Last night after a long day at work, I went to Mariel's house excited to pick her up, grab some food, and take her to the Lemon to pack up her clothes that didn't sell. I also wanted her to take all the hangers that were taking up precious space in our laundry room.
This was the plan, but life doesn't always go according to plan (like electric teapots, sometimes they break.) Instead of a lovely evening of Lemon clean-up, quesadillas from El Nayer, and free movie passes (from that wild and crazy girl Chelsea) I had a stressed out, cold toes shaking in my boots, wire hanger break in.
I locked my keys in my car. Dammit. Mariel kept her cool and I cursed like a sailer, but refused to call a locksmith. "My uncle has helped me with this before, we need a wire hanger."
Twisted into many configurations, sometimes with the aid of a rubber-band, a wire hanger can usually grip the lock and pull it up, or jab at the automatic unlock button. For me, without any patience, this is easier said then done. Not to mention how irritable cold toes can make a girl who can't get into her car. Eventually Mariel's parents came home from a fancy party (where someone else locked themselves out of their car) and tried to help. Her dad patiently stayed with us for a half an hour in the cold trying to pry the damn thing open with grace, but without any luck. After he struck out I gave the old girl a few more pops myself and said, "The hell with this Mariel, I'm going inside to call some company that's going to overcharge me for their help."
"OK... but can I stay out here and try a few more times? I haven't tried yet." Mariel looked hopeful, but I felt hopeless. I told her to knock herself out but figured, what's the use? Why the heck would she even try anymore? Come inside and get warm, you're not a miracle worker. On the Internet I saw ads for a "$15 locksmith in 15 minutes (depending on traffic)" but didn't trust their conning fine print. Mariel's mom told me that a lady at work (who ALSO got locked out on the same day) had to pay 59 bucks and to not believe in any fifteen dollar hooey.
But before I could pick up the phone to pay for my misery, Mariel came rushing into the house, minutes after I abandoned her, screaming "I got it! I got it!" Oh we cheered and her parents beamed, "That's our Mariel Braid, she's always had a steady hand, I swear to God!"
So after all that! We missed the dinner and the Lemon clean-out but made it just in time to see Black Swan and to pick up the comp tickets from Chelsea. I put my head on Mariel's shoulder just outside the concession stand and thanked her again. "You know what? I'm getting a $5 soda and some hot dogs! Let's celebrate!"
P.S. Black Swan was creepy, but entertaining. Natalie Portman helped me escape and feel better about all my auto troubles this month. Keys locked out of a car can't hold a candle to that psycho ballerina!
This is my new favorite mug. I just took up drinking tea, and the way all of the different flavors are displayed in a 1970's navy font up against a tan backdrop makes me want to try all of them over breakfast! Notice the bling diamonds in the background? Those are bejeweled on a tape dispenser Nana got me for Christmas! 
Ryan bought me the coolest peppermint scented "Denture Soap Set" this year from LoveLeeSoaps. I'm keeping the soap at my desk until I have the guts to wash my hands with it... it's just too cool to destroy! Also at my desk I have this little telling pebble that will hopefully help me maintain my #1 New Years Resolution: write everyday for at least 30 minutes. One day I want to write my own book as cool as those "Sweet Potato Queen" bestsellers that Cassie always buys me for Christmas!
The final part of my mood board is a charm that my mom bought me while I was working at Journey from Junk. "She makes pretty things" also has got me writing again, and keeping up with my resolution even before 2011 begins. I've starting penning a short essay devoted to my little charm and all of the stationery kits I used to be obsessed with making. The "Shabby Chic" background is from Rachel Ashwell's book of this same title, which was also a Christmas book gift from Cassie.
A few weeks ago on a very rainy, lemony afternoon I got an incoming phone call for "Lemon Thrift". It was a student from UMBC wondering if we still had records 2 for $1.oo on sale. I told the young voice on the phone that of course we did and to come on by and pick some out! A half an hour later and dripping wet, a young girl knocked on the door and thumbed through our orange crate of records. "We don't really have the best selection in there, all the good stuff's in my room. But for less than a buck a record you can't really go wrong..." She agreed but told me that the records weren't really for listening. "I'm doing a project at school and I actually have to make an entire outfit out of music."
I've been getting cozy with some witty ladies lately. Erma Bombeck and Jean Kerr get me to sleep at night after fits of laughter, curled up with one of their books. It's kind of funny for a twenty-two year old girl, unmarried, and without children to get such a kick out of these two famous mothers, but so be it. I like what I like.
