girl at large

well, the barbaric American ritualistic

well, the barbaric American ritualistic slaughter of thousands of innocent tubers is almost over. Happy Thanksgiving to all! And a personal thank you to Miss Kristan, for inviting me to spend the day noshing with her charming family. the sweet potatoes had mini marshmellows on top, i'm very happy. (am i the only one who makes that dish regularly, even in July? hmmmm Bastille Day sweet potato souffle...) i bought a Palm Pilot last night. i've wanted one something terrible ever since i saw (two years ago!) my brother and his then mother-in-law 'beaming' information from one device to another through THIN AIR! it was like something out of Star Trek, and you know how i feel about that. (DS9 excluded). anyhoo, it all started when i mentioned to Tessa that i was looking to get one before the big move, and she says "gosh, i have one i never use sitting in a box somewhere, you want it?" well SURE! but, alas, after some investigating it became evident that it was lacking the all important sync/charger cradle, etc. i went to Office Depot just to check out buying a replacement ($49) and then a very helpful fellow showed me THE DISCOUNT/FLOOR SAMPLE CASE. and there, in the back, in a bright shiny silver box was my new toy. a brand new color screen PALM PILOT M130, only 'on display' for four days. complete manual, cradle, everything. originally $249, on sale day after Thanksgiving for $199, marked down as 'display model' to $99. AND THEN....the register printed out a $50 REBATE! yes, folks, i paid $50 for my Palm Pilot. not to brag, but that is quite a thing. and then i stayed up until 3 am playing with it. and here i am playing with it again. do you know what you can do with these things? UNBELIEVABLE. WITH THIS, I CAN RULE THE UNIVERSE! (and download crossword puzzles).

well, Miss Tessa has officially

well, Miss Tessa has officially stepped into my size 8 1/2 shoes! The renovations are complete, the lease is signed, the ink is dry. I'll be leaving the place partially (mostly) furnished...Tessa's thrilled with the look (and convenience) and i'm more than thrilled not to have to lug it all down three flights of stairs, rent a big truck and try to round up muscular help Christmas week. right now, i am all about the path of least resisitance! as i start to mention the big move to more and more people (i kept it kind of quiet at werk so as not to alarm customers and quiet to others so as not to appear obnoxious) i find that so many have connections to the area i'll be living in...friends, artists, family, etc. with the internet, websites (mine and others) and email i'll be able to maintain an international 'community' of sorts. its so very humbling to know i have so many talented, dynamic and warm-hearted friends all over the world. that is what i'm thankful for this Thanksgiving. that, and having the most dynamic, fearless and generous Mom anyone has ever known. (did mention that she's nuts too?)

WOW! i'm really doing this

WOW! i'm really doing this thing! i booked my flight today. on Jan. 1, the begining of a new year, I will begin my new life. after four hours, eight websites and nearly a dozen phone calls, i was able to arrange a flight from Savannah to Atlanta to Nice that would also accommodate Miss Ruby, and at not a bad price. my Aunt Maria taught me years ago that each new year should have a motto to live by (rather than resolutions). the following have served me well: "Urban Adventures", "Grace under Pressure", "Make-Believe Boyfriends are Better", "Southern Exposure", "Less Me is More Everything Else", and "Slow for Construction". i need a new motto for this years great big adventure...any ideas?

well, just two more things

well, just two more things (bathroom mirror and livingroom sofa) and the apartment will be completely done! and i'll have one whole, entire month to enjoy it! to be fair, it has been 70% done and 100% more enjoyable the last two months. a day of cleaning (there is still fine plaster dust EVERYWHERE) tomorrow, a few fresh flowers and candles and it will be beautiful! now my plate is clear for planning the big move...so many things to do. lots of stuff to get rid off (make your requests now, before i'm picked clean!) and major packing trioge.

i've already been asked what

i've already been asked what i would like for christmas (i won't tell who broke the "don't ask me before thanksgiving" rule!). this will be an unusual year, seeing as i can not take that many things with me! (only two large suitcases, 70lbs max each). after some thought, it occurred to me that i won't be able to get many English language crosswords in France! so, for those who feel that Christmas/Hanakkah/Winter Soltice cannot pass without an exchange of gifts, crossword books are perfect! its a hobby/habit i would greatly miss and they pack flat! god, how i hate the whole 'what do you want for christmas' thing, forgive me if the above is obnoxious.

a "consultation" appointment at a

a "consultation" appointment at a new dentist turned into a mini torture session yesterday. don't get me wrong, great new dentist (ex-army, very goofy, lovely and kind assitants who held my hand when i cried, this dentist is a real 'keeper'). but i went in okey-dokey, and came out puffed up to here, packed with oozy gauze, and less yet another tooth! in preparation for the year abroad, i have appointments in the next month at the eyedoctors, the general md and the gyno. at this rate though, i'm going to be going to France toothless, with bifocals and post-hysterectomy!

turns out i couldn't get

turns out i couldn't get to Atlanta afterall, so it's off to France without a Visa i go! (hopefully the application can be completed without my presence and sent via post or i don't know what i'm going to do). its been a whacky week...i'm going/i'm not going, i'm not feeling well/ there's nothing wrong, ruby needs a sitter/no she doesn't now, the house is done/oh, but no sofa (don't ask!), i can cook in the kitchen/but the car isn't running. and so on. i need a drink.

i'm heading to Atlanta this

i'm heading to Atlanta this week to visit the consulate and beg, beg, beg for a student Visa. i probably won't be able to get one for the first three months (seeing as how it is already so late in the game) but hopefully, for the IAArts (www.academy-of-art.com) classes, which begin in early April. a student Visa would allow me to work part time, 20 hours a week. so, until the Visa kicks in, it will be pick up work...dog walking, tot watching, house sitting, etc. seems i already have one job set up...the end of January/first of February a friend of moms (from the International Woman of the Riveria group?!) will be on vacation for two weeks and needs someone to house sit and take care of her dog. its a great thing...especially so soon in the experience, a great chance to get the word out early that there is a responsible young American GAL looking for odd jobs!

i'm in the process of

i'm in the process of upgrading my blog to bloggerpro and blogspot plus, which will allow me to add more pages (such as a portfolio, photo album, recent reads, etc), links and photos. and it will also eliminate the flashing ads at the top. hang in there if the site is down more often (while i'm working on it) or if it looks weird at times. it will all be worth it...i'll be posting pics from beautiful Antibes of course!

Mrs. Ruth Greenberg is ailing...i'm

Mrs. Ruth Greenberg is ailing...i'm not sure if it is the chillier weather or because i neglected to water her this past week (but it rained so much?!). plants hate me.

forgot one humdinger from camping

forgot one humdinger from camping weekend: "my boobs fell out of my bra doing that" send guesses of the camping activity to [email protected]! (all those present at the time of course excluded)

Ruby slept all day today...still

Ruby slept all day today...still recovering from this weekends camping excitment...it was enough different smells to put her into overload. i had left a message for my good buddy Ryan before i left, letting him know i'd be out of town if he tried to call. he thought i was joking about camping, that "camping" was a euphanism perhaps for rehab! ha!

well, i survived! i was

well, i survived! i was pleasantly surprised to discover that the tent camping wasn't nearly as "rough" as i had imagined. there was electricity and running water for crying out loud! and graveled parking spaces!--pull right up to your site! silly me, i invisioned having to find level, dry ground to pitch the tent, sleeping right on the cold, hard ground, hiking to a water pump, making 'doo' in the woods. how wrong i was! air mattresses, clean and level ground, a grill and campfire set up, clean bathhouse with hot water...even an electric light (thank you Kristan for getting that replacement bulb from the other campers...did we ever get that back to them or was it forgotten in the mad dash to pack up in this mornings hard driving rain?...i owe you one.) here are the bullet points: >the muffins baked inside scooped-out oranges in the fire coals were a hit...(thank goodness, i talked about them enough!) >Melissa is a camping savant...every conceivable utensil, piece of gear; all thought out in advance, packed and ready to go...me, i would bring goat cheese but not a single stick of firewood, and would have guessed that "fat lighter" was a sight gag. >Dawn looks great anywhere, at anytime, under any conditions, even better soaking wet. bitch. >miss Ruby is more attached to mommie than i knew, but listens to commands from others now (so proud). even an argyle sweater can't phase Layla's patience. good dogs make good campers. >Law Enforcement, two southern gentlemen fishing buddies and three screwdrivers can save the day in a pinch. >chopping firewood is very, very theraputic...turns out, i'm quite the wood chopper! (every muscle aches today, but that's ok.) >no matter how good it is for dogs to spend time out of doors, HOLE DIGGING is not, i repeat, NOT a good thing. to be fair, neither is panicking when it starts to rain. >coffee tastes best when made over a twenty year old propane camp stove that takes 20 minutes to boil, you've forgotten cream and sugar (but remembered hazelnut french roast) and the sun is rising over a black water cypress bog where the silver light is reflected in the chilly late fall dew. best damn cup of coffee ever. in all, a great experience i'd be more than willing to repeat. and all the goodies to be had! equipment, gadgets, campfire recipes! i could get hooked...do the French camp? the Alps next time gals?

i've given in. i'm going

i've given in. i'm going camping with the girls this weekend and i am staying,... 'gasp', IN A TENT! seems the cabins don't allow dogs. the sacrifices i make for the little one. how on earth am i going to keep the goat cheese fresh? for the non-believers, i'm sure there will be photographic evidence.

turns out my dad has

turns out my dad has the photojournalist vest (see 10/21/02 entry) hanging in his closet...uses it occasionally for "adventurous" shoots in Beaver Dam, Horicon Marsh, etc in Wisconsin. the dream lives! mom called me later in the day today because she was out sailing...who would have thought?

pancakes, wienies, good friends and

pancakes, wienies, good friends and three dogs rolling in dirt in the backyard...is there a better way to spend a Sunday morning? i think not!

PANTY MASSACRE of 2002 update:

PANTY MASSACRE of 2002 update: found a three pack of discount store tidy whities this morning, but have to consider a long term solution over the weekend. miss Ruby is paying for her overindulgence...all i can say is it involves my picking up REMNANTS of of my underclothing. oh boy.

miss Ruby ate EVERY SINGLE

miss Ruby ate EVERY SINGLE PAIR of my PANTIES today. (well, except for the pair i'm wearing) glass half-full outlook: opportunity to finally go thong (?) mental note: set alarm an hour earlier for emergency panty buying run