Rainy Saturday Activities

My great-grandfather, Andre Wathier, was sort of an air traffic controller for trains. He sat in a booth in Oneonta, NY, and directed trains coming into the round main station. He had to make sure that two trains weren't coming through the depot at the same time on the criss-crossing tracks. A very stressful job. So stressful, the doctor told him he couldn't do it anymore, because his blood pressure was through the roof. So, he changed his profession and began to fix clocks. And make clocks. He fixed beautiful grandfather clocks by making new wooden gears. He also painted. Mostly nature scenes, but people too. There are a couple of Andre himself, working on one of his clocks. His paintings are now scattered among the family. I have a street scene in France, the Sacre Coeur of Montmartre in the distance, and tiny little man painting it in the middle of the street. I also snagged these panels. When I was little, my mom had them hanging in our foyer, but they were soon relegated to the attic. When I moved to Atlanta, I claimed them for myself. I just love the colors and the style. They are such a contrast to the lakes, trees and docks that were the usual subject of an Andre painting. They are now hanging in the dining room of my new apartment. I needed to put something in between them. I debated hanging a mantel shelf, and then I decided to take elements from the paintings, and create these smaller versions. The paint chips from Behr at the Home Depot helped me match colors, and then it was off to Michael's to get some acrylic paints and canvases.
I traced, I cut patterns, I used my exacto-knife. I think they turned out pretty good, if I do say so myself. And I can see why Andre picked up painting. It's very relaxing, and a nice way to spend a rainy Saturday afternoon.

It's worse than camping

Well, ok, maybe not THAT bad. It's day 18, and I still do not have my stuff. It is still in the possession of Advantage Moving & Storage in Atlanta. They have promised me that it will come on Thursday. The day after tomorrow. I'd hate to be them if it does not.
So, what is it like living in my new apartment and going to my new job without 95% of my life, you ask. Well, let me tell you. I did manage to squeeze a few things in the Honda Civic. (For a small car, you can really cram that thing full.) I did plan ahead and, thanks to the recommendation of my cousin, purchased an Eddie Bauer air mattress. It's not so bad. It's not my bed, but it's better than the floor. If anyone comes to visit, they can check it out for themselves. I do have my skillet, saucepans and a frying pan, so I am able to cook. I did have to get some knives and a big spoon though, so I wouldn't have to resort to tearing things apart or stirring hot things with my fingers. I am eating off of paper plates and bowls, however, with plastic utensils. And let me tell you, paper cups make wine taste funny. Thankfully, I brought some coffee mugs and my coffee maker (the first thing I put in the car), so I am set for my morning fix. Since the movers have my coffee table and my "big" TV, I have my tiny TV setting on a folded up cardboard box. The cable box is sitting on a McDonald's McNugget box. Up until this past weekend, I was sitting on a beach chair. Saturday I picked up a couple of really nice chairs at Pier 1, so now I am higher off the floor, and a little more stylish. If anyone wants to contribute to the Michelle Needs a Sofa Fund, let me know, and I'll send you the address. I have my computer, but the movers have my monitor, so I haven't been able to be online except for at work (staying late to write this). I miss my monitor.
I was able to squeeze a couple weeks worth of clothes into two suitcases, so I have only now repeated a couple things at work.
So that's it. Just me and the cat, waiting less-than-patiently for the rest of our belongings to arrive. Thursday can NOT come soon enough. I wish it were Thursday right now!!!
Cross your fingers for me!

All that you can't leave behind

I am packing up my life to move to Florida in a week. I am trying to purge and get rid of things I don't need since I only have so much stuff allowed in the moving truck and even less in my car. No sympathy or sentimentality! I thought I was doing good in the living room, until I opened one of the cupboards. Holy shit, how did I get so many versions of Trivial Pursuit? Is the Millennium version better than the 20th anniversary edition? It certainly takes up less space. And then there were my Disney videos. Wow. OK. Purge time. I will keep my favorites. Sleeping Beauty, Jungle Book, Mary Poppins. And the video that has Lambert the Sheepish Lion on it. And that's it. The rest went in a bag to be given away. Then I was packing pictures, and there was one of my mom, and I remembered something. I was in the car with her. I think I was 4 or 5. Sitting in the front seat, of course. No seatbelt. We were going somewhere. She wouldn't tell me where we were going. I kept guessing. Ice Cream? Movies? The zoo? No, she kept saying, smiling. She was fibbing. We went to see Cinderella. I was amazed by it. It was beautiful, and scary too. I loved it. My mom told me it had always been her favorite one.
Smiling, I went in the giveaway bag, pulled out the Cinderella tape and put it in the keep pile. Sometimes, you just have to hold on to the little things.
Happy Birthday, Mom!!!

Walking on Sunshine!

And it feels GREAT! My big news is that I have accepted a position at a magazine in south Florida. It's a fabulous opportunity and I am super excited.
And terrified. But in a good way. Kind of. I don't know anyone there. BUT, when I moved to Atlanta almost 12 years ago, I only knew one person. And he was really only a college acquaintance with a couch I could crash on until I found my way. Soon though, I got a job at a publishing company and my own place. (Well, his roommate came with me, which in hindsight was probably not the best idea. All her drama and baggage definitely did not fit under the seat in front of her OR in the overhead bin. But it was never boring; I'll give her that.) I was on my way!
I've met a lot of people in Atlanta over the years. Some good, some bad and some that are so great they have exceeded my wildest expectations (you know who you are). I will miss them all (Well, not the bad ones. They know who they are too.).
I will miss Jenny most of all. She's been a great roommate and an even better sister.
And I need to give a shout to my brilliant friend Paige, because without her, this opportunity might have passed me by.
I am going to be very busy over the next couple weeks while I pack and move (already found a place to live!), but keep checking back!
The Sunshine State is about to get a little bit BLUER!!!!

In other news: I am officially skin cancer free, but one step closer to hell. I had Brooke Astor. 3 stiffs, 21 points.

I Won't Let You Down; I Will Not Give You Up

I have to admit it; I've become wrapped up in a new (old) guilty pleasure. I bought George Michael's "Twenty-Five" double CD, and it is currently in heavy rotation in my car's CD player and on my iTunes. I have loved this boy, George, ever since I was a peppy blond (yikes) cheerleader, when he stared intently at me from the poster on my wall. I don't know exactly when I fell for him, but it was probably around the time he asked me to wake him up before I go-go'd. One look into those eyes and WHAM! I was hooked.
I know what you're thinking. But back then I didn't know that. However, in watching the videos on DVD (oh yeah, you know I bought that too), how did I NOT know (Exhibit A: "Last Christmas")?!?! Maybe deep down I knew, but I didn't care. The music was great and, let's face it, he was hot! Hot enough to distract me from Nick. No, Simon. No, John (Ladies, you know who I'm talking about.).
The old songs make me think of my carefree high school days, when I really had no idea what he was singing about, but it sounded good. "Freedom" was fun, and "Careless Whisper" was a high school dance staple. And then he went solo, and it only got better. And hotter, and a little dirty. I remember having to watch the premier of "I Want Your Sex" with my MOM, so we could talk about the "message." (A pitfall of having a high school teacher for a mother. P.S. the message was George Michael was even hotter half-draped in a black satin sheet, or at least that is what I got out of it.) The thought of "Father Figure" still makes me giggle and blush. George Michael as a hot cab driver, all brooding and stubbly, up against a wall…
My friend Jennifer and I, crazy Cosmo readers that we were, knew the names of every single supermodel in the "Freedom '90" video. I can't even keep up with my magazines anymore, let alone the people on the covers.
And then, like high school friends, George and I drifted apart. He'd pop up now and again. If I needed a dance song for a mix, "Too Funky" or "Monkey" could be called upon. In a rush of nostalgia, I bought "Ladies and Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael" when it came out a few years ago. "Outside" and "Fastlove" were the flirty sexy George of old. Seeing him in concert would have made the Acid Washed Summer of Michelle and Paige complete (although Madonna, Prince and the reunited Duran Duran were quite the 80s trifecta).
"Twenty-Five" has the songs I know and love, but it also has great newer material that I hadn't heard before. "Freeek" and "An Easier Affair" are my two new favorites, although I don't think he wants our sex anymore, because it is not included. But that's OK; the rest of the package is fantastic. And in spite of all the news and scandals and ups and downs, I still love this boy, George. I wonder if I still have that poster somewhere…

Scratch it and Gimme a Beat

The tempo on my mix tape life has gotten faster and much more upbeat in the last week, to match the nervous and excited racing of my heart, thanks to my brilliant friend Paige (who can be found at site AND site). I don’t want to jinx it, but I could soon have very big news!
PS: Bonus points for anyone who can name the song this post's title comes from.

I light my torch and wave it

With all the excitement of yesterday, I forgot to post this in celebration of the full moon. On a Monday.