Early Winter

Yesterday, I experienced my first snowfall...ever.  I've been to snowy places, but I've never watched the snow fall from the sky. So pretty!

It started out nice and gentle...

That's my dog, sniffing suspiciously at the white stuff.  He's a Californian like me.  By evening, we had about 3-4 inches of snow, which may not be too bad for other places used to harsh winters, but it's bad for Seattle - when snow falls on an ill-prepared city, you get trouble.

And  it wasn't without its mishaps - I took the bus yesterday because I'm a wimp and can't drive in the snow.  After 2 hours of sitting in traffic, a group of bussers and I decided to walk home...5.5 miles in the wind, chill, and snow.  I bought makeshift winter clothes from Sears, which was the only store close by, and trekked through crazy cold for 4 miles (at one point, we linked arms so we wouldn't get blown down the bridge ramp) before calling my roommate to pick us up.  Even then, the danger wasn't over.  We still slipped and slid all the way home!

I got home at 9:00 pm.  My other roommate, who drove that day, didn't get home till midnight.  And she still had to abandon her car 6 blocks away because it couldn't make it up the hill.

However, today is officially...SNOW DAY!!!  I don't have to go into work!  When I woke up this morning, I immediately got into my new winter kicks and ran outside...  I love snow.  :)

AUUUUGH!

Sorry, folks, my internet's been spotty (at best)!  My housemates and I are getting new Internet service on Friday, so once that's all set up, I should be able to post new entries, reply to your comments, and make comments on your entries more consistently.

I keel you, Internet!

Thank you for your patience!!!!!!

Living in the Emerald City

It's been a month and a couple of weeks since I moved up to Seattle, otherwise known as the Emerald City.

It's green!  But lonely.  It's beautiful!  But cold.  It's friendly!  But confusing.

I'm loving every minute of it.

I haven't taken many pictures of my new home - I started working immediately after moving up here.  However, I did make my first movie ever of my dog and my housemate's dog running around in the local dog park.  (Click on the caption: The Dogs)

The Dogs

It's rough, shoddy, and a little off.  But it captures their spirits well.  So enjoy!


P.s.  New blog to come soon!  It'll be fun and exciting, I promise.  :)

Packin' My Bags and A-Leavin'

Hey Folks,

I'm moving.  Packing my bags and a-leaving, finally.  I'm uprooting myself from my native Los Angeles, CA for the wild grey yonder of Seattle, WA.

And knowing me, this will be my fate halfway there:

Avouer qu'on est perdu - Cumulonymbus

In other words, lost as a bat in broad daylight.

So, for about two weeks (give or take), I will probably be missing in action.  Rest assured, I will think about you all every single day.  There will be much weeping and shaking from withdrawal, but I will be brave about this.  It's not like we're breaking up.  It's...it's just a brief, necessary pause to start afresh.  In more ways than one.

When I come back, I promise to shower you with lots and lots of ridiculous attention.  You'll beg me to stop.

Hooray!

Thursday Shorts

His Liquid Grave - Meluseena

Mully was a sailor, born on the high, rough seas.
A scallywag, a pollywog, an unrepentant lout was he.
He drank, he gamed, he lied, he cursed,
He charmed the ladies with words unrehearsed.
All to forget a love he once courted,
To the sewers and seas, he finally consorted,
Young but bitter, he lived on a close shave,

Till alas, he lost his life to a liquid grave.

The Inevitable Etsy Cache

It was inevitable.  It's an Etsy world, and we just live in it.  I tried to resist an out-and-out Etsy post, but there are just so many wonderful little finds on that soul-absorbing site that I...I can't resist no mo'.

So, here are some of my top picks of the week!  Remember, my birthday is in March - but I'm not adverse to a little early gift-giving, iffen ye know what I mean.  

Books and air balloons.  I love books.  I love air balloons.

Come on, this is like a honeycomb to a bear!  

Speaking of bears...

A Monocled Bear.  And it's a brooch.

I want this gentlemanly beast climbing on my lapel

every. single. day.

Nerdy glasses on a string?

I'm not beyond a little kitsch.  

A watercolor of The Royal Mile in

Edinburgh, Scotland!!  Here's an extra exclamation point

to emphasize my love for this print - !  Brings back memories of

my lovely summer in Scotland. 

A Fiddlin' Kitty.  My dog would protest,

but I'm the Master of my own Universe!  

And some girlie vintage frames to match.

If you have any favorite sellers or items, let me know!  I'm always up for a little wallet-torture!

The Lost Children of the City

Inspired by the  Art of Sanya Glisic

Do you know where your children are?

The school bell chimes

But the yard is empty

Where have the children gone?

Hidden within the forest deep

Far beyond society's rubbish heap, 

Its burns, its fire

Its callous revelry, 

That leaves behind the wooded scar

Lies a marvel

Of dancing bears and

Balancing tumblers

Mighty buckets and

Tutu'd divers

Maidens fair and

Poisonous creatures

Cycling lions and

Lions cycling

Bull-headed men and

Balls of string

Men of steel and

Their companion true

They all await

To awe and amaze you

So don't delay

Your visit, if you may

The Weekend Is Upon Us

Enjoy the little moments.

Magnifying Glass by Salihagir

Birds of One Feather

Artist Unknown

Phineas woke up one Fall morning

To find the leaves turned brown and withered

He donned a sweater and a scarf

And human hands to keep him warm

At the wharf, he met a sage

Handless, hairless, and lined with age

"Fortune, fortune, will I read,"

Cried the sage, to mislead

Chirping and whirring with delight

Phineas agreed to pay any price

The sage raised his stumps, a dark, dark blight

And looked askance at Phineas, twice

"Fortune, fortune will I read,

For your warm mittens and a bead,"

The sage was sly, and Phineas simple

A devil's deal...if 'twere not for Kimpel

 Kimpel the Fisherman, young and wise

Had made a pledge to his mother dear

To protect the innocent from false scries

For to one, she lost her heart sincere

Throwing aside his fisher's creel,

A strong, firm hand did Kimpel use

To halt the lies, the steal, the deal

And stop a most unfortunate ruse

Cries and howls, unholy to hear

The sage let loose with a single tear

Phineas, simple and kind at heart

With his mittens did he gladly part

Alarmed by kindness, the sage did pause

As the cold shriveled the boy's poor claws

"Ye are good," the sage did say,

"I am changed, from this 'ere day."

Kimpel assessed and judged and nodded

Truth was told, redemption awarded

So the boy, the sage, and the fisherman together

Became fast friends, Birds of One Feather

Hiatus

Sorry, folks.  Just going through some personal trials right now.  Need to go on a little break to take care of some things.

 

 The Return of Vacation by Cetrobo

I promise to be back soon...energized, refreshed, and full of monstrous activity (raaawr).  When I come back, I shall eat you all!  Nom nom nom!

Introducing Cole + Josephine

No need for introductions, really.  The art speaks for itself.  However, since I'm gregarious, allow me to expound:  Cole + Josephine is the brainchild of Nicole Sharp.  She's a self-taught artist, and her work is both visceral and intelligent, with a hint of "Wordsworthian" whimsy.  Every piece is like a stream-of-consciousness, as if a floating thought was captured mid-flight, which is manifested in the title of her works.  I've included some of my favorite pieces below, but you can see more of her wondrous artwork on her blog or in her shop.

 

A Piece of Fried Gold

 
 

Fresh

 
 

Here I am just trying to relax and you 

just tear through here and destroy my calm 

 

We can sit in our modern chairs and 

have long, philosophical discussions

 

The Frequency of Direction

 
 

Trompe L'oil Pears

 
 

Terrarium: Bringing the Outdoors In. 

Oh, and Making It Better. 

 

I'm just going to throw this out there... 

the Beatles do nothing for me

 

Owls plus Bird Claw Talismans 

equal Incompatible Etsy Trends

Picture Books

People have different motivations for reading and writing books.  Mine was always, always about the story.  Love of words?  A close second. 

I see stories in everything:  books, pictures, music, dreams, moments, even scents.  This morning, I stumbled across a treasure trove of stories...in a series of fashion photographs.  I normally don't pay attention to fashion, but the rich and compelling story found in each frame, the lush and vivid colors, the hint of history and the mystic... it was all too fantastic to ignore. Enjoy.

 

  

 

Tamer Yilmaz 

 

 
 

  

Carter Smith

Out Sick

I was out sick yesterday.  

 

I went to the ER and found out I had a tummy virus.

 

I took medicine and am a bit better now.

 

I wish you all a safe and healthy mid-week!