November 15, 2011

:: satisfaction guaranteed ::

i am so sorry, but i have no idea where i found this.
if you know to whom credit is due, please send me a message and i'll add the credit/link!

November 11, 2011

:: letters home - on veterans day ::

9 april 1945

Dear Daddy,
Well here comes a short letter from boy. He has seen an awful lot of action lately but has not exactly killed any more Germans with his own hand (that he knows of) although he has fired several rounds of 76 M.M. high explosive into towns that they were in. They mean & fired some 88 MM's back at us but they aren't so hot as they didn't hit too close. I was right up there when the 1st & 9th joined the other day. We really did some traveling too believe me. I have lost an awful lot of sleep so you will know why I am so lazy when I get home.

I have seen so awfully pretty fireworks especially the night that I crossed the Rhine. I wish that you could have seen it. I'll never forget it as long as I live.

There are thousands & thousands of Russians and French that have been freed starting on their way back now. You should see these Russians as they walk back along the road. All of them are looking for cigarette butts and I give them the pkgs that I receive in my "K" rations. The French are much nicer dressed and much cleaner. The war is over for most of them & I wish that it were over for everyone. Tell everyone hello for me. Lots of love
Arthur Jr

November 09, 2011

:: 123 ABC ::


cb2.com
[click image for direct link to product]

November 08, 2011

:: old thoughts ::

i keep notes. everywhere. on a dry erase board by my desk. in a notebook (or notebooks). in various programs on my computer and the internet (facebook, onenote, word, evernote, etc). on napkins, receipts, tiny pieces of paper. everywhere.

sometimes i come across old notes and they make me smile. sometimes they make me sad. i treat the thoughts like tangible objects, weighing whether or not i should hold on to them. never know when they might come in handy (again) sometime.

today i came across one from may 03 2011. was about to put it in the toss pile, but decided to bring it over here and hang on to it instead. the page title was "truths about me." i'm assuming i was going to write more, but this was all that was there.

i've lived right around the corner from a crematorium for 3 years. i just saw smoke from it for the first time last week. it grossed me out and made me a little sad.

:: lacey layers ::

November 07, 2011

:: warm thoughts ::

i want to recreate this look when it gets warm again. it seems much more doable than this one i posted earlier this year.

it will get warm again, won't it? (it's not even really that cold here...yet...and i'm already dreaming of spring.)

October 24, 2011

:: a wandering defense ::

over a month since i last posted. terrible. inexcusable. except not. my excuses come in the forms of recently super-charged social life, fall touring & a busy work schedule, trips & adventures, wedding & birthday madness (in the best possible way).

and sheer slackness.

September 01, 2011

:: letters home - comforts of home ::



9 march 1945

Dear Mamma,
Well here is all of one full page of v-mail coming to you. I just wish that I could send you a present but they don't have very much over here & what they have is hard to get. I'll try to bring a trunk full of stuff home when I come if I can get by with it.

There really isn't very much to tell from over here except that I haven't been able to take a bath as often as I would like to. They just don't have as many baths as they need to have. I don't believe that they have ever used as many as we have back home. I haven't shaved in about three days and I need one so I'll shave to-morrow morning. I did have a mustache and took a picture of it but I have lost the film so I am just back to where I was before. I'll have to grow another one so that I can let you see how I look with it. I suppose that I can borrow a camera and take a picture of it as I lost mine. I hope that Lillie insured mine for I would like to have it replaced some day. I'd like to have a little different one when I get another one.

I have found a couple of good movie projectors that I believe I can pick up for nothing and if I can get it home I will do just that. I will see about that to-morrow morning. Tell everything & everyone I said "hello" I'll be glad when everything is all over and I can come home again.

Lots of love
Arthur

August 30, 2011

:: girl crush ::




cintia dicker for aerie




August 24, 2011

August 23, 2011

:: trash the dress ::

blueberries, paint, fire - oh, my!


July 06, 2011

:: love this look ::

pinterest via kendi everday (i think)

...the photo and the fashion.

June 27, 2011

:: let your soul & spirit fly ::

have you ever bought a pair of shoes that are so great you go ahead and get the them in every available color? because you just love them so much that you want more of the same-but-different?

i wish i could do that with the song "into the mystic." calm, peaceful, soothing...intense, yearning, desperate. moving. and the 1:20(ish) mark? yeah, you know what i'm talking about. ahhh!

i'll take it in every color, please.


this doesn't quite do the trick, but here are a few other hues:
joe cocker
swell season
zac brown band (with "free" on the front end)

June 26, 2011

:: at this point in my life ::

in a tracy chapman kind of mood this morning.


"there is fiction in the space between the lines on your page of memories. write it down but it doesn't mean you're not just telling stories." telling stories

"you felt me hurting but I can forgive you for that now. you taught me something...when you give all yourself away just tell them to be careful of your heart...I just lost a little faith when you broke my heart. given a chance I might try it again, but I wouldn't risk it all this time. I'd save a little love for myself, enough for my heart to mend. a little love for myself." be careful of my heart

"at this point in my life I'd like to live as if only love mattered, as if redemption was in sight as if the search to live honestly is all that anyone needs, no matter if you find it." at this point in my life

"if you knew that you would die today, saw the face of God and love, would you change? would you change?" change

June 13, 2011

:: my weekend in photos ::


memories. old and new.

made a 24 round trip for a corey's 30 minute set at CMA Fest in nashville - which was one of the best i've seen - in large part because of this.

June 06, 2011

May 31, 2011

:: letters home - for memorial day ::

it's been ages since i've posted one of poppy's letters home from war. it was a year ago yesterday that i posted the first. with memorial day comes many reminders and memories of my favorite soldier.

[click to enlarge]

14 FEB 1945
"ENGLAND"

Dear Mamma,
Well here comes a much delayed letter to you. We have been moving around quite a bit on maneuvers and I haven't been able to write as much as before due to lack of time. I have lost a little sleep but am doing O.K. now. My bed roll has really come in handy and so have my overshoes. I'm glad that I had Willie sew that blanket in my jacket for it is much warmer than it would be otherwise. I hope that we have no more cold weather here but I'm afraid that we will.

We had chicken to-night for supper and also last night for supper. One of the hens that they cleaned had fourteen eggs in her. One was a hard shell one and two soft shell. The rest were yellow ones that ranged in sizes from about half as large as an egg to about the size of a "BB". I had never seen that many in one chicken before.

The people here where we are staying usually ask us in every night to have some pie & coffee. I wish they had some good ole butter milk. I could use some cracklin corn bread. I haven't received any packages as yet, but expect to any day. Tell everyone I said "hello"

Lots of love
Arthur

:: missed connection ::

i was in the east village last weekend.
and today he posted this.

i knew he was out of the country when i was there, yet i kept my eyes peeled for him, just in case. rats.


:: my weekend in photos ::


at the 30th annual freedom weekend aloft.
bottom row: the wailers, corey smith and thousands of our closest friends.

May 30, 2011

:: and then there's the music ::

throughout the day my soundtrack has been a mixture of van morrison, mac leaphart, paolo nutini, david mead, guster, needtobreathe, the once soundtrack, bebo norman, gram parsons, alexi murdoch (and more, i'm sure i'm forgetting).

every time a new song came on, it was perfect for the moment or the thought. texting with a particular friend and "the hammer holds" by bebo norman played. a song i "gave" to him when he made one of those get-away-to-see-where-you're-going moves to another town. writing this post and i hear guster singing, "i hope tomorrow is like today." but the best was on the way to the store when paolo nutini's "tricks of the trade" came on. meant for a couple, but fitting for me and all these dear friends.

was it love or recognition that has healed this man's condition
oh i'm hoping and i'm wishing that
this bird won't fly away
we can see life hand in hand
, the green, the blue, the rough, the sand
and in our time and in our land
we'll savor everyday

and oh, how our glory may fade,
babe,
well, at least we've learned
some things along the way

you took me from my bubble
knowing my defense was weak
and you sat there and you listened
any time I chose to speak
oh and you gathered from my pleas to
you that i am but a clown
and i fear only a hero can defeat
these demons now

and oh, how our glory may fade,
babe,
well, at least we've learned some
tricks of trade

and as time shall inevitably move on,

well, at least we'll have four strong
legs to stand on to keep us alive...

- "tricks of the trade" by paolo nutini

:: my dear friends ::

my heart has been very full today. to the point where it kind of hurts...in a good way. i just made my second trip of the day to the grocery store and on the way the circumstances were just right for me to hear God speaking to me. this time, he wanted to talk about the friends in my life. and i listened (for a change). it was a little overwhelming and i had to take a few deep breaths before i could even walk into the store.

here's the thing. i realized that my absolute dearest friends are those who allow me the honor of serving them. God blessed me with a "servant's heart" as my sister and brother-in-law (two people i put in the "dearest friends" category) say. and some of my happiest and fullest moments in life are when i'm helping my friends in some way.

today i'm cooking for a friend whose father-in-law passed away last week and she & her husband just moved into a new house. a slightly overwhelming week, to say the least. she could have declined my offer for a (mostly) home cooked meal. but she didn't. and the gift of her acceptance put me in my kitchen on a beautiful Memorial Day, chopping (one of my favorite pastimes) anything that got in my way. most of what i've been making won't even make it to her house (per her request, not my refusal) but i've been working on fresh salsa, roasted red potatoes, broccoli salad, red cabbage slaw and who knows what else between now and dinner time.

in the middle of the joyous madness i got a message from another sweet friend. one who constantly tells me how special i am, despite how bad i am at reciprocating such kind affirmations. she came home early from the beach yesterday so she could relax at home and get ready for her work week. she spent this morning and part of the afternoon at the ER with her mom. my response was food first, then (closely followed, but followed, still) prayer. the order doesn't matter to her. and while she didn't accept my offer to come sit at the hospital with her or meet her at her mom's house to help get things in order, i know she will gladly accept (and even propose - an even better gift sometimes!) offers yet to come. including all this extra food i have sitting around now.

the situations aren't always so grim, yet they are often related to food. my best friends know that i want to feed them...and they let me.



thank you, my dear friends. i love you.



May 25, 2011

May 23, 2011

:: my weekend in photos ::


we heart all over NY.

May 18, 2011

:: choose wisely ::

may 11, 2011

i went to my first jewish funeral today. the fact that the funeral was a jewish ceremony has little (if anything) to do with this post, but i felt that because it was a unique experience for me, it was worth noting.

i was moved beyond words at the touching things susie's family and friends had to say about her. her sister and best friend spoke about growing up with the joyful, kind, passionate and loving lady. i don't know for sure how either of them were able to muster the strength to stand in front of friends and strangers and share their memories and feelings during such a sad time, but i have a pretty strong idea that susie's own strength was a large part of that.

after her best friend of 35 years spoke, another one of susie's dear friends approached the pulpit (i'm not sure if it's called a pulpit in a temple). she said she was going to share susie's own words with us. susie had been ill for some time, so her death wasn't unexpected or sudden. she had prepared a speech (for which she was well known, i learned) for all of us. and it was amazing. in it, she shared memories of loved ones, stories about her childhood, her courtship and proposal, tales of parenthood and the love & pride for her sons. she mentioned her great fortune in being born to two wonderful, loving parents and how that shaped her entire life. she spoke of love, faith, hope, the past, the future. through it all, she spoke of happiness.

the friend said that susie believed happiness was a choice and she chose it every day, in every thing. i didn't know susie well. in fact, i only saw her a couple times a year in the few years i've known her. but my impression at each of those encounters was that she was sincere, humorous and full of life. there was never mundane small talk. when we spoke, she seemed to really be in the conversation, in the moment, caring about what was said. she always seemed happy. now i know that she was - because she chose to be.

the last time i saw susie was at our company Christmas part in December. i found out today that it was the last time she was well enough to go out in a social setting. i hope we made it a good one for her. i know for a fact she was happy to be there.

May 16, 2011

:: why aren't you married ::

when a 4 year old girl at church asked me "why aren't you married?" my response was, "i have a cat."




in related news, the age range for people asking me that question is now 4 to 91.
update: make that 6 to 91.

May 13, 2011

:: missings draft and other news ::

i wrote a post the other day. i saved it. i came back today to publish it (after blogger's scheduled and unscheduled down time this week) and it's gone.

it was a masterpiece. really. (okay, maybe not really, but i was very pleased with it.)



in other news, i got a really bad sunburn last weekend at the beach. my back is in full-on peeling mode. right out of my reach. i mentioned it to a friend who jokingly said i should get a hand-vac. it made me think...so i added the (never-been-used) brush attachment to my vacuum and scratch-vacuumed my back. it felt great and there was no yucky skin to clean up. yay!

May 09, 2011

:: my weekend in photos ::



"i watched those waves roll like words off a tongue - living language, God's subtle speech."
- mac leaphart

May 04, 2011

:: tuscaloosa needs update ::

Word from UA Greek Relief is that they do not currently need more adult clothing.

However, baby food, formula and diapers are in high demand. Check out this great way to donate those things (and more).

BABY NEEDS
two friends-of-a-friend have made donating baby needs super easy through diapers.com. just click here to choose what you'd like to donate. shipping is free and there is a 10% coupon code. (will be shipped to Catherine Larkin in Gadsen AL - Catherine will deliver to various drop-off sites.)

GENERAL SUPPLIES
update [may 5]! just got word that Trinity Baptist on Hwy 20 in Piedmont is collecting supplies (toiletries, baby supplies, water, paper products, etc). their trailer will be on-site at the church, open this saturday from 9am-1pm. or you can drop off donations for Judy Root at the Better Business Bureau by monday, may 16 (408 north church street greenville, sc - by the bilo center).

i am still looking into a large-scale donation drop-off site, but if you have things to send, please let me know, and i will set you up with a friend who is delivering supplies to Toomers for Tuscaloosa next week.

MONETARY DONATIONS
Monetary donations can be made by sending checks made payable to "Tuscaloosa Disaster Relief Fund” to
West Alabama Chamber Foundation, Inc.
PO Box 020410
Tuscaloosa, AL 35402
(205) 758‐7588
http://www.tuscaloosa.com/DocumentView.aspx?DID=2353

or text REDCROSS to 90999 to give $10 to the American Red Cross

SUPPLIES NEEDED
water
baby supplies: food, formula, diapers, clothing
pop-top canned goods (shortage of can openers for the canned goods being donated)
children's shoes
extension ladders
aluminum pans for cooking (lots of bbq/open flame cooking being done)
tarps
grip-tight fastener nails
to-go boxes & utensils
toiletries
feminine hygiene products
diapers
hand sanitizer/alcohol wipes

May 02, 2011

:: tuscaloosa relief efforts ::

Dear readers,

I am working to collect to-go boxes and pre-packaged utensil packs for relief efforts in Tuscaloosa. UA Greek Relief (website, Twitter) is distributing hot meals and while they definitely need water/food/etc donations, the to-go boxes are not something that people think to donate, so I am reaching out to all of my restaurant connections and asking for help.

In addition to reaching out to the restaurants directly, I am asking that all of my friends help collect these when you go out to eat in the coming days. If you can get just 5-10 (or 1-2, even!) containers or utensil packs from your server/the manager at the end of your meal, it'll all add up and be a big help.

I'm happy to pick up or I can let you know where to drop off.

Please forward this along.

I am in touch with a couple of upstate SC groups to discuss setting up larger scale donation drop-off point(s) for a donations drive. Hoping to get something together or (at the very least) gather information about local efforts. I will let you all know when I have more information!

Other needs include (but are not limited to):
water
pop-top canned goods (shortage of can openers for the canned goods being donated)
aluminum pans for cooking (lots of bbq/open flame cooking being done)
children's shoes
clothing
extension ladders
tarps
grip-tight fastener nails
toiletries
feminine hygiene products
diapers
hand sanitizer/alcohol wipes

Monetary donations can be made by sending checks made payable to "Tuscaloosa Disaster Relief Fund” to
West Alabama Chamber Foundation, Inc.
PO Box 020410
Tuscaloosa, AL 35402
(205) 758‐7588
http://www.tuscaloosa.com/DocumentView.aspx?DID=2353

or text REDCROSS to 90999 to give $10 to the American Red Cross

April 27, 2011

:: a truth about me ::

i have a tendency to equate "like" and "love" with "doesn't get on my nerves as much as other people."

April 26, 2011

:: my weekend in photos ::

[click to enlarge]

:: my sister ::

...is a pretty awesome person for many reasons, but the latest is this.

:: my lucky shirt ::

my lucky shirt?

backstory.

April 25, 2011

:: i've got a crush on you ::

or him, rather.

this post title led me to this, which is about to lead to me re-enacting that awesome knee-shaking dance move. why don't people ever do the "crush on you dance" like they do the electric slide and such?

#perfecttimeforacleverhashtagbutidon'tdothose
#theyshould
#how'sthat?

:: so funny ::

April 18, 2011

:: form over function ::

when i was in new york last may i stopped in bloomingdale's, pretty sure i would just look around and leave empty handed. but then i found an adorable pair of gray suede oxfords on the clearance rack. i can't remember exactly, but i know they were under $40 (and were regularly over $100). i bought them. and though i've only worn them a few times, i'm looking forward to pulling them back out and sporting them this spring. this picture i just came across is the perfect motivation for that!
atlantic-pacific.blogspot.com via gap-mag.com

i have the jacket and shoes - now to find the perfect button down shirt and cute little dress!

(but here's my problem: if it's cool enough for me to be wearing 3-4 layers up top (shirt, dress, shirt, jacket) then it's most likely too cold for me to be bare-legged. so i'm not really sure how practical this look is for me, as my personal style most often focuses more on function (usually related to temperature) over form.)


April 06, 2011

:: before i die ::

start with
change it into
then it becomes
and
and
see additional images and learn more about before i die (and much more, including i wish this was) at candychang.com.

April 05, 2011

:: my weekend in photos ::


01. a very windy day at the car wash - finally washed away the sand & salt from our snow (/ice) storms!

02-03. the perils of gardening: a busted faucet and a new pet.

04. spotted this dark red flower in the gully behind my house, amid a bunch of ivy. went closer to see what it was and noticed its awesome camouflage leaves. part of me doesn't want to find out what it is to maintain the mystique. (but part of me really wants to know!)

April 01, 2011

:: either one of them things will do ::

i can't get "jolene" out of my head this week. a combination of corey's visit to spokane on monday and the cold, gray rain we've been having here for the past few days. one brought the song to mind, the other won't let it go.


i go back and forth between ray lamontagne and zac brown band:

heart-breaking.



(a little more) hopeful.

March 28, 2011

:: my weekend in photos ::

[click to enlarge]

01-02. girls night at corey smith at the orange peel in asheville nc (and cabin in flat rock)
03-04. goofing around with a little (or hilariously long) mid-show self-photo(s) shoot. and i finally wore my new scarf!

March 25, 2011

:: making up for lost time ::

things that have tickled my funny bone the past few weeks...





and the funniest youtube video i think i've ever seen. as soon as you think it's not funny any more, it is.

March 24, 2011

:: fair trade ::

[click image for direct link]

from the artist: How It Works is part of my ongoing series of Newspaper Blackout Poems: poetry made by taking an article from The New York Times and blacking it out with a Sharpie marker, leaving only a few choice words behind. It's rare that I find poetry in the business section, but this one came from an article about hedge fund investing. Like many of my poems, it's about my wife.

:: cute spring dress ::

i've been so neglectful, dear 'swing. i've thought about you often, just haven't had the time to hang out. but when i saw this adorable little dress today on cup of jo, i knew i just had to share with you. prefect for spring, and i believe i'd love it so much, i'd have to carry it into fall with a long sleeved tee, tights and some great boots or booties.

[click image for direct link]

March 21, 2011

:: my weekend in photos ::

[click to enlarge]

took a little trip downtown with my sister and nephew for greenville's st baldrick's festivities on sunday. 122 people had their heads shaved and raised nearly $57,000 for childhood cancer research. one 7-year old girl raised $15,000 when she took over the fund-raising that her dad -- a deployed marine -- had begun! she and her mom sat bravely on stage, getting their locks trimmed together. when she pulled her daddy doll from under her apron and sat him in her lap, there was hardly a dry eye in the place.