tears of joy and love for talent...

Still up cos I'm watching the Kennedy Center Awards... wow, what tributes.
I missed part of it while we went out and used our LMH gift certificate for dinner at El Mezcal.. OMG, the shrimp cocktail Mezcal (shrimp and avocado chunks in pico de gallo sauce) was worth the entire price.

So I came in time to see the wonderful friendship between BB King and Morgan Freeman shown in the first act I did see.
Call me a sap.. but George Jones holds my heart for the saddest song ever written, "He Stopped Loving Her Today". Alan Jackson did him proud, I'd say.
And the look on Pete Townsend and Roger Daltrey's faces when the curtain opened to the New York PD and Fire Dept singing "Teenage Wasteland".. was truly priceless.

ETA... has Beyonce ever looked so posh?!!
Speaking of Posh, Twyla Tharp's Sinatra Suite was breathtaking!

I imagine there may be more edits as I watch this show.

animal Christmas song

I am so sorry for this...but damn, it made me laugh.
The Animal Christmas song


For Americans, scroll down and read the lyrics. Sad, but the video is funny

and so the wheel turns again...

yay for the Winter Solstice! I know that we still have two more nasty months of winter, but I always feel cheered to know that at least the days are going to get longer now.

The cold weather has given me brilliant excuses to snuggle in today with a cuddly and persistent kitty on my lap. He occasionally nudges the edge of my laptop if I fall short with the distracted pettings. I think da Jbird has snored out with the other fuzzybutt, who we were planning to trim up this weekend, but .. we all just feel so comfy right now.

Tonight... the annual Gratitude party for the Red Lyon crew. I'm wimping out and taking a meat/cheese/crackers platter but I'm sure that there will be plenty of warm yummies from the other party-go'ers.

and so now... another nap!

*That* Aunty

Doesn't every family have one? That aunty..the one who seems somehow more exotic, sophisticated or funky, she usually marries into the crowd from somewhere else and brings a touch of otherworldliness to the family.
One my Mum's side for me it was Aunty Margaret. She looked so gorgeous, always made up. Uncle Rod, who was a sort of a Footballer found her somewhere and she did rather resemble a footballer's wife. My cousin and I used to agree that she distinctly resembled our Barbie's brunette friend and was therefore the epitome of "pretty" in our book.
On Dad's side, the closest I could imagine was my Aunt June, but that was only because she was young and liked Twiggy. Then one day it occured to me that it was because the exotic Aunty in Dad's family was my very own British, and oh so stylish Mum.

Spending today with da Jbird's 2 out of of four brothers and their wives made me hope that I can aspire to being "that Aunty" of his clan. At least the little nieces seemed to look at me with those eyes. The same ones with which I looked at my Aunty, and now my own Mum too.

Favorite Holiday tune

My biggest irritation with the holidaZes is the ubiquitous Christmas music everywhere. By the time it starts before turkey day and continues, I'm sick of it by Christmas Day and it's all spoiled for me.

However, I never tire of hearing my favorite holiday song. I share this little vignette from youtube with you. And who will be coming down YOUR chimney tonight, hm?



What's YOUR favorite seasonal song?

Willie Nelson and Billy Bob Thornton concert pix!

Changed the link to go to the set, but you can view in slideshow by choosing the option there:

Clicky here for the Slideshow on my Flickr site

New Family member

This is Pablo. He's bigger than he looks, four years old and happily acquired from the wonderful Humane Society. So far, he and Ymir are on 'cautiously approachable' terms, although Ymir is giving him the warning hiss and growls for now.
He's contentedly exploring the house (as much as we'll allow for now) and really, really likes the bouncing red-dot toy. He loves scritches and petting and his history says he's always been an indoor kitty.

He's such a pretty boy!

belated Tday wishes

I hope you all had a wonderful TDay, and enjoyed it as best you knew how to do so.

Know that despite my recent difficulties and sensitivity, I do love you all. I don't do grieving well. I don't do many deep feelings well. I'm more guy-like in that way. And I hope you'll accept this blanket apology if I've done anything to hurt your feelings or be difficult lately.

I do want for you all to have spent your day in the best way possible. I am truly thankful for every one of you, even and especially those of you I don't see very much. It isn't the distance, nor the time, but what lives in our hearts that matters.

Best New Anniversary gift for my sweetie

I really really think he'll like this: I got two of the last tickets available... and the seats ain't bad!

ETA: the seats seemed "not bad" on the tickets, right side, row 4, seats 3 &4.
The reality is that with the extra speakers set up for this concert... row 4 is front row!!

Yah, baby!

Ugh reminder to self...

Margaritas do not go with bluecheese burgers. Margaritas go with Mex.
Next time I can haz a cheezburger, stick with beer.

Note to others: Bigg's BBQ has what I now consider the best burgers in town.
If it's still yummylicious without the bun, I'm sold. I'm told they are good because they grind the meat themselves, no pre-formed patties or ready-made ground beef.

More kitty thoughts....

So, I have found a lil cat that needs a home. He's declawed, so no worries about him and Ymir's, neutered, and about four years old.

Are we ready for this so soon?

Wonderful weather=nothing done

Today was yet another of those mild, sunny days for which Kansas can be known.

It's the sort of day that makes me choose only one thing to get accomplished and spend the rest of it outside. If the weather keeps up like this through the winter, I may never get that room set up. Thus far, my sewing room has a new long countertop, and the dance room has ... well... chairs. Next step, fixing mirrors to the walls.

In the meantime, see you on the porch with a little drink and a big smile.

The best things in life

I've decided that I would make a horrible cyborg. All that metal stuff on my body, no thanks!

My new favorite textile is microfleece. it's like velvet, only machine washable and softer. Yes, softer.

My sweetie bought me a microfleece robe and we went to a horrible chain store (no, not WalMart!) where I found a big-ass blanket made of the same stuff. I am just lolling around in this stuff, fuzzy socks, fuzzy robe, fuzzy blanket.
I can hardly stand the skin-feel of it, it's so warm/soft/wonderful. I know on an intellectual level that the tags all say "Made In China" and "polyester" but damn.

I did wash it all before getting it near my skin because yes, I have problems with scent and chemicals. It's still soft and fuzzy.

I sat up half the night watching Torchwood, and I'm hooked. I'm now searching for episodes online, because I finally figured out my laptop to TV w/ speakers configuration, and my life will never be the same. I may even cancel that silly satellite TV thing once I've found everything I might watch online.

Poor Jbird. As soon as I showed him the desktop on the big screen, he wailed and declared "I'll never get to see anything on this TV again, you'll be on it all the time"!.

He could very well be right. Life is tooo damn good.

Help needed! Timely, for a memorial donation to Maybe

I'm making a donation to there folks in our kitty's name. They do have a PayPal link from the website.

To those that care about the homeless pets in Kansas City:

We have had a small tragedy at The Pet Connection. Yesterday, we were the victim of a crime that will have grave costs to our pets or for those that we are not able to rescue. Our trailer and all the supplies for building 8 new dog and cat rooms was stolen. I am so sad, disappointed, and everyone at our facility is feeling a little defeated. Jason Huff and myself got most of the supplies donated and spent 2 days loading it all for TPC so that the cost would be minimal. Replacement value of our loss: $4000. We were going to start construction over Thanksgiving. Jason and I cancelled holiday plans with our families so that we could build these much needed life savers. Our Christmas gift to the homeless pets was an important one. We estimate that these rooms will help us successfully house and rescue 15-40 additional pets each month. Almost 70 percent of the rescued dogs at our facility were scheduled to be euthanized in area shelters simply because of space constraints.

If anyone can send additional funding for this project, we would really appreciate. If everyone we have helped this month, would send $5......that would be about $3000. If everyone on this list sent $5, that would be $35,000. We need help. Please send your pledge today. I know that together, we can make this horrible turn of events seem small.

If we do not receive a rally from our friends, we will not be able to complete the project until much later. I'm turning away about a hundred animals a month, please help me. We need these resources to be available as soon as possible. We needed them yesterday.

Please cross post to anyone that may be able to assist.


Jason Huff
Director of Operations
The Pet Connection
jason@thepetconnection.net
www.thepetconnection.net
913-671-PETS
5918 Broadmoor
Mission KS 66202
OPEN HRS: Tues - Sunday 9am-8pm Monday by appt only
Low cost obedience instruction, low cost microchipping
Low cost spay/neuter
Adoption
Halfy's Thrift Boutique
LOCATION: 5732 Johnson Dr.,
Telephone number- 913.236.9330, Store Hours- M-Sat 10-6, Closed Sundays

Prayer to a Cat's Death

Thank you, Tbird, for this lovely verse:

Day of a Cat's Death (from the Egyptian Rites of Bast)

The occultation
of the sun
by the heart
is observed

The sky
looks away

and occludes
with clouds

The trees
are hung

with lamps
of ash

Do not talk
to the wind

which is paying
its respect

Do not talk
to the night

with its dark
head bowed

Bast is joyous
The goddess

holds another
in her arms

She is licking
the death

from its eyes
and whiskers

as though
it is

more precious
than a newborn

Her breath
of milk bathes

and anoints
the appointed one

There is nothing
kinder

than death
she purrs

The eye and lash
of the goddess

make a nine
lying down

The stars hush
and make room

A paw print
presses

into the wall
of time

The moon
comes late

lonelier
than ever

to say one word
Selah.

To my darling man...

this had to be a separate post....

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, sweetheart.

I'm sorry it turned out to be such a mixed-up day for us.
But I'm still so happy to have you.

Run free, little Maybe-Baby

Today is not a good day. I'm still feeling ill and was so worried, I could not stand it.
I took a walk and found Maybe-Baby.
She was quite obviously hit by a car or truck. I can hope that it was quick and she never knew what happened.

Typical of her, the last thing she did in the house was silly... she ran downstairs with the Jbird in the morning as she always does, but the washer lid was open and she fell in!

She was the best little foundling kitty.
We were glad to have played with her for her time here.

Maybe come home!

Still no sign of the Maybe-Baby tonight.
I've gone ahead and posted on larryville and lawrence craigslist.

I don't like to dwell much on it,
but there are three missing cats on the various lists lately.
All are black kitties like Maybe.

And there's one that needs a home. I'd be tempted to take him in if we didn't have three already.

Yucky funk

I've acquired some sort of yucky funk, in which my head is clogged beyond all belief, my throat is a raw pit and my voice is a rugged chalkboard scratch.
I'm staying home today with lots of Vit C, warm tea and the plans to get my name finally changed over.

In other news, Maybe-Baby got out last night and hasn't come home yet. I'm hoping she's just holed up in some kind person's kitchen.

Wonderful weekend

All has been well for two or three days. Now if I can just stop looking over my shoulder, I'll be well too.

But tonight, the itchy skin demon is driving me crazy. Was it the bath I took with the previously unused bath foam? Was it the change of weather? Something I ate?

.. and why can't I find my damned antihistamines?