Hello World! (except for Delaware)


Happy Tuesday!

So much to do and so little time to blog.

Making samples, making beads, working on website, reading funny books, laying out at the pool... and many other things going on around here.


Hope everyone is having a wonderful (if busy) summer and is as happy as I seem to be lately!


tiny blah blah blah...

having starbucks iced CDL today! YUM!

music - nope... just clicking on keyboards

It's Saturday and I don't usually blog on the weekend, but I'm deep in thought and need to write stuff down...

FIRST, I conquered a couple of hurdles yesterday... things that normally freak me out...

1. I didn't pass out when I had a blood test (just a physical) yesterday... seems like a little thing, but it's a big deal for me.

2. I completed my application to teach at Bead Fest Santa Fe. THIS is a much bigger thing.

The first really isn't beady and I wouldn't have even mentioned it, but I was thinking... "wow... I did both those things in one day! yay rah for me!!"

I mentioned before (in an earlier blog posting... might not be in the archives right now because I have yet to move things back over to this blog) that I have had some sort of mental block about teaching at big conferences and applying to anything juried. I look at the application and close it right back up again.

It's silly. I've taught all over the country, so I have no idea why this has been something that intimidated me... but it did. That said.... I jumped the hurdle and I think I've broken whatever mental boundary that was. I filled out everything sort of last minute...and I'm not sure I put my BEST stuff out there, but my goal was just to get it done... get something sent in. I have no idea if they would pick me or my projects... it was just important to try.

That said, it's now time to fill out the apps for Bead and Button 2010. I'm feeling very different about this one. This one I WANT... I want it pretty bad. I'm a little more emotionally involved with this application, so I'll be bummed if I'm not accepted.... BUT I'm not going to freak and avoid applying. I just want to have my best game on and get everything worded the way I want... pictures the way I want, etc.

I've had 2 new projects brewing in my head and I'm trying to decide if I should push myself to teach one of them there.... or just apply to teach projects I've already done. I haven't taught there before, so it would be new... even older stuff I've got... I'm just trying to figure it all out.

I'm THINKING about having a special edition of Head Over Heels just for the Bead and Button show and offering it as one of my class choices. I'd thought about having one of the new seasonal kits for the class, but the more I think about it... the more I like the idea of a Milwaukee exclusive... if you're not there, you can't get it sort of thing.

And as I write that, I'm pretty sure that's what I'm going to do! SO... must think of that special version of HOH and get the sample made in time to photograph it for the application. I have NO idea if I'm over-doing the whole project... but people seem to still love it and I love making it... so I'm going with my gut instinct and saying that is what I'm going to do! (that and my new quicky project that my sister inspired!)

ok... that's all the brain-storming for a Saturday night! Tomorrow is beadmaking day after church!

coffee - yes. I DID have starbucks today! Iced CDL because it is HOT here!

music - nope

Happy Stress Free Thursday!!!!

It IS stress free around here today... we're taking the day off!

I stayed up late working on my business facebook page... look to the right, click the button and become a "fan". I'll be keeping that page up to date with show information, new projects, etc.

today's blog entry is a short one... off to have fun!

It's Wednesday and I've got a lot on my plate.


Figuring out what shows to apply for, what shows to try to teach at... it's very overwhelming.

I never really started my business as a business when I began this back in 1997ish. I was making beads, then selling beads, then suddenly, I was doing it full-time...without really thinking that I COULD do it full-time, it was just a reaction to personal circumstance that threw me into it...

But the thing is... there was never this initial plan it all out stage... it just sort of grew on its own.

Now I'm in a completely different place. I'm starting fresh and need to have start-up funds and all that... this is NOT how I did things before and it's a bit intimidating. In the past, if I wanted to do a show, I paid the fees out of the existing monies from the last show.... that doesn't work right now. I'm trying to plan multiple shows into the future, and they all need booth-fees up front, so it's a big risk! What to do... where to do it... teach while I'm there, etc. YIKES!

SO... I'm putting feelers out and calling friends, asking for advice and I'm SO glad these friends are out there to help me. I'd be pretty lost and clueless without them (and that's not something I'm used to... being lost and clueless!)

Today's plan... fill out teacher application for Bead Fest Santa Fe. Fill out exhibitor application for Bead Fest Portland AND Bead Fest Santa Fe. It's scary and intimidating to make this leap... but I'm the same person who was able to do it in the past... even better!

(go Sylvie go!!!!!)


tiny blah blah blah.....

coffee - I SO need it... I'm on my way!

music - G is sitting here singing Bohemian Rhapsody... does that count????

I'm frustrated.

I have an OLD webpage... we're talking 1997 here... that I can't delete and I can't edit. I can't even figure out how to GET to the website, let alone delete or edit it.

Thing is... when people search for me online...it's still there. That old page still shows as a search result and you can still click on it and read it. It's really inaccurate on SO many levels and I WANT to delete it, but can't figure out how. And it's driving me crazy. I wish I could fix it. I don't like having false information out there that says I'm married to someone when I'm not... that I live somewhere that I don't.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(that's my scream of frustration)

SO... until I can figure it out... I guess I'm stuck.

It's Tuesday! YAY!

I really like Tuesdays. Today is no exception. I have a fun afternoon/evening planned and I'm looking forward to it!!

(like you all care about my social life!! I know you're here to hear about the beads!!!)

So... what's been going on in sylviebead world...

I am working on a new pattern.... not THE ONE that I told some of you about at Bead and Button... that will come. This one is a new nice and easy simple pattern. I realized (with the help of my non-beady at the time Sister) that there were a LOT of people who wanted a quick "entry-level" Sylviebeads project that had the same whimsy but wasn't quite as intimidating... so I'm working on that. I have a really cute idea and hopefully I'll get it finished up and a pattern written before fall. We'll see. If I have it ready in time, I'd like to try to teach a small workshop and "test drive" it. If you are in the Atlanta (or close-enough) area and want to be a part of a premiere workshop like this... let me know.

I'm still working on the website. It's tedious and I wish I had a full-time person who did that type of stuff (and was an elf, so I didn't have to pay them), but I don't.... so it's just me and I have to balance my time between the personal, the other job, the studio and the computer/business stuff. That's a lot of hats for one girl to wear. I have other people already doing behind the scenes things for me... so that's taken a couple of hats off my head, but I've still got a few too many... so things are just going a little slower than I'd like them to.

The final thing I'm working on this week is my application to teach at Bead Fest Santa Fe. I said before that I'm totally intimidated by these sorts of applications. I'm proposing my Clothesline Sweater project and the Halo Bracelet. Neither project is NEW and I wish it was... but it's more important for me to just apply at this time. I'll work on the new for my next application. I've just got to make sure I meet this deadline and not fluff it off.

ok... must get going. must find COFFEE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Monday friends!!!!

I had a lovely (but hot) weekend and it's time to get back to work!!!

I have a lot of beady things going on this week... I'm finishing putting kits into the website. I'm finishing things w/ my sister for the OTHER website.... I haven't talked much about it here, but my close friends and customers who saw us at Bead and Button know about the site. It's pretty cool and I'm excited that we're doing it together.

It was really fun taking her to Bead and Button. I know she had no idea what to expect and on a practical end, I couldn't have done the show without her, but on a sisterly thing... I had so much FUN doing the show with her... I think she should go every year (we'll have to see if her family lets her though. I know they all missed each other a bunch while we were gone).

It was funny watching her sort of "get" what I do. My friends and family all KNOW what I do... but it's hard to "get" it until you are at a show like Bead and Button where you see the customers and really talk to them. I think she had fun doing that and it helped her understand our business a little better AND it turned her into a closet beader!!!! HA!!!!!!!!!!! (I think that it's too funny that she is a beader now. She might not ADMIT that she is... but she is.) The cool thing for her is that she became a beader with a head start of a HUGE quantity of beads at her fingertips! (literally!)

Her project of choice is the Halo necklace/bracelet. She wanted to see how easy it was for beginners. I'm glad she was able to learn from the pattern without my having to teach her much... that told me the pattern really DOES work for beginners... and now she can honestly say when she's working at shows, how easy the project is!!! (plus she thinks it's pretty... and that's what it's all about in the end!)

SO, I'll keep you posted on Say's bead habit AND will let you know when our new site is ready. I know you're DYING to know what I'm talking about (if you don't already... and probably most of you do!)

off to get stuff done!

and find coffee....

no tiny blah blah blah till i do!

Happy Friday!!!!!

SO much is getting done behind the scenes with the help of SO many people. Thank you everyone!!!

SO much is still to be done!!!

but it's Friday and I'm going to try not to spend the weekend in the studio (my boys are away for the weekend, so it would be easy to make that choice). I have fun non-beady plans made and I intend to try to keep balance as much as possible, even as things start to pick up.

ok... this is a quickie. It's a busy day!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone...

tiny blah blah blah...

coffee - in search of.

music - not sure yet. I'm thinking something dance-worthy (because I'm doing the happy dance right now... more on that later!)

Good Afternoon Sylviebead Blog readers!!!

Happy STRESS FREE Thursday to you all!!!!!!

We're almost there... almost to the weekend!!! WOO HOO!! My weekend will be filled with beadmaking, swimming pool lounging and fun nights OUT! woo hoo (I said that once didn't I??)

I have worked HARD this week on all sorts of bead-related stuff, as well as some work at my not-so-busy office job. (I wish it was busier there, but luckily, it's letting me have some bead-time to kick things off again).

I have orders to work on for Bead and Button customers. I have tons of paper-work kinds of stuff and I've been working until the wee-hours every night/morning on the website. You can't TELL I've been working on it because it's mostly behind the scenes stuff, but I have.

I've also got to get myself focused on doing teaching proposals. I've already mentioned this to some of you, but this is something that totally intimidates me.... applying to teach at big venues. It's not that I don't think I can DO it... it's just that the process is very intimidating to me... the same way that juried shows are. I have absolutely no qualms about sending a store a teaching proposal... especially if they've ASKED for one, but for some reason, doing these forms, applying to teach at a place like Bead and Button really intimidates me. Silly,huh?

Thank you to those of you who are strongly nudging me to do this! I need it.

In other bloggy news... we still need Delaware. What is it with those people???? Don't they love me like the other states do????

I always check out my stats... at least once a week to see how people are getting to the blog (evidently it's NOT through the Delaware Loves Sylvie site)... to see what other places have links to my blog... what people search for when they're looking for my blog... what CRAZY words people search for then come to my blog... Some of them are pretty normal... some are NOT normal at all!!!

Here are some examples... some normal... some interesting...

The top 3 searches....

1. Sylviebeads (obvious)
2. Seed Beads Sylvie Lansdowne (makes sense)
3. okay I'm so ticked Sylviebeads (I'm not even going to ask.... yikes! And it's in the top 3 searches???)

Then there are a bunch of variations on the normal things having to do with me... my name, my blog name, my old blog, my new blog, my projects, beadmaking, classes, etc.

but THEN we get to the funny crazy ones...

Planet Smoothie Shagadelic Recipe (I think it's funny that they - MORE THAN ONE actually came here and read several pages looking for a recipe... poor lost people!)

Discontinued Barnes and Noble Turquoise Journals (huh???? and why did SEVERAL PEOPLE think I'd have them??!!)

Kroger Whimsical Whoopies (I've mentioned this one before... it makes me laugh)

but this one is my favorite.....

"you like me, you want to kiss me" Miss Congeniality (see? very funny!!)


but the winner in the WEIRD searches that found my page.....

the craziest search of the week... maybe the craziest search of all time...

"Ick Stractor for Pools"

HA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What is an Ick Stractor???? And WHY am I listed as a search item for those words??? I went and googled it myself and I didn't see my page listed for at LEAST the first 50 entries.... I didn't have time to go the 4,000 pages or so of results... so how did these people find my page with those words??? And WHY!???!!!


I'll keep you posted on any future silly searches. It's necessary to keep up with the other sites that are linking to my blog, but it's an added bonus to get this funny (and interesting) info that the stat site provides!

NOW that I've actually said those words in a sentence though... I'll probably be the TOP entry for those ick stractors and people will be coming here demanding that I sell them!!! (ooh! but maybe they're from Delaware!!!!!!!!)


ok... enough silliness... time for the tiny blah blah blah... Have a great Thursday everyone!!


coffee - nope. I'm on a chick-fil-a tea thing. It's hot here.

music - nope... but I did have to buy a new credit card machine! (and that makes sense to some of you)

Tuesday!!!!!!

Pool Day!!!!!! (ok, almost every day in the summer has the potential of being pool day, but I always think of Tuesday that way because it's open later in the evening. It's my favorite night to sit and read, sketch, whatever I choose... without my kids to keep an eye on.)

Tonight is more social, but I'm planning to get some beady time in before I go.

I spent some time updating my website, but I'm not NEARLY there... but the Head Over Heels for Halloween kit is listed! YAY!!!

Much more to do... much more to say, but I need to make it quick today!

tiny blah blah blah...

no coffee, no music.... sad sad sad (but I'm not... I'm happy!)

It's Monday!!!

Much less frantic to have a Monday during the summer than a school day one. I've never been big on Mondays... is anyone? (probably, but I'm more in line with the Bangles' Susannah Huff (sp?) and think of them not quite as positively... wish it was SUNDAY!)


I had a great weekend and got a lot of stuff (and socializing) done! I finally narrowed down my car choice and can now start shopping... hopefully before my van kicks the bucket! I said before that I hate car shopping, but I'm thinking it will be a bit easier now that I've done TONS of homework in advance and gotten everything lined up ahead of time. Now I just need to find the right vehicle with the options, price, etc. that I want. (and if it's the right color... BONUS!)

I didn't make beads over the weekend, but I did work on seed bead stuff for a while. Like I said last week, the data entry is TEDIOUS, but once it's done, it's done. I have my mom helping me now... so that's made it a lot easier (thanks mom!!)

I'm planning to spend time in the studio this week filling orders from the show and getting ready for the Gathering in Miami in late July. I'm not going at that show as if it's a major money-maker... just wanting to present my most recent and best work since it's basically my peers that I'm showing for.


time for the tiny blah blah blah...

coffee - nope. Chik fil a

music - nope. Still no ipod. :(

Happy Friday everyone!!!

It's nice to be back....

Back from Wisconsin (although I did have a great time, it's nice to be home)

Back blogging again

and

Back in the bead business.


I've talked a little bit about the show and how great it was to see everyone, but I guess I haven't REALLY talked about the show much... the show itself.

I took my kids with me and it was good for them to see what's really involved AND that their mom is a "someone" in her career... even if it's not rocket-science... it's nice to know that your work matters to other people and it was nice for them to see some of that.

I took my sister with me and she was a LIFESAVER!!! She is not a bead person (well, she WASN'T a bead person...she now has had a little taste of them doing one of my projects and I think she's sort of hooked). It was good for her to see a little of what I do, but it was GREAT for me to be able to use her non-beady sensibilities to re-work some of my systems/displays, etc.

Taking someone from outside of bead-world really helped me to see some things in a different way than I had before and that was HUGELY valuable. Plus, we got to hang out for a week which was SO much fun!!!!! Thanks Say!!!!!!!!

Other highlights of the show... I introduced the new limited edition of Head Over Heels and it was a hit! WOO HOO!!!!! I was SO afraid that in this economy my high-end things wouldn't sell and I'd be living a life of baby-beads (which are fun, but can get old) for a while. Instead, I found that when people really LOVE something, they are willing to pay for it, even if it means sacrificing other things to balance out. That was a HUGE thing for me... knowing that people had chosen MY work over other things that they had hoped to buy before they knew I'd be at the show. (this, more than once, made me tear up. I'm easily moved, but art is SO personal... it really meant something to me to hear that.)

I talked to several stores about classes which I am VERY VERY excited about. I really miss teaching and it's a big part of what I love about my job...the sharing of techniques in glass classes and the introducing FUN stuff to the beading classes. I'm hoping that the stores I talked to can get some things scheduled for 2010.

I am hoping that some of the other contacts/conversations I had come to fruition as well, but I'm not going to jinx anything by talking about them here.... I just think it was well worth being at the show... for the networking ALONE.

I said going into the show that I was considering it as advertising... reaching the CORE beading community and re-launching my career. I saw it as a risk financially, but more like a risk in putting an ad in a magazine... you don't see immediate payoffs the day it's published, but you hope that there is residual return.

If I didn't sell a THING at the show, I went into it thinking that would be ok.... that this was advertising and networking, so with the re-connecting with customers and the contacts I made, I was totally successful. And there was an added bonus that I made enough to cover this "advertising." and that was a great thing. It wasn't a stellar show, by any means, but I went into it with realistic expectations and I'm really happy with how things went.

And on the theme of happiness.... person after person at the show... people I had known for over 10 years, kept telling me I looked different. I was puzzled by this since I look the same to me... but finally a few people were able to tell me why. They said I look relaxed and happy... and that's true. I AM a lot more relaxed and a lot less stressed out, and I AM happy. Besides, I was back doing something I love, surrounded by people I truly love and people who appreciate me and my work. I don't think I looked UN-happy in the past, but I do think that the time away let me re-group and return a new and happiER Sylvie.

Here's a glimpse of happy me at the show...


tiny blah blah blah....

coffee - nope. Chick fil a tea this morning.

music - nope. just the clicky sound of the keyboard. I miss my ipod!!!!!!!

Beads Beads Beads Beads Beads....



I am up to my neck in data-entry of seed-beads. I love them, but WHAT a pain, to enter all these numbers, quantities, images, etc.

BUT it's necessary and will be SO cool when it's all done! I have a couple more weeks until my self-imposed deadline.... but oy! I get dizzy looking at all these numbers... let alone bagging the little beads!!!!

And while I'm talking about tedious stuff.... This has absolutely NOTHING to do with beads (well, it sort of does) I'm buying a car. I HATE, absolutely HATE buying cars. I thought I had it narrowed down to a certain car, but after driving to Wisconsin and back, I now know that it's not practical to down-size QUITE as much as I was trying to. I've got to save money, but if I'm doing bead shows, there is no way I can get stuff transported in a tiny car...even if it gets great gas mileage.... it was wishful thinking (and pre-bead-comeback thinking).

SO... I'm back to doing research into which economical cars can fit long-legged people... 3 of us and bead stuff (see? I DID make this something to do with beads!!) Whatever I buy is going to have to last us quite a long time, so I need to make sure it's something that teenagers with long legs can fit into easily AND learn to drive (yikes!) So far, I've had to compromise what I was wanting for mpg in order to get more cargo/leg-room. (and I just couldn't see myself driving the car that kept ending up at the top of the list... so I'm glad it doesn't have the cargo room I need.)

ANYWAYS... time is ticking away... my van is about to go ka-put and I need to get this taken care of before it does! SO... seed bead entry and car research... that is the focus of the rest of my week.

BACK TO WORK!

tiny blah blah blah...

coffee - today was a TERRIBLE coffee day!!!! I stopped at Dunkin Donuts because it was closer this morning. They usually have decent coffee.... ICK! This stuff was AWFUL and I didn't taste it until I was on down the road!!! So much for their slogan "friends don't let friends drink Starbucks"

music - radio. I can't figure out WHERE my ipod is!!!!! The last place I had it was the new office... now it's missing and NOT at the office. I'm going to have to abscond with one of the boys (and they're not going to be happy about that!) when I'm back in the studio next week.

There is a LOT going on in Sylvie-world lately and I'll do my best to try to keep things updated here.

Things that are happening....

1. I'm recovering from a long trip. It took a LOT out of me and I think I'm going to need a couple of days to re-energize. I was "on" for 4 days straight at the show and I'm not used to talking that much... my voice is almost gone right now (good thing I can type!)

2. I'm planning to get my beads made and orders shipped ASAP. I have to balance work, kids and bead-time, but I think I can get the show orders finished by next week. HOPEFULLY.

3. I'm doing data entry on the seed beads. There is a LOT of exciting stuff having to do with this coming up soon! Watch for more info later.

4. I'm making beads for the ISGB convention in Miami in late July. This is the first time since 2003, when I spoke at the conference that I'll be there. I have mixed feelings (will talk about that some other time...or in the other blog), but know it's important to be there.

5. I'm mentally designing the next project. When I get my orders filled and my beads made for Miami, I'll be able to spend a little more time on that. (I think I'll be sketching pool-side for a little while!)

6. I'm looking at potential shows and making a list of which ones I might think about. I'm going to have to be really selective, so I'm doing as much research as I can ahead of time. I think that Santa Fe is a very good venue, but I need to do a little more research into it.

7. I'm contacting stores that asked for class info. I'm excited that I'll have the opportunity to teach again. I really missed it!

8. I'm blogging (obviously) Many of you missed the blog while it was on hiatus and because you asked for it (in person at Bead and Button and via emails)... it's back.


so... that was the t0-do list for the summer (minus about twenty million other things that I probably left off).


If you're reading this and are one of my wonderful customers... I love you bunches! Thank you for continuing to support me and for showing me so much love at Bead and Button. I missed you too and it was SO good to know I was missed.

If you're reading this and you're one of my wonderful friends.... I love you bunches too! I couldn't make it without you guys!!!!!!!!

If you don't fall into one of the above categories, but are here anyways... cool! Hopefully you're from Delaware! I'm only lacking ONE state... Delaware!!!!!!! Only ONE tiny pink state keeps me away from total U.S. blog-domination!!!!



So, I guess you've figured it out by now... the only reason I'm blogging again is because I need the hits from Delaware. ;)


and now for the news you have REALLY been waiting for..... The Tiny blah blah blah....

no coffee today.

no music either (my ipod is STILL missing!!!)

Sorry... I know that was a really disappointing beginning to the re-opening of the blog!

I'm home!!! YAY!!!!!!

I had a wonderful time, but I'm glad to be back in my own house, sleeping in my own bed tonight.

I'll have more to say later, but here is what I learned (or already knew, but was reminded of)....

1. I love my customers

2. For some reason, they love me too and made me cry more than once when they reminded me that they love me and my work.

3. Apparently I look different. I don't see it, but almost everyone else commented on it.


more later... that stuff just hit me.

coffee - way too much on the road
music - just about everything we could play from my sister's ipod and harrison's we played... wish I could find mine! It's here SOMEWHERE!

I'm home from Bead and Button! It was SO fun!!!

I had a wonderful time catching up with all of you that came to visit me in Milwaukee.

To those of you who made me tear up... I forgive you. ;) I missed you too!

I have the best friends... those that I see regularly and those that I see only at shows. You all reminded me how very blessed I am. Thank you.

I'm packed and on the road, on the way to Bead and Button, via Madison, WI and a couple of days of fun with the boys.

That said, there is STILL much work that has to be done prior to the show (beads to be cleaned, stickers to be stuck, printing to be done)

But... everything that could be packed got packed and we're in Indiana half-way there (on the slowest wireless connection known to man... Holiday Inn, Columbus, IN)

My hotwire hotel is really NOT a great one for this stop. The other 2 I picked were in places I KNEW and knew the hotel choices so that I could figure out the anonymous hotwire choices better. This isn't a TERRIBLE hotel, but isn't as nice as the others we'll be staying at for sure! I'm really looking forward to my nights at the Hilton in Milwaukee...it's such a nice hotel (and getting it for $65 a night instead of $140 is even NICER!)

so today is driving the 2nd half of the drive, while I convince my boys to let me listen to music I like instead of music they THINK I should like. HOPEFULLY our conversations today will take a different twist and turn... yesterday seemed to be Beavis and Butthead's Vacation movie (if they had one)

I think Beavis (whichever one that might be at the moment) will not be happy to find he is bagging seed beads today! They are putting little baggies of them together to give as Saybeads samples at the show. I'm SO excited about some things that are coming up for that end of the business... including a REAL LAUNCH of the site with beads and everything (she says facetiously since there has pretty much been nothing going on there since I started the site... because I haven't done all the data entry!)

I'm gathering an e-mail list at this show so that I can email them all when the site is done and start really selling the itty bitty beads. I sell such small quantities of them... it really is a good thing for beaders.... because who (other than me) needs 30 grams of a 15/0 color?????? (if you don't bead, you have no idea what I'm talking about... but it's like buying 20lbs of rice in order to make 4 servings for dinner... I'm selling more like 12 servings at a time)

SO we're having a drawing at the end of the show... the winner gets the WHOLE assortment of Saybeads seedbeads (185 colors currently) and WE get, hopefully a LOT of email addresses for our mailing list. I've told Griffin, that he will be in charge of getting people to sign up for the drawing/mailing-list. I've also got 300 cards with a discount code for when they make their first purchase.... AND an incredibly great feature for the site which I was going to talk about, but have to get ready to hit the road.... so I'll have to leave you hanging in suspense!

I see a Starbucks sign across the street, so I will be having coffee, a gift from Dawn and Emma today! Thank you girls (if you read this)!!!!!!!!!


music - who knows what will prevail in our fight over the ipod/radio today. I REALLY wish I knew where my ipod was. I couldn't find it ANYWHERE before we left.... which left me listening to the kids ipod or whatever local stations I could find.... which haven't been TOO bad up until an hour outside of Louisville where we got nothing good.

ok... hitting the shower and hitting the road! more later!!