Thing 15: Dune

Yeah yeah I know, I'm behind. Another book into the pile. This time my husband's contribution. One fewer thing in the apartment. The book is Dune. I have not read it, and probably will not. I am curious, or impressed or curiously impressed. I guess J read this book years ago when a young man would read bestselling sci-fi. The curious or impressive part is that he decided to re-read it before getting rid of it. I asked if there was a special reason...he really liked it, he thought he would appreciate it more now, someone just mentioned it - apparently no special reason. Just didn't remember it well and figured he would read it before getting rid of it. Boys are so fascinating. Maybe because J and I spend even more time together or because we are in business together and therefore need to talk more about decisions, our vision for something - it has made me think more about how his mind works, and my own as well. Of course, have always been sorta thoughtful and dreamy about that stuff, but I definitely try to analyze and articulate it more now. It's kind of fun. I think it's making me more clear and direct. I think J is just starting to appreciate how it could be fun. At first he took my questioning as criticism. That was probably my delivery. "Why are we driving this way?" I guess I can see how that would be an accusation. But honestly, J is a smart and interesting guy. I just figured he had some reason that would impress me that I hadn't thought about. Sometimes that's the case. I've learned that "I don't know" isn't "I don't want to talk about it or it's none of your business" but just "I don't know". Allrightey. Good to know. I probably suffer from some need to organize my decisions or understand them or think about them too much. Suffer is the wrong word, I am not suffering at all. And I like to think that, since it is such a big part of who I am and I do have friends and I do tell them what I think - that they must like it, at least sometimes. Friends and colleagues frequently came to me to discuss things. I like to think I had a clarity of thought and could get to the root of the issue and help the person to think about the problem differently. And I guess I don't just think this, it happened, people like to ask me about stuff. But, I used suffer, because I think my poor husband does suffer from this thing I do. Sometimes he loves it and I think it might even be part of the reason why he fell in love with me, but if you are he and you spend a whole lot of time with me, it's gonna get on your nerves too. So so so, a good thing about me can also be an annoying thing. And a "bad" or unsatisfying thing for me (like an answer of "I don't know") while defined as a more negative or annoying or unfathomable thing about my husband - can at times be the best thing about him too.

Thing 14: comics, what gives?

A follower, holy crap! Dear CB what are you thinking?
Well, I'm at work and it's quiet right now. I have stuff to unpack and unburden myself of at home, but here at work, had to look around a bit. I picked up this comic at Crafty Craft Fair a couple weeks ago. Comics. Now why did I buy this? Well, it was a homemade publications table, which I definitely like. And this one was $1, had a record on it and drawing of wolf headed sheep, so duh, of course I bought it. Nah seriously, I can't totally explain why this appealed to me. Maybe I wanted to give comics another try. Seems like I would love, what do they call it, sequential art, narrative art? I can appreciate the art. I like stories. But for some reason, have never been a comic book reader. And sorry to say, Not X Band did not win me over. Eh, I tried. Don't wanna force it. I'll get it or I won't. I'm pretty busy with all the stuff I love. I'm hoping that new life will afford me more time for my own projects. And collaborations! I have a couple plans that I'm sure I could manage alone, but trying to lure a cousin or friend to collab. I seriously think I am missing out on something. I've never been fond of "group work". I don't like telling other people what to do or expecting someone else to meet my standards. It can be hard sharing a vision. And of course, don't want to disappoint someone else. I guess this will be a test of how well I can communicate my vision and explain expectations while simultaneously making it fun and rewarding for the collaborator. I'm gonna try.

Thing 12 + 13: book and vase

The Red Tent was given to me by my SIL. Yes, a gift, but it's a paperback book. No one expects you to save those things forever. Pass it along. I love love love my SIL, she is my brother's wife. She reads a lot and we like many of the same authors. Totally get why she got me this book. I once gifted her Not Wanted on the Voyage, a fictional version of the Noah's Ark story. Now that book was insane. I really liked it, but it was definitely disturbing too, but I guess disturbing and me liking are not mutually exclusive. The Red Tent is also a fictional work focusing on the life of Jacob and specifically the women, told through Dinah. It was fine. A little predictable and little too convenient, but fine enough read. I'm a sap though. Got teary when she died, but only because her loving husband was there and I am inclined to think about death more since I married. I'm hoping not to survive my young husband. I get it, if he died, I would survive, I would grieve, mourn and somehow manage to move on. That's what people do the world over and forever. I just can't imagine now how I would go about doing it. Joan Didion's The Year of Magical Thinking gave me a clue of what it would be like. I just don't wanna do it.
Small Vases, how many do you need? I do not need these 2.

Thing 11: wine glasses

Shut up. I know, another gift. Details of this gift make me a little sad, but that's a different story. I had a bunch of wine glasses in Baltimore that I didn't like (gifts, ha). But, I totally used them. So sometimes ya get stuff you would not buy yourself, and maybe don't even really like, but you use it forever anyway, because whatever, and maybe I am too lazy to go and find and pay for the perfect thing to replace it. And in the end, whatever right? I have stuff I love, stuff I cherish, stuff that's practical, stuff that's fine, stuff that's cool, lame, ugly etc. Doesn't everyone? And what if I went to someone's house and every single thing was cool and intentional? I haven't been to that person's house yet, but if I am ever at such a dwelling, what would I think. hhmm maybe I would be sorta envious and sorta disgusted. I'm not sure, but that's what I think I'd think. I'll get back to you if it ever happens, but I suspect it won't. So so so, wine glasses. Really, just use whatever crazy ones ya got, cuz they break pretty easily and eventually you could go and legitimately buy yourself some that you love. And, you could feel good about it for using the ugly ones for as long as you did. My good friend in Baltimore gets this. She took the ugly 5 white wine glasses and 3 red wine glasses because she has crazy mixed wine glasses and also regularly breaks them - so free glasses are good glasses. Now it would be right to ask, and why the hell ya gettin rid of these here wine glasses then. They don't fit in my cabinets, too tall. And, these are simple enough that someone will be happy to get them. I need less stuff and am totally over buying some fancy wine glasses. I can drink my wine out of juice glasses, or cups or the 5 glasses our Baltimore neighbor gave me that have a shamrock and "irish coffee" written on them.

Thing 10: it's friggin' cold

Another gift. Whoa, am I terrible person? Nah, trust me, I'm not. I like this all right, but I'm kinda opposed to something that needs batteries and I don't really need it. It was handy in Baltimore to document the chilly temp in our bedroom. I just used it to see what our apartment temps were: bedroom 68F, living room 71F, spare bedroom 65F. And here at the store: toasty office 72F, store proper 68F and back room....drumroll...see pic. I think it's the perfect temp to keep our wine and beer chilled!

Thing 9: fur sweater

Ok, another gift. I tried to make it work. I have saved it for years. I have worn it a few times. I gave it a try on and good hard look last night. I don't like it because it doesn't fit right. A little too big, a little too boxy and short. Coulda worked if the fit was dead on. It's not something I would buy myself but had it fit right, I would have saved it for ice skating. Now I need an ice skating outfit.

Things 6,7,8: game and table

A mini-travel magnetic chess set: I have had this travel chess set since I was a child. I do not know how it has stayed with me for so long and so many moves. I do remember the last time I played chess. It was Summer of '96 at the Hostel Kabul in Barcelona; I won. I was not playing on the teeny tiny travel chess board. We were poor and there were cheap pony beers in the vending machine and a chess table in the lounge room. I love getting beer from vending machines and the size made it even better. Anyway, I don't play chess and figure if I am ever going to take it up, I will play with a full size board.
Holiday tablecloth: a gift. Pic allowed because no longer have that huge dining room table or even a dining room.
Crystal candlestick holders: also a gift. Honestly fine enough, but not really my style. It doesn't go with anything we have and room is limited in our small apartment. Off ya go.

Thing 5: uh oh, gifts

I hadn't even considered it. But of course, most of what I want to give away are gifts. I realize no one is reading, but a friend's MIL got access to her blog and she had to password protect it. Of course she had nothing to really be concerned about, but you write differently for a different audience. I mean, could happen that one day my mother finds the blog and I would feel bad for giving away something she just gave me. I think it's my job to worry my parents as little as possible and enjoy them as much as possible. They old. So, er, not an exciting post, but the thing I got rid of was a gift. But on a positive note, sometimes I get a gift and make fun of it, but then I feel guilty and keep it around, and then, lo and behold some time down the road, I start wearin the gift. I just find a way to make it work that I didn't see before. When that's the case, I always make sure to wear that leather and knit sweater cardigan around my mother. Like she said, it looks smart on me.

Thing 4: so cute and so useless

Cute huh? I've had it for years. Wasn't using it, but didn't want to toss. Then started thinking I would cut it up and sew it on something...which I could still do, but if someone can use it whole, that seems like the better plan. Maybe I retrieve from the pile next Spring if it's still there. Sorta defeats the purpose, but only sorta. Anyway, it holds toilet tissue. A special Asian folded toilet tissue, which I have bought before in NYC, but I don't really need to carry around toilet tissue. It goes into the pile. I have so many cute things, I can't keep them all. Share the cute.

Thing 3: books

I was gonna cheat and just do one title, but that would be cheating. I'm no cheater. We got rid of some books in Baltimore and then, once moved, we found a bunch more that we could really stand to get rid of. Durr, shoulda left em in Baltimore. Ya know Baltimore is "the city that reads" or so some benches have told me. Anyway, they are here now, free to friends or anyone visiting the back room. I'm sure most will end up at a used bookstore or hospice in the area. Now, I might have books again, but then it will be another book that I am adding to the pile, not the pile that is already back there. The book I am reading now will go in the pile. Fine, but not worth saving. Little teaser there.