Ullmans

When Rob and I attended Crafty Bastards... there was a Paper Source (www.paper-source.com) booth. They had really fantastic graphics and papers and other things any designer would be drawn to. Rob bought an eraser and with that, they gave him a mini catalog of this year's Christmas cards. One could have the cards then personalized. Imagine the shock to see this!:

Stirrup + Pants = Fashion Brilliance

In 1988, (I might be off by one year), I was sent to grade school in stirrup pants. They were all the rage. Finally, pants you could tuck INTO your socks. Pants that would stay down without EVER hiking. Pants that made you look as if you had no knees. They were revolutionary. Well, sort of. I think we all begin to get tired of "bagged out knees", a rather common occurrence with the sporting of stirrup pants. Poofed out knees rendered you unfashionable the next time you tried to wear stirrups without washing them. It also later turns out, that they were hideously awful and did nothing for women. No pockets, they pulled down at the waist, they only came in cotton blends, and again - you now have no knees!
So, imagine the absolute shock when I walked into my work building (yesterday), behind a woman wearing cream colored stirrup pants. Where in the hell did she find these? They didn't look 20 years wash worn ... so I did a little research. And dammit, there must still be an audience out there.

Short pants. Short sleeves. Too old for this.

Because I'm at a new office, I have this opportunity to explore my wardwrobe in ways never thought possible before. I can experiment with clothes not suitable at my last employer (ie - nice work clothes and business office attire), new hairstyles and make-up. Its a way of recreating your personality when you start fresh at a new workplace. I could go to work wearing lipstick tomorrow and people wouldn't know... that the last time I wore lipstick was on my wedding day.
Its kind of exciting creating and establishing a new you.
So, its been 2 weeks and all this fun has now left me with the possible repeat clothing (ok, so it turns out I don't have as much usable office attire I once thought I had)and clothing that's not appropriate (cocktail dresses and cotton crop pants, anyone?).
I tried to make a new outfit, today, using the scraps in my closet. I now remember why I hardly wear these articles... the pants are shrunk (the dry cleaners failed to clean them properly and ultimately shrunk them. *&$!!, I'm still pissed about it) resulting in a high-water look only acceptable in the 2nd grade. And the sweater tends to shrink up throughout the day leaving me with sleeves that fall short of my wrists.
As I walked home today, I had flash-backs of jr. high when my mother refused to buy me new clothes because I was growing. I was the humiliated bean-pole who's white socks made up for the short comings in my pant legs and who's hands were tucked inside the sleeves of my sweatshirt desperately attempting to stretch out the length.
*sigh*, I'm too old for this.

SPX and NFF

Just a quick recap as to what has been going on the last few weeks...
The weekend of Oct 7 & 8 was cold and rainy - bleech. We were going to attend the State Fair but didn't due to the exciting forecast. I worked at my old employer most of the day Sunday and came home to make this Ragu roast (it took hours!) and reseeded the back yard. I either need a life or a personal assistant. The roast was salty.
This past weekend - Oct 14 & 15 was jam packed with SPX (Small Press Expo - a gathering place for comic illustrators, comic-book writers and nerds... not necessarily in that order and not necessarily mutually exclusive) and the NFF (National Folk Festival held in Richmond for the 2nd time).
Due to SPX getting moved this year (the old location - a hotel- was bought out and SPX, ultimately, kicked out... so they found a new venue this year) it overlapped the Folk Fest weekend. This sucked since I really wanted to attend both. I volunteered one day at last years NFF and had such a great time, that I signed up for 2 days this year. Rob and I were forced to go our separate ways this past weekend...
Thursday, Oct 12th - the SC boys came to town en route to Bethesda for SPX. We had 4 guys crash over (that's me & Rob + 4 guys + 2 dogs + 1 bathroom = potential disaster). I think everyone had a great time (even Duane, who got the cot) - I certainly did. In fact, if we play our cards right next year - maybe we could organize an SPX pre-bash and have it become an annual event. I always like a reason to have a few beers on a school night...
Friday, Oct 13th I worked the beer booth at NFF from 5-10:30PM. It was freezing! It was the first frost warning of the year and I wore a light jacket so as not> to cover up my volunteer t-shirt. I will never worry about something so stupid ever again. I froze. And when I got home to a cold house at 11PM... I found out the furnace wasn't working. It was 60 degrees in this house and lemme tell ya, when you aren't used to the cold (as in the beginning of the season) its damned cold.
Saturday, Oct 14th I worked the NFF music tent from 11:30AM-2:30PM. I helped sell CDs but I do not think I was much of a help at all. I basically said "hi" to people. I later spent the rest of the afternoon seeing stages & music groups till 6PM. The Quebe Sisters were so good - I saw them twice. I later went home and just died... it was exhausting. But the weather was spectacular and you couldn't ask for a more fun weekend. All the people were warm and friendly - a really great event. Only one more year and then it moves on to another city!
Sunday Oct 15th - I made it a point to sit on my laurels. Well, I did do laundry and that sort of things... but mostly I was a vegetable. Rob came home just in time for dinner and we retired early.
Great weekend all-in-all.
I can't believe Halloween is in two weeks and Thanksgiving is in FIVE!

Bernaner Bed

Wow. Has it been 2 weeks since my last blog? I guess that's what happens when you don't blog from work.

I have now officially completed 2 weeks at my new employer. So far... I really like it!
Yes, its corporate (translation: padded cubes - however - I am one of the lucky 10% that gets a full window as one of its walls) but that has only helped me fully appreciate "The Office" and my old DVD of "Office Space." Both of which, coincidentally, we have been watching on the 47" plasma TV set up in our recreation area (our department has a defined area within the cube farm in which we have modern, colorful couches gathered in front of a mounted TV wall). Our department is busy - I have stayed in to eat lunches in my cube and, occasionally, stayed an extra hour at night to wrap things up... but honestly, I have enjoyed it so far. (Skipping a lunch break and working late is nothing new to me). The pace isn't frantic... so the time spent working is a nice, steady pace. The people are all... straight to the point (which is hard to get used to! People sum up what they need in just a few words.) but very friendly and are predominently laid back. Its organized, systematic and... get this... I get 3 weeks to concept ideas! And so far, they've assigned some pretty nice projects to me.
One of my colleagues recently commented on my organization when we were speaking with a client - I'm really going to like a place that appreciates my system of things! ;-)

Crafty Bastards - Washington City Paper

"Crafty that-word-we-cannot-tell-grandma," as a little kid tells Pete when asking for a squished penny.
The craft fair was fabulously fun! Seriously, it was high-caliber! I'm definitely bringing more than just singles for next year - many of these crafts were very professional and displayed amazing handwork.
One day only... one event a year... in the fall... in DC. Plan to attend next year!
Here's some pics:

Humpback Mtn.

Who doesn't love photos?