Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to the blogosphere! I hope you enjoy the time you spend with your family and friends.

I will be giving thanks for my wonderful family that is always my backbone, my friends that are endless sources of fun and joy and to our health and happiness throughout the year.

My favorite blessing is from Halcyon and it is a modified version of a blessing his Grandpa used to give, he was such a bright star on this little planet:

“Dear universe, thank you for the miracles in every moment. Help me to be aware of all my blessings and be a loving presence in the world.”

What are you thankful for?

Things That Make My Heart Flutter

Random Bits of Happy

The sick edition!

* French Onion soup was my savior this past weekend.  The broth, the cheese, the fat crutons so soft from soaking in the soup.  It made my throat feel better and I believe took me from the point of still feeling bad to recovering. 

* Ricola – Echinacea Honey Lemon has been my savior at work.  While I think I am just days away from no longer having the runny nose or the catchy little cough that is itching at the back of my throat, I believe that without the cough drops my co-workers would kill me.  They keep my throat calm and even as we speak I am sucking on one now.  Love love love them.

* My music syncing up with the world around me!  Let me explain, I was having a busy day and didn’t want to keep fiddling with the ipod so I turned it to shuffle and it kept me in the mellow music that was just wonderful and then changed to Brian Eno – Ambient 1 (Music for Airports) and I look up from my work as a jet flies past my window (Yes I have an awesome view for a cube worker!).  I felt compelled to snap a photo!  Everything about the moment just felt right. 

So like I said…the sick edition.  It isn’t so full because I’ve been going home and doing some major vegitating.  Just trying to get my energy levels back to tip top shape.  I think I am almost there.  Almost 2 full weeks of this cold.  At least the 2nd week has been mostly bearable and not feeling like my head was going to fall off.  Hope you are all washing your hands and staying away from all the sickies stumbling around! 

Quick Mentions:

* Finding a Phrenology head at UO for sale because it was misprinted.  I like the misprint (the words are in the right place, just backwards on half of the head!) * This cover of Not Fair by Megan Tonjes (Org. by Lily Allen) plus check out how hot and confident Megan is with her Project Lifesize  *Tea! Specifically Yogi – Cold Season Tea is doing me right. * Kleenex with Vicks infused in it!  Oh how I love thee….my nose love thee, my skin loves thee!  *Orange Juice with extra vitamins! Getting my Vitamin C fix on.  *Spending extra time in bed to get my Vision Board all spiffy.  It looks extra suave right now!  No really, it does!

Tell me about the bright things in your week!

Buttons: Current links

Buttons! Click them!

flickr by romyboxsem

* My first new favorite link happens to be a SHE found ME type incident!  One of the very first people to leave me a comment….and lets be honest since moving over to wordpress I get very few comments (and I LOVE comments people!!!) but I love my blog.  I love the positive feelings on the page and was really just over the livejournal format but still go over there to read the people I’ve followed since 2000.  Anyway…tangent!!! Sarah commented early on when I was getting no love and her link to her blog opened my eyes to someone else spreading the positive vibes all over the net.  I love Yesandyes she is what I hope for my blog to be.  She has great content and I feel like she is smiling at me from her entries. 

* My next link is N. Frank Daniels  his blog is him wearing his heart on his sleeve.  Author of Futureproof  I found his blog and twitter through a link on the back of his book.  And wow what a book, if you grew up in the late 80’s early 90’s and had friends that got a little too into the hardcore alt. scene you might know someone like the person in his book.  I did a little too much and the book hit home.  His blog is about his life, which has not been an easy one.  I want to wrap my arms around his blog and just hug the hell out of him.  I read because he has pulled himself through a lot and I just want to see him get ahead of the negative…..and I think he can. 

* Letters of Note is a great blog for voyeurs.  I am such a nosey gal.  I love peeking in peoples drawers or looking behind a shower curtain when in a bathroom.  I love seeing what other people have, buy, use.  Estate sales are a weakness, I want to buy unemptied bedside tables.  Letters of Note gives me some of that.  A letter someone wrote to another individual.  The letter I linked to is by author Kurt Vonnegut to his parents letting them know he is ok.  He was a P.O.W. and was rescued.  This letter put chills on me.  I love that the voice he used in many of his books seems to be the same narrative voice he uses to tell his parents he is ok. 

* The last are just my girl crushes.  Talented strong women that keep these blogs showcasing their talents.  Zoetica Ebb a co-founder of Coilhouse a beautiful alt mag and she is a poster on many of my favorite fashion links…such as Haute Macabre.   Chloe Rice is a photographer and has such a unique punk take on life, I love her blog and stumbled across it a few months ago, I love her photos of her life events.  She looked so familiar to me, I was trying to figure out why and then realized she had a different name….but is the same girl I thought was the bees knees in the Suicide Girls movie…the laundermat girl on skates!   Last but certainly not least is Nubby she is graphic designer with a client list that will make your mouth drop open, her keen fashion knowledge and shoe fetish keep me reading her blog. 

What links are pulling you in this week?

Books: Her Fearful Symmetry

Her Fearful Symmetry

Audrey Niffenegger’s second novel is a ghost story that reads almost like a fairy tale.  Twin sisters Julia and Valentina are left their estranged Aunt’s London flat with the instructions that they have to live there for 1 year and their Mother, their Aunt’s twin sister, mustnt step foot in the flat.  The sisters are spoiled 20 year olds living in Chicago with Mom & Dad looking for the next thing to try and this seems like the perfect adventure.  This is their chance to grow up, and for one sister, she thinks it’s her chance to seperate slowly from her clingy, bossy twin. 

The relationship between the twins is strained with only Valentina feeling the strain as Julia the bossy twin decides their every move and every fashion choice.  They dress alike, they sleep in the same bed, they eat the same meals.  The character’s in their new flat slowly seperate the thoughts between the twins.  Aunt Elspeth is a ghost in their flat and makes herself known to the twins.  Elspeth’s lover Robert lives downstairs and starts an odd relationship with Valentina that makes Elspeth jealous and the upstairs shut in Martin gains relief from his OCD’s in befriending Julia. 

The relationships are well developed and thought out and the Historic Highgate Cemetery that the building overlooks even seems to be it’s own character in the book.  The book is told from many perspectives and the most interesting perspective seems to be when told from that of the ghost of Aunt Elspeth.  Manipulative in person, I believe she magnifies that quality as a ghost trapped in her flat. 

A beautifully haunting tale that I think most people with an open mind to spirits will enjoy.  You won’t think of ghosts in the same way. 

Four out of five milky white ghost like butterflies.

Things That Make My Heart Flutter

Random Bits of Happy

Jessica & I

* FAMILY!  The trip to Georgia last weekend was great.  I was surrounded by all my family.  All the people I love in one place.  It made my heart feel doubled in size it was so full of joy.  Many stories were told, my Aunt has some antique items that were my Great Grandmother’s and the memories that came from rocking in that rocking chair….whoa! I just loved every moment.  As a child my parents and my cousins’ parents traded us off, me & my brother and Jessica and her brother.  So I spent at least 2 weeks if not more every summer with my cousin.  I love her like a sister!  We couldn’t get enough time together.  Love-her-to-death-as-you-can-see-above!

* The leaves were changing in Georgia and it made for a beautiful trip and a beautiful wedding.  The weather was comfortable during the day and cold at night, which I think caused the cold that I brought home.  Which is why I will now express my love for my neti pot!  My stuffy, snotty nose feels so much better after I use my neti pot.  My ears clear, my nose clears, and for the next few hours I can breathe without taking too many drugs.  Get rid of the cold with saltwater.  It’s amazing to me!  I feel a little better everyday, hopefully tomorrow I will be over this ick!

Terrell & I

* Family photo!  My husband is so handsome, and he makes me so very happy.  We had such a fantastic road trip!  4 1/2 hours to and from and we talked most of the ride.  We laughed so much and just truly enjoy each other’s company.  He has also been such a great man taking care of me while I’ve been feeling under the weather.  I was so achy with cold Tuesday and he gave me a gentle tiger balm back massage and let me tell you, it made me feel SO much better.  He also knew I needed to stop this morning to gas up my car and so he went out last night and took my car up to the corner so I wouldn’t have to this morning.  He’s wonderful!

Quick Mentions:

* Book club is amazing!  12 wonderfully different women. I love them all! *Patrick Wolf on repeat * Movie Chocolat – I fogot how magical that movie is. * GhoulNextDoor’s beautiful tumblr page * “They took our jerbs!” teehee *Soup, I’m on a soup kick (I’m sick, it’s soothing) *Finding a star grapevine wreath covered in glitter – I bought it up, it had to be mine!

Now tell me about some of your random bits of happiness this week!

Beats: In Love with Patrick Wolf

Patrick Wolf - The Bachelor

Have you ever had a moment where you question where you have been for the past 4-5 years?  I did, the other day when after seeing the name Patrick Wolf pop up on blogs that I follow I finally looked him up.  I gave an immediate “WTF Shana!” to myself.  How dumb was I to not grab up his music so long ago? 

Patrick Wolf is a brilliant musician who’s music is is so hard to place in one specific genre.   He jumps from one genre to the next, one song sounding folk-pop the next sounding industial and the next sounding like a prayer put to a gypsy beat.  He uses Northern European instruments like viola, violin, harpsychord and accordian that give his music this otherworld-like sound.  I can only compare him slightly by saying if you like the vast genres that are covered by say Radiohead or Bjork that you will most likely enjoy his style as well.  His songs cover subjects of self, nature, supernatural and do so on this magical level that grab you by the heart and pull you in beat by beat.  I imagine gypsies whirling dirvish to some of his songs and can see little goth kids do the speaker box dance to others.  I love every second but if you need to take a listen to just one or two songs off this album “Oblivion” with Tilda Swinson narrating just gives me chills and album title “Bachelor” make me feel Patrick’s heart is worn on his sleeve.  Take a listen, tell me what you think! 

Five out of five big Blue Morpho Butterflies for this hidden gem!!!

Book: The Monster of Florence

The Monster of Florence - by Douglas Preston & Mario Spezi

This book was not exactly what I thought it would be.  As a non-fiction book about a serial killer in Italy I thought it would be extremely interesting and would take me to the end of the story where a killer was revealed.  Instead it goes deeply into history of Italy and of the way cases are handled in Italy.  If you are looking for an answer….there is none.  If you are interested in getting hooked on a story and then never finding out the end…this book is for you.  An unsolved crime that spanned from the 1960’s until the late 80’s resulting in 16 deaths and many many suspects being held with no evidence.  Apparently speculation is enough to get you put in prison for up to a year with no charges.  And writing a book about the crimes while dissing the police effort is enough to get you put in the slammer and thought of as a suspect. 

This book frustrated me and was put down MANY times.  If I wasn’t reading it for book club I would have probably not finished it and when I did finish it I was angry at the result.  I think that is what Douglas Preston wanted though, he was frustrated as an American thriller author of fiction when he became intangled and then a suspect because he was pulled into the real life mystery.  I think he wanted us as the reader to be frustrated as well.  Mr. Preston you succeeded in the frustration and the anger at the Italian legal system.  Yes, it’s messy and nothing appears to be based on facts.  It puts the point across that should I travel to Italy I should stay out of trouble at all costs! 

I give the book 2 1/2 out of 5 butterflies.  A lot of the history not relating to the crimes could easily have been left out, it felt heavy and uneeded to get the point across.

Things That Make My Heart Flutter

Random Bits Of  Happy

“I want to stay as close to the edge as I can without going over. Out on the edge you see all kinds of things you can’t see from the center.”

—	Kurt Vonnegut

* Cemeteries.  I visited 2 cemeteries last weekend and had completely different experiences.  Friday night for our Anniversary, Terrell and I went to St. Augustine for a fancy dinner and decided to walk it off down St. George Street (it’s an old street in downtown St. Aug. that is closed off for foot traffic only, a tourist trap basically but has some really cool stores nonetheless) to end up at Hugenot Cemetery at about 8:45 pm.  We listened to some of the stories being told by the ghost tour guides and took photos of the cemetery at night and I had a light that appeared in my camera but not my husband’s!  We tried to be logical about it but none of the lights around us including the moon seemed to be causing the light and I saw it in 3 different areas.  It really was cool and I’m happy to hear what you think about it.  You can see the pictures here.  Also Saturday on Halloween during the day we went to a nearby cemetery that is rather old (and still accessible, Hugenot doesn’t allow you in the grounds unsupervised) and walked around reading the tombstones out loud to one another.  I took grave rubbings of the interesting ones, 1883 “Little Carrie” “Shall We Meet”, a really strange cat on a family stone, and some Masonic symbols on another.  It was a peaceful gorgeous day and it was nice without the noise and without any strange experiences unlike those from the night before.

* Walking on the beach at night.  Terrell and decided to drive up the coast to return home that same Friday night.  A1A was bright from the moonlight and we couldn’t help but find a spot to park so we could roll our jeans and go walk in the sand.  The moon and stars were so very bright.  We held each other tight and wiggled our toes in the sand.  It ended our night in such a beautiful way.  Terrell saw a shooting star.  Perfect.

*  Pagan podcasting.  I finally remembered to go find my favorite podcasters.  Without my laptop I have been a little lost and can’t wait until we have money again to purchase a new laptop.  I think it will be before the end of November, but regardless I used my Mother’s laptop to find out that Darkly Fey had decided to change things up a little and start off fresh with a more positive podcast name and using her real name for hosting.  So I have spent today catching up on Feithline Stuart and her SpiritsCast podcast and of course on Mojo & Sparrow with The Wigglian Way.  My work day has flown by listening to their podcasts that have little music breaks in the middle. 

 Quick Mentions:

* Practical Magic – I can watch that movie a hundred times and it never grows old.  * Sleeping with the window open, it makes you wake up all cold and cuddly.  * Kate Bush – Running Up That Hill * Leftover Halloween candy!  *Cool weather.  *Making lists for traveling.  * Getting ready to see family I haven’t seen in a while.  *Family Weddings.  *So You Think You Can Dance.  *Vanilla Noir by Bath and Body Works, it’s the perfect fall scent.  * Scarves to keep my neck warm.   * Crashing a Halloween party with a most awesome friend and meeting new friends at that party!  * Hamsa necklace with the prettiest irredescent stone to ward off the evil eye! *The photos I keep seeing in my re-found tumblr account

What has made your heart flutter this week?

Things That Make My Heart Flutter

Random Bits of Happy

Anniversary

  * My 9 year wedding anniversary was yesterday and I got cards and flowers and a beautiful necklace and lots and lots of love from my honey.  I know I’m very lucky and very loved but I still loved the extra attention.  Husband gets an A++ for effort on all special occasions.  He knows how to make me feel like a Goddess. 

Halloween

* Halloween!  How can you not like the holiday that lets you dress up like goblins and faeries?  In fact I’ve had past halloweens as faeries,  zombies and gypsies.  I love it.  Even today with work not having dress up I wore a set of silver horns I bought at a Ren Fest years back.  Little devil horns make my outfit pop! 

Moon

* My rediscover of Tumblr.com oh how did I forget such treasure that produce such great and magical finds!  Tumblr is making me feel the magic again with friends like SuninScorpio, HighMagic, and WitchMountain.  With posts like theirs I can’t help but be motivated to make and find my own magic. 

Quick Mentions:

*Dinner with my husband when we get into deep conversations *Bookclub book that is uber intriguing *reconnecting with twitter friends *having someone to take care of me when I drink too much (rum puch = bad idea) *walks in graveyards *tombstone rubbings *jack-o-lanterns *getting ready for a family wedding *plans for travel *knitting hats and scarves for upcoming winter *Mirah – The Garden *My Vampire playlist on my ipod

 

 

 

Magical? Maybe not…

I want so badly for the blog to be this magical spot that gives you the feeling of optomism and hope for good things.  I want it to give you a thrill to pull up a new post and a smile from seeing a new post up. 

It’s hard to have a magical blog though when I feel so blah right now, and I get quiet when I feel blah.  So forgive me for so little these past few weeks and let me gather my thoughts and pull out of the  case of blah blah blahs I have right now and I promise I’ll be back later this week with lots of love and magic. 

by thamimzy on flickr