and said,

"...hmmmm, tired"

Yup...we were too tired to keep our promise of another hike...we immediately blamed it on the heat, and are looking towards the future (of next month) when the temperatures are cooler and we can certainly go all day.




So, back home we came...where Rich edited his photos, and I drifted in and out of consciousness on the couch (hey...we've already discussed the benefits of the couch in the Airstream) until I hauled my tiredness home, to relax in a lavender bubble bath and watch a movie...

There were just so many amazing things about this day that made it perfect...









perfect...

perfect...

perfect...

sigh.

07 September 2007

Talk About a Bad Hair Day...

This week while out thrifting I came upon this little gem, because sometime you find things which makes everything else you've found almost pale in comparison...

Not only is
the packaging design darned lovely on this, but...believe it or not...it's totally full!

(lucky me)

So, I snatched it up to decorate my bathroom...or maybe use...the jury's still out

(I may never have to wash my hair again)

I am racking my brain for some sort of commercial for this particular product...Perhaps:

MiniPoo
the 10 minute dry shampoo...

For The Times When A Lot Of Poo Is Just Too Much...


Then again...maybe this is just the small version of this product...which makes one stop to think...

What was the big one called?

06 September 2007

Jump in...What Are You Waiting For?

So...the last 2 days at Snap Snap have been rather slow, as they usually are after a holiday weekend, which has afforded me time to mark down some things, organize, clean, play on the computer and re-do the window display...I've been redecorating a bit for the upcoming fall season...

And thinking.

I've been doing a lot of thinking.

Anyone who knows me
can attest to the fact that when I get sucked up in my head, sometimes it's an interesting adventure (that's a nice way of putting that I get loony without enough outside stimulation and usually start to question things in my life)

Having the shop be quiet is also a great time to connect with various people that come in to shop...although, I've always said that shopping is sometimes secondary with the people that come in to Snap Snap, and a lot of people like to come in for the conversation. I didn't know if you knew, but I also have used books amidst all the clothing and accessories, in the form of all sorts of alternative subjects.

A loyal customer came to the counter today with her selections of books and we started chatting. The long and short of it is that she's gone through a divorce after being married for a long time, and she's just getting ready to think about being in a relationship again...so, she's going to read about it.

Really?

Read about it?

I thought the best practice to be in a relationship was actually to. be. in. a. relationship.

This gave me pause.
I mean, you can talk about it and read about it all you want...but, you really need to jump in at some point. Don't you? Is this something that only divorced people or jilted lovers go through...this need to "try to do it better/differently" than we just did? But, why would we hold ourselves back?

Fear?

It's amazing how we're all trying our hardest not to get hurt (even though we do some of our best growing and stretching when we have been) We seek advice from "experts" or friends just because something we did in our past didn't work out the way we wanted it to, we didn't get the end we were after, and all of a sudden we can't trust ourselves anymore (or maybe we never learned to in the beginning...or perhaps Americans just have a lot of time on our hands to read about stuff)

And, then...we do everything in our power to protect ourselves.

From what...life?
Pain?

And does that in turn stunt our capacity to receive joy and fun? I had a friend once who used to talk to me until the wee hours of the morning and he firmly believed that if you do not have some of the downs in this life...how will you ever know how to appreciate the ups?

I wanted to tell this lady that came in to jump.

Jump in with both feet..don't be scared to open up your heart...take the risk...never fear who you are...learn to love again.

Because, whatever you do, you'll be doing it just right...you'll be learning exactly what you need to learn, exactly how you need to. And you'll learn that you can indeed...after everything you've been through...fall in love again.

And, while we may all be trying our hardest not to get hurt, I think that may just be a part of this dance we call life...

And, if you read about it, or worry about doing it just right...
you may miss out on the very best stuff!

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