Festivus

No excuses. I should be writing every day and I'm not. But the New Year is in two weeks, so maybe that'll be a resolution.

Aaannyway, I just put up this sad, pretty Christmas tree.

The reason this li’l guy is so spindly and “Charlie Brown Christmas” is because it’s a live dwarf tree. Yep, it’s alive!! And it’s gonna summer on my deck so that each year, year after year, I can decorate it when the time is right. It’s a good plan, don’t you think?

We’re pretty deep into the dark shopping days of Christmas, and I can’t help but daydream about going ascetic monk and gifting my friends/family nothing but small homemade items crafted from old wine-bottle corks, you know? However, I secretly like Christmas shopping. It’s a love-hate thing.

But ’tis the season, we had a big Christmas rager at Commonwealth last week. I hope you were there. I like Christmas parties because, compared to other parties, they're really exceptionally festive. Everyone's stoked to get a break from work/school/responsibiltiy, and as someone who (as a freelancer) is both constantly on break and constantly working, I get to live vicariously through regular folk and feel like it really IS a special occasion. So that's all. A keg, a bunch of wine, plates full of cookies, and stacks of falafel. Merry Christmas everyone!

Lance, his brother Blake, and Blake's lady Erica. Faamily!

The women of Portland. Don't fuck with us.

Do you have a red fringy sweater dress? I didn't think so. Then you have nothing of importance to add here.

Usual suspects.

Hairy men! Portalnd's full of ’em. These are two of my faves.

Burton Girls Bloggin'

’Tis December, did you notice? Portland's had days of fierce cold draped by curtains of fog in the morning and eve. At night, the stars shine, but I think my favorite time is around 4 in the afternoon, just before dusk, when beams of burnt sunlight shoot sideways through bare-limbed trees.

Anyway, betwixt episodes of The Wonder Years on Netflix, frigid sidewalk journeys with little Lefty, and putting up Christmas lights at the park, I've been bloggin'. And not just here. Burton invited me to blog on their new site BurtonGirls.com. It's both an honor and totally fun. See ya over there?

What I Want To See

I haven't been to see a movie in the theater since, since ... Zombieland? Is it possible it's been that long? I dunno, I can't remember. Hooowwever, there's a glut of movies hitting theaters right now that I want to see, for reals. Here are a few.  

Beginners: Because it's a true story about a fellow and his dad, and about suddenly seeing your parents as real humans and stuff. Plus, Thumbsucker was sooo good.

The Descendants: Because George Clooney. I don't think he's a  hunk or anything, I  just like the way his characters always shrug everything off with an ironic smirk.

The Muppet Movie: Barring the fact that this is a musical, what's not to love?

The Rum Diary: Due to hastily read reviews, I already know it's not gonna be great, but I still need to go. Been waiting too long, and the book was too good. I am prepared for disappointment, though.

Just Kids

"I escaped into daydreams as I did my piecework. I longed to enter the fraternity of the artist: their hunger, their manner of dress, their process and prayers. I'd brag that I was going to be an artist's mistress one day. Nothing seemed more romantic to my young mind. I imagined myself as Frida to Diego, both muse and maker. I dreamed of meeting an artist to love and support and work with side by side."

Yes.

Murmuration

Some images from natural world. For the record, I found all of this stuff on the NET. But it's nice, isn't it?

Days of rain in Portland. There's rain, and then there's rain—the past three days have definitely been the latter. Whilst on a walk with Lefty, I forded numerous curbside lakes—all of them leaf-spangled, which I thought was pretty until I got home and saw a $30 bill for leaf removal from the Portland Department of Transportation. I don't even have trees in my yard! Pay me $30 and I will rake all my neighbors lawns!

The dog was so soaked after that walk that his furry suit didn't dry out until, like, evening time. Pups are cute with that damp frizzy coat though, no?