Winston is three!

Hello Iris!

This is the CD cover I'm working on:


I drew one for my nephew too, it's not as good as the first one.
I never draw 1 year old human figures--go figure.


This Iris smells like Rootbeer!

Rootbeer!

Goodbye Tulips.

photo by njw finagled by me

It seems a dream that you were ever here. See ya next spring!

Now....

Hello Iris!

Happy May Day!

The Texas Flame Parrot, my last tulip of the season.

What will I do for May Day, you ask?

Download CDs, Create Playlists for a couple of May babies, laundry, vacuum, wash dog. All while listening to one of the May baby's playlist: Atomic [Blondie], For Reverend Green [Animal Collective], Artifact [Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti], Commando [Ramones], Hurdy Gurdy Man [Donovan], Three Hours [Nick Drake], Fascination Street [The Cure]...and many, many more--I think this one is going to be a double disk. It's called Quarter of a Century Riot (this May baby is turning 25). I was thinking about making one of the disks look like a quarter and the other look like a penny (CENTury-der!). Enjoy your day! ~A

Catch a Cat

Because no one should be greeted by a Leo Sayer post for two weeks.

Guess Who?!!

Ha-ha!

Yeah, I'm at it again :)
Happy Sunday!

This light was rad!

Same light from Sunday.
I think these photos probably have too much light, however, is it just me or do these images rival with visuals on an acid trip?
Apparently, in the spring time my blog turns into a photoblog. Oh well, not much to say right now. I'm zoned out a bit, but I'm not trippin' on it. One of my readers says this is a good time to mine :) --and perhaps finish something??? Hmmm...
Enjoy the flora!

Faunly,
A

Equally Yolked

this Sunday's light

parrot pattern

Bzzzzz

These pictures were taken on Sunday when things were simpler, prettier. Ah yes, Sunday, Easter it was, the day before the hail made it look like someone took a machine gun to my garden.

Flowers! For me?

I do declare! It's Spring! Seeing all the green peaking out after a storm left me to understand the Spring/Sex thing. I get it. Not so much in words, but in just knowing. On the verge of explosion maybe? ;) Anyways, I leave you to it, whatever it is you do. Have a lovely Saturday! I'm going to plant more flowers.





If you comment...

What is this^ a picture of?

Sit and Stare

I heard this song whilst driving home from Houston. After it was over I had to know who sang it. Neil Sedaka?! For someone born in 1976, his success is foggy to me and I thought he was the type of singer in the realm of Paul Anka. Not the guy who sung "Calendar Girl" or "Breaking up is Hard to Do" (a song which I erroneously thought was Everly Bros.--whom I love) This song put me in a delightful trance (or was it the road?) and has given me an appreciation for good ol' Neil. I like his slightly feminine voice. I like the intertwining of Elton's and Neil's voice in the chorus of "Bad Blood". I simply can't get it out of my mind. At least, until the next Periodical Curiosity episode arises. I hope you enjoy. This video is brought you by YouTube, a sim-u-lation treat!

Speaking of Simulation, here's a thought,

He works as hard as he ever did when he had his life to live. All the bells and whistles. Spying on himself. Yes, it was definitely much easier living his own life. Vicarious living. Simulation fix. "Sit at home and watch your life unfold!" A jingle from the future. Spend your life in a room with a computer doing your best to create a perfect life for yourself, or your robot, rather. How many women had his robot defiled? Did they even know? For that matter, how many robots had his robot had? How many robots are out there, how many humans are simulating their lives? It doesn't get much reality tv than that! How exciting to watch yourself out there with the people. Reacting how you would in real life, but more thoughtful or thought out because there are no worries of appearance, for your robot is impeccable. He moves through crowds as if hovering above ground (which he does), knows all the right things to say, is slippery and buoyant under pressure, and has a magnetizing way with the ladies (which he does). Perfect in every way--sweet breath and no sweat glands. All he (the man, not the robot) had to do was make decisions. His periphery was expanded by 360 degrees due to the cameras in his robot's body and a simple installation of a circular computer monitor.....gah! Another idea for a story to work on...I need to focus and juggle my ideas responsibly. Easier said than done. I thought of this story idea a few miles from the Watagorda Bay...clumsy segue...

Last weekend I went to my husband's family's bay house in Sargent, TX. The stilted(!) home is on the brackish waters of Caney creek, an inlet of Watagorda Bay. While Nate hovered on a boat across the waters of the Intercoastal Waterway to wade fish in the east bay, I relaxed with our dog Winston. I took pictures, walked down to the private pier (no docks due to the tide shift), read and enjoyed a healthy helping of the sit and stare. Here, Sit and Stare at these:


pelican


cow


sago palm

tire

stilts

cloud eye

orange sunset under the house

sunset

storm layer cake

storm bird

Feed Me Seymour

The only survivor of last year's herb garden....Radicchio.

Addicted to..

Black Dynamite. I'm on my 8th or so viewing. The movie is a parody and homage to 1970s Blacksploitation Films. I don't know why, but sometimes I get like this with certain movies, I think it's a comfort thing. Do you know anyone who can watch "Spies Like Us" any time, any day?

Mmmm Nordic Cooking

What? Really? Yes. Claus Meyer makes LIVER look good. I need to go to Copenhagen!!



Scandinavian Cooking site click here!


Claus Meyer med food
image from http://www.gabriellajl.com/gallery

Yeah!

THE FIRST BLOOMS OF THE SEASON!! Hello Spring?

More Periodical Curiosities

"If you are among the very young at heart!"

Her soul is scared of her body
Here we see it; Afraid of death
and stunned by life.
As it frazzles and buzzes, clinging nervously to the spine
like a glowy grub worm or a golden crinkle french fry.
It cowers, shrinking close to the sacrum
"Come, dear Spirit,
Don't be afraid.
Come and spike my heart, toll the bell
A little further now, shy thing.
Muzzle your furry, static super cilia
in my cranial folds.
Ah, do you feel better my dear?"
Her body coaxes and coddles,
"Don't be afraid."

In other news...
TV is for Lovers
and Tokyo Zombies...

My new favorite cooking show is New Scandinavian Cooking with Claus Meyer. This Dane is a gem!

I have been reading; The Pearl by John Steinbeck and The Complete Art of Witchcraft by Sybil Leek.
Here is an entry from the latter:

The genesis of witchcraft is based entirely on the theory of a stream of energy which is indestructible, but has a part of itself which will change just as matter can be changed. Because we do not truly have a god or a devil, it is more rational for us to think of life in terms of forces of energy...

Today Julie is entering her...may they be long and satisfying. Happy Birthday!!

If you comment: Name the large lake in Florida.

I leave you with the image of me as The Herlihy Boy.
"Let me work for your company"
Where is Chris Farley to stand up for me and demand,
"For God Sakes! Hire the kid!"

Last Week

hAndi Winter tip: If you have holes in your favorite knee length socks and don't care to or know how to darn them, cut the feet off and use as leg warmers under your pants. This is not a fashion tip, well, not in my case, it is strictly utilitarian.

Another crazy night of dreams a few nights ago. What I remember: I actually had to work in my dream. The crazy thing about the place that I worked at was that I worked there before in another dream, either that, or I had deja vu inside a dream. The first time I worked there it was part of a deal--as I recall, the owners of the business did something for me and I was to work at their restaurant as payment. This time, I was under the impression that I would drop whatever thing I needed them to do off and be done with it. My husband was expecting me to be right back. When I arrived at the establishment, I found that the owners were expecting me to work that night. I had no way to contact my husband, the anxiety began. The restaurant was a joint with a carnival feel. It was located at the SE corner of a wide intersection of a busy city neighborhood. The joint set back from the intersection and seemed to be wrapped, in a way, in dark wood decking. The kids of the owners worked there-all girls and several of them, ranging between 7 and 14 years of age. A unique and daunting quirk about the restaurant/bar/roadhouse was that the wait-staff had to run through this one-way shoot of some sort made of the decking and assist customers as he/she made her way back to the house/kitchen to pick up whatever was needed and return to the beginning of the shoot again. I ran through the shoot with a tray of drinks and set the tray down awkwardly on a table in front of a customer. The drinks spilled and waterlogged the customer's food. I apologized profusely and ran as fast as could through the one-way dining room to grab a towel in the kitchen. By the time I went through the maze of the shoot I was too late. The customer left unhappy. I felt awful that I ruined the customer's experience and the daughters didn't ease my shame. I had cost them money.
The next dream I had was less anxiety ridden. Fast glimpses and views of my baby nephew wildly filled my dreams. He looked and acted a little older than he is right now. He was moving and playing more deliberately and at one point I saw him take a bite of a small hamburger. Weird. I faintly recall an image of him flashing this crazy baby toothed grin with his smiling eyes looking older, wiser.
The next day, in REAL life, my husband sent me an email entitled, "Chompers McGirt", which unveiled a picture of my nephew that looked almost exactly like the image of him in my dream. Except that in the dream he had gelled spikey hair. ????? Craziness.

I have a problem with phones. I don't like them. Last week I had to work a couple days on the phones. One day was a jangling frantic buzz of incoming calls of people inquiring about jobs. I started off answering, putting them on hold and then transferring the calls to the next available recruiter. I ended up taking the calls and scheduling test sessions. The next day I called places to find free meeting spaces for testing. I confirmed 3. We need 100. I'm thankful I am making money, but I miss leisurely blogging :)

Happy Valentine's Day!
Luv, A

Hot Flashbacks

Remember when it was spring? I almost forgot.

Want to

Want to make beats
Want to have a fabric waste recycling store.
Want to hunt meteorites and find gem stones from outer space!

A day older

My mom and I celebrated our birthdays on Saturday at La Bodega. After a Caipirinha, Smoked Salmon wrapped Asparagus and Chorizo stuffed Dates wrapped in Bacon, I looked like this...


I finished the night with a raspberry sauce stuffed Churro and a Bourbon Press. Salut!

Today, on my birthday, I bought some cute boots, replaced my tape of Jane's Addiction's Nothings Shocking with a CD and bought Mr. Deeds cuz it was cheap. Oh, and I had pancakes for dinner. Happy Birthday to me!!

Important Information

Professional wrestlers shave their armpits.

I'll admit it. I have been watching professional wrestling off and on since the 1980s heyday. It's not something I'm particularly proud of, but not something I hold secret. The characters that these behemoths create crack me up--for the most part and I like the history of wrestling. Plus, I think it's kind of neat that there is somewhat of a legacy of professional wrestling spectators in my family (Paternal Grandfather, Father, me). I was watching an episode of wrestling the other day and came to the realization that the wrestlers shave their pits. The entire show I was obsessed with getting a peek at each wrestler's bare armpit. It was sort of disturbing. Yeah, I'm odd. Peace!

Koko B. Ware Rulez!

the aquatic tiger video

Today is newg's birthday! She sent me a sweet video she took of this tiger jumping into water that I wanted to post today in honor of her and share with you. Unfortunately, I couldn't figure out how to load it from her email to my files. Luckily, I found this video of the tiger bath taken by my husband, her brother. We were at the Denver aquarium in May of 2008 and for some reason the aquarium included a tiger. Well, once it took a dip, I guess it really wasn't such a strange idea after all. Too bad I can't figure out how to load newg's video, she captured some underwater(!) aquatic tiger footage. Happy Birthday to newg! I see your reflection :)

my post-dive wet tiger pic

Salvador Dali Sunday

See-thru veil

I don't believe in fate

Not really

I'm just here to wait

Not really

Don't know what I'm gonna do

Tired of what I'm goin thru

Need an epiphany

And some follow thru

Why O Why O Why

Can't I see thru this veil?

I want a see-thru veil.

Shells and bones and tea leaves

Are not helping me

For, to the future I see

Is nothing

I'm just a fool

Looking for a see-thru veil

I'm just a fool

Looking for a see-thru veil

This sixties style song about the future came to me this morning driving back home from the west bottoms in the misty fog. It sounds a little Nico, I thinko. It's weird how one's bummer moment can hit at an inappropriate time. For example, during a world tragedy like the earthquake in Haiti. Kinda makes one (ahem, me) feel like an asshole for throwing a pity party. Oh well. If it's any consolation, the death and destruction in Haiti made me feel worse.

Moving on...I'm feeling lighter today and I hope that I continue to feel lighter and lighter until I float a few inches from the earth. That would be bad ass.

Sending many energetic prayer vibes to Haiti,

A

the mean time

Ugh. I'm sick of being unemployed. I guess I should be happy that I will be temporarily employed starting tomorrow, but I'm only so-so. I am glad to have some income since I didn't get reinstated for emergency unemployment compensation. Apparently, I have some benefits from another state, so I have to claim there and see what they say. If they won't have me, then I have to appeal to the state from which I was previously receiving benefits. Not counting temporary employment, I have now been unemployed for a little over eight months. I know others have it worse than I, but I'm not living in their life. I'm in mine. I am so whiney nowadays. It makes me ill. I feel like I did when I was in the beginning of my adulthood, when I was chronically unemployed and lost. I'm lost! At least I don't feel as lost as I did last month, so that's good. I do know that this will pass, however, it sucks in the meantime.

Apologies for the pity party....

snow sculpture

began as a crappy snow sculpture by me

made beautiful by the wind and snow

The snow birds

How'd I get so lucky to have

Blue Jays, Cardinals and Downy Woodpeckers

in my yard?

Oh, that's right, I fed them

Today there's nothing like snow birds

Their colors so profound in the blank scape

How'd I get so lucky?

How'd I get so lucky?

How'd I get so lucky?

That's right, I fed them

The snow birds

I watched a POV on Patti Smith and cried really hard. If I saw her on the street I would cry and say, "Oh, Patti!" I'd say, "How do poets live in this world?" You just live, I guess. Try to live without fear. Things seemed so simple back then. It never really was and it never really will be, but how do you gain the courage to be a shooting star? How can you fully be yourself? You seem to know, Patti. Why can't we just live on? We can with words.

How'd I get so lucky?

I fed myself.

Roll Over Beethoven

2010

Happy New Year