Still, for those fans who prefer the simplicity of visual communication, I present (get it?) this photo-essay titled:
Good Behavior Properly & Promptly Rewarded: presents from Santa
Dear, dear Santa!
Santa, I love you. Nor do I forget you during the 364 days that are not Christmas. You are my hero.
It was a thrill to finally meet you in person.
Listed below are the gifts that I hope will reward my year-long efforts which, lest you've forgotten in the rush of seasonal preparations, are as follows:
***Little crying, less pouting, no whining or unnecessary barking, eat meals promptly & neatly, go to bed at proper time & without fussing, waking hours spent in wholesome activity: in short my behavior = Very Good.***
Evidence of same: Mama et Papa took me [bundled me off] to Doggie Daycare for the required pre-admission Temperament Test at Pawtropolis [my old prep school]. The staff discussed amongst themselves my potential as an acceptable pack member, then introduced me to my group, [pathetically titled] "Tiny Tots." As I acclimated to the surroundings [which you can view through the online Pawtropolis web cam], they kept a watchful eye out [not unlike you, Santa, they saw me when I slept, knew when I awoke] for any signs of negativity, espeically aggression on my part, e.g. growling, lunging, baring of teeth, etc.
Notes were entered in a meticulously kept log with special mention of behavior problems IF there were any, which THERE WERE NOT.
My rating at day's end: EXEMPLARY, the highest commendation possible. Many happy face stickers were also awarded.
My Christmas List:
1 Terry-cloth puzzle ball with 7 smaller balls contained within
1 soccer ball, regulation size
1 yellow colored ball, small
1 warm blue sweater & 1 gray t-shirt [Mama insisted I include these]
Lots of colorful tissue paper wrapping
My own gift-laden stocking
Please remember Mama et Papa:
Mama would like a 2-week all-expenses paid trip to England to be scheduled for mid-April, 2008. [3 weeks would also be ok& the expenses should include an allowance for making purchases while travelling about.] Papa would like a first-edition A Christmas Carol, some valuable antiques & a cashmere jacket; he could also use some professional-quality cookware.
Finally, Dear Santa, in your own immortable words I wish you "a happy Christmas to all and to all a Good Night," with love from your pal Mercury Murphy Roushanzamir!
Mama likes to experiment with technology; she has lost her generational fear of just clicking the mouse or pushing a button & now does both (and more) with abandon. She often looses interest in her technological experimentation. This explains her only foray into creating musical-visual collages for her iPod.
Six beautiful pictures of me slide across the small screen to the tune of "That Was the Worst Christmas Ever," words & music by Sufjan Stevens. The music-lyrics are not by any means cynical nor is it (as one may assume from the title) a song of mean. To the contrary, "...worst Christmas ever" is a touching, haunting, lovely story with this refrain:
In time the snow will rise.
In time the snow will rise.
In time the Lord will rise.
In time the Lord will rise.
Sufjan Stevens Presents Songs for Christmas Singalong comprises 5 cd/s, a cartoon poster, Songbook with guitar chords, lyrics and other stuff, and 5 holiday stickers, one of which (my favorite) shows King lion lying down with the baby lamb). I highly recommend this as an addition to your holiday music collection. (available from Amazon)
Which brings me to the subject of this entry:
Christmas Ornamentation of the Home: Deck the Halls
Mama's style may be labelled eclectic, tending towards collage or in a turn of phrase rather associated with Target (Tar-gay), shabby chic. Shabby, disorganized, ill-considered would be less flattering terms. Slip-shod might conceivably apply.
However, if ever there were a time to eliminate the adjectives & highlight the actions of the heart, surely it is Christmas time: "a kind , forgiving, charitable, pleasant time: the only time... in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave....God bless it!" (email me if you can identify the original from which I quote).
Mantle decorated with cards, a treasure box of jewel-colored bells, a Santa musical snow-globe and happy Japanese boys & girls, framed.
Finally, Mama remembers that comfort begins at home and especially during the holiday. She provided me with my very own special Merry Christmas pillow.
And that pillow exactly expresses my wish for you: a happy, restful Christmas season.
Haplessly, if not hopelessly, I look to Mama for guidance.
Her suggestion: "Dance! Sing! praisefully & joyfully," she said, "start Carolling."
From the depths of my spring break in December malaise, I assumed she'd lost her marbles. [It has been know to happen.] However, "what is carolling?," I asked.
Mama, ever the teacher [lecturer], began to explain:
"Historically Carols were simply stories intoned at various times of year to help explain and celebrate cyclical occurances (harvests, planting-times, etc.); in 129 AD, "The Angle Hymn" was sung in a Christmas service in Rome. It was the 13th century innovation of St. Francis Assisi (beloved as Patron Saint of Animals) to encourage Christian carolling in folks' indigenous languages (previously Latin had been the unpopular choice of carol language).
Carols were initially performed by professionals, "Waits," but latterly singing Christmas carols hearalded the beginnings of the holiday season for Christians throughout the world, in their homes, churches and public gatherings. And today, for all who enjoy the annual rush & confusion of the last month of the year, from musac to High Mass, the Christmas carol provides a lovely excuse to make joyful noise," said Mama.
"Mercury, my pretty precious beauty [this is how Mama speaks of me always], sing out & make a gladsome noise. Click HERE and HERE and HERE! And follow the tunes & lyrics and Sing out Loud!," thus spake Mama.
And perhaps she spoke prophetically and wisely for the Christmas spirit entered the Roushanzamir home, wintery weather descended and the warmth of shared good times worked their magic.
I find I'm partial to "Good King Wenceslas." This carol tells a 1000-year-old story about the King of Bohemia who, viewing impoverished peasants from his castle tower, was moved to bring them food and wood. It is said, however, that the real (or more historically accurate) story of King Wenceslas is rather gory! Click HERE for both versions, i.e. the carol and the history.
And now dear friends & loyal fans, please enter into my tuneful mood by replying to this entry with the title, and any other information you care to impart, of your own favorite holiday carol.
The Peaceable Kingdom
[Note: links for this entry in either blue or purple]"From 1906 to 1934, Eugene de Salignac shot over 20,000 stunning 8x10-inch glass-plate negatives of New York City...." [see Amazon for brief review]
(me, laughing]
English Humor: part I
Comic Strips:
Yum Yum Yum Yum
A couple of days ago I wrote about the five star meal at a Japanese restaurant in Norfolk. Today I'll write about an entirely different, but equally pleasing experience in that fine city.
The decoration! The ambience. The music, Italian music: opera, Frank Sinatra. The comfortable tables & spacious booths.Grandpere et Grandmere are indeed regulars at Veneziano & therefore I received a true family welcome.
Grazie Grandpere et Grandmere & Grazie Veneziano
The photo above shows Me at home waiting [and waiting] for a meal. While I would not describe this as a begging attitude, I'm sorry to report that meal times at the Roushanzamirs can be irregular [highly].
Such is never the case at the home of Grandmere et Grandpere. The following story illustrates that happy circumstance.
Promptly upon my arrival at Norfolk Grandmere et Grandpere whisked me to Kotabuki [click the link] a 5-star Japanese restaurant [fortunately located 1 block or so from their spacious townhouse in the historic Ghent neighborhood]. The sushi Chef, a man of highly dignified mien, stands guard over the extraordinary array of fresh fish; the Chef is a tall man, little given to smiles or social chit chat.
In any case, immediately we sit down and are served Horin Gekkeikan an ultra-premium or, more precisely, Junmai Daiginjo sake. Quite frankly the best I've ever sampled. As we sip our wine, the Chef carefully and I daresay lovingly, prepares 3 sashimi platters. And when they appear, what a gloriously beautiful presentation & what a highly satisfactory, gourmet delight.
[below, a soup bowl with the requisite chopstikcs, usually filled with Udon; my Grandmere kindly presented them to me, as a substitute for my usual doggie bowls, for when I eat Japanese noodles at home. And see entries of July 31, 2006 and February 15, 2007 for more information about serving ware at the Roushanzamir home!]
Such was my welcome at Kotabuki [click the link] that, after finishing the delicate sashimi [raw fish, accompanied by sculpted radish with rice on the side] and as we were leaving [to take a well-deserved, post-parandial nap], the solemn sushi Chef bestowed on me a beautific smile.
What a fortunate way to begin my holiday!
Meet my new friend, JPEG.
Peter & Amy pursue international agendas of great significance. And previously, their conversations tended to reflect their interests.
But those unforeseen consequences of adding JPEG to the mix improve the quality of these visits dramatically.
Perhaps because JPEG personally selected Peter & Amy as his rescue people, the folks with whom he wished to spend his life (may be long; he's a 3 month old puppy), they seem especially appreciative of the blessing that walks with them.
And such happy results (for me).
Since JPEG's arrival, Peter's & Amy's formerly wide-ranging conversation is now --and let's be honest, thank goodness for it -- pretty much limited to JPEG: his behaviors, social adjustments, quirks, good looks, habits, preferences, and so forth. (Benefits accrue to me by association.)
And while they undoubtedly plan to continue with their presitigous careers and distinguished pursuits, their lives (properly) center around JPEG. Now, JPEG and I together determine the agenda & logistics of the (sadly, all too infrequent) occasions of their visits.
Look at his appealing face, glorious coat, handsome markings, perky ears, slender paws, sleek & perfectly proportioned body -- and those eyes, what eyes! JPEG, now a treasured part of my life, enriches the lives of Peter, Amy and all who meet him. Thank you for choosing Peter & Amy as your rescue people & for thus rescuing Peter & Amy (& frankly your impact on Mama et Papa is also refreshing).
And finally, thank you for your love, licks, your glorious public displays of affection, your friendship.
I've written only briefly about about the remarkable Susan Lester. She has long demonstrated her many talents, some of which were noted earlier on this blog. Those include basketball, dance, horse-back riding. She's super-smooth on the guitar. And, she's got brains.
