Back in my sunny So Cal, I need to tell you about my friend, and, mentor.
Meredith was the employer that hired me, in what I refer to as my first "Big Girl Job". She gave me a chance to prove my "chops" as a designer. That entailed much more than I bargained for. I did not have a clue. That, I learned very fast. I needed that job, and was determined not to get fired. I usually left the office in tears, and felt like the failure I was. Then I listened, and learned...alot.
Business is not design school, and anyone who thinks they can sit in an ivory tower and make gorgeous designs, should choose another career
..
Fast forward 2 years, and I was her protegy. Fast forward 6 months, and we were both out of a job. Company closed. Nice. She made a deal with the company that bought the label, and we had jobs again!! Thank you, thank you, Meredith, the ultimate business woman.
We went our separate ways, staying in touch, and became friends. (much, much, more on this later).
Stuff happened, and fast forward 20@#&#@ years, and here we are again. Meredith has given me a new start in a business that chews you up and spits you out. She does not know the meaning of fail, and that drive and optimism is why success is the only option for her. It is not an easy road; not everyone understands what it takes. There is no doubt in my mind that Meredith will prevail. It is her faith and belief in herself and those she chooses to work with that will ensure that!! Yea, that I am 1 of the chosen. Onward and upward
.
What a great journey.
February 26, 2011
February 25, 2011
none of us are normal
So obviously you can see what we're dealing with in Claire. We love her dearly, and in our own way will help her deal with her eccentricities. None of us are normal, so why does she think she's so special??? Because she hasn't figured that out yet. That's all!
Anna will not eat two different meats in one dish.
Ruby considers herself a "dog whisperer" and goes into a deep depression if she meets an animal that doesn't instantly bond with her. Last night we watched a movie in which the good guy was kidnapped and being tortured by having rats all over him eating his body. Ruby was most worried about what the cops would do to the rats when they found them munching away .
I am way too close to my weirdness to even be able to identify all of it, but I'm sure it's there. Don't even have to give it a name!
I guess if you can realize that none of us are "normal" ,( nor would we WANT to be), we can come one step closer to the ever elusive self-acceptance and even self-love.
I'm convinced beyond the shadow of a doubt that this dorm is extremely loveable, and special ,each and every one!
But "normal" we are not! ( and proud of it!)
Anna will not eat two different meats in one dish.
Ruby considers herself a "dog whisperer" and goes into a deep depression if she meets an animal that doesn't instantly bond with her. Last night we watched a movie in which the good guy was kidnapped and being tortured by having rats all over him eating his body. Ruby was most worried about what the cops would do to the rats when they found them munching away .
I am way too close to my weirdness to even be able to identify all of it, but I'm sure it's there. Don't even have to give it a name!
I guess if you can realize that none of us are "normal" ,( nor would we WANT to be), we can come one step closer to the ever elusive self-acceptance and even self-love.
I'm convinced beyond the shadow of a doubt that this dorm is extremely loveable, and special ,each and every one!
But "normal" we are not! ( and proud of it!)
Playing with Food
We sat down for a twist on our usual "dorm dinner" the other night. Anna had pleasantly laid out an array of Mediterranean hors'dourves to lure us to the always delicious table. The menu boasted tzatziki, pita chips, hummus, some chicken/bean stuff, fresh strawberries, and a delicious salad. As I elevated one more pita chip smothered in tzatziki to my mouth, one of the roomies blurted out, "I'm so proud of you for eating all this! Look, you guys, she LIKES it!"
In my mind, I'm one of the least picky eaters ever. My taste limitations only exclude three things: olives, green pepper, cashews. Seriously. That's it. Unfortunately, only I will ever believe this statement.
The dorm has grown accustomed to my 'preferences'. (1) I've been lactose intolerant my entire life. It's pretty much miserable because I suffer from an addiction to cheese and ice cream. So no dairy for me without my trusty lactase enzyme pills. (2) Two-point-five years ago, I chose to adopt a vegetarian diet, suffering a touch of PTSD from academic research on factory farming, a past roommate's bout with food poisoning (from chicken), and the horrendous ozone layer of our suffocating planet. (3) Since high school, most of my stress has led to psychosomatic symptoms in the form of headaches and stomach issues. Luckily, though I still fail to manage my stress levels, I do know what foods make this condition worse or better at the time of infliction. (4) I hate hate hate germs, especially on my food. I won't eat something that has touched my {or anyone else's} fingers, dirty silverware, or potentially contaminated surfaces.
Sure, I'm a little neurotic, particular, and stubborn, but I really do LOVE food and so a 'picky eater', I consider myself not. I will taste most things once, and most things I taste I like. My poor deprived tastebuds have just been assigned to the wrong tongue--in a body that doesn't agree with their flavorful preferences.
--Claire
In my mind, I'm one of the least picky eaters ever. My taste limitations only exclude three things: olives, green pepper, cashews. Seriously. That's it. Unfortunately, only I will ever believe this statement.
The dorm has grown accustomed to my 'preferences'. (1) I've been lactose intolerant my entire life. It's pretty much miserable because I suffer from an addiction to cheese and ice cream. So no dairy for me without my trusty lactase enzyme pills. (2) Two-point-five years ago, I chose to adopt a vegetarian diet, suffering a touch of PTSD from academic research on factory farming, a past roommate's bout with food poisoning (from chicken), and the horrendous ozone layer of our suffocating planet. (3) Since high school, most of my stress has led to psychosomatic symptoms in the form of headaches and stomach issues. Luckily, though I still fail to manage my stress levels, I do know what foods make this condition worse or better at the time of infliction. (4) I hate hate hate germs, especially on my food. I won't eat something that has touched my {or anyone else's} fingers, dirty silverware, or potentially contaminated surfaces.
Sure, I'm a little neurotic, particular, and stubborn, but I really do LOVE food and so a 'picky eater', I consider myself not. I will taste most things once, and most things I taste I like. My poor deprived tastebuds have just been assigned to the wrong tongue--in a body that doesn't agree with their flavorful preferences.
--Claire
February 24, 2011
Feeding the soul
I've had 4 good years of marriage. The bad news is, I've been married 25 years. So the Dorm get-away is like a breath of fresh air for me! Lots of laughs and people who work hard, play hard and actually take their eyes off the TV when they talk to you.
So I'm making the most of it!
Stuff you can't do at home...listen to opera at 8AM instead of watching Mike & Mike discuss sports on the boob tube (like at home in Dallas) . I tried something different this morning...I put on Pavarotti to listen to while we put on our make up and slowly woke up to face the world. It was so ethereal and beautiful that neither Ruby nor I wanted to leave for work!
But the echoes of the majestic music stayed with us as we waked to the subway and throughout the day...
And when we were figuring out later, what we wanted to cook for dinner, we were still sufficiently in the euphoria to decide that we deserved to go out for a lovely dinner (even though we were all but broke).
I digress for a moment to explain "broke". Ruby and lost our jobs when our respective companies closed. It's tough for anyone over 40 to get a new job in the apparel business and both of us saw 40 in the rear view mirror. At least her husband was a hard working college professor, close to retirement. My spouse lost his job 2 years ago and has not been able to find anything appropriate to his talents since them. so by the time I lost mine, we had gone through most of our savings and 401K. After a few months I was able to put together a proposal for a new apparel division for a company in NY and pulled Ruby along with me to design. I also gave my husband a sales job in Texas, so while we had a lot of losses to make up, at least we had an opportunity to get back on our feet.
So, as we were saying...we deserved to go out for a lovely dinner...
Ahhh!!!! Nothing takes away the stench of poverty like the fragrant aroma of French cuisine at the Un ,Deux, Trois Cafe... We used to frequent that place when we travelled to NY on business and had the almighty expense account as our companion.
For a brief evening, we felt like the successful business women we were!
Our souls were well fed today and I'm confident it will make for a better day tomorrow!
Who knew how much my life was about to change!
So I'm making the most of it!
Stuff you can't do at home...listen to opera at 8AM instead of watching Mike & Mike discuss sports on the boob tube (like at home in Dallas) . I tried something different this morning...I put on Pavarotti to listen to while we put on our make up and slowly woke up to face the world. It was so ethereal and beautiful that neither Ruby nor I wanted to leave for work!
But the echoes of the majestic music stayed with us as we waked to the subway and throughout the day...
And when we were figuring out later, what we wanted to cook for dinner, we were still sufficiently in the euphoria to decide that we deserved to go out for a lovely dinner (even though we were all but broke).
I digress for a moment to explain "broke". Ruby and lost our jobs when our respective companies closed. It's tough for anyone over 40 to get a new job in the apparel business and both of us saw 40 in the rear view mirror. At least her husband was a hard working college professor, close to retirement. My spouse lost his job 2 years ago and has not been able to find anything appropriate to his talents since them. so by the time I lost mine, we had gone through most of our savings and 401K. After a few months I was able to put together a proposal for a new apparel division for a company in NY and pulled Ruby along with me to design. I also gave my husband a sales job in Texas, so while we had a lot of losses to make up, at least we had an opportunity to get back on our feet.
So, as we were saying...we deserved to go out for a lovely dinner...
Ahhh!!!! Nothing takes away the stench of poverty like the fragrant aroma of French cuisine at the Un ,Deux, Trois Cafe... We used to frequent that place when we travelled to NY on business and had the almighty expense account as our companion.
For a brief evening, we felt like the successful business women we were!
Our souls were well fed today and I'm confident it will make for a better day tomorrow!
Who knew how much my life was about to change!
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