Books iRead

Been reading a lot of books lately. Whenever I can. Whatever I can lay my hands on. For now- Debra Oliver's "What French Women Know" is envoi de romance that I need right now. "Water for Elephants" is a re-read that I dissolve in, and "Less than Crazy" is making me feel like maybe I am more than.
That said, when I see someone at a cafe, bookstore reading nook, or even a bus stop whiling away the time engrossed on their iPad, i can't help but shake my head and roll my eyes.

Here are the arguments I have heard for the iPad:
1. it has an app for everything! Star maps, directions, schedules, movie times, Gravlux where you use your finger on the screen to move "grains of sand" into interesting shapes-ok, that one was actually pretty fun for 45 seconds.
2. it is convenient. I don't know how much more convenient than apps and email and photos blah, blah, blah can get on your cell phone. But, ok, why not.

Here are the arguments for books:
1. they smell good, new or used.
2. you can inscribe the inside cover and give it to a loved one.
3. even sitting on your shelf it looks good.
4. it will never need an upgrade.
5. if you drop it in the tub it can be fixed with a hair dryer instead of having to drop another $500.

Believe me, I could go on. Even though books don't have apps for finding out the temperature in Bangladesh, they sure do work well on a beach right here.

Pretty but not THIN

I'm not perfect. Obviously. My name is neither Laetitia Casta or Jane Fonda circa 1973. But I will tell you this: do you find any imperfection with Monica Bellucci? Christina Hendricks? Salma Hayek? didn't think so. In fact, what all these women have in common is that they are glamorous, seductive, beautiful women with pretty impressive vital statistics! And what do I have in common with them? Certainly not an admirable film career, but within about an inch in or out, I have the same measurements as these amazing ladies.
Why then, can I ask you, when I was waiting in line for coffee at my local Cafe did I hear the two women behind me say, "well, she's pretty but she's not THIN". If I hadn't been so shocked at the outright hillarity of it all, I would have turned to say something like: "God, no I'm not. Also, my husband isn't cheating on ME".
WHAT KIND OF COMMENT IS THAT?!? I know very well I am not "thin"! In fact, I dress in clothes and heels that ACCENTUATE my very "unthin-ness"-(read as: hourglass with an extra half and hour.) I am not ashamed of it, do not hide it, make no excuse for what I think is a quite respectable, well proportioned, (fully functional might I add!!!), ladies body. My waist measures 24", the average American female measures between 31-35". My vitals are 35-24-41. Does that mean I have a booty? Hells yes. But that is why I look so cute in high waisted pencil skirts with nice broad belts. Being a size C cup is enough for me, keeps me from worrying about back pain and also, I can usually get away with wearing a pretty skimpy bikini at the beach.
All in all, I guess what I have to say is: cold, undersexed, grouchy women in cafes should probably keep their thin lips closed. It just makes you look skinnier when you talk that way.
For more info about how very un-thin I am, visit: Seattle Met Magazine http://www.seattlemet.com/style-and-shopping/articles/capitol-hill-home-stores-lit-dawn-bassett-0610/

While I am Here

Getting old. I always assumed that it would happen when I was 50, maybe 45 depending on my lifestyle choices. I am sad to say that as it turns out, it happens when you are 26 years, 10 months, and 3 days.

I found a white hair on my head- not gray, white. And in the same week noticed a small age spot on my face, about an inch below my right eye.

One white hair and one small spot seems pretty insignificant, but it simply points out that I am heading towards- though gradual- my end. Or so I first thought.

I started thinking about all I have done, seen, survived. Let me give you an abbreviated list:

1. being born. Horrifying.
2. growing up in a rural nightmare, devastatingly void of any art, culture, or inspiration.
3. surviving Jr. High
4. traveling through Spain, racing cars illegally for $, breakups, breakups, and more breakups.
5. married and divorced.
6. sold first painting for $3,500.00, decided I didn't want to be a painter.
7. attended 3 colleges and 1 university all without suffering the blemish of obtaining a bachelors degree.
8. moved to NY. Lived in NY. Wondered about the popularity of Dunkin donuts while in NY.
9. Worked for wretched people.
10. worked for one wonderful woman, who moved to Texas and who I miss everyday.
11. Started my own business. Didn't sleep for a year. Drank lots. Felt too happy and too scared all at the same time.
12. met a soul mate.
13. soul mate dumped me.
14. bought a pet dog who pees standing on his front two feet.
15. still here.

That said, if I live as old as my grandmothers are, I'm not even 1/3 of the way done. The good thing being, I have already gone through a lot of the rough stuff. When you live fast and hard when you are young, the benefit is you learn what works and what to avoid early on. It may have given me a white hair and a few scars, but those are cheap payment for the focus it gives the rest of your life. Which actually works out, because here is the short list of everything I still have to do:

1. open my shop in Paris on Rue St.-Honoré in the First Arrondissement
2. adopt a sibling pair (ages 3-7)from Turkey and teach them that cheese, popcorn and pickles is appropriate for dinner and to read comic books in the bath tub.
3. fall in love at least 3 more times
4. buy a Welsh Springer Spaniel for my other dog to converse with
5. write a book of poems and publish it under my first lover's name
6. have a place to hang a hammock

That's about it. I figure I can knock all that out in the next 50 or so years, even if it gives me 5 more white hairs and my skin is not so perfect, heck, it's a steal for a place to hang my hammock.

Getting Fresh with Myself

Just a small disclaimer- I do NOT work for Amazon. I do not have stock in Amazon. I don't really think about Amazon except for how much I love the fact that they renovated and took great care in maintaining the classic structure of the 1932 Art Deco styled U.S. Marine hospital. It is the prize of Beacon Hill!

Ahem, that said, I recently "discovered" a little something that has absolutely changed my life! For those that know me, I live for food! I love nothing better, but you try hauling a 32oz can of olive oil, 4 avocados, a pkg. of ground lamb, and 3 bottles of wine home 12 blocks! Without a car, and my scooter waiting patiently to be fixed, the long walk home while plastic handles of the grocery bags cut into my fingers is about all I have. Until...Amazon Fresh! Holy half-price carrots! This is amazing!

I know that I complain a lot about there being no delivery in Seattle, turns out, Amazon completely agrees with me. Not only will they deliver a new steam iron, a pair heels, and a copy of Running With Scissors(thank you Augusten Burroughs!) to your door, but ONLY in Seattle will they also deliver:

sesame oil
tamari soy sauce
brussel sprouts
herbed chevre
a bottle of Cabernet(okay, 3 bottles! But who's counting?)
2 yellow onions
roasted red peppers
and yes, that 32oz can of olive oil

To. My. Door. What?!?

Here is something else lovely, upon receiving my delivery, the darling man who brought me the boxes gave me a bouquet of flowers- I say "oh, wait! These aren't mine!". He asks with a slight smile, "first order?" Um...yes...? "They are for you", he says as he hauls off the plastic bins all my groceries came in. WHAT? Since when has QFC given my a bouquet of flowers? Or anything for that matter?

I spent $38.13 on my first order, I was curious and went to the store and looked up what I would have spent if I had carried the damn bags home myself- $47.80 Also, it was a super sunny day out so I froze to death walking around the air conditioned grocery store wearing nothing but a sun dress and getting a chill from the freezer section. Boo. I hate you QFC.

Okay, there must be a down side right? YES!

Warning: Amazon Fresh is very, highly, ridiculously addictive and now all I can think about is the next time I will see that big green truck pull up! Do not ever use it or you will find yourself wanting to place grocery orders online at midnight just so you can have them a your door by 6am! You will find yourself scouting through their "deal" section, you will find yourself perusing page after page of tiny icons of food!

Guess I won't be able to bitch about no service in Seattle, thank you Amazon Fresh for delivering it.
xoxo

It's a SMALL Town

Hey there all you cheapskates, shoplifters, petty gossips and slanderers- just a note, Seattle is ONE SMALL TOWN. You think your bad behavior goes unchecked? Think again.
We are a small city, as a designer/maker/artist- it is a small community, as a resident of Capitol Hill- it is down right incestuous! You can't go around stealing from people's boutiques, talking trash for the hell of it about someones breakups or just plain being rude without it coming back to bite you.
We watch out for each other. We all are friends with someone-who is co-workers with someone-who is dating someone. We talk. We network. We hold each other up and talk each other up too. We aren't looking for drama or to inflate our egos, we are just living, breathing, and making this city thrive. At least we try to until silly, stupid, psychotic little no-bodies come into OUR spaces that we have worked and dreamed and fought for and try to take it from us- piece by piece!
That's right, LiT got shoplifted from! Lampshades, no. But during the pop-up shop at our store over the weekend SUSIE ******* came in for the opening and stole over $300.00 worth of merchandise. If it hadn't been for her idiotic plan to throw us off her trail by asking to put something on hold and using her REAL name, we may never have caught her! Thankfully, the stupid, silly cow was on facebook so we messaged her into submission and we got all the merchandise back. What an idiot.

To everyone else out there; I'm so glad I know you, even if it's 2 degrees of separation, at least it's not 7. We are all neighbors in some way or another, so lets act neighborly.
xoxo
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