More Hearts

A dear, dear friend came over for a sewing date this past Sunday. While she cut, I stitched. We chatted. We ate. We jammed to Missy Elliot and Lil' Kim. Hootie Hoo! It was a modern day quilting bee. Not only was it fun, but it was productive!

Take a look:


With this second batch o' squares, I've got 25 in total. I can hardly believe it. There are some famous swatches here (click on the pic for a closer view) - anyone notice anything familiar? Stacy? Connie? Nicole? Ally? Debi? Barb? There are also special bits and pieces from my cousin, some local pals and my sewing buddy...she and her hubby both gave me a wish. Their heart is in the bottom left corner - they make a cute couple, don't you think?

This weekend I'll take some time to match up some more fabric and start the assembly line again. I'm going to keep on making these hearts until I grow weary of the project - it calls for 77, but I might just make it to 177 at the rate I'm going. I wanted it to be bigger than the original pattern anyway.

Nothing like a fresh batch o' hearts to lift the spirit.


PS - BTW, it has been 10 months since our LID was issued. We've hit the double-digits...and I think that we finally qualify for veteran status at this point.

Rubber Spoons vs. Rubber Rooms

I have been soo good. I have resisted many, many fun little purchases here and there. I've all but stopped even looking in the baby department for cute little thing-a-me-bobs that BabyZ can't live without. I've saved my pennies and it has felt great. It has payed off, even.

Something snapped a little last week, though. I broke down. I hit my fave Impulse Shopping Store that just happens to be walking distance from my office. Perfect lunchtime activity for a day that was a little rough going.

It all started with this unidentified, yet slowly building tension I've been feeling recently...timeline on that is sketchy. Then, there was a little bit of snappish domestic quarreling pre-dinner Monday that was completely unnecessary. And then there were the notices about this months meager allotment of referrals. 11 days! Three months to get through October 05! Damn! Crap!

Tuesday brought an annoying email from someone who has no idea how her words get to me sometimes. And, just before lunch same day - a crappy, crappy, annoying meeting that I could not escape. Torture, I tell you...agonizing. Too much for so early in the week.

This perfect storm of annoyances is what lured me to the aforementioned fave Impulse Shopping Store for a little lunchtime retail therapy. Originally I was only after some new music (read: Arcade Fire's new album) and wound up in the baby aisle.

Of course.

I walked out of the place, about $30 lighter and 10 times happier because I got myself some very cool new red sunglasses, the new tunes, fun summer socks, an US magazine, a Diet Dr. Pepper....and these:


Pretty little baby chewy spoons. My fave colors - kelly green, light purple, fuschia.

Happy. Spoons. Mine.

Baby girl may be a long ways away from joining our family - but we are going to be so ready for her. In our hearts and in our spoon drawer.

Happy colors + rubber chewiness x nesting over the long haul = tenacious love.

Very Good Intentions

A little while back I posted a list here with eight things that I wanted to accomplish within the next eight months. I am very surprised by how powerful doing that was. I'm actually ticking things off of the list! And, it has only been a month and a half!!!

Wow.

I've tried hard to be intentional in my life. Usually my intentions are conversations and plans that I have with myself. Stuff that I know that I'm doing but nobody else necessarily does. A groovy friend of mine suggests that when you put your intentions out "to the universe" - you will see results. I suppose that is what I did back in January when published that list for all of blog-land to see.

Perhaps shouting out intentions is more effective than whispering them?

So far: I've started learning the Red Velvet Cake, I've begun sewing up the Bai Jia Bei, we've been totally on save-mode and managed to put one whole paycheck into savings last month, baby's room is getting prepped....

And, I've been reconnecting with my garden!

Look at my happy plants:

Tulips poking out


Sedum raring to go


Rosebushes thank me for pruning them with lovely buds



The Snowdrops are a reminder that Spring is coming!


I think that Martha would be proud of my Hellebore


Foxgloves waking up


And beautiful fiddleheads ready to stretch


Still need to work on a few things such as getting back in the damn gym.

There, I said it. Actually, I shouted it. Now I really gotta do it.

The First Eleven/Can You See Me Now?

**Thanks for emailing me about my pics - I've tried re-loading everything again. I just find it odd that I've never heard/seen any problems here before. Here's hoping that this was some flukey thing - I'd hate to think of my blog sans pictures....(shudder)**



Last weekend we got some nice quality time with my folks. Mom and I worked on quilt stuff while the guys tweaked home theatre cables and wires. It really was a luxury to have so much time, such a beautiful afternoon and loads of fabric to inspire us.

There are a lot of things that I am enjoying about this Bai Jia Bei project - but the best so far is choosing the colors for the blocks. It is so much fun finding just the right two fabrics to sew together.

The next part....the cutting....not as much fun. I've learned the hard way to measure twice and cut once - these 8X8 inch squares of fabric only stretch so far.

Why eleven? No reason, actually, I got a little burnt out on cutting and that is where I stopped. One thing that I've learned with this kind of sewing is that it is good to have a sizeable batch lined up. It is more efficient to sew 11 sets of triangle heart bottoms vs. doing one block at a time. The upside to the assembly line strategy is that I feel as though I've accomplished quite a bit.

So, here are the First Eleven:


This pair has some Auntie Energy - my sister's "Fairy Princesses" on top & my aunt's Coca Cola pattern on the bottom.


These two come from a couple of special "Lindas" that I work with. The cats are flannel. You may remember my blog post about the brilliant red/yellow fabric a while back.

This is the Grandparent Trio: Dad's Railroad Fabric (paired with my Uncle's blue flannel piece), Mom's Vintage Alphabet Fabric (Q is for Quilt!) & Grandma Z's Purple Jungle Fabric (I love the Hippo)!


Next two are more Mom choices. She couldn't pick just one fabric - she ended up giving me FOUR fabrics that portray some meaningful aspect of her personality/our family. So thaaats where I get it from. Here is the angel fabric that she chose - unfortunately the poor angel in the bottom right lost her head in the sewing process. I paired the cute little teapots with more fabric sent by my sister (who gave me THREE different color-coordinated fabrics). Hmmmm, there seems to be a family tendency I'm noticing here.....


Here are the last two blocks - the top, pink ribbon one is from Mom. Every year we do the Race for the Cure as a family. It is a Mother's Day tradition. Finally, the pink fabric came from my grandmother. It was leftover from a dress that she made for herself back in the 70's for a very special event. I'm pretty sure that I got the sewing gene from her!


I'm getting really excited about how this is going to all go together!



BTW, a couple people asked about where I found the pattern. My neighbor loaned me a huge stack of pattern books a while back & I found it in the very last book I looked at - on the very last page. The title of the book is Fabric Shopping with Alex Anderson! Seems like she has a show or something b/c it says HGTV on the front cover. Here is a link.

Help!

People keep saying that they cannot see my pics. That has never happened before. Does anyone know what may be going on???

I can see them just fine.....

ramble on

create your own visited states map
or check out these Google Hacks.

Stephanie over at Forks & Chopsticks inspired me to look at my rambling ways this morning.

The map above details all the states that I've visited. Eight of these I've actually called home. I managed to rack up some significant mileage because we moved a lot during my kidhood...and because I am a big fan of the road trip.

Our family packed up the house and moved across country a la National Lampoon's Vacation years ago. This accounts for the red "stripe" that cuts through the map above. We got to stand in four states at one time in Four Corners , taste Mexican food for the first time and watch a storm move across the flatlands of Kansas - it seemed like you could see forever. Our musical accompanyment during this voyage Westward included the tunes of Hooked on Classics, the Urban Cowboy Soundtrack and Annie - the Musical. These were the only tapes (yes, cassette tapes) that we agreed on when the radio stopped picking up anything but the snowy static of the open road. I can still hear the fiddle solo from The Devil Went Down to Georgia like it was yesterday.

Yes, it was a Hard Knock Life...for us.
(Sorry, I couldn't help myself)

Other memorable roadtrips? Well there was the one that I took after meeting my future in-laws for the first time. Yes, we road tripped from DC to Florida the very first time we met. Made the trek in one day. We obviously were meant to be together.

Another particularly memorable journey took me from one end of Texas to the other following a band with an old boyfriend. Somehow that trip seemed longer than any of the other ones. Perhaps it was the drive-through-the-night-sleep-deprivation-related-hallucinations? I also did some MidWest exploration post college and some really great trips to Oregon on the Green Tortoise during my grad school days.

Looking at the map as a whole illustrates to me that I desparately need to explore the Southern part of the US. I had plans to visit Louisiana about 15 years ago during a trip to Texas but it fell through. When I was tapped by the Red Cross for deployment following Hurricane Katrina I thought for sure I'd wind up somewhere in the South, however, I ended up in a call center in Bakersfield, CA...go figure.

Someday I'll get there. There and the Badlands. And, what about Wisconsin?

Where have you been? Where are you going? Do you need any luggage?
(Does anyone get this reference?**)




Random Reference UpDate**

A few lines from a fave B52's Tune ~ Detour Through Your Mind...

"Who am I?
Where have I been?
Where am I going?
Do I need any luggage?
Can I bring my mother?


I need to leave my past behind -
I need to leave my behind in the past"

Ain't it da truth?

Brought to You By the Letter C

Connie inspired me to join in the fun with an Alphabet Round Robin. She chose the Letter "C" for me.

Here are 10 "C-Words" that I love.

1) Steve Carell & the Office

2) Crayola - NOTHING like a fresh box of crayons! Oh, the possibilities.


3) Curry/Cumin - The colors and the flavors.

4) Corduroy



5) Clerks - I adore Jay and Silent Bob. And, I have Kevin Smith's autograph!!

6) Hot Chips


7) Chez Panisse/Cooking - Alice Waters is an inspiration to me.

(Hey, a girl can like Cheetos AND Haricots Verts)


8) Cafe Latte - non-fat, no foam.

9) Lloyd Cole and the Commotions, CrosbyStillsNash&Young, Cameo, Chicago, Cocteau Twins and Chingy - My musical tastes are all over the map.
I'm very fickle & love to CHANNEL SURF (another "C").

10) CHINESE NEW YEAR - Happy Year of the Pig to Everyone!!! Here's hoping for lots of Prosperity...and light on the Tumult. Both are predicted for this Golden Pig Year.

Be Nine

Yes, it is time to acknowledge another LID "anniversary".

Nine. Nine months in line with the CCAA.

I don't need to explain to anyone what nine months usually means to expectant parents. We realized last night that it was a year ago that we announced our adoption plans to my parents.

This is a funny story. We were all in the car - Mom, Dad, Jzboy and me. You know how great it is to do the family-talking-thing in the car, right? Everyone facing forward. I'm sure that you can visualize it. Mom was talking about elaborate trips she wants to make post retirement. Somehow this seemed to be a good place to mention our hopeful travels.

I said, "Jzboy and I are planning on taking a pretty big trip ourselves here in the next year"....."Yeah, we're going to be going to China".

Mom, "China???" Dad...silent.

Me, quite nervously, "Yeah, we're going to be going to China to adopt".

Mom, "Wow...really?...(surprise)...(gush)". Dad...quietly drives.

Jzboy provides some comic relief and breaks the slightly awkward silence in the car by joking, "Yeah we'll be going to China to adopt the ways of the Chinese...to adopt the Chinese culture...chuckle, chuckle".

Courtesy laughter.

I realized then that I'd left out some details. Thank goodness Mom started asking some questions and with some relief that we'd finally let the secret out, I began telling the whole story. The agency, the dossier, the timeline...etc.

Suddenly there was a sound from the driver's side of the car. Dad, speaks.

He said, perplexed, "You mean, you are going to adopt a Chinese PERSON?"

The lightbulb was lit brightly over his head. And, we all had a good laugh. You have to admit that our news was a lot to process what with my anxious storytelling, Jzboy's silly joke and the winding road that Dad was navigating.

That was a very memorable car ride. Funny, loving, happy excitement.

I can hardly believe that was a year ago!

Patchwork of Hearts

This is an important day.

I have finally rested upon a decision for the Bai Jia Bei pattern!!

Hearts*.


I like this pattern because it allows me to play with color as well as use a whole lot of varied fabric while I am at it! Perfect for this 100+ Good Wishes Project.

I was a little concerned about having to do some "applique" with this project. In spite of my fretting, I decided that it was time to give the pattern a test run. My wise grandmother always warned me regarding sewing patterns: "Don't Read Ahead" and that helped out a lot today. I took it step by step - and it really wasn't that bad.


The fussiest part about the pattern is getting the heart "cleft" all nice and curvy. This is done with a cardboard template thingy and the "gathering stitch". Very cool sewing skill...but a little too difficult for me to explain. I still can't believe that I got it right.



Today I used fabrics that I actually sent as exchanges & I like how they paired up. This quilt will be comprised of Seventy Seven 4 1/2 inch blocks. Small, but I think that I could do a bunch at a time while I watch Oprah or something.

This is TOO cool. I am really-truly on the road with the Bai Jia Bei. Finally.




*I think that this qualifies me for the "Get Your Craft On" challenge because this month is all about the Heart.

Taking the Cake/updated

Apparantly, the Red Velvet Cake has quite a history...full of intrigue and steeped in Urban Legend.

I had no idea.

You see, sometime in the 40's or so a lady enjoyed a slice of Red Velvet Cake at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. After doing so, she asked the hotel for the recipe. They obliged her request, and charged her somewhere between $25-500 (depending on which story you read) for doing so. Outraged, this vengeful woman circulated the spendy, albeit delicious recipe along with the story to bakers far and wide.

Wasn't there a Nordstroms Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe story like this???

Taking all of this into consideration, I am left with the question: "Does this cake have Southern Roots or is it a City-Slicker NYC cake?" I'd always thought of it as a tradition in the South - a cake for special occasions. Remember Steel Magnolias?


The Armadillo Grooms Cake?

Sure, the historical context is intriguing but it has nothing to do with why I gave myself the challenge of perfecting the red velvet cake. Red happens to be my favorite color, the cake looks very cool when you cut into it, I enjoy random family traditions and thought that this would be a fun one...and because, to me, the celebratory color symbolizes strength and love.

Happy. Red. Cake.

Once I announced to friends, family and blog-buds that I was planning this - the recipes started rolling in. They are all similar with interesting little nuances. Some use buttermilk, others add in vinegar or use cream cheese frosting vs. "mystery" frosting. Due to the wide range of differing formulas, I thought it wise to start with the original and chose the Waldorf-Astoria Red Velvet Cake Recipe for my maiden voyage.

Two important ingredients - cake flour (sifted THREE times, thankyouverymuch) and red food coloring.


The original recipe called for "3 bottles of red food color". All that I had was one fancy FRENCH bottle of "gel" food color that measured about .75 ounces. As I looked at other recipes, they seemed to call for 2 ounces...3 bottles...2 tablespoons. Hey, my bottle was from FRANCE and had a designer color name to it. It had to be enough, right? Who needs THREE bottles of Safeway red food color, really?

Before adding fancy, FRENCH, gelee food colour:


And, after:



Honestly, I was worried that this would turn out to be more of a Orangey-Pink Velvet Cake.

Good news is that once it was cooked, it looked more red than pink:



Final-Final:


I've been struggling with naming the shade of red that my cake turned out to be. For now, I've decided to call it Carmine. Future cakes I will be shooting for more of a Crimson or Ruby.

Yeah, Ruby. Ruby is really what I'm shooting for.


**Updated to add**
2/11/07 - I was so consumed with the color aspect of my first cake that I forgot to say anything about how it tasted.

It was a'ight.

Not bad, but not as good as I wanted it to be. I wanted for it to be slightly jaw-dropping. As striking in taste as it is in color, I suppose. The cake was a bit on the dryish side and the frosting was sorta so-so. All the taste-testers liked it, so that is good. But, there is still cake left - a week later. Not the best sign. Next time, I'll try a recipe with oil vs. butter perhaps...or a "3-egg" cake that is described in my old skool Betty Crocker cookbook.

If anyone has any ideas, or well-loved recipes let me know. I'm taking the test kitchen seriously on this one. XO

Nick Cage and I Go Way Back

Anyone remember this movie?


Classic John Hughes. Hottie Keith (Eric Stoltz) had no idea that tough girl, Watts (Mary Stuart Masterson) was the perfect one for him until he misguidedly chases Ms. Amanda Jones (Lea Tompson) the misunderstood uber-popular girl who has one hellofa icky boyfriend, Hardy (played by that guy from Buffy). Great film.

Even better soundtrack - but I am a total sucker for soundtracks.

Living very close to Hollywood in the 80's, I had the frequent opportunity to attend free movie showings. Usually they were held at random theaters and sometimes at the studio producing the film itself. We'd watch the show & then fill out surveys with our opinions. Free movie, bragging rights re: being preliminary critics and, well...FREE frickin' movie...nuff' said, yes?

I have no idea how we got so lucky, but a friend and I scored invitations to the Some Kind of Wonderful opening.


We're talking red-carpet-and-movie-stars-at-Mann's-Chinese-Theatre-sort-of-thing, ok? My friend, who later went on to work for the show Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, and I stood outside the theatre doors to watch the celebrities make their entrances. Our toes were touching the red carpet. Literally. We swooned as we watched appearances by: Chico Debarge, Rona Barrett, Scotty Baldwin (he was a famous character from General Hospital but I don't remember the poor guys real name) and the actor from Visionquest and a few others. Pretty B-List - but this small town girls head was spinning with all the glitz and glam.

This friend that I was with, Robin Leach's future colleague, had an autograph obsession. He had Jimmy Stewart, Lucille Ball and John Wayne's autographs. He stalked the Beverly Center, various other LA hotspots and whatever Hollywood shindigs he heard of as a hobby. That is just what he did. He was bound and determined to get us into the post party so we could see the A-Listers. Yeah right. You see, I was wearing my roommates white sweater dress and my own glittery white go-go boots which seemed great at the time, but in retrospect screamed very loudly: Supremely uncool!

White. Generra. Sweaterdress. Nuff' Said. (sigh)

As we waltzed around Hollywood Boulevard after the show, we noticed quite a crowd at the Palace. Before I could say "Champagne Wishes & Caviar Dreams" we were inside the party! I think that my friend explained to the doorman that we were with the college radio station - and by some incredible stroke of Hollywood magic we got inside.

Justine Bateman, Molly Ringwald, Beastie Boys, Andrew McCarthy, Lea Thompson...some of those folks signed their autographs on my wee sheet of paper. Me, in my white sweaterdress-ness. Yes, they still signed. Some were cooler than others. Molly Ringwald wasn't quite the perky, friendly, self deprecating gal that she played in the movies. She was over it. But, she still signed. And, I met her. Wow.


You will see from the pic that I did get Molly's signature - at the center. Lea Thompson is at the upper left and Andrew McCarthy is at the bottom right. Pretty awesome. Totally rad-ass-bitchin', actually.

Best part about the evening, though was the aftermath. We were hanging outside the club, trying to act cool and well, what-do-you-know but Nicolas Cage exited the place.

I was beside myself. But, having the newfound energy of meeting so-many-cool-people-in-one-freaky-night-in-LA I asked him for his autograph. He said, "Why? I wasn't even in this movie". I retorted, "But I LOVED you in Valley Girl". He signed.

Of course.



I don't remember anything else.

Try as I might, I can not remember how I got Charlie Sexton's signature:



My head was in the clouds.

Good times.

Blogger Quirks - or Something Else Altogether?

Just wondering if anyone else had any issues with viewing the new buttercup template? I looked from work & all of the sidebar links were down below the text of the posts. Then I looked from another (likely highly "blocked") place and it looked VERY strange.

Connie thinks that she could help me - but from where she sits, everything looks normal. How about you? If something does look strange - could you post a comment & then note the browser that you use - I would appreciate it. Hopefully this is something funny with my work computer & not anyone elses.

Stay tuned for a couple new posts that I've been working on - one about how I met Nick Cage and the other about, well, about the good ol' Red White and Blue.

Let's just say that both are "period pieces".

Thanks! XO

Connie hooked UP the buttercup!!!!!

Ta-Dah!!! The new look is revealed!!!!!!!!!!!

Connie-Dear took all of my thoughts, ideas and 20,000 jpeg-clip suggestions and patiently, generously, skillfully put them together as you see right here.

I LOVE IT.

Thank you so much, Connie. You've brought a huge smile to my heart...right when I really needed it.

Surgical Procedures

Just a little announcement - - things might get a little wiggy here at buttercup in the next couple days. We are undergoing a little revamp. Emphasis on the "vamp" part. Connie is helping me out a little in the design department. There may be a few fits and starts so this is why I quote:

"pay no attention to the [woman] behind the curtain"

...and all that.

Hopefully all will run smooth and come out yellow-brick-road-esque in the end.

Til' then.......see ya'll on the other side.

XO, WZ

Someone Pass the Tardy Sauce...

Sorry Secret Pal. I'm really sorry. I forgot to thank you for the lovely December gifts. And, here you've already sent along such great January gifts - I feel like such a heel.

Please accept my apologies.

Check em' out.


Our pal sent us this really great Horse & Kitty plaything - we think that it seems like something that would be great for the car. It jingles and crunches - and, it is the prettiest shade of blue!! There's also a killer Einstein teething ring that I intend to put in the fridge as soon as I wash it. If you look a little closer, you'll see another level of cozy-cute. Our pal sent us our FIRST set of piggy-jam-jams. Yes, pjs! They are so cozy that we had to bust them out of the package to test for ourselves. Verrrrry soft - and with feet! Awesome!

Iris was laying on the piggy-jam-jams but I missed the shot. Here she is cuddling in the crunchy wrapping paper. (In the right hand corner of this pic you'll see the dangling feet of the pjs).



BTW, out of curiosity....how long do we keep this up...this Secret Pal thing. Do we just keep going until the end of time? What if people forget amidst the delirium of the incredible extending wait time? Do we end when we thought we would eventually have our referrals? If so, will there be post-swap-pre-referral-depression as a result? Imagine the slump. Or, could it actually come as a relief of sorts - take the pressure off of the monthly got-to-find-a-unique-and-thoughtful-gift-that-tops-last-months??

What is a DTC group to do??

More Random

I'd like to introduce you to Maeve the Mauve Llama...if you click on her, she'll talk to you.

I know.

I couldn't help myself.

1/21/07 Edited to add:

**Maeve ran off with an Alpaca - they decided to go to Miami to become golf caddies from what I understand**

Interesting Tag

Mrs. D over at Bicycle Built for Three tagged me in a new and intriguing way. Here is what she's requested:

1) Find the nearest book
2) Open to page 123
3) Type lines 6-8 of said book
4) Tag three others

So.....here goes.

1) A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius - Dave Eggers

2) Done

3) See below:

"I have donated to the couple from the women's shelter, and to that little boy from the Boys Club, the pair of solemn teenagers from SANE/FREEZE. The Berkeley-ness of Berkeley, so charming at first, is getting old.

The bell rings."

4) Tag three: C1, WrittenWord and Beginners@This

Have fun y'all!

Eight Months In - But Who's Counting?

Uh, yeah...I am.

You know what the number 8 looks like when it is on its side?


Just keepin' it real.


So, in the spirit of my newfound desire to make use of this time waiting instead of frittering it away being pissed off...here are eight things I'd like to accomplish in the next 8 months:

1. Paint & decorate BabyZ's room-to-be

2. Sew up the Bai Jia Bei

3. Tighten up the budget and tuck away a nice little chunk to show for it

4. Strengthen my back and increase my energy level because parenting is an endurance event

5. Look into becoming a Home Study Social Worker

6. Throw a Tupperware Party

7. Reconnect with my garden

8. Learn how to make Red Velvet Cake (I'd like to have it at our baby shower)

Random

A - available or taken: As far as the CCAA is concerned...I'm available. Regarding love/marriage/romance: I'm taken.

B - best friend: jzboy

C - cake or pie: Pecan Pie


D - drink of choice: Nice, hearty red wine. Non-fat latte. PGTips w/ milk & sugar. Yamamotoyama Genmaicha Tea. Water.

E - essential item you use everyday: Contacts. HondaCRV. Computer. DVR. Chapstick. Itunes. Water.

F - favorite color: RED...the old fashioned, 40's-esque-kitchen/apron/barn-shade-of-red.

G - gummy bears or worms: ONLY the German HARIBO Gummi Bears - the green ones...red ones are ok, too.


H - hometown: "All over". (Try to explain that on your homestudy)

I - indulgence: fabric stores. lattes. cookies. sewing. vino. time with my neice.

J - January or February: Both. I love New Years. And, I love Valentines Day.

K - kid's names: Iris, Cleo & Willie. Those are the furbabies.
Baby girl??? Well...that is a bit under wraps at the moment.

L - life incomplete without: jzboy...for sure. Mom/Dad/Sister/babyneice, too...

M - marriage date: July 1999.

N - number of siblings: One.

O - oranges or apples: Blood Oranges. Apples in Tarte Tatin...fa' shizzle.


P - phobias or fears: Yes.

Q - favorite quote: Too many to list. Anything by significant, strong women who have endured more than I could imagine.

R - reason to smile: Sunshine. Sunsets - especially in Mexico. Furbaby Iris. Plans with jzboy. A clean house.

S - season: Autumn, for sure.

T - tag 4 people: I think that everyone else has done this one. If you have not - then, please have at it....

U - unknown fact about me: I collect dishtowels. I love to wrap gifts. I could eat broccoli everyday. I met Nicolas Cage

V - veggie I don't like: Lima Beans. Frozen peas. Canned peas. Bitter lettuces.

W - worst habit: Worrying about stuff I have no control over.

X - xrays: Teeth, female parts...Multiple times. Head...once...after a major car accident.

Y - your favorite food: Sushi. Broccoli. Fresh summer corn/tomatoes/lettuces/peas/anything with summer freshness.

Z - zodiac: Virgo-on-the-cusp-of-Libra/Ram-Chinese

24

Just. Can't. Wait.

Jack's Back.

Countdown begins......

Pulse racing. Disbelief suspended.

Buckle up, baby.