Alice Blue Gown

I'm still pedaling

Sometimes no matter how much we think we have changed, we really are still just the same. I love this picture of me at 2. I'm still pedalling fast and having a wonderful time.

bustier and bias cut evening gown with train

I made one for my daughter for winter ball last year and am making another gown for her in white silk charmeuse this year. very enjoyable.

See more progress on: sew a splendid evening dress myself

kitchen shears

I have been cutting my hair with kitchen shears and a safety razor and it looks better than the beauty shop version—who would have imagined?

See more progress on: change my hairstyle

Attack of the Giant Nerds

I can see!

I just got new tri-focals. not bifocals,tri-focals! I had been wearing a pair of drug store peepers and had no idea how really blind I was until I drove home wearing my new glasses! whew is my house dusty!

See more progress on: get a new pair of glasses.

NaNoWriMo

The story started telling itself in my head and I am reeling at my inability to put words together on paper.

See more progress on: write a book

On your mark, get set, go!

All Quilts All the time

Monday Last I went to an all day class and then went to Quilt guild that night with Mom. I will keep you posted on my progress on the Fish. Here is the fish picture that was my inspiration. I am in the raw stages of a WIP (work in progress), otherwise known as UFO’s (unfinished objects), hopefully never to become one of the PIGS (projects in garbage sacks!)

See more progress on: attend quilt guild.

Christmas Sock knitting progress update

I have 1 completed sock, 1 sock missing a kitchnered heel, 1 sock missing an instep decrease and foot and toes, 3 mates to go, and a whole ‘nother pair. I have spent too much time frittering around with afterthought heel techniques and getting self patterning yarn ( a supposed time saver) to have bilateral symmetry on a pair of socks

See more progress on: knit socks for Christmas

still crazy, but it's on the Outlook Schedule

... but I can once in a while see a trainwreck of a day coming at me before I am smacked by it. I am also more accepting of saying no when I see actual hours in my day being lost to things I do not have enthusiasm for participation.

See more progress on: enter appointments in Outlook

If you don't love it, there's really no point

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Last Thursday was turning into a savagely challenging day. My 9am appointment turned into a 10:20 and you can pretty much guess the rest from there. My 10am photo shoot for my new listing turned into a 2:30 and my 2pm went until 5. I-581 decided to come to a frustrating stop and I needed to get back from Harrisburg and go see The Child at College. Calgon take me away!

Thank God for my friends. I have a friend who sells for Ford. I have been crushing on a 50th Aniversary Ford Thunderbird in the loveliest pearl frost golden mink color. Today's it. I'm ready. I veer off the overcrowded expressway exchange and thread the needle over to his dealership. Tad gets me the keys and a temporary tag and we are off through the backroads on a fine early spring evening. Now I have people to see and things to do, but I need a new car.

Here's the thing. The day was great. The open road was great. Spending time with a friend who can sell you the car of your current ache is a big plus, but something was off kilter. I didn't know it, but I didn't love the car. It didn't drive the way a sports car does. I didn't feel all juiced up over it, but the car was cute and the price was right and I had buying a thunderbird as my goal.

I am still going to buy the car at that point. I am a "make a decision and commit to it" kind of person. Something is a disconnect, however and I cannot figure out what. I tell Tad, "give me a day," and I'm back on the quest to visit The Child at College.

The Child and I bond-drink-talk-laugh and the rest of my late evening is joy and emotion. The loitering and long drive home puts me in a thoughtful mood. My ah-ha moment? If you don't love it, there's really no point. That's why the t-bird wasn't happening for me. ANYbody should love a new car and a new sports car should be the bees knees for anybody. The car still made sense for me to buy, but my heart just wasn't in it. Here's the thing. I never make decisions from my heart. I think things through. I think things to death and I don't take into account how I feel at all. Mostly, I don't know how I feel. Clueless. Didn't realize why the disconnect while out driving.

It took a car to make me realize that if you don't love it, it's just not worth it. How many decisions in my life have I ignored how I felt and just done what was planned? Why now am I able to see that feeling is a part of knowing in just the biggest of ways?
Sometimes the big lessons in life come from unexpected teachers.

Look On The Bright Side

My schedule is blown to bits. It is like 33 damned degrees F. here. I still have a spring alergy from hell, but I know paradise exists I have been there. Here is a picture of my brother's backyard in Antigua Guatemala. How about some comfy walking sandals some sunscreen and some dark glasses for another day of walking through paradise? I am so up for it!

A Day at the Beach

For the second day I walked the boardwalk the length of Atlantic City beachfront and back. What is this place like in summer?

I went to the most intriguing classes today. Sometimes the best teachers teach by asking the right questions. What are the top 10 things on your practical wish list and what are the top ten goals on your impractical wishlist? Ok. fine. Now why can't your impractical wishlist be your real wishlist? I'm just lost in wondering and imagination over that. Now my assignment is to make a collage of my wishlist and write it out in longhand. I was expecting a goals and objectives worksheet planner for business planning, not an art project. How energizing!

Dances with Wind

I am here in wild gale force wind Atlantic City in December. The wind has stirred my hair like an egg beater, class was predictable, and all the ice cream, salt water taffy and fudge shops are closed for the winter. It is all a little sad. It is all jaded and aged. All fun seems forced. All ambition seems habit. I want to retreat into the parallel universe of The West Wing politics until we get another chance and make it right. Do I get another chance to make anything right?

Quiz Contest

This lovely lass is my daughter Kendall, a sweetie pie and all round breath of fresh air. She is not at all a type to be seen at the Real Estate convention in Atlantic City this week. Last year my partner Joe and I attended and pointed out one leopard printed, fur swathed, louis vitton toting toughie after the next...and so a quiz is born-Realtor or Hooker? All in fun of course, but sometimes I honestly could not tell. Stay tuned for more this week folks!