Then the sun came out

It was just one of “those” weeks this week.  A couple of not so great days at work.  A couple of restless nights.  Too many things added to the to-do list and none taken off.  Then, today started out to be cold and gloomy.  But, by some miracle things turned around…the sun came out and I worked on my favorite project at work (thus far), then I came home to roses, pizza and wine.  Now I fully expect to win the lottery tonight.

Tags: Life, Marriage

‘08

I know most of my friends do not set resolutions for the new year….or at least they don’t admit to it, but I do. Last year I set 2 goals: to make money from selling my jewelry and by writing.   With some luck and help from friends, I accomplished both! In ‘08 I want to better my sewing skills so that I can make clothes and I want to put some jewelry on my etsy site.

So, what about you? Any goals for ‘08?

Tags: Crafty, Life

More Pain

Three more senseless shootings in the past few days. Dozens of families who will never be the same. Dozens of people, who are hurting and who lost their life today, because a death doesn’t end just one life.

Maybe our conversations and journey in life shouldn’t be so focused on figuring out what is right and what is wrong, because there are times when life doesn’t follow those rules. There are times when everything you want to believe about good defeating evil, about bad things not happening to good people just don’t seem true. It is in those moments that I think we should worry less about figuring out right and wrong, and spend more energy trying to figure out how to give life/hope/love/peace/joy back to those who are in pain.

Tags: Insanity, Life, Spirituality

Holidays

I guess Christmas celebrating is in full-swing. On Friday we went downtown to see all Christmas lights and enjoy warm drinks. Yesterday I pulled out our Christmas decorations and put some up, not as much as in past years. No tree. No outside decorations other than the wreath I made for our first Christmas. Our weekends are quickly filling up with holiday parties, already we are having to plan a party-hopping evening. This coming weekend is also the Christmas celebrations in Church Hill.

Like many of you, growing up and moving away from home means having to redefine the Christmas experience. I had to let go of a lot of traditions, which usually left me saying, “it doesn’t feel like Christmas.” Since then, I’ve tried new ways of celebrating each year with various friends and my extended family. These new celebrations were meaningful, enjoyable and usually spent with people I love, but still never felt like the holidays I had fallen in love with as a child at home. I guess this year will be the ultimate “doesn’t feel like Christmas” season. Everything already feels like I’m going through the motions. Which, I feel obligated to do because it is much easier than to explain why I’m not following along, and also, sucking it up and getting it over with won’t bum everyone else out.

Tags: Family, Insanity, Life, Narrows

Celebrate!

Happy Birthday Dan!!!

Tags: Life

A bad weekend for getting service in Church Hill

I don’t like to talk a lot of smack on my blog and I especially don’t like talking smack about my ‘hood, but I was let down by 3 Church Hill businesses over the past two days.
Let down #1:

For Dan’s birthday party I wanted to get some balloons, so I called up Church Hill Herbs & Flowers. I made an appointment to pick up the balloons on Saturday afternoon, but when I show up they haven’t even started blowing up my balloons. After much fussing between the employees, my balloons were ready 25 minutes later. When I paid for my simple latex, helium balloons I was offered a generous 15% discount because my balloons were not ready when I showed up. However, after the discount I was still paid over a $1/balloon. WTF?!?! I didn’t realize that like gasoline, the price of balloons has drastically gone up.

Let down #2:

For Dan’s birthday celebration, his brother (Mike) & future sister-in-law (Sarah) came down to visit. Today, the four of us, plus another fun-loving couple, decided to go to Jumpin’ J’s for brunch. We were pretty excited because Sarah has never been to J’s before. Last time she came down we tried to go, but it was when J’s changed their hours and we happened to be there on the one day of the week when they weren’t serving any food. So, today we walked down the street, dreaming of the delicious food waiting for us, but when we walked in the restaurant we were “greeted” by the waitress who told us that she wouldn’t be able to serve us any food today. Her reason was that she was leaving at 2:00 (it was just before 1:30) and that no one was coming in after her. So, slightly confused, hungry and a little upset, we left.

Let down #3:

After leaving J’s we decided to go to the Hill Cafe for their Sunday brunch. Again, we ran into more bad service. Our waitress was sweet, but we sat in the less-than-half-full restaurant for over 20 minutes before we were asked for our food orders. Anyway, I was pretty excited about the blueberry pancakes I ordered. I’ve had them before and remembered enjoying them very much because the blueberries are cooked in with the pancake batter…not just placed on top. You can imagine my disappointment when my blueberry pancakes arrived at our table without any blueberries to be found. I could understand a mistake like this in a number of situations…..like, if the restaurant was packed (it wasn’t); or, if I placed a complicated order (I think it seems simple); or, if there were lots of other similar options on the menu that the waitress/cook might get confused (nope, it was the only pancake option for today).

Sorry for the complaining, but I’m wondering, is it just me running into situations like this on the Hill?

Tags: Church Hill, Friends, Life, Richmond

RVA Ink

It’s time for my next tattoo, but I don’t know where to go. Please share your good, bad and ugly stories of RVA tattoo shops.

Tags: Insanity, Life, Richmond

Goals

Earlier in the year I set two goals for myself:

1) Earn some money from writing.

2) Sell jewelry that I’ve made.

By working at Hall + Partners I’ve been able to accomplish #1.  I hope to accomplish #2 by the end of the week. There were several times this year when I thought both of these were meaningless, but I am thinking differently now.  Creativity heals.  I’m finding that there is even greater healing in using my creativity in a purposeful way and then giving it away.

Tags: Crafty, Life, Writing

The Wizard of Oz

Landon, Kaydance & Kennedy

Tags: Life

Self-Care

I need a day/weekend for some self-care. I want to go to a beautiful spa in the countryside where I will be pampered with scented oils and warm hands while soft music plays and candles glow. I want to nap in a bed large enough to get lost in, with crisp white sheets, a down comforter and more pillows than really necessary. I want to wear my prettiest clothes, drink warming cider and forget about schedules, to-do lists, and pleasing others. I want to enjoy nature while doing some much needed soul care.

Tags: Life

Post-Potluck

I ate delicious food.

I drank very good wine.

I watched The Office.

I spent the evening with friends.
I love pot luck!

Thanks to everyone who came tonight!

Tags: Friends, Life, Richmond

Potluck

We are loving our weekly potluck dinners!  I’ve decided to start a page on my blog about potluck.  You can go here to find out about upcoming themes and share recipes.

This week’s theme is pizza!!  I think it will be my all-time favorite.

Tags: Family, Friends, Life

Highlights

Yesterday Dan & I went down to Williamsburg to meet up with his parents who were there for the weekend. It was a beautiful drive followed by a yummy lunch at the Mother In Law of the Year awards banquet. After lunch we spent some time browsing through the stores, which fueled me with ideas for some jewelry and handmade gifts I want to attempt to create this holiday season.

Saturday night was game night at a friend’s house. I was the champ, walking away with gold medals in Apples to Apples and Cranium Pop 5. I also snuggled with a pit bull.

This morning I pulled the heathen card and skipped church. It was a much needed few hours at home alone. I did things like laundry, go to the store and snuggle with cats.

Twice this weekend I was the recipient of once-loved, but now unwanted clothing from female friends. I love receiving handme downs! Even when I still lived at home I would take my sister’s clothes when she grew tired of them. Now I have added a few pretty shirts and skirts to my wardrobe that will be perfect for work. To compliment my new clothes I bought 2 pairs of boots today and made myself a matching necklace & earring set over the weekend.

I also kicked ass in fantasy football. Man Eaters #1!!!

Tags: Crafty, Family, Friends, Life

A Day in My Life

Here’s what I did today:

- Got up early and went to the gym before work.

- Ran into Fat & Sassy friend, Alisha, at gym and worked out together.*

- Home to shower, eat 2nd breakfast, and break my hair dryer.*

- Work, with damp hair.*

- Lunch. Tried to plan leaving for lunch at the perfect moment, but timing was off and I got caught in the rain.*

- Work, round 2….colder & wetter.*

- Ran out of work and sped up I-95 to get to Beads, Bangles, & Bitches before their 6pm closing time. (I know I said I don’t want to shop there, but I really needed some beads and this is the only place that I know has what I needed.)

- Was practically pushed out the door at 5:55pm by the Beads, Bangles, & Bitches staff.

- Pushed out the door…into the pouring rain.**

- Changed out of wet shirt and into dry fleece….while in car.*

- Went to Target looking like a drowned rat.*

- Received a compliment on my Etienne Aigner shoes, which made me smile because these are the most grown-up shoes I own.*

- Shoe compliment turned into a long conversation that resulted in me figuring out this kind lady was a job recruiter.*

- Bought a new hair dryer.*

- Home to delicious Amy’s Pizza.

- Now I will knit & watch Coupling with Dan until I fall asleep.

* indicates damp events that were

** indicates events that resulted in extreme dampness.

Tags: Crafty, Life, Richmond

Mas Comida

Our potluck dinner for this week is going to have a Mexican theme.  Chips, salsa, burritos y mas, on Thursday evening at our house.  Show up anytime after 6:30.  Hopefully we’ll start to eat a little after 7:00.  We’ll eat, chill and watch The Office.

Tags: Friends, Life