Dear Barn Cat

Aka- Aunt Pat,

Being the superstitious bird I am, I took down my Vegas vacation trip, photos. I didn't know sight seeing was "this BIG secret" so wanting to make a safe flight home, I quickly removed my photo shoot. By doing so the Vegas "Gods" rewarded me, with being seated, smack dab in the middle of two (TWIN) Australian soccer players. I was a little anxious with a middle seat (who me, anxiety on a plane?) Until this fine lad sat down next to the window, and I said "I was starting to think, I'd have this entire aisle all to myself, to which he replied (Thick) Australian accent "Oh my team mate, is on his way" Enter the even tanner, bluer eyes, of the two, I said "team mate, I think I just spotted your doppelgänger! Get your camera phone"- they laughed. And I enjoyed my best plane ride yet. Between two twin hunks! Thanks for warning about the Vegas rules, maybe you're next flight will be of that caliber.

(Don't tell...)

So long, lonesome

I leave for Vegas tomorrow afternoon, and I AM ready to get this show on the road. The only thing is, I am flying.  The cards are always stacked against me when I take flight. I'm afraid of heights, closed spaces, and not having control. So all of the things I have going against myself when I fly, is D all of the above. I guess not having control should be okay in this scenario (Though I personally would feel better if my life were in my own hands, I might have trouble landing the plane.)

However, what does amuse me, is the music that soothes my nerves when I fly. I use my laptop en route en air'go, so the name of the band is written clear across my computer screen. One of my top five bands, Explosions in the Sky, a post-rock band with distinct chiming guitars, is my go-to flying partner. I put my ear phones in, and let their lyric free music coast me. Looking like a psycho path with the name "Explosions in the Sky" written across my computer screen, probably doesn't soothe the poor soul sitting next to me on the flight.

Ah well, see ya in Vegas!

Grey Gardens

"But you see in dealing with me, the relatives didn't know that they were dealing with a staunch character and I tell you if there's anything worse than dealing with a staunch woman... S-T-A-U-N-C-H. There's nothing worse, I'm telling you. They don't weaken, no matter what."- Little Eddie


A year ago today, I decided to drive my life across country to Alabama. That lasted a whole two months, but Meadow sure had a great trip. 

St. Christopher

Nostalgia: a heartbroken time machine to a place where we know we are loved. - Don Draper

Cold Cold Ground

We've had two huge snow storms this week, which is why I've decided to spend my weekend sleeping. So if you're looking for an exciting tale of red walls or cats blow drying their hair, you'll have to hit the backspace button. But I will leave you with a picture of when this city was much warmer, and the streets were bustling with people.

Blaze of Glory

Without my consent I was given a five-day break for the Thanksgiving holiday.  Everyone else at work was ecstatic, I on the other hand felt bullied into taking a holiday break. Wishing I could decline this vacation time and carry on with my usual daily activities, I joined the masses and high-fived a co-worker when our boss announced in the morning meeting that we would be out at noon that Wednesday before X-Giving (that's what I'm calling Thanksgiving these days).

The Wednesday before X-Giving I was home by 12:20...  what to do, what to do? What better time than now to paint my apartment! I grabbed my best friend Candice to head to the Ace Hardware with me (She used to work at a hardware store in Maine, and prides herself on navigating around those overwhelming confusing aisles)

I decided awhile back that I wanted a yellow kitchen, as we pulled out the color swatches, my eyes landed on "Firefly" yellow.  We gave the hardware guy my swatch and off he went to get my paint.  As the man in the hardware vest was in the back mixin' up the medicine' I was on the pavement thinkin' bout the government. I pulled out a vibrant red swatch and confessed "I've always wanted one single bright red wall in a house" with that information Candice admitted "ME TOO" as she began riffling through the rest of the color swatches.

Blaze of Glory was the name of the red Candice whipped out of the sea of colors. The name alone sold me, as I shouted "I'm gonna do it!" The man in the vest was back with a can of yellow paint, and a look on his face that knew his work in aisle 12 wasn't quite finished.  We sent him back (wherever it was he was mixing all this paint up) to work.

After the Ace Hardware adventure I drove Candice home and we talked about how liberating it will be to paint one single wall bright red. Coming to the conclusion there must be some psychological factor behind "the red wall theory" she wanted a full report on how it felt to finally paint that wall bright red.

Well I'm here to report it was an experience. I saved the best for last and after I was finished with the yellow kitchen I prepared the red wall with some Ani Difranco on the stereo speakers and broke out the designated paint roller. As the beige wall turned a bright red my speakers decided it wasn't Ani they needed after-all, it was Beth Orton, I obliged switching playlists.  Red symbolizing action, confidence, courage, and vitality, I began to paint one single wall with that emotionally intense color. After the first coat, I stood back and admired my new courageous wall, as my muscles began to ache with the thought of applying the second coat.  Maybe I should have saved the best for first?  Matter overtook mind, and after painting an entire kitchen, my muscles didn't care "how liberating" this experience was intended to be.  Pushing forward I finished the wall. Unable to bask in the vitality of my new living area, I hit the hay and this action seeking gal was out.... in a blaze of glory

And it was all yellow

                      Screen girl appears not to be phased by all this hype

I wonder if any of my neighbor's living rooms contain this much confidence?

Time will only tell

Flo & Her Machine.

I'm making all sorts of friends in my new apartment building.

This unique spot is an old mansion built in 1920's, broke into six different units. Having the mantra: You can't appreciate the sweet without the sour,  I was fully aware of the "perks" of living in a building from the Flapper era. When I signed my lease, landlord Dave advised me on purchasing some space heaters and flashlights. Moving in without those two purchases I quickly discovered the importance of both. Space heaters so I don't get hypothermia and flashlights to see my way through the dark, as I fumble around the scary basement in search of a circuit breaker.  I bought both the next day.

My third morning in my fabulous new apartment as I'm doing my hair for work, and all of the electricity cuts out, Dave's voice instantly runs through my head: "This building is old, so make sure not to run two major appliances at the same time" and then he proceeded with this example "Like a blowdryer and a space heater" Thinking landlord Dave must be some sort of for-shadowing wizard, I ran down to the basement on my way out the door, and switched back on the power for my unit.

I was surprised when I came home that night to a cold dark apartment.  Maybe I forgot to pass the message along to Meadow?  I know how she blow dries her hair while standing in-front of a running microwave...

Making my way down to the basement I was greeted by landlord Dave, he was down there as well, flipping all sorts of switches and dropping crazy amounts of F bombs.  I asked him if everything was okay, and it turned out someone (me) or something, again (me) turned out the power for the entire building that particular day. Being an honest person, and a horrible poker player, I showed land man Dave the switch I hit that morning.

 Yesterday was the perfect afternoon to unload the rest of my belongings from my car into my new apartment. Driving around for three weeks with half of my life in my car, is just the way I roll.  My place is slowly coming together. Owner of the land, Dave, saw I was doing laundry yesterday and stacked the washer up with quarters for me. That nice gesture led me to believe that I wasn't the first Flapper in the building to make that rookie mistake.