A sniff in Sephora

I was trying on lipsticks at Sephora and trying to find a nice, sheer neutral pinky lipstick and the saleswoman suggested this fancy Dior lipstick. When she handed me the lipstick I got a big whiff of the smell of expensive lipstick. It smelled exactly like the way my Mom used to smell when she got ready for fancy events and I watched her get ready, sitting cross-legged on the brown shag carpet in her walk-in closet with gold wallpaper. I didn't buy the lipstick (it was $24) but now I know where to find my mom's mid-80's smell.

Gratitude

Today I am grateful for: being a grown-up, air-conditioning in my car, living close to where I work, going to the gym in the am, dental insurance, being able to be flexible, shoes I liked so much I bought four pairs, sushi, and being surprised by a slice of red velvet cake (never had it before and it was goood!).

Ladies who brunch

Had a lovely afternoon with a dozen women who came over to my house for a potluck brunch - great company, yummy homemade (and Whole Foods) delights, and when it was over I took a nap (sleep schedule still off from getting up so early yesterday it was the middle of the night) then hung out with My Heart's Desire, read the paper, and finished Wolf at the Table, which I really did not like (got it from library but would have been bummed if I had paid for it).

Saturday

Got up really, really early, picked up friend, went to spiritual meeting, had breakfast with a dozen nice people, dropped off friend, got manicure/pedicure/eyebrow wax (I'm a girl!), picked up supplies for tomorrow's brunch at supermarket, dropped off groceries at home, packed cooler of drinks, went to park, watched My Heart's Desire play softball and gave him ice-cold drinks, came home, watched My Name is Earl, took humongous and well-deserved nap, drove to Arlington with My Heart's Desire to feed his former roommate's cat, had amazing dinner at Edy's Chicken & Steak, a cash-only chicken place that is always busy, came home, prepared for brunch, finished Earl, read half of Augusten Burrow's A Wolf at the Table (disappointed so far), then went to bed - Good Night!

Writing Group and Reading

Met with writing group for Greek salad and soft shell crab pizza, they liked my personal essay (which felt like opening a vein when I was writing it); then we joined the crowd to Politics and Prose to hear member Alex MacLennan read his story from Stress City along with other contributors, including our former teacher Richard McCann.

Vacation Envy

I am suffering from wanderlust yet cannot afford to travel now.

So much time, so little to do (strike that, reverse it)

How do you know how much is right?

Gratitude

Today I am grateful for: three days in a row at Gold's, sharing my favorite dinner with a friend at Thai Chef, Lars and the Real Girl, connecting with old friends, my Treo, being able to go with the flow, anniversaries, Rock Creek Park, classes at the Writer's Center, and watching My Name is Earl with My Heart's Desire.

T minus 2 weeks

My birthday blues are coming a little bit early this year :(

Online Craft Sale

I can't stop buying things on Etsy! Including this a card of this siren print that I framed and hung up, two awesome beaded necklaces, my BFF's birthday present, and these Keep Calm and Carry On postcards.

Breakfast pour deux

This morning My Heart's Desire and I made breakfast together - scrambled eggs with cheddar and chives from our garden, hash browns, bacon, and cherries - and ate at the table, listening to Blues and reading the paper, a lovely leisurely meal.

Malaise

Must one suffer from it or is possible just to experience it?

Pioneers

My Heart’s Desire and I have only lived in our rental house since last spring, but so far we have experienced nearly a dozen electrical outages (showering by candlelight and watching DVD’s on my laptop); a broken washing machine, loss of cable, and most recently, lack of air conditioning, loss of Internet (is Al Gore mad at us?) and telephone – pretty soon the bird feeder will be our main source of entertainment.

Gratitude

Today I am grateful for: cherries from Harry & David, being able to stay at a cool B&B at conference instead of boring corporate hotel, flexible spending, BFF's birthday gift came and it rocks!, homegrown basil in a basil/tomato/mozzarella salad with balsamic vinegar, the carpet samples My Heart's Desire brings home from work, people that say "Bless you" on the Metro, and the air conditioning repairman for fixing the A/C today!

My brain hurts

Did research all day and now am looking forward to having sushi and chocolate covered pretzel (don't knock it 'till you try it) from Whole Foods with friend.

Finches and Robin Red Breasts and Cardinals

My Heart's Desire has become a bird man, installing a bird feeder off the deck that can be seen from the master bedroom, attracting so many birds that it needs to be refilled daily and this morning I was woken up by a battle of the ages: Squirrel Vs. Bird Feeder.

Sunday with My Heart's Desire

...slept in, watched birds (and squirrel) feast on bird food, had nummy feta and tomato omelet with flatbread breakfast, read the paper, found all 12 differences in The Post's second glance, hung clean towels on the line, now I am reading and he is building planters for our tomatoes.

A triumph of the human spirit

Best book I've read this year: What is the What by Dave Eggers, a novel about the unbelievable experiences of Sudanese refugee Valentino Achak Deng.

Caught up

Went to dinner at Zorba's with my mentor and we talked (okay, I talked) a lot and it was like she had hardly been gone, much less abroad for seven months.

Green-Eyed Monster

Last year I was a traveling fool (California! Colorado! Chicago!) and this year I can't afford to go anywhere marvelous - I am suffering from summer vacation envy.

Women

Short list of awesome women that are important in my life: my mentor, my three mentees, my therapist, my BFF, my writing mentor, one of my writing partners, my gal pals, my sister, my Mom, of course, my honorary, nice, Jewish Grandma, and my Aunts.

Gratitude

Today I am grateful for: everyone I love being on the same continent for now, the sweet, clean smell of liquid fabric softener, buying prescriptions from the mail-away pharmacy (3 month supply for the price of 2!), IM, talking about This Charming Man, being able to help someone out, planning a visit to see my family, driving by the Iwo Jima memorial and hearing the Marine Corps band sunset parade, having a job where nobody dies when I make a mistake, ordering bday prezzie for BFF (her bday is just 33 short days away!), requests from real friends on Facebook, reading trashy magazines at the gym, Belleruth Naparstek affirmations, asking for and getting great advice, organizing friends to go to the Gipsy Kings, the Greek omlette at the Metro 29 Diner, and the way My Heart's Desire gets so into watching DIY shows.

What's my name?

When I introduce myself in a social situation, I use my first and last name, despite some people (including My Heart's Desire) thinking that's weird.

Must sleep

I don't know what it is about today, but I'm so tired I can hardly keep my eyes open, and I already took a half hour nap this afternoon.

:|

Ugh.

America

To celebrate America's 232nd birthday, My Heart's Desire and I had our second annual Independence Day BBQ (despite threats of thunderstorms) and it was fun - weather cooperated, lots of stuff to grill, and a dozen or so friends (and one Uncle) came by for good times.

Best snack ever

Hot, salty, buttery popcorn plus Junior Mints goodness (chocolaty! minty!) all melty.

Who's better - Sean or Shawn?

My Heart's Desire and I stayed up late watching Rescue Me (Minisodes!).

Gratitude

Today I am grateful for: remembering to bring my mobile phone with me today, balancing work/life, having cash in my wallet, lunch with a friend, The Book of Dahlia, health insurance, feministing.com, sharing a pizza at Faccia Luna with one of my favorite women, dining alfresco, other book lovers, Weeds on demand, and going to bed early.

Why to vote Republican