h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I'm looking forward to seeing your stuff once it's been made. What kinds of fabrics are you thinking of using?

All is well with me. I went to see a comedy, Loe and Taxes, last night with some friends. Though it wasn't great, there were funny bits, and times when I thought the writer had been spying on *me*! He totally understood the practice of not opening mail marked URGENT or VERY IMPORTANT when you haven't the means/don't want to deal with it (because once you open that evil mail it breathes life into it, ya know. Otherwise it'll remain dormant forever). The whole "ignore it, it'll go away" theme resonated with me, for some reason.

My garden is coming along well, the flowers are amazing and the veggies will start ripening in the next week or so. The squirrels have been stealing all the strawberries just before they're ripe enough to pick will probably make a cage for them (the strawberries, not the squirrels) on my next day off. I took some pics, will post them when I have the time.

I got some good pics of Naples last week, finally loaded some of them into Fotki. I took a cruise while there, saw dolphins (though I wasn't quick enough to get photos of them) and had a pelican posing on the end of the boat for me. I got some great shots of that fella. Naples is a cool little town, very laid-back, quite lovely, with ridiculous wealth accumulated there. So many palace-like homes on the water, and they're mostly vacation homes, only occupied about 10% of the time. That was kinda disturbing to me, when I think of all the people who are struggling to just have a roof over their heads, and then this vast luxury just sits there empty but for the servants most of the time.

Upcoming adventures include a trip to New Orleans with a friend in the next month or so, and I'm going to do a wine-tasting/moonlight kayak jaunt soon. That ought to be fun.

I haven't made any plans for Easter yet. It's snuck up on me this year, so I'll probably see if I can gather a gang for a picnic on the beach. It's warmed up now, the daylight is longer, we're tasting the first hint of summer's heat and humidity. The evenings are perfect to sit outside with my flowers and enjoy a martini and watch the sunset after work. I've been kinda lazy lately, need to get energized again and accomplish great whops of stuff. I'm finding it too easy to kick back and appreciate the moment, but need to balance that with accomplishing more. Life is pretty good

Oh, New Orleans is one place I've always wanted to visit - lucky you!

I've misplaced the link to your Fotki page - can you post it for me again so I can check out the pelican?

Meanwhile, we got all the IKEA furniture put together and it was also great for organising stuff. I now have my own little work station for the computer. Here are some photos:

First check out the old set up (check out that mess!):
http://public.fotki.com/azahar/h2g2_friends/sunny.html

And now the new one (photos 12-14):
http://public.fotki.com/azahar/stuff/bookcase.html

Doesn't it look so much NEATER??? Also, it has freed up bookshelf space for more books (which had been piling up).

As for fabrics, well, I will only work with natural fabrics - no synthetics! - so that limits me somewhat. But it is also the selling point of my things - geared for a specific market.

Are you still on that diet?

az

Naples is here http://public.fotki.com/BrittaMoG/naples_florida/

I saw your newly organized work space. What a difference! You'll accomplish great things.

I think you'll do very well with natural fabrics. There are sooooo many lovely ones out there nowadays, pricey, but that's ok. I think you'll find a great niche with your clothing. I'll not give up comfort for glamour, but it would be sooooo nice to find gorgeous, luxurious AND comfortable all in one.

That diet. *cough* I fell off the wagon for a while, disaster while I was PMSing. But now I'm back on track again. I *wish* I wasn't such a damned extremist sometimes. It's frustrating to work so diligently at something, then waste the effort with a week of falling the other way.

Now must quickly vacuum, then off to a night of Buddhism and controlled debauchery.

Gorgeous photos of Naples!

Re: the Noggin info. It took him days to get around to it - I finally had to pester him a bit and then suggested that he just send what he had written rather than leave it any longer (which is why it ended somewhat abruptly). I then suggested that he carry on with it - even just for himself - as it seemed quite a good exercise in sorting out thoughts and he agreed. So he should have more stuff written soon if you are interested.

Re: the clothing biz. I *finally* managed to find a list of suppliers who were at the last textile trade show in Madrid in February (we missed going because we were still thinking about doing the shop idea back then). So I've been busy sending out emails asking for sample fabric swatches. To be honest, until I know what fabrics are available it's a bit pointless to be working on the designs as often the fabric will dictate what it wants to be (well, in my mind anyhow). I do have quite a big file of sketches from previous endeavours to get this biz going, so plenty of stuff to work with once I know which fabrics I can use.

By the way, I loved the painting. Especially the two arms - one being held up almost in self-defense, the other swooping around both of them. Quite accurate, I'd say (if I'm getting that right). Also the two sides of the face with one eye closed and the other open. I'm not sure about the look on 'passion's' face - it looks either a bit distracted or else totally self-absorbed. What did you mean it to be?

Meanwhile, we had a great time with blicky. Here are some photos of a day trip we took to Córdoba (did I send you these ones already?):

http://public.fotki.com/azahar/crdoba/

Also a few others:

http://public.fotki.com/azahar/amigos/
(photos 1&2, 13-15 and 17)

And these:

http://public.fotki.com/azahar/sevilla/caac.html
(photos 57-63)

Still loving the totally organised new workspace. Our latest 'home improvement' plan is to buy a new bed next month! We have a standard double bed and want to invest in something much BIGGER - 180 centimetres wide(I think it's called king-size in the US?). Today we actually bought new sheets for the new bed we don't have yet - yes, a bit weird maybe (buying the sheets first) but they were on special offer, 100% cotton with nice embroidery stuff happening. Too good to pass up. And I'll put our present double bed into the flat next door which will be another good 'rental feature' for the largest bedroom there.

Also, saw a beautiful film last night on dvd - it was a from blicky. The Spanish film that won the oscar this year for best foreign film - Mar Adentro (the sea inside). A true story of a man from Galicia who lived as a quadriplegic for 26 years and fought the Spanish courts for years for his right to die. If you get a chance you should see it.

Right, off to send out more emails to suppliers now - let me know how things are going with you.

az

Just got home after a couple of strenuous days in Miami, enjoyed the photo tour you gave me. What are the star drops? Little glass prisms? You have the most gorgeous smile in every pic, az. And you're NOT fat! I loved the pic of Blicky filling the little arch. He's sooooo present in that one. You and Noggin are such a kind-looking couple.

Thanks for pestering Noggin into sending that email. It was absolutely perfect, and totally different from anything I'd have been able to come up with on my own. I asked him if it's ok for me to use most of it as text on the painting, and I want to overlay the text with Boolean equations that describe the text in irridiscent violet paint. He hasn't given me a yay or nay on that idea yet--could you pester him for an answer? If it's ok (and I totally understand if he doesn't want me to use his words)I want to get to work on it tomorrow (Sunday) after going for a sunrise chant and coffee on the beach. I'm very curious about what goes *on* in a mind like his, so if he continues with the exercise I'd love to see the results. The way it kinda faded off into the ether once he became more specific and less analytical was....hmmmm.... so appropriate. Seems as if each of you really *got* what I was trying to portray with colors, in your own ways. That's very cool! Reason's eyes were supposed to be one looking inward, kinda avoiding the external stuff, and one peeking out because he's still fascinated with All of it. I put Passion's eyes in early in the painting, was just thinking about her being in the moment and largely dealing with her emotional process, but I put his colors into her eyes, like his presence is always in the center of her emotion, but she has her own, less controlled way of working that out. If that makes any sense at all.

Keep plugging away at the Biz, az.If you do at least *something* towards achieving your goal every day you're making great progress.

Buying the sheets before the bed sounds like something I would do, too. Perfectly reasonable, my dear . I just make a bit of a change in my place, too. I've been looking for a new shower curtain , had one I just loved, white with the Japanese characters in black (happiness, health, fortune, prosperity, wisdom, etc). It was getting dingy, kinda stained and spotted with hair color and for the past year I've been searching for one I liked as well. Last night I found a sheer, shimmery white one with spangles! You know the bright-colored, heavy-foil circles layered up on each other? Total kid stuff. I couldn't believe it, wasn't going to get it as it *is* a bit over-the-top, but my friend (the one who claims I'm a drag queen trapped inside a woman's body)encouraged me, as it wasn't expensive. Then I found martini-glass shaped chrome clips to hang it from the rod, and I *had* to have them too. So the black and white bathroom is transformed, and I'm looking for a shockingly bright chartreuse bath rug and towels to complete the ambiance *snigger*. That was the last place in my apartment that wasn't screaming with vivid color, and now it has spangles! Wooooohooooo!

Finally got my hair cut. I've been wearing it either twisted and clipped up or pulled back in a barette or scarf for the past year because I looked like a cackly witch when it was down and I didn't know what I wanted to do with it, so I just let it grow. Found a new stylist, one of my Buddhist-buddies, and he was awesome! He took off about 8 inches, and it's a style that looks fab no matter whether I blow it out, let it air dry, or put curling goo in it. Super low maintenance, too, which is good because I refuse to spend more than a few minutes daily messing with my hair. People have been stopping in their tracks at first sight of the new, improved me, everyone loves it, and a bunch of people have told me I look 10 years younger. What a great feeling!

Almost spewed coffee all over my keyboard laughing at your 'drag queen trapped inside a woman's body' comment.

Noggin says it's okay to use his words but he'd like to send you a bit more 'material' this morning if you can wait a bit - just so you have more stuff to choose from. Good thing you mentioned it here as he doesn't check his email very often so he didn't know you had asked him about using the text.

I don't know if the 'stardrops' were glass or crystal or what - they were drop-shaped and the 'string' going up seemed to be an extension of the 'drop', not something attached. They were quite stunning and the photos don't really do them justice, but oh well.

So, got a photo of the 'new you'?


az

ps
thanks for the compliment, btw, though I think I look extra-hugely-fat in those photos, especially next to Mr Pokey-shoulders

My lovely plans for this morning were subverted by Gloom and Doom. Had to continue working on the editing/translating of Spanglish for a friend, and the section I worked on was all about the Christian prophesies reagrding God's punishment that'll soon smite the earth with annihilation. Made me remember *why* I turned my back on God of the Bible when I was 8 years old, and makes me wish MoG could get her hands on the lad and give him a good ass-whupping.

THE END IS NIGH! REPENT YE SINNERS! And, if not, have a , cultivate your garden, and be happy 'cause we're all gonna die anyway, and we each have an equal opportunity to make our lives beautiful while we have the chance.

I got the follow-up email, will reply once my brain works properly again (DOOM DOOM DOOM)(some Depeche Mode and Tainted Love ought to wipe that sordid beat from my soul). Meanwhile, I *still* think the first installment was the essence, so I'm off to paint now.

Many, many thanks to both of you for your inspiration in this thing!

Because I have finally started riding it! As well as doing arm work with small weights. It's a start . . .

Now, what about the D word? eh? eh?


az

I'm so glad you've started, az! Isn't it a great feeling to actually *do* something you've been meaning to, especially when you *know* it's to get something you want. Are you feeling svelter yet?

I just read through the whooooole backlog on 'the Pope ain't dead yet' thread while I did my manicure. wowza. Must admit, I finally got a 'feeling' for why y'all persist in pointing out consistently, blatantly stupid and erroneous thinking in some quarters. Some of the tripe in there got *me* hot under the collar, and that doesn't happen too often nowadays.

Finally finished sorting the paperwork for my taxes. This year I totally ignored it all til the bitter end (must be filed on Friday) because I'm soooo pissed at the abuse of tax dollars, and the disgusting uses the current regime is prioritizing chopping away at the valuable stuff for. *sigh* Tonight I'll find out exactly how much I owe the barstids. Naturally, I've never *liked* paying taxes, but I've always felt that at least *some* good comes from it. Now I feel almost guilty for being willing to pay, when so much of everything is going towards making the world a more brutal place. Hope my head doesn't quite explode when I learn my share, because every dollar I send 'em is going to feel like I'm buying another bullet to put in somebody's heart.

The painting is almost finished now. Could have completed it today, but I was grumpy and out-of-sorts between taxes and being still pissed off at God. That makes sense, doesn't it? I did the bare minimum of necessary things and spent the rest of the day reading. Even the weather is grumpy--windy, semi-overcast with a weird, thin light, and the air smells like fresh-poured asphalt. Tomorrow will be a finer day.

Let's be happy and celebrate the re-opening of the B section of the alphabet for a while, and move very gently and cautiously forward sometime in the nebulous future.

Nah, not feeling any svelter yet, but it does feel good to have made a start. Am also practicing Pilates posture when I'm walking around in the streets - amazing how maintaining the posture and breathing whilst walking turns it into a 'workout' in itself.

Re: 'the Pope ain't dead yet' thread - glad you finally got it. I don't actually get angry, though I do feel a need to point out the obvious inconsistancies, outright nonsense posted as fact, and whatnot.

Instead of getting hot under the collar I prefer to remember the immortal words of Ivana - don't get mad, dahling, get even!

<>

Tough place to be in, isn't it? Meanwhile, probably better to think of your tax dollars going into social improvement plans and stuff like that. Do these exist?

<>

Understand the first bit, not the other - pissed off at God? I don't have a personal god concept, per se, and I'm not sure what yours is. Hence my confusion.

C part of the alphabet - I quite like the word c**t.

Now let's move on to the letter D, shall we?

az

You know, I was just thinking of you when I popped into h2 and there you were, Just Now at the top of my conversations. Bon jour!

My head didn't *quite* explode, though it pulsated alarmingly. Of course, there are social programs that are being supported by taxes. I've no problem with helping to fund education, ecological sanity, healthcare, culture, etc. If I knew *my* money was going for things that help people help themselves to make a more productive and peaceful life I wouldn't mind paying more than I do. However, the Bush administration is withdrawing funding from those realms, even making things more difficult for the soldiers (a number of them are falling into bankruptcy while in Iraq, losing everything they have at home, and then there isn't the funding to get the disabled ones properly cared for when they return), in order to dump more and more into war mongering and the pockets of the filthy rich who have a vested interest in depleting the world's resources to maintain their own status quo.

Pissed at God was about the essay I was helping to edit/translate, specifically the Christian prophesies of God's impending punishment, and the Bush administration's consistent refusal to even *try* to make changes that might lead towards a better balance and sustainable world. I actually believe that the chimp has looked the Rapture in the eye and said "bring it on". That's the only way his policies make any sense at all to me. I'm already so pissed at him and the religious idiots who support him I can't think straight, so I've directed the overflow into being pissed at a God I have no reason to believe exists, and a religious system that perpetrates the madness.

*splatter* POP *splatter*



And I haven't even finished my coffee yet, just realized that I have *two* lit ciggies burning in my ashtray as I furiously type away. Not good.

Now, fluffier subjects.
What kinda colors are you thinking of working with in your designs? Do you prefer bright or subtle? Do you like patterns, stripes, dots, plaids, florals, etc., or will you stick with solids? What about the details? Buttons? Zippers? Drawstrings? Fancy piping?

Have you and your Heart's Desire reached a state of balance now you've had some time to adjust to each other?

I haven't actually met anyone through the personals ad, though I've had a number of inquiries. So far it's been pretty obvious after a few emails or phone calls that we're not really interested in the same things, or aren't compatible communicators. Meanwhile, I've been very slowly and steadily working myself towards being in shape, look better and feel better about myself.

Now, after bopping around doing morning stuff interspersed with an hour of typing, I'll finally post.

Oh, THAT God. Ick.

<>

This seems to be the case. W*nker.

God apparently told him to bomb Iraq - during the little têt-a-têts those two seem to have going. The man is totally nuts in the head.

As for 'fluffy'. I think I will start off with white and natural coloured materials. This is an economic consideration - working with lots of colours and patterns would require minimum orders of each for production. So sticking with basic colours for the moment seems the most prudent way to go.

Buttons will be expensive as I will only use mother-of-pearl, wooden or ceramic buttons (the whole marketing aspect of my stuff is that everything is all-natural). No zippers so far. A bit of drawstring and elastic for waistbands. As well as buttons.

<>

We adjust to each other every day. But lots of balance is now there - really lots. We are best friends, we trust each other, we love each other, we really enjoy each other - and we are working on building a life together. Still working on communication balance (not enough on his part, perhaps too much on my part?). But it's always interesting.

Re: the personal ads. Do you think you might be being a bit too demanding before actually meeting people? Sometimes it takes a bit of time, as I know you know. Some people might express themselves better in person than in an email or a phone call. Might be worth trying it out.

You smoke? I don't think I knew that.

az

'inner ubermensch' totally cracked me up!

az

That cracked me up, too! He sure did manage to gracefully weasel(??) weasle(??) out of giving a proper answer to my question.

I had a feeling that things would go into balance between y'all, and I'm very pleased to learn that my omniscience device was working correctly. Seriously, though, I'm very glad to hear that you're both happy. You deserve it!

Re: personal ad. Demanding? Moi????? Whatever gives you *that* idea? *snort* I know. However, I don't think I'm making a mistake in drawing the line at people who are soooooo fixated on getting a photo before even indulging in conversation that it's their entire topic of concern, or who are kinda immediately combative (had one guy give me all kinds of shit because I practice Buddhism, but eat meat, drink , and smoke, and am not 'totally free of vices' as he claimed he was. NEXXXXXXT! I've been pretty busy lately, haven't really been focusing much on pursuing the dating thing, but now I'm about ready to just go with the flow, within reasonable limits. I guess I was hoping to make contact with someone who would 'shine through' kinda brilliantly, as the *reason* I took this route was to escape the tedium of random meetings in bars. A funny side effect of me opening myself to new people has been that I've added three new and true friends to my small and shining (much appreciated) entourage, meanwhile. So a goodly portion of what I set out to accomplish has occurred, though I'm just as far from (or as close to, depending on how you look at it) smut and overwhelming passion as I was a couple of months ago.

Yeah, I smoke. It's the dark spot of my existence, one of those things that constantly reminds me of the humanity in others when they persist in doing something that they *know* is self-destructive, stupid, etc. Because I *know*, I quit for a while, feel very empowered, and then I take it up again, with all my *knowing*. It's similar to, but (in my mind) much worse than being overweight. I sppout the virtues of self-control, I *believe* in them, and I've learned to apply them in sooooo many ways, and still this simple, stupid thing, this thing which is merely a matter of *not* doing, is my master. If I were told I could change *one* thing about myself, smoking would be it. No hesitation.

I want to see some of your designs, az. Haven't you made things for yourself that are at least similar to the things you want to produce? I *know* you have a digital camera, so no hiding if you have some stuff lurking in your closet.

I'm very relaxed right now, taxes are done except for the mailing (will wait til near deadline tomorrow at midnight, just to be ornery) and God and Bush can take a flying leap. I've decanted a bottle of decent wine, the weather is lovely again, and All is well in this best of all possible worlds.

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I think it's quite natural to be curious about what someone looks like. But yeah, if they won't even chat unless they see your photo first, that's pretty stupid.

<>

Yeah, me too. But you're right - I do have some old samples lurking in the spare closet. I also had a set of photos taken many years ago when I did my first nightwear line but don't know where they have got to. If I can find them I'll scan and email them to you.

Meanwhile, I got two phone calls from suppliers this week and so should have some fabric swatches soon. The rep I spoke to yesterday says he has about four or five lines from Italy and we talked a bit about my styles so he would know what to choose to send me. When he asked if I'd be interested in seeing a linen-silk blend I almost started to !

The great part is that to order sample materials there is no deadline and no minimum orders (on most things). This is a relief as I am about a month behind. Well, not really. Though next year I will have to have my 2007 spring sample material sorted by February as - fingers crossed! - I will also be dealing with the last season's production, so time will be tighter. I'm only going to do two seasons - spring/summer and autumn/winter. And as you always have to work a year ahead for each season they tend to overlap in terms of when one starts and one finishes. But as this is my first season I have more time to get samples made and all that.

<>

I think I know what you mean. My 'twin vices' - smoking and drinking (don't do one without the other) - feel like that to me. Thing is, I only smoke when I'm drinking, which is a good(ish) thing as I never, for example, get up first thing in the morning and have a cig with my coffee (like Noggin does). Meanwhile, when I do smoke I smoke TONS. But I also have days when I don't feel like smoking at all and never have any withdrawal symptoms. Weird.

I think the 'vice thing' is directly related to how I am feeling about myself at any given time. When I am feeling full of energy and am happily busy with stuff I don't do either. And I don't miss it at all. At these times I can have a nice glass of with a meal (just the one) and not even think about smoking. But when I am feeling bored or stressed (or both) I go into smoking-and-drinking mode. Which to me feels like an avoidance tactic.

Anyhoodle, I've done okay this week with the bike and weights stuff - not yet an 'every day' routine, but almost every day, which I think is reasonable for starting off. Also, I was on semi-holidays this past week, which doesn't help me in the ol' self-discipline department, if you know what I mean. Next week I'll be back to work and so there will be a bit more structure to my days.

I'm also working on changing my daily diet here and there. Not that I ever atually over-eat, just changing some of the things I eat. Which along with the daily exercise should make a difference. This is a bit challenging when you live with someone else - especially such a skinny guy like Noggin! Today when we were out shopping we bought a bunch of 'snacky-type' foods that he can have between meals because we have realised that unless I make food then he doesn't bother to eat (and I can sometimes go for very long stretches without eating). But with the snacky stuff in the fridge he can help himself to a snack during the day and then we can still share meals together.

Other news - we finally ordered the new bed yesterday - 180cm! which we should have in the next week or so. Yay!

Other good news - an American family has said they want to book my extra flat from July-September, which is such a relief! It also looks like I will have the much-needed extra tenant for next door (May-June) - lovely Italian guy I met last week. Of course I won't totally relax until I have the deposit money in my hot little hand. But it all looks very promising.

Oh goodness, I seem to be rambling.

Shutting up now . . .

az

Sounds like everything has been moving along brilliantly on your end. Have you gotten the swatches and the bed yet? Still biking your butt off?

I'm doing the happy dance right now. My brother *finally* had the custody hearing, after months and months of cancellations and game playing on the part of his soon-to-be-ex. He was resigned to going through a lengthy and expensive psychiatric evaluation period as his wife has consistently refused any settlement which hasn't given primary custody to her. The judge told her today in open court that she obviously has a terrible problem with alcohol (the breathalyzer on her car continues to show numerous incidents of start-up attempts with alcohol levels which exceed the legal driving limit, even quite early in the day )and that he can't imagine *anything* which would prompt him to allow her custody in the forseeable future. At that point she gave up. Hopefully the divorce will come through quickly now. They've been legally seperated for almost a year and 1/2, now it's just a matter of coming to agreement regarding what's left of their property after the legal fees have taken their chunk. My brother has already made an extremely generous offer which is waaaay more beneficial to her than anything that would likely result from a jury hearing, so hopefully this'll be over soon and he and my nepphie can move on with their lives. The very sad part of it is that his wife is degenerating horribly. He said she's gone from the drawn, kinda skeletal look alcoholics get from not eating into the puffy, pasty stage. I have a deep, and very sad feeling that she'll not survive much longer, especially as the last thing she really cared about (because she truly does, though it hasn't been enough to drive her to get help and regain her life) is withdrawn from her. I hope her family will be staying with her, because I have a feeling that she's kinda given up on all of it now. It's bizarre to have such opposed feelings about this event.

Other matters:
I'll be following your encouragement to actually meet someone from Yahoo, though after several phone conversations, I suspect he's basically one of the living dead. I *could* be surprised, though I'm more curious at this point to see how closely my pre-conceived notions correspond to the real article. I must admit, I'm catching myself being extremely analytical where it might not be appropriate. However, my 'feelings' about people are generally right on target, though I haven't always payed as much attention to what's prompting those feelings as I am now.

Time for me to clean the apartment, edit some photos and hopefully finish that painting today. The text from Noggin balanced the painting almost to perfection, so it's just very minor detail work now. I have something starting in my mind for the next one, am not quite sure whether I want to go with it. At the moment I'm thinking it'll be something very dark, and related to what's been going on with my sister-in-law, and I don't know if I want to paint that torment and despair I feel overwhelming her.

Woooooohooooo!
The painting is complete. I sent it(big file) in email. Must go in and shut it down now as it continues to lie and tell me the file wasn't sent, meanwhile subversively sending and sending and sending til it's like Mickey Mouse doing the Sorcerer's Apprentice in Fantasia. Remember that one? The brooms carrying buckets of water?

Let me know if it didn't arrive, ok?

It arrived three times!

Loved it. And you were right - the text really balances it all out.

So what't next?


az

*cringe*
Sorry about the surplus.

I framed it today, was planning to buy an inexpensive silver frame but they only had gold, so I painted over the gold with a translucent mix of silver and that irridiscent violet paint. Came out perfect, much better than silver would have been. I'll have to customize all my frames like that from now on.

I'm not sure what's next. I don't want to do the dark painting, so maybe I'll make something light and happy for my brother. He asked me to do one for him over a year ago, haven't had the right inspiration. I think I'm probably taking it too seriously and ought to just go for it.

I did a little flower safari the other evening, rode my bike through the neighborhood with the camera and shot fleurs. Everything is blooming right now, so along with looking at the lovelies, it was a scentsual overload. Ahhhhhhh I put some of them in the Flora folder, if you want to take a peek. http://public.fotki.com/BrittaMoG/

*poke* I still haven't seen any of those designs you have hidden away. *poke*

Did you meditate today?

Az, I'm going to indulge in a rantlet of disappointment, whine in your ear, so to speak, so I get it out and can be done with it.


You know how I've been looking forward to going to New Orleans and to visit my brother? Have been *trying* to plan this thing for close to 2 months now? Well, the friend I wanted to go with *still* hasn't been able to ascertain whether or not he'll have time off, so I told my agent to just leave an 8 day period unbooked for me. Figured that if I went alone it was no big deal, would just spend a bit more time with my bro and nepphie, less time gallivanting and whooping it up in N.O. No prob. Figured I'd rent a car, do the slow mosey, take lots of pics on the drive, and if my friend could make it, cool, if not also cool.

So tonight, after 2 solid months of checking airline prices, just in case it went down to reasonable, it did! Finally! And they have cheap flights during my time period. So I called my brother just now, (he's pretty wrecked, lots of politics going on with the situation I told you about) and it turns out that that would be a really inconvenient time for me to visit, and my nepphie is supposed to be with his mother, anyway. So, another time. Disappointed, not mad at anyone, you know. Just the fickle finger of fate *poking* me. HUMPH! That's what I get for trying to make plans like normal people do.

Anyway, thanks for that! Just typing it to you got me to thinking about how I'll use it as an advantage. *whir* *whir* *creak* *whir* (sound of my brain turning over)

And, guess what! I can obviously still go on a trip, and the weather will still be coolish enough for camping, so I can keep it well within budget. Yay! That'll be an awesome aura-fluffer before 3 consecutive months working in Bal Harbour (tough place to work, because it's soooooo dead during the off season.) Maybe I'll spend a few days in St. Augustine, then spend a few more days at the falls and caverns in north Florida, which I didn't get to do last fall due to hurricanes. *That* would be cool!

Or maybe I'll do something completely different, ya never know.

Off to research abounding options now.

Thanks!