Bad News/Good News

I prefer bad news first so that's the reason for this title and the way I'll share the news with you. Okay, bad news, I'm crazy. Good news? I'm not the only one! When I returned inside after telling my book club buddies bye after our first very wonderful meeting, I saw that Mellie had left something for me. When I opened it (it was wrapped in a really cute red with white polka dot "green" bag) I saw this book. We had just been talking about Elizabeth Berg and I mentioned that I'd never read anything of hers. Then, low and behold, here's one of her books in my hand! Not to mention the fact that I had just finished the great book for the club that afternoon and was feeling woeful about going to bed empty handed. Not that I don't have other books waiting for me to start, I just hadn't thought of what I was in the mood for next, etc. I knew when I read the description that I was holding my next book in my hands. I quickly got ready for bed (I think it was 1 a.m. or so anyway) and started right in on it. I'm not going to be a spoiler but I'll tell you that if you're...umm...a certain age, you HAVE to read this. I spent most of my 40's perimenopausal...I know, TMI, but I think it's pertinent to my point. So distracted with twice weekly migraines and a myriad of other CONSTANT problems (I'll spare you the TMI here), and the fact that my 40's basically sucked, that I wasn't thinking about my age too much. So then I turned 50. That was good, I was just dandy with that (it is a good time of life as far as self-esteem, knowing yourself, perspective, grown children, etc.) and even fully embraced the "I'm 50 and I've never..." mentality and milked it dry. So, at some point it sunk in, still okay with where I am as a person, that I'd missed the midlife deadline. Well, I think that what a mid-life crisis is; you wait and do the math too late and flip out that unless you live to be over 100 you are way past mid-life. So not only are you past it, you also are way behind on the crisis and have to hurry to catch up. I went from hormonal crazy to more hormonal crazy to mid-life crazy. Is there going to be a break in this before the wheelchair comes along? This is my worry. But my bigger worry was the crazy part itself. Here's where this wonderful book comes in-I'm actually normal! Well according to this particular work of fiction. There was so much in the book that rang true for me that I'm sure I can't be the only one (and there was something in the synopsis on the back that confirmed it). I feel so much better after reading it. I know I'm a little off course anyway because I have a middle-schooler and two grown children. My clock is on empty nest when my reality is not. Those two forces are something I have to work on every day. It's hard but so worth it because I really like Matt a lot and he deserves to get as close to what Lucas and Justin got and actually gets more because I'm not a starving single mom working three jobs and having them in day care. Matt gets me older and not as energetic plus all the totally wacky hormonal stuff but at least I'm here when he gets home from school. Time will tell which messed the kids up more, me there or not. OKAY, back to the book. Read it. It's a small book and very easy to read but it's not a fluff book; there's a lot of meat there to chew on. I highly recommend it...I'm guessing you had already realized that. P.S. The Honesty Award thing is coming soon, I promise Julia.

Mo New Art...

So as not to give the wrong impression that I'm a constant consumer or that I do retail therapy, I'm adding this disclaimer that this is generally unusual for me to have two new pieces of art on my walls in a week's time. Not that these are what galleries would call "real works of art" but I do. I also call plastic Hello Kitty watches from McDonald's jewelry. Also the Mary, Mother of Jesus and Jesus plastic jewelry I got at the flea market yesterday at $2 a piece is jewelry to me too. Anyhoo, here's my second new piece this week. I got it at a shop whose name I cannot remember but will let you know when I remember. Tammy who used to be in our shop expanded by moving into the much-larger space and using most of it for her collections. She was ready to take the next step and go really larger. She might have had me in mind when she ordered this, she knows me very well. Pink, birds, flowers, a beautiful opalescent green, and GLITTER-you can't get many more tags for me than that! I got this and fun, very inexpensive treats for making things that you'll have to tune in to see soon...hopefully. Just wanted to share...

A Very Deserved Award By A Very Special Woman and Friend

Come on over Julia, a.k.a. Miz Juney and get this well deserved badge. Jules, you do make my day every time I read your blog. You are a fabulous writer because you see all the wonderful seemingly small insignificant things in life that are really very special and you share them in your fabulously sweet, rye self. Altogether your blogs makes for a Baltimore Cup Cake Company cup cake for the soul. Thank you so much for sharing yourself and your observations with the world. Remember that even if you think there are only one or two people reading, you know from being a teacher, that changing even one person's life is a huge success. Thank you for being you and sharing you. And there are more people reading and getting soul-stroking than you realize they are just techno-scardies and are afraid to sign up and leave comments. I love you dearly and hearing what's going on in that fun and funny brain of yours!

And the winner...

...of the One World One Heart giveaway of which is my original creation of the above necklace is Peggy of Mixed-up Art !!! I guess I should email her and let her know, right? Check out her blogs, she's got three that are really great. I like this necklace a whole lot and I hope she does too. Thanks to all who left such sweet comments and entered to win. It was an honor to participate in this and to get to know all these new wonderful people and their worlds. You can still check them out, too, by clicking on the OWOH link on the right.

New art...

I get into trouble wherever I have a shop-The Pink Cabbage, Etsy, Lollishops-and here's a prime example. Above is and art print I bought on Etsy from A Fanciful Twist while supposedly only on to add some things for sale. No regrets though, I mean, check it out! It's in my family room matted and under a cool antique oval frame with the curved glass that I got at The Pink Cabbage. All got together today and I'm a happy camper. No, really, it has caused me to camp out in my family room to work on my Etsy, blog, facebook, and Lollishops. Just had to share...