and the money just keeps on rolling...out

Well, despite the most frugal expectations, I spent more money yesterday! We went to another gem show, and I found some great deals on pearls, so I couldn't resist. Couldn't resist some new gemstones either... and some silver. I was even able to fill a few customer requests! I don't last long at these venues though, before I start to get a little panic-y and ready to leave. I think I was at yesterday's show for 3 hours, and once the money-spending seal is broken, it's hard to staunch the loss of cash. I knew if I stayed any longer, I'd just keep spending. And my mom is pretty good at limiting me, but she has her moments of weakness too. And once you spend $10, it's easy to spend $20, and if you've already got the check book out, why not drop another $50...and on it goes.

We met up with some friends (Foster and Cher) that my parents have known since before I was born. They hadn't seen each other in 15 years! Cher accompanied my mom and I to the gem show, and was pretty impressed. She's not a beader, but kept commenting "I could SO get into this!" We stopped for a late lunch at another great Mexican restaurant in South Tucson (margarita's, of course...it was 5:00 somewhere!). My dad played golf with Foster all day then we had dinner at their house, which is up on a hill and had a great view of the sun setting over Tucson. It was kind of surreal but neat to see my parents interact with friends they met when they were my age. It would be kind of like not seeing Chris or Jackie Rice again until we were all in our late 50, early 60's, and reminisce about the things we did at 30.

I was hoping to meet up with Lucy Pirro, who is a customer of DragonFly Beads when she's summering in NY, and a resident of Tucson in the winter. We never were able to make our schedules collide though.

Supposed to be a high of 70 here today. My house-mate called to tell me the heater is broken, so it's 46 degrees in the house in NY. I'm pretty glad I'm not there, though I feel terrible that Cocoa has to be cold and displaced (up the street to my parents WARM house) until Monday.

Leaving Tucson today, but already made reservations for the Gem and Mineral Show next year! (Will arrive earlier, stay longer and hopefully take some classes). We're on to Phoenix/Scottsdale today. Will go to a desert museum, followed by a trip to Ikea. Of course, I have NO room in my suitcase anymore, and I really need a bed frame and a rug which certainly won't fit, so it might be a very frustrating trip. But I do like Ikea.

The next report will be from Phoenix. And yes, there is one more stop on the Gem Show trip, to a great bead shop in Scottsdale. My dad visited Beadrageous in June, and brought back some beautiful Lapis, Kyanite and Apatite. So I'm not done spending just yet...