Tranquility

I was asked what five of my favorite things were tonight.  I realized that I have many many favorite things.  It's a cool thing to think about, how much about this world and this existence that I enjoy.  New friends, old friends, all dear.  Family and pets and a warm cozy house and a fire and fresh sheets and stars.  If only I had a hot tub things would be perfect! 

I'm thankful for so much, but I'm hard pressed to express all of these things in writing.  The list would go on and on and with the advent of the Facebook thankfulness countdown I also don't want to appear a copycat.  So instead I'll just say that cheese is one of the things I'm thankful for and leave it at that for now.

We went to a show last weekend where Kate and a bunch of my other friends played music and sang and it was wonderful.  I also got to meet Kate's parents, a lovely couple who we enjoyed so much!  Houseguests are fun! 

Lorraine, Danny, and Kate.  Plus Emmylou, Dali, and Gram

Owen and Kate

So magical when they sing together!

The future is inching up on me and I know that when I visit home the question will happen.  "When are you coming home?"  Or perhaps "What are you planning to do next year?"  And the only answer I'll have is "I don't know."  More probably it will be "Getting a job and publishing a book."  Because both of those things are happening.  Besides that, I'm just not sure.  Cannot predict what will happen as I'm not a soothsayer.  Life is an adventure and I'm strapped in for the ride.  Dude.

The great unknown is sort of what drives me, the seeing what's around the next corner.  I wonder sometimes if I'll ever be ready to settle down, buy a house, etc.  The enticement isn't big enough for me yet to do that.  This is a time of discovery, of seeing who I am without the comforts, of recognizing my strengths and weaknesses and building on the former while breaking down the latter.  Already in my time here I've done so much and seen so much that would have been out of my reach previously, for whatever reason.  Mostly I had to be in a place in my head where I was ready for it.  I'm more there now than I've ever been.  I'm ready for what is around the corner.  I'm still scared sometimes, my self consciousness still rears it's head, but I've accomplished so much in actually just getting in my car and leaving all the known behind that there isn't a whole lot that I believe I can't do these days.  That in itself is reason enough to stick to my guns. 

I hope this Thanksgiving brought everyone happiness, a semblance of peace, and a full belly.  I can't wait to visit home, I can't wait to see people I love, and I can't wait to enjoy life some more.

Yours in tranquility and peacefulness

Shanti Elena

Mama Was Here!

 

It's the middle of November and the weather has been changing drastically.  Today was an exception, being mid-sixties and sunny so that I was able to get a start on the enormous leaf population.  Yesterday it rained and I did nothing but watch Arrested Development all day.  That is why today must be more productive, and this writing is a product that I do not do enough of!  The trees are bare, the temps are dropping to freezing at night, and it actually snowed one afternoon while my mother and I were wandering the downtown of Asheville.

 

Did I mention that my mother came to visit?  It was so wonderful!  She came in on a Saturday and left the following Wednesday.  The first day we hung out at home, then went to our favorite Mexican place with Molly.  The next day dawned sunny and beautiful and Mom and I struck out for the Parkway.  I got some lovely pictures, though I think she has a few more. 

 

The last time I'd been to the Parkway it was overcast and you couldn't see this amazing view!

The problem with visiting the Parkway right before it closes for the winter is that Little Switzerland is closed down.  This had been the plan for lunch, but it was like a ghost town.  After driving around for a bit and asking some locals, we ended up at a place called The Sheperd's Table.  It was full of church crowd folks and had scripture on the walls, and who knew that Jesus liked his food so deep-fried?  These are fried green tomatoes.

 

 

We went on a hike to a falls, and it was pretty steep but I accomplished it with as little muttering as I could.  Then we sped to the second hike that I wanted Mom to see, because the sun was setting quickly.  But the views from the top were amazing.  Check it!

 

 

 

The next day we went on a hike with Molly and ended up getting lost for a bit.  But we did see an owl in a tree!  

He was far away, but if you look carefully you can see him!

Awww!

 

Tuesday is the day it snowed on us downtown, and we also got some Christmas presents for people.  Then Kate got home from her trip to the river and we all went out for German food.  It was delicious!

 

 

It was so lovely catching up with my mama and laughing with her and showing her my environs.  We had such a nice time and she's talking about coming back in the spring when the rhododendrons are in bloom. 

 

Since then I've been pretty unproductive, although I did do a photo shoot this last weekend with my lovely friend Sarajane and I'm keeping the Spin classes going.  I need to work a schedule out for my editing, as I'm on my own at this point.  Self motivation GO!

 

I'll be home the 17th of December through the 2nd of January, and I'm so looking forward to seeing everyone I miss so dearly!  We also have plans next week for a big "Orphan" Thanksgiving, all of us not going home for the holiday.  Tasty goodness!  I'm also very excited for a big show this coming Sunday that a bunch of my musician friends are putting on.  Yay for going out and hearing awesomely talented people!

 

I hope that all are having a lovely lovely autumn, and send motivation my way please!

 

XOXO

 

Shanti

 

 



Spooky Samhain

It's time for a blog, people!  Egad it's been a while, and I have nothing to excuse myself with but lack of initiative.  To combat that, I am now sitting myself down to do what I'm supposed to do, what I actually love to do but what I procrastinate doing so very often.  Phew! 

So.  My last installment was a rant on men, and I'm glad I put that out there.  Helps with the frustration building that dating can inspire.  The last couple of weeks have been taken up with planning for our Halloween party, and as many of you know I never do parties half assed.  It's all out for me.  Perhaps I should be a party planner...but I digress.  Here is a picture timeline:

 

Rufus discovered the Dachshund bed, and has since claimed it as his own.  He doesn't quite fit, but he doesn't quite care either.

 

We have gotten a delivery of wood from a very attractive man named Zack, and we now have an indoor fireplace as well as out, with plenty of fuel for both.  So cozy! 

 

On the Friday before Halloween, we attended a party at our wonderful friend Owen's house and I threw together an improvised vamp costume.  It was 29 degrees that night, and to help with that I drank wine punch, because that's how vampires roll apparently.  I did not, however, sparkle.  Because that's only for pansy vampires.

The Dachshund and the kitties are slowly becoming closer, though Hades and Dali still aren't too sure of the relationship.  This was a rare shot of them sharing the bed, albeit uncomfortably.  Funny side note:  I put Turkish, my white kitty, in her witch costume one day and hollered at Kate to come see.  Dali followed her in, Turkish jumped off the bed in her costume, Dali got excited and cornered her, and Turkish straight turned into a real witch cat and got up on her hind legs and attacked.  I will forever regret that we weren't quick enough to take a photo of this happening, but since then Turkish's fear around the dachshund has disappeared.

 

This is our witch circle I created in the front yard, the heads of which light up.  Spooky!  We've decided to keep it up and decorate them for Christmas. 

 

Bodies that are stuffed with the numerous plastic bags we've been hoarding.  The one on the right was hung in the basement haunted house.  The one on the left is taped with Justin Bieber duct tape, because that is really a thing that they sell.  You know you've made it when they have your picture on duct tape.

 

David demolished our tree fort, and he and I put together this lovely fire pit for the front yard.  I have since been burning leaves in it and that's been very fun and satisfying.  Fire is our friend!

 

Not a great picture day for me or the darling Dali, but her face is priceless!

Smoky Hipler and Marty McFly (David and Kate)

Not so smoky

The hanging corporate man in the blacklight

 

The hanging corporate man with Puss in Boots between his legs

One of our lovely children guests, who was instrumental in scaring the crap out of newcomers to the party

The center of the garage maze, where we set up a séance circle

This spider greeted guests by falling into their faces.  Best $2 Fifty I ever spent!

 

The Trifecta:  Kate as Marty McFly, Molly as Yolandi Visser from Die Antwoord, and Shanti as Puss in Boots

 

And finally, the ghosts I spent so much time on.  They turned out lovely!

Spooky!!

 

 

All my hard work paid off, and we had so much fun!  We even took a few tours into the haunted red house next door.  And get this:  The first two times I ventured into it (during the day), I had to get in through a crack in the far outer wall of the place.  Halloween night, however, both the front and back doors were open.  On top of that, we found a bat in the basement.  And a dude fell partway through the floor.  And at night, it's just darn spooky as hell.

 

Now that the party is over, it's time to focus on my writing.  I have a book to edit, and there's no time for dilly dallying!  Also, my darling Molly is leaving us in a month and a half, so I also want to spend some quality time with her.  We're planning on having a nice Thanksgiving, and then I come home for two weeks over Christmas.  Life is still good, Fall here is lovely but cold, and I'm excited to see what adventures await me in the upcoming months. 

 

I hope all are doing well and that you had spooktacular Halloweens.  Much love and kisses,

 

Shanti Elena