The power of blogging, in my eyes

The Guardian has an article up today with excerpts from several bloggers in Asia. Blogging about their experiences, those of friends and family. Very powerful stuff.

To me, this shows the power of this medium - as a way to make sure your story is heard, as a community of supporters. To let the world know what's really going on, to vent incredibly powerful emotions. As a reader - to hear it in the voice of people living it.

Best to all and Happy New Year!

Prayers of all sorts, heartfelt wishes

I don't know if I can contribute to an aid campaign. I might try. I know, however, that I can offer up prayers that those in Asia can heal. That families can be reunited and get information on those lost to us. That survivors will find shelter, food, clean water, and medicine. That the generation of children now decimated and many without parents can recover, thrive, and remember. That clearer warning systems will be developed, that people will know to run when they see the water rush out to sea. That bitter and bickering nations can unite to support those in need. That resources used to kill and conquer can be turned to healing and rebuilding.

Mother Earth does strange things at times. Sometimes you try to look for a message in it. Sometimes there really just isn't one.

For the love of a pet

There's been a bunch of hullabaloo about the $50,000 cloned cat and whether or not a cat could really be worth that much to anyone.
Molson sure is to me.
Makes me scared of his mortality. At 7, he's aging, but hopefully he has a ways to go yet.

Then last night we watched Hidalgo. Every time they focused on that horse's face and eye, I thought of Molson. Afterwards, I went and gave him several big hugs. He's the greatest buddy ever.

Well, it's Christmas Eve. Sonny and I are at the parents' all ready. Dan will come tomorrow. In case I don't get on tomorrow - Merry Christmas everyone!
Enjoy family, warmth, full bellies, friends, and peace this holiday....

Expression

I haven't gone through this myself yet, but I do have friends whose daughter would not enter a restaurant when small when she found out Santa was in there. Stories abound of the fear of the jolly fellow and this site has created a place to gather pics of the event. I love the ones where the kids are attempting to run away, and also the ones where the eyes get big and the body is stiff with fear. Our society can be so brutal!



The other site I wanted to share today is the site of Simon Faithfull, a British artist travelling to Antarctica with the British Polar Survey. He has a blog where he posts diary entries, current location, and a picture a day. These pics are actually drawings he has done on his Palm. Very interesting - modern technology allowing him to share regularly what he sees, but in a form, that for me at least, harks back to olden day depictions - stark, simple. Compelling.

Ah, the French

Here in the US of A, home to the fast-food phenomenons of McD's, BK, Wendy's, Taco Bell, etc, we protest the idea of fast-food by making movies like Super Size Me and running other such experiments - demonstrating fast-food's evil by consuming a ton of it and showing how messed up you can get.

I think the French method is more entertaining, and you can try some other good eats in the process!

Aiming the hose across the water, they catapulted fresh octopi -- a local delicacy, known here as the "pouffre" -- towards the town's first McDonalds, which had been set to open on Saturday.

Man, that restaurant must be stinky!

Amidst the holiday prep ...

Sonny's dog, Owen, is recovering from an attack by some evil dog a guy decided to walk without a leash. A night in the hospital, some stitches, and an Elizabethan collar. Hopefully he's feeling better. I'll be sending positive vibes...

Holiday baking is so not stressful this year. I'm doing a million and one things and have more yet to do. My cards are pretty late, but that's not so unusual. Wish I was further along on gift wrapping or, as usual, just plain unpacking. But I'm taking/ making the time to make this and than for some food gifts. And it feels right. Maybe because I'm in MY/ OUR house. It'd be even better if there weren't boxes hogging the center of the kitchen, but I can deal.

Small victories

I found the cables to our printer! This may seem very minor, but you need to know the number of boxes coming from the old study that remain unmoved in our living room. I finally got a start on printing our holiday cards. Phew!

Catching up

It's been a week and a half since my last post...I'm suffering from withdrawal! It's been tough of late because work is insanely busy (getting strategies in place for next year) and what time I have on the web has been mostly spent shopping. Add to that the fact that we're still offline at home and you get a bit of blog silence.

Here are a few quick bits and pieces before I have to run to my next meeting.

It's a Wonderful Life - bunny style - is now up at Angry Alien - with bonus scenes! Happy Holidays!

Sunday night I put the lights on the tree (we put ornaments on tonight). I had candles lit throughout the downstairs, carols on the stereo, and it was nice and easy to get the lights on (starting at the bottom is easier than starting at the top, I found). Lit them up, shut off the lights, and called J to see. I nearly cried, I was so happy! Our lights on our tree in our house! Way way super cool.
The tree is set up in the center of the music room. Surrounded by windows and far from the fireplace. You can still sit on the papasan and just absorb the season. I'm psyched.

Last night, our realtor stopped by with a housewarming gift. Very nice of her. But we had so much trouble with her throughout the process and we were trying to cook and all, so we shuffled her right back out the door in less than 5 minutes. Felt a bit guilty afterwards. But I just don't think she's earned a welcome, really.

Last week, there was an incident on our street where a lady got shoved down, hit her head on the sidewalk, and her bag was taken. People poured from their houses. Not the best way to meet the neighbors, but it was very encouraging to see the response to a neighbor in need. At least 3 guys ran after the person and about 3 carfuls of people also gave chase. Beyond that, the police and local security forces also came out strong. I was just glad to see that people came out in their sweats and pjs and stood there until everything was resolved, going over what had happened, what they could do. Maybe when it's warm enough to be outside again we can get to know them better.

Theophilus plays Christmas eve, but I'm not sure where - check their site for details.
Sonny's art has been doing well. There was even an article on him in Providence Monthly's October issue - they don't post all of their articles on the site, unfortunately - but if you can find a hardcopy it's a cool article.

That's it for now. Need hot chocolate before I can go much further....

yummy

Besides all the joys of Thanksgiving dinner (sorry, no pics to post on any front yet - we haven't figured out how to get the phone jacks on the floor hosting the computer to work yet - will post a wonderful menage soon, hopefully) - I've discovered a few new yummy snacks...

Clotted Cream Fudge. Yeah, I know, sounds gross, huh? At least to me it did. It's like a caramel. Our cousin, after a bit of globetrotting, settled in England, keeping busy by authentically restoring really cool old houses.... Anyway, he sent some from Perry's Cider Mill as an "early" Xmas present to Mom & Dad. Good thing they share! It just melts in your mouth.

Rice Krispies Popcorn Crunch. Another of J's impulse buys. Quite amusing, but be prepared for lots of white flaky crumbs....

Movies I want to see:
A Very Long Engagement - Audrey Tautou and Jean-Pierre Jeunet - an excellent team - and Dominique Pinon is always awesome in Jeunet's flicks
Lemony Snicket - I know it's more for kids, but it looks really cool
Mirrormask - premieres at Sundance in January - I hope it does well so I can catch it at our local arthouse....
And of course, the many many many I am behind on....