T has a repertoire of jokes that slay the 5-7 year old age set. One of them is about Sammy the snail who has a big red "S" painted on the side of his car. I don't remember how the joke goes (c'mon, I've only heard it about 43 times, how could I possibly be expected to remember it??!), but the punchline* has been zinging around my head these days:

Go "S" car! Go!

The reason I have snails on the brain is not that I will be back in Paris as I was this time last year. *sniff* How we did have fun together, non? I would post the pretty pictures and you would leave me caustic comments about how much you hated me and the misery I was causing you. Ah, good times.

No, it's the pace of the snail that is with me. Itsy bitsy forward movement into this new job, this new life.

One thing that HAD to get done and I am proud to say is now underway is the cleaning and organizing of my office as (did I mention this part of my magical-too-good-to-be-true-dream job?) I now work from home. Although I do have to go in for weekly staff meetings, monthly board meetings, etc-- my office is here at Soliden. Now you understand the pinching and the junkie arms.

If you remember-- once it was this horror show. Now, thanks to T who painted my walls the perfect shade of palest lavender (the photos don't really show it well, you'll have to take my word for it-- unless of course, you loathe lavender in which case I urge you to look away).

There is still, obvs, a long way to go, but look at all the shelving (thanks again to T)! and floor space and wall space-- all of which I am sure to fill up with crap in no time.

The computer on the left in the corner is T's temporary space as his office is nearing completion, but is not yet ready for prime time play.

All my art supplies are in the closet and when T moves out, I will put my ginormous easel in that corner-- whereupon I will fall to the floor in a seizure of ecstasy which, really, isn't such a bad way to die.

The picture on the wall is entitled "Three Muses" and it is one of my most favorite things ever. The artist is Stephanie Arildson and I got it at Artfest last year. Same place I got the reworked pocketwatch that hangs on the dressform.* The watch reads, "it takes courage to explore life."

*of course, how many francophile 5-7 year olds do you know that get the joke on ESCARGOT? Yeah, I know, but it cracks us up everytime.

**I am open for names for my dressform-- she is a wonderful spirit but I really haven't given her a name-- any ideas?

got 2 cents?