HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!

I can't really believe it has come already...

Wasn't it just yesterday I was packing?
Wasn't it last week I was hanging with you in a sunbeam?
Wasn't I just 2 a blink ago?



Wow....make the most of every minute....this is what I am reminded of....not in big ways, just in conscious ways...every minute is precious.

With love to you...

Happy New Year!

To dress or not to dress.....

Not in the "get dressed" for the day kind of way, but in the " fancy dress for new years" way.

It is a long, lovely tradition to bedeck and bedazzle the Newyear in our best ensembles...

The question is, how much is too much? Are we still interested in turning out a pretty shoe, a little sparkle and a fabulous wrap?
Well I am, I live for dressing up occassions, so will be pulling out all the stops....

I wonder how many others feel like I do?
Please let me know your own ensemble plans.
Pj's and videos and a cozy evening? Bedecked to the nines and dancing? A movie out?

What's the plan to ring in and ring out the year and what are you wearing???

a year in review

Wow, I sit here thinking on all I have had the opportunity to see and do this past year and am left in wonder at what 2008 offered.

It began with good friends ringing in the new year at the Irish Times where a friend's band "Kitangus" played.
It was warm and lovely and a good indication to the year that lay ahead.


January and February saw my life altered through the experience of being part of a wicked production team and performing in "the Vagina Monologues".


A life shaping experience that was so much more than one can imagine. The play itself is transformational, add to that the women who so courageously wore the skin of the women whom shaped the play, to share their stories. Truly an awe inspiring production. Yay for "the web" ! The show raised $30 000 for the Womens' Shelter locally and that is a jaw droping accomplishment I am proud to have been a part of.


Between shows, preparations for the "Shadows" project, vocal coaching and directing for the Autism Society, the spring moved along quickly. I finally brought home my first electric guitar...something I have been saving for , for well....a loooooong time...she is soooo pretty and red and the sound...yummy!



It also was the second annual "World Tiara Day", the day we don our tiaras and walk tall as the queens we all are...and I am happy to note it has tripled in particiation since last year.



May saw me turn 40 with friends and family....yay 40.


40 means....well..."40". It is the ultimate response.....why? "well... because I am 40"
And because I am 40, I got a new tattoo......my own personal faery to travel with me through life.



Then there was the gift of a trip in June to see my stepsis and family in Philly combined with a week in New York.
My mom and Reg, Daiv and I took in Broadway, art, sights and sounds that left us a little breathless...whew..it is a wonderful crazy paced town.





It also got me wanting more! More travel please....
David re-introduced me to the language of art at the Met and the Moma and the Philly Museum of art, an excellent lesson to take with me alone to Europe.

Then along came Europe.....all its splendor,sounds, smells, tastes, family connections, friends; new and old, and those stones...



Those glorious old stones that resonate of times gone by and times to come.
A journey that inspires me to keep reaching for new creative energy. That reminded me of what is important in our world...the little things, that teach our hearts to be more. The trip that reminded me that art for art's sake is still out there.

Coming home was a poignant and bittersweet thing. Not for the reasons you may think, I was excited to be home with Daiv and the furries and my bed, and unpack....



but it also saw me say goodbye to my dear pussycat friend Abby, another gift of a creature who showed us so many life's lessons over her 16 years. A bittersweet farewell.




Home meant revving up into the holiday show season with not much preamble. Whew!
It meant the sewing machine came out, kitty pi's were knit and prezzies baked and sewn for family and friends. I did not shop in one mall for a Christmas prezzie....I love making things for the holidays.




And then....
Who knew so much would be altered on account of 2 and a 1/2 feet of snow :)

I have been doing snow dances for so many years it seems it all fell at once in response...glorious, blissful blankets of snow. Okay so I couldn't get my car out of the driveway for a week......snow is magic.



This year its magic included my Mom and Reg's new baby, Maggie their Golden retriever...



I am thankful for all of life's mysteries; sorrowful and happy, that remind us what living is all about.
2008 has been the cherry on a pretty good life of sundaes, and I am so grateful for every moment.

I hope that when you look back you also see that you are looking forward, and I wish you all a happy remembering.

doesn't anyone want to leave a note anymore????

I used to love coming in and reading your thoughts, but alas, perhpas there are no more thoughts to have?

A crowning achievement

Does not everyone wear a crown for their Christmas dinner?

It has just been brought to my attention that perhpas not everyone does?

I am shocked and quite concerned at this. Why.....it has been custom to do this every Christmas dinner as long as I can remember.
The smell of the explosion after the cracker is pulled, the flinging of the toys inside the cracker, across the room and down the wall with the strength it needs to tear those crackers apart... the inevitabele colour choices of those crowns, the playing with the toys and ofcourse....the all important.....

READING OF THE JOKES...LOLOLOLOLOLOOLOL!

What would Christmas be without them...?????

A Very Merry Christmas, Hanukah, kwanzaa, Solstice to everyone

It is here...that peaceful lovely feeling that comes in with snow and family and smells of home.

Wishing you all peace love and joy this holiday and the year ahead...and maybe just a little bit more snow??????

Happy Festivus!

We are putting up the aluminum tree and making preparations for wrestling :)

Thank you Seinfeld!


(from the web)
Main elements of Festivus

The Airing of GrievancesThe Festivus celebration as described on Seinfeld includes four major components:

The Festivus Pole: The Costanzas' tradition begins with an aluminum pole, which Frank praises for its "very high strength-to-weight ratio." During Festivus, the unadorned Festivus Pole is displayed. The pole was chosen apparently in opposition to the commercialization of highly decorated Christmas trees, because it is "very low-maintenance," and also because the holiday's patron, Frank Costanza, "find[s] tinsel distracting."

The Airing of Grievances: At the beginning of the Festivus dinner, each participant tells friends and family of all the instances where they disappointed him or her that year. As quoted from Frank Costanza: "I've got a lot of problems with you people, and now you're going to hear about it!"

Festivus dinner: In "The Strike," a celebratory dinner is shown on the evening of Festivus prior to the Feats of Strength. The on-air meal appeared to be meat loaf or spaghetti in a red sauce. In Festivus: The Holiday for the Rest of Us by Allen Salkin, drinking is encouraged with hearty beer, rum, bourbon, or wine. In the episode, no alcohol was served, but George Costanza's boss, Mr. Kruger, drank from a flask.

The Feats of Strength: After the dinner, the head of the family tests his or her strength against one participant of the head's choosing. Festivus is not considered over until the head of the family has been pinned to the ground. A participant is allowed to decline to attempt to pin the head of the family only if they have something better to do instead.

The Festivus Miracle

Although it is not an official element of the holiday or its celebration, the phenomenon of the Festivus Miracle is mentioned several times in the original episode. Kramer causes the occurrence of two "miracles" by inviting two betting-window operators to dinner with Elaine (men whom Elaine wished to avoid), and by causing Jerry's girlfriend Gwen to believe that Jerry was cheating on her. On these occasions, Kramer enthusiastically declared, "It's a Festivus miracle!"

The Origin of Festivus

The Festivus idea originally came to Seinfeld writer Dan O'Keefe from a tradition started by his father Daniel O'Keefe. The elder O'Keefe had discovered the Festivus holiday in a book, published in 1966, that outlined obscure holidays. (Read More)

The Human Fund

"The Human Fund" is a fake charity used used by George Costanza. Instead of buying Christmas gifts for his coworkers, he gave a cardthat stated that a donation had been made to a charitycalled "The Human Fund". The slogan of the Human Fund was "Money For People". It was such a good scam that George's boss, Mr. Kruger gave George a company check for $20,000 to "The Human Fund". Later, the accounting department informs Kruger the charity doesn't exist, causing a chain of events that sees George inviting Kruger to his father's Festivus celebration.

This just in....

Lunassa La fey, our faery cat, loves snow as much as I do, the dogs on the other hand are in the house.

..... Nessa chasing snowflakes...



catching snowballs in her paws...



and watching them disappear....



it is now covering the top of my snowboots.....hee hee heee..



I simply love snow!!!!!!!!


My little Lunassa La Fey kitty, loves snow too!!!!!!

And in other news.....

All extraneous shopping is done and not one corporate store was needed....yay for handmade for the holidays.


Blizzard warning in some areas of our coast.
It is currently -12 celsius and much more snow coming....lots more they say! :)

Good thing we are off now and can stay put and cozy up!

Everyone stay safe....it is crazy out in the world.

a new obsession emerges....

uh oh.......I have found something that I must learn to do.....WAAAANNNNNNNNTTTTTTT!



This is done by needle felting....and I am destined to become brilliant at this...make fabulous furries to go with my kitty pi's and be seen by millions on Oprah!





I suspect the fact that this technique is done by poking and poking the wool with a very sharp barbed needle could cause for a few ummm owie learning moments.
but look........how adorable ...seriously....?????

Maxine....

Why do we...????...

... end up with more things to do than time to do it???

No matter how well I plan, make lists, organize.....every year, my "to finish making" list gets biggr and bigger and there is this flurry of activity right up to Xmas eve, when I finally, in the 11th hour, complete all my gifts....exhausted and hoping I haven't forgotten anyone...

And then there was the year I made decoupaged terracotta planters for everyrone and slipped on the stairs on the way to Christmas gift opening and oooops....there goes Christmas.....every pot broken......not to mention my tail bone.......

Oh dear....memo to self, be careful on stairs.

Etsy me please....

Hello...I have officially etsy'd.

I love this site and have purchased many handmade items as gifts and now add myself to the group. Please check it out....

My store is "Seachild Comforts"

Well done Dr. Zonk.

My other dad, Dr. Reg Mitchell...is saying farewell to teaching and retiring.

This evening I attended a retirement party for Reg, where it was obvious how well respected and loved he has been by many, throughout the Academic societies of the world.
Award winning professor, well respected radio personality on the chemistry of daily living, beloved alter ego Dr. Zonk and pretty decent guy, I am happy to share a little snippet of his success here...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wisR3YJcaKU&feature=related
( copy into browser windown)

Ugh, snow good....windchill baddddddd!

Okay I give........the snow is awesome...0 degrees, ,minus 1, all good, but this? This is freaking cold and hurricane force winds and my car won't start and my feet are cold....damn..........who called the snow????????

Wasn't me!


and this pussycat is not impressed getting the wind blown up her butt either!

A gentle peace over the world....

It is a windy day, but a day that is clouded in hushy white sounds and peaceful streets. I love hearing the sound of scrunching snow instead of cars....people and sleds and happy excited faces are all about...ecstatic there is a snow day.

One thing that I have always noticed at moment's like these is the way neighbour reaches out to neighbour after the snows fall.
I see people digging out each other's pathways....driveways... and helping out with groceries for our seniors who don't feel safe walking about the slippery streets.

I love the magic that snow offers the world. A little reminder that it is about the village we live in, every one of us and we are in this together.

Our Budha is presiding over it all with grace and a smile...

It came... we played.... we caught snowflakes!

It is still falling and a magical hush has fallen over our world.

All the branches all have a light frosting and it is crisp and cold and just beautiful.

Of course Niko insisted on playing and tried very hard to catch snowflakes on his tongue.




Our old 15 yr old husky cross loves snow most of all though, and no arthritis can keep her in when the world is white....


She truly is my dog...





Our little pussycat is not sure what to do after she catches the flakes, they do not act the same as a mousie.

"Where did it go???"


<

and curled up by the fire after the fun is the best way to while away a snowy, cold winter night of pure purrrrrrfection with two best friends.




The fire is crackling, "It's a Wonderful Life" is playing on the TV, dinner smells delish, and snow.....I am smiling!

THE SNOWMAN COMETH.....

I AM SOOOOO EXCITED.

The snow has begun.......freezing rain now becming light and fluffy snowflakes.......

I have 2 very excited sled dogs also.........panting at the door to go and play......well...if they insist.......

Go ahead, try and catch a snowflake on your tongue.....ya know ya wanna!!!!!!!!!!!

White Rabbit....

I'm late...I'm Late.....ugh....I am late for class.............I should be driving!

Congrats to Dab Gallery

I am super excited to see one of the great Vagina Warriors from our last year's cast of the "Vagina Monologues" follow her dream and create an amazing art space here in town.

If you are in Chinatown...don't miss walking into Dab gallery and taking in some local artists.

It is truly inspiring to see someone take an idea to fruition like this. Way to Dab!!!!!!!!!

Let it Snow....

I have all paws crossed...I have told all the furries to cross their paws and am hoping that we get tons of snow here.

We don't often get snow and it is even threatening to snow for Christmas...

Oh please...oh please....oh please........ :)

Greece....

I am watching the news and the rioting in the streets of Athens. The same streets where just 2 months ago, I was freely walking and enjoying so much.
I am reeling with shock and sadness thinking on the faces of people I got to know, who remain amongst this turbulence now.

I haven't written much of the people whom I met, and who changed my perceptions of the world.
It is so intensely personal and hard to put into words, but so very special and for which I am grateful forever.
My experience was so positive, even amongst being haplessly lost in the Acropolis....even with my taxi getting haplessly lost enroute to the hotel. The air, the life, the people, wonderful.

The people I met taught me so much about what being Greek meant to them. Something I searched deep inwards to understand, being from such a new world.

I came to understand that to be Greek was to be a surviver.
It was the ability to keep a language, an alphabet, an entire history and culture alive amidst foreign occupations, and not being able to speak their own language outloud for hundreds of years.

It was rooted in the family unit grandma to grandchild...generation to generation..... in little abodes around a cooking fire.
It came from the humble stones of home.

I met a woman who sold beautiful leather goods for her family. A family that has sold and made leather goods since the Turkish occupation. She had studied Greek philosophy and was so happy to share her thoughts over wine with me.

We talked into the wee hours of what she called " the Greek condition". Her dark beautiful eyes explaining much more even, than her broken English.
A struggle to survive against oppression, a desire to survive and to be a free people, a struggle that is still entrenched in the young people today; as we are seeing on the streets of Greece everywhere.

This energy that lays just under the surface, has exploded after a police officer shot and killed a young man, even though that officer has been charged with manlaughter by a government who has yet to deal with the riots in its streets and the bullying of a police force that began them.

That energy of survival against oppression and occupation, against injustice and corruption.......it has the energy to move mountains.
It is hundreds of years in the making.
It isn't just young men who are protesting, it is young women, older women....regular people like you and I, who feel the surge of injustice moving them to act.





To touch a piece of Greece is to feel that energy rippling through every molecule.
People have asked me why I need to run my fingers over old stones and ruins....this is why, to absorb some of that energy, to feel, to experience, to take in.....to learn from the past.


I hold Greece close in my thoughts now and forever, a connection to a land so far away and yet so close to my heart.
Such a special place, so unlike anywhere else, so.... well...
...so Greek.

Why do we enjoy this soooooo much????

Taking our animals and dressig them in completely innapropriate things for the holidays.
I can't help myself...antlers, elf hats, santa scarfs...count me in and warn the furries...
A couple of elves for the holidays....

WANTTTTTTT !!!!!!!!!!!

What do you do when you want something soooooooo bad and can't have it???????? or at least think you can't have it?

Ask Santa??????? Talk to a mortgage broker??????

Sigh............I think I will do both and make a wish on a star!

the fandamily

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Naughty or Nice?????

Miss Lunassa La Fey has been causing a little spot of bother since she found us 2 and a half years ago.
We knew she was a special kitty and she has proven this to be the case but go figure, this being her third holiday with us, this is the year she would discover......



THE TREE!

"Hmmmm.....I thnk this might look better over dere?"





"umm...Nessa.......what have you been doing?





"I don't know what white fluffy garland you iz talkin about?"