The real nitty gritty has begun on the house.
Dust covers the heavy duty plastic covering on the furniture in the kitchen and dinning room. New copper pipes replace old rotted ones. Parts of the living room and kitchen have been knocked out to make way for a new bathroom on the main level. Old furniture pieces have been donated.
My back (and even a part of my chest) hurts from all of the packing, moving and even carrying my child around on a daily basis.
Change is here and in a big way.
In the midst of packing up my bedroom I've thrown away a lot things.
A couple of old book bags filled with classwork from my junior and high school years, old and broken trinkets and donated just about my entire closet of clothes and shoes to charity; stuff I hadn't worn since the late 80s and well into the 90s.
I came across old printed out emails, including one from my "Him from New York"; professing his "love" for me. Whatever...
I've come across many pictures and loose chance.. I didn't realized I had so many pictures and money scattered about.
In the midst of all of this change I can't help but wonder what is in store for the future.
Indeed I'm in this new phase in life, but I don't know how to describe it. It almost feels as if I'm in the same position I was in during my first brink of real change.... very pivotal.
The urge to write has hit me and I'm a bit frustrated cause within this week alone soooo much had to be done before the walls could be knocked into no time to really write. i just pray that the thoughts retain in my head, even as I dream.
Now that the renovation work has officially begun, it sort of caught everyone in the household a little off guard - even though we've known about this since the planning stages. Yet, to see a drastic change to your HOUSE go on right before your eyes is "a hold your breath" kinda thing.
This is indeed not only a change in my life but in my parents as well. For 28 years all of us have LIVED in this house - a house that was originally built in the 50s(?) by an old white guy - who built it for him and his grown son. His son never moved in, because one the house was finished he had gone to live elsewhere and started a family on his own. This is the story my old Italian (next door) neighbor would tell our family over and over.
Speaking of which I miss Ms. Lovisa dearly. I grew up fascinated by her well kept garden in the backyard and her mini vineyard. Who ever heard of a mini vineyard with grapes growing wildly in Southeast Washington, DC? Ms. Lovisa may have very well left Italy, but Italy didn't leave her. And yes.. she did make wine and didn't hesitate in sharing with my father. She even picked me up from school a couple of times - once with a visiting relative from Italy and I got an earful of spoken Italian as I sat back and smile and nodded as if I understood.
It broke my heart when she was no longer able to care for herself. Her family placed her in a nursing home clear on the other side of town... more so in Montgomery County, MD near her sister. Her house was sold and I was a bit angry at the folks who now live in "Ms. Lovisa's House." How dare they get rid of her garden and dig up her beautiful peonies!
Again.. that was a change I wasn't ready for just yet.
Along with this change that is occurring there's Papi. I find myself haunted by past lovers; with opportunities that I could have jumped on but left alone. I'm definitely not the same girl. Each day I'm wanting Papi more and more. Still it's one day at a time. Just be. Last night we had gone to see The Roots and Erykah Badu perform. What's strange is, I've never been the cuddle in public type, but there I was with my head resting on his shoulder or my arm contently on his leg as Erykah Badu sang her heart out.
Side note: Can I just say I looked and felt sexy. I rarely say this often, even if it is about myself but I was hot! I found a dress at Torrid.. something like this - minus the pockets and mine is a dark gray. My jewelry from the Lalia Rowe store in Tyson's Corner... something like this - my necklace was multi-color with pastels pink, yellow, a mint green and light blue. My black six inch Steve Madden pumps and my black clutch from Aldo. Oh and of course the right touch of MAC make up. I even wore a little eyeshadow which is something I do once is a blue moon. Ironically, I matched Papi who was wearing gray and black; which is something I loathe when I see a couple matching. However, I had no idea he was going to wear such. Too bad we didn't take any pictures.
Change is in the air and I'm not talking about Obama's madness.
I feel like shedding more skin.
Recognize. Accept. Embrace.
Change.. feel it
Show us a photograph from a wedding.
Submitted by Connie.
August 19, 1999. Santa Cruz Boardwalk in the front seat of the Giant Dipper. The train is FULL of our friends and family. We'd gotten married on the pier just 30 min prior and this was our first ride as Mr. and Mrs. Lehman. We are wearing the shirts we tie dyed for the event, every one is - we made 70. hm... I look younger now than I did in the photo and Ben looks older now! Wait, is that HAIR on his head?! <3
Hey, I'm not one to pass on free food and drinks and with the economy they way it is today - I'm all over it! T marked the calendars to make sure we got free Southern Style Chicken sandwiches from McDonald's today and also the free iced coffee Dunkin Donuts gave away all day today (until 10 PM). Both were great!
This year's Bike To Work Day wouldn't've been the same without her.
Objects in photo may be smaller than they appear
Vox, vox...5 break up songs? Sheesh. A song that signifies a break up to one person could just as easily mean love an devotion to another! And 5? I've had many relationships but I did not put each one to music. I guess it would all depend on whether you are the breaker or the broken, eh? Ok, here you go vox, a few songs I've cried too.
First - the TOONS - This album came out in 1982. I designed the cover and art directed the photo shoot. My (then) husband was their recording engineer and I was - their friend. A bit more perhaps to one of them. It left me feeling sad a lot of the time, but I would not change a thing about my past. The Toons were a part of it and I loved them and their music.
The song "where are you tonight"- was written my by friend and one night at his house he was playing and singing it and I sang along. From then on I would be invited up on stage when the Toons were performing to sing harmony to this song. I adored this song. Then something happened that made it impossible to sing with them. I was in the audience, and ignored. It broke my heart. Not that I was no longer singing this song, but that I had been "broken up with" and yet - was there ever anything to break up from? Not in my mind. These were my friends. I still consider them my friends. I loved that time in my life and I always will.
All my stuff is here, so this may be the last video post about my move!
Bonus photo of the damaged boxes in the ReloCubeTM at art is the new religion.
Grab your helmet, check the air in your tires, and hop on your bike because in many U.S. cities, May 12 - 16 is Bike to Work Week! Six Apart has a lot of biking enthusiasts, so we're very excited to support this event by encouraging all of our employees to bike to work this week. San Francisco's Bike to Work Day is tomorrow, Thursday, May 15th, and New York's is Friday, May 16th.
Six Apart is helping out its employees by providing maps (shaded according to steepness - a must in SF!) to help everyone plan out his/her route, as well as finding first-time riders buddies to commute with. We're also supporting ALL SF riders who pass the front of our office by handing out coffee, juice and snacks from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. tomorrow morning. If you're in our neighborhood, look for the sign that says "Six Apart Supports Bike to Work Day" and stop by to say hi and get energized!
Improve your health, financial status, productivity, and happiness by joining thousands - maybe even millions - of commuters around the country who are hopping on their bikes to get to work. Visit the Bike to Work Week website to find out more about events in your area.
Support the two-wheeled way of life with the "Passing Left" theme found in "Photo-Based" in the Design Area. Planning on cycling to work this week? Let us know in the comments!
I woke up this morning with the inexplicable need to listen to Dio. "Holy Diver" is a pretty incredible song, but check out the video:
There is a new kiosk right by my office that serves Blue Bottle! Best! Day! Ever!
