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Six years ago today...


My Papa left this world. For some reason its bumming me out more this year than I remember last year. Strange. So I thought I would write a little post about how awesome he was.

I had a lot of nicknames for him. Pupsky. Ralphina. Ralphy. I spent at least three nights a week sleeping over their house (this would be the Papa that goes with the Nana who I spend lots of time with) while Mom worked nights. Their house is right around the corner from my elementary school, so I walked there after school most days. Papa liked to make me snacks, either for after school or while I watched TV in the evenings. He would give me little pieces of cheese, crackers, olives and artfully cut veggies. I loved them and called them Ralphina snacks. Sometimes, I make them now and smile remembering him. At dinner, he would give me the teensiest little blue mug with my apple juice. He would lean back onto the light switch and dim the lights at dinner, too, and act like it had happened on its own. He always managed to mangle his napkin and sometimes he would hang it on his ear when I wasn't looking.

He gave me my nose. And always said he'd love to have his nose full of nickels.

Once, after watching Small Wonders we re-enacted a dance that Vici and the grandfather had done for my Nana. In the kitchen with Papa belting out the beat "bah Bah bah." I remember him teaching me to waltz at a Christmas party at the house I grew up in. Because of him, I know all the words to many Kenny Rogers songs. In New Orleans, we requested one of the street singers to play Jambalaya for him while we were eating beignets at Cafe Du Monde. That was the best trip ever.

I wish he had taught me French, like started when I was a baby. He spoke perfect French. So perfect he was a translator in the war and French people thought he was from France.

I loved listening to his stories of the old days. He could tell a good story. I recorded some, but still haven;t been able to listen to them. Hearing his voice freaks me out.

He loved to be in Maine and he made being on the island fun. He loved to clam, and he loved Nana's cooking of his clams even more.

He was definitely like a second Dad to me. He was my number one fan in a way that only Dads can be. Boy, was I lucky to have TWO number one fans! Papa always loved my Dad. :) He read every article I ever wrote for my college newspaper and made sure to tell me how great they were and discuss them with me.

I'm sure he would read my blog. Maybe he does.

I know he would have been excited about my dolls and probably would have helped me make stuff for them like furniture and other gadgets. He was a true inventor and he made some cool things for my doll house and American Girl dolls when I was little. He loved photography and probably would have a nice DSLR before I had mine.

He would have loved Aaron. They both have/had the same logical way of thinking. Aaron loves to see some of the things that Papa rigged up around their house. In Maine, he even asked once "did your Papa do this?" He can tell his handiwork. They both went to the same college. I hate that Aaron never met him. But Mom and Wendi think he sent him to me.

I think the worst feeling I've ever felt is knowing that I'll never get to talk to him again. Well, I talk to him all the time, but knowing that I can never sit next to him and tell him about my day. And for some reason, that just keeps hitting me this week.

Blah.

So I am off to church with Nana and my Mom and some other assorted relatives to remember him. He was very strong in his faith and sometimes I feel like maybe I should be.

So call the old peeps (and even the not so old peeps) in your life today, bloggy friends, and tell them you love them. Listen to their stories, enjoy every moment because you WILL miss it.
xoxo
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Squash

my Dad makes great squash.
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It's Saturday Night,

I am bored. I went shopping with my mom and got back a little while ago, spent the whole day with Aaron and finished Season 3 of Weeds. There is nothing on TV and nothing to do. Blah.

So I had some narcissistic fun times with photobooth and my new glasses that I still need to take to my optometrist to get my rx put in:



I like that you can see that my glasses still say "rayban" on the lens:



So yeah. blah blah blah. But woohoo for four day weekends and lots of mashed potatoes (especially the ones garnished with chives ;) ).
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"You are so Nancy Botwin!"



Thanks to Netflix, I recently began watching Weeds. (I'm currently on Season 3.) I love the show! Mary Louis Parker is perfect as the dry and somewhat overwhelmed, Nancy Botwin. While I admire her shoes, and her perfect hair, I didn't really think of her as anything like yours truely. But I have now had TWO friends (both male) look at me in complete shock that I am just getting around to watching the show followed by "You are so Nancy Botwin!"

Um Schwat??

I don't even smoke the Mary Jane!

BUt then, I thought about it a little. I, too, am quite dry and often times in the middle of some sort of calamity. Thankfully, not of the gun to my head, weed stash missing variety, but you know, calamities. And, Nancy doesn't really smoke the drugs either. Except for that one time, when she makes out with Conrad. Yum yum!

So maybe, I need a career change???

Except, I think I much prefer getting taxed by the man and not having to worry about Armenian drug lords and hybrid car drivers named Uturn.
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Golly, you got mashed potatoes?

Happy Turkey Day, bloggy friends! I thought I'd take a quick minute to list what I'm thankful for, a day early, but I know I wont get a chance tomorrow! So here is my list, cause I do love a list:

1) My family. I'm lucky to have them, and try to appreciate them in all their crazy, awesome glory.

2) My friends. I really feel blessed to have such a good group of people that I can call my friends. They're all so much fun to be around, and at the same time I know I can count on them all, too.

3) Aaron. It's not always easy, but I love us.

4) My health. At 28, it's easy to take being healthy for granted. Unfortunately, because of a very dear friend, I have learned that I am lucky. I've also learned so much more from this special friend. I've learned about grace and enjoying every moment. love you, GG ♥

5) Babies! This could fall under the friend category, since my friends are starting to produce them. But I'm loving having little people to buy cute clothes for, and snuggle!

6) Sales. Girlfriend is on a budget, and I do like to shop.

7) Cheese. Its magical.

8) My camera. I love it more and more everyday.

9) Blythe! I love my hobby and I love all the friends I've made through it!

10) My Blog readers. Thanks for reading. ♥ ♥

Gobble Gobble!
xoxo
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The Irreverent Iris Apfel




Today, I had the pleasure of visiting the PEM with my lovely friend, Aimee (not Amy, haha). I was really glad that I was feeling better because I was looking forward to going to the Iris Apfel Exhibit. And boy, am I glad we did! Ms Apfel had an amazing collection of clothes and jewelry on display. The exhibit itself was done so well; separate rooms in which the mannequins all seemed to be interacting with each other!

Aimee and I oohed and ahhhed (and a couple of what the fucked) our way through the exhibit. I was really inspired. As I've mentioned, I'm all about living for the moment lately. Enjoying each day, and all that happy horse shit. And so I honed in on something Iris said in a video that had, about how you only get one life you might as well live it up in regards to what you wear. She also said something about how when she met Ralph Lauren (I think after he saw the exhibit at the MET) he kept saying "You're so free! You're so free!" And she remarked on how different people take away different things. I loved it.

I'm really glad we went! Now I went a duck feather jacket, some 1960s Nina Ricci, bear paw boots, more cuff bracelets, a golden breast plate and sparkly hot pink Loub cowboy boots. I also intend to DIY a googly eye cuff bracelet. Thanks for thinking of me, Aimee! xoxo

Today I wore:

Top: Calvin Klein
Jeans: Old Navy
Shoes: Faryl Robin
Glasses: Ray-ban wayfarers ( I actually didn't wear them to the museum, I still need to get my prescription put on them!)

And Tinsley also dressed up for the occasion:

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woah. hey!

Hey bloggity blog!
It's been awhile and I'm sorry for that! I was in Pennsylvania for my cousin's beautiful and fun wedding! and then I came home and was sick for an entire week! I still have a nagging cough. yuck!

I didn't really have anything I wanted to wear to the wedding, so I went to the mall before we were set to leave. I tried on like 21 way to short dresses at Forever 21. I decided to just try Filene's Basement and just as I was about to leave I spotted d an adorable Juicy Dress. it was practically hiding and I felt like it was meant to be mine! It was the shape I was hoping to find.

Dress:


dress: Juicy Couture
Red Cuff bracelet: not sure
flower in my hair: liberated from floral arrangement by my Aunnie
sweet dance moves: all mine

with these shoes (Steve Madden)





We had an awesome time at the wedding and I was able to take my adorable boyfriend to Hershey! I love that Chocolate ride!
xoxo
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Halloween in Salem!



Hope ya'll had a safe and fabulous Halloween! I had a pretty awesome, but very toned down (for me, at least) Halloween.

After waking up leisurely and enjoying a cup of Limited Edition Pumpkin Spice coffee from my Keurig, the boy and I ventured into Salem. Well first he had to comment on my outfit being silly.




(Witch Hat - made by Bill Graham of Beautiful Things , Jacket & Skirt - Forever 21, Black Slump Tank - Marshalls, Leggings - Target, Shoes - Steve Madden, Cricket Belt - H&M)

Salem was crazy crowded, but we were able to sit by the window at the Tavern on the Square and people watch while we ate lunch. (The food there was really not very good.) Then we walked around and did more people watching. I was like a photo ninja and just snapped away. We grabbed a cocktail before heading to meet our friends' new baby, well Aaron had already met adorable Benjamin while I was in Atlanta. I ended up staying in because I was pooped, but it was still a pretty awesome Halloween.

Here are some shots from Salem:








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Love Lasts Forever

So last night, I had the privilege of seeing This Is It. I took my mom and wasn't at all sure what to expect. Well, I did expect to cry. But I only cried a little. The film was AMAZING. It was a celebration of Michael's talents. It was beautiful. Michael Jackson was a true artist in every sense of the word, and probably one of the most talented people of our generation and even my mom's generation. She grew up with the Jackson 5, and I grew up with Michael.

The film captured the joy that Michael brought to the dancers, back up singers and every one else that was working with him. What an honor it must have been to them to be able to work with someone so acclaimed! He had a light in him, a light that I have never seen in another person. And I am so thankful, to have been able to see that light captured in the film.

It was so cool to see Michael's artistic process. Having dated a music producer, in my former life, I am fascinated to see the creative process. So I loved to see Michael listening to the nuances of one tiny beat, and relaying to others what needed to be changed. More booty! And he was gracious, never critical. Numerous times, he would critique and quickly add "with love."

He danced like it was 1984! And the talent in all the back-up dancers was incredible. It's so sad that this show never came to fruition. It would have been the best the world had ever seen. I want to go see it again in IMAX.

I loved that Michael's tragic end was not exploited at all in the movie. It was simply a celebration of his talent and his joy. As soon as my mom and I got teary with a Jackson 5 montage, it went right into Thriller. Which was unbelievably awesome!

I had a really hard time when MJ died. I felt like my childhood was gone. But now, I almost feel like I got my childhood back. Listening to all that fun, fantastic music made me feel young again. It made me just want to have fun and not care what anyone thinks. And I feel like the last few months of my life have been about me embracing every moment and finding the joy in everything that I can. Watching the movie last night reinforced this. Michael literally was here today, dancing his face off, singing and creating his vision and then gone tomorrow. Life is short. And I feel blessed that I was able to love Michael's music throughout my childhood and that I found some silver lining in his end.

I know this all sounds incredibly sappy and lame. But my mom felt the same way. Go see it, and you'll understand. I think.
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Oh that's right, I have a blog....

Sorry, friends. I have been super busy and neglectful of my informing ya'll of my mundane adventures duties.

My Atlanta trip as a blast. But I am still kind of overwhelmed by the whole experience. So I am not quite ready to post about it.

In other news, Gossip Girl and Desperate Housewives both seem to be getting good. I am crossing my fingers, as always, that Susan will get killed off in the up-coming plane crash. Or at least, have her teleported to the Lost Island to get ripped apart by the smoke monster.

Do you hear me, Mark Cherry???