A visit with an old friend

Menchie's yogurt …  it's what's for lunch.

There's a knock on the door this morning and there stands our friend who used to live down the street. Great neighbors Viki and John Hennessy moved to Seattle a number of years ago. Before they moved, we would always see John walking their two dogs in the afternoon.  During his walks he would meet and talk to so many people. He was always a hub of information! He comes to town about once a year to visit his family here. Ms. Viki stayed in Seattle this time. She is a crafter like me so I had to find out what she is doing before running out and leaving John to catch up with Mr. B.

It's a good think that we canceled the garage sale that was supposed to take place this morning. (It's raining in Houston again.) I think it has been rescheduled for mid-July when I'll be gone. Mr. B enjoys the interaction that occurs during garage sales, but to me they are akin to sticking sharp objects under my fingernails.

Today I'm creating a search for background photos. Too many choices to pick just one.

A fun afternoon

Mitzie and Dr. Mc loading up on
snacks before the movie.

Mitzie, Dr. Mc and I had lunch today and then went to see Chef. In the movie, the chef losses his job at an Los Angeles restaurant, but finds what's really important in his life (family, friends, passion for cooking). The movie was filled with delicious looking food and great music. I want to find the soundtrack before for the drive to Santa Fe next week.

I was amazed at the price for a matinee ticket, which was $9. What happened to $4 matinee prices? I got bottled water out of a vending machine for $4.75. Amazing! I guess the theater has to make its money from the concessions when only a dozen people are watching the movie.

Today I'm creating revisions to an ad and then going on a date to an art opening this evening with Mr. B. Fun day!

A creature of habit

I never know what I'll see in the Heights. Here's
a tub of body parts for sale outside a shop.

I'm noticing certain patterns developing in my daily routine as I try to chill more and stress less. For example, on Tuesdays I like to review the Southwest Airlines email I get to check the flight prices to ABQ. On Wednesdays I like to look at the upcoming Houston-area estate sales that are posted on EstateSales.net. On Thursdays I look at the same website to see if more photos and/or addresses are added, and then I make a list of the sales that I might attend of Friday. Then on Friday I like to completely ignore the list I have made the day before and sleep late. Granted, every once in a while there is an estate sale that has something I really want (usually old fabrics) so I'll make an effort to go to check out the item(s). That's never at 9 a.m. when the doors open to many estate sales. If it's meant that I should own whatever I've seen, it will still be at the there  when I get organized to leave the house in the afternoon.

Now that I'm going to be a grandma (but don't call me that) I've gotten into the habit of looking at Etsy and Zulily to see if there is anything new that the McZam baby will need. Thinking about babies reminds me that my lovely niece Patricia and her husband Tom will be welcoming baby girl #2 today. Their daughter Catherine just turned one about two months ago. I can't imagine having babies that are 14 months apart, but they are so happy!

Today I'm creating revisions to a letter and attending an advertising meeting this afternoon. Good thing my meeting is casual. It's going to rain (again) this afternoon so I plan on wearing my rain boots.

Schedule changes

How does this work?

I didn't post Saturday or Sunday because I wasn't feeling well. For many years I've suffered from bouts of pleurisy. I've learned that taking Aleve and resting in bed (sitting up) is just as effective as going to the doctor, getting a prescription, and then resting in bed (sitting up). On Saturday morning around 5 a.m. I woke up Mr. B up because I was having great chest pain. He knew my symptoms so he got dressed and went to the drugstore for Aleve. Within an hour I was resting.

While reading about pleurisy today, which I haven't done in several years, I saw no mention of stress as the cause of the inflammation that makes it difficult to breathe. What happened? I'm thinking I should have a visit with the doctor before I head of to the high desert where I don't trust the medical system. Hopefully I can get into the doctor's office on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday of this week to see if my chest pain is pleurisy or something more significant. Either way, it's probably time that I stopped treating the symptoms (chest pain and difficulty breathing) and started treating the cause.

Today I'm creating a press release. I was supposed to have a meeting about a new advertising campaign today, but it was postponed from Friday to today to tomorrow. Whenever. I'm ready.

Will work for compliments!

Colorful new iPhone case. Thanks, McZams!

I was beyond exhausted by the time I got home from the client event I coordinated last night. Being outside in the heat for four hours will do that to me! Yet it's so rewarding when I received a text message this morning from the "boss" that read: A big shout out to Julie for last night … a perfect event … and lots of hard work … I appreciate it. Oh, yeah!

When I got home last night, the back of the linen dress had on was soaking wet, as was the back of my hair. This morning my feet and legs weren't tired from standing, but my upper arms were crazy sore. For my birthday, Sweetness and Raff gave me a gift certificate for a spa mani/pedi. I plan on putting it to good use this weekend!

Today I'm creating the final text for my ad concepts, as well as a list of items I want to order from the Sundance catalog. If only everything I like in the catalog wasn't so expensive.

A lazy, rainy birthday

While straightening up I found a box of bracelets I created,
several made from mainly vintage beads.

I couldn't sleep last night. It was a combination of being excited about the future and the McZam peanut along with thinking about my last calendar year (June 18, 2013-June 17, 2014). Like most years, last year was filled with highs and lows, but no regrets. All I hope is that along my journey I learned some new lessons and reaffirmed others that will help me in my coming years.

So far it has been a rainy birthday. How hard is it raining? Rose, who isn't normally bothered by rain and thunder, is under the couch (panting) with her toys and bone. 

Today I'm creating an afternoon of multi-tasking: house straightening, clothes washing, and concept development. I'm looking forward to tonight when Mr. B is treating me and the lovely McCarley sisters and their significant others to dinner at La Griglia. While awake last night I had time to decide what I'm going to eat tonight.  

Doing lots today

So excited for these two!

I spent way more time today working on projects for my Tuesday client. Fortunately, most of it was accomplished while I was at home in a pair of shorts. I still have three more projects to complete before the end of the week, plus take care of everything for an event on Thursday night.

The big news in the house today was from Dr. Mc and #1 son-in-law Nick. They learned the sex of the baby. I was given permission to call a couple of important friends with the announcement, but am not going to disclose the sex on my blog. I did spend several hours on the computer looking at baby stuff and placing some orders. Learning the sex somehow made the peanut more real and exciting to me. I spent all afternoon smiling.

Today I'm creating orders for the Thursday evening event. I'm also concepting several ads, but haven't been overcome with brilliance yet. The ads are difficult to concept because I'm just not sure about the directive given to me. We'll see if I can make it work.