V and E going back to campus tonight. MLK and then back to school. What a long and event filled vacay. The holidays, Japan and re-grouping at home. May your semesters be fruitful and valuable to your futures!

One year today, you came home in my arms and brought delight, love and cutie pie-ness to our home, Happy Anniversary our little sunshine!

I am no Vivian Maier but I will be taking a short informational course in photography, given free at Chapman Library, next Saturday for all of us amateurs that received nice cameras for the Holidays .

We saw the documentary on her, put together by a modern photography student (John Maloof) who came across her negatives at a garage sale and hence she was discovered posthumously.

Vivian Dorothea Maier was an American street photographer, who was born in New York City and spent much of her childhood in France. After returning to the United States, Maier worked for about forty years as a nanny, mostly in Chicago – from Wikipedia, that is the gist of it. The documentary, the investigation, the mystery and her work is exceptional.

It is not love of self but hatred of self which is at the root of the troubles that afflict our world.” – Eric Hoffer

NOT AFRAID was illuminated amongst thousands of Parisians tonight! The French have always prided themselves in satire and especially political satire. Their history demands we remember it has shed blood for liberty, brotherhood and equality. I am shocked and saddened by the slaughter. I pray. What nonsense and cowardice.

In the class of Life (Act Two), there are many lessons to be learned. To put everything in the Universal Mind and let it go, is a steep request of a former control freak. To sit back and act only after pausing, is quite a turnaround for a doer or reactor. To reflect and proceed forward only if staying still is contrary to peace, is asking for patience, wisdom and mindfulness. Exactly what Act Two is all about in the classroom.

Now that the house is quiet, disheveled but settling its dust, is a fine time to write. Among the wrapping paper pieces still strewn about, half-empty water bottles and soda cans, I see the sunlight streaming in. Our chickadees have flown but their imprint is everywhere.

As I pick up, toss out and organize through, I work inside a state of gratitude, appreciating all of our blessings.

Bon Voyage, safe travels to one and all.

I click my heels. 

Christmas in the city, the mall and on the shore.

Capuccina, our Christmas Cat, insists on relaxing all day long, under the tree, all through the Holiday Season.

 It is a blessed time of year for many. I am not religious but I love rites and traditions.

I also like a good laid out table and food. Photos courtesy of J.

J‘s collection of 7 menorahs.

Three Jewish dogs posing intently, waiting for latke crumbles to drop. 

From left to right, our canine models today, are – Rocky, Beau and Lilah (which means ‘night’ in Hebrew) – with permission from their owners.

Chanukah — the eight-day festival of light that begins on the eve of the 25th of the Jewish month of Kislev — celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, of purity over adulteration, of spirituality over materiality – taken from Chabad.org

Thanks to J for this picture!

They are thinking in the invisible little bubbles over their heads  – “Where are the latkes?” “Ruff,ruff.”

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