Moon Garden

by wendy mewes

rufus is just off a horrible divorce and decides to make a fresh start. too bad he buys the wrong house at auction because he was too drunk to know what he was doing. and he finds the name mean cottage fitting considering his circumstances. while it may have seemed like a mistake at first, rufus finds his footing. he hires a young man to help him fix up his house. one night he discovers the moon garden with the ethereal goddesses dancing around a moonlit spring and learns more about mean cottage which used to be called moon cottage. another book full of interesting, mysterious characters: the old woman who is always riding her bike, shows up when you least expect and speaks in riddles; the enigmatic lily; her wise, quiet son Joe; the lonely shopkeeper and gay realtor both after rufus' affections.

after five of cups i was really eager to read this one and it didn't disappoint. i stayed up all night finishing it. i loved learning about the cottage rufus bought and the legends surrounding the mysterious moon garden.

Wicked Lovely

by Melissa Marr

aislinn is Sighted, she can see faeries, a gift she shares with her mother and grandmother. she has always heeded by three rules, don't talk to faeries, don't let them know that you can see them and don't attract their attention. staying under their radar has ruled her life but suddenly it doesn't seem to be working. she has somehow attracted a faery king who won't leave her be until she agrees to be his queen. but aislinn is in love with her best friend seth. but once a girl is chosen, she can't be un-chosen. . .

i really enjoyed this book. i couldn't put it down. i really fell into the world that marr created and fell in love with the characters. i want more! and it would seem there's actually a sequel coming out this april. if you like the urban faery genre then i highly recommend this book.

13 things you may have not known about salvador dali

for the past month i have been working on a play called Hallucinogenic Toreador, a play about salvador dali written by john flores. we had him with us at all the rehearsals, which was truly awesome. he is an amazing local artist and it was a privilege to work with him. at one saturday rehearsal we all sat in a circle he went through the entire script and gave us the dramaturgy behind every scene. i learned so much that i didn't know and it really added a new layer to the whole show. i would like to share some of the things that i learned.

1. dali's painting Hallucinogenic Toreador was considered his most autobiographical painting and was painted in 12 panels with a secret 13th panel. the 13th panel is the toreador. the green is his tie, the white his shirt, the red his cape and you can see his nose and chin on the chest of the middle venus de milo. thus the script was written in 12 vignettes with a 13th secret scene, the toreador of course.


2. dali was named after his dead brother who died nine months before his birth. when he was five his parents took him to his brother's grave and told him that he was the reincarnation of said brother.

3. his first muse was his sister ana, whom he usually painted by a window and of her backside. the painting Young Virgin Auto-Sodomized by the Horns of Her Own Chastity is reminiscent of Figure at a Window in which ana modeled for. however, this has been taken to be a jab at her, punishing her for publishing a biography of dali in which she painted a negative image of her brother.
a direct quotATION from ana used in the script: during the hours i served him as model, i never tired of looking at the landscape which already, and forever, formed a part of me. he always painted me near a window. and my eyes had time to take in all the smallest details.


4. dali appeared on an episode of What's My Line.


5. dali appeared in a commercial for lanvin chocolate


6. dali appeared in a commercial for alka-seltzer


7. dali and gala made a short film of them being born from the same egg


8. dali was asked to design the dream sequence for hitchcock's movie spellbound


9. dali invented the paranoiac-critical method. this animated video uses actual footage from one of dali's interviews, which was incorporated into the script.

10. gala was an avid tarot reader. dali even designed a deck of tarot cards for her which can be purchased, entitled tarot universal dali.
a direct quotATION from dali regarding gala used in the script: gala...is a true medium in the scientific sense of the word. gala is never never never wrong. she reads cards with a paralyzing sureness. she predicted to my father the exact course of my life up to the present moment.


11. dali made his own perfume using fish glue and goat's manure. when he was commissioned to paint for paul eluard he planned his appearance elaborately, cutting and tearing his clothing specifically and wearing his atrocious homemade perfume. but then when he saw eluard's wife gala he decided perhaps he was going a little overboard and removed half the stuff that he was wearing, including that awful stench. gala left paul for dali and she was his greatest love and muse. he signed his paintings with both of their names. he also used to wax his armpits and dye them blue and wear red geraniums on his head to get her attention. a direct quotATION from the script by dali: it is mostly with your blood, gala, that i paint my pictures.


12. dali had a phobia of female anatomy and rarely, if ever, had sex. his wife, gala, was extremely libidinous and had tons of affairs with the consent of dali. they would organize orgies on the weekends and dali frequently acted as voyeur. they were married for 40+ years. by the end of the marriage they were separated, gala had fallen into dementia and only had a few hours of lucidity left each day. she lived alone in a castle that dali bought for her and she had an affair with the lead of jesus christ superstar. she called him salvador. she was in her 80's while her lover was in his 40's.

13. dali wrote a play called The Unplayable Play. he truly believed that it was not performable yet fervently wished it to be. it is extremely difficult to find and our playwright not only found it but included it in the script in its entirety. he believes that dali would be pleased. thus i will end by sharing it with you.

The Unplayable Play
by Salvador Dali

In the heart of my deep dark night
The flame refuses to burn
It embraces my arid heart
But it's impossible to consume
My divine burn to white heat
All my flesh liquefies
My night is always a white night
It's white jism so far from me
It runs mixed with my tears.
Smell and taste don't lie
It hangs like a candle from my nose
Generous mucous saliva
I've consumed everything constantly
My body so dry my ass ground up
Oh its whiteness is shadowy
I swallow it like milk
Let it penetrate into my veins
Into my finest vessels
Let each pore receive it
Till my black hair turns white.

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some more reviews

Anti-Bride Wedding Planner by Carolyn Guerin

this is a fun, colorful guide that takes you through all the details of planning your day. it has helpful questions to ask when interviewing caterers, bakers, photographers and other service providers. it has a timeline checklist, a helpful chart with areas to spend and areas to skimp on. it offers ideas on offbeat places to hold your ceremony and reception. there are worksheets to help keep track of the details. there are creative suggestions for DIY invitations, blank pages for notes and each section has empty pockets for you to keep track of swatches, brochures, pictures and any other items of inspiration. i also just really love the bright colors and fun illustrations.

Anti-bride Etiquette Guide: The Rules-and How to Break Them by Carolyn Guerin

i really liked this book. this book takes you through the traditional rules of wedding etiquette and then gives you tips on how to do it your own way without stepping on anyone's toes. i don't know that much about weddings in general and i did find it fascinating to learn what is tradition and where the traditions stem from. each chapter looks at one area of the process and breaks it down for you. it gives you a comprehensive overview of what the tradition is then tells you what the new rules of the road are. after that it gives a list of the most common twists of tradition and advice on how to "twist without trauma." the next section is called sticky situations that details possible scenarios and gives you solutions. each chapter is formatted that way and sprinkled with tips, wedding lore and fun illustrations.

The DIY Wedding: Celebrate Your Day Your Way by Kelly Bare

this book rocked. it gives so many ideas on how to do things yourself in a fun and creative manner. it by no means suggest that you should or could do everything yourself. but it does help you narrow your focus and determine what your priorities are, what you want to do yourself and what you want to leave to the professionals. it helps you prioritize and encourages you to enlist the help of friends and family and put their talents to use. each chapter is devoted to one area of the planning process from attire to invitations to food and music to photography and videography to rings and favors. this book is chock full of all kinds of creative ideas. each chapter gives you a complete overview of all your different options. the dress: do you want vintage? it gives you ideas of all the different places to look and how to spot a find and a dud. you want to design your own dress and have it made? it gives you a list of questions to ask the dressmaker. the book is sprinkled with "we did, advice from real couples" and with instructions for various projects such as making your own veil or embellishing a pair of shoes to go with your dress. each chapter gives various alternatives, ideas and project instructions. i think i liked this book the best out of all of them. i have found it the most useful and has spurred many ideas that i have written down in a little journal i am keeping to record all our thoughts and ideas.

The Everything Weddings on a Budget Book by Barbara Cameron

this book was helpful but also a bit overwhelming. it has all of these great charts and lists to help you keep track of your budget. it gives you tons of ideas on how to save money in each area of the planning. it is a good complement to the DIY book. one thing i did like was that the book followed three couples on three different budgets, a modest, moderate and lavish one. each section of the book checked in with each couple and let you in what they were doing. this is the only book that really delves into the honeymoon aspect of the wedding as well, helping you budget for that as well and all its myriad details.

Handfasting and Wedding Rituals by Raven Kaldera and Tannin Schwartzstein

i was a little disappointed by this book. it wasn't as helpful as i thought it would be but i'm still glad that i read it. there were some good ideas for aspects within the ceremony that i really liked and i learned some interesting facts about marriage and weddings. the book may be helpful to others as there are several fully written handfasting ceremonies, however, i found them to be too elaborate for my taste. i want something simple and that doesn't require tons of people to execute. however, it did stir my own imagination and i feel more confident in creating my own ceremony. and i do really like some of the suggestions for vows and rings and jumping the broom readings by the officiant.

manga challenge 2009

my friend rhinoa is hosting a manga challenge next year. this is my official sign-up post. and as the rules state that i don't have to specify what i will be reading for the challenge i am going to do exactly that. i will read what i can find and what appeals at the moment. i loved manga in high school but i haven't read any in a very long time.

this will be a fun challenge and i will complete it, ha ha. ;)

Waiter Rant

by Steve Dublanica

this was an interesting read. based on the hit blog waiter rant, steve gives a more in-depth look behind the scenes at a popular high-end dining establishment in New York that he gives the alias of The Bistro. steve gives us some background history and what led him to be a waiter and remain one for seven years. he takes us through the seedy underbelly of the restaurant business and the dysfunctional relationships contained therein. yet he also offers up poignant moments and takes us through his journey of starting a blog with no readership to one of the most popular blogs overnight. he tells stories of the crazy customers, the rude, entitled customers and his subtle ways of exacting revenge. mr. dublanica does not stoop to spitting in your food. no he is smoother than that. he may let loose silent but deadly farts by your table. if you are a particularly heinous patron, he may 'lose' your reservation. that is just the tip of the iceberg. however, our waiter isn't without feelings. he also shows his compassionate side.

all in all, it was a good read. it wasn't just about waiter antics. it's a story of a man who lost his way and his struggle with finding his path again.

now if only i could figure out the true name of his restaurant. . . ;)

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time

by Mark Haddon

i read this book at the end of last month. a girl in rehearsal was reading it and i started reading it during the breaks. i read it. she read it. then the other actor read it. i wish i owned this book so i could read it again.

this book is addictive from the first line. it is the story of christopher, a teenage autistic boy who excels in math but not in people. it is told from his perspective. i don't have the words for how awesome and eye-opening this book is. christopher loves dogs. he finds his neigbor's dog bleeding and dead from a pitchfork. christopher believes the dog to be murdered and is determined to find out who committed this crime. christopher does not like the colors yellow or brown. he doesn't like his foods to touch each other. he loves the color red and often eats red foods. he does not like to be touched. and too much stimuli makes his head hurt. christopher's quest to find the dog's killer leads him to unexpected places and adventures.

i don't want to say too much but i highly recommend this book.

winter health

it is winter. and winter brings about lots of colds and the flu. i have a subscription to vegetarian times and yoga journal and they have devoted the last two issues to winter health. i want to share some of the things i have learned. so for this post i will focus on some basic things you can find in your kitchen or your local market that are good for your immune system and in helping fight cold/flu if you should be so unfortunate to contract illness.

GARLIC-the active ingredient is allicin which possesses antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties. it can help prevent colds by attacking the cold-causing microbes located in the back of the throat. it is best consumed raw because excessive heat destroys allicin.

therapeutic amount-1-2 fresh cloves a day

tip-let freshly minced, chopped or crushed garlic sit for ten minutes to fully activate the allicin. enjoy on pasta, pizza, sprinkled onto salads or stirred into soups.

ONIONS-flavonols, the chemical responsible for giving onions their color have been shown to inhibit 3 common flu strands. onions possess anti-inflammatory properties that relieve aches and congestion brought on by flu and cold, respectively.

therapeutic amount-half an onion a day.

tip-make it red since they contain more pigment, hence more of the cold/flu fighting flavonols.

GINGER-the phenols responsible for ginger's spiciness possess anti-inflammatory properties, which can reduce pain. the spice also brings down a high fever associated with the flu by helping the body sweat and eliminate toxins.

therapeutic amount-2 tbsp fresh ginger

tip-brew as a tea and enjoy with honey. it is super tasty. you can also cook with fresh or candied ginger.

HONEY-"Mother Nature's superior sweetener"
honey boosts immunity, is antioxidant, fights viruses and bacteria and is more effective than dextromethorphan (a cough suppresant) at reducing frequency and severity of coughs. honey also is soothing for the throat.

therapeutic amount-1-2 tbsp a day.

tip-enjoy in tea.

CAYENNE-cayenne is good for sore throats without drying out sore tissues or increasing irritation as some lozenges can. it is also good for congestion-a small taste will cause the mouth, throat and nasal passages to water, causing the mucus to thin and flush out irritants. flowing mucus aids in keeping sinuses and bronchial passages from getting clogged, which can bring about more serious bacterial infections.

therapeutic amount-1/8 tsp

and for extra immune support try the following:

ZINC-this mineral boosts immune system and cuts a cold's duration. it helps by disarming throat and nose viruses. use at first sign of a cold.

i highly recommend trying ZICAM at first sign of illness. if you catch it early enough you won't get sick at all. if you don't and get sick anyway it really does lessen effects of illness and cut the sick time in half. the main ingredient is zinc. you can find it in your local pharmacy.

therapeutic amount-8-11 mg

ECHINACEA-this is another immunity booster. it also brings relief from cold symptoms such as sneezing, fatigue and runny nose. use at first sign of cold and continue for two weeks. it can also cut a cold's duration by three days.

when i feel myself coming down with something i like to drink odwalla's wellness drink with echinacea. or i'll get a smoothie with the echinacea and immunity boost. i do this in addition to the zicam. i do find that it helps.

i hope that you find these tips useful. take care of yourself during these cold winter months. i wish everyone good winter health.

*source material: vegetarian times nov 2008

1. Friends make life rich and exciting.

2. i have been drinking ginger tea for winter health; it's very tasty with some honey stirred in.

3. I'm ready for warm weather already.

4. flower by kenzo is one of my favorite perfumes or aftershaves or smells.

5. The oldest ornament I have is my carebear set from two years ago.

6. Take some epsom salt, sea salt, lavender, chamomile and vitamin E oil, mix it all together and you have your very own salt scrub.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to seeing my friends at the play, tomorrow my plans include going to a friend's baby show then the play and Sunday, I want to rest!

happy birthday!!!!!!!!!

izzy, izzybella,elizabeth, liz!!!!!!!!

i love you!!!

13 pictures from new mexico

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i have been preoccupied

i am overdue for some catching up. i have lots of things to say about various things.

-first, i finally saw the movie twilight. i had planned on seeing it opening weekend with some friends but plans changed. i felt so out of the loop the following week. on the plane to new mexico the girl next to me was reading breaking dawn so we started chatting about the movie. more like i was asking her questions and she was giving me her impressions. my cousin E was reading new moon and didn't have good things to say about the movie. on the layover and final flight home both my seatmates were reading twilight and had seen the movie as well. i was itching to see it when i got back. i had heard a lot of mixed reviews so i didn't really have any expectations when i saw it but actually i loved it. i thought it was really good. it wasn't perfect, the meadow scene was disappointing but all in all, i liked it. i even liked k stewart. at first i didn't buy her as bella in the trailers but she sold me after i saw the movie. i am looking forward to New Moon.

-my trip to new mexico for thanksgiving was awesome. i took gemma with me and it went really well. everyone was excited for us and they all got on fabulously. i love my family. they are crazy and fun. it snowed on thanksgiving and the day after. i saw deer several times. they come in feed in my aunt's yard and they are beautiful. i saw them when i went running. i saw a family of deer crossing the road when we went out. we went to the science museum where i learned all about los alamos' history. it used to not even be a proper town until after WWII. there used to be native americans and they left after a drought and then there were just homesteaders. when FDR decided to do research for the atom bomb he needed a place for all the scientists to gather in one place. oppenheimer, the main guy in charge, scouted the land that was los alamos and the place of the manhattan project was born. it was so secret it wasn't on the map and in lieu of an address on birth certificates and other official documents it was only a p.o. box in santa fe. so los alamos was the major site of research and development of the atom bomb. my uncle actually wrote a paper about the homesteaders in law school and how their rights were violated by the government when they took over the land. it may get published. it is all very fascinating and i want to do more research on it.

-went ice skating in an outdoor rink (it wasn't a pond). it was so much fun and the view was beautiful. you look up and it's all mountain and trees. when my aunt drove us to the airport she drove us through the jemez mountains. the views were breathtaking. we were so high up and there was still snow on all the trees.

-i have been super busy working on a play in dallas. it has been a very fun and valuable experience. the rehearsals were intense and long but i learned a lot by just being there. and stage managing is actually kind of fun when you're not wearing a million other hats as well. we are now in performance and i have part of my life back. this is the last week of performances and then i am completely a free agent.

-i am finished with all of my solstice/christmas shopping. for the first time ever i have gotten it all done early. most of it was done before thanksgiving then was able to finish during my three day reprieve from the show. i am really excited for the first time ever about end of year holidays for the first time in years. i think it's because for me it's always been about family and mine is so fucked up. all i ever want is time with them but it never really happens. but now i have a new family in b and his family. we are really excited for our first solstice/christmas together and are having fun creating new traditions for ourselves. so yeah, i'm excited. it feels good to not have to dread it so much. it also helps that i don't have to be at the shops during the crazy holiday madness. it is bad enough being on the roads with them. all the rules of the road seem to go to the wayside during this time of the year.

-i know i sucked at challenges this year and ended up dropping out of all of them but i think i want to give it another go. my blog friend rhinoa is hosting a manga challenge and i want to sign up. i just need to find what i am going to read so i can make my official post and sign up already. :)

and i think that about sums it up!

The Five of Cups

by Wendy Mewes

i just received this book in the mail yesterday. i started it this morning and i couldn't put it down until i finished it. the setting of brittany, france could be considered a character in itself. ms. mewes does a wonderful job evoking the atmosphere of this celtic region. i felt like i was there experiencing the cycle of the seasons, i could vividly imagine the forests and the landscape of this tiny little town, i could see the standing stones. i also love how she wove the tarot into her story, that becoming another character as well.

zena decides to move from her home of bath, england to a tiny village called la folle (the madwoman) after a year of wasting away in the aftermath of the breakup of her five year relationship. she decides a new setting is what she needs to make a fresh start. she sets up shop in a tiny one room cottage practically in the middle of nowhere. she has taken a six month leave from her boring administrative job. zena has been commissioned to do card designs for a company so she decides to pick up and move to the awe-inspiring land of brittany. zena possesses a great artistic talent but has never followed up on any of the opportunities presented to her in the past. but this time she is determined to see this through and pull herself up from her prolonged depression and get over lucas once and for all. during the course of the story she meets up with ian, an englishman, who is writing a book about the stone legends. other interesting characters she meets along the way: erin, the welsh expat who creates beautiful handmade silver jewelry and also reads the tarot; jean-yves, her crazy next door neighbor who is constantly intruding at the most awkward of times; and laure, her first real friend in the town. all the characters' stories are woven together to create a rich and compelling tapestry.

i love stories about characters moving to foreign lands and finding their own strength and forging their own path. i love a story that reads easily and sucks me in. i love a story that paints vivid characters i can sink my teeth into. this book does all that.

stole from izzy

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

to faith, foi, faithie!!!!!!!!

love you!!!!

books read in november

1. Anti-Bride Etiquette Guide: The Rules and How to Bend Them by Carolyn Gerin and Kathleen Hughes

2. Anti-Bride Wedding Planner by Carolyn Gerin and Kathleen Hughes

3. The Everything Weddings on a Budget Book by Barbara Cameron

4. The DIY Wedding: Celebrate Your Day Your Way by Kelly Bare

5. Handfasting and Wedding Rituals by Raven Kaldera and Tannin Schwartzstein

6. gossip girl: because i'm worth it by cecily von ziegesar

7. gossip girl: i like it like that by cecily von ziegesar

8. Don't Sweat the Small Stuff About Money by Richard Carlson

9. Waiter Rant: Thanks for the Tip-Confessions of a Cynical Waiter by Steve Dublanica

10. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon

1. Snow is beautiful and fun when you don't have to live where it falls and plow it every day.
2. I'm looking forward to winter solstice and christmas celebrations for the first time in years.

3. Samosas and hummus and strawberries with honey are the best things to eat ever!

4. One of my favorite old tv shows is small wonder with the girl robot vicki.

5. I'm done with rehearsals! show opens and now the craziness subsides. :)

6. The most enjoyable thing around the holidays are all the lights.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to opening night, tomorrow my plans include two more performances, one of which foi and izzy will attend and Sunday, I want to rest!