a glitzy respite

I'd like to thank the Golden Globes for airing two seven days before the South Carolina Primary. When I logged into the Huffington Post this morning the first article wasn't about politics, for a change. It was a picture of Martin Scorsese savoring his winning moment with a GG award gripped appreciatively in his hand. Congratulations, Martin! And Meryl, and George, and all the other winners of the Globes.

And then there was the fashion, for further disruption from politics. I must say there were a lot of good looks out there on the red carpet, although I don't know what Meryl Streep was thinking with her western-look formal shirt-dress. In black, no less. I know Meryl likes black, and she likes to be a nonconformist with her attire, but really? There were some truly lovely gowns that didn't do justice to the women who wore them because the coloring was all wrong. It escapes me how someone gets to red carpet status without some clarity about knowing what colors do and do not flatter. Market niche! And like Victoria Beckham, I wonder if Angelina Jolie ever smiles unless directed by a script.

There was lots of color out there, which was a treat. Zooey Deschanel looked amazing in an interesting combination of black, silver and lime green. Stacey Keibler was stunning in simple red (and it doesn't hurt to be on the arm of George Clooney). I didn't recognize Sofia Vergara with her refreshing look in straight hair and lots of detail, and Kate Beckinsale was radiant in glowing and flowing white. There was purple, yellow, navy, fuchsia, taupe (why does anyone wear taupe?), red, lots of dark green, white, and some interesting choices of "multi." A feast for the eyes all around. Again, thanks, GG!

 Zooey, Kate, and Sofia

Today I'm enjoying the gift of a day off, and will spend it cleaning and tidying around the house. Christmas is mostly put away. The tree still lingers, cards are still posted around door frames, and my nativity set continues to collect dust, but it shouldn't take long to finish packing up boxes and get them stored in the attic. I love all the decor, but it is good to reclaim the living room for daily living.

The floors are a disaster--haven't been vacuumed in far too long, and then I think some shampooing will be in order. The lampshades are wearing an accumulation of dust and dog hair, so today I really need to take the vacuum hose to them.

Saturday I had the day alone to begin tackling my office. I ignored the piles on my desk, where I usually begin, and focused instead on piles of fabric and accumulated craft items that covered what might otherwise be considered my creative space. It was attention well given. I parted with some things, assembled others of similar ilk, dusted off containers and reassigned quarters for much of the above.  I'm not quite finished but the result, thus far, is breathtaking, if I say so myself. Before today is done I might just get the sewing machine out and repair a few items that are folded neatly and piled up waiting for their turn to resume their regularly scheduled use. 

The most dramatic change in the house is the presence of a new television. We are slow to get on board with the technological advances of the 21st century. We have no smart phones, iPads or kindles.  Until yesterday our TV was big and boxey. No flat screen, no HD. But then the big honkin' Sony bit the dust, and as we considered our options over the course of several days, a local electronics place posted a sale and 12-month financing. Sold! We are probably fortunate that our entertainment unit limited the size of what we could get because it kept our sights low, but the change, for us, is dramatic. And wouldn't you know, the first thing we watched when we were all hooked up and ready to go was football! Ken was ecstatic as we rooted for the Giants (sorry, Packers fans), and now look forward with great anticipation to the Super Bowl commercials with unrelenting glee. Some days it doesn't take much to make a girl happy. 

That's our exciting news from this corner of the world. Stay tuned, if you're willing, for further reports about the progress of cleaning and creating from our humble abode.

friday five: a-ha!

At RevGals KathrynJ writes: 

In the midst of the holiday season I had one of those moments where a path suddenly was made clear - A-ha! This experience has prompted me to wonder what some of your A-ha moments may be.

They can be mundane - a realization that you like/don't like a certain food or that you really look good in that color you never had the guts to try. They can be sacred - a way to better pace your day clicks into place or finally a devotion or meditation practice that really works for you. They can be profound - the moment you realized he/she was the one (or wasn't)or the moment you realized where your deepest passion could meet the world's greatest need.

Please tell us - what are five (more or less) of your 'A-ha' moments. Where have you had a moment of clarity?

Oddly enough I actually had a significant "a-ha!" just before Christmas. I meant to post about it, but one interruption or another kept me from blogging for most of the holiday. As big of an a-ha as it was I was also struck with the obvious nature of it and did the "I could have had a V-8" smack on the forehead and promptly forgot about it. Until now!

I have struggled throughout my life (or at least dating back to the third grade when I was the only Brownie on stage that got overlooked during the "flying up" to Girl Scout status ceremony) with the experience of seeming invisible to others. In the case of the lone, unpromoted Brownie, that seemed to be a physical case of invisibility, but there are any number of times when I have raised a question, made a point, or offered an idea within a gathering, have it acknowledged, and then at the conclusion of the gathering have that very offering attributed to someone else who made no contribution whatsoever to the conversation in question. ???!! This is just one example of the invisibility cloak at work.

I have finally made the connection between the experience of invisibility and being an introvert.  For a long time I have valued the benefits of introversion and taken in stride that I simply lack extroverted tendencies. For the first time, however, seeing this connection has also made it painfully clear to me (literally) how introversion has been a very real deficit in a number of respects.  The a-ha has been bittersweet. It has made it possible to connect all sorts of dots, which has been a good thing. It has also caused an internal upheaval with the peace I had come to embrace about the limitations of introversion. If I want to alter my relational and social experiences that suffer from being an introvert, I will have to fight against the natural tendency of introversion.  Insert the sound of an anguished cry here. 

As a recent a-ha this whole matter needs considerably more reflection and processing, something that will be accomplished in true introvert fashion.  In the meantime a sort of resignation has settled over me that I am trying hard to resist. I take that as a good sign, in spite of the fact that this is all also very wearing. Other "I's" will understand. 

Other epiphanies? None really come to mind, but this one seems big enough to fill the bucket.  More positively, Epiphany is my favorite liturgical season with its emphasis on light and incarnation, so I rejoice in the internal infusion of both those divine entities that are ushered in on this holy day.