Everyday Project Management

Diane the Miracle Worker Seamstress - Clothing Designer Extraordinaire

I discovered a miracle worker named Diane who turned my buns of butter into buns of steel with her ability at making custom pants.   I learned of Diane’s seamstress ability this summer when I was looking for a way to get “Cheetah” pants.  You see, I really don’t like to wear business clothes.  Being the Chief Cheetah of Cheetah Learning, if I wear Cheetah pants, then I don’t have to wear your standard business outfits. But the challenge was, where can I get Cheetah Pants that don’t make me look like I’m working the strip in Vegas?  I had a pair a few years back that while “interesting” just lacked that special something.   And have collected others that just looked too much like lounge wear.   Good for those important business meetings in our PJs around the kitchen table, but just not the right look for doing a keynote to 5000 people.

I learned that you can send Diane a pair of your favorite pants - she will take them apart and make a pattern of them. Then she can make you a pair of pants just like them in whatever fabric you would like. (She also can measure you and create some pretty nifty clothes too). Since I was far away in Alaska and she was in Rhode Island, I opted to send her a pair of my favorite jeans instead. She found the cheetah fabric that worked extremely well and had my first pair of Cheetah Pants to me in September.

I wore those so much, I needed to develop a risk management plan in the event I damaged or lost the pants in my travels. So I commissioned Diane to make me three more pairs. Since I was near Rhode Island - I figured I’d just drive on over and get them. What a riot. Here is Diane with my pants.

She is incredibly talented, and very reasonably priced. If you want pants that fit fantastic in any style or fabric, drop Diane a line - dluther42@yahoo.com. She makes suits, jackets, shirts as well. Next she is working on a leather jacket to go with my cheetah pants - suitable to wear on my Harley for photo shoots.

What a Fantastic Mistake - The Leaning Tower of Pisa

Since I accidentally left my Italy tour books at a counter in JFK, on Saturday we were flying blind. We decided to go to that most displayed Italian landmark from our childhood, the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The tower was first built around 1100 BC and started learning around 1200 BC. Now, I might be wrong here, but this tower put Pisa on the map. Also, it most likely would not even still be standing today if it weren’t for it’s less than 90% vertical status. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is what gets people to visit Pisa. And what do people do when they visit an area - they spend money. I’d say this mistake has had a great 800 year run on creating revenue for the people of Pisa. GOOD WORK.

I’m back in the States - back at the grind.  Literally.  My Nutrimill grinder showed up when I was gone.  I’m milling my own flour.  It’s supposed to be a lot better for you than the over processed stuff at the store.  I have a loaf of bread rising in the oven.   I am also going to try to make “Mustardo.” This is candied apples in a mustard and hot chili pepper syrup. I can’t find a recipe for it on the web, so I’m going to do what I do best, experiment.

And for the record - I lost four pounds on my eating tour of Parma. Rather amazing - to lose weight, I need to spend more time eating. I’ve been doing it all wrong all these years. We didn’t even eat that many fruits and vegetables - just Prosciutto de Parma, Parmagiano Reggiano cheese, lots and lots of fresh pasta, meats with sauces, bread, butter - I even had chocolate croissants and pastries at breakfast with whole milk. Amazing. Viva Italiano!