Life itself is an adventure, isn't it?
What is around the next corner? The next hour? Will tomorrow be a good day, a sad day, a boring day or will it be the best day you've ever lived through?
As lives go, mine hasn't really been exciting, but it hasn't been completely boring either. I've had some days that weren't really an adventure, but since I lived through them, they were adventurous enough for my taste. I've also had some pretty heart-pounding days that could be labeled as adventurous, but I don't want to re-live any of those!
Okay, it's pretty clear here that I do not live with adventure. I don't crave it. I don't seek it. I don't even like it. I do love a good roller coaster, but in reality, how adventurous is that? What with the seat belt thing and all.
There is only one adventure I long to take part in that I haven't, yet. I really want to zip line. Not just a little zip line. I want to zip down a mountain side or across a deep river gorge or something really cool like that. I think it looks like so much fun that I can't imagine why every single person isn't in line somewhere to buckle up and zip! Someday I will be someplace where one of these exist and I WILL do it. I will do it alone because my traveling companion has nada interest in doing anything on a zip line. (He also thinks I'm suicidal for even thinking I might like it.)
For the most part, I think just navigating my everyday life is enough of a challenge. I'm not an adrenaline junky, by any means. I rather like my dull and routine life. I like that things are usually exactly what I expected and that I'm prepared for and don't cause me to go off the deep end. Going off the deep end is a rare and not happy place for me. If I'm not in control to some extent, I am probably a bit uneasy. The biggest weakness I have is that spontaneity is not my friend. (It's not my only one, but it is a big one.) I really wish it was my friend. I would like not to be such a routine, planning and everything as it should be kind of person. That's who I am. I've tried the flying by the seat of my pants way of life and it just makes me crazy.
Yeah, being crazy is probably not better than being boring.
Do you think adventure in your life is a good thing?
Is it a necessary thing for you?
What is your favorite adventure?
Please leave a comment and share your thoughts with me.
Jo
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
It's Always That Way
He's nice to look at
And nice to touch.
He's not hers yet
Doesn't want him so much.
Being alone isn't nearly so bad
As being with someone
Someone else already had.
Taking on troubles
Which never were hers
Isn't something she wants
Being alone isn't worse.
And knowing she could
Have him if she wanted
That just feels good.
Days go by and nights go, too
She works, she dates
She thinks, she lives.
But mostly she waits.
She'll find him one day
When she turns around
He'll find her and stay.
It's always that way.
And nice to touch.
He's not hers yet
Doesn't want him so much.
Being alone isn't nearly so bad
As being with someone
Someone else already had.
Taking on troubles
Which never were hers
Isn't something she wants
Being alone isn't worse.
And knowing she could
Have him if she wanted
That just feels good.
Days go by and nights go, too
She works, she dates
She thinks, she lives.
But mostly she waits.
She'll find him one day
When she turns around
He'll find her and stay.
It's always that way.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
MIRROR
I have a very old mirror in my bedroom. Stop right there, it is an old mirror, not a mirror with an old woman in it.
As I was saying...
I wonder sometimes how many people have gazed or glanced into the same mirror and how hard would I have to look to see their reflections instead of my own. The mirror hung in a salon I purchased in 1994 and had been hanging there since the mid 70's.
Thousands, hundreds of thousands of faces must have been reflected in that very glass.
Old faces with lines of experience and pain and joy and history. Women who bore children they lost and women who never bore a child and always mourned that loss. Women who were overwhelmed by all their children and those who doted on and adored their only child. Women who loved women and maybe finally were able to be together. Women who loved women and never said the words out loud. Men who never really looked in a mirror because they couldn't face who they had become. Men who look with pride not at the way they look back, but at the man they know they are.
Blue eyed people, brown eyed people. People of color. People with no idea of their heritage. People.
So many people. So many stories and only the mirror knows them all.
Mirror, mirror on the wall
Who's the fairest of them all?
It isn't talking. It gives up nothing of the lives and the decades it has touched. I love looking at it much more than I love looking in it and it knows that, too. It isn't telling. My beautiful mirror keeps her secrets well.
Antiques are earless for a reason and for the same reason, they have no lips. Maybe that is what I love about my mirror, maybe the only thing besides it's beauty, that I love. The glass is totally distortion-free and that is very hard to find today. Quality that once was standard, now is extraordinary.
Jo
*********************************************************************************
Now, Prt 2.
I have been tagged by Jennifer Zander Wilck so here goes some more stuff you probably didn't want to know and may feel free to just skip on by,
As I was saying...
I wonder sometimes how many people have gazed or glanced into the same mirror and how hard would I have to look to see their reflections instead of my own. The mirror hung in a salon I purchased in 1994 and had been hanging there since the mid 70's.
Thousands, hundreds of thousands of faces must have been reflected in that very glass.
Old faces with lines of experience and pain and joy and history. Women who bore children they lost and women who never bore a child and always mourned that loss. Women who were overwhelmed by all their children and those who doted on and adored their only child. Women who loved women and maybe finally were able to be together. Women who loved women and never said the words out loud. Men who never really looked in a mirror because they couldn't face who they had become. Men who look with pride not at the way they look back, but at the man they know they are.
Blue eyed people, brown eyed people. People of color. People with no idea of their heritage. People.
So many people. So many stories and only the mirror knows them all.
Mirror, mirror on the wall
Who's the fairest of them all?
It isn't talking. It gives up nothing of the lives and the decades it has touched. I love looking at it much more than I love looking in it and it knows that, too. It isn't telling. My beautiful mirror keeps her secrets well.
Antiques are earless for a reason and for the same reason, they have no lips. Maybe that is what I love about my mirror, maybe the only thing besides it's beauty, that I love. The glass is totally distortion-free and that is very hard to find today. Quality that once was standard, now is extraordinary.
Jo
*********************************************************************************
Now, Prt 2.
I have been tagged by Jennifer Zander Wilck so here goes some more stuff you probably didn't want to know and may feel free to just skip on by,
What is the one book you couldn’t live without?
My book of passwords and account numbers and names. I can't remember anything anymore so without that I would be setting new passwords daily.
What can you see out your window at the moment?
It is 1:28 A.M. and with the mercury light shining on the deck, I can see the solar lights and the white railing around the deck. I can also see a power pole and our shed.
What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten?
Rattlesnake. Nuff said.
What fictional character would you most like to marry?
Rick Castle
If ever a fictional villain was going to win, who would you like it to be?
I can't think of any villains that I would wish to win. Though I'm sure there must be one.
How many types of cheese can you name off the top of your head?
Cheddar, brie, muenster, blue, Colby, jack, mozzarella, parmigiana, creamed, gouda
If you didn’t want to be a writer, what would you want to be?
I'd be a Geek at Best Buy
Can you play a musical instrument?
I played the trombone in high school, but doubt I could play it now.
Do you own an e-reader or a Kindle?
I own a Kindle and I love it.
If so, how many books do you have on it?
200+
You just got published. In a glowing review, someone calls you the next (insert name). Which author has to watch their back now that you’re on the scene?
I would hope they would say, "There is no one out there quite like her. She is so uniquely talented." But if they called me the next (insert name of current author of #1 Best Seller) I would be okay with that! :)
Passing this on to:
MY EYES ADORED YOU
So close, so close and yet so far away.
Once upon a time when I was a younger version of me, I fell madly in love with someone who liked me back. That never works. It didn't. I still think of him fondly and he didn't hurt me in the I'll-never-get-over-it kind of way. He just broke up with me. That's all. Gently and remaining friends, but not a couple thing. I had to figure out how not to be a madly in love15 year old anymore. It was not easy, but I managed to pretend I was just his friend and we had a lot of friends in common.
He was tall and handsome and such a sweet and adoring boyfriend. I thought I had it made. I thought this was the one forever guy for me. How lucky I thought I was at 15, to know I was going to be with this one forever.
Or a few months, either way. That was then and my eyes definitely adored him.
My eyes have adored a few more since then. My eyes, apparently are fickle, too. They have adored a few with great passion for a few weeks and then not so much. They have refused to adore men who might have been just right for me. I'll never know. My eyes have led me astray a few times, too. Thinking they adored someone they really just lusted after. And they adored a few more who didn't adore me back.
When I met my husband, my eyes did not adore him. They noticed him because I nearly ran him over in a parking lot. They saw him when I entered the bar where he took refuge and looked at him while I apologized for not seeing him. They looked incredulous when they noticed he was a full 6 foot tall and a rather large man, hard to miss, but I did. My eyes saw the twinkle of his eyes as he laughed at my story and he made a comment which explains why I had to have him.
It was bowling night and my friend and I were wearing bowling shirts. He and his friend were as well. All of our shirts bore our first names on the left chest. After a few minutes of me babbling, he interrupted to ask, "I see the left one's name is 'Jo'. What do you call the right one?"
Yes, he said that. Everyone who hears this heart warming story says, "No wonder you had to have him! What a smooth talker!" Little did I know, that was the smoothest thing he would ever say to me. Well, so far.
Needless to say, it wasn't exactly love at first sight, though with that line, it's hard to believe, I know. I was actually meeting a man there so I excused myself after introductions were complete, and we went to our usual table and waited for my date. At some point, I did dance with the man I'd nearly killed moments earlier, but had to leave the dance floor mid-song because my guy had arrived. Returning to our table and catching up with him and the rest of the gang, I told him the story of the near hit-and-run. He laughed.
He told me he had to go get some smokes and excused himself from the table about an hour later. I assumed he meant in his car. Apparently he meant in Siberia. He never returned. After about an hour I was ready to call it a night, but I wanted just a little revenge and just in case he returned, I didn't want to be sitting in that chair waiting for him, so I asked the victim if he'd like to finish our dance. He did like. He asked me out while we danced and I was just mad enough to say, "Sure." We made a plan for the next evening. Did I mention that bowling nights involved alcohol? I may have had a few drinks.
I spent the next day trying to figure out how to get in touch with him to break the date. I didn't know his name, last name. I didn't want to go out with this stranger and I had no clue what kind of a man he even was. I didn't want to be alone with him and I didn't want to see him again. I didn't have any idea how to reach him and I had given him directions to my home. What was I thinking? Why didn't I just meet him someplace? Of course, I wouldn't have gone, but he wouldn't be knocking on my door! Did I mention the alcohol? Yeah. Stupid.
I decided to just go ahead with the date, but I would insist that we have dinner a block from my house. If it was awful or I wasn't comfortable, I could just walk home.
We had dinner. I didn't walk home. Didn't even get home until 2 a.m. I really liked this guy and my eyes began to tolerate him. They weren't at the adoration stage yet.
We dated a lot over the next few weeks and I knew my eyes had changed their minds by the end of 3 months. Yep, eventually, my eyes adored him. I guess they finally got it right because even as I write this and hesnores sleeps about 30 feet away, these eyes still adore him.
When someone looks into the windows of your soul and the windows of their soul adore you, it's a good thing. It's forever.
And I'm really glad I couldn't find him that day.
Jo
Once upon a time when I was a younger version of me, I fell madly in love with someone who liked me back. That never works. It didn't. I still think of him fondly and he didn't hurt me in the I'll-never-get-over-it kind of way. He just broke up with me. That's all. Gently and remaining friends, but not a couple thing. I had to figure out how not to be a madly in love15 year old anymore. It was not easy, but I managed to pretend I was just his friend and we had a lot of friends in common.
He was tall and handsome and such a sweet and adoring boyfriend. I thought I had it made. I thought this was the one forever guy for me. How lucky I thought I was at 15, to know I was going to be with this one forever.
Or a few months, either way. That was then and my eyes definitely adored him.
My eyes have adored a few more since then. My eyes, apparently are fickle, too. They have adored a few with great passion for a few weeks and then not so much. They have refused to adore men who might have been just right for me. I'll never know. My eyes have led me astray a few times, too. Thinking they adored someone they really just lusted after. And they adored a few more who didn't adore me back.
When I met my husband, my eyes did not adore him. They noticed him because I nearly ran him over in a parking lot. They saw him when I entered the bar where he took refuge and looked at him while I apologized for not seeing him. They looked incredulous when they noticed he was a full 6 foot tall and a rather large man, hard to miss, but I did. My eyes saw the twinkle of his eyes as he laughed at my story and he made a comment which explains why I had to have him.
It was bowling night and my friend and I were wearing bowling shirts. He and his friend were as well. All of our shirts bore our first names on the left chest. After a few minutes of me babbling, he interrupted to ask, "I see the left one's name is 'Jo'. What do you call the right one?"
Yes, he said that. Everyone who hears this heart warming story says, "No wonder you had to have him! What a smooth talker!" Little did I know, that was the smoothest thing he would ever say to me. Well, so far.
Needless to say, it wasn't exactly love at first sight, though with that line, it's hard to believe, I know. I was actually meeting a man there so I excused myself after introductions were complete, and we went to our usual table and waited for my date. At some point, I did dance with the man I'd nearly killed moments earlier, but had to leave the dance floor mid-song because my guy had arrived. Returning to our table and catching up with him and the rest of the gang, I told him the story of the near hit-and-run. He laughed.
He told me he had to go get some smokes and excused himself from the table about an hour later. I assumed he meant in his car. Apparently he meant in Siberia. He never returned. After about an hour I was ready to call it a night, but I wanted just a little revenge and just in case he returned, I didn't want to be sitting in that chair waiting for him, so I asked the victim if he'd like to finish our dance. He did like. He asked me out while we danced and I was just mad enough to say, "Sure." We made a plan for the next evening. Did I mention that bowling nights involved alcohol? I may have had a few drinks.
I spent the next day trying to figure out how to get in touch with him to break the date. I didn't know his name, last name. I didn't want to go out with this stranger and I had no clue what kind of a man he even was. I didn't want to be alone with him and I didn't want to see him again. I didn't have any idea how to reach him and I had given him directions to my home. What was I thinking? Why didn't I just meet him someplace? Of course, I wouldn't have gone, but he wouldn't be knocking on my door! Did I mention the alcohol? Yeah. Stupid.
I decided to just go ahead with the date, but I would insist that we have dinner a block from my house. If it was awful or I wasn't comfortable, I could just walk home.
We had dinner. I didn't walk home. Didn't even get home until 2 a.m. I really liked this guy and my eyes began to tolerate him. They weren't at the adoration stage yet.
We dated a lot over the next few weeks and I knew my eyes had changed their minds by the end of 3 months. Yep, eventually, my eyes adored him. I guess they finally got it right because even as I write this and he
When someone looks into the windows of your soul and the windows of their soul adore you, it's a good thing. It's forever.
And I'm really glad I couldn't find him that day.
Jo
Saturday, March 24, 2012
It IS What It IS
When you adopt this philosophy as your way of life, things become clearer and your life becomes less complicated. You cannot change everything and those you can, you must. Those you cannot, you must accept if you are to live in peace.
Not everything we first perceive as being unchangeable is so. It never hurts to sit back and evaluate each situation and search for what might be done to improve any situation. What might not be done to improve the same. Sometimes it's not so much what we must do as it is what we must NOT do to make something better. We need to learn when to act and when to retreat and let things play out.
Understanding that we can only change or control who and what we are, never who or what someone else might be, helps to evaluate what can be changed and what is what it is.
Today I am thinking of our future. Planning the summer. Planning the winter and looking forward to our real retirement. (Roomy still works 40+ hours a week.) The time when we don't either of us have a job and our time really is our own. That means, selling our house. We both love living here, but also know that in retirement it is too much work and too much expense. We don't want to be owned by the house we have worked for years to pay for. We want to recoup some of our investment and use that cash to make our new lives. Deciding whether to buy a nice motor-home or just head to Arizona full time is not easy. No decision there yet. We might even just rent an apartment here in Michigan and winter in Arizona until that is not practical. Then another decision will have to be made.
So why are we still thinking all this over and not really making a plan? Simple enough, really. I convinced my mom to move here a couple years ago and I love having her near me and part of my everyday life. She doesn't want to go to Arizona to live and I don't want to go without her. She doesn't want to winter there and I don't want to go without her. She says she likes the change of seasons, but I can tell you that she has not enjoyed this rather mild winter we just had at all. She likes to be outside. It was too cold for that. She likes to be barefoot, a little cold for that, too. She got a little cabin fever, but didn't want to go anywhere. So, it is what it is, I can't change this and I have no desire to be a day's travel away from her for more than a couple of weeks. I love Momma and I have waited many years to have her nearby and I am going to enjoy my time with her for as long as she will let me and as long as God will let me. I am where I belong right now and what will be, remains to be seen.
Accepting that our life is what it is for now, wasn't easy at first. I am used to doing what I like when I like and for as long as I like. Now I consider what will work best for her and how I can make it better. That is what my life is right now and I am fine with that. She did that for me and two other kids for many years, it's now my turn to reciprocate. Now I think about how we will do whatever it might be to make her life better and that in turn makes mine better.
I married a man who thinks I should have what I want. I love that about him! He also loves my mom and understands and agrees that making her life all it can be is our job one now and that my friends and readers is what it is.
It IS what It IS because Roomy and I have chosen to accept what we cannot change.
Jo
Not everything we first perceive as being unchangeable is so. It never hurts to sit back and evaluate each situation and search for what might be done to improve any situation. What might not be done to improve the same. Sometimes it's not so much what we must do as it is what we must NOT do to make something better. We need to learn when to act and when to retreat and let things play out.
Understanding that we can only change or control who and what we are, never who or what someone else might be, helps to evaluate what can be changed and what is what it is.
Today I am thinking of our future. Planning the summer. Planning the winter and looking forward to our real retirement. (Roomy still works 40+ hours a week.) The time when we don't either of us have a job and our time really is our own. That means, selling our house. We both love living here, but also know that in retirement it is too much work and too much expense. We don't want to be owned by the house we have worked for years to pay for. We want to recoup some of our investment and use that cash to make our new lives. Deciding whether to buy a nice motor-home or just head to Arizona full time is not easy. No decision there yet. We might even just rent an apartment here in Michigan and winter in Arizona until that is not practical. Then another decision will have to be made.
So why are we still thinking all this over and not really making a plan? Simple enough, really. I convinced my mom to move here a couple years ago and I love having her near me and part of my everyday life. She doesn't want to go to Arizona to live and I don't want to go without her. She doesn't want to winter there and I don't want to go without her. She says she likes the change of seasons, but I can tell you that she has not enjoyed this rather mild winter we just had at all. She likes to be outside. It was too cold for that. She likes to be barefoot, a little cold for that, too. She got a little cabin fever, but didn't want to go anywhere. So, it is what it is, I can't change this and I have no desire to be a day's travel away from her for more than a couple of weeks. I love Momma and I have waited many years to have her nearby and I am going to enjoy my time with her for as long as she will let me and as long as God will let me. I am where I belong right now and what will be, remains to be seen.
Accepting that our life is what it is for now, wasn't easy at first. I am used to doing what I like when I like and for as long as I like. Now I consider what will work best for her and how I can make it better. That is what my life is right now and I am fine with that. She did that for me and two other kids for many years, it's now my turn to reciprocate. Now I think about how we will do whatever it might be to make her life better and that in turn makes mine better.
I married a man who thinks I should have what I want. I love that about him! He also loves my mom and understands and agrees that making her life all it can be is our job one now and that my friends and readers is what it is.
It IS what It IS because Roomy and I have chosen to accept what we cannot change.
Jo
Internal Affairs
God Bless our Military as each lives out his or her own internal affairs while protecting our external ones.
with my deepest respect,
Jo
Friday, March 23, 2012
The Tale of Michele & Corky
First let me say that I have the express written consent of both of these ladies to tell their tale. See below...
So here is the story of two ladies who most of their friends and acquaintances know as fun loving and "good" girls. You know, the kind you would take home to meet your Momma if you were dating either of them and if you were a guy.
It was a cool and breezy typical late Spring day in Michigan when Corky pulled into Michele's driveway to gather her friend for a nice dinner and catch up evening. They had been friends for years and their mutually busy schedules had kept them from having much time together lately. This evening they planned to just chat and sip a glass of wine or beer and fill each other in on what was happening in their worlds.
Corky had chosen a new outfit for the evening. She used this 'date' as an excuse to splurge on a new outfit. It was a linen pant suit in the palest of lavender shades and fit her as though someone had sewn it just for her. The blouse she wore was a little lower cut than her usual choice because the colors of it's paintbrush-stroke pattern were exactly right for the suit. Her hair was fluffy and curly and all in all, she just looked sexy and fun. Which she also felt the moment she looked in the mirror wearing this new and different look. She had stepped into her comfortable 3 inch nude heels, which she seldom wore, but this outfit was complete when she saw her reflection sporting these oh-so-cute shoes.
Michele had begun a new job only a few weeks earlier and had taken herself shopping for a new wardrobe appropriate for her new job and was wearing one of those for her 'date' with Corky. Her hair had just been cut and it was perfectly styled. The pants she was wearing were a dark chocolate brown and the top was of lime green, lemon yellow and a touch of aqua running through the color block pattern. Her shoes were the same lemon yellow and sported a very daring, for her, platform of over 3 inches. They had a nice natural soul and ankle strap, very sexy shoes and very classy, yet hot look.
These two looked like they were out to impress someone and in fact, perhaps they did!
Once in the restaurant with beers ordered and delivered, they began to earnestly chat. Corky had been up to her ears in catering jobs for Spring parties and wedding showers and loving every minute of the work, but still feeling a little bit overwhelmed from time to time. Thinking a vacation at the end of the Farmer's Market Season might be something to look forward to! She filled Michele in on all the details of her summer plans and asked if she would like to join her at the market from time to time.
The new job was mostly what Chele wanted to tell Corky about, but agreed immediately to helping out from time to time at the Market as she enjoyed being there and would do anything to help Corky out.
It was a nice dinner and both enjoyed their food choices and laughed and talked for over an hour after the food was gone.
"Excuse me, ladies." The voice came from the table to their left. Both ladies turned to see the source. A gentleman in his late 50's maybe, was smiling at them. He appeared, though seated, to be a tall and lanky man, very well dressed and was reaching into his jacket pocket as he spoke, "My name is Eric Pangle and I work for Gourmet Magazine. I heard you mentioning that you both cook and can and I think I heard 'catering' in there somewhere?" Still smiling and extending his hand which held a card toward them.
Michele reached out and retrieved the card. Looking at it, but not really reading it, she asked, "And...?" Corky remained silent and reached out for the card.
"I was wondering if you'd like to interview for a spot we are trying to fill. We are looking for a mid-west cook to photograph with her work and honestly, you two would be perfect. Beautiful women who can cook are always a good catch in the magazine world! Are you? Interested, I mean?" That smile was a killer.
"Maybe. I mean, I would be, if you're legit. Michele?" Corky thought it would be great fun, if he was for real.
"Sure! What would we be doing, exactly?"
He told them all the details of the program he was trying to staff and answered all their questions. He also sent them each another drink (or 4) while they talked. At some point, they don't remember when exactly this happened, another man joined the group. He stated to Eric that he had no luck where he was fishing. The girls both knew instinctively that he had been elsewhere doing what Eric had been doing; eavesdropping and trying to find some cooks with some experience. What an odd way to find cooks! Oh well, whatever. It still sounded really, really fun to these two.
Plans were made and the scene was set.
In two days, Thursday evening, they would all meet at Corky's kitchen for a run through and possibly filming for an audition. If Eric and Pete (his friend and associate) could round up a film crew and get them to Owosso by then. Michele and Corky would choose the 3 items they would prepare for the camera and many stills would be taken after the preparation had been filmed. How exciting, the girls thought! Whether they were chosen for the mag or not, this would be fun!
The ladies spent Wednesday evening setting the kitchen up for their 3 chosen projects. They made sure everything was on hand and the kitchen was film-ready! They decided to wear dark shirts and the starched white aprons which Corky kept in her kitchen for all occasions. They bore an embroidered "C" and looked very professional.
One hour before the scheduled time, they arrived to primp and check each other out. Once satisfied that each of them looked sexy, kitchen savvy and hot, they moved on to the food prep business. They lined up the ingredients and cooking utensils needed for the molded salmon salad, the chicken croquettes and the raspberry filled cupcakes they would be preparing. Everything was ready when Eric and Pete arrived. The film crew would be there in a couple of minutes as they were checking into the local hotel, The Comstock, at this very minute.
They ran through the usual way things are done and Corky asked a few questions as they went along. Michele was to be her assistant, basically, and Eric wanted them each to talk as they went along. Laughter was encouraged, but he warned to maintain control at all times, less cutting that way. Laughter was a given for these two, control, maybe.
The front door opened and in walked the film crew. The first one through the door was Maksim Chmerkovsky and following him was the actual camera man, Val Chmerkovsky his younger brother. They were the official film crew in their off season from Dancing with the Stars. They both loved this work and right now, they were seriously being adored by their new subjects!
Talking was a big problem for both ladies at this point. They were decidedly star struck. Two of their favorite dancers were setting up equipment to film them! They were going to get the undivided attention of these two hunky guys for hours! Holy COW man!
It took 7 hours to complete their film and still shots. The food was perfection and the photos of it were scrumptious. The ladies had relaxed after spending a few minutes with the Chmerkovsky brothers just getting acquainted.
Now would be the time to tell those who don't know that Corky is married and Chele is not.
As everything wrapped up and everyone, exhausted and done for the day, was packing up to go, Maks quietly asked Chele if she'd be interested in a quiet drink somewhere. Since it was now early morning, he suggested coffee somewhere.
I will tell you only that Chele called into work, risking her new job because when EVER was she going to get this opportunity again? Her new boss totally understood and told her to go for it!
The entire magazine crew left Owosso later that evening missing one member. Maks and Michele had gone incommunicado. I do not have these details. I believe only two people have them and don't want to share. I can imagine though that when Michele showed up for work on Monday, three days with Maks?, she was smiling ear to ear and when I saw her two weeks later, still smiling!
Coffee? It mighta started with that, but somehow I gotta think and so do you, it got around to breakfast, lunch, dinner and a helluva dessert!
Gotta love those good girls.
And by the way, they weren't chosen for the magazine, but neither seemed to care!
Jo
- Corky Adams What she said!
So here is the story of two ladies who most of their friends and acquaintances know as fun loving and "good" girls. You know, the kind you would take home to meet your Momma if you were dating either of them and if you were a guy.
It was a cool and breezy typical late Spring day in Michigan when Corky pulled into Michele's driveway to gather her friend for a nice dinner and catch up evening. They had been friends for years and their mutually busy schedules had kept them from having much time together lately. This evening they planned to just chat and sip a glass of wine or beer and fill each other in on what was happening in their worlds.
Corky had chosen a new outfit for the evening. She used this 'date' as an excuse to splurge on a new outfit. It was a linen pant suit in the palest of lavender shades and fit her as though someone had sewn it just for her. The blouse she wore was a little lower cut than her usual choice because the colors of it's paintbrush-stroke pattern were exactly right for the suit. Her hair was fluffy and curly and all in all, she just looked sexy and fun. Which she also felt the moment she looked in the mirror wearing this new and different look. She had stepped into her comfortable 3 inch nude heels, which she seldom wore, but this outfit was complete when she saw her reflection sporting these oh-so-cute shoes.
Michele had begun a new job only a few weeks earlier and had taken herself shopping for a new wardrobe appropriate for her new job and was wearing one of those for her 'date' with Corky. Her hair had just been cut and it was perfectly styled. The pants she was wearing were a dark chocolate brown and the top was of lime green, lemon yellow and a touch of aqua running through the color block pattern. Her shoes were the same lemon yellow and sported a very daring, for her, platform of over 3 inches. They had a nice natural soul and ankle strap, very sexy shoes and very classy, yet hot look.
These two looked like they were out to impress someone and in fact, perhaps they did!
Once in the restaurant with beers ordered and delivered, they began to earnestly chat. Corky had been up to her ears in catering jobs for Spring parties and wedding showers and loving every minute of the work, but still feeling a little bit overwhelmed from time to time. Thinking a vacation at the end of the Farmer's Market Season might be something to look forward to! She filled Michele in on all the details of her summer plans and asked if she would like to join her at the market from time to time.
The new job was mostly what Chele wanted to tell Corky about, but agreed immediately to helping out from time to time at the Market as she enjoyed being there and would do anything to help Corky out.
It was a nice dinner and both enjoyed their food choices and laughed and talked for over an hour after the food was gone.
"Excuse me, ladies." The voice came from the table to their left. Both ladies turned to see the source. A gentleman in his late 50's maybe, was smiling at them. He appeared, though seated, to be a tall and lanky man, very well dressed and was reaching into his jacket pocket as he spoke, "My name is Eric Pangle and I work for Gourmet Magazine. I heard you mentioning that you both cook and can and I think I heard 'catering' in there somewhere?" Still smiling and extending his hand which held a card toward them.
Michele reached out and retrieved the card. Looking at it, but not really reading it, she asked, "And...?" Corky remained silent and reached out for the card.
"I was wondering if you'd like to interview for a spot we are trying to fill. We are looking for a mid-west cook to photograph with her work and honestly, you two would be perfect. Beautiful women who can cook are always a good catch in the magazine world! Are you? Interested, I mean?" That smile was a killer.
"Maybe. I mean, I would be, if you're legit. Michele?" Corky thought it would be great fun, if he was for real.
"Sure! What would we be doing, exactly?"
He told them all the details of the program he was trying to staff and answered all their questions. He also sent them each another drink (or 4) while they talked. At some point, they don't remember when exactly this happened, another man joined the group. He stated to Eric that he had no luck where he was fishing. The girls both knew instinctively that he had been elsewhere doing what Eric had been doing; eavesdropping and trying to find some cooks with some experience. What an odd way to find cooks! Oh well, whatever. It still sounded really, really fun to these two.
Plans were made and the scene was set.
In two days, Thursday evening, they would all meet at Corky's kitchen for a run through and possibly filming for an audition. If Eric and Pete (his friend and associate) could round up a film crew and get them to Owosso by then. Michele and Corky would choose the 3 items they would prepare for the camera and many stills would be taken after the preparation had been filmed. How exciting, the girls thought! Whether they were chosen for the mag or not, this would be fun!
The ladies spent Wednesday evening setting the kitchen up for their 3 chosen projects. They made sure everything was on hand and the kitchen was film-ready! They decided to wear dark shirts and the starched white aprons which Corky kept in her kitchen for all occasions. They bore an embroidered "C" and looked very professional.
One hour before the scheduled time, they arrived to primp and check each other out. Once satisfied that each of them looked sexy, kitchen savvy and hot, they moved on to the food prep business. They lined up the ingredients and cooking utensils needed for the molded salmon salad, the chicken croquettes and the raspberry filled cupcakes they would be preparing. Everything was ready when Eric and Pete arrived. The film crew would be there in a couple of minutes as they were checking into the local hotel, The Comstock, at this very minute.
They ran through the usual way things are done and Corky asked a few questions as they went along. Michele was to be her assistant, basically, and Eric wanted them each to talk as they went along. Laughter was encouraged, but he warned to maintain control at all times, less cutting that way. Laughter was a given for these two, control, maybe.
The front door opened and in walked the film crew. The first one through the door was Maksim Chmerkovsky and following him was the actual camera man, Val Chmerkovsky his younger brother. They were the official film crew in their off season from Dancing with the Stars. They both loved this work and right now, they were seriously being adored by their new subjects!
Talking was a big problem for both ladies at this point. They were decidedly star struck. Two of their favorite dancers were setting up equipment to film them! They were going to get the undivided attention of these two hunky guys for hours! Holy COW man!
It took 7 hours to complete their film and still shots. The food was perfection and the photos of it were scrumptious. The ladies had relaxed after spending a few minutes with the Chmerkovsky brothers just getting acquainted.
Now would be the time to tell those who don't know that Corky is married and Chele is not.
As everything wrapped up and everyone, exhausted and done for the day, was packing up to go, Maks quietly asked Chele if she'd be interested in a quiet drink somewhere. Since it was now early morning, he suggested coffee somewhere.
I will tell you only that Chele called into work, risking her new job because when EVER was she going to get this opportunity again? Her new boss totally understood and told her to go for it!
The entire magazine crew left Owosso later that evening missing one member. Maks and Michele had gone incommunicado. I do not have these details. I believe only two people have them and don't want to share. I can imagine though that when Michele showed up for work on Monday, three days with Maks?, she was smiling ear to ear and when I saw her two weeks later, still smiling!
Coffee? It mighta started with that, but somehow I gotta think and so do you, it got around to breakfast, lunch, dinner and a helluva dessert!
Gotta love those good girls.
And by the way, they weren't chosen for the magazine, but neither seemed to care!
Jo
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