Sayonara Canuckia !

...well for now at least.

I have been so crazy busy over these past 2 months or so that I havent even had time to think about leaving Canada and our trip to London, Italy and Spain....let alone write in my blog.

Even now, there are 3 and a bit hours to go until we have to leave for the airport. Josh is trying to fight off the onset of a cold and I am feeling run down and seedy ( I tried a sleeping pill last night to see if it would give me any side effects and, well, it made me feel seedy today....as if I had one too many drinks the night before...). The sleeping pill is for the plane...in case I cant get to sleep...but I'm thinkin I'll be able to conk out naturally.

So, next up....London. A 24 hour whirlwind of Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and all Londonish touristy spectacles. Meeting up with Josh's best friend, Samantha who will be our 24 hour tourist guide. Also meetin up with Hertz and Rob from The Photo Forum for a few drinks... so lookin forward to it !

Then, Italy. Rome in particular. Hopefully a day trip with some wine and cheese for a picnic in Florence and the Tuscany region, maybe some day trips elsewhere.

Then onto Madrid, Spain !

Back to London, change planes and buckle in for the 21 hour haul to Melbourne. Holy hell, talk about the Ron Jeremy of flights !

I've yet to write my Year In Review of Canuckia. It will eventuate apon my return to the land of Vegemite and sharks, I be thinkin....

I miss Canuckia already. It was just starting to feel like home to me.

I miss Josh's family already. They already feel like family.

See you when I land!

Josh

Today is our first Valentine's Day that we have spent together in the flesh and I am the most content and happiest I have ever been.

To know, when I go to sleep at night, that I am curled up to, lying next to the man I want to spend the rest of my days with is an amazing feeling that I want to hold on to forever. I look at you and think " this man is the man who my children will call daddy" or I squint my eyes and try to imagine what you will look like when you're 84 and smile to myself when I realize that I will find this out for myself one day.

I say this all the time...you are truly the most wonderful, loving,amazing man I have ever met and sometimes I wonder what I did in my life to deserve such a jewel as you. Buttttt, I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth ( or any other part of the horse for that matter) and I chalk it up to being the luckiest girl on the planet.

You're patient when I'm being annoying, you see my flaws and you love me anyway, you hold me when my tears fall and whisper in my ear words of reassurance, you make me laugh when I least feel like laughing and you romance me until I feel as if I'm filled with flowers and my blood has been lined with silver hearts and it's at those times that I know that I have found the man who is always gonna be there for me, in good times and bad.

You make me look bad in the kitchen with your superb chef-like skills ! I don't know whether to lap up all that awesome food or take up cooking classes to catch up !

They don't make men like you anymore. They just don't.

I love you so much babe and I cannot, cannot wait for the day when we are standing face to face at the altar, where I become your wife and you become my husband...

I'm marrying my best friend and wish that day would hurry the hell up !!!

I love you honey ! I'm going to go downstairs now and cuddle you while we watch SAW 2 ( what, it has a red theme in it, it fits V-Day ...)

Eternally Yours- Tina xxxooo

The Stork Has Landed

Once again :D

I posted this on TPF on January 8th...

Seems like the stork is mighty busy this month !

My fiance flew to Boston this weekend to help his brother and sister-in-law put together the baby nursery, as their bubby was due in 2 weeks time. Josh finished up the nursery last night and was due to fly back home this afternoon ( Sunday ).

Then at 5 am this morning, his sister-in-law's water broke and their daughter was born by C-Section not long after ( they had to perform it as the baby wasnt turned ).

Her name is Josephine Viognier (pronounced 'Vee-on-yay').

Viognier is a type of grape,grown in France, which is used to make wine. Her papa is a sommilier after all....surprisingly it wasnt he that picked the name...his wife chose it.

She weighed 5 pounds 4 ounces, so she's a tiny angel.

Josh is an uncle for the first time ! I'm an aunt again !

I feel really happy for the excellent timing on Josephines part because Josh and I, as some of you know, are flying to Australia in March, for at least a year and I was worried that Josh wouldnt get a chance to meet his first niece before then.

She must've decided " Hey, my uncle is flying to the other side of the world and here's my chance to meet him before he leaves".

She also chose to be born on my sister's ( Kristy's ) birthday ! And, as Kristy also pointed out to me, January 8th is also Elvis's birthday ! Josephine chose to be born in good company *wink*.

Josh's brother and sister-in-law are gonna have a problem with Josh nicknaming her Joey-da-Grape now though lol...

Oh ....

...THANK YOU, mighty God's-Of-All-Things-Camera !!!

Change that, thank you Josh !

A Nikon D50 found it's way onto our doorstep last Monday !!!

!!!!!
!!!!!

I've picked it up and looked at it and poked it like it was an alien over the past week ! I almost feel scared to hold it because I've longed for this kind of camera for so long and I'm afraid to even scratch it lol.

Now, to learn how to use it and get the best out of it.

I'm also a little paranoid of it being stolen whilst we're in Europe so it's definately going to be insured and pics are going to be downloaded every night we're there.

Josh stretched his stretched-out budget to get this camera and we shall endeavour to capture good pics of our trip.

Honey, I cant thank you enough !

Pics coming soon !

Stress Reliever

Here's a very effective technique that dear Corry, from The Photo Forum taught me...

Stress Management Technique

In the event you have had a rough week, here is a stress management technique recommended in all the latest psychological texts. The funny thing is that it really works.

1) Picture yourself near a stream.
2) Birds are softly chirping in the cool mountain air.
3) No one but you knows your secret place.
4) You are in total seclusion from the hectic place called "the world."
5) The soothing sound of a gentle waterfall fills the air with a cascade of serenity.
6) The water is crystal clear.
7) You can easily make out the face of the person you're holding underwater.


Ahhhh I feel all zen now...

Zenfully Yours

- Tina

Photography Wish-List

Was pondering on our trip to Europe this March and how to beef up the equipment so that I can make the most of the photographic ops whilst we're there.

So I'm makin myself a little backup list of supplies to get instead of not having a Nikon D70/D50 to play with...( which would be awesome but oh well, shit happens ).

* Let's start with the obvious- lots of color ( Velvia ) and b&w film ( Tri-Max 400 or Ilford )

* A Holga camera.

* A cheapo tripod ( I have one at home that I SHOULD have bought with me to Toronto )

* Circular polarizer

* Filters : Blue, didymium, red, green and orange, moonlight blue ( Hoya range ), Neutral density filters ( list goes on, I'll be happy with one or three of those ).

* A flash

* Cable release

Hmmmm, that list adds up, then add the cost to process all the film afterwards and we got ourselves a doozy of a bill. Yet, if I get some awesome shots in Europe it will be worth it. Afterall, I am taking it for granted that I just may not get BACK to Europe for another shoot, should my first lot of photos turn out sub-par.

Hey, I may get to go back.... I'm not ruling that out, but I'm gonna treat this as my 'one time'.

Little Boys With Big Guns

For those who didnt hear, there was YET ANOTHER shooting in Toronto on Boxing Day.

Shooting in Toronto

Right in the heart of the downtown shopping district, in amongst the Boxing Day Sales crowd, some young idiots decided to open fire.

A 15 year old girl, out shopping for bargains with a parent, was killed when one of the bullets hit her in the head. Quite a few others were injured in the rain of random bullets.

I feel so angry and, at the same time, I am on the verge of tears because this poor innocent girl was cut down, she was simply out with her mum or dad and probably spending the money she got for xmas....! How horribly awful for her parent to watch their child just randomly, senselessly killed right in front of them.

Now she's dead. And the stupid fucks that decided it would be manly, it would be fun to shoot into a crowd probably dont give a shit at all.

When I heard there was another shooting I simply rolled my eyes and shook my head. There's been so MANY shootings in this city since I've been here and 99 % of the time its been 'gang shootings'. I instantly presumed this was another gang related incident.

I've always been pretty at ease walking around Melbourne. Some might say almost too confident but my 'danger signal' is finely tuned and I know when to be super cautious when I've been walking in the city or wherever back home.
I used to walk around in Bourke Street Mall and surrounding streets at night with no fear at all of being SHOT AT for gods sake ! Or injured in any other way. And I hope it stays that way...

In Toronto, however, I've gotten to the stage where I don't feel too safe even walking around in daylight, downtown. Let alone travelling alone to any other spot here. Toronto is a great city and I don't mean to 'bash' my adopted city but no one can really blame me for feeling uneasy.

I was planning on going downtown on Boxing Day, around that area where the shooting occurred, to do some shopping. Luckily I didnt go eh....

Once I was waiting for Josh outside a store. I was outside taking photos of the surrounding buildings and I was approached twice by men, one who hung around for no reason asking me questions. My hackles raised because I sensed he was up to no good. At that same time, a metre away from me was another guy, standing there. Again, I sensed something from him too. The two didnt appear to know each other but nontheless, each had their own agenda and I knew it. Josh came out of the store and we started walking past the second guy when he asked us for a ciggarette. We shook our heads and continued walking and he started to smartmouth us, following us. Josh immediantly went into 'work mode'. We finally lost the guy after a block and it was from there that the notion solidified that this particular Dorothy wasnt in Kansas anymore.

Another time, the day before we flew out to New Orleans we were sitting down on the pavement having a smoke before we went in to catch our train up to Josh's friends place. Sitting beside our luggage, we were minding our own business when some young punk with a bandana approached us and asked us for a smoke. Then he proceeded to stand there over us and grilled Josh.

" Hey, dont I know you "?

Josh remained calm and replied he didnt think so.

"Whats your name man. I know you. I know your face, yeah....."

The questions continued. He asked Josh if he was a cop and he was acting a little agitated and determined to figure out where exactly he knew Josh from. And it wasnt leading anywhere friendly. Josh encounters this problem a lot, considering the line of work he's in so Josh had been through this before and knew how to respond. The guy had something in his pocket and had his hand in there,playing with whatever it was. His stance was one of someone who was considering fastly whether to use the pocket item on Josh and run. Both Josh and my 'danger signals' were on high alert, needless to say. The kid also made note of me, telling Josh I looked like Alanis Morrisette ( what the fuck ! I was considering pulling something out of MY pocket and using it on him just for that !). I knew this comment was made to let Josh know that he had gotten a good look at his girl, for futures sake. We finally said we had a train to catch and 'see ya later mate' and we walked inside.

I remained calm, like Josh, but inside I was a little shaky. The calm facade was needed, akin to a situation when you're dealing with an agitated animal. NO sudden movvvvves.

To the ppl of Toronto, don't let your city continue on it's path to New York/LA status.

To these little boys running around with big guns thinking they're men because they're oh-so-tough and can shoot ppl, may their karma turn around to bite them so hard on the ass.

I just don't get how they think they're tough when all they do is apply pressure on a trigger with their finger. If they need to prove so badly that they're big tough guys, why cant they put away their weapons and go hand to hand combat.....with each other..... farrrrr away from anyone else.

Very far.

Mars, in fact.

Can Nasa hurry up and make that planet somewhat liveable so these punk thugs can go fuck off there ?

While we're at it, can we send a few politician fat-cats while we're at it ?

Oh and Ashley Simpson/Lindsay Lohan and co. can be missiled off as well.

I Wish You...

...A Merry Happy Chrismukkah !!!

I'm all by me lonesome today, which doesnt bother me. My other half is workin 9 am until 9 pm today. I'm just sittin here drinkin a Baileys on ice, candles flickering nearby and the sound of the little electric heater blowing heat into the room.

Thought I'd be sick today as I had a bad headcold that hit me on Friday night but I made myself a honey lemon tea and I instantly felt 90 % back to normal. I knew the mixture was good but to go from dripping nose, sneezing every other minute, watery eyes, sinus pressure etc to good as gold the minute I finish drinking it ?! Wow !

That's some gooooooood shit.

All I do is fill one third of the cup with fresh lemon juice, pour in boiling water and mix a teaspoon of honey in. Forget about the cold and flu remedies out there, try the natural cure.

Josh and I celebrated last night, Chrismukkah Eve. I baked some chicken in a nice herb sauce and Josh made his unbelievably good potatoes. I groan with yumminess everytime I eat them, best potatoes I've ever had. We exchanged pressies. I got him a stand-in discman ( until I can get him the Ipod ) and he got me a sleek, sexy portfolio for me to showcase my photographs in. I love it !

The man has taste.

Missing the family xmas celebrations back home where we drink Ricadonna with mums strawberries marinated in brandy mixture. We'd get giggly tipsy before xmas lunch and in a fantastic mood. Merry Xmas to my girls back home, we'll take a raincheck on the xmas thing until next year.

Hope Santa was good to you !

Who Were You In High School ?

So I went and took one of those junk quenstionaires...

Arty Kid

Whether you were a drama freak or an emo poet, you definitely were expressive and unique. You're probably a little less weird these days - but even more talented!

Who Were You In High School?

I don't think the 'weirdness factor' has decreased with age...

A belated Happy Aniversary post.

I havent paid much attention to my blog of late so now that I am paying it some attention...

HAPPY 1st Anniversay babe !!!

Our one year anniversay was last Sunday, the 4th of December. It was one year ago, on that date, that Josh arrived in Melbourne and we met face to face for the first time. I still remember that first meeting of eyes so vividly in my mind. I opened the door and fell into his gorgeous chocolate brown eyes and thought " Oh god yeah, he's a spunk " !

Haha.

He was putting his bags down and talking to me, his voice a little shaky from tiredness and maybe some nerves and all I could think of was kissing him. So I just walked over to him and stopped him mid-sentence by doing just that.

His parents organized an engagement party for us last Sunday and I asked them if they knew it was also our anniversay that day. They didnt know, it was just a coincidence that they chose that day of all days to throw an engagement party for us !

Family members flew in from Boston, LA, Phillidelphia, all over, to attend the party. Josh's parents hired caterers and waitresses for the night and the food theme was Thai. The food was very delicious ! Some of Josh's friends were there also. It was a great night. Josh and I were exhausted by the end of it though, from all the talking, to being pulled here and there to meet ppl etc.

Josh's mum is starting to feel it, starting to miss us already, obviously moreso Josh in particular. She has been getting teary and asking us to make sure we come back after a year of living back in Australia. The 4th December was no exception. She was watching me get ready in the bathroom before the party and pulled me into an embrace and started to cry a little. I got teary too. They feel like my family now, well they ARE my family now and I am going to miss them so much. It feels like when I left my family in Australia to come here. It's bittersweet.

At one point, before the party, I was standing at one end of the dining table and she at the other and we were both admiring the table being dressed so beautifully. She beckoned me over smiling and pulled me into a hug and said " This is to honour you..."

I wish more then anything that I could pick up both families and just put us all in one place. I really, really do...

Babe, I've said it before and I'll never tire of saying it as it's how I feel...I am the luckiest girl in the world because I have your heart. You come home at the end of a tiring day at work and cook for me, if I'm at work and you're not, you make sure I come home to cuddles and kisses and a hot meal. You are constantly here for me and give me more cuddles and kisses then I know what to do with, you listen and are interested in anything I have to say, regardless of how much of it is 'girl-talk', you are forever spoiling me with pedicures,manicures, backrubs, laughter, flowers.....Every single day you make me feel as if I'm the most beautiful, interesting, talented girl in the world. You make me feel as if my dreams and passions arent foolish and that I can fulfill them and do it well.

One thing my mum always told me: marry your best friend. Besides my family, you are my best friend and I cant wait to marry you and grow old with you.

Silence Amidst Snowfall

Well, last day before I become 'smoke-free' and although I know that the withdrawls are gonna blow and my mood is not gonna be the best because of aforementioned state of withdrawl, I really am ready to get off the ciggarettes.

I went to gym this morning, worked out on the elliptical (cross-trainer) machine for a grand total of 5 minutes before my breathing got so bad that I got off and walked to the stretch area, fearing I was gonna pass out.
Lol oh god I've never been that unfit before.
I did 10 mins of yoga and we were standing against the wall doing some form of 'yoga' moves and I just couldnt get my breathing right and felt a little nauseous. So I called it a day and proceeded to walk home.

It was gently snowing outside yet it wasnt cold. Snow covered everything, yet it felt as if it was a comfortable 18- 20 degrees celcius outside. Coulda been that I was still warm from gym but I didnt wear gloves at all during the 20 minute walk and my hands never felt cold.

I came to the cemetary and entered the white, peaceful world inside. I could hear the traffic on the main road running beside the cemetary but it was if I was encapsulated in a beautiful, quiet snowglobe. Snow blanketed the gravestones, here and there flowers stood defiantley through the fluffy substance. As I walked, a feeling of peace and wonder enveloped me. Big snowflakes fell down in the air around me, some coming to rest on my newly colored dark red hair, on my eyelashes, on my cheeks. I watched them silently float down around me, studied their different patterns, musing on how beautiful and unique each snowflake was. Every now and then a snowflake would float onto my lower lip and melt in an instant, my tongue sliding out to taste it.

And I felt good because I was living out an adventure. I was doing something with my life and experiencing the big wide world. There were so many moments in my life where I thought I'd never get out of bed again, never leave the house. Days where I would walk into the bathroom and look at myself in the mirror, at the dark circles beneath my eyes, my sallow, puffy skin, my hair askew in every direction. Life, at those times, seeming to take more energy to live it then I could muster and I would think " I'm become such a mess, here I go again with pulling myself back together..." and I would feel as if I didnt have the energy to do it again....

But I always found the will from somewhere...pulled myself out of the big, black hole, dusted myself off and walked back to the party...

And here I am, living and working in North America, about to experience another of the things on my life ' To-Do' list; celebrating a white xmas like the white xmas's seen in movies. Where the characters drink eggnog, go ice-skating amidst beautiful xmas lights, fall on their ass on the snow,laughing.

The life 'To-Do' list is evergrowing and I don't think it will ever be completed but the fact that I'm checking stuff off on it feels great.

I wanna leave this plane knowing I did something kind cool, that my life was full and colorful and interesting.

Right now I'm thinking of hanging out with Tibetan monks for a while....wanna come along ?

Back to Toronto, this photo reminds me of ' The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe'. The Narnia Chronicles were a childhood favourite of mine and I cant wait to see the movie. I walk past this lion on my walk home from work.



A sunflower in the cemetary, again the one I walk through on my walk home from work.

Smoke-Free Countdown

So it starts...

On Tuesday morning I had a ciggarette at 10 am and didnt have another.

Until now: 8:30 pm Thursday night.

I felt really, REALLY good about quitting every single day whilst I was at work. But after work, when I would normally have a ciggarette and coffee, I felt the withdrawls. Yet, I still felt good, I felt clean. I just kept wondering if I'll ever get to that stage of not wanting a smoke, not missing it, looking at other ppl having a smoke and wondering how I could ever have been a smoker. It felt like this time around I wouldnt get to that point again. The last time I quit, I was horribly ill and in a lot of pain in hospital, anti-biotics being pumped by the truckload into my system to combat the contents of my burst appendix that were marinading surrounding organs. So, it was that I just didnt pick up another ciggarette after I got out of hospital and I never missed it.

Anyways, I caved in tonight and bought a packet. But I know now that my mind is ready to quit smoking, because I noticed how good I felt about it 80 % of the time over the last few days. I also noticed that, come 7 pm - 8 pm ....I was so sleepy that I'd fade into sleep on the couch...it was as if my body was recovering by turning to sleep.

So, over the next few days I resolve to cut down on smokes until the new quit day; Monday. I will make sure I'm better prepared. Over the next few days I'll take up gym slowly also and eat better. On Tuesday morning, I will visit with the chinese acupuncurist who is in residence at my work with the goal of acupuncture helping lessen the cravings.

So be prepared, next week is probably gonna be scattered with rantings of a girl who is giving up a strong holding vice.

Josh has given up. He had his last ciggarette with me last Tuesday morning as well but he seems to be in a better, stronger frame of mind then I am about it right at this point and he is doing SO well. I am very proud of him and I feel awful about letting him down because I caved tonight. But I will be quit soon too, so this is a temporary setback only....

My Snow Cherry

....has been popped....so to speak...

Well, that isnt entirely accurate. I was born and grew up in a city which is a 4 hour drive from the mountains and it's accompanying snow and went there quite a few times as a wee lass growing up. I flew ,ungracefully, off many a tobbogan, I built many lumpy snowmen and placed the carrot on them in inappropriate places, I braved many a snowball churned hard at my head ( so that's whats wrong with me, blame snowballs).

And I also was recently in a place called Timmons, visiting Josh's family, where it had already snowed by the time we arrived. Ten inches in fact.

But as for snow where I live...well that cherry has been popped. It 'flurried' today, whilst I was taking a sneaky lunchbreak. The snowflakes dropping quietly down on the Toronto street in front of me caught my eye and I had to take a second, third, fourth look to make sure it was snow I was seeing and not weird rain.

Didnt wanna go back to the office to declare it was snowing and have the co-workers look outside and scoff " It's just raining" and roll their eyes at the silly aussie chic.

Then later, a co-worker pointed out the window at the snow flurrying down ( thats my word today, 'flurry' ) and she welcomed it with a " Shit, erggghhh it's snowing" as if she had just put a cane toad in her mouth. I, on the other hand, was mildly tickled.

But eh, I'll learn to pull the 'get this cane toad out of my mouth!" look before I leave in March, I'm sure.

Ice skating here I come !

Happy Halloweeny, Jelly-Beanie !

It's been awhile since I posted eh.

Lots going on lately, mainly work probs. I've been on the verge of quitting for a couple of weeks now. Just when I'm ready to quit, the boss pulls his head in and acts human and I think " Ok, if he can keep up the 'human' act, I can see the last 4 months out there". Then he'll pull something that pisses me off ....

It's a silly cycle.

It's Halloween tonight ! We got outta work reasonable early and I saw the cutest kidlets out and about in their costumes, accompanied by their parents. So kewt !

Josh bought home a massive pumpkin last night and I'm sitting here waiting for him to arrive home so that we can eat and carve. Then we're gonna go out wandering and I can give the various kidlet skeletons, ninja turtles, fairy queens and co. out there their treats ( yeah I stocked up ).

I keep thinkin of my nephews at home and wishin I could take them out on a REAL Halloween Trick-O-Treatin!

It's my beautiful Cody's 5th ( see that ! He's turnin the mighty FIVE ! ) birthday on Wednesday ( the 2nd ). I wish I could be there to celebrate it with him !!!

Don't Buy Other's Negativity

Song Playing: Silence - By Mother Nature

&

Cars driving down the road - by Ford/Holden/Toyota et al.

One day, The Buddha was giving a lecture and a Brahmin got up and began insulting him. He raved for while and when he had finished the Buddha said,

"If somebody laid out a banquet in front of me, to whom would it belong?

"Obviously it would belong to the person who put it there..." replied the Brahmin.

"And if the person offered it to me," continued the Buddha, "and I declined to accept it, whose would it be?"

"Well obviously it would remain the property of the person who put it there."

"Just so," declared the Buddha. "just so."

*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Prints For Katrina Charity Auction

Listening to : 'Circle Of Life' - Lion King Soundtrack.

Feelin better about everything today, maybe because I got up when it was still morning ( 10 am ) and got out and did a few things.

I asked the guys at The Photo Forum, a few days after the Katrina distaster, if they'd be interested in having a print auction to raise funds for the Katrina Aid Fund. They thought it was a great idea and Kara set about organising it.

Members offer a print of their own up for auction. If your interested in purchasing a print or two off these talented ppl Clicky For Auction

If you want to help Katrina victims and New Orleans get back on their feet, purchase a print ! The proceeds are all going to this worthy cause.

Some new shots of New Orleans are in my flickr gallery ( flickr gallery name: Luminosity)

More of my New Orleans piccies


Here's a couple of shots.....





Toodles !

HomeSick

Yep.

Today's Saturday. I'm already dreading work on Monday.Actually I was dreading Monday as soon as I knocked off work last night.

Didnt have much energy or desire to do anything today. I know that I need to find another job and that I'll be not seeing much daylight, let alone Toronto, soon as I'll be working around 70 hours a week.

And I'm wondering.... I feel so tired after a 45 hour week, where some days I'll work 10- 11 hours...how am I gonna be with working 70 hours at TWO jobs I seriously dont like ?

Josh and I did the calculations on how much we need to save to move to Aus in March.

$ 14,000.

We need to save that, as well as pay both our own personal debts ( both are high ), as well as keep up with the rent and bills....

And that isnt including the $ 2,000 plus we need to bring Lucy with us.

I dont want to leave her behind.

I miss my family, vegemite, Flinders Street station, taking the train up to Seymour to see Ma, I miss my old place in North Fitzroy, cuddles from my nephews, laughs with my sisters.

Don't mind me. I'm having a moment.

I'm sure I'll feel better about everything soon.

Because I have Sparkle Motion !

Louis Armstrong Once Said...

“Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans?”

Oh how I know...

Good article that echoes my sentiments

Love For carefree New Orleans remains vivid

I cant believe my favourite place is devastated and under water !

To think, if I had been born just a couple of weeks later, instead of the 13th of August, I would be there right now.....

Part of me is selflishly grateful that I got to walk it's streets and fall into it's enchantment once again, before it fought a losing battle to Hurricane Katrina. Yet, even more so, I just feel sad.

Sad for all who call The Big Easy home.

Sorrow for the drowning of a city that evolved beautifully into it's graceful old age. I scan pictures, flashing on my computer and tv screen, of the city now, looking for familiar streets and buildings.
The water is washing it's history and beautiful wrinkles away. Even after the floods have receded and the rebuilding begins, it may just become a glossy kodak photograph of it's former glory.

The news reporter delivers the news that N'awlins may become a ghosttown but I believe that she will always have life....

For this is her secret; the life and fun loving spirit of this place made each and every one of her old corners sparkle with a most mysterious beauty, spilling out over her cobblestoned streets, like an old, haunting song drifting out of a jazz club.

She'll start swimming soon, will put on her fine old dress and colorful beads and return to dance once again to her blues and jazz.

Don't leave us yet, Orleans, the party is far from over...

My heart and best wishes are with her and her inhabitants. I'm worried about the wonderful friends we made and left back there.

What has become of the ol saxophone player who stood daily in front of Cafe Du Monde and played ? Troy from the hotel ? Jeff from Cuvee ? The little girl who peeked around a corner playfully as I took her photograph ?

My Ilford film shots will be ready to pick up soon. God, am I hoping even more then ever that my shots turn out ok. One of my films might not, as it was ISO 3200 and I forgot to turn my camera setting. So I accidently shot a roll of 3200 with a camera set at 400.... :(

Please donate to the relief fund...

Red Cross

Also, this wonderful organisation needs help with it's amazing efforts...


Noah's Wish

She Drowns...

She Drowns


I kiss her hand and dance with her
She wears her finest old dress
Her eyes glitter mischief
and dark delightful secrets
Her plump juicy red lips move
across the lobes of my ear
and flutter like twin butterflies
as she sings her soulful nostalgic lullabies..

Scent of magnolia, drifts and curls
lazily inside my senses
Her slow, easy smile
All promise to haunt me
long after I leave her.

I loved her long before I danced in her mysterious ballroom

I hold her Southern Belle face
Sorrowfully kiss her eyelids
I am a daughter of Reality
It now beckons me back, possessively

So I turn and walk, to her my eyes keep turning back
My tears fall
upon her Big Easy streets
and she cries
The water starts to rise above her feet

From afar, my heart weeps
As she drowns.....

The Rock

I took this pic yesterday of my ring and thought I'd transform it on photoshop into an ad type of photo.... just regular Saturday afternoon muckin around...

Had to 'model' the ring on my thumb as it kept slippin around on the usual finger lol

The original




The manipulated.



EDIT: Since I've changed templates, the whole picture won't show. The full version is here My Rock, all Film Noir'ish