He's a Magic Man...

You know how when women get together to drink coffee, or iced tea, or vodka gimlets they tend to talk a little? And how almost inevitably the talk tends to meander its way around to the subject of husbands/significant others and their laundry list of shortcomings (among which is the lack of laundry skills...)?

Well, I just want to state for the record that my husband is not only very adept at tackling stubborn stains on whites, he is also very willing - dare I say glad - to do it. And thats not all. Not by a long shot. I have come to the conclusion that I have married someone who is magic. In our 18 years of marriage I have never once had to call a handyman for any reason whatsoever. He can fix anything.

In the space of one weekend I have personally witnessed this skilled Adonis install a wood floor, change the oil on the Mini, hook up a garbage disposal, make a fish casserole, and sew on a loose button - with time left over to take the kids to the library.

This is all just to say that I am very thankful that I am such a lucky duck. Is he perfect? Well, that depends on the day you ask. But I will tell you, should we ever be together sipping a perfectly made martini and the subject of husbandly shortcomings comes up, I'm afraid I won't be joining in the conversation. And if it crosses your mind to ask him what exactly it is that he needs me for, I will find you where you live and boil your Steiff teddybear in the biggest pot you've got...

So that was fun

When uber-talented Annie Smith Piffel agreed to instruct a workshop here at Rock Paper Scissors, I immediately signed myself up. I have always harbored a bit of jealousy for people who can paint.

Not the house painting people mind you. I can think of no fewer than 8 million things I would rather do than tape off baseboard with that hideously colored painter's tape (too smurf-y to my way of thinking) and start dripping paint on the improperly covered hardwood floors.

No - I'm talking about the paint on canvas people. I would love to be able to do that. And so, I signed myself up and made arrangements to have the retail portion of the shop duly covered.

Things went slightly askew with my carefully made plans. Let's just say that I planned to attend the workshop. Then I couldn't take the workshop. Then I could. Then I couldn't. I finally settled for being bodily in the workshop about 2/3 of the time, running up and down the stairs 1/6 of the time, on the phone 1/8 of the time, and mentally checked-out for about 3/4 of the time. However, during the parts where I was both mentally and bodily available it was nothing short of fabulous. Annie is just that good!

I told myself that no matter how my painting turned out, I was by golly going to frame it and hang it. And so I did. And I have to say - everybody who took the workshop created a truly frame-worthy piece of art. Annie was informative, and encouraging. And I heard several comments about how relaxing it all was. Hmmm.

Musings

Let Your Perfectionist Tendencies Be Your Guide...or NOT

I had such big plans for the new year. Hopes, dreams, lists galore. Someone double-check the calendar, please, and tell me that April is not peering at me from around the corner with an I-told-you-so smirk on its fat face.

I think I've figured out the problem. I need conditions to be completely perfect before I can make a move. NASA has less rigid guidelines. And if even one component falls slightly short of the mark I throw up my hands in disgust and proclaim a no-go. Well, sister, that crazy-pants behavior stops right here and now.

My idea about this journal page was that it needed to be store related. And perky. And interesting. And timely. Now, I'm not saying that it will never be that combination of things, but even though I admire those things, I like to think I encompass a broader range of interests. Here's another way to go - completely unrelated to anything. And morose. And boring. And sporadic. I say let's mix it up a bit.

Today, I'm going to post some links to items I've come across in various blogs that I follow. I find fascinating little gems every time I succumb to the siren song of the PC, and I always think that when I have more time I'll go back and really explore these things in depth. The problem is that my mental post-it notes have lost their stickiness. I know there's something I was supposed to look up, but darned if I can remember what it was. If I post some of those things here, I will have a fighting chance.

Here goes:

Here is a yummy recipe for potatoes - the worlds most perfect food.
Here is a great website for fonts. I've been on several font sites (I love text...) and this one is set up nicely and has the added benefit of being a manageable size. Very important in a font-related site.
If you need some inspiring color therapy (read eye candy), this is the spot for you. However, it should come with a warning. Days go by, dehydration sets in, children begin foraging for nuts and berries as you sit glued to the goodness on your monitor. Beware.

Alright. That is enough for now. Baby steps.

Happy New Year!!
We will be closing on January 1st and will re-open on January 12. I hope everyone has an optimistic and peaceful beginning to the new year. We can't wait to see you again!

Three is a magic number...

Let me start by apologizing for the wordiness that will follow. Sorry.

I have three announcements and no photos.

First - Rock Paper Scissors is celebrating its 4th year in the biz (pause for cheering), and as such we would like to have a sale. Partly as a thank you to all of you fabulous people for being such steadfast patrons. And partly to clear out some of the current delightful products to make room for the new, even more delightful products (you know we have space issues...). So - Friday, October 9th and Saturday, October 10th will be sale days here at the shop. As it is our 4th year, you will be the recipient of one fourth off of your purchases on these days (that's 25% off for those of you who, like me, have discovered that they indeed are not smarter than a fifth grader).

Second - some of you may have noticed the "For Sale" sign on the porch at 833 South Main Street. I have had breathless (thank you stairs), panicked people insisting that I absolutely cannot close - life would lose all meaning if Cavallini paper were not available when the yen hits. Never fear, only the building is for sale. I will reference the aforementioned space issues and stairs as factors in the decision to look for greener pastures. We have our eye on a different building further down on Main Street. I don't want to jinx anything by blurting out the actual address (I don't know about the Midwest, but in New England when you run around blurting things out pell mell, jinxes ensue like nobody's business...) We'll keep you posted.

Third - as you all know there are never enough hours in the day, especially the days leading up to a jam packed holiday season. And so, I have made the somewhat selfish decision to change the business hours here at the shop. Beginning now, the hours will be as follows: Tuesday - Saturday 11:00-6:00. You may have noticed that Monday is conspicuously absent. Well, let's not say absent so much as rife with opportunity...for me...to get stuff done...that would be the selfish portion of the program. BUT - I will be open until 6:00pm now, so if you need to swing by after work, we'll be leaving the light on.

We're Doing Pennants

Rockin' the flag at Rock Paper Scissors - laminated paper flags waving softly in the balmy breezes. Stop by and check them out!





















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