Cocktails with Strider

Happy birthday to a special little twenty-something -- a toast from your very own hot toddy!

Viggo - NYC 1980

The Big Easy

The Enchanted Owl found its way into the heart of another fellow blogger today! Sarah at Magnolia Surprise is featuring all things Mardi Gras in honor of Fat Tuesday, which is right around the corner. She included my recycled light bulb Mardi Gras ornament in her fabulous collection! Check out her blog here and visit her on etsy as well!

More special features...

The Enchanted Owl is proud to be the newest feature on the Official Jewelry by Tara Blog today!
Tara specializes in unique hand crafted jewelry and a love for all things Alice (in Wonderland that is!). Visit her etsy shop here to see her fine collection of altered art, banners, and more.

Thanks so much for featuring my shop Tara, I appreciate all the exposure I can get!

Tweeting...well, in our case, hooting.

The Enchanted Owl is officially on Twitter as of today. According to Etsy research, the bigger your audience, the better your sales. Feel free to check out the most up to date "tweets" (I'd really rather call them hoots as it seems more fitting.)

I've also added some new creations, and I'm in the process of finishing my first Valentine themed ornament. I've had a lot of fun painting the traditional Mardi Gras mask on this Fat Tuesday ornament (which is Feb. 16, 2010 by the way!)


Many thanks to all my friends and blog buddies who have helped spread the word about the Enchanted Owl. I appreciate each and every one of you!

Split End of the Year

I've been staring at this white screen through a tangled mass of hair for the last fifteen minutes. This seems to be a recurring habit of mine, picking my split ends by the computer screen light. I think I do this while I'm pondering titles and I usually can't come up with one until I've finished an entire post.

I hate writing the same old shit. The same old shit everyone else writes "Oh, where has the year gone? Time flies by so fast...blah blah blah". We know this. I'm reminded every day as I pass my wedding portrait in the hall (okay, so it's not a hall it's a ledge). So time flies by too frickin fast. Okay.

Enough about my weirdness. Where did 2009 take me, my old man and my dog?

Our New Year celebration began with our old friends in Georgia, who we regret we won't see for this coming year's soiree. We were so happy to be able to finally spend a New Year's with people. Real people and noisemakers and hats and hors d'oeuvres. It was my first real New Year's party and I'll never forget it!
We spent January through August parked on Saint Helena Island in South Carolina. This of course accumulated many rodents, creatures, and cobwebs that I was very happy to be rid of by the time we hooked up again. Shaking off the sand, our coach headed north to Virginia where we stopped off for a couple of months before our journey to New England and my favorite stop of the year, Connecticut. I fell in love with this state and the entire area, and I didn't think I could love anywhere as much as I do Saint Helena. I find myself homesick for hardwood forests, owls, and acorns quite often.
We left Connecticut in early November and drove to Kentucky for one week, there we packed once more for our final destination of the year...Illinois. Yes, I dreaded even typing the name. However, this "end" of the state seems to be somewhat milder (in climate and attitude) than Chicago. We're on the outskirts of St. Louis in a big cornfield beside a dairy. The wind blows, it rains. The wind blows, it rains. And I dream of a house, a big warm brick house with shutters and a fire place. A big leather sofa and a blanket...warm socks and--sorry, where was I?

I'm daydreaming again, but that's bound to happen when you live in a "Day Dreamer" which is still for sale by the way.

This year opened some new doors for me. I'm so thankful for my extremely teeny tiny success on etsy and all the Christmas trees across America that proudly displayed my handiwork. I hope that 2010 brings more business and some new ventures, as I'm sure it will.

If our Lord feels we are deserving in this new year, I hope to be typing to you next December from a cozy den beside a crackling fire inside four brick walls...with no wheels underneath.

Happy New Year to you all!

How much is that...

...puppy? Oh, I've done a bad, bad thing--my sis-in-law made the mistake of mentioning to me that she and her old man are thinking of getting a dog. Well, I'm going to be a little sneaky and try to sway her in the ways of border collie. Take a look at my favorite K9 friends whose border blood runs true. How can anyone resist? (We've already established the fact that I'm completely biased for border collies, so just bare with me if this isn't a favorite breed for some readers.)

Ching Ching

Pats & Donk snuggle

Patsy - "Goat Girl"

Jessie & Slim share a laugh

Jess

Donk's classic pose

More naps...

Slimmer

Maxster

Dolly loves you!

If you lived here...

...you'd be home now in this quaint Newnan cottage! This charming, two bedroom, one bath home nestled near Hollis Heights offers an ideal location for Atlanta commuters looking for a quiet spot outside the city limits. Fenced backyard, new appliances, hardwood floors, new siding, french doors, and many many upgrades! Walking distance to historic downtown Newnan shops and restaurants.
Adorable and affordable at $117,000! Home is also available for rent at $1000 a month.
Perfect starter home or rental investment! Email for more information on this Georgia gem.

Stork Overtime

It's definitely the year for newborns. Some of my closest friends are now Moms, adding three healthy, handsome guys to the world.
My college pal Lori introduced baby Reece in early April. My longtime childhood friend, Charlotte, delivered little Gus in June. And now, my childhood best friend Liz is the proud Mommy of baby Daniel as of yesterday.
The stork has been working overtime this year! Love and many blessings to my favorite Mommies of the year!!

Blogger Benefits

My post today is dedicated to my fellow bloggers, who like me, still enjoy keeping this online journal updated even though we might not have many readers. Okay, so maybe I don't have many readers.
I'm listing some highly recommended blogs, so please feel free to stop by and take a look. They'll appreciate the visit and comments!

Happy blogger anniversary to Rob, also known as Greyguitar--cheers to 5 years online and running! Check him out for some great stateside traveling adventures.

My great friend who also doubles as super-Mom (as well as an extremely talented photographer) deserves some kudos for her blog as well. Charlotte is a natural shutter-bug with a fresh, artistic look -- check her out!

Sister Wolf is cleaning out (some) of her fabulous closet, visit her blog to see some wicked scores (hint: Sharon Osbourne hand me downs!!!) Show her some love!

Enjoy!

Max Phone Home

Beth celebrated a birthday on Wednesday...but the celebration didn't last long. Max decided to take a spontaneous trip to nowhere special, leaving the entire family in emotional shambles.
I pray, that as I type this blog, Max has found his way home again. This isn't the first time he's rambled off. I really believe that border collies (TRUE full-blooded border collies--notice my intense prejudice against mutts) are not just dogs, but human. Being such an intelligent breed, along with their magical background from the hills of Scotland--the combination makes a superior animal, with the advanced ability to communicate with their humans on a level that surpasses all other dogs. Forgive my prejudices.
According to recent research, the border collie can tell when something is not fair. Dolly, who acts like a little person, can certainly tell when something isn't fair or going "her" way. Maybe Max was jealous or desperately wanted to get everyone's attention. Either way, he knew what he was doing, I just hope he uses his "smarts" to remember his Mom loves him very much and wants him home.

UPDATE: Max was found several blocks away (across the road) at a yard sale, where he was playing ball with several little boys. I'm happy to report that after a few paddles and some hugs, Max is now home safe!

UPDATE UPDATE: Max is at it again...he is currently on the prowl in the Farley / Academy area. If anyone has any information as to his current whereabouts, please contact us asap!

Soggy Bottom

It's rained non-stop on the island for the last two weeks. Thankfully I chose to skip town and visit Richmond where they've heard of sunny skies. I just hope the mobile unit is afloat when I return. Last month, the old man came home for a total of four whole days--I endured. Thanks to the Barnes, I maintained sanity and visited Georgia for Stefan's birthday and the chalet during Ilsa's first interstate trip to the upstate.
This month, the old man was able to snag a couple more days at home than he did last month. I think I counted six days this time. While Rach was here, the weather started to turn sour on our last day. Determined to enjoy a morning on the beach, we successfully created a complete Robinson Crusoe shanty that would make even the swarthiest scallywag proud.

Hopefully I'll be home after the eternal black cloud passes over the island. Donk and myself look forward to seeing the sun again--and a day of lounge chairs and fuzzy navels minus the construction of one pretty slick tiki-hut.

Fast Times

In the spirit of prom season, I rambled through the photo sets to reminisce over my own junior-senior soirees. My junior prom stands out in my mind, not only because it was Heith's first--but the first time I was sick-o-psycho in love. I didn't care if he showed up in cowboy boots and his welding coveralls...that's just how much sick.
My sick-o-psycho infatuation with Camaros began not long before I fell into the downward spiral of teen-age lust, so naturally once Heith and I started dating he noticed my odd behavior whenever we spotted a Camaro. The fridge was covered with Camaro clippings and handmade signs for the Easter Bunny, Santa, the toothfairy, and all the other parent put-ons in hopes that one day the driveway would make room for my own muscle-car machine.

Finally, the day came. May 2, 1998. The day I took my first ride in a Chevrolet Camaro. Correction, I guess the first time I really rode in a Camaro was in 1976...when I was still just a twinkle in two newlyweds' eyes. Maybe that's the secret to my motor madness.

Behind my back, Heith concocted a plan to steal whatever was left of my heart. He surprised me with a Camaro as our ride to the prom...a black one. Heith borrowed his cousin's car for one night to make my Detroit daydreams finally come true. (I don't think it helped Mitch or Dale because a year later they broke down and bought me my own.)
Deodorant doesn't work, it never has...well, at least not on me. And you can bet your ass it didn't work at all that night.
It was the most creative, most thoughtful gift I had ever received...and I'll never forget it.

Ten years later, he didn't laugh when I asked him to stop as we passed by Colleen sitting in the yard of a singlewide trailer. He still didn't laugh when I signed the check and drove her home. I guess he sees something in me. I still see it in him.



"Look, in my opinion the best thing you can do is find a person who loves you for exactly what you are. Good mood, bad mood, ugly, pretty, handsome, what-have-you. The right person is still going to think the sun shines out of your ass. That's the kind of person that's worth sticking with." -- Mac MacGuff, Juno final script

I know where the children play...

...at the Phillips arena in Atlanta. That's where.
Shoot me, spank me, scold me if you must--but I broke it all down for one last chance to score an evening with my one and only, Mr. Hetfield (and his chums).

Bring on the black wristbands, the spitballs, the sweaty guitar picks, and the occasional slap in the face from some gritty split-end ponytails...I'm heading back for more.

Mugshot of the Day

It's always a surprise to see some of my former classmates as inmates. Some more shocking than others.
My childhood best friend recently posed for the mugshot camera due to assault and battery charges. I was saddened to see her listed among the shoplifters and intoxicated drivers as a criminal. She was my closest friend during our early school years. As time passed, she eventually dropped out near the start of our junior high school years. I kept in touch with her as we grew older, and found her several years ago working in our hometown. We were so happy to see each other again, she was still the same...a beautiful smile with a warm, friendly personality. She was always one to defend us when times got tough at school (which usually meant standing up to the girls who picked on us). She was genuine, honest and never once judged anyone unless they crossed her. I admired her. She was strong, beautiful--people paid attention to her. I missed her terribly when she left school but was happy to reunite with her years later.
The old man ran into her as well some time after I saw her. At a bachelor party for a friend, he saw her at an Upstate club. She was working as an exotic dancer. She recognized the old man immediately, and told him she was shocked to find him at the club. He told me that she asked him, "Does your wife know you're here?" He told her yes, that I did know of his whereabouts that evening. She assured him, "Well you better not get into any trouble tonight because I'll be sure to tell Lauren!" I'll always love her for that. I don't know many strippers who are willing to tell a man's wife if he's fooling around. She was a great friend, and I miss her. A tough cookie--maybe too tough for her own good.

There's a million things to be...

A lot of times when the old man is out of town, I find myself watching movies that I really don't need to watch. I think I already posted about Gary Oldman, and that's self explanatory, of course.
I start to think back on some of my very first old men...the ones I met through film and music.
Like most other teens, I did have realistic crushes (let's not forget the septic assistant); however, most of my infectious hormonal ravings belonged to boys of the big screen. I realize that I share this obsession with almost every other fourteen year old, but I would like to point out that I firmly believed that I would eventually meet and marry these men. Now there's your red flag for borderline personality disorder.

When I try to remember my first old man, the one and only Val Kilmer comes to mind. I was absolutely convinced that I could telepathically create a divorce between he and Joann. Eventually they did split up, but by then I had moved on to my next old man. If you ask Rachel, she'll be quick to tell about the many times I raped posters of Val as Batman and sniffed the underarms of Jim Morrison on my Doors t-shirt. We found the corner the most accessible point for placing posters in order to get the highest effect of make-out sessions. After we slobbered and drooled over most any and all paper products with Val's likeness (and Brad Pitt's in Rachel's case) we would talk into the night, comparing our fantasies with each other's idol. If we could rewrite the Top Gun script today, I can only hope that we (as Americans) would choose Goose over Maverick to survive the ejector seat accident.

I think after most of my Kilmer chemistry fizzled out, my attention turned to the pale faced introvert in Edward Scissorhands and my life long love affair began with Johnny Depp. It was easier with Johnny...no wife. Plus his hip girlfriend was my first and foremost favorite actress (of my short little life) so I had no problems with his love interest, hell I love her too!
Then my attention turned toward the head banger's ball, and an adolescent infatuation with Sebastian Bach began. And on my fifteenth birthday, my heart fell and broke into a million tiny pieces for my one and only old man...Mr. James Hetfield. My heart still belongs to this man and I do realize that I must share the wealth with Francesca. She seems a nice girl, there's no room for hate--she and I have a lot in common. We both love James.
So until I found the prince of darkness I now know as my current old man, I rambled through many a men. Most had the chiseled jaw lines...save James and his severe acne scars which helped him score even higher on my internal hotness report. Most had dark eyes, most were aggressive...save Johnny, the sensitive, artistic type--but could quite possibly hold his own if need be. Most were masculine, manly men--is this a word?
Who cares. I love all of my old mans!

time cast its spell on you but you won't forget me...

Once bitten, twice shy.

I'm constantly amazed at the connections I find on facepoo. Just last week I stumbled across an old college flame, who I never forgot and never thought I'd see again. He will always stand out in my mind because he was always so honest with me.
I have faced the fact that I look like a mule with beaver teeth, I mean that's just the way it is, and I've accepted that. But I could always tell when boys would lie to me and tell me I was, "pretty"...maybe it was because they could never look me in the eye when they said it. This guy blew them all away, after our first date he proudly exclaimed that "I was no supermodel, and he wasn't used to dating ugly girls, but he kind of liked me."
What more could a girl ask for? I've always wanted to thank him for his honesty, and now I can.

The weekend drives on and January is almost behind us. My solo stint isn't as lonely as I thought it would be. I've enjoyed Rach's company in Newnan, and expect her today for some time on the coast. I am still not prepared for the seven hour drive to Virginia next week, but I miss the old man and I'll finally be able to bring him home.

The Rundown

The old man and myself packed the RV and drove from Tonopah, AZ to St. Helena Island, SC for three days after Christmas. Our 2200 mile trip was uneventful, which is always a blessing (unless we count the underbelly mishap) and now that our fourth and sixteenth winds have come and gone, we're crashing...hard.

Heith deserves a tremendous amount of praise and kudos for his truckin' son of Mitch's maneuvering skills. I always fail to mention that my footprints cover most of my side of the dash, obviously proof that I'm constantly searching for the Coach Godfrey brakes (that don't exist unfortunately). He always pulls through though; thanks Heith for being such a damn good trucker.

2008 packed some punches, I hope I can remember most of it all through my earlier posts one day as I sit in the nursing home watching the birds. We spent the '08 New Year at our first visit to the Grand Canyon, on our drive from California to Colorado. That spring we celebrated Beth's marriage and tried to forget that I am three years closer to 30. We made our second cross country trip of the year in May and lasted a solid month in Lanford before most of our hair fell out and we moved to St. Helena. Most of our summer was spent on the sand and with those familiar heavy hearts we packed it all up again and tried our hand at desert living. We trucked back across the nation for Phoenix and lasted six months before a departure celebration in Palm Springs and San Diego and arrived safely in St. Helena once again. We enjoyed family Thanksgiving visits in Arizona, and said goodbye to Aunt Polly and Lucy as the year came to a close. Our old friends in Georgia graciously invited us to celebrate the New Year with them and we were more than happy to join them.
We've logged a lot of miles this year...most of them spent driving from the desert to the grocery store but I digress. I think I'm most thankful for such safe travels and great friends and family...they always make the trips worthwhile.

Happy New Year to the blogger community!

Here she is, Mrs. Nelson Shepherd Crisp. We finished off the champagne late Saturday night with a toast to Beth & Nel as they make their way to Maui. It was over in the blink of an eye, just like I told her. No more shakes.
The wedding was perfect with the exception of a constant drizzle and thunder clouds. Now it's time to jet set once more back to Colorado, more to follow!

The April Fifth

We're on the backstretch now, only two weeks to go and the happy couple will become Mr. & Mrs. Nelson Crisp!

Fly By Me

I arrived on the prairie in time to make a short trip to the ATL for my best friend's bachelorette soiree. It's a good thing I made the extra effort to conceal my jet lag and tag along for the weekend, because I would've missed one of the best 80's cover bands I've heard yet. Fly-By-Radio hit the stage around 11pm at the Peachtree Tavern Saturday night. Armed with a kick-ass lead singer who rocked the stage with a punk chick's presence, the band covered it all--from Metallica to Rage and then back home with the Cars. I'm sure it's easy to tell how pleased I am. When the music's right, the night is right...and the overall age group of the bar fit a soon to be 30 year old like a glove.
I admit, I have a little crush on the guy with the guitar, but I always will...however, my heart forever belongs to James Hetfield (I'm sure he won't mind the photo op just this once).
Beth's entourage made a big hit while sharing the stage with the band, I'm almost certain they posted the most unflattering pictures they could find--but odds are, the eyes are going to be closed with booze in hand.
I've contemplated showing this photo, but I've decided that it's just too cool not to post...so here's to Fly-By-Radio and a great show--making a wonderful weekend even better.
And cheers to Beth for being such a great sport!!!