me & ...

 The interesting thing about meeting people that you have read about or seen on TV or whatever is that they are well, people.  The illustrious CeCe Caldwell came to a regional meeting for her Chalk and Clay paint and gamely came to our house and enjoyed a typical Stifel Happy Hour.  She was fun, easy to talk to and frank in her opinions about her business and philosophy.

 I admit it I am a groupie fan girl FREAK about Mary Englebriet.  I admire her, how she has persevered in her art career and re-invented herself numerous times over the years to keep herself and her family sane while not comprising her art and her style.  I was trying really hard to be cool when I posed for this picture so I would n't chase her off!  Her comment before this photo was taken? "Boy, I just love having my picture taken. " Really Mary?  Perhaps not. But she was so gracious and charming.  I was flabbergasted to find someone with international reach and influence was shy and somewhat nonplussed at all of the fuss being made over her.

 My husband, on the other hand, has never met a camera he didn't like!

 I need to take more photos with our FIRSTfriday artisans.  This is one of only THREE I found and we have been doing this event for almost 6 years (EEK!) - with the lovely Isabel Zito.

 Been throwing a Mardi Gras party for twenty years. How many shots of me & my guests. TWO - one with Bruce Mogensen.

 We've had SIX birthdays at S&C. ONE shot of cake - with Ashleigh Collens of My Two Monkeys.

 Hanging with the neighbors for 20 years. ONE shot with the lovely Howard Cincotta.

 Artist shot #2 - with poet & artist DJ Gaskin

 more beach pics than anything else. My happy place but I am not it the bulk of the shots.

 Did I ever mention we went to the White House at Christmas?  Bob was mad at me because I didn't linger longer.  Was worried about slowing other people down.  This I will ever go again? Probably not in the cards  as the hubs no longer has a clearance...

Did I mention we faced the paparazzi

 or sat in our jammies on Christmas Morning?  I REALLY need to document my own life.  It would be so much fun to have more of my Mardi Gras table mates (here with Ted Timberlake.) Why don't I have pictures dancing on his patio?

 But I have this very bad habit of thinking planning and pondering the future and not not actually living in the present.  And being self conscious about pulling out the camera and taking photos to capture moments. Mind you I do know I have other bad habits too.. No comments all.

 I owe my bestie & unflagging cheerleader Laurie O'Bryon a phone call.  I seem to be keeping up with her through her boyfriend's Facebook posts (sorry about the deer in the backyard, Laurie).

Bob may look surprised but I am increasingly aware that time is FLYING by.  I need to take not just more photos of the people I care about but more time with them too.  Tick, tick, tick...

Bob IS the best, soooo

 Am trying to decide what convaluted thing it is that I can get things done for other people, waaay faster than I do things for myself.  Is it the "Martyr Mom" persona?  Is it the "you can rely on me!" SuperFriend thing?  With my own work I want it to be perfect so it never appears.  When I am working on something for someone I can objectively evaluate, (good, better great) make adjustments and GO.   I AM determined to NOT make the same mistakes helping my husband like I do when I trap myself in my own details.  (Coach Lesley are you proud of me???).

Thus Bob's Best Quality BBQ is on both Etsy AND Facebook as of last night at 10.  And of course he had more "fans" by breakfast than I had at Stifel & Capra in a month because I didn't TELL anyone when I posted the shop page!  Amazing how that works, she said abashedly.

Of COURSE, it needs to be tweaked and I can see every flaw and every "thing to do" but you know what?  This party has STARTED!  Trying to let that be a lesson to ME.  Next? The website!  Charge!

http://bobsbestquality.blogspot.com

http://www.facebook.com/bobsbestquality



A few of my Favorite Things

Anniversaries bring memories of the mundane and sublime.  Last weekend was the 4th anniversary of my husband Bob's 3 week bout in the Intensive Care Unit at Inova Fairfax Hospital. Strep induced sepsis led to the amputation on his left leg and left repercussions on our family that are still being felt today.  So what do we do at the Stifel house?  Why have a party of course!  We call it the "Re-Birthday" Party.  I invite my family and the neighbors over to celebrate the fact that I still HAVE a husband!  They tell stories about duty shifts, taking care of the kids and rehab.  What could be a depressing day turns into a celebration of how far we have come.  Here's to friends! 

And family!

OK, so NO neighbor photos and no cute pics of my sister's family.  I was too busy worrying about the fact we were out of ice.  One of the things I learned with Bob being ill is not to sweat the small stuff.  Hopefully she will forgive me!)

I love you Bob! Here's to many more years together.