Leaving a Trail of Bread Crumbs

For the Week of Aug 3rd, 2009 -- Romantic fantasies are fun, yet there's a chance that you could start to believe in them this weekend. The Moon in sensitive Pisces opens up your feelings but may shut down your brain. If you're going to follow your heart, protect yourself by leaving a trail of bread crumbs so you can find your way back home to reality.

If I'm relying on a trail of bread crumbs for protection my brain may have shut down already. It certainly didn't do Hansel and Gretel much good. Though, come to think of it, they did have a happy ending. Not so much for the witch, but karma and all...

Fantasies have their place in life. If you can't imagine something how can you manifest it? Living in a fantasy is a way of life for some. They become quite indignant if reality injects itself into their world.

Real life is fine for me. If I want fantasy I write my vampire tales, read a good book or watch a movie. I do have an active imagination. It comes in handy after working a day in the real world. Creating art or writing is a great outlet. Some say my outlook is a bit dark, but there is much humor in the dark areas of imagination too.

I've been fascinated by the supernatural since childhood. Being raised Roman Catholic instilled a belief in the supernatural, as all religions do, I guess. We have saints in heaven, sinners in hell, Satan lusting for our souls, angels watching over us, demons trying to possess us and many crosses, scapulars and rosaries for our protection against harm. How about the prayer we said right before going to bed? "Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take. God bless....every possible relative and friend is included." Sweet, isn't it? There is a natural progression to curiosity about other supernatural phenomena.

I do enjoy creating my alternate worlds where time lines may run parallel with other worldly beings being the norm. Who doesn't have a soft spot for a zombie...at a distance?

My grandmother had a collection of books which contained myths and fairy tales. I devoured them when I stayed at her house. The first book I proudly got from the library at age six was Norse Mythology. Thanks Nana! I was blessed to be surrounded by book lovers and storytellers. It was and is a natural way of life for me and mine. My daughter is a voracious reader who still tells people I read The Hobbit to her at bedtime when she was knee high to a grasshopper. Children love ritual. It is a comfort for them to have the familiar routine ease them into sleep. We would read a story, make up a story, usually about adventures with her friends and sing songs. One summer night I was joined in a refrain of The Muffin Man by three adolescent boys outside in our community yard. They ran away laughing when I peeked out the window, but I think it brought back memories of their not so distant babyhood. We all remember being tucked into our bed. She looks forward to doing the same for her daughter.

So, I'll settle down for the evening. Writing a scene about a steampunkian vampire timekeeper explaining time travel to a shape shifter should be fun and fulfilling. Of course, I will be wearing my St. Theresa scapular which say "Whoever dies wearing this scapular shall not suffer the eternal fire~Our Lady's scapular promise." It's all about that ounce of prevention.

Cross~Oaxaca 2008~Josefina Aguilar~now in my home sweet home :)

Restraint Is A Good Thing?

Sagittarius Horoscopes
(Nov 22 - Dec 21)
Next Week
For the Week of Jun 22nd, 2009 -- Your easygoing attitude might not go over so well on Friday night. There's some picky people around you who may not appreciate your outrageous sense of humor. Have fun, of course, but a little self-restraint will probably cast you in a better light. Look for a friend to help you make a new connection or provide a dose of common sense to cool you off.*



Yes, those picky people do have attitude. Well, that's all right. After all, I do find many things amusing, even picky people. Perhaps I should hang with the Capricorns I know. They usually display a good deal of common sense. The trouble is I'm not feeling very restrained. In fact I could say I'm downright rambunctious at the moment.



I have a lot on my plate right now. It's mostly good stuff so I'm very psyched and feeling good. As per usual my problem is focus, but I'm getting better at setting priorities. My book is almost complete. I do love my vampires so it's difficult to end their story. The solution is a second and third book. Yay! There are other things I'd like to write about like Ice Maidens and androids (not the same story :) but for now I'll stay with the undead.



Dia de los Muertos in Oaxaca should be wonderful. Mr. deMeng is teaching some doll making in the deMengian tradition. I'm thinking creepy funky and very cool. Bee Woman makes jewelry and I do multi-media stuff so doll making is a new venue. It's great to work out of your comfort zone, though I must say things are very comfortable in Oaxaca. I dream of having a studio there where I could work outside in a garden setting. You never know...



Right now I'm working on some paper dolls for an AlphaStamps exchange. Next, some Ancestor ATCs for a Red Lead exchange. Then, oh happy day, charms for a Floral/Leaf exchange at AlphaStamps. I love making charms and Leslie over at http://www.alphastamps.com/ has amazing metal, shell and sparkly things for them as well as a treasure chest of other goodies.

I've made a few sketches for a Tarot deck, but that's on the back burner until the book is published and I'm holding a copy in my hand. It will be my reward for turning the vampires loose on society. Please, not all of them are pure evil...just a few. Maybe a whole bunch, but is that so different from our 'real' world? Not so much.



Yes, I do write too. It's good to keep those creative juices flowing. Just to keep myself in check and maintain an easy going but inoffensive attitude I resorted to shoe therapy today. Found a very shiny red slingback and a bronze metallic closed toe sandal. This may mean nothing to you, but to a Sister of Imelda it is a very good thing. Now I will give away two pair to charity. Otherwise I would probably need a shoe room which would be deliciously decadent, but not in keeping with my new 'keep it simple' lifestyle. At the moment it is still a work in progress. I'll let you know how that goes.

Hope you all are enjoying the Summer Solstice. Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there!


*Thanks http://www.tarot.com/
Chipboard doll of Leslie from AlphaStamps

Full Moon & Roses

Spent time collecting rose petals in the garden today. I'll be trying my hand at making beads from the petals. Seems pretty straightforward...pick petals, dice 'em up, heat with some water, heat again next day, heat again next day and voila! Rose paste for forming beads. Let you know how that works :) It was a lovely day to be outdoors. Sunny, warm and breezy...about 80' It's supposed to rain again for the rest of the week, but the weekends have been beautiful.

I remember a vampire flick titled Blood and Roses. It was a contemporary tale about vampires returning after the war with the usual blood sucking, but there was a scene in a greenhouse with roses and thorns and finger pricks and fangs, anyway, it was very creepy to the teenage me. Despite that emotional trauma I still love roses and vampires.

I'm joining Horror Writer's of America, an organization that speaks for itself. They are a most supportive group and are very generous and encouraging to newbie me. My vampires are feeling most welcome. They may be the lightweights in this group of characters. Hoping they'll be seeing the light of day, so to speak, soon.

There's a Ken doll that's just aching to transform into a vampire, one of the scary flying ones from my book. I have a few ideas involving bats, wings and watch parts. Of course, I do have a Barbie that giggles and I'd love to turn her into a vampire just for spite but I'm not sure how that will work.

The full moon usually has it's way with me. I do get a little loony sometimes. That can work in my favor creatively. It is really ok to be a tad crazy once in a blue moon. Everyone is.

Sagittarius Horoscopes
(Nov 22 - Dec 21)
Next Week
For the Week of Jun 8th, 2009 -- Sticking to a schedule might not be your strong point and could be especially difficult this weekend. Plans shift unexpectedly, promises are forgotten and facts are fuzzy. Pleasure arrives when you're spontaneous, so give yourself permission now to change your mind and adjust your course of action whenever you feel like it.

Yes, like I don't anyway. Well, the planets seem to be aligned for fuzziness so I may as well go with it.

Vampires aren't the only beings with sharp teeth. Ouch!

New Moon Mojo

Sagittarius Horoscopes
(Nov 22 - Dec 21)
Next Week
For the Week of Mar 30th, 2009 -- The truth is a good thing to know but not always an ideal conversation starter. Your tendency to speak directly is admirable most of the time but could ruffle some feathers this weekend. A sensitive individual may not know that you're joking. If you're just playing, make sure that everyone is in on the game to avoid any conflicts or misunderstandings.

Well, I do believe some feathers did ruffle this weekend, but that's ok. Things will smooth down in no time.

We're just coming off the New Moon, which is a time for new beginnings. This moon is in Aires which makes it particularly effective for starting important goals. Spring and rebirth and those pheromones that fill the air this time of year can make one very edgy. I'm feeling it, most assuredly, but there has been a great deal ending, too. Still, whether planting a garden, writing a book or painting your living room, that feeling of growth and accomplishment is fine!

The day started cool and foggy. Walking this morning, I had the sensation of stepping through clouds. Close to that feeling you may get peering out the window on a plane. It was eerie and calming at the same time. Then my mind wandered off to the supernatural plane. Though The Count may be on my table, the werewolf came to mind. This is a cool tune.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPmuD3-36dM

Earth Hour was a great success worldwide and personally, too. A couple of months ago there was a local blackout here Queens. Go Con Ed! What's a girl to do in a pitch black house on a cold winter's night. Alone, I fixed a tall cool drink and sat down to write by candlelight. With no distractions and plenty of atmosphere, I wrote a chapter of a vampire story which had little to do with my current book. It takes place in Mexico and has a good twist to it. I'm sure it will develop into a great storyline. With that achievement in mind, I put pen to paper last night. Lo and behold, I finally arrived at the end of my first story. I've been chasing this around for months, making myself crazy (do not smirk please, allow me :)

Maybe I'll try writing by candlelight more often. It seems to work for me.

On a different note, I found some beautiful porcelain doll heads and some sitting frozen Charlotte dolls with missing arms. They are just perfect for a project I'm working on, sort of a Crazed Carousel with some strange beasts and 'people'. That is on the back burner for now. The little quilt is in progress and needs to be finished soon.

Jackie Garbarino over at Altered Pages is starting an Elvis ATC swap. Check it out.

http://www.alteredpages.com/

The spring cleaning bug has got me and I am attacking stacks of books and ephemera.

I am scaring myself!

Have been adding to my comic collection, too. That's one investment I really enjoy.

Check out one of the funniest commercials I have seen!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1ZZreXEqSY

Marvel Comics~Giant Dracula Sept 1974

Cat Power~ Werewolf

Obsession Addiction Compulsion

Sagittarius Horoscopes
(Nov 22 - Dec 21)
Next Week
For the Week of Mar 23rd, 2009 -- The Sun, Venus and the Moon are all in your 5th House of Romance on Friday night, so it's definitely the right time to make your move. If you try and fail the first time, don't give up. Persistence counts more than precision now, so don't be shy about going after who and what you want, even when it seems a little pushy.

Monday, March 23, 2009
General Weekly Love Horoscope
The fires of love burn brightly with the union of magnetic Venus and the Sun on Friday. Yet the urge to merge can overcome common sense and lead to some aggressive social behavior. Venus is still rolling in reverse gear and those who hurry toward romance may find themselves having to back out quickly when they choose the wrong partner or make an awkward move with someone they know.

Goodness, I'm even scaring myself. Persistence and pushy can be a powerful combination, but not always recommended for romance. Still, the two P's do have their place.

I've been trying to sort out the difference in obsessive, addictive and compulsive behaviour because there seems to be a mish mosh of all in my psyche. Not news to those close to me.

In fact, my daughter seems to feel I am obsessed with this website

http://icanhascheezburger.com/2009/03/20/funny-pictures-am-sorry/

It's just that I find cats entertaining. Perhaps the fact I email these pictures to her on at least a daily basis may lead her to believe I am obsessed with it. Wait. I'll just check again. They are pretty funny. Be back in a sec...

Now, oh yes, I've recently been described as being addicted to Dark Chocolate with Chili. Who isn't.

It may be more of a compulsion to check certain websites every single day. What's the harm in that? Checking the weather in Oaxaca and reporting to my friends and coworkers is becoming a mite worrisome. Ah, why worry? A couple of people actually ask me what is is once in a while.

Absolutely having to have my keys in my hand before I leave the house. That stems from accidentally tossing them in the dumpster with some other stuff I really wanted to toss. See, there is usually method to madness.

We all have many facets of who we are. Some are quite apparent to people we meet. Others are known to those closer to us. Then there are those we may deny or try to suppress. These are the ingredients that make us unique. It's difficult sometimes not to have some things drive you a little crazy, but that can be a positive thing. Some of my favorite creative work flows when I'm just over the edge. Wrestling with these quirks can use energy better spent on what it is you love to create, be it words, paper, metal, fabric, beads or food. Fill in your own blank and go with it.

I'm settling in to watch Twilight. Yeah, I read every book and enjoyed them very much. Nobody here is obsessed with vampires :) They're so cool, very cool.

Today's journal page. Just love the disembodied foot on Kate's dress :) I'm bad :O

Thank you Marney and Artella, great Studio Kits xoxo

Oaxaca weather~86' partial sunshine

Woodstock, NY weather~21' this evening

Roses and Rosary Beads

I Crave Your Mouth

I crave your mouth, your voice, your hair.

Silent and starving, I prowl through the streets.

Bread does not nourish me, dawn disrupts me, all day

I hunt for the liquid measure of your steps.

I hunger for your sleek laugh,

your hands the color of a savage harvest,

hunger for the pale stones of your fingernails,

I want to eat your skin like a whole almond.

I want to eat the sunbeam flaring in your lovely body,

the sovereign nose of your arrogant face,

I want to eat the fleeting shade of your lashes,

and I pace around hungry, sniffing the twilight,

hunting for you, for your hot heart,

Like a puma in the barrens of Quitratue.

~Pablo Neruda

Your Laughter

Take breath away from me, if you wish,

take air away, but

do not take from me your laughter.

Do not take away the rose,

the lanceflower that you pluck,

the water that suddenly

bursts forth in your joy,

the sudden wave

of silver born in you.

My struggle is harsh and I come back

with eyes tired

at times from having seen

the unchanging earth,

but when your laughter enters

it rises to the sky seeking me

and it opens for me

all the doors of life.

My love, in the darkest

hour you laughter

opens, and if suddenly

you see my blood staining

the stones of the street,

laugh, because your laughter

will be for my hands

like a fresh sword.

Next to the sea in the autumn,

your laughter must raise

its foamy cascade

and in the spring, love,

I want your laughter like

the flower I was waiting for,

the blue flower, the rose

of my echoing country.




Laugh at the night,

at the day, at the moon,

laugh at the twisted

streets of the island,

laugh at this clumsy

boy who loves you,

but when I open

my eyes and close them,

when my steps go,

when my steps return,

deny me bread, air

light, spring,

but never your laughter

for I would die.




~Pablo Neruda











Ah, Pablo Neruda. His poetry, whether in Spanish, English or any other language, grabs hold of the soul. It may inflame passion~I Crave Your Mouth, or caress it with almost melancholy longing~Your Laughter. His words linger, reminding you both love and life are complicated, but so worthy of the travails.


Because I am who I am, I Crave Your Mouth brings my vampires to mind. They are a primal passionate bunch, but they love after their own fashion. The capacity to give and receive love is a gift and a double edged sword. Neruda and my vampires were quite prepared to fall upon that sword at times. The wound may or may not be lethal, but it is deep. So is love.


While searching for inspiration, I found that rosary beads acquired their name because their beads were made of rose petals in the past. I'm told that today there is still a convent that makes these fragrant treasures. Thank you ebay, I found a rosary of rose petal beads. It is quite lovely to my eyes and still has a rose fragrance. It may find its way into a chapter or two...it does seem to have a story to tell.


Last night, compliments of the fine hospitality of new friends, I spent an evening with old friends. We kind of lost touch, but recently our lives became entwined again through mutual acquaintances. That six degree thing again, so comforting to know the universe knits like Madame Defarge, usually without such dire results. We are all bound to one another, so cool :)
The company, the repast and those pink mojitos were wonderful. It seems any pink drink has a very giddy effect on me (some might say it is not the pink in the drink) and that is such a good thing. Things are still pretty wild in this neck of the woods and life is good.





Sagittarius Horoscopes
(Nov 22 - Dec 21)
Next Week
For the Week of Mar 2nd, 2009 -- You can enjoy conversation more than ever this weekend so seek the company of good talkers. Even if their tales aren't entirely true, you'll appreciate the entertainment value of outlandish ideas and philosophical ramblings. Sharing your own beliefs makes a mental connection that gets your mind off of the daily grind.



Hah! Ok, next weekend looks good too! lol

Lisa Vollrath is doing a lovely St. Patrick's Day Countdown. Check out her site for some shamrock green downloadable goodies. Thanks Lisa!

http://countdown.tentwostudios.com/


Your Laughter ~ Pablo Neruda inspired by Perceval Press
Your Mouth ~ Pablo Neruda inspired by Jonah Dawkins
Rose Petal Rosary, still obsessed with white flowers and Jonah, one of my fave vamps
Oaxaca weather 84' partly sunny
New York weather 14" snow predicted for manana...sigh...

Are We Being Serious Again?

Sagittarius Horoscopes
(Nov 22 - Dec 21)

Next Week
For the Week of Jan 26th, 2009 -- The planets are lining up to create a passionate weekend for you. The fiery Aries Moon heats up your 5th House of Romance, Fun and Games to help you to let go of your worries and live in the moment. Your spontaneity is a magnet for others who will want to play with you. Don't let seriousness get in the way of these good times.

Seriousness will not get in the way. Oaxaca, though into the future, is on my mind. Bless Bee Woman this year for going crazy. Wild and crazy, I believe, were her operative words.

"Vickie, we are going to Oaxaca. Sensible and responsible are taking a vacation."

Obviously, she was not referring to me. I can be both, although I have a tendency to throw caution to the wind at times, sometimes...all right, often. Helen is my voice of reason. Heh!

We are going to have a good time.

A short story I haven't written yet is incubating for a Writer's Digest Contest. First prize is a publishing package with editing and distribution for my vampire book, Spellbound Blood or The Caretaker if I have it completely polished, edited and formatted by March of 2010. That's just over a year away, but books can't be rushed. Win or lose, I will be publishing Spellbound Blood in 2010, but it would be so much fun to win :)

Mexico will have it's share of vampires. Not quite From Dusk til Dawn, but creepily scary in its own right. Not all my vampires are as sympathetic as Dawkins.

Many serious things are brewing in the meantime. Such is life. This is why we appreciate a getaway. This is why we treasure our friends, especially in moments of unpredictable inspiration.

Josephine Baker not being serious

Moonshine and Killer Beez

Though tonight's full moon is the largest full moon this year, it may not be the wildest.

Many studies have been done regarding the effect of the full moon on human behavior. Most have concluded there is none.

Anyone who drives a cab may disagree.

Anyone who works in health care, especially emergency rooms, may have a very different opinion. Even my boss, a true skeptic, asked this question two days ago.

"Vic, you know about these things. When is the full moon?"

He had good reason to ask, many people, patients and staff members, were off the wall.

Personally, I like full moons. Sometimes I charge water or gemstones or any old thing, by calling down the moon. Abundance or protection spells are especially effective during a full moon.

Moon festivals are lovely~poetry, cakes and sake~how could it be bad?

At times I enjoy the company of lunatics, so long as they aren't dangerous.

Today I received some deliciously scented soaps from Villianess, one of which is Killer Beez, made with honey, cream and a touch of pepper.

There are at least two people I know who might enjoy this soap.

I'm favoring Dulces en Fuego, made with musky bitter chocolate sweetened with vanilla and touches of citrus then positively inflamed with black pepper, cinnamon and nutmeg. Wowser! Full moon mania, no doubt.

I tend to write my strangest and sometimes my best scenarios during full moons. Not very surprising for a vampire aficionado.

Some other strange lunar facts:
-- The moon is moving away as you read this, by about 1.6 inches a year. Eventually it'll be torn apart as an expanding sun pushes the moon back toward Earth for a wrenching close encounter.
-- There is no proof the full moon makes people crazy. (See my personal observation above)
-- Beaches are more polluted during full moon, owing to the higher tides.

Space.com Stories
Comet Threat More Constant Than Thought

The moon will rise Friday evening right around sunset, no matter where you are. That's because of the celestial mechanics that produce a full moon:

The moon and the sun are on opposite sides of the Earth, so that sunlight hits the full face of the moon and bounces back to our eyes.
At moonrise, the moon will appear even larger than it will later in the night when it's higher in the sky. This is an illusion that scientists can't fully explain. Some think it has to do with our perception of things on the horizon vs. stuff overhead.
Try this trick, though: Using a pencil eraser or similar object held at arm's length, gauge the size of the moon when it's near the horizon and again later when it's higher up and seems smaller. You'll see that when compared to a fixed object, the moon will be the same size in both cases.
You can see all this on each night surrounding the full moon, too, because the moon will be nearly full, rising earlier Thursday night and later Saturday night.
Interestingly, because of the mechanics of all this, the moon is never truly 100 percent full. For that to happen, all three objects have to be in a perfect line, and when that rare circumstance occurs, there is a total eclipse of the moon

The Moon's A Harsh Mistress by Jimmy Webb is a haunting song. I created one of my favorite paintings listening to Joe Cocker's raspy anguished version. I couldn't locate Joe, but this is quite lovely. Kind of like the full moon tonight in Queens. Take a listen if you're feeling a bit moonstruck (another fave movie). If the spirit moves you, just throw your head back and give up a good howl or two. Yesssss!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfdhZExK7jw&feature=related

This is nice and moody too, but I miss Joe...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgyPb9TpPHE&feature=related

http://www.villainess.net/ yummy soaps and stuff

Space.com moon info and photo

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