Archive for News from the Homefront

4th of July, Garden State Parkway

July 4, 2006 / / Comments Off on 4th of July, Garden State Parkway

Tonight I traversed half the length of New Jersey, driving from Hamilton to my New York home, a total of 83 miles. We left Hamilton at about 8 p.m, and arrived home at 9:45.

On the way, we saw a total of 26 different fireworks displays from our highway’s eye view (first the New Jersey Turnpike, then the Garden State Parkway). We heard but did not see two more. Once in New York, in our own backyard, we saw two more and heard a third.

What a way to celebrate the 4th! Like the world was a fireworks display that we were riding through. Pretty damn thrilling (although I’m not sure it was all that safe for driving).

And thanks to Bruce for my post title.

Can you tell what’s missing?

June 28, 2006 / / 14 comments

This morning, I

  1. Got the coffee out of the fridge
  2. Washed the plastic filter holder
  3. Put the plastic filter holder in the coffee maker
  4. Washed the coffee pot
  5. Put the coffeepot in the coffee maker
  6. Measured the coffee
  7. Put the coffee in the coffee maker

» Read more..

Friday Kittenblogging: Clever Hiding Place

June 23, 2006 / / 5 comments

As we’ve discussed, Mingo likes this one particular spot in the bathroom.

This morning I hung my sarong pants in the bathroom to steam out the wrinkles. This did not dissuade Mingo.
You can't see me. I'm completely hidden.

Sacred Marks

June 20, 2006 / / 29 comments

I gots me a new tattoo.

Shortly after arriving at Free Spirit, I noticed a big pair of white geese hanging around just outside my cabin. Since the goose is my totem, this seemed like a good sign. (Ya think?)

Sacred Marks Sanctuary had set aside Friday for my clan. By which I mean, these two amazing guys tattooed a total of thirteen members of my extended family between 1 p.m. and 3 a.m. (With a dinner break.) All in ritual space. I went last.

Eighteen months ago, the clan had a ritual tattooing day planned for Imbolc (a day for sacred art, among other things). I had selected the eyes of Kali for the back of my neck. To prepare myself, I’d fasted and chanted and made ghee to offer to the fire. Seriously, lotta work there. And at the last minute, the tattoo artist got violently ill and couldn’t make it. Which made my brain hurt.

So the thing I’d written for part of the offering has been sitting on my altar all this time, and now, at last, I was getting my tattoo. » Read more..

I’m home

June 18, 2006 / / One comment

Back from Free Spirit without having properly blogged Brazil, I’m waaaaay behind. Plus I betcha anything politics happened when I was away. I promise I’ll start catching up. Tomorrow.

Sick sick sick

June 11, 2006 / / 3 comments

The idea was to come back home and dazzle you with tales of Sao Paulo. Instead, I’m hacking up a lung.

So, while I’m spending a lot of time sitting up at the computer (when I can sit up) gathering my thoughts in a coherent manner such that they form sentences and then paragraphs may well be beyond me.

So sorry.

Friday Kittenblogging

June 9, 2006 / / 9 comments

In which I amuse you with cat stories

Mingo likes to suck his thumb.

Or would, had he a thumb. (I have no thumb and I must suck.)

Instead, he sucks his paw. He sucks his whole. gorram. paw. slurp…slurp…slurp.

He does this when he’s content. So if you pet him, and you’re all nice and cuddly and yum the cat he warmeth the lap, all of a sudden…slurp…slurp…slurp. Fuckin ew.

I’ve tried to stop him. I’ve put my hand between paw and slurpyface. He persists. He will either prevail, or depart the lap, or (heaven forbid!) suck something else. I fear this last. ‘tother night he started sucking a pearl on my beaded sweater. Suck the paw, fertheluvagawd!

He is, I should tell you, transfixed. Rapt. His eyes get squinty, and I’ve noticed that there’s a pause. A paw pause. He holds the paw up in front of him, and he squints, and slooooowly he approaches the paw, and then slurp…slurp…slurp. Leading me to believe there’s a profound sensuality to the experience, one so deep that he teases and prolongs it. Which is, y’know, a little gross.

slurp…slurp…slurp.

Leavin’ on a Jet Plane

June 7, 2006 / / One comment

I leave for the airport in an hour. I am eager to be home although I have had a wonderful time here.

This internet connection keeps knocking out my WordPress connection although most other stuff is fine. It’s the anti-blog.

Portuguese punctuation is fun. Look what I have on my keyboard here: Ç~ç¨. Of course, I’m always hitting it when I mean to do something else, so…

See you soon!

Yay! Garden is in!

May 28, 2006 / / 2 comments

This year I planted sage, rosemary, thyme, and oregano. In case you’re about to ask, I don’t like parsely.

The cool thing is they’re all (theoretically) perennials. My sage and oregano from last year died, but I changed things; I used different breeds and planted deeper and used more plant food and hell, I’m an optimist. My lavender from last year is doing great, I might even get buds this year (last year it didn’t flower, but it was the first year).

My three year old rosemary isn’t looking good, so I cut it all the way back and took it out of the pot and put it in the soil. I think this is its only hope. I think it’s the rosemary version of dialysis. Meanwhile my new rosemary last year (a different breed with longer leaves) died when I brought it inside. So, I got one of those and put it in the pot I took the old one out of. (It’s nice to have some rosemary indoors in the winter.)

La, spring.

Friday Kittenblogging: Mingo Helps

May 26, 2006 / / 2 comments

Mingo helps me pack
Mingo in the suitcase
» Read more..

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