Harley Betty

I have been busy painting. I am at the store all day and into the night. So I am just popping in to say hello and keep my posting momentum. I leave you with a couple of pictures taken the summer before last. A bike pulled up in front of my store. I didn't see it but I heard it. I went to check it out and I first saw "Betty" ...and then I saw him. Can't decide which I think was the cuter of the two.

Betty road on this bike from Calgary, AB to Kelowna, BC. She was pretty cute but....

I think Betty's daddy got my vote that day.

Sweet Talker

Remember Tom?

My 95 year old new boyfriend.

Yup ...Tom and I are hookin' up.

I saw him walk - with his walker - by my store yesterday morning. Then about 40 minutes later I caught from the corner of my eye, his attempt to negotiate the walker and open my door at the same time. I went over to give him a hand and a hug. He was generous with his compliments of what a lovely and kind lady I was. He had gone and bought us a tin of Turtles to say thank you for helping him out. Then it happened. I can't say for sure if it was just his 95 year old eyes and arms flailing .. trying for a hug or he was using his 95 year old eyes and hands as a ruse and was quite aware of what he was doing but boyfriend copped himself a feel. In a motion that would suggest he was patting me on the back he was really patting me on the side of my boobs.

Then there was the kiss that left some of his goo from the corner of his mouth tattooed on my cheek.

But my favorite moment is when he grabbed my waist and declared I 'was an armful of charm'.

Seriously. Really?

Yes that is garbage. Outside 2 of my neighbors doors. Is this a new trend in apartment living? Too lazy to take to the garbage room but too stinky to leave inside their own door so lets just put it out here for my neighbors to enjoy. Do they realize that they, in fact, do live in an apartment building. A condo actually. Which is just a fancy word for a privately owned apartment. Most condo's have tenants, few are occupied by their owners. See, during the last many years this city has seen a rapid growth ...almost too fast but we were enjoying a great economy. It has a large retirement population as well as a substantial student population. There is an extension of the University of BC and a college. Then there is the tourism population. This is a tourist town above all else.

Real estate prices were/are still ridiculous here. Lots of investors bought into one or more the of hundreds of condo projects that were popping up all over the city. High end projects. Nice finishes ...granite, stainless steel, hardwood ...blah blah blah. But who did they think they were going to rent to? Sure there are many 20, 30, 40somethings in town that could possibly afford the rent that comes with such a nice, new, fresh and fancy condo. Since we do have a good sized student population ...these are the people who are renting these apartments. 3 or 4 are sharing a space meant for 2. Fresh from the warm embrace of their momma's bosom and free laundry service.

I am living in a $1400.00 a month frat house room. I am certain these kids are living away from home for the first time and exploiting the freedoms that come with that like a mofo. There are 6 - 4 floor buildings in this project. In the center of all this living is a nice sized seasonal pool and a volley ball court. Nice little grassy knolls and bbq pits. Can you say ...bikinis, muscles and hormones. Makes a gal in her 40's want to curl up in a ball and hide.

I need to move. I need a house ...with a garage - preferably attached. I need to not have to use an elevator/stairs to get to my truck.

I need to not have to see, scratched into the garage elevator doors, that "Amanda likes anal".

95

If I live to be 95 that means that I have yet to live half of my life. I wondered, today, what the second half of my existence holds for me. At 95 will I be living on my own ...walking with the aid of a walker, living off a meager pension or the riches of some good investments. Will I be the life of the retirement home organizing Polka Fun Nights or will I have lost so many of my marbles that I will be the pathetic and lonely old lady sitting in my wheelchair playing with the peas on my dinner plate and talking to someone who isn't there.

Today, while in the store, we heard some ruckus outside. I got up from behind the counter and went to have a look. An old man had fallen ...losing his balance when his walker got caught on the uneven sidewalk in front of the store next to me which happened to be closed at the time. He had used his left hand to steady his balance but went down anyway. He cut his hand pretty badly right under is baby finger down into the palm of his hand. Two gentlemen helped him up and we were able to get him into my store and comfortable while Kelly fetched some cold compresses for the bleeding and called 911. I wasn't sure if he had hurt himself any place else and I didn't think I could get him into my truck to take him to the hospital.

Tom is 95 years old. He was dressed in his jeans but was wearing a shirt and tie with a nice scarf around his neck. And he was a cheeky fellow. He had lost his wife 25 years earlier and had a niece and a nephew who lived in our town.

The paramedics came and fixed him up enough to get him to the hospital. Before they left I was able to get enough information to decipher where his niece worked. I gave her a call to let her know what was happening. She called me when she arrived at the hospital where she found him already stitched up and ready to go home. I offered to drive his walker over to where he lived and they met me out front. Tom clearly has all his marbles. And his wit. And a loving family. Just a little wobbly in the knees.

I hope he lives out the rest of his life just the way he is.

DeeeeLish

Back in November - a month after I reopened my store - we had an open house ladies night. I emailed all my past customers and the new ones that had left their email address on entry forms we were using for a grand prize draw and invited them all to come down and enjoy refreshments and great discounts. As word got around to the other little boutiques and stores in the immediate area that I was hosting this little event, others joined in and had their customer appreciation nights/open houses also. There were a few of us in the same block so it was great for the invited guests to stroll from store to store.

It was a crazy night ...so many people. I had a couple of friends working the room ...I couldn't get away from behind the till. We served these fabulous mini cupcakes freshly made by the best cupcakery in town along with coffee and Baileys. It was a really enjoyable night.

Really Real Reality

Luna Tuna Head

The reality is that I have been busy painting furniture and getting December's receipts, sales and bookkeeping done. I had a busy sales week which was a little unexpected but very welcomed. I have also been ordering product and looking for new lines to carry. All the spring trade shows are happening all through January and into February. I wanted to go the Toronto show this year but ...well ... (come closer) ...I am afraid to fly (we're going down, we're going down). I haven't always been afraid to fly. I have enjoyed flying to a few tropical destinations in my life but the older I get the more fear I experience. Or is it anxiety? Does fear bring on anxiety or does anxiety bring on fear?

I used to live in the suburbs of Vancouver and as a result getting anywhere usually involved a bridge. Or two. High bridges. Long bridges. I remember the first time I felt fear/anxiety driving over a bridge. It was in the middle of the night and I was approaching the Port Mann Bridge heading eastbound. The bridge was under construction and from a distance I could see the flashing lights and the barrels, delineaters and cones that redirect traffic. There was really no one else on the road at the time - wasn't like it was full-on rush hour - but my heart started to speed up the closer I got and as the lane narrowed. By the time I was on that bridge it was all I could do to keep going. I wanted to drive off the bridge instead of over it. My breathing got heavy and I felt dizzy. As the end of the bridge became visible I started to calm down and by the time I was off ...I felt fine. I am afraid that is how I will react to flying because the thought of flying and the thought of driving over a bridge gives me the same queazy feeling.

I think it is the height of the bridge and being in the air that is what triggers my fear and/or anxiety. I like my feet planted on the ground. I hope I can get over this fear because there are so many places I want to go. Costa Rica, Australia, France ...Italy. Falling to ones death allows time to be scared. That is really what my fear is. Being scared just before death.

On a lighter note ...I had a great hair day!

Before and After

I had great intentions to come into the store on Sunday and take some semi-before pictures of a few pieces of furniture that I had already prepped and applied a coat of primer. I recently purchased a Nikon D60 and I have been eager to learn how to use it. I have been playing with it at home - taking pictures of the cats using the 55 - 200 zoom lens, one of the two lenses it came with. I got to the store, opened my camera bag, unloaded my gear and promptly began to change the zoom lens to the normal one. I picked up the camera and the strap caught the corner of the table ...effectively making the camera slip from my hand and crash to floor. I have used this camera what ...maybe 4 times? I cried. Afraid to pick it up. The zoom lens had broken away from the camera body and I could clearly see 2 thin pieces of black casing lying on the floor next to the camera. I tried to reattach the lens to the camera and it wouldn't stay on. Those 2 small, thin pieces of plastic broke from the locking mechanism rendering the lens useless. I cried some more. Yelled a few expletives involving the letter F. Was the camera okay? I cried again ...please let the camera be okay. I attached the other lens and through a bleary tear soaked eye snapped a picture or two.


The camera body is okay, nary a scratch. The zoom lens will cost about $200 to replace and the cost of repair if even an option would cost that or better. Apparently there is no warranty for stupidity ...and if there is ...I didn't buy it.


So I did get a few pictures and of course left the camera at home with the pictures now living on my laptop at home. I think I just cried again.


So since I am here at work and I have a bunch of pictures on this computer I will share a few.

Earrings by Designer Kelly Sweet

Necklace by Designer Kelly Sweet

Art Panel by Papya "Rose" Love Who You Are

A lucky woman got this dressing mirror for Christmas