It's Just a Month

"“…My brother and I weren’t really “why?” kind of kids. If we asked our mother why the..."

headoverheelspr — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 18:38:00 -0500

“

“…My brother and I weren’t really “why?” kind of kids. If we asked our mother why the sky was blue, we’d get a real answer:

“The blue color in the sky is due to light rays scattering. As light moves through the atmosphere, most of the longer wavelengths pass straight through. The red, orange and yellow light rays are long, so they’re not affected by the air. But the shorter wavelength light, like the blue light, is absorbed by the molecules. The absorbed blue light radiates in different directions. It gets scattered all around the sky. Since you can see the blue light rays scattering from everywhere overhead, the sky looks blue.”

If you got that answer as a child, you’d never ask why again. “

”

- ~ a quote from my book

Help Me Sexy-Up this Dialogue:

headoverheelspr — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 16:16:16 -0500

I pay the clerk and head over to load my coffee with cream and sugar. ”Long day already, hu,” says the gentleman at the creamer station as he slowly stirs his coffee with one of those oversized wooden toothpicks. ”It’s gonna be,” I sigh. “My flight’s delayed.” ”Really, that never happens,” he says in a sarcastic, but sweet tone.” I finish putting the lids on the cups of coffee as I notice how well he’s dressed. Yes, he’s wearing jeans, but they’re designer; a good wash and a great fit. He’s wearing a t-shirt and a well-tailored jacket. His shoes are well made and shined. Mom would be impressed. But his chizzled chin is showing signs of an early five o’clock shadow. ”Going or coming?” I ask casually ”Going technically. I’m supposed to be on a flight to Miami, but it’s delayed.” ”Really? Mine too” ”Yeah, you mentioned that,” he interjects giggling. ”Yes,” I say embarassed. “I mean, I’m supposed to be going to Florida too - Fort Myers. It’s delayed.” I put the sandwich in my purse, sling it over my shoulder and grab the coffee cups. ”Heading this way?” I ask gesturing with a coffee cup in the direction of my gate. ”Yes,” he begins to walk with me. I can’t help but think about the fact that this sort of thing never happens to me. That is, I never end up chatting it up with random attractive guys. Especially not in an airport. (more about not being hit on) ”So you’re on business,” he confirms, interrupting the awkward silence I must have left while drifting in thought. Keep up Heather, this is why guys don’t hit on you. ”No, to see my grandmother,” I correct. Wow, you sound super cool now. You could have gone with the business thing; you travel for work all the time. ”My grandparents live in Cape Coral.” ”Oh, I love Cape Coral. Come on Heather, keep up. “Oh, you’ve been there?” I ask ”Yeah my family’s from outside of Miami so we vacation near there sometimes. Well …,” he begins to wrap things up. Good one Heather. Way to keep up a conversation. ”Well, I guess I should let you get back to your boyfriend before his coffee’s cold.” Score! Even I know that means some sort of interest. He’s fishing. ”Oh, this?” I say looking down at my hands, each holding a cup. “This is for my cousin.” Then I look up from my coffee cup and smile right at him. “I don’t have a boyfriend.”

Chapter One

headoverheelspr — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 16:31:37 -0400

Chapter One
(excuse errors and my personal notes)

Heather

“Miss, please put your seat in its upright position. We’re about to land.”

Six strait hours on this plane and I am beginning to lose feeling in my left leg. Even though my bladder is the size of a thimble, I usually opt for the window seat on cross-country flights. At least then I can pop some sleeping pills, prop my legs up in a suedo fetal position against the window, and attempt to get some rest.

I raised my seat, jabbed at my leg a few times to get the blood to start flowing again and drifted back to sleep.

“Ladies and gentlemen welcome to Atlanta. The local time is 6:25am. For those of you with connecting flights, please check the screens when you deboard. Attendants will be waiting to assist you should you have any questions.”

Six twenty-five. Yikes. It’s only 3:25 in Los Angeles. I despise red eyes.

Kaitlin

I despise the Atlanta airport. It’s got to be the most unorganized, chaotic conglomerate of aviation mess I’ve ever seen. My mother was a flight attendant. By my second birthday I’d been on more planes than most adults, but I have yet to master Atlanta’s airport without stressing just a tad.

It’s 6:30am and I’m attempting to board the tram from terminal A to terminal C where I’m scheduled to meet my cousin Heather and board a 7:20 flight to Fort Myers. I’m on my fall break from school and we figured it would be a good time to surprise Grandma and Grandpa Hecklau with a visit.

I wedged myself on to the tram and try to hold my balance so as to avoid touching any of the rails and handles. Heather calls this sub-way surfing, a skill she mastered while living in New York city. With just the right amount of balance and thigh strength, one can balance even while the tram is coming to a stop. It’s either a fun city-dweller’s sport, or a surefire way of avoiding contact with the most disgusting of germs. Of course, lose your balance and you’ll be gifted with a face full of scummy subway floorboards.

Heather

Six forty-five. I exit the restrooms. The one thing I do love about airport restrooms is there never seem to be any lines. And if there’s one place you can’t deal with lines it’s in an airport, especially when you have less than an hour to catch your next flight. Good thing I inherited my mother’s “fastest pee-er on earth” skill. Of course maybe that is merely a result of my thimble-sized bladder.

As I approach the terminal, it doesn’t take me long to spot her. Kaitlin’s black carry-on bag has a bright pink ribbon tied around the handle. I look down at mine and take note of the a worn and faded Carolina blue ribbon as I walk closer.

“Someone must have taught you how to mark your luggage,” I say.

“Everyone has the same black bag,” she jokes turning around.

“If you mark your luggage with a ribbon, you won’t mistake someone else’s for your own,” we mock our mothers in unison.

“God it’s good to see you,” Kaitlin says as she throws her arms around me.

“Attention passengers of flight 1030 with service to Fort Myers. Scheduled boarding time will be delayed. We apologize for the inconvenience and will inform you once we have further information on the matter. Thank you, and again we apologize for the delay.

“Hurry up and wait,” Kaitlin says as we slump into the seats behind us. “Hurry up and wait.”

About the Book

headoverheelspr — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 16:24:36 -0400

So here is the basic concept. I’m writing this book with my cousin Kaitlin. Kaitlin and I share the same maternal grandmother (aka our mom’s are sisters and we’re both the first born). Anyway, we’re writing a sort of “mother-daughter, generational, coming of age type story” about the lessons we’ve learned over the years.

Kaitlin likes to call it “If at Fist You Don’t Succeed, do What Your Mother Taught You.”

The STORY part of the book (which is 99% made up) is about us meeting up to go visit our grandmother. As it unravels we will have trouble getting there, and a conflict of sorts will arise - it will be an adventure story as we travel to get to our grandmother.

The TRUE part of the book will be the “flashback” stories we tell about lessons we’ve learned, qualities passed down from generation to generation, etc.

The POINT of the book is to appeal to our family, not to the masses; however, the hope is that it will be written in a way that everyone can understand and ultimately relate to.

The GOAL is to get it done as a mother’s day gift, and then go from there.

Step One: Just get started...

headoverheelspr — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 19:57:45 -0400

Step One: Just get started... :

So, I took the plunge and signed up for the National Novel Writing Month site. Oh boy…

Things I Loved About Your Wedding

headoverheelspr — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 14:52:35 -0400

In no particular order:

The vintage typewriter and “better-than-a-photo-booth” photo area
The lanterns hanging outside in the patio
The “story” feel of your wedding ceremony
The way your friends played your first dance song
Patrick
The cider at your after party (even though at first I thought it was coffee)
Your dress, your hair, your entire outfit(s)
The fact that Patrick thought I was fabulous, that he couldn’t believe my hair was real (b/c everyone in Hollywood has fake hair), and the fact that he had a bed reserved for Chris
The salmon - I didn’t eat much but the salmon was darn good.
Patrick
That moment when Patrick jumped up on the outdoor bench and screamed “I f#$%ing love Waffle House”
Patrick
The way Dave loves you - you can tell by how he looks at you

Last night I was on a mission: clean sheets that smell amazingly...

headoverheelspr — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 13:30:08 -0400

Last night I was on a mission: clean sheets that smell amazingly inviting.

During our stay in Palm Springs, it seemed like every time I rolled over I got a burst of fresh-smelling sheets from the bed I occupied in our amazing desert getaway home. Since then I’ve been longing for that comforting feeling while I slumber.

Lord knows that the combination of dog, boyfriend, cat (and various smells associated with each) don’t often add up to fresh smelling linens. I needed a girly change.

Additionally, my The Writer’s Rep partner is going to be in town this weekend with his lady and I’ve volunteered my personal Bed & Breakfast (aka my studio apartment which has quickly become a home-away-from home for any of my out of town friends who choose to take advantage). I had to clean house.

After work I went to the store and picked up the essentials:

non-cheap detergent
non-cheap fabric softener
non-cheap dryer sheets
and a Lean Cuisine steamer dish to tide me over while I worked

I was so pleased with the smell of my sheets that I rushed over to the BF’s house to clean his. Needless to say, I slept like a baby and it was worth every penny of the money spent on non-discounted detergent.

mmm…breath it in. Can’t wait for bedtime!

I Love Athleta.com, but this picture just doesn’t make...

headoverheelspr — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 13:27:50 -0400

I Love Athleta.com, but this picture just doesn’t make sense to me. Let me count the ways:

though the individual pieces of the outfit are nice, I’m not sure it really all goes together
she’s carying skis yet there is (a) no snow on the ground and (b) back to the outfit, who skis in that? and (c) back to the outfit again, where are her ski boots?
Maybe the ski boots are back with the other ten pairs of skis she left in her open, yellow jeep (maybe the jeep is automatic)

Thoughts?

Post it, Win it: Vintage Jewelry

headoverheelspr — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 18:12:00 -0400

I love this Vintage style cocktail ring from VintageYard.com. The cool thing is that if you become a fan of VintageYard.com on facebook and then post an image/link of your favorite ring from their site, you can actually win the ring of your choice! Way cool.

Love that!

A new thing to love… … Palm Springs weekend vacations!

headoverheelspr — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 12:57:02 -0400

A new thing to love…

… Palm Springs weekend vacations!

While We're on the Topic of Things We Love

headoverheelspr — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 18:45:10 -0400

While We're on the Topic of Things We Love:

followers, please click the link above and recommend “It’s Just a Month” as an inspirational blog.

terrysdiary: James Franco shot by Me for Candy Magazine. Is...

headoverheelspr — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 14:41:59 -0400

terrysdiary:

James Franco shot by Me for Candy Magazine.

Is this what you mean by Makeup Experiment?

Well, I do love James Franco.

a beautiful new love

megstown — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 11:05:22 -0400

maybe it’s the wedding coming up and the thought of ALL THAT PRIMPING, but recently i’ve gotten into makeup. i was never a huge makeup person (the thought of heavy foundation makes my skin crawl) but always wore at least some. now, it almost seems fun, to watch your face transform through color, shadow, matte and shine.

but, if you know me, you know i’m not the type to spend $20 on one tube of lipstick or pot of eyeshadow. there are some really fun and affordable options out there, like the mammoth eyeshadow palette i brought on the trip to vegas. then, i saw this baby today. i’m having to tell myself, “keep that wallet in the purse! no extra purchases until after the i-do’s!” if i am going to make an online purchase, the i always check out retailmenot for coupon codes. even if it’s just free shipping… it’s still free shipping.

call me cheap. i don’t care. at least i’m lookin’ good. ;-)

Love the Sound of Rain - it’s days like these that make me...

headoverheelspr — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 16:51:49 -0400

Love the Sound of Rain

- it’s days like these that make me think I should own rain boots, but with so many choices, how is one to decide?

So Miss Massa (but not for long)...what are your favorite things?

headoverheelspr — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 20:36:00 -0400

In celebration of your pending nuptials, I thought a good theme would be playing off the idea of compliments. We can use our “It’s Just a Month” challenge blog to celebrate all things loved by the two of us. Additionally, I’d like to encourage others to post images and comments of things they love as well. To start us off, here’s a little list:

I love:

this time of year; fall is beautiful and it smells even better
wedding vows - I can’t wait to hear yours. Tears are guaranteed
flowers (so I know it seems like there’s a wedding theme going on here, but I love all flowers, all times of year, and for every reason…or no reason at all
the whites of a puppy dog’s eyes, and the whiskers on kittens (these are a few of my favorite things)
the crust on a piece of french toast or a grilled cheese sandwich. And sushi, I love sushi.
sunsets, laughter, hikes, a good glass of wine with friends, vacations to foreign lands…and my truck
fresh powder on a ski slope; first chair, or sleeping in and joining the line-up
my mom’s house at Christmas time, my dad’s voice and the way my grandmother’s home always smells fresh…and grandpa’s ability to fix anything (or at least read all the instructions). And…Ahmad’s silly jokes.
a long phone call with Lisa Payerle, Sarah Dues or Chris Gordon; IM Chats with Lori and Emilie; weekday afternoons with Ali; “instructions” from Mr. Payerle, advice from Mr. Gordon and Mrs. Payerle’s cooking…even on a random Tuesday night.
the smell of cut grass, a clean house and lake water mixed with gasoline
and that place, in his arms, where you’re lying with your head tucked in his shoulder. All the world seems right.

Our Vegas Trip…where we did continue our challenge,...

headoverheelspr — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 18:32:21 -0400

Our Vegas Trip…where we did continue our challenge, however intoxicated we may have been.

Failure to Launch

headoverheelspr — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 14:21:43 -0400

I guess one of the hardest things about challenges is when you break your routine and have to come up with another way of accomplishing the same thing. I’m pretty sure we maintained the challenge while in Vegas, but I’m wondering if all our letters got sent.

I still have a postcard or two, so I think I’ll send those in addition…just to be safe.

Estrangement

headoverheelspr — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 13:59:21 -0400

So I didn’t really research the etymology of the word “Estrange~~ment~~,” but if you ask me the word “strange” is pretty clear. I agree with you about the “being proud,” of your mom. I mean, I know it is human nature to think we are in the right and that others are naturally the “wrong” ones, but the fact that she hasn’t chosen to shun you seems like the appropriate decision. If anything it, to me, seems based off of more logic than what your grandparents seem to be basing their decisions off of.

I just don’t understand it when family chooses not to speak. In my own family, my mother and my brother went over a year or two without speaking. I kid you not when I say it started over an arguement about him helping her move furniture. While both parties will get angry with me when I choose not to take sides, I can empathize with the hurt and reasoning behind each of their behaviors. What I can’t understand is the willingness to go without words for so long. After my Uncle’s Wedding in May things got a bit better, but my brother still seems to hesitate with the communication. On another note, my mom also speaks very rarely with her sister, yet when they come together they seem to have the best time ever. My cousin snapped photos of the two of them drinking strait from wine bottles together the night before my Uncle’s wedding.

It’s all just very…well…strange.

oh lisa frank! take a seal, give it huge eyes and some purple embossing, and entrance girls...

megstown — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 22:54:37 -0400

oh lisa frank! take a seal, give it huge eyes and some purple embossing, and entrance girls everywhere. haven’t thought about that wonderful junk in a long time!

yeah, i’ve been using a mixture of cards and paper we having hanging about in random desk drawers. i burned through a stockpile of blank cards pretty quickly. one of dave’s co-workers has an adult autistic brother who lives with her. he’s really into exercise and eating healthy. whenever we make a big batch of veggie soup or turkey chili, we freeze the leftovers and dave gives them to his co-worker, because her brother LOVES it. he’s also really into taking nature photographs and has used an online printing source to make some into blank cards, which he gave us as a thank you for all the soup and chili. kinda a random way to come into some stationary, huh? well, they’re all gone. i’ve scribbled on all of them. now i’m interspersing a few blank asian-themed cards with just regular paper. well, i can’t wear a dress every day, now can i? sometimes you just have to roll regular-like.

totally different update: finally talked with my mom about our whole experience, and told her she might be hearing about it from the g’parents. turns out she won’t be, because they aren’t really talking at the moment, and haven’t very much since she moved back to the carolinas. bummer, huh? i feel bad that she’s been put in the middle, but (and this does sound bad) i’m proud of her. not that she “picked” me or anything. it’s just, well… i think it’d hurt if she just pretended like it wasn’t happening. but how can you pretend your child doesn’t exist? the whole thing just makes me want to sigh.

so i guess i will. and maybe go get some more pretty paper or cards.

-m.

I can make pretty much anything fun if I add a little pretty. ...

headoverheelspr — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 14:06:30 -0400

I can make pretty much anything fun if I add a little pretty. You know, like cleaning when you have brand new cleaning products or scented candels…or cooking when you have new lingerie… wait, what?

If only Lisa Frank knew what she was doing to the girls born in the 80s!