Soup de Jour

It is raining cats and dogs here. I thought about lifting the restraint and going next door at lunch for soup. One of my co-workers came back from eating over there and I asked what the soup of the day is. He said he couldn't remember, just that when he saw it he knew he didn't want it. He went on to describe everything else offered (the usual, chicken and meatloaf). Then it hit him like a lightening bolt, "Cream of Broccoli!" I said, "No thanks. Not what I want either."
I will not risk further Edward embarrassment for Cream of Broccoli soup. Tell me anyone who would.

Off to Subway.
Victoria

An Afternoon to a Brand New Me

One of my favorite books is one I read when I was 12. It was called Seven Days to a Brand New Me by Ellen Conford. Today I felt like Madeline Kemper. I went to the mall, although I had to go without my two best friends. It was Bonus time at Dillards Clinique. I was so excited. I have been waiting all summer. Right after work I drove straight to the mall. April found me gazing at "Moist Mulberries"-- that's Maddie's color. Mine is more like Bronze Leaf. April asked me if she could help me find something. I usually cringe at sales people helping me, but I blurted out before I knew what I was saying, "Yes. I feel like my eyes disappear into my face. Can you help?" She smiled enthusiastically and offered me a chair.

We spent the next hour talking laughing and putting make-up on me. April swept blush across my cheek bones and told me a wonderful story about how her mother, a dance instructor, told her daughters blush was vitamins and she would call her girls over to get their "vitamins" and then brush blush on their cheeks. April used a copper shade for my eyelids and a dark green eye pencil on the edge. My eyes were amazing. Usually I have to cry to get them to look like the color of the sea before a storm, but with a little of April's magic my eyes were transformed without tears. (Lisa in CO, I know you will be glad to hear that.) With my new Cinnaberry hair and my sea green eyes, (and my Clinique Bonus) I decided to show off my new look by walking all the way through the mall to look for clothes. I found a classic stlye charcoal gray skirt and a simple white blouse. I left the mall knowing "Adam Holmquist" would be putty in my hands.

Victoria

A Peterborough Pond

I painted today. This is from a photograph I took in New Hampshire, down the street from my grandmother's house. I call it: A Peterborough Pond.

Victoria

C'est La Vie

Well, that didn't last long. Scrambled eggs and toast with butter and apple jelly this morning. No lemon juice for me for awhile. C'est la vie. I'll just try to drink eight glasses of water a day and eat better. Hope morning has found you bright and cheery and happily enjoying whatever you are dong today.
Victoria

Ode to that New Leaf

As part of turning over a new leaf, I set aside Labor Day weekend to try again at the Master Cleanse. The lemon juice diet that is supposed to last ten days. Last time I only lasted two and a half. I drink six 10 oz glasses a day. So far I have had two and a half. (I have been busy with other things) Anyway...gag. Only fifty seven and a half more glasses to go. If I make it that long. Hmm...a bowl of Reeses ice cream sounds yummy right now...but I digress.

So to keep myself occupied and my mind off food, I have spent the day on my hair. I haven't had a haircut in about five months, so it was about time. But before I got the haircut, I dyed it. I found Clairol color on sale last night at the Rite Aid and decided to go for it. I picked Cinnaberry. Kind of an auburn red, the color of Boston Baked Beans...mmm...but I digress.

Another gulp of lemon (gag) juice.

I'm not a chemist but I felt I followed the instructions very nicely. I poured the color stuff in with the white stuff and shook it. I followed this up with pouring the gooey purplish concoction on my wet hair. Over and over. As my fingers flew over my hair to work it in, some drops splattered into the sink below, reminding me of raspberry syrup...over warm buttermilk pancakes...melt in your mouth...but I digress.

It was a small bottle compared to all the contents. It seemed a bottomless pit. Eventually I had to just put it down. My hair was saturated, how much more could I use? So I waited a few minutes and then started the rinse. The dye ran down the drain and diluted into a nice cranberry color...mmm...cranberry...Thanksgiving dinner, hot juicy turkey, mashed potatoes with cream cheese and butter, smooth gravy poured over moist stuffing...and pecan pie...but I digress.

Grumble, growl...that's my stomach, excuse me while I take another gulp of lemon juice.

I drove to the salon to get my haircut. It is right next door to the Chinese restaurant with the scrumptious cashew chicken and to die for egg rolls...mmm...and those little sugar sprinkled donuts...but I digress.

So now my hair is dry and looks the color of cinnamon sticks resting in a steaming cup of cocoa and I have fifty-seven more glasses of lemon juice to go.

Thanks for stopping by...hmm, by...pie...chocolate Hershey pies from Burger King...but I digress.

Victoria

From Afar

My sister, Jennifer, met me at my office for lunch and we walked over to the hotel bearing small gifts of New Moon chocolates for Edward. We entered the lobby to no sign of him. We walked upstairs to the restaurant and sat outside on the sofas waiting for the line to die down (and waiting for Edward to per chance walk by). He did. But he was on a mission. Dressed in a gray suit, I could tell he was helping with an event in the conference center. We only saw his back as he went to the kitchen.

Jennifer and I joined the line and were seated. I asked a hostess if she happened to see "Edward" to send him our way, thinking it would be nonchalant. She said, "Oh, he's in the kitchen. I'll go get him!" She came back to report that he was talking to the head chef, but that she had told him, "Victoria is here and says hi." Good grief. Either that A: scared him off with him thinking I was a stalker, Or B: he was just honestly too busy.

During our delicious lunch we did see Edward emerge from the kitchen to talk to some people across the room. Jennifer got to see that yes indeed he does look like Edward. But that was all our adventure allowed us today. Maybe next time.

Think I'll lay low for a couple weeks.

Victoria

Meeting Edward (again)

Success! I have met “Edward” in my own right!
I sneaked in the back way of the hotel at lunch. I brought a book as my decoy and sat in wait ready to pounce. (I only write this for humor's sake. I promise I was cool as a cucumber.)
When I came in I saw Edward leaving the restaurant and walking back down the stairs and I was in slippy shoes and was not about to chase after him. (Although I wonder if I would have chased him had I had on running shoes.) I sat on a cushy couch in the corner with a clear view of the stairs knowing he’d be back. It didn’t take long before I saw his long sleeved red shirt and waited to catch his eye. He walked toward the restaurant, but I guess could tell someone was boring a hole in his back and turned slightly. Quick as a flash I waved him over. He stopped still and looked behind him, then back at me. I nodded ‘yes you’, as I scrambled off my seat gathering my book and bookmark on the way. I said, “Hi, I don’t want to embarrass you but my sister is having lunch with me tomorrow and I told her you look like Edward,” at this he turned away laughing in embarrassment, and I continued with, “and we both love Twilight and she wanted to meet you.” He smiled big and said he would make an appearance and asked what time. Then I asked him what his real name is. He told me (of course, I already knew). We shook hands and said "nice to meet you."
I'll see you tomorrow.
Victoria