Dressing for Parties at CYC

So for those who don't know, I work as a bartender for the Commonwealth Yacht Club, here in Grand Rivers. Not only is it a beautiful place to work and has the greatest employees ever *wink*, but it also is a super fun place to work where I actually, honestly, like my job. Of course, one of the reasons is because the members are all really cool people, but the shopaholic in me REALLY loves the fact that I get to dress up for all the parties we have. Usually, all the events I have worked have been easy to dress for, because of the theme or color involved made it a no brainer. St. Patty's Day? Wear the green shirt. Derby Day? Glue stuff to hat, find shirt that matches junk glued to hat. However, in trying to pick out a dress to wear to work the Commodore's Ball coming up on March 28th, I struggled to find something just right. This is the first Commordore's Ball I have worked, so I wasn't sure what to wear that fit the occasion, is dressy, and still practical to work in. Especially since when I asked if I could wear a dress instead of a tuxedo shirt, my manager hesitated, and seemed to say with her face, "well, as long as it isn't all sexy Corinne..." So after much deliberation, and by deliberation I mean 2 hours of online shopping, I just bought this little number:

Here are some of my ensembles from past parties, although all slighty less formal events:

Derby Day 2007

Fashion Show 2007

I can't wait till March 28th now! Thank you CYC, for always giving me an excuse to shop!

Happy St. Patty's Day! Thats how we roll...

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Here we celebrate with good friends, good food, and drinkin' all things green, of course! I made my old family recipe of Irish Soda Bread, which is a coveted recipe, especially since mom always said, "we're Irish, and the Irish don't cook," and it was, of course, delish. I also had a big appetitizer spread with smoked salmon rolls with horseradish sauce (no corned beef in this house, since I don't eat beef or pork and everyone humours me), real Irish cheese and crackers, little green pinwheels (not Irish, but green and super yum!), hummus, and then, of course, my friends brought chicken salad, chicken breasts, and rolls for the perfect snacky St. Pat's meal. Nothing like enjoying the company of good friends!

Happy St. Patty's Day! May the luck of the Irish be with ye!

6x6

So my blogger friends have missed me! Good to know, cause here I put all my thoughts out there on the web for all to read, and if noone is there, well, that just makes me the crazy person walking around talking to themselves. You know, like those homeless people we all try not to stare at while we clutch our purse a little tighter to our chest.

In an effort to bring me back to the world of blogging (that people do read- all together now, in the style of Sally Fields, "They like me, they really like me!"), my friend from down under, Annette, has tagged me. Its a 6x6 tag, which means I'm supposed to show you the sixth picture in my sixth folder, which just happens to be titled "Lady and Tramp," after my dog and cat. Here is Lady, when she was just a wee pup:

Cute, right? I love my dog.

So now I have to tag six others, so I'm going to tag those bloggers I follow and see if they read me too!

Aurora's Garden

3 Magpies

Kentucky Lake Views

Miya!

Aunt Deane's Place

Bad Kitty! Art Studio

Kentucky Arts Council News Release- Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet

Kentucky Arts Council's Artist Programs Have March 16 Application Deadline
March 4, 2009 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Ed Lawrence 502-564-3757 ext. 473 ed.lawrence@ky.gov

FRANKFORT, KY — The Kentucky Arts Council is currently accepting applications for the Kentucky Crafted program, the Performing Arts Directory, and the Arts Education Roster. Online applications are due March 16 and will be reviewed by independent panels to determine acceptance into the various programs. The Kentucky Crafted program is an arts marketing support program for professional visual artists and craftspeople residing in Kentucky. It provides an introduction to wholesale and retail marketing opportunities such as Kentucky Crafted: The Market, the Buyers Market of American Craft and the Capitol Derby Celebration. Once accepted into the program, artists can utilize the Kentucky Crafted ® logo and brand, have representation on the Web through the Kentucky Arts Council's Kentucky Crafted Directory and may receive referral and other promotional benefits. To access guidelines, instructions and application, go to http://artscouncil.ky.gov/guide/prog9/kcmp_gdl.htm. For more information about the Kentucky Crafted program, contact Arts Marketing Program Director Craig Kittner at 502-564-3757 ext. 484, toll free 888-833-2787 or craig.kittner@ky.gov. The Performing Arts Directory promotes, showcases and provides professional development for contemporary and traditional performing artists, companies and groups in Kentucky. Eligible artistic disciplines are dance, music, theatre, storytelling and other performing disciplines. The Performing Arts Directory provides performing arts venues with access to experienced, professional performing artists, as well as showcase and marketing opportunities and training for professional artists. To access guidelines, instructions and application, go to http://artscouncil.ky.gov/guide/prog3/pad_gdl.html. For more information about the Performing Arts Directory, contact Individual Artist Program Director Tamara Coffey at 502-564-3757 ext. 479, toll free 888-833-2787 or tamara.coffey@ky.gov. The Arts Education Roster encourages professional artists to share their talents with Kentucky's students and teachers by working in school residencies. Artists that produce high quality artistic work in all disciplines and demonstrate the competencies to work in an educational environment will have the opportunity to market themselves as teaching artists for fee-based residencies in Kentucky schools. The Kentucky Arts Council's Teacher Initiated Program requires schools to select artists from the Arts Education Roster to conduct the one-, two-, three- or four-week residencies that the grant provides. To access guidelines, instructions and application, go to http://artscouncil.ky.gov/guide/prog3/pad_gdl.html.For more information about the Arts Education Roster, contact Program Branch Manager Chris Cathers at 502-564-3757 ext. 488, toll free 888-833-2787 or christopher.cathers@ky.gov. The Kentucky Crafted Directory, Performing Arts Directory and Arts Education Roster are available online at http://artistdirectory.ky.gov. The Kentucky Arts Council is a state agency in the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet that creates opportunities for Kentuckians to value, participate in and benefit from the arts. Kentucky Arts Council funding is provided by the Kentucky General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art.

Dear Corinne,

Dear Corinne,
Lately I have felt very neglected by you. I see that you are off doing things, busy and happy, and wonder why you just don't seem to notice me anymore. Am I not good enough anymore? Is it because I'm getting old? I know I'm not the young, quick thing I was when we first met, but we have had some good times, haven't we? I just don't understand. Ever since the power went out, its like you don't notice me as much anymore. Did you decide you don't need me as much? I'm very confused and hurt. Sure, you still play with me a little everyday, but not with the same zest and passion as before. Its like you're just going through the motions. You just turn me on long enough to check your email and maybe your MySpace, and bam! You're off to other things!

Well, thats fine. Did you ever think maybe I've had enough of you too? Well, I have. Oh, you want to use iTunes all of the sudden? You think the time you spend on me for that, using me when it suits me is supposed to be good enough? Thats fine. Try it, babe. Haha! It isn't working is it?? Cooincidence? I can play games with you too, toots. You better get your act together, because I'm not taking you using me anymore. You better show me some love soon, cause I've had enough. Or you can forget about burning your 100's of cds to that iPod.

Love,
your computer

Day Four and Five of the ice storm

Day Four and Five:

Ice, snow, and cold. Still no power, and still don't know when there will be any either. Cell phones haven't worked in days, so most of the communication we have gotten has been whatever neighbors that have been able to get out and hear have come over and told us. Its like living in the old days, at least as near as I can figure it is. Days are spent with neighbors outside, cutting our way out of the driveway and borrowing/ lending whatever we have to share. At least everyone has been in pretty good spirits still, and we have great neighbors. Our wood burning stove insert in the fireplace has been our only source of heat, but frozen, green wood doesn't burn easily. Our neighbor across the street lent us an ax and splitters, so there's been a lot of wood chopping going on. Everything is a lot of work, but at least the days go fast. The nights are slower. Reading by candlelight and playing board games that you can actually see in semi-dark are more challenging than one might think. We played Uno last night cause that seemed simple in the dark, but blue and green cards look surprisingly alike. Connect Four is easy in the dark, but I must be tired cause the kid beat me over half the time! If there's no power this weekend, we've decided to go to Illinois for some power and warm showers. Of course that, too, involves planning, since the gas stations that are actually open are about 30 minutes away in the opposite direction, but I want a shower so bad...

Day Three of the Ice Storm

Day Three:

Everything is a total mess, but even after the house shaking all night from the falling trees and branches, which was terrifying at times, we got really lucky. Everything missed the house by a foot all the way around. There's a branch on the roof, but it didn't seem to go through. Even better, in walking around the house assessing the damage, Tramp, who has been missing for two days, came out from hiding under the AC/heating unit totally fine. I cried from relief. I had half expected to find him under a branch or something.