I Am This Woman

It’s all around us all the time. But this time of year, the matters of life and death are on our minds more poignantly, and I have to wonder why. Both in a shake my fist at the sky kind of way, and a tender headtilt “there, there” kind of way.

Death. A car ran a red light last Monday and could have killed me, had I not been distracted as my light turned green. I finally putt-putted out into the intersection, only to see a silver streak of sedan go zooming in front of my car with six feet to spare. Another two seconds either way, and someone would be dead. I drop off the Kid at school, and then get dead. Not a great way to start the week, in thought or in actuality. (more…)

You know, I can quit any time I want. I really can. I just don’t want to do it with no notice, and gradually over the course of a busy morning of impending deadlines.

I suspect Time Warner’s infamous local disservice because when I checked my voice mail, I listened to Fembot speaking as though she were standing in front of a very large fan.

In any case, with spotty service, I had to resort to the telephone to do business. I ran some errands in advance of supremely cold weather tomorrow, sat with the Kid who was home sick from school, and managed to wrap some presents for mailing tomorrow. In other words, I was not allowed to sit in a chair for 8 hours staring at a screen.

Not too shabby.

One bonus of not working online but sitting and cleaning up the desktop is that I ran across some cool photos from last Christmas.

Zilker Park Tree, originally uploaded by tigerwillow.

Call Him Flash, originally uploaded by tigerwillow.

For a few brief moments, the light flashy thing the Kid bought with his allowance lit up the night.

Thanks, Jette, Chip and esteemed panel. This entry is a Holidailies “Best of…”

In other blogs, at other times, I have always promised to write about Threadgill’s, and tonight’s the night.

Way way back in the 70s, when both my middle brother (four years older than me) and I lived at home, we became completely disenchanted grown-ups (20somethings), and decided to Go Out on Christmas Eve. The parental units were insisting on watching TV that night, instead of the usual candles and music, and besides, we pretty much knew the clockwork precision of how the evening (and the drinking) would go.

No, we were Big Kids now (albeit still living at home) and one of us could drive, so by god, we were Going Out. My brother and I never agreed on very much as kids or adults, but we did agree on one very important thing. If Threadgill’s is just a waystation on the road to Heaven, we are not going any farther because everything we could ever want from the Afterlife is on the menu at this Austin restaurant. (more…)

The idea behind this blog is examining the creative process and creativity in the context of the many aspects of one’s self. They all combine to form the woman (or man), and they inform one another. Being a better writer makes me a better mom; being a crappy mom, recognizing it and correcting it can make me a better friend, writer, mom; being a photographer gives me insight into outdoor writing, etc.

If I were to follow the Holidailies writing prompt strictly, I might talk about getting rid of some stuff that was weighing me down, of unpacking boxes, of a garage sale and thrift store run. I might mention Flylady and my shiny sink, or I might touch on the letting go of my dead loved ones, both the good and the bad memories. (more…)

Howdy and Happy Holidays, people that I haven’t been in touch with but really really wanted to give an update on my life to…

I haven’t received one of these wonderful holiday letters in a very long time. I wonder if that’s because I secretly mock them? Way back in 1987, I wrote such a letter that included four possible scenarios of how I was doing. Had my year been a yuppie’s dream, all carefully planned and organized? Was I the new owner and operator of a muffler repair shop, breeding pitbulls? Was I working on a dissertation on Latvian hankerchief borders, or had I succumbed to a stereotypical paradigm of male domination and patriarchy by taking up with a professor? (more…)

Every year, I try to pick a charity to focus my attention on in small ways. It’s usually not a huge outlay of cash or effort, but I do focus positive energy in that direction, and the result is that every small effort builds up and actually does make a difference, a contribution.

It is clear from his tears that the Kid wants to give money and time to the local animal shelter. I will steel myself against bringing home some sweet mophead. No can do. But we can support them in other ways, and I will support the Kid in this.
And as a departure from the usual family solidarity, I am going to support this organization: World Care, esp their books and school supplies program. Holidailies too is getting into the act, so my vote is to designate this group for our little project.

Tonight is the choir social - first Monday of every month is our social wherein we make merry after rehearsal. I am one of the volunteers taking food (others bring wine! yay!). So first with the singing and then with the eating!

In Hungary last month, I ate something amazing, and I’m trying to replicate it tonight. A semi-soft, creamy cheese sorta like Camenbert or Brie, dredged in paprika. Not that stuff from McCormack either. No, the Real Stuff. I was gifted with some gorgeous homemade paprika - two kinds actually. One hot and one mild. And it’s gorgeous stuff. I’ll never go back to the box, which means I’ll have to get the recipe for making it. (I bet it involves drying the peppers?) (more…)

The results of my weekend “away” from the keyboard are in.

We have outdoor lighting, we went to the Hanging of the Greens and sang, and the living room is dusted, sorted and ready for the big drama of a tree. (Not one green was hung; they are all pre-hung these days. Probably some lawyer thing.) Tomorrow, I’ll break out the chili pepper lights. We’re still “from Arizona” enough to get away with them.

Luminarias out front are staked down because luckily I put them up in a high wind (La Niña?). I’ll keep layering the lighting out there until I get bored/tired of it. And we have to remember to walk around the block at night to get the full effect. (more…)