I'm Back

At last, my hectic life is easing up a bit and I can return to some of life's simple pleasures like reading, writing, and being able to sit down and relax for more than 5 minutes.

Up until this summer, Phil's employer was Ford Motor Company, who decided to close the truck plant in our town because, quite frankly, the company is in dire financial straits. Fortunately, he got a sizable contract settlement from the UAW Union. He contemplated going back to sea as a merchant mariner, but aspects of that life are distinctly unappealing (albeit financially rewarding). So, prefering to be his own boss rather than working for The Man, Phil took some of the money and bought a business: an already successful delicatessen in the city. We've been renovating the place and changing some things, but it's now going at full speed. Phil was made for this kind of work. He loves people and he loves being in charge. He has a great head for business. Next year, we'll be scouting the area for a location for a blues club. Stay tuned!

The other day, I was looking through my cold-weather-wardrobe, and I realized how dismally tired it all looked. I must go shopping soon for some new things. I can't seem to find much online that doesn't look either tacky, whorish, hopelessly young, or overly frilly. (God I hate frilly.) I want to look more sophisticated this season (she said, leaning back in her chair, surveying her sloppy gray yoga pants and black House of Blues tee shirt).

Speaking of fashion, check this out. Now most of you know how much I love handbags. Even I wouldn't be caught dead at a flea market with this ugly thing:


Feast your eyes on the Louis Vuitton Tribute Patchwork bag, the most expensive bag of 2007. A mere $52,000. Beyonce has one. Need I say more?

I happened to test a very interesting and goth-y perfume recently: Olibanum from the Roman house Profumum. The notes are listed as incense, myrrh, orange blossom, and sandalwood. My friends, if there is any orange blossom in this scent, it is a mere wisp that sweetens the smokiness, for this is dry, dry, dry, dry. I pick up a pleasant note of candle wax somewhere. I really like this EDP, but for $215 per 100ml, I'll have to indulge my inner Medieval Babe elsewhere.

I'm off to the art museum today to view an exhibit of British paintings from the National Gallery. But first, I'm going to catch up on my friends' blogs. Here is a lovely haiku from Karin from her great blog: savvythinker

The moon hanging bright

like a silent companion

against the night sky.

Harvest Moon, c. 1831, Samuel Palmer (English, 1805-1881)