About Me

I am beyond vexed that the lottery has not made me a winner. I am not greedy for millions ~my needs are simple: good books, better wine, and a new vehicle.

Friday, December 31, 2010

Resolutions

I'm not a fan of denying myself things that are pleasurable, so I rarely resolve to stop certain behaviors in the New Year. I don't need to lose weight, I like having a bottle of wine every few weeks and smoking 5 to 10 cigarettes a day isn't good for me, but I certainly smoke less than I used to. I could be nicer to folks that irritate me, but basically I avoid those in my life who make me feel like I need to break out the razor blades. At work I have the"helpful smile" down pat. New Year's resolutions remind me of Lent. Find me a Catholic happy about Lent. There aren't any. This evening I'm going to enjoy the bottle of Pinot Noir I just opened, nibble crackers slathered with fat-laden cheese log and go outside and puff.

But this year I am resolving to do something I will enjoy. I am going to send one postcard a month to a friend. Or maybe more than one friend. Or maybe even...a letter. I honestly don't remember the last time I received a letter. The postcards may be crammed with regards or they may relay a single word or a list of things I'm reading. Technology has made it far too easy not to spend time on people. To loosely quote someone who will begin receiving said postcards: After the revolution we'll have to start writing again.

Friday, December 24, 2010

Geethali Is Her Given Name..

Ravi Shankar's lovely daughter, Norah Jones



Happy Christmas!

Saturday, December 4, 2010

she loosed the chain and down she lay

She sings the poem in its entirety on her album "The Visit".

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Blessed Alchemy

Scent is a powerful thing. Whenever I smell peppers and onions I remember my Memere's kitchen. When I smell warm, wet wool I think of the Appalachian Trail, when I catch a whiff of Chanel No. 5, I think of my mother. A few months ago I received an email from the woman who owns Pura Vida in Brattleboro. Judia concocts amazing lotions, oils, mists and soaps. Sadly, she was discontinuing one of her more popular fragrances: Mayan Gold. An ingredient was obscenely expensive; she just couldn't brew it up any more. I did not receive this news well. I cried. Then I ordered as many bottles as I could afford and vowed to use it sparingly. Mayan Gold is what I have worn every day for nearly 8 years. It is lush. It would be what K23 smelled like in the Tom Robbins book Jitterbug Perfume. It is something I was loathe to live without. So for the last few months I have been frugally spritzing. The bottles are getting low. Two nights ago I lamented to the S.O that it would soon be gone and I wouldn't smell like myself much longer. I wouldn't feel the same. The Minion wouldn't hug me and sigh "Mommy smell". Then this morning I opened an email from Judia. She is bringing Mayan Gold back. Of course it could be that I had only been awake for 10 minutes, but I burst into tears. I am simply giddy with happiness. Obviously, since I'm attempting to share the joy here. It's not just that I feel like I got an early holiday gift, I'm trying to understand why I feel so invested in this scent and why it has triggered in me such a range of emotions.Will I hoard bottles of it now as a just-in-case measure? Is every memory from the last 8 years tied up in that blue bottle with the golden flower? Would I have saved the last drops just to uncap it occasionally and breathe those memories in?

Judia's website : www.vermontoils.com

Thursday, October 28, 2010

So The Odd Thing Is..

I bought this David Gray album in 2003 when I left my husband. I liked it. I hated him. I liked that it had nothing to do with him. And up until tonight I have never seen a David Gray video. I had no idea what he looked like. It's been 7 years. David Gray looks British. I guess he is, given the pub and the football/rugby footage. I tried to find a video for "Real Love" which is a great tune even though it has a sappy title. The only one I could find was a creepy family photo montage of {perhaps} residents of the southern part of the USA. So it's "Be Mine" ~ which still has me tapping my toes and shouting "Jumpin'Jesus! Holy Cow!" in the right spot. Still, I am a little confused about the football/rugby. Perhaps Paul the deceased psychic octopus could have explained it. Of course the whole severed head thing is just plain wrong. This coming from the woman who bought Edward Gorey Christmas cards today. I'll link the in studio version as well. No disturbing images. Aside from the homely British man.

These Noon to 9PM shifts have me all half werewolf for half the week. It's almost 12:30 am and I feel it's 7pm. Damn that 7:30 AM schoolbus.



Wednesday, October 27, 2010

It's All In The Drumming

I like to listen to this and block out everyone but Bill and Mickey. Shimmy shimmy! Time to break out the bellydance garb! School-marmish bookseller by day...but she has a dark side.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Tango Again

I really love this on so many levels.




I would say "Get a room"..but I think I want to watch.



They aren't flashy. They aren't Morticia and Gomez. They look like they did this at their wedding decades ago. And her shoes are fabulous.


Great movie. Great scene.

Friday, October 1, 2010

Decor For The Acutely Morbid

I was a morbid child. I cut my teeth on Charles Addams and Edward Gorey. I saved my baby teeth because I had dreams of making them into a necklace. I suppose my parents figured that if I wasn't mutilating the chickens, horses or dog I was "okay".

We live in an area where there are woodland and farm creatures. These critters die of natural causes or maybe..most likely.. not, and there are a lucky few who find the picked clean remains. That would be us. Not only do we have your basic animals expiring we have a cow graveyard way up in the woods. The coyotes drag the snacky bits around and on our walks we tend to find them. And then we bring them home. Some people collect leaves or flowers. We get all in a tither about bones. The collection isn't vast, but it's growing. The Minion and S.O have brought home the lower jaw of a beaver ( in the bay window next to the miniature rose plants ),a spike-horn skull ( in the whiskey barrel planter with the Chinese forget-me-not ), a second deer skull sans antlers ( in the other whiskey barrel with the chives...don't eat at our house ) and just last week while I was a work:the most fabulous cow femur.

My first thought on the femur was: "How can I make this work? It's too big for inside the house." My second was: "This is not normal...who decorates with de-fleshed bones?" My third was: " The S.O must really think I'm a ghoul." So for the time being, the femur is out with the deer skulls...right where the S.O dropped it. With winter coming I feel I should bring the skulls and leg inside, I just don't know where to put them. And I think the S.O may object. His ability to humor me only goes so far. I'm thinking if I re-arrange the Minion's room ...he does have an alligator head and caribou antler ( see Christmas picture post from 2007 ) motif going...it could work. I could even display the Minion's baby teeth~ he's saved all his too. It must be genetic.

Friday, September 24, 2010

Friday, August 27, 2010

Fiddle Dee Dee!!



Surely the spinniest tune there is!

Thursday, August 19, 2010

The Most Wonderful Place On Earth

It was suggested by a dear friend that I start to write regularly again. I have missed being snarky and will make an effort to update more than once every 8 months.

I cleaned out my office at Stratton today. After 17 years I've decided to simplify. My commute will now be 3 miles of flat road, not 18 uphill and down, with 4 different types of weather on those January days I wish I were living on Fiji. I am..again..a bookseller here. The Bookstore was my first job as a sophomore in high school, back when it was a very small store and across the street from where it now lives. I was saving money for an exchange to Germany and continued working there for 5 years. It was a good fit then and an even better one now. I feel like a chocoholic in a candy store. I like what I do. I get surges of happiness while shelving books in my sections...you know that feeling when you were first in love and out of the blue you'd feel all tingly and giggly? This happens to me now. Running my fingers over spines, my eyes absorbing outstanding covers...the scent of freshly printed ideas.

Of course it isn't without its challenges...example: " I heard about this book on NPR the other day, and I don't remember the author, but the title had "The" in it and it was about Japanese prison camps..I think. Do you have this book?" Google is a friend.

I have yet to eat or drink from our apparently amazing cafe, but I hear the coffee is terrific. We have author events...I just swooned...did you all feel that swoon? I am happy and content and the employee discount doesn't hurt either.

Next time: How The Minion Survived His 6 Week Visit With His "Born-Again" Dad. Yes...there is a back-lit bust of Jesus whose eyes follow you across the room.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Threats Work

Me: Honey, cut it out

Minion: What's the magic word, mom?

Me: Look, just cut it out, you are on my last ever loving nerve.

Minion: No, what's the magic word?

Me: Magic word? How about : Shovel and Hefty bags.

Suddenly he decided to get ready for bed. Amazing. I think he's watched too many CSI dvd's with me.