Powered By Blogger

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

And Hell Froze Over


After my cat Rascal died last week, I informed my dear family and friends

"If anyone brings another cat or kitten into this house, they will both be on the street.

Give me some time, then we'll see."

Going about my business yesterday, enjoying the glorious weather, I thought about Rascal.

"I miss my baby" I said aloud. Then I took my spiral notebook and sat on the lovely rose bench in my little garden. Vampires, secret passages and unlikely lovers danced across the pages. I'm coming down the home stretch of my book, trying several approaches to the grand finale.

My cell phone rang, my daughter's calling.

"Mom, don't be angry." Uh, oh...

"I found a kitten. She was stuck in a window well...there was broken glass...I climbed in and took her out...she was howling. Mom? Mom?"

"I'm still here...what are you saying?"

"I think I should take her home...don't be upset, Mom, please?"

Now, my brain is saying 'No way'. My mouth says "I don't think I want to deal with this right now."

"Mom, I'll handle it. I'll keep her in my room"

"Just for tonight."


They arrived a little while later. I could not even look at the little fur ball. They secluded themselves for their own preservation. Feeling totally wiped out, I hit the sack about 11:30.

Sometime after midnight there's a knock on the bedroom door.

"Mom? I'm turning the light on" Oh, goody.

"Just look at her, she's so soft." The sheet is over my head. It is way too bright.

"Very cute, very soft. Turn the light off, please. I need sleep..."

Off they march, into the darkness.


Well, Christine and the kitten visit the veterinarian, Dr. C. this time, she, the kitten, is a he, about six weeks old.

I spent some time after work hanging out with my daughter and Mr. X. Seems we have a new addition to the family.

When you put it out to the universe, the universe always answers. It just might not be the answer you expected. It's all good. There's a lot of room for love out there.
Pic of Kumar by Christine

Monday, May 26, 2008

Earth to Wrick


Pacific land speck

floats in a wild universe

Aloha, my friend








Pic~Coney Island R. Trancho

Memorial Day 2008



May 26th, 2008
Gallery of Pablo Picasso's Guernica at the Reina Sofia Museum to Get Complete Overhaul

(Madrid, Spain) - Guernica, Pablo Picasso's 1937 large anti-war painting, has been given a new illumination and will be repositioned at Madrid's Reina Sofia museum of modern art. The museum is also trying to recreate the atmosphere of the 1937 Paris Universal Exposition where the Guernica was first seen, with other art works and an anti-war movie that were shown at the Spanish pavilion, a miniature model of which is included in the display.
Manuel Borja-Villel, director of the Reina Sofia, announced in a press conference the changes that are being undertaken to improve the gallery in which Guernica is installed. To start off, the lighting has been changed, from yellow to white. The painting will be installed in the front wall where it now hangs. This will allow visitors to see it from the front, walls around it will be torn down.

The Spanish government commissioned Pablo Picasso to paint a large mural for the Spanish display at the Paris International Exposition (the 1937 World's Fair in Paris). The Guernica bombing inspired Picasso. Within 15 days of the attack, Pablo Picasso began painting this mural. On completion Guernica was displayed around the world in a brief tour, becoming famous and widely acclaimed. This tour brought the Spanish civil war to the world's attention. Guernica epitomizes the tragedies of war and the suffering war inflicts upon individuals. This monumental work has eclipsed the bounds of a single time and place, becoming a perpetual reminder of the tragedies of war, an anti-war symbol, and an embodiment of peace.

The display of Guernica was accompanied by a poem by Paul Éluard, and the pavilion displayed works by Joan Miró and Alexander Calder, both of whom were sympathetic to the Republican cause.After the Paris Exhibition, the painting went on tour, first to the Scandinavian capitals, then to London, where it arrived on September 30, 1938, the same day the Munich Agreement was signed by the leaders of the United Kingdom, France, Italy, and Germany. The London exhibition at the Whitechapel Art Gallery.

At Picasso's request the safekeeping of the piece was entrusted to the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in New York City. It formed the centerpiece of a Picasso retrospective at MOMA which opened six weeks after the Nazi invasion of Poland.Between 1939 and 1952, the painting traveled extensively in the United States; between 1953 and 1956 it was shown in Brazil, at the first-ever Picasso retrospective in Milan, Italy, and then in numerous other major European cities, before returning to MOMA for a retrospective celebrating Picasso's seventy-fifth birthday. It then went on to Chicago and Philadelphia. By this time, concern for the state of the painting resulted in a decision to keep it in one place: a room on MOMA's third floor, where it was accompanied by several of Picasso's preliminary studies and some of Dora Maar's photos. While living in Nazi-occupied Paris during World War II, Picasso suffered harassment from the Gestapo. One officer allegedly asked him, upon seeing a photo of Guernica in his apartment, "Did you do that?" Picasso responded, "No, you did."

During the Vietnam War, the room containing the painting became the site of occasional anti-war vigils. These were usually peaceful and uneventful, but in 1974, Tony Shafrazi — ostensibly protesting Richard Nixon's pardon of William Calley for the latter's actions during the My Lai massacre — defaced the painting with red spray paint, painting the words "KILL LIES ALL"; the paint was removed with relative ease from the varnished surface.

As early as 1968, Franco had expressed an interest in having Guernica return to Spain. However, Picasso refused to allow this until the Spanish people again enjoyed a republic. He later added other conditions, such as the restoration of "public liberties and democratic institutions". Picasso died in 1973. Franco, ten years Picasso's junior, died two years later, in 1975. After Franco's death, Spain was transformed into a democratic constitutional monarchy, ratified by a new constitution in 1978. However, MOMA was reluctant to give up one of their greatest treasures and argued that a constitutional monarchy did not represent the republic that had been stipulated in Picasso's will as a condition for the painting's return. Under great pressure from a number of observers, MOMA finally ceded the painting to Spain in 1981.
Article Source: Art Knowledge News


Despite protest, despite reason and despite the compassion that we are capable of, war rages on throughout the world. Excuses are many. None explain the horror and suffering. Many speak out for peace and will continue to do so. It seems the next generation will carry that torch, too.

That being said, I truly honor the brave men and women who serve in the Armed Forces. So many have given their lives for their country. Their goal is to defend us from harm. The suffering they have endured cannot be measured by those of us who have never been in battle.
Dirge for Two Veterans
by Walt Whitman

The last sunbeam
Lightly falls from the finish'd Sabbath,
On the pavement here, and there beyond it is looking,
Down a new-made double grave.
Lo, the moon ascending,
Up from the east the silvery round moon,
Beautiful over the house-tops, ghastly, phantom moon,
Immense and silent moon.
I see a sad procession,
And I hear the sound of coming full-key'd bugles,
All the channels of the city streets they're flooding,
As with voices and with tears.
I hear the great drums pounding,
And the small drums steady whirring,
And every blow of the great convulsive drums,
Strikes me through and through.
For the son is brought with the father,
(In the foremost ranks of the fierce assault they fell,
Two veterans son and father dropt together,
And the double grave awaits them.)
Now nearer blow the bugles,
And the drums strike more convulsive,
And the daylight o'er the pavement quite has faded,
And the strong dead-march enwraps me.
In the eastern sky up-buoying,
The sorrowful vast phantom moves illumin'd,
('Tis some mother's large transparent face,
In heaven brighter growing.)
O strong dead-march you please me!
O moon immense with your silvery face you soothe me!
O my soldiers twain!
O my veterans passing to burial!
What I have I also give you.
The moon gives you light,
And the bugles and the drums give you music,
And my heart,
O my soldiers, my veterans,
My heart gives you love.


My prayer is that one day that will not be our reality, that a peaceful world will exist.


Imagine that.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-b7qaSxuZUg





Guenica~Pablo Picasso


Imagine~John Lennon
Article and poem~Artella Daily Muse

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Back From the Dark Side



Monday, May. 26th, 2008 – Sunday, Jun. 1st, 2008
This Week's Love Horoscope
Sagittarius Love Horoscope (Nov 22 - Dec 21)
You are ready for romance this weekend with the Moon warming up your 5th house of amour. Set aside your responsibilities to give yourself as much time to primp and play as your heart desires. Showing your energetic and outgoing side is fun and also should make you more attractive to others.




Yes indeed, primping and playing and setting aside responsibilities sounds mighty fine.

What a couple of weeks! Sad things and wonderful things, but all stressful things. I'll make sure to follow the above suggestions for a while.

Recently I received Viggo Mortensen's beautiful book of poetry and photographs, Skovbo.

I admired the diffused photos, very moody. Then I read it after my eye surgery. Not so diffused, heh, absolutely gorgeous! It made me want to hop a flight to Iceland where his work is going on exhibit the end of this week. I'd love to see Iceland with it's volcanoes and valleys, home of great Norse sagas. All that and actually seeing those photographs up close and personal.

Yes, I'd set aside some responsibilities for that! Hmmm, my new passport arrived last Friday...

Well, a girl can dream.It's great to see this crazy world again without blinders. I feel like singing


Oh yeah, life is good, even when it's bad and ugly, too. No Iceland this week, but I just downloaded a good old Icelandic saga, The Poetic Edda, to my Kindle. Some instant gratification is so good.
Thanks for the hug Penny, I really needed one!
Pic~Thor comic from my very eclectic collection (not the saga I'm currently reading :)

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

I Wish I Had A River, Honky Cat






I wish I had a river so long I could teach my feet to fly ~ Joni Mitchell




Still listening to sad music and missing my buddy when I realized this is not what I want to do.


Rascal lived up to his name right until he left this earth. When we adopted him, Janice from the PAWS shelter called on three separate occasions asking if we were sure we could handle him. If not, she assured me, she would take him. Two other people sent him back, saying he was hard to handle. Puulleeease...he was a six or seven week old kitten. True, when he had his game face on he meant trouble, but don't we all have our game face? I don't mind a little trouble. We loved him at first sight and, for us, the feeling was mutual. He endured being dressed in doll's clothes, two other crazy cats, a gazillion photo sessions and sharing space with a parakeet we found, Signor Figaro, a tank full of tropical fish and, recently, a guinea pig. He took it all in stride.


In fact, we came to believe he had the Rag Doll breed in his esteemed lineage. He was quite posable, though his disdainful looks betrayed this placid facade.


So I decided to listen to something more fitting. The cat was a party animal.




Get back honky cat.

Until I saw your city lights

Honey, I was blind.

They said, get back, Honky Cat

Better get back to the woods'

Well, I quit those days and my redneck ways

And oh, oh, oh, oh, the change is gonna do me good

You better get back, Honky Cat ~ Elton John/Bernie Taupin


Pic ~ Rascal relaxing

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

My Baby Left Me


My Baby Left Me
sung by Elvis Presley
(words & music by Arthur Crudup)
Yes my baby left me, never said a word. Was it something I done, something that she heard? My baby left me,my baby left me. My baby even left me,never said a word. Now I stand at my window,wring my hands and cry. I hate to lose that woman, hate to say goodbye. You know she left me, yes, she left me. My baby even left me, never said a word. Baby, one of these mornings,Lord, it won't be long, You'll look for me and, Baby, and daddy he'll be gone. You know you left me, you know you left me. My baby even left me, never said goodbye. Now, I stand at my window, wring my hands and moan. All I know is that the one I love is gone. My baby left me, you know she left me. My baby even left me, never said a word.

Tonight I am very sad. We took Rascal to Dr. D. late this afternoon. We have been saying our goodbyes for a while, but when that last one happens you're never prepared for the finality.
I didn't think I would want to keep his ashes--I thought we would feel too sad. When the time came though, I just couldn't say that last goodbye yet. So I said ok. I'll make a sweet reliquary for them. Creative grieving. Christine has his red collar and heart-shaped name tag. She's using it as her key chain.
Man, I miss his head on my keyboard. I'm going to listen to some sad music, The King can sing those blues. Yeah, my baby left me, you know he left me, my baby even left me, never said a word.
But he left a lot of love and that I will keep in my heart.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1qCebD0OkE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRxEHLeL3BI&feature=related

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Change and Love


Monday, May. 19th, 2008 – Sunday, May. 25th, 2008
This Week's Love Horoscope

Sagittarius Love Horoscope (Nov 22 - Dec 21)
Self-restraint is essential for making the most of your social opportunities this weekend. Spending too much or consuming too much can work against you. Having fun and sharing your feelings is OK, as long as you don't go overboard. Be kind to yourself and you'll be less likely to overestimate someone else.


Good advice, be kind to yourself and don't go overboard. Love can bring out that self-sacrificing instinct, which can be quite noble, but can also be self-defeating. I'm feeling sad at the moment.

My friend, Rascal, who happens to be a cat, is dying. Soon I have to take him to Dr. D. for the last time. Saying goodbye to someone you love is heart wrenching. Only time eases the pain of loss and so it will sing it's healing song. I'm also saying goodbye to a person I love, too. This is a slow farewell. Time is stealing her memories. Her personality is eroding, being shaped into another dimension. This is our reality. Through it all, love remains a constant, tying loose ends together like a frayed old ribbon wrapped around aging love letters. Love is what holds all of us together. There's pain in love, but there is so much joy and happiness entwined in the ribbon of love it makes the hurt bearable. Not less, but bearable. I treasure each day, whatever it brings, because it is truly a gift. I treasure love, whatever form it takes.

Love is all, it gives all, and it takes all. ~ Soren Kierkegaard (thank you Perceval Press)
Pic ~ Adriance Farm Glen Oaks NY ~ September 1998

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Pirate's Convention


Woo hoo!! I can really see clearly now. Yesterday I had surgery to remove a cataract from my right eye. My vision was truly suffering quite a loss, but I didn't realize how much until I opened my eyes this morning, sat up, looked out the window and could actually see across the street.
Everything had seemed quite warm and fuzzy up to yesterday. Now I can use my little drills and saws without so much fear of digit damage. The computer screen seems much larger. The printed page is not gray anymore. I can stitch my erotic art quilt appropriately. Finally, I can edit my vampire pages, at last I can see them.
I will leave the procedure to your imagination. Suffice to say you are awake and when you hear an assistant say 'This won't reboot. I can't get it to work' it makes for an interesting few minutes.
All's well that ends well and this certainly did. My follow-up appointment was 8:45 this morning.
All the surgeries are done on Tuesday so all the follow-ups are Wednesday. You wear a patch over your eye to protect it from injury and infection. Because I have little vision in my left eye the doctor placed a clear plastic patch over my right eye and taped it in place. He said I could remove it in the morning before my visit, so I did. I entered the office wearing sunglasses and encountered half a room full of eye-patched people. It was all I could do to keep from shouting ?"Ahoy, maties! Have you seen Captain Jack?" Yes, I did exercise restraint.
When I arrived home my daughter said "Mom, you look like you were in a serious fight."
Not surprising when your hanging out with a room full of pirates. You should see the other guys!
Pic~Motley Pirates Rob & Chris, Fair Maid Jane

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Vampires and Moms


All right, let's skip the obvious. I am a mom, and yes, guilty sometimes, but not so much anymore. The letting go thing is very healthy for both of us. When those impulses to retro-mother kick in I can take a deep breath and just let her live her life. I mean, on those rare occasions she asks for advice I am there. Those moments of confidential conversation are
welcome and treasured. I know the time we have living together is very finite. That makes it all the more precious. I'll take the good, the bad and the ugly. Soon she'll be on her own again and it will be much more quiet here. For the time being I'm still in mom-mode, third phase and liking it. She was born on Mother's Day, the best gift I could ever receive, and she is celebrating her
twenty-first birthday. Life is good. We'll be visiting the other mom, mine, and three generations will celebrate being here. She's a lot like her grandma.


My vampires may need their own blog to spread their wings, so to speak.

I'm still working on the final chapters of the first book. It has been fantastic fun.
May. 12th, 2008 – Sunday, May. 18th, 2008
This Week's Love Horoscope
Sagittarius Love Horoscope (Nov 22 - Dec 21)
You could find yourself in the middle of someone else's personal mess this weekend. Helping a friend is a noble thing to do, Sagittarius, but it could get in the way of your own chance for a good time. If you're into making the sacrifice, that's fine, but don't give so much now that you will resent it later.
Well, that's just not right. I mean I finally get out of my personal mess and now I get in the middle of someone else's problemos? Noble or not, this time it's every man and/or woman for themself. I'll be the one having a good time. Now you just sort things out on your own.
I'll need some relaxation after my eye surgery Tuesday and I plan to get some. Oh yeah! If one more person asks me how many fingers I can see, I may ask them the same question.
Now I won't be able to use the excuse "Oh, I didn't see that" as often. Yay!!
Pic~my lovely daughter Christine one Halloween

Sunday, May 4, 2008

Run For The Roses




The Kentucky Derby ritual has been a long tradition for me and mine. My grandmother used to rent a house upstate in Saratoga for the summer months, no air conditioning, and New York City can get mighty steamy in August. My mom and her sisters would spend their time on the lake and at the track. They became friendly with the jockeys and the people who owned and maintained the racetrack. They learned about racehorses and horse racing firsthand.

Whenever there is a big race everyone voices their opinion about horse, jockey, position and track conditions. Then they head for the track or settle in front of the television and scream their guts out during the race. The Derby is a special favorite, flamboyant and promising.

The winner may go on to win the Triple Crown. Due to a commitment to a work in progress, I didn't attend a Derby Party or even switch on the old tv. Never watched the news and obliviously sank into bed in the wee hours. It was only this morning I heard what had happened on the track yesterday. The joy and the sorrow were so extreme, such beautiful horses.

Big Brown is a wonder horse. He probably will win the Triple Crown. Lovely Eight Belles was so intent on winning she gave her life for it. My tears still fall for her and those who loved her.

The consolation is she died doing what she loved to do. So I say adieu Eight Belles and bon chance Big Brown. The lesson learned from our equine friends is simple, you already know what it is--live each day as though your life depends upon it, take nothing for granted. It is a gift.



In memory of Eight Belles, Barbaro, Ruffian and all the magnificent horses who race and those who don't, there is a family that rescues horses. Horses that are abused, neglected or whose owners cannot care for them due to the high price of grain today. The website is below if you care to take a peek. You can kind of have your own horse. I think that's superb!



Nancy, Allen and Corri Spigart

http://www.sponsorahorse.org/
Pics~Jane Bode c.1943 Saratoga NY
rare photo of Vickie on a sweet horse Lake Mohonk NY back in the day :)

Saturday, May 3, 2008

Let's Talk About Love


Monday, May. 5th, 2008 – Sunday, May. 11th, 2008
This Week's Love Horoscope
Sagittarius Love Horoscope (Nov 22 - Dec 21)
Being sensitive is critical this weekend with the Moon moving through your 8th house of intimacy. Delicate matters can make a difference between deepening a connection, getting a new relationship off on the right foot or undercutting any chance for success. Going slow is not your style, but could be critical now.



Sigh...going slow is not your style. Lately it seems if I go any slower I will be standing still. Well, not really, in fact I did shift my priorities about a year ago. Now, I'm actually able to focus on more of the things I enjoy--family and friends, writing, shrines and masks and metal stuff, travel and love--not necessarily in that order. You know how you can make yourself crazy stressed just by overthinking? Well, guilty, so I cranked up some beautiful old Francisco Canaro tangos and made my plane reservations for Oaxaca. Not heading there 'til the Fall, but I feel better now.
Victorian Romantic Tarot Deck

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Musings on Mortality





Many times people confide things to absolute or relative strangers for the simple reason they will probably never see them again. No harm, no foul, here's my secret said aloud, so long.



A lovely lady, Dora, confined to a wheelchair, came in with her companion. Both women spoke Polish to one another as we helped Dora to the testing area.


"I will do it myself. Always do for yourself my dear."


Good advice. After the test was complete, I was helping her into her wheelchair when she stopped and looked into my eyes.


"I was in the concentration camps. Sometimes I think I dreamt it. Then I look at my arm."


I answered with a question. "In Poland?"


She nodded.


"Auschwitz was clean. You could eat off the floor. The others were filthy--rats, roaches."


She sat for a few seconds and then said,


"But I am blessed with my daughter and my grandson. I love them so much."


She held my hand and looked into my eyes.


"Remember, do for yourself. Always take care of yourself."


Her companion was back in the room, making sure everything was in place. They left the room, chatting in Polish.


My boss looked at the images of her heart.


"She looks fine to me. What do you say, Vic?"


"Yes, she looks fine."


Then, out of the blue he asked


"Do you know how many people don't know Cherry Garcia ice cream is named for Jerry Garcia?"


This led to a conversation about music, transcending the musical generation gap and this




Full circle from barbarism and suffering to sublimely silly.


I need more cowbells.




Remember the Holocaust~May 1 and always
Remember Tibet
Photo~Roge