What happens to a dream deferred?

My mother always encouraged my siblings and I to have an entrepreneurial spirit. She always suggested physical labor jobs that no one liked to do like clean their gutters, mow the lawn, or shovel the driveway. It was a great idea that sadly none of us took advantage of. I think it is in us to be our own boss in some way. Both of my parents owned their own businesses or were otherwise self employed for a number of years.

I did set out on my own company, maybe late in elementary school. It was called "The Summer Shoppe" and I sat out on my front lawn for hours with the lawn furniture covered in used books, buckets of stickers, unused pencils from the and all sorts of little things no one really wants to buy. Of course, being the American child that I was, I also sold lemonade.

My best customer was my grandfather, who lived next door. He bought me out of my entire sticker collection, which I had valued at about $5 in inventory (I had very competitive pricing). Pops must have really loved the stickers, because he paid $20 and all of a sudden they appeared all over his front door and on random place mats from Building19. My second best customer was the neighbor across the street I babysat for. She would occasionally bring the kids over for a glass of lemonade or buy a little book or two. And that ended the short list of customers.

My "dream business" as a youngin' was to own several vending machines. I would place them in areas near my home and check on them at least once a week to make sure there was a fresh product. I saved my money for the machines I lusted over at Sam's Club. I researched every vending machine I walked by to make sure my pricing would be competitive. I even did the numbers out to prove to my dad that it could make money. But alas, it never happened. It was decided it was probably not good for a 13 year old to own a $600-800 vending machine.

To answer the post title, it may have been as dried as a raisin in the sun, but it did not end up inside the yellow raisinet package in my vending machine.

I've discovered my new favorite author - too bad she isn't planning another novel for a while

I am in love.



Yes, with an amazing man, but that's not what I was thinking here. My love is more along the lines of an adoration for a new favorite author. This week I finally finished reading Curtis Sittenfeld's American Wife. I had read Prep my freshman year in college, thanks to a former roommate's suggestion. More recently, I finished Man of my Dreams while on my way to San Antonio and found myself in need of a book on the flight back to Boston. As a result, I bought my first book since January - the library is wonderful and saves money assuming books are returned on time. And well worth the $16 plus tax (8.25%! Can you believe it?!), too.



I'm really not one to get caught up and gush over a book. What I love is the development of Sittenfeld's characters: In American Wife's case, Alice. Unlike many other story line stars I've read Alice and the others have a raw realness to them. They are far from perfect but the flaws are believable. I feel like I know them - they are either my friends, or friends of my parents, depending on the age. And often I feel kindred with them. Bad things come, good things come, and life just happens. But when the events happen - they have a reason. It isn't some mindless adventure of some 20-something journalist or lawyer fashionista trying to find love in the big city. They come back later to play a role in the formation of the characters and to show exactly how they have grown. I love that. I appreciate that about an author - the foresight and foreshadowing is not lost on me; or at least I hope not.

While the books haven't changed my life, and they don't claim to, I am certainly saddened at the end of each. Satisfied because all of the ends are tied neatly, but saddened because I wish the writing can continue. Guess I will just have to follow Sittenfeld's columns when they come out. It's going to be a while before the next book appears.

In the mean time, if you're reading this Ms. Sittenfeld, please write another novel!

Dress for who you wish to be, what you want to accomplish

I have a sorority sister I graduated with who is well known for how she dressed. Unlike the rest of us loving jeans, flip flops, and a sweatshirt, or sweatpants, flip flops, and a tee shirt, she was ready to take on the world in dresses, skirts, pretty blouses with skinny jeans, heels, and the works. Make up perfect and jewelry always complimented the outfit. I wouldn't wear the same outfits, but you had to admit that rarely a day went by that she didn't look great.

My favorite thing that she shared about style and fashion was more about self image. When she had a test or wasn't feeling completely confident about the upcoming day for whatever reason, there was a point made to dress it up. Because even if you weren't feeling great to begin with, you at least looked great. And in looking great, you felt better about yourself. It eliminated the vicious cycle. Sure, it would have been comforting to put on those favorite sweats and walk up the hill to class, but then you felt groggy and tired and a little gross (despite clean laundry) and it certainly didn't help your cause any.

My job is a professional one, but it isn't one that always requires professional attire. Jeans are accepted and sometimes encouraged. I make it my point to dress up Mondays, and I think I will look to extend that to the rest of my week(s). When I dress well, I work well. And when I work well, I am happy and confident in my product.

I Feel Strangely Like I am Losing a Friend. Brought to You by the Color Green.

I used to love the color green. People thought I loved it because of my high school colors (green and white) or because I am Irish (actually, I am 100% American). I just plain, flat out loved nearly every shade green. The freshness of the mowed lawn in the summer. The color of my favorite childhood vegetable. I was always envious that my mother had green eyes and unfortunately lost out to the dominance of brown eyes. Money. As a pastel, it was springy, comforting, and hopeful, like at Easter.  I had always wanted one of my wedding colors to be a light green paired with some other color like blue or pink or, really, any other color.

But the ubiquity for which I fell in love with the color is now suffocating. "Go Green!" "Green Roof!" "Green your building!" "Green cars!" "Green energy!" "Green grown vegetables!" "Green fuel!" "Green fashion!" "Green running and races!"

Part of this frustration comes from people not actually understanding what exactly "green" is.  Sustainability in environmental and economic terms will change the way we do business and live our everyday lives, without a doubt.  But right not it seems the to be and develop and promote "green" is such a fad. And I am SO over that.

Home projects are a never ending list

I've suddenly had an epiphany that I should get things going on the house. I couldn't pinpoint my urgency until this morning, when I realized that 10 months in I have little accomplished. Two rooms are painted, and my mom has been kind enough to provide the labor on some window coverings. There is a long to-do list coming. I'm attacking the little things as we go along, like weeding and purchasing a grill. Emergency purchases, like a hot water heater and refrigerator, kind of happen on their own. Important projects like replacing gutters and downspouts, adding electricity and heat to the upstairs, repairing the back stairs, and getting a new toilet aren't getting done. The house also badly needs to be power washed. Dad told me 8 to 10 hours a week would be needed to care for the house. I forgot how much time that actually is!

The upstairs project is delaying itself because I can't make up my mind on what I want to do. Should I reinsulate before doing electrical and plumbing work? What kind of flooring do I want? Is the payback existant to rough-in plumbing for a second bathroom? I know I don't have the extra $10,000 for a 3/4 or full bath, but I am curious if there is at least some added selling benefit to existing plumbing.

I know I will accomplish the kitchen painting in the next week or so. I plan on finishing taping tonight and doing a trial priming and painting. I'll call the electrician and let him know I'm still interested in having him do the work.