Thursday, November 30, 2006

Brrrrr....

E's snow hit Oklahoma today. Freezing rain and heavy winds put the kibosh on school for the kids. Now everything is covered by a nice layer of snow. They got to hang out with cranky sick mom today. I'm sure they were thrilled.

Unlike E's bad weather, ours should be over by tomorrow when we're predicted to hit temps in the 40s (4 C). Duncan isn't very excited by the prospect of school. I must admit that I am.

Passion & Perfection updated so you've got a ton to read tonight. Enjoy it and stay warm if it's cold in your neck of the woods.

Tamara

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Wednesday, November 29, 2006

And the verdict is...

...it's a cold. Yep. Felt crappy all day with a head full of stuff. I did nothing except lay on the couch and watch the History Channel. Spaghetti for dinner (sauce freezes well) and we're good for the evening if I choose to camp out in my bed tonight. Wish me luck when it comes to not biting family members' heads off.


Tamara

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Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Aaaaa-choo!

I've either caught a cold or I'm having one helluva allergy attack. Either way, it sucks. Enjoy your updates.

Tamara

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Monday, November 27, 2006

Snow

It fell all day here in the outskirts of Seattle. I continued to go out and crunch about in it to make sure I wasn't crazy. I even took pictures and sent them to Tamara throughout the day, hardly believing it myself. Unfortunately my daughter wasn't with me during this grand time of wonder. And I presume it will be melted away prior to her appearance on Tuesday...bummer.

As a child I loved the rare gift of snow. We saw very little of it unless we drove to the mountains (we did this often). But there was something splendid in zooming out that front door layered in clothing to go enjoy the splendor of snow in the front yard.

I still enjoy it even as an adult. Perhaps living in a place that gets tempted by snow, but only a couple of times a year and usually with amounts that equal nothing, makes it magical. So today I'll enjoy that gift from nature with the hope of more soon to follow.

Now off to your updates. Enjoy them.

Elisa

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Sunday, November 26, 2006

Birthday Boy

Today is my oldest son's 11th birthday. Since his birthday always falls near Thanksgiving we postpone the party with his friends until a week later. Today we did the family party. His grandparents came over and we ate Indian tacos (Native American Indian not the continent--it's an Oklahoma thing) and opened presents. It was very low-key and relaxing. Just the way I like the family party to be. I made a small cake because next week he'll be getting a cake for his roller skating birthday party. My moist chocolate cake recipe is perfect for this because it's tiny, easy to make and tastes really good. In fact, it's almost all gone thanks to two boys who keep cutting away pieces.

Hope everyone's weekend has been restful. Enjoy the updates.

Tamara

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Saturday, November 25, 2006

Recipe Night

We once again have been given some words and a recipe for your enjoyment. So without further ado here's Hope.

On Thursday, I prepared my Thanksgiving Gumbo. In my family, no holiday dinner is complete without Gumbo. But Gumbo is not just for holidays. I prepare it when the weather becomes chilly (for Houstonians, that's anything below 70 degrees!) when I or anyone I know have/has a cold, or sometimes simply when the mood hits me. Mind, it doesn't hit me very often given the time that it takes, but sometimes I surprise myself.

Gumbo is a southern Louisiana soup. The word Gumbo roughly means 'a little bit of everything'. When I lived with my parents - forever ago - my mother and I always cooked together. O.K., so I chopped vegetables or seasoning as my mother calls them; and, generally did what ever she said. When we cooked Gumbo, it took a couple of days. Why? Everything had to be fresh. The day before, we peeled and de-veined the shrimp--typically about 2-4 pounds. We picked crabs for crabmeat. And finally, we sliced fresh okra. Now, I prepare it in about 4 hours--here's how:

1. Spray a large pan or cookie tray with nonstick cooking spray. Turn the oven on 400 if gas or about 375 with electic and dump in about 32oz or 2lbs of fresh or frozen Okra - I use frozen, it works the same no matter what my mother says! Allow the okra to cook--check on it occasionally and stir it on the tray. It takes a while. The okra is finished when it is brown and no longer - for lack of a better description, slimy. It takes about 35-50 minutes depending on your oven, the size of your pan. The larger your pan/tray, the quicker the okra cooks because then it's easier to spread it out.

2. While the okra cooks or before starting, chop 1 large onion, 3 stalks of celery, 1 large green bell pepper, and 4 large cloves of garlic.

3. Boil about 2-3 chicken breasts or between 1-1 1/2 pounds.

4. Slice 2lbs of smoked sausage (Choose your favorite) I use two different types. One is hot (spicy) and one is medium (spicy). Put the sausage in a large pan and bake the sausage for about 15 minutes in the oven with the okra. After 15 minutes, take the sausage out and put the sausage on a plate that is padded with paper towels to drain the excess oil from the sausage

5. Chop 6-8 shallots and put them aside in separate bowl

6. In a separate large skillet, put in about 2 tablespoons of canola oil (I don't actually measure, I'm just guestimating.) and about 5 tablespoons of white flour (same applies for this amount as above). Cook this on low stirring constantly until the roux or gravy is dark brown.

7. When the roux is dark brown, slowly pour in 8ozs. of chicken broth (canned is fine) while stirring constantly so that the roux doesn't turn lumpy.

8. After the broth and roux are mixed thoroughly, add to the stockpot with the cooked Okra. Then add about 3-4 quarts of water, depending upon the size of your pot. Also, add chopped vegetables--onion, celery, bell pepper, and garlic. Also, chop boiled chicken breast and add it to the pot. You might choose - I do - to add the water in which the chicken breasts were cooked as part of the 3-4 quarts of water. Also, add red pepper flakes to taste, black pepper and salt to taste, and 4-6 bay leaves. Cook this on about medium high for 45-65 minutes.

9. After the above has cooked for the prescribed amount of time add cleaned and de-veined shrimp, fresh crab meat and sausage

10. Cook for about 7 minutes then add shallots.

11. Cook for 10 more minutes then turn off pot.

12. Let Gumbo sit for about 30 minutes.

13. While waiting for the Gumbo to 'set', cook a pot of white or brown rice - I prefer brown.

14. Put a scoop of rice in a bowl then ladle Gumbo on top.

So there it is - Gumbo in 14 easy steps.

HBJ


Remember to thank Hope for sharing her recipe we certainly appreciate it!

Now off to the updates, enjoy 'em.

Elisa

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Friday, November 24, 2006

Lazy Day

Had a lazy post-Thanksgiving day. Mike and Duncan slept most of the day away after camping out all night in front of a store. Yes, they partook of that strange American custom known as Black Friday. Don't ask. It's very scary.

Cal, mom and I went to see a very keen movie today--Happy Feet. If you've got a kid in your life, definitely take them to see this movie. Heck...even if you don't have a kid in your life, go see Happy Feet.

Enough chitchat, off to the updates!

Tamara

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Thursday, November 23, 2006

Food for Thought

Tonight in the USA we celebrate Thanksgiving. A tradition packed with the intake of food...sometimes way too much food. But it also is consumed with friends, family or both. In this moment of time one will hope people can remember the good and all the love that surrounds us.

Seek the moments for what they are, special and unique. The unknown...enjoy and absorb it. For all of you in other grand lands the words can still be something special. Today, tonight, tomorrow will never be repeated, create what you want and find your joy within it

Live life, it seems to be short.

One more comment prior to getting to your updates. Kris Dresen who is a comic book writer (usually Tamara's world) is starting something nifty and I really hope she will continue and be inspired more. Check out her newest creation. I think it's worth your time.

Now off to the updates, enjoy 'em.

Elisa

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Wednesday, November 22, 2006

We couldn't resist....

Amy sent more recipes and two of them seemed like they'd be good for a holiday meal. Since Thanksgiving day is tomorrow for those of us in the US I figured I'd post these just in case some of you are wanting to try something new.
Mashed Sweet Potatoes and Parsnips

2 large sweet potatoes , peeled and cut into 1 inch pieces
2 medium parsnips, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch slices
1/4 cup evaporated skimmed milk
1 1/2 Tablespoons butter or margarine
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 cup chopped fresh chives

Combine sweet potatoes and parsnips in large saucepan Cover with cold water, bring to a boil over high heat.Reduce heat, simmer, uncovered for 15 minutes or until vegetables are tender.

Drain water from vegetables, return to pan. Add milk, butter, salt and nutmeg. Mash potato mixture to desired consistency over low heat. Stir in chives. Serve warm.

Broccoli Supreme

2 pkgs (10 ounces) frozen chopped Broccoli
1 cup fat free reduced sodium chicken broth
2 Tablespoons reduced fat mayonaise
2 teaspoons instant minced onion (optional)

Place broccoli in saucepan, stir in chicken broth, mayonaise and onion. Simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until broccoli is tender. Uncover, continue to simmer, stirring occasionally until most of the liquid has evaporated. Serve warm.

Amy


Once again, thank Amy for sending these. She's a great source and we'd love for her to know she's very much appreciated.

Tamara

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Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Hail

A splendid day all around. Heavy rain and wind covered my city and now as I type thunder and hail fall happily. I be diggin' it. Hopefully you all are having a lovely day/evening and, for you folks down under, may the morning be splendid.

Tonight only a small ramble. Plenty of time to go enjoy the stories. Enjoy 'em!

Elisa

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Monday, November 20, 2006

More Recipes!

Thanksgiving Day is coming up this Thursday for us Yanks and Cherokee Echols thought she'd join in the Thanksgiving recipe sharing fun.
The Definitive Mashed Potato with Roasted Garlic

For the Garlic Paste:
1 pound whole garlic heads
1/2 cup pure olive oil
Gray sea salt and freshly ground pepper
2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes
3 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 tablespoon garlic paste
1 1/2 cups heavy cream, or more to taste
Sea salt, preferably gray sea salt, and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 to 2/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Start with the roasted garlic: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Peel the outermost layers of skin off the heads of garlic. Cut off the top 1/3 of the heads to open the cloves. Heat olive oil in a large oven-safe saute pan over medium heat. Add garlic, cut sides up, and saute for about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer pan to the oven and roast for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool. Pop garlic cloves from their skins and place cloves in a blender, along with any olive oil left in the pan. Puree until smooth; you should have a paste-like consistency.

For the potatoes: Cube the potatoes. Then put the potatoes in a large saucepan with salted cold water and place in the refrigerator overnight. The next day, add some more salt and then bring to a boil over high heat. Cook until tender, about 10 minutes. Drain well, place potato cubes in a food mill, and grind to remove skins. Alternatively, smash the potatoes with a large fork or potato masher.

Heat 1 tablespoon of the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat until the butter stops foaming and turns a light brown. Add the garlic paste and cook quickly. Add the cream, season, to taste, with salt and pepper, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and fold in potatoes with a wooded spoon or large whisk. Add the remaining butter by tablespoons, stirring after each addition. Stir in the extra-virgin olive oil. Season with salt and pepper, to taste, and serve.

Sweet Potato Pie

2 sweet potatoes, about 10 ounces each
1 3/4 cups fine graham cracker crumbs (about 15 whole crackers, finely ground)
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
8 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 stick), melted

2 large eggs
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
1/2 cup heavy cream
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Wrap the sweet potatoes tightly in 2 layers of aluminum foil and roast them in the oven until very soft, about 1 hour and 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool.

In a bowl, stir the graham cracker crumbs and brown sugar until well combined. Add the butter and mix until the crumbs are evenly moistened. Press firmly and evenly on the bottom and sides of a 9-inch pie plate to create a crust, being sure there are no cracks. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes or until golden. Remove from the oven.

Meanwhile, make the filling: Unwrap the potatoes and peel them. Put the flesh into a bowl and mash well with a fork. Add the eggs, 1/2 cup brown sugar, cream, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla and whip until very smooth with a whisk. Pour the filling into the partially baked crust. Sprinkle about 1 tablespoon brown sugar over top and bake in the center of the oven until set, about 40 minutes.

Allow the pie to cool completely before cutting. Serve at room temperature.

Pink Stuff

1 Can crushed Pineapple (drained)
1 Can Cherry pie filling or 1 small container frozen strawberries
1 package Cream Cheese
1 Container frozen Cool Whip
1/2 cup Pecans
1 banana sliced

Blend cool whip and cream cheese together then fold in remaining ingredients. Chill to set before serving.

Cherokee


Thank Cherokee for sharing and feel free to send recipes our way any ol' time.

Tamara

p.s. Nice to see you writing again, Minerva. Keep it up.

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Sunday, November 19, 2006

Recipe Night Returns!

Yippee! Amy sent us recipes! We've missed you, Amy, since leaving our old post so thanks for sharing. Amy has kindly sent some holiday recipes that I felt needed to be posted prior to the upcoming celebration of Thanksgiving day here in the US.
For those counting calories or sugar content....

Hidden Pumpkin Pies

1 1/2 cups solid-pack pumpkin
1 cup evaporated skimmed milk
1/2 cup cholesterol free egg substitute or 2 eggs
1/4 cup splenda
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla, divided
3 egg whites
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/3 cup honey

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine pumpkin, evaporated milk, egg substitute, splenda, pumpkin pie spice and 1 teaspoon vanilla in large bowl. Pour into 6 (6 ounce) custard cups or 6 (3/4 cup) souffle dishes. Place in shallow baking dish or pan. Pour boiling water around custard cups to depth of 1 inch. Bake 25 minutes.

Meanwhile , beat egg whites, cream of tartar and remaining 1/4 teaspoon vanilla with electric mixer at high speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add honey, beating until stiff peaks form. Spread egg white mixture over top of hot pumpkin pies. Return to oven. Bake 15 minutes or until tops of pies are golden brown. Let stand 10 minutes. Serve warm.

Enlightened Herb Stuffing

6 slices (8 ounces) whole wheat, rye or white bread cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1 tablespoon margarine
1 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup thinly sliced celery
1/2 cup thinly sliced carrot
1 cup fat free reduced sodium chicken broth
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Nonstick cooking spray

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place bread cubes on baking sheet. Bake 10 minutes or until dry. Melt margarine in large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, celery and carrot. Cover and cook 10 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Add broth, thyme, sage, paprika and pepper to saucepan. Bring to a simmer. Stir in bread pieces, mix well. Remove pan from heat. Coat 1 1/2 quart baking dish with cooking spray. Spoon stuffing into baking dish. Cover and bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until hot.

Amy


Make sure to thank Amy for her recipes. We hope she'll share more with us in the future. Also if you have a recipe you would like to share, please do!

Now back to the regularly scheduled program. Enjoy those updates.

Elisa

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Saturday, November 18, 2006

Santa Wishes

Mom, Cal and I went to the mall yesterday to see about picking up a gift for my Great Aunt Betty. We were surprised to see they already had Santa set up for the kids. There was no line and Cal decided he was ready to place his order.

He sat on Santa's lap and looked very serious, nodding a lot and talking occasionally. When his picture had been taken and he was done, mom asked him what he'd told Santa he wanted. "A blue ukelele and a Santa surprise."

Needless to say, I was surprised. In all of our Santa loot talks he'd never mentioned a ukelele let alone a blue one. I admit to panicking slightly then I thought, "Ebay." I checked later that night and what do you know but Ebay had a blue ukelele.

So...if you get stuck this Christmas, don't hesistate to check for that oddball gift on Ebay.

Tamara

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Friday, November 17, 2006

Hype Time!

One of my favorite authors Nicola Griffith is offering something grand at a steal of a price. Check it out!
For the first time, Nicola Griffith will teach an online writing workshop. It's sponsored by STAR, the Southern Tier Authors of Romance. You can register for this month-long class now.

February 2007 Online Writing Workshop

"Vivid fiction: how to breathe life into people and places," by Nicola Griffith.

Maximum: app. 20 students (if needed, we will offer an encore workshop)

Readers want to live in the world of the story. They love to feel what the characters feel, to do what they do, to move through their world and to know that world viscerally: to taste it, hear it, feel it on their skin. When readers close a good book, the story lives on for them, as vividly as a personal memory. It's through living your story that readers fall in love with your book and make it their own.

This online workshop will use discussion, lectures, exercises, and critique sessions--of published works and your own work-in-progress--to show you:

- how to move a living body through a time and place so that the reader feels what the character feels
- how to use a range of senses--smell, sound, touch--to describe surroundings
- how the order in which things happen (narrative grammar) makes all the difference in putting a reader inside the character's skin
- how and why word choice matters
- how to do all this without slowing the story down
- how to draw lessons from your own favourite novels

Description is the foundation on which your fiction will live or die. It is essential for a vivid reading experience.

Nicola Griffith is the author of four novels: Ammonite (Ballantine, Del Rey 1993), Slow River (Ballantine, Del Rey 1995), The Blue Place (Avon, Perennial, 1998), Stay (Nan A. Talese, Vintage, 2002), and editor of the Bending the Landscape anthology series (Overlook). She's written numerous essays on writing. Her work has won 12 national and international awards (including the Nebula Award, the World Fantasy Award, the James Tiptree Award, five Lambda Literary Awards) and been translated into nine languages. In the UK (she's English), she taught women's self-defense for five years--so she knows how to get physical. (Her forthcoming novel, Always (Riverhead, 2007), is essentially two books in one: a novel and a how-to manual.) She's taught writing for a variety of organisations ranging from the Arts Council of Great Britain to Clarion West. This will be her first online teaching experience; she expects it to be a blast.

Registration details:
Each workshop costs $15 for members of the Romance Writers of America, $20 for others.

All writers are welcome. If you know how to send e-mail, then you've mastered all of the technical skills you need to participate in our workshops. (The workshop coordinator will help with any computer issues.) You will be automatically enrolled in the workshop's listserve just before the class begins. All of the messages posted by the instructor and other students will be delivered directly to your inbox, although you may also view them from the Yahoo website. The instructor will post lessons twice a week for four weeks. Most of the lessons will include a writing exercise or question to prompt group discussion. Students are encouraged to share their writing and thoughts with the group but this is optional.

To register by check or money order:
Please complete the form below and send it with a check or money order (in U.S. dollars) payable to STAR Writers Workshop to:

Jill Shultz, STAR Workshop Coordinator
4 Monroe Street
Binghamton, NY 13904
USA

To register via Paypal:
Send the payment to starpay@gmail.com. And send your information to Jill at js264@cornell.edu, including the workshop(s) of your choice, your name, e-mail address, and RWA number, if applicable.

Registration form:
Please send this form plus your payment to the address above.

Your name

Your e-mail address:

Workshop:

RWA Member? Yes/No RWA number:

Total amount enclosed:

To learn about the 4 other STAR writing workshops, please visit our website after January 1st: members.aol.com/STARRWA/workshop.pdf.


Small update tonight, so enjoy 'em!

Elisa

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Thursday, November 16, 2006

Ramble from Linda

Lucky you. A ramble from phair this week and now one from Linda. Most excellent.
Fun and Games

The other night I decided to take the girls out to dinner. Told them it was entirely their night, so they get to choose where we go. I knew I made a mistake the minute the words left my mouth. They wanted to go to Peter Piper Pizza. Oh great. Semi-bad pizza and tons of video games. So off we went.

My mother hates the pizza but loves the games. Victoria gets a kick out of watching her 73 year old grandmother kick butt on some of the games. One reason the girls love this place is because some of the games give out tickets for your scores. With these tickets you can buy really cheesy, cheap toys.

The only reason I was there was to hand out the money so Mom, Ellie and Victoria could play the games. I don't play for two reasons...one...I am in a wheelchair and it is hard to get back there to play...two...I really hate video games. LOL

So my main job was to guard the pizza and be the ticket holder/counter. After a while this got to be a serious job. Mom and Victoria found this one game that really kicked out the tickets. By the end of the evening, Victoria had 875 tickets and Ellie had 692, for a total of 1567. They took forever picking out their toys but finally they left with a large bag of little cheap toys.

As we were driving home the girls started playing with some of the toys. Chinese finger handcuffs, stickers, rubber stamps (I ended up with pink snake on my cheek). They had these little plastic suction cup things that you turn inside out and it pops up high in the air when you sit it down. But it is also great fun sticking it to your forehead. Side effect of this is it leaves a perfectly round hickey on your forehead. (I found this the next morning when I saw myself in the mirror).

One toy they had was a small 2 inch Frisbee you fire from a hand-held launcher. At one point Ellie aimed the launcher at me. I just barely got the words "My window is open" out before she fired. Yepper, right out the window it flew and into the open back window of a passing car. Stunned I turned back to the girls. Mom, who was driving, started giggling which set the rest of us laughing.

As we stopped for a red light minutes later, I hear dVictoria call my name. I turned around in my seat to see her with her nose pressed up against the window. She giggled and pointed to sometthing. I looked out my window to see right next to us the car that had our Frisbee. Victoria asked, "Do you think if we ask nicely, he'll give us back our Frisbee?" She nearly fell off her seat laughing.

This of course set the rest of us on another laughing fit. By this time the rest of the people around us figured we were all completely nuts. Which at this point I think we were.

Linda


I'm with Linda on being the keeper of the tickets. That's the best job because you can sit and read while you do it. Thank Linda for rambling for us once again and enjoy the updates.

Tamara

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Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Recipe Night

You read that correctly. We will hopefully throw one your way on various occasions. Hence...you got a recipe you would like to share? Email it to us and we'll pop it up for everyone and be totally appreciative that you sent it our way.

So tonight I start off with one that was served to me in Oklahoma and has now made its way back to Seattle.

Chili Pot Pie

1 lb. of hamburger meat - brown this
2 small or 1 large can of enchilada sauce (your choice on heat level-red rather than green)
1 can of Ranch Style Beans (or Texas Chili Beans - my favorite)
1 full size bag of Fritos (I use a bit more if available)
Cheddar cheese, Marble jack, Monterey jack cheese (mixture is good), whatever kind of cheese you like on your Mexican food. (I use about a pound)

Additionally you can add 1 small can of green chilies to this. I like adding that green chili salsa you've got (Tamara likes the salsa I buy called Ariba the green version - several spoonfuls.)

Brown your hamburger meat then drain the grease.

Put enchilada sauce, Ranch Style beans, salsa, green salsa, whatever other sauces you want to add in a pan (with the meat) and heat it up. I usually let it cook until it simmers a bit.

Take some of your Fritos and layer the bottom of a casserole pan. Put a layer of cheese there too. Then add your sauce mixture on top of that. Then put the last of your Fritos on top and add more cheese. Put it in a 350-degree oven for about thirty minutes. Your green salsa is really tasty on top of this after it's cooked too.


I call this Frito pie. It's simple and darn tasty, hence works for me.

Now back to your regularly scheduled programming. Enjoy your updates.

Elisa

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Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Blah

Ever have one of those days where you just feel out-of-sorts? A day where laying on the couch is preferable to tackling anything? I decided my favorite Chinese food for dinner might help. Even if it doesn't, it certainly can't hurt.

Tamara

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Monday, November 13, 2006

Water

We have plenty. I wish I were feeling well enough to be able to go outside and walk in it. The wind and rain have captured Seattle...it be splendid. Now not everyone here feels that way as the flooding continues, I do wish them the best, but I must admit I look forward to the next wave headed our way on Wednesday.

My last trip has proven I do not travel well. Those barometric changes are taking their toll on my inner ears and causing havoc. My abilities to walk, talk and do my usual have been affected, hence no work for me today. I spent the whole day taking antihistamines and sleeping. Something that sounds much better to most until the reality of it all happens. Then one just wants their daily routine back and in a big way. One will hope for all that to appear soon.

Now enough of my ramble and onto your updates. Enjoy 'em.

Elisa

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Sunday, November 12, 2006

Ramble from Phair

Yay! A ramble from phair....
I was stunned to read on a balmy middle of November night this week that my small portion of the cosmos was changing. Not so dramatically as protest worthy, to be sure, but enough to change my life in a small but poignant way. You see my worldly view, literally and figuratively, holds Boston at its epicenter. And, even though Boston seems to scream LIBERAL and PROGRESSIVE in the country's political arena, it remains deeply rooted in history. Our daily lives constantly work around the Boston which was, at first, part of the Bay Colony.

One could argue that the history of Boston is, in fact, the history of the United States. So many of our country's founders were from here or associated with our institutions of learning: John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Samuel Adams (the man, not the beer), Ben Franklin was born here, Lincoln roots in the new world took hold in Massachusetts, and the current president graduated from Harvard University.

Yet, it's also a city eager to embrace art, music, and social change. My old neighborhood was the birthplace of both famed painter Child Hassam and Disco diva Donna Summer. The first and only Catholic president was born in Brookline. Kurt Vonnegut lived here and his son still does. In 1783, our Supreme Judicial Court ruled slavery was outlawed by our Constitution. Please note that's a full 80 years before Abe's proclamation which freed nobody. We do all the legal work and he gets all the credit but moving on... 220 years later in a second volley of emancipation fervor, our Supreme Judicial Court ruled that the state cannot arbitrarily prohibit the benefit of civil marriage on a person in an intimate, exclusive union with a person of the same sex.

With that kind of civic resume, you'd think I, as part of such a community, would be racing toward all change.

Shamefully, it's not the case. This week the Boston Globe announced the 79yr old Ritz-Carlton is being bought out by Taj Boston. The structure is an icon on Arlington Street across from the public gardens. It will be controlled by forces outside of Boston. It is a group of unfamiliar power brokers who can not understand the sweet combination of arrogance and innocence which shrouds the Commonwealth's people with unspeakable wisdom.

I do not care about who makes or loses money. But, I care greatly for the Commonwealth. And, of course, myself. You see, I wrote a poem which tried to capture the ugly beauty of the Ritz's barely restrained wealth versus my own poverty one very cold night. The poem was published in the print magazine The Aurorean in 1999. An internet search can't seem to find mention of the publication anymore. I retained my web-rights so I'll post the poem here for you to read.

Changing Directions

Walking down Arlington
toward Commonwealth
moonbeams twinkle
from one wrought iron
spike to the next along
the fences separating concrete
from the soft green of the public gardens
just one leap ahead of my footfalls
a couple is warmed
by the Ritz-Carlton heater
while waiting on a cab
I can never afford
to stay there again
passing, with a momentary
wince of envy,
I continue on my path

--Marguerite Mullaney, 1999

phair
www.phair1.com


Thank phair for rambling and enjoy those updates.

Tamara

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Saturday, November 11, 2006

Tired

A day of catching up on chores and such. Perhaps tomorrow words will come forth for the update.

Until then enjoy the stories.

Elisa

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Friday, November 10, 2006

Insert Witty Title Here

Elisa is on her way home to rainy Seattle. She's leaving warm, sunny California for flooding. A word of warning to any of you flying into the San Diego airport...don't. Okay, so you might not be able to avoid it. Let me just say E's experience at this airport has been unique.

No Buffy fiction again. What's up with that? But you are getting a ton of original stuff and that's definitely a good thing.

Enjoy 'em!

Tamara

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Thursday, November 09, 2006

I hate colds....

Especially ones that drag on and on. Kind of amazing not to have any Buffy updates. Wacky. Okay. I'm short on entertaining words tonight. Stupid cold. Makes me run out of steam around 4 pm.

Enjoy the updates.

Tamara

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Wednesday, November 08, 2006

A Few Words from Zero

I'm off the hook again for words. Ze is finally able to get back online so you're going to get a note of thanks before your updates. Enjoy them both. -- T
I'm back - short one paw but here...

I've got thousands of emails to check... and many more personal good wishes to reply to than I ever thought possible... if you've sent a personal email to me I will reply... just give me a day or so to get round to you all.

I've had two plates put in my shoulder - which has repositioned the collar bone - and now it isn't sticking through the muscle and cutting into the nerves I'm not in screaming agony any more - it's down to a bearable ache. Thw doc had to remove two nerves which had been shredded by broken bone so I have a patch of shoulder that will be forever numb now... good place for a new tattoo yeah??..

They got the bone chips out of my chest wall... unfortunately they couldn't save the rib they came from so I lost that. Which of course means that I only have 2 cracked ribs to deal with now.... hey... gotta look on the bright side right??

I am not allowed to use that arm at all for a month - and then it will need 3 months of gentle physio after that - so I'm out of work for 4 months...

which brings me to my next point... the auction/donation site...

I'm absolutely, totally gobsmacked...

I will be thanking personally as many people as I can who have donated stuff for it... and the fantastic friends who set it up

But... how the F%$& do you say thank you for that??

How do you thank all the xenites who have been so generous?? How do you thank the readers who like my stuff enough to care?? How do you thank the writers who consider me one of their own??

How do you thank all the folks you always held in high esteem, who you regarded as friends without ever thinking they felt the same about you.... who have done so much... . who have demonstrated that friendship runs both ways.... how do you say thank you for this... not just for the material things but thank you for your friendship... thank you for caring

How the hell do you ever say thank you for all this??

I have no idea.... I don't even know where to start

I guess I just start here... like this.... and say

Thank You

Zero


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Tuesday, November 07, 2006

E's Ramble from Carlsbad

Good news. You get words from E tonight. -- T
Traveling is a good thing in most cases. I'm a believer that regardless of where we go one must take the opportunity to see and enjoy what lies in front of us.

Being a lover of the rain and less fond of the sun makes sun destinations harder to visit. But, without a doubt, I can say sunrises and sunsets in these areas can be incredible. Carlsbad, California is where I reside this week. Work has sent me on a quest for knowledge. Luckily it's to a company with others I actually like.

I had very good Mexican food last night and saw an incredible sunset. I'm most definitely looking for more tonight. Also my inability to sleep afforded me the opportunity to see the ocean at sunrise. To live so close to this beauty must be incredible.

Every place has beauty. I live in a city that fits me well, but I can honestly say there hasn't actually been anyplace I've visited as an adult that hasn't gifted me with something amazing.

Today, tonight or whenever remember to look around and seek the wonderful pieces about that place in which you reside. I live amongst trees, hills, mountains with plenty of rain and gray. But the beauty of a desert in its dry harshness and surrounding of rocks is breathtaking. So is the view of miles of flatness surrounding the plains or the miles of ocean amongst sun shining down brightly. All land has beauty as do each of us.

We all take things for granted, just remember once in a while to look closer. Beauty is everywhere within all of us, seek that and only truth and peace can follow.

I've rambled on long enough, now to your updates.

Elisa


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Monday, November 06, 2006

Hot Schmot

You've got me for the next few days because E is in lovely Carlsbad, California for work. Beautiful country, posh hotel room and it's hot. Or so she says. I just laugh at her when she deems 82 (28C) to be hot.

A good update tonight after a slow weekend. Enjoy 'em.

Tamara

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Sunday, November 05, 2006

Last Chance

The auction for Ze ends in a few short hours. Hurry over and consider getting yourself something dandy and all for a good cause. There are some grand items. Consider creating a character in an upcoming short story written by Karin Kallmaker, or how about buying copies of either SX Meagher's or Blayne Cooper's soon to be published novels?

You can always donate directly as well through Paypal link on left hand side of the auction page. This option is available until next Sunday. Can you tell we love Ze?

Now on to the updates. Have a great week.

Elisa

p.s. Happy Bonfire Night to all you Brits.

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Saturday, November 04, 2006

Another rainy day in Seattle....

The rain continues to fall. My disappointment continues to grow as I get closer to having to leave my city for sunny Carlsbad, California. I guess the good news is that I get to come back and, most likely, my rain will still be here.

Hope you are all enjoying your weekend.

Now off to tonight's reminder that tomorrow is the last day of Ze's benefit auction. With tonight's tiny update it gives you the opportunity to take a look and bid away.

Now on to your updates, enjoy 'em.

Elisa

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Friday, November 03, 2006

We're still here! Yeah, not a big surprise but I couldn't think of a title tonight.

The Buffy writers sure have been busy lately. My sinuses are full (yes, this stupid cold drags on) so I'll leave you to it. Enjoy 'em.

Tamara

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Thursday, November 02, 2006

A Perfect Day in Seattle

I hope your view today was as beautiful as mine. Rain. It fell with a grayness covering the sky above and all the incredible colors of the trees dropping their fall leaves preparing for the long sleep of winter.

Unfortunately the grand view from my desk left me unmotivated to actually get work done. Not good since I leave town next week for the sunny skies of Carlsbad, California (no vacation--training). Hence my vacation last week and my absent motivation is only creating a larger "in basket". I best get over it since rain is forecasted through my departure on Monday.

Now a few reminders about receiving some good karma points. Only a few more days left on the auction for Ze. Please note...things have been added daily so check it out. Also another reminder that all these great stories we read are because of the effort and time given freely by the authors. Please return the favor and give them some feedback.

Off to the updates, enjoy!

Elisa

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Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Idle Chatter

I survived Halloween. I did not, however get rid of all my candy. Bummer. I even encouraged kids to grab big handsful of the stuff. My friend The Keith encouraged me to hand out comics and trading cards instead of candy. I probably could. I've got about a long box full of comics that I have no use for. They're all extras from the comic shop and I may do that next year. But I'll probably have candy too.

My cold is well on its way out of my body. Hallelujah! I credit that to a good night of sleep finally. Funny that sleeping on the living room floor isn't conducive to kicking a cold. Cal is still hacking but his ears haven't bothered him since the doctor visit. I do wish he'd get his appetite back but I understand things just don't taste good when you've got a stuffed up nose.

The auction for Ze is going gangbusters. More stuff has been added. Keep checking and bid, bid, bid.

Tamara

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