Busy days

Why is it always on the busiest days that your life chooses to fall apart? Today has been a hectic day at work. I've been here since 6 am and it has been a long busy day. The kind of busy where you don't really feel you've accomplished anything but you have been too busy to think 9 out of every 10 minutes. Things calmed down around 3pm and that's when the bottom fell out of things.

My fiance and I have been having a rough time of things. We have been together 3 years this time (we were previously high school sweethearts before splitting up and marrying other people only to end up divorced and back together) and we have been having problems for over a year now. My brother's death put more emotional strain on me, and therefore the relationship. We grew more distant, but I was too devastated dealing with my brother's death to deal with our relationship. So in it's way, it helped the relationship continue where it might have broken down otherwise.

Lately a lot of the problems we were having before have started to resurface. Today a lot of them came to a head. Over the phone. While I'm at work. Of course.

I hate that he calls me at work with personal crap. I don't have the time or energy for it. Plus it's rude. I don't call him at work with my issues.

We will probably work through things for the holidays. It will give us time to get all our ducks in a row and get things sorted as to who's taking what and get any mutual outstanding balances paid off. Plus no one wants to be alone for the holidays. And there is a chance we could remain friends if we can keep our cool and work through things as adults.

But it just feels as though it has run it's course. I care deeply for him as a dear friend but I'm not happy and neither is he. Maybe we need a break. All I know is something has to change.

I'm just always scared to make permanent decisions like these, and this whole mess has been laid in my lap. Whatever I decide will be what we do. I need a fortune-telling 8-ball right about now.

I swear I'm going to post it

Okay I got to see the second episode of PR Canada yesterday and I really do have a bit to say about it. Hopefully I will be able to take a time-out during work today long enough to get my opinions written in a post!!

As it is, it's only 8 am and I've already attended 1 meeting and I have no idea how many more I will have to sit in today.

We have a new system coming out at work and they need lots of opinions and hand-holding. I'm much better at the former than the latter.

But If I can sit down for 5 peaceful minutes I might manage to compose a post.

PR Canada!

I am so desperate for some Project Runway. Luckily Project Rungay has the Project Runway Canada hookup. The first episode of the first season is online and I watched it yesterday. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and it only made me pine for my favorite show all the more.

Iman was wonderful. She had an entrance few could imagine. She had the designers practically soiling themselves and that's always a joy to watch. She gave out her opinions on judges' panel decisively and confidently. The judges are okay. Brian Bailey needs to hang out with the Gunn for a while.

The designers are talented. I don't see any real Vincent's in the group thank goodness. But that Transylvanian guy could turn out to be a Lupe if he can't reign it in. Thank God he can at least articulate himself better than Lupe.

That chick from China needs to learn how to sew. What is she doing on the show? Has she been under a rock for the last few years? Did she not know that if she went on this show she would be responsible for her own execution? DUH!!! Even if she is used to having others do it for her, she should have been taking some lessons or practicing or something before she went on tv and embarrassed herself like Stacey and Vanessa before her. But on the bright side maybe she'll get totally trashed on the reunion episode like Vanessa and have a total meltdown. We can at least live in hope.

As for the first elimination challenge, was that an homage to Mario's shower curtain dress or what??

The first guy that got booted was so out of his league. The talent really showed up for this show and to make it the designers are going to have to be on their A-game pretty much 24/7.

The guy that got booted on the second challenge deserved it. Not because he was trying to be nice. But because out of all the things he could have done with that material, he probably picked the WORST thing to do with it. I know he is used to using fresh bolts of crisp straight fabric, but excuse me if asking for some creativity out of a designer is a stretch. My bad.

The girl that designed the dress that won deserved to win. The silhouette was very Jeffrey, but something about it was so not Jeffrey. Actually, I think that if Jeffrey and Angela ever had a child, she would be it. She has an arts-and-crafts'y kind of flair to her but her structure is all Jeffrey. During the elimination challenge I thought I saw some Uli there, but Jeffrey has used similar silhouettes before as well, so I stick with my Jeffrey/Angela lovechild theory.

Elizabeth

If I had to pick a woman in history that I have always admired and looked up to, Elizabeth would be the one that has impacted me the most. She was a beacon of femininity and independence in a time that had seen few examples of such defiance.

She was a lover of fashion and theater, and advanced the arts in so many ways through her patronage and suport. For that alone she won my heart.

So when the sequel to the movie Elizabeth released Friday afternoon, I was the first person in Columbus GA seated and ready to see the movie. I rarely go see movies on opening day. For some reason I was jammed in a town with the most ignorant and rude movie-seeing public that could be conjured. I hate trying to listen to dialogue while someone is trying to open their very loud candy wrapper, or is having an in-depth conversation of their own. It drives me nuts that people cannot sit still and shut up for the length of the movie. Talk when the movie is over. Open your candy before the movie starts. Is it too much to ask?? But I digress...

The movie is breathtaking. The costumes were divine. The scene at the battlefield was straight out of a dream. The whole production was lush and the cinematography was pitch-perfect.

The historical accurracy was laughable. At the time of Sir Walter Raleigh and the invasion of the Spanish Armada, Elizabeth was in her mid fifties. There was never any indication of any love affair between her and Raleigh either.

But it ws still a good movie. I think it warrants another watch in fact. The truth is, you are so overwhelmed by the costumes and visuals the first time you watch it, you really won't be able to focus as much on the plot and characters as you might wish to. But on first impression alone I feel it will withstand a closer look. We shall see.

A Scary Halloween for Dogs

Poor things. Dog outfits can be cute, but my heart goes out to the poor puppies around Halloween time.

What the HELL?!?

A family friend of mine has suffered a horrendous tragedy in the loss of her husband last week. As if losing a loved one was not enough, the manner of his death was one that pissed me off in a way I cannot express in words.

He was having chest pains one evening, so his wife drove him to the emergency room. When they got there of course it was busy and they were told to wait. After a couple of hours the chest pains got more severe, and he started having trouble breathing.

So his wife went to the window and alerted the nurse that her husband was in cardiac arrest and that they needed to see a doctor ASAP. The nurse got rude with her and told her that they didn't have anywhere to put her husband and she needed to sit back down. Te nurse actually told this woman "he's not dying."

At this point the wife lost it. She started screaming for help and the nurse threatened to have her removed. Knowing she was not going to get anywhere she rushed back over to her husband where she repeatedly cried out begging for help in the emergency room waiting area.

Her husband died in her arms there on the floor.

WHAT THE HELL!?!?!

I have been to this emergency room. Katie fell and busted her head open. I had to hold a bloody towel to the back of my child's head and try to keep her awake (it was late at night so that was not easy) in a freezing cold waiting room for over 5 hours. By the time we were seen the doctor told me there was no point in stitching it up because she had sat there so long the body had already started to heal itself. They put some butterfly bandages on it and she has a scar on the back of her head to this day. I received the same "wonderful" level of customer service on my visit.

So it has been established that this is not the place to go if you want to get seen in this century, no matter the severity of your injury. But I never imagined they would actually just let someone DIE.

Everyone says what a great lawsuit she has on her hands, but I can promise you she would trade the lawsuit for her husband any day. He was a wonderfully generous and jovial man. The world was a better place for having had him in it.

So if you are ever in Columbus Ga and you are in need of medical assistance, stay away from the Columbus Medical Center. They let you die there.

Ironically, I was born in that hospital and have had several surgeries which made the continuation of my life possible there.

I'll go to Alabama for medical treatment in the future. Isn't that a comforting thought??

Bad Blogger

Upon silent reflection I have come to the realization that I have become a bad blogger. And it's no one's fault but my own. I have been keeping up with everyone else's blogs though.

Things have been going really well lately though. The Avon business I started basically just to get myself some facial creams at a discount is officially making me more money than my day job. And no one is more shocked than I am. I win all kinds of free stuff like costume jewelry at the sales meetings and I wear it, and people will literally buy it off my body if I will let them. I'm going to be an entry in the Avon Fashion Show for my district next month, and I will be hosting my own little Holiday Soiree in November.

I'm also really looking forward to the release of the new Christian Lacroix fragrance through Avon. It smells divine, and of course I'll be getting mine for free.

I have been really impressed with how Avon has been getting some heavy-hitter designers working with them. It makes the products so much easier to sell. The Cynthia Rowley collection of makeup and accessories has sold like hotcakes. the Kenneth Jay Lane jewelry always sells good and I'm sure this new fragrance is going to do very well.

So basically just by happenstance and a little sweat equity, I have doubled my income in the last 3 months. And as my income level has risen, my posting numbers on my blog have plummeted. Partially due to limited time, partially because it seems like all I have to talk about lately is work, my daughter's school and Avon. How interesting, huh?

I even tried starting my little segments like Tuesday's Twins and drink of the week. But I never seem to find time to put together my posts. I thought having a set subject matter and deadline would make posting a sure thing but no dice.

Another aspect of the problem is the fact that while Bravo's programming of late has been fun to watch, none have inspired me to put pen to paper like Project Runway. I miss my show, and I could just cry that we have to wait so long between seasons. At least I have the previous seasons on DVD to keep me company.

First time I've ever been accused of this...

You Are a Normal Girl

You are 40% Good and 60% Bad Sure you've pulled some bad girl stunts in your past. But these days, you're (mostly) a good girl.

Are You a Good Girl or a Bad Girl?

Drink of the Week

Do you ever have a day every so often that about halfway through you realize "GOD, I need a drink!" ??

I feel your pain and I'm here to help. Every Monday, I will share my bartending knowledge with you. Why Monday? Cause that's the most likely day it will be needed.

So for this week...

Lijit Cocktail

1 1/2 oz . Silver Tequila
1/2 oz. Midori
1/4 oz. SOHO Lychee Liqueuer
1/2 oz. Pinappple Juice
Splash Lime Juice

Combine ingredients in a shaker or mixing glass filled with ice. Stir and strain into a chilled cocktail glass and serve.

Garnish with lime wheel.

Halle - Bravo - lujah

Okay. I am officially hooked up. I have Bravo again. Yay!!! I'll probably spend a month watching nothing but re-runs of all the shows I have missed. THANK GOD for Bravo's re-run habit. And, for the record, I HATE Bravo's website. I can say that now that they are not my main source for Bravo programming.

Also, I started selling Avon this month, and I have sold $500 in a week! I started selling because I LOVE their ANEW Clinical products but there are no AVON ladies where I live so I was ordering it online and having it shipped. I figured that with me only working a real job 3 days a week that selling it would be fairly easy money. I didn't know how right I was. I really haven't had to do much, people find me. And since there are maybe 2 other avon ladies in my district, it's a fairly receptive market.

If any of you out in Blogland want to try their products you can order them on my website. The ANEW Clinical products really are amazing. My mom got me hooked and now my porcelain skin is now more porcelain than it has been in a long while. And all those pesky forehead lines are fading fast. Anything that gives you those kinds of results without surgery and face-peeling chemicals has my vote!

Plus, if you guys buy it through my site, I get money. And if I get enough money I can quit my Mon-Wed job and perhaps have enough time to blog as much as I would like to. Maybe. But inthe short-term all my Avon money is going to my vacation fund. I believe Tokyo will be the first stop :)

Konnichiwa!!

Blonde moment of the week

I will never be able to scoff at ridiculous warning labels again. This morning I was the butt of one. I got deodorant in my eye. I know, I know... it begs the question of HOW I got deodorant in my eye. Just don't ask. I doubt I could explain it if I tried and I'm certain I would not come off looking smarter if I did try.

If you have ever known true discomfort this is it. At first I thought it was mascara. My eye was throbbing in pain and felt SO DRY. I never imagined the trace amount of deodorant residue on my finger would elicit such a reaction. So today I am walking around with one red swollen eye. And of course everyone is asking what happened to my eye.

And it comes down to either fingering my fiance as a brutal abuser or admitting my antipersperal faux pas. Naming the one I love as a monster or admitting to be the biggest flake in town...

He better buy me diamonds for Christmas that's all I have to say.

Tuesday's Twins Design Star Special Pt. 1

I am going to be doing a 3-part series on the lookalikes of the contestants of Design Star. Now, before I get reamed for my choices, let me just say that this is going by the faces of the contestants only, and are mostly based on the picture I have. I have not been watching the show religiously, and I'm sure many contestants look differently from their official photo, but oh well. I work with what I've got, and if you think you can do better, by all means try. I'll even link to you.

First of all, Let me thank Linda Merrill over at ::Surroundings:: for having these pics of the Design Star contestants on her website.

For our first lookalikes:

Todd

Gary Busey

Christina

Heidi Klum

Josh F

Matthew Perry

What a way to go...

Imagine you are in a restaurant and nature calls. Pretty urgently. You rush to the lavatory only to find...

Would you be able to pee in these??

I'm sure if you had to go bad enough, you could force yourself.

I mean, you're only peeing into an instrument, right?

But who on earth would want to pee in a mouth right after eating?

And could you force yourself to eat at an establishment whose sense of humor extends to peeing in mouths??

And after all of this, imagine going to wash your hands to be greeted by this...

It's nice when people don't take themselves too seriously, but it is possible to take it a bit far.

Now, take this public restroom in Houston. It looks like a stylish reflective structure from the outside. But surprise, surprise...

It has a great view, too. It's a public bathroom built out of 2-way mirrors. Now call me little miss prissy pants if you must, but I don't think I could force myself to go once I got in there.

Could you??

Just say no: Redux

Ms. Place posted a wonderfully witty post about the things we should just say no to. I have merely added to the original list which can be found here.

Ass cleavage

Eating your boogers

Starvation (self-inflicted included)

Wal Mart

Ignoring Dental Care

Road Rage

Feeding the Animals

Happy Birthday

Today is my birthday, and this just happens to be my 100th post. I had a pretty good birthday this year. Of course that translates to I got a huge haul of FABULOUS presents! :)

I got probably around 9 new outfits - all fabulous, of course.

A new handbag.

A paraffin bath.

New perfume.

Money.

Mike gave me a GORGEOUS birthstone ring. My birthstone is a peridot so I'm pretty picky when it comes to wearing it. I don't like the faded ones. But here are 2 pictures of the ring. Fabulous is a good word.

I know, I'm spoiled. But it's a condition I'm learning to live with. :)

First day of school

Today is Katie's first day of Kindergarten. I'm so glad this day got here. Everyone kept saying I would get wistful and cry, but those people obviously don't know me and Katie. Katie likes going to school and I like sending her. We had already been doing the daycare Pre-K thing, so we have the routine pretty down.

The good thing is my mother is a teacher's assistant at the school Katie is going to, and will actually be in the room next door to Katie. So if Katie starts taking over the class she will have to deal with my mother, which really offers little consolation since my mother has probably told that child no like 3 times in her entire life.

Don't get me wrong, I'm very glad I have a strong-willed daughter. I don't have much patience for overly sensitive females. It's just that when you have a strong-willed child you have to worry anytime they are given a new authority figure. But I have known her teacher for a while. She survived a pretty nasty divorce last year and I'm hoping that experience prepared her for dealing with my angel.

Another good thing is that because of a class rotating system, this will be her teacher for 2 years. So we won't have to go through this breaking-in period every year.

But best of all, now I can REALLY enjoy my 3-day work week. Tomorrow, on my first day off, I can get up and take Katie to school, and then, I CAN DO WHATEVER I WANT. I probably won't know how to act. I will have 2 days every week (Thurs & Fri) that from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm (she is also enrolled in the afterschool program) I am officially a free woman.

I think tomorrow I will treat myself to a day at a spa and have cocktails while a mousy little woman applies a facial mask and a hunky massage therapist works out all the kinks.

Just because you can dress yourself, doesn't mean that you should...

Fashion can be bought. Style one must possess. ~Edna Woolman Chase

Wouldn't you agree my dear?