Journal Entries

Saturday, April 30, 2011

Whatever The Weather

What do moms, kids, and shopping have in common? Mother's Day is a good guess, but that's next weekend. If you add art, rain, and the OSU campus to the list, you get Mom's Weekend. Those proud parents of educated Beavers converge upon Corvallis, and spend the next couple of days visiting frats or sororities, attending a variety of events, and generally getting to sample a bit of life on the quad.

One of the events is the annual Art Faire, and thus, here we find ourselves as well. Kudos to those who braved the less than appealing weather and browsed the booths, and fie to those who didn't (did I mention this used to have a Rennaissance theme?).

Anyway, this is our first on-the-road entry for the season, but don't fear - I'm sure things will get more interesting as the weather improves...
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Sunday, April 24, 2011

Our Wicked Journey


After seven years of anticipating, and four missed opportunities in New York, last night the secrets of Elphaba, the future Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda the Good were finally revealed to us in Wicked, the longest-running show in Broadway’s history.

The beloved musical opened in 2003 and by the time Groom and I had our first chance to visit New York together in 2004, it was completely sold out. Disappointed!


In 2005, while I assisted at a Fashion Show, training for platform work there was not one moment available to see any sites, much less spend three hours sitting in a theater, as I spent all of my time in the Big Apple at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. Drats!

In 2008, when Kimmmm and I took Manhattan, we could have seen the show, but I made a deal with Groom that since he was sweet enough to stay home and take care of things while I tripsed and traipsed, I would not see Wicked without him. Aaaaaah…


A couple of months ago, when he and I were standing at the Broadway ticket kiosk at Times Square we could have seen it, but by that time, we already had tickets for the touring company coming to Eugene.


Suffice it to say that last night’s performance at the Hult Center was a highly anticipated event. The morning began with sunshine and a lovely day spent at The Eugene Saturday Market.


Loading our booth structure back in the van, we washed the dust from our hands and just had enough time to make our dinner reservations with friends at The Excelsior Inn Ristorante by 6pm. Fairly adventurous eaters, we tried Black Squid Ink linguine (yes, pasta made from the black ink of a squid) and Wild Boar. Belch. ‘Scuse me.


Walking into the performance hall with five minutes until show time, I managed a long-lined trip to the ladies’ lounge and then found my seat just as the lights went down. Phew! That was close.

Even with the pressure of high expectations, the cast of Wicked delivered. The costumes were so gorgeous they almost made me weep. I wanted every single one of them plus the shoes. I think I turned as green as Elphaba with clothes envy.


Which leads us to this morning. Happy Easter! A girlfriend of mine is moving today and I loved this quote from her email, “Excited about moving some things and getting the keys. As one of my funny friends said, Jesus moved from His home (the cave that day too).”

So maybe an even better celebratory greeting for today would be, "Happy Moving Day!"

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Shoe Biz


First came the invitation, then the R.S.V.P-ing, then lining up behind the red velvet ropes, and finally, after actually being on The List, ushered in.

What on earth am I prattling on about? Well, I must back up a moment. Nicknamed Cinderella for a reason, me likey shoes. Regardless of what anybody says (evil stepsisters included), I think I have great taste in footwear.

A woman at the Eugene Saturday Market recently asked me where a great place to buy shoes in Portland was. My answer was the brand new John Fluevog Store of course! So imagine my surprise when she replied, “Oh, is that where you and your friends get your clunky, old-lady shoes?”

Insert the loud sound of a vinyl record being scratched here.


My what? Did she say clunky, old-lady shoes? I had a minor heart flutter. And then I burst out laughing. Not for one second have I ever thought of my designer shoes as invoking images of either clunky or an advanced age bracket. No, no, no. Young, hip, stylish maybe, but definitely not what she said.


But to answer, yes, the Fluevog Stores in New York, Seattle, San Francisco and now, finally closer to home in Portland, are the places where Groom, my friends,and I buy our funky (rhymes with clunky), quirky, and colorful shoes.


And we were invited to the Launch Party! What’s a four-hour round trip drive when the opportunity to meet Himself is presented? We spent yesterday in Portland, hanging out with friends, enjoying the sun and rubbing elbows with the creative genius, John Fluevog.


Secretly, I was hoping for one of those posh gift bags, or a special sale, or some form of contest that would provide the winner with a pair of groovy shoes, but facing the longish drive home, we opted not to stay very late, so we don’t know how it ended.


But while we were there, oh what fun. Loads of great Fluevog shoes on display and even more on the feet of all the guests. It was one big gawk fest, everybody admiring what everybody else was wearing.


We were provided with refreshments and a D.J. in the corner kept the music flowing. One distraught man spilled red wine on one of the brand new leather display tables. Betcha that’s gonna stain. In his case, no matter how cool they were, we did not want to be standing in his shoes.


Hailing from Vancouver, B.C., John Fluevog has “provided unique soles for unique souls since 1970.”

Before I ever tried on my first pair (Thank you Kimmmmm!), I was drawn to his humor and philosophy.

Question: “Are John Fluevog Angels really satan resistant?”

Answer: “You’re wearing Angels right now, right? Look around - do you see him? Nope! I guess they are resistant. (Good thing, too. I heard he was asking about you.)

My philosophy? Shoes should make you smile!

Saturday, April 16, 2011

April Shadows


Our internal alarm clocks woke us up at 5:30 this morning. It was still dark outside and ugh, also raining. The desire to remove our bodies from the comfort of the warm bed and set up the booth in the cold, wet conditions was very low. So low in fact, it didn’t happen.

We are playing hooky from the Saturday Market. Can you hear me giggling?


Instead of standing outside in the damp environs, we decided to sleep in, read, sip coffee, snuggle with the cat and play at making jewelry at a more casual pace, in the spirit of plenty.

So for all the brave vendors and staff who faced the elements and showed up to create today’s Market, we say Bravo! For all the customers who came down to lend their support and buy things, a hearty thank you.

And these photos taken this morning B.C. (before coffee) reveal our soft, tender mood today.

A bientot. See you later.

Friday, April 15, 2011

April Showers



April has fangs. The month, not a person. When I consider the fourth month of our calendar year, pastel colors, fragile blossoms and fragrant raindrops spring to mind. And kittens. Kittens with razor sharp teeth and knife-like claws that slash and bite. The fantasy of April is much kinder than the reality. 

First of all, the weather is completely unpredictable, mood swinging from twinges of sun to petulant clouds to downright nasty skin-soaking rain and revengeful hail. Apparently I am not alone in my suspicions of April, as T.S. Eliot once wrote, "April is the cruellest month." And my hunch unfortunately was correct, April statistics reveal it is also the month with the highest suicide rate.

So far, April has been an over-the-top month for many people we know, fraught with health issues, heart break, and unfortunately, anniversaries of suicide. I'm not intending to be dark or morbid, in fact, quite the opposite. When all is swirling and overwhelming, it's important to remember to breathe.

And while remembering to breathe, I was inspired to make this over-the-top necklace. Like I've said before, my philosophy about emotions is to decorate them with food and art. I've done the art part, now it's time for dinner.   



  

Friday, April 8, 2011

In a Blaze...


Well, another week has flashed by, and by flash, I mean streaked naked in such a blur that I had to ask, “What on earth was that?!”

The opening of the Saturday Market was nothing to call home about, so in fact, I did not call home about it. My parents bless their hearts, after 20 years of Groom and I selling our whimsical jewelry designs on the Park Blocks, are still interested in each week’s report.

I told them that it rained, it hailed, and the sun peeked out: In other words, a typical April day in Eugene.


This photo is of me and another vendor on opening day last Saturday. I found these delightful sock monkey hats at a kiosk in New York, just around the corner from Trinity Church and Ground Zero. After a sobering visit to that area, the sight of these silly hats struck the right note and got me in my smiley place.

I won’t burden or bore you with the painful, feels-like-it-aged-me-ten-years difficult week we had (oh, lament, lament, the grief of loving others who are sick and in pain), but as a take a break moment, we were invited to join friends in Portland on Tuesday for our first NBA basketball game at the Rose Garden Arena to watch The Golden State Warriors take a rubber hose to the Portland Trail Blazers 108 – 87. Ouch! They were neck and neck for the first two quarters and were tied at half-time, but quarters three and four were brutal.


Coach Nate McMillan was quoted as saying, “A bad game. This is one of those games where you burn the tape and move on.”

We didn’t just get to sit in the bleachers, which would have been awesome, but we had the privilege of sitting in a swanky private suite, a deluxe sky box where they wined and dined us. The view was spectacular, the food delicious and the experience an incredible treat.


It never occurred to me how much the tickets might’ve cost as it was one of those businesses scratching each other’s back deals, but on a whim, I decided to look up prices for tonight’s game and I almost choked on my coffee. The cheapest ticket (per person) starts at $115 and goes up to $2,784. Sheesh-a-ma-leesh!

A bad week. This is one of those weeks where you burn the tape and move on.

Tomorrow is week two of the Saturday Market and I hope it prompts me to “phone home.”

Friday, April 1, 2011

Lookin’ Like a Fool


Is it a prank if you can see it coming? Today is gorgeous, about the second nice day we’ve had in awhile. The sky is the color of rare, which we call blue here instead of normal, which is smudgy gray. The mercury is climbing to the lofty height of 66 which is where the April Fool’s joke comes in. Forecasters in the area are predicting a plunge of about 15 points for tomorrow with rain. For opening day at the Saturday Market. Am I supposed to laugh or cry?

In the spirit of foolhardiness because today is April First, here’s a little fool’s wisdom.


I wasn’t born a fool. It took work to get this way. – Danny Kaye


Talk sense to a fool and he calls you foolish. – Euripides

No one but a fool is always right. – David Hare

Only a fool tests the depths of the water with both feet. – African Proverb


It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt. – Mark Twain


And my favorite foolish reference is by Larry Platt, the 62 year-old man fed up with the boys wearing their baggy pants below the underwear line. Pants on the ground, pants on the ground, lookin’ like a fool with you pants on the ground. (That must be why this guy opted to wear his pants on his head…)