WHITE

The day began, at 4:40 this morning. Something awakened me... but what? The anticipation that perhaps there would be a delayed opening of schools, perhaps. The jolt I felt at being awake impelled me to the curtained window: WHITE. Only about an inch, but covering the road, not just the grass. I crept like a mouse downstairs to the television- the easiest way to check for closing information on the schools access channel. Zilch. Still. Now, at 4:45 I was too close to the witching hour to go back to bed right away. At 5:00, that magical time for children all over our County, the schools must post the inclement weather information for the day. And if no delay? Well, I'd have less than an hour to catch those last few elusive "Zzzz's" before becoming the family alarm clock, valet, personal chef, and chauffeur.

4:50. A sound approached. Like the Zamboni of the apocalypse. A snow plow coming nearer. Within moments it was traveling down our street, a cascade of sparks flying in a 2 1/2 foot arc around it and 8 feet behind it, though doing little to bend the ice coating our street to its will. PORTENT.

5:00. Nothing. 5:01 the familiar green banner appears across the screen. SCHOOLS WILL BE CLOSED TODAY.

Now, this afternoon, after little more than some icy rain and wet roadways, the anticipated storm is here. THUNDER CLAP!! And thus begins the hail. LIGHTENING. Dear daughter worries for any risk to her dear fish. Then all tensions abate; the possibility of a gathered snow cone cheer children's spirits, as they each put out their collection receptacle by the back door.








Small icy pills, like medium tapioca pearls, to be covered later by heartier amounts of truer white fluff stuff. Then more THUNDER!! LIGHTENING! THUNDER!!!! Right over our house it seems. And then, the snow that twas deemed to become HEAVY by local meteorologists, which is due to drop 3-10 inches by morning begins to blanket our area. I wish I could successfully snap a pic of it-- so eager, it is coming down in several directions at once!



We shall see, we shall see. Already these pictures seem paltry... we probably have 8-10 inches in just over 5 hours. School is out for another day!

Stay warm dear ones! Safe! And wherever you are, enjoy!








!

xo

The Winds are Changing...Oddly, No longer Haunted

I'm here, and yet not. I mean, I am present, and yet not entirely showing you myself. When I first ventured here, I was spurred on by mysterious uncanny events, only eluded to, and only addressed in one post, which quickly returned to draft form.

I am not longer haunted by those events. And yet I am a bit haunted I realize, in terms of this blog. A bit of a see-through version of myself. And that's "flimsy", not "transparent", mind you. I have been finding my way here. I am glad. But my anonymity, blamed on the mysterious and not so mysterious, and on trying to claim a bit of place for my own little self, I realize now has been part of a process of becoming. I am becoming, am moving forward, am different.Like the characters in Enchanted April, in coming here, I removed myself from "friends and family affection" only to find that in the restorative afterglow of so magical a place, "I must share!" So it has been good. And this is a good place still, for sharing the thoughts I've come to enjoy expressing!

But now I feel I am ready to own the synthesis of self which has occurred and which is occurring, which I wasn't looking for, but which began nonetheless. My other parts shall not be anonymous...

I couldn't have done it without all of you! Without your presence, interaction, (dare I say friendship?) and certainly INSPIRATION.

I'd like to take a moment and highlight just a few special examples, very cool bloggers who've warmed my heart in the blogosphere...

Ms. Kathleen: Co-author of the WHAT DID YOU HAAAAAAVE FOR BREAKFAST Show, who inspired me to begin my own blog, and my oldest dearest friend in the world. Thank you, my sister. I need to be a better friend to you my dear one. Need to bridge the distance. Life is too short! (Congratulations to her on her new Photography Business, too!) xo

Amanda: Whose poetry is both literally and figuratively haunting, and whose newfound friendship is a miracle of the Internet.

Ciara: Whose blogging is transformative of place and inspiring of spirit. Her multifaceted talented & artistic heartfelt approach is one I greatly admire & certainly aspire towards.

Lisa: Whose artistry in great food posts, film spoofs and more are food for the soul . Besides I want her "Ladybird". Which is not in any way related to a Unicorn. (I don't think.)

Noreen: Whose approachable, open, heartfelt dedication to healing is inspiring on it's own. Her posts so often seem to be just what I need, so I count her as a miracle.

Puanani: Whose poetic views into life and into her garden are restorative, and whose approach to peace is an inspiring example.

Pamela: Whose posts in my opinion should really be gathered in a lovely hand bound book, rather than on any computer screen. Edward would deliver the updates just before dawn, or in early afternoon during tea or coffee.

Peter: Who as far as I know, has never visited here! But who has always been more than solicitous of my visits to his place, and whose humor and whose beautiful photographic chronicling of his England & perhaps attempts to halt time passing are a real draw for me. Thanks, Mr. A.

As to the Where, you are all welcome. Where I'm going if you like. If you want to know my identity, new "location", feel free to ask.

I will likely visit you from either place, whether you do or not. In that case, in some instances, some of you may or may not know me, know that it's me then. That's okay.

Circe will stay here. And though I will go on, newly blogging as myself, I will still "inhabit" her here. How could I give up this magical place with you all still in it? You who have as much as I, made this place and experience what it is for me? No longer haunted... but definitely ENCHANTED.

Thank you ALL! Thank you Amanda, Ciara, Lisa, MS. K! Thank you Pamela, Tutta, Miss Pine, Peter! Thank you, Bary, Ashliegh, MAGDELENA! It's in part because of all of you that I feel free to move onwards fullstop.

Sheesh...
I'll be around! Still Haunting you could say...

I just wanted to say Thank You.

The ORACLE has spoken!! ;)



:)


XOXO


Above image: Circe by John William Waterhouse

Warming... PRETENDERS

Well, the weather here is winter weather today, but California winter, which I LOVE... After highs of 18 F several days last week, and waking at 6 am to a wind chill factor of 6 F... Today's 55 degree high had me HIGH... (Sorry Tutta!) I love snow, but for me, these respites in the weather, severe or not, are lovely punctuation to my days... Driving with the windows down, in a cotton shirt and tank top, my faded Levi's and short boots take on a different connotation... I won't say it's warm, but comfortable, refreshing, enlivening... Blasting The Pretenders, I am taken back, to a different decade, a different coast... My cynical East Coast Cave Dwelling ways have been replaced by my alter ego: California Girl... I'm body and soul walking back from the Oaks, with my oh so individual haircut; shoulder length with bangs, with bright yellow cellophane die job on the side where it is shaved... earphones blasting... could have been The Pretenders... my little lace up boots, brand new, clicking on the sidewalk, my oversized men's blazer getting warm, Wayfarers on, SPECIAL BEAT SERVICE t-shirt, turquoise overdied pencil jeans that day... oh no, I did NOT look like Debbie Gibson, but that is what it sounds like, from way back here, I guess. No head bands for me-- I'm too tough, too chic, too unique... boy, what was I thinking? it's farther than I thought...

Today, it's an SUV, and one handed air guitar while I drive... but that's ok. Because my feet don't hurt, my heart doesn't hurt... very much... and the lyrics all have meaning for me now, though I wish they didn't

MY BABY

I WANT YOU TO LOVE ME
THAT'S ALL I WANT FROM YOU
I WANT YOU TO LOVE ME
ONE DAY


I KNOW I'M A PEASANT
DRESSED AS A PRINCESS
BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE
TO TAKE MY CLOTHES AWAY


IF I COULD SHOW YOU
SOME HAPPINESS
THEN I WOULD FEEL
LIKE A REAL PRINCESS
THAT TO ME WOULD BE SUCCESS
MY BABY


I SEEN YOU DANCIN'
A NATURAL BEAUTY
YOU MAKE THIS DIVE
SEEM SUBLIME

YOU REALLY GET TO THE HEART OF THE MUSIC
YOU'RE THE POETRY OF TIME


IF THERE'S A METHOD
TO WRITING A SONG
HOW COME I'M GETTING IT WRONG
YOU WRITE THE BEAUTIFUL SONGS
BABY


C'MON, C'MON, C'MON BABY
TAKE MY HAND
C'MON, C'MON, C'MON SHOW ME
TO THE LOVE LAND


CAN THIS REALLY HAPPEN
IN THIS DAY AND AGE
SUDDENLY

TO JUST TURN THE PAGE
LIKE WALKING ON STAGE
MY BABY

by The Pretenders