I just wanted to pop in and say hi and let you guys know I'm out here, just really swamped right now (as are we all, but I am not as organized as some!). So I haven't gotten much time to post. I probably won't be able to really catch up until after the holidays.

It's been nuts around here; I've been making candles like mad and have completely destroyed my kitchen in the process (well, I haven't burned it down or caused permanent damage; it's mostly covered in wax and completely unusable; there was only one small fire! (lol) and yes I'm serious; it mostly involved a paper towel and a tiny metal spatula and a great deal of jumping and shrieking; but it was nothing).

I met up with my friend Jen this afternoon at the airport! She was flying through on business and had a 2-hour layover here, so I drove in to have coffee with her. I was over 10 minutes late; I pull in to short-term parking, in front of the meter(!), and realize I have no cash. Nuhthing. I rummage through the van for a few minutes and scrounge up a dime and a nickel, which I hope will buy me enough time to run inside (down one flight of stairs and across a huge long walkway), find an ATM (somewhere), get back, convert bills to change, and get more money in before it runs out. Or before I get caught, whichever. I read the tiny print and see that a quarter gets 10 minutes. 10 minutes!? Oh, good, and it only takes quarters. So I look up and an older gentlemen is getting into his vehicle across from me, and I see his nice middle-aged wife in the passenger seat, so I go for it: "Sir, may I please borrow, uh, I mean *have* a quarter?" which was bad, because he says "HAVE?" fairly indignantly, so I stumble around about how I *would* say borrow, but that would not be honest, since I would probably never see him again, mutter, mutter, sorry sir, shuffle feet. He softened, but still was unable to say "hey, that's cool, I have an extra quarter right here, happy to help out." He sorta shoved one at me and said "No, you will *not* be seeing me again" or something, and got in his super-spendy SUV and started backing away. I dropped in the quarter, looked up, and it was like slow-mo; they were slowly backing away, then turning, then moving forward; and the wife stared at me and I stared at her and I sensed she was unhappy and that he was too. But I was grateful for the quarter, so I forced a little smile and a wave, but the moment didn't break, not until the truck blocked her view did it break.
That sounds like a lot, typed out. But it was all just a moment in time, I swear. At the time, I just sorta didn't feel like being pissed off at the guy. I mean, really, it's a goddamn quarter. A quarter! If you're going to give someone something, do it happily (or at least nicely), in the hopes that it might improve their day a little more, the very *now* of their life. If you're going to give grudgingly, what is the point? You're doing something nice, a small kindness for another human being. Why taint it like that?

Anyway, I had a blast talking to Jen. I haven't seen her since July; we've been on an online group together for about 3 1/2 years or more. We all joined when we were trying to get pregnant. She has beautiful twin girls that are a few months older than Rhiannon. Anyway, this group has a reunion every year, and July it was in San Diego, so I was able to go and finally meet a lot of these women I've known for years, who know far more than they probably care to about my fertility history, menstrual cycle, and sex life. LOL So when I walked in, it was just like we talk every day, because we pretty much do! So it was great getting to sit down with her and chat over coffee; a real treat. She loaned me her copy of The Secret Life of Bees (besides a dollar for that damn meter), so now I'll get to find out what Barb's been raving about ever since I've known her! :D I'm afraid I talked Jen's ear off about my candle-making stuff, though. Sorry, Jen! I'm just excited. LOL

Speaking of which, I brought her one of my new candles (see, it's hopeless); I'm experimenting with coloring techniques, and I've really gotten some beautiful ones done (also some really hideous ones). This Yule candle is kicking my ass. It is refusing to emerge the way I see it in my imagination. None of them have felt right yet. Another one is in the mold, I'm trying not to think about it, because I hate waiting to see what it looks like. Torture!

I'm gonna go check if it's ready. :)
I need to wrap this up anyway, this is getting out of hand (long).

So, I'm sorry I haven't been around! Mix a Virgo, a current obsession, and a deadline, and it gets hard to break away. :)
But I'm happy! :D