coming up - and staying up - for air

what happened to the last two or three weeks? where did they go? or as Ash says, 'where-izt?'

i just finished working on a 28-page promotional booklet for Snow's Art Department. it was one of those projects that seems to linger over your head like a unassuming rain cloud then boom! you're drenched in a half a second. i caught a glimpse of what life could be like as a close to full-time work-from-home mom and it was grim. my sincerest apologies go out to Ash and English. we were all stretched to the limit and yet we pulled through. 'preciate cha.

this is by far the biggest graphic design piece i've ever done and i have to say i really think it rocks. i can't wait to get my hands on a hard copy. here's a sampling...


i also realized that while i love my computer and and the Adobe Creative Suite, i do wish i had an upgrade. i now understand how bittersweet it is to become 'Santa'. i mean, i really want to ask for these for Christmas.

hold the plastic, please

the other day i bought a medium serving bowl, a pair of cheap sun glasses, and a chapstick at Wal*Mart. i'd forgotten to bring in one of our canvas bags so i planned on carrying everything out just inside the bowl. as the checker went to put it in a plastic bag a conversation took place:

me: 'oh, don't worry about putting it in a bag, i'll just carry it out.'
checker, looking at me like i'm an idiot, continuing to bag the bowl, then proceeding to double-bag the bowl.
me: 'no, really. i wouldn't like it in a bag, please.'
checker, hesitating but still double-bagging against my request.
by this time i realize there's no way i'm getting out of here without a bag.
me: 'it's okay, you don't need to double-bag it.'
checker: 'but what if the bag rips?'
me: 'i think it'll be okay.' plus i'm thinking, one extra layer of wimpy plastic bag isn't going to cushion a fall even if the first bag does rip and if the first bag rips then it isn't a suitable grocery bag at all!
checker, still double bagging...
me: 'please. i don't want two bags.
checker: 'but...'
me: 'it won't break and if it does, i won't hold you accountable.'
she stops double-bagging and scans the other items only to then put them in a separate plastic bag. what the...?
me: 'could you just put everything in that same bag.'
checker: 'okay. if that's what you want.'
me: 'yep.'

now, i understand that there is a protocol to bagging groceries. my sister, who was a bagger at Smith's, had to watch a training video on effective bagging: don't put the bread on the bottom, wrap raw meat in a separate plastic bag, put tender produce near the top, etc. all in an effort to get groceries home unscathed. that makes sense. but i think the checkers at Wal*Mart have taken that to mean only put two or three items in a bag and don't ever put a tube of toothpaste in with a box of crackers. one is food, the other is not.

sure, i think this over abundance of plastic bags and inefficient bagging is unnecessary. heck, i bring my own canvas bags with me to the store 9 out of 10 times. but what surprised me the most is that i was treated like i nut for not wanting a plastic bag in the first place. as if i were asking Arby's to hand over my beef n' cheddar without a wrapper... 'you can just put the fries right here in my hand.'

hey, that's not a bad idea. hmmmmm.

proof of God's existence

yesterday afternoon we visited our friends' farm. it was an incredibly beautiful day: perfect fall weather, lighting, etc. on our little walk to the pond we stopped to watch some mules grazing in the pasture and Ash played with Chuck, the very friendly dog. the colors were magnificent.

Our Mutual Friend, a review of sorts

it's been a while since i've read any Dickens (ninth grade, excerpts from 'Great Expectations'). perhaps i should read some more. in the mean time, however, i'm perfectly content with watching BBC versions of his stories. last night we just finished watching 'Our Mutual Friend' for the third time in about as many years and it was as good as ever. the story intertwines characters and sub plots galore. you meet virtuous, silly, and treacherous folk in poor and wealthy classes alike. and it's very well done (no out-of-date synth music to throw you off). i highly recommend this video to everyone.

p.s. i might not be a bad idea to watch the first little bit with the subtitles on until you get used to the cockney accent.