Where we've been, when we are going, and what I'll miss . . .

Well, the departure date is set -- December 29 -- neatly breaking our life between 2008 in Vienna, VA and 2009 in Naples, Italy. Of course, we have yet to get through all the pandemonium of moving and this Christmas homeless (though my gracious sister has offered to take us in) . . . we just returned from imposing on my parents in NJ and a brief time in NYC with my mother-in-law (and great friend) Weta, camping out at my brother-in-law and sister-in-law's new and wonderful apartment in Chelsea.

They wisely set off for the holidays in the Southwest so they didn't have to endure the site of their serene and elegant apartment under siege of children's flotsam and jetsam. I only had to feel a little bad about the state of affairs while we were there, and then -- voila! -- we packed up all our stuff and left it (I hope) as we had found it.

Meantime, the kids enjoyed the joys of rural NJ as seen in this photo at Jockey Hollow Park in Morristown NJ and also the excitement of Manhattan in the frenzy before Christmas -- as shown in the photos here.

Though I'm so excited to go, I am having my usual pangs of sentimentality and sadness as we get ready to go . . . I'll miss taking Quinn to his guitar lessons and having a Blue Moon ale with Paula while he has his lesson, I'll miss walking Lily up the hill to school, I'll miss my deck on an early summer afternoon, I'll miss seeing Lily and my nieces playing so happily together, especially on our summer vacations to the Outer Banks, I'll miss lunch at the Vienna Inn and dinners at Paula's, especially when she makes the kids sing for their supper -- i.e. read a poem (see the photos). I'll miss Trader Joe's and Anthropologie. I'll miss Mother/Daughter book group and the wonderful women, grown and those who started the group as girls and are now young women, who've made it so special . . . I'll so miss Paula -- my compatriot in the land of the other . . . I'll miss Mary's fun phonecalls . . . I'll miss Melissa's wonderful point of view . . . I'll miss communing with Cara as only sisters can . . . well, I could go on and on, now that I'm touching on the real stuff, but suffice it to say, I know from much experience that nothing sharpens appreciation like imminent departure. But in this particular case, the plan is to come back . . . so unlike Germany, Panama, San Diego, Monterey, Ann Arbor, Racine . . . these cherished aspects of life and friendships, will be regained in three years time. SIGH . . .

Keeping the goal in mind.

It's the worst of times and the best of times. We're moving . . . ugh! We're moving to Italy . . . hurray!
So I'm having to sort through all my beading supplies, sewing supplies, various collections to decide . . . on a small amount that I can send air freight to tide me through the first three months, another amount to go in the hold for the three month sea trip, and, my husband thinks, another amount to be stored for three years -- you guess how that will go . . . Friends, blog followers, how do I ship with equanamity my gemstones, sterling and gold supplies, vintage pieces, art beads, and treasures in the hold of a ship to Naples (a place not best known for its scruples, but oh, oh, oh the PIZZA and the beaches). I'm the type who is always tense when I leave my nest, for what reason, I don't know, I've never been burgled . . uh, burglered? . . . knock wood. (though I've often bungled, bunglered, too). Is it really just a mortality issue? Somehow separating from this, for however short a time, feels like a little death?
Dawdling, now that I'm good at . . . but now onto face my stash. Pictures to follow.

Happiness and Anticipation

So much to anticipate and so much to wonder at! As a denizen of Virginia, I feel very proud of the efforts here to turn the state BLUE for Obama -- which we did! The past few weeks have been so absorbing (hence, a month's absence from blog-writing). I guess I could never be one of the Cheese-Doodle-eating, political blog writers so maligned on "Morning Joe" (my favorite show).


And as if all the election excitement weren't enough, our family took a trip to Disneyland the weekend before last and had a fabulous time in the Magic Kingdom. I confess I had tears in my eyes when Tinkerbell flew over the castle during the fireworks -- I mean really! That is magic! Five-year-old Lily was starry-eyed the whole time and met many of her favorite characters -- including Mulan, her favorite princess. Teen Emily and tween Quinn were less starry-eyed, but certainly high on all the fun and excitement. Here they are enjoying a moment with Pocohantas' Meeko at a character breakfast. It's fitting that we took this opportunity to do the consummate American vacation given what our immediate future holds!



We've gotten the approval on a terrific change that we've been anticipating for a long time. We are moving to Italy! Naples to be exact. DH is remaining in the Navy . . . after recall to active duty last year . . . Kids are very excited, taking their cues from parental exuberance on the move. But now all the daunting tasks of preparing begin . . . stay tuned for more bulletins as we go through the process. We plan to be there before Christmas!



My Etsy will remain operational until we depart . . . and then I'll go into vacation mode until we land. I'm excited about all the inspiration and new materials (hopefully old, old materials) that I will be able to include in my creations in the future! Stay tuned!

Bead show temptation and a little politicking

Yesterday was the Northern Virginia Bead Society bead show -- oy! Temptations galore! I stuck mainly with silver from the beautiful wares of Naborow and some great ethnic and vintage stuff. Well, okay, some gemstones, too. The great thing about spending too much money at a bead show is you can still come home with everything in your purse. It's inconspicuous! Got home and immediately saw the gourd possibilities in these fabulous opaque glass beads. Added one of the new organic beadcaps from Naborow and . . . these look like they were just picked from my garden!

Other recent events included helping with pro-Obama party -- here I am with the candidate, enjoying a glass of wine and some great small talk!

Partners in Crime

Celebrating my dear friend's birthday . . . we are usually partners in crime . . . loving every minute of it. Here we are after some great food and wine in her backyard by her firepit . . . a delightful evening with smoke halos for all. I'm on the left and Paula on the right.

Reunions shortlived are tough

Last post, I revealed that my DH had been deployed for 10 months -- no easy task for all of us. He finally came home last Thursday night -- and we had a fabulous weekend where each of us got to have some great one-on-one time with him . . . the three kids were over the moon all weekend (even our blase teenager). We toddled out late Saturday night for wine at our local wine bar and some more wine at a great local brasserie (and some oysters for good measure). Of course during these halcyon days I made not a thing for Etsy. But reality hit when Monday early a.m., he had to return to the location he will be working from (4 a.m. drive to the airport included). He'll be back again this weekend. I got right back to work -- creative outlets being the best therapy and voila! completed this necklace I had been imagining since these terrific chalcedony gemstones came my way. I love black and yellow together -- the bee pallete -- if you like it (or not) please comment!

Etsy MINI? And HOMECOMING!

Here's my etsy mini -- still trying to figure out how to put it in the sidebar -- if a reader knows how -- please tell me in a comment!
It's been a crazy day -- my husband gets home today after 10 months deployed. And of course, there's back-to-school night, soccer practice, a volleyball game, and a guitar lesson all happening tonight, too.
Off to get some more done before I have to leave to get someone again.
Highlight of the day (up until the big return tonight), picking up Billy Collins latest collection -- Ballistics -- can't wait to get a moment to dip into it.

Another day, some more postings

A day that begins with a magic show can't be all bad! Lily, my youngest, is in afternoon kindergarten . . . so if there's a morning assembly, the afternoon students are invited to come with a parent. Today's assembly was magician Joe Romano -- and to be honest, he was pretty good. I was sitting along the side, towards the front . . . and I couldn't see how he was doing it -- including getting a kid's shoe inside a box that had been in the back of the room for the whole show! LILY was completely enchanted. What can I say -- unlike her older brother and sister -- she's a ham. She raised her hand and waved it for every call for volunteers. It was great. Brought a little friend of hers home for playdate . . . and then I went to town taking photos of etsy things. Here's a revised necklace -- I changed the gemstones and the composition and relisted it and also revised my turquoise and coral necklace -- it needed some smaller transitional silver beads between the chunky silver ones and the coral. I hope the people who have marked it as favorite approve!

A fresh start

Everything's up in the air -- what a time to start a blog. We've just gotten through ten trying months as a family -- DH deployed and the rest of us navigating life as a single-parent family. I think our three kids and I have done pretty well, considering. And we are getting ready for more changes with the possibility of a move overseas . . . something we are eager to embrace. Nothing is certain yet . . . but when it is, I will begin writing about it.
Meanwhile, I'm working on my etsy site and just registered two DOTCOMS for myself. One, erzulimojo.com for my etsy site, and well, I couldn't resist since it was available. I want to upload some pictures of my etsy jewelry . . . some of my latest pieces . . . it's fun to think this can be another launching pad.
If all goes as we hope, there will so many exciting events and challenges to record here. Readers . . . I hope you come back.