Christmas Rated PG-13 Strong Language, Adult Situations

"Moneys scarce, times are hard, 

here's your fucking Christmas card."

~Phillis Diller

We never made it to Union Square yesterday. Hostages situations. New home blues. Total discombobulation in general. BAH HUMBUG! That's how we felt until about noon, or so, then Alan and I decided to take the sticks out of our asses and head for the Tilden Park Merry-Go-Round Christmas Fantasy. A family tradition of ours, the day after Thanksgiving, for years! It never fails to bring the smiles back to our faces, and put the Christmas spirit back into our hearts. This is year two of the new management, and it's not quite the same as when we first discovered the magic, but the carousel animals have been freshly painted, and the places looks so happy that it's hard to dwell in the past. The new owners are doing their best to keep the tradition alive, so we are just going to go and enjoy the Christmas Spirit.

And to those who have their Candy Cane's up their Asses about it...

BAH FUCKING HUMBUG!

They Are Doing The Best They Can!

And To All A Good Night!

 Leaf Of The Day

November 28th 2015

Mood: Okay

~Me :)

An Old Tradition With A New Life

"As long as we know in our hearts what Christmas ought to be, Christmas is."

~Eric Sevareid 

Tilden Park Christmas Carousel 2012

I found that pretty ornament at the top of the post the other day, at the Tilden Park Christmas Carousel. It's under new management this year, and it's smaller than in previous years, but it is making a great effort to bring some Christmas cheer to those of us who attend every year. While it may be a little sparse this year, I think it will find it's footing and grow into something new, but something really happy and jolly. I like some of the new features, like the extended hours of operations, and the menu at their little restaurant is revamped, another plus being benches to watch the carousel.  But I do miss the many different Christmas trees that lined the windows. 

I really enjoyed the trees with the traditional ornaments for sale, as well as the off beat ones for those who like the lights and fun of the holiday, but who don't have a particular religious belief. I always thought it was a nice way of including the entire community. Several years ago I bought a sparkly brown butterfly ornament that I keep on my desk. It was one of those years when I just didn't want to acknowledge the cold harsh winter that was coming. It was my autumn butterfly! I also bought more traditional ornaments that year, in fact Alan and I always buy each other a new ornament from there every year. It's our little tradition. 

Here are some examples of my favorite ornaments...

Aren't they fun?

Another feature gone is my favorite little band...

He is such a jolly fellow, and his two friends are as cute as can be! But I imagine he has bigger gigs to play, and he is right now entertaining his owners!

I will miss him!

But lets face it... things change. Sometimes great things come along when you open your heart. I am just thankful that the Tilden Park Christmas Carousel is still operating. And I know it will take a while to build it back to it's full potential. I will keep looking forward to it, and I will come back to support it. It has become as big a part of Christmas for Alan and I as decorating the tree, or caroling. It's a new spin on an old tradition. How exciting is that?                                          

                                                  :)

( From 2013 )

If you live in the Bay Area, drop by Tilden Park and enjoy that natural beauty, but stay for the Carousel rides. Just $2 each!

Herschell Spillman Merry-Go-Round

And Now...

The Leaf Of The Day

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

Round Robin Challenge: Gimme, Gimme!

"There are two tragedies in life. One is to lose your hearts desire. The other is to gain it."

-George Bernard Shaw

How fun! After a little more than two years, the challenge participation list has finally come back around to the very top. Karen was the one who came up with the idea of the challenges, as a way of cheering me up, during a time when I wasn't feeling particularly inspired. :) She is a good friend, who has been there for me. Well, she challenged me, and then I challenged her, and from there, more and more of our friends asked to join the fun. The rest is history. :) Now, we have not only got to share the challenges with our old friends, but we have made new ones through our love of photography, and creativity. :) True to form, Karen has come up with a challenge that is not only fun, but inspiring as well. She has chosen, "Gimme, Gimme" as our subject.

This one had me thinking, to the point my head hurt! LOL. I have all the material items I really want. Oh, I suppose there is always something that would be nice, or that I could use, but for the most part I am set. So, I decided to let my mind wander a bit. She said we could even imagine the possibilities in the abstract. So that is what I did. I let myself want something really unusual. Something I would only consider purchasing if I hit the lottery. What would that be you ask? Well, how about a Merry-Go-Round? :)

I have always loved Carousels, and Merry-Go-Rounds, heck, Alan even proposed to me on one at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. I like the music, the beautiful, whimsical animals, and the way it feels to go around and around, until you feel dizzy inside. :) It's that dizzy feeling I enjoy. :) I had a wonderful time last Christmas, visiting the, "Holiday Lights In The Woods," celebration in the Berkeley Hills. Part of the event, is to open up the Merry-Go-Round at night. It is amazingly beautiful, with all the lights, music and holiday ribbons. I enjoyed it so much, that I let myself daydream a bit about what it would be like to own my own Merry-Go-Round. Maybe buy a very old one, and fix it up, just so it's beauty could live on.

I have a small collection of Merry-Go-Rounds, and Carousel horses. In fact, we had Carousel horses on top of our wedding cake, as opposed to a bride and groom. We thought it was a nice way to celebrate the place where Alan proposed. As a wedding present, an old family friend, gave me a snow globe, shaped like a wedding cake, with a carousel inside it. It remains one of my favorite possessions to this day. I suppose if my dream of never owning a Merry-Go-Round never does come true, I would be just as happy to own just one carousel horse. I have seen them in the windows of houses from time to time, and I think it looks lovely. So that's it, I would like to have a Merry-Go-Round. LOL. Silly... huh?

Be sure to drop by Karen's blog, "Outpost Mavarin" to see her entry. Then, take a jog about the land to see what the other participating Robins have come up for this entry. Just follow the Linking List posted below. We have some really talented and creative Robins, it's always a lot of fun to read their entries, and see their magnificent photography! If you have never played before, but would like to, hop right in. Visit the Round Robin Blog, read the ***Welcome Entry & Rules Of Play." Then, post your entry, comeback to the comment thread and leave us a link, so we can find you.

Linking List

1. Karen... Outpost Mavarin
POSTED!

2. Carly... Ellipsis
POSTED!

3. Kerrin... A New Day, A New Photo
POSTED!

4. Janet... Fond Of Photography
POSTED!

5. Vicki... Maraca
POSTED!

6. Nancy... Nancy Luvs Pics
POSTED!

7. Steven... (sometimes) photoblog

POSTED!
8. Brandon... A Visual Experiment

POSTED!
9. Gattina... Keyhole Pictures
POSTED!

Suzanne... New Suzanne R's Life
POSTED!

-OndineMonet
Holiday Lights In The Woods (Berkeley)
December, 2006
The Merry-Go-Round At Guadaloupe Park (San Jose)
April, 2006