my pickle and my charms.

"It's a funny feeling being taken under the wing of a dragon. It's warmer than you'd think."

Happy New Year to everyone. I had one of the best Christmases I've ever had. I think I might be getting the hang of this. Very low key, just a few presents*. Lots of baking and good food, time to remember friends close and far and gone. Time out in the weather, time in by the fire. Music. Enjoying what the city gives up this time of year. The night of the big storm (12/19) three Septa buses got stuck on the street that goes by my house. There is a hill that starts just in front of my house and on the ice, if you stop there, you're toast. So one bus got stuck, then another, then another. The few passengers jumped ship and walked to another bus line. The bus drivers stayed in their buses from about 4pm Saturday until 10am the next day. They were in their buses all night. A few neighbors, including us, went out to check on them and offer supplies or use of our house/phone/bathroom. One of the bus drivers was a mom with 4 kids waiting for her at home. Septa finally sent help Sunday morning and got all of the buses out of there. Two nights ago, a Septa bus full of passengers stopped in front of our house, the bus driver jumped out to deliver a Christmas card and thank you note to us. It was so funny seeing all of the passengers looking out the window as the driver made her delivery. hee hee!

*I did get a beautiful Melissa Joy Manning necklace. I loooooove her jewelry. So we haven't given up on presents entirely.


An interesting obit in today's NYT. Don't miss the clip with Thurston Moore at the end:

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/27/in-memory-of-maryanne-amacher/?th&emc=th


Happy New Year!!

I fell down the stairs again today. Not quite as spectacularly as last time, which was all the way from the top. This time just the last third. Both times feet first, rather than head, thankfully.  A slow motion topple down the steps focuses the mind on the present moment in a quite beautiful way.

Just banged up and sore, nothing broken. Later on spilled a full container of south philly chocolate Italian Ice down the front of my dress. Some goblin has it out for me today.

www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/07/06/opinion/20090706_opart.html

www.nybooks.com/articles/22891

Beautiful weekend here in Philadelphia. David Byrne at the Mann on Friday night. Saturday music festival/flea market at our neighborhood park. So many happy, tired, muddy children, so many awesome neighbors and friends. I remind myself often that these are the magic years, the ones that I'll look back on at the end of my life and remember as the best years.

Apropos of nothing: Rocket Man. Sending love to all you earthlings out there.

The phantasamagorical wonder that is Bread and Puppet Theater is coming in for a landing tonight. I had every intention of going to the City Kitties Auction, but just found out B&P is putting on a show at my neighborhood park. I've been up to their farm in Glover, Vermont and caught a few of their shows around. They put on a pageant at Liberty Lands back in 2000 (?) when LL received forgiveness on a horrendous demolition lien that had come with the property (1,000,000). The park is now owned free and clear by the neighborhood, I've posted on it before. My dear friend Janet is one of the primary workhorses of LL and all things wonderful in NoLibs, generally. She is also a Bread and Puppets stalwart. She and her husband and daughter spend a week up there every summer. Show starts at 7:30 if you're in the area.

A trip to Termini Brothers (the original location in South Philly) is my new Mother's Day tradition.

Youse out of towners: If you ever come to Philly, this is a must!!

One of the things no one ever told me about getting older: at some point your feet will become completely different sizes. Maya said to lean to the other side when I'm eating, so the food would go down to the other foot.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/26/books/review/Bissell-t.html

http://www.marginalia.org/dfw_kenyon_commencement.html

Made it out to see the Martha Graham Cracker Cabaret last night.



Such an incredible voice, such a talented performer. It's a really great night out.

Once in a while there is a day where the weather reminds me so much of being in Scotland. The cold spring morning we had today makes me think of a trip I made by myself in early April (years ago) to the Orkney Islands, off the northern coast of Scotland. I went back there with Neil there in 2001. I am really missing Scotland and my friend in Edinburgh, I haven't been back for 8 years now. Anyway the Orkney Islands in early spring or summer, before tourist season hits, is a magical place. Neolithic standing stones and burial mounds. Neolithic houses that were uncovered by a storm.

Unpacking summer clothes today I found the blue dress I had on the last time I saw you, two days before. I took in the scent of it, unwashed, to remember what the air smelled like when you were still alive. I miss you. I still miss you. I will always miss you.

I have such a crush on Mr and Mrs O. They are just so attractive!



And they look so good standing with the queen!



And Mrs. O wears cool sweaters!

All images borrowed from mrs-o.org

farm4.static.flickr.com/3472/3398960470_05527c04b1_b.jpg

Sounds crazy, right? I went for my first appointment here. I couldn't believe how good I felt after. I'm going to try going weekly for a few months.

A great article on regional dialects

I joined the CSA at Greensgrow Farm. Very excited. Starting in mid May we will pick up a box of local produce, cheese, herbs and flowers every other week. I also got started on my little community garden plot. I like spring crops the best. Not too hot, not too buggy. I plant peas and sweet peas, carrots, radishes, beets and a lettuce mix. I have a small strawberry patch and some 3rd year asparagus that I hope are ready to give up the goods. We got a few stalks last year, but it takes a few years for them to get going.

Going to see Monsters and Aliens this weekend, and get my hair cut. The woman who cuts my hair is Japanese and gives a wicked head and shoulder massage as part of the haircut, it is a huge treat for me that I look forward to. I have tickets to Neko Case in a few weeks and will buy tickets to see Bonnie Prince Billy.  Otherwise, things are quiet around here. Glad the spring has arrived.

I love Tender Forever








I saw her a couple years ago at Johnny Brenda's. I think she did a small show last December at Space 1026, but we were out of town that weekend.

1. Managed a handstand in yoga class (even after 10+ yrs of classes this is hard work)

2. Saw a red-tailed hawk circling low over the art museum as I drove over the bridge from W. Philly

3. Had my first pedicure of the season - toes getting a little sunshine today!