Snowy Nights

On my way home tonight I found myself mesmerized by falling snow. Big, white, fluffy flakes just drifting down. As my car made a path through their curtain I was reminded how beautiful such simple things can be.

With memories of childhood in my mind I came home, dropped my things in the door and spread a blanket on my little patch of lawn. I lay there for a while, ignoring the cold, just staring up into the falling flakes. Why does the world seem to hush when snow falls? How is it that time seems to slow? I've no answers, nor do I want them.

For tonight I laid there contemplating the snow on my lashes, trying to see into the middle of their downward journey. I remembered other nights, days doing the same. I remembered snowball fights, king of the mountain, building snowmen, cleaning off cars and shoveling walks. Laughter echoes through all those thoughts.

Snowball fights in a battlefield that on another day would host rugby games. Snowmen with cheetos for hair...and red coolaid for blood. Losing each other in the mountains of snow we were trying to dig out of. Taking a step and losing a shoe...

That Thanksgiving at my grandparents waking up at 4 AM because I heard snow falling. Bundling as best I could and going outside to stand under the street light and watch it fall for the very first time in my life. I didn't own a scarf yet, so I wrapped my stuffed snake around my neck and stood there listening, tasting...enthralled by the sight of the tumbling whiteness.

There will always be a part of me that looks at snow with that awe and wonder. And I hope there always is. And I hope that I will continue to have laughing company for those moments.

I Didn't Fall!

I maintain that the Tuesday Monster pushed me...






Just a bruised finger














Torn up, puffy knee

Purple ankle

Did I mention it was a little swollen?

Heartburn

In my 20s I didn't party much...it seems I'm making up for it now. Whoo hoo!

Saturday was PEX's Heartburn-an alternative celebration of Valentine's Day and a great excuse to wear a costume. You have read of my adventures in finding something suitable, but it all worked out in the end. As you all know, I'm not crazy about pictures of me, but since y'all went through the trial, here's how it ended up...wow am I white! And Frank looked oh so petable in his crushed velvet...

And then we were off to storm the castle. There was fire spinning, silk dancing, 3 floors of DJs and fun. We headed home at 5 AM and the party continued without us for another hour and a half...

For your viewing pleasure here are some highlights:

Frank started the night manning the ice luge...and I helped!

A bit of popcorn theatre from Mike as he attempted to catch kernels with tiny puppet hands...

The second floor dance space was a wonderland of light from installation art and hoops

And gave a bird's eye view of the fire spinners...

We found Pat and Mel on the first floor...dusty, dirty, dancing fun!

And ended the evening chatting with Josh

Dirty Hippy Children

I'd just like to give a shout out to the dirty hippy child who infected Clan Lester and who I am assuming is responsible for the large amount of snot in my life at present:

I will find you and when I do I will dip you in a tub of hot antibacterial soap. Then I'm going after your parents...

Happy Valentine's Day!

Bear Attack!

Dan-Bear will be in Philly this weekend! His plane gets in on Saturday...

I wonder how many folks Monie and I can scramble together...

Consequences...

So it seems that when you let go it sometimes makes people...listen. Or pretend to.

Of course my statements were not met with agreement, but I was neither expecting or needing them to. What I got was a promise to be a better person.

I am happy my stray says he wants to change, but sadly it doesn't effect my decision. If he grows, great. If not, well it doesn't really matter much to me. I do not need manufactured drama in my life.

I wish him the best, but there is no need to be part of each other's lives. I don't enjoy feeding the beast.

Letting Go

I did something this morning I very rarely do: I let go.

This summer I met someone who was in desperate need of a safe, nurturing place and I provided it. Yes, those of you who met him thoroughly disliked him, but you know me. I have trouble turning away strays.

In the end I met Frank and that didn't go over so well with him, even though my stray was with his girlfriend. His possessive girlfriend who freaked out when he talked to other females. So we didn't talk much after that. The occasional e-mail, text, brief call. Oh, he was the one who left me with the toxic hat and the lemon stick so you have some reference.

Sunday he announced he was deleting his MySpace page because "someone removed him from her friends list and that was the only reason he had the account". Someone appears to be his girlfriend. So being the momma duck I am I texted him to see if he was okay. When I got no response I e-mailed. Still nothing.

Today he's blogging mysteriously about not knowing where life will take him or if he can make it, perhaps changing his last name because he hates his dad and won't have sons to carry it on anyhow. His profile picture is of him and his girlfriend.

So what happened to the dramatic exit?

Then he sent a forward daring receivers to tell the sender what they really think of him. Here was my reply:

I think you want attention.
I think if life were really causing you such anguish you would respond to those of us who tell you we are worried, even if it's only to say you will be okay eventually.
I think you enjoy making people wonder.
I think you are inconsiderate.
I think part of you revels in being a dark, brooding figure.
I think you unintentionally use people emotionally to boost your own sense of self.
I think you still have a lot of growing up to do.

And I think that since you don't care that I worry about you that perhaps I should stop bothering to...

So as I said at the beginning of this post, I've let go. He will fly or fall under his own power or on the back of someone else. It doesn't need to be me. I have true friends who need my love, support and concern. I do not need to waste it on someone who abuses it.

Lydia is most likely doing the happy dance now : )

Sigh...

The saga of finding something to wear to Heartburn continues.

I forget which plan I was on...let me see...

A-Black vinyl ball gown-back ordered until who knows when
B-Red vinyl ball gown-ketchup bottle
C-Black dress with feather trim attempt 1-shady storeD-Black dress with feather trim attempt 2-back ordered until who knows when
E-Red corset dress-Bee Girl Does Porn
F-Black vinyl skirt-back ordered until just before I need it

So it looks like we are on to plans G and H.

G is a simple black dress that the good folks at Asher's assure me is in stock and I should see shortly.

H is a simple black skirt I picked up on EBay incase the above order is abducted by aliens.

If this doesn't work I'm wearing jammies under my cloak...

Prehistoric Good Times

Another lovely weekend...with a little reminder about why I so seldomly drink much beer.

Friday was Defending the Caveman at the Kimmel Center. I highly recommend this and it will be coming back there in the summer I believe so see it if you can. It's a one man show about men and women, how our different thought/behavior patterns may have developed from early hunter-gatherer roles. And it's hilarious!

Saturday was a lazy day, which is always nice. In the evening Frank and I did some roaming around South Street in search of boots. While no purchase was made, we now know what he's looking for so that is a definite good thing. Back at the apartment it was gathering beverage and then heading out to a party at Awesome House.

Yes, it is a house. Yes, it is Awesome. Much fun dancing, talking, playing with people's hair (Fig cut her dreads) and annoying Adam's brother Kevin every chance I got. What can I say? I can be a nudge when I'm tipsey.

And I now have a clear picture of doggy heaven. Stevie was the man of the night. An adult pitbull mix, rescued from the street, who was just the sweetest thing. A genetic disorder caused him to loose his sight, then the eye sockets started to deteriorate so the eyes themselves were removed. You would never know he was blind. At one point I popped into the front room to find a circle of girls on the floor with Stevie in the center. He had a little blanket over him and was being petted from every direction. This was definitely doggy bliss.

After hanging out in the kitchen and gabbing, Frank and I made our way downstairs for some dancing as Patrick DJ'd. Much fun with my favorite dance partner. Sadly the incense in an enclosed space was a bit overwhelming after a while and even Frank was ready for some air.

The kitchen was the hub of activity and we found ourselves in there most of the night. Lots of laughter and conversation. Then there was...the beer.

I'd stopped drinking my spiked cranberry juice a little bit before Frank finished his OJ. He decided a glass of water would be nice...but came back with a beer. Apparently he'd requested liquid and this was what appeared. We hung out a bit longer, I tried his beer and soon it was 4 AM and we were ready to grab a cab.

Morning came...and so did the headaches. We blame the beer ; ) So, morning came...and went. Afternoon came...and went. Around 5 I gathered my things and headed home to meet Connie and play "What not to wear" in her closet. We made some great progress and I once again found myself grocery shopping at midnight. Ah well.

It was a good weekend, with many good stories. I may be too old to party until 4 AM...but I'm not quite ready to stop trying...hee hee.

February

"If we really cared for the customer we'd send them somewhere better"

Flame Out

The hunt for fun wear continues...

I just can't bring myself to go looking like the porn version of the Bee Girl from the Blind Melon Video.

Hee hee.