Blame Kristen
What’s Jack up to? Here he is (still needing a haircut) jumping in on me taking a picture of this cool ribbon scarf I finished. Jack this is not your shot. Scoot. He has the nerve to try and pose too! Ugh, I’ve created a monster with bad hair.
I’m starting on another scarf for someone special (shhh…) in the same stitch. As you can tell I really like this drop stitch. It’s not hard and looks so pretty. I’m loving this slightly ribboned yarn with a bit of mohair I found. It’s sturdy, but delicate.
So I’ve been tagged again. This time by Kristen and she looks so sweet. Hmm…You’re feeling: Tired and a little anxiousTo your left: Books, a table lamp, way too many papers
On your mind: Oh, just everything. My kids mostly, my DH, my WIP, my bills, too much.Last meal included: Totally top chef- not: Meatloaf, Kraft Mac and cheese and string beans, HA!
You sometimes find it hard to: Chill out.The weather: raining and still too cold!Something you have a collection of: Books, Magazines, yarnA smell that cheers you up: lavender, spring rain, cut grass
A smell that can ruin your mood: Mint. I can’t stand it!
How long since you last shaved: Too long, I’m a bit over due.
The current state of your hair: Ugh. Dry and choppy. Must get it done for NEC.
The largest item on your desk/workspace (not computer): some special yellow fake flowers that will make it to their destination one day
Your skill with chopsticks: so-so
Which section you head for first in a bookstore: center tables then RomanceSomething you’re craving: always Pasta.
Your general thoughts on the presidential race: Scroll down a bit and you’ll see then make up your own mind.
How many times have you been hospitalized this year: More than I’d like.
Favorite place to go for a quiet moment: Movies. Not quiet but a great escape for me.
You’ve always secretly thought you’d be a good: Actress.
Something that freaks you out a little: Gum on the side of a plate.
Something you’ve eaten too much of lately: Pasta. See above.
You have never: Jumped out of a plane
You never want to: Jump out of a plane
People I’m tagging: Elizabeth, Mommy The Robot, Patricia and Eileen again!
Oh, Did any one watch Survivor? Erik totally sold Ami out. She really tried to fight it out and I thought she had something there but it was a no go. There was no way Ozzy was letting go of his most adoring fan. So funny!And… on Make Me A Supermodel Holly Wins!!! Yay! I’m so glad she beat out those way too smug boys (Ronnie). Ha! This show actually grew on me. Who knew?
Ok, now I’m gone. Smiles! Happy Friday.
Best,
Kwana
Top Fool I am
What’s Jack up to? He’s just being Jack. Lately he’s been hiding out in the hall closet with the shoes and boots. I keep forgetting and closing the door on him all the way. Sorry, Jack.
It was quite a shocker on America’s Next Top Model last night, but first off what is up with Lauren and the crazy outbursts? That girl is needing a muzzle.
I have to give props this week to Stacy Ann for being smart with the good Sprint shout out and getting premium camera time and good for her winning the challenge. Go Stacy Anne! I also have to say I wasn’t in love with the photos this week and in a true shocker, well, not so much. Claire was ousted. I thought it would have been and should have been Lauren. Oh well.
Buh-Bye Claire. No more CoverGirl of the week for you.
Now for Top Chef. Hooray!!!
This week’s quickfire was with guest Daniel Boulud and was all about technique and making a beautiful vegetable plate. Uh-oh all you butter fingers and as for you Richard and Ryan (who I suspect was fired) Daniel said his past experiences with them would not effect him. We’ll see…
Sidebar: How many hats did Spike bring? Does he secretly have something going on with Ricky from Project Runway?Quickfire judging Dale was impressive and scary too.
Richard’s a suck up. Surprise. Wipe your nose.
Spike was nice, despite the hat Hmm….
The winner is….. Scary Dale with the manic eyes and full zipper velour jogging jacket. Yay! He’ll be around another week.Now the elimination challenge. A dinner inspired by your favorite movie. Sounds like a fun dress- party. Wouldn’t it be great to do that with Pride and Prejudice, or Rocky Horror or Mahogany all could have good food and fun clothes. What movie would you choose?
Richard, Dale and Andrew are doing Willy Wonka. Andrew no acting, please. This is not Mars 2112. Just stop. Tom will not stand for it. Back in the kitchen Richard’s smoker breaks. I’m so happy. I’m mean, right?Judges Verdict- Impressive
Did Spike Say Good Morning Vietnam? What? Not a favorite movie of mine and you can’t really dress to it, but make it good Manuel, please don’t pull out an accent or I may have to smack you.Verdict- Judges not impressed.
Jen and Nikki- Il Postino- Good Choice but Nikki need to chill with the Italian. The judges are going to get tired of her with that.
Verdict- Tom “Good not great.” I think they’ll they’ll take that.
Zoi and Antonia- Talk to Her good too. Spanish film. good stuff to work with.Verdict- Daniel not happy. Uh-oh, Zoi.
Mark and Ryan to ding bats with no knowledge of cinema decided on the Christmas story. Hmm…Verdict-Hey Ted liked it. Why am I surprised? Ryan just does not impress me.
Lisa and Stephanie get the 6th course and decide to do beef? Who wants beef for a 6th course? Who? Unless it’s a 6 am after the club course. Although I’ll agree that Top Secret is a super Funny movie and probably Val Kilmer’s best. At least they added apples so it’s not all savory.Verdict-Daniel- Yum.
The winners are announced and there are man hugs all around even with the women. The final winner is…Fauxhawk Richard. Man! And even without a smoker. Nobodies happy. Ugh!
Losers walk on in. Spike has on another fedora! Mustard yellow. Ugh again! Manuel you are with a fedora wearing mess. Get a backbone, man.
Antonia and Zoi look like they want to cry. Zoi is whining too much in the Gladroom. I’m afraid she may go. Tick Tock….
Commercial over. Wow! I was fooled again. Zoi is safe despite the whining. Fedora is in and Manuel is out. Buh-Bye, Manuel.
It was fun.
Best,
KwanaStop the world I want to get off
What’s Jack up to? Sweetie is jumping at the window barking at all the activity on this block on this not quite spring day.
Last night one of the scariest and most entertaining characters came back to prime time TV with Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen coming back on. Shout out to Louisa! Are you smiling today?
I watched some, but have to check out the DVR for the rest since I was interrupted by the teens. But what a wacky bunch of “chefs” they have. I mean truly strange characters. There is hardly a normal person in the bunch and it makes me wonder why they went so over the top this season. I have to say I was Happy to see the one mohawk of the bunch was real and not faux. Now as to the talent. I’m not sure.As for the title of my post today… I’d really like to be like the, not a housewife at all, Bethany (in the dots here) of the NOT so Real Housewives of NYC and be able to pack a bag to Miami because I’m upset and stressed with life. Let me tell you baby I’d be on that plane right about now. Ugh!
But guess what? I am a real housewife. With kids and a husband and a dog and a work I need to do and there are wheels that turn because I’m turning them! So I can’t do that.
They all make me crazy. The only one I can half tolerate is Jill (she’s in the black on the right).
Oh well, since I can’t hop on a plane I’m going to do my next best thing and escape to my weekly knitting group then come back home and get to writing and my very real life as a Housewife of NYC.Best,
KwanaNothing says I love you like spray tan and a treadmill
What’s Jack up to? The little stinker got into one of the twin’s backpacks and got to some candy so he’s not into eating this morning. Feeling blah. Serves you right, Jack.
I missed quite a bit of Dancing With The…Stars? last night so I’ll have to check out the recap. I did get to see Jason and Kristi and thought they were both great. I’m thinking they maybe the final two or at least they should be.
The Bachelor was so funny last night. First off, how sad are the one on one dates that are like a one-way tickets to nowhere? You have to pack your bags and if you don’t get a rose then and there you’re left like an unwanted dog taken for a “ride”. Horrible. Talk about pressure. It had one girl start a date on the red carpet and end it in a hot tub in order to insure that rose. Classy, huh?
I had to laugh out loud when crazy Shayne jumped up and down on the bed with glee when finding out one of the other girls had secret full blown spray tan machine. The girl was so happy that she announced “if she had a treadmill she’d be in heaven”. Gag me please!!!
Then Marshana got her lip busted in a way too physical game of Rugby. You’d think they were on Survivor. So there she is bleeding and all the girls are mad at her for bleeding and getting Matt’s attention.
Can someone tell me why they were looking at Matt’s house like it was really his house? Um, girl’s don’t you know it’s rented just like yours right? I’m worried.
Oh well, enough of these girls. Off to write and embrace my VOICE. Sort of like Sanjaya, without a care as to what anyone thinks of me. Hopefully it will be a productive day that will end with tired fingers from all my typing.Best,
Kwana
Finding Your Voice
What’s Jack up to? The wild boy is just being Jack and running around like crazy this morning. Jack you have to calm down. I’ve got lots of work to to today.
So it was a busy weekend with my DD’s dance recital which was wonderful BTW. Thanks for all the kind comments and well wishes. She was beautiful and oh so sharp and professional. I was proud.
We decided to sleep in on Sunday since Saturday was such a late night, but come Sunday morning, bright and early, I was tossing and turning, my mind racing with anxiety. I was so tired and all I wanted to do was rest, but rest wouldn’t come. Something was bothering me and it was my current work in progress.
Right now I’m trying hard to write something that will be a kind of break out piece for me so I’m playing with lots of different ideas. And for the most recent one, I just keep getting stuck. Stuck, stuck, STUCK. I keep seeing things unfold so clearly in my head, but not being able to put words to the images.
So with rest not happening, I got up left my DH and went to my other love, my lap top.
Bleary eyed (and out of coffee, yikes) I opened my document, yet again, and started to re-read the same old lines. I was in the scenes, but they just didn’t have that oomph that they had in my head. I was detached.
Then suddenly after days and days of struggling I knew exactly what the problem was. I wasn’t writing from my natural point of view. Although I knew the characters and saw them clearly, I didn’t know the narrator of the story. It didn’t have my VOICE.
I was like some of the poor kids on American Idol when they pick the wrong songs. They know the lyrics, but the voice doesn’t match. Only when they can make it their own does it really work and they get the votes they need to make it to the next week.
So, I renamed the document and started rewriting, changing the POV entirely. And once I did that a lot of my fears and anxiety started to melt away. A little. I’m a writer. Fear never really goes away.
I was smiling and feeling good. Suddenly I was there with my characters, confident that what I was saying was exactly what they would want me to be saying. That odd knot I had was starting to unravel and I could sing again!For all you writers, artists or for whatever your field is, how do you or did you find your voice or are you still struggling to find that illusive thing called “VOICE”?
Best,
KwanaDancing With Myself
What’s Jack up to? The happy dog is jumping and bouncing way to much for me on this Saturday morning. Give me a little time to sleep in please, Jack.
Tonight’s my family and I will be attending my DD’s annual modern dance recital. This will be the the 10th year that we have come to some such sort if thing.
And I’m sure that even though she’s much taller, way shapelier and a bonafide dagger shooting teen, I’ll look on that stage tonight and for a moment I’ll see glimpses of that four year old that used to look for only me in the audience and flash me a mega-watt smile. What mother can help it?
Yep, that’s her on pointe and she’s amazing at modern (tonight’s concert and her speciality) and hip hop too. The girl’s got talent! So join me in a Bravo for the DD in honor of her show tonight. Happy weekend!Best,
Kwana
Thank God it’s Friday?
What’s Jack up to? I suspect he’s still miffed at me for sneaking him off to the vet yesterday. Sorry, Jack, but it the shots are required by law, I think?
I can’t belive Friday has come so fast. For me it was too fast.
One of the things on my to-do list this week was to carve out a more concrete space for myself. I have no real office space in my house. I tried the basement, but it felt like a dungeon to me and I ended up right back upstairs on my bed with piles upon piles by my bedside and the DH telling me it was a fire hazard.But this week I got these two slim shelves and hung my dry-erase idea board in the breakfast nook off the kitchen claiming it for myself. Cute huh?
How soon before there are piles and piles all around? Gee, I hope not too soon.
For other cool looks at work spaces head on over to my friend pve design’s blog. All week she’s been showing desk vignettes giving us peeks into other’s worlds. It’s fun.
In honor of my new/old space and for some inspiration here’s one of my favorite clips from Pride and Prejudice. Oh, Mr. Darcy how I love thee!
I hope you have a lovely weekend.Best,
KwanaTopsy Turvy
What’s Jack up to? Wacky Jack is getting shots today. Shh… Don’t tell him.
Poor thing. Wish him the best.It was a Topsy Turvy Wednesday.
For America’s Next Top Model I was picking up my daughter from rehearsals so I actually was the ending of ANTM before the beginning so I missed all the drama and buildup and went right to the judging room. I was just as surprised as Claire to find her standing next to Aimee. Going by the pictures I thought it should have been Stacy-Ann. But I think the right girl went in the end. Buh-Bye Aimee.
Now I get to back track to the drama …
What’s up with Claire and Lauren and all the cursing at Dominique. I understand you’re mad about the clock but ladies. Really? I think the producers may have rigged that clock.
And wasn’t Claire being so 7th grade? She had better not win CoverGirl of the week this week.
Side bar: Wouldn’t the world seem better if the nightly news was read by Anya?
And we won’t even talk about Tyra’s all about me ‘pose with pain’ modeling class. Do they teach that at Barbizon? Oh, Tyra you crazy thang!Now onto Topsy Turvy Chef! Yay Wednesday!
It
starts out with towel smacking between Spiky and Andrew. Dudes this is not a frat house. Then Jennifer and Zoi (name does not match spelling) are all sweet together. I secretly think Jennifer (fauxhawx) is giving culinary secrets. I can’t help it. Too many seasons of Big Brother for me!
Quickfire Taco Challenge. Great love tacos. Bummers. I wish I had some now. Too bad I can’t get the DH to make a Taco Bell run but I know he’d call me nuts. Am I crazy or is Manuel’s accent suddenly thicker for this challenge? What’s up with that?
Sidebar: Wanna here something funny? This is the first time I noticed Lisa on the show with her bad skirt steak. Has she been her all along? Has she always had the eyebrow piercing?
Should we smack Richard the fauxhawk showoff with his “may I eat one with you?” Smack! Then darn it! Richard wins!
The intensity on this show is crazy. Thump Thump – Sweat Sweat. wish I had pictures. Ugh.
They are splitting into teams and I suspect some fights ahead did anyone miss the big time Toyota product placement? I didn’t think so.
Blue team- I’m nervous for them. And the Sexy Drink Lavender. It sounds sleepy to me.
I’m also nervous for Stephanie and changing up her dessert. Frying and moving? Wasn’t that a disaster last week for whatshername?
Time for the party. Hey there’s Ted Allen! Good to see ya.
Service is up. Did you notice, Manuel has no accent? I did. Accent doesn’t make the Taco.
But hey the blue team’s food is not looking too bad. I wonder if the sleepy drink is actually sexy. I’m surprised that Stephanie can cook. Her dessert came out good. Why was I doubting her?Now for the Red team.
Food’s looking food too and the guy’s are characters. Poor Padma dropped her Smore.
I wonder what the judges think of the dipping bar. I’m on the fence with that.We’ll find out. It’s time for the Judges table.
Ugh oh- Blue team is called in first. I’m nervous for the Red team.
We got bad cheese in the mac and cheese from Nikki, no good paella from Richard and I think the good Drink and dessert from Stephanie took them over the top. That Stephanie is Rocking!
Then Tom brings down the hammer and says, well you won but it wasn’t that good.
Ouch Tom! That hurts!
Now the Red team.
Man someone call for makeup and get these guys some powder. It’s sweat city.We got bad corn dogs from Erik, Wilty Waldorf salad from Ryan, bad pasta from Zoi and the whole Americana thing that I thought was good turned out to be pretty bad. Oops.
Dale is silently shooting daggers. Duck!
Andrew gets crazy defending his team. Security!Deliberation and nail biter time.
Man the Corn Dogs did him in. The lovable Giant is gone. Buh-bye Erik.Best,KwanaWednesday? No Way!
What’s Jack up to? The poor thing is just watching me run to and fro this week. He doesn’t know what to think.
I can’t believe it’s Wednesday already. Just the thought gets my heart racing and um, I don’t want to go up that road. Too scary. Must chill. Still so much more to do.
It’s crazy how fast this week is going. It feel like all I’m doing is driving up and down the main drag running all over the county. Thank goodness for Left Talk radio and Audio books to keep me sane. Sadly the Writing pages aren’t mounting up like I’d like. Generally typing while driving is frowned upon. Go figure.
So I’m folding laundry and watching Dancing with the… Stars? and those music sensations (?) The Jonas Brothers come on and start to sing. Now I never paid them much attention, but I’ve heard the talk. “He’s the cutest”, “No, he’s the cutest”. Ugh!
But wait a minute are they singing A-Ha from the 80’s, Take On Me?Who are they fooling? And did anyone else notice that they are pretty much Hanson re-dux with black hair and accessories?
So I’m wild for this guy, Brandon Hardesty that reenacts scenes from movies in his parents basement. Here’s his take from Atonement. Enjoy! More later.Best,
Kwana
What Happens In Vegas…
What’s Jack up to? Wild boy is chilling. The long holiday weekend is over and kids are back to school. Both of us are breathing a sigh of relief.Dancing With The… Stars? was a blast. A nice escape for the evening. I watched enjoyed and cast some votes for Jason, Mario, Marissa and Kristi, but the night really got interesting after Dancing With The Stars? Hush now… Not that interesting.I’m gett
ing so suckered into this season of The Bachelor and I’m slightly ashamed since the girls are so bad. What’s with these singing chicks? How many times have you all serenaded a guy on a date? If you have please speak up. I so want to hear the story. Just place in the comment section. No judgment here. We’re all friends.BTW. Don’t you love these crazy high school style photos of the girls. So funny. I wonder if they each got a runner comb with each sitting.
And Ashlee with a bunch of E’s. Way to be subtle. Sit on a bed and say you’ve been thinking of his lips? Did you graduate like, yesterday? But who am I to criticize. The girl’s not deep, but neither are men. And my point was proven when she got her preemptive strike rose. So there.
Then the drama got all high with, Shayne, Lorenzo Lamas’ daughter, who on day 2 went all stalkeratti in the casino. She was serving up a big plate of crazy. Pulling Matt by the arm and saying how this was getting “real” for her now. Really? Really?
Then Matt goes back to the ranch and he’s lip locking with all the girls and Marshana gets jealous. She goes for the slow dance and tries to hypnotize hm with her eyes. It doesn’t work! All the other girls are watching. Lips lock De-nied!
Oh no, Suddenly another girl is singing I can’t take it. I don’t know her name, but please Matt send these crazy singing chicks home. It’s freaking me out.
But please keep crazy Shayne here. She’s fun. Wacko, but fun. I know you think she’s acting and I’m sure she is, but the girl makes for good TV. I mean we don’t have Stacy any more. Sob.UH- OH. Rose ceremony.“Will you accept this rose?” “Yes. Oh Yes.”The tension is mounting. Final Rose. Shayne sweating, it’s between her and some wacky singers so I’m sweating too. But end the end crazy wins out. “Shayne will you stay and rock my–“, oops sorry wrong show.But wait, maybe it’s not the wrong show. Preview for next week and there blood and gore. Yech!Off to Write! Bye!Best,Kwana
