The Story Of Us

I write.

Not necessarily here all the time - in fact, decidedly not always here. I write - long-hand write - all kinds of things regularly. Some writings take me all day long (and I go through several cards to get to the final product) and some, even though the words are just as deeply felt (even more deeply perhaps), I can write out in one shot - one 14-minute blitz.

I now have a reason to write in a book I've had for about 4 years.

When you write as much as I do, sometimes you get inspired seeing the notebook but don't wanna put "just anything" in it. I purchased this specific book when my first Niece was born - so yes, it's four years old. A lot has happened in that time frame, but I held off in putting ink in this particular book. I didn't want to just use it ... I wanted to really fill it with thoughts and hopes and dreams and memories. Unlike all my other notebooks and journals and diaries, when I saw this book - when I purchased this book - I remember thinking "This will be important enough to keep ... always. This I will read years from now and each line, each idea, will bring up an image I can recall."

I'm now on page 5. I have more than 80 thoughts and hopes and dreams and memories. And I have a co-author who gets the idea of the book even though I never even explained it really. In fact, he's contributed to it. Years from now, WE will read it and each line, each idea, will bring up an image WE can recall.

It is our book. Volume 1. 40 years in the making. It is the story of us ...

... and it's about time.

It's Not That I'm Not Listening, It's That I Can't Hear

If I were advertising on this site, today's post would be for sure underwritten by Bose.

Over the weekend, I found myself in a Bose store. Most people know of Bose products because they tend to advertise in magazines like "Vogue" and "Time" and sometimes they include material in credit card bills. I know Bose because I have a couple of their products and because I turned the rest of my family into consumers of their line as well.

Until you hear a Bose "Wave" for yourself, you'll just never understand how anyone would shell out $350 for a "clock radio". I used to only notice the awesomeness of the item when I was traveling and had to use the hotel radio. It's something that I take for granted now honestly ... how great the sound is from that unit.

I was again reminded of the quality of their product line when I purchased the Bose "in -ear headphones" last summer. Yes, your portable music device may have come with some ear buds but ... they aren't like these. These are comfortable and they fit perfectly and they make it sound like YoYo Ma lives in my head and is playing just for me.

There was a time when traveling was a big part of my job that I considered purchasing their "noise cancelling headphones" but I just couldn't justify shelling out that kind of money. I told myself that my inner-ear sponge machine-shop floor things worked well enough and ignored what I was trying to talk myself into.

And yet, this weekend, I saw their store, I walked inside, and stood at the wall of noise cancelling headphones, wondering if this time I would walk out with yet another Bose product. After testing a few different models and talking the salesperson into cutting $50 from the price, I did indeed become a triple-purchaser and I'm happy about it.

I tested them out as soon as I got home. Sitting on the couch, I turned on the DVD player and, putting the headphones on and turning them into noise-cancelling mode, I heard ... *crickets*. I could tell the TV was on, but I couldn't hear the actual dialogue. My roommate unwittingly helped me test them further - he walked in and asked me a question and I hadn't seen him enter the room. It wasn't until the 4th or 5th time he said my name that I realized he was even there.

I'll be putting them to the real test this week when I use them on a plane, and my guess is that I'll realize shortly after takeoff that I should have purchased these years ago.

I really should listen to me more.

Under The Sea-cup

I recently scribbled about "flawed logic", and two of you were able to relate so much that you commented (which, by the way, I always love to see). To answer the question at hand, no - I did not give in to the weakness and buy the car. I'm still thinking about it but I am happy to report that I haven't seen the vehicle since I wrote so that helps. Out of sight apparently means one less check to write, which is fine by me.

I also wrote about a shopping trip and I experienced logic there too - not "flawed" so much as ... errrr ... well "specific".

So I'm trying to purchase "separate but equal" gifts for my nieces, who share the same month for their birth dates (with two years in between). Having grown up with parents that practiced the "separate but equal" gift giving very well, and having been the appreciative recipient of that thoughtfulness, I'm very aware that this is important. Each daughter (or niece) should have the same amount of packages to open, of about the same size, and be similar enough so that there's no (or, at least, LESS) chance for any jealousy.

I was doing well. For each mermaid-themed item, there was a similarly priced princess-themed item available. That is right up until I saw the mermaid-themed beach bag ... perfect for the "mermaid on the go" I suppose.

(A quick aside ... the more-awesome-every-day boyfriend asked if the bag was shaped like a clam shell and I said "no - it's just a bag, 'tho your design idea makes sense. Except hmmmm - wouldn't that mean the mermaid has killed a clam-friend of hers for a purse?" and then we got into a whole discussion of the clam shells that mermaids have been known to design in to bras. Anyway, suffice to say that I was very impressed with his line of logical thought. Not surprised but yes, impressed. My guy knows from his mermaids, apparently.)

With mermaid-themed beach bag in hand, I walked to the register to inquire about the availability of a princess purse. There was a brief pause and then the employee said, with a totally straight face, "Princesses don't carry purses."

Huh.

So mermaids have bag needs but princesses don't carry purses. I guess in a way that makes sense. Princesses have staff that can carry their items for them, after all, and mermaids have fish as friends and fish .. well, fish just have fins so mermaids kinda have to have a bag to carry ...

... uhhhhh ...

... stay tuned. This weekend I'll ask the 2 year old mermaid expert what exactly mermaids carry in their bags and will report back.