A Fanciful Twist

Treasures

Okay, let's be honest here.  I can have pretty great moments of lucky streaks.  Some moments of unlucky streaks, but some very good lucky streaks. And, those good moments really should not be neglected.  (this has nothing to do with cards, but come along and I'll attempt to make some sense of it all...)

      

You, yourself,  might not call it luck.  You might say, "Now, Vanessa, you have nice friends who like you, and find magical things to surprise you with."  And, yes, I would have to agree, most of the treasures I receive are pretty darn wonderful. But, these wonderful things are found by luck, aren't they? Even if they are found by other people?

Actually, Many of these objects are found by me...Walking down the street, I see something peeking out of the dirt, I pick it up....I pull, I tug, and Presto, Treasure.  I peek in little sheds, and again, Treasures....

      

I have to stop and ask, are these found and received items really treasures?  Or is it simply my perception that makes this item a treasure.  Perhaps it is only special to me?  Have I come to use that word all too liberally?  Treasures. Or, would these items be called something more on the lines of "junk" to you?

Some of the things I find here and there, are things like, A Ship...

      

An old fan that used to be at the museum pottery studio, with a huge cast iron stand.  It is a piece of art in itself.

      

A Scale

      

A treasure box with drawers made of old wood cheese boxes...

      

Mermaid Bottles that I have placed under glass domes...

      

And, there is much more junk, I mean treasures, but I have to save some for later...I just LOVE thrifting adventures!!!  I love them!!!

These are some of the things I keep in the country, as I am maxed out on space at my home in town. Snipettes can be seen here, here  and here.

I used to sit and look at my favorite book called

      

By Mary Randolph Carter, just wishing that I too could have country treasures.  Little did I know, I would have that in Catalina.  I wanted to be able to use all kinds of tattered things that just wouldn't work in my city home.  The fact that I have a place to do this,  is so dreamy to me...

      

Some pages from within the book (The one below to the left looks so much like my Mr. Lovee's hippie shack, it just ain't funny). I adore the kid in the pic to the right.  I almost want one just to be able dress up and use as a prop. I am joking.....

      

I just adore old Milagros, and those Chalkware Carnival Prizes! How I'd love my own stash...

      

I have loved this book to death...Have you seen it, or do you own it (Ithink it is out of print)?? It sure doesn't help reign in the treasure seeker, does it???

Oh I never ever, in all the times I have read through this book, seen the absolute back page...Look how cute!! (click to enlarge)

      

Thrifting and such, was not common to me as a kid.  But, when I got my dandy white rabbit convertible at16, I'll tell ya, the first thing I did was drive to a town with fabulous thrift stores.  It has always been magic to me.

My first experience with a vintage item was when I was 15 and my grandmother took me to the little door at the top of her stairs...She told me about some coats that my great aunt who had died left behind. I myself, almost died of intrigue.  I still have those coats, and wear them today.

All that said....

I veered off of the main subject which is.  Luck and treasures. 

The story I was going to tell goes like this...

So, there I am, in bed, lounging around, eating chocolates and watching a movie in my loftish space.  Locked away from the world. When I hear a knocking at what is, my still under-construction outside door and patio.  I peek out.  Why, It is Dick Arnold, from, "The Arnold Klingefus Ensemble."  I am shocked, I hop out of bed...Open the door, and Dick says, "I have a surprise for you, but you have to close your eyes."

I think, what?? Where? What can it be?  An instrument? A painting??? What What What????  Let me preface this by saying, I collect things with wheels.  (Not cars though)

So, I walk over to his car, and this is what proceeds to happen...

      

I see wood.  Or Bamboo?  Yes!  A bike entirely made of Bamboo???Wood???

      

      

I bring it inside to admire it, and determine if I want to remove the wheels and turn it into sculptural art??? Hanging from a wall perhaps?  Well, Mr. Arnold found this lovely item at a sale called "I don't want it anymore, it is yours."  He said it was the Art-iest thing they had and he thought of me!!! Lucky me or what??

      

IS that a lucky treat?  You tell me??? What is your favorite find, do you love junk?  Can you see yourself in a billowing skirt of your favorite kind, coming across a bin of trinkets, and squatting, your skirt billowing around you to search through piles and piles? Are you into it?  Or, would you prefer a clean little shop....I don't know.. I love tattered treasures...

I am also delighted to share that two of my favorite blogs to visit: With a Twist and a Turn she gets her Wish"   Queenie Carly, always smart and funny, and Allyson Hill, Miss Creative herself, have been so kind as to believe that I have a "Thinking Blog."  I am so glad, as I was getting concerned that I would be winning something for "The rambling blog." I think that such recognition from our fellow bloggers is very very special and important.  Afterall, we are the people who read eachothers blogs everyday (almost).  We are the ones who know what we like.

So the rules - straight from Miss Carly herself:

If you read even a few blogs, you've probably started to notice this little Thinking Blogger Award graphic around.  Apparently the blog world is having a heyday promoting all the blogs that its population of bloggers love to read. 

1. If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think!
2. Link to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme or blog that you enjoy.
3. Optional: Proudly display the 'Thinking Blogger Award' with a link to the post that you wrote.

So, I must participate you see, and I do love this sort of thing...Sooo, here we are. Here are my five choices, not in any particular order.  But Blogs that I love to read , I enjoy them tremendously, and they make me think...An Odd Duck, KnitSonya, My Marrakech, Cally Creates & Gilfling's Designs.

I can not say enough about these girls.  I wish I was allowed to list many many more.  All I have to say is, I love all the blogs I read to pieces.  So, if you see me in your neck of the woods, know, you are one of my dearest thinking blogs too. You know who you are. I know you know!!!

On a Trip to the Middle of Nowhere...

This weekend I went to visit my mom for Mother's Day and stopped to see my Grandma too. For once I had my camera.  I decided to take you on a trip with me, a trip through photos, of a place that truly feels like it is in the middle of nowhere...The places I photographed are those that are engrained in my mind as familiar.  Come along if you'd like...

(I almost deleted this whole post, it felt so terribly boring and long...So, sorry if it is....And, I warn, it really is very very long.)

Preparing to get on the freeway, takes me passed the evergreen cemetary.  This is the first step to heading home, an hour and a half south of Tucson, Arizona. 

      

The road home is a long stretch straight ahead.  It probably feels long because you just drive straight ahead for and hour...Then you get to this little town infused with busy body obnoxious people called Nogales. From there you go about 30 minutes into the hills...So, here we go...

Passing the San Xavier Mission means that we are officially exiting Tucson...This is on ultra zoom while driving down the freeway.  Looks like they are doing some restoration to the top there...It is a fascinating place, if you get a chance to visit it in life...

      

Driving along, I look to the left, I look to the right...Yep, looks like desert to me...

      

I know it looks creepy to you, but to me, it is normal. And yes, people do really come out of this place being fairly normal.  Although, my father owned a business that allowed us to be in San Diego alot.  I even lived there as a kid...Homebase was always in the desert though.  But, most of my summers were spent in a very magical place, home away from home...

Yep, still drivin... I am about 20 minutes away at this point...

      

It gets greener as we get closer to the town...A little cooler too...

      

Almost to town, notice the warehouses. They line up and down the road, as this town's main industry is produce.  This is where most of all of your veggies in the United States filter through.  My dad owned a produce brokerage for 35 years....He retired the business a few years ago...Interesting huh? I can tell a ripe avocado from an unripe avocado from across the room.  I was pretty much a pro at produce from about, 5 years old??  I used to love going into the ice cold warehouses with my dad to inspect the produce when I was little.  It was freezing in there and, oh so hot outside.  I miss the smell of all of the produce in wooden crates...Fresh and vegetably?

Are you bored yet??? Okay, now we hit the town... and travel through ultra windy roads to get to the hidden place where I grew up.  I get so annoyed because I lived in the middle of nowhere since I was 5.  There were no houses around us. Well, actually, there was one.  And a girl I used to play with lived there, she was really mean, but I had no choice, no other kids around.  The road was pure dirt and it seemed really really far.  Now, the whole town has discovered the place and it is becoming populated, people fighting to live out there... So silly.  Annoying really.

So, here we are down the long and winding road....

      

Finally we are here....But, the gate is closed. (most people have gated entries around here for safety purposes)

      

      

Yes, another winding road up the my parents house....I need a dramamine at this point...

      

Noone is here! What???  Grreat.  I didn't bring my key...

I guess we can go snooping around... Now that is fun to me....This is a lovely tree!  And, notice, the reason for this post, is to show you what the middle of nowhere is like.  Look beyond the tree. Yep, nowhere.

      

And, if you walk to the other side of the yard and look over, again, you see, nothing???

      

Ooo, I see an open gate... let's go snooping in Mammie's side garden...Where everything is so short, for little elves and fairies...

      

      

      

      

Little benches...

      

A little work table for potting and fixing bird houses??

      

I am sooo amuzed at the grass..Betcha' didn't think you'd see anythin' green in this post huh?  Where did you think I got my green thumb from???

      

My mom has funny things in her yard (and Dad's yard too). Like giant humongous boulders...

      

You can see how far we are in the hills by looking beyong these rocks at the town, way in the distance...

      

I hear a car!!  Yep, I am going back through the yard.. and Yep, look who it is!! The hat-wearing dad himself...(he is really lovable, as you can tell) I think he is hugging all of you!  hee...

      

My heart is sad for my mom and dad.  They are all alone now, no kids at home, in the middle of nowhere...And we all don't visit that often because our lives are sooo busy.  I just feel so sad for them sometimes.  I should visit more often...

Time to open gifts.  Momm-bee received a menagerie of art gifts, some Anahata Katkin cards, Awesome blocks from Stiletto Heights (custom made), a lovely checkbook cover from Thompson Designs , and some homemade treasures by me and me...

      

      

       

      

Wanna go snooping at Fairies in Kandeedo's room???? My Momm has filled it with fairies galore...She was showing me this contraption that is something like a fairy tree and when you clap you hear fairies giggling and they dance around...

      

      

Someday I am going to steal that Mackenzie-Childs desk below!!!!

      

      

       Oh, I hear comotion!! Guess who just arrived! Kandeedo and Adam (my baby brother).....

      

With her super-lovely shoes...

      

And her boyfriend....

      

And now, the fun begins!!!!! Eatin' lovely delights and off to Granny's, where all the witch stories, and creepy attics stem from...(that is Kandeedo below)

      

Oh My, why are Momm's refrigerators and pantry always so deliciously stocked???

      

Okay, let's go in our car caravan to granny's house.. Come on Kandeedo get out of Mammies car and ride with me!!! And Mammie asks, are all you munchkins in the car.. Nah, Kandeedo and I are takin' a detour on the way to Granny's...

      

So here we go, 30 minutesfrom my parents house and into town.  And now, it gets interesting.  You see, we are going into the town of Nogales itself.  A strange and bizarre place.  But, there is much history here, and the Mexican-Amercian border is there.  So, if you all want to know what seperates you from Mexico come along! 

I even drove through the old downtown to show you the Woolworth and Kress buildings, although all the shops are cheap knock off stuff now.  Here we go...

First amuzing image as we enter the funky town...Not so sure about Disco and Sushi, you?? And, will that old school Limo pick us up?

      

Getting closer to where Grandma and Grandpa live...I want those stairs! Stairs to nowhere.  Perfecto!!

      

Passed the entrance to Granny's street which is a mile long up hill steep road, and just into downtown.  First you go passed the old courthouse...

      

So, just passed this, is the old dowtown.  It is madness down here.  Just at the end of the street, you can see a fence?  That is the Mexican border.  At the end of the street to the shops you can cross into Mexico by foot.

      

And to the right, is the "Placita" a little park-like place...(Kandeedo's eyeball)

      

And, here is what seperates Nogales, Mexico from Nogales, Arizona.  Pretty freaky wall huh?  You should see it at night all lit up.  Look up the hill there...

      

as I turn to the right, I get to see Woolworth and Kress.  Oh, how I long for the real shops to be in there.....Kandeedo exclaimed, look at the ceiling in the upstairs window...She tried to take a pic...

      

      

      

      

      

Now up to Granny's. Passed the old Post office, and the hundreds of mail trucks...and passed lovely old houses.....

      

      

      

      

My grandparents live up this really really steep and long hill, and you can't turn your car around, so you have to go to the top of the hill where there is a cul-de-sac. Then you turn around and come back down and park on a narrow side strip...But at the top, in the dustance, this is what you see.  The border again...I am zooming in for you here...Scary huh?  I never realized how big it was...Until I came way up the hill one day and was shocked...You can't see all this from the hills where I grew up in...Only 30 minutes away and it feels like a whole different world, don't you think???

          

      

      

If you look in the other direction you see the old church I went to, it is incredible inside, just beautiful, and the old highschool (I did not go there, but I used to think the Rocky movie was filned there when I was a kid)...

      

      

We are here.  Kandeedo is yelling at me to stop snooping through my Grandpa's mass amount of treaures of metals and such...I make these wooden treasures full of found metals, so I pocketed a few scraps I found...I don't know that I can make it down 100 cobblestone steps without killing myself!!

      

Okay, we are here at Grannies house, and it is gift time....I am so excited to give her her very own Jennifer Kerr treasure!!!  And, it is called Josephine's garden, and that is my Granny's name ( I really call her Nana). How perfect!!! Thank you Jennifer!! She loved it!!! Also, gifts for my mom's sister Denise.  And the little girl you will see here and there is one of my Aunt Denise's kids, Carolina, pronounced (Cado-Leena, long a)cute huh?

      

      

      

My Grandma cooks on this. Can you believe it?  They got her a real new stove/oven, but she still likes to use this...I love it myself.  I think it is wonderful!!

      

And now, the moment I have been waiting for this whole post!!!

My grandma has this little door at the top of the stairs.  This tiny door leads to a long room. In this room there is another tiny door at the end.  it is taped up and closed off.  It is an attic. An attic that houses treasures beyond our wildest imagination!  One day, I am going to go visit her and peek through all the treasures!!

Having Carolina there was so interesting.  I had a sense of nostalgia...As she was carrying on with my Grandma, trying on furs and such, I realized, she is having the same magical experiences I had with my Grandma at that age.  It was so touching...

The steepest stairs on the planet...(until 2 years ago there was never a handrail on these stairs, so you could drop off onto the polished brick floor and crack your head if you weren't careful.)

      

      

Me, opening the door....

      

      

      

      

(We did not go deep into the attic, it is closed off, I will be back with that story someday...)

It gets better.  This house is said to be haunted..It is on a cliff...And there is a cesspool, which I guess is like a big open septic tank, closed with a huge metal door. In this cesspool they found human bones in the 40's.  A man murdered his wife, so the story goes....There is also a witches house on the property...But, now, it is totally deteriorated...I wonder what is inside.. My Grandma says it is full of treasures...As the aunts were witches too...

Carolina re-tells me the same story I grew up with.. I love it...And I act as though I have never heard it before...

      

Scary cesspool that you can easily fall into if you go down there....

      

Witches house...

      

      

Carolina telling me about the Witch...

      

Witches brew...(Granny made it)

      

When I was a little girl, this "bird-man" lived across the way from my grandparents.  He built this huge bird house, it was phenomenal.  I saw for the first time, that it has collapsed and deteriorated. It used to look like a secret garden.. Now it is just dead and falling apart.. so sad....

      

      

Well, it was all fun. But, now it was time to go home... Back on the freeway I go.. Half-way to Tucson there is a Border Patrol checkpoint....And then smooth sailing back to Catalina...Packed with delicious food for Mr. Lovee... (Tinga)

      

Hello Tucson!!

      

      

Almost to Catalina

      

I am not even stopping at my home in town...Straight to another hidden place, where my heart and soul thrive...

The yard-sale dog rests....

      

      

A place, where my studio awaits, and I should be ashamed to let you see what a disaster it really is...

      

      

      

Okay, I better get to work. As this longest post ever has taken me forever, and you are probably totally sick of my world by now.....xxo

Too bad I left these lounge chairs behind.... ;) I could use some R&R...

      

Dreamy. Humble. Not Combing Hair. Day.

Where does a girl, who feels so lucky and grateful, begin to express the magnitude of such feelings?  The kindness so many of you have shown me has been undescribeable.  It goes way beyond this swap, which by the way, has  wonderfully floored me.  Your generosity leaves me without words.  I know how busy everyone is, and how we all have real lives outside of this blogging world...Yet, you take the time...And for that, I thank you so very much.

(I had already posted this blog post  last night, when this morning, I read the most tragic story.  I too, type through tears. Details Below.)

        

The seasons have definitely changed.  While at my home in town, the air conditioning keeps the house nice and frozen in the 100 degree weather. Yes we hit 100 today.  In the country home, it is a whole other story.  Mr. Lovee got on the roof a couple weeks ago and did the cooler thing (commonly known as a "swamp cooler").  Which means that it is wavy hair season, as the swamp cooler adds humidity to the air. 

Please share your stories of what happens to your hair in the humidity.  I want to hear it, so I don't feel so alone...I used to hate humidity as a teenager, as Arizonans have a weird hatred towards moisture(although we pray for rain??).  Now as an adult, I don't mind my wild untamed waves so much...

So, I know you guys are going to begin to get annoyed at me.  But I have to tell you.  I received another package today.  And it was good.  FUN - Good.

      

I must confess, I really worry what is to become of me, that sorrowful day when the packages stop coming.  I am becoming so spoiled.  But, the parcels have been arriving at a time when I really needed them.  My real world and work and all was getting a bit much. 

I have to say, your generosity has been incredible.  I never expected so much parcel love!  I can not say Thank You enough.

Today's treasure came from Emma.  A kind wonderful soul who lost her apartment in a fire a few months back.  She has been waiting patiently to get her living space back.  It will be fixed up extra nice for her. But in the meantime, the poor dear has all of her belongings in storage.  I can not imagine how she must feel.  Big Hug to you sweetie.

      

      

Having an energy boosting lozenge, Hmm, interesting. Oh, these stickers are fab, did you make them Emma?? Oo, I love them!!

      

Isn't this so much FUN!!  Unraveling and unraveling.....Oooo, look , a wee package...

          

OH!!!  I love it!!!  A Key, on a chain!!! Oh, Emma, that packaging was so clever. I just love it!!  Thank you!!!!!

      

Do you see what I mean?  You gals have spoiled me, and I am loving every minute of it.  From this day to this day, to now....Oh, I feel so greedy....But, oh so happy!!

      

I know lately I have been so "me me me." But, I promise to get back to the whole reason for this blog, very soon.  Do we even remember the reason?  ART.  Speaking of art, I just placed another Jennifer Kerr order, and my mother's days gifts are here.  Only they are sealed.  I don't know how I will part with them.  I will photograph them when the Queen bee opens them...They came from my darling Stiletto Heights and from Thompson Designs, her checkbook covers are wonderful, I ordered one for myself also. Check them out!!!!

If for some reason, I don't get to see you before Sunday, Happy Mother's Day!  Even if your baby has outgrown the buggy, he or she will always be, your baby....XXO, Vanessa

      

Update May 11,2007 11a.m..

This morning I was reading Pam Garrison's blog.  I read a story that shook me to the core.  Many of you have read this story, but I have to say, everytime I read about it, I feel so much pain for the family.  Lori and Chris Coble lost their three children last week in a car accident.  If you are not aware of the incident, newspaper article here and here.  I have been in tears all moring.  I can not imagine the pain Lori must be in, I am not a mother, but the thought.  Just the idea of it shatters my heart. As I went to comment at Pam's I saw a link left by Risa, the ParTea Planner to a tribute site at Life to Motion.  I decided that, even though I do not personally know the Coble's, and I am all the way in Arizona, I want to share my thoughts and prayers.

      

Risa said the following on her blog "Should you find it in your heart, please tie two pink and one blue ribbon on your tree in remembrance of these lil' angels. Thank you."

So, in memory of those three little angels and through my tears and heartache for the family, I did tie ribbons around my tree.  One blue, two pink.  Little birds fluttered around me and chirped, wondering what I was doing...I offer my deepest sympathy and prayer for the Coble family...words can never say enough...

      

Queen for a Day? Perhaps of the sleepiest + happiest kind...

Early Morning Sounds. The sound of my daily freshly squeezed grapefruit juice on its way. "Oh no!" she thinks, "I am not ready to get up yet, I must, put a lock on that inside door..." She hears the following words..."Ohhhh Doveeeee, you have treasures..." Well, little does he know, I saw those treasures yesterday late afternoon...Yep, in the BIG huge mailbox...

      

But, I saved them in the mailbox to savor them to death this morning instead.  You see, I am the impatient sort.  However, I am finding boundaires work for me sometimes.  As in, "You can not have your packages until the A.M. as you will enjoy them more."  I might sulk away, but I do in fact savor them more....

So, this morning, it was clear that you all have made me feel like a total Queen.  A sleepy, can't show my whole morning face Queen.  But, a Queen, nonetheless...Mr. Lovee said, "Stop putting on the sad Queen face." And I kept responding "Just take one of my head."  And he said, "It doesn't make you real enough if I just take your head"  And I said, "Take the darn thing or I'll show you real...."  Of course, enforcing my Queen skills, of the sleepiest, grouchiest, thankful-est kind (okay, maybe I didn't say that, but I thought it!!hee hee)....I kept moving, hence the blurry picture...(crown, previously owned, purchased here)

      

And, here are all of the treasures, after every savory minute of opening them...Delving into all of the notes...Admiring them, and feeling so overwhelmed that I could just cry like a baby ~ out of happiness of course!!!

      

      

Miss Sadira, Foolsewoode, I can not express my adoration for her creations, and creative poem skills.  The fact that she was willing to part with actual old pages from an Alice in Wonderland book, just floors me.  But, I am glad she did, as I have new art to put on my walls.  I love them!!!!

      

Sadira's handwriting is scrumptious.  She should get a big A for all subjects due to lovely penmanship(I can't spell). THANK you miss darling girl!!!!  I can not express my adoration for the words that emerged with your creativity of blocking...LOVE IT!!!(it is also,squeel, double sided art!)Thank you!!

      

Miss Natash Burns, and her oh so lovely cards.  I think I might need that dress on the one card, if I ever throw myself a wedding.  Of course, I have wedding paranoia, so it would be a wedding for myself, to myself.  Mr. Lovee could come of course...But, he would have to be, My umm, best man?? Hee hee. 

Oh, I need the sake in the one card too (are you all wondering what the "sake" is?  Well, it is my pre-fixed typo for cake. But I left it, because SAKE, is really what I'm going to need if I ever plan to make it down any aisle in a gown...and lots of it). Miss Natasha, do you think you could whip them up in the real for me? We would need that carousel for the guests....And the flowers for my thing-a-ma-bob brides walk down the aisle with...Do they still do that??? We can have a pretend wedding...And I want you Natasha, to be my wedding stuff creator.. K?

Thank you for the lovely cards!!!!!

      

So, if we are in the wedding mood, Gosh, this is too weird,but if we are...Then I have the perfect shoes to wear.  I LOVE THEM!!!!!! Okay, let's swap the wedding idea for a Gala Ball instead...

So, I still have the perfect shoes from Shabby In The City!! Along with a boxfull of treasures! Some wonderful seeds, as I love to grow things, and there is even a treasure for my date, who by the way, is in heaven.  I think he thinks all these gifts are for him!  Well, I do share with him alot, so, he is lucky...You will see below. 

      

Perfect fit.  I feel like Cinderella. Oh, ya, I guess you gals get to see that my Easter basket is still around...I told you, I am a big kid.  I can not escape it!

      

See here is the treasure from Miss Shabbitta for Mr. L.   I put it in Mr. Lovee's room, on his gentleman's chest...Will he find it???? (he kinda caught me...He was like "What are you doing in here? Are you snooping?? What are you up to??? sheesh....)

      

Oh yes, he did find it alright!!

      

He is tooooo happy about the whole thing!!!!  Thank you!!!!  We love them alll!!! You are too too kind!!!!!

And later, still playing with his treat from Miss Shabby in the City...

      

Yet another one of those days when you think, "I can't possibly get any luckier."  And then, you open a package that, makes you realize, "I can get luckier, I can I can" Miss Beeutiffle sent, yes, I know, delicious, and so exciting!! All the way from New Zealand, which I can't express the feel of this New Zealand wool! A "Needle Felting Kit."  I have been wanting to do this for oh so long, as Miss Black Apple inspired me sooooo! And, I thought, where to begin??? Well, here is the first step, all planned out for me!!!  Mr. Lovee was in love with all the wool. 

      

Here he is, stealing it...(just kidding, I won't let him)

      

Thank you Miss Beeutiffle! So thoughtful of you! And all the way from New Zealand! LUCKY me!!!

Mr. Lovee indulged in all your swap gifts...See below. 

I have to say, I think I am getting the better end of the swap.  You all are being so generous and thoughtful!  I am so greatful to know all of you!  This is just incredible!!!!

      

      

I think I'll put my crown on one more time, then off to work...