Creole Wisdom

shush your mouth!

What is it with old men convening at coffee shops just waiting to weasel their way into your conversation? I'm being so real here. It's already happened twice this week. I understand that I have a friendly countenance, but I work hard at shutting it off in certain situations.

Story 1:

Joy and I wanted to have a nice chat at Starbuck's Tuesday afternoon. We ordered our drinks, a signature hot chocolate for me, and sat down in one of those over-sized velvet covered chairs. I was tired, in yoga pants and pontytailed. Not looking hot, and not wanting to talk to strangers.

Joy and I chatted for a while, and the older man a seat away butts into our conversation. I'm not talking about a "hi how are you" kind of thing. I mean a full-fledged diatribe about how wealthy he is, what are the best private schools in the city, how much education all of his kids have, and how nice his life is financially. Nuts. And my personal favorite part was when he told us that engineering is the only way to make money and you have to be in the sciences. Rude. We didn't even know what to say, but gladly left before he ran his mouth much more.

Story 2:

Joy and I planned on having a resume editing coffee date at Dunn Bros. I went in, found seats, and sat down. Then trouble maker sat down nearby. He walked in wearing a pair of "dina blow your horn" striped train conductor overalls and a long white beard. Kind of like Santa meets the FLDS.

Joy came, we sat, and started chatting. I could tell he was eavesdropping, and staring. People are really struggling these days with basic manners!

A while later, an older woman came in, and hugged the man. Then they started making out. Ew. Ow. Ew. As she walked out, and I cannot make this up, she starts singing at the highest decibel

"God bless you! God bless you!"

Almost peed my true religions. Almost.

But wait- it gets better dear readers, much better.

A few minutes later the old man turns to Joy (who has the prettiest red hair). "Can I pay you a compliment?" LOL. "You  have the most interesting shade of hair. It's not copper, it's not gold, it's not red, it's not even strawberry blond. There's a girl who comes in here a lot with hair like that..."

Wow! People are special.

the tights.

I bought these tights at Target on a whim a few weeks ago. They were cheap and I needed something fun for work. I mean, if you're going to be a preschool teacher, at least wear some festive clothes once and a while.

Today I was standing in line, in these very tights, at home depot. I noticed an old friend, a fraternity boy who I had known through lots of mutual people.

"Oh hi!"

"Hi"

We chatted for a moment. He told me a bit about his first year in dental school.

Then he looked down and said, "those are some festive tights."

I don't know if he meant that in a good way. But my thought is: the internal monologue went, what the hell is an adult woman doing wearing Halloween tights at home depot at four in the afternoon.

So I had to give an excuse, "I'm a preschool teacher. The kids need something fun."

But I love these tights, too. So much. Being festive is fun.

eat. drink. and be.

Wednesday night dinner clubs have been going along quite well. I'm loving it, and laughing hard, but not as hard as I was over this. I don't even know what to say... I guess I'll just laugh.

But here is what was making me go "mmm" about a half hour ago-

Oh I just adore dinner nights with the ladies. Fun, fun. And oh yes, I had a good happy hour with a boy, too.

Happy Halloween Week-

And because we enjoy this holiday as adults, it's necessary to remember our past. For me that meant mom making me fabulous costumes year after year. We never went to a store. Mom never said "no" to a request. I felt so lucky. I loved, and still love Halloween. Here is a favorite:

As Pipi Longstocking (my childhood idol) as a 3.5 year old Preschooler.

 

just a little photography update-

 

 

I've been working quite a bit on this- thanks to school ending. I'm hoping to get these out to different areas in the city and suburbs so I can find some new clients. I specifically would love to do some family Christmas portraits. We'll see what will happen. I've got something really exciting brewing with a local business here, but it's too early to disclose anything, but I'll leave you one hint- it has to do with one of my favorite things: organic and natural food. There ya go!

Right now I'm going to be working primarily on getting a website up and running. Although I like Printroom (my current, still in progress site) I'm going to go with a different vendor thanks to talking to a few other working girls turned photographers. People are so helpful, thank you Jessie!

I'm so happy with my business cards, and these fliers should hopefully do well (and excuse the photoshop paint job).

do you have a staring problem?

People used to be ruder when the economy was better, but we haven't made the kind of strides we should. People need to stop staring.

You know when you were (or at least I) a child mom always said, "please don't point or stare." I know it's hard because well- we are visual creatures are we like to look. At whatever. Hot people, ugly people, normal people, single people, married people, children, old men... Staring is to be expected, but it's still not polite!

Thursday's story:

Recently a few girlfriends of mine have started to do happy hour. Since 2009 has been a rough year, especially for some, it's necessary that we go out and have fun. This is so important. To our survival. I'm being serious. There is no way that one could work or not work the craziness that is our lives and not need a "time out." So the four of us decided to meet at Fujiya.

Fantastic place with a great and affordable happy hour. I got a nice glass of wine with a caterpillar roll (8 pieces) for just around $12.00. Good huh?

The waitress seated us at a small table and shortly after two normal-looking (take from that what you will) men sat down- it was kind of strange because they looked very similar- or at least dressed that way down to their elementary school buzzed haircuts and matching rectangle shaped glasses frames. As they walked passed out table they stared at us.

I had to stop mid-conversation with Rachel. We both noticed it, laughed, and kept on with our chat. Then throughout the evening I noticed them staring more. And not just looking, bodies turned and watching.

Um- manners?

I'm not going to get into that they were staring at us because we are a bunch of hot single ladies who are fabulous. Maybe they wanted to eavesdrop on our conversation, but whatever the case, it's rude.

When we finished and got up their gazes (and necks for that matter) followed us all the way out. Emma and Andrea noticed it as well. 

I don't know who raised them, but someone needed to give them the memo that staring is rude.

Yesterday's Story:

It always makes me laugh when I go out somewhere with my mom and dad. People always stare, like- oh here comes an interracial family and their product. Am I on display at the world's fair 1921?

To celebrate dad's birthday we went to Bacio's (which Karen told me translated into "kiss" in Italian) which I love.

I have a whole strategy to avoid the "staring" thing so I usually walk ahead of my parents instead of behind. That way it's less like a visual parade of "what comes next!"

Still, as the hostess seated us I noticed a family- similar to mine: an adult daughter, mom, & dad stop mid-conversation to stare then smile.

Is a mixed family interesting and/or funny to you? I personally love it.

I would be much less irked (if I was offended it would be "old" by now), if someone would just say, "hi, I like your family. I voted for Obama" or something.

Life is funny.

on a cold fall night

I'm watching Marie Antoinette, a film about one of my favorite people in history, with my two fabulous roommates. After all, this is Versailles*. Did they have heat there? Because ours isn't turned on yet, and well, I feel frigid. 

*Not really, but thank you dad for taking me there.

it had to be you

I went home for a quick minute on Sunday. As usual, I was rushing from here to there and trying to shove way more than possible into a day.

As I drove down the foliage lined street of my childhood I noticed a desk sitting in a neighbor's yard. I walked into the house and said about three words to my mother. You see, her mother and she taught me this: you've got to have your eyes open, because you never know what you might find. And wouldn't it be just dull if you just walked into Restoration Hardware and bought everything? (insert awkward pause here ha!)

The desk, a 1950s school teacher solid oak thing. Its drawers are perfect, and fit well, and everything was there. It was left for garbage.

So then there's the little issue about getting it inside my 100 year old apt- insert John John and Sam. Thank you! But then after some work (death) we realized we needed to cut two legs off (no worries- there were six legs total, and what we needed to chop of isn't a big issue- please take my words on this!)

You can't use a butcher knife to cut off a solid oak desk leg. How nice that some men were cutting down a tree next door, and I know how to ask and get. Which is exactly what I did. And it took about 2 seconds for Karen and I to cut the legs off.

5,000 pounds later, and it's sitting up in our landing "nook" all ready for some loving and a new chair. Oh you just wait and see what I'm going to do with this little baby. I'm so excited, but excuse me while I locate an electric sander and primer :)

this is why i live here-

 

It was a fantastic fall adventure with Emma at Minnetonka Orchards in Minnetrista. Yep, and can you count how many city names begin with "Minn" in this great state? Kind of strange, right, but I love it. The families with kids were leaving, so perfect time for two bachlorettes to wander the corn maze. Much less frightening and more beautiful during sunset than at night.

happy windows

Have you ever really looked at an old house and all the details inside? Doesn't it make you marvel. How gorgeous and full of little beauties. I don't think I could live in a new home. But the truth is, my windows were looking a little barren. I love the clean white shades, but- something needed to happen.

 

Here's what happened. Do you like it? Is it "whimsical?" (Kate said that about my room and I was devastated. I wanted to be elegant. I guess you can take the girl out of wonderland, but not wonderland out of the girl)  

I love it. I want to make Christmas ones out of the Martha Stewart Holiday paper I have left over for on top of the dining room hutch. Hm. Thank you Nie for the idea :) 

Also, two things-

1) Um, my blog is messed up. Help?

2) I need a flash photography site. Fast. It's time. I've got biz cards, so let's go. Who should I go through? Is it fast/easy? I hope so!

xoxo

CW