Necklace Ponderings

I bought this necklace while Christmas shopping {which is the most successful time of year for finding cute stuff. For myself.} I got it because it struck me, and reminded me of sewing, an old flame I had just recently rekindled {more on that later.}

I had 3 thoughts today regarding this necklace:

1 - Anyone who needs a haircut as badly as I do has no business walking around with a teeny pair of scissors strung around her neck

2 - To anyone else in the world, scissors "does not equal" sewing, and I probably look borderline psychotic

3 - The two new interns who started today are probably scared of me

Ah well, so long as it makes me smile, right? Right?

xA

This post is brought to you by the letter "E" - which is currently missing from my keyboard due to a very fresh kitty

Yes, this happened:

Up For The Challenge

I've encountered many people in life who question & challenge everything they hear. I am NOT one of them. If you tell me a breaking news story, or an improbable fact, odds are I'm going to believe you. Some might consider it naïve, but I prefer to think of it as sort of romantic, or fairytale-like. I think there's a charm about taking something for face value, instead of automatically discrediting it or feeling compelled to research it.

I was in a position last summer, though, to consider something I had taken for face value since I was young: Superstition. More specifically, walking under a ladder.

I was on my way to a Patriots game, and needed to stop at the atm. My beau pulled over nearby one and I intended to make a quick trip in and out. Propped up against the building that I needed to enter {between me and the door} was a ladder. Without even thinking, I skirted around the ladder and into the door to the bank. While withdrawing some cash though, it occurred to me: was I even superstitious anymore?

It was something I grew up knowing, yet had never challenged. And in fact, I hadn't ever considered it in years. I resolved that on my way back out, I would walk under the ladder, defiant of my young beliefs. I did so without casualty, and didn't suffer any notable bad luck.

It was a silly happening, but it made me wonder: What other beliefs have I been hanging on to?

A Healthy Dose of Humility

I have a minor OCD tick about getting dressed in the morning. Some days, I'm completely fine - especially if I've picked my outfit out the night before. If I'm going somewhere where I'll "be seen," or am going out with fasionista types with fabulous wardrobes, I'm always nervous about how I'll look. On a bad day, I'll change my outfit 6-7 times, wasting VALUABLE morning time that would be better spent eating breakfast, or say being on time for work.

Today isn't a remarkable day; I had an appointment at an artist boutique in the morning to check out furniture and then was going to my mom's house to sort though my belongings in prepation for my move. I lay in bed this morning, contemplating what I could put on that would transition perfectly throughout the day: casual for breakfast with my beau, chic for shopping, comfortable for sorting through boxes, and dressy enough for dinner with my mom later tonight. I also had to consider that fall is upon us and a sweater was vital.

I crafted the perfect outfit - for it truly was an outfit - of neutral striped trousers rolled up and playfully cuffed at the bottom with 4" leather strappy heels, a charcoal tank with an adorable flower pin, and my favorite pale pink cashmere cardigan. Paired with some makeup and a messy ponytail, it was sexy, casual & comfortable, without looking like I was trying too hard {which, after this post, everyone will know is a complete lie.}

Shopping was less than fruitful, but the pastries & coffee to-go were delicious. I kissed Max goodbye as he dropped me off to go finish my errands, and managed to pour my entire cappucino
all.
over.
myself.

And in that moment I could only laugh, because honestly - who cares what I have on? I love the way life gives you little reminders of the important things. Are you paying attention?

Pick Me Up

I have a fear of elevators.

Not quite as extreme as a phobia, maybe more like an OCD tick. When I was young, I saw a tv show where some people got stuck on an elevator. They were trapped inside between floors, and the only person around to help was in a wheelchair and couldn't reach the emergency button. I think at that point in my life, it had never occurred to me that one could get stuck in an elevator. I'm not sure what made this show particularly horrifying for me, but for some reason, it stuck.

I generally take the stairs when faced with the option (yay trading bits of "exercise" for time at the gym) and for years, I would obsessively check the expiration date of the inspection of every elevator I stepped foot on. Over the past year living and working in the city, I've grown accustomed elevator rides, and don't give it too much thought anymore.

So today, up in my 31st floor office, I was falling asleep sitting up and desperately needed a cappuccino to keep me going. I got in the elevator w/ 2 gentlemen, and proceeded down. Somewhere between the 25th and 1st floor (it's an express elevator) we suddenly dropped quickly and then came to a stop. I tried frantically to collect myself, and the elevator started moving again. After charging out of the elevator and swearing to walk up all 31 flights of stairs on my way back, one single thought crossed my mind:

I don't really need that cappuccino anymore...

A Lucky Dood.

A few weeks ago, I had the utmost pleasure of eating my lunch outside. If you are not from New England, you cannot possibly understand what it’s like to have that first hot, summery day in April when the temperature finally hits 80 degrees and the sun is on your face, after what feels like the longest winter you’ve ever lived through. It’s generally followed by a plunge back into the 40’s and 5+ days of rain, but we take what we can get here.

Since the weather was so beautiful, (and let’s face it, I look like a Cullen,) I figured I’d take advantage of the gorgeous day and lunch outside to catch some rays. I grabbed a sub, found a vacant park bench, and stretched my legs out in front of me. Just then, I heard this thud/drip sound, and looked down to discover a bird had pooped mere inches from my left ankle. This immediately reminded me of my younger sister, who has been pooped on by more birds than I can keep track of. As the adage goes, it’s good luck, but she always thought that was something our family invented to make her feel better. I had a funny thought, then. If the poop didn’t land on me, am I unlucky? Because I must admit, after seeing such a near miss... I felt very fortunate indeed.

Tax Blues

Tax Day. April 15th. Or, if you're lucky enough to live in Massachusetts and were affected by the floods, May 11th. I usually do my own taxes via online software, but this past year mine were a little complicated, so I sought the advice of a professional.

My friend NC had recommended a guy who always did her boyfriend's taxes, and had done hers this year. I took her advice, emailed him, and promptly set up an appointment. He immediately appreciate my sense of humor, so I immediately appreciated him.

{I'm a Leo, I could live on compliments and water alone.}

His office is in the same town where NC lives, so she invited me over for dinner after my appointment. I brought all my necessary paperwork and we got right to it. Taxguy was super nice, and we chit chatted while he typed in my information. Now, I find it pretty easy to chat with people, and in my experience, what seems like a normal interaction with someone for me usually turns out being a lot more meaningful for them. Not to say that I don't care, because I do! I love interacting with people and meeting new ones, it excites me and fills me up! However, the other person sometimes seems to think there's a deeper meaning behind my openness, or that we have this strong uncommon bond.

Fast forward to 2.5hrs later. NC is texting me to see where I am & what's taking so long, and Taxguy is alternately showing me live blues performances on YouTube and serenading me with his guitar. I wish I could tell you how I got here. Maybe he took my enthusiasm for live music a little too literally? Maybe he's burnt out from working tax season and he just needs someone to hang out with? He was SO nice, but all I could think of is:

a} I'm STARVING and want to drink wine with NC now.

b} How do I gracefully exit this situation?

I shuffled my folders and papers and kept adjusting in my chair to send some subtle social signals that I needed to go. When NC texted me I finally saw my chance to escape. Taxguy and I wrapped up and went our separate ways. I felt bad interrupting him, and he was being perfectly nice, but I just needed to get out! Is there a better way of exiting a situation THAT awkward while still keeping everyone's feelings intact?