Some girls are quiet, and some won't shut up

It's been a long week of Not Blogging. I do not know where the time went.

That's me, pondering the passage of time. And, no, I did not cut my hair off, it's just up in a messy bun thingy. Some powder would go a little way towards minimizing my nose, I think.

I went bra shopping today with someone I do not know well. She is a dignified and understated lady from church, who is quiet and unassuming. She's just about as sweet as she can be.
I looked like a televangelist's wife from somewhere deep in Texas, what with my hot-roller hair and blue eye shadow. There could not have been two women more radically opposite in personality and demeanor. We really should have taken a selfie.

Whenever I spend time with people I don't know well, I sort of observe myself through their eyes. I imagine I do, anyway. It's alarming.
Do you do that?
Do you see yourself anew when someone else is getting to know you for the first time?
I found myself to be flamboyant, intense and really talkative, plus, borderline inappropriate. You may have noticed these things.

 

 

 

See?

Not to mention that I'm too fond of the webcam on my blog. It's the age of the selfie! I am not the age for selfies, true. I just had to take, like, 13 different shots in an attempt to smooth out the chicken skin on my neck and minimize the lines around my eyes. And my mouth. Webcams are not kind to mature women. Of which I am one. Notice the maturity?

 

Yes.

Moving on.

 

So, this delightful woman from church....her name is Carol. (Hi Carol!) The name Carol just always makes me think of music at Christmas time, and what could be better? She and I went shopping at Victoria's Secret because I had two sets of coupons.

That, and what better way to get to know a nice lady from church than to discuss lacy unmentionables?

I found it vastly amusing that after emerging from the fitting rooms, she and I had chosen identical sets. We each had the same undies, in the same color! This just goes to show that no matter how different our personalities are, we're really not that different underneath.

 

I so admire people like Carol. She doesn't draw attention to herself. She doesn't stick her feet in her mouth. She listens well. She seems so comfortable and settled. I have always wondered at people who can abide so beautifully still.

 

When I grow up, I am going to be still and stoic and controlled and also thin, on account of the self control. I'm going to be effective in a gentle way, and speak with a soft voice.

 

In my dreams.

And yet, God seems to have ordered things so that this planet is peopled by a wide array of personalities. Aren't people fascinating? For some reason, there must be a purpose to be served by vivacious, distractible narcissists, who say every single thing that crosses their minds. I'm not sure just what that purpose might be, but I have a great deal of confidence in our Creator.



Swelling, Rapture, and not a little Delight

Well, I won't be writing on weekends, nor on days I have doctor appointments. Clearly.
In breaking news, my cardiologist has stricken caffiene from my life, and so I approach the computer this morning with a foggy head. How do you people function without coffee? Why do you bother? Such lack is likely to impede my writing entirely. Though, happily, not today.

I found myself in an antique store this weekend, and very nearly spent some money. Antique stores are glorious places, full of mystery and beauty. All of those lovely old things cause me to covet. I found a dictionary stand that I still might go back for. It was on sale. Anyone who knows me, knows that I love dictionarys. The thought of having my 1828 Webster's Original Replica elevated on a stand, and permanently open for ease of access, causes me swells of rapturous delight. One must embrace one's swells of rapturous delight. Mustn't one?

Ease-of-access and my love for books have brought me around to considering a Kindle. By "considering" I mean that I have chosen the one I want, and given strick instructions to my husband regarding what he is to have awaiting me on Christmas morn. The thought of having all of the books I love on my person at all times causes me more swelling of delightful rapture. (Actually, those words can be used in a variety of combinations, and can produce a slightly bawdy image. Perhaps I should refrain from further poetic explaination of rapturous swelling-inducing delight.) I just get happy about books.

E-Readers have always seemed a betrayal to eons of books. Reading is, in my opinion, a sort of relationship with the writen word, involving commitment, undivided attention, and the act of holding close the object of literary interest. An electronic device seems rather impersonal and counterfeit. However, I am getting over my reservations. The blissful possibility of holding all my favorites in my hand at one time, moves my interest in reading from "relationship" to downright "Romance." I carry with me that list on books which I shall download immediately. It turns out that a great many of the books I love were published rather a long time ago. In the world of E Readers, such books are free of charge. The only thing better than old books full of beautiful words, is a free collection of such.

The foray into an antique store was a spontanious diversion this weekend. I find that unexpected detours are a staple of my days, as my time is ruled by the needs of my children and husband. I had taken two of my kids to the movie theatre, to meet with their cousins. The cousins were running late, and the antique mall was situated adjacent to the theatre. I seized the opportunity.

It is difficult to make plans of any kind, when there are several other people involved. With 5 other people in the house, who have individual lives of their own, and whose plans intersect with mine, I find that I seldom have a day go as I'd planned. It's easier if I don't plan, but I'm not good at that. By nature, I am a planning-control-freak who wants to also plan a little spontanious fun. Riding the tide of daily circumstance stresses me out.

Stressing out is bad for my heart.

Shopping relaxes me. As does reading.

I really need to go buy that Dictionary stand, don't I? My life depends upon it.