My Time In Heels

Catching Up

noreply@blogger.com (Lynn) — Thu, 18 Jul 2013 13:54:00 +0000

I laughed when I saw this sign on the way home from the beach. It's hard to believe someone not only thought of it, but actually went with it as the best option.

Wow, I can't believe so much time has passed since my last entry; but with good reason(s). Since we sold our big house last year we had been temporarily living in a very small apartment, with the majority of our belongings in two storage units. About two months ago we closed on the new house we were building. As anyone who's ever moved, it's a huge pain. On top of moving our daughter was graduating from university. We had a house full, but that part was terrific. Since our plan was to downsize we eventually were able to sell or donate almost everything in those storage units that didn't end up with family. Not going to lie, we were relieved that was finally done with.

Since then we've made numerous trips back and forth to the DC area and the beach. Our recent week-long trip ended with me spending four days in the hospital. We've even baby-sat our grand puppy while our daughter and son-in-law were on an Alaskan vacation which they loved. Throughout it all I'm still plodding away at school. I'm a Junior now which is exciting because I've made it over the hump so to speak and on the down slope. At any rate we love our new house and it's a real pleasure to bake in my kitchen.

If you get a chance and would like to see more of my pictures head on over to my other blog Footfalls and Forays

December Amtrak Excursion

noreply@blogger.com (Lynn) — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 20:13:00 +0000

As some of you may or may not know, I'm a fairly frequent traveler on the Amtrak train. I've shamelessly promoted this method of travel to my friends and family as an enjoyable way to get where you're going.

December is normally a busy month for everyone; but this past December the girls and I were invited to a bridal shower in Pennsylvania. Hooray! This meant another trip on the train!

Because of the uncertain weather conditions I came prepared with my trusty scarf and plenty of entertainment to keep myself busy.

Because our bridal shower gift was too heavy and awkward for me to carry on the train & metro by myself, I had the bright idea to use UPS, and ship everything up to our daughter's house. That way I only had 2 duffles, a laptop bag and my purse. Easy peasy, right? It was a little awkward on the escalator at the metro station, but otherwise okay.

Have you ever wondered just how close these trains pass each other on the tracks? I did my best to capture the experience. The blurriness was unavoidable.

As usual, the scenery was the most enjoyable part of the experience, along with the gentle roll and sway of the train. First class is the way to go if you like extra leg room and Wi-Fi. The train was very clean, and the conductors were their usual courteous & helpful selves. I enjoy getting lost within my thoughts, and snapping the occasional picture.

At the house I opened up the package I shipped (so I can wrap the inner boxes) and to my horror - the UPS guy opened up my boxes without my authorization, and wrapped each piece of glassware individually!! Yep, inside were about 30 mystery balls of bubble wrap. Needless to say, I totally lost my cool and had a meltdown on the telephone; but the damage was done and I had to take this enormous mystery box to the shower. Whatever...

The train makes it easy for me to not miss out on the small, but meaningful things in life like babysitting out little grand-puppy, Ruby. Isn't she a doll? My husband and son came up about a week later and we all stayed through the holiday. As much as I hate being so far away from our kids and their spouses, at least I have a resource to help me get up there without always having to drive, and for that I'm grateful. We're hoping to have a second home near them, but until then I'm going to continue to enjoy my train trips. With all of the mishaps during the holiday (enough to fill an entirely separate post) it was a special time.

We then had to drive home in this...

Britany & Justin's Wedding

noreply@blogger.com (Lynn) — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 03:53:00 +0000

August 25th came and then blazed by in the blink of an eye. Naturally, the wedding was beautiful; but it was the overwhelming spirit of the celebration & families coming together that made it unforgettable. As Brittany & Justin mentioned at the rehearsal dinner, so many people were responsible for many of the details that it would be impossible to detail without taking up he whole evening. The wedding service was held at First United Methodist Church in Erie, PA & the staff couldn't have been more pleasant! The church itself was beautiful and since we were all from out of town they went out of their way to make us feel like family. Incidentally, the bishop who blessed the church when it was brand new actually presided over President Lincoln's funeral. Here is a photo courtesy of he church website: http://www.fumcerie.org/html/weddings.html (scroll down to "Having your wedding here" section).

And here's the lovely bride! My mother made her bespoke veil and it's absolutely beautiful!

Here's the link to her shop where you can get one made to your specifications: ThinlyVeiled on Etsy

And here's what I refer to as their "Pinterest photo." And they honestly refused to cheat and see each other before the ceremony! I know that took a lot of fortitude because they were both excited.

Here come the flower girls who took their job very seriously! Aren't they sweet? Everyone loved the pew markers that we put together. The shepherd's hooks were iron (very sturdy) and were purchased along with the votive cups from a great party website called Save On Crafts The minister REALLY wanted me to donate those to their church, but they were already promised to my in-laws' little church. The flowers were purchased from our local Michael's store.

I'm such a romantic person so I always look at the groom's face when he first sees his bride. You can't really tell from this photo but he was momentarily choked up which was very sweet. It's what every mother of the bride wants to see. He's a perfect addition to our family (just like our other son-in-law).

Here I am fixing the train...

The father-daughter dance...awww

Olivia has had enough with the photographer - what a pistol! She looked so adorable as always, but especially so on wedding day.

Naturally, we partied all night long. I can't thank the management and staff of the Bayfront Convention Center for doing such an AMAZING job! There are too many people and vendors to thank during this post, but I would like to thank Katie Mihalak Photography for her beautiful photos as shown in this post. Grise Lighting really put on incredible lighting that really set the mood. You can't tell by these photos but the lighting bathed the room in colors like a club - totally incredible!

As soon as the dinner plates were cleared we hit the dance floor and had to be shut down by our DJ who actually extended our time! FUN, FUN, FUN!!

Adding More Mileage

noreply@blogger.com (Lynn) — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 03:02:00 +0000

Thanksgiving has come and gone. This was my blueberry pie before it was devoured. Wow! It was amazing if I do say so myself. I think I've FINALLY gotten the hang of making really good pie crust...it only took 27 years, but no haters, please.

A lot has happened since I've last had an entry. I've quit my job as an insurance agent. I'm still working on my degree - doggedly hanging in there.

Speaking of "doggedly" look what I found. Yep, that's Bella (or Bells as she's frequently called) toilet-papering our bathroom. Bad doggy...I guess she even managed to hit Timmy's bedroom can, too. It's hard to be mad for very long, though. Her cuteness saves her.

We've sold our house and have temporarily moved into a small apartment. You'll notice that "small" is the operative word since we're all three living in 850 sq. ft. It's an open floor plan that's light and airy, but it's still 850 sq. ft. Honestly, it's not too bad; but I'll save that for a later post.

Last weekend my husband and I took a visit to Virginia Beach. Neither of us has ever been there so we thought we'd check it out. We had a reservation at The Founders Inn & Spa for one night. It was terrific! We reserved a queen room; and were very surprised to find a queen four-poster bed in a room that felt like an attic room. I totally mean that in a good way. It was homey and very cozy, considering how spacious our room was. The grounds were beautiful. Here are some photos of their English garden.

The architecture and grounds did not disappoint. Below is a photo of view taken from the rear of the inn. They must employ a team of groundskeepers. I certainly appreciated their effect - absolutely beautiful...and serene.

(These photos were taken with my iPhone 4S)

This photo is taken from the rear veranda. I love walkways and am always looking to see the various treatments of the architects.

And here it is! I love the herringbone brick walkway.

Right next to the inn was the campus of Regent University. It's a very tiny campus, but very beautiful; very much in keeping with the style of the inn next door. While wondering around the campus I found this gem tucked away behind some trees. It's just beautiful. I love the justification of the large, square windows in proximity to the curved arches below, and the triangular gable on top.

Since our visit to the area was a short one, we decided to visit the aquarium on our last day which is something we both like to do. We haven't been scuba diving in quite a while, so imagine our enjoyment at seeing scuba Santa! More to come...

Snapshot of a Picnic

noreply@blogger.com (Lynn) — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 19:32:00 +0000

Snapshot of a Picnic

By Lynn M Barclay

One can't express the profound joy of a simple family
picnic, the culmination of at least two days of cooking
and a sleep over by the men to secure the perfect spot.
Under the shade trees the flag was hung and a
magnificent table was set groaning under the weight of
roast chicken, eggplant Parmesan, lasagna & more. The
tantalizing yet unconventional aroma spreading to nearby
parties with stragglers wandering over for a taste.

While the adults played cards the children took great
pleasure splashing through the creek and walking
gingerly on the mossy rocks with bare feet while slices
of sunshine cut through the canopy of leaves.
Music mixed with laughter sounded on the wind blowing
ever so slightly through our hair. The dancing had begun
only to be halted by the occasional firecracker thrown
from grandma's mischievous hand; a lawn chair still
bears the scar.

When one looks at the snapshot from this day emotions
flood the soul, the pain of so many gone from its frame
along with pieces of my heart. But yet happiness &
warmth along with their laughter rings in my ears if I
sit quietly to listen, a challenge in my grown up world
serving as a reminder of the lasting effects of a
carefree existence of feeling utterly satisfied.

Review: Homemade Marshmallow Fondant

noreply@blogger.com (Lynn) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 03:23:00 +0000

Ingredients:

1 bag of Marshmallows - any size, flavor or color

1 to 2 teaspoons of water

Food coloring

Several drops of your favorite food flavor drops

Powdered sugar

Non-stick cooking spray

This past weekend I decided to try and make a batch of homemade marshmallow fondant. The complete recipe and instructions can be found HERE courtesy of a wonderful blog I found called Clockwork Lemon.

Tip: As stated in the instructions, I too would recommend using nonstick cooking spray on the bowl and all of the utensils you will use before you get started. The recipe gets sticky and you'll thank yourself for making clean-up easier.

The artistic side of me loves working with fondant even though it can be a bit tricky and sensitive to humidity. Several blogs and baking websites all spoke of marshmallow fondant as having the best taste. I found this to be true about two years ago when I first started baking cakes; but I was initially intimidated by the idea of making my own, thinking my skill level wasn't up to scratch. Boy was I wrong! I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to make.

Before I started I read through the entire instructions as outlined at the site above. I sprayed the non-stick cooking spray on my bowl and utensils. You then take several handfuls of marshmallow (any size or color) and lightly toss in a teaspoon or two of water in a microwave safe bowl. The amount of water you need is just enough to dampen the marshmallows. Heat for about 10 or 20 seconds; just enough for the marshmallows to puff and enlarge. At this point you will stir the puffed marshmallows and add a few drops of flavor if desired. I used a McCormick brand strawberry flavor that was very inexpensive and tasty. This is where you can also add a few drops of food color if needed. Mix thoroughly with a spoon - also sprayed with non-stick cooking spray - then start to fold in powdered sugar until a nice, soft dough forms. If your dough is too sticky then you just add more powdered sugar. Your fondant should look something like the photo above. To store, simply spray some plastic wrap with the cooking spray and fold tightly or place in air-tight container.

Overall, I found that the finished product was very tasty and pliable. It was simple, enjoyable, and tasty. The recipe worked as described; and I would like to thank Clockwork Lemon for providing the tutorial. If you plan on using fondant I would highly recommend trying it and viewing her site!

Next time I'll explain this:

Happy February!

noreply@blogger.com (Lynn) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 00:39:00 +0000

Today was one of those dreary Saturdays without much going on so I decided to try a couple of new cake decorating techniques I learned online. To begin, I crumb-coated a small two layer white cake made from scratch then refrigerated it for about a half hour. While that was setting, I melted chocolate and piped a few hearts onto a sheet pan lined with wax paper alternating the white with the dark chocolate. As you can see, I piped a long stem on each heart. This will be used to stick them onto the cake. Work quickly as the chocolate sets pretty fast. I even piped an extra red outline for some added dimension on a few.

I decided to use a circle of white fondant on the top of the cake for a smooth finish. I then used a Wilton disposable decorating bag with white decorator icing and piped six large dots vertically on the side of the cake. Using a small spatula I smeared the piped dot horizontally before making another vertical row of dots. After continuing around the cake I finished with a creatively placed row of dots. [As you can imagine, that part was a little tricky]

Carefully peel the dried chocolate hearts off of the wax paper and stick them randomly on the cake as a topper. Here is a close up:

And here is the finished product. So what do you think? I'd totally make this cake again because it was surprisingly easy and quick. Wilton's disposable decorator bags make clean up a breeze because you just snip the tip to the desired size and you're ready to decorate [no tips to clean].

Thanks for visiting!

Helen's Bridal Shower

noreply@blogger.com (Lynn) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:36:00 +0000

Yesterday our office celebrated a co-worker's surprise bridal shower & Helen was certainly surprised! She's a dear lady who spends much of her time volunteering with the children of her church; and is a "Big" for our local chapter of Big Brothers/Sisters. For days we had all been squirreling things into the office and sending sneaky emails. It all paid off and was such fun. As always, I volunteered to make the cake since I'm always looking for excuses to bake. I started off making a peony out of gum paste [the instructions can be found HERE]. These can get quite large so I did my best to not overwhelm the cake; and managed to keep things proportionate.

The photo wouldn't cooperate and allow me to rotate it but you get the gist...

Here is my peony drying. This one was designed to have a more closed bud look.

I really wanted to make something special for her; but as I made my initial preparations for the cake I realized that the one item we all failed to discuss was whether or not we had a particular color scheme in mind, so I went for a feminine, fun look. I found a bolt of ribbon with circles in a brown, powder blue and pink color scheme which seemed to fit the bill. That one accent piece really set things in motion. Using powder blue and white fondant I proceeded to make a 2 layer vanilla bean cake. The main layer was a 12 inch spring form pan, and the top was a six inch pan. Once baked, I used the powder blue fondant as the base, with cut circles and leaves made of white for an accent. Gum paste flowers can be quite heavy so be certain to plan ahead as far as placement. This peony is on a heavy stem and has been given added security by using a bit of white chocolate to act as glue.

Here is the finished product:

Gaylord Opryland Hotel & Convention Center, Nashville, TN

noreply@blogger.com (Lynn) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 01:45:00 +0000

This is the atrium next to the lobby - it's beautiful and on the scale of a Disney resort. We stayed in the Cascades section which included the atrium and waterfalls. The whole setting was very romantic and beautiful.

Inside the Delta section of the resort. This was a village-like setting entirely under glass. Tour boats floated through here on a track that's slightly visible in the shallow water. The plants are all live. Wind or a small breeze was blowing lightly inside.

This is downtown Nashville.
We were a bit disappointed in how dumpy it was.

Falling into Autumn

noreply@blogger.com (Lynn) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 17:11:00 +0000

A lot can be said for the refreshing feeling of simply changing your desktop wallpaper. I decided on taking lunch in my office today because it's a nice, cool spot with large windows at the agency. Looking out at the street below I can see how the leaves on the massive trees lining the street have started turning colors. It really put me in the mood to decorate for fall. Since I already have my fall candy dish and pumpkin on my desk the only thing left was a wallpaper change. It's like switching over to a fall wardrobe for your PC. Another sure sign of fall - ABC Family's 13 Days of Halloween adverts have hit the airwaves. On the baking front, my first apple crumb pie of the season was a big hit. Maybe this week will involve some pumpkins; another happy thought :)

Plugging Away At It

noreply@blogger.com (Lynn) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 15:35:00 +0000

Well I'm back at my desk at work. It's a beautiful autumn day and it's Thursday; two things that lighten the heart. As you can tell by the photo I'm busy plugging away at work but decided to take a short break in the work week chaos to scribble down a few thoughts. So far I've managed to only need to reheat my coffee once today so the day seems promising. The change in seasons has also brought on a rash of varying illnesses here in the office and with the family so I'm keeping my disinfectant wipes nearby. Ranging from seasonal allergies to bronchitis I think I'll need them more and more as we head towards the winter months. I'm still trying to shed a few pounds and tone up for our daughter's wedding...as you can see by my small pretzel stash it's more of an uphill battle at this point. I'm proud to say, though that I actually got up at 6:15 am yesterday morning to work out. After a small gag (I'm an evening person) I had a work out and felt fantastic all day. Needless to say I fell off of the wagon this morning; but I plan on an early morning again tomorrow & will keep you posted.

Visiting Nashville, TN

noreply@blogger.com (Lynn) — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 00:50:00 +0000

Belle Meade Plantation

Last week my husband and I visited Nashville for a professional organization convention. During some down-time we made our way over to the Belle Meade Mansion & Plantation. Once an illustrious thoroughbred stable and farm, the property is now open for educational and recreational purposes. Many of the famous Kentucky Derby winners can trace their lineage back to a sire stabled at Belle Meade, including Sea Biscuit and Secretariat.

Inside the Stable

Children's Playhouse

The children's playhouse is beautifully crafted. To my surprise

is contains a mini-corner china cabinet, table & chairs, and room for play on the floor. I'm sure this playhouse was immensely enjoyable to the children who were lucky enough to use it.

The log cabin was once home to Bob Green, the head trainer. During Bob's lifetime, his cabin sat on 250 acres of land purchased by John Harding. There was a cotton gin, saw mill, smoke house and stable used for breeding also on the property; but it was the breeding of champion thoroughbred stock that really attached words like fame and notoriety to the Belle Meade name.

The grounds are beautiful and serene. I particularly loved all of the stone work, especially the walled areas. It was interesting to realize that the grounds (back in their heyday) where not cut as they are now giving the home an almost dilapidated, unkempt look. Of course this was perfectly normal considering there weren't any modern lawn mowers.

The Stable

We really enjoyed our visit. The home is full of beautiful antiques and architecture. We found our tour guide to be extremely knowledgeable, and he spent a lot of time answering everyone's numerous questions. Needless to say, the delicious aroma of food cooking in the on-site restaurant made our mouth's water. Too bad we weren't able to stay and enjoy anything because we had to get back to the convention center for a reception.

Wedding Bells!!

noreply@blogger.com (Lynn) — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 02:25:00 +0000

We have an engagement!! Brittany's boyfriend, Justin, has proposed and she has naturally accepted! On a side note (and this is the "important" part for the girls) the ring is HUGE! This was cause for celebration and an excuse for me to make another cake! Since I've been wanting to try my hand at making gum paste (sugar) flowers I decided I better get some instruction. I found a wonderful blog called The Cakerator who graciously posted step-by-step instructions along with photos & a materials list. I have to say, it takes a lot of time to make this type and size of peony but it was a very enjoyable process. I'm sure I'll improve with more practice. As you can see by the photo (below left) I had a bit of difficulty with the fondant due to room temperature; but the silicone molds I used allowed me to make decorations in Tiffany blue fondant that could be used to cover my "boo-boos."

Justin's parents had graciously offered to host the engagement party which was a beautiful event held in their home. The toasts by both families were very heart-felt and welcoming, and the food was delicious. We're all extremely excited about the wedding and expanding our families. Below is the finished cake product. I don't think it's too bad for a newbie.

Since my husband and I eloped (as did our eldest daughter, Stephanie and her husband Rob) I'm in a bit of a quandary as to having a lack of wedding planning experience. I'll muddle through - it's been fun so far despite the never-ending dollar signs all around me. With the engagement over we've moved on to the next phase...save the dates!

Here's a sneak peak: Oh, and did I mentioned Brittany is competing for the title of Miss Maryland USA?!!! Such happy events make me feel especially blessed and proud of our children. Much more to follow...

*Side note to Stephanie - Pho will not be served at the wedding.

Reality Check

noreply@blogger.com (Lynn) — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 15:42:00 +0000

Alice Pyne <----click here to visit Alice's blog

This morning while sitting in a mild stupor at work dreading the day I came across Alice Pyne. Alice is a 15-year-old girl from the UK who has recently been given the news that she has terminal cancer. At her mother's suggestion she has taken to writing a blog and including a bucket list, some of which she has recently been able to complete. To her surprise her "little blog for friends" has turned into an international viral sensation receiving good wishes from around the world. Please take the time to read about Alice, she'll truly touch your heart. Send a prayer, a greeting or encouragement...it doesn't cost anything and will brighten her day. Be sure to check out her links for bone marrow donations.

Those Summer Days & Nights...

noreply@blogger.com (Lynn) — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 19:01:00 +0000

After an incredibly hectic winter I have decided to take a short eight-week break from my studies. At my age my brain needed to have a little less stimulation if even for a short while. According to my university degree completion audit I'm approximately 48% complete with my program (woo hoo!). I highly recommend taking at least one class as an adult. I promise you, the experience is a completely different one from those awkward teenage years full of angst. Needless to say, this explains my huge lapse in attention to my blog. Summer is here and I'm enjoying the warmer weather and time spent in the pool. After an extremely busy few months of travel I'm preparing for my next class, Education 200. I've also decided to employ a bit more "yes" answers in my life and enroll in a stained glass making class held locally. At my age a bit more branching out is in order, especially when living away from my extended family. I'm enthusiastically looking forward to this class and will hopefully produce a photo worthy finished product!

A Status Update...

noreply@blogger.com (Lynn) — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 16:39:00 +0000

Well it's certainly been a while since I've been blogging. Throughout my absence I've been very busy finishing up some classes that I really enjoyed, but I've also taken a semester off to regroup...from everything. I will say that I'm anxious to get back to the business at hand - the long march towards degree completion. This next semester will be a small milestone for me as I'm now classified officially as a sophomore!

I've also been working on a new website for the main purpose of displaying photos. It seems that my previous site on blogspot has lost ALL of my photos...almost cried over that one. It's sister-site located at http://footfallsandforays.wordpress.com/ is nice, but not entirely user-friendly. More information will follow...

Oh My Aching Head…

noreply@blogger.com (Lynn) — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 00:20:00 +0000

It seems the flu is off to a strong start as three of us at the office have succumbed. The irony is that I had just discussed getting a flu shot. Yesterday I spent the day on the couch dealing with a minor fever that was just enough to make a person miserable. While it was certainly nice to be back at the office, my exhaustion and mild fever made the day seem interminably long. I quarantined my "cooties" as much as possible out of courtesy to the rest of the staff. After all that complaining I'm pleasantly surprised at the amount of work I got through. Tomorrow I’ll be sure to Lysol the printer though…

Another One Bites the Dust

noreply@blogger.com (Lynn) — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 02:20:00 +0000

A self-portrait taken while I was playing with some of the functions on my camera.

Well it appears that I've aced another class! Phil104 is officially over for me, thank goodness. I'm certain many of you will appreciate how difficult university classwork can be when combined with a full-time job. Next up is Eng102, Literature and Composition. I've been anticipating this class for a long time and hope that it won't disappoint. Since my dream is to teach literature I'm sure I'll enjoy it immensely. I think it's safe to say it'll entail a lot of reading and writing...I'm always amazed though at how many people write college level papers/discussion boards as if they're chatting on social media. It's a wonder they pass the course considering how they fail to use all forms of punctuation and appropriate capitalization.

So far, my time in heels this week hasn't been too bad. Today has been a very busy day, but a productive one which is great. Speaking of shoes, I always get compliments on my favorite red leather, gladiator-style heels that I wore today. Since I'm short I'll take any help I can get; and being comfortable while trying to look a little stylish never hurts.

P.S. I've just read a Facebook post from a friend of mine who knows someone who actually got to meet Peter Facinelli, aka Dr. Cullen from the Twilight Saga (and got a couple squeezes at the photo op)!! Apparently he speaks Italian. Who would've guessed?

A Tiny Cake Weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Lynn) — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 00:10:00 +0000

This weekend has been wonderful, and greatly needed. It's certainly no secret that this past week at work has been horrendous with one of my co-workers on vacation, and another out with a sick child.

I love spending some extra time having coffee in bed on Saturday morning. What a great way to reset my brain and unwind. Our dog, Bella, has picked up on this and enjoys spending this extra time snuggling in bed while I read. She's very sweet. Believe it or not, I actually enjoy spending time at home being domestic, especially when there's a good movie on. Autumn in the south is particularly enjoyable since it's generally a long season with very comfortable temperatures, and beautiful foliage. This put me in the mood for gourds and pumpkins, so after wondering around the local market I was able to make the inside of the house feel as colorful as the outside.

Sundays after church are devoted to football, spaghetti sauce, baking, and watching professional bakers make amazing cakes on television. Needless to say, this really put me in the mood to work with fondant. It's not as easy as it looks, especially when the proper tools are missing; but it's turned into something of a hobby for me. They're certainly not perfect, but I don't mind practicing either. Maybe Santa will bring me The Cake Bible and a decorating kit...or class. At any rate, this weekend was just what the doctor ordered. Now I'm ready to look Monday in the face and begin another week in heels.

Hanging Myself with the Telephone Line

noreply@blogger.com (Lynn) — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 23:51:00 +0000

“Better visit hell in your lifetime
than after you’re dead.” -- Yiddish Proverb

OMG what a horrendous day! Last night my husband informed me that it wasn't necessary for me to set my alarm because he always wakes up around 6:30. Well he woke up at 6:3 all right but didn't wake ME up, so 7:30 I fly out of bed and start running...

EVERY piece of paper and telephone call was a problem that required major amounts of work...

My husband and daughter - both promised to be home for the internet repair man weren't...

It's raining and I gave my umbrella to my daughter to use; I forgot my raincoat this morning and had to run for it...

When my work day was FINALLY over I put on my jacket and the button popped off...

I ran to the car and dropped my cell phone under the seat; started the car and the "check tire pressure" light came on...

After all of that complaining I can tell you we somehow managed to retain a sense of humor at the office which is especially important on days like this. It's even better to know that I wasn't the only one suffering through the day.

Off To A Good Start

noreply@blogger.com (Lynn) — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 23:32:00 +0000

What a beautiful fall day. I took these photos using a Panasonic Lumix with a Leica lens and thought they turned out great. Speaking of great, today wasn’t too bad for a Monday (outside of the ignorant jackass who nearly rear-ended my car this morning). The good news is tomorrow is looking pretty promising, too. Hopefully this trend will continue during my time in heels for the rest of the week. Now, if I could just figure out a certain coworker…

My Dancing Hair

noreply@blogger.com (Lynn) — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 02:58:00 +0000

OMG Kill These Bugs!

noreply@blogger.com (Lynn) — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 00:40:00 +0000

Lynn Barclay 2010
All Rights Reserved

"I don't care if you need agent orange...just kill these fricking stink bugs!"

That was pretty much the gist of a conversation I had earlier this evening with my husband. I think I smashed at least three of them at the office so I wasn't particularly thrilled to find them in my house. I've gotta tell you though, they're pretty aggressive and won't hesitate to launch an attack. I'm still a bit paranoid after the spider incident so consequently, no bug will be spared my wrath.

I'm sure these bugs are somehow beneficial, but it's hard to like an aggressive, armor-wearing bug that doesn't hesitate to fly directly at you. After all, they're not the cute and docile lady bug that's stinger free and wearing polka dots (my fav). I'm pretty easy going. I don't mind a bug that can easily be flicked off a sleeve, but I really hate the ones that require several whacks of a shoe or book to kill. The other day I was sitting on the deck with my husband when I noticed about 15 of these bad boys clinging on the screen of our cabana. I couldn't believe my husband knew they were there the whole time and was absolutely unconcerned about their presence....totally blase. Do you know what's even more crazy? Wasp and hornet spray (the ones that spray at least 12 feet) had absolutely no affect. Pure craziness.

A Bad Case of Arachnophobia

noreply@blogger.com (Lynn) — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 02:12:00 +0000

Lynn Barclay 2010 All Rights Reserved

OMG I had a bad case of arachnophobia! Last night at the pharmacy window I realized that my son had my bank card. I was so embarrassed, but I told them I’d be right back with it. It was a long day so driving home I had the top down on my awesome, little car and was perfectly happy jamming by myself. At one point during my diva daydream I looked down and saw a big spider (Not the one pictured above) sitting on my leg. Of course, I FREAKED out and flung the thing somewhere in the car while I pulled over and wildly began to undress myself searching for the @#$%^& thing. Who knew where it was right? I mean, it could have been anywhere…crawling around on me or setting up shop in my hair or ear. I bemoaned my situation…why can’t I enjoy having the top down on my little car and enjoy it worry free? When I finally found it I beat it to death with my shoe, then looked up to see people laughing as they passed me all askew. It’s moments like this when I’m reminded of my grandmother who had a wicked sense of humor, but could sweetly smile while quietly cursing you if crossed. I silently hoped they’d have their day…

A Weekend in Sight!

noreply@blogger.com (Lynn) — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 01:00:00 +0000

Lynn Barclay 2010 All Rights Reserved

Ahhh…the weekend is in sight and I'd like to take a long walk, but I can’t complain about my time in heels too much this week. Work hasn’t really been all that bad. Unfortunately, I couldn’t wear my fabulous new shoes because of an uncomfortably short trim so I had to make do with my old, black utility sandals, but comfort was the necessity as opposed to feeling fabulous. I daresay, despite a couple of hiccups this week has been almost enjoyable. My normally pleasant drive home was disrupted though, by another traffic accident on a perfectly straight, newly paved road. It seems people are having trouble paying attention while driving causing the inevitable accident and gridlock. Left to my own devices in the car, it seemed that loud music and bad singing was just what the situation called for. Cheers to another work day down!