Week six…

The half way mark has past and it is hard to believe that only one more month is left in this big city.
So far I have learned more than I expected about how to operate a business in this country and make it work.
New York is an interesting little colony of worker bees, all pushing hard to make a dollar, and all running
toward the same goal-quality product. I have learned the secrets of the trade, and have lived behind the scenes
of my very own reality show of sorts. The people that I have built relationships with have been supportive, encouraging
teachers for me during my stay. They have taken time to share their experience and knowledge with me and I am grateful for their willingness to enrich my education.

This week has been quiet. I have been assigned to quality control oversight of our CAD goods. Many of the prints have come in unclear or with unfinished edges. The prints must be redone until corrected and it has been my job to make sure that happens. Catherine and I continue to work on coloring and creating patterns for Spring and summer.
March is finally done and I think everyone is happy with it. February is complete, minus a few minor decisions and we are moving on to later months. My desk is hidden in piles of color-fabric, paper, and swatches. I look around and try to memorize the smell, the temperature, the noise, and the look of the place so that I will remember and be thankful for my time here (once in a new location). These experiences have always been for me stepping stones to a dream that was born long ago. Once fuzzy and vague, the dream of what could be has always been strong. Now, I see this vision beginning to grow clearer and more direct. I see where the road turns straight ahead and anticipate great opportunity around the bend. The future is bright and the things or people who seek to trip me will not prevail. As my Father always reminds me, I will get up and keep on keepin’ on. What is in the past stays there; I am happy to move on and build what will become my legacy.

It is officially summer in the big apple. The humidity is so much that I, excuse the drama, cannot breath. Allergies are a factor in that as well, I guess.
Ah, Manhattan, my personal free of charge(!) sauna. lovely.

Work is still treating my well. I sit here at my Sceptre (not dell, not apple)and create new patterns, silhouettes, and colorways for the product developer.
We make a good team-agreeing on most everything. It is nice working with a small team; and makes for a great internship, as I am basically acting as assistant designer for the summer...lots of freedom and responsibilty...good for the workaholic in me.

pause: i'm starving...i'll write more later. (breaks...good for the ADD in me)


Hello from the office. war eagle...i'm good. haha.

June 15! I am failing in the journal department.
I must remember what all has happened in order to document the summer since my last post. We are settled in on our upper east apartment...a much needed change in pace compared to my first two weeks in the city! Our neighborhood is great, though not as quiet as I remembered from the first time mom and I shacked together one summer forever ago. My friends at the bagel shop next door still provide me dinner every night and are the friendliest faces I know here.

Work is "fab-o" (I don't know why that word keeps coming out of my mouth).
I love the people in the studio and those that we buy from. Not one person has neglected teaching me wonderful things, allowing me to sit in on meetings and giving me the authority to make decisions. I certainly have the best internship in my humble opinion. :)

The weather has been surprisingly chilly here in New York City...Feels like I should be chanting, "What do we want? TD! What's that? TOUCH DOWN!" Strange how in June, I am wearing jackets and pants to work everyday. The cold doesn't do much for my efforts to quit drinking coffee. Each morning I make a concerted effort to think about walking past the glass door on the corner; but as soon as it opens and the smell of fresh coffee beans fills my senses and I find myself pulling out another $5.

It's sickening how quickly my money dissapears, and NO! I have not been shopping!
Unbelievable, I know. Santa's watching...and I have been good. What?!

Mac and I are currently making plans for our own company-brainstorming, talking, thinking outside of the box. It is so fun to have a counterpart who shares a common goal and who is as passionate about my dreams as I am his. Should be an exciting ride, this life we are about to begin! Today's goal: find Oprah and become her friend. :)

So, the big city life: glamorous or challenging?

The first few go arounds were fabulously glam...friends and family to enjoy, wonderful food with unlimited funds, the occasional shopping trip down 5th, drivers, shows, etc..

This time, as semi-reality intoduces itself to me, the flossy flossy is not living up to its old nature. From the village floor (literally) to the unlockable door on riverside, to the heavenly bed at the marriot, this week has been a definate challenge and somewhat of a voice in the wind calling me to realize that I was predestined to have two maids, three chefs, an on call nanny, a driver named Rauhel, and a doorman to greet me upon arriving at the front door of my luxery pent house on Park.

My love affair still exists, only now with a little hatred (just to even things out). I can say that I don't do top level apartments without elevators. I don't do luggage up hill. And I certainly don't do drunken managers at rat motels. All of this has been "fill in" before I am able to move into my wonderful, clean, locked apartment on the east river. Needless to say, I cannot wait to get settled in.

The job is nice. I have been with Liz Lange for four days and have already designed close to 8 pieces for the upcoming season.
I pick out fabrics, trims, meet with dealers (textiles not drugs), serve as a liason between Liz and the sample makers/production facilities, and help make decisions on fit and color. Not bad for the first week, eh? I am immune thus far to the chants from delivery trucks and corner congregations and the oncoming traffic has yet to tred over my shoes. It is HOT! very very hot...and the only regret today is that there is no Lake Martin within walking distance. I would love to be on the front of the jetski (i'll drive, thanks) with my guy behind me (hold on tight!) headed back to the house for ribs and tater salad.

As everyone reminds me without fail, "you have to pick and choose, meg...." whatever! I think it is totally possible to do it all. Let's not be so pessimistic, people! :) Or maybe I should be realistic? I like the "make it work" attitude better.

happy memorial day!

If I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere...

The time has come and the dream is being lived. As of today, I am ready to learn the art of making it in the fashion industry and am finally here to "walk my talk" in the big apple. From Jackson Missippi to the East Village, this day has been one thing right behind the other. We woke up in our hotel to find out that my poor dad had been sick since 4am with the 24 hour bug. He passed out, hit his head on the toilet, and the misery continued in the airport, where the EMT's came to the rescue, hooked him up to an IV, put patches all over his chest and strolled him out on a strecher. Not exactly the departure we had in mind. It was horrible to watch and even worse to know that He felt so bad and was sad about not getting to stay to watch me to the plane.
Thank goodness Mac was along for the ride; He helped me unpack my O-V-E-R-W-E-I-G-H-T bag (really only wanted to take one) and repack half of my stuff into his duffle. He remained calm, saw me off, and then went to help mama...all the while in his scrubs...at the hospital...knowing that he's an insurance guy and not a doctor guy. haha! isn't it ironic?
Dad is now fine, resting; Mac is home; And I am sitting on a comfortable sofa in an apartment in the village that was sent by God when I had nowhere else to turn but the gutter motel. It is 8:18pm NY time and I am about to crash. Work starts tomorrow morning and the adventure can begin-no, continue. I am sure that the stories will be plenty; And if the 6 floor walk up doesn't do me in, then I will quite possibly come out of this a more in shape city dweller. Stay tuned!

Keep me in your prayers too, please.

OK. STORY TIME!!

It is true. I am a fiance. It is true. It is WEIRD!! A new, pretty fabulous, strange, and exciting feeling...

So. The date: April 12, 2007.
The place: Auburn, Alabama
The boy: McDonald Plummer III (we call him Mac. or MP3 Playa,' whichever you prefer.) :)
The scenario: failing tests all the day long.

Thursday morning we (consumer affairs) had our annual Grisham Trentham lecture, where designer Billy Reid came to share his story-which was wonderful. Those of us who entered the International Textile and Apparel Association Competition had our garments on display, which was fun...and nice to be complimented on hours and hours of tedious work. After the lecture, dad and I grabbed a bite to eat and then I headed back to the sweat shop (Spidle) for class and a test. blah blah blah, failed a test, left upset, blah blah...went into the lab to finish up an assignment and, as usual, checked my e-mail. There was an e-mail from Mac that went as follows:

[We’re going to play a little game today, but you have to follow my instructions closely. Ok? Ok, good. Now go check Miss B’s myspace page for your next instruction. Hurry!]

yes, Miss B is his black lab and yes, she has her own page. scary, I know. ha! So i did as I was instructed and this is what I found...

[there's a message in an envelope waiting for you under our tree. hurry!]

Our Tree refers to the tailgate where we first met. Big ole' thing across from FIJI...that's another long and interesting story (how we met). Ok, so I drop everything-purse, books, lab, (class had begun), I don't have any shoes, etc..and RUN to the tree.
My friend, Ashley, was with me which made the whole thing twice as exciting (always is when there's someone to share it with!) We found the letter, ripped it open, and couldn't believe what was happening, actually. It was the sweetest, most thought-filled letter that began with the words, "Thanks for playing this little game. I promise it won't last long, so enjoy it for now because the end is pretty cool." At this point, I knew, though I was still trying to convince myself that it was all an ugly joke. haha...I won't copy and paste this one, but he wrote about how it was in that very spot that our journey began and how amazing it is to watch how the Lord works...and how He is so mysterious and good. all the good stuff.. (so glad he wrote it instead of saying it so that we can both remember.)

Clue three: [The next envelope is by the stop sign where we first said 'I love you.' Think where the person lives who told us we loved each other before we said it! Hurry Pearl!]

Side note-Ashley was that person and Megan means Pearl...it's my alter ego...what the ones who know me the best call me...almost as scary as Miss B having her own webpage. ha! Oh gosh.

So, we tear off across the street through cars who are not stopping for us-who cares! let's go! barefoot, remember.
I had earlier, locked my keys in my car, so Ashley drove me to the next stop. We found the note and it read:

[Good work. See, that was easy! and then a bunch of sweet stuff...and then, "Ok, are you ready? Hurry to the 'Tahoe on the green. Not exactly the same as the place in NYC, but this has something special waiting for you. think....frisbee on a nice day. luh u.]

At this point, I REALLY knew it wasn't an ugly joke! ha! and so once we figured out what the green was, we flew as fast as we could...to the lawn on Donahue. There he was, the back of his white Tahoe popped open and he, sitting on the back waiting patiently. I am totally fa-reak-ing out....as you might imagine. Ashley is (haha) pushing me out of the car as she thinks she is ruining our moment. (she wasn't. i was GLAD to have her there) She threw me her camera and said GO! and zoomed off. I was laughing like a fool, and still barefooted was standing in the middle of a bunch of prickly grass (and ant beds, i'm sure).
I looked at Mac who was now walking toward me and asked him, "what are you doing?" to which he responded, "what are YOU doing?" haha....oh my gosh. ok, so I say, " i don't have any shoes!" so he gave me a piggy back ride to the truck where there were 2 dozen red roses. purty....he carried me around to the side of the truck where there sat a "lovely" little sofa.
so i sat and continued my mantra, "this is NOT happening." he comes back and i ask him what that was he just put in his pocket. he ignored me. sat down next to me and smiled. i smile. he smiled. i did something stupid, i'm sure...looked away, or something i don't know. and he said" well, i figured if a couch was good enough for your parents, it was good enough for us."
i'm sure i just stared at him. he continued, " i love you." ("love you too.") Will you marry me? (yes, big grin) and then..."hey! you're spose to be on your knee!!" to which he quickly responded, "oh i meant to do that! oh yeah oh yeah, ok.." so he gets on one knee in the cactus grass and pulls out this beautiful ring and puts it on my left finger and i'm freaking out again and then he pulls out ANOTHER ring, takes my right hand and says that his family wanted me to have it....the first ring his grandfather gave to his grandmother. I was honored and told him so...
and then we smiled and laughed and hugged some more and made ashley come back-tooks some pics and packed up the couch and went from house to house to tell all of my friends!! fun...

*the couch thing: when my dad proposed to mom, it was on my grandmother's sofa. they've been madly in love for 30 years now. Mac loves them and wanted to make their marraige an example of what he wants for us. (and what i want for us too..!)
that's why he lugged that heavy thing all the way to auburn and unloaded it by himself and waited for three hours until I finally showed up! haha...the boy did good.

simple curiosities
unanswered questions: why is light white and bright and other rhyming words?
mundane afternoons turned long lasting memories
curiously strong altoids
a flash of neon on I-85

things that take over the side of my brain that is not completely controlled by unending (sos!) projects; compliments, spidle.

life has been a fast track this year (and last) and neglect has become a household term. neglect to nurture treasured friendships, neglect of meals, neglect of sleep, and neglect to write. a thousand questions, one answer-here it is, straight from the source.
My life recently: the back of the book cover version.

bullet points don't do much for the juicy things in life, I know; but, if the truth be told, my cup overfloweth and I can't type the details fast enough. I miss my friends, I miss my community, I miss being a freshman and eating cookie dough all night.
I am thankful for it all...for you all. Life today is just as lovely, only in different ways. I only wish that our times were more frequent and full of belly laughs. I wish that every friend could see and understand this chapter that has been awaited...for so long now! Many prayers have been sent up and many many days have been spent waiting, dreaming, and wondering for and about how things would pan out. I am beginning to see the front side of the tapestry. Until now, it has been a fabulous back view palette of multi colored yarns of experience, pain, joy, adventure, lessons, and life. I can hardly believe that from where I stand in this very moment, the horizon is clear, my dreams are coming to life, and I have met the one person that my heart has known forever. Bold? absolutely. Scary? At times. Captivated? guilty.

The faithfulness of the Father comes through loud and clear every day. His adoration has been made tangible and for the first time I have been rendered speechless.