Magic Windows #10
by angeliska on February 4, 2010
Here’s a wee quickie mini-birthdee review, in magic window form,
for your delight and delectation. As always, the Magic Windows series
is a portal into my world in snippets captured my my trusty telephone camera.
The full details (or as much as I can reveal) of my birthday adventures to
be revealed soonly, but for now: a little taste of some of the magic…
My dear friend Janette, confectioner extraordinaire created for me
this incredible birthday cake. I wish I could explain to you how delicious
it was, but honestly it left me bereft of words adequate to convey the
marvel of that perfect icing, those triple layers, the plump berries!
Totally divine. Janette is (well, partly) responsible for my calipygian
rump, as she has some amazing home-baked cookies or cakes
almost every time I see her! They are totally impossible to resist.
This fancy duckie was one of my very first birthday surprises, from my
friend Charity. I’m going to somehow attach her to my head for Easter!
Colin made me this sweet gumdrop tree, got me those gorgeous flowers
and both Tam Dao and Passage D’enfer! Can you believe it? He’s the best.
Sur le birthdee table: gorgeous roses from Steve + Emily and branch
shaped beeswax candles I bought last year at Tale of the Yak in Berkeley.
Pandora created this heartbreakingly beautiful St. Agnes doll for me
(better pictures soon, promise!) She carries a sword and a lamb,
and wears a glorious halo. Her tender breastplate can be lifted to reveal…
Her gorgeous innards! A sacred, saintly heart – and the tinest, most perfect
doll uterus and ovaries you’ll ever see! Before I received her, I had the
strangest dream: that my incisions had re-opened, the scars and stitches
dissolved, and my belly lay flayed open. I could see my uterus winking
at me through the opening: a grey pearl of dread at being so vulnerable.
I thought, “I had better call my doctor and tell him what’s happened..”
My sweet sweet Chad (aka. Mon Petit Fantome!)
sent me an incredible parcel filled with the very best loot
(details later!) Isn’t that doll the prettiest? You must go check
out Chad’s new Big Cartel shop – I want every single thing in it!
I’m crazy busy getting ready for the last Gadjo Disko, so action may be sparse
’round these parts for a short spell – but then! Mardi Gras glory will be upon us!
Mercy! Thank you to everyone for the sweet birthday wishes, I am humbled
by all the love and abundance in my life. I’m grateful for what you add to it.
NOLA Bounce at SXSW!
by angeliska on January 31, 2010
Hey y’all – I wanted to share this information from my friend Jay
about our endeavor to bring a bevy Of New Orleans Bounce artists
to Austin for SXSW. Please help us make it happen!
There’s a link to the Kickstarter page in his letter below-
it would mean so much to a lot of amazing people if
you could help out, even just a little!
Thank you so much in advance –
and if you can, please help spread the word, won’t you?
Big Freedia + Katey Red – photo by Ports Bishop
“Hello from the Dirty South!
It’s Rusty Lazer (Jay to some of you!), and I’m writing a short letter for some big help!
The Bounce Music performers and promoters I work with here in New Orleans
have been invited to a showcase at this year’s South By Southwest Music Conference
in Austin to our great joy and surprise! They are all creators and originators of what we
call Bounce, which has become the music of the streets of this city over a 20 year period
of steady growth. Katey Red, DJ Jubilee, Big Freedia, Partners n’ Crime, Vockah Redu,
Magnolia Shorty and Miss Tee are all going with us and we couldn’t be happier!
For those that don’t know, Bounce Music is merely the latest unique offering from a city
that defines originality, taking its place among the many historical gifts of New Orleans.
It contains elements of everything you’ve ever heard from here before – voodoo chants,
Mardi Gras Indian songs, Jazz, R&B, Soul, Brass Bands – these are its lineage and
Bounce Music will, like its predecessors, define the music of the future of this city
and possibly much more.
All of these artists are at the top of their game, but none are wealthy, and many have
seen the fruits of their labors commercialized by hugely successful artists like Beyonce,
Lil’ Jon and more. They don’t complain, they just continue to develop the soundtrack of
our reconstruction, bring happiness to their fans and toil in virtual poverty. For a majority
here, their music is what makes some of the challenges of post-Katrina life manageable.
Unfortunately, the conference doesn’t pay for any aspect of the event for artists,
so bringing 10 rappers and just as many dancers, baton twirlers, DJ’s and more,
not to mention leaving lucrative local performances for a weekend, is nearly impossible.
We don’t need much to do this right. Hotels and travel expenses are all we’re trying to cover.
We’re asking for donations through an innovative website called Kickstarter which allows us
to provide interesting premiums to accompany your donation, but we don’t receive any money
if we don’t reach our goal of $1500 by March 1st!
You can see our Kickstarter page here, donate to our cause,
and learn more about what we call “Bounce Music” and the people who make it!
Please spread it far and wide, and if you blog please get it up if you can as soon as possible!
We’ve only got 1 month to pull off a lot!
Kickstarter – New Orleans Block Party Music goes to SXSW
Please help us out, and get some cool stuff in return.
I for one am hoping for Katey Red’s voice
on my outgoing message – stay tuned for that!
Feel free to write with any questions to rustylazer@gmail.com
Thanks everyone, and good day,
Rusty Lazer
aka
Jay Pennington”
See also:
GADJO DISKO – BALKAN BOOTY BOUNCE BLOC PARTY!
Sissy Bounce!
THE LAST GADJO DISKO!
by angeliska on January 29, 2010
The Last Gadjo Disko! It’s true, darlings-
Saturday, February 6th
at La Zona Rosa
612 West 4th St.
10pm-4am
18+
$7 – $15
Dress to transgress!
With performances from:
Comintern
Wino Vino
Franziska
Sick
and
DJ Chicken Kiev
spinning 100% recycled culture:
immigrant punk – baile funk – kuduro
slavic hip-hop – disko ethnoteka
Gadjo Disko is ending because one of our glorious triumverate, Mack –
who you all know from his inimitable pizazz and fabulosity at the door,
is moving to SF! We will miss him enormously, and there’s no way it
could happen without him. The three of us (myself, Chesley and Mack)
have worked really hard to make Gadjo Disko what it is, and it’s been
an amazing experience. It breaks our hearts, too – but this is the way
it’s gotta be, at least for the time being. Hopefully we’ll be doing more
events in the future though – I can’t imagine us not putting on parties!
Can we just take a minute to revel in the glory of Mackling’s magical
tiger boots? I really need to somehow find a pair in my size. Stunning.
This was taken kind of late in the evening, after many smushings had
smudged my Peking Opera macquillage and my blue weave had been
ditched. There are fresher versions here and here though, if you prefer!
My friend Steve Brudniak is an amazing artist, as well as being a demon
on the dance-floor! Check his work out – it will blow your mind, promise.
These guys are Computer Jesus Refrigerator, and I love them.
I love this girl’s dark green eyes, and lavender hair and sparkly jewels
and well – pretty much everything about her! Who is she I wonder?
Miss Melanie looking incredible in her balinese mask + feng shui mirror earrings!
Cindy Sparklefingers and Jimmy Jewell = ♥
Miss Nicole Labry on her birthday! I suprised her with a big tray of wee cupcakes
and everyone sang! Earlier in the day, we surprised her with a male stripper
dressed as a cop who tried to bust up her birthday barbecue with his nightstick!
Miss Amelia Valentine looking especially sultry and lovely, oh what a woman!
Um, hello lady. You are real sexy, and I hope you don’t mind me posting
this awesome photo of you despite the wee nip slippage! Hotcha!
Corinne Loperfido + Alisan
Despite what Kangaroo Sexy says, this last Gadjo is no secret!
Spread the word far and wide! We have a fabulous new venue
with room for all, and anyone who’s never had the opportunity
to attend should jump on it! It’s going to be an amazing night!
Magic Windows #9
by angeliska on January 26, 2010
Magic Windows are portals into the strange and beautiful
world I inhabit, and the marvelous people, places and things
come across in my day to day – all captured with the aid
of my handy magic celephone (it’s an iPhone).
The Magic Windows series originated as an attempt
to capture the ephemeral objects and fleeting moments
I experience, and share them here on a weekly basis.
Stay posted for the next one, won’t you?
This past weekend, in honor of my dear darling Francesca’s birthday
(and that of two other beloved Aquarian ladies, Cole + Lali!)
we ventured to the wild northern tundra of Dallas to partake of
the waters at the fabled Korean King Spa – a wonderland of truly
epic propotions, as evidenced by the gigantor silver stallion
that greets you when you walk in. Unfortunately, you can’t quite
make out his cubist testicles in this photo. This fella’s about 30 feet
tall, and his word bubble (apparently) reads “I am the KING!”
King Spa is a truly magical place, decorated with bulbous gourd sculptures
that jut out at intervals from the wall. Lots of pumpkins are arranged on shelves.
This naturalistic approach to decorating is somewhat at odds with the etched
glass partitions in the women’s spa area that depict key scenes from favorites
Simpsons episodes. The ceiling is a light sculpture of Botticelli’s Birth of Venus.
It made sense to someone! Then again, when you’re being cooked in 113 degree
mugwort infused water, you cease to be picky about the decor. I actually kind of
adore it, for all its randomness. I am a big lover of saunas and bath-houses,
but I had only ever been to Russian versions before. I love to sweat in insanely
hot little rooms with total strangers, and I love being transformed into a
big buttery noodle by older Koran women in their underwear. They scrubs
me with abrasive mitts until grey eraser peelies of skin rolled off me, and then
pummeled and pounded my muscles into submission. My friend Peggy said
afterwards, “Laying there with my face smeared with raw cucumbers,
a bag tied over my head, and a big woman straddling me, I couldn’t help
but think: this should probably be a lot more expensive!” Hah!
Perhaps it is, at some of the mysterious neon-lit bordello-looking dives
in the neighborhood, with provocative names like “Hula Hand” and “Blue Star”.
King Spa is not that kind of place at all, though! No happy-endings here, folks!
It’s about $85 for the scrub and massage, but only $18 for a 24 hour pass
to the facility, which included many strange and wonderful rooms in which
to get your sweat on. It’s so very worth every penny. After about 14 hours,
I felt like I was floating, and had no desire to ever leave. I want to live there.
Apparently, it cost $50 million to build and outfit the place. There are giant
slabs of amethyst geodes embedded into the walls every which way, and
golden pyramids guarded by staunch bronze lions.
This is the aforementioned golden pyramid, and my personal favorite,
the salt igloo! I need to build one in the backyard, pronto. Total bliss!
There are these huge pink rococo Miss Piggy nightmare chairs everywhere.
Perfect for impromptu tea parties with delicious juices and traditional dishes
like sudatorium-baked eggs, bibimbab and fish eggs over rice (al-bab, mmm!)
This brave knight guards the living “elvan” stones and the many amethysts.
The horse eats only mugwort and wormwood, which there is plenty of.
I am a total Jjim-Jil-Bang convert. It’s just wrong that we don’t have a King Spa
in Austin! I would go there every day. It’s a very healing and magical place!
Tonight I read Lady Lavona’s writing on Dark Energy + Dark Matter,
and was very moved by it. Winter is a dark time for me, marked by
remembrances of dear ones passed and untenable weather.
Today is the fifth anniversary of the death of a good friend of mine:
Pandora Pumpkin (née Katherine Hastings) who was very beautiful
and amazing. I miss her so. If you would like to know more about who
she was, here are some writings about her, with many lovely pictures:
♥ In Memoriam – 2007
♥ In Memoriam – 2006
♥ Dear Pandora
♥ Dies Cinerum – Day of Ashes
July 22nd, 1975 – January 25th, 2005
New Year's Redux
by angeliska on January 21, 2010
Ahoy! New photos have surfaced from our New Year’s Eve adventures
in the Texas Hill Country, from Mr. Chip Warren, esteemed gentleman
and fantastic photographer. Following are a handful of my favorites,
but the full set can be seen here: Hill Country New Years 2009
I love the shots he captured of our exploits with fireworks.
Dazzling! It was the first year in a while that we’d had some
rain, so the burn ban was lifted. How delightful to make our
own hanabi fireflowers – the green goblins were the best!
There were fears of a sparkler shortage, but in the end we prevailed,
and many fizzing wands were lit. You can’t have New Year’s without
sparklers! I don’t know who this tripled ghost is, perhaps it’s me?
I especially love the twilight trees along the horizon. So spectral!
One unhappy side effect of shooting off so many fireworks,
is that a few members of the canine party were terrified.
Our dear blind Thelonius wandered off into the thorny
wilderness in fright, and was missing for hours. The
land is riddled with cacti, rocky ridges, barb wire and
freaks with guns. A desperate search turned up not
hide nor hair, but much later in the night he found his
way back to camp from wherever he’d been hiding.
Oh, we were so relieved! Losing your dog in the
country is pretty scary, especially when he’s totally blind.
My Grampy Grover was a mechanic, and many of his project
cars decorate the field. I’m always envisioning alternate futures
for them – what if they could be transformed into sleeping bunks?
Or mini-parlours? Or I suppose we could try and get them running
again. They are so wonderful, these rusted hulks – mostly Morris
Minors and old Datsuns, and then of course there’s my sweet ride
Miss Gertie. One day we must get her up and running again!
Flip and Wolfie walking into a winter wonderland of tanglewoods.
Miss Amelia brought mint-scented bubbles!
Tonka not only tries to eat bubbles, but also
seems to have a taste for lit fireworks, sparklers
and any whizzing, flying thing. I’ve never seen
a dog try to eat colored fire like that- no fear at all!
Related posts:
✶ Corazones quebrados y perros ciegos
✶ Emergence
✶ Take a walk with me..
Prions pour Haïti
by angeliska on January 17, 2010
Préfète Duffaut “États-Unis, France et le Canada supportent Haiti”
Forgive the radio silence, I’ve been brewing lots of
exciting notions + tidbits in the last week to be in
evidence soonly. More than that though, my mind has
been on Haiti, and it was hard to write about my relatively
extraordinary life and all the comforts I enjoy when
I can’t stop thinking about people trapped under
piles of rubble, people still alive and alone in the
dark, hungry and afraid for their loved ones.
That’s a reality occurring simultaneously with my
own, and I can’t help but be reminded of what is
was like during Katrina. I felt so frustrated then,
at the idea of so many people blithely going on
about their regular days with nary a thought for
the trouble we were having. It’s hard, because
what else can you do? At least then, lots of people
could volunteer and help more directly. Unless you
happen to be a doctor, or a search and rescue worker
you basically have no reason to be in Haiti, taking up
resources and space. Not to be harsh, but it’s a fact –
and so, what can we do? We do whatever it is
we do when we pray, or send money and hope it gets
where it needs to. We read about it, write about it,
and plan benefits. We focus our attention and our hearts
on the suffering of the people of Haiti, and send fervent
wishes for healing and help, but it doesn’t feel like near enough.
A sequined drapeau for the Guede. Something happens to the fabric of the
world when so many people leave it all at once. It creates a hole, a passage
leading somewhere else. Sometimes we can hear their voices calling.
More than anything almost, after the hurricane I just wanted to know
that the people I encountered were aware, and gave a shit about what
had happened in New Orleans and Mississippi (not to mention the rest
of the world!) New Orleans and Haiti have long had a link. I just learned
(through Poppy Z. Brite, natch) that “in spite of being the poorest nation
in the Caribbean, Haiti donated $40,000 to New Orleans after the federal
levees broke”. Think about that for a minute. This is money coming from
a country that gets the brunt of every hurricane that even glances in NOLA’s
direction. For additional (though non-sequitur) perspective, did you know
that New Orleans mayoral candidate Manny Chevrolet’s campaign slogan is:
“a troubled man for troubled times”? Indeed. (Thanks to K. Hersh for that gem.)
Okay, one more thing, from Mr. Jeff Shyman, owner and guide for Confederacy
of Cruisers bike tours: “If you decide to donate to help out the disaster in Haiti,
remember it was a Haitian immigrant, Antoine Peychaud,
who upon moving to New Orleans, concocted and served
America’s very first cocktail using cognac and his families bitters.
The Sazerac, which he sold in the gambling room behind his pharmacy
at 437 royal street. We all owe a little to Haiti for that alone.”
If you go out tonight, raise a glass to the ghost of Antoine Peychaud,
and all the people of Haiti and send them hope and good thoughts
(and money, if you haven’t already! I know we don’t really have it,
but really – we probably do. I vote for Doctors Without Borders as
being the best choice for doing the most good with it. Please.)
Another beautiful drapeau, artist unknown.
Certainly though, there are lots of worthy and helpful charities
doing good work. Make sure you do the research though, as
a lot of the money donated get tied up in administrative costs.
Here are some links to further reading and charity info:
Haiti in Ink and Tears: A Literary Sampler
New Orleans’ Heart is in Haiti
Why Haiti is not New Orleans
Haiti and American Colonialism : The Story Behind the Story
Molly Crabapple has been auctioning her drawings of tarsiers
and pangolins and is sending 100% of the proceeds to Haiti.
Christopher Porché West’s photographs of HAITI
Haitian Earthquake Relief
Haiti: Some Ways You Can Help
Prions pour Haïti!
Trans-Siberian Birthday Wishes
by angeliska on January 6, 2010
So – after much deliberation and brow-furrowing,
I’ve finally decided what the hell to do with myself
and anyone who’d care to join me on my holy
whelping day, this coming Sunday – January 10th.
I’m having a Trans-Siberian Savages Potluck,
with bonfires, cozy tipi lounging, hot Glögg,
and hopefully some Mongolian burlesque!
If you live in Texas, then please come decked
warmly in your finest furry pelts and warpaint,
and do bring a dish or drink in lieu of gifts!
It would be so hard to top the Black Forest glory
that was last year’s party, and I really have no wish
to even attempt it (especially the part that involves
cleaning and decorating my house!) so instead,
we shall be out-of-doors, despite the chill,
ululating wildly and bedecked in bearskins.
This was last year’s magic:
♥ Birthdee Glee
♥ Black Forest Fashion
♥ Black Forest Wishes
♥ Black Forest Birthday!
Such an extravaganza! We still have
branches hanging from the ceiling!
How am I going to construct this ensemble
in four days? Also, I think I need some sort
of throne. Maybe made of antlers and bones,
but comfortable. Better get right on that…
Since I didn’t get it together in time to create
a magical dreamy-dream hexmas wishlist,
I figure I better make one for my birthdee!
This is purely for manifestation purposes,
obviously, since the day itself swiftly
approacheth and time for constructing
tipis and ordering trinkets is nil!
Well, you have to know what you
want first, if you ever hope to get, eh?
That being said, here are the
material cravings of my heart:
♥ A real big fancy tipi, made of canvas or leather with a liner,
and proper smoke flaps! Our ghetto hodge-podge has it’s charm,
to be sure – but wouldn’t it be wonderful to have a proper one?
♥ I have fallen in love with Mlle. Alanna’s superhot POUTfits!
I’m saving up for her witchy hood + sleeves and especially
her amazing underbust jumper. I needs them badly.
♥ I desperately require this necklace, please.
♥ a dutch oven (no, not some nasty farting
prank! It’s for making delicious food in the country!)
“A Dutch oven is a thick-walled iron (usually cast iron) cooking pot
with a tight-fitting lid. It is commonly referred to as a ‘camp oven’
in the Australian bush, cocotte in French, as a ‘casserole dish’
in British English, and is similar to both the Japanese tetsunabe
and the Sač, a traditional Balkan cast-iron oven.”
♥ Diptyque’s Tam Dao – I’ve been obsessed with this dry, sexy
sandalwood perfume since September. It smells like the inside of an
intricately carved wooden box, and I have a feeling it would make
an ideal in-between seasons scent. I covet it.
♥ L’Artisan Passage d’Enfer – It’s hard to explain my curiosity
about this one, as it’s such a light and elegant fragrance
despite being called “the gates of hell”!
♥ Matryoshka Chess Set from Anthropologie, sold out alas!
A girl can still dream, eh?
♥ A good leather wallet/billfold/checkbook thing
with slots for cards and what-not. Also, it must be
beautiful, and incredibly well made! My wallet was
stolen a few years ago, and even though I got it back
(sans cash, of course) it just feels tainted!
A wallet should be a sturdy and lovely prosperity magnet,
don’t you think? Where oh where is the wallet for me?
♥ Gryson Cornelia Spat Flat Boots
♥ a red Le Creuset teapot to replace the
one I recently destroyed! Note to self:
don’t put the kettle on and then get
distracted for hours. Poor teapot,
I killt it good. All burnt up and black.
♥ Teas from Bittersweet Apothecary!
I love their packaging, and I need their healings.
♥ A fancy besom!
For hearth-magic + sweepings.
♥ Fancy books from Taschen on Magic, 1400s–1950
and The Circus, 1870-1950
♥ More yummy Haus of Gloi Ethereal Vegan Bathing Goods
Especially Snow Wolf – Bristling and prowling,
lonesome and haunting.Three howling firs,
whitened frankincense, vanilla bean husk,
tainted by droplets of blood cedar.
Hearth – The warm glowing center of any home.
The falls last apple pickings, warm bread, orange rind,
fire roasted chestnuts, cracked black pepper all nailed
down by an oozing sticky benzoin.
If that bounty of treasures is insufficient for inspiring
altruism or lust, then go see Tamera’s
2009 Greedy Goblin Gift Guide and Alita’s fancy wishlist.
I want everything there! I also have started a wishlist
on Amazon, which is awfully handy for helping
me remember what to save my golden ducats for, eh?
Sigh. Well, at least it’s a pretty fair mix of whimsical
and practical! What’s missing off my dream-list?
I’m very open to suggestions and also any inspiration
for my party theme – I’ve only got a few days left
to pull it all off! Got any great images for me?
Many thanks in advance!
Stargazer Honey
by angeliska on January 3, 2010
Our New Year’s Eve was truly magical. Despite a rocky start
fraught with Mercury’s meddlings, we managed to create a
really solid camp and the coziest tipi yet! In a pinch, duct tape,
scavenged rope and a random dental tool can be used to
quite ingenious effect – the skin was sewn by Francesca
out of projector screen cloth, and the poles are bamboo.
It’s sort of a tipi-lavvu-yurt really, and after staying in it for
a few days, it’s hard to imagine staying in a regular tent again.
The blue full moon was wreathed in a prismatic halo,
a moon-bow to bless our turnings – we shot off fireworks
and drank almond champagne and romped with the many
doggies and friends. It was so lovely to go to sleep in the
warm tipi, surrounded by the snorings of my dear friends.
It was exactly like sleeping in a pile of furry wild things!
We cooked all our meals on the campfire and ate like kings.
Sausages, ham and brisket for the carnivores,
greens and black eyed peas for luck! Oh, and
bacon fried + toasted marshmallows. Crazy.
It’s incredible what you find on the ground when you take the time to look.
We found beautiful rocks (Lone Grove is rock-hound paradise!)
and treasures buried in the sand. One day, maybe we’ll find
some arrowheads. My Grampy used to find lots out there.
More fodder for my mycological fixations!
We finally managed to bring home this gorgeous stained glass window
that was my mother’s. New Year’s Eve is her birthday, but it feels like
she gave me a present instead this year. I can’t wait to install it in our parlour!
We were treated to three very beautiful sunsets, all very different but each
very spectacular. This was my favorite though, taken while driving the
Willow City Loop! If you get the chance to take that drive, I highly recommend it.
Lovely Miss Amelia joined us for the holiday – always managing to be the
picture of elegance in satin peignoirs and kiss curls around the campfire.
She took this picture of me in front of my favorite blasted tree.
I got these Posture Magnetic star leggings recently, and I wish
I could wear them every day! I don’t know if Brian Erickson is
still making this stuff, but if anyone finds any – please let me know.
It doesn’t get more celestial than star pants + singing bowls, you know?
Colin is the singing bowl master – he made tones come out of that little bowl
that made me laugh with elation and had my eyes streaming tears.
Have you ever played one? They are amazing. I want a really huge one!
Like my antlers? Miss Jolie Holland made ’em for me!
They are so simple, and so perfect – I love that lady.
I hope that your celebration was marvelous, and that your year is off to
an auspicious start. Any resolutions or goal-makings for you? I have lots!
Hopefully I will do a better job of accomplishing them this time round.
I am being helped a lot by the teuxdeux, an excellent to-do list maker.
(Thanks for turning me on to this, Gala!) I love it. Perfect for the obsessive
list-maker who spends too much time online!
This year I intend to:
✶ cook outside more often –
it’s so fun and satisfying!
✶ dance more!
✶ dress with specific intention every day
✶ write lots of letters and postcards!
✶ be more engaged with my body,
through yoga + exercise – oh yeah!
✶ read more – I have heaps of wonderful
books awaiting me, so delicious and tempting.
✶ make lots of jewelry
✶ re-design this bee-log – soon, soon!
✶ start selling off a lot of my vintage collection,
and keep selling interesting curios
✶ additionally, I would like to be more
patient, serene and positive in general.
✶ oh yes, and I’d like to DJ lots more!
I could keep going, but I think that’s a
pretty good start. Now is the time.
By the way – if you haven’t gotten a copy of the latest issue
of Coilhouse yet, (Issue 04) you had better hustle!
I am so proud to have two articles in this one:
the interview I did with Larkin Grimm, with an
additional piece on the Musicka Mystica Maxima Festival,
and an interview with Christopher Brosius of I Hate Perfume.
One day, I must get to back to Detroit!
I have family there – I visited them by train
when I was very small. Have you ever been?
Check out these incredible photographs
of abandoned buildings – I’d love to explore them!
The Grandiose Decay of Abandoned Detroit
I enjoyed reading this excerpt from a biography
of super-tragic supermodel Gia Carangi and her teenage years as a David Bowie fan.
I’ve always loved thinking about the tidal wave of glam and glitter
and the fever that swept up the restless youth in a sea of glitter polyester!
Can you imagine? What a crazy time to experience, eh?
One last thing – if you still have not seen Badlands (Terrence Malick, 1973),
then we need to talk. It’s been on my top ten favorite films of all time list
for many years. Sissy Spacek and Martin Sheen are incredible, and
I adore Terrence Malick’s work. I wish the soundtrack was available,
it’s great too. Man, I need to see it again soon! I wish Criterion would
release it – the only copies I’ve seen have been real scrabbly.
Right! With that, I bid you goodnight! I go back to work on the morrow,
and must figure out what the hell I’m doing for my birthday – it’s only
a week away! Ideas? I’m fairly stumped, though I may have just nailed it…
This trip into the wild was pretty inspiring – perhaps the tipi will play a part!
Blue Moon
by angeliska on December 30, 2009
Here we go, darlings – on the precipice of a new year,
and just nearly ready to dry our sticky wings on the
other side of the future! 2010, for real? I mean,
doesn’t it seem slightly preposterous, as if we
ought to be living in some science fiction reality?
Where’s my flying car? I still don’t have a jet-pack,
either! Oh well, I’m headed for the woods anyhow –
leaving for my ancestral hills to celebrate in my
favorite way: around a bonfire, with my dearest
all around and the bright stars burning overhead.
This year, we shall experience not only a full moon,
but a blue moon and a lunar eclipse! The eclipse
won’t be visible, (unless you’re in India, I think!)
but it should make for a very intense night!
I for one, am even more glad than usual to be
away from the city and the furor and desperation
of the crowds of revelers. My batteries are in
need of a major recharge, and the only thing
that will do the trick is a visit to the ancient
granite grounds that my family has dwelled
on since the 1800’s. It’s where my heart lives.
(Photograph by @nt!x)
I can’t wait to re-inhabit our tipi-yurt-lavvu-thing!
I’m still hankering for a proper one,
but they’re quite pricey – oh, one day…
(Photograph by Oregon State University Archives)
Okay, just a heads up – this eclipse is pretty gnarly!
(Photograph by Richocam)
“The Full Moon Lunar Eclipse on December 31st, 2009
occurs at 10°15′ Cancer, in conjunction with the Fixed Star Alhena,
a star which is reputed to be favourable for hunting, besieging towns,
and the revenge of princes! It would be wise to avoid travel at this time,
if you can. Known as “the wound in the tendon of Achilles”
it destroys fruits and harvests. Cancer is an emotional sign,
ruled by the Moon, so since neither the Sun nor the Moon
form any promising aspects on this day, expect quite an emotional,
even teary New Year’s Eve. Mercury is retrograde in Capricorn,
and Mars is also retrograde in Leo, so issues and attractions
from the past will demand to be dealt with under this eclipse.
Breakdowns in communication will spark the issue.
Since at the moment of the eclipse, Warrior Mars
(action; passion; violence; accidents) is rising exactly
on the degree and minute of the ascendant,
tightly opposing the Part of Fortune (within 4 minutes of arc),
the chances of a blood-stained celebration are high.”
– Rob Tillett
Um, whoa. Yikes much?
For further reading, I suggest you
check out what Heather Burdette
has to say – it’s a little more calming!
(Photograph by Carlos Lisboa)
Regardless of celestial influence, I truly hope that
everyone has a marvelous turning of the year!
There are so many things I want to accomplish
this year, so much ground I want to cover –
it’s a little overwhelming to contemplate!
I’m starting slowly and quietly, cleaning
and sweeping my house to make it ready for
the approval of the Blanchette, and lighting
candles and making wishes that this year
I can achieve my goals – no more Procrastination
Station, please!
“You have to participate relentlessly in the manifestation of your own blessings!”
I read this somewhere recently, and it made a big impression on me.
(So much so, that I can’t recall where I read it? Eesh.)
I think that this will be my motto for the year,
in hopes that I will be reminded to take the reins
for myself and stop waiting around for divine
intervention to crown me empress of my life.
Drive your own chariot to the moon.
Now or never!
(Photographer unknown to me!)
“Begin doing what you want to do now.
We are not living in eternity.
We have only this moment,
sparkling like a star in our hand –
and melting like a snowflake…”
– Francis Bacon, Sr.
Here’s a little happy/sad number called Days With You
from fine fellows Jason Webley with Sxip Shirey.
Watch out – it is extremely catchy!
Hopefully you can remember the words
and sing it tipsily with your best friends, eh?
More reading material from days of yore:
✶ Lone Grove New Year – 2009
✶ Pink Moons
✶ The New Year – 2008
✶ Lucky Stars and Garters – 2007
✶ La Nouvelle Année – 2006
Texas Hexmas
by angeliska on December 26, 2009
I get more and more shameless every year in my open
adoration of this holiday. Yes, the commercialization
and wasteful glut disgust me – but it means so much more
to me than that. Even in Texas, (where we can often be found
in short-sleeves around this time of year) I can completely
grasp the need for a winter festival. It makes perfect sense
to make merry, cover everything in sparkly lights, eat delicious
things and be close to loved ones at a time that might otherwise
be just depressingly cold. Any matters of the spirit notwithstanding,
it just seems right to celebrate at this time of year. My own beliefs
lean more towards honoring ancient traditions, and reveling in the
cult of coziness! I am happy to report that our holiday was mighty
blissful, despite the disasters that preceded it! (More on that below..)
Miniature mincemeat tarts + marzipan stollen + pfeffernüsse are
making our bellies full of jelly, and we’ve had a pot of hot spiced
cider going continually. It smells very delicious in our kitchen!
These carved wooden hands are from the collection of my friend and
employer, Mr. Steve Wiman. We look forward to the Uncommon Objects
Christmas party all year long – it’s always so much fun, and there are so
many gorgeous things (and people) to peer at! We have been
attending lots of fun holiday parties – some tranquil, and some raucous,
but all full of convivial camaraderie and good cheer. We had an orphan
hexmas eve gathering for our friends Faith Delphi and Lex Land, who very
nearly share a birthday (the 24th and the 25th, respectively! So many hexmas
babies! Why, Chadling of Mon Petit Fantome has one today!
Capricorns, unite! All of these are musicians, as well!
Oh yes, and there’s also Patience Meliora, Hollybella and probably
a lot of others I’m forgetting right now. So many of my favorite people
are Capricorns, or earth-signs. Is that vain, or just a case of like attracting like?
Regardless, all hexmas-birthday darlings deserve extra special love
on their whelping day since they can get kind of shafted as far as celebrating
sans immediate family goes – so if you know one, give them lots of kisses!
Is this not the creepiest Santa ever? Well, maybe not if you go peruse
Santa, NO! (The Tumblr Experience), but beware – don’t get lost in the evil santa vortex!
(Photographer unknown to me – if it’s yours, or you know who took this one, do let me know! )
I’ve adopted the fly-agaric, or Amanita muscaria mushroom
as my official hexmas motif, and I’ve gone a bit crazy finding
wee amanita decorations to festoon my world. I also got my
sweetheart a copy of Shroom: A Cultural History of the Magic
Mushroom, by Andy Letcher, which I can’t wait to swipe from him and read!
It apparently disputes the treatise of John M. Allegro’s
The Sacred Mushroom and the Cross, which I nabbed
from my papa’s bookshelf when I was 14 (sorry Dad!)
The evidence. This year we got a real live tree – a potted
perfume cedar. Very exciting! I wonder if we ought to plant it
or leave it in the pot for next year? Anyone had experience with these?
I really wanted a Bûche de Noël covered in mushrooms this year,
but I arrived at the bakery too late! All gone to early birds, alas.
We made it through the holiday with only one major mishap, but it was
a pretty awful one. We came home the night of the 23rd, after a very long
day to discover that the evil kitties had knocked down our lovely tree,
and smashed many of my mama’s beloved spun glass ornaments.
I totally flipped out. Worst hexmas nightmare ever! Those delicate
things so precious, and to see them shattered on the ground was
so painful. I miss my mom a lot at this time of year, and enacting
wee tannenbaum rituals is a way for me to connect with her memory.
Luckily, my love is a hero. He swept up all the pieces, and put them
in a jar for me to keep, and re-instated the tree – securing it to the wall
and ceiling with twine! He really saved the day. I love him so!
Speaking of ornaments, every year at the Uncommon Objects
Christmas party, it’s a tradition to create an ornament on a theme:
this year’s was recovery – very apt for me! Mine is the gold
thread- wrapped sweetgum seed with the poppy pod sprout.
Here are the perpetrators of the tree debacle. Bad brothers.
Anyone want a couple of very ill-behaved felines?
Clearly, they need to start livin’ by this edict.
This is one of my favorite things at the Wiman’s house –
and I think it’s very good advice indeed.
DO RIGHT AND FEAR NOT, y’all!
One day, when I have a functioning oven, I’m going to be a holiday cookie
makin’ demon! It’s one of my favorite things to do! Mostly the decorating
part! How do you like my blue stars and uterus lady? Red hots for ovaries!
Oh and also, just so you know – the holidays are a time to dress your
animal friends up in your clothes. I think Grrizelda looks pretty perfect
in my sweater, don’t you? I would give it to her, but she keeps trying to eat it.
A very Siouxsie Christmas to you! I love it when she says her favorite
things about this season are the colors and the fairy-lights.
She’s so elegant, even when being pelted by plastic snow
and harangued by morons. I really wish she would adopt me.
I hope your holiday was very merry, warm + bright!
Mine was really perfect – golden and filled with good company,
songs around bonfires and pianos and a wealth of delicious
delectables (tamales, tortilla soup and queso! Hell yes, Texas Hexmas!)
I am feeling super content at the moment, and I am sending sincere
wishes that you and yours are as well – if you have some time to relax
here are some tidbits for you to peruse:
♥ More photos from this year’s Hexmas
♥ Tinsel Tales: NPR Christmas Stories
♥ Verhext’s Tinsel & Diamonds
♥ Gala’s current bevy of links + delight + magic will keep you busy
and amused even through the thickest blizzard, go peek!
& from days of yore:
♥ Happy Hexmas!
♥ Imps of Winter
♥ The Last of Winter
♥ send me your flowers of your december
