When You Get Where You Can't Decide

"We must learn to reawaken and keep ourselves awake, not by mechanical aids, but by an infinite expectation of the dawn, which does not forsake us even in our soundest sleep. I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by a conscious endeavour. It is something to be able to paint a particular picture, or to carve a statue, and so to make a few objects beautiful; but it is far more glorious to carve and paint the very atmosphere and medium through which we look, which morally we can do. To affect the quality of the day, that is the highest of arts."

(Henry David Thoreau)

Everything You Need To Know



(HERE)

What Does The Future Hold?: Time To Clip In

The 2011 Tour de France is only two days away and Mongo has mixed emotions. Of course, I'm going to watch every second I can on tv, and I'll blog about all of my observations and the results on the road, but I'm very cynical about Contador and the further potential harm to the sport should he (and he should) be found guilty by the CAS and his results are negated for 2011...including a likely podium at the Tour.

Anyway, a whole bunch of guys are going to start the race and somebody is going to win it at the end. So...this is how Mongo sees the top ten on GC shaking out. "Write this down!"

10...Tejay Van Garderen (HTC)
  9...Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Lotto) 
  8...Andreas Kloden (Radioshack)
  7...Sammy Sanchez (Euskatel)
  6...Andy Schleck (Leopard)
  5...Chris Horner (Radioshack)
  4...Robert Gesink (Rabobank)
  3...Levi Leipheimer (Radioshack)
  2...Alberto Contador (Saxo)
  1...Cadel Evans (BMC)

Injury: Adding Insult To Irony

A funny thing happened to Mongo on the way to recovering from my crash...I haven't. My shoulder, which took the brunt of the impact, has continued to cause me a great deal of pain...but only when I have my hands on the handlebars of a bicycle. How's that for sucky?

I guess it makes sense since that was the position I was in when I hit the ground. Anyway, I'm slowly getting better and I stayed off all of my bikes for three days until today, when I did an extremely humid loop on the 23/2300 Hammerfest course, and I didn't cry like a little baby after the ride for the first time since I went down..."So I've got that going for me, which is nice".

A week at Eagle Lake

Eagle Lake: A slice of paradise

I can't let the month end without a look back to eight glorious days on Orcas Island. Nothing compares to being at a place where fresh air, nature's beauty and the coziness of our cabin make you feel refreshed and simply thankful to be alive.

Do I exaggerate? Perhaps.

But consider that this is a place where life is meant to be lived in the slow lane. The hilly topography and two-lane roads translate to a maximum speed limit of 40 mph on the island. Hitchhiking is common and no matter where you go, people are never in a rush. My kind of pace.

What was so good about our last visit? Well, a little of everything. In no particular order:

Looking south from Mt. Constitution

Socializing at not one but two Saturday night potlucks. Kayaking for three hours one afternoon, cruising past five islands and spotting a group of harbor seals. Hosting our Portland friends Erin and Beth for two nights and showing them a couple of favorite places on the rock: Obstruction Pass State Park, the view from the summit of Mount Constitution (elevation 2,400 feet).

Attending open mic and pizza night at the counterculture Doe Bay Cafe. Hiking the barkdust trail around Eagle Lake. Returning a couple days later to play Scrabble at the dock. Running one morning on the road between Doe Bay and Sea Acres. Enjoying the songbirds and hummingbirds that came to our porch every morning. (One of them, a pine siskin, let me approach so close that I was able to reach up s-l-o-w-l-y and touch her tailfeathers before she flew away.)  

Lori on the Eagle Lake trail

Curling up with a good book in our hammock. Consuming delicious food -- home-cooked meals at our cabin as well as lunch at the Olga Cafe and the Farmers Market, and a fabulous Friday night dinner at the Inn at Ship Bay, the equal of any high-end restaurant in Portland or Seattle. Waking up each morning to the sound of ... silence.

Two quick stories illustrate how easy it is to make connections on the island.

A year ago, we picked up a hitchhiker named Megan who was on her way in to Eastsound to meet with her yoga instructor. When we attended open mic night last week, the banjo-playing hostess was none other than Megan, wearing a spaghetti-strap flowered dress, leggings and hiking boots. Turns out she'd recognized me when we were seated across from each other at the express computer terminals at the public library a few days earlier but didn't say anything at the time. I knew she looked familiar but I couldn't place her until she said hi to Lori and me on Thursday night. Hugs all around.

When we went kayaking on Tuesday, our guide was a young woman named Julia, who in the course of conversation mentioned that she had a brother working on Maple Rock Farm, one of the island's many farms. Sure enough, when we went to the Farmers Market, we spotted the MRF booth, which was staffed that morning by a young man named Eric, who turned out to be Julia's brother. I wouldn't be surprised if we met their parents or their significant others on a return visit.

Open mic at Doe Bay Cafe

I don't know if it's possible to have anything other than a pleasant experience here. We're blessed to be able to create so many good memories and pleased to be able to share our place with visitors.

If all goes as planned, we'll be back up in September.

#95 Glamour Oversized Tee

INFO

Pictures said it all.

Can be worn so many ways that it’s easy to stay fashionable with them.

Free size.

Made from comfy satin (very comfy!) material.
Available in
white (ALL SOLD)
pink (AVAILABLE)
black (ALL SOLD)

'Un-Masqued' it @ RM36.

Alison Krauss at Edgefield

Wednesday night had the makings of a near-perfect night: Live music at an outdoor venue, with a great view of the stage. A cheeseburger in one hand, a plastic cup of microbrewed beer in the other. Lori and I seated comfortably in low-back folding chairs on a gently rolling lawn and my favorite band playing their butts off for two hours as part of the Edgefield summer concert series.

What's not to like?

Alison Krauss and Union Station did their part. Starting with "Paper Airplane," the title track of their new CD, continuing with an assortment of new material and old favorites, and concluding with a four-song acoustic set for an encore, capped by "There Is A Reason," the band was nothing short of awesome.

This was the fourth time I've seen AKUS and it's hard to imagine them sounding any better. The musicianship of the five band members is just stellar. And why wouldn't it be, since two of the guys have played with Alison for about 20 years and the current lineup has been together since 1998?

They play bluegrass, of course, but also venture into Americana, folk and country. Ron Block (banjo/guitar), Dan Tyminski (guitar/mandolin/vocals) and Barry Bales (upright bass) are all solid and Jerry Douglas (dobro/lap steel guitar) is in a class by himself. Throw in Alison on fiddle and vocals and it's no wonder they produce musical magic. (Check out their recent appearance on Letterman.)



As for the rest of the variables:

Weather: You'd think June 29 would be deepe enough into the calendar to guarantee a warm, dry summer night but, no, this is Oregon. It sprinkled from time to time, enough so that a few people pulled out their ponchos and umbrellas, but it never turned into a downpour. When Tyminski sang  "Rain Please Go Away" the crowd burst into good-natured applause.

Food: A bit of a disappointment, but, for me anyway, not enough to rise to a complaint. The cheeseburger was OK -- I can understand the challenges of trying to feed a couple thousand people when the lines are long and you're doing your best to provide some variety among the menu choices. But I felt bad for Lori when they said they'd run out of hummus plates and wouldn't have anymore for 45 minutes. She settled for a veggie burger and made it work, thanks to generous helpings of condiments on what appeared to be a pretty dry patty.

Vibe: You couldn't ask for better. The concert drew people in their 20s as well as their 60s and everything in between, including several parents with young children. People were uniformly friendly and appreciative of the music. One section seemed to have more than its share of free spirits, dancing to a few of the more upbeat songs. Even on the way out, people were remarkably patient navigating their way out of a crowded parking lot.

I'd be mighty happy to see AKUS a fifth time.

# 94 Floral Print Zip Pocket Vest

 

INFO

*Topshop inspired

Sold more than 5 pieces during Chic Pop!

Love the zip pocket in front, so chic. :)

Scoop neckline.

Free size.Made from comfy chiffon material.
ALL SOLD

'Un-Masqued' it @ RM38.

SOLD OUT.

NOT RESTOCKABLE.

#93 Bright Blue Sleeveless Blouse

INFO

Too cute to resist!

Non functional buttons and heart shaped 'pocket'

Made from smooth satin-ish material.
ALL SOLD

'Un-Masqued' it @ RM36.

SOLD OUT.

NOT RESTOCKABLE.

Overload

I felt it a bit today. A culmination of living. The eating well (it's a discipline, I tell ya). The working out 6 days a week. In bed by 9 and up at 5. And while I'm awake . . . busy, busy, busy. The house is in summer shambles. With a daughter who's a camp counselor, each day's dump of belongings in the kitchen includes a knapsack, wet bathing suit and towel, two pairs of shoes, a water bottle, lunchbox . . . you get the picture.

And today when I got home, I simply said "I'm doing nothing." I grilled a hot dog, slowly ate an Italian ice, opened mail, played with my doggie, and forced myself to not feel guilty. And when my head hits the pillow tonite, I will try my darndest to fall asleep counting sweet sheep instead of tomorrow's TO DOs.

Vestidos de graduación

El fin de curso llego y con el los vestidos de graduación, el día mas esperado por las chicas ya que desean lucir radiantes y espectaculares en ese día.

Los vestidos de graduaciones normalmente de telas brillantes y modelos encantadores, justo para las chicas como ustedes.

las chicas los eligen largos y de colores llamativos con escotes, los encontraran en dos piezas o una sola.

Los vestidos de graduación están disponibles en todos los colores, modelos y tallas si al final deciden el mismo color pueda variar el modelo, según sus gustos de cada una.

Los vestidos de graduación te los recomendamos son hermosos y llenos de elegancia, lindos diseños, colores y sobre todo que están de moda.

Si aun no decides que vestido de graduación escogeras quizá alguna de estas sugerencias te ayude a decidir y comprarlo, no olvides que es un día importante, los modelos siguientes son hermosos ojala alguno sea de tu agrado.

#92 Sheer Self Tied Ribbon Blouse

INFO

Since its always summer in Malaysia, we always tend to find more sheer tops.

Plus its a trend now, no? :)

Self tied ribbon on both sides.

Comes with grey short tank (not worn by model).

Made from comfy chiffon material.

'Un-Masqued' it @ RM39.

SOLD OUT.

NOT RESTOCKABLE.

#91 Midi Maxi Dress

More to this colour, kinda bright under the sun. :)

INFO

Collared midi maxi dress in hot pink!

Embrace summer with this piece.

Slightly smoked at the waist.

Functional gold buttons.

Free weaved belt!

Made from comfy cotton material.

'Un-Masqued' it @ RM42.

SOLD.

The Most Interesting (Michigan) Man in the World

Several months ago I started thinking about an idea for another MZone video.  Unfortunately, life intervened and I never got around to it.

But, last week, our friend Dave at Maize n Brew did a piece that inspired me to finish the darn thing.

So MZone Motion Picture Corp, in association with I Need To Stop Wasting Valuable Productive Time Making These Things When I Should Be Working, presents...

The Most Interesting (Michigan) Man in the World

(HT: CadillacMatt95 for the music)

Vestidos de novia sencillos

Si bien es cierto una boda es el acontecimiento mas importante para la mayoría de las mujeres, pero claro no todas tenemos los mismos gustos algunos nos encantara el glamour y a otras los vestidos de novia sencillos.

Si eres de las chicas que el glamour y esas cosas no son lo tuyo aquí te daremos algunas sugerencias para que escojas tu vestido de novia sencillo.

La ventaja de usar vestidos de novia sencillos es que no te sentirás estorbosa o como si cargaras encima varios kilos de tela de mas.

Los vestidos de novia sencillos tiene la particularidad de ser cómodos, fáciles de llevar, te permiten ir de allá para acá en toda la fiesta y no necesitar de ayuda.

El hecho de que no lleves a tu boda un vestido clásico de larga cola y todos esos adornos no quiere decir que te verás mal, creo que lo mas importante es que estés contenta y la pases super en ese día especial.

Te sugerimos estos vestidos sencillos de novia, ¿Que te parecen?.

#90 Basic Skirt

INFO

For those who missed out on our previous skirt collection.

This one comes with a hidden zipper!

Slighty thinner material compared to the others.

Free size.

Made from comfy cotton material.

Available in 

 black (SOLD)

neon pink (LAST PIECE)

greenish blue (SOLD)

bright blue (SOLD)

yellow (SOLD)

'Un-Masqued' it @ RM38.

Major steal! 

#89 Scallop Design Skirt

INFO

Something different from our previous basic skirts.

Smoked at the back, so you don't have to worry about choosing sizes! :)

Made from thick cotton material.

Available in

mustard (ALL SOLD)

creamy white (ALL SOLD)

black (ALL SOLD)

'Un-Masqued' it @ RM38.

SOLD OUT.

NOT RESTOCAKABLE.