Jessica had me scrounging at an estate sale last weekend looking for plates she and Katie could use at their next dinner party (apparently an Asian theme, and did you know that soap dishes make excellent sushi plates??? At least according to Jess).

Anyway, so there we were, looking through piles of old and chipped china, when I notice a pile of paintings stacked ina  corner, like forgotten linen. In fact... they actually were on top of forgotten linen and were perched so precariously that I thought at any moment they might fall. I walked over to re-balance them and... guess what... not kidding, they were a stack of prints by William Paxton.

Of course I asked if they were for sale and the kind old woman told me, "well, sure, honey, if you want them."
I had an internal battle for about a millisecond but then simply couldn't do it.
"Um, did you know these were by a famous artist," I asked.
"Really, are you sure? My mother told me they came from a church swap."
Sheesh!

"You, uh, might want to get them, you know, checked by an expert," I told her. "But they're probably worth a lot of money."

Jessica got her soap dishes for free!

At what point do people actually switch out their furniture? I am prefectly happy with the gold velour sofa Peter and I bought in college and the blue striped chair my mom gave me whne I moved into my apartment. But at my party last night three separate people (and, should I be suspicious that they were all girls?) asked me if I had noticed my couch was getting a hole in it. I told them to turn the cushion over but they rolled their eyes like I was missing the point.

Apparently, from what Jessica later said, the point is that I need to re-decorate. Now, I have seen most of their places, including and especially Jessica's, and I don't really think mine is any worse. At least it is clean. The last time Peter and I had to stop at Jess's apartment to fix a squeaky door, we had to kick piles of clothes out of the way to get to it. 

Still.... maybe it is time. I have noticed that I pay more attention to furniture ads when they come on during a tv football game. And, I am in design, so I should probably pay closer attention to my environment. If I could do it online I would, but I am picky about functionality so I guess I will have to do it in person.

Oh well... Ikea, here I come. 

So, last Friday I went in to my dentists for a cleaning and he told me it was time to move on to an adult dentist.

I was shocked! This wasn't something I was expecting and it felt a little like I was being dumped. Okay, I admit, I don't really fit in their chair anymore.... and I guess I don't really need to watch a Disney film while I get my teeth cleaned. But still, I wasn't really ready to go to some new person who doesn't know me and who probably doesnt even let you choose chocolate ice cream polishing stuff.

They could clearly tell that I was a bit thrown, since after they finished my cleaning they showed me their new office pet.... a chameleon called Cami. Personally, I was affronted for the poor reptile... who names a reptile such a prissy name? It seems to me that all reptiles should be named something tough, like killer. Perhaps Cami picked up on my empathy, because when they took her out to show me, she practically jumped out of their hands and onto my shoulder. Have you ever had a chameleon stick its' claws in you? Well.... they are sharp!! and strong!!!.... and they don't let go if they don't want to.

We spent twenty minutes trying to get Cami off me, but she was clamped onto me tighter than a price sticker on a present. The funny part is that apparently chameleons aren't even ususally very social. They like their privacy and space... so the fact that Cami was so attached to me, literally, surprised everyone.

And while, eventually we did free Cami and get her back in her cage, it made me feel a little bit better. Obviously not everyone at the dentist's office was ready to see me go.

So this weekend Katie and I catered an event at the Isabella Stewart Gartner museum. Since the theme was 'giving thanks', we decided to play on word turkey by basing the food and decor on that country.

Imagine our concern yesterday when we saw there had been a huge earthquake there. It makes me wonder what weird currents run things in our universe.

Over the last few weeks I have immersed myself in all things Turkish, from coffee to Kilims (for those of you new to Turkish culture, Kilims are Turkish tapestry created by women and usually in geometric or stylized form). And, as I have learned more, I have grown closer to this remarkable group of people. Their history is still so present... and their lives seem so rich compared with our world of video games and tv. 

So I suppose it is understandable that I am wishing for a way to be there to help dig people out myself. To me right now they each seem like a precious bead on a valuable piece of jewelry. And it feels particularly poignant as I stare at the left-over Pastirma (the original version of pastrami. It means pressed meat... because the cured meat was pressed flat by the legs of the Turkish horseman as they rode.) in my fridge. 

I guess the point is that no matter which country it happens to, a disaster brings into distinct relief the individual faces of the people effected. It leaves us with a view of not just the unique and interesting differences in their culture.... but also of their very humanity. A humanity which we share even while we may eat, play, live or create in our own, very American, way. 

"I want to put a ding in the universe...."

This was one of my favorite quotes by Steve Jobs; it somehow perfectly summed up not just his goal but the reality of his life. So I was really sad last night when I learned that he had passed away. And, though I don't tend to spend much time thinking about what comes after, I do know that wherever he is he is probably already making a big impact.

Design and innovation were his life, and as someone who spends their time in this field it was impossible not to measure any new product by what 'he' would have thought of it. To do this, I kept a website of his quotes marked on my computer, a MAC of course. I thought today would be a perfect day to share it with anyone else interested in how greatness happens. http://www.macstories.net/roundups/inspirational-steve-jobs-quotes/

 One of my other favorite quotes is: “You can’t just ask customers what they want and then try to give that to them.
By the time you get it built, they’ll want something new.” – Inc. Magazine I try to remember this when the research group brings me information they think should change what we are creating. I think - I wonder what these customers would think about something that went one step further; surprised them with being even better than they imagined.
This gives me the motivation to stretch beyond the research and figure out how to serve them an ace (tennis speak of course).

We can't all make a ding in the universe; but although Jessica may not believe it, in my own way I, like Mr. Jobs, would like to try.

This is by far my favorite time of year. I love the way people stay home, they cook more, they celebrate more, they cuddle more. For my business it is both a fun and a busy season as we gear up for the holidays. To prepare I am planning an early Thanksgiving celebration with my friends (think of it like a dress rehearsal with people you like). The hardest part, though, is using seasonally available foods but still making it taste like Thanksgiving should. Here are my menu plans so far.... any other ideas for me?

Starter
Stuffed Portebello mushrooms - grilled
Pear and parmigiano crostini

Main
Turkey (of course) with a carrot quince and nutmeg stuffing
Sea salt Roasted root vegetables
Fresh ciabatta rolls with garlic smear

Dessert
Apple upside down cupcakes with Calvados whip cream

I've set Jessica on decorating duty and she said she'd got a  fall spice theme planned (whatever that means) so I hope my food can keep up.

Mmmmmm, I can't wait.

So, Cynthia recently told me I needed to get onto some of the twitter boards to increase my visibility in the world of product design. If tweets from @satin and @moeny (and no, I did not spell that wrong, that's their sign in) are any indication, my visibility will entail time spent on porn or investments. As usual, Cynthia's advice appears to be a bit too tendy for me.

That said... I did happen (okay, I searched on it, but I was searching on everyone) to find tweets from Jessica- @jessatbettingj - Uh, hello Jess... I may not be as savvy as Cynthia, but even I know that your tweets are public unless you hide them. Did you not think I would see it?

I am beginning to think Twitter is just TMI for me.

I swear.... if it weren't that my parents drive me completely crazy I would be moving back in with them just to get out of this heat.

I love Boston, but it should come with a warning that being poor here sucks. Why? Because anyone with half a brain and a regular sized savings account either goes north (Maine) or south (Cape Cod) in July and August. The rest of us poor overworked dregs (and the stupid tourists who want to walk the freedome trail) end up burning our feet on the baking hot sidewalks.

It's fine for Katie, off in Nantucket catering a week long wedding celebration, and Becky, running in some crazy marathon in New York (okay, actually that doesn't sound that great either, but anyway)... they all made plans to get away. Even Erik left town (ummm, with my parents and Peter who first invited me but I told them I had to work, which actually I did, but it's still not fair that Erik got to take my place.) They're supposedly on some Island off Connecticut where I hear there's a lot of deer and other animals. All I can say is I hope he gets Lyme... well, not really, but maybe a little tick bit just to scare him would be okay.

And now, my landlord apparently heard I've been leaving the fridge door open... a little bit... just to get some cool air on my face, and he told me I have to stop since I'm overworking the electrical circuits or something. It's pathetic... I've actually taken to staying late at work just to keep from sweating for one extra hour a day. Cynthia, being her normal helpful self,  reminded me that the gym is air conditioned too. Duh... but obviously if I went there I'd work out and get even more hot.

So, there has to be a better solution and I'd love to hear it as long as it doesn't entail 1. parents, 2. work or 3. exercise.

Huh! Jessica has some weird new idea that we need to go outdoor camping. It's an adventure camp where we supposedly 'learn to be our best selves'. I tried to explain I was pretty happy with myself just the way I was, but you know Jessica. Katie told me to convince her that we should go to a spa instead. She felt maybe that would bring out Jessica's best self (though of course she would never say that to Jessica). That sounded good to me, but all Jessica did when I told her was point to the cost on the spa brochure and then the one on the adventure camp.

Anyone know anything about 'free-fall' plunge jumps?

Great... Katie's asked me to help with a kids party. Anyone know anything about throwing a kids part'y where, it seems, most of the guests will be adults? Of course Katie's job is easy, grilled hamburgers and hot dogs. But as usual, I'm responsible for the decorating. 

Uh, Barbie? I don't think so. What Mom wants to be reminded of a Barbie's 3 inch waist.

Hannah Montana? Dad's allergic to country and for some reason no one believes Hannah's actually pop.

Maybe Mexican... a pinata filled with adult AND kid stuff.... yeah, that could work. Katie will just have to change the menu.