what you always wanted to know about hanukkah but were afraid to ask

note the author!

ps. thanks to chris m. for sending me the cutout.

ghost of xmas past

for some reason my maternal grandmother is always in my thoughts on xmas, and other holidays. you'll laugh but i swear i could feel her presence all afternoon and evening today.
this is weird because i don't believe in that kind of stuff.

here she is feeding a duck. she liked animals of all sorts, she called them 'bugs', regardless of the animal's species;-)
the other photo is of her in her early twenties (i think).

snuffsnuff and i have been doing what we each do best, me: working, eating, reading peanuts comics, him: being a cat, listening to cbc (favourite carol: 'santa luccia), having his tummy rubbed, trying to prevent me from reading peanuts so i can attend to his ears as well

family called once already, they will call again tonight.

WESOLYCH $WIAT, F.!
WESOLYCH $WIAT, F.!
WESOLYCH $WIAT, F.!

happy hols, dearies!

"christmas time is here...snowflakes in the air...lalalalalalalalalalalalal..."

just got back....it's beatiful outside, not too cold, kind of misty, yet starry...perfect setting for coming home, back from seeing 'chronicles of narnia. the lion, the witch and the wardrobe'.

i'm going to say only one thing about the film for now (as most of you probably haven't seen it yet), mr. tumnus stole the show, in my opinion.
mr. baggins can go stuff himself!
fauns rock!

to expand on jer's post's theme of today, here's my own xmas pick from last yr...
this is my sibling unit, jacob, proving he's also smart.

happy solstice!

that's it for today

more germanic fun!

this is sick! these two wee fellows are max and moritz, i used to read about their unhappy adventures as a child. my granddad gave me the book. i seem to remember him reciting willhelm busch's story from memory, in the original german...i think he learned it as a child also!

thanks to mr. pig for the link;-D

http://www.fln.vcu.edu/struwwel/petereng.html

but my favourite is e.t. hoffman, who also wrote 'the nutckracker'.

have you been naughty?

check out this site...

www.phobe.com/struw

i think i've mentioned one of these stories, 'conrad and his thumbs' to some of you...i've been looking for second hand copies forever now...
what a way to prepare your child for santa's coming.

those veggie lovers

went to student health today...while waiting (half hr, though i had an appointment) i noticed the "brochure wall". there, right between booklets on "safer sex? use condoms!" and "safer oral sex" and "wink, wink, what's in your drink" was the "tips for vegetarians at the u of s" one...
love the context.

for meagan

there's so much xmas music everywhere that i've started playing with this cupid here, who's not an angel at all. he's roman and thus sleeps noel away...people kept bugging him about his lack of holiday spirit...

ps. photo by c.e. dunn, art by k.

i had this kind of tour planned for natalie. didn't work out.

i should rename this blog 'insomniac's end' or something equally fitting.
if only sleep disorder translated into inspiration...
everybody would gain. trust me on that one.

can i recommend 'everything is illuminated'? not a bad film. not bad at all.

she's here!
took me no time at all, thanks to carrie's and nise's helpful bus hints, to get downtown. we even took a bus back!
of course, they lost a piece of her luggage. it's becoming a tradition, or smth.
and of course it was the one that had my xmas present from my mom in it!!! fuckity, fuck, fuck.

first thing n. said after getting off the bus on cumberland and 14th: "i like saskatoon. it's just the right kind of small".
;-))))))
i think i'm gonna bring her to school with me today...

holy penguins and lemmings!
i actually finished my xmas shopping for la familia! and it's only the second trip!
wow.
i've had so much fun i can't sleep now.
well, it could also be the awareness of having to get up at 5:30am and go pick up natalie from the bus depot.
oh!!! fuckshit!!! burned my tongue just now on the hot camomile tea...
o.k. maybe i should go back to bed?
i take it you agree with me, no?
see you....er...today.
k.

ontarian oliphants

i know, it's corny, but i couldn't help myself;-)))

adventures in retail

first attempt at christmas shopping...
i actually managed to find something, though not what i was looking for, obviously.
i don't know if it's cause it is tuesday, or maybe cause it's only dec. 6th, but i haven't noticed any scenes of desperation or pandemonium...
one complaint, however, THERE ARE NO PENGUINS IN THIS CITY, to buy or steal.

second attempt planned for thursday afternoon.
wish me luck.

elegantly wasted

all i can say is that i had fun, got smashed and can't remember a thing i said. so don't come bringing issues to me.
the white frock was much more comfortable than expected, even despite its attempts at revealment.
new fiona apple on the reels right now. goes well with my 'drunk's guilt'.
i have a sneaky suspition not much will get done today. best policy in such situations is to stick to domestic chores and/or crafts, plus a trip to the movies in the evening...

it's snowing consistently now...i'm about to brave the walk to broadway (about 20mins) to get my 'secret santa' gift and groceries.

"in oranges and women courage is often taken for insanity"

"Beware the barrenness of a too busy life." - Socrates

thought i'd give you something to write on your wrist, for use this holiday season.
i know we all have VERY good reasons to keep ourselves busy, but...

since jerome posted his, i'm posting mine. this is jer's and meaghie's pig, ahten (spll?) as rudolph, the rednose raindeer. the wee fellow works himself silly every xmas trying to deliver gifts to us all. he takes his job very seriously. as you can tell from the hat.

on the first day of xmas....

this is my super early xmas present, or a wee bit early st. nicolas' day present, from nise!!! those of you who know it, no explanation needed about my elation (oh, a rhyme!).
those who don't know the book...it causes out loud laughter in public places, loss of interest in things grownup, complete disregard of one's schedule, and many, many more painful disadvantages...
don't say i didn't warn you.

guest on the way!

just received word my baby cousin natalie is arriving in town on dec. 9th, 6:30am! here she is last xmas in my parents' (yet unrenovated) kitchen, with some of my mother's baking. she's eying them carefully, picking out the best proportioned one to steal later...i'm telling you, the girl is better than the arfull dodger. fingers of rubber and glue. we have to chain the door to the sweets cupboard when she comes over for a visit.
i guess that means i also have to clean my place. hey, d. wanna come over and give me another xmas gift?
k.