The Love Which Has No Name











It takes forever to get anything done.

Like making my bed for example.

How can I disturb my two kitties who are sleeping peacefully amongst the rumpled blankets and sheets? Both boys are getting along quite well now as you can see from the photo.

I got Photoshop for xmas but it will take concentration to learn how to use it. I also got a Capresso coffee maker for which I need to go to school and get an advance degree in coffee making.

I also got two Lands End vests: one polartech and one down...blue and red respectively. I love them both and am now a fan of vest wearing. I have a nice warm fuzzy hoody which I can wear with my vest on top and I'm warm and comfy looking and partly cool too.

I got lots of great gifts and we had a very nice Christmas despite ourselves.

Tonight we're having dinner at Doc and DJ's house for a combined New Years/Xmas party of four.

I think the actual New Years Eve we'll plan a nice dinner with a nice bottle of champagne and stay home by the fire, reading books and listening to Yo Yo Ma.

Happy New Year to everyone and let's hope 2007 will see the end of the Iraq war and a movement toward peace on earth for all.

How to tell if your rescue cat is a real Maine Coon Cat.

Coons love water.








They have long bushy tails















Big round eyes













Long torsos.















Big paws, many with extra toes like Finbar who has 6 extra toes, the better to claw the rugs with.
















Don't think much of the Times crossword puzzle and are bigger than a pepper mill at 5 1/2 months old.

Try it, it's hilarious!

I should be doing something constructive, but I have been having too much fun making people elves. Go to ElfYourself.com and turn someone you know into a dancing elf. So funny it will definitely put you in a good mood even if you aren't in one now.

Back to wrapping and baking! Now go elf yourself, okay?

Three kids and three creations..what a great day!

It's Good to be an Atheist in December

I was remiss!

I didn't wish all my Jewish friends a Happy Hanukkah yesterday and I knew it started yesterday because one of my friends was sorry I couldn't be at his house for the first candle lighting!

Ah, it is good to be an atheist this time of the year!

I'm not kidding.

I get the enjoyment of Hanukkah and Christmas. I'm not sure what I like more, the twinkling lights on the xmas tree or the lighting of the Menorrah. Candy canes or dreidels; it's all good to me and I can enjoy the festive part of religious traditions without the worship part.

I adore sacred music too - from monks chanting to Handel's Messiah. Ave Maria is just as beautiful to the ears of an atheist as it is to the most devout Catholic.

Happy Weekend!

Doing Good

I'm good everyone...thank you for the emails and comments. Funeral day is over and now I can concentrate on helping another family member who needs immediate surgery and has two little kids.

I will do all I can to help get her holiday under control and make sure her kids have a wonderful xmas even if their mom is not able to do much.

Funerals are very sad, but I did get to see family members that I almost never see. Even under such sad circumstances we had a great deal of fun catching up on each other's lives and seeing each other. It's also one of the few times I get to see husband in a suit and he looked mighty cute to me.

So, if I'm not around, it's because I'm just busy helping out someone in need.

I do check back here often...no matter how busy I am!

The Crime Scene and the Criminal

Good Monday Morning!

Nate James has posted a photo that I just adore. Scroll down to his photo of tangled Christmas lights. It reminds me so much of my mixed emotions around this time of the year. There's lots of fun, but lots of extra stress. Sometimes I think I can't enjoy a single day of the holiday season as I'm worrying about lost presents, family events, money (of course) baking, cleaning, wrapping, and not having a present for someone who decides to give me one.

Every year I try to simplify the holiday; shop early; learn to say no to an invitation; keep my entertaining down to a few events; take time out to relax and every year I just can't seem to make that happen.

One thing I want to do every year is sit down and watch It's a Wonderful Life and enjoy every minute of it plus flip the dvd over and view the trailer and other tidbits found on the flip side.

Yesterday I did that and it was great.

All the animals were cuddled up around us; the tree was lit and decorated ( no glass balls this year as Finbar has already climbed up the tree) the mantle was asparkle; the house was relatively clean, all presents I could wrap have been wrapped so far. I felt at peace.

Since I found Riu Riu Chiu by the Monkees, I've listened to it so much it's become an ear worm, so I'm limiting the amount of times I play it so I won't tire of it like I did Norah Jones.

What a shame. Come away with me was played so often and everywhere I went that I basically haven't listened to that CD in years.

Sometimes too much of a good thing is just too much.

I have to keep that in mind during the holiday season.

How do you fare during the holidays? Stressed beyond belief or have you found the balance between super loving and super hating the holidays?