Monday's Notes

A 4 day weekend isn't long enough.  Stretch, yawn, coffee, and huddle under the blanket for another few minutes. 

The Other Girl who loved a Vampire - Buffy Summers

The next Twilight movie will be showing this month, and of course I am reminded of the past 20 years of vampire novels, movies, and television I have seen.  And since Twilight IS a ROMANCE, it brings to mind another teenage girl who's soul mate walked by moonlight, Buffy Summers.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer.    

BUFFY the vampire SLAYER.   

buffy THE VAMPIRE slayer.

OK no matter how you write it, or say it.... ya get the giggles.

After not being able to finish the lamest of lame movies, I didn't even bother with the TV show.  At least not until I accidentally watched part of an episode, and then began watching reruns, trying to catch up to the 5th season.  Its satirical, self-deprecating humor was great; and the love story between Buffy and Angel was well..... pretty much no different than any other teenage love story.

Except one of them was dead.
And sometimes they hit.

At least they're both good looking.

So here are a few You Tube clips of the OTHER unusual love affair, plus other great Buffy moments.

Buffy and Angel: I love their prom dance

Once More, with Feeling

The Episode "Hush" is probably my favorite. 

Hallow's Notes - The Vampire said What?

Do we really know our Vamps?  Who was the most fiendish, or the most noble?  I put together some interesting quotey tid-bits from some famous and not so famous Vamps!

"You're beautiful to me because you're human. Your frailty. Your short years. Your heart. All that suddenly seems more precious than anything I've ever known."  The Vampire Lestat

*

What? Did your life pass before your eyes? 

Cup of tea, cup of tea .. almost got shagged .. cup of tea.   Spike

 *

"My heart hasn’t beat in almost ninety years, but this was different. It was like my heart was gone—like I was hollow. Like I’d left everything that was inside me here with you."  -Edward

  *

Is this your wife? What a lovely throat.  Nasferatu

 *

I'm sensing a trip to IKEA. And you know my feelings on that.  Mitchell - Being Human

*

"Listen to them - children of the night. What music they make."  -Dracula

 *

 "You know, I never properly thanked you for sending me to Hell."  -Angelus

 *

 “Dearest, your little heart is wounded; think me not cruel because I obey the irresistible law of my strength and weakness; if your dear heart is wounded, my wild heart bleeds with yours. In the rapture of my enormous humiliation I live in your warm life, and you shall die—die, sweetly die—into mine." - Carmilla

 *

Spike:  "Are we feeling better then?"
Drusilla:  "I'm naming all the stars."
Spike:  "Can't see the stars, love. That's the ceiling.  Also, it's day."
Drusilla:  "I can see them. But I've named them all the same name, and there's terrible confusion." 

 *

I admire you, come down for a taste.  -Kurt Barlow, Salem's Lot 

*

“Nonsense, my friend, sheer nonsense. I can look on anything I like. And I rather like looking on crucifixes in particular.”  The Vampire Louis 

 *

Angel: "You deserve more. Something outside of demons and darkness. You should be with somebody who can take you into the light. Someone who can make love to you. Before you know it, you'll want it all, a normal life."
Buffy:  "I'll never have a normal life."
Angel:  "That's right. You'll always be the Slayer. But that's all the more reason why you should have a real relationship instead of this. This freak show."
Buffy:  "I can't believe you're breaking up with me."

*

“I can’t help being a gorgeous fiend. It’s just the card I drew.”  The Vampire Lestat

*

Hallow's Notes - Zombie Make-up Tips for the Epidermally Challenged

I spent the entire week looking at Zombie make-up tutorials, trying to figure out the easiest way to create a wound.  Some ideas were simple, some really detailed, until I finally found this young, handsome gent on You Tube.  My first attempt didn't go well - I had too much of an outline, but my second attempt went great when I added enough latex to the edges to give it a blended effect to my neckline.  Alas, I took no photos as we were already late for the party, but here is my Zombie blueprint; I only did an area on my neckline.

Hallow's Notes - Once I was a Vampire

Yes, I believe the year was 1994 or 1995 when I was made a Vampire, immortalized as such by the charismatic young comic book artist, Mike Dringenberg.  In the mid 90's Vampire role playing games became popular, and he was submitting some work.  He asked a friend and myself to sit for him, and was kind enough to let me have one of his finished pieces.  I have kept it rolled up, nice & tidy in a dark tube for all these years, my little alter ego dead girl carefully hidden away. I don't recall if any of his submissions made it to print, but with his success as a comic book artist in general, what an honor to die at 24!

1994 or 1995 painting by Mike Dringenberg

Wednesday's Notes

Harry Potter, Harry Potter... what a wonderful series of books.  I have listened to the first two books over the past week and this week I am on The Prisoner of Azkaban.  I know I haven't read all of the books, but its been so long I can't remember how far I've gotten with the stories.  I do remember one winter a few years ago when the power went out across Magna for a few days, and Mike I were stuck in the cold house.  My husband chose the option of sleep, while I began reading The Goblet of Fire.  Goblet of Fire by candlelight, huddled under a blanket.  But don't ask my husband to read one of the books or even watch one of the movies, he just won't.  For some reason he has taken a dislike to anything "Potter-ish".  Oh well, there are things he can't make me like either, like fish, or in depth mechanical discussions. 

Monday's Notes

I don't want to hear about my co-workers personal lives, unless they are speaking with me.
I don't want to hear the backbiting, gossip, or other negativity which seems to creep up on me with every work day.
It is something of an unspoken job duty at my workplace; show up on time, do your job, and let people abuse your ears.
So I am using an Archos to block out my world.  For some reason music doesn't really help me relax or unwind, it never has.  It amps me like too much coffee.  So I load stories on it, and I don't have to be part of the social mire.  And I should say, I am almost 41 years old, and I have worked many jobs.  Social issues are a part of any work place, but my current workplace is as bad a high school.  

I think today is a good day for The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and if anyone knows the recipe for Pan Galactic Gargle Blasters, I would be much obliged. 

Add caption

 

Vacation in Crescent City Part II "It is Cora, with a C"

I was excited about my first vacation post, and made sure my husband read it, then eagerly awaited approval.

"It is Cora, with a "C" he stated.

Cora is the cutest Sea Lion ever, and I spelled her name "Kora". Shame on me. Well, maybe I misspelled her name, but I do have lots of adorable photos of her from Ocean World to show off. See, I remember the important stuff.

Ocean World is a small aquarium showcasing the ocean life surrounding Crescent City, and for about and hour, we were toured through tanks of sharks, stingrays, and of course the playful Sea Lions, of which Cora is the star.

The Tour Starts!

A girl put her tongue on one and was numb for a bit

Heading to the tanks

The water was murky, but I caught a few photos

Leopard Sharks

CORA! CORA! CORA!

Cora and older Sea Lion, who mostly sunbathes.

Cora's favorite toy

The ring master

Spot on, Cora!

Another tank mate of Cora's, she has a sweet face

Friday's Notes

I spy... or not. So yesterday I went to the Optometrist and I am going to need a stronger prescription. He was happy to tell me I wouldn't need bifocals, yet. Ugh. Apparently I am slightly ahead of the over 40's curve, but again... UGH. I spent yesterday evening watching the T.V. in sunglasses because my eyes were dilated, and I will go in this Saturday to pick out new frames. I wish my eyes were 24 years old again!

Monday's Notes

I started going through some of my mom's collections of letters and and postcards passed to her in the old trunk. I came across an interesting notice from the Widows' and Orphans' Fund in 1925 telling of the death of someone. I thought it interesting the accustomed wording during the time period:
"It is with deep regret that we announce that the Grim Reaper has summoned _____ member of the Widows' and Orphan's Fund, to the unseen Pyramid above."

I love peeping into history....

Friday's Notes

Yesterday, I realized how much organizing and scanning there is to be done. I have a large amount of pictures from my mother, and some old postcards and such from a trunk my mother kept from her grandmother. Its wonderful to see everything in it... overseas postcards from a service man and valentines from the early 1900's. I found a dance card from my great grandfather with a list of girls names and notes, "fox trot", or "two step" penciled next to them. Its a charming treasure. Old baby clothes and dolls were also in the trunk, which I wrapped and sent (along with the trunk) to my sister in Seattle. Its going to be some work, but I love peeping into history.

Monday's Notes

What is Photography?
I have been perusing Blogger for photography blogs and noticed so many interesting photos, but I know they have been altered to some degree by editing software. So, when does photography stop being about the picture and start being about the editing? And I enjoy enhanced photos, some people have a gift with editing, to me it is a form of art. I think for the most part, my photos will stay unedited, save for the clip and re-size. I have developed a love for catching natural moments.

Vacation in Crescent City Part I, The Redwoods

The air is a light, humid fusion of sweet Redwood and musky brine.
It's one experience I can't bring it home in a picture; you will have to trust me. The Forest, the Ocean, the humidity. Together they are one of Nature's perfect blends.
I don't know how Crescent City can stay so quaint amidst the popularity of the surrounding Redwoods, but I am glad. A small town nestled between a looming, graceful forest and brisk, northern waters.
Our vacation lasted four days, and it was over too soon. We were spontaneous; the only schedule we kept was arriving at our hotel. Each day, we would go online and pick something to do, or drive until something caught our attention. A local restaurant gave me my first good taste of Calamari while we watched the sunset over the ocean. An excitable Sea Lion named Kora clapped and balanced her favorite pink ball on her nose at the aquarium. We stood, small and new, next to ancient, Redwood giants. A tram ride reminded me how frightened I was of heights. A tide schedule guided our crossing to the Lighthouse, and I saw my first Gray whale with her calf along the Klamath river.

Just south of our hotel was a billboard advertising "The Trees of Mystery Tour", so we spent our first afternoon walking the forest path, taking in the immense life around us.

ONE BEAUTIFUL WORD

REVERENT

The Cathedral Tree
800-1000 years ago one large tree stood in the center. These 9 trees grew from the roots and burls of its stump after it fell.

This Tree's Rings began during the Crusades

The Brotherhood Tree, over 2,ooo years old

Moss is everywhere

You can huddle under the roots. Crazy!

The Tram to the top Vista. eeeeek. All photos on the ride up are blurry with panic

From the top vista point, looking down over the forest

Looking down over the ocean

Saturday's Note

It is great to look into my yard and not see a gangling wall of weeds along my fence line. We go through it each year, and yes its our fault the weeds come back. After we spray weed killer we get lazy and forget about doing anything else. Our final landscaping WILL HAPPEN this summer. Nothing elaborate, tidy ground cover rocks will take up the space where the weeds have been. Hopefully we can find a landscaping company to do it; I'm not sure it would be a large enough job, but we really don't want to do it ourselves. Our home is 11 years old now, and the back porch needs a lot of work. I love the vinyl porches, and maybe we can save for a small one to be put in.

Friday's Note

I spent the better part of last night re-creating this blog, and it took FOREVER to find a background I liked. Well, I liked a lot of them, but they were either too dramatic or too bland. I wanted to find a background easy to look at, nice, but not over-stated. Actually I love the abstract, strange backgrounds, but they tend to compete with my blog and pictures. I think I found "nice". Green, nice... pink, nice... flowers, they are nice.
I also just realized my background is similar to the wallpaper my sis and I had on our bedroom walls. We grew up surrounded by pinks and greens. Well, if my choice is subconscious I guess everyone should be grateful I didn't have wood paneling.
Now to work...

Thursday's Note

I feel my best in the morning,
And it is not just my cup of coffee talking.
Everything is starting, and I love beginnings.
I am not much of a "to-do" person,
So I don't have chores listed or plans to execute.
I have a few things I know need to be done,
And that's it.
I need to meander,
Enjoy the flowers on the path,
Before I start to run the race.

Testing, 1,2,3....

Testing, 1,2,3.... hey does this blog still work?

Wow, it does. Well, I guess it's time to shake the dust and get rid of the cobwebs.

Now I just need to find that darn quill....