Amber & Monism

Thanks to Emma for sharing this and giving me the gift of happy mid-day.



Namaste, Ohio students and employees. I recognize and bow to the dance spirit in you with the highest dance spirit in me.

Amber & Nice Beasts

I know this guy could eat her face and, as Isaac suggested, hock her camera for $50.  But he doesn't.  And that just makes me weepy at the wonder and kindness of animals.



I am kind of mushy about animals.

Amber & Some Things New, A New Thing Old

I feel like I am constantly in a struggle with the Entropy of Clutter in my home.  It's hard to carry out myself and the trash and the recycling--especially since the refuse area is down five flights of stairs, around the corner, and in an alley out behind the building frequented by what I like to think of as sleek-tailed squirrels.  And, I seem to accumulate stuff: direct mail samples, Fresh Direct boxes, books of to-do lists, cat fur, etc.  It's crucial to do a weekly Junk Round Up to make room for new, magical space-occupiers.  For example, I'd much rather have this weird sushi wind up robot that Nick gave me than a stack of Con Ed billson my desk.

(Seen here with Big Nose Felted Guy, another keeper from Nick.)

That's two pieces of inari on the left (my fave) and two pieces of tuna on the right.  And I can't show you because I got my phone before they invented video for iPhones (drat to early adapting), but the two sushis sort of bicycle up and down and round and round when you wind it.  Why?  Because it's amazing.

Gifts are not always keepers, but this new Ganesh statue that Diana brought back for me from India sure is.

(Like the mechanical sushi, Ganesh is not as blurry in real life.)

And that reminds me that my blurry-making phone is actually another place to collect wonderful, and muladhara chakra comforting, things.  Like this Ganesh application.

 (See how the bell is all lit up? You can pick it up and ring it. That is mostly what the app does.)

And, Jimmi referred me to this absolutely essential app where you can gong a mokugyo or the metal gong on the left and induce nagomi ("harmony").

(I won't spoil what "With Cat Mode" is.)

And, speaking of cats, this guy came to live with us a few weeks back.

(He's actually laying on a pile of books to return to other people, on the theme of getting rid of old stuff to make room for the new.)

This new buddy is actually an old artifact from the Boxing Day Heritage Booty.   I molded him from greenware, painted his eyes, paw pads and nose, and then glazed the heck out of him in ceramics class.  Proof?

Every great artist signs her work.  In 1981, I was apparently trying something new with my R's.

Amber & Appreciating Old Guys

This article made me appreciate Woody for what he is: an old guy.

(Amazing photo by who else?  James)

He may not be able to jump into the armoir anymore or drink from my hands on the edge of the sink.  He may be a bit crankier when he gets woken from a nap.  And, he may not bother to get up and chase the fleece wand with his baby brothers.  But he still really enjoys his naps in the sun, and he likes to wrestle with socks while I am getting dressed, and he purrs super loud during belly rubs. And no one is there faster when I shake the can of treats.  He can still do the things he loves, and that's what matters.  So, rather than being sad that my little guy isn't so young anymore, I am happy that he is happy.

Amber & Quiet Car

Simmer down, people. This be the quiet car. You know what a library is?

Amber & I'm Off

Environments? Check. Lowell the World's Best Cat Sitter? Check. Kisses for each baby? Check. Boston, here I come.

Amber & After Laundry

There's nothing like freshly laundered, unfolded sheets to bring kitties together in sleepy harmony.

I think I need a bigger bed.

Amber & Brotherly Love

On this historic day, November 14, 2009, Pickles extended a rear paw of brotherly love, and Woody accepted.

Or, at least, he didn't hiss and move away.

Amber & Vetiver

I know it's been the Plant of the Week before, but vetiver is totally my B.P.F.  (Best Plant Forever).

It's in the same family as my other close grass friends, palmarosa and lemongrass, but vetiver and I are so perfectly matched that it earns a special place in my pantheon of plants that yield essential oils.  It's cedary, musky, earthy smell is calming and grounding when mixed with oil and applied to my pulse points-- making it a wonderful match for my issue-laden first chakra.

To quote the folks over at Ananda Apothecary...

Vetiver essential oil is used for emotional grounding and stabilizing the emotions. It is considered relaxing to an overheated, hyperactive mind an nurturing to an insecure self-identity. The oil may then be suited to the type of individual who constantly strives for perfection, but who loses touch with the ability to absorb and replenish, not letting things just be.

I sure let things be on my walk to the 168th Street station this morning.  A normal 10 minute walk mysteriously took me about a half hour.  Oh well, that's just the way it is.  Sigh.

Amber & Marital Bliss

Who has four thumbs and is getting married today?


This guys!

Congratulations, James and Alisa.

Amber & the River House

I am really looking forward to going to the River House. I am eager for the relaxation and nature and cool breezes and swimming and making trays and views upriver.


I don't seem to have any photos from my last trip there in 2007. But, I do have this one of Jimmy resting in the hammock from 2004, the summer before I moved to Madison, Wisconsin.


And I have this one of Woody exploring the deck (and wearing a smart-looking collar that says, "REWARD" and my phone number).


And here is Tiggy exploring the ledge behind the house.


I think that was right before she jumped up onto the roof and walked over the high edge and I had to go up after her and nearly died of fear.

But, that's the blissful thing about the River House: after a terrorizing event, you can go sit on the lawn and take the breeze on your toes and everything is better.

But this time, I won't move to Madison, Wisconsin, afterward.

(James took this photo of me demonstrating the flag system used for crossing streets in Wisconin. You take a flag out of a bucket on one side and wave it as you cross so traffic knows to stop and then put the flag in the bucket on the other side. Really.)

Amber & Masks

I love facial masks. And, my problematic skin benefits from doing them on a regular basis. The above one, photographed by James on a visit to Madison, Wisconsin, is a the classic Kiehl's Rare Earth Facial Mask. It works well as a general mask, but also as a spot treatment. It doesn't smell great, but it is really helps control oily skin.

My favorite store bought mask is Dr. Hauschka's Cleansing Clay Mask.

It's a clay mask which comes dry and then you add water to make it into a paste. I usually do this one after steaming my face under a towel with a bit of lavender and chamomile in the water. Its pretty amazing. After it dries, it gets little wet spots again which I think is it sucking the gook out of my pores. It's a little cost-prohibitive, though, as is its sister product, the Rejuvenating Mask. I use that one for colder weather or when my face feels "hot." I first discovered it when Amy and I had anthroposophic Spa Day at Area in Brooklyn.

But, my all-time favorite mask is not at all expensive, even though it is Dr. Hauschka-related in that I got the recipe out of this book. To make it, you mix honey, goldenseal powder, and raw wheat germ. It doesn't taste as good as you might be tempted to think, but it sure does wonders for my difficult skin. And I look so pretty doing it whether I do it in Madison, Wisconsin...

Or right here in New York!

It sure is hard to maintain my beauty.

Amber & Kitty Yoga

This morning, the kitties seem all very laid back and harmonious. For example, Woody is doing his morning yoga by the window.

I think he's doing cobra pose with modifications for his surgeried knee. It doesn't bend quite the same since the ligament was reconstructed, and Woody knows to choose the modifications that meet his needs. I'm not sure turning your head to sniff the breeze is so good for your practice, but kitty yoga could be very different.

Or maybe it's just the same.

Amber & Making Peace

Pickles and the Zoom Groom have reconciled.

Or, he just chewed himself to sleep.

Amber & The Woods

I had a delightful weekend upstate with some delightful people in a
delightful place called Pumpkin Hollow. Only, there was no cell
service to live blog it. More later. Now is Kitty Reaquaint Time.

Amber & Memorial Day

The kittens have the right idea about how to spend the bonus holiday weekend:

Maxin'...


...and relaxin'.
Can you believe those? Totally unposed. They stayed like that for about 20 minutes each.

Now I'm going to get the Swiffer and grab those dust bunnies in the Ginger photo, and then put away the suitcase. Baby steps toward Apartment Zen.

Amber & Emotional Journeys

This gave me and the person I was with chills when we saw it in the context of its program, Glee.




And it started my current 1980's song obsession.

Amber & Home Office

This is what it looks like when I work at home.

The three essential devices for a productive work day: a Blackberry, a laptop, and an impromptu cat environment made more enticing than the keyboard.

Amber & Watermelon Cats We Know

It would seem that people are not the only animals pondering the nature of the relationship between cats and watermelons. Cats are confused, too!

CRD pondered the relationship here, and then I did further research into whether watermelons are the cats' best friends or worst enemies. James took this photo of Baby Scarlett looking baffled by her watermelon companion.

Clearly, Baby S. saw this LOLcat and wanted to test the affinity herself.


Oh the mystery! I think Baby S. was unconvinced.

Amber & Dreams I Have Had

Happy MLK Jr. Day!