I had a rocky start to my morning, but finally made it off to work in one piece. The photography studio is looking great, the equipment is in and things are starting to feel as they should in there. I brought in a screen to give the models some privacy when changing and a table for my makeup gear. I wrote a few emails and finished things up and headed home.
All the cabinet doors are back up in my kitchen except one. I had it painted and up, but when I touched up the paint late at night, I didn’t catch the drips. Bummer! So now I need to sand it down and try again which is no big deal. It’s just that I can’t quite say that all my doors are back up yet. Hopefully by tomorrow evening I can say that all the hardware is on. Who knew that it would take me “alllllll year” to paint my kitchen cabinets! LOL! Still toying with changing the wall color now, but I’ll give it some time to sink in a little and decide later on. I suppose the only detail that I will attend to now is getting a range to replace the harvest gold one. (It's time!) Then I will lay aside the updating for a while. (Course that’s only temporary, I’ll get the bug soon enough.)
It started to snow and I had some driving to do, so I set out as soon as I could to start my rounds. First stop was a great old place called “Glen’s Fair Price.” I suppose it’s a bit of an old country store or five and dime, it’s dirty and quirky and you never can tell what’s going to be there. But they have an extensive collection of theater makeup and oddball stuff so I picked up some liquid latex, some eye lashes and some peacock feathers. Very interesting place, I spent quite a bit of time there. That store is a bit of a fixture in the Burg, I remember going there in college to buy fish. I dated a man who had a great salt water tank of fish, and we’d go to Glen’s to pick up fish to feed to the fish. I can’t believe it’s been around that long. They don’t sell fish anymore though there was a squawky bird in there who was very chatty. I doubt the bird was for sale though.
I had a nice birthday lunch at the Taste of Thai. It’s one of my very favorite places to eat! The first course was a chicken soup with mushrooms, it was spicy and warm and lovely. Second came garden rolls, which is a roll with lettuce, sprouts, shrimp with a sweet peanut sauce that is delicious. There was a dish of a variety of sea food with a sweet and spicy sauce and vegetables, that was fun! However, Red Curry is still my favorite, no matter how many others I try. I even ate a chocolate pyramid, which was loaded up with a light and rich hazelnut puree, chocolate mousse and cake. It was rich and wonderful! A quick trip up the hill to the Oriental Market and I have some very exciting ingredients to cook with, so let’s just say that I hope to be trying some delicious experiments at my house soon. It’s a little harder to read the labels there, but it was fun to look through and find a few things to try. I wanted to find a decaf jasmine tea, but so far no luck.
Onward to the gallery to check in on displays and do the February change over. I created a featured artist display of jewelry, it’s just in time for February’s ridiculous little fake holiday on the 14th and the Oasis has an excellent selection of artisan jewelry. It was fun and the display came together nicely. By that time the snow was starting to make a difference on the sidewalk but the streets were still fine.
Next I went to this wild and wooly fabric shop in the Burg, they’ve got a lot of stuff crammed in that space! “Ragtime Fabrics.” I found some cool feather and some leather that looked like the animal just discarded it and some other interesting trims. I was able to find some cool stuff and was very pleased. There was a good bit of snow on the ground by the time I finished up there.
I changed into my combat boots for the stop at Sharp Shopper for a few groceries. And by the time I was piling stuff in the van, the snow was laying on the roads. A fairly quick drive home on the interstate and then the drive up the hill to the house. Except that it didn’t work. So… I waited for the 4x4 to come get me but the snow plow came and I was able to get up the hill without too much trouble. It sounded strange and the gadgets on the dashboard were dancing around and it felt a bit weird, but I’m home and settled in.
Lots of friends left messages on my Facebook page wishing me a Happy Birthday today and some emailed blessings. What a treat that has been! I’m grateful that I have so many interesting and thoughtful people in my life as I look forward to my 41st year. I loved being 40 and met some really fascinating people and got to explore new ways to be creative this last year. And here I am encountering a new adventure and seeing my creative juices take me outside of the box farther than ever before. And so I throw myself into my work in this new year knowing there is a place in the creative flow that I love, and that gives my life a sense of purpose. I'll meet you there.
With gratitude,
-Carmen Rose
Showing posts with label shopping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shopping. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Friday, March 13, 2009
Shenandoah Shopping Spree
I pulled into my parking place at Walmart this morning to pick up a few last groceries for our dinner party tonight. I’m making a homemade margarita pizza with spicey shrimp and another one our local pizza place calls “The Shenandoah.” Some of the guests are bringing salads. And for desert I’m making my secret recipe chocolate cake with raspberry filling. Plus fresh strawberries, pineapple and kumquats with my favorite fruit strawberry lime yogurt dip.
I realized walking into the store that the gentlemen who pulled in only seconds after me was now walking beside me. It seemed strange to be walking with someone without acknowledging them so I looked over at him. Just in time to see him hock up a loogie and spit it on the pavement. Oh! The revulsion and regret hit me like a double whammy!
Another woman was walking directly toward me, I looked at her expecting to give her a cheery “good morning” when she acknowledged me but she never looked up, even though we passed by rather close. It struck me as strange.
In the boonies, if you park next to someone and walk toward a building – “howdy’s” and “good morning’s” are exchanged. You’ll hear things like: “Right nice weather today, ain’t it?” “Yes ma’am, isabeen a cold un.” “I reckon it’s a-gonna snow.” When you live in the most rural parts of Virginia and drive in to get your mail at the post office, the person walking toward you expects to recognize you. And if you grew up locally, then they very likely know your family and your ancestors along with a list of the epic pranks, and the tragedies and triumphs along the way. It’s impossible to be invisible in those places. When we first moved there it struck me as odd to make eye contact and exchange pleasantries with the old timers on the streets in the morning. After a while I realized that it’s part of the charm of the place, these people have roots and attachments to the land and each other. Those are cords that aren’t easily broken.
Maybe it’s the production of “Shenandoah Moon” that we’re working on that has me thinking about my old life in rural Virginia. I spent some time in Beldoor Hollow east of Elkton as a child. And I vividly remember sitting out on the steps of a country church on a summer night listening to the calls of the whippoorwill. Even in the still part of the night that place was full of an orchestra of wildlife sounds. It made an impression on me as a child. It was as hauntingly beautiful, and even when I lived and worked in the urban world of Northern Indiana, I remembered that sound. I wrote a song about it many years later, its lyrics speak of solitude and peace.
Shane and I lived for about six years in one of the most rural parts of Virginia, back in the wilderness. I used to tell people to go to the ‘boonies,’ turn left, drive for thirty minutes until they got to ‘middle of nowhere.’ Turn left, drive another thirty minutes and you’d find us. We rented a place on a 300 acre horse ranch. We were the last ones at the top of a mile long lane. There was no need for curtains on the windows and the view from our little patch of the ridge was amazing. There was no privacy fence around the hot tub and skinny dipping under the stars was a treat for the senses. We loved the wildlife for the most part, except for the spiders and the skunks. Our dogs each only got sprayed twice each, though they played with the skunks rather often.
That land got down deep into my soul, and of all the places I’ve ever lived, I’ve never loved any place so intently. I loved looking out to see what mood the mountains were in each morning from the eight east facing windows the length of our bed. The display was different each morning. Fog, rain, sunshine or snow… it’s all beautiful from out there. I remember a particular thunder storm with hail was a spectacular and violent display that wrapped me up in its wildness. I still miss the wild beauty of that place that breaks your heart and mends it, all at the same time.
The Shenandoah Moon story follows families displaced by the building of Skyline Drive in Virginia back in 1933. It explores those themes of loving the land, of having roots and a sense of home, only to have it all taken away by the government and assisted by poverty. There’s some defiance and anger in the tale and hints of profound sadness and grieving. I can identify with loving the land like those people did. No matter where I’ve been since, nothing has seemed quite as beautiful in comparison.
This photo is how I imagine the character I'm playing, Molly Shifflett and her husband Jesse.
As I was finishing up my shopping trip/muse I began to see one man a little too often. I dubbed him “Mr. Creepy” and kept an eye out for this man who didn’t seem to be really shopping but rather just watching. As I was gathering up some cheese I overheard the Manager and two employees talking about some product that had turned up missing. I made eye contact with the manager and we both just shook our heads over it. Silly humans! Oh, and there’s Mr. Creepy again.
I shared interest in spoons with an elderly couple. The old gent suggested that I keep a tight watch on my purse because there had been some thefts that they were aware of. I joked that a thief might be disappointed with the contents of my purse but still, it would be a hassle. The tall slender woman was a bit stooped with deep smile lines and snow white hair. She told me not to worry, they were targeting old women. I told her she should be safe then also. They both crinkled into grins and moved on their slow shuffling way.
And as I left the store I passed Mr. Creepy sitting on the bench in the entrance. It was a good reminder of why people don’t make eye contact in the store here. I missed the wilderness of Virginia just then. Not for long though. Because within ten minutes I was home putting away my groceries. Yes, civilization has its perks such as a quick drive home. But I miss living that intimately with the mountains. Yes, I do.
I realized walking into the store that the gentlemen who pulled in only seconds after me was now walking beside me. It seemed strange to be walking with someone without acknowledging them so I looked over at him. Just in time to see him hock up a loogie and spit it on the pavement. Oh! The revulsion and regret hit me like a double whammy!
Another woman was walking directly toward me, I looked at her expecting to give her a cheery “good morning” when she acknowledged me but she never looked up, even though we passed by rather close. It struck me as strange.
In the boonies, if you park next to someone and walk toward a building – “howdy’s” and “good morning’s” are exchanged. You’ll hear things like: “Right nice weather today, ain’t it?” “Yes ma’am, isabeen a cold un.” “I reckon it’s a-gonna snow.” When you live in the most rural parts of Virginia and drive in to get your mail at the post office, the person walking toward you expects to recognize you. And if you grew up locally, then they very likely know your family and your ancestors along with a list of the epic pranks, and the tragedies and triumphs along the way. It’s impossible to be invisible in those places. When we first moved there it struck me as odd to make eye contact and exchange pleasantries with the old timers on the streets in the morning. After a while I realized that it’s part of the charm of the place, these people have roots and attachments to the land and each other. Those are cords that aren’t easily broken.
Maybe it’s the production of “Shenandoah Moon” that we’re working on that has me thinking about my old life in rural Virginia. I spent some time in Beldoor Hollow east of Elkton as a child. And I vividly remember sitting out on the steps of a country church on a summer night listening to the calls of the whippoorwill. Even in the still part of the night that place was full of an orchestra of wildlife sounds. It made an impression on me as a child. It was as hauntingly beautiful, and even when I lived and worked in the urban world of Northern Indiana, I remembered that sound. I wrote a song about it many years later, its lyrics speak of solitude and peace.
Shane and I lived for about six years in one of the most rural parts of Virginia, back in the wilderness. I used to tell people to go to the ‘boonies,’ turn left, drive for thirty minutes until they got to ‘middle of nowhere.’ Turn left, drive another thirty minutes and you’d find us. We rented a place on a 300 acre horse ranch. We were the last ones at the top of a mile long lane. There was no need for curtains on the windows and the view from our little patch of the ridge was amazing. There was no privacy fence around the hot tub and skinny dipping under the stars was a treat for the senses. We loved the wildlife for the most part, except for the spiders and the skunks. Our dogs each only got sprayed twice each, though they played with the skunks rather often.
That land got down deep into my soul, and of all the places I’ve ever lived, I’ve never loved any place so intently. I loved looking out to see what mood the mountains were in each morning from the eight east facing windows the length of our bed. The display was different each morning. Fog, rain, sunshine or snow… it’s all beautiful from out there. I remember a particular thunder storm with hail was a spectacular and violent display that wrapped me up in its wildness. I still miss the wild beauty of that place that breaks your heart and mends it, all at the same time.
The Shenandoah Moon story follows families displaced by the building of Skyline Drive in Virginia back in 1933. It explores those themes of loving the land, of having roots and a sense of home, only to have it all taken away by the government and assisted by poverty. There’s some defiance and anger in the tale and hints of profound sadness and grieving. I can identify with loving the land like those people did. No matter where I’ve been since, nothing has seemed quite as beautiful in comparison.
This photo is how I imagine the character I'm playing, Molly Shifflett and her husband Jesse.As I was finishing up my shopping trip/muse I began to see one man a little too often. I dubbed him “Mr. Creepy” and kept an eye out for this man who didn’t seem to be really shopping but rather just watching. As I was gathering up some cheese I overheard the Manager and two employees talking about some product that had turned up missing. I made eye contact with the manager and we both just shook our heads over it. Silly humans! Oh, and there’s Mr. Creepy again.
I shared interest in spoons with an elderly couple. The old gent suggested that I keep a tight watch on my purse because there had been some thefts that they were aware of. I joked that a thief might be disappointed with the contents of my purse but still, it would be a hassle. The tall slender woman was a bit stooped with deep smile lines and snow white hair. She told me not to worry, they were targeting old women. I told her she should be safe then also. They both crinkled into grins and moved on their slow shuffling way.
And as I left the store I passed Mr. Creepy sitting on the bench in the entrance. It was a good reminder of why people don’t make eye contact in the store here. I missed the wilderness of Virginia just then. Not for long though. Because within ten minutes I was home putting away my groceries. Yes, civilization has its perks such as a quick drive home. But I miss living that intimately with the mountains. Yes, I do.
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