Penz 'n' Penzils 'n' Buckets, oh my

I am a pen freak, pencil freak, any old writing utensil freak.  I build up massive collections, weed them out, and build them up again!  But gradually over time I am amassing a permanent collection of higher quality items.  I love getting really close to the paper and watching the ink scroll along the paper.  I choose my pen of the moment based on the color of ink I feel like writing with, the type of paper I'm using, and simply my mood.  Fountain pens win most often.  I have pens I'll lend out never expecting to get them back, and pens I'll break your fingers if you touch!  So I take pleasure in small things!!

What makes a girly-girl?

Okay folks, I am NOT a girly-girl!  Pink is not even in the same family as my favorite colors.  The only place I can windowshop for hours is in a bookstore (okay, or an office supply store).  I love big trucks, big dogs, horses, and piloting planes.  I’m a 27-year member of a search and rescue organization.  My favorite clothes are still jeans and plaid shirts; and if I’m not barefoot I prefer boots or moccasins.  So what is with my recent fascination with makeup??

When I was 13, in my newly expanded (but parentally constrained) exposure to face-painting, I was all about thick eyeliner (who remembers stripes of black and white?), false eyelashes, and white lipstick (applied in the school bathrooms, of course; out of reach of disapproving mothers). 

As a young mother and then in the work force, I would not appear in public without my ‘face,’ but that was a quick swish of mascara and lip gloss (maybe some blush, if I had time).

In the early stage of grandmotherhood,  I traveled about naked-faced as often as not.  Yet now I am suddenly entranced by appearance.  I somehow ran into Samantha Schuerman’s makeup blog and got such a kick out of her personality that I subscribed, learned some interesting tricks I wanted to try, and became hooked on their pregnancy and now family vlogs.  …And then began watching other makeup tutorials, “what’s in my purse,” “room tours,” and other girl-stuff.   samanthaschuerman.blogspot.com, www.youtube.com/user/samanthaschuerman

So now I find myself with a $12 subscription to Allure magazine, checking out beauty books (“for mature women”) at the library, collecting and using coupons at Ulta, visiting the MAC counter at the department store… and making a fool of myself!  As soon as I walk into girl-country, I am overwhelmed with insecurity and feel so conspicuous!  Lacking that teen display of youthful, inherent confidence and the wardrobe of upper-class society matrons, I bumble about, snatch up an eyeliner, and apologize my way through the checkout line.

Well, I will just consider this part of my second childhood, try to act as mature as I thought I was at 16 (c’mon, I said try!), and enjoy the experience!  After all, Mom can’t tell me what to do anymore!  (Can she?)

Wedding Vows

Yesterday was a pretty special day!  My daughter, Mélange, married her partner Hunt.  The ceremony took place in a beautiful, forested state park and the day was sunny, cool, and breezy.  The majority of both families were able to attend, even the two brothers Q and Spinner from the other side of the country!  I loved the ties that the minister wove into the ritual.  Instead of the traditional “who gives this woman…” she included the parents in the covenant by asking them if they would continue to love, nurture, and support the newlyweds in their commitment, with an expected verbal “we will” response holding the same weight as the bride’s and groom’s “I do.”  Even the rest of the attendees were asked for this confirmation.   

That is the way an extended family should work.  Each “unit” functions autonomously, but all come together in times of need, as well as joy. 

I love my family!

Welcome to my ... purse?

I said I would and I did!  This was rather fun; I enjoy looking at other "what's in my purse/bag" videos on youtube so I did one too.  My kids encouraged me so I'm not taking all the blame.  Nyaah!

Greetings - and hola!

Hello!  Welcome to my (erg!) blog!  First, a brief explanation about Oh! La Vieja.  Spoken, it can sound like “hola, vieja,” or “hello, respected elder.”  However, in my case, it reflects “Oh!  Old woman!” as in “For goodness sakes, what the heck are you doing now?!”  You’ll see as my blogs progress!  I love the Spanish language and chose this title over “Creaky old mum,” which was a close second.

Since people don’t seem to write letters anymore, and my children are so busy with their own families (and blogs!), I decided to come aboard too and have an opportunity to share my life.  I seem to be going through a “girly” phase at the moment.  My daughter Cage and I had a discussion on this:  as she is studying psychology in school at the moment, she stated that it must be a developmental phase.  I responded that it may be an UNdevelopmental phase!  My theory is that as we get older and our brain cells die off, our neurons revert back to old, long-unused pathways.  I’ve already gone back through my 20-year-old horse phase, and now I seem to be in my 16-year-old girly phase.  (And in a few years I will return to my baby phase: babbling, drooling, and wearing a diaper!)

I’m married to Cap’n and have 4 children, 3 stepchildren, 3 stepgrandkids, 3 grandkids with two more arriving this year and hopefully a few more after that!  My children are Vagrant, Mélange, Dr. G, Cage, Q, Lovey, and Spinner.  Grandchildren are da3Bs, daBoss, daPrincess, and daMover (with Pending1 and Pending2 living up to their temporary names).  (All obviously nicknames!  You don’t really think I’d name my kids these?!?)

I’m hoping this blog will be a somewhat accurate representation of my life with all the nuttiness that belongs to someone who loves squirrels!  My first goal is to figure out, create, and post a “What’s in My Purse” video!  And who knows what direction life will take after that?