My New Clicking Machine

My New Canon G10...no discernible difference. But it is easier to handle.

And then there is Boxing Day...?

Boxing Day dates back to past centuries when it was the custom for the wealthy to give gifts to employees or to people in a lower class, most especially to household servants and other service personnel.(wikiwhatever...) Felt the need to put in a nod to my Canadian homeys*throws up a Canadian Gang sign here*
Some of you are thinking...what the hell does this cat have to do with Boxing Day?
well...not a damn thing.
This is Teddy. Teddy weighs in at 24 lbs... One could easily suffer back trauma if you don't lift with your knees when picking up Teddy. His pelt (fur) is soooo soft... it could line a crib. This is the cat of my mother in law, Pat. She does not over feed...he is just 'tall'. Happy Boxing Day Teddy!

Whatever happened to Kwanzaa?

Kwanzaa is a non-religious African American holiday which celebrates family, community, and culture. It is celebrated for seven days: December 26 - January 1.

Dr. Maulana Karenga, professor and chairman of Black Studies at California State University, Long Beach, created Kwanzaa in 1966. After the Watts riots in Los Angeles, Dr. Karenga searched for ways to bring African-Americans together as a community. He founded US, a cultural organization, and started to research African "first fruit" (harvest) celebrations. Karenga combined aspects of several different harvest celebrations, such as those of the Ashanti and those of the Zulu, to form the basis of Kwanzaa.

This all sounds very nice. But wow...its as old as I am...It's hard to wrap any part of a brain around something so new. But I guess all traditions start somewhere, sometime and by someone.

This holiday season has me thinking a lot about religion, spirituality, tradition and family. Really - it's always such a time of stress for me (and Zac) we don't call ourselves Christians. Zac calls himself a militant anti-theist. Me, leaning more pagan sun worshiper, tree hugger... yet we are called to do family visits because its "Christmas". I never wish people a Merry Christmas because truly, I don't believe that Jesus was the son of god...Because I don't (wait for it...wait for it...) believe in god. I believe in metaphor and stories. I believe there are rights and wrongs in this world not governed by a anthropomorphic god. Jesus (IF he existed, and that's a big IF) was a great teacher...so was the Buddha, and Gandhi, and Sojourner Truth. If I was the Queen of the world, I would create a holiday that set aside time to meditate on Great Teachers, not just one. I wouldn't put everyone in the middle of this material spend/give/get vortex.

But alas, I am not the QotW. People will believe in their gods. And people will go to war over their gods. People will die in the name of their gods. And I will take some time to thank the great teachers who showed me the way for the last 42 years.

I'm also going to look more into this Festivus, for the Restivus idea...

My New Favorite Color is Red White & Blue!

Oh yeah...I want one of these posters SOOOOOOOO bad I can smell it..(oh wait, that's the cake in the oven). Like many Americans (the majority as a matter of fact!) I have a renewed sense of hope and my new favorite color is red, white and blue! So, I have canceled my one way travel plans to Canada. I don't want to sound mauldin, but damn, it's a sweet time to believe in SOMETHING. ANYTHING. For 8 years we have been lied to, beaten, spit upon, and considered the butt crack of the universe. Im not saying were not (we still have a long way to go) but finally, we can hold our heads up and say, this election was not STOLEN. This election was majority of the Electoral College AND popular vote. We can ask modestly for a second (nay, third or fourth) chance. What do I HOPE? I hope we will have health care reform. I hope we will have programs to keep our kids in school. I hope we will give the rest of the world that is suffering a chance. Our resources are many and stretched too far in the wrong direction. Good Luck Barack, gimme a call if there is anything I can do...

Yard Sign on my Brain

This is all that is on my brain these days (right behind the chronic pain in my back). Not the election, but my yard sign. I have the best yard sign EVER! I was one of the lucky few who scored a Obama/Biden sign. They are few and far between in the northeast. There is not a lot of campaign money being spent up here with our one and two electoral votes and all. So the schwag is slim pickin's too. When the election is over, If my sign is still in my yard and in tacted, I'm going to frame it.
In my life there are only 3 people I can think of that are against change and for more of the same. I wont embarress them here. They know who they are. It's on them if they pull the red lever on November 4. I'm lucky that I surround myself with hopeful people who want to make a difference. Who wont stand for another stolen election. Who know that Sen.'s Obama and Biden are our next best choice to making sure America stops being the big ASSHOLE of the universe. (or however Sarah Silverman put it in the "Big Schelp" video) 16 days and counting.

Mom & Dad's Castle on Clay Hill!

YUP...Dad had that look on his face ALL DAY...

but things weren't that bad. The crane got there early. The set crew got there early and the house arrived in two big peices (only had a little trouble making the first two of three sharp turns to get them up to the site. I'm not going to share too many pix, because I am making a film and want it to be a surprise, but I've been asked to share a few so here they are...

Matt Dow (mom's cousin and the guy who set this whole thing up for them) to the rescue!

The house from the front

The first of many toasts!

Dad, Mike, Mom, Mikey, Matt, Andrew, Joan and Woody in front!

(Champagne and SP glasses courtesy of Andrew, the only one who thought of housewarming gifts the DAY the house got there...duh...)

Laziest Blogger ALIVE!

Wow...If this blog was a child, the State would have place it in foster care a long time ago. I really have to commit myself (hehehehe) to doing this at least once a week. I have to start making myself write at least a sentence or two a day. Preparing myself for a nice long retirement of writing and phototaking. I will post a pix or two of my Rent's new digs. that was so cool. When I get the video up on YouTube, i'll post the link. I took 100's of photos from the same spot with a tri-pod so I can put it together real fast! or take it apart....
I got hit on the head today by a snowshoe. We store them high on the wall in the oil room. I was trying to get a screen door out and I wack the snow show and it wacked me back. I have a horn growing out of my right temple.
Im trying to become a chacha moderator. that would be fun, but probably wont work with this lousy internet connection.
Angel at work set up a blogger site for our escapades at work with fuel assistance this year. It was a hell of a week, that ended with a WHOPPER CHECK to help our clients who dont get enough, from a group called TARM USA. I want everyone to know how generous they are!

BIDEN is going to run with OBAMA! YEAHHHHH! should be a good match. Biden has a lot of carisma (sp? - doesnt seem right)
So...here is my brief update. Pix to come.

What to do on a Rainy Vacation...

Yes...we did a LOT of sitting around this year on vacation because it RAINED everyday! this is a gang of us watching the trailer park boys on my laptop (it looks like the sun came out and we didn't notice) "because a dope trailer is no place for a kitty!"
If you want to see the whole slide show from this years trip go to www.youtube.com and you can see all three years. Sitting here is cousin Ken in red, Uncle Bert, Brother Mike, Dad, Andrew, Canada Ann and Gordon.
And to the right is my beautiful niece Kelley. She is really growing up! Very photogenic!

Meet BUBBLE's !
Bubbles is an Inuksuk built by my brother Mike (Corey on the left) and his friend Andrew (Trevor on the right) of course that makes Bubbles center - in my side yard this spring. The rocks were excavated from our bank 2 years ago just waiting for a plan. We are all very pleased with Bubbles. I can lay in bed and look out the window and see him. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside...

From Wikipedia for those of you who are curious...

An inuksuk (plural inuksuit)is a man-made stone landmark or cairn, used by the Inuit, Inupiat, Kalaallit, Yupik, and other peoples of the Arctic region of North America, from Alaska to Greenland. This region, above the Arctic Circle, is dominated by the tundra biome, containing areas with few natural landmarksThe inuksuk may have been used for navigation, as a point of reference, a marker for hunting grounds, or as a food cache. The Inupiat in northern Alaska used inuksuit to assist in the herding of caribou into contained areas for slaughter.^[5] Inuksuit vary in shape and size, with deep roots in the Inuit culture. Historically the most common type of inuksuit are a single stone positioned in an upright manner. An inuksuk is often confused with an inunnguaq, a cairn representing a human figure. And there is some debate that the appearance of human or cross shaped cairns didn't develop in the Inuit culture until the arrival of European missionaries and explorers.

BUBBLE's is also the name of my favorite TV character...

Also seen here in the middle...http://www.trailerparkboys.com/

Hello again...

Long time no Photos.
Here (Below) is my BFF sitting in front of his stove on a sunny winter morning. And here (Left) is me in a weird mood documenting mans in humanity to man - dead deer. Taking by utility man, thin man, hot hot hot man, G-man.
more later....

no irony there...

They don’t call me the Mad Raven for irony. On occasion, take leave of myself and can’t write or communicate. Being locked up at home doesn’t help. We have no outside communications up there in the woods. I loose my driving ability/privileges so I don’t get out at all. AND it’s the middle of winter so I fear falling as a combination of my pharmaceutically induced lack of balance and my neural-spinal reactions are slow on the uptake (READ: sometimes my legs and feet don’t talk to each other).

I can honestly say in 2 weeks of being sequestered; I’ve seen no one and I’ve seen the whole town. The unusual timing of this episode is that it fell the week of Town Meeting here in VT. My husband took me out of the house for this day. I sat quiet (for a while) spoke only once, and left at the mid-day break. What a great and odd tradition. There is an agenda. Roberts Rules of Order are strictly adhered to with no deviation…save one.

I spent NO money. (I had no internet) the only money I spent was about 60 quid on the first season of Arrested Development and the first season of Curb Your Enthusiasm. I knew I was going to be locked up and wanted something with which I could distract myself. I’ve gotten my moneys worth.

I also worked on a logo for my husbands company. I made about 70. I’m sure they will shoot them all down, but that is okay. I literally spent a hundred hours on them. They wont know when they look at them.

The other odd thing that happened during my ‘down time’ is that our barn/garage collapsed into itself. The roof caved under the weight of the snow and ice. The adjuster was suppose to be here today but didn’t come. I don’t have a good feeling about this at all. I cant find the actually policy, but I think there is a “snow on the roof clause”. My luck.

The morning after it happened, I had a Contrast MRI. I was nervous because I’m allergic to contrast dye. Gadolinium – a heavy metal that bonds with my blood to create the contact for the image. The technician, Shrive Soule (What a grand old name!) gave me a test run to make sure I didn’t react. I didn’t. COOL FACTOID: BEST music EVER is Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Mood when your getting an MRI. Just incase it’s not in their repertoire bring your own copy! It was so perfect. Note to self: write to Pink Floyd and thank them for coolness. the end.

More News from the Dark Side of the Hill

Squirrels are higher than our feeders this year.

My husband is a monkey.

Barred Owl Blending In...

Some New Pix from the Mad Raven!

Somewhere near the Mountain view Grand Hotel are these balls. I like these balls.

Crib Angel

the final gross out...

Final update for those who care. Comments include: 'Yuck'. 'That looks sore'. 'A monkey could have done a better job sewing you up'. Whatever...at least Im mobile again. problem now is my camera is broken and will have to go to the camera hospital for 8-10 weeks. Need to find a loaner. Cant be without my third eye!!! god help me if I dig out the old minolta x-700 and "BUY FILM" I probably would have to develop it myself in the bathroom. duh. Anyway. Scroll down and look at my handsome staff again. Ain't they purty. Im like a proud mama...I guess.

I wish I could tell you...

How proud I am of the Tyler's Second Time Around Thrift Store & Staff. When I think back to the day we all walked through the store and what we saw in the back room. The open maxi pads, the spoiled meat, the clutter and dirt. Now its safe, neat, inviting, full of wonderful gifts and clothes. I look forward to spending time in the store. And I hate PEOPLE... Last week there was a wonderful article in the Coos County Democrat about the store. The windows are wonderful eyes on the world of Lancaster and so fun to decorate!

seen in photo (by Eileen Alexander), clockwise from bottom left are Jilly-bean, New Amy, Moi, Gordito and Sgt. Bean and the baby bump.
Stay tuned for the upcoming 'Write off your X' campaign! The brain child of our Gordon, (not your Gordon, but OUR Gordon) - the drive is to get folks to donate those dusty gifts from the "blankety blanks" that broke your heart! You donate, we give you a tax receipt - hence 'Write off your X". More photos from the windows on the world to come!

-3 here on the dark side of the moon

WAY too cold for cats and dog to go out. I'm on the couch with a box of PUFF's plus. Mag's is curled up next to me and the fire is roaring in the wood stove. I'm drinking my first cup of hot chocolate in days. Couldn't think about it with my head cold. I haven't tried to talk yet today, but I have my suspicions that my voice has taken leave of me.
My hand seems to have more dexterity today. Yeah! not enough to hold the camera more than a shot or two. It's Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.s Holiday today. I must find something to do to remember him...perhaps read Letter From a Birmingham Jail? Of course, his ACTUAL birthday was last week on the 15th.

What's a PhotoBlog without Photos?...Just a boring blog...

4 morer days until the stitches come out...then I can try to hold he camera again. I tried yesterday. It hurts too much. The pointy finger on my right hand, the one that pushes the shutter release button, is, well, malfunctioning. I'm still hunting and pecking to type. Ive been out of the bandage for 2 days now (due to being bedridden with some kind of plague) Doc says its good to give it air. I find that the pretty blue stitches are fun to flick with my fingernails and bite when Zac's not looking. And for the record, my hand is swollen, not fat...

I saw a glorious rain-bow-circle-around the sun last week. I wonder if that counts as a sun dog?

Stay tuned for the adventures of supermodels turned social workers, Isabelle Stryker (Her friends call her "Latham" for short), and her gay attorney/journalist sidekick, W. Keifer DuPont, esq., III - Okay, maybe not supermodels. But they're defiantly the co-founders of the Giuliani Institute for the Study of Indigent Buoyancy (AKA the GISIB). They spend their days brainstorming marketing strategies to sell used merchandise to the poorest of the poor in New Hampshire - and when they aren't watching HOUSE, they are spend they time fighting evil right wing sweater wearing refrigerator magnet store owners who park their Volvo's in handicap spots. Oh Yeah, the cold medicine is eating my brain...eating it away.......

What a Life...

Last for a While

Oh Boy...enjoy these...no more originals for a while. Can't hold a camera. Bummer. Freakin' knife.