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I bought this piece from a guy named Jake. I saw it advertised and loved it, so I called him right away to inquire and we spoke about it for a few minutes.  He owns a bike repair shop in Denver and didn't have the space for it anymore - I texted him the next day and what turned out to be the day after to reiterate my intentions.  I really wanted it, but wasn't able to get up there till later in the week... would he hold it for me?  Turns out I wasn't able to pick it up at all... and a week or two passed.  Fortunately for me, when I texted him again, apologizing for my absence..and, was it still available, he said yes.    I was really attracted to it's Mid-century modern shape.  Jake (a cool, young dude with tattoos, a wild head of hair and a bushy beard) told Russ (who so kindly picked it up for me on his way home from work) that he had "painted it black a few years ago" as they worked together to load it into the truck.  The thing is heavy...

After the market crashed in 2007, my career in interior designer took a nosedive - I had to find a job that would help us survive.  I got into territory management so that I could continue to provide my family with health insurance but eventually tired of constant travel within my multi-state demographic, which is how I came to work for a major worldwide beauty company that would change my life forever. What I liked most about the advertisement regarding the position was what I read in the job description.  There was an official title, but it was the words "empowering women" that really captured my heart.  I was living in Testosterone World raising my boys (with my ex, who could also be considered a boy) and in need of some sisterly love.  The job was to empower small, independent business owning women to believe that Yes they can!!  My job was to nudge them to be confident, courageous and independent!  I could do that!  But could I? We live...

No doubt about it, she's adorable. I wasn't able to have a cat for a long time.  Almost two decades, actually.  My Ex had allergies, and, unfortunately, so did the kids.  The last cat I had was Maxi, when my oldest son was just an infant.  We called her Maxi Pad and she was a real cool cat, but she must have licked leaking antifreeze because something was off and I had to take her to the vet one day.  I brought her home a day later and the day after that she was gone.  Ohhh, the tears!!  Pets have a way of sneaking into our souls and making the world seem like it's actually alright.  They have a way of making us happy beyond the stars.  They love us unconditionally, get us smiling & feeling good about life... and this Schmeigel... this little girl has captured my heart in a way that no cat has ever done in all my days.  She snuck in but it wasn't easy for me to win her over, I'll tell you that. She was scared at first.  Sh...

Yes.  But you became sloppy and mad.  You became hateful and uninterested.  You became narcissistic and bigoted.  You became disgusting and self centered.  You stopped caring and being sympathetic. You were right even though you weren't. What are the results? What are the new goals? Are we better now? Did we disagree on the issues? Did we forget that love trumps hate and that war is useless and irresponsible?   Insanity reigns? When can we get past the greed and poverty and shame? When can we expect the sun again? I guess you forgot that the beauty you see in me is a reflection of the beauty you see in yourself...

It was definitely time to get out of the craziness for a minute; time to go country - REAL country... Mountain Goat Country!!  We live in a small town, and our town happens to be growing like a weed.  The commute to work is getting as bad as traffic in L.A. & Seattle - places we lived and worked in eons ago.  People here are certain to become Road Rage certified as the current growth continues like it has the past few years.  It was time for an escape! We went to a place over 10,000 feet above sea level.  We went to a place where there were street signs cautioning to watch for cows that might be passing over the road (and not necessarily at the cattle guards), signs hollering at us to be careful, to slow down.  That busy world we left behind; jobs that pay too little and demand so much, recurring bills that keep circling back to the mailbox month after month, the never-ending list of projects around the house that need to be finished - we ...

  That first time I pulled up... I saw it.  It was flying gloriously from a proper pole right there on a post off his front porch and it wasn't even the Fourth of July!  ... I didn't really think about his proclamation, I guess.   He grew up in a small military town near Death Valley in California.  His father had spent his entire 35 year career working on the base as a civilian draftsman.  Both of his parents were born & raised in that small town where patriotism was taught, appreciated, believed in, acted out and respected.  I had held my hand on my heart  alongside all those other kids going through the public school system  every morning; we pledged our allegiance to it, we praised it's symbolism and we were taught to appreciate what it stood for, because that was the right thing to do.   My  sisters, father and I had to apply for the privilege to call it our own.  We were officially granted,...

This week is going so fast!  This LIFE is going so fast...  I am dizzy from all the craziness!  Have you ever felt that way?  I was downsized at my job - this Friday is my last day.  I've had a month to brew on this situation.  I've had 27 days now to mull it over... and, at times, I'm still mulling it over, but I'm also ready to begin my ascent back up the mountain ... I will say that hope does die hard...  I interviewed for the position that will swallow up all of the soon-to-be-eliminated positions.  I created my appointment to speak with someone in HR.  Said person called me and I auditioned.  I nervously yet confidently spoke my answers to her generic questions...  knowing I  had worked hard all those years to get them to Believe.  My job was to EMPOWER them... a task that I had taken very seriously.  After the call, I still had...