Summer Grownup

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This is my view from my ‘office’ window – I know I’ve shown it before in some iteration or another.  It’s my neighbor’s yard and it’s my talisman, even more so than my cultivated garden, because it’s this view that keeps me tethered to Life, even as Life does its damndest to harsh my daily mellow (and we all know how thin that is at the best of times!).   It’s within this view that I enjoy perfect Spring and Summer days, or get that weird thrill when a heavy storm rolls in and I know that (generally speaking) I am safe from the elements.  It’s here that I watch children, sprung from school and drunk on the notion of unlimited free time, walk/run/ride around, looking for stuff to do.  This little town is, in so many ways, a throwback to my own childhood in the late 50s, early 60s. Few kids here are tethered to electronics, nor do they have structured days – here they just run around, fishing or biking or bouncing on trampolines for hours, making up weird games as they go along….

…and I am fern-green with envy.  I don’t know why I am still so hidebound but I confess to a certain Expectation, which is this:  Summer is Slowdown Time.  Which is:  Ridiculous.  I am in a subset of the construction/operations industry.  Summer is our busiest time!  It’s been thus since the day we opened our doors and I suspect (and hope) it will always be thus.  Which then makes me either a) a moron or b) delusional.  Or c) both.  Because I still expect to have a lot of down time in the Summer.

And what the hell does this have to do with perfume?  Only this: (lots of colons in this post):  I am up to my eyelids in work.  And not just ‘any’ work.  In addition to our beloved regular customers, I am now bidding a Gub’mint job. It came up fast and is the child of a job I quoted 18mos ago, only nowwwww?  Now it’s got Gub’mint paperwork and forms and bonds and more forms and seals and sigs and checks and balances and I did not sleep last night and finally got up at 3:33am.  Bruno and I went outside and looked at the glory of a passing thunderstorm and I asked him what he thought about the glory of the crepuscular sky and he said it was all well and good but if it was all the same to me he’d appreciate being able to get back to bed.  Because he is a Dog of Nature and, having peed and pooped, and finding nothing to chase or eat on the veldt of his front lawn, he was sort of Over Teh Glory.   I took a Melatonin and slept for 2.7 hrs, until El O’s errant phone alarm woke me up.

 

8 painful, exhausting, terrifying hours later we slid, panting, into the Gub’mint offices to present our Sealed Bid – got there just under the wire.  I’m almost too tired to blink so I’m going to make this quick and say these colon-worthy things:

 

1.  I got nuthin’ this week.  I am testing some intriguing offerings from MiN New York as well as a startlingly lovely new Jul et Mad – but I’ve been to overwhelmed to give them more than cursory brain-room.  Today was so fraught with Gub’mint peril that I determined, apres-bain, that I would clad myself in the armory goodness of Amouage Gold.  And Lord, did I cream up and spritz.  At one point I asked El O “what are you wearing?” and he looked at me all funny-like and said ‘me?  ME?  That’s YOU!  Can’t you smell yourself?  I can smell your perfume out in the street!”    “oh.”.  Tant pis.    They should all thank me – Gold is gorgeous!

But! Lest we forget. 2. It’s Not All About Me.  Sometimes it’s All About Who the Hell WON, Musette!  Who WON!  From last week’s lame-o post (I am a sloooow learner.  I could’ve sworn this week would be Quiet).

 

jett

tammy

 

drop me a line at perfumeposseDAHTcawm (anita(AT) ) – I know the email convolutions are all Maxwell Smart but honestly, the amount of spam is breathtaking.  Remind me what you won, give me your mailing details and…since I’m sending you samples from my collection, lmk if there is something you are aching to try.  If I have it, I’m happy to share.  Worst case:  lmk what you do NOT want to get.  Nothing worse than getting a packet with stuff you already have.

 

Okay – I’m out of here.  I have 3 other jobs to quote.  I am NOT complaining.  I. Am. Not.  I am THRILLED!  But I am a bit persausted.  So it’s those quotes, then a Melatonin and maybe a gin chaser – okay, maybe not – but definitely an early night!  Oh, hell – why not?  Gin & tonic , early on….some yard work…then a big ol’ glass of water and then the Melatonin.

 

I will try to be a bit more on the ball next week.  Promise!

 

xoxoxoxoxoMusette

  • HemlockSillage says:

    You are a treasure! I love your musings, and the smiles and laughs you bring. I even love you through the tears sometimes–your writing is that great. Those government folks an their forms are missing out on your best work. . .but know that I wish you and your company the best. I know you work so hard. Thanks for the Bruno update in the comments above; I wanna scrub his head and sit and watch the wonders with him, too. Sounds great. Get some rest, and be well. And goop up with some extra Gold if you need it 😀

  • Suzy Q says:

    Musette, you are a nut and I love you for it! I love our Midwestern connection, too.

  • AnnS says:

    Best wishes on winning your bid and your agency is on time and the architect has/had his s&^~ together and everyone has proper insurances and bonds until the end of time. I was on the other end of the stick a few years ago, spearheading (with a dull spear, apparently (spear being architect)) a new public library job. It is not fun for anyone. Bonds, seals, stamps, public meetings, engineers (6different kinds!), wonky HVAC that leaked, banks (bastards), attorneys, and more attorneys, and on and on foreverandever. I wish you all the luck in the world. May your client be square (as your corners), your universal station and gps be correct, your COs be fair, your bills paid on time, and your subs worthy.

  • tammy says:

    Count me among the Summer Haters. After two summers of more than 30 days of 100+ degree weather, I am enjoying the slightly cooler summer we’re having this year. We’ve hit in the high 90s, but then we seem to get a break for a few days, which makes it more bearable. We’ve also thankfully been getting enough rain, so my experimental flower beds are looking great.

    Good luck on your bid…I worked the Defense end of aerospace for years, and it would take us years to get something ready to submit to the Feds.

  • SamanthaL says:

    I feel you on the not sleeping….it’s been too hot to sleep lately! For me things have to slow down in the Summer, the heat makes me too lazy to do much of anything! Get some rest 🙂

  • Mary K says:

    Enjoyable post! Being busy is a positive thing because that can mean that business is good. But we all do need to stop and enjoy life whenever we can, too. Sometimes we enjoy a break more after a super busy time period. I like your view with the large lovely trees.

    I felt like putting on some Gold, too, yesterday just because it is so fabulous.

    • Musette says:

      Thanks! I always try to remember that this is evidence of success! And I always try to be thankful of the opportunities, even when they involve me getting up at o’dark-thirty(this morning) to hie down to the bank (40miles away) so I could be in compliance with all the damn FORMS for the 10a meeting back here (another 40 miles) Grateful to have to do it!

      xoxoxoA

  • Portia says:

    I love you Musette.
    Portia xx

  • rosarita says:

    I enjoy everything you write, no matter if it’s about perfume or the garden or Bruno or whatever (how are the chickens?) What movie is the line “gov’ment do take a bite” from – O Brother, Where Art Thou? Or Raising Arizona – at any rate, government stuff takes a big bite out of time, when you’re trying to get things done. I get how you feel about summer – remember when we were kids and it was called summer vacation? I see all the back to school hoorah at the stores July 5th and feel righteous indignation on behalf of school kids everywhere!

    • Musette says:

      VaCAYtion! I remember……I think…
      To be honest, A, I’m so damn happy to be this busy I can even forgive the chunk it’s taking out of my garden time. Were it this time a year ago I’d be in the garden, throwing up! So….I’m okay with it.

      The forms! The wording in the forms! Most of the time is spent just trying to figure out what the hell they are asking!

      xoxoxoA

  • solanace says:

    You invariably make me laugh, Musette, even today, after that hideous 7 x 1. How is Bruno?
    I wish I could smell a Gold cloud from afar. Must be beautiful!

    • Musette says:

      Oh, my dear. My condolences. I’ve not paid that much attention – but I heard it was pretty painful.

      Bruno looks like one of those Hindu cows right now – his Predbelly is awful. But other than that (and he’s so tired – but again, it’s the meds)…he’s fine. Spends most of his time snoozing near me. We went for a drive today (I have to lift him in the car since all his weight is in his gut right now)…he enjoyed it. Then we went for a walk. Another enjoyment. He’s a pretty happy dog!

      xoxoxoA

      • solanace says:

        Good to hear Bruno is happy. Yes, it was painful. I had to think fast and transport the kid to 30 years from now, explaining him that he would tell his own kids that he saw this historical match, yadayadayada. But there was a news story about how tourists were mesmerized because the party on the streets continued, so the German were happy (and incredulous) they could celebrate. This, dear Musette, the fact that as a people we are a bit like Bruno, warms my heart. 🙂 Byredo Bullion helped, too. Now, sweet moment aside, I’m rooting for Germany. They have to do something similar to Argentina, or our hermanos will tease us forever…

  • jillie says:

    Your are NOT moronic or delusional, girl! You are optimistic and imaginative!

    I love your posts – I think you could write about nothing and make it fun and interesting. By the way, I was wearing Gold yesterday (sample bought ‘cos you like it so much so I had to see what the fuss was about) and – I adore it too! Just wish it didn’t cost an arm and a leg.

    Good luck with the bid.

    • Musette says:

      You can get it on sale at a halfway decent price – I find mine on the eeeB, at online retailers…it’s still pricey but not as terrifying.

      I’m glad you are loving it! It really is beautiful! xoxoxoA

  • Laurels says:

    That is a lovely view. I also find it very difficult to accept that the annual rhythms of my youth are no longer relevant.

    • Musette says:

      It’s sad, especially in a place where the annual rhythms are so closely linked to my own past. It’s easier in the ‘city’ – where most kids (at least the kids in my upscale neighborhood) were so structured they might as well still be in school!

      xoxoxoA

  • Beautifully written, thoroughly enjoyable read – I don’t care if you didn’t offer a perfume review!