Christmas Eve Cliffhangers

"Heartwork"

Each day is born with a sunrise

and ends in a sunset, the same way we

open our eyes to see the light

and close them to hear the dark.

You have no control over

how your story begins or ends.

But by now, you should know that

all things have an ending.

Every spark returns to darkness.

Every sound returns to silence.

And every flower returns to sleep

with the earth.

The journey of the sun

and moon is predictable

But yours,is your ultimate ART.

~Suzy Kassem

I haven't been feeling tip-top the last couple weeks. I am not sure what I have been fighting, but whatever it has been, it has been punching me down hard, and exacerbating my usual Fibromyalgia symptoms. So, when it came to Christmas shopping, I put a lot of it off, until the very last minute! Take for instance, Alan's Christmas sock, I waited until late in the day on Christmas eve. It had been raining on and off, most of the day, but after lunch, rain or no rain, I had to hit World Market for the last few items I needed!

After I finished at World Market, it was on to one more small stop and then I was homeward bound. Just as I was exiting the parking lot at the grocery store, I noticed an absolutely amazing sunset, in the western sky! Autumn has the leaves, but winter carries all that color in it's sunsets! Some of my favorite sunsets have been in winter, when the air is fresh and clear, and this sunset came after some rare wild weather, that left the air not just crisp and clear, but also carried the remnants of some rare Mammatus cloud formations that were very photogenic! I was only a couple moments from home, so as soon as I turned into the driveway, I grabbed my camera, and started snapping away!

It was thrilling to be able to not just photograph an amazing sunset, but a truly rare cloud formation, and if that isn't enough, I think I might have caught something in the clouds, besides clouds, how about a UFO... or possibly Santa Claus? Yep, that's right, there was something just a wee bit more special in that Christmas Eve sky... an object that I didn't see in the sky while I was photographing the clouds, but rather not until I uploaded the photos for editing! I had NO IDEA what the object was, so I sent the photo along to the meteorologist at KCRA TV. He didn't know what it was either, but guessed it might be a drone.

While a little less interesting, it's a lot more logical that it could be someone's holiday toy! Although, I don't remember seeing anyone outside when I was photographing the clouds, and it had been less than 10 minutes after the last, brief, yet torrential downpour, so I am not sure how many folks would have wanted to expose their drone to that much rain water, but you never know, perhaps it was a water resistant drone, I know very little about their features and characteristics! So, if we are approaching this from as logical a point as we can, drone seems to be the best explanation!

But it was, of course, Christmas Eve, so perhaps it was simply, Santa Claus! It could have been, I suppose, that jolly old guy, flying through the sky, off to deliver a doll, or a chewy dog toy, or maybe a drone to some lucky boy or girl! HAHAHA. Wouldn't that be ironic? Capturing a photograph of Santa Claus, delievering a drone, on Christmas Eve, after a rare storm? Wow, that's a lot of different storylines converging together, to make for one magical ending to the movie I am living in. Unless it's a TV show I'm in, and not a movie at all, in which case it isn't the end of show, it's merely a cliffhanger, until they get back to me from Mufon.

Oh yes, did I tell you I am submitting my photo to Mufon?

How cool is that?

Stay Tuned!

Anyone want to take a guess about what that object is?

~Mood: Happy

~Me    :)

 

Dream Companionship

"Believe in love. Believe in magic, Hell, believe in Santa Clause. Believe in others. Believe in yourself. Believe in your dreams.

 If you don't, who will?"

~Jon Bon Jovi

Sure, why not? Okay, I am okay, I am still working my way through that shitstorm of a national election, and I am just about through all the stages of grief, although on any given day I will feel none of it, or maybe all of it, but mostly I am just moving along as life goes on! The world doesn't stop spinning off it's axis just because things come crashing down around you. And while I guess that's a good thing, at the same time it's exhausting.

 Next week we have the Electoral College vote, which I don't really think will change anything, but at the same time having the final count awarded to Hillary Clinton wouldn't be the strangest thing to happen in the last 18 months. So, there is a thread of hope in me, which means when the vote does comeback for Trump, I will be a crying mess all over again, but at least the door will finally be closed. That will be the the right amount of closure. 

I am not planning to waste my time on watching the inauguration on TV, I have NO desire to watch Donald Trump lie yet again. No, I think that will be a day of watching old movies, maybe do some reading, or perhaps some retail therapy. We will see when we get there. I know one thing, I plan to appreciate my life that day.

 I want to see colors, and laugh, and pet my cats, and just be in my own little world, like there is NO world beyond it, because the next four years are so unpredictable that I can't see the future, so why worry about it? Like the old saying... 

"Life is what happens, while we are busy making other plans."

~John Lennon 

But he also said...

"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one."

And...

"A dream you dream alone is only a dream. 

A dream you dream you dream together is reality." 

We progressives will live to see another time. We will survive this. We must. It will happen. I know it deep down. I am just tired. right now. John Lennon's words have gotten me through a lot of tough times. And they will again! I'm not alone in my dreams for the future, and that keeps me going!

Leaf Of The Day

December 14th 2016

Mood: Quiet/Okay

~Me 

 

It's Christmas Eve!

"One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas Day. Don't clean it up too quickly."

~Andy Rooney

It's Christmas Eve. Finally. I shouldn't say finally, it is, after all, the shortest holiday season in many years, but it has been a strange time, between the end of Thanksgiving weekend, and now, but it has been a happy blur! Joey brings a whole new shot of life into the house, and a lot of smiles! So, I am still posting photos of the boys, but it will be later today, probably closer to midnight, so be sure to check back if you can! If you can't come by later, it's all good! The pictures of my little elves will be here forever! Right? For now, if you need a little holiday spirit, how about checking out my favorite Christmas Eve website... SANTA AT NORAD!

Stay Tuned!

Mood: Very Happy

~Me :)

Tra La La La La La La La La

Q. What do vegetarians wish for Christmas?

A. Peas on Earth goodwill toward men!


Is that the face of a bad kitty? Yep, that is indeed the face of a bad kitty! LOL. No, actually, that is the face of a kitty who is hopelessly in love with a stuffed Christmas bear. As with all children, the Christmas tree has been an almost unstoppable temptation for my little boys. The lights, the bears, the ornaments, it's all so inviting, that I ask you, what's a kitten to do? Well, he investigates! LOL. Their mommy could have avoided the trouble by not putting up a tree, but why do that? It came as a wonderful lesson in boundaries, that I am proud to say has taught Hendrix the word NO! He now knows the word, and Dylan, who you see in the picture, responds best to hearing his name, said in a very disappointed tone. They are great kittens, and for the most part, the Christmas season has been smooth sailing, especially with the new big Santa sack we bought at Costco to hold the gifts until Christmas morning.



Santa came in the wee hours of the morning on Christmas morning, and he was a generous soul this year. I got a new bracelet, and some music, a SIMS2 expansion pack (Apartment Life), a new warm luxurious bathrobe in powder blue. A new apron, which has an original hand drawn design on it, by a local designer! It's FABULOUS! A new set of cookie sheets and a turkey roaster, and a new cookbook from The Cheeseboard Collective, here in Berkeley. I LOVE that place. Imagine, if you will, 600 kinds of cheese all in one room! LOL Don't even get me started about the bread! Oh my, there is just nothing like one of the Asiago rolls warmed slightly, and served with a big bowl of tomato soup, and a Cranberry Vinaigrette salad.

Alan got some new music from Santa as well. The Best of Bob Dylan and the best of Jimi Hendrix. There is going to be a lot of music playing in our house this year. Hendrix is crazy for Three Dog Night, and Steppenwolf. Whenever I put their music on, he just cuddles right into me, and cuddles. Dylan is more of a Harry Connick Jr. fan me thinks. I listen to his music often, and when I do, it is usually Dylan's turn to snuggle in. Alan also got a new brown sweater, and a pair of slippers, from Hendrix. Hendrix likes to bite his daddy's feet, so Santa, and Hendrix, thought that new brown slippers would be the perfect solution. :) Cozy.

It's been a great Christmas this year. There was a moment or two of sadness as we remembered those who couldn't be with us. Alan's brother Darryl, our friend and landlord P. and of course, Elvis. I will miss all of them forever. It has been such a difficult year, losing all three, but they were here in spirit. Darryl is a constant presence in our hearts, as we think about all the fun we had once upon a time. And I couldn't help but think of "P" as I cooked our Christmas dinner. He got me a new stove just a couple years ago, 3 days before Christmas. Thanks again "P." And I already told you about all the little happy surprises concerning my Elvis this Christmas. He was THE WORLDS BEST KITTY. Now he is HEAVEN'S best kitty. Be sure to ask for him when you get there. He will be the one in the tuxedo. Meow. :)

-Carly
"Bad Kitty"
Berkeley, California
December 24th, 2008
Late Evening

A Christmas Sampler...

"Like snowflakes, my Christmas memories gather and dance - each beautiful, unique and too soon gone."

-Deborah Whipp

Happy Christmas Eve! I love this day, and so does my little boy, Elvis. He and I will be making cookies, and getting ready for Santa to visit. In fact, we are going to track his journey by following him around the world at Santa At NORAD! Do you follow Santa's travels on Christmas Eve? And did you know that just like on my favorite holiday, Halloween, Christmas has superstitions? Well, it does...

* To have good health throughout the next year, eat an apple on Christmas Eve."

* Eat a plum pudding on Christmas and avoid losing a friend before next Christmas.

* If you eat a raw egg before anything else on Christmas morning, you will be able to carry heavy weights.

Cute story...

A three year old once gave this reaction to her Christmas dinner...

"I don't like the turkey, but I like the bread he ate."

Ways To Confuse Santa Claus...

* Leave out a copy of your Christmas list with last-minute changes and corrections.

* While he's in the house, cover the top of the chimney with barbed wire.

* Leave him a note, explaining that you've gone away for the holidays. Ask if he would mind watering your plants.

* Build an army of mean looking snowmen on the roof, holding signs that say, "We hate Christmas," and "Go Away Santa."

*Leave out a plate with cookies and milk, with a note that says, " For The Tooth Fairy."

* While he's in the house, replace all his reindeer with exact replicas. Then wait and see what happens when he tries to get them to fly."

* While he's in the house, go out to his sleigh and write him a speeding ticket.

* Throw a surprise party for Santa, and refuse to let him leave until the strippers arrive.

* Keep an angry bull in your living room. If you think a bull goes crazy when he sees a little red cape, wait until he sees that big, red Santa suit.

* While he is in the house, find his sleigh and sit in it. As soon as he comes back, and sees you, tell him that he shouldn't have missed that last payment, and take off.

And remember...

What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace."

-Agnes M. Pharo

-OndineMonet
"Elvis At Christmas"
Berkeley, California
December 23rd, 2007
Early Evening