WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

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DESIGNING WOMEN - You, Too, Can Be Julia!

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Julia Sugarbaker was always my favorite among the incredible Designing Women team. I admired her ability to master the English language in the face of any situation with such grace, such satire, and such tongue-in-cheek (or not!) skill.

Here's a look at Julia in action...

In celebration of Designing Women's First Season being released to DVD today, NPR's "monkey see" site has made it possible for you to experience "becoming Julia" by creating your own "Julia Rant." Based on the MadLibs game, this exercise is great fun for any fans of Ms. Sugarbaker. Enjoy!

The resulting "rant" is Julia's response to Monday night's new episode of "The Bachelorette." Here's what my Julia has to say!

I would rather spend two hours sharing pigs in a blanket with John Dillinger than watch a woman who apparently purchased her intellect at Kmart for two cents chase twenty-five men with biceps made of copper and heads packed with Rice Krispies.

Because when future generations look upon what we have left for them, which may by then be little more than global warming and millions of non-biodegradable Ipods, I fear they will conclude that they would have welcomed bread and circuses if only they had realized the alternative was pork rinds and Jon & Kate Plus 8.

[sits down and crosses arms, but then immediately stands back up]

And let me tell you a little something about romance: Handing out roses like you are a mascot throwing peanut M & M’s to the assembled hooligans at a soccer game is not my idea of romance. Romance is a man who knows the difference between John Adams and John Travolta and who is capable of putting on a necktie without scratching his head as if he is connecting a DVD without the instruction manual.

So do not ask yourself why I do not particularly enjoy a television show where the assembled male candidates represent romantic prospects inferior to the workers on the night shift at the Applebee’s in Savannah. Ask yourself whether, after a lifetime playing with a cultural Playstation and dancing on the grave of Mr. Darcy, you will ever...recover...your dignity.

WHERE HAS IT GONE?

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I have been seriously AWOL the last six weeks or so due to life, etc. (as those closest to me understand) and from my sporadic posts you've been able to ascertain some of the significant changes ~ your comments, cyber hugs, thoughts and prayers have been appreciated.

But as I face a rapidly approaching end of May and beginning of June, I ask, goodness, where did spring go? Summer will be upon me before I know it ~ "soccer girl" has less than two weeks left of school and leaves immediately for a "whirlwind" trip to Paris with my sister and brother-in-law....alas, leaving me behind, LOL! She is counting down the days and trying desperately to stay focused on these final days of classes, finals, and yes, still soccer, having made the final ODP pool for the state team. It is most hard for me to believe that in a few short days she will "officially" be a senior in high school -- that makes me ask, "Where has it gone?" indeed!

I am trying to refocus and re-center my energies in my jewelry ~ my muse and motivation took a hiatus as well these last few weeks which was to be expected, I suppose. I am busy again,

• re-vamping my ArtFire shop - you can check out the new look here:

SignatureSterling on ArtFire

• designing and creating again:

~ SUMMER GARDEN Earrings

• opening a new shop at a brand new site ~ Twolia, online now but grand opening will be in June!

SignatureSterling at Twolia

And, now, no more "where has it gone?" Time to look ahead, to the now, to the summer and to celebrate what is, what will be and what will lay ahead. I do not know what's in store, but I know with certainty that the surprises of life will always be filled with grace.

MONDAY REFLECTIONS

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FOR TODAY, May 18, 2009

Outside my window...sunshine is streaming, a hopeful spring Monday...

I am thinking...of my Dad, of Hannah, of Mom, and how my life circles and journeys ahead.

From the learning room...are a couple of wire and beading books waiting for me.

From the kitchen...will be Hannah's "last meal" request before her surgery :-)...whoops, "no nose, Mom!" :).

I am wearing...my pj's still...

I am creating...played with alcohol inks this past week with Ellen and am "hooked" so will be anxious to get some new materials and "play" again.

I am going...to be sticking close to home as Hannah recuperates.

I am reading...not enough - too much "life" interrupting and need to get back to the stack...

I am hoping...that Mom feels better today, that Hannah's surgery goes well with a quick recovery, that Dad's spirit is abounding as the glads are planted this week...

I am hearing..."Your Eyes Are Open," Keane (pandora.com)

Around the house...Hannah and I are organizing chores...again... ;P

One of my favorite things...will be my weekly "phone date" with Andrew, arranged now so that I should no longer just hear funky Tanzanian music when I call...

A few plans for the rest of the week:
planting glads; helping Hannah recuperate - plans include a Harry Potter marathon and much studying - exams soon after she returns (!!); much needed Abby fixes; watching soccer games maybe - but NOT having a player this weekend; hopefully our traditional Memorial Day summer kick-off cookout

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

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MONDAY REFLECTIONS

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FOR TODAY, May 4, 2009

Outside my window...the morning is cloudy, warm and green...

I am thinking...of my Dad, of how quickly the loss occurred - just a week ago he was still with us as we waited for a miracle.

From the learning room...not sure I'm ready for moving forward yet.

From the kitchen...lots of left-overs still with Mom so we'll be sharing I'm sure for a few days.

I am wearing...my pj's, of course.

I am creating...waiting for my muse to return after grief is finished with me.

I am going...to take Hannah and friend to ODP state pool training this week, trying to get back in routines.

I am reading...

I am hoping...that Dad knows how much he is missed and how much I will always love him.

I am hearing..."Dad's Jazz," the compilation of wonderful jazz standards that were playing before and after his service on Saturday.

Around the house...there should be enough to do to keep me busy.

One of my favorite things...was seeing Dad's legacy ~ family and friends gather from all over the country to celebrate his life.

A few plans for the rest of the week:
helping Hannah return to routines, supporting Mom as everyone departs and we find our way without him

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...

IF DAD WAS ON FACEBOOK

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In the final weeks of his life, Dad raised the question many times about joining the FB community. After all, there was a growing number of family members regularly posting updates, photos, and communicating with each other, and most recently, he had received an invitation from a Glad World friend asking him to join FB so that Dad might see his gladiolas. I mean, how could he resist such temptation?

Now the discussion among family members about the prospect of Dad on FB was filled with humor. While he was incredibly talented in his professional career, Dad had always been "technologically-challenged." When Scotts first issued computers to its sales team and sent its managers for corporate training, Dad returned, proudly proclaiming that he had learned a great deal about his "calculator." Dad's running jokes about his computer knowledge generally centered on one of these two - "How many 'K's' does it have?" or "You probably just need some more 'K's.'"

Dad's struggle with change and consumer advancements became the basis of family mythology, with the stories truly being more fact than myth. His first experience with a drive-through fast-food restaurant was at the Kentucky Fried Chicken in Marysville, a carload of children giving food requests to Mom with Mom providing a summary of the order to Dad. Suddenly a scratchy voice called out, "Welcome to KFC, may I take your order?" There was a very pregnant pause, Dad began to stutter quietly, then more loudly, and finally shouted, "CHICKEN!"

And then, of course, there was the everlasting "clicker" problem. The TV clickers, the cable box clicker - and of course, different "clickers" for the bedroom TV because it used a different setup...."Lois, what channel is MSNBC again?"

That's right, Dad needed Mom to watch TV...Dad needed Mom for most everything, and they made a terrific team. Several years ago Dad was named editor of Glad World, the bulletin of the NAGC (North American Gladiola Council). Editor? What a wonderful job and title for a "closet writer"! Well, just a bit of a "hitch" when Dad discovered that as editor he had to completely prepare the 50-80 page magazine type publication for the printer each time - yes, he would need to use a "calculator" aka computer, word processing program, and wait, oh, no, graphics program. "Lois....!" A few years later the NAGC dutifully named Dad and Mom co-editors of the bulletin. Dad continued to do all the writing and proofreading; Mom did a wonderful job with layout and print preparation.

So, Dad on Facebook? Well, it could have happened....

• Of course, Mom would have to log Dad in every time as even if he could have finally figured out how to operate the "calculator," he would have become lost immediately as he always referred to FB as "Spacebook."


• All of you would have been his "friends."


• His status often would have read "Jack G. Welch is relaxing in the recliner watching Y & R after a morning of working on the glads."


• His groups would have been Family and Friends of Peace Corps Volunteers, My Pond is Bigger than Your Pond, Gladiolus Flowers, English Bulldogs Rock!, All of You Who Love Jazz, One Day My Stamp and Baseball Card Collections Will Pay for My Great-Grandchildren's College Education, Body Surfing, Union County Democrats, and I will make an excellent curmudgeony old person (yes, that is a real FB group).


• He would be a fan of MSNBC, The Young and the Restless, The History Channel, Keith Olberman, Ice Road Truckers, Survivor, the Cleveland Indians, and The Vicar of Dibley.


• His favorite applications would be Pass a Drink, Lil Green Patch, Mafia (which he would have already won by now),weRead, and I think we all know what the answer would be if he took the quiz "What Swear Word Are You?"


• He would, undoubtedly, post the most profound notes for all of us to read - to make us laugh, to make us think, to make us cringe, to make us remember him.


• Finally, he would have the most fun changing his profile picture often. But always, it would have Mom by his side, as she has been, every step of the way.