I Got An Ephiphane For Christmas!

I had a camera bag on my Christmas wish list but it wasn’t this one. I bought this one for myself. I placed an order right after Christmas and it arrived a couple of weeks ago.

And I’m smittened. I don’t think I loved anything this much since we got our puppy six years ago.

It’s puppy love.

I am not an accessory person. I don’t have a bag to match every outfit I have but I love this bag.

It’s already not only well loved but well used. I carry my camera of course but I also carry my long lens and my charger and the accessories I need for a quick photo. It’s padded inside with felt separators. My camera sits in the middle part.

I love the little tag that came with it.

The details are beautiful and I love the leather. It’s soft, soft, soft.

You know what? I’ve had at least three men compliment me on my bag. Really. Men! And the bag is a very girly teal color so I was surprised at the compliments. I was tired of the masculine black camera bags and backpacks that are out there. This not only pretty, it’s well made, practical and extremely attractive if I do say so myself.

Along with my camera and its accessories, I carry my wallet and other neccessities, like my lipstick. My friend Danny gave me this tag for Christmas one year and it compliments the bag beautifullly.

If you are not already aware, Ephiphanie bags is having a giveaway on their site and they are giving away a bag on Shutter Sisters. I’m not ashamed to say that I want another one…the brown one. If you were to place your order now, I promise you won’t regret it.

Go there now!!  http://www.haveanepiphanie.com/home/2010/2/28/epiphanie-give-away.html

Wait Five Minutes….

If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes and it will change.

Yesterday was a total white out. Today is sunny and beautiful. The only proof of two blizzards in one week is three feet of snow outside and telecommunting because I can’t get to work.

As long as I remember, men would sit on their front porches and talk about the weather. “Yup, think it’ll rain today Vern?” And then they would spit out their chewing tabaca.

The difference between this blizzard and the last two blizzards this winter is that the husband is home! As such, I feel compelled to stay inside and have him direct snow removal operations.

Even the weather is politicized. How ironic that we live near Washington DC where there is record snow. I mean, I’m livin’ in history right now. This winter is on record as the snowiest ever recorded in Baltimore/DC. One inch of snow will paralyze the city, 65 inches over two weeks has effectively shut the government down. I would know, none of the government workers in my neighborhood have been to work all week.

And Washington DC is where the heart of the climate change debate rages on.

I know there are attempts being made to re-name this phenomena so that it actually fits the climate model. If it’s sunny, both sides use that as proof that their position is right. If it blizzards then that’s used to dispute the opposite side of the debate.

I think the worse thing about this weather debate is that it has successfully reduced the status of scientists to the level of lawyers and politicians. People use to respect the scientific community and what they postulate. But they – the scientists - have let themselves be seduced by power and potential economic largesse by attempting to define the political debate.

It’s unseemly, it’s low, it’s icky. It makes them look silly. It drives me bonkers.

Anyway, I don’t know what to believe. I guess I would say this: the weather always changes, even before the Industrial Revolution. We’ve only been monitoring the weather for a short time compared to the age of the earth. I guess if the climate didn’t change, we would still be in an ice age? Or maybe we wouldn’t have seven continents? Would Death Valley still be part of the ocean? Would Hawaii even exist if the climate there didn’t change?

I guess one man’s climate change is another man’s winter, spring, summer and fall.

You say potato, I say potato…

Here are my kids trying to get the ice off of the heat pump with the girl’s pink hair dryer yesterday.

It’s not like it used to be when I was a kid. I remember it snowing all the time! How ironic that I lived in Thailand, Jamaica and Algeria for most of my childhood…didn’t snow in those places. What I remember was the couple of years in upstate New York and in Pennsylvania. The husband says the same thing, but he’s from Indiana, where it snowed all the time. I know what my kids will say when they become adults.

“I remember it snowed all the time when I was a kid. Not like now.” Yah.

There’s the neighbor kids blowing our driveway because they say they are bored. Don’t worry, we gave them some money.

See that lump in the snow? That’s our pool. Or what’s left of the pool cover.

The kids will be out of school for the rest of the week because of the snow. The last two weeks, they have been in school 1.5 days. They are both thrilled and bored at the same time.

It’s tough being a kid. Who knows if we’ll even have winter when they are adults. They better enjoy it now.

Drumroll Please…

I’d like to apologize for this late giveaway winner announcement. There were circumstances that were not under my control.

So without further ado…the party shoe that I bought? Number 4. The others were beautiful but my no fun, pragmatic side took over. And the people who mentioned number 4 (Margie, Maureen and Ann) in their comments were entered into a drawing and the winner is…Ann. Congratulations Ann. I hope you like your ornament.

Let me just also editorialize, that it’s slightly disturbing how well my boss knows me. One day I’m going to shock everyone. Just wait and see.

I don’t have photos of the party because I didn’t go to the party. The only thing that would keep me from going to a party for which I had bought shoes for is not the blizzard of the decade and it’s not the fact that my date was stuck in Texas and couldn’t make it home because of that blizzard, it’s because I was slightly ill. Ill enough to go to the hospital.

But I’s al rite now. Ain’t nothin’.

I love this photo. I took it while at the hospital of the husband. There were a lot of other sick people there so I was put in the hallway. His expression says, “You sure know how to cause drama during the holidays don’t you?”

So the blizzard and my little hospital visit have put me slightly behind – alright – very behind in my Christmas preparations. But I in spite of the fact that this phrase is way over used, I’ll say it anyway.

“It is what it is.”

Two days left. But who’s counting? Merry Christmas!

Please Help Me Choose A Party Shoe & Giveaway

You may not believe this, but I don’t shop at brick and mortar stores very often.

1) Blue sequined 5 inch heels. Great with jeans don’t you think? Love the bow.

 

It’s a drive to get to the mall and my days are taken up with driving to other places, like the grocery store and equestrian meets.

2) These are more classic but quite blingy. There’s a gold and silver pattern on them.

And at times when I do go…it’s rush, rush and rush some more.

3) What do you think of this purple princess?  Holy cow they were high.

Ahhhh…my poor aching feet thank me.

4) This one has little glittery sequins. I love it.

I did stop at a store this week to try on some shoes to wear to a Christmas party this weekend.

5) Look at this one! Va va va voom! Red hot for Christmas.

I’m wearing a little black dress with some slight ornamentation on the neck. I’m also wearing a black cashmere sweater over it. It’s one that I’ve worn many many time before. But it’s warm.

6) I wonder what animal died for this shoe?

And you know what? The same dress that I’m wearing for the party will be worn to go to church on Christmas Eve.

7) I love these shoes…love them. There are little sparkles on the shoes. It’s the silver twin to number 1.

Okay, tell me, which one will I wear? Hmmmm? Sorry about the pedicure job. I’ll redo the toes before the party! The right guesses will be entered to win a 2008 White House Christmas ornament. I don’t have a photo of it, but it’s cute!

My last giveaway was up for a total of 24 hours. I’ll leave this one up a little bit longer. Until 9 pm Monday night. Or thereabouts…

And I’ve said it many times before, thank you for coming by. It just cheers me up and makes my day to read your comments.

Merry Christmas! And what are you wearing to your Christmas party this weekend?

White House Christmas Ornament & Congratulations Margie

Oh what a day it’s been! Won’t go into detail now but it had something to do with the sister, wrestling, shaving and birthday presents left on a school bus. We just got home - literally - and the girl had to do her homework so I had to wait a few minutes before I could post this. And please forgive me, but I just took these photos about two minutes ago.

But I won’t bore you.

Congratulations Margie! You made the right guess as to which photo I should enter into the iHeartfaces contest this week. You have won a beautiful, I mean beautiful 2009 White House Christmas ornaments. I’ve been collecting these for a while and I love them. We live not too far from Washington DC and if you have never visited this town, you should. It will make you a patriot and proud to be an American.

Here’s the back of the ornament.

So Margie, I love that you have a sister that blogs with you. And I love your photos, they are full of emotion. And I love that you come and visit.

As I do for all of you who come here. It means so much to me. I started this blog just to post photos and document my life digitally. It’s an outlet for my creativity and it’s turned out to be so much more. Thank you so much for coming and leaving comments and making this so much fun.

I have an ornament from last year to giveaway this week. All you have to do is tell me which shoe I should buy. I can’t make up my mind. What else is new?

But right now…I’m going to bed. Margie, please pass me your snail mail address. I just love your site!

Please Help Me Choose A Pet Photo & Giveaway

Here I go again.

I am an indecisive, vacillating , wishy-washy individual, except when I have to choose a husband. Wait…I was wishy washy then too. (But it had nothing to do with the husband.) Anyway…

Help me choose a pet for this week’s iHeartfaces contest if you don’t mind…for if you do…I have a little something for you at the end of the post.

1) The irrepressible Tuk Tuk. Gosh he’s cute. And mischievious. And so is the girl.

This is my favorite…but keep looking okay?

2) Tucker in my boss’s office. She hasn’t said anything to me about it yet by the way.

This one is a favorite because of the color.

3) My girl with Limerick…I wasn’t helping her at all.

It’s my favorite tacking picture.

4) And here’s Limerick’s eye lashes. I love this photo as you can tell.

It’s my favorite black and white of a horse.

5) And here’s Pete, who I can learn to like if he wins me the coveted top ten position.

It’s my favorite picture of Pete.

6) Dr. Tortoise from the farm…every winter he disappears. He must go to the beach.

She’s my favorite turtle.

7) The cat after he’s munched a bluebird or two. He only wishes…

My favorite so far.

Here’s Boone! It’s my other favorite.

I love animals. Can you tell?

I have more…but I’ll stop here..

Let me know which one is your favorite! The one with the most votes will go in. And it doesn’t have to be my favorite one either.

If you vote for the photo I choose, I have a little giveaway for you. It’s to thank you for coming by. And it’s the Christmas season! So let me know in the comments which one you think I should enter. See you tomorrow…

The Gift of Fear

I took this photo yesterday in the Baltimore Airport. It’s the inside of the stall of the ladies room. Hold on Nellie…I have a point.

Years ago, I was watching the Oprah Show and I saw an security and safety expert. He said that thieves can steal a woman’s purse if she hangs it up on the hook of the door in the ladies room. You are sitting down doing your thing when…bam…the next thing you know someone reaches over the door and grabs your purse. You of course can’t do anything about it since you are in a state of undress.

So I never hang my purse on the hook except if the hook is away from the door or lower on the door. It’s just me.

That’s my laptop bag by the way.

So on the trip down here to Florida, I sat next to a gentleman who wanted to engage me in conversation. I normally comply but this person gave me the heebeejeebees. He may be a nice guy in “real” life, but I was very uncomfortable. My answers were short and tried to not encourage him but he just kept trying to speak to me so I finally crossed my arms, leaned over toward the girl’s seat and closed my eyes. He took the hint.

It reminds me of a book that read years ago called the Gift of Fear by Gavin DeBecker.

In it, Mr. DeBecker says to always trust your instincts…he says most women try to be nice and not hurt people’s feelings so they ignore their instincts in order not to appear rude.

I always think of that now…especially in situations like this.

You should read it. I’m in Florida or I would take a photo of my own copy of  the book. It’s tattered and well read.

Oh and welcome to Tampa.

I’m waiting for my plane to go home as we speak.

September 16, Sonata no. 12

Choosing the Funeral March for today’s offering is not a commentary on the state of my consciousness today. But then again…

Hear Ye, Hear Ye, Candle Giveaway

The very sweet and very nautical Maya over at Completely Coastal (one of my favorite sites by the way) is giving away a black & light candle. I’m probably doing you a disservice by writing this since the giveaway ends this evening but hey, I’ve been gone all day.

Fall is around the corner and whenever there is a tinge of coolness in the air, like today…and yesterday…and the day before, I start to want to hang wreathes and burn candles. It happens every time. I’m starting to nest…I am.

So I immediately went to the black & light candle site and fell in love with their whimsical candles. I love this lobster candle by the way, though I know they’re not for everyone. So visit Maya and tell her which one you like! You may just win it!

ʎɐpıɹɟ ɐɥolɐ ʎʞɐǝɹɟ oʇ ǝɯoɔlǝʍ

“¿puǝʞǝǝʍ sıɥʇ unɟ ɹoɟ ƃuıop noʎ ǝɹɐ ʇɐɥʍ”

˙sıɥʇ sı uoıʇsǝnb ʎɐpıɹɟ ɐɥolɐ ʎɯ

˙˙˙ǝɹns ɹoɟ ʎɐpıɹɟ ʎʞɐǝɹɟ s,ʇı

˙ʇxǝʇ ɹnoʎ dılɟ oʇ ʞuıl looɔ sıɥʇ ǝɯ ʇuǝs ǝʞıɯ puǝıɹɟ ʎɯ ‘ǝɹǝɥʇ ʎǝɥ

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If you can read my question above, you can answer it for Aloha Friday!

Have a great weekend y’all.

Oh, and if you want to flip your text and freak out your friends, go here.

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