Glorious Ashokan Reservoir

Last weekend, it was so beautiful out
Just incredible with all the snow
it was that clean, soft white snow
that just sends sparkles all over the world

After a very long study cram
I knew I had to get out
and we went about twenty minutes to the Ashokan Reservoir
for a long long walk
they have a bridge that goes right over it so you can really take in the scale of the reservoir
which used to be one of the largest in the country

It's a curious place
apparently the area was flooded
in the Early 1900's
to make way for the reservoir
and in its wake took nine towns
and thirty two cemetaries
including two thousand eight hundred bodies or skeletons with it
Mostly of Revolutionary Soliders
all in the sake of water for the surrounding areas and NYC

Hallowed Ground
indeed
and it feels like it
very mystical and
otherworldly

I kept seeing hearts
in the snow
it really is one of the most beautiful places around here
It was just what we needed
to embrace the snow and enjoy the majesty of our area


PS Happy Extra Leap Year Day!

The Road Ahead

I have to be honest
I am working my tail off over here

When I am not working seeing nine clients a day
or writing proposals for projects at Omega this summer (more to come later)
I am working on my potential new job that may happen
after an extensive background search (again more later)
intimidating, yes
luckily I've never even had a speeding ticket, how'd I get away with so much?

I am studying my head off
truly
at least three or four hours a day
sometimes six on the weekends
I have never been so diligent
and I have to say
I am very proud of me, te he he!

My test day is less than three weeks away
and thanks to some great consultation (thanks Rachel)
I think the most important thing is
to take care of the anxiety around this beast
breathe breathe breathe

Six years in the making
all comes down to 170 multiple choice questions
two questions are correct
you guess the one they want to hear
whether you agree with it
or not


But what I find my mind doing
is the chatter
How am I going to terminate with my therapy clients
and take the test and start a new job
all in a matter of three weeks?
Am I taking on to much?
It's all timing, glorious timing
and it's all happening
this month

Scott is taking
SUCH GOOD CARE OF ME
I can't even begin
from being quiet when I am taking my tests
to making me beautiful brain food
and raw chocolate smoothies
to lighting fires
and taking on a lot of the house chores
and making sure we have a great place to live
this summer
(again, more to come)
baby, I am so grateful
thank you thank you thank you

And its all beautiful things
Things I have been working towards
and working hard for
for the past six plus years
here it is, here it is
and I am grateful
its just a lot... of work
and balancing
and praying

Mostly though
my number one priority
is my licensing exam
this is my "Moby Dick"
I have been waiting to take this
for so long
and I think
I am ready

I just visualize myself there
taking the test
making all of my best choices
and mostly the ride home
windows down
music blasting
calling all of you
Rejoicing

Please if you can, set that intention with me....

A few more shots

Here is Scott as he is off to scrape the roof, thank God for that. The picture below shows you the roof he has to scale with a rickety ol thang from Laura Ingalls Wilder days. It's a freakshow but has to be done so that the water doesn't leak into his studio. Like most things around the house, he just does it, with a smile. Whatta guy! Jeesh I love him...



These are some shots that he took this morning at the break of dawn
He has been taking some great pictures lately

Scenes from a Snowy Winter

We had another foot of snow on Friday
Scott and I got cozy and just settled in
No where we have to be... just here, quiet and watching

Right now he is filling up the bird feeder for hopes of visitors
who are singing to each other
across the yard
And our two deer friends are watching us closely
They visit us every afternoon around four thirty
Scott's putting out some wheat grass today
as a special treat

We had a fox visit us too
Scott got this picture, a very rare sight around here
just before the storm

And then there was the lunar eclipse the other night, brilliant reds and oranges for over a full hour

I sit here, in awe

Sweetness

I have to say
I am surrounded by sweetness

Look at all the love!
Went to my lovely Gma's house this weekend
on the Connecticut coast
This place I have called one of my homes
used to play here on the beach when I was little
My Mom and Presley met us there
for an utterly sweeet sweeeet weekend


Having "shocks" of blessedness lately
It just comes to me in one divine moment
of how much I am surrounded by goodness
At one moment I was lying on my Gma's bed with her
We were all watching the gorgeous images from the "Planet Earth" series
(if you haven't checked it out, do yourself this favor)
And I was encompassed by how I have been waiting for this
for so long
to have Scott with me at my Gma's was such a gift
this home of mine for the past twenty something years
and here we all were
taking in the beauty of the world
in one of the most comforting places of my life

Here are some pics to share
the cupcake that I bought Scott for Vday
I just thought it was a work of art
and was worthy to share

Puppy Love

OK
We are just crazy about dogs right now
in particular puppies
Scott and I every chance we get are either talking about dogs
watching dogs
planning for dogs
just plain puppy love!

It's dangerous as we have a pet shop down the street that always has new puppies in the window
I find that cruel as it is cold out
and we plan their escape every time we go by

Here is the one he gave me until we can actually get one
I have like five different names for him right now..
He is hanging out with me
studying today
you press his paw and he goes
"you are so doggone cute!"

Was watching the Dog Shows last week and my favorite dog "Uno" won!
he is so beautiful, a Beagle which never wins the shows
It's always those weird looking poodle types
like that bitch Vicki, the little white one with the pom poms
don't see the appeal really
I always hear how smart they are
sorry, still doesn't cut it for me
The only thing really keeping me from falling headway into the dog show world
is the crowd
grim group really...


Yes, I think we might be turning into weird dog people

Watched "Best in Show" the other night by Christopher Guest
If you haven't seen it, check it out
One of the funniest movies ever!

CUNT

Go Jane Fonda!
All I have to say is CUNT CUNT CUNT CUNT CUNT!
Wait, one more time... I just have to get this out
CUNT

I can't believe in a world where someone just walked into a University
and shot a bunch of people dead
we are concerned about a word...CUNT
Maybe if we talked about the CUNT a little more,
or had a little more CUNT
the world would be a more peaceful place ~*

At Omega this summer I had the pleasure of being around
Jane and Eve Ensler and their radical crew
who were there for the Women and Power conference
spreading the good V day word
And I spent V-Day with them
in 2002 when the huge Vagina Monologues came to San Francisco
and I walked through a huge entrance of a CUNT to get to the performance

I was so turned around by her presence
she is one of our elders
and owns her mistakes
and has learned from them
and isn't perfect
but the difference is she knows this...
and isn't afraid of opening her mouth

thanks Jane
just please don't back down
like you did with Vietnam
please please
own your CUNT this time...
no apologies ladies

OK, just one more time for the road
CUNT

From My Perch

Just wanted you to see where I am posted during most of my free time
I am surrounded here in this room by windows, trees, and 180 degree views of
our front lawn
This is where I study, relax, and watch the amazing views of my home
Here I am visited by sun, crows, bears, deer, and yesterday, an Owl

If you look really really close you can see her shadow
(I assume she is a "she")
up in the tree
She sat there for a very long time during one of more blustery parts of the snow storm
I think she is the same one who visited me sometime ago, she sat in the same exact spot during another storm, probably taking an assessment of the blustery situation. It's a wild thing to see an owl during the day, as they are nocturnal and I am assuming that she woke up during the storm. On another level I believe in Animal Spirits and know that she is a messenger for me as well. In feeling her message I think she was just letting me know that she "sees" me and the hard work I am doing in this room of mine day after day to get pass my exam .

She sat with me for a very long time, and as I turned away for a moment and she was gone...

Year of the Rat

This is one of the few times I am glad to be called a "Rat"

Happy Chinese New Year!

THE YEAR OF THE RAT, 2008

February 7, 2008 - January 25, 2009 (Earth)

According to the Chinese Zodiac, the Year of 2008 is a Year of the Rat (Earth), which begins on February 7, 2008 and ends on January 25, 2009. First in the cycle of 12 Animal signs, Rat Year begins the sequence and recurs every twelfth year. It is a time of renewal in so many ways. From New Year to Valentine's Day, to the arrival of spring, may all the blessings and delights of the New Year be yours.

A Rat Year is a time of hard work, activity, and renewal. This is a good year to begin a new job, get married, launch a product or make a fresh start. Ventures begun now may not yield fast returns, but opportunities will come for people who are well prepared and resourceful. The best way for you to succeed is to be patient, let things develop slowly, and make the most of every opening you can find. People born in an Earth Rat are said to be logical realists, shrewd, charming, ambitious, and inventive. Of course, the entire horoscope must be considered when making any personality assessment.

In Chinese, the Rat is respected and considered a courageous, enterprising person. People born in the Year of Rat are clever and bright, sociable and family-minded. They have broad interests and strong ability in adapting to the environment and able to react adequately to any changes.

They are gifted in many ways and have an easy going manner. They are active and pleasant, tactful and fantastic, and are able to grasp opportunities. They seem to have interests in everything and hope to participate in doing it and usually do it very well.

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Rawspendor

Entertained a bunch of great people from Omega last weekend in our home. It was the second of a winter potluck series we are having to keep us connected and it was a blast. The house felt so warm and cozy, we had a fire and it was very ambiant and beautiful. Scott made a bunch of Raw treats that everyone devoured, raw spinach masala, mushroom caps, tacos, apple cookies, and more. It was delish and everyone was whoooed by his raw food prowess. He had all the ladies in the kitchen at one point showing them how to vortex water and make chocolate coconut smoothies, this lady was proud. It's nice to be able to have people over and make deper connections here.

Thanks Suzanne for the great pictures.

So close, almost spring

My driveway is an ice rink
literally, its a luge
we can't leave the house without slipping
I am ready for my dog sled...
I always did want to do the luge for my olympic sport though
time to get that started

I am cozy inside with a fire and my man
studying my head off for my March 10th test date
but whoa, do I miss hiking, flowers, and fresh spring air...
anyone else?

My Counsins Big Fat Irish Italian Wedding...

Recently we were in Hartford, Connecticut for my cousin Julie's wedding... was a blast with all my family there for a few days . My favorite picture is below with my Mom and beautiful Nana dancing all night long, she's 84 and rocks it!Grew up tight with Julia and it was such a joy to see her really happy. It was a more traditional wedding than I've been to in a while, but had her own style too it. The taxi they rode off in is actually from the tv series "taxi"..that my uncle borrowed from his boss as he owns it. What a trip! Along with all my mothers side there is her fathers side of the family who are old school Italians, a very "Godfather" flavor indeed. I always say I am vicariously Italian as I've always had their influence on me, as well as my Sicilian step mother. I even swear in Italian as Scott will attest to- when I dropped baking soda from the fridge the other day I didn't even realizing I was saying "FCUK" in Italian!