yet another holiday!

Today is National Margarita Day!

Some folks think that margaritas should only be consumed on hot summer days on a patio overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Mexico. I say, what better time to celebrate a drink that says SUMMER, than in the bone chilling month of February? (Disregard this mention of bone chilling cold if you happen to live in warmer climes) I for one, am grateful for the opportunity dream about the warm days sometime in the future...
So in honor of this most auspicious day that thankfully, falls on a Saturday, I'd like to share my very favorite Margarita recipe, from a local joint here in Portland called Por que No?.

Cheers, amigos!

nap quest

I got into a conversation about napping the other day with a couple of friends.  I know this sounds simplistic, but after taking an informal survey of a decidedly small segment of the population (do four people qualify as a focus group?) I've since come to the conclusion that the world is divided up into nappers and non-nappers.

Non-napper types generally feel that sleeping during the hours we're supposed to be awake and productive is wasteful. Time spent napping could be better utilized doing something productive, like checking your facebook page  balancing the checkbook, or  reading blogs emptying the dishwasher.  They employ slogans such as "Sleep is for the weak", or "I'll have plenty of time to sleep when I'm dead", along with copious amounts of caffeine to get them through the day.

A typical non-napper type getting her caffeine fix.

Nappers are generally divided into three camps: the Unabashedly Laid Back,  Guilt-Ridden Snoozers, and Master Nappers. The ULB's talk of the restorative effects of the 15-minute Power Nap. They quote studies that support their theories, and insist that scientists at Harvard have determined that a midday snooze reverses information overload. (wikipedia)  

The Guilt-Ridden Snoozers, on the other hand, also believe in the benefits of napping but due to a childhood spent under the influence of parents who adopted a strict work ethic during the Great Depression, they find it difficult to nap with a clear conscience. A typical GRS can usually be spotted in the prone position with an open book, magazine or newspaper on his or her chest. If caught dozing off, they will insist, "I was just resting my eyes!"

photo borrowed from here

And the third category of napper? Master Nappers are those who have achieved the highest level of Napology. See photos below:

A true Master Napper can nap anywhere, at any time.

This is known in the trade as a Napportunity.

The training to become a Master Napper 

must begin at an early age

and is successful only if practiced on a regular basis.

 Another hallmark of the Master Napper is the Group Nap

where three or more Master Nappers
meet to practice in a warm and cozy place.

Synchronized Napping 

is a highly developed art form

practiced by teams of Master Nappers.

MN's take Nap Form very seriously

but are sometimes mistaken for Unabashedly Laid Back Nappers.

I hope this post has helped to illuminate the plight of all misunderstood Nappers (yawn!). As it is only through understanding and education that we can promote tolerance for all.

Now I really must go and get another cup of coffee, because I'm suddenly feeling very sleepy.... 

Buenas noches

and my husband thinks I spend too much time blogging...

I'm not always on the computer.

In my defense, I did spend about 45 minutes working on my giant rubber band ball the other day.

let's just get on with 2010, shall we?

My assistants are helping me take down the Christmas tree today...

though I'm not sold on their method for testing the lights.

my brain is on empty.

I'm blocked. The lights are on, but nobody's home. I presume my one or two readers have noticed, but have been (ahem) too polite to say. I've been a little preoccupied lately, but I promise I'll try to spill some stuff soon. Once the cobwebs have been swept out of my nearly empty brain...does anybody know where I put the dust mop?

excuses, excuses...

I haven't been able to write much the last couple of weeks. I have lots of posts started, but I seem unable somehow, to find the time or mental energy to expend on finishing anything. In fact, I've started a lot of things lately, and it seems everywhere I look there's an unfinished project or chore, or a thing that needs doing. 

It's not just me. Dave's got a lot of projects piling up, too. His way of dealing with it is to write notes and put them up in places he'll see them and be reminded. It makes me a little crazy sometimes, because it's not just a note or two here and there for a few days...the notes themselves pile up. (But that's a whole future post, right there...)

On top of all these unfinished projects, I've been trying desperately to keep from being cast as a player in someone else's drama. And (to continue with the theatrical metaphors) yesterday afternoon you could say I cancelled my audition for that particular production, so I suddenly feel a great relief that I won't be embroiled in what looks like a tragicomedy-in-the-making all summer long.

I'll try to get back in the swing of things soon, but meanwhile, here's photographic proof of just a few of the projects piling up around Camp Cactus:

Project No. 1: The Fireplace

(bricks primed back in October, still awaiting a faux finish)

Project No.2 : The Basement Stairs

(read this post for the reason I'm not exactly anxious to repaint)

Project No. 3: The Stairs

(18 years of traffic takes its toll)

Project No. 4: The Kitchen Trim

(eclectically unmatched)

Project No. 5 : The Extreme Studio Makeover

(If I'd hired snails to do it, it would have been done weeks ago)

So there you have it, the excuses reasons I haven't had time to post. Which reminds me, I have a project or five I must go deal with immediately. 

avoidance therapy

I'm pretty sure I've been suffering from writer's block lately. It's not that the creative juices have dried up or anything. On the contrary, I've been experiencing a kind of creative overdrive. My mind is racing 24/7 with ideas, and my creative juices are dripping all over the carpet. I'm just having a hard time putting together coherent sentences, and maybe I'm a wee bit stressed.

The annual Holiday Sale at Camp Cactus is coming up in a couple of weeks and I've been mired in a thousand tiny details. It involves coordinating about 30 artists (some of whom don't have email or telephones), and organizing everything from assigning vendor codes to scheduling drop off times and postcard mailings. A bit like herding cats, I'd say.

So, here it is-two weeks before the opening, and I'm practicing every avoidance trick in the book. This week is really the last few days I have to work on making my own stuff.

Take a look at my studio:

As you can see, it's a freakin' disaster bit of a mess.

I have a few Tooth Fairies made.

And some handbags in various stages of abandonment completion.

Here are some unfinished Garden Fairies waiting for hair and wings.

And some half done lavender heat packs.

I'm ashamed to admit what the driveway looks like,
but what the heck - take a look:

So I'm stressed. I have a lot to do, and what am I doing?
Practicing avoidance therapy. I'm typing this at midnight, when I should be putting stamps on postcards, or perhaps, sleeping.
Instead, I've been taking pictures to accompany this post, and I may even vacuum or empty the dishwasher, or hey- have you noticed how dusty the walls are?

Gotta go. The dogs need a good, long walk. Catch you later!