The opening of Fayetteville Street

On Saturday, Bill and I got to participate in a parade to mark the opening of Fayetteville Street in Downtown Raleigh. We drove our Camaro and joined a group of about 18 other cars from our car club. It was so much fun!! There were more people than I ever imagined watching the parade. News accounts said about 20,000 people showed up. Everyone was so nice, waving to us and telling us how much they loved the car. Despite the 90 degree heat, it was well worth our time. We are so pleased to be one of the first cars to ever drive down Fayetteville Street.

Thanks to Jon for taking such wonderful pictures!!

I love a Parade!!

Beautiful Quote

I just read this quote from my feng shui class. I really like it.

You split me and tore my heart open and filled me with love. You poured your spirit into mine. I knew you as I know myself. My eyes are radiant with your light. My ears delight in your music. My nostrils are filled with your fragrance. My face is covered with your dew. You have made all things new. You have made me see all things shining. You have granted me perfect ease. I have become like paradise. - Egyptian papyrus, author unknown

The Art of Pizza

I finished a class last night called "The Art of Pizza". We learned the history of pizza as well as how to create a great pizza from scratch. The final project was to create a pizza that is a metaphor for yourself. Here is what I came up with:

Dough - tough at first, but warms as you work with it
Pesto Sauce - slightly nutty
Mozzarella Cheese - classic and traditional
Chipolte Marinated Chicken - spicy
Red Onion - sharp on the tongue
Yellow Peppers - sweet on top

In Equal Time...

Here is my husband Bill on his bike. He is a cutie, too!!

My Nephew Matthew

Here is my nephew Matthew with his new bike. Doesn't he look great? What a cutie!!

The news is depressing

There have been some interesting conversations about world news in my feng shui class. Many people have decided to go on a "news fast" because watching the news is so depressing. They (maybe we) feel that it brings us down too much, makes us sad, and depletes our energy. I can say that I do agree that the news depresses me. I hate to watch it - there never seems to be anything happy anymore. Yet, I still want to be informed - I want to know what is happening in this world of ours. I think I will stick with my initial idea - read the paper in the morning so I can digest the news over the day. No more TV news for me, except maybe The Daily Show. News with a bit of comedy - that may work!

The Devil Loves Prada

We saw the movie "The Devil Wears Prada" last night and I really enjoyed it. I am surprised to say that it is one of the few times that I actually liked the movie more than the book. Meryl Streep is incredible. She brought the crazy Miranda Priestly to life and added a little bit of humanity to her. She is an amazing actress and worth the price of admission.

The clothes, shoes, and bags were absolutely amazing as well. I could watch the movie again just for the costumes. Would I make a deal with The Devil for Prada? Probably...

Why not me?

I am currently taking an on-line creative writing course. I really enjoy it. I like learning and playing with my writing. I like reading other people's posts. I am the person who always encourages my fellow classmates who think they cannot accomplish their goals. The question is, why can't I be my own cheerleader?

I can write a glowing message to Maggie saying she can accomplish all of her dreams. I tell her rejection and/or criticism is just a tool to make her story stronger. I can believe in a faceless woman named Maggie. Why is it so hard to believe in Susan?

Bush's Veto

Well, I was wondering what I would write about today, and this story just fell in my lap. President Bush just vetoed - his first veto in 5 1/2 years-the bill for stem cell research. I have to say I am disappointed with this news because I do support this research. I think the thing that bothers me most is that Bush seems to have issued the veto because he is personally opposed to the bill. There are many Republicans who do not oppose the bill. Heck, most Americans do support this research. So, is it proper for one man to make the ultimate decision about this bill? I thought we are living in a democracy. Election time will tell.

Dave and Carmen - Oh no!!

I am truly saddened to hear that Carmen Electra and Dave Navarro are splitting. It is so sad that marriages don't last anymore. Dave and Carmen seemed to have it all. They lead the rock star life - they even had a TV show about their courtship. I thought this marriage would last forever. Dave decided to have their engagement picture taken by having them lay naked on embalming tables, toe tags visible, and just barely holding hands. She went along with it! A match made in heaven is now over - what will the normal folks do?

On a hot Sunday afternoon...

Yesterday, we spent the early afternoon working outside on our front and back yards. It might seem stupid to be working outside when the temperatures are soaring over the 90 degree mark. It would not have been my first choice for the day, but it needed to be done. Our poor backyard was so overgrown. There were weeds choking our flower garden and air conditioner units. The crepe myrtle was sprouting from the base. The Bradford pear tree was covering a complete corner of the yard. I am pleased to say that with 2 1/2 hours of effort, one yard waste bucket, 2 brown refuse bags, and many tools, the yard looks about a million times better. Even Sammy took notice. She went out and looked around like she had never seen the place before. A job well done feels very good indeed.

Can you blame the Plame?

I am really not a political person, but I do feel for Valerie Plame. I am glad that she has filed a lawsuit against the idiots in the Bush Administration. Of course, the government leaked her identity on purpose. I bet the government does things like that all the time. Her husband was sent to Niger to find out if Saddam was getting ingredients for WMD from them, He finds nothing, reports it to the government, and goes about his life. Later, Bush says that they have found evidence of WMDs and cites Wilson. Wilson write a rebuff - telling the truth the government does not want to hear. So, what happens? The government leaks the ID of his wife to punish him. She will get nowhere with her lawsuit, but at least she is keeping the issue front and center.

Why is every office FFC?

Why is it that every office I have worked in has been freezing fu$#ing cold? I mean, I like my job (mostly). However, every day I come to work, I am freezing in about an hour. I keep a cardigan sweater and a wrap in my desk drawer. I drink hot green tea at least once a day. I go outside for lunch when it is 95 degrees because it feels so good!!! It's not just here, either. I kept a space heater under my desk. I had it running during the summer.

All I ask is why is it so cold?!?!?!?!?!

Is my head still there?

Do you ever feel like your head is just going to explode? I have been working on my on-line beginner's writing workshop. The latest task it to use strong words to convey your ideas without being overblown and cliche. It is much harder to do than one would think. I have been looking at 4 sentences for an hour - revising them over and over again. This writing stuff is so much harder than it seems.
To top it off, there is this guy in my class who writes the strangest things. He just critiqued this poor girl and blasted her over a typo!! He spent several sentences stating how much better "owned" would be rather than "wonded". I mean really, like your stupid sentence made no sense whatsoever. I think he just thinks he is a big intellectual. Well, bring it on!!

Check out my nephew

My nephew, Tyler, is a star! He has his first photo shoot and landed in this Macy's ad. The kid has talent at just 16 months!!

Tyler is the baby holding the block in the lower left corner. What a cutie!!

Sharing my writing

I have been taking a class in creative writing. It is something I have wanted to do, but was afraid for a long time. Now that I am doing it, I have really been enjoying myself. It is time to share a piece I wrote using the random words bride, car keys, and grocery store. Please leave your feedback.



The bride, the store & her car keys
Submitted by: Susan
“Where is the hairspray?” I hear someone shout at the top of her lungs. As I look up from my register at the grocery store, I see a red faced blond in a huge white dress with yards of embroidered satin trailing after her scream at Jimmy. “Did you hear me, where is the hairspray!” she screams again. Poor Jimmy, he has never been good at dealing with upset customers. He finally stammers “Aisle 5” as she has already turned on her 3 inch white heels to walk away. Her friend, wearing a long pale blue strapless gown with a matching gauzy shawl, tries to apologize before she runs after the bride. “Melissa” she calls “we’ll get the hairspray and have you looking beautiful in plenty of time for the wedding.” Melissa stares down her friend and screams “Jenna, if you hadn’t forgotten the hairspray, we wouldn’t be in this disgusting store right now, would we?” I realize that I will be the next target of Melissa’s wrath as she bears down on my register. “Hurry up, will you?” she asks me condescendingly. I hustle her through the line as Jenna gives me a look of apology. I try to give her a small smile as they leave the store in a cloud of white fury. I look down and my smile grows bigger. I spy sweet Melissa’s car keys still sitting on the conveyor belt.

Advanced Interior Design - Check!

I finished my advanced interior design class yesterday. Here is a look at my final project - the transformation of our master bedroom. I really enjoyed this project. It was fun to visit home stores to look for new fabrics and bedding. I would love to make it a reality - maybe some day.

Ancestors

I have been going through lots of old papers that I got when my Dad moved. I have been very lucky to find many old letters and books about my family's history. I have loved reading the letters that my great grandmother sent to my grandmother while she was at college from 1939-1943. It has been fascinating to read about the times - what was going on in their personal lives and what was going on in the world. I have also read the letters that my father sent to my mother while he was stationed in Vietnam. I have read letters that friends and family sent to me while I was in Europe over the summer. It is so sad to think that future generations might not have writing like these letters to read. I guess that is also part of the reason I write this blog - to preserve my thoughts on a daily basis. I just wish that I could talk to all of those folks who are now gone.

Ken Lay is dead!

I was reading one of my other favorite blogs this morning, http://www.jennsylvania.com, and I have to agree with her comments. I do find it to be curious timing that Ken Lay up and died before his sentencing. I have read about the autopsy reports, but I sure hope someone really checked to see if it was him. DNA testing, stat!!

Here is an interesting site

If you love fashion and telling people what to do as much as I do, you might like http://www.dresskevin.com. This poor fellow has no fashion sense and needs help dressing each day. You can also suggest things for him to buy for his wardrobe. If only I could get someone to let me do that for him...

Happy 4th of July!!

Happy Independence Day to all our friends and family!! We are enjoying the 5 day holiday weekend - so sad to see it ending. Tonight we will go out with a bang - hot dogs, sauerkraut, corn on the cob, and baked beans. That should keep us "banging" all night long!

Wild and Wonderful West VA

Just got back from a weekend trip to West Virginia. We went up there with a group of friends for a weekend of white water and camping. I used to hate the idea of camping - sleeping in a tent, miles away from the nearest facilities. This camping is great. We are in a campground about 50 feet from hot showers and running toilets. Nothing to do but sit around a camp fire, drink some beer, and eat everything in sight.
Since there has been so much rain in the Eastern US recently, we got a special treat. We were able to run the lower Gauley River - a river not usually open until the fall when Summerville Dam is opened and fills the river. It was great to be on a different river (been down the New four times). As much fun as it was, it was a tough day for me. I think I got drenched everytime we got a wave. I fell out of the boat twice. The first time was in a rapid called Mash. A wave just threw me out of the raft, but I grabbed the strap on the side of the boat. I was able to float with it until Bill could pull me back in. The second time, I was ejected from the boat when we beached on a rock in the middle of a rapid. I landed on my back on top of the rock (thank goodness it was a big one). I am still pretty sore, but overall, a good trip. I can honestly say that I have never had an adventure quite like this past weekend!