Standing in as the best wife tonight, I went and collected Harry's takeout so Alan could continuously watch the baseball on tv, in hopefully the last game of this year's World Series. Go Red Sox! I hope to wear my pink hat again tomorrow. (Did anyone else think that the lead singer of Lone Star looks a bit like 

colin_g

theodorad

sircorby

And today, after sleeping in until 10:30, and doing some work around the house, I headed back out. First I had to stop back by the AT&T store to donate our old phones (even dug out the old Nokias and an older Sony Ericsson) which they will charge and load with 100 minutes to send out to the soldiers. I also had some questions on things I couldn't find in the manual, which the nice lady who sold us our phones was able to help me with. Then I headed to downtown Silver Spring to buy some boots at DSW (new Nine West black leather ankle boots!) and also to spend a little money at the Ann Taylor Loft sale area. Hooray new work pants, and the cutest short sleeve cardi. It also gave me the excuse to purge yet more unworn things from my closet, which is a very good thing.

So, sleeping in, baseball, shopping, eating, catching up about the house. That pretty much sums it up. What a nice break.

and not just because I got to sleep in until 10am each morning.

Friday night was wonderfully low-key (after a doctor's appointment and some grocery shopping) with a nap, some Firefly in the basement, a simply skillet meal for me and my sleepy sweetie, and X-Men: The Last Stand on On Demand. It was the awesome, and I was even in bed before 1am.

Saturday I slept in until 10:20am. Oh the luxury. After caffeine, a quick snack and some HGTV, I suited up to mow the lawn, which was in dire need. I was pleased to note though that while ours was a bit tall, it was still shorter than both our neighbors prior to cutting. In all with the reel mower, since you have to cross cut the grass, it takes about an hour to do the front and back lawns. I don't do edging, but I did trim the main forest back a bit, and get in some exercise while it was still cool. Then Alan and I had brunch of turkey bacon and cheesy eggs before I popped in the shower, intent on spending the rest of the day shopping. Well, I got there eventually, but I did spend an hour or more cleaning approximately 100 items out of my closets and drawers, amassing quite a pile for donating to the Salvation Army and Dress for Success. After all that work, I required a nap, which I took prior to shopping.

But around 4pm I was off to Rockville, primarily to hit the Crest Cleaners to make my donation to Dress for Success, and then onto the Old Navy there and then who knows. So I waste about an hour in Old Navy, but come out with one pair of dress pants (wearing today!) in a dark charcoal grey, as well as some denim shorts and capris. Slightly disheartened by the lack of substance and cool tops, and completely lacking in the patience that a Marshalls or TJ-Max would require, I then decided to cruise up and down Rockville Pike until I saw something (other than the siren call of the Container Store) to lure me in. I coincidentally popped into the Container Store shopping center, but first went to see what the heck they carry in a Chico's store. One look told me that it was not for me. I spy the shoe store next door, and then an Ann Taylor Loft. I decide to try the Ann Taylor, clothes for skinny women store, and then soothe my sore pride with shoes afterward. Little did I know that not only did the store have stuff in stock that fit me like a glove, they also had a bunch of stuff on sale. OMG. This was a total shock, and had me practically dancing the aisles after my first session of trying on stuff. Ann Taylor has always been more of an ideal than a realistic goal. Think all of a sudden being able to walk on water. Okay, a bit much, but still, practically a miracle to me. I actually had to wean my purchases back a bit from the bevy of stuff I tried on selecting just one pair of dress pants, one pair of casual pants, two cute skirts, one nice silk blend shell, and a knock your socks of little black dress of insane sale proportions. They all fit, I felt like a pretty princess, and it felt so good for less than $200. I didn't even care about shoes once I had my purchases in hand. Must go back. I finally dragged home happily laden with purchases around 7pm, pleased as punch, ready to hang up all my new stuff in my newly emptied closet. Ah! the power of retail therapy.

We rounded out the evening with a lovely and late dinner at Harry's with Roland and Theo and some hanging out and chatting until sleep eventually took us all, Alan first. Again, in bed before 1am, and I again slept in until 10am. Dude, seriously, oh the luxury.

Sunday morning broke, and again after caffeine and a quick snack, Alan and I decided on brunch at Ram's Head prior to meeting with Evil at the storage unit to drop off the prince's throne and other stuff from Crown. Our timing was impeccable, and the Harbor Brunch (crab cake, scrambled eggs, breakfast spuds, fresh fruit and toast) was the perfect start to the day. We even met Evil right at the appropriate time, and got stuff dropped off and stowed away easily. Afterward, holding the reins of the vehicle, I convinced Alan that we wanted to see Spidey 3 and then possibly go shoe shopping. Luckily we got to the theater with 10 minutes to spare to see the movie (v. good, if dark, but typical Spidey. I'm not sure my feelings on MJ's new more realistic red hair color). Again with the excellent timing. Then Alan and I headed over to DSW so he could get some new loafers to replace the ones with cracks in the soles, and also a new pair of cross trainers. I ended up taking longer, refusing to be seduced by the pink Sketchers on sale, or the pink crochet flats with brown trim or the black sporty Kenneth Cole's..., and picked up a pair of simple black Merrels on sale, as well as some cute quilted silver ballet flats by Rampage (wearing today- uber comfy!) Upon arrival home we tried on our new shoes and took a nice walk around the neighborhood in the wonderful spring weather, ending in a chat on the back patio discussing the pond, the prolific irises, the desire to move the A/C unit to the side of the house, and need to get new brakes on the big truck prior to Sapphire. Again with a nap, and some lazy hanging out, cop out of peanut butter sandwiches for dinner and dividing for our different TV types. Alan retreated to the basement to watch more Jeeves and Wooster, and I stayed in the den to watch Dexter and the Tudors. High-brow comedy vs. blood and gore. I'm not terribly fond of the Tudors, and yet I catch myself still watching it. Dunno why. I also got one napkin finished for Padragin's fundraiser, and the second one is cut out and ironed in prep to being hemmed, hopefully tonight. 

So, I had a wonderfully productive and relaxing weekend, and I could use like three more months of the same, (although it could get boring in time I imagine.) If anyone has a pond, or bucket of water, they want to put bright happy yellow irises in, just let us know. Come fall, we are happy to share. Seriously. Also, I'd love recommendations of new places to shop that carry 14's that I've never been bold enough to try before now, for both casual and dressy/work clothes. To top it all off, I was down another 2 pounds this morning from last week! Do I have to work this week?

Had a grand time at KA&SFest last weekend, which was largely due to the fabulous company of  attack_laurel.  While I personally displayed nothing, I took a few pictures of some of the displays, for your enjoyment:


Isobel and I got on the road shortly after 7pm (after I ran Belle through a car wash, since it was desperately needed) and we got to the hotel around 11ish. The room was nice at the Comfort Suites, even if the beds were a bit firm and the pillows insanely soft. We got to sleep nice and late, tumble down stairs for breakfast to bring back to the room, and take our time getting ready. Of my two packed outfits (green viking or red italian) I choose to wear my red (not pink!) Italian. I got to thinking back, and that dress is at least 7-8 years old, if not older. It hasn't gotten much wear lately, and ideally I would have put more fabric in the skirt if I had it, but on the whole, I don't think it looked that bad. And I was comfy all day. Isobel, of course, always looks fabulous, even bleary eyed and just woken up, but especially at the event on Sat. She also took pictures of me at the end of the day, so I've added them to the bottom of my 15th Cent. Middle Class Italian Renaissance Gown handout from 2000.

I talked to a bunch of folks, watched the fashion show (loved azpapillion 15th disrobing, especially the explanation of the hat layers!), delivered a blue mouse to melaniesuzanne , had a few meetings, attended both courts, got roped into some last minute judging, realized at the end of the day that I'd only eaten cookies since breakfast (missing lunch seems a bit of a theme for the event), and not gone to the ladies room all day. It was inspiring to see some of the many varied displays. Almost makes me want to do the Pent next year, except my pity for judges and my inherent laziness will likely stay my hand. But I do like the well-roundedness and further research it inspires. Congrats to belfebe  on winning overall. There were many really good entries, so tough group to compete against. I actually had on my calendar "KAS&Fest- be prepared for more reminders of your artistic failures", which luckily with Jamestown prep isn't entirely true, but serious research hasn't happened by me recently, and in that I feel I am letting my pearl down. Where's that wagon to get back on?

But on the plus side, I did finally sit down and update my webpage with some new articles based on the pictures of projects I've taken recently. So there is a new page on Elizabethan shirt construction, and on my 16th Century Working Woman's Elizabethan outfit, in addition to the new pictures on the Italian page. That makes me feel somewhat productive. I've also updated my Calendar, good through Sept. 15th, with a few unknowns/breaks worked in.

But enough about the arts, onto the drinking. After the wonderful court, and the last minute chats about this and that, we boogied on back to the hotel to change out of costume, and into civies for dinner out. We hedged our best with Eat at Joe's Crab Shack, being so close to water and all. We started off with a couple of drinks at the bar, and moved on to some pretty tasty appetizers and entrees (Isobel's food curse held fast and ruined both her first drink, and her entree twice, and her dessert, whereas the rest of us had lovely drinks and food.) Got to hang out with Drea, Calli and Lynena and chat until way too late, and finally left as some of the last patrons to exit the restaurant. It was a grand time, and we crashed when we got back to our hotel room.

Sunday was a lovely late sleep in, interesting experiment with sausage and syrup in the microwave on styrofoam plates, and a nice relaxing drive home chit-chatting about everything, and singing along to the music. I returned the Angel of Death to her Bob after 1pm, and then scurried home to unpack, tell my Alan all about the weekend, and snuggle watching lots of ROME (heh, On Demand r0x0r) on the big screen in the basement. Random comments about bloody-minded Romans were elicited, as well as the "Oh, I love this line" for Pullo's explanation of who he'd save first if found drowning in a river. So practical that Pullo. Love the clothes, so jazzed for Coronation. But first is Gulf Wars, and I think I need to paint my toes if I plan to wear any Roman and sandals at the war.