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You are here: Home / Archives for Claudia

A Little Story

February 16, 2024 at 8:37 am by Claudia

I think I’ve written about this once before, but here’s the story of my first Valentine from Don.

Sometime in late January of 1995, we ended up in Ocean Beach, the place where we met each other in July 1994. Even though we look as if we were in the water, we were standing on the sand. Unbeknownst to us, a photographer from the San Diego Union-Tribune was standing on the Ocean Beach Pier, taking pictures. He was working on an article with a Valentines Day Theme. We did not know that our picture was being taken. He approached us and asked whether we would consent to having it printed in the paper. After some thought, I vetoed the idea. This was still early on in our relationship, and I didn’t want everyone at the theater, as well as my students, talking about it. I think some of my students knew about us at this point, but we were working very hard to keep it private. I had visions of it being posted on a board at the theater and was uncomfortable with that.

Don asked the photographer if he could have a copy of the photo, but the company policy was that you only got a copy if you consented to let them print it. Ah, well.

Soon after that, I left for the annual audition tour, where we auditioned prospective students in NYC, Chicago, and San Francisco. I was away for about two weeks. While I was on the last leg of the tour in San Francisco, I came down with the flu and was terribly ill. I finally had to leave SF a day early because I couldn’t work and being ill in a hotel is the pits. Don picked me up at the airport. I think it was February 13th.

I was still quite ill on the following day, but Don came over to my apartment to wish me a Happy Valentines Day. I think he had some flowers for me and a few other treats. One of the packages contained this framed photo.

What???? How did you get this? How did this happen??

Well. Don can be very charming, as you know. And relentless, if necessary. He decided to contact the reporter and see if he just might change his mind. It took a while, but Don finally persuaded him that we would keep it secret, would not publicize it, that it was something we could keep private. The photographer made a copy of the photo and Don picked it up.

And he surprised me with it on Valentines Day.

What a sweetheart he was – and is.

Later in the day after I had written my post on Wednesday, my eyes landed on this photo. It’s on the bookshelf in the den. I dusted it, tried my best to take a picture without glare coming from all the windows in the den, and here it is for you today.

My first, and still the best, Valentines Day gift from my husband.

(I miss being that thin. Don is stunned by his hair.)

Time marches on.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

Filed Under: Don, valentine's day 30 Comments

The Big Snow Storm That Wasn’t

February 14, 2024 at 8:27 am by Claudia

On Monday night, the local weather guys (who are great) announced that, contrary to the original predictions, the storm was tracking much further south and our area of the Hudson Valley would not be getting the predicgted foot of snow, but more likely a few inches. It was a dramatic change in the forecast.

Don was disappointed. He loves the idea of a blizzard or a big storm. It’s the ‘event,’ the power of Mother Nature, the idea of being cozily ensconced in our cottage while snow swirls outside.

I was relieved. In the end, we got about 2 inches of snow and it looked very pretty outside. Don got to take a walk up in the woods in a magical snow covered world. He loved it. And he acknowledged that he was glad we didn’t get more. We dodged a bullet.

A photo from yesterday morning:

It was a wet snow, so it would have been a pain to shovel. We haven’t had to shovel at all, thank goodness. Today is very windy, as often happens in the aftermath of a storm.

Areas to the south of us, like NYC, got more snow than we did. Snow in NYC is always magical.

Per Don’s request, I made french toast yesterday as a special “watching the snow fall” treat. Yummy!

Oh, before I forget – or maybe I’ve said this already – Etsy made me a Seller of the Month for February, as well. But I’m running out of things I want to sell, so it may not continue next month.

In typical fashion, neither of us remembered that it’s Valentines Day today.

This hat was made by a woman who lives in NYC. I fell in love with this pattern – she calls it the Bubble hat. It arrived on Monday. Truly the best hat for Blythe yet. It fits her head shape perfectly. Also arriving in the same postal delivery, this little handmade bear. A friend of mine in England put it up for sale, when she realized that she already owned 3 of these little guys and didn’t need another one. He didn’t come with the boots; I put them on his furry mohair feet – an idea I stole from lots of little bear owners on my Blythe feed.

I named him Derek. Don’t ask me why, it just came to me.

You have to play with him a bit to get him to stand on his own, but it can be done.

Okay. Don and I just said Happy Valentines Day to each other. Since we say I love you several times a day, every day, we’re cool.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

 

Filed Under: Blythe dolls, snow 28 Comments

Hunkering Down

February 12, 2024 at 8:45 am by Claudia

Crap. We’re supposed to get 8 – 12 inches of snow overnight and into Tuesday. This is a big storm which will have an impact on NYC and Long Island and the Hudson Valley (where we live.) So far, it looks like the Hudson Valley will get the most snow. Yippee.

Careful what you wish for…we were talking to the young man at the cash register at our local grocery store a couple of days ago and the talk turned to snow. Both Don and the young man said they’d like to see a bit more snow this winter.

Thanks, guys! You’re getting your wish.

And to my weather app: It’s not sunny outside. At all.

We watched the Super Bowl last night – a true rarity around here. I confess, I have been caught up in the Taylor Swift/Travis Kelce romance and the idiot backlash from men who are apparently threatened by a successful, powerful woman – so fragile, these ‘men.’ So we decided to watch (with a wee break in the middle for All Creatures Great and Small.) What a game! We thought Kansas City was going to lose and then it all changed. I’m sorry for those who were cheering for San Francisco, but we were happy with the outcome. This, from two people who really don’t care about football.

Oh, and All Creatures…it touches my heart so deeply. It is beautifully done on every level.

So, today we prep for the storm and then, we sit back and watch the snow fall. There will be wind, as well, as this will be a nor’easter. Time to batten down the hatches, I guess.

Holly is wearing a little sweater that my friend Kathy made. I first saw it at Wonderland of Play but I was so overwhelmed by the whole thing that I didn’t buy it. But Kathy told me it was still available, so I purchased it a week or so later. I happened to have that beret already and it’s a perfect match to the sweater.

Holly was excited that she was allowed to go outside for a brief moment.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

Filed Under: Blythe dolls, snow 28 Comments

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Welcome!

Welcome!

I live in a little cottage in the country with my husband. It's a sweet place, sheltered by old trees and surrounded by gardens. The inside is full of the things we love. I love to write, I love my camera, I love creating, I love gardening. My decorating style is eclectic; full of vintage and a bit of whimsy.

I've worked in the theater for more years than I can count. I'm currently a voice, speech, dialect and text coach freelancing on Broadway, off Broadway, and in regional theater.

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