Martha and Me

Good afternoon, Sunday slackers,

Got your snow all shoveled? Bills paid? Clothes laid out for the week? Mousetrap/possum/raccoon traps set? I didn't think so! Tiztalk readers are not obviously not the type of people who make good use of their time, if you know what I mean. Note the photo of two of my most avid readers. Enough said. Well, if you insist, Tiz will talk...Longtime readers will remember the creative decorating ideas I employed while in Ireland. Surely you remember my newspaper-covered box end tables? My wheelie cart that doubled as as coat rack? Well, what I didn't reveal was that that is pretty much my real life decorating style as well. But I have vowed to improve. You must realize that I come from a home where the item which greets visitors is the same as it has been since it was hung on the wall in 1956: a large photo of my sister and me dressed identically in matching dresses, hats, and gloves smiling angelically at the camera. Until I was about 30, I never realized that people actually changed their decor. I didn't know I was supposed to know how to select colors, paint, wallpaper, and set a bowl on a table just so. I thought once you picked out your wallpaper that was it. Forever. I didn't know to look for handiness in a husband. And even more important than handiness -- which my husband does grudgingly possess in a certain measure when he chooses to -- is willingness. Well, that trait rarely emerges when it comes to household improvement projects. Why, I thought I had hit the jackpot when I met Bob because he was (and is ) cute, smart, and funny. It never occurred to me to give him a hammer and nail test or ask him if he knew how to sand a floor. Luckily, he didn't make me pass a cooking test or demonstrate any useful knowledge either. So, I guess we deserve each other. But I have vowed to improve this place. This weekend I have ordered blinds, a bedspread, and bought 2 new throw rugs. While I bought the items on sale, there were sizable hidden costs. During my quest for home decor, I also ended up with 3 Christmas ornaments, a brassiere (I know Cara and Coady like the proper term to be used), a lovely pink cable knit turtleneck, a blue paisley top, a pair of lovely soft knee socks, and a nice pair of brown pants that fit perfectly. It occurred to me after my shopathon that I would could've hired Martha Stewart -- or at least Beth McDaniel --- to do my decorating for me and I would've come out ahead... Nonetheless, I have begun. I will keep you posted on my progress. In the meantime, I'm enjoying sitting at my table with non-matching chairs (believe me, they're not like the ones you see in magazines that clever people eclectically mismatch on purpose and put cute pillow on) which need repair, wallpaper that has its share of stains and gashes, a plaid valance which appears to have a bit of a spiderweb motif...

Always in good taste,
I remain
Tizzie/Tiz/Tizmom/Mom/Liz/Elizabeth

A "Happy 40th Anniversary" shout out to Tom and Marty Bridwell!!

To Laugh or Not to Laugh

Hi, Blogpals,

Are you missing me? I guess Nancy isn't because she just asked me why I'm up so far past my bedtime. It is 11:45 PM, so that's a very good question. Why, I haven't been up this late since the senior prom -- and I don't mean the one at the local nursing home either. I've actually just wandered upstairs after a few hours of sleeping/TV watching. Who says I can't multitask? Why I've been doing it since before the term was invented...Anyway, I think Nancy is annoyed as she is nearing the end of week 4 of being home for Christmas vacation. And let's face it: Christmas is OVER. Why should she have time to herself w/o her parents hovering around? Bob just popped open a bottle of Bell Ridge red wine (you can only get this special variety at Castle Finn Winery outside of Paris, IL, so eat your hearts out, city folk!) and turned the TV up to a comfortable blare. I'm joining her at the kitchen table while she portends to be writing a paper for her intersession English class. However, she has earphones in and was looking at Facebook pictures last time I looked over her shoulder. She now appears to be doing arm dances and chewing a big wad of gum. She has drunk a 2 liter bottle of Diet Pepsi to "stay awake." Does she think she's in college or something? What was I thinking encouraging her to take this class? It seemed like a good way to keep her occupied and gain a few credits. Who was I kidding? As the resident English major, I wake up to rough drafts at my breakfast table with urgent pleadings to "fix them" and figure out what her thesis is. Of course, my biggest problem -- once I get her Mac opened, that is --is getting the dang thing to show up on her computer (I only know my girl Toshiba intimately) and stay there. I feel like the comedian who's invited to a dinner party and turns out not to be funny. The name of the class? Literature and Laughter. After writing a 3 page paper explaining why a few lines in a book were funny, neither Nancy nor I was laughing. ..aside from Nancy:"Why are you guys STILL awake??"...Well,enough on Nancy... What else is happening? Well, Bob met me for lunch today. I decided to spruce myself up before his arrival at the Student Center by applying a dash of lipstick. I smiled widely as I walked across the room and sat down. His first remark? "You have lipstick all over your teeth." Well, you can't say I didn't try. Furthermore, aren't vampires all the rage??..Nancy won't go to bed until I post this blog. But I've insisted that I'll "post no blog before its time". Bob was walking through the kitchen and piped in, "And I'll release no belch before its time." .. So now you know it's time to end this thing and officially go to bed..


Blosting my plog,
I remain
Tizzie/Tiz/Tizmom/Mom/Liz/Elizabeth