It's Official...No More Vintage Store

Well...I knew it would probably come to this, but I finally made the official decision to close down. It was so much fun, and I have met the most amazing people through etsy and blogger. I ended up getting another job in late 09, and between that and the boys and wonky work schedules, I don't have the energy for it. I put out the rest of what I had at our garage sale this past weekend and will donate what I didn't sell.

I am going to keep the blog and the name. The Empty Envelope was named in conjunction with my husband's record label and there may be another venue for it in the future as he is starting to work anew with DLR.

I have fallen back in love with writing and have reconnected with my best friend from high school. We have quite the project we're currently working on and it's revived my soul. I hope to start taking writing classes in Minneapolis. I need the creative energy from other people:).

I hope to find interesting topics to write about, including some of the best visual word imagery I've come across and interesting historical things.

Happy Halloween!

Since we got to see one of the best concerts I have ever seen in my life this week, I am leaving you with one of my favorite videos of theirs, a very Halloween-y one indeed.

30 Seconds to Mars' 'The Kill (Bury Me)' was filmed in the same hotel that 'The Shining' was filmed in and captures quite a bit of the same sensory experience.

Little Birdie

I saw this little bird on a walk a few weeks ago. I kept taking photos and getting closer and closer. I could not believe how close he let me get! I used the 'flower' close up setting on my camera.

He makes me happy:). Does anyone know what kind of bird this is and if, in fact, it is a male? Thanks!

Being Here Now

It's that time of year when I especially miss her. But now, all the firsts are gone. The first grandchildren, the first college graduate, the first of every holiday, the weddings. We have a new normal without mom being here. And this week, I relished in what our family is now. Her importance, love and wisdom will never be forgotten. I am proud of my dad and my sister and myself, for who we are now. I am proud of my husband, my brother in law and my step mom for becoming an integral part of our family, and us being integral parts of their families. And I'm proud of my little boys, for millions of reasons.

Happy Mother's Day.

Random Thoughts

Just some random thoughts and observations from our adventure!

1.We went through something called a 'Coyote Wash' in AZ. This amused me. Can you also get your coyote dried and fluffed? (I know, I know *bad joke*.)

2.Brian Fellows impersonations are only funny for about 5 minutes, once a week. I went way over that limit.

3.Is alien jerky made from illegal aliens, extraterrestials, or road kill?

4.A small bag of petrified rocks will make it just fine through the washer.

5.Loose, looser, and loosest slots: this just doesn't seem like a good thing to me! All the more reason for your money to disappear! And the signs were always next to some hot chick.

6. Gilda Radner is hilarious. Not kid appropriate.

Gaslamp District, San Diego, CA

We spent most of our trip just outside of San Diego. We visited my husband's 85 year old grandmother almost daily, and spent time with his aunt and uncle, his two cousins and their families and his dad and stepmom. We went downtown one day, to go to Horton's Plaza, and found ourselves in the Historic Gaslamp District, which I loved.

I heart San Diego...:)

Flagstaff, AZ

In Flagstaff, we managed to pick the same restaurant as Alan Jackson's crew. There ended up being three trailers with his name on it, as well as two tour buses. We ended up sitting next to some of the drivers and one gal thought they were huge celebrities. I was highly entertained.