44: Magic

44

Photo now… words later.

Friday 28 February 2014: An Update

So, I’ve had this post open all week on my laptop. And I’ve meant to update it. It’s just been one of those weeks. It’s 8 pm on Friday night, I’m finally off of work for the week — though I have a ton of church stuff to do tomorrow. But it’s time for wine and a piece of my birthday cake (See’s candy IZ buys me each year!) — so why not a bit of review too?

Monday was my birthday and I actually took the entire day off. Scripts arrived for March’s 4th Sunday service: I spent all of 2 minutes looking at them and then put them DOWN.

Folks, that’s amazing for me. Typically, I can’t help myself. I just launch in, and 4 hours later I look up and realize I worked on my day off.

IZ took me out to coffee… twice. Including a nice drive to Cannon Beach to our favorite coffee place and absolutely NO work talk. Instead, I talked about my budgies and my unearthly love of those birds. New Bird was a birthday gift last year, so he’s 1 year old! And of course that warranted a conversation. IZ has started calling me the “crazy bird lady”. Um, kinda.

I baked pizza, hung out with my men, did NOTHING all day. I think there was a trip to Goodwill. It was a lovely way to decompress–especially since the day before was a 4th Sunday service — and those are so much work.

But, taking Monday off means RUNNING all week. And that’s what I’ve done. I don’t think I’ve posted anything anywhere in days. No tweeting, no Facebook status reports, I don’t even think I’ve looked at this blog or Mireio.

toddlerskirt1

 

Somehow, during this week I did manage to make this little toddler skirt for Barbara Kellie.

toddlerskirt2Reversible! Don’t even ask me how. I didn’t have a pattern and I can’t even account for the time I spent doing it. I think it was Tuesday?

It’s made from a shirt I found at Goodwill on Monday: challis. OMG I hate sewing with challis. Never doing that again. I pulled so many stitches I could have made this over twice. But I think it turned out OK. I made it so the black skirt functions as a petticoat for the pink skirt. Remarkably, that worked.

Which means I won’t be able to recreate it. One offs are good, right?

And then there is this:

sophieaircompressor

 

That would be Sophie, sunbathing beneath the line of an air-compressor. After  two point something years of living in a disaster area: the house is finished. And by “finished” I mean, I now have no excuse to not paint. All the doorways are framed. Everything that should have been trimmed, caulked, or finished … is. Can I get a Hallelujah?  Of course, having a construction person in the house all week was not without a moment of tears.

The entire process puts me back to the hell-hole that was fall of 2011. It’s a mild form of PTSD: (not to make light of that for folks who suffer!) I’m completely skeptical of anyone who dons a tool belt for a living. And somewhere along the line “make it work” started meaning “let’s half-ass” this. Folks, I’m spinning too many plates. Lots of them drop, but not because I’m half-assing anything. But because I’m giving my all to other plates. It makes me nutty.

But it’s done. I should focus on that.

Seriously.

Done.

Someone needs to paint this house now. I’m going to drink another glass of wine and consider telling you about my theme for the year.

Or just drink another glass of wine. See you… soon?  (Oh, and I’m 44. That number is MAGIC. The fact my house is done… PROOF.)

Doubly Blessed

I woke up to these  two sweet faces wishing me a Happy Birthday. My adorable (great) nephew’s grandmother made me a digital card with their photo in it. And of course I’m printing it out and hanging it in the studio for inspiration. It will be a wonder if Mireio doesn’t do a baby line eventually.

The Face of 42

Unvarnished

Finally. I’ve been lying about my age since my early 30’s. People would ask and I would reply, “Oh, I’m 42.”  Lying up works, friends. It typically took a few minutes before people would realize that I was exaggerating. Some actually believed the ruse: “You look amazing for 42.” Yes, yes I did.

But all my fibbing has finally caught up to me. 42.  This is me today. Basically unvarnished, save for a touch of mascara. I especially love the state of my hair in this photo, because those flyaways are with me always. This is how I really look. I’m rocking the thrift store plaid and yes, that’s cleavage. (the only upside to being 30 odd lbs over weight). Glamourous? No. Sexy? Hells yeah. I feel sexy because I’m discovering that sexy is a state of mind. I’m choosing it. (I think you should choose it too, because you can, you know!)

Here’s the thing, I’m not without faults. I do want to drop some lbs. I did it last year and then was undone by my grief over this house. So, I’d like to reclaim that victory. My skin isn’t what it used to be, but that’s just a really good excuse to splurge on moisturizer and pamper myself more.  And let’s face it, I creak when I walk and I have a closet full of pretty shoes I’ll never wear again. However, other than the usual complaints (Um, what, food allergies?!?) I’m happy with me. Comfortable in my own skin.  The stuff I need to work on is just that, not the definition of who I am. And certainly not the only description of me!

So, if you ask me how old I am, I’ll own up to it today. I’m 42. Which seems like a perfect number.

Where IZ Renders Me Speechless

Me: What’s that box?

IZ: Your birthday present. The question is, when should I let you open it.

Me: Now now now!

IZ: Really? I just don’t want you to be disappointed when your birthday comes and there’s nothing else.

Me: I won’t be, I promise. Besides, I know what’s in it.

IZ: How do you know?

Me: I just do.

Me: I’ll prove it. I’ll write what I think it is on a piece of paper. On this napkin, see. And you can look at it after I open the box.

IZ: You’re jumping around like a little kid. Ok. Open the box.

(more…)