Liquid Paper

i physically cannot ...

... take a photo of the top of my own head. It took me at least a hundred tries to get these shots. This is why no matter how much I'd like to I can't participate in this. I'd also like to give this a go but again physically impossible. Well, okay it isn't necessarily impossible but I'm not good at keeping up with things that require me to remember to do something every week on the same day. I can barely remember to get up in the morning. Don't believe me? Try calling before ten (nine if I'm lucky, eight if it's a leap year) and then you'll see!

 

that girl used to be so creative

What happened to all of my creativity you wonder? Sigh. I am still a creative girl. It's just that for the past six months or so I've been using it in another area. You see, one day last Spring I started doing a little free lance graphic design work that turned into a lot of work and it all somehow turned into a small business. Yikes! During that time I also I built myself a website (laurie-bertrand.com). Please do come say "hi!" 

What next? Well, what I'm hoping for now is another reversal of sorts -- that more creativity in my work will become more in my life again. Who knows? I have been feeling the itch to sew lately. Clothes, I really want to make some clothes. And Christmas gifts too. Now... where did I put that sewing machine?

birthday party fashion show

At The Lake

territory

As an indoor cat, Clive's world is very small. At least it was very small until a few days ago when I happened to glance out our front door and spotted him sitting there on the front porch. Gasp! Apparently, I'd left the window open in the library (that one in the photo) and he'd managed to overcome his fear of the outdoors long enough to make a run for it. In the past, if he'd dared put his nose more than an inch or two out of doors he instantly freaked out and ran for cover. But no more. I was the one freaking out and begging Mark to 1) notice that Clive was outside and 2) go open the door and let him in. Clive sauntered in with a too cool for school attitude, his white fur covered in dirt and leaves from rolling around in I-don't-know-what. Our eyes met. I knew exactly what he was thinking in that little pea-sized brain of his. I turned and made a beeline for his original escape route with him only half a second behind. As I closed that window and for a short time afterwards he yowled and cried, putting his paws up onto the window sill and pining for that great big world he'd discovered. 

An Unlikely Friendship

My mom forwarded me a video that my sister-in-law made of Spiderman and Frogboy (a.k.a. my nephews). Being the loving Aunt that I am, I thought I should share snapshots of my favorite moments with, um... the-entire-world!  Apparently, Spiderman adores his costume -- check out those muscles -- and it seems that Frogboy digs it too. That isn't fear you see on his little froggy face, it is pure amazement. I mean, what 17 month old boy wouldn't be totally amped to discover that his big brother is, in fact, Spiderman! (You can watch the video here.)

 

Rita Redux

I've been glued to Direct TV channel 361 since Friday because they're broadcasting KHOU -- a local Houston news station. Sigh. It's already been three years since we fled Hurricane Rita, along with millions of others who both tried and failed to do the same. Unfortunately, our story of nearly 30 hours on the road was in no way unique. Mark wrote about it in his "Notes On Evacuation" post. It is also no surprise that our friends Allyson and Wayne, who moved away from H-town several months before we did, have similar memories of that time. I wonder just how much Rita prepared the city for what happened and is happening with Ike?

Today, Mark and I are grateful to be living far north of the storms. But, his family still lives there. Thankfully, they're all doing well. But, it is hot. And the water is possibly unsafe. And even though the power companies are hard at work, it looks as though nothing short of an heroic effort will bring power to the more than 2 million customers any time soon. Here's a link to a Houston Chronicle article that gives you an idea of the enormous task ahead of them. We're praying for a fast, organized and safe recovery for our former hometown.

Also, our email server in is Houston. So, if you want to reach me send all correspondence to: moddots at gmail dot com.

I took this picture with my phone as I flew home from Houston after spending Labor Day weekend there. 

Warning: Very Bad Photos Ahead

I took a few quick shots of my new space. As you can see, the lighting was horrible and the shots are grainy. But, they do give you a pretty good idea of what it looks like right now. Except... I did manage to put my tall worktable together. So, the legs you might catch sticking up in some of the photos are now attached that. I'll spare you any superfluous explanations of the photos. If you have a question about something, just go ahead and leave it in the comments and I'll answer you in the comments too. That way everyone can see my answer, just in case they're wondering the same thing that you are. Don't feel like you have to ask anything though. It's pretty rough now, not much to talk about yet. Oh, I almost forgot something! About that floor. I think it is pine. There was some fairly new light blue carpet up there when we moved in, but, I took it out because I like the floor more natural. And my walls are currently pale yellow, which, I plan on changing at some point. 

Okay, I promise, no more talk. Just pictures.

Here's the stairs and landing that lead up to the attic. I need to put some railings in there.

All my junk (really, about half) and the East end of the space where my computer desk sits.

Desk area with aforementioned table legs sticking up. I've already started using the desk in front of the windows and I'm so happy with the view. It's like being in a tree house.  

Another view of the upside down table. (Just keeping the quality of the images as low as I possibly can.)

The East end of the space. That bookcase is 6 ft. tall -- to give you an idea of the scale of the room. The ceilings are pretty slanted, but it is a very generous space. And I'm in love with all of the storage!

Ugh. More boxes! The staircase is to the right, hiding behind that big box in the lower right hand corner.

All sorts of stuff that needs to be organized and put away. Possibly the worst picture of the bunch. The bench was my grandmother's (my fathers mother). I would love to recover the top but I don't think I'd paint the wood. And I would like to save the old material. Maybe frame a piece of it? Any ideas or suggestions?

down time

We enjoyed some rest and relaxation on our new deck -- (ack, we have a deck!) -- this evening after spending several days unpacking in the new house. We aren't done yet, but, we're getting there. Next, it's on to painting and decorating and who-knows-what-else. 

Also, I want to thank each and every one of you for all the kind birthday wishes. ♥ You know a little more about me now, perhaps, more than you ever wanted too! 

Tomorrow Mark and I are off to Minneapolis for just one night and then I'll be back home again. I hope to upload the photos I took of my new studio space this week. Did I mention that the attic of our house is finished and that I get the whole thing for my stuff? It's still a shambles of boxes and furniture, but a good shambles. The kind that is full of potential and mixed with hope for much future productivity. 

39

A list of 39 Things about Me because today is my thirty-ninth birthday!

1. I am a first born.

2. I love to do summersaults under water.

3. I do not have to plug my nose to do them.

4. I started wearing glasses in the third grade. 

5. I used to put small gold foil heart stickers on the bottom corners of the lenses.

6. A few years ago I had lasik surgery.  (I gave up the stickers way before that though.)

7. I sometimes recite movie lines as part of regular conversation. People don’t always catch it. It’s funny. 

8. Til We Have Faces is one of my favorite novels. I have read it twice.

9. I got married when I was 26.

10. My husband is 13 months younger than I am, so, for one month, he gets to say he is two years younger than I am. 

11. Two weeks ago, my friend Holly (who just turned 25 - Happy B-day!) said that I looked like I was in my mid 20s. 

12. Holly rocks!

13. I am shy but talkative.

14. I do not like root beer.

15. I learned to drive in a red five-speed VW beetle.

16. I detest black licorice. 

17. I like root beer floats. 

18. I did not go to my prom.

19. I am not neat.

20. I am a documentary film fanatic, subjecting my husband to dozens of them each year.

21. My eyes were dark brown when I was little. They are green now.

22. I was on the swim team for one season.

23. Together with my husband, I collect vintage Penguin paperbacks. 

24. I had my first pedicure this past June. 

25. My parents almost named me Shannon.

26. I prefer to shop alone. 

27. I am a procrastinator.

28. I love Oreos dipped in milk, but I can do without the frosting part so sometimes I just scrape it out.

29. I am allergic to my cat.

30. I love thunder storms. 

31. Most of the time, I have to look at the keys when I type. 

32. When I can’t fall asleep, I mentally decorate/organize a room in my house. 

33. I had an improper understanding of rear wheel drive until this past Winter.

34. In high school I worked at Baskin Robbins. We were allowed two complimentary scoops of ice cream for each four-hour shift. 

35. I don’t spend time in the sun because I am fair and burn easily.

36. I am allergic to self-tanners. 

37. When I was planning the move into our new house, I made a three-page to-do list.

38. I’ve only gotten through one page of it.

39. Mark just asked me if I’d ever made a list like this before and I said, “No. Have you?” He said, “No. It would be hard. And I wouldn’t have to list nearly as many things.” It took me two hours to make this list.