Frills...She has done it Again!!!

The Vera Girls will need to get together STAT....as soon as the new Vera Bradley Frills line is available in a store that is near. Our Vera dealer at Artisian's revealed yesterday that it shipped on Wednesday so my estimation is that it could be any day now. I am so excited because none of the Fall Colors really did it for me, but somehow the Frill line is reeling me in. The colors are actually the inside designs of the new Fall colors. Super Fun. Super Cuter. Super patenty. Could anything be better? I mean really??

I always have a hard time committing to colors and I have a sneaking suspicion that I may go with the pinky one. Although there is a black pattern as well...that would be perfect for winter. Decisions, Decisions, Decisions. I'm starting to think that is part of the fun. Lots of patterns. Lots of styles. Lots of personality. Afterall, isn't that what it is all about? Expressing yourself with the perfect purse? The best thing is that for the most part...they always fit.

Thursday 13 - Legendary Duos

My sister is my very best friend and as such we have many inside jokes and are pretty sure we can communicate on several different wavelengths. Especially in terms of one of our favorite games...when watching TV, movies, or even the news we have a habit (even if we are not in the same location) of deciding who is who in a situation where you have two people. My sister is the (insert name of person) to my (insert name of other person). I'm sure there are zillions of things we have come up with over the years...but I am dedicating this weeks Thursday 13 to some of these duo combos. My sister actually helped me with this weeks list. Snaps to Sisterness!!! :)

1) My sister is the Jay to my Silent Bob.

2) My sister is the Amy Poehler to my Tina Fey.

3) My sister is the Joe Cole to my Henry Rollins.

4) My sister is the Art Garfunkel to my Paul Simon.

5) My sister is the Big Bird to my Snuffleupagus. (hmmm...is that the right spelling? Does anyone remember when only Big Bird could see him?)

6) My sister is the Adam Carolla to my Dr. Drew.

7) My sister is the Don Vito to my Phil.

8) My sister is the Matt Damon to my Ben Affleck. (She is the Will to my Chuckie and the Loki to my Bartleby too.)

9) My sister is the JD to my Turk.

10) My sister is the Stewie to my Brian.

11) My sister is the Eddie Murphy to my Arsenio Hall.

12) My sister is the Leonard to my Sheldon.

13) My sister is the Koda to Kenai.


If you would like to check out other Thursday 13's...have at it by clicking here!!!

Thursday 13 - Nicknames

I thought it would be fun to list out some of my nicknames over the past 32 years...I tried to note them in order of when they were bestowed upon me...from birth until now. Hope you enjoy them!!!

1) Buddha Belly

2) Moose

3) Tot Wheeler

4) Sweet Face

5) Mean Worm

6) Joyful

7) Sissy

8) FPOS (Fat Piece of 'fill in an s-word')

9) Joyous

10) Depression

11) Queen Joy

12) Blossom

13) Joy Joy


Do you have nicknames that you want to share?? Of all of the above, Moose and Blossom are used the most. ;)


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Another Break Coming Soon...

My type A personality benefits often times by just going with the flow and trusting the process. Sometimes not planning is the best planning you can do. I am so excited to have another brief get-away to one of my favorite places. Charm City here I come...and with a stellar view of fireworks to boot!!

Thursday 13 - Upon the Shelf

I would like to dedicate this weeks Thursday 13 to all of the books that are currently mocking me. Some have been doing so for a few years. The following is an ode to 13 books that are sitting upon a shelf waiting for me to read them. Enjoy...and it is quite a varied list of literary goodness. Welcome to the glimpse into my scattered interests...

1. Better: A Surgeon's Notes on Performance - Atul Gawande

2. Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen

3. Agnes and the Hitman - Jennifer Cruise and Bob Mayer

4. One Bullet Away - Nathanial Fick

5. One Fifth Avenue - Candace Bushnell

6. Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy

7. A Widow's Walk - Marian Fontana

8. The Gatecrasher - Madeleine Wickham

9. Handle with Care - Jodi Picoult

10. Acceptance - Susan Coll

11. Something Borrowed - Emily Giffin

12. The First Five - Henry Rollins

13. Thirteen Moons - Charles Frazier

If you would like to check out other Thursday 13's...have at it by clicking here!!!

I miss you...

It is so true that you don't know what you have until it is gone. In the spirit of my crankiness, I thought I would take a few moments to reflect upon how much I miss air conditioning. I admit it...I like a cool house and a cool car. I like to keep things cold. I don't open windows...to humid and muggy. I crank up the air...that is what I do. So, since this weekend the house has not had any AC...and it is freaking scary hot. Oppressive on the top floor...if you ask me. So much so that as you rise up the stairs a wall of hotness smacks you and then lingers for your entire stay.

I don't think I slept that well and I feel terrible for being so darn cranky about it. Seriously...in the grand scheme of things...this is no big deal. There are so many worse things to have happen to you. Yet...I'm still annoyed. I think part of it is because when I get really hot it sort of mimics what it is like when my blood sugar is low. Even when I try to think "igloo" thoughts...I'm still roasting. Even with a fan blowing hot air, I feel like I am outside under the sun. But I am hopeful...hopeful that on Thursday all well be right with the world because I can crank it up again. On full blast...

Thursday 13 - Theme Tunes

Maybe it is just me but sometimes as I meander through my days I my very own personal movie soundtrack running through my head. The songs that propel me through the day. The songs that spur writing ideas. The songs that cause a swirl within my soul. You know that feeling...songs that make you feel like you are flying or at least what it might feel like to fly. So, my Thursday 13 this week is a list of a few of those songs that are part of my soundtrack.

Many of them date back to my very beginnings...so I have decided to list them in the order of when they were added to my mind's movie soundtrack. It starts from the earliest time I can remember being obsessed with a song(age 2 or 3?). Hope you enjoy it. Hope there are some on here that you enjoy!!

1. Windy - The Association

2. Spunky Spunky - Bob James

3. Faith - George Michael

4. Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring - Bach

5. St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)- John Parr

6. Dyslexic Heart - Paul Westerberg

7. Appalachian Springs - Aaron Copeland

8. Buddy Holly - Weezer

9. State of Love and Trust - Pearl Jam

10. Tunnel of Love - Bruce Springsteen

11. Waiting Room - Fugazi

12. Kite - Ivy (although I think original version is by Nick Heyward...which is also good!!)

13. Change - John Waite

If you would like to check out other Thursday 13's...have at it by clicking here!!!

Veraholic Strikes Again...

I may or may not have purchased another purse that I don't need last weekend. But here is the thing...it was on sale. I had been lusting after it since this February when her summery nylon line came out. In a month a whole new set of things will be coming out and I'm pretty sure my Vera Girls and I will be spending more money on the Vera. There are totally worse things to be addicted too...and we will keep telling ourselves that. Besides, Vera is an instant happy for me. I love all of my pieces and now that I interchange them with bags...it is much more economical.

Here is a case in point. My current "diabetes bag" is in Pink Cupcake and I have a sunglasses case, wallet, and other assorting things in that pattern. They look adorable with my new pink purse and they looked good with my other pink plaid purse too. And...as if we did not need more evidence....they match with purchase too. So really, the fact that I already had a bunch of accessories that would go so nicely...it was a sign that I totally need to buy it. Did I mention it was on sale?

Thursday 13 - Reasons Why I Work So Hard

I hated cancer long before I ever had a personal reason to. I know the exact moment when it happened. I was watching a documentary on PBS about a little girl being treated by doctor. At the time I was watching it, I did not know that I would someday meet that doctor in person my first day on the job. The fact that I serendipitously ended up working for the very place whose work was highlighted on that documentary just shows that it was meant to be. I was captivated then and now. I’m a workaholic and feel very lucky that I can use my business-brain to help those with scientific ones.

My Thursday 13 this week is dedicated to the 13 reasons why I work so hard. Hope they are as motivating for you as they are for me...

1. Grandpa - He taught me how to work hard early on and I hope I make him proud. I miss him each and every day.

2. Joel West Baillie - He taught me how to live life in a bus ride conversation I know will stay with me in my heart forever. CAKE Rules!!! And thanks to him…there are some songs that I just can’t listen too without bursting into tears.

3. Chassity Flint - She taught me to go after what I want because it is silly not too. Every butterfly, dragonfly, and ladybug reminds me of her strength, grace, and love. Oh yes…and she helped me to find my inner diva.

4. Camp Fantastic Campers - Each and every lovely face that smiles and giggles in the most perfect place in the world that exists for just one week in August. The amazing energy they bring that fills the hollow the moment they make their way down the winding roads in the buses with the teams of motorcyclists that lead them in. How their strength and bravery surpasses all that faces them. How every year you are forever changed because of each and every one of them.

5. Camp Fantastic Volunteers - The energy, creativity, and unconditional love of a special group of people who gather for one week in August and make it happen. A team in every sense of the word. Willing hands to help. Smiling faces to cheer. And duct tape…lots and lots of duct tape.

6. Cancer Sucks - I don’t know that I need to give any specifics on this one. It touches everyone in one or another and that fact never leaves me.

7. Great Minds - I am so lucky to be able to interact with incredibly smart people who work tirelessly to kick cancer ass. If any little bit of what I do throughout the day helps them…then in some way I am kicking cancer ass too.

8. Caretakers - The strength, tenacity, and love of the folks who care is not always seen or out in the open…but it is there and it is strong.

9. The Horizon – There is something about my intuition that tells me that some of the ideas that I hear percolating now are going to bring good things in the future. When I sit in meetings sometimes I get goose bumps thinking about where things are going to go over the span of my career. Perspective is a very cool thing.

10. This Picture. (See #4 above)



11. Appreciation – Positive reinforcement goes along way so when people tell me that me I never “nag”, I “remind” it makes me feel good. Not everyone can keep things moving along in a “nice” way. ;) Maybe my first name helps…can you get mad at someone named Joy???

12. Writing – I may never finish any novels but my working writing helps to tell different kinds of stories and that is still satisfying.

13. Motivation – When I get tired or frustrated all I have to do is think of items # 1 – 10 and then I keep on going.


Do you have a reason for me to keep working hard? Drop me a comment and let me know...


If you would like to check out other Thursday 13's...have at it by clicking here!!!

Thursday 13 - Anxious Much?

Another Thursday, another list of 13 things within my brain space. Since I have been a bit anxious about things this week and some big deadlines fast approaching that I need to shake some action on, I thought I would list out some of the things that I have been anxious about...over my 32 year life span. With a bit of commentary on how things turned out of course. ;) Hope you enjoy them!!

1. Getting a baby brother. (I am so glad that I didn't!!! My baby sister was perfect...and not once after she was born did I ever ask about a baby brother again.)

2. Going to the hospital for any reason at all as a patient. (When I did finally go in 1987 when I was diagnosed with T1 Diabetes...I just took it in stride.)

3. Setting a bad example for my sister and messing up her life. (Think this one is ongoing.)

4. Getting behind on work if I ever missed school...even in Kindergarten. (Can one really comment on that? Type A much? Is this why I'll come in for a meeting on a day off?)

5. Having to get a shot. (This is quite funny considering that over the past 21 years I have been given myself 4 - 7 every day. There were 3 years there where I went on an insulin pump...but trust me...the infusion sets were way scarier...for me at least.)

6. Learning how to drive so that I could get my license on my 16th Birthday. (Totally happened...with a fun story/lore for my first time behind the wheel. Every success needs a tough beginning.)

7. Finding a summer job. (Somehow...my application was pulled from a pile of thousands and I have been here ever since. It will be 15 years on June 12.)

8. Finishing college in Four Years. (Since I was working full time while I was in college I was obsessed with finishing in four years like other folks my age. I started in September 1995 and finished in December 1999. Did not allow much time for anything else.)

9. Escaping the 11th Floor so that I could work in IT. (I did and it set off a chain of great changes in my life. Exactly how your early and mid twenties should be.)

10. Getting a good score on my GMATs so that my provisional acceptance to JHU could become a true acceptance. (This was such a huge thing for me...since I am not a good test taker. There is a funny story about how the whole thing go started too...which I had forgotten all about. Hmm...I should write about it sometime. Oh yes...back to the outcome...I got the score I needed but my essays were off the charts!! I think I got a perfect score on one of them. Oh yes...and I graduated with an MBA too.)

11. Finding my way back to the 11th Floor. (In perfect timing and without it being planned I ended up back at home...doing something so perfect for me. That is kind of how my career goes...it just unfolds before me.)

12. Finishing any novel that I have started. (Okay...still obsessing on that point.)

13. Volunteering for Camp Fantastic. (Each and every year I worry about whether or not I will do a good job and if anyone will actually like me in the process. Each year that feeling quickly leaves as soon as the buses round their way through the hollow. I am going to miss that this year...but will instead worry about whether or not I will be invited back in 2010.)

If you would like to check out other Thursday 13's...have at it by clicking here!!!

Purpose and Motivation...

Operating on your own is not always best...but I fall to that mode naturally because I am such an introvert. AFter meeting with the Fab Four today (my writing buddies Ellen, Lisa and Michone)and all of us agreeing to get ourselves back together on a regular basis I now have a purpose to get moving on my current work in progress. My plan is keep cranking it out to finish my very horrendous first draft and then rewrite/revise chapter by chapter as I submit said new chapters to them for review. In our heyday we would meet every other week and then with schedules (and my work obssessed nature) we couldn't keep up with the pace. It seems things are aligning so that we can get back together again...and I am so excited. I was thinking awhile back how all of us met at a writing workshop back in April 2005. I'm so glad we are still connected. I'm glad that they get me out of my introverted shell.

In other writing news, I have started a once a day writing exercise (thanks to one of my fellow Thursday 13 List Makers)where I am writing a novel day by day. It is called the Diatribing Diavista and will chronicle the life of a Type 1 Diabetic in Young Adulthood whose life passion is in cake making. Seemed like a cute kind of idea...and a bit of stretch for me. Not the diabetes part, but the cake part. I am kitchen challenged. As I have been watching my Mom and Sister in their new hobby, I thought how funny would it be if your passion was to make sugary goodies and you couldn't (or rather shouldn't) eat them. So, I decided to work on something different to guarantee that I write each and every day. See my side bar for my word count journal button/blurb...click over if you want to check it out. It is something different...

Oh yes...and if you are curious...the fabulous cake you are looking at is one of my mom and sister's creations. I know, right?? This was only the second or third cake they had ever made.

Vera, Vera...Evil, Evil

Are these not totally adorable? I was super thrilled last week when my sister got them for me. How lucky am I to have a sister that loves to get me gifts. I'm not even going to mention the fact that perhaps she uses said gifts to justify her own purchases. That would be so wrong...to rat out my best friend like that. Especially since I get pressies...and have been known to do the same thing too.

Now for the problem. I think this clutch would be the perfect addition to a fun weekend/night out ensemble this summer. I mean how cute would that be? I think it would be just large enough to contain my phone, blackberry, some money and insulin. What more does a girl need? I have a feeling I may have to break down and get this. I hope I can find one...the vera dealer/pusher close to home didn't have it in the bail blue. Perhaps as a treat I'll make a visit to Tiara and while I am there...I should totally get my sister a present!! Circle of Life or Web of Addiction?

Thursday 13 - Life in Status Updates

For this weeks installment of the Thursday 13, I wanted to note some of the Facebook Status Updates that occurred to me as I meandered through the week. I should clarify that these were never actually posted. I have blogged before about how this is a new habit of mine...I think of my life in terms of status updates. Isn't that crazy? Hope you enjoy them!!

1) Joy is wondering why she did not hear her alarm go off...perhaps this is a sign that she needs to adjust her "wake-up" time to something that is more reasonable. Hitting the snooze alarm every 7 minutes for an hour can't be normal.

2) Joy loves the car ride home...especially when XM treats her to songs that she has not heard in a while. Like Midlife Crisis by Faith No More for instance...

3) Joy just realized she got her MBA five years ago...wtf??

4) Joy loves the new owl flair that she got for her tree. She feels a blog coming on.

5) Joy can't believe that there is even soy in bubble gum. As long as she can have Diet Coke or Diet Pepsi...things can proceed as usual.

6) Joy knows that no matter how much she frets about things they always work out as they should.

7) Joy is already plotting her next set of Vera Bradley purchases...July will be here soon and she got a sneak peak at some pixies of the new lines. OMG!!!

8) Joy realizes that half of the reason she always sees the dentist regularly is because of the following - 1) She always gets compliments on her teeth, 2) She gets to leave work early, and 3) She uses it is as a six-month measure for how her life is going.

9) Joy is so excited to see her writing friends on Sunday...the fab four reunites in Bethesda!!!

10) Joy is curious to know if she will figure out when to take a summer vacation.

11) Joy wishes that she was disciplined so that she could get back to writing her novel...her characters are wondering where she is.

12) Joy and Elyse and their Mommy are kind of worried but they trust the process. That is all you can do.

13) Joy thinks she may have found a new endocrinologist...and made an appointment for July. She hopes that this one is "the one". Take that useless pancreas!!!


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Report from the Pavilion - Coldplay

I am a bit late in my follow-up but the Coldplay show on Thursday night was the best one yet. I was having so much fun that I did not take many pictures and those that I took were not the greatest. It is hard to know where to start…other than to say that most my favorites were played. As always, they put on a great show with lots of surprises. They moved from the main stage to a center platform area in the pavilion.

That is where I snapped the glowing head of Chris Martin.


Our seats were in perfect view of the jumbo-tron so this is what it looked like from the front. Coldplay has provided the soundtrack for much of my writing.

The warm summer-like weather was perfect and I was up on my feet groovin' during the entire show. There is something about live music that brings me to life and rejuvenates me. Despite my introverted nature, when the music plays I can't not groove. I have no clue if I look silly or really insane...and I don't really care. And for whatever reason, anytime I am at a show I can't help but think about Joel and Chass. There is no point in not singing out loud and dancing your ass off, in fact, it is kind of like my tribute. You should dance and sing for all those who can't any longer.

It was an absolutely perfect evening and then as the show was coming to a close bursts of confetti hit the air from the front and traveled through the air to back of the pavilion. They fluttered and scattered...a rainbow of color. As they got closer I could see that they were butterflies. How perfect was that?? One found it's way to me and I caught it. A sign....from all the good stuff that flutters around me. A reminder that connections really do last forever.

Thursday 13 - Coldplay Favorites

Since I am so freaking excited about seeing Coldplay tonight, my Thursday 13 list is dedicated to 13 of my favorite Coldplay Songs. Coldplay is one of those bands that totally spurs my writing. There is something about them that gets my brain off into never never land where all my noveldom swirls from. I think upon each of their album releases...a new book idea was borne. So let's end the rambling and share my list!!

1. In My Place
2. Clocks
3. Moses
4. Speed of Sound
5. Til Kingdom Come
6. Life in Technicolor
7. Life in Technicolor II (seems it should be it's own song, right??)
8. Glass of Water
9. Lovers in Japan/Reign of Love
10. One I Love
11. Don't Panic
12. Strawberry Swing
13. Rainy Day

I wish I could list one to grow on...but I won't. But if I could?? It would be Shiver.

If you would like to check out other Thursday 13's...have at it by clicking here!!!

Facebook Findings...

I'm so glad that my writing friends (Ellen, Lisa, and Michone)convinced me to join Facebook and my friend Claudia too. It all happened in one day...I had three people tell me I needed to join. So I joined and now I am happy to share a quick list of my glee.

What Facebook has brought to me - -

* New books to read by chick lit authors who rock. One down and One to go!! And hopefully more to find.

* New writing friends with fun blogs and increased ways to network writing wise.

* Thinking about my day in terms of status updates.

* Finding a fun blog linky activity...finally...the Thursday 13 is my new favorite thing about blogging.

* Connecting with friends from school who I have often thought about and then found on Facebook...and turns out they are just as awesome as always.

* Connecting with many members of my Camp Fantastic family during all the months of the year.

* Connecting with old work buddies...and past IT techs. I have at least two of my old techs on my friends list...and they may well be some of my very favorites. :) Wonder if I could find them all?

* Remembering that I am introverted in person and online, so I may have a low friend count but they are not just anybody. :)

Life’s Movie Moments…

I have had a few I think. You know them, feel them when they are happening. I have even had some that others have witnessed and then told me about. I had one last week. And it is still with me. It had a theme tune and everything. A downed tree caused me to have to drive another way into work. I was driving along with the radio cranked…lost in the reverie of really cool lyrics and sounds. You know how that it is. A song can be as captivating as a person. And then…there he was. One of my novel muses on a morning run. And the music swirled. And my heart did that flippy thing. And I have been on a high ever since…