Frost over the World - Benazir Bhutto - 02 Nov 07

I was saddened by the news of Benazir Bhutto's death. She was a passionate, determined, intelligent woman. A tragedy for Pakistan and the world that such a great leader was lost.

More holiday memories made.....

Not that Alex isn't sweet EVERY day... but Christmas he was extra enjoyable. It seems that he could feel the energy and excitement. He ripped a little paper from some packages and was all smiles for our visitors. Ollie enjoying a little time alone without his buddy Rev, who always tries to steal his bones even though he's treated like royalty too. The smells of all the goodies in the house were terribly tempting and Christmas morning Rev could take it no more... he wanted to be part of the feast, I guess doggie bacon strips weren't enough? When I left the kitchen, he snuck off with a good sized hunk of sausage I was preparing for appetizers. Luckily, we had received a box of assorted cheeses and beef as a gift the week before so I had a backup. He did have to spend a little time in his crate to think about what he'd done. LOL
Okay.... yes, our pets pretty much have the run of the place. Luckily, we had finished the pizzelles our friend had put in that holiday basket before Greta got into it. She's not a nice cat, as I might have mentioned before, but this was a cute shot so I'm giving her honorable mention in the blog today. Everyone thinks she's a beautiful, darling, little baby, until they put their hand out to pet her and draw back a bloody finger. Even here, she's saying...'gahead...TRY and remove my Furry Highness from this basket and I will hurt you bad, you lowly human whom I will detest thru all my nine lives.' I know she is saying this because when I played a recording of her intense growls backward it was clearly audible. Cats can curse you know....
Ahhhh..... my honey! He sooooo doesn't like his picture taken but I convinced him that this is a nice picture of us and I'm just so thrilled and happy to be his wife that I have to share our holiday picture. Well, he knows I sent it to family in an email yesterday but neglected to mention it was also going on the blog. Shhhhh......

Maybe he's sensitive/shy about his hair altho I don't know why, he's taken the time to grow it and takes great care of it. Right now, it's super long, usually in a pony tail. He will eventually donate it. Then I guess he'll shave the chin thingy?? Not sure what it's called. When it was first growing it was a soul patch, but now that it's so long, a friend calls it an Imperial. I've also seen pics of chin straps/chin puffs, but I think they have mustaches along with them. Alex sure likes to tug on it tho.

Our holidays were very enjoyable. A little too hectic but maybe we actually enjoy that part of it? I shop early every year, get the long list to a manageable level by Thanksgiving, but it never fails...Christmas Eve we are out somewhere buying something. This year it was Walmart. I don't shop there too often, but I needed tea lights so off we went. Hubby found a nerf football and HAD to get that, it's a guy thang I guess, and also we picked up a thermos for the future son-in-law. He's in construction and it'll come in handy for warm beverages with the winter now upon us. It went nice with the jacket we got him. Our daughter didn't ask for a iPod but she always borrows the beau's Zune so we surprised her with the extra gift. I think she would have been happy enough with her favorite perfume that's a little hard to find these days ... Hugo, for women...but she got to freak out twice on the Eve while opening packages! It's always fun to give the kids a thrill. Our son had to find his 12 string Ovation guitar in his room after he'd opened everything else. He loves guitar stuff. Takes lessons. Plays on the Guitar Hero ALL the time. OMG that is an insane game. I tried for the first time last night and got booed off the stage quite a few times. Yikes. I did manage to complete a couple songs on beginner level but just barely. Thinking I just don't have the coordination because I'm left-handed, my son switched the control so I could try it on the left and I played even worse. Oh well, some things are better left to the younger ones with much more flexibility. I see my arms being sore tomorrow from just a few rounds.

We did do something different this year..... opened ALL our gifts to each other on Christmas Eve. Usually just hubby and I exchange and let the kids have 1 gift. We thought it would be fun to sleep in this year so after we got back from dinner at our neighbors and the kids got in from dinner and a Christmas light display in Pennsylvania, we got right down to it.

Hubby usually isn't surprised at anything I get him. This year.... lots of DVD's. Underwear. Headphones. There's the occasional book or shirt or socks if needed but he's just one to get what he wants for himself if there's money for it during the year. This year was the motorcycle. Something I obviously couldn't have picked out for him. He treated himself to accessories at one point a few months back and he is happy with that. However, he does feel the need to surprise me with something every year tho. I don't buy myself anything too expensive usually so he's in charge of jewelry. I got a few rings, a necklace, a silver chain, a locket pendant, and a BEAUTIFUL opal and gold necklace. My son actually picked out the pendant. His future girlfriend is going to like his tastes. Well, after opening a couple books (including the U2 Autobiography, which ROCKS), purse/wallet, calendar, bath yummies for moi... and the many items that the kiddies enjoyed, we got to settle in for a nice sleep before starting all over again Christmas morning. Hubby's parents come for breakfast. His brother comes too, but it's almost like he isn't here as there's usually no greeting when he arrives. I dunno, you go to someone's house on Christmas morning, seems like you should offer everyone a handshake, hug, or atleast mutter something like a wish for the holidays. No, he's not into being too social. So he didn't eat or drink anything and then after playing nice with Alex, I really do think he has a soft spot for my kids even if I'm ignored.... he left. No goodbye or anything. Whatever. The rest of us had enjoyed a nice enough time. We had champagne and orange juice, bagels with spreads, coffee. Nothing too elaborate as I also cook dinner for hubby and kids and had alot to prepare. This year I made an eye roast and a ham, mashed taters, veggies, stuffing... cause I miss my Mom and had to make her recipe...,biscuits, etc. I think I was in the kitchen most of the day and am exhausted now, but it's all worth it. We had a nice time. A friend came for dinner. Another friend stopped by. Things are winding down now and lighting some candles and relaxing was the perfect end to this holiday season. Hubby has to go back to work after having a nice 4-day weekend and I've got lots of organizing and cleaning up to do the rest of this week. Hope you all enjoyed a little time doing something you love. Peace to all in the New Year.

Back to the City

We took another trip to Philadelphia over the weekend. This time we went to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Awesome place! Been there MANY times, but there's always something we didn't see on a previous trip. Some highlights of our latest day trip.........

Statues outside

A painting near the entrance that I photographed to test the settings on my camera.

The rooms of armor and weapons are really interesting. Spurs and Chanfron (headpiece for a horse) c. 1500

Parts of a Boy's Armor c. 1620 Formerly blued and gilded iron alloy and leather. Pistols

Partisan: Type of pole weapon that was used in Europe during medieval times

Quartz crystal ball, silver stand. Qing Dynasty, China. 1644-1911This replica courtyard is neat. You really feel like you are sitting outside.Crucifixion display in one of the corridorsJina Seated in Meditation c. 11th century, granitic stone, Southern IndiaCradle of Walnut with mother-of-pearl inlay from Turkey c. 1750

Panels from an altarpiece, 1481. Vittore CrivelliHead of a Bodhisattva, Pakistan, c. late 2nd to early 3rd century. PhylliteThis is one of my favorite paintings. It's called 'The Large Bathers' from 1884-1887 by Pierre-Auguste Renoir.

Carnival Evening, 1886, by Henri Rousseau. Another favorite painting of mine.

The famous 'Sunflowers' painting from 1888 or 1889 by Vincent van GoghReplica Japanese tea houseReally looks like the water is flowing on this one:Hubby's favorite painting. The Japanese Footbridge and the Water Lily Pool, Giverny 1899, by Claude Monet. Nandi, the God Shiva's Bull c. 1200-1250 Southern IndiaAltarpiece from the 1520's by Defendente FerrariMasks of the God Shiva

Another favorite:
Portal of the Green Mosque, c. 1870 by Jean-Leon Gerome

The Moorish Chief (also called The Harem Guard) from 1878 by Eduard Charlemont, a painter known mostly for his portraits and nudes. This was a different style for the Viennese artist and I really enjoy it. It's one of the paintings we try to see every time we visit the museum. This photo doesn't do it justice. The white of his clothing is really bright white and the detail is terrific.

Merry Christmas!

We went for a drive the other night to look at houses decorated for the season. We found some really nice displays. Happy holidays to all. Peace, love, and light in the New Year.

Incubus - Dig

We all have a weakness
But some of ours are easy to identify. Look me in the eye
And ask for forgiveness;
We'll make a pact to never speak that word again.
Yes, you are my friend.
We all have something that digs at us,
At least we dig each other.

So when weakness turns my ego up
I know you'll count on the me from yesterday.
If I turn into another
Dig me up from under what is covering
The better part of me.
Sing this song
Remind me that we'll always have each other
When everything else is gone.

We all have a sickness
That cleverly attaches and multiplies
No matter how we try.
We all have someone that digs at us,
At least we dig each other.

So when sickness turns my ego up
I know you'll act as a clever medicine.
If I turn into another
Dig me up from under what is covering
The better part of me.
Sing this song!
Remind me that we'll always have each other
When everything else is gone.
Oh! each other when everything else is gone

If I turn into another
Dig me up from under what is covering
The better part of me.
Sing this song
Remind me that we'll always have each other
When everything else is gone.
Oh! Each other when everything else is gone

You meet interesting people in book stores sometimes.

HI AISLINGE! Being a Jersey girl yourself, I thought you might recognize who is in the picture with me. I've been visiting my myspace page again as one of my girlfriends is on there now and had posted a bunch of neat family and friend pictures I wanted to check out. I noticed that I still have this one in my blog with some info. I'll spare you the details...... as I cannot imagine you much liked him.... as I didn't either for awhile. It was nice to meet him tho, and get the chance to form a different opinion.

Sunday in Philadelphia

Philadelphia is a great city! This is a beautifully detailed window at City Hall. We were in Philly today to visit Macy's. Part of their annual holiday display includes a walk-through version of 'A Christmas Carol', by Charles Dickens. Many of the figures are animated and recordings and signs provide the basic story. No photography allowed inside so we only were able to get the display board and a picture of one of the characters that walk around to add atmostphere from that time period. At the end of the display you can go into a side room and visit with Santa. He liked the little red candy cane outfit Alex was dressed in. Santa put a couple fingers in his mouth and posed with him doing the same. Too cute!!


Then downstairs to see the holiday light show. Macy's does it every year. This time we missed the organist play music, but there was a recorded narration by Julie Andrews. It's 3 floors high and really sets a nice mood.


After Macy's, it was off to the Reading Terminal Market where there is a wonderful diversity of food and people. The Amish have their specialties along with many other merchants offering everything from meats and seafood to handmade crafts. Today, a jazz band was playing.

Fun facts about Reading Terminal:

It's the nation's oldest continuously operating farmers' market, established in 1892.

In 2003, Oprah Winfrey said Delilah's Mac and Cheese is the best in America.

Free high-speed WiFi service is now available to all visitors.

Scenes from some movies were filmed here. Witness, Blow Out, Trading Places, and National Treasure.