Piaggio BV500 Scooter-Bella's new ride!

Piaggio BV500 Scooter

Bella is ready to join the ranks of other cruising enthusiasts who scoot from coffee shop to class, home to work.  Her gently used Piaggo scooter provides the perfect balance of speedy transportation with environmental conservation.  Her new ride gets 50 miles to the gallon, which means she'll save tons of money on gas leaving her extra cash to buy Ramen.  And what about when she needs to restock those noodles?  Groceries=No prob!  Both sides of her new ride have hard-cased side compartments, plus a storage trunk on the back.     Bella's scooter is Euro-fab and affirmed my desire to get a Can-Am Spyder.  I've wanted the three-wheeled beauty lacquered in crisp white for years.  I'd better start saving my pennies because Matt said he could find no good reason to buy me one.  Since my commute is all of five minutes, I can't use that as an excuse.  I could sell my car, which might bring in enough for me to buy one, but I'd still have that pesky chauffeur problem. Logistically, how will I drive around "the Maddis" and friends around town? Hmmm, I'll have to think on that one....

When (notice I didn't say if but when) I did get one, I'd need to take a motorcycle class first.  Bella took a class last week at Freedom Power Sports in Lewisville and had a great time.  She raved so much about her instructor on the first day,  that I went to meet her the second.  Danielle was friendly and helpful; she possessed a confidence in riding and relayed those skills in such a way that eased any fears Bella might have had.  Bella agreed to let me video her in motion:

Warming up.

Doesn't she look great?  Today she went to the DPS office and got her M license! 

As for me, maybe when my hair is completely grey (although, why would I ever stop coloring it?) and I eat my dinners at Cotton Patch, then maybe I can afford to buy a Can-Am!  Until then, I tried on this one for size. 
"Honey, take my picture?  Don't I look cute?  I think I need one too." I said.  
Matt was not amused.  He was busy trying to mow the lawn and there I stood, jumping up and down, trying to gain his attention.  He turned off the motor and gave me "the look."  The look I've grown quite accustomed to seeing over the past few years.  The look that says, you suffer from dreams of grandeur, you're a lunatic, and why must I always drop everything because you want a picture taken?!  Really?
I responded by doing what I always do--I ignored the look. "Honey, it will only take a minute.  Please??"

~Truly, Cinderella

Lazy Days of Summer?

Rolling into the hot, Texas dog-days of summer, I promise myself to make time to relax.  I mean really relax; my mind, soul, and body.  I'm fortunate to have my summers.  There is a reason educators are given this time off, and it has nothing to do with agrarian tradition! Spend a few days inside the classroom and you'll understand why, which takes me back to my point.  Project RELAXATION.

Kenny Chesney, Jimmy Buffett, Zac Brown Band, and other country artists sing songs for beach picnics and bbq dinners.  Those easy-going greats wrote summertime anthems for the weary to remind us of forgotten warm afternoons from days past.  "Bare feet on the dashboard," "swimmin' holes," a blown out "flip-flop," and "toes in the water;"  Now this group knows how to unwind.  Then again, they are not mothers.




So, where are these long-lost glory days of summer?  

Continually striving to become the perfect mother, wife, hostess, and decorator my days are filled with tinkering and fiddling, always busy.  My mantra, idle hands build an idle life.  My husband likes to watch movies at home, but I can't sit still long enough to enjoy one.  "Besides," I ask him, "why watch someone else's life when you could live your own?" So since June 6th, we have ventured inside the city to visit the JKF Museum, the Dallas Museum of Art, the Arboretum, the Dallas Zoo; we've attended concerts and two firework shows, eaten at a variety of new restaurants, and perused the Bishop Arts District. I've read five books, cooked countless meals, baked a myriad of desserts, decorated the reading room, planted flowers, cleaned out the garage and deep cleaned the house.  On the side, I've continued my love affair with hair and coiffed some fabulous dos (pronounced 'doos'-as in hair) for friends.  I've engaged in countless conversations, catching up with old friends.  Madilyn attended tennis camp; Bella worked as well as prepared for her college friends to visit.  The days zipped by with all this busy-ness. My hands build life and I love it!  I eagerly embark on the day's journey.  I am Mrs. Dalloway but like her, sometimes I wonder why?  Woolf in her melancholy way reminds us of the question: what's the purpose in all this movement? When Mr. Walsh compliments her, calling her the perfect hostess she cringes.  She despises the simple classification and thinks it silly.  But later she remembers "...that a woman's gift, of making a world of her own wherever she happened to be" is extraordinary.  I agree. 

However, now is the time to rest. Next week I'm going to Seattle with Matt and I'm going plans-free.  I'll leisurely walk the streets allowing Fate's hand to guide me. I'm leaving space for Serendipity to work her magic.  When the bright sun warms my face, I'll pause to capture the feeling.  I'll enjoy the city without judgement, without agenda.  And though I won't have beach or sand,  I'll have adventure.  Adventure without the to-do list.  

~Truly, Cinderella

Greta's Parade

Today was the first day of my biking adventures! Of course, Greta (my bike) wasn't ready for the road until equipped with basket and bell, which I purchased this week, making it vintage fab for a sunny, Saturday morning!

The morning began when I met Natalie for a Fuzzy breakfast taco, complete with a Fuzzy driver.  After our breakfast, we hit the trail!  I was a bit nervous about riding on the main streets for the first time, so Natalie followed behind me in her Tahoe.  Can you imagine?  Natalie is coasting behind me with her hazards flashing, while I leisurely ride down Broadway Avenue!  

As we approach the corner of Broadway and Avenue Q, we see a horse parade!  I'm not kidding, either!  Today is the annual Cowboy Symposium festival, and a horse parade through downtown is part of the festivities!  We watched the cowboys, buggies and stagecoaches stride down the street.  Incredible.  

After watching for a few minutes, we decided to continue on towards the Downtown Art Market.  This event is once a month at the Tornado Gallery on Buddy Holly Ave and it's definitely one of the coolest events this city has!  It reminds me of the outdoor markets in Europe, where vendors bring all their different goods.  Flowers, vegetables, folk art,  jewelry, and much more are on display and for sale.  I went first to the Therapy booth, products made by my sweet friend Marci Gutheil and her sister, Val.  The booth is filled with wonderful creations like felt flower hair pens, floral satches, jewelry and dresses.  Across from Therapy, I found a children's clothing booth that had a bright red poodle skirt calling Madilyn's name.  Madi wears her black poodle skirt EVERYWHERE, so I thought I should encourage her collection. I saw many friends, old and new, and enjoyed visiting with them all.  Next, I purchased fresh garden flowers that looked mighty nice in my pretty, little wicker basket.  After all this fun, it was time to return home.  I loaded my basket, hopped on Greta, and rode through the red brick downtown streets toward home.

Ok, maybe not home, just Fuzzy's.  This first trip I parked my car at Fuzzy's and rode the bike downtown.  Natalie had to go on to work, so I made the trip back on my own and I was feeling confident about my new found hobby.  Until I see the parade.  ANOTHER parade!  This time it was some sort of Mexican parade, I think celebrating Mexican Independence.  Well, I start trying to figure out how I'm going to cross the street and get back over to Fuzzy's, when I see the low-rider boys.  Let me explain.

While at Fuzzy's Taco shop earlier in the morning, a group of Hispanic guys in a low rider pull up to the restaurant.  Natalie and I were sitting on the patio, and I guess we looked friendly, so they said hello.  They also watched our comedic show in the parking lot, as I clumsily learned to steer my bike, as Nat laughed hysterically.  So, what are the odds these same guys are in the parade and happen to be right in front of me as I come to the parade route?  Likely, because they were, and they asked me to join the parade!  

"Get in front of us!  Come on, just do it!  Get in front of us!" They shouted. 

"I can't!" I replied, but quickly decided it was the only way to get back over to my car.  I thought for a moment and I did what any sensible person would do.  

                               I joined the Mexican parade.

What a morning!  What a beautiful morning; the sun shining on my face, the wind blowing through my hair (what's left of it) and candy falling into my basket as I rode in a parade.  This I know: Greta and I are going to be great friends.

~Truly, Cinderella

Simplicity

SIMPLIFY: verb.  Make (something) easier to do or understand

After my stint in Europe, I came to the realization that my life, like most Americans, is entirely too complex.  It begins with the Joneses.  We are all so busy working: to make more money: to buy more stuff: so that when we drive our new cars, and park in our large custom designed homes,  and sleep in our king size foam mattresses we can feel good about ourselves and our lives.  The same applies to our children. We have them involved in numerous activities each semester, not usually giving them the chance to master one, but hoping they try everything so they will be the ultimate "best at everything, well-rounded" individual.  As mothers we drive big SUV's just in case we might take the entire soccer team for ice cream after practice.  Sure, it comes in handy in such instances, but be honest: how often does this really happen?  We are using fuel unnecessarily, and unhealthily for the sake of what?  Convenience?   Or dare I say it.... Pride?  Especially in my neck of the woods, or shall I say, flatlands.  West Texas is king of BIG.  We like our vehicles, our homes, our serving sizes, and even our hair-big!  It's in our blood.  Maybe it's because we have the space to do it.  Or maybe it's leftover from the frontier mentality: settle, conquer, and tame the land- in large proportions.  

I think we've lost sight of what's important, and what truly brings success.  And what about our universities?  Think about college football.  The bigger the stadium, the better the recruits.  And better recruits means more attendance at games, earning more money for the University.  But where does all this money go? Is it funded back into professor's salaries, or better classrooms?   Is our goal to truly nurture and educate the mind, body and spirit?  Or is it to build bigger stadiums?  As one professor once told me,  having a liberal arts degree in today's America, just means that you have learned a little about all disciplines in order to conduct a conversation at a cocktail party.  Is this really what we want of our future?  Exhausted, over-worked, over-weight individuals who know nothing of true realities, but enough of something to converse at a cocktail party?

Ok, ok, I haven't gone completely leftist rogue, but I do see the world much differently.  And I plan to change my life for the simple.  I began this transformation in Stockholm.  The first step for me, was the haircut.  Any woman can attest a change in life results in a change of hairstyle.  I chopped mine off, almost pixie style, and I absolutely love it!  I must admit, I was a bit nervous cutting off a 12 inch ponytail, but I have no regrets.  It takes all of 10 minutes to style my classic, chic hair, which leaves time to do more important things.

My second step in achieving simplicity is to buy a bike.  I know it will be difficult to commute on a bike in my area, but there are places I can ride instead of drive.  Starbucks, the grocery store, the drugstore, a best friend's home, and the park are all in biking distance.  Therefore I save fuel, and get much needed exercise.  

My new bike!  

Another change for the better:  my youngest daughter has chosen to attend the school a block from our home.  She is very excited to walk to school daily, as am I.  We will save gas, and enjoy our leisurely walks together every morning.  Dinnertime has always been important to our family, so instead of running all over town in the evenings, we are choosing to cook our family dinner's at home.  We spend quality time together, while learning to make some amazing cuisine. 

I'm looking forward to the exciting school year in front of us, and now I must tend to the chore of downsizing.  I will rid my garage of stuff!  Simplistic living, fairy-tale style!

Truly,

Cinderella