Rabbit in a Sombrero and A Leprechaun Napping

This was found tucked inside an extremely old and well-loved copy of The Hobbit. How it got in there, I do not know. I haven't read The Hobbit in years. It's written on a piece of paper from the Circus Circus hotel in Las Vegas. The writing, which is written in a combination of my writing and my best friend Willow's writing, reads as follows:

a ducky or three

Rabbit in a sombrero

Leprechaun napping

Dream & Sister

a flying *something illegible*

bear elephant

pig, no aardvark

puppy bone

Winged shoe

lions face

turtles, bees

in the peaks of snowy mountains, tops of grassy rolling hills

I'm guessing this was written either in the Circus Circus hotel, or on the way back from Vegas. The last time Willow and I was in Vegas was 2003 for the Lottapianos Tour featuring Ben Folds and Tori Amos at the Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel. We had managed to sweet talk our way to some front row seats courtesy of Tori's personal security, and we hit a parked car. Don't worry, though...the hotel security cameras didn't see us fleeing the scene. It was a fabulous trip!

I have no idea, however, what this piece of paper means (or meant to us at the time). Still, you can't deny it's a riveting read. And it sure made me smile!

A Look Back At 2007

Well 2007 was anything but dull. I have over come much, and learned much more.

We made the long climb, and I feel that we've finally rounded the hill at the top of this roller coaster that has been my physical condition. We can now throw our hands in the air and scream and enjoy the ride back down to some kind of normalcy. Or as close as we can get, anyway. We've had to put a lot of things on the back burner while dealing with this, including our friends and family. I would like to thank everyone who was there for us for all their love, support and understanding...it really made a difference. Most of all, I thank my husband Nick. Your constant encouragement and unyielding love and support made it possible for me, for us, to get through this. Though the words hardly do my gratitude justice....Thank You.

2007 also brought with it some exciting events and changes.

We saw the Harry Potter saga come to a conclusion. Though the end was quite satisfying, I felt like I had lost a friend. I related with Harry on so many levels and as the story grew, so did my connection to him and to his world. The past two years, when I began to get really really sick, It became my key diversion. No matter how awful I felt or how scared I was, I could always go back to Hogwarts for a bit of magic. I suspect I always will.

My best friend Willow and I took another amazing journey together to see Tori Amos.

My sister got married, and I gained an awesome new brother!


We went green!

We planted our first garden, purchased our first couch and got a new kitchen sink. Now none of that sounds especially exciting, but believe me...when you've been sitting on metal futon bars for 7 years, a couch is bliss. For your bottom. And when your kitchen sink looked like this:



this is the heavens opening up and shinning glorious, glorious light into your kitchen:



I also turned one of our spare rooms into a little meditation room, a tiny sanctuary if you will. Once again I have to thank Nick here for his indulgence, as we were at the hardware store shopping for something else entirely when I suddenly announced that if I didn't paint that room tonight, I was going to go mad. He acceded and as a result, I did not go mad. Quite the opposite, in fact. This room will also double as our guest room, if we ever have the pleasure of hosting any. So come on down and see us, folks!



Nick was finally able to escape his lackluster job of eight years and has found employment with a new, yet entirely bewildering company. Still, it's something different, with slightly better pay (and virtually no commute), and has the potential to open a door that he would very much like to see open. We shall see where this new venture takes us.

Nick also started his nifty blog, which I thoroughly enjoy. Not that I'm biased, or anything.

I'm sure I'm probably forgetting something, which is kind of my new trademark. Forgetfulness, that is. But all in all, though 2007 started off with a mighty big bowl of really sour lemons, it ended up a rather refreshing glass of lemonade. Pink lemonade. With a slice of lemon meringue pie.

As the year draws to a close, I find myself looking forward to a clean slate. New year, new opportunities and a chance to start fresh.

Taken from the blog of Neil Gaiman, master of words:

May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you're wonderful, and don't forget to make some art -- write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself.

The Storytellers - Part One

A clear, brisk Friday morning found me and my dear friend Willow on the road, heading to Boise to worship the Goddess Tori Amos in concert. To say we are merely fans is putting it lightly. We are enthusiastic followers.

Tori is more than a musician, she is a weaver of tales. She marries her words with the music so beautifully and her spirit embodies passion, love and what it really means to be a woman. Her music has long been a place for me to escape and take solace or simply just to rock out. It often reminds me of where I have been and also where I am going.

Willow and I have traveled to see her in concert before, but as it had been some years we decided a girls road trip was definitely in order. Our girl trips are always the best.

Getting out of town was a bit of a comedy of errors, forgetting pillows and directions and also the tickets, but eventually we made it onto the highway. A storm was set to hit any time, but our five hour drive to Boise was clear sailing.

Once we arrived, we decided to stop first at the venue to see what the meet-and-greet looked like. Much to our surprise and delight, there was hardly anyone there which meant it was most likely we'd get a chance to talk to Tori. And we did. Well, Willow did. She and Tori shared a good ten minute conversation while I stood by and took photographs. I have met Tori several times in the past, and I felt that I have said everything I needed to say to her and that I didn't have anything else to say that she hasn't already heard a million times. I was quite content to shoot pictures and just observe. She is an amazing subject, I love to photograph her.

The concert was extraordinary, she played most of the songs I had hoped to hear and some I never dreamed I would hear her perform live. Willow had made a request of her at the meet-and-greet...a song that was very special to her...and Tori played it. I really enjoyed sharing that moment with Willow as I knew how much that song meant to her and how much it meant that Tori played it. We both got a bit teary...it was so great.

Despite being exhausted after a long day of travel and excitement, we were still on far to much of a high to sleep once we got back to the hotel, so we stayed up talking. I love just staying up talking.

Again, despite the storm warnings, the drive back home was smooth sailing and we arrived back in Salt Lake about 5pm Saturday evening, just having missed the huge snow storm that dumped six inches of snow in the valley.

It was a brilliant trip. Good Karma was with us all the way, and so was a cherished friend.