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"Never let yesterday use up today."
-Richard Nelson
Don't wanna! I don't wanna be profound, don't wanna be funny, don't wanna be cleaver, don't wanna be informative, don't wanna be intriguing, don't wanna be democrat, REALLY don't wanna be republican, don't wanna be pretty, don't wanna be a glamour puss, don't wanna be a writer, don't wanna be photographer, don't wanna be the first person to win the Nobel Peace Prize for blogging, don't wanna climb every mountain, don't wanna switch my long distance phone carrier, don't wanna sign a petition that says cell phones are instruments of the Devil, don't wanna have a debate on whether the Easter Bunny should be banned. I just don't wanna.
I do wanna find my heating pad, I do wanna be able to blow my own nose, I do wanna find my Buffy The Vampire Slayer 6th season DVD set, I do wanna eat some cantaloupe ice-cream with chocolate sprinkles and a half a can of Red-Whip on top, I wanna not have the flu...but I do! Kachoooiooooooooooooooooiiiooo! You see, I have the flu,which I apparently caught over the Internet from Karen. Thanks Karen :) Is there anything you, "Don't Wanna," or "Do Wanna?" Feel free to tell me all about it! Leave me a comment, speak up and speak out. Unless, you "Dont Wanna."
PS Drop by my photoblog to read an entry at least as interesting as this one!
-OndineMonet
"The Glass Is Neither Full Nor Empty"
October 24th, 2005
Reno Nevada
Late Afternoon
"The perfect lover is one who turns into a pizza at 4:00 a.m."
-Charles Pierce
Ok, so I have now officially kept my New Year's resolution, which was to begin creating more original recipes. This was a fun one to come up with. I took a simple Cheese Fondue recipe, and added a few ingredients that I thought would make it more interesting. I named my creation, "Shattuck Avenue Fondue," because my favorite cheese shop, the place where I buy all the scrumptious, yummy, sinfully delicious cheese for my recipes, is located on Shattuck Avenue in Berkeley. This is so easy, and very enjoyable to make. I made it just the other night for dinner, on a night when I just didn't have to energy to fuss too much, and then relaxed in front of the TV with it.
Shattuck Avenue Fondue
1 10 3/4 oz can Cheddar Cheese Soup
1/4 cup milk
1 /4 cup each of the following cheese, shredded
Cotswold, Mild Yellow Cheddar, Prima Donna Gouda, Gruyere
1/4 Vegetable broth
1 tbs. Cornstarch
2 tsp. Nutmeg
1/2 Loaf Extra Sour Dough French Bread, cubed
Pour milk into an electric, 3 Qt. Fondue pot, or medium sized, heavy, non-stick saucepan, and heat until it just begins to simmer. Set temperature setting to 200 degrees. Stir evenly as you add the canned soup and continue stirring until it reaches a nearly smooth consistency. Slowly stir in the shredded cheese in small quantities, while continuing to stir. Half way through, slowly stir in the vegetable broth and allow the mixture to begin to bubble slightly. Continue to stir gently while adding the remaining cheese mixture. When all the cheese appears to be well blended add nutmeg and stir thoroughly, but gently, making sure the cheese is not sticking to the bottom of the pot. The last step is to add the cornstarch to the cheese sauce depending on your preference of consistency. Turn the temperature gauge to warm, and serve with cubed French Bread, 4 cups mixed vegetables or your choice of cocktail meats. Makes 2-4 servings.
My kitchen is decorated with Pillsbury Doughboy everything! LOL. As you can see, he got the fondue all over his face! LOL. I think he liked it also. Tee Hee. I need a lot more practice photographing my fondue recipes. I had a difficult time with it for some reason, but the fact that there is apparently a challenge in it for me is a plus. It will be good to get some practice in photographing a subject that is new to me...food preparation.
-OndineMonet
"Shattuck Avenue Fondue"
Berkeley, California
January 11th, 2005
Evening
"Without music, life would be a mistake. I would only believe in a God who knew how to dance."
-Friedrich Nietzsche
Weekend Assignment #94: What's the worst possible song to get stuck in your head? You know: the song that once you hear it you cannot drive from your skull, even with an ice pick and a centrifuge. They have a word for that kind of song: "Earworm." We want to know what you consider to be the most evil earworm possible.
Extra Credit: Is there a song that can drive the evil earworm out?
-John Scalzi
Ahhh...music. This week's weekend assignment was chosen by AOL Journal Land's very own Editor Joe, and a fine fun weekend assignment it is! I have been haunted by many a tune, and YIKES, doesn't it always haunt one at the most inconvenient time possible? Cool idea for an assignment Joe! Now, speaking of being haunted by a tune, in late 2003 and most of 2004, I couldn't get "Take The Long Way Home," by Supertramp, out of my head. Ugg! Well, at least it was pleasant to hear day and night for months at a time. Thanks goodness it wasn't my choice for the worst song ever. Either to have to listen to one time, let alone over, and over, and over again, Unceasingly, unending, like a stuck needle on a turntable. No, THAT song would be the melodramatic wonder, MacArthur Park, as sung by Richard Harris. My whole life...I have NO idea what the heck it is about...
Spring was never waiting for us girl
It ran one step ahead
As we followed in the dance
Between the parted pages and were pressed
In love's hot, fevered iron
Like a striped pair of pants.
MacArthur's Park is melting in the dark
All the sweet green icing flowing down
Someone left the cake out in the rain
I don't think that I can take it
'Cause it took so long to bake it
And I'll never have that recipe again
Oh No!
Huh? I mean I kinda get the feeling that maybe the relationship wasn't working out. I think. Shrug. But what's with all the food references? Is he hungry? Is he a chef in a fancy restaurant? Maybe he is a fry-cook in a greasy spoon. Shrug. And what's with, "In love's hot fevered iron...like a striped pair of pants." Sigh. LOL.
Extra Credit: There is help for irritating earworms, yep help is as close as your nearest copy of Chuck Berry's humorous hit, "My Ding-A-Ling." It just makes one smile. Observe...
When I was a little biddy boy
My grandma bought me a cute little toy
Two silver bells on a string
She told me it was my Ding-a-Ling...
My Ding-A-Ling, my Ding-A-Ling, I want you to play with my Ding-A-Ling
My Ding-A-Ling, my Ding-A-Ling, I want you to play with my Ding-A-Ling
When I was a little boy in grammar school
Always went by the very best rule
But everytime the bell would ring
You'd catch me playing with my Ding-a-Ling...
My Ding-A-Ling, my Ding-A-Ling, I want you to play with my Ding-A-Ling
My Ding-A-Ling, my Ding-A-Ling, I want you to play with my Ding-A-Ling
Once while climbing the garden wall
I slipped and fell and had a terrible fall
I fell so hard that I heard birds sing
But held onto my Ding-a-Ling...
My Ding-A-Ling, my Ding-A-Ling, I want you to play with my Ding-A-Ling
My Ding-A-Ling, my Ding-A-Ling, I want you to play with my Ding-A-Ling
Once while swimming cross turtle creek
Man them snappers right at my feet
Sure was hard swimming cross that thing
With both hands holding my Ding-A-Ling...
My Ding-A-Ling, my Ding-A-Ling, I want you to play with my Ding-A-Ling
My Ding-A-Ling, my Ding-A-Ling, I want you to play with my Ding-A-Ling
Now this here song it ain't so bad
Prettiest little song you ever had
And those of you who will not sing
Must be playing with your own Ding-A-Ling!
Imagine having this song stuck in your head! LOL. :) Now imagine humming it to yourself while shopping at the grocerie store. Now, imagine singing the lyrics to yourself while shopping and not realizing your buddy, Rabbi Gold, is walking right behind you...Giggling...Hi again Rabbi Gold! ;) LOL. Be sure to pay a visit to Joe's journal, "Magic Smoke," to read his entry for this week's assignment. :)
-OndineMonet
"Musician In The Rain"
By Dorsineau
"He who wonders discovers that this in itself is wonder."
-M. C. Escher
It's a new year, and a new chance to share with you some great finds I have been coming across the blogsphere. Some are entries by old friends,that have inspired or touched me some way but one is a new friend I found by simply allowing myself to explore the new neighborhood of Blogspot. Thanks everyone, for having so much patience with me. And now on to the amazing talent around me...
Old Friends...
I was thrilled to find out that Duane, author of the AOL Journal, sotto voce, and contributing writer for The Blue Voice , has returned to blogging after taking a leave of absence from the land this past summer. Duane has recently updated his journal and written an excellent entry, this past week, for The Blue Voice, which can be found here. You should go by and give it a look see. Duane is one of the best political writers I have come across in Journal Land and the great work continues. Good to have you back Duane.
Another excellent entry I came across this past week comes by way of Patrick, author of, Patrick's Place. Every once in a blue moon Patrick and I will see eye to eye...well actually, it's a lot more often then that...LOL...but when that happens it's kinda fun to say, "Good for you! Point well made." In this particular entry Patrick discusses the folly of judging a book by it's cover. And a lot of other good points as well. Thanks Patrick for a thought provoking entry. Good for you! :) Check out the entry here.
Phinney...
The other morning I decided to drop by Phinney's journal, Paragon, to have a look at what she has been up to recently with her photography. I was stunned. Phinney has a talent with the camera that is amazing. Each of her photos displays such a deep well of emotion, even with the simplest of subject matter. If I had to choose one word to describe Phinney's journal it would be "Poignant." Her photographs need no words to accompany them...they speak volumes. Thank you Phinney! Don't ever put the camera down my dear one!
Wil...
Wil, you just amaze me everyday. LOL. Wil is definitely someone who keeps me on my toes. He has one of the better written journals in the land and he always displays an honestly which can't be beaten. I was surprised once to find out he enjoyed my writing so much, I think I even asked him why? He answered me in a way that had me laughing, and at the same time, taking some things a lot more seriously...such as my desire to be a writer. I have also appreciated his comments regarding my photography. I think I did a little better at it after some encouragement from him. I don't have one particular entry of Wil's to link to, how could I choose just one? Pay an visit to his journal, Daily Snoozee, and see for yourself. Thanks Wil! :)
A New Friend...
Just after the first of the year, I decided to take a walk around the neighborhood and pay a friendly, "hello" visit to my new neighbors. So, I clicked the little button in the upper right hand corner of my blog that reads, "Next Blog." The very next blog on the block was titled,Virtual Matter, and is authored by my new pal Jordy. His blog touches a little bit on political news, a little bit on the environment, he displays some very thought provoking images and shares some well thought out personal observations on many different topics. I think you will be as impressed with Jordy's blog as I am, please pay him a visit and see for yourself. He is one of those true, great, rare, finds that one is lucky to find not nearly often enough.
So there you have it...my first promo entry of the year. I want to do more of these, because I do see greatness all around me and I am inspired by so many here in the land. It makes me feel good to say thank-you for so many reasons, mostly for your friendship, your patience and for you being you. :) Now I am off to remember a fond memory, my fantasy dinner this past summer with David Duchovny...David I am right over here. :) Sigh.
-OndineMonet
"Dinner With David"
Berkeley, California
Summer, 2005
Early Evening
"There will be a time when loud mouthed incompetent people seem to be getting the best of you. When that happens, you only have to be patient and wait for them to self destruct. It never fails."
-Richard Rybolt
I found a cute little meme over on Andrea's journal, "Unhinged," and I thought it might be a fun thing for my favorite (NOT) day of the week Wednesday. I don't know why, but Wednesdays have been notoriously bad days for me. LOL. Give me a Monday twice a week, if only we could do away with Wednesdays. Anyway, about the meme. It is pretty straight forward, list "Five Things That Make You Crazy." Okie dokie...
1. George Bush! Oh well, you know me, you know why, you know how...need I say more? :)
2. Christmas Music. Hate it, hate it, hate it! Well...most of it anyway.
3. The fact that my vocabulary seems to be spontaneously deleting itself.
4. Ok, I know it's silly and I put way too much importance on it, but really, there are three dots in an ellipsis. :)
5. Snoring. Alan makes noises that sometimes seem to be somewhat satanic. But then again I tend to talk in my sleep and he tells me that one time, during the years that Pete Wilson was Governor of California, he swears he heard me speaking in tongues. Politics stresses me sometimes. :)
There it is, my favorite things that make me crazy. Boring but true! Now, if you want to play along, and you also happen to be reading this right now, go back to your blog/journal and make your list. Don't forget to comeback here and leave me a link.
-OndineMonet
"Busho"
Bodega Bay, California
Summer, 2005
"Sam's got the intellect necessary to bring a lot of class to that court."
-George W. Bush
Washington D.C., January 9th, 2005
I heard President Bush's statement, made to the media this morning regarding the Senate Confirmation hearings which began today for Judge Sam Alito, and frankly I am a bit confused. Well, take for example the quote I chose to accompany this entry. "Sam's got the intellect necessary to bring a lot of class to that court." Class? Is he inferring that the Supreme Court is currently without class? Of course he might also be saying that he will bring additional class to the court or that maybe a government entity, such as the Supreme Court can never be too classy. Hmmm...
Maybe it was another case of George being George, but what may have once been an endearing characteristic of our "common man" president, now seems to be a little less endearing and a little more, well, worrisome. President Bush is testing the patience of an increasingly impatient American people. True, his general poll numbers did rise in mid-December after an all time low, but it is not uncommon for a President's numbers to climb around the Christmas holiday. So,here we are, fresh into a new year, and it is the all important 6th year of the Bush White House, and it's time for him to make some changes, if he wants to leave office as anything other then a complete failure to the American people.
Does that mean that now more then ever he will be catering to the religious right? Is Judge Alito part of the agenda to not lose his solid base vote? I don't know. I know that when Bush's other choice for a Supreme Court nominee, Harriet Myers, was announced, the decision seemed to be the first thing that both Democrats and Republicans agreed on, albeit for different reasons, she was just plain bad for America. I watched in awe, and truthfully a bit of compassion, as she had her character killed a little at a time over several days. It was a painful thing to watch anyone go through. All the hubbub was based on the speculation that things would not go one way or the other, even before the questions were asked in a public forum. I think I might have at least liked to have heard her answers to the same questions facing Judge Alito, before deciding what kind of justice she would have made.
I don't like the first instinct I have at the moment, which is to suspect anyone who would be nominated by President Bush. But then again, look at what he has given us in the way of appointments. A long string of underqualified individuals for government positions. Anyone remember his appointing John Bolton to the position of U.N. Ambassador? A man who had previously stated that the U. N. was of very little worth. "There's no such thing as the United Nations. If the U.N. secretary building in N.Y. lost 10 stories, it wouldn't make a difference." Sigh. Just yesterday morning Bush again appointed an individual who has come under scrutiny as being considered underqualified. Julie Meyers will now be the head of the Department of Immigration. Previously Ms. Meyers was assistant secretary for the Department of Commerce and more recently served as the president's special assistant for personnel. I guess what I find disturbing about both of these appointments is that in both cases President Bush has chosen to bypass senate confirmation hearings and used his power of recess to appoint them.
Now other presidents have also used this ability to make appointments, but with the level of arrogance and what seems like misuse of authority of this administration it all seems a little frustrating that we apparently have a man in office who feels that as the president, he is really accountable to no one. Is this true? No, of course not, and yet here we sit with the disturbing fact that we have a president who engages in illegal wiretapping...he knew warrants needed to be issued...he knew it wasn't just a few isolated cases...and yet still insists that it was within his authority under the issue of the Patriot Act. However, in a report released last Friday, by the Congressional Research Service, a bipartisan research group of Congress, President Bush did not have congressional authority to order the wiretaps by the NSA. But he did it anyway.
We will see how that plays out over the next few months as more inquiries are made, but I think you see the trend. Bad decisions are being made on behalf of you and I whether we voted for the Bush Administration or not. And now we have a man, who could very well be appointed to the Supreme Court who may or may not be trusted with the serious issues that will affect all of us to one degree or another. If you can't believe in the leaders of your country, who can one believe in anymore? Tell me what you think, do you have confidence in Judge Sam Alito? Was Harriet Miers given a fair shake? Do you think more bad choices are on the way? And with each new scandal, do you feel a tug to educate yourself about politics by keeping current with what is happening that affects you on both a local or a national level? This being an election year, will you become more involved?
-OndineMonet
"Sather Tower"
U.C. Berkeley campus
November 24th, 2005
2:15 PM
"The beginning and end reach out a hand to each other."
-Chinese Proverb
Your Monday Photo Shoot: Photograph a body part. Tell us something interesting about that body part. "Body Part" for these purposes can also include scars and such.
-John Scalzi
My hands are probably one of my better features. I like my hands. They type interesting words, like "Fussbudget" which is today's "Word Of The Day" according to Wordsmith.org. I put one of my five fingers on my right hand to good use. I use it to press the little button on my camera that let's me take my photographs. My hands can wave " hello" and "Goodbye." My hands knead bread and pets my cat. My hand is my friend! Her name is Phoebe. LOL.
-OndineMonet
"Meet Phoebe"
Berkeley, California
January 9th, 2005
4:00 PM
"They say that age is all in your mind. The trick is keeping if from creeping down into your body."
-Unknown
Today is Alan's birthday and what do you think he wants to do with it? He wants to fiddle with his brand new Blogspot journal, "F-Stop." He decided to keep the same name he had for his photoblog on AOL. I am glad he did, I always thought it was kinda cool. So, he is going to sleep in today, then probably go out to breakfast, then I have a couple surprises for him later in the afternoon, after that I suppose we will either BBQ or go to a steakhouse. I am not teasing him too much about turning 44, because I am only 6 months younger then him and my time is coming soon. LOL. We are definitely growing better together. We don't use the "O" word (older) in this house! Hop over and have a peek at his new journal when you get the chance...he is excited to back in the land again, and in your company. Happy Birthday Alan! :)
F-Stop
-OndineMonet
"Alan's Head"
San Francisco, California
Spring, 2005
Late Morning
"It's an odd thing, but anyone who disappears is said to be seen in San Francisco. It must be a delightful city, and possess all the attractions of the next world."
-Oscar Wilde
This is the view of San Francisco from Twin Peaks. I have been meaning to get back up there to do some night photography, but my energy has been too low. Soon I hope to post some night shots from up here. By the way...the hills in the background is Berkeley and the East Bay...where I live. :)
On A Clear Day
On a clear day
Rise and look around you
And you'll will see who you are
On a clear day
How it will astound you
That the glow of your being
Outshines every star
You'll feel part of every mountain sea and shore
You can hear
From far and near
A word you've never, never heard before...
And on a clear day...On a clear day...
And ever
And ever And ever more.
-OndineMonet
"On A Clear Day"
Twin Peaks
San Francisco, California
Winter, 2005
Afternoon
"Beauty comes in all ages, colors, shapes, and forms. God never makes junk."
-Kathy Ireland
"Super Model" chosen by Becky, author of, "Where Life Takes You.."
Super Models. What do you think of when you think of, "Super Models?" The runways of Milan, Paris and New York? Victoria's Secret catalog pages? How about the pages of Glamour and Vogue? Yeah...Perhaps. Are the men and women featured in those magazines, and on the catwalks, always perfect looking? Well, like beauty, isn't perfect in the eye of the beholder? Yes, it is! I happen to be drawn to the imperfect, probably because I am so aware of my own imperfections. I don't know...I just find the beauty in the everyday. That's not to say that I don't enjoy looking in the pages of fashion magazines to see how the newest clothes coming out of the major fashion houses are supposed to lie on the body.
I also enjoy fashion publications because of how much I enjoy photography. My time taking photographs has taught me a lot about lighting, and shadows. I have learned a little about using natural lighting filters such as the sun through the limbs of a tree, to catch just the right look on a subject. For me, I read Vogue and Glamour as much for the way a photograph is taken as for what the subject is. That's why I am thrilled to have a chance to stretch my photography wings a bit with the this Round Robin subject.
There is so much that can be done with this topic. It doesn't have to be limited to perfect physiques, indeed, the term "Super Model" is merely applied to someone who has found great success and popularity in a certain area of fashion. There are many areas to be had when it comes to fashion. Here are some ideas I thought of when I found out what our subject would be...
Thinking as a Super Model...
1. There is High Fashion for pets.
2. There is the time when most women and men shine the brightest...Wedding day photos.
3. There is the traditional model found in the pages of Vogue.
4. There is picking one, "must have" fashion accessory of the season and modeling it.
5. With my love of shoes, I could put on all 184 pairs in my closet (one pair at a time) and model them for the challenge.
Now thinking as a Photographer...
1. I could take my camera to the park or the mall, and ask a smartly dresses stranger if they would let me photograph them for my challenge. I would absolutely do that...worst thing that happens...they say, "No! You weird WOMAN! HELP!" Best thing that happens...I have a new reader.
2. I could photograph myself or a loved one in mysterious lighting, and maybe learn a little something about lighting.
3. I could be playful with my super model quest and make it a broad interpretation. Can a well dressed Barbie doll be a true "Super Model?" Of course...you are only limited by your own imagination. Right?
4. I have a tripod...maybe I could photograph myself from behind while wearing my favorite fashion accessory this season, the "Newsboy" hat. I have 8 for this season.
5. How about reaching all the way back into the far reaches of your closet and getting that one piece of fashion that may have been seen on a Super Model in years gone by. Items that come to mind include, , silk shirts, ankle boots, many of these are making a comeback! Remember leg warmers? They're baaaccckkkk! LOL.
The thing that is so great about these challenges is that they are challenging! They encourage us to think outside the box when it comes to our photography. i find that I begin to look at a lot of things differently. I am excited about this challenge because of the possibilities. Another idea would be to take a "high fashion" photograph of an untapped market. Could your car be a super model? How about taking a photograph of what you might imagine a super model might eat for dinner.
Ok, this challenge will take place on Wednesday, January 18th. As always you can post your entry anytime between the midnights, but please do not post your entry before the challenge date. To play along, simply pay a visit to the official Round Robin journal and leave your name and the name of your journal, plus your journal's complete URL. Please take a moment to also read the *Welcome Entry And Rules Of Play* since we have tweaked some things a bit since we made the big move. Ok...go be photographers!
Round Robin Challenges
-OndineMonet
"Carly, The Paper Hospital Gown Model"
Kiaser Hospital
Union City, California
Spring 2005
"I love cats because I enjoy my house, and little by little, they become it's visual soul."
-Jean Cocteau
Each week my pal Steven, sets aside Friday to honor our feline friends. A cat makes a home doesn't it? This week, Steven asks the question..."How did your cat get it's name." LOL. My kitty Elvis was born with his name, LOL, I know this because I was there when he made his grand entrance into the world. He was born at 4:30 PM on April 27th, 1997. I knew in an instant that he was special. Out of a littler of six kittens, he was the only black and white one to be born. :) And while he was very tiny, his markings were such that we could tell right off that he kinda looked a little like Elvis Presley. LOL.
In the days and weeks that followed, he did silly little kitten things that made it even more apparent, such as the fact that while all the other kittens were all lying about, Elvis was always up and moving and shaking his hips. LOL. When he walked he had a funny little way of shaking his hips. Next we noticed what a little charmer he was. I have seen folks meet him for the first time and then fall in love with him. He is a charmer. Now when it comes to food...well...we won't discuss that! LOL. Above is a picture of him in the sweater he got for Christmas. He is cuddling up with me to enjoy a nice Cheese Fondue I made in bed the other night. He is fun try new recipes out on! ROFL. :)
If you want to come along and play Steven's Feline Friday, all you have to do is write and entry and post a photo of your kitty then drop by Steven's blog and leave him a link. The question for the week is, "How did your cat get it's name?"
-OndineMonet
"Cheese Fondue And New Sweaters"
December 30th, 2005
Late Evening
"Poetry is the music of the soul, and, above all, of great and feeling souls."
-Voltaire
The weather here in the East Bay has been moody lately. We have had a record year so far for rainfall, and we are having more thunderstorms then we usually have. I love a good thunderstorm, and in fact I used to go swimming when we would have them because I really enjoyed the way the air feels when it is all full of energy. Everything is different. The air smells different, it is usually quiet except for the rumbling across the sky. It excites me. Lately however, I haven't been able to enjoy the rain as much as in previous years. The damp weather now makes the joints in my hands swell, and sometimes it hurts too much to type. It's ok, I am adjusting to the new changes my body is dictating. On days when I can't write the way I want to...I read. I have always been an avid reader, but as I began to write my book and do more photography I found myself putting off reading some of the books I had been wanting to explore. Like a book of poetry I had purchased a while back and then promptly forgot about. It has been enjoyable to read the lovely prose, and relaxing to imagine the romantic thoughts they tend to inspire.
Well, this past week, we have been given a reprieve from the weatherman and so we are now enjoying some lovely winter days filled with bright sun and some nearly 70 degree heat. Good weather for writing, but it is also good weather for sitting the back yard with my kitty at my feet, my favorite chenille sweater around my shoulders, and a good book in my hand. It has been nice, but I am finding that I sometimes I just have to get out and do a little walking. Just short trips to satisfy the vagabond in me. I decided this past Wednesday to take a short walk around the downtown area here in Berkeley, in the arts and commerce section. There is a street here I have been meaning to take a look at. It is a street of poetry.
In October of 2003, the city of Berkeley, began installing cast iron poetry panels along the edge of the curb on Addison Street, between Shattuck Avenue and Milvia Street. Engraved on each panel is a poem chosen for the project by, former poet laureate, Robert Hass. Mr Hass chose each poem for the walk, based on each authors personal inspiration and passion for the town of Berkeley and the Bay Area. There are poems by authors such as Robert Duncan, Thorton Wilder, Lyn Hejinian, Alice Walker, Gertrude Stein, Jack London and Allen Ginsberg, who wrote the poem "Howl" while visiting, The Greek Theater, here in Berkeley.
Last Wednesday as I walked along the street, just drinking in the sweet, warm winter air, and enjoying the poetry, I felt good. Really good. I love going out and experiencing art as it lives and breathes around me. Art is a lifeform like no other. Poetry is important to me...it calms my nerves and inspires me. It makes me feel less lonely and alone. It inspires my daydreams and provokes my emotions. As much as I enjoy sculptures and paintings, poetry is at times, the only way to cure a case of the wearies from my soul. I only took a few pictures the other day, but I think I will be coming back downtown to photograph more of the poetry plates and bring the walk to my journal as part of my continuing series, "Art About Town." The following is one of the poems I read the other day which really spoke to me...you would understand if you have ever visited Mendocino County, located in Northern California. It is beauty defined.
Mendocino Memory
By June Jordan
Half moon
cold and low above the poplar tree
and sweet pea petals
pink and white/ what
happened
on this personal best night
for casual stars
and silky constellations
streaming brilliant
through the far
forgetful darkness
of the sky
I found the other half
above the pillow
where you lay
asleep
face to one side
with nothing in the world
or the next
to hide.
-OndineMonet
Art About Town
"Poetry Walk"
Berkeley, California
January 4th, 2005
Afternoon
"Man does not live by words alone, despite the fact that he sometimes has to eat them."
- Adlai Stevenson
Each year, Merriam Webster announces it's list of the Top 10 words that were researched the most through it's online dictionary web sites. The number 1 word for 2005 is the word Integrity. What an interesting word to choose, considering the complete lack of which has been displayed this past year. In more then just politics I might add. Well, on the other hand if I inspired folks to look up the literal translation to see if they either needed some, wanted to know if they had it, or wanted to see if they were correct in their assessment of it's absence, it is still a good thing to know that folks still turn to a dictionary once in a while. I like the list for 2005, some of my very favorite words made the Top 10, so , I thought it might be nice if I took each word and used it in a sentence...
1. Integrity: Firm adherence to a code, especially moral or artistic values; incorruptibility.
I think it showed a stunning lack of integrity for George Bush to appoint someone, as unqualified as Michael Brown, to the position of the head of FEMA.
2. Refugee: One that flees; especially a person who flees to a foreign country or power to escape danger or persecution.
On November 15th, 2005, I became a journal refugee, to Blogpsot, rather then have my journal used as a billboard for advertising on AOL.
3. Contempt: Willful disobedience to or open disrespect of a court, judge or legislative body.
Judith Miller, of the New York Times, was held in contempt of court for refusing to divulge the source that she interviewed in connection with the CIA leak case.
4. Filibuster: The use of extreme dilatory tactics in an attempt to delay or prevent action, especially in a legislative assembly.
Oh, wouldn't a nice long filibuster just about hit the spot?
5. Insipid: Lacking in qualities that interest, stimulate or challenge; dull, flat.
Last night I dreamed that I went on a date with George Bush. Alas ,the date did not go well, it seems he had such an insipid wit that I mistook him for a bowling ball.
6. Tsunami: A great sea wave produced especially by submarine earth movement or volcanic eruption.
Sometimes, during the tide and flux of leaving AOL, my sidebar seemed as if it had been hit by a tsunami .
7. Pandemic: Occurring over a wide geographic area and affecting an exceptionally high proportion of the population.
Considering how many could be affected should a pandemic occur, I wonder why we are still so unprepared?
8. Conclave: A private meeting or secret assembly, especially a meeting secluded while continuously while choosing a pope.
A conclave isn't just for choosing popes, they work for grand juries too.
9. Levee: An embankment for preventing flooding; a continuous dike or ridge ( as of earth) for the irrigation areas of land to be flooded.
"I drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry." -From American Pie
10. Inept: Generally incompetent, bungling.
It is my opinion that George Bush isn't just insipid...he's also inept. :)
If you want to play along, leave your "Used in a sentence" examples of these words in the comment section for this entry or post it on your blog and come back here and leave me a link. I would love to see what you come up with.
What words do you think will make it on the list for 2006? I predict "Indictment, Plea, and Ooopsy." :)
-OndineMonet
"Yellow, Red And Blue" By Kandinsky
"The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn."
-Alvin Toffler
If you could nickname 2005 any name at all...what name would you choose? Personally, I think 2005 should be known now and forever as the, "Duh" year. At every turn there seemed to be one, "duh," moment after another especially when it came to Washington politics. From the ridiculous to the downright dangerous, the mentality of our elected officials reached record lows for their conduct, while in office. Do you remember a year quite like 2005?
With the words, "I plead guilty your honor," Washington lobbyist, Jack Abramoff, accepted a plea bargain and admitted his guilt in what may just prove to be the farthest reaching political scandal to hit congress in our nation's history. How far will it reach? We will certainly be finding out in the coming days. How dirty will it get? Plenty dirty. Will it be one political party feeling the ill winds of this scandal...certainly not. As I was sitting here reading the story about Abramoff's day in court, I couldn't help but wonder who I admire at this moment, will be among those caught in the fallout.
We already know one of the people who will more then likely be on the list is Tom Delay. Good. The more they can find on him the better. I know I seem to be a bit harsh, but am I really? He knows what his responsibility is and what the consequences are for his actions. What has he done since being indicted last autumn? His first move was to seek to have the judge assigned to his case removed. See, the judge was a Democrat and therefore may not take to kindly to him. He would rather have a Republican judge handle his case. What does that say for corruption within the Republican party? It seems like some twisted logic to me. After all aren't most Republican judges thought to be much more harsh on the accused then Liberal Democratic judges? At least in theory. Personally speaking...I think it is a case by case thing, but in the case of Tom Delay, I find it hard to tap into my usual liberal compassionate nature.
Because he is a Republican gone bad...nope. I think I would feel the same if I watched a member of any political party trying their best to get by with illegal activities. Which is not to say I am completely without compassion for the likes of Delay and Abramoff. I feel sorry for anyone staring down prison time because they had a personal agenda that was more important then the trust of honest working people who believed in them. The names haven't been released yet, but I will say it now before it happens..."SHAME ON YOU, IF YOU ARE ON THE LIST."
So far the only name appearing on a list of the guilty, at least in speculation,is Rep. Bob Ney of Ohio. He apparently accepted a golfing trip to Scotland in 2002, knowing that the trip was being paid for by the lobbyist's Indian gaming clients. While Nay's name is not directly mentioned, his idenity is implied from the description of his committee chairmanship. Before it is all said and done, there could be at least two dozen members of congress implicated.
I think the quote of the day belongs to White House spokesman, Scott McClellen, "What he is reportedly acknowledging doing is unacceptable and outrageous. If laws were broken, he must be held to account for what he did." McClellen had no answer as to whether or not President Bush had ever met Abramoff. I guess time, and Jack Abramoff will tell.
So, I am going to refer to 2005 as the "Duh" year, but Alan had a different idea for what to call it. "I think it should be known as ,2000 of 2005, for the loss of the 2000th soldier in Iraq." Wow! Brings it all into focus doesn't it? Sigh. So tell me, what would you dub the official nickname of the year 2005?
-OndineMonet
"Elvis Looking On"
Virginia City, Nevada
October 24th, 2005
Afternoon
"The one important thing I have learned over the years is the difference between taking one's work seriously and taking one's self seriously. The first is imperative and the second is disastrous."
-Margot Fonteyn
I don't know if I enjoy photographing this lighthouse more on rainy days or on clear days. No matter which type of day, it always gives me a sweet, warm feeling to just be near it. It is the newest of the California lighthouses, and in my opinion it is one of the most beautiful. This particular lighthouse has a youthfulness to it, maybe because it sits in the harbor of the youthful town of, Santa Cruz, California. The harbor itself is a part of the northern tip of the Monterey Peninsula.
unconsious Mutterings... (From LunaNina)
I did the Free Association posting last week, since it was the end of the year, so I thought I would do it again this week for the first week of the New Year. I found this week's words more difficult. Shrug. Oh well, here goes...
"Free association is described as a "psychoanalytic procedure in which a person is encouraged to rein in his or her thoughts and feelings, verbalizing whatever comes into the mind without monitoring it's content." Over time, the technique is supposed to help bring forth repressed thoughts and feelings that the person can them work through to gain a better sense of self.
That's a admirable goal, but for the purposes of this exercise, we're just hoping to have a little fun with the technique. Each week, I'' post ten words to which you can respond to with the first thing that comes to mind.
Rules are, there are now rules. There are no right or wrong answers. Don't limit yourself to one word responses; just say everything that pops into your head. And you don't have to have your words up on Sunday, take all week if you want."
1. Celebrate: Birthday
2. Resolve: Decide
3. I need to: Sleep
4. Call: My Aunt Amanda
5. Token: Arcade
6. Brand: Label
7. Compassion: Care
8. Far Away: Lover
9. Artful: Dodger
10: Fantastic: Voyage
You can get your own words at the website, so you can play along also! :)
-OndineMonet
"Walton Lighthouse"
Santa Cruz, California
Late Autumn
2005
"Weather forecast for tonight: dark."
-George Carlin
Your Monday Photo Shoot: Display the first photo you took in 2006.
-John Scalzi
We here in Northern California have been experiencing some pretty severe weather in the last couple weeks, and especially in the last few days. Especially hard hit was the far north bay towns of Guerneville, Napa and Santa Rosa. I live in the East Bay hills and we have done pretty well, although there was a mudslide in Oakland on Skyline at Broadway Terrace. The road there will be closed for a few more days. Sigh. A minor inconvenience compared to what other folks are going through. Governor Schwarzenegger declared 7 of the 9 Bay Area counties disaster areas today. Alameda County, where I live, was spared the roughest of the weather, and the only damage near me was to my lovely back yard umbrella. I don't know, I kinda like it's new look. I don't think I have the heart to throw it away...it's been through too much! LOL. I always loved that quote by Mark Twain about the weather in my neck of the woods,"The coldest winter I ever spent, was a summer I spent in San Francisco." I wonder what he would have thought about an actual winter day here? :)
-OndineMonet
"Weather Watcher"
Berkeley, California
January 1st, 2006
Early Morning
"See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda."
-George W. Bush
Greece, New York., May 24th/o5
Where does this man's responsibility begin and end? How many lies does he have to tell, before he is finally held accountable for his actions? Does the president have the authority to do anything he wants, even acts outside the law, as long as he says it was in our best interests? There is so much this man could do both domestically and on foreign ground to help make this country safer. Safer from terrorists, safer from natural disasters, safer from societies ills. He does nothing to promote mental health issues, nothing to encourage education and as for crime, well, after allowing the assault weapons ban to expire, how can anyone feel safer...unless you have an Uzi in your closet.
Now, there is the issue of the illegal wire taps. He sluffs off his responsibility with his usual smugness, "The NSA program is one that listens to a few numbers called from outside the United States...there's an enemy out there." Yes, there is an enemy out there, Osama Bin Laden...remember that guy? Why is he still roaming the hills a free man? I have been asking this question for what seems like 4 years...oh yeah, it HAS been four years! It is outrageous that he is still out there somewhere as we continue this made-up action in Iraq. Start to finish George Bush has been little more then an irrational embarrassment to this country, well that's not entirely accurate...he has been a dangerous, irrational embarrassment to this country. "Brownie...you're doing a fine job." I like his response when asked about his possible misleading answer, in 2004, regarding wiretapping, while promoting the Patriot Act. At that time he stated that any wiretapping required a court order and that nothing had changed. Now he says..."I was talking about roving wiretaps, I believe, involving the Patriot Act." Sigh! "I believe?" Doesn't he know for sure? Nice save George, but we now know it wasn't a few numbers, it was a large amount of communications. What a way to start the new year. Can we believe anything this man says? So tell me, what do you think? Do you trust George Bush?
-OndineMonet
"Ring out the old, ring in the new
Ring, happy bells, across the snow
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the old, ring in the new."
-Alfred Lord Tennyson
2005 was a fun year for photos. I visited a lot of places I had never been to before, and saw a lot of things. It was difficult to narrow down my 10 best photographs of the year, in that I took an embarrassing amount of photos. The ones above didn't make it into the collection that I have displayed on my photoblog, Ellipsis...Vignettes legeres d' Ambiant. Next Year, I think I might display my year end photos the way Steven did on his journal, sometimes photoblog, by the ones most commented on each month. If you haven't seen his collection, hop on over and take a look. Many will absolutely take your breath away!
-OndineMonet
"The Almost collection"
2005
The rain is pouring down outside tonight, and the air is cool. It is going to be raining all weekend here in Northern California, and it is making me feel kind of introspect I guess. Time never stops amazing me. It sometimes moves painfully slow, and yet again it can all seem like a blink. I am just going to let my mind do it's drifting, in and out of memories and the rain beats on the rood and the windchimes sing in the evening breeze. Happy New Year! I'll think of you at midnight.
When You Say Nothing At All
By Ronan Keating (From Notting Hill)
It's amazing how you can speak right to my heart
Without saying a word you can light up the dark
Try as I may I could never explain
What I hear when you don't say a thing.
The smile on your face lets me know that you need me
There's a truth in your eyes saying you'll never leave me
A touch of your hand says you'll catch me where ever I fall
Now you say it best...when you say nothing at all.
All day long I can hear people talking out loud
But when you hold me near you, you drown out the crowd
Try as they may could define
What's being said between your heart and mine.
The smile on your face lets me know that you need me
There's a truth in your eyes saying you'll never leave me
A touch of your hand says you'll catch me where ever I fall
Now you say it best...when you say nothing at all.
-OndineMonet
"Romance In Red II" By Gockle
"So, what is it like in the real world? Well, the food is better, but beyond that I don't recommend it."
-Bill Watterson
Weekend Assignment #92: Do you have New Year's resolutions for 2005? If so, share one (or more if you like).
Extra Credit: How did you do on your resolutions for 2005?
-John Scalzi
In that I have had to cut back my photography treks and accept that I will be spending more time at home, I have decided to keep a promise to Alan, and expand my recipe file by creating new original recipes using the vegetables and fruits from our yard. I think it will be fun and will give me a chance to try some different photography as I create each new recipe. Alan has a favorite recipe that I created, it is the "30 Pound Lasagne" also called "Don Lasagne." I tried making an all vegetable lasagne this past summer using the fresh vegetables from the garden. It was a lot of fun, and came out pretty good I think. I also created a summer veggie soup, that was light and tasty. I think this year I will expand the recipes to include more desserts and appetizers. I will be posting my adventures in recipe creating, so don't forget to tune in to see how I do. LOL. I am sure it will be an adventure! How does "Honey Lemon Fondue w/ Fruity Angel Food Cake" sound? :)
Extra Credit: I did just fine. I didn't have any! LOL. :)
-OndineMonet
"Summer Feast"
Berkeley, California
Summer, 2005
Late Afternoon
"Lost time is never found again."
-Ben Franklin
At 7:00 pm EST, the year that was 2005 will gain an extra second. The adjustment to time will take place by adding one second into clocks worldwide at the stroke of midnight Coordinated Universal Time. Personally I am not greatly pleased about this year having any extra time in it. I won't miss 2005 for a number of reasons, the dreadful worldwide catastrophe's, some personal losses and of course the change of residence for my journal Ellipsis. On the other hand this year also saw some personal gains for me, like the building a some new, wonderful friendships and even the gift of repairing some damaged relationships. I guess it was like any other year...with the sweet comes the bitter. I am here to write about it so I am lucky to have that, and if nothing else, I think 2005 gave me a lesson in being much more aware that to lose any time spent with your passions is a sad thing. That extra second will be added to my life this Saturday at 4:00 pm Pacific time, I wonder how I should use it well? A second is a long time, you become aware of that when you stop to measure it.
It took a PSA airplane 7 seconds to crash to the earth, after a midair collision over the skies of San Diego, in 1978.
What could be done in 7 seconds?
You could dial the phone number of someone you love.
You could laugh.
You could say "I'm sorry" "Forgive me" "I forgive you."
You could pet your cat or dog.
You could make a face at a child so they can laugh.
You can look in the mirror and smile at yourself.
You can think a good thought someone's way.
You can choose to remember one good memory, and choose to forget a bad one.
You can really look through the lens of a camera and visualize what the photo you are about to take will look like. Someday the photo will be a part of history, as well as your own personal history.
In the days after Hurricane Katrina devestated New Orleans, it was estimated that the pumps used to return the flood waters back to Lake Ponchatrain, pumped as much as 380 cubic meters (380,000 liters or 23,190, 000 cubic inches) of water every second.
Now...what to do with one second...
You can smile at a someone you love.
You can fart.
You can allow that fleeting idea you have about reaching out, come alive by dropping someone an email to say "I thought about you today."
You can sneeze.
You can kiss.
You can take a cleansing breath and give yourself a break.
You can take the opportunity to go with whatever idea you have.
I believe that everything, good or bad, begins with one second. While I am not particularly happy about any additional time being added to the year, I am also aware that the extra second doesn't have to go unnoticed or feared...after all maybe it is in actuality a "second chance."
-OndineMonet
"Time Enough"
San Francisco Ferry Building
San Francisco, California
Summer, 2005
Early Morning
"I used to say, "I sure hope things will change." Then I learned that the only way things are going to change for me is when I change."
-Jim Rohn
For most of the past year, I have been watching my pal Wil over at his journal, The Daily Snooze, playing a fun, weekly free association game called unconscious Mutterings. The list of words is from LunaNina.com, and anyone can play along. A new list of words is posted each Sunday, and you have the whole week to post your responses to the listed words. I decided since this is the last full week of 2005, it would be a very good time to play along for the first time.
"The rules are, there are no rules." There are no right or wrong answers. Don't limit yourself to one word responses; just say everything that pops into your head. And you don't have to have your words up on Sunday. Take all week if you want! Read the FAQ for more information."
1. Virus: Illness
2. Poop: Crap
3. Smart: Maxwell
4. Agent: Agent 86 (Played by Don Adams in Get Smart.)
5. Wrap: Cover
6. Brass: Knuckles
7. Waste Of Time: Bore
8. Suspicious: Food
9. 360: Crop Circles
10: Dummy: Quiet
"Free association is described as a "psychoanalytic procedure in which a person is encouraged to give free rein to his or her thoughts and feelings, verbalizing whatever comes into the mind without monitoring its content." Over time, this technique is supposed to help bring forth repressed thoughts and feelings that the person can then work through to fain a better sense of self.
That's an admirable goal, but for the purposes of this exercise, we're just hoping to have a little fun with the technique. Each week I'll post ten words to which you can respond to with the first thing that comes to mind."
-OndineMonet
"Later"
Berkeley, California
December 18th, 2005
Late afternoon
"Photography is a way of feeling of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever...it remembers little things long after you have forgotten everything."
-Aaron Suskind
Today was one of those days. I didn't get much done, but I did decide to take the advice given to me by a good friend, a while back, for handling days like today. "If you can't go out to take photos, set the tripod up in your bedroom and take photos out the window...so that's what I did! And look what I saw. I got to see this deer and a couple others walk through the back of the property in the late afternoon. I love living up in the hills. Good advice friend! :)
Over at my photoblog, Ellipsis...Legeres D' Ambiant, I am counting down my top 10 favorite photos of the year. Be sure to drop by when you get the chance to see my very best in photographs!
-OndineMonet
"Deer Crossing"
Berkeley, California
December 26th, 2005
Late Afternoon
Before the ice is in the pools,
before the skater's go,
Or any cheek at nightfall is tarnished by the snow,
Before the fields have finished,
Before the Christmas tree,
Wonder upon wonder
Will arrive to me.
-Emily Dickinson
Monday Photo Shoot: Lets see how the holidays happened for you and yours.
-John Scalzi
The holidays in our home are usually played out in small vignettes. Christmas Eve has a spontaneity that I adore. This year we played in the new fallen leaves, then we went for a long car ride to see what was going on around town. We came home and exchanged Christmas ornaments and wrapped Elvis's new sweater. The next day we had breakfast and Alan went off to work. Later in the afternoon we exchanged presents, and then we played the Dreidle game and talked and laughed and enjoyed each other's company. Like I said...little vignettes. :)
-OndineMonet
"Home At The Holidays"
Berkeley, California
December 24th/25th, 2005
"And remember, no matter where you go...there you are."
-Confucius
I have been tagged by my friend Shelly for a new meme. This one is a bit longer then the last one I did, but it was a lot of fun to do. I really like this part of blogging, fun little projects like this were we can get to know each other. I thought it was a lot of fun at parties to play games where you got to know your friends a little better, I mean everyone knows how well I can draw, but can you guess what kind of pickle relish I prefer on my hot dogs? Or what my favorite pizza topping is? Or, what perfume I wear in the daytime or at night? :) Guesses anyone?
Now on with the meme...
Remove the blog in the top spot from the following list and bump everyone up one place. Then add your blog to the bottom slot. Remember to add the links.
1. Eddy
2. Sara
3. Kirk
4. Shelly
5. Carly
Then you tag five more people to pass the meme to so they can play also.
I think I will let people play along if they want to, this is a busy time. :) Be sure to come back here and drop me a link if you decide to play, so I can come and read your answers.
What were you doing 10 years ago?
I was caring for my mother and working on some country type craft projects and scrapbooking.
What were you doing 1 year ago?
A year ago I got my first digital camera...and the whole world opened up for me!
Five snacks you enjoy.
1. Peanut butter filled pretzel pockets.
2. Fresh fruit with white chocolate yogurt.
3. Assorted cheeses.
4. Cinnamon pecans (toasted)
5. Pizza Bites
Five songs to which you know all the lyrics.
1. Take The Long Way Home...Supertramp.
2. Somewhere Someone Waits For You...Carly Simon.
3. Yesterday...The Beatles.
4. I Saw The Light...Todd Rundgren.
5. Wouldn't It Be Nice...The Beach Boys.
Five things you would do is you were a millionaire.
1. Buy all the stock in my good friend Jon's toy store and give the toys to Toys for Tots and Children's Hospital in Oakland.
2. Set up a scholarship fund for young writers/artists.
3. Buy a penthouse apartment in San Francisco and New York.
4. Learn to play the piano.
5. Attend a professional cooking school.
Five bad habits.
1. General procrastination.
2. Forgetting to put the CD's and DVD's back in the proper cases.
3. Forgetting to eat. It makes me weird.
4. Finishing Alan's sentences.
5. Forgetting to put out frozen meat to thaw for dinner.
Five things you like doing.
1. Taking digital photographs of the Bay Area.
2. Shopping in small out of the way specialty shops.
3. Reading.
4. Collecting dragonflies.
5. Playing board games.
Five things you would never wear again.
1. High Heels. Those days have come and gone!
2. Headbands.
3. The color yellow.
4. A fanny pack.
5. Black nail polish.
Five Favorite toys.
1. Elvis
2. My digital camera.
3. My cell phone.
4. My Sims2 game.
5. My laptop.
And there you have it, now you know me a teensy bit better! :) Don't forget to comeback here and leave me a link if you want to play. Come on...you know you want to. ;)
-OndineMonet
"Staying Within The Lines"
Berkeley, California
December 24th, 2005
Late Afternoon.
The Night before Hanukkah
By Melinda Bell
Twas the first night of Hanukkah and all through the house
Pleasure was spreading, as quick as a mouse.
The children played dreidle and ate with such glee
Oh latkes and donuts a pleasure to see!
The menorah was placed by the window with care
So all who came by could see it was there.
We sang lots of songs, and told lots of stories
About the Maccabees and all of their glories.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter
I sprang from my chair to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash
Tore open the shutter and threw up the sash.
When what to my wondering eye should appear
But a vision of Judah the Maccabee there!
As he walked from the hill he was so proud to say
That the war had been won, we were all free to stay!
The Greeks were defeated and so it was sure
The Israelites could stay in their homeland so pure.
He wanted to go to the temple and pray
But needed to warn of a hitch on the way.
The temple was ruined by some in the war
It was dark, and I worried we'd be lost for sure.
As we traveled to Jerusalem on some mighty trail
Judah assured me that we would not fail.
The night was dark, as I feared it would be
Hey we were traveling through the 2nd century.
But far, far above us, we saw a bright light
Coming from the window of the temple that night.
Those that had gathered there were quick to say
There was just enough oil to last only one day.
They worried as news of the victory spread
Others would be lost, or left asleep in their bed.
Those that came after would not get to see
The lamp which told of our victory.
The faithful were sure that all would right
And that one cruse of oil would last us eight nights.
As the eight nights befell us, it soon became clear
The lamp would stay lit...darkness was nothing to fear.
So now to this day, each year we celebrate
The Festival of Lights for eight nights on this date.
And so as you enjoy the great gift of light,
Happy Hanukkah to all, and to all a good night.
-OndineMonet
"Dreidle And Coins"
Berkeley, California
December 25th
Afternoon
"Why does Scrooge love Rudolph The Red-nosed reindeer? Because all bucks are deer to him." :)
Well, the last time I checked, Santa Claus had landed in America, having just set down in southern Florida! Tee Hee. Time for me to put Elvis in his pajamas, send Alan off to bed, and grab myself some eggnog and a snack of Moose Turds. Trust me, they taste better then they sound...and look! ROFL. Here is Elvis's official Christmas portrait for 2005! I think I will do some writing tonight, it has been a while since I have felt up to it, but tonight I just feel in the mood. :)
Merry Christmas To All...And To All A Good Night!
Always, Carly :)
"Elvis At Christmas"
Berkeley, California
December, 2005
Evening
"Christmas is sights, especially the sights
Of Christmas reflected in the eyes of a child."
-William Saroyan
Santa has left the North Pole! He's on his way! :) I am off to make more Christmas cookies, Elvis and his daddy ate all the Snickerdoodles! YIKES!
-OndineMonet
"Bentley"
"At Christmas play and make good cheer, for Christmas comes but once a year."
-Thomas Tusser
According to Santa Claus's official website, Santa At NORAD," the area I live in, the San Francisco East Bay, is in quad 1 on his travel itinerary. That means he will be heading toward my part of the world toward the end of his travels later this evening. I am excited! LOL. I am loving being in the holiday spirit for the first time in a long time. Too many to count I guess. While my energy is low, my spirits are high and I can't help it...I feel giddy. :)
I had a good day. I talked to my Aunt Amanda on the phone, and found out she has already opened the packages I sent her! Silly woman never could wait for the holiday. LOL. She is so much fun, maybe sometime I will get to go and visit her in Virginia. We haven't seen each other in years, but one phone call and that old kinship falls right back into place as if it were just yesterday, when she and I last saw each other. On one trip she and I spent the day doing girly things, we went shopping in Arlington. She and I could shop till we dropped. :) Mostly, I just enjoyed her company.
Elvis is already being the perfect little Christmas kitty. He knows that there is something under the tree for him, and he goes over to his package and paws at it, then looks back to see if I am watching. Today he stole 3 Snickerdoodles off the kitchen counter where they were cooling. I came out of my office to find him trotting down the hall, with a look on his face that seemed to say, "go ahead, get mad, it will be totally worth it!" Goofy cat. :)
Do you think the curse will make it to 18 years? Will it happen? Will someone who I have never met call me a "BITCH" on Christmas eve? It's only 12:36 AM here on the West Coast, there is still lots of time. Tee Hee. I am going to track Santa Claus as he leaves the North Pole at 4:00 AM EST, and travels around the world. In fact, I plan to track him throughout the day, so come by if you want to see some updates, and I will let you know if the curse comes true. The curse of December 10th came true this year, and I will share the details of what happened in an entry next week. Let's hope I will have something to share about today as well. Long Live The Curse! LOL. Ok, I know, it's a dysfunctional way to look at Christmas, but it's all mine. :) See ya later today!
-OndineMonet
"Santa At NORAD"
"I heard the bells on Christmas Day; their old familiar carols play, and wild and sweet the word repeat of peace on earth, good-will to men!"
-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Weekend Assignment: Write a holiday haiku on any subject.Haiku have three linesAnd seventeen syllables: 5-7-5. See?
Extra Credit: Find a little extra time, for greetings in rhyme!
-John Scalzi
A Haiku huh? Ut oh...LOL...Ok, here goes.
Holiday Haiku
By Carly Gordon (OndineMonet)
A season of joy
Bows, presents, ribbons, love, hope
Holidays at home.
Extra Credit: A holiday Rhyme
Poinsettas are red
Christmas trees are green
Here's wishing you all the joy
The holiday can bring.
-OndineMonet
"Christmas Bow"
Castro Valley, California
December 22rd, 2005
Afternoon
"Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of a child they are all 30 feet tall."
-Larry Wilde (The Merry Book Of Christmas)
It's been a couple weeks since I have done one of Steven's Feline Friday entries...so here is my Christmas kitty Elvis, all dressed up and ready to go caroling! LOL. No, actually he is ready to go and play outside. Elvis is a strange boy, he loves to go and play in the rain, the harder the downpour the better! It is a lot of fun to watch him run around the yard or sometimes just lay back on the chair and open up his mouth for the rain to dance on him tongue. My camera has a video feature, I think I will make some holiday movies of him playing in the rain, we are supposed to be getting a lot this week...could be a fun way to spend Christmas day since I will be alone. If you haven't played along with Steven's Feline Friday before, well, here is your chance. Just get a really cool picture of your kitty they hop over to Steven's and leave a link. Do your kitties enjoy Christmas bows and ribbons?
Now, here are 10 Christmas facts and trivia for I thought you might enjoy...
1. A traditional Christmas dinner in early England was the head of a pig prepared with mustard.
2. According to a 1995 survey, 7 out of 10 British dogs get Christmas gifts from their doting owners.
3. "Hot Cockles" was a popular game at Christmas in medieval times. It was a game in which the other players took turns striking the blindfolded player, who had to guess the name of the person delivering each blow. "Hot Cockles" was still a Christmas pastime until the Victorian era.
4. Franklin Pierce was the first United States' president to decorate an official White House Christmas Tree.
5. In 1907, Oklahoma became the last US State to declare Christmas a legal holiday.
6. In 1947, Toys for Tots, started making the holidays a little happier for children by organizing its first Christmas to drive for needy youngsters.
7. The Puritans forbade the singing of Christmas carols.
8. The real St. Nicholas lived in Turkey, where he was bishop of the town of Myra, in the early 4th century. It was the Dutch who first made him into a Christmas gift-giver, and Dutch settlers brought him to America where his name eventually became the familiar Santa Claus.
9. An average household in America will mail out 28 Christmas cards each year and see 28 cards return in their place.
10. During the ancient 12-day Christmas celebration, the log burned was called the "Yule Log." Sometimes a piece of the Yule Log would be kept to kindle the fire the following year. The Yule Log custom was handed down from the Druids.
-OndineMonet
"Elvis Celebrating"
December 21st, 2005
9:00 PM
"Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow. Don't walk behind me, I may not lead. Just walk beside me and be my friend."
-Unknown
Do you think that political correctness has gone too far? It seems that the war rages on about whether or not Christmas is being given the proper respect it is due. The whole debate about whether it is a "Christmas tree" or a "holiday tree" has left me a bit frustrated. I suppose, it seems like a silly thing to put so much stress on. Why does something so basic have to be placed under a microscope? Be over analyzed and generally picked apart? Why do we humans work so hard at making things so difficult? Sometimes it seems like the people making the biggest fuss aren't actually making the fuss in the name of the ideal so much as crying out for attention. Everyone seems to be in a mad race to be deemed the "most correct" in the war of political correctness. Is this the ideal behind the original idea of trying to be sensitive to those around us? To wear our correctness like a badge?
The above four photos are actually screen shots of one of my favorite episodes of the The Mary Tyler Moore Show . The original air date was, December 19th, 1970 and was titled, "Christmas And The Hard Luck Kid." In this episode Mary Richards, has learned that she will have to spend Christmas in Minneapolis instead of going home to spend time with her family. Her good friend Rhoda Morganstern offers to keep Mary company for the holiday and Mary happily accepts the offer of kindness. There is a brief mention that Rhoda is Jewish in this episode, but the larger point that is made is that religious differences didn't stop Mary and Rhoda from not only enjoying each other's company, but indeed exchanging holiday presents. The feeling of love, of friendship and of the family we sometimes make in the world was what was stressed. The two friends loved each other as family...and as such treated each other with the spirit of the season, respect, love and reverence.
The episode doesn't end there. By the end of the program we find out that Mary's boss and co-workers also go the extra mile to ensure that Mary isn't left sad and lonely for the holiday. Again, expressing the true meaning of the holiday. I was 8 years old the first time I saw this episode,and I enjoyed it a lot. I think because I enjoyed knowing that it wasn't a far stretch to think that folks would do that for each other. In 1970 there wasn't so much arguing about what the absolute most correct image of the holiday season was. A traditional tree? A nativity scene? A snowman? A pink tinsel tree? Like with everything I suppose the holidays even back then had their trends. I don't remember arguing over who would feel offended by semantics. Sigh.
The idea of political correctness should help us mature into a more tolerant and accepting society, but it seems with every other bitter declaration of offense we as a country slip back into the days when people REALLY didn't care about their fellow man. Back to the days when not everyone was allowed to vote. When interracial marriage was illegal. When the color of your skin dictated where you were allowed to worship...despite your devotion to God, even at Christmas. I have heard disturbing things over the last few years. Notions like; "we have to take back OUR God." Sigh. Funny, I thought he was everyone's God, even for those who choose to not believe in him. Religion is a God given right, and as such each of us has been given the gift to choose for ourselves what our beliefs are. Pure and simple. As a country we dictate to the world our joys of religious freedom. And then we turn around and engage in mini-wars with each other about what the most absolute correct way is to spread "the message." After a while, it all seem so hollow, when it should be so simple, especially this time of year. So much could be accomplished if all the bitter hearts, the one's who just have to be right, would simply say, "Have a nice day," no matter what the date is...and mean it.
-OndineMonet
"Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's a heaven for?"
-Robert Browning
Today, Tuesday, is the last full day of autumn for 2005. I wish I could have gone out more and played in the sun. Hopefully by next autumn I will have my pace set, because I missed going out with the camera and drinking in the sun. I love the lighting in October and November especially. When I did get out with the camera, I tried to get the most of it. This picture was taken on a good day, at a pretty little flower stand in San Francisco. There were a few clouds in the sky that caused a waxing and waning effect, I like the challenge that provides me.
Hopefully this next year will bring some good opportunities for trying out different lighting scenarios. I am becoming more picky about my subjects and how much time I set aside to capture the shot. I am working on being more aware of my backgrounds. I am going later this week to do some evening shots, if the weather permits. One good thing about my diagnoses is that it is causing me to stop, take a breath and really think about what I want to accomplish when I go out to take photos, where before I would pick a subject and get a general idea for what I wanted and then hope for the best. I photographed a lot of different subjects this year, and the nice thing about that is that I now know what subjects I enjoy photographing the most. Time for more feedback please...What photography subjects do you think I do best with? And what tips would you like to offer me for taking better photos?
-OndineMonet
"Autumn Kisses Winter"
San Francisco, California
December, 2005
Morning
"Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love."
-Hamilton Wright Mabie
Your Monday Photo Shoot: Show me the decorations! Yes, it's time to pimp your seasonal decorating bug, folks. Show us what you got. Take the picture post it on your journal/blog, and then come back and leave a link. Easy!
-John Scalzi
Here are my decorations for this year! Both of these photos are of the decorations in my home office. The tree sits right behind me on a table and if you look at the very top you might see something a bit unusual. Yep, we don't put a star on top, we always put a Santa Claus hat! Tee Hee. Long story I will share on another day.
The pretty snow angel bear is new this year, her name is Clare. She sits on my desk and she makes me smile. I may have to keep her out through winter. She is so...wintery! LOL Oh and by the way, the Christmas tree has a name...we call him Axel. He has been with us 12 years, and he is a beloved family member.
-OndineMonet
"Christmas At Our House"
Berkeley, California
December 19th, 2005
"And forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the wind longs to play with your hair."
-Kahlil Gibran
I am not sure if it was the sound of the rain pouring down on the roof, or the warmth of Elvis asleep on my feet, or even the beautiful scent of the various types of wood burning in the nearby fireplaces...but I slept well last night! I know I reached the all important 4th level of sleep, because I woke up feeling clear of mind and warm of spirit. I was even feeling a bit creative. So, as the rain and thunder made a grand noise outside, I sat back in my chair and thought about how much it sounded like laughter to me, and then I made a new journal.
It is my new photo blog, and it is a combination of the two artsy journals I had on AOL, The Moonlight Gallery and The Blue Willow Gallery. I decided to call my new journal, Ellipsis...Vignettes legeres d' Ambiant (Ambient Light Vignettes). It is all about light, and clarity it provides. I will display my own images along with some personal observations and of course poetry and musical lyrics. All the things that calm the nerves and soothe the soul.
George Bush makes my feet swell. I tried not to watch the speech from the White House tonight, I tried to remember it was the TV and that he wasn't really in the room spouting that...crap...good thing I remembered that because I kinda like my TV and throwing it into the bay from my window would be wrong! LOL. That would be littering, and I am a conservationist so that would just be bad! I thought about pulling out all my facts and going on a rant. I decided instead to visit my own journal and take my own advice. OmmmmOmmmmOMMMMM. LOL. Lalalalalalalal I can't hear you Bush! I am going to make it until after New Year's without going on a rant. It's a goal. The letter I wrote to Santa about George Bush doesn't count as a rant...Santa understands. OmmmmmOmmmmmOOOOMMM.
Anyway, hop over to the new journal and leave me some feedback. Tell me what you like and what you don't like. Do you want me to post more letters from history? How about musical lyrics? Yea or nay? Do you prefer it when I just post a photo and a quote? I want it to be a good combination of the two journals I had to leave behind. I want it to be a place of peace and comfort. We all need that...don't we? Now say it with me...Ommmm, Ommmmm, OOOOOMMMMMM! :)
-OndineMonet
"Autumn Fires"
Berkeley, California
December 17th, 2005
Morning
"If its a good movie, the sound could go off and the audience would still have a perfectly clear idea of what was going on."
-Alfred Hitchcock
As I sit here, in my office, typing this entry, I am also listening to the rain pounding on the roof. The weather gauge on my computer's desktop reads 39 degrees and my dragonfly windchimes, that hang just outside my office window, and making a beautiful, melodious noise. I am drinking a cup of hot chocolate with cinnamon syrup and topped with whipped cream, some of which, Elvis is licking off his nose. LOL. I can't keep him out of the whipped cream! :) On my desk is a small stack of DVD's, some of them are my very favorite ones to watch in winter. Is there a better way to spend a cold winter night, then to curl up with your favorite cat, and your favorite movie? You could probably think of another way, but for me, this is a great stress buster on a cold winter day. So, here are my winter movie picks...
Holiday Comedy: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
Holiday Romance: Love Actually
Horror: Sleepy Hollow
Sci-Fi: Village Of The Damned
Drama: Forever Young
Independent: Party Monster
Family Film: A Bug's Life
Family Film Animated: Chicken Run
Documentary: No Direction Home: Bob Dylan
Musical: Everyone Says I Love You
Political Thriller:The Sum Of All Fears
Action/Adventure: Conspiracy Theory
Stephen King Winter: Dolores Claiborne
Alfred Hitchcock Winter: North By Northwest
Movie With A Lesson: Working Girl
Romance: Return To Me
Christmas Movie: A Christmas Story
New Year's Movie: Bridget Jones Diary
Groundhog Day Movie: Life Or Something like It
Valentine's Day: Chocolat
Movie For A Saturday Afternoon: Dragonfly
Movie For A Sunday Afternoon: A Fish Called Wanda
If you have a favorite movie you enjoy watching in winter, please tell me about it. Just leave me a comment. I would enjoy hearing about them. :)
-OndineMonet
"Sunlit From Heaven"
Sierra Nevada
December 2002
Early Morning
