...you just never know when you wake up in the morning

Gordon Badger - he was the one that first said that to me - a bit of a philosophy on life - he was also the one who taught me how to play Farkle (Cuban Dice) - didn't matter how far behind he was - he'd roll the dice with a big Badger smile on his face and say - I only need 2200 points !!!

yep, Gordon always asked "how do we get to yes?" - and he'd say - with all your planning - in the end - you just never know when you wake up in the morning ! who you will meet - what phone call you will get - just what will transpire -

truth is, the morning I met Badger - I had no idea I was about to meet someone who would be so influential to transform my life - well - and make my New Year's predictions come true -

at Roy & Kelly's, New Year's Eve 2003 just after midnight - sitting around the fireplace in their amazing Post & Beam home - overlooking Valley Shush - (Mono) - hhmmm... who else was there that night - Marcia Lipman, Jim Garrow, Lou Pasqualini....... like a bit of a game - we all declared what outrageous things we'd do that year - you know - get discovered by Hollywood that sort of thing -

came my turn - I thought Roy was going to wet his pants with laughter - which is more funny Elaine? - that you are taking the summer off or falling in love? - yep, I was bravely taking my heart out of that strong box I'd been keeping it in and putting it back on my sleeve where it belonged!

well - I spent the summer of my life on Lake Joe with Gordon

another one of those days - one of those mornings when you wake up - was Christmas Eve 2007

late in the day - still at my studio - been in tears a goodly part of the afternoon - not looking forward to going home really - miserable year and a half - lost everything - Mom died - Gordon died - lost my home - had to start all over again - well this is another entry - I digress

in walked a stranger - Audrey - turns out she hadn't a thing for Christmas organized had literally just moved -having to start her life over again too - and there we were - 2 strangers - hugging - reassuring each other that everything would be fine - that the next year would surely be wonderful

6 months later in a coffee shop line-up - someone behind me said hello - thought maybe I wouldn't remember her - yep - Audrey - and our lives were getting better !

turns out she is an amazing chef - and we started a lavender cookie business together - it was never going to be BIG but it was FUN

this was our 3rd Christmas Eve - an annual event for us now - this year she brought organic eggnog (who knew there was organic eggnog) with Bourbon - my kinda eggnog

and now today - and here is the drumroll - and the punchline .........da da da da !

WE ARE PUBLISHING A BOOK !!!!!!!

ya gotta love a happy beginning !