*Moving back in and sweeping the layers of dust away from the foyer of Hotel Jewelweed, testing to make sure the bell still works*

Wow, that half a year went by rather fast.

I'm back to see if I can make something of this space.

How is everybody?

I have wanted to do this for years, and now that I have some time on my hands and enough money to keep the wolves temporarily at bay, dammit, I am going to do this.

A couple of weeks ago, I signed on to take a eries of horseback riding lessons with lyonesse.  I had my first lesson two weeks ago and meant to start my riding log then, but better late than never.  Last week was bitter cold, too cold for the ponies.  This week on the other hand we have a lovely thaw and all of the ice is melting so I am really looking forward to getting out there again.

First lesson: 

lyonesse showed me how to put the bridle on the pony, mount, and we practiced starting, stopping, turning, and reviewed overall communication with the pony.  I learned among other things that a panicky "Whoawhoawhoa...." sounds a little like the command to tolt, so I am learning not to do that.  And not to panic.  I rode bareback, which was delightful, and managed to not pull a Gimli (i.e., fall completely off) even when the pony jump over a snowbank.

Best part of the day was learning how to brush, groom, and massage the pony afterwards.  His coat is delightfully shaggy and warm and he visiably loved having his ears rubbed. 

More later.   My plan for now is to go at least once a week-- much depend's on lyonesse's schedule and where she can squeeze me in.

Yay!

Watertown, MA, Town Diner:

I just met Eliza Dushku.

She was visiting her folks for the holidays and they were all hanging out at the table next to mine at the Town Diner (best down home cooking in Watertown).  Looking very sultry and lovely of course, and yes, she had that pouty lip thing going on.  Her parents were also thoroughly charming.

the_red_shoes, I know you are going to ask:  she was eating the veggie stir-fry special.

tar_miriel gets credit for recognizing her ("I tell you that *is* Eliza Dushku....")

Yes, I told her how much I love Buffy and that faith is my favorite.  I bet she gets that all the time.  I feel all fan-girly and silly right now. :-)

My favorite Christmas song, thanks to dear Balthazar in that fourth verse:

Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume
Breathes a life of gathering gloom;
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
Sealed in the stone cold tomb.

My gothic heart just soars.

Snow is pouring down here in Upstate NY, and I wish I were home to walk about amid the soft flakes in Mount Auburn cemetery.

Merry Christmas to all! 


Unrelated Note:  Do any of my Boston area friends have *coughcough* Word for Macintosh software which I could *coughcough* borrow?

All the nerds in my office are dancing.

YYYYYYEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!  I am no longer all out of happy!  Happy is back!

*Frolic*

And yeah, I am happy for the doggies and will happily buy my weed one ounce at a time now....

Okay, I need to sleep now....

1. Stop talking about politics for a moment or two.
2. Post a reasonably-sized picture in your LJ, NOT under a cut tag, of something pleasant, such as an adorable kitten, or a fluffy white cloud, or a bottle of booze. Something that has NOTHING TO DO WITH POLITICS.
3. Include these instructions, and share the love.

I can't hold a candle to ahli 's beautiful still from The Piano, but (and yeah, I know it isn't a picture, but I think you'll forgive me) here one of my favorite clips from Truly, madly, Deeplyof  Alan Rickman. Singing:

(Lemons) Pear Appears

If it's there, it's something --
And when you see it,
not just your eyes know it.
It's yourself, like they say, you bring.

These words, these seemingly rounded
Forms -- looks like a pear? Is yellow?
Where's that to be found --
In some abounding meadow?

Like likes itself, sees similarities
Everywhere it goes.
But what that means,
Nobody knows.

—Robert Creeley

The Meme:  Take a picture of yourself, right now, as you are.  Do not edit the picture in anyway.  Post it!

Okay, here we go-- the blur you see is Parvati in bad girl mode, trying very hard to steal my Humbolt Fog cheese while I hold her back, and being far too hell bent on dairy products to mug for the camera: 



Oh, she does like that cheese.  See the predator's determination!