Week's End - Bird in Jerusalem

From the landscape of endless argument* The neck ribbon diverts one's attention from those talons. Someone needs a manicure. Forgive the pedestrian nature of titles, no words. Perhaps I've used this photograph in another post here. Seem to have wrenched something (not just my brain). Ouch.

Cheers from snowy DC. I wonder what everyone is up to...I shall visit after watching Georgetown v. Duke. (Yes, I watch college basketball.)

*I'm quoting myself (!) & I can't find magazine to scan. Yes, this is called self-sabotage, though it hardly seems important. Today.

Update on Tuesday, 2 February - hibernating but will post suitable photograph when I have energy to find it. Meanwhile, happy groundhog day.

Moroccan Marguerite

Thinking of North Africa, trying to stay warm. I'll add to this later, just don't want to think of winter fog as it begins to snow. [check out only alice's flickr sets]

Winter Fog

I may be in one (a fog) but finally I have a winter coat. Not a moment too soon, according to the weather report. [photograph by Nick Bartoletti from his Clise Mansion set. Thanks, Nick.]

A Pity, We Were Such a Good Invention*

"We even flew a little."* Yehuda Amichai

Still not up & about much but I'm tiring of the cute lamb. Sorry little lamb. Trying to ignore all the pundits who are pre-judging the SOTUS tonight. Plus bizarro tea-baggers are acting up nearby. Ugh. Should have put up something about birds of prey. (Though the poem, which is not linked here due to copyright, is not about birds. You know what poets are like. So irritating.)

Please vote for Liberty London Girl in the Tenth Annual Weblog Awards. She's the only one I nominated who made the finals. I nominated many blogs on my list/links in the side-bar & am mightily peeved that Being Ruby (Australia), The Clever Pup, & automatism (both Canadian) did not make final nominations. Fume. Must seize power, somehow, for next year. [Update: also neglected, Cycle Chic from Copenhagen.]

These photographs are from The Real Israel on Blogger. It was discontinued some years ago with little to no explanation; there's another blog of the same title on Wordpress, but I don't see a connection yet. The photographer's name eludes but I am working to find it; there are several photographs of interest (to me). I'm not linking because I don't want (some) of the commenters to come over here. Anything to do with Israel/Palestine brings out, um, passion. And also, might I add, people attribute views to me which are not mine--at all. I'm no apologist for one side or the other. That's putting it mildly.

Ciao

[birds in Ramat Gan preserve, Israel]

Two Shakes of a Lamb's Tail

I hope that's how long (two shakes) I'm away. Bit under-the-weather. I do say that phrase now & again; I also call people (I like) 'lamb.' It annoyed one sister & when I stopped, she whined "Why don't you call me 'lamb' anymore?!" Oh wow. Whoever said it was easier to be the eldest? Perhaps no one did & I imagine it.

Anyway, please visit links on the right side-bar, especially Made4Aid. The Darfur project is still on, but for about a month (check with Sally in London) the auction proceeds will benefit Haiti. Well done, Sally & friends.

The Clever Pup has an interesting bit today about seismic plates & monitoring. Wouldn't you know that she consults this nearly every day? Of course, she does; that's why she's the cleverest of pups, don't you know. I'll add to this with other favorites later today or tonight. When I can, anyway.

Oh, yes, Tina at English Muse is packing for her trip to Paris. I think she leaves tomorrow. Very exciting.

I'll try to visit everyone soon.

[adorable Yorkshire lamb photograph by Karnaphuli via flickr]

Week's End - Sicilian Veil

I was in a thrift store, huge place called Value Village, probably looking for vintage coats several years ago. I was taken aback, many yards away, at a stack of National Geographic back issues. It was because of this cover photograph. by the extraordinary William Albert Allard. I've written about it & scanned it ages ago. While I'm trying to help with matters Haitian, feast on this link to a photo gallery.

She's an actress, waiting for her cue. A Greek tragedy. Perfect for Sicily. Check out Andrea Camillieri's detective books (that's so inadequate, he's a genius) about Inspector Montalbano, gourmet/gourmand. Considering the racially-motivated (partially anyway) riots in southern Italy last week, Camillieri has much to say about this subject. (As does author Roberto Saviano, who has been in hiding & under 24-hour police protection since 2006.) Many Italians take offense. This last week they are in shock & dismay at the barbaric behavior. People like to think of Italy as the land of sun & pasta. Not always. To me that's like reducing Frenchwomen to their accessories & scarf-tying techniques. You can't love or know a place or a person without acknowledging the darker side. Period.

I'm really upset & bothered by the lack of mention of Haiti by so many bloggers. There's a phrase I use all the time: worlds collide. It won't kill you to put in a button or a link. I've seen several design blogs do it & it didn't mess up their precious template.

BTW, the long weekend in America is not just for sleeping in & loafing. It's Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday remembrance. "Oh Susan, don't you have any fun or sense of humor?" Yes I do, yes I have. In fact some people think I'm (one of) the funniest personnes they know in real life. No kidding, really. And if you think I'm just a self-righteous pain in the neck, I'm not, but you are welcome to think whatever you like. Now, I must go lie down. I have a case of the vapors or worse. Seriously.

[photograph via personal scan/William Albert Allard/National Geographic]

Blue Paris

For later project. By Johnny Santo Domingo, via A Cup of Jo (via )Abby. Phew.

Haiti

It seems there was an earthquake that/ Left nothin' but a Panama hat/ And a pair of old Greek shoes./ Didn't seem like much was happenin',/ So I turned it off and went to grab another beer./ Seems like every time you turn around/ There's another hard-luck story that you're gonna hear/ And there's really nothin' anyone can say/ And I never did plan to go anyway/ To Black Diamond Bay.

Determined to put something in about Haiti. Plus, it means something to me. Some years ago, as a reply to my plea to help in another disaster, a friend played this song. I have to say, it was a unique way of saying no & he received style points (from me) for it.

Whether you were planning to go or not. Let's not turn our backs. Like my former friend.

There are postings everywhere with suggestions for donations. I made mine to the Red Cross & World Vision. There are links on Giulia Geranium (or scads of other places). Plus every country has their Red Cross chapter. Upate: I see that Wyclef Jean's Yéle Haiti Foundation has its donation site up, now. He donates 100% to relief, too.

Another update on Thursday: Received this wonderful message just now in a Red Cross e-card:

Ciao Susanna and Giulia,
I was inspired by your posting and have made a donation for the relief effort. I look forward to seeing you on Sunday!
xoxo

[photograph of Haitian bird in a cage by John Leonard/LIFE archives]

Miep

Miep Gies, a hero no matter what she said, died at 100 yesterday. She was the last living person connected to the Frank family. Her website is here; here is the Anne Frank website. Condolences can be left here. I was going to name a cat for her in November but then didn't adopt the cat. Will think about it for the future. I don't think she'd mind. I'd love to call out "Miep, Miep, Miep." (pronounced "Meep")

[photographs via Miep Gies & Anne Frank websites]

Sunday Apartment Shopping

I'm not really shopping for an apartment or a city townhouse but I wanted to thank Maria Caterina for the adorable gift to Julie (aka Giulia) on behalf of Hermione the Cat. It arrived yesterday. This is the only piece of cat "furniture" I can imagine possessing. It could not be assembled quickly enough to suit the impatient one. As I held up one large cardboard "floor" with a hole in it (see the top of the box), puzzling & swearing (I'm not known for 'assembly required' ability), she took a flying leap off a dresser & gracefully flew through it like a dolphin through a hoop...or a lion through a flaming ring (I object to forcing animals to do this, by the by). I laughed so much that I had to sit down for a while. J. has barely left her city townhouse since then (though she is sleeping next to me now on Sunday afternoon).

I've always wanted to live near The Phillips Collection where I seem to spend an inordinate amount of time. I nearly bought a co-op nearby in the mid-90s & I should have done. Won't make that mistake again. The colorful townhouse photograph is at Logan Circle, though; not terribly far away from the museum & is by OHAD via 20 Awesome Photography Blogs - Washington, DC.

[2nd photograph via DrsFosterSmith.com]

Week's End - Blue Danube

For later. Lovely photograph of the Royal Palace on the Danube by Miki** via flickr.

Elegance on Wheels

The bicycle is the most civilized conveyance known to man. Other forms of transport grow daily more nightmarish. Only the bicycle remains pure in heart. ~Iris Murdoch, The Red and the Green

[photograph by Mikael of Cycle Chic from Copenhagen via flickr]

Pear

Believing each simple thing passes from a perception that is less clear/

into one that is, eventually, more clear....Pear by Susan Stewart

[photograph by D Sharon Pruitt/Pink Sherbet Photography Free For All Creative Commons]

Blue Hour, Winter Berries

[photograph courtesy, again, of D Sharon Pruitt/Pink Sherbet Photography Free For All Creative Commons]

Snow Toes

Cabin fever is an idiomatic term for a claustrophobic reaction that takes place when a person or group is isolated and/or shut in, in a small space, with nothing to do, for an extended period (as in a simple country vacation cottage during a long rain or snow). Symptoms include restlessness, irritability, forgetfulness, laughter, and excessive sleeping, distrust of anyone they are with, and an urge to go outside even in the (less miserable) rain, snow or dark.--from,--I can't believe I'm using it-Wikipedia. (Yes, I'm a snob--you've not noticed?)

Laughter?

[Simpson's episode "Mountain of Madness" via wikimedia; cabin fever feet by D. Sharon Pruitt/Pink Sherbet Photography Free For All Creative Commons]

Baby, It's Cold Inside

No, you didn't. Photographs of Bridget Jones & Mooch the Cat as The Dude? Yes, I did. As much as I'd like to indulge a Lara fantasy, this is not Dr. Zhivago. Virtual visits recommence when my fingers unfreeze or I get those fingerless glove thingies. Julie's fur & my hair are slightly blowing in the breeze--inside. ciao

[film stills via imdb & Patrick McDonnell cartoon via San Luis Obispo blog -- ironically enough]

Ready or Not

Pack lightly we move so fast --It's a Young Country from World Hotel

The year, the decade begins without a header, a coherent design, etc., as I promised myself last year. Couldn't find the photographs I wanted (what else is new?) for a most amusing -- OK, to me it would be amusing -- post. But I liked this photograph from worldislandphoto's flickr stream (unattributed photographer) a few days ago. Thanks so much to everyone who has left comments &/or emailed the last year & a half (some for GG's blog). I can't take comments on GG but some of you have discovered that you can comment on the Facebook link there. I actually didn't realize that I'd successfully linked it until fairly recently. Yes, I blundered into it. This is perhaps an example of "happy accidents" to which The Clever Pup refers.

Happy New Year to all.