FRYE BOOTS ARE SIZZLIN' HOT!

It's boot weather. Put away your pretty little heels made of temperamental suede and fabric and pull on a pair of boots that will take you through autumn rain, and winter snow. I like boots that give me the option to tuck in my pants for practical form and function {and some style, too}.

Some favorites from Frye {from both Frye and Urban Outfitters}

BENEFIT CONCERT RECAP

The Bridge School benefit concert was really great. It was so much fun to watch the kids {sitting in risers behind the performers} get excited and clap and wield those drumsticks to the beat of Wilco, Death Cab For Cutie, Norah Jones, Smashing Pumpkins, Jack Johnson, and Neil Young. Here are some pics from the day.

FULL DAY

Today I woke up tired. But I knew it was the one day I had this week to get stuff done. Stuff like pack away my summer clothes, finally get around to making that salsa before the peppers go bad, and cleaning the house. Oh, did I mention laundry? I'm exhausted.
Nate picked this flower from our back yard today; sometimes all it takes is a little flower to remind me that life is happening all around me.

GETTING MY HARVEST MOON ON!

I'm flying out to San Francisco on Sunday morning to attend the Bridge School's benefit concert {founded by Mr. Neil Young, aka Harvest Moon}. All proceeds go to benefit the Bridge School who has a compelling list of beliefs on their website:

• Everyone should have the opportunity to achieve his or her maximal potential.
• Everyone should have the opportunity to share knowledge, express feelings and be heard.
• Everyone should actively participate in his or her own learning.
• All children should have access to a quality education that encompasses a broad base of knowledge and experiences.
• Children, families, and educators must work in partnership to effectively support learning.
• Everyone should have access to a holistic communication system and technology is a tool that can enhance the communication and learning process.

I happen to have a brother with severe mental and physical challenges and I WHOLE HEARTEDLY support any organization dedicated to creating a better experience for kids with disabilities. Along with all the kids from The Bridge School, I'll be rocking out to Neil and Pegi Young, Smashing Pumpkins, Norah Jones, Jack Johnson, Death Cab for Cutie, Wilco, Cat Power, and Josh Groban. I guess I'm willing to muscle through Josh Groban if I absolutely have to {anyone who knows me knows it will be HARD}.

IF BOOKS WERE LOVERS

...I'd be a cheap harlot.
I have finished Tribes by Seth Godin {Do NOT read unless you want to be inspired to be a better leader} and now crack the seal on Groundswell. I have a full line up after Groundswell that includes; Small Giants, Why We Buy, Rapunzel's Revenge {yay Shannon and Dean}, and The Groucho Letters. I heard a review of the latter on NPR and I admit with shame that I never knew how really funny and charming Groucho was. Perhaps a new obsession?

WHERE I'D RATHER BE

At this point Nate is calling me a melodramatic crazy person, but let's get one thing completely straight...Some. One. Took. Our. Stuff. Without. Asking. Our. Permission. Maybe I'm taking it harder than him because I'm the one that discovered the robbery. I'm the one that suffered mild heart failure when I realized my work laptop was missing with all it's corporate secrets {it was recovered by a neighbor in a nearby alley}.
I've become a bit preoccupied with the idea of being left home alone {read: Tonia is a sitting duck}; in fact, I really don't like the idea of leaving the house. I feel completely vulnerable in both scenarios {should I stay or should I go?}. I suppose the only scenario I like quite a bit is the one that includes me wearing a ragged old flannel nightgown and sitting in a rocking chair on my front porch with a shotgun in my lap. It would be fitting to have a trusty hound at my feet and curlers in my hair but those are details I'm willing to sacrifice. The shotgun can even be one that shoots a red flag out of the barrel that says, "bang"; I'm only concerned with the intimidation factor and not in doing anyone harm.
I've spent the better part of the day mulling over different ways I could have prevented the burgle, things I would say to the perpetrator, and all the scary and terrible things that could have happened but didn't. When I forget about what happened this morning and then suddenly remember it, my heart skips a beat and I get scared. Can a highly anxious girl feel the repercussions of PTSD from a simple burglary?
Anyway, I'd rather be in bed. Neatly tucked into my butter yellow sheets dreaming of gumdrops and unicorns and monkeys that play harmonica.

DEAR BURGLAR

Yeah, you got me! Despite the fact that you broke into our garage and stole stuff out of our cars; stuff we found strewn throughout the neighborhood, I have just two things, well, three things to say to you today.
1. I forgive you
2. You better be glad we don't own a gun or a big hungry dog
3. I really don't like you. You have earned the title Rat Bastard which I only give to someone really, really horrible and deserving

Just a friendly message to anyone out there who wants to avoid the horrible invasion of having someone ransack your stuff and take what they want...be aware. Lock everything. Walk around the neighborhood with angry scowls, talk about how you know jujitsu and how you can't keep your big dog from chewing up your car tires. Watch your neighbors homes like they were yours. If you see a strange car parked in front of your house...follow your gut and get a better look. And, above all, leave mean notes on your blog so if the burglar happens to be a fan he {yup, we know it was a man burglar} will know he is the official Rat Bastard you are talking about.

WATCHED OVER 11 MILLION TIMES

NEW GEAR + DEDICATED WORK OUT PLAN

This year I'm going to hit it hard on the slopes. Other years have brought poor performance due to my lack of exercising and conditioning along with old ill-fitting gear. The skis I've been using for the last four years are a pair of rentals I purchased at the end of the season. I also decided to pick up snowboard gear since I'm going to become a hybrid this winter.
Now, if I decide to get the Obermeyer jacket and a new pair of pants I'll be totally set for this season and many more to come. This is what Nate and I picked out for me this year.

Skis: Head Wild One, LD 12 bindings









Snowboard package: Tiara I snowboard, Tika audio helmet, Jinx Boa boots, and PX Fay bindings

GET IT?

Restoration Hardware has a 20% sale going on to celebrate the fed slashing rates. Nate and I have wanted a chaise in our great room and I really like the shape of this one. The question is, should we get it? I've picked out soft cotton {stain resistant and wears well} in goldenrod {a neutral color that can be brightened up with pillows}. The sale ends tomorrow so I've got to make a decision quickly. It saves nearly $500. Thoughts?

























UPDATE: I got it. In linen rather than cotton. I'm a grownup who invests in fine furniture now. Look at me!

2009 CALENDAR

This pretty letterpress calendar is on pre-order right now. Only 300 will be produced. I am considering it seriously.
Pre-order yours now. Here.

I WAS LIKE

I was like, "look Nate, we need this poster." And he was all, "eh, I'm not really into that."
























You can get one here.

WEDDING GALA

Wouldn't it be fun to redo your wedding every few years so you could do exactly what you like right now? I love this orchard wedding featured on Once Wed. If I were redoing my wedding this week I'd follow suit. Except I'd call it a wedding Gala.

GOD SAVED THE QUEEN; I COULDN'T BUY HER

After checking out all the used gear for sale at the Black Diamond swap yesterday {more on that later} Nate and I went to Park City to test out new skis, helmets, boots and coats so we would know what to buy through our friend who is a rep for Head.
When we had sufficiently burned ourselves out on gear shopping we decided to detour through Salt Lake City on our way home in order to stop at Elemente. We bought a danish modern chair for cheap and plan to recover the cushions. Behind the counter at Elemente I noticed a God Save The Queen poster and was getting incredibly excited to purchase and hang it in our house. But, it wasn't for sale and to quote the excentric woman behind the counter, "it's not for sale and probably never will be."
Now, I'm married to a sales guy, and I work with a lot of them, too. I've grown up hearing the phrase, "everything is for sale, for the right price". And for a moment I thought about making some crazy offer to this woman who very easily could have been related to Big and Little Edie from Grey Gardens. But I refrained because while I still believe in the religion of everything being for sale, I also have deep faith in the internet and know I can find almost anything if I use the right search terms.
Happy. Ending. I found a Sex Pistols God Save the Queen poster in the UK for CHEAP and I think I'll buy it.
P.S. God Save the Queen.

GONE FISHING

Nate and I decided to enjoy the nice weather today. Went fishing. He fished and I read excerpts from Seth Godin's latest book called Tribes.

NEW YORK I LOVE YOU

LCD Soundsystem.

HARVARD SMART

Ivy. League.
I was on Harvard campus yesterday. The leaves were falling and it rained a little. You could almost smell the history coming from the old bricks. Something about a college campus is so romantic; all those smart minds gathered in one place.
I was walking along the pathways wondering if any of those kids could tell I didn't belong. If I actually looked out of place. They looked just like everyone else I know. But I could tell there was something more ticking inside those brains of their's. Genius happening right before my eyes.
I've thought about going back to school. Studying creative writing. Being a student again. Geographically it wouldn't work out, but I wonder if I have what it takes to get into a school like Harvard or Cambridge or Stanford. I'd like to think I'm Harvard smart.

BOSTON FEELS LIKE A SMART CITY

I spent a few days in Boston this week attending The New Marketing summit. I learned a lot and have a ton of work to do according to what they discussed. In between the conference and whilst waiting for my flight back home, I was able to do a little site seeing. And, like I always do when I'm in an urban environment...daydream that I live there.
New England is one of those places that just looks like it was created for the fall. Pumpkins are at home there. Leaves of all colors fit right in. Cobblestone, colonial details, faded red bricks, and college students wouldn't belong any place else. At least that's what it feels like when you are wandering around Boston Commons or Harvard or Old Granary Cemetery.
Here are some photos.
1. Me and my co-worker with tour guide {highly recommended}
2. Old Granary Cemetery {I became obsessed with the headstones}
3. Another headstone
4. Ye Old Union Oyster House {oldest restaurant in N. America}
5. The Old State House {from that balcony, the Declaration of Independence was read first}
6. Harvard campus {smart people look just like I do...but yet, they are so different}
7. All Saints Way {this little alley was in North End. It was so unusual and unexpected to see}
8. Boston skyline {taken from the USS Constitution harbor}

A WEEK IN JACKSON HOLE, WY

I just got home from our executive retreat in Jackson Hole. I haven't been there in about 5 years but I love it just the same! Jackson holds a lot of memories for me and I was happy to create a few more to add to the collection.
While I was shopping around town I stumbled into the Mangy Moose Emporium and immediately fell in love with this piece of art. Part tribute to my childhood, part Andy Warhol I couldn't stop looking at it. Due to the price tag I just didn't feel right about purchasing it on the spot; I wanted to consult with Nate first.
I took a few snaps and when I got home, and after I told him how much I loved it, he said, "I think you should get it". I'm incredibly happy to say I'll be placing the order very soon.
Other fun in Jackson?

• bowling and dancing Thursday night
• bison steaks
• the first snow of the season
• 30 great minds all sitting in the same room
• merkins on the moon
• chilling at The Wort and listening to live folk music
  

AUSTIN CITY LIMITS: THE KILLS

Last weekend Nate and I combined business with pleasure and flew to Austin {this is the pleasure part} to see The Kills play at Stubbs BBQ as part of Austin City Limits. The Kills were an opening act for The Butthole Surfers but we didn't stay to get our punk on. We had friends waiting back at the hotel to hang out with.
There I was, squeezed between sweet smelling Nate and one of the sourest smelling men I've come across, focusing ever so intently on VV and Hotel and NOT the smells oh so familiar to the front row of any show.
After watching the show and returning to the hotel, we hung out with Jet and Jana until almost 3am. The next day I flew home and Nate stayed to do some work in Texas {the business part}. Here is one of the songs I recorded with our Canon PowerShot. Go VV!!

THIS I KNOW

If you listen to NPR you are familiar with "This I know". Well, I'm declaring that I know I've been a negligent, lazy, uninteresting blogger who doesn't deserve a single reader. Stay tuned as I attempt to redeem myself.