VT (for all of my design-obsessed peeps)

imagecourtesyjjjjoundblog Peeps, It seems that when you're with the one you love, nothing else (but the moment) matters . . . Enjoy, Shane PS: Today's soundtrack is MERGE OF EQUALS' You Can Make Me Smile ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1m13qI8BwE )

photocourtesyremodelista viadesiretoinspireblog Peeps, Nothing delights me more than an afternoon nap while the rain falls outside the window, or gently hits the roof.  At seven or eight, suddenly, oh so suddenly and waiting any warning, at the beginning of the summer break my twin-brother and I were reintroduced to the then ordeal of quiet-time which seemed to drag endlessly.  In reality, some wise soul had correctly advised that the best way, to avoid over-stimulation and the naughty behaviors that followed, was to set aside an hour for reading or napping before antics and games could resume.  Keeping soda-drinks and sweets off the daily menu certainly helped in keeping already over-active minds from imploding, as did the absence of a television-set.  I'm not sure that if I were raising a child today, I would insist on such a strict regimen. Yet compared to the whirlwind of play-dates, after-school activities, sports-camps, and innumerable Game-boy sele...

photo,ashleycurry courtesyemmasblog Peeps, Not unlike many of you, my first apartment as a grown-up had only a futon and a reading lamp in the bedroom.  Still, having a separate bedroom was a step-up from a one-room studio where couches doubled as beds, or beds served the same purpose as couches, although the selection of pillows or cushions varied as the occasion arose and alerted any all-night reveler as to one's intention.  Some will remember that in the early days in Washington (DC), prior to IKEA and THE DOOR STORE, there were very few shops offering furniture pieces that could be assembled at home.  It seemed to me that one simply bought less; waited for moving sales at which reproduction pieces once cleverly displayed at Woodies or The Hecht Co (but still beyond the budget of a lowly civil-servant) could be had by the early-bird shopper; or taxied over to the CONRAN Store in Georgetown to just look and dream of the design masterpiece that could be created ...

imagecourtesydesiretoinspireblog Peeps, I've been doing my best to avoid the headline news concerning the upcoming election, as well as the varied stump speeches and television ads by the political candidates.  At least through the upcoming month, I plan to switch radio stations, perhaps listening only to classical music (on 90.9 FM), or if I can, surrender to the hypnotic (and varied) music programs of WRNR (103.1 FM) which broadcasts from Annapolis, MD, and can be heard as one approaches the (Chesapeake) Bay.  My co-workers complain that too much NPR affects my mood, perhaps setting a more sombre note to the day, and I'm sure that there is a certain truth to this.  Kudos to the dedicated staff at public radio who strive to provide unbiased and informed news-content (day after day)!!  Yet, as we are all aware, dire consequences around the world result from the hasty decisions made by unethical 'decidors' under less than transparent circumstances (here at home)...