With the stroke of a pen

We got the news yesterday - we are officially off the market!  Of, course, something could go horribly wrong with the inspection and torpedo the whole deal - but we're going to assume that won't happen.

Tim is here this weekend, grilling, mowing, and throwing out shoes, and will stop on his way back tomorrow, to look again at a house in Grimes and get things started on that end.

This is the last week of classes for me.  I was able to finish my public speaking class early - submitting my final speech on Thursday.  There is a paper - Bruckner's "Symphony No. 4 in E-flat Major" (Romantic) - to write and final test in my music class.  And an easy finish for the library class.

Packing can begin in earnest.  The city sponsored cleanup week begins Saturday, and I have my list and several growing piles to contribute to the beauty of our fair city.

It will take more than the overcast skies and the threat of rain forecast for the week to ruin my good mood.

It appears we have an offer....

Catching up

Well, a lot has happened since I last sat at the keyboard.  Tonight, when I returned from my travels, I found there was no wireless service at my house. (Yikes!)  Visions of schlepping to the library to do my schoolwork, etcetcetc began to flash before my eyes...
However during my nightly conversation with Tim, he mumbled something about disconnecting this and bypassing that to reconnect directly to something else - no reason I couldn't do it.  OR call technical support...
I did it.
Any way - laundry is under way, the loose ends from travel are being tidied.

We had a great time with Naphtali and Aidan.  I saw the new facility (under construction) in Grimes.

That's it for tonight.

A *Look*

I caught part of an fascinating program on PBS the other night. They were discussing the impact of Helena Rubinstein and Elizabeth Arden; their innovative market strategies, their whole woman approach (poise, carriage, health, as elements of beauty), and the adjustments required over such long careers.  

Every now and then the subject of creating/claiming one's signature *look* arises in an article or blog post.  Madame Helena definitely had a look.  It was distinctive, elegant and served her well at every age.

Over the years I have generally chosen the *no look* look as my look.  I've never understood the appeal to look the same every single day.   My hair is thick, wavy and adaptable and I have chosen to wear it in a variety of styles, sometimes from day-to-day.

Up: loose or sleek.  Down: straight, sleek, wild, restrained, or some combination of the above.  

Waiting for the last of this bad haircut to grow out I think I've reached the length where it will probably remain.  I do like my options, after all.

Madame Helena has caught my attention and I am actually thinking about thinking about cultivating a look.  In my mind the key to her look was it's timelessness.  Or appropriateness for any age. (On the opposite end of that idea I have to admit that images of June Allyson flash across my consciousness from time to time.)  I know that it involves more than just a hair style and both Arden and Rubinstein lived full and interesting lives which added to their appeal and stature as exemplars of beauty.

 I'm thinking about it. 

The proverbial lull

(sorry about the eyes...)

I truly enjoyed having Naphtali and Aidan here last week.  A fast moving Minnesota snowstorm kept them here an extra day.  With Tim in for both weekends it has been a bounty of family, good conversation, and fun.

I'm so glad they were able to visit!

I'm also glad I was about a week ahead on my studies - not much got done with all the distractions - meaning that now I'm pretty much right on track again.

With travel plans for the next two weekends I'll have to make every minute count this week.  (optimistic, n'est-ce pas?) 

Valerie will be in Iowa for a quick visit next weekend so my mother is trying to get all the girls together.  I'm sure there will be laughter and some wild scrabble competition.  My mother offered to let Charlie join us (!) but Tim said they would hang out together.  

The following weekend will find Tim, Charlie and I in New Brighton for Aidan's birthday.  

Busy, busy, busy.