steve jobs

what a man...

an incredible man.

super sad to hear that he died on wednesday.

apple's homepage

one man who changed society and how we function and communicate, all while wearing a black turtleneck and jeans.

i've been strictly apple since approximately 1983 when i was in elementary school and took my first computer design class.

we used the good ol' apple IIe.  it was like the size of a washing machine and i think it weighed as much as one.

source

the software program we used was logo that had a "turtle" cursor that you literally had to write extensive code to make 1 line.  

we bought one similar to this model not long after taking the class.  and i've had many models since.

oh how times have changed.

and we have steve jobs to thank for it.  

the worst goodbye of all...

or the post i never wanted to write.

the last 2 weeks have brought the death of my grandfather and my great aunt.

and now my sweet dog...

elliot.  *

january 20, 1997 - september 16, 2011

i'm still in shock.

i still can't believe it.

and i want so badly for it not to be true.

most of all....i'm heartbroken.

my family got elliot in 1997 when i was 21 years old.  i'm 36 now.  he's been such a huge part of our lives but mostly mine.

i loved him more than anything and probably too much, but i couldn't help it.  he was the sweetest dog you'd ever meet.  loving, calm, gentle, and sensitive and wanted nothing more than to be right by your side.  he was miserable when left alone but so excited when anyone returned.  for a long time he would give out a bark, a ruh-roh, if you didn't pet him fast enough when you got home.  i always loved that.  he was always eager to follow me wherever i went, especially to my bedroom, so he could jump in the bed and make himself at home.  it was his favorite place and nothing made him happier.  i often adapted my schedule to prevent him having to be left alone because it broke my heart.  he would always look at you with his sweet eyes and make you want to stay.

i'm so ready for this month of tears and heartache to be over.

i know the heartache will never leave but hopefully it won't be quite so bad.  i wonder how much heartbreak one can take...

i will always love you elliot.  you were the best companion anyone could ever ask for.  i can't imagine the world without you in it and frankly, i don't want to.


* disclosure:  we almost never called him elliot.  we called him bew or bewbew.  no idea why i started calling him that but somehow it stuck.

rest in peace bew...

nine / eleven

9/11.

it's been 10 years.

and it's still hard to believe.

new york will never be the same, but maybe one day it will be better.  no matter what, it will forever be one of my favorite places.

i will always think of new york on this day.

new york new york, big city of dreams...


and then there is this song which always makes me dance.  enjoy.

heartbroken...

what a whirlwind 10 days.

it's barely been 10 days since i got word that my grandfather died.

and 7 days since his memorial service.

luckily his memorial service was more of a celebration of him.  great music, hundreds of his friends and a good mix of family and old friends.

one of which was my great aunt patsy, my recently widowed grandmother's sister.  we hung out a good bit at the service and during the visitation.  then i walked her to my car and i drove her back to my grandmother's house to her car.  we chatted and laughed the whole way.

she has always been a huge influence in my life and immensely important to me.

sadly, we got word sunday afternoon that she had died.

so, in 6 days my family lost the 2 sweetest people anyone could ever imagine.

needless to say, i am crushed.  heartbroken.  lost.

i've lost the one person who was always my champion.  always told me i should try something.  always told me i could do it even when i thought i couldn't.  and always put a positive spin on the worst situations.  and bottom line, loved me unconditionally.

she was without exaggeration, the most amazingly kind and giving woman you could ever meet.  she also had the greatest sense of humor with a good dose of sarcasm.

she was smart, forward thinking, open-minded and above all, positive.

everyone loved her.  she had no enemies, only dear friends.  despite having lost her husband close to 30 years ago, surviving cancer 20+ years ago and the effects it left on her body, she did more to help and uplift people in a year than i or anyone i know has done in a lifetime.  not a day went by that she did not volunteer at the hospital, the american cancer society, the ethics committee at her hospital, or some other organization needing her time.  she crocheted countless baby caps and blankets for the hospital for children in need.  and always visited any and all friends that were sick.  her involvement never stopped.

truly selfless.

i will miss her dearly.

and i cannot think of my life without her in it.  it just won't ever be the same...

patsy @ xmas 2009

patsy and bill on their wedding day

r.i.p.

rest in peace?

farewell?

nothing seems fitting.

i've been trying to write this post for a couple of days now but the words aren't coming to me.

my grandfather passed away this monday, august 29th.

n. clayton lee - october 10, 1919 - august 29th, 2011

frankly i'm still shocked.  i mean, i knew this day would come eventually but it doesn't change the fact that it was shocking.

i'm lucky.  i had him around for 36 years of my life.  and he lived a long 91 years, almost 92.  and 91.5 of them were healthy.

he was the nicest man you could possibly imagine and would do anything for anyone.  he loved my grandmother (also named caroline) unconditionally for their 66+ years of marriage.  he was beyond proud of his children - my mom martha, my uncle scott and my aunt patsy.  and he was super sweet to his 6 grandchildren - my sister lee, myself, jordan, aria, hunter and dillon.

i still can't imagine not seeing him on birthdays, holidays and just-because days.

my grandparents

my grandfather, great-grandmother, my mom, uncle & aunt

my grandfather, my mom, uncle & aunt

grandfather

grandfather

my grandparents at my parent's wedding - 1970

my grandfather & my mom at his 90th birthday party

i'm grateful for the time i did have with him but i wish i had more.  isn't that always the case though...

i guess i'll just say goodbye for now...  you will be missed but never, for one second, forgotten.

i'm back...

for the last 24+ hours i've been trying to put into words how i spent my weekend.

sadly, i do not think the words i have can do it justice.

i participated in an ace camp with erin loechner titled 'living a fulfilled life of creativity'.

i stumbled upon the workshop info a while ago and with slight hesitation signed up immediately.  normally i ponder, dread, go back and forth, and then eventually forget about something until the date has passed.  but i bit the bullet and signed up.  that was a big step for me because let's be real, i quit most things i start.

but something about it made me sign up.  it was probably the fact that erin was teaching it.  she's a sassy, petite little ball of sunshine with the biggest heart you'll ever find.  she's totally the one you want to be your bff, your maid of honor or the one around when you break up with your d-bag boyfriend.  but mostly she's full of inspiration and lots of ideas.  she'll be your cheerleader or your ass kicker, whichever you need.   or both perhaps?

besides erin, i met some of the most amazing people i have ever met in my life.  like, friends for life people.  getting to know them and gaining insight into their lives is something i will always take with me.

the group (from ace camp's fb page)

that is all for now but i will update more later.....thank you ladies!

bull city craft 2011 etsy craft party

i've (element75) decided to participate in the 2011 etsy craft party being held at bull city craft in durham, nc this year.  since i'll be here and all.

it's an event being held on friday, june 10th from 4 - 8pm in cities all around the world where crafters/artists get together and sell their wares.

i will be selling a mixture of my hardware and bead/stone jewelry along with other artists in the area.

come out and support local art!  there will also be live music by grammy-nominated singer kate mcgarry and keith ganz and FREE FOOD (!) provided by local chef, reda boustani.


bull city craft is an arts boutique and craft lounge with a local, eco-friendly focus.


event details:
etsy craft party @ bull city craft
friday, june 10th from 4 - 8pm  
2501 university drive
durham, nc
919.419.0800
go here for directions

i love a good tote

i love tote bags and large bags in general.

i have more than i technically have room for.

but that doesn't stop me from wanting more.

like these new jonathan adler totes.  they are pricey, but cute.

images via jonathan adler

i have several brooklyn industries bags and i love them.

they are much more reasonably priced and will last forever.

images via brooklyn industries

l.a.m.b canvas totes are on sale right now at zappos.

images via zappos

you can always find a plethora of other totes at zappos.

pool party fun

angie got a pool last summer but i missed out on all the fun because i did not live here.

finally got to see it this past weekend.

the weather was fantastic.

something i haven't seen in ages living in portland.

even the dog had to swim.

then she had to chill.

post stormy skies

elliot

elliot.

my sweet dog.

but let me be honest.

i call him bew or bewbew, not elliot.

i'm sure i've confused the hell out of him over the last 14 years by all the names i've called him but he definitely knows bew (boo).

the hardest thing about being on the west coast is being away from him...

he's the "family dog" therefore not really mine to take.

even though i claim him as mine.

he's the calmest, sweetest dog you'll ever meet and is a huge part of the family.

he's also my favorite thing about visiting the east coast.

he spends all his time with me and i love it.

i love him....

carrie's wedding reception

one of my dearest friends, carrie, got married last week in the mountains of north carolina.

carrie on the wedding day (photo via carrie)

carrie and tad celebrated their marriage with friends and family this past sunday (april 24) at humble pie restaurant in raleigh.

tad, ayden (step son) & carrie at reception (photo via carrie)

unfortunately, i was having too much fun to take very many pics.  dammit.

dinner

tapas courses:  spinach tart and fried green tomatoes

l to r:  shellie, alisa and adair

danny and jenn

l to r:  kara, angie (bending down), carrie and shellie

first dance

overall it was a super fun night catching up with everyone.  the food was great and carrie and tad looked extremely happy.

so happy for them!

catch up

flew to the east coast last saturday (april 16) to see my peeps, attend carrie's wedding reception/party and see my sweet dog, elliot.

he lives with my parent's as he is technically the family dog but i claim him as mine.  more on him later...

cashed in more frequent flier points (haller-loo-yuh) and flew first class.

hot damn.

i think the sky even looks better from first class.

too bad i'm out of points....  back to the cattle car from now on...

hot towels, booze, hot nuts, lunch and warm cookies were served on the first flight.

lunch was a steak quesadilla, rice, salad, pita chips and cheese dip.  and more booze.

arrived in dallas and luckily made my layover.

back on the plane to head to raleigh.

dinner served.

cheese pasta, salad and some cheesecake.  and more booze.  what?!

reunited at last....

landed in a tornado devastated raleigh.  i missed the storm by a few hours...

horribly sad...

trees were down and debris was everywhere.

and this is just what i saw near downtown raleigh.  much worse everywhere else.