Arizona Bound

It is incredibly cold, dim and crappy in Eastern Wisconsin today; so much so that Tasha had a fender-bender in the rainstorm and I decorated my coat with turquoise sharpie ink after dropping the marker from my cold-numbed fingers. And the wind . . . don't get me started on the wind. Here are my compensating factors, in no particular order:

• The trip to Arizona, of course. This time tomorrow I will be baking in the warmth. Nothing can dim my pleasure at that thought - not even the $40 that Continental rocked me for my checked bags.


• Happiness is a warm puppy. Need I say more?


• My applications to seminary and for the upcoming art show are complete, sealed, and on their way to their respective destinations. One more thing off my plate!


• Rick, in a suit, on Saturday. Res ipsa locuitur.


• Pete and Sara of Sheboygan Monument, who hired me yesterday to write the weekly blogs for their website. This is going to be so much fun! I got to tour their showroom and workshop yesterday and made friends with their beautiful Blue Heeler, Range. (Rick would be so jealous of all the cool tools in Pete's workshop, and I'm jealous of his cozy wood stove!)

I still have a few things left on my "to do" list, but nothing critical. I want some earrings to match my green turquoise pendant and another pair to match my russet agate necklace. (I think I have appropriate materials in my work basket.) Also, I'm puttering with a design for a wool & sari silk purse; just a little thing to hold ID, keys & lipstick when I'm all dolled up on Saturday. I also need to pick out a knitting project for the trip, which is amazing to me since I usually have a half-dozen projects waiting in the cue. We'll just have to see what speaks to me - and what packs small, since I have no intention of adding any more checked bag charges to my bill!