New Laptop, Finally

My new Lilly laptop tote should protect my investment.

My fashionable little Vivienne Tam HP mini laptop--the toy of my dreams-crashed last summer after I drove [bounced] over some steep New Hampshire mountain roads. I had--carelessly, I guess--tucked the mini in the middle of my bag of clothing, figuring it would be cushioned. No such luck. Since then, I've used the computers in the condo business center [until we moved in November], the ones in the Princeton Library [when life took me there for a couple of weeks], the Mac on our kitchen table or H.'s laptop.

Now, success! Troy at CatCom Computers in Montclair set me up, everything ready, good to go. I really like this HP ProBook so far! Now I can zip to the library or Starbucks to work!

I also got a cheery neoprene Lilly Pulitzer laptop tote at Pink Bungalow here in town.

Dad, thank you for this laptop, and for the tote. I promise to do you proud. So far, my fingers are flying.

Good night.

TCOY

1. Walked Sug around block once, walked Bradford School loop with Sug and Fig.
2. Washed my delicate clothes in Woolite.
3. Strongly considered dessert menu at Raymond's. Would have gotten gooey chocolate brownie and eaten it all if Figgy hadn't been a good influence. Love her!

In Praise of Pink--Again

Never tried them, but want to--
though this pink passion does not mesh with savings attempts,
renewed commitment to track spending in special notebook.
Saw this treat at Williams-Sonoma the other day.

I feel like writing about my favorite color. I have a hot pink highlighter in front of me, and it really cheers me up and cheers me on as I track my daily spending [I like to highlight the total in pink] or review notes for an article.

Just checked--turns out I listed some of my favorite pink things about a year ago here. Well, I'm doing it again, because it lifts my spirit. I hope it lifts yours, too.

1. Cherry trees [like the one in Kim's yard].
2. Magnolias.
3. Azaleas.
4. Hyacinths, with their heady scent.
5. Lilly Pulitzer iPad cover. [I don't have an iPad, but I'd love one, and then I'd love to cover it with the iPad case I saw in the store today when I stopped in for Lilly file folders.]
6. Moleskine notebooks.
7. Scrubby sponges.
8. Zinfandel.
9. Charbonnel et Walker Pink Marc de Champagne Truffles.
10. Easter eggs.
11. Figgy's mini quilted Chanel-like purse that Moey gave her when she was a little girl; Punch plays with it now.
12. Pink grapefruits [the idea of them, not really to buy and eat them].

Good night, sweet dreams.

TCOY

1. Threw out rest of PB chocolate Easter egg. It was only mediocre, so that wasn't so hard.
2. Smoothed Jo Malone Bath Oil on damp skin after shower.
3. Laced up sneakers and walked to dentist, CVS and Private Benjamin--more than 1 hour walking total. Built in time to do this, rather than drive.
4. Dentist appointment spurred me on to stop at CVS for mouthwash and new Tom's of Maine Wicked Fresh! Spearmint Ice toothpaste.
5. Walked Sug around block once.
6. Falafel on pita for dinner; yum. We didn't have anything good in the house, so thought ahead.
7. Ice water.
8. Nap.
9. Organized my workload. It helps to face the music.

More Days of Crowns and Chocolate

I don't know what to say. I was showered with good wishes--and fine chocolate--for my 50th birthday. Champagne. Fettuccine with shrimp, crab, lobster, wine and garlic, made by H. from a recipe we learned as newlyweds almost 20 years ago.

Laughter and memories. Close friends. Family. Cappuccino out. Fine cheeses. Fresh fruit. Time to talk. Hugs. Coffee in china cups with a pour of Baileys. Sweet notes and lovely things. A card signed by Dad [when Sis handed him the pen]. Pink things, glamorous things, frilly things, sweet-smelling things, Alice in Wonderland things.

I don't know how I can possibly soldier on now through ordinary life after these days of crowns and chocolate. Yet of course I will.

With you...if you care to come with me. And I hope you do.

Good night.

Dream Come True

It is just so pretty.

When I was a girl, I saw an ice cream soda made of flowers. It was a dainty bouquet in an ice cream soda glass, the whipped cream on top made of white carnations and the cherry a red or pink rosebud. There may have been a tall straw or spoon, too.

Of course, I never wished to be sick, and I think I saw this at a hospital or maybe somehow got the idea that this would be something sent to someone's bedside. I really don't know. Or maybe I saw it at Jones Florist on Washington Avenue, which was right near my grandparents' apartment in Dumont. I stopped in there often and bought a single flower or two for my mom, and for my grandma, choosing and writing out one of those little florist cards for each. I spent under $1 on each--it was all I had--but I felt so proud.

So guess what? My doorbell rings at about 7 last night, and there's a man standing there on the stoop in the freezing cold, holding a birthday cake.

Is this fourteen Nassau Road? he said.

Yes. Yes,  this is fourteen. Sugar was trying to run out the crack in the door.

Alice Hurley?


Yes. 


He handed me the cake and a box of tiny candles.

It took me a second to realize it was made of flowers. I couldn't believe it. A big, beautiful cake made of flowers!

It is green oasis, completely iced with fragrant white mums, trimmed with a swag of pretty pink carnations, with a gorgeous closed pink rose in the middle, and three pink satiny bows for decoration.

The card says Happy Big Birthday! With love from your fans, Don, MaryAnne & Dad [for those of you who don't know, my Sis's real name is MaryAnne].

I just walk around admiring it. I bury my nose in it every time I go by. It is so, so pretty.

Some dreams really do come true. This one from Ellen Palomo of Walter's Flowers in Nutley. [You do know Martha Stewart grew up in Nutley, right?]

P.S. Figgy's cake is delicious, the moist layers made with Valrhona cocoa and cinnamon, the frosting with melted chocolate and sour cream.