Merry Christmas Everyone!

A Hunter & His Prey

Like a Carniverous Turkey

Ian just woke me up loudly exclaiming that there is peregrine falcon in the tree adjacent to our place. I guess when he gets up he scans the skies and nearby trees with binoculars before beginning his day. Not a bad way to begin the day, I suppose. Birding is a great hobby of ours. I like to take pictures of the animals we see but my camera is not so great so I put the camera in the binocular-eye and try and get close that way. It usually comes out looking like a bad impressionist painting but oh well. Now the falcon is ripping the entrails out of a pigeon in front of our very eyes. Wow! **Update** after much debate, it has been decided that the thing is a Merlin, not a Peregrine, due to its rust-colored belly.

Choo! Choo!

Train Thoughts:

1. Elderly women are so together. I sat next to this lady this morning and she had this eyeglass case (the clamshell kind) and in it she kept little things that she would need to reach (chapstick, change, tissues, farecard). When I tried to find my chapstick I had to dig way down in my bag and when I thought I had grabbed it and pulled it out it was actually an OB tampon. I need to get one of those eyeglass cases. Also, she had her book in a ziploc bag. That might seem weird but is actually very smart because I damage almost every book I have by shoving things in my bag an bending back the covers/pages, or ripping them off altogether. This woman, she taught me things today. Thank you.

2. Why do they make the seats go 2 different ways? Why not have them all going one way so that at 7 am when you haven't had any coffee you don't have to make eye contact with the other creeps on the train? The way it is now, one side of the train is facing the wrong way. If there is only a seat on the wrong side, there goes your whole day. It feels like you are trying to ride away from work, rather than to it. Psychologically, not so nice.

3. It makes me nervous when people are sleeping. What if they miss their stop? It is like when someone drops a pencil on the floor in a play and doesn't pick it up. I am left to stare at the pencil for the remainder of the scene and I don't even hear the dialogue. I forget the word for that. I almost forget where I am going because I get concerned for the sleepers. Just wake up!

Dear Santa

IMG_3708
Originally uploaded by maelid.

Please snow on Christmas, pleasepleaseplease!!! I didn't move to Chicago for this cold, sans snow. Thanks.

Thank...God?

I'm glad that there are still some judges with brains. Intelligent Design is not science and doesn't belong in public schools. For a wonderful read on this topic, I refer you to the 11/28 issue of The New Yorker, to an article not available online. However, here is a Q & A sesh with the author.

Feeling the Heat

This morning I woke up from the weirdest dream I've ever had. I dreamed that Shaquille O'Neal had gotten into some trouble with the NBA and rather than stick him with some astronomical fines, they arranged a riding lawnmower race in the country, which would go from barn to barn to barn and end at another barn. I do not know how I came to be a participant in this race, but I found myself at the starting line with my dad's old silver & burgundy Montgomery Ward riding mower. There was this amazing buffet set up in the barn and I was stealthily putting cookies and sandwiches into my cargo pants pockets. (this is how I knew it was a dream...I haven't worn a cargo pant since '98) So the race got off to a fine start but at the first barn I had some trouble re-fueling because the fuel was contained in one of those cardboard cylinders that pop open when you make Pillsbury Crescent rolls. My fuel cell cylinder wouldn't open and I got very frustrated and I woke up. So I don't know who won the race or what Shaq did to deserve such a weird punishment. I've never even liked Shaq as a basketball player. I have cursed his name on more than one occasion during a close post-season game. I think that this dream is the result of a Saturday night spent watching TBS. The dream was essentially a mashup of all the advertising I endured while watching Home Alone followed by Kate & Leopold. Really, I have got to get a life!

The In Crowd

Snow Big Deal

I'm still a pacific NW girl. Not having experienced its particular joys as a child, I LOVE the snow. Last night, Ian and I made haste to get outside and play in the snow. A few weeks ago I got these awesome ugly snow boots at Village Thrift and couldn't wait to try them out. They did not disappoint. In the school parking lot across the street which was almost totally untouched by human/dog feet & car tracks, we tromped, made snow angels and pushed each other down in a mock brawl. All the while magical glitter got caught in our eyelashes and fistfulls of the stuff slid down the backs of our jeans, making wet underpants, causing squeals of glee and promises of swift revenge. It softened the hell of my commute in a major way. My cheeks were red and cold when I got inside and flipped on the tv.

My boss and good friend Greg was on that Baltimore flight that overran the runway at Midway airport. Nutty. He is ok though and I am relieved. It was a frantic couple of minutes though, trying to reach him and I couldn't even dial the numbers.

What are the odds?

For The Record/Off The Record

The song "Off the Record" by My Morning Jacket is really keeping me warm this week.
I just loving it. That's what I do: Love it hard until it dies of suffocation. Next week, it will be something else.

More Desires that Ruin Yr Life

O holidays, why do you do this to me? I've such a love-hate relationship with you! I love to give gifts but gift-hunting always leads me to my own perfect treasures. This year I have been so good about not satisfying my every selfish desire whilst gathering for others. But guys, I dig DEEP to find the best gifts. This time of year always makes me wonder why I didn't become an editor of some mag-a-log. I think I would be adept at choosing featurettes. Without shame (well - maybe a little) I present my holiday wish list 05.

1. These adorable clog sandals, in red -- natch.
2. This mixing bowl set, in yellow.
3. This delectable stockpot/dutch oven
4. This collection of lovely posters.
5. This classic cookbook, which I can't believe I don't already own.
6. Also, this one.
7. I just love this illustrator.
8. This toasty blanket, in water.

Contest Schmonfest

Unsuprisingly, not a soul has entered my sweater contest. Yet. In fact, I myself haven’t even entered. However! I am the proud owner (almost) of a 1960’s baby-pink Kenmore sewing machine in a “mid-century modern” blonde wood table. I will meet the fair beauty tomorrow when I pick her up. There are projects that have been a-brewin’ for months, ready to be realized. I pretty much walk through life looking at things and thinking “I could make that.” Early new-year’s resolution: sit down, and for god’s sake – MAKE THAT. Whatever THAT may be. My friend, the inimitable Jessica Hopper, has an amazing book of recycled sweater projects. I swear I am going to make that hat. Or I’ll eat it.

 

 

The Long And Winding Road

O Sweet Lord It Is Great To Be Home

TLAWR used to be my absolute least favorite Beatles song but it is now one of my top three, with Dig a Pony and Happiness is a Warm Gun. Sexy Sadie is #4.

Chicago, you are a beautiful sight -- even at 5:30 am after an uncomfortable plane sleep.

There is no lovelier place in winter than Hailey Idaho, particulary surrounded by loving family and lots of hot cocoa

More updates re: Death-Con Vacation 05, once I have slept off this travel-hangover