Cinderella (or Goldilocks?) at the Ritz

Seeing my daffodils unfurl reminds me of my twenty years in the floral biz. Don't miss the long days of the holiday calendar that stretched from November to May. Don't miss the pine tar that coated my fingers and nails from all the evergreen product --- and the trying to pay the cashier for my groceries during a quick stop on the way home when my money or credit card stuck to the stubborn residue on my hands. Do miss the glorious fragrance of the freesia, gardenias, plumeria, hyacinth, lilac, stock, ginestra. Do miss our yearly January and July buying trips to the Atlanta and Dallas markets. Do miss Dallas's own Bob's Steak and Chop House, Atlanta's Morton's, the Ritz's Strawberry Daiquiris.

But what's to follow is story of how lucky one girl can be when traveling with two guys while waiting for the rest of the team to arrive. PICTURE THIS: Your plane is late and you arrive at your hotel, the Ritz Carlton, which is comp'd each trip by a vendor you patronize, around 11:20pm. There are two rooms available -- a suite and a two-bed room. The guys opt for the later. The girl gets the former. ARE YOU KIDDING ME??!! YOU TWO DON"T WANT THE SUITE?? Well, then, outta my way boys, 'coz THIS girl is heading straight towards a dream-come-true!!!!

After the guys had come and gone with the aforementioned daiquiris to go over our game plan for our first day on the gift mart floor, I still so ecstatic with my surroundings that I decided to just enjoy. I lounged on all the chairs and the couch, watched TV in both the sitting room and my bedroom, I admired both bathrooms collecting twice the number of luxurious personal product goodies, read the magazines which included Veranda and Town and Country (which had been provided for my comfort, of course). Basically Cinderella had arrived at the ball and she was taking full advantage of her once-in-a-lifetime, all-expenses-paid night of fantasy.

About 4am the drowsy princess, now sweetly tucked under the cozy goose down comforter, fell into a blissful state of beautiful dreams. When she awoke she had to move her things to another room but that was all right with her. For she left a glass slipper tucked w-a-a-a-y under the bed to be collected at some time in the future.........

Menopausal Echoes: The Bad Habit of Interrupting

You know how your body immediately reacts when you hear a VERY LOUD, SHARP sound? Believing it is in your best interest to protect yourself, you instinctively hunch your shoulders, compress your body to make yourself smaller and lower your head. Time is of the essence and there's not a second to waste.

One of the aftershocks of Menopause I have experienced is the development of a VB&A: a Very Bad and Annoying habit. I find myself unable to stop blurting out a question or a change of subject or an idea right in the middle of someone else's dialog. It's like I had Tourette's or something. It is pathetic at best. Rude. Ridiculous. Offensive as all get out. Not to mention embarrassing!

And I can't seem to stop myself. My only excuse, poor though it may be, is that these days my memory is like swiss cheese and I have the attention span of a gnat. I'm so afraid I'll lose my train of thought which I am so desperately holding onto (figuratively) with both hands ... and feet, truth be told ... that I just kind-of break into whatever is being said and spill my two cents quickly before that tenacious hold slips and whatever 'it' was flies off into the dark depths of oblivion.

Some days the brain fares better than others. Or I have a piece of paper and a pen I can scribble a quick notation. Or I'm not easily distracted and can stay sharp and on task. Now what was that joke about the inte =MOO!= rrupting cow ........

Still a Favorite: Helen Winnemore Craft

Tucked in a red brick home with an inviting walled patio at 150 E Kossuth in German Village, is a marvelous gift (for someone special ... or for yourself!) shop awaiting your arrival. Curbside parking is available on this quiet, tree-lined street directly out front. And after being greeted with a warm "hello" and an offering of freshly brewed tea or coffee, you will begin a browsing exploration at your own pace of this wonderful spot. Expect to find unique, artistic, and delightful items.

My history with this Columbus treasure goes back many years to my childhood. My mother introduced me to Helen and her eclectic collection of hand crafts when she was located in a marvelous old Victorian near Broad and Parsons. The refreshing anticipation of what I might find every time I crossed the threshold was not lost in Helen's move to her new German Village home. My first stop...more like a bee-line...was, is, and always will be, the multi-drawed wall cabinet which never fails to reveal enticing hand-wrought jewelry that calls to my heart. (My love of jewels began as a child and is so much a part of me still!) Sarah Kellenberger is now the proprietress of HWC, carrying on Helen's legacy while adding her own loving touch, special style and fun personality to molding the collection the shop holds today.

The promise of the unexpected, the assurance of high quality, and the surprise of the unusual. May the mixture of those elements lovingly offered on a tree-lined street in German Village draw you and yours to experience the Columbus tradition that is Helen Winnemore Craft.

We Want the Puppets! We Want Kobe and LeBron!

Didn't you just love the Kobe and LeBron puppet commercials for Nike? "Kobe!Kobe!Kobe!" reverberating from your set?LeBron's clouds of chalk dust billowing throughout the scenes? 'Lil Dez talking a mile-a-minute? Kobe portraying the cool yet beleaguered superstar?

I remember when we saw the first commercial for the first time. What a hoot! I immediately identified with LeBron's hyper state, my husband with Kobe's laid-back style. The creators delivered something totally unexpected. Fresh. For all ages. Funny. Clever. Couldn't wait for the next one to be released.

I miss them. Maybe if I start repeating, ever so quietly, over and over again "We want Kobe! We want LeBron! We want 'Lil Dez!" others would hear and take up the chant and it would take on a life of its own and become unstoppable and it will spread all the way to puppet guys who would be inspired and they'd make some new ones and Kobe could rib his highly-touted competitor about his brand new ring and we would be surprised once again and laugh at the antics of these two going at it some more and.....

What'd you think?? Should we try it?? Are we that brave and bold and focused and determined??!! Hmmm. Let's be logical. The ground-swelling buzz would more than likely be drowned out by the next televised edition of Charlie Sheen's very public ramblings or the paparazzi shouting at Lindsay Lohan as she arrived for her next court appearance. Oh well, that's OK. Good memories are always better than sad choices.

A Wonderful Discovery: Grandview Cleaners

I have tried all the dry cleaners in the Tri-Village area. Trust me. Even given second chances as I just don't like to spend my time running around changing service providers. I also have this penchant for using coupons to save money when/if prudent to do so.

Located at 1445 Grandview Avenue (next door to Trattoria Roma, across from St. Christopher's church) you will discover the business established by Mr. Blackburn's parents in 1954. He and his wife have been the proprietors for many years now. They are so friendly, the kind of folks who have worked hard in their community and you feel good supporting them. And there is a loading zone directly in front -- no parking meter to feed!!!

I found my way to them about four months ago. The cleaners I was using was one of mere convenience. Minutes from the house but nothing special. When a coupon caught my eye, I decided 'why not?'. Even though their locale is not as close it is still in an area I patronize doing errands and shopping.

Image my initial, and very pleasant, surprise when I was asked, "When would you like this?" not "It will be ready ...... ". Their prices are wonderful, so far every garment, coverlet, etc, have been well taken care of, and all stains/spots clearly removed. Please give them a try. And tell them "Julie sent you". HA!!

Removing Words from the Dictionary ~ POOF!

Kinda spooky, don't you think?? With one stroke of the old delete bar a little tiny fragment of culture is erased.

Talk about power. Just like that =SNAP= a piece of vocabulary disappears from the planet. Takes a lot of nerve to decide a word is archaic. Or unnecessary. Just because it is not used by the masses. Constantly. Does that make it any less a word? Without a noble history? Or purpose?

I bought a 1966 Random House Dictionary Unabridged Edition for my desk at the library book sale. I love it! Big. Fat. Bulky. Bursting with the thousands of words between the covers.

We've all heard the term 'dumbing down' --come to think of it that term is probably in there somewhere --in reference to the current trends of our casual culture. I can think of no more glaring example than casting an infrequently used word into extinction. It's not spooky -- it is downright scary. Maybe nobody really frets about 'excuviate' ("to shed") being tossed into extinction. But the more important question to me is "What IF nobody cares?". Why not have fun by expanding your vocabulary and watch your friends' faces when you interject 'agrestic' ("rural") or 'nidderly' ("cowardly"), maybe even 'embrangle' ("to confuse") into a conversation.

OH! But you can't!!! Those don't exist anymore!!!!!

Mothers and Sons

It's not like having a daughter, you know. Guys don't want to go shopping or 'do lunch'. (Well, I take that back. Yes, they do because it's free. And it's food. The perfect combo for a male.)

They don't call everyday just to chat. Or just because. There's usually a reason when they do. Like they need money. Or permission to go on Spring break -- which takes us back to the money thing.

They aren't the ideal partner to gossip with. They put up a bored facade like they don't condone gossip. "Whatever" or "Who cares?" is a common response. But I've never seen one get up and leave when a particularly juicy tidbit is shared among friends. Hmmm. Have you?

The latest hair styles or new make-up techniques or what's hot in fashion accessories for the season are not topics they appreciate spending their time on either. Turns out getting a new pair of jeans that are cut just right or ordering this year's latest fleece outerwear jacket (I'm speaking from experience on this subject -an internet purchase from England with some Christmas money. Really??! England?? "My roommate has one.") is important. And acceptable.

But when he gives me a beautiful smile as he turns and bends down to wrap his arms around me in one big warm and wonderful hug, my heart rejoices and everything is ok. Balance restored. Small irritations erased. Head-frustrations disappear.

Oh, all right. ALL RIGHT. I confess. I'm sure glad I have one. (And he's just darned lucky to have me, too! HA!)