Yours 'til Niagara Falls

Say It Ain't So Queen! Say It Ain't So!

I haven't bought fashion magazines in years.  I might glance at the covers as I wait in line at the store, but I get all the "glamour" I need during my somewhat erratically-attended hair coloring appointments.  But... It seems to me that there is always  an article tucked somewhere in a stack of those oh-so-vogue issues wherein the beautiful Queen Latifah chatted about how sweet it is to be full-figured.  I believed her!  What I couldn't believe was the television commercial I just saw.  She is the new spokesperson for Jenny Craig!  Oh! the betrayal!  Oh! the heartbreak!  The woman always looks so beautiful.  I truly believed she felt beautiful.  Any of the Hollywood events that featured the Queen striding down the red carpet warmed my soul.  She looks far more like a real-live woman than any of the other waif-like creatures who wobble along after her.  And now...  I am bummed!

A Series of Crummy Little Annoyances

I have my first stye-in-the-eye.  I have done everything that has been suggested to have it run its course to no avail.  People actually cringe when they look at me.  Each and every student I worked with shared their opinions (I didn't even know that a fifth grader knew the word putrid)  Now I know the true meaning of "eyesore". In addition, my dog ate two fifty dollar bills the other night.  Recovery operations are underway.  Trust me, you don't want the details.On top of that, my son's friend backed into my car leaving a nasty mark. The final payment on the vehicle had just been made.  I'm hoping my life turns around this weekend.  The health department stopped by with a friendly reminder that it is unacceptable to dwell in squalor.  Just kidding about the last thing, but a clean-up campaign is desperately needed. 

I Am Not Invisible

I am ready to put into words a pet peeve that has reared its head twice in the past 24 hours. Last night I walked into a fairly nice restaurant with a group of six others.  There we were near the hostess station and three different waitresses sauntered past us.  They weren't particularly busy, but not a-one gave us any eye contact, let alone a pleasant greeting.  Our party eventually racked up a bill of over $250.00, and the meal was great, but, with the exception of the waiter for our table, there were no smiles to be had.  This morning I stopped at the local Dunkin Donuts.  I stood at the counter within three feet of a young woman who was facing me filling a pastry tray.  after a full minute, I said in a fairly cheerful tone, "Good Morning"  The girl snarled back "I see you there!"  I'm not a big fan of phlegm-covered donuts, so I kept my mouth shut, but it will be a while before I visit that shop again.  I'm not asking for service people to throw their arms around me or anything, just a little smile of acknowledgment.

Hey Romantic Homes Magazine, Is there an Editor in the House?

I bought the October copy of Romantic Homes Magazine the other day.  I'd only bought it once before.  At first glance, it seemed o.k., but wow!, there were at least two glaring (to this discerning reader, anyway) errors.  Error number one:  This textile was described as a vintage sample of cross stitch: What it is, in reality is on the order of huck weaving.  This annoys me in the same way that an item in a catalog is labelled "knitted"  when it is really crocheted. It doesnt take a genius to know the difference.

The bigger booboo, however was an interview with an artist/designer named Julie Smith.  She described her bedcover as "a collection of old fabrics sewn together by Julie's grandmother":

Hmm... Granny must have been pretty busy, because looky here at what's in my linen closet:

I purchased these from the Swell line at Target about three years ago.  It really fries me that the editors of this magazine didn't bother to do the fact checking involved to figure this stuff out before it goes to print.  What I'm really waiting for is the much-anticipated return of Victoria magazine in November.