Pursesession
I have Pursesession (purse obsession). I am not all that picky (in terms of having to have the best of the best, etc...) but every now and then I just have to get a good purse. Generally, it is a
Coach purse. I also like
Kathy Van Zeeland purses, although they are actually a moderately priced line.
I have never been drawn to a
Dooney & Burke and absolutely hated that phase in the 80s when everyone had that hunter green thing with the tan handles and trim...remember that thing? It spawned all sorts of knock offs and everyone (except me) had one. Shudder....
I remember my very first Coach bag. It was the Coach Station bag. I followed that with the Coach Willis bag. I still have both of those and a few more. (I love them, I really do). Plus, the fact that even 12 - 15 years later - I still have them and still use them says a lot.
So, I am home sick the other day and watching QVC. They have a Dooney & Burke show. Too lazy to change the channel, I got sucked up into it. I bought two of them!! Yikes. I got a red and a black (although I thought I ordered brown). Now why did I do that? I do not know, call it a weak moment. I had decided that when they both arrived, I would promptly return them both. No problem.
Problem, they arrived. They are gorgeous and I have to keep the red one. The black one is
going back but this red baby is staying!! Isn't it fabulous!! A french lady told me when I was confessing my purse sins last week that quality accessories were a must. She said it would make those $10 target tops and $20 jcpenney capris look fabulous. So, fabulous here I come!!
Tequila She-Devil
I have spoken often of the Tequila She-Devil, my good friend Carolyn. She denies it vehemently but I have photographic proof. We had some good friends over last weekend for dinner, etc.
The Patron did not come out of the box until Miss TSD arrived. Here she is, all smiles, like she is an innocent angel or something. Ummm hmmmm. Ask those around her how innocent she is.
She is all sweet and nice (that is not an act) but that is just what lures you in. You think, surely someone who is nurturing and caring like Carolyn would not lead me down the wrong path? She lulls you into a comfort zone with her down home friendliness and gets you to agree to "just one" and before you know it....
Anyway, the pic below is proof positive. See her eyes? That was after her shot of Patron. See, once she has a shot - well she cannot hide the She Devil inside.... I abstained from
Tequila last weekend. So I need to be extra cautious around her next time - she will be gunning for me for sure.
Going to the crossroads
I went down to the crossroads, fell down on my knees.
Down to the crossroads, fell down on my knees.
Asked the Lord above for mercy, "Save me if you please."
I went down to the crossroads, tried to flag a ride.
Down to the crossroads, tried to flag a ride.
Nobody seemed to know me, everybody passed me by.
If one could imagine what Robert Johnson was visualizing as he wrote the immortal "Crossroads Blues", it might be something like this. Then again, did he have to visualize it since legend has it that he truly went down to the crossroads and made a deal with the devil? Would the devil be a white man, taking his soul for unmatchable talent and 29 songs? Was "Hell Hound on My Trail" born of his own experiences?
I got to keep moving, I got to keep moving
Blues falling down like hail, blues falling down like hail
Mmm, blues falling down like hail, blues falling down like hail
And the day keeps on remindin' me, there's a hellhound on my trail
Hellhound on my trail, hellhound on my trail.
Legends are intoxicating. They draw you in and whisper of things unobserved. I am drawn in by the above painting. My good friend, Gil Franklin, painted this for me. He brought it to me tonight. Foreshadowing and beautiful, all at once.
Thank you my friend.
Family Ties and Maters
This past week we had visitors from Louisiana. My Aunt Mary Jo and her son, Reece. My Aunt Mary Jo is my most favorite aunt and Reece and I were born a month apart, so we grew up together. We were thrilled they came up to see mom. Mom's health is not so good and she was worried she would never see her sister again. I guess when you get older those things are things you think about.
They came up on Thursday and stayed until Saturday morning. We enjoyed the visit. I cooked everyone Chicken Fajitas on Thursday night and my dad came over to eat with us also. Jen stopped by but could not stay long as she was in a class on Thursday night. Growing up, folks always said I looked more like my Aunt Mary Jo than I did my mom. In fact, we were at the bank in Monroe, LA one time (having just returned from Thailand) and mom needed to cash a check. She was to tell the bank manager that Mary Jo was her sister but he said he already knew - he could look at me and tell we were related. (Try to cash a check now somewhere using that as an id!!) My mother used to bemoan my lack of her level of cleaning freakness. She would tell me that I was just like "Mary Jo" and she did not understand why I did not get that home ec gene from her. Funny thing, my daughter says that dad (her Papaw) got on to her the other day when she picked up something at his house. He saw the humongous mess in the back of her vehicle and told her "You are just like your Aunt Mary Jo!" Anyway, we reminisced and enjoyed ourselves immensely. Michael, Reece and I went to Parrot Beach for the blues jam Thursday night and Michael had to be designated driver. Since I have been "dieting" I really have not had much to drink - one shot of Tequila killed me. UGH UGH UGH. We had a good time anyway.
We snapped a few photos before they left on Saturday and we got this one of mom, me, Mary Jo and Reece. Do you think I look like my aunt? She is the one on the right. My mama is on the left. She is the short one.
I hope I can take mom home soon so she can visit some folks and places she would like to see. I have commented before but Louisiana does not feel much like home anymore, particularly since my Uncle Jake died 3 years ago. I have not gone back since. I guess I should.
On Saturday we went to Lisa and Paul's annual pool party!! We did not swim, since we had to be at a benefit a bit later. We visited with Michael's mom and step dad and other family and friends. It was hot but I never broke a sweat!! (An accomplishment outside in Arkansas in July!!). Michael's cousin, Jim, brought us some home grown tomatoes (Maters, baby!) Oh my!! They are so yummy. I was so thrilled he brought us a flat
- that is the pic on the right. Tomatoes from the store just suck anymore (hmm that rhymes, could be the start of a great song) and these were grown up the road in White County. This morning I made egg white omelettes and sliced tomatoes for breakfast. They were delish!! Is that a southern thing? Sliced tomatoes at breakfast? We used to eat them at most meals we had, sliced tomatoes were a side - morning, noon and night!! They tasted so good. They had that slight acidic bite when you bit into them. Mmmmm mmmm good. They would be awesome in a BLT, but that is not on the diet. I may have to break diet rules and have one. It would be such a shame to have some bona fide tomatoes and not have a BLT!! Mayo only please, no Miracle Whip!!
Naa Naa Naa Naa, Naa Naa Naa Naa, Hey Hey Goodbye!
Packed up and moved out of
Uptown Square in Memph
is. I have had this apartment since April 2004. The apartment complex, itself, was pretty cool. Built in the 30s as a public housing project. Revitalized and reopened in 2004 as modern apartments with the charm of the 30s architechture. Elvis lived here from 1948 - 53. It could be a real community place but I never really settled in. I loved the apartment but once Andy moved, I never really met any other neighbors. I was never there enough to meet anyone. I will be staying with a friend when I am in Memphis working from here on out.
We were meeting up with the wonderful volunteer moving contingent at 10:30 at the apartment. Just as Michael and I got there, I spotted a true Memphis Pimp and Ho walking across Danny Thomas. The ho was, obviously, not happy with the Pimp. They were arguing all the way across t
he street. She was rough looking, dressed in the stereotypical ho outfit for the not so nice part of town. He was classic pimp, for the same part of town. I snapped a pic from the sunroof of the truck but it was not the best. However, here they are - immortalized forever - Memphis Pimp and Ho. I wondered though, were they just finishing up their Friday night (it was 10:30 a.m.) or were they starting early for a Saturday?
The volunteer moving contingent consisted of John, Karen, Dano, T, Jen & TC. They were awesome!! They all drove to Memphis, worked their
butts off, drove back to Little Rock and worked their butts off again. I was so thankful for these fine folks. Here they are, under the magnolia tree outside of Neely's Interstate BBQ. I fed them all a Memphis BBQ lunch. It was so hot yesterday. Within a few minutes we were all drenched in sweat and miserable. The good thing was that since we all stank, eating together was tolerable.
We encountered a few showers on the way home, had to exit the highway at Brinkley and take Hwy 70 to Hazen to avoid the clogged up Interstate. Michael and I decided it took the same amount of time to do that because when we got back on at Hazen, we were behind the same truck we left on the highway at Brinkley. BUT, at least we were moving and saw some pretty back road scenery.
I got my big ass couch in the living room and Michael and I are at a standoff. I want to keep my couch, he wants to keep his leather double recliner thing. However, both do not fit in this living room, well they do not fit and look right. So we have both crammed in there and we are at a standoff. I will let you know how that comes out. I also have an extra bed, extra dining room table, extra tables, extra chairs, extra pics, extra dishes, etc. I am going through all that this week and moving some to Jen's, merging some in here and selling the rest in a huge yard sale.
going back but this red baby is staying!! Isn't it fabulous!! A french lady told me when I was confessing my purse sins last week that quality accessories were a must. She said it would make those $10 target tops and $20 jcpenney capris look fabulous. So, fabulous here I come!! 
