I’m taking a jewelry class tomorrow night.  It’s a class on wire-work and I’m looking forward to it as this is something I’ve wanted to learn to increase my skill set.  (yeah, I’m way more interested in improving my jewelry technique than I am in studying accounting software – go figure)

So the project we’ll be using as the basis for these techniques is a “Milagro Chain”

I’ve read the Milagro Bean field War, but even then I didn’t really know what a milagro was.  Looking it up, I discover that it’s a charm, typically left at the site of a saint, in thanks for an answered prayer.  The charm is meant to represent the miracle, so frequently they are shaped like body parts.  (Which led me to speculate for a moment on a necklace with a little sterling silver pancreas …)

I’ve had over a month to get ready for the class, choose my elements etc.  But I just wasn’t drawn to anything.

Until this afternoon.  I visited the New Mexico Bead and Fetish shop down in old town and found a New Mexico/Route 66 charm.  That’s about perfect.  As many different places as I’ve lived, I’ve never lived anywhere that felt so much like “Home” from the moment I arrived.  They also had a “New Mexico” charm, but the Route 66 reached out to me.  It speaks to me of driving on open roads, moving west, and of course of my now home state. 

Tucker was disappointed that I didn’t choose a charm featuring his picture prominently as he’s convinced that he (or he and his brother if I MUST be fair) are the closest things to miracles in my life.  And he’s right in a general way.  But I have a LOT of “Momi” gear.  I wanted this necklace to represent something to me.  Home does it.

I’m

Just

Say

‘In

U Don’t Have 2 B Beautiful 2 Turn me on

I just need Ur Body Baby,

From Dusk til Dawn

U Don’t have 2 B Rich

4 me 2 B Ur Girl

U don’t have 2 B Cool

2 Rule my World

I Just want Ur Extra Time

And Ur Kissssssssssssssssss

So when I got home tonight, Tucker met me at the door.  He wanted to have family time.  Told me that he’s been feeling a little neglected lately.  He was already popping the popcorn, and had the movie ready to go.  Happy Feet.  We haven’t watched it in a while and I LOVE the music, so why not.

My 14 year old sat close enough to me to technically be snuggling with his mom.  Now it wasn’t all snowflakes and polar lights, he also did things like put his feet on his brother, fart in the quiet moments, and generally make himself a squirrelly mess. But God Bless him.  He lets me know when he needs a little extra time. 

And a good night kissssssssss

I don’t know if anyone is still thinking that there’s any such thing as quality time.  As in the magical moments that you look into your child’s eyes and connect with his soul, then you dust your hands off and go about your busy life because quality makes up for quantity.  That’s never worked for me. 

Maybe because I’m a foot smaller than either of my boys, but they have always been able to tackle me and hold me down if necessary.  And they are willing to deal with me in whatever way they must to get what they need.  That soul gaze doesn’t work for them, either.  They don’t give a flying flip about quality.  They want my body, mind, and soul to be present with them for great gasping gobs of time.

Now they’re older, I do get credit if I sit still on the couch for the time it takes to watch a movie and I’m thrilled about that because I work all day and sometimes, I’m tired. 

I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Momma loves you, too, boys …

It’s been, I don’t know, 3? 4? days in a row that I’ve logged in, discovered that I didn’t have anything to say, and logged out without blogging.  I’ve left a few comments here and there, but clearly my blogging skills are rusty.  I remember the days when I didn’t have to have a thought in my head and I could still blog pages.

So in the absence of a real blog, I’ll post my summer reading list (so far) and invite anyone who sees this (2 years of absence will kill your readership ) to make suggestions of additional titles:

1) (Currently reading) The Better Mousetrap, by Tom Holt.  I don’t even know how to describe this book except to say that if you didn’t like Douglas Adams, you won’t like this.  (I loved DA)

2) Mistborn Trilogy, by Brandon Sanderson

3) I Thought it was Just Me, But it Isn’t: Telling the Truth about Perfectionism, Inadequacy, and Power, by Brene Brown

4) The Secret of Quantum Living, by Frank J. Kinslow

5) Rules for the Dance: A Handbook for Writing and Reading Metrical Verse, by Mary Oliver

6) The Dresden Files, by Jim Butcher (Yes, I know this is like 49 books and counting. I’m on #7 now)

7) Something from the Philosophy Shelf

8) Something from the Popular Sciences Shelf

9) Something from the History Shelf

10) Something from a section of the bookstore I haven’t thought of yet

11) Something you recommend.

Most of the time when someone mentions my clothing choices, they don’t just say, “that color is flattering” or “browns don’t do much for you”.  They say things like “those are happy colors! … you look like a hippie … you look like the cool Momi … or that color brown makes you look like you lost a mudfight.”

So what does it say when my boss and I dress alike on the same day.

We rounded the corner and met, stopped, stared …

Gray capris = check
Peasant blouse with purple paisley = check
Lace edged cami underneath for modesty = check
Black sandals with 3 inch heels = check

It’s a really strange feeling.  There were mirror differences in our costume.  My pants were darker and my top had more white in the pattern.  The fabrics of her outfit were clearly more expensive than the fabrics of mine.  But it was similar enough to turn heads and invite comment.  (And the way our darks and lights were reversed carried all the way up to my dark hair and her blonde.) 

Its unsettling to meet someone dressed as you are dressed.  It’s even a little more unsettling when it’s your boss who reflects your taste.  So I keep wanting to make it mean something. 

But after careful pondering, I think it simply means that we both prefer a casual Bohemian style. 

I’m going shopping tomorrow.