Back from Hotlanta

Which wasn't all that hot. The lobby of the pretty Grand Hyatt was about the most interesting thing I got to see, being I was obligated to be present at the meeting at all times (as a speaker, I was sort of like faculty for the duration of the conference). DH was luckier: he got see the Salvador Dali exhibit at the High Museum, explore the historic district nearby, and generally lounge about Buckhead, enjoying the good weather.


One thing I learned from the conference: my eye doctor is right, I need stronger lenses. I could not resolve fairly large letters on a huge screen from a moderate distance. It's been 3 years since my last change of glasses, prompted by losing my lamented Escadas, replaced by these new Kate Spades.

In 3 years I managed to strip the screws and scratch the lenses from constant wear. New sunglasses ordered, and they are Kate Spades once again (apparently, this brand of frames fits me the best).

Doesn't look like much, right? Add the lenses with tint and polarization to cut glare and you are looking at one mighty expensive piece of eyewear (thank heavens for flexible benefits to help pay for eyeglasses).

My indoor glasses held up pretty well (a pretty rose pair of Safilo wire rims), but if I hand them over for new lenses, I won't be able to drive at night or on cloudy days, let alone watch the new Harry Potter movie (already have tickets, will sit up front).
After much, much debate, angst, and trying-on of frames (do these look too school-marmy? Too librarian? Tortoise-shell: ugh, no! a throw-back to when I was a kid and only wore tortoiseshell frames. Wire rims again? The pretty green frames I loved-- made me look green) the optician picked these semi-rimless Guess? frames for me:

I'll be getting them in sophisticated brown metallic.

In the knitting department, I did take along a ball of cotton and plastic needles to make another bib (everyone is having babies, must keep cranking out the bibs). Pretty much completed it on the trip down. Photos a-comin' soon.

One last word about Atlanta. DH and I made one foray outside of Buckhead before the meeting to buy kosher food; this was to nearby (so we thought) Toco Hills. The map was so misleading. I had a dang-hard time figuring out where to go and how to get there (please Google Plantation Drive, Buckhead; you'll see what I mean). I lamented this to DH for some sympathy, asking, "What's wrong with Atlanta? I can't figure out how the streets run." DH replied, "Blame Sherman."

What a Week

When we went to Lincoln Center for the Philharmonic Concert little did we know that I left my very expensive prescription sunglasses with Escada frames and brand-new lenses at Mike's Bistro! it was dark when we left Mike's and headed back to Lincoln Center, it rained the next few days, so by the time I needed them and figured out where I'd left them, they were history. Maybe because the frames were sooo pretty. Maybe because they are now impossible to reacquire. Aaaaargh! So a trip to the optician's was in order. Did I find more Escada frames? No. I found these terribly expensive Kate Spade Vita frames instead:

That was Monday. I was promised the new glasses to be ready on Friday. Meanwhile they are not ready today, maybe not tomorrow, and I get blinding migraines from the sun. So I can't drive at all in the daytime. I've gone through a pack of Maxalt XL this week, plus added painkillers for break-through pain (and I take a migraine preventive too). I have not suffered this much from migraines in years. Tomorrow cannot go to the optician's because it is DD#2's concert at Lincoln Center (where I have to be all day; she has to be there at 8 am for rehearsal. Concert time is 3 pm if you want to drop by State Theater. She'll be playing the first clarinet part.) So a bit of pampering was in order. I had to get this lipstick color, a limited edition, supposedly what Princess Graces wore on her wedding day.

Then because I am going to LA for 2 weeks in January, I had to get this one to wear with a fake tan:

And this to wear while tootling around the hotspots: Malibu, Beverly Hills (where I'll be staying part of the time), San Marino (all right, near San Marino! Duarte, if you must know), Hesperia (the High Desert, dahling), and so forth.

And of course the new clothes, since we are all going for my youngest nephew's bar-mitzvah, and we need all sorts of new outfits for for a chssidic bar-mitzvah in Southern California in January. If that isn't a sartorial challenge, I don't know what is!

Knitting stuff: Finished my mystery hat pattern. Take a peek:

That's the obverse. Here's the reverse side that faces you as you knit:

I suppose which side shows is a matter of preference. The way I have it is traditional but I kind of like the reverse side too. Guess if you knit it right it could be reversible (I had a knot so it didn't work out for me). The yarn is Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride worsted in Turquoise Sea (a bit more green than the photo shows) and the needle size was US 7 (Inox Express). Haven't done any more on Rogue; the warm autumn weather isn't inspiring me to finish socks, hats, or sweaters. Maybe when I get my sunglasses and my eyes go back to normal I'll be motivated again. still, this afternoon we trekked out to see "The Nightmare Before Christmas" in 3-D. Loved it even more this time around. Why isn't Danny Elfman in the movie composer Hall of Fame next to Howard Shore, please tell me? We'll see if wearing the 3-D glasses gives me a migraine. Sure hope not. Better go take the meds now; wouldn't do to have migraine during DD's debut tomorrow!