Road Trip...Second Chapter...Winners of Mystery Place

Good morning!  I am safely in New York City!  I am happy to report I had NO run-ins with any other car, police system or UFOs.  BUT, I, as I indicated in my last posting, I was going to a lulu-esque Nirvana....

Joint Expeditionary Base-Little Creek

Virginia Beach, VA

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HOME OF THE U.S. NAVY SEALS!!!!!!

HOO-YAH

Do you get it....BEACH....MEN in UNIFORM???

So, technically no one really got the answer correct, HOWEVER, I am a fair-minded woman ,and two contestants got within spitting distance of my clues:

White Trash York (of course, she ALWAYS wins)

Malissa 'Penthouse Pent-up' Pet (she has a good win record too)

So, I am going to put both names in a hat and draw for a winner. 

Later. ha.

Oh yes, the photo of moi.  One of my oldest and dearest friends from high school, Lt. Carl, is the X.O (not of the SEALS though. Little Creek Base is also home to the US Naval Band.) of the School/HQ.  Basically, the base is home to the Jocks and the Bandies!!!!! 

Don't be all jealous of me quite yet.  He had to nerve to give me a tour AT NIGHT! So, not only was I unable to photograph our fine fighting men in skintight wetsuits(dammit), but also I didn't even get to meet any of them. 

You know what this means...I shall return in a month...in daylight...locked and loaded!

Carl plays a mean trumpet.  He has played since before I knew him.  He toured with the band Phish in 1991.  He's traveled the world and all three children were born on different continents.  His wife Mary is a doll and a half! 

He knows how much I love to play dress up and obliged me with this photo op in his office.  There is nothing like a visit with an old friend to make you laugh so hard your martini comes out of your nose!

OKAY, Trasherella and Mal...I'll get back to you...I promise the earbobs will be worth the wait/weight.

xo, (Not XO)

lulu

Pit Stop....Charlotte, NC and Adventure Giveaway!

Whew...made it to Charlotte.  No weather issues...no law enforcement entanglements...no problem!

Took in the Metrolina Antique Show.  Scored some serious bling! 

and these

and these little gems

I love old metal fringe and luggage tags...

and these adorable 1930s fasteners...

Treasure jackpot! 10' nun's rosary.  French c. 1840

love the skull detail above and below the back side of the cross.  Inlaid wood and lovely metal findings detail

I love when I find another piece of 'Eastern Star' jewelry.  This is a shoe clip!

But the Cherry on my Bling Sundae....

Whew!  I was worn out after all that power shopping!

Luckily, they had room at the Inn...

Life is good!

I am now planning my next pit stop.  Here's a hint:

What is my favorite kind of place?

What is my favorite kind of man?

Leave me your guesses!  If you correctly guess you win a pair of lulu redstar earbobs! Pass it along!

xoxo lulu

lulu's EXCELLENT ADVENTURE

Greetings Blogistan and Bloggers!
Happy February!

I am poised to begin a brand new journey....destination New York City!  I'm taking a sabbatical for 4 weeks. 
I plan on:

1. going to as many museums* as I can find
2. seeing as many interesting movies as possible
3. meeting as many people as I want
4. sitting in cafes watching the street life
5. being inspired to create even more exciting jewelry
6. putting (fingers crossed) lulu redstar into boutiques
7. eating a pretzel on a sidewalk in Manhattan
8. ice skating at Rockefeller Center
9. going to the top of the Empire State Building (again)
10. reuniting with old friends in the area
11. laughing with my sister
12. going to indoor Flea in Brooklyn with my hipster nephew
13. eating something crazy at a restaurant in Chinatown
14. going to off-Broadway theater
15. start living a new and more creative life. 

WHEW!   I am so excited.  I hope to pass along things that inspire, shock, provoke and amuse.  I invite you to come with me.  Let me know what you think. 

'let's get it staaaarted...'
Ready......Set.........Here I go!Wish me luck!
OH AND I AM DRIVING! so I will post from my first destination: Charlotte NC!


*google has created a fabulous new way to 'visit' some of the world's most wonderful museums.  You can even create your own 'art collection'.  check it out here
So, when I go to the Met you can come with me!
xoxox lulu, Road Warrior

The Ride That Almost Was...

Last night in downtown Alpharetta the annual tree lighting ceremony took place.  Gallery 35, where I sell my bling, is right in the middle of the action.  The Mayor was present as were cute little kids doing singing and dancing, blah blah blah.  Santa was to arrive via a FIRE ENGINE.  This was my destiny...

A little background:  I did a reconn of the vicinity before dusk to see where the Firemen were hanging out.  If I were blind I could sniff out a fire engine!  Yes, after a bit of eyelash flickering, sashay-ing and good old fashioned sweet talk I was about to close the deal to get a ride!  I wasn't allowed to ride with Santa; something about Mrs. Clause, blah blah blah.  I wasn't sure how committed Captain Matt was to my cause so I threw in an offer of cookies.  He said they needed to stay fit so I offered boxes of clementines.  SCORE!

The plan was to meet up after Santa got dropped off.

 I was there.

Santa was there.  The Engine was there.

The photos are not great because my heart was doing a salsa beat, my hands were shaking with excitement and I really couldn't see straight. 

Captain Matt offered to ride me down the street and drop me off in front of the gallery.  I had my 'people' lined up and ready for my JOY RIDE photo opp of a lifetime.

In retrospect, I should have known those little children would be my downfall.  As if they've never seen a fireman or a fire truck up close.  They took sooooo long to look inside my truck the cab and all the gear and shiny valves and buttons.  Criminy they are always doing field trips to the stations or having Fire Safety Day during the school year WITH MY TAX DOLLARS.

FINALLY, Captain Matt was getting ready to kick out the little rug rats--tell the parents that time was up.  I was applying my new red lipstick and just about to step inside when I heard...

'beeeee baaaaaaaaaaw beeeeeeeenk'  and all the beepers starting squawking...oh nononononononono...please no...I AM

THIS CLOSE

TO MY DREAM COMING TRUE. 

THE DRIVER YELLS "..WE GOTTA 5315...LET'S ROLL"

AND JUST LIKE THAT MY DREAM EVAPORATES INTO THE NIGHT LIKE A CANDLE IN THE WIND...

Later, after much consolation with a good Oregon Pinot Noir I remembered the promise of clementines..

"Oh my darlin'  

Oh my darlin'

Oh my dar-lin' clementines

A couple box-es just might get me 

Riding 'shotgun' on Engine 9... "

stay tuned...this ain't over

xo lulu

GREAT SHOPPING AHEAD!!!!

COME ON OUT AND HAVE A GREAT TIME SHOPPING!

VILLAGE MARKET AT PAPER MILL

this is a new venue for me!

my buddy, Angela, runs this indoor/outdoor market on weekends!

all handmade, vintage and antique dealers.  Many are from the Scott's Antique Market.

it's going to be chilly here but I AM INSIDE!

come and see new bling just in time for holiday shopping as well as vintage Christmas and whatnot!

xoxox

lulu

TRUNK SHOW!

saturday, october 16th

2:00 pm

felicity gifts

326 sandy springs circle

sandy springs, ga 30328

404-843-6456

come out and say hi!  shop for the holidays or just for your own special self!

ox

lulu

STORM WARNING FOR THE NE COAST OF FLORIDA!!!!!

THIS GRAPHIC SHOT SHOWS THE REMAINS OF SOME POOR UNSUSPECTING BEACHCOMBER WHO IGNORED THE WARNINGS LAST AUTUMN!

DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU!

 State of Florida BE ADVISED!  IT IS COMING!  BATTEN DOWN THE HATCHES! HIDE YOUR VALUABLES (LIQUOR) AND STAY AWAY FROM THE BEACH...DANGEROUS WHIRLING SAND!  EVACUATE!!!!

THE OUTER BANDS OF THE PICKLED HENS OF PONTE VEDRA ARE ESTIMATED TO HIT PVB SOMETIME AROUND NOON EST THURSDAY SEPTMEBER 30TH

LOCAL BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN ON ALERT SINCE A STATEWIDE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED.  THOSE EXPECTING UNUSUALLY HIGH DEPLETIONS OF STOCK INCLUDE GARY'S SEAFOOD & LOCAL LIQUOR STORES WITHIN 2 MILES OF CORONA AND PVB BOULEVARD

A SMALL CRAFT WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR  BUTLER BLVD from 2 -4 PM AS A SECOND SURGE IS EXPECTED TO HEAD IN FROM THE WEST ON I-10 WITH WINDSPEEDS BETWEEN 75-85 mph

BEACH EVACUATIONS HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR A 4 MILE SWATH SOUTHWARD FROM THE INN DOWN TO SAWGRASS VILLAGE AS THIS IS  THE ESTIMATED STORM PATH FOR HENS, according to CAPTAIN RICHARD S. LONG of the COAST GUARD.  HE ALSO CAUTIONED FOR THE PUBLIC TO BE ON ALERT FOR POSSIBLE COAST GUARD IMPERSONATORS wearing badges and bikinis!

IF ANYONE SEES THESE  'PERSONS OF INTEREST'

PLEASE CALL 1-800-BCHRESQ SO WE MAY FLY A HELICOPTER TO THE LOCATION AND 'EXTRACT' THEM FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATIVE PURPOSES

STAY TUNED TO THIS BLOG FOR MORE UPDATES!

THIS IS GUEST BLOGGER & CABANA BOY JIM CANTORI, WEARING A SPEEDO AND SHOUTING INTO THE WIND, FOR lulu redstar!