Vacances d'hiver

Well, that's what I've decided to call it. Winter vacation sounds better than "I'm still way under-the-weather & trying to solve the riddle(s) underlying that annoying state of affairs."

A big ciao-meow from Julie the Cat. She's feeling better. To prove it, she bounced, leaped, pirouetted, & twirled around the market delivery person this morning. So I gave him a larger tip than planned. After I stopped laughing & coughing.

I plan to post about St. David's Day (1 March) & Carnevale (Tuesday, 8 March). I hope to be back sooner.

Update/1 March. Oof. Well, nothing is going to happen today. If you're on Twitter, feel free to join me in re-tweeting Libya news/Wisconsin news. And more. If nothing else, following Charlie Sheen (he just joined Twitter, uh oh) should be, uh, weird.

Another update - Friday, 4 March - yes, I should just post, I know I know. Um, here's an article I put on my FB page last night: The Argument You're Having With Yourself About Charlie Sheen. I feel guilty & I "unfollowed" him on Twitter after a day.

xoxo/Susan

PS: Mabrouk (congratulations) to Tunisians & Egyptians!

(photograph by Heather Pauline)

Christmas Eve Day

...and I'm running in place. So off to do so for real. Herewith a few not-so-great photographs but we do what we can. Are you sure you want a cat? It does give one the opportunity to practice patience, I suppose. Cheers to pals in Australia where it is past midnight & therefore Christmas Day. I maintain the Twelve Days of Christmas policy--it really does take the pressure off, as I see it. Back later. Cheers. PS: There's still time to donate to Toys for Tots, if you're going to be at IKEA, the Soft Toy campaign goes until they close today.

O Gattina!

Fussing with the new Giulia Geranium header & colors took a great big bite out of the weekend. Please take a look. I hesitate to say it's finished because that would undermine my as-yet unwritten manifesto on 'things are never finished' (it can get you out of so many jams. And into them, too.). Besides, it's not as though I do this professionally. It's all given me a tremendous headache. Speaking of headaches, of the feline variety....

The carpet above could be mine (same pattern) but mine is currently flecked, nay strewn, with holly berries & bits of sage, rosemary, oregano, & basil from a friend's garden. There are also apples & pears on the carpet. Julie usually goes for all things sparkly so I'm not sure what is up with this vegetal vandalism. That must have been some wild rumpus while I was out walking in lovely autumnal gardens yesterday. The must-do list is woefully lacking "done" ticks & now I have cleaning to do. I'll answer comments & visit people soon. I hope tonight. (A clean carpet via audrey hepburn complex) Update - Tuesday - Or maybe I'll catch up tonight. Oh dear.

PS: Today is the last day to vote for your favorite dress - Shabby Apple Dare to Design Contest. I still haven't decided.

Update - because I can't stand for people not to get a good deal & it's a kitchen sink post: Holiday Vogue Knitting patterns (over 1,300 to choose from) are all $US 2.99/per. Zee email just arrived- here's the link.

Tempest

A great storm is on the way. Exciting if, big IF, we don't lose power for a week+. Julie is causing/having a mini-tempest; off to see to HRH's latest complaint about the service. Go to the link to see the original size of this very cool photograph by Giampaolo. All those punctuation marks are birds... ciao

Week's End - Docking & Mooring

I just lost an argument with a cat & feel ridiculous. (I could almost blast off like a rocket--so it really is about evil news abroad in the world. Julie & I see eye to eye on politics--that's a condition for living in this apartment. Otherwise, she'd kick me out.) Having returned from a lovely outing, I was going to post on it. But someone is not cooperating.

I have a new hat (a gift! I am a hat person) & coral geraniums for my window box. I'll have someone take a photograph over the weekend; perhaps with me in it (the hat, not the geraniums--I can't wear coral though I do love it). Part of me would rather walk across hot coals than post a clear photograph. Too many taken in a lifetime can make one camera-shy...I wouldn't have thought it. (No, I didn't ask Julie to take a photograph; merely asked her to sit still for two seconds (!) as part of a genius somewhat-still life. Have a great Friday/Saturday wherever you find yourself. [Rings bokeh by talented & generous Olga]

Santa Baby

Surrounded by the guts of a fake tree (cannot believe I agreed to this). It defies reason. The Tasmanian Devil is tangled in fairy lights & squeals when she is removed from the Fairy Light Beast. Apparently it is feline performance art; I am not amused. She tore up (& ate? I have no idea) part of the (real) wreath. It's freezing in here & it's been a dumb day. Cranking up Santa Baby CD & ignoring all else. Here's a goofy video of Eartha Kitt (with three backup singers) singing the (kinda creepy) song. I cringe, I really do...

[images via GG blog]

French Twist, English Style

I'm busy with a cat who is having/causing a wild rumpus (seriously) & I'm hugely disappointed that more people aren't bidding over at Made4Aid. Hence same general post as at Giulia Geranium -- at least until the rebellion is put down (non-violently). I placed a bid on this great French-style string bag made by wonderful Sally aka Lettuce. The bag has an elegant twist--a vintage-fabric lining with a little inner purse. I'd love to have it--but if someone cares to make this interesting, you have until Wednesday, 9am, NYC time. The price is low, the cause is great.

There are also several other items up for auction & I would tell you more about that but a cat is climbing onto my head. (Oh please, let our adoption application be approved.) Below is part of Letty's description. Owwwwww. Must go

Please have a look....xo/svs


Update: Reader, I won/bought it. (The bag, silly.)

From Made4Aid blog:

"This auction is for a hand-knitted string bag, with a twist - the twist being the lining. The bag is lined with vintage lemon/gold satin fabric, in a textured and two-tone leaf design....

"The string bag itself is knitted in black mercerised cotton, using two strands together - this is strong yarn and shouldn't stretch too much, although the knit pattern has some stretch in it, as string bags normally do. This is a really nice pattern, fun to knit - and you can find it here."

[photo collage/Made4Aid photographs used by kind permission]

Pool Party

My vintage postcard collection contains several Mainzer cat cards. Here's the website...when I bought them about 20 years ago, I had no idea what they were except that they were hilarious. I laughed out loud when I saw this in My Pictures just now; before I delete it, I'll post it. (These have scalloped edges that don't come out very well in the scans.)

Week's End - On Caving

As in 'caving in.' Whether it is to a friend, family member, annoying fellow Metro rider, or a cat. Yes, a cat. Because if I don't, there will be...trouble. Or more of it. Now, I realize I've only an ad hoc policy on caving & must think about it. Some more. OK, then punt. Then recess. That's how things are done here in DC. (Craven: adj. cowardly, dastardly, pusillanimous, yellow, fearful, timid, timorous, sneaking, base. From Roget's. I'd take out 'yellow.' Such a nice color.)

Apparently, Canadians will enjoy this weekend as the literally titled August Long Weekend. I am uninformed & so will visit some Canadian blogs to find out how much more fun there will be up north. (I suspect much more.)

Back to looking at laptops & now The Cat Pages for une petite rousse. And trying to resist purchase of new book on Albert Camus.

à bientôt

[The literally titled Girl with two cats & a kitten, Sydney, 1931/Sam Hood. Whom I imagine as some dashing photographer. I do not want to be disappointed, so don't tell me the truth because I can't handle the truth. From the State Library of New South Wales archives]

On the way home, 16th Street Line

Just another day with-guns-on-display & play in Washington, DC. I love the 16th Street line. You see a lot--sometimes too much. I worry about all those children, elderly folks, pregnant ladies, I worry about everything. I see an email has just arrived from the White House email blast re: the H1N1.

E-mail late Wednesday evening to [most-excellent friend]. Just so Metro does not sue me, this has nothing to do with buses, the Red Line accident, etc. Sigh. Gina L. here has been locked out of her house by the cat-who-hid-the-keys. Even though she looks great in her bathing suit, come on gatto, knock it off & point-a-paw. [it's a scan from Hollywood Cats, link here to previous post until I can get independent bookstore link.] The shot is by genius Philippe Halsman. I still have the pamphlet from the Portrait Gallery's 1998 Philippe Galsman Retrospective exhibit. Here's a Magnum link to him. But he's so cool. He's the one who asked people to Jump! & they did.

Note: No, I haven't gone nuts. This long numbered thingy will only be up for a day or so & then pared down.:)

UPDATE: Sunday, 12 July 2009: I assure everyone that I am fine. But so busy (in a good way), that I cannot edit/rewrite below in a way that satisfies (even low standards) until late in the upcoming week. So I leave my mess out in the open. It's nothing I wouldn't say again. It really is an email I sent to a friend. I'll continue with pix-I-like & limit my sarcastic remarks to a few lines or so. I promise.

UPDATE: Wednesday, 21 July 2009. Took out tons & rewriting. Another day.

***********************

1. Julie hid my keys today & I couldn't find for hour. Late getting down to [deleted].

2. Great time talking to [deleted]. I am happy....Security has been massively upgraded from already-very-good. Relieved after HM shooting. Hang out with [deleted] about an hour & then head home for many errands.

3. Bus out front arrives in 5 minutes!

7. Someone insults someone (outside of bus) & manhood is apparently in question. Cellphones pulled out, backup dudes arrive quickly.

8. To prove that he is a wuss, guy pulls gun & starts to shoot. I think, here we go...*

9. Tell about-to-panic people, 'don't panic, scoot down, & don't worry because..."It's low-caliber. Not much of a shot unless it's direct..."

10. Strangely, it calms people. Disturbed at my coldness & choice of words.

14. ...Life is never dull as a full-time pedestrian.

17. Walking home, so tired.....there's a man in wheelchair in the road. People walking by, driving by. In the ROAD.

18. ...Doesn't want help. Too bad. He's trying to get hit. Perfectly obvious. Passerby who is preggers helps push him onto sidewalk. Neither concerned woman or self is surprised that people pass by. I recognize one as newish neighbor who has a 'we love everyone' welcome mat. He avoided my eyes. I'll think of that every morning when I dash down for the newspapers. Past his cute little mat. I'll spare you rest.

23. I thought of your maybe-wedding dress at Nordstrom. And the invitations. What did the printer say? Is the dress as great as it looks?

I shall gain wisdom from chocolate & DVD. And I'm back on the 16th Street line every day...to swim & save my life. Ha.

ciao bella!

*just realized I have (succinct) poem about being on bus in Jerusalem & something similar. Will find...published somewhere. I really don't remember.Forgot all about it.