Hi, my name is Linda...**

Ah, the ways we choose to deal with problems that in turn become problems themselves. Hello, I am a severe shopaholic. No need to discuss the fact that I'm not working and don't need to get dressed up every day. No need to discuss the fact that I've always had ten times more clothing than I need or even wear. No need to discuss the fact that my credit card is maxed out. No need because my other half discusses these things with me quite often. Or more correctly, he lectures me. I know he's right. Sadly, I can't seem to help myself. Hence, the word shopaholic--my addiction. My usual retort relates to how I'm not addicted to anything like drugs or alcohol and isn't that a good thing. Afterwards, I go running to the computer to find something else to buy online. He lectures, I get anxious. Anxiety leads to feelings of sadness. Sadness makes me think I need something to make me feel better. Chi-ching. Not that this only recently happened. I've been doing it forever, which I guess means I've felt anxious and sad forever? Maybe, but not to the degree of the past year, although I think I have done most of the credit card damage during that time. My hubby also recently remarked that when I do leave the house these days I always shop. Hhhmmm, hadn't thought about it, but he's right again, drat the man. I guess I do it to help with my can't-leave-the-house phobia or to feel better while I'm out. The truly awful thing about the purchases I've made in the last six to ten months is that I haven't worn or used 90% of them. When we went to the theater recently, I wore a dress purchased right at a year ago. I have a huge amount of unique, awesome handmade clothing or accessories from Etsy or other online stores or recently acquired items from favorite nearby shops. A friend we met several weeks ago for breakfast asked if I was going to get back into creating and selling my own clothing since I wasn't working anymore. Well, I actually had thought that I would do that at the beginning of the year, but I can't seem to make it happen. I have pages and pages of design ideas complete with drawings and descriptions, and don't get me started on how much fabric and such are in the spare room. I recently came across a really awesome piece of clothing when I was doing the great refi cleaning, and I looked for a tag to see who had made it. I may have mentioned that I used to work in a fabulous boutique and purchased lots of unique things. Well, no label in this. I hung the vest on the outside of my closet door thinking that I would eventually remember where I had gotten it. I finally realized that I had made it. Duh. I love creating and would think that I would jump at the opportunity to do it. So what is my problem??? Don't know how many times I've asked myself that question over the last months. At first I thought that it was due to the fact that I was still recovering. Then I thought I was stalling because I am such a perfectionist. Can't get started because it would never be good enough, right? Finding that vest sends that argument out the window. So, what the heck is it? Well, I think I've figured it out. When I started making pieces 15 years ago, there were not many places to shop for the kind of look I liked. Now, there are a lot, especially online, and several more boutiques have opened here in town. I also know that if there is one thing I enjoy, it's the thrill of the hunt, the giddy pleasure of searching through the racks or pictures, choosing several over which to drool and then picking out the one that is "the piece I can't live without." And since the hunt has become easier than ever with so much more available, that next perfect thing is constantly in front of me. That's the problem in a nutshell--I'm not unhappy with my purchases, I just always find something else to purchase more often, something that is probably only slightly different from what I purchased last week. Searching for that elusive piece that will make my imperfect life perfect and I'll live happily ever after.

Is it any wonder why I have Alice and Dorothy in my head?

(Image is entitled "Searching For Fairy Tales" and can be found at thisyearsgirl, an Etsy shop with lots of beautiful and dreamy artwork by Melissa Nucera.)

**Please note that no offense is meant to the blogger(s) or Etsy shops that have tempted me beyond reason.

House cleaning and Hormones and Hatters, Oh My!

Now that I'm back to my usual good-for-nothing self after my tornadic, frenzied cleanup, I think today calls for a tea party. I've been neglecting Dorothy and Alice far too much lately, and they are pretty peeved about it. All work and no play just isn't their cup of...well, need I say it?

So today is devoted to sipping tea and enjoying time with friends. And what do I find but that things are out of control! Dorothy has been doing so much research on hormone replacement for me that she believes she has lost her brain and needs to find the Wizard. Oh dear. She's helping me since I continue to doubt those questionable little pills. We discussed yet again the need to consult someone who can thoroughly explain the difference between my current hormone treatment and the bioidentical hormone therapy. I've already given the boot to the phyto-hormones since my history indicates they will be of little use to me. Alice, meanwhile, has been rather distant since I failed to make it to the theater to see her latest movie. She is also miffed due to the rather blah reviews it received from the critics. Apparently, no one consulted her on the cast or storyline. I tried to explain that while it might be a story about her, it wasn't her story to claim, i.e., she didn't write it so why would anyone ask her opinions. That did not go over well. And since she is madly in love with the Mad Hatter, or rather the Hatter from this movie, she is quite disappointed that...oops, bad form to reveal the ending, right? Ah, well. I obviously have been out-of-touch for too long. I didn't realize that they needed me so much. I had thought that they were here for me.

I guess we are all here for one another, no?

(Image used is entitled "A Cup of Tea Solves Everything" and is by whatnikkimade at Etsy.)

Curiouser and such...

I am not much of a TV watcher. I prefer to read and listen to music. My other half, however, cannot be home without the TV on at its loudest volume, while also online looking through YouTube videos with that volume at an ear-piercing level. Unfortunately, he also wants to constantly replay the videos so I can watch them. Imagine my happiness. The cacophony is mind-numbing to me. I can't think at all, certainly can't read with any hope of understanding. And that is only one of the reasons he and I live in separate parts of the house.

However, last night I saw the preview for Alice's new movie. She has been very low key about it due to the competition between her and Dorothy. Now that the release date is close, she has barely been able to contain her excitement. Her story has been told many times and in different genres. Her original story was told in "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," followed by "Through the Looking Glass," both as novels written by Lewis Carroll (English author Charles Lutwidge Dodgson). Since then, many of the adaptations have been a combination of these two stories, and in recent years the big screen has been ignored in favor of television productions. The SciFi (SyFy) channel took her story further and made a miniseries that was set 150 years after her first visit to Wonderland, entitled simply "Alice." It was a great concept, similar to Dorothy's own futuristic story on SciFi called "Tin Man." These are both worth watching.

Now, however, the genius that is Tim Burton paired with the genius that is Johnny Depp is finally bringing back Alice's story as a movie. How can it not be incredible? I'm mad to see it! If her story isn't familiar, or if it has been a long time since reading it, I recommend a bit of research. This movie is set a few years later than the original, but the characters are the same. It is a nonsensical story, often confusing to follow. Sometimes things simply do not make sense. Even Alice said "...I can't quite follow it...It would be so nice if something made sense for a change." It will be interesting to see how Mr. Burton handles her story.

Dorothy is very supportive of Alice, but I can tell that she is hoping someone will update her adventure. Yes, we all love Judy Garland's portrayal of Dorothy (Dorothy did chose her specifically), but as she says, "if they can remake Alice's story, they can certainly remake mine." Alice argued that Dorothy's story has long been the favorite and that it's her turn. Our tea parties are getting quite interesting, if not downright dangerous. Hot tea slinging does not a party make.

Perhaps I need to put in a word with Mr. Burton. Of course, he would make Dorothy's story into a darker version. The Grey Brick Road and the Drab Olive City. I'm not sure my psyche could handle it, but it would look more like me and my wardrobe.