October 30, 2011

Sunday Quote





















You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.

- C.S. Lewis

Snow in October




















Snow kaboshed a party we were having tonight, lines down, tree branches down, branches hitting the roof and skidding off all day and evening. I am amazed we did not lose power but we were ready. Neighbors came over and we ended up with a little party, warm and cozy, on a wintry night.

October 23, 2011

Sunday Quote













Each friend represents a new world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.

- Anais Nin

October 18, 2011

More Comic Con




















One of the misperceptions of Comic Con to the outside world is that it is comic books. Only. What is it actually? Art. Imagination. Theatre. People walking around dressed in Superhero costumes, Cosplay outfits (love the fox ears and tails with kilts)and Loli dresses, steampunkers and sci-fi fans and freaks, all sorts of fans...as someone who loved Bladerunner, the X-files, twin peaks, Sleeper, now HAVEN (watch! on the SYFY channel, it's great!), Star Trek, Close Encounters, yetis and krakens and all sorts of nonsense, and yes there truly is a sea monster in Loch Ness as well as in Lake Champlain (I have stood on the decks of boats on both lakes and called to them :) It's a Scottish thing. So why not believe or at least play that you do? It's fun.

Comic Con!




















My first time at the Comic Con convention, such fun. Missed all the main events and skipped the panels, apparently missed the indies at the Pavilion (yes, Ken, next time I will use my convention online planner) but we had great fun. I normally don't like a crowd but when every third person is Batman or a Cosplay girl or an anime character or a sci fi creature, that definitely ups the fun factor.

October 16, 2011

Sunday Quote





















When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.

- Jimi Hendrix

October 12, 2011

Occupy NYC this past Sunday




















Some of the most interesting things to me about the Occupy New York protests is what they are not. They are not violent and destructive like the recent protests in France and in England. No one is setting fires to cars, attacking people, creating true mayhem (I do not call overstepping sidewalks on the Brooklyn Bridge unbridled mayhem, thank you). No one is mugging people, falling down drunk, terrifying the neighborhoods. For the most part it has been restrained, respectful of the environment, and growing in organization - when my daughter and I went down to Zuccotti Park this past Sunday, we were impressed by the tone and the attitude of most of the people - a lot of old hippies and activists mixed in with the young people, a lot of passion and perseverance. I was offered free hugs, free food, and the day I was there the united clergy of NYC - rabbis, priests, etc. were there in sympathy and support. I have not sang "This little light of mine" for quite some time, it was a pleasure to raise my voice with others.
To be sure, a handful of squatters and stoners that seemed to be taking advantage of the situation - what village does not have its idiots? I was there in support - half of what is termed their vague causes - anger at the bail-outs, anger at the economy, unemployment, our money funneled into wars we don't want to be in, feeling unheeded by government no matter whose face is on the campaign buttons, losing jobs, housing, kids graduating from college with no jobs on the horizon, yup, feeling that. Glad people seem to be shaking off the apathy. Glad to see a mix of faces, ages, groups. Some of the chants/gripes/stands I didn't agree with - but because it is such a big amoebic hundred armed creature there is a lot to choose what to be upset about in our country.
I love my country and I consider myself law-abiding -but I am glad to see movement and thought and visions and that this protest and the ones it has inspired nationwide will definitely affect future politics and get the powers that be to understand that the same old same old isn't going to cut it anymore. I hope the protests become stronger, more defined, but remain peaceful and thoughtful. I hope the press stops focusing on the small shocky bits and tries to aim for the overall theme. I hope we all keep an open mind, listen to the voices calling out, and instead of choosing sides, choose to listen.

More Occupy NY photos





Occupy New York photos





October 11, 2011

Manhattan moments





















We took the subway up from the Brooklyn Bridge stop to Times Square and didn't want to stay underground any longer so we walked the brief blocks over to Grand Central. I love how Times Square at night still looks like something out of Blade Runner - although a cleaner version nowadays (and click on the movie link - can you believe how young Harrison Ford was? A lovely man). This couple with the bird plumage hair were on the bottom of the subway steps teetering on impossibly high heels (both of them) and I thought they needed assistance to take the steps until I realized they were models dramatically walking up the stairs emerging onto the street amid flashbulb fanfare (all by the photogs as the real new yorkers were, of course, not interested).