Valentine Verdict

I have a great nose and really love sensational aromas. Hyacinths, peonies, lilies of the valley -- my favorite flowers all pack a punch to the nose in the olfactory sense! I really love fragrance. And, I tend to love what I love. I've worn my favorite perfume forever. And I would still continue to wear it, only -- it is no longer being manufactured. My husband found a bottle of it on-line several years ago and purchased it for me. But -- in reality, perfume shelf-life is not exactly eternal. Maybe I should have kept it in the freezer -- or Tupperware. At any rate, I need to make a new favorite and find a new me. Apparently my "New West" by Aramis era is officially over.

Recently, while Mr. and I were shopping in our local JC Penney's, I smelled something/someone fantastic! I accused the cashier of smelling divine, but she declared her innocence, blaming her colleague -- who had already walked away. I had to track her down! We found her at the front of the store to inquire.

"Oh, my goodness! What a sensational fragrance! -- Is that you? What are you wearing?" Perhaps I was a bit too exuberant in my quest. The poor woman looked embarrassed -- then confessed. She was wearing "Guilty" by Gucci. She stated the price -- available at Macy's.

I laughed with my husband on the way home that I would find a new fragrance that I loved with a price tag similar to a small starter home. That's the kind of nose I have. I'll wear second-hand clothes and tacky shoes, but I won't touch cheap fragrance!

You know how things smell different on different people? Later, at a Macy's I decided to play at the perfume counter. I found the "Guilty" party -- sprayed that around. Sprayed some other stuff, too. Hit both wrists, the sample cards -- who knows what else was compromised in my fragrance frenzy. I pretty much smelled like a traveling perfume counter by the time I was done -- either that or a 13 year old boy who had just discovered cologne. But -- things were getting a little murky. What exactly had I squirted where? Most of the sample cards were stamped with a different brand than the one I had doused on them. Which wrist had what? But mostly - -why, oh why didn't the oh-so-pricey "Guilty" smell like the JC Penney's experience? That's what I most wanted to know. It didn't even smell vaguely similar -- more deep and musky rather than light and floral. It couldn't possibly be the same fragrance. I started to wonder about the integrity of the JCP sales girl.

Ah well - I couldn't afford it anyway. I decided I really liked the Versace --- "Yellow Diamonds." That was fairly fantastic! I couldn't afford that either, I suppose. Hard to know, though -- since they lock those puppies up in the glass counter and don't exactly advertise the price. So tacky! As your mother said, "If you have to ask, then you probably can't afford it."

Later that week, while checking email, I found a shipping notice from Amazon that my order had shipped. What order? "Guilty" by Gucci was on its way. Only, I hadn't ordered it. I wasn't even really sure that I liked it. But -- with Valentine's Day on the horizon, I quickly deduced who had been ordering things on Amazon: the "guilty" party -- my favorite valentine -- my husband.

Now -- do you see the issue here? My husband had just spent who knows how much $$$ on a bottle of perfume that I like, but don't love. But -- is that not the sweetest thing in the whole world? He was with me on the whole scent quest in JC Penney's and immediately set out on a mission to make me happy.

So -- lean in close to your PC -- take a deep sniff -- you're certain to smell me because this stuff is potent! And if you're wondering: "What's that fragrance?" I'll tell you. It's love -- I smell like love!

Woody took this photo a few weeks back. I have to say, I rather like it. Is that kind of vain? Probably. But, the whole process was fascinating. He turned his room into a studio, hung a backdrop, and turned off the lights. Mr. helped man the camera and was in charge of holding the shutter open. Woody then threw flickering Christmas lights at me. I was in charge of holding the umbrella and standing still. I thought I'd add trying to look good to my list of responsibilities (note the pink scarf).

And -- I learned that leaving the shutter open allows the camera to capture every spot in the frame where the light touches. I guess it picks up movement, too. Apparently I fail at the standing still assignment. In my defense, the umbrella was flimsy and hard to handle when hit with a substantial wad of Christmas lights!

Part of what I love about this photo is remembering the experience: getting to help Woody create something fun (and complete his homework assignment), and learning something new from him about cameras, photography, shutters. The photo won a "professional" award in his photography class. He complained that I did not stand still -- making my image a bit blurry. I explained that at this point in life, I could use a little blur. Blur is actually quite flattering!

Minneapolis Minibreak

I finally went somewhere and did something! I'm sure this news will shake up the web! Mr. always attends the ACSI Administrators Conference in the winter. Often I am able to go with him to whatever exotic local they select to host this august group -- like Merrillville, IN, or Valparaiso, IN. This year we went to Minneapolis. I have only been to MN once before -- for another education conference. Let me just say that Minneapolis is a long drive from Oshkosh.

During our maiden voyage to MN, we stayed at the Crown Plaza -- a random pick, I believe. Oddly enough -- on our second northerly venture, we ended up at the same Crown Plaza hotel. The hotel is located in a northern industrial park area of Minneapolis -- Brooklyn Center. In the middle of this area, I discovered a nature preserve complete with stream, paved path and foot bridge. I also spotted deer on my first trip there -- kind of a strange find with the silhouette of warehouse buildings in the background and the roar of traffic rushing past.

I wasn't planning to attend the conference, but rather thought I'd just hang out while John went to sessions/workshops. A few days before we left, our kids decided they would come with us. This surprised me, but gave me some great traveling companions.

Speaking of traveling companions, my friend Pam just happened to be on a business trip to Minneapolis on the exact same days of our visit. Would you believe she had already booked a room in the our exact same hotel? Kind of crazy! I thought it was fun to get to see her a little in between her various business responsibilities.

So, Mr. did his thing -- went to his conference, talked to his comrades-in-arms, networked -- and I don't know what else. Woody, Dwight and I hung out, ate junk food, and make a huge mess in our hotel room.

I took the guys out on my nature trail. The temps were in the 30s -- surely a small miracle for Minneapolis in January! We hiked along behind the hotel, along the stream, under some bridges, finding beautiful "country-side" tucked in between commerce. One direction headed toward major traffic. A substantial footbridge launched up above the expressway, connecting to a park on the far side. Crossing it kind of gave me the willies! Sadly, we did not spot any deer. I took some pics on my phone, while Woody clicked what is probably show-stopping footage on his mega-Canon. I haven't seen his stuff yet.

When sessions were over for the day, Mr. drove us down to the MOA. Something sad about going to the nation's hugest mall with three men. Shoppers paradise -- and not a sister-in-law, niece, or girlfriend in sight. I was so desperate for female company that I started chatting with every salesgirl that even halfway looked my direction! One huge upside to the MOA is the Apple Store --which sits directly across the hall from the Microsoft Store, and around the corner from Brookstone. This man-real estate section of the mall did afford me a little shopping time at least!

The hotel had an awesome pool -- which actually felt warm, a small hot tub, and a sauna. During the afternoon we rotated between the three delicacies. But, when Dwight dragged us back in the evening, the sauna had pooped out, -- nothing sadder than a cold sauna. When he dragged us back again the next morning, the sauna still remained a sad zone.

That same morning, while headed out of the pool area, we bumped into a couple of John's professional friends. Something extremely awkward about trying to carry on a serious conversation with an ACSI big-wig while wearing no make-up, wet hair, and my bathing suit. Yeah, I'm cool like that.

Then we came home. And, a good time was had by all. I said I went somewhere and did something -- I didn't say anything about it being unbelievable.

So -- since my blog-fest of November, I haven't written a thing. So boring! But really, the Christmas season was kind of busy. And now it's January, and my schedule has slowed to nearly a stop. I am taking time to repair old jewelry and alter clothes that don't fit. Also, a little boring. So -- when I have time to blog -- I have nothing about which to write. When life is interesting, I have no time to blog! Stay tuned, though -- surely I'll think of something interesting to say soon!

I have been thinking that maybe I need to change direction with my blog in the new year. But which direction should I explore? By all means, if you have ideas -- do comment!

Today I'm thinking maybe the blog would be more interesting if I wrote about what I wish I were doing today. I could make up all sorts of glamorous stuff -- exotic places -- fascinating people. Then blog about them. As in . . . "Today as I was touring around the Eiffel tower, bumped into the most extraordinary gentleman! He was wearing a jogging suit, mixed with an actual French beret and was carrying a silver tray full of gourmet cupcakes. He was selling them for way too many francs -- or whatever their money exchange is called -- and I thought I'd best let the goodies pass. Then he looked at me like he knew me -- which of course he couldn't have, and I felt awkward. Just when I was pretty sure I was going to have to hand over too much dough -- for a little confection, he presented me with a cupcake. 'For you - madam -- from America. A gift! -- so that now you can have something to blog about!'"