A new start

I am nearly to the end of my current journey.  I believe I did all that I could in my marriage and now with it nearly finished, there is a beginning on the horizon.

If you haven't read the first two parts of the three part series click the following links... Unrecognizable Part 1, Part 2.

© Kristin Corlett

It came over me like a fog, penetrating every fiber of my being, but so quietly that I didn't have any idea until I was completely overcome.  My time spent with Steve, the man I took to Dialysis three times a week, the grocery store trips, the hours of laughing and telling stories... he became my closest friend.   I realized that the moment I made the decision to leave my marriage was when that fog began rolling in.  All of the spaces that I was clearing out were being filled again.  The fog was love.  When I finally realized I had fallen in love with Steve it was like I had been pushed over a cliff.  It was a total free fall.

I didn't want to end one relationship just to dive into another.  No, no no!  It went against everything I thought I wanted.  I needed time to grieve, to let go, to live alone again.  I needed my own space for the first time in 18 years.  What in the world was I going to do?

What can a person do when they have indeed found the love of their life??

I decided I needed to create a plan of action.

I have dinner with Steve most evenings, but I don't spend the night.  Some days we do spend most of the day together, but that is rare.  Personally, I need to get everything closed up - the house emptied and sold, the divorce signed and sealed and over, my own condo into a livable, working space.  I have projects that I want to do, need to do and have to do.  I am going to need to get a job at some point soon.  Even though I have fallen head over heels in love with Steve, we are creating enough space so I can breathe, grieve and spread my wings.  For awhile there I cried every day.  Divorce is emotional, even if you are the one wanting it.

Steve gets to have breathing room, too.  He's been a single man for quite awhile and having a loud, giggling woman in his life is quite the adjustment.

I am truly unrecognizable from the woman I was a year ago.  She was so sad, that I actually hate to admit that it was me.  I can't even remember how many times I found myself with my head in my hands wishing for a more love filled life.  That's really all I wanted.  I wanted to love someone and have them visibly, emotionally and physically love me back.  My dear Tom couldn't and wouldn't do that.  He could say he loved me and he didn't want me to leave but that was the end of what he could give me.  I'm so grateful I followed my heart and moved on.

Source - “The Super Kiss,” by Puerto Rican artist Daniel Irizarri Oquendo

I don't want to bore you with too much intimate information, but I can tell you that this gal is now getting kissed a lot and she's loving it!  It might be because it's a new relationship, but I don't think so.  I think that the fella she fell in love with is a kisser and the gal he fell in love with is a kisser and together they are...silly.

And we hold hands.

A lot.

We are indeed silly, giggling, loving people and we found each other in the midst of chaos.

Oh and did I mention?  Steve received his Kidney transplant April 5th.  He spent four days in the hospital and has been getting better and better and better each day.  No more dialysis.  No more, no more.  I call him my Superman.

A new start, indeed.

A new start for us both.

Have a great day!
Kristin

100 ThingsThat Make Me Happy - part IV

A couple of years ago I started a list of 100 Things that make me Happy.  I looked at the list yesterday and realized that I hadn't gotten to 100 things yet and it has been well over a year since I wrote a list.  While I was getting my car serviced and I had an hour long wait ahead of me, I wrote down all of the things I'd posted so far and then HAPPILY added a few dozen more!

I'm still not at 100, but I find that to be just silly.  I find things to be happy about each day, but so many of them are either hard to describe or are just fleeting moments of joy.  The ones I've written so far are pretty standard daily happiness things.

If you'd like to read the entire list, so far, here are the links to Part I, Part II, and Part III.


61.  My red plaid down blanket from Target.  If I had known how awesome that blanket was going to be, I would have purchased more than one.

62.  Finding excellent condition retro furniture.  My heart just goes pitter pat! Even the stuff I can fix up is pretty awesome, but just seeing cool retro furniture is enough. Contrary to popular belief, I don't have to own or buy everything I like :)

63.  Cleaning something really dirty until it shines like the top of the Chrysler Building!

64.  Magic Erasers. Original and Extra Power.  No scent, no bathroom bubbles, just Original or Extra Power.

65. A warm sunny day with no humidity.  This makes me very very happy!

Image Source

66. Having my keys made in cool designs.

67. Kissing.  Yep, I'm a kisser.  If a boy I wanted to date wasn't a good kisser then there was no hope for us!

68. The Liver Transplant Support Group meetings that I attend each Thursday.  I love to go, to be with those people and to be a part of something so wonderful.

69. Thursday lunch with the Support Group friends is a highlight.  This is where we chat and laugh and really get to know one another.

70.  Receiving a message asking if I want to hang out, or have lunch, or meet up somewhere to take photos.  I feel like I do a lot of asking, so when I get the invite I'm thrilled!

Ilee Papergood's 2013 Calendar

71.  Finally being able to use the new calendar! Ilee Papergoods sells a gorgeous calendar.  I didn't get one last year, after having one the previous two years and I missed it.

72. Going to an auction determined to come home with something and doing just that.

73.  I am instantly happy when given a compliment.  It's taken a long time to be able to accept the compliments and not try to brush them off as not true.  It's good to feel happy about receiving them.

74. Painting Furniture.  I enjoy painting furniture more than I ever would have imagined.

75.  Receiving bread bag tags or fortune cookie fortunes from friends.



Have a Great Day!
Kristin

100 Things that make me happy part III

While laying in bed last night trying my darnedest to fall asleep I decided to get out pen and paper and start writing.  Not wanting to wake up any more than necessary, I chose to write in the dark.

It's really not that bad and I  can read everything.  I was really on a roll of happiness because I filled up two pages front and back.

Here's a few more in my list of things that make me happy (that does not include food).

41.  My pillow.  I really like my own pillow.  I take it with me on vacations if I can and I do about everything possible to get that puppy in my bag.

42.  My bamboo sheets.  (can you tell I was writing this list in bed?!)  I bought the sheets at Target about 5 years ago and I love them.

43.  Unscented air freshener.  Oust used to make one and it was excellent! 

44.  My 365 Photo project - Here is the entire thumbnail set on Flickr.

45.  Friends that spend time teaching me a computer program.

46.  Doors - old doors, painted doors, ancient doors, rusty doors... I could go on and on.

47.  hardware stores - the old small town ones are the best.

48.  Thinking of the days that I would go to the Maywood Cafe with my Grandpa Corlett.

49.  A great old sign, especially when I have my camera with me.

50.  Having the bed to myself so I can write what makes me happy, while sprawled across the entire center of the bed. 

51. Playing the game Racko, Cross over the Bridge, Sorry, and other games.

52.  Scrubbies!  I have a whole drawer of them.  I use them like a washcloth in the shower.  I just bought half a dozen new ones to replace the ones that accidentally made it in the dryer.  Those get a little scratchy.

53.  Rediscovering something that I was just sure was lost.

54.  A kitten's mew.


55.  The Simon's Cat videos.

56.  Standing at an electronic door and telling the people behind me that I've got the door for them.

57.  Laughing at my own mistakes.  I'm really quite funny!

58.  Hearing just about any Journey song on the radio.

59.  Putting on a new pair of white leather tennis shoes.

60.  Receiving unexpected mail from friends!

Things that make me happy Part I and Part II.


Have a Great Day!!
Kristin

Late night musings

I wrote a blog post a long while ago - sometime last year - in a little notebook that I keep beside my bed at night. You know, for those late night inspirations or dream interpretations.  I read through the hastily written pages again today and decided that even though it doesn't stay on the same topic for more than a minute, maybe I ought to type it up.  You folks can finally see what it's like when I start thinking - it's not pretty!!  No wonder I write so much stuff down.  I have to try to sort through the million things I find to be urgent and of course none of it really is.

So here we go.
I'm actually kind of nervous.
This is like reading my journal...

OK.

I find it so very interesting that I write on a blog each day.  A blog that I have created. I have been told countless times that I have poor grammar, that I cannot spell and my sentence structure is simple.  My sister read one of my art history essays and about fell over in laughter - it truly was horrible.  I sounded like a five year old.

I like the painting.
The red is pretty.

OK, so it wasn't that bad - I did get an A on it after all. 
My writing is simple that's for sure.  No $10 words from me.  One reason for that is because I'd have to then spell the darned word.  Thank goodness for spell check.

I write my blog posts each day without a plan really.  Sometimes I look through my photos to see if I had taken pictures for a someday story and other times I happen to think of something that interested me and decide to talk about it. 

I prefer to talk about non controversial things because I honestly don't want to have to defend my position.  About the only thing I feel comfortable defending is organ donation and transplant.  And that's probably because I've been immersed in it for the past 5 years.

  I am a Libra through and through.  I can't make decisions without feeling like I didn't weigh the options better.  I don't ever want anyone upset with me and I fall in love with everything that strikes my fancy.  I do believe that one of the number one overused words on my blog is Love.  I love Sharpies.  Oh I love that lamp.  Don't you just love fall?  I saw this lovely piece of pottery.  I love to love.

I was that way with men, too.  I'd fall in love in a moment if he looked at me the right way.  If he was a bad kisser though, that wasn't love.  yuck.  I'd be done with him.

I don't talk politics because I do have a pretty firm stance but I don't really care if you believe the way I do.  I also don't care if you are the complete opposite. I would much rather talk about a billion other things that what those politicians are doing.

I have been to enough open houses, parade homes and fixer upper houses that I do feel qualified to give housing opinions.  Ask me what to offer for the place, however, and it boggles my mind.  I have no idea.  Isn't that what a real estate agent is for?  Give me a cluttered room with hot pink walls and yellow shag carpeting and I can see the space.  Give me a blueprint and I would never be able to find my way out.

 

I read on someones blog that they thought kids shouldn't have to learn cursive writing.  Gosh, I just can't imagine not writing.  Printing doesn't flow and it certainly doesn't flow with how fast my thoughts come.  I've written this post so far in longhand in a little notebook while I was in bed.  Sometimes it's just easier to think with pen and paper.  The distractions of the world wide web can completely derail this Libra.  I'm thinking that's why I have so enjoyed photography the past few years.  I get out of the hum of the computer and out into the world to see what it has to offer.

I started writing this post because I was honestly trying to figure out what in the world I write about each day.  Was it photography driven or did I actually talk about interesting things?  I wondered if I spoke from the heart enough.  I can be quite passionate but I get so wordy that I believe my passion gets lost.  This post, for example!  I think it's now become a novel.

I'll finish part two tomorrow.  I want to actually keep my readership :0)

Have a wonderful day!
Kristin

100 Things that make me happy part II

I've been alone for 16 days so far.  I cannot begin to express how much I enjoy being by myself.  I love my husband, don't get me wrong, but I absolutely crave alone-in-my-own-house time.   I lived with a man at one point in my life who was in a wheelchair and didn't drive.  He never left the house unless I took him.  In the years that I was with him, I think I was alone in that house for a few dozen hours.  In order for me to have some alone time, I had to leave.  Ultimately, I left!   I'm glad I finally realized what my soul needed to be happy.  I need alone time.

My husband and I both work mainly from home, so we are together all day, every day, most days.  I think it is sanity saving for me to take the month of October and travel to Michigan.  Then a week after I get home my husband leaves for his three to four weeks in Michigan.   We get nearly two months to do our own thing, not have each other in our ear and to once again figure out who we are as an individual.

I've always done the happy dance when my husband leaves town.  He once told me that he'd appreciate it if I did the dance after he left the house instead of the few days before his departure!  (He was getting a complex I guess.)  My happy dance is usually spontaneous giggling and a beaming smile.  Like I said, I crave alone in my own house time.

Well, all of this scattered chatter is leading up to the point of this whole post!  I tend to stay up way too late when I'm alone, but the last few nights I have forced myself to go to bed at an earlier time.  A few nights ago I went to bed with a piece of paper and a pen and started listing all the things I could think of that made me happy.  I have to say, it made for a nice relaxing way to get me to go to sleep.  I fell asleep thinking about Kleenex and chapstick!

The top of that list was being alone in the house.  haha!

I shared the first 15 on my quest to list 100 Things that make me Happy already, if you'd like to visit part I.   I'd like to continue with the happy things that I wrote down the other night.  At some point I'll get to 100!

16.  Being alone in my house.

17.  Watching my sister draw. 

18. Reading books on my Kindle.  Love my Kindle.

19.  IKEA lighting.  If I had timers for all of the outlets in my home, I would seriously buy an array of IKEA lamps and have them go on and off all around the house.  I love lamps, but I rarely turn them on!

20.  Alabaster -  I really like the dream-like quality it has.  Alabaster looks like it has been spun from clouds.

21.  Black out curtains in a bedroom.

22.  Black yoga pants.  I don't go anywhere without them if I can help it.  They are my daily uniform.

23.  Multi-colored Christmas Tree lights.

24.  Junk mail art.  A lot of it anyway.  I'm a sucker for advertising.

25.  Systane eyedrops for dry eyes.

26.  Palm trees.  This includes palm tree paintings, photographs and real life. 

from the Thomas McKnight website

27.  Thomas McKnight artwork. 

28.  Kleenex  - real Kleenex.  Not medicated, lotioned, scented or extra strength.  Plain, white Kleenex is what makes me happy.

29. Sharpies.  Clickables Sharpies are my favorites, but all Sharpies are wonderful.

30.  Super Sticky Post-it Notes.

31.  Chapstick medicated in the blue tube.  I use it each night as I get into bed.  A little swipe across my lips and they stay hydrated all night.

32.  Photographs.  Landscapes, people, interior, exterior, funny, sad.  Carnivals, animals, barns and buildings.  I love looking at photographs.

33.  Tagless T-Shirts

34.  Listening to Hillary tell a story.  She is the best!

Milkwright website

35.  Those funny cards that pair a vintage photo with a humorous tag.  (example above)

36.  flocked wrapping paper.

37.  front loading washer and dryers.  They really do make me happy.

38.  The green McCoy pitcher that I use to fill up my kitties water bowl each day.

39.  Saying Thank You makes me very happy.  I make an effort to say Thank you and look at the person to whom I'm saying it.  I don't want it to be a throw away response like "hi, how are you today?"  People who say that rarely care about the response.

Wow - I'm at 40.  I was really on a roll! 

40.  taking my car through the car wash.

On this day before Thanksgiving (in the United States, that is) I wish you all a blessed day.  I hope you can be with family and/or  friends this weekend. My husband will be with his family in Michigan and I will be with my support group friends.  We are both very fortunate to be with people who love us. 

Thank you for coming by!
Kristin

One of my Top Ten!

Honestly, this item has to be one of my top ten favorite things to use in the kitchen.

This Anchor Hocking Microwave dish may not seem like a big deal but to me it means the world.

Let me go back and explain something real quick. 

Most of the time I microwave only in this dish, with the lid on. 

This means that I don't melt any plastic bowls, I don't waste paper towels, I don't have to cover everything in that horrid cling wrap and I don't burn my hands on dishes that get too hot in the microwave.  I place everything in my microwave dish, nuke it and put the food on a plate or in a bowl and eat. 

I blogged about my love for the Anchor Hocking Microwave container when I talked about how I make apple sauce.  

A few years ago I needed to have a second container so I paid too much for one on eBay.  Right now I've noticed there are a few with an opening bid of $5 and one going buy-it-now for almost $30.  Well, they aren't terribly hard to find, but they are hard to find in great condition.  I've only seen one at a garage sale (and I bought it) and all of the others that I have purchased have been off of ebay.  Some are really beat up, that's for sure.  I think I've given a few of these to both of my sisters and now I'd like to put them in the rental condos for my tenants.

A few nights ago I was looking at the latest Estate Sales in the area when I saw a stack of beige

in the middle of the table.

I'd recognize those anywhere and I knew I'd need to get them. 

There was one problem.  The sale started at 9am and I've been sleeping until 10 because I've been going to bed so late.  I was going to have to get to bed early, get up early and drive across town to get those dishes. 

I managed to get to bed around1:30 and I got up at 7:30.  I was out of the house at 9, a little late, but I was was confident that there was enough stuff in that house that my dishes would still be there.

I was mostly concerned about what I was going to have to pay for them.  I planned on $10 a piece and I saw three of them on the table, in the photo, so $30 was my top price for all three or for one, if they were asking too much for them. 

I walked into the sale house and peeked in every room looking for that table.  This house was filled with stuff, thousands upon thousands of items, but the stack of three was still there. 

Squealing was heard coming from my mouth when I saw that they were marked $1.50 each!!!  I gathered all three up and put them in my bag.  Then I decided to look around at all of the other items, since I did have a little extra money :) and wouldn't you know it -

I found a brand new one, in the box, in a closet in a different bedroom.  It was marked at $1.  Brand New for a buck!  I've never had a new one!!!

I tried to get them to discount the used ones down to a buck, but they couldn't reduce any prices on the first day of the sale.  I had to ask, but it wasn't going to change my mind.  :)

So this is one of my great loves.

What do you think?  Am I totally crazy?

If there's any interest, I might have a giveaway for one of these.  Let me know in the comment section if you'd be interested in one of the used ones.  I don't think I can give away the new one.  I don't know if I can use the new one yet, either :)

It was a lovely lovely day. 

Hope you have a great day, too!
Kristin

Mustard and ToGo containers

I received gifts in the mail over a week ago and I'm now just finally getting my act together enough to talk about them.    My friend, Lori,  sent me this lovely gift.  They are items from her neck of the woods.  She included a jar of oh-my-goodness-it's-so-good mustard and two bags of coffee - one was chocolate almond and the other chocolate cherry.  Leelanau is a county in Michigan - the upper pinky region of the state.  The rubber bands that she used as a packing material are probably not from the area, but they were fun to receive nonetheless. 

It is a good time to start something new!!  I'd also really like to be happier, so I'm wondering what difficult test I'm going to need to pass in order to achieve that happiness.

I have to say this before I start getting coffee in the mail :)  I don't drink it.  I worked in a coffeehouse for years, but never drank the stuff.  I appreciate the smell of coffee though...goodness, it's wonderful.  Well anyway, I gave away the coffee to a friend of mine, but that mustard, it's all mine. 

She also gave me a really funny card, but I can't show it because I was given instructions to give it away - so I don't want to give away the secret.  It was a funny card, so who ever receives it will get a kick out of it!

Thank you Lori.  Thank You.  It was such a sweet guesture. 

I just realized...

Those rubber bands look like pasta. 

Hmmm, pasta.

Yummy Pasta.

Speaking of pasta.

These are the ToGo containers that I received from Maggiano's Italian Restaurant the other night.  The ones that I was thrilled to get a few extra of so I could further my refrigerator food storage love. 

Here is a stack in my fridge.  The bottom one is the ravioli from the restaurant.  The middle one is a piece of steak from dinner a few nights back and the top one is a block of cheese.  Usually I have half of one of the containers full of already grated cheese and the other half holds the remaining block of cheese.  It's my favorite way to store cheese.  Saves on baggies and the cheese has never gotten dried out from this storage method.  I also have to admit, it's also nice to have some grated cheese on hand to sprinkle on my salads. 

I don't buy preshredded cheese for lots of reasons, but the main reason is that I really dislike the dusting powder that they coat the cheese in so it won't stick together.  The second main reason is the cost.  I can buy a block of cheese, shred at will and store it in this container. 

Here I am promoting a product that's a take out container! Too funny.

So there are two of the things that I wanted to share.  I still have some more Rome photos (like 700 or so!) and I need to talk about the metal sculptures that I saw in Alabama and there was something else.  Hmmm, I can't think of it right now.

Oh, a penpal.  I have one of those, too.  I need to discuss that project, too.

I hope you've had a wonderful weekend.

Thanks again to Lori for such a thoughtful gift.  You are a delight!

Kristin

Grandma's Chair

I Am In Love.

Head over heels in love.

Seriously, I even became a bit of a stalker - good thing it was an art fair - you're allowed to stalk from 10am through 5pm on art fair days :)

Julie Schwarz in her booth
photo by Leigh - Thanks Leigh!

This is what has just about sent me over the edge.  It's the art, the artist, the booth design, and the personality of the prints, the artist and the booth design!  The artwork is hanging from old ladders.  I didn't notice that the first day I met Julie, but I did notice it after the second time.  By the third time I saw Julie I was an expert.

See?  I'm in love :)

The artist is Julie Schwarz and she's from Michigan!  I first met her at the Orange Beach Art Fair in Alabama.

She explained that each photo is actually a Polaroid photo that was "smushed" (her term) before it completes the photographic process.  She'd use things like her fingernails, cuticle sticks, golf tees, etc to make marks on the newly emerging image. This gives such an interesting look to each photo, which just can't be replicated.  She then scans the Polaroid to make an e-negative so that she can print them like you would any other type of photo.

I wanted to buy on the spot, but couldn't make up my mind.  I was torn between two photos. Grandma's Chair and Pottery Barn.

Grandma's Chair

I took this photo at the art fair, so the light was bouncing off the glass like crazy.  But I have a little red and white step stool chair that was my grandmother's, so I was immediately drawn to this one.  The frame was red barnwood, which complemented the red in the photo which would fit right into my home because I have a lot of red tossed about :)

This photo earned Julie an award at the Orange Beach Art Fair, so that's very cool, too.  It means that she's invited back next year.  Guess that means I'm coming back next year, too!

Pottery Barn

I love love love pottery.  I eat out of pottery bowls or plates every day.  I love the feel of silky smooth glazes.  I love the colors and and and, I can go on for years about the things I love about pottery.  The one thing I don't have is a really cool photo of pottery.

So, I left the Orange Beach Art Fair knowing that I'd go to the Fairhope, Alabama Art Fair the following weekend and Julie, we're tight friends by this point, said she'd be there all weekend.  All week I thought about those photos.

Which one?

The chair or the pottery?

Chair or Pottery?

Red frame? or Black frame?

I still had no idea which one I would choose until I finally arrived at Julie's booth a week later at Farihope. Then as I was looking at both of the photos I realized that one place that I still hadn't placed a piece of art was at the front door.  It's a red wall and that black frame would be perfect.

But I still really loved Grandma's Chair!

Julie then told me that the Pottery Barn photo was #1 out of 500.

SOLD!

It's not very often when you can get the first one of an edition.  I mean, you have to be first!

Here it is, in place at my front door.  Beautiful!

Click on the photo to enlarge so you can see the gorgeous wood on this piece of art.  Julie's husband, Daryl Schmidt,  makes the frames for her artwork out of barnwood, old ladders or other rustic woods.  

Love it!

The first day I met Julie, I was gushing so much about how much I loved her work that she gave me this magazine.  It is the 2009-2010 Guide to Harbor Country.  It serves the Michigan cities of Michiana, Grand Beach, New Buffalo, Three Oaks, Union Pier, Lakeside, Harbert and Sawyer, where Julie lives!  The guide featured Julie's work throughout the magazine and on the cover, shown above. 

Each new topic in the Guide had a little blurb to what could be found in that section and then three Polaroid shots of Julie's work. 

And look!  Under the shopping topic is Grandma's Chair!  I may have to frame this page.

I went back to the Fairhope Art Fair with Leigh (Tales from Bloggeritaville) and Jennifer (Dust Bunny Hostage) and we spent a good 30 minutes in Julie's booth.  Both Leigh and Jennifer bought the book that she had and we all admired the beautiful artwork and frames.  I contemplated buying Grandma's Chair again.  I realized that it was #22 of 500.  Twenty-two being my favorite number, but I resisted, kicking and screaming.

I'm so pleased with my purchase and it was worth the three trips combined to both art fairs to get to know Julie Schwarz.  She was so much fun and infinitely interesting.  I can't wait to see her again next year.


Have a wonderful Monday!
Kristin

Goat Bunny Tale

Leigh, Kristin, Jennifer

This is just one of the many happy stories of bloggers meeting one another. This particular meeting had the Tales of Bloggeritaville meeting The Goat. Dust Bunny Hostage had already met Tales and Goat, but we decided to invite her along anyway :) She's taller than us, so we really didn't have a choice.

Oh I jest!

It's always so much fun to get together.  Leigh (Tales from Bloggeritaville) brought her Mom along, too - so we were actually a group of four.  We met at the Fairhope Art Fair on Sunday, the coldest day of the weekend, I do believe, and we shivered and shopped and talked and talked.  We ate lunch, too. 

I have to tell you, I forgot to bring an extra battery so my camera was rendered useless.  I had to borrow Dust Bunny's camera, but I was so defeated that I only took a few shots.    I can't begin to explain how much fun this little adventure was - we wandered around the fair and I loved seeing what caught the attention of our group. 

This was one of the very first booths that we passed and it was an immediate hit.  Leigh and her mom, in red, are looking through the antique spoon handle rings looking for the initial "B."  They found a K for me, but I knew I would never wear it - heck I rarely wear my wedding ring!  The windchimes called Leigh's mom though and just moments before we left the fair she splurged and bought a windchime made of flattened spoons.  The sound it made was just lovely.  I'm so glad she got it. 

Leigh never did see a B, as far as I know, although there were a lot of cool rings in this booth.  The belts on the far right of the photo are flattened spoons!  Everyone thought that it was a look that Leigh would wear - and when she held them up to her waist, it was confirmed - she would look great in them.  She chose not to buy them though.  That's alright, you can't buy everything at these places.

I was thinking that I didn't buy anything when I was with the girls, but ya know, I did!  My Mom had mentioned that she'd like to have a map of the area to hang up at the condo (which I am tongue in cheek calling "the retirement home.")  I don't think this map is what she had in mind, but I love these hand drawn maps.  This particular one is by Linda Theobald.  You can click the photo to enlarge it - it's kind of hard to see this small.

There were several antique shops, consignment shops and thrifty little shops along the art fair route and Leigh and her mom had to steal a peek in them.  It was great to see Thirfty Thursday in action!  Jennifer (Dust Bunny Hostage) and I tended to stand outside and jab away.  I found that Jennifer and I could have a talking competition and I still don't know who would win! 

At 5pm we got back on the shuttle to our cars and said goodbye in the parking lot.  However, Jennifer gave Leigh and I a gift (which I have not photographed) but I love it!  It's a jar full of wooden spools of thread.   I have always admired the wooden spools but have never collected them, I'm thrilled to pieces that I was given this gift.  Thanks so much dear bunny of dust.  I appreciate having something that you spent time collecting.  What a joy.

Now, here's the part that I have to admit that Jennifer and I didn't part ways quite yet.  Leigh needed to go retrieve her kids from her dad, but Jennifer and I just couldn't part, not quite yet.  So she took me up to Mobile Bay, through her little town and then back to my car.  We sat in the parking lot for another 30 minutes or so and we both knew that it was indeed time to part ways. 

Thanks Leigh!  Thanks Jennifer!  Thanks for making this meeting a wonderful event.  I can't wait to do it again.  Oh and to Leigh's Mom, Thank You for coming along.  It was an absolute JOY to meet you. 

Have a Fabulous Week!!

Kristin

Smashed Euros

What happens when you take a single Euro coin and a two cent Euro and put them into a machine? Why you get a smashed coin of course!

Before I left for Rome, I went to the Penny Collector site that I use and found that there are many international cities that have coin smashing machines.  I was determined to find a machine once I arrived in Rome since it looked like there were so many.  

Fortunately, I was able to find two separate machines! This one was at a souvenir shop right across the street from the Colosseum.  It had four options, but I only had two - 2¢ coins so I chose to get the Colosseum and the Wolf image. 

According to Roman legend, mythological twins,  Romulus and Remus were given nourishment by a wolf when their mother was imprisoned by the King.  Later, Romulus named the city of Rome after himself and killed his brother when he made a mockery of his efforts to protect his new city.  Romulus then became the King of Rome.

The image of the wolf feeding the twins is seen throughout the city.

This machine was at a souvenir shop near the Vatican.  The 2¢ piece above shows St. Peter's Bascillica and the coin below is of Papa Benedicto (Pope Benedict.)

I really like getting smashed pennies as my main souvenir because they are inexpensive, easy to carry and are fun to make. 

I brought the pennies home and put them in my book with the other smashed pennies that I have collected and of course, blogged about my good fortune!

I have missed being here each day.  I hope that the past two weeks have been as good to you as they were for me :) 

Kristin

Gifts in the mail

I love getting the mail.

It doesn't matter if it's a box full of bills, junk mail, or those checks I talked about yesterday -  I just love getting mail!

Every so often something completely and totally unexpected comes in the mail and I let out a little squeal of delight.

"I got ya something from Cali :)   Hillary"

This card came in the mail today - well, this was the inside of the card.   (The card itself was a design from Fabulous Stationery) which I totally love, but that's beside the point at this moment.

The point is that I opened the mailbox and grabbed all of the items and went back to my car and I saw a corner of an envelope hiding in the pile that had a familiar handwriting on it.

I could hardly wait to get into my condo.

On the way up in the elevator I was trying to figure out what my sister might want to tell me in a note.   It wasn't a wedding or a baby shower or birthday and it was too soon for Valentines. 

By the time I got into my condo and sat down to open the card I was truly stumped.  I had no idea.  Then when I opened the card I saw this!  I smiled from ear to ear.  It was a smashed penny that she got for me on her trip to California over New Years.  How exciting!  I love it!

Smashed pennies (or elongated pennies) are one of my many collections.  I have a book and a half of them so far and this is one collection that I don't mind having others help me fill.  Hillary has given me a penny from London, this one from Monterey, CA and another one that I can't quite recall at the moment.   Click Here to read about the last time I chatted about my penny collection.  More pictures of my pennies are included, too.

Have you ever had a collection that got out of control because everyone started buying you one of whatever it was you started collecting?  Those are the types of collections that I resist like the plague, but this penny collection is small, inexpensive and contained in a small book.   The penny smashing machines are sometimes a real challenge to locate, so it's a bit of a hunting game at times and a thrill when a penny machine is found unexpectedly.  The pennies are easy to carry and as you can see, they are very easy to mail.   This is one of my favorite collections, that's for sure.

Thanks Hillary!  I love it!

Kristin

The Guy

Remember a few months back when I talked about the guy in the above photo?  (here) OK, so it was nearly a year ago, so it's alright if you don't remember.  I was talking about Burger King and how I met this guy and we dated a few months and then I ended with a little sigh I'm sure because I have always wanted to see him again.  Just see him.  To know that he was OK, that he looked happy at least and well, I just really needed to see him one more time.  The last time I saw him was in 1988.  21 years ago. 

Since I had my 25th HS reunion earlier this month I've seen so many old friends and the memories just keep flooding back along with the memories of Pat.  The 4 months we had together have just been searing a hole in my brain.  I couldn't stop thinking about him.

I checked the internet again to see if I could find a phone number for him and nope, no phone.  I tried to figure out how to find a cell phone number, but that was pretty much useless because I wasn't going to pay for such information.  I checked his address once again and it said that he was still living in the same place where I last knew he was living.  I was going to see my friend Missy this evening (who is in the red sweatshirt with her back to us in the photo above) so when I arrived I said, will you come with me to Pat's house?  She said yes and an adventure began.

It took us about 30 minutes to drive to his house.  There were lights on and cars in the driveway.  No Beware of Dog signs or anything, so I was pretty sure I wasn't going to get eaten before anyone answered the door.  Missy stood back a ways while I knocked on the door and I kept thinking, "Woman or Man, Woman or Man."  I was wondering if I wanted the wife to answer the door or Pat to answer. Pat answered.  It took me a second to fully recognize him, but I did before he got the second door open.  He looked at me and I said his name and he said yes and held the door wide open and asked us to step in, but I wanted to make sure he knew who I was before I accepted, so I paused a moment and let him look at me again and said "I'm Kristin Corlett."

To say that a little look of shock came over his face is an understatement but to see his face light up in recognition of both the name and the mug standing before him was great.  I  introduced him to Missy, who he did not recognize immediately, but he did later when we started telling our stories of our double dates and other assorted mischief.

Pat's wife and children were in the house and they all came to say hello.   Pat's wife invited us to stay and chat, which was such a relief.  I told them right up front that I was just giddy to be there and so happy for the warm welcome.  We started in on the stories right away, just to break the ice and to help thaw out Pat's brain...it's only been 28 years since we dated :)  By the end of the evening Pat was telling stories about me that I hadn't remembered and had told the story of how we met.  I think of all the things, that was what was about the best...he remembered how we met and he remembered it the same way I had. 

We talked about the concerts we went to, my 16th birthday party, when we (all 4 of us) went Trick or Treating because Missy's little cousins were ill so we went for them, Pat picking me up in a Trans Am one day, going to the hospital the night his sister had a baby, and then some drinking stories that really shouldn't be shared online!  We packed a lot into those 4 months.

I can say this because it makes no difference to the day to day life that I lead, it won't change anything, but I have loved Pat since the very second I met him.  I have.  When I think of him I can only think of love.  It's pretty cool actually because for the past 28 years there has been a steady stream of good wishes and love being sent his way.  I'm betting that's why they let me in the door tonight :) 

When I left they told me to come back any time.  I nearly burst into tears.  He has a lovely family and they love him.  It's good to know it and to feel it.  Since I didn't know Pat at all (except for that brief meeting in 1988) after our little 4 month relationship he became the perfect mythic figure.  He was the best boyfriend, he went out of his way to do fun things with me, he took me places, he called me, he  was perfect, then we broke up and I obviously never got over him!  It turns out that he is real and not mythic, so that's great to know, too. 

So Pat, thank you.  Thank you to your wife, Sherry and your kids for letting Missy and I come into your home.  You folks have made my year -  I think I'll be smiling for a month.  If you ever want to come to Jacksonville, FL just let me know, I'd love to show you around.

Oh right!  before I forget here is the updated photo - Pat and Kristin 2009.  I told them that I was blogging about it and HAD to have a photo.

My Michigan adventure is coming to a close.  I leave on Friday morning.  Thanks everyone for the vacation of a lifetime. Who knew coming home could be so good.

Have a grand day!
Kristin

Burger King

Growing up, this building was a constant in my life.  I know that through the years the buildings changed and morphed into what we see today, but in my mind, this is the way a Burger King building looks like. You see, my grandfather opened up one of the first Burger Kings in Michigan and expanded until he had 8 stores in the Lansing, MI area.  My entire family worked there in one capacity or another.  This was our family business.

This is the King on a Bun. It may have an official name, but this is way I've always known it. I posted a photo of the King on a Bun that I have in my own home - HERE. He hangs in my laundry room and I smile every day when I see him. I actually don't remember this King in the stores, (in our family the Burger Kings were called stores) but I remember him more being a piece of art, hanging on the walls of family homes.

Now this King I remember. When I was in 2nd grade we did a local Burger King commercial where we had this king suit, which my mother wore, and I came up to the King and was handed a balloon. Then there was type that said come to a special event at these Lansing Burger King locations. When the commercial came out I was a mini celebrity in my classroom for about a day. It was fun.

This is my very favorite Burger King logo.  I really really really dislike the round BK symbol that's used now.  This one will always be the best :)  Gosh, growing up we had all kinds of Burger King logo items.  I think my sisters had more than I did because merchandising changed at some point and more logo items were available, but we had shirts, shoes, clocks, necklaces and even these weird Halloween decorations with a Burger King logo on them.   Those Halloween decorations were so cool.  I don't think a photo of them exists unfortunately.

When my Dad was the manager of one of the stores, this was his business card of sorts.  He used to hand these out all the time.  This is where I got that picture of the store in the first photo (sneaky, huh?!!)  He used to have a whole pile of these cards sitting on his dresser and I used to look at them, count them, pile them into stacks of ten and examining each one.  Who knew that the two that I have now would mean so much to me.  I really should get these framed.  Right now they are in a clear plastic box frame.  They need a frame.  They really do.

A while back I talked about and showed pictures of the Lansing Mall Burger King (here) where I worked as a kid.  Take a look if you haven't seen it before.  It's a hoot.

I hope you have a Fabulous Monday!

Kristin

EDIT EDIT EDIT

My mom scanned the photos from the Green Album

I'm inside - That's my mom :)

Left to right - my sister Alison in the high chair.  The Burger King sign with all of the bicycles lined up.  You'll have to get out your magnifying glasses for that one.
Second row - The store filled to the brim with the deCylces bike riders. (My Aunt Gail is holding my cousin Jody and the dark haired gal next to those two is my cousin Amy.)  My Uncles Matthew and Alan posing in my grandparents backyard.
Bottom row - The deCycles bikes and kids in the backyard.