Amber & Spirit of the Season

I love these men.

Amber & I Know What Girls Like

My office (well, Kevin and I) has a holiday tradition (well, we did it this year) of participating in the Holiday Toy Drive sponsored by the amazing Coalition for the Homeless.  When I worked at Tap Dance Monthly, we did a similar thing but I sort of like the idea that my gift is anonymous this year.  I like the idea of someone who knows the children matching gifts just as much as I liked picking nice things for Baby Jymmy (who is now3-1/2 years old) based on how many Y's there are in his name.

The Coalition for the Homeless has an amazing Wish List, sorted by age group and gender, to inspire your gift-giving. I picked "12 and Up Girls" because that's a super hard age, even if you have a home.  And those poor girls are maybe even more aware of their situations than younger children.  Plus, I got to go to Claire's Accessories.

Actually, the store was a little overstimulating.  There is sure alot of bling in that store.  I managed to find three nice pairs of "Hoop Earrings," one "Charm Bracelet" (with butterflies!  I love butterflies!) and a set of bangle bracelets which were not on the Wish List, but I see around my neighborhood on the girls alot.

I really like this holiday tradition and program.  And there is still time for you, dear reader, to participate!  They even take cash gifts if you've vowed to stay out of the stores this week.  It makes me super happy.

Amber & 'Tis The Season

A tower of delights from a vendor. Really, mediocre chocolates. But still.

Amber & Festive Times

Kevin and I are having "nog time."

I love this time of year.

Amber & Tree Trimming

Fellowship, fir and festive music.

Amber & Milky Tea

Don't forget to relax today.

I am thankful for creamline milk, Earl Grey tea, and relaxation.

Amber & Holiday Eyes

I am just zooming through these preparations.

Amber & Step One

Schlemmertopf.

(Third best thing to come out of Germany after Marlene Dietrich and Fritz Lang, the latter of whom happens to be having an "in Hollywood" series at Film Forum next month.)

Amber & Happy Colobus Day!

Like Kevin says, "Lose the M and it's much better."

Amber &

Happy Kitty Eyebrows Day, Everyone!

In the words of the founder of this holiday, James...

"This is very special day of kitty mystery when every year since 2006 we celebrate kitty eyebrows."

That makes this the 4th annual kitty eyebrows day. (Take that, people who say kitties don't have eyebrows.)


And, go ahead and Google Image the phrase "kitty eyebrows."


Look who comes up on the first page.

Amber & Slurping of the Green

After our conference call, Kevin and I are going to walk down to Union Square and get shamrock shakes.

Who's with us?

Amber & Upcoming Events

Also, mark your calendars: the very exciting next kitty festival, Woodra Pooja, falls on May 23 this year.  Set an alarm so you are sure to have plenty of canned tuna, goat's milk yogurt, and lint rollers ready.

(Photo by Jimmy)

And be prepared to do several ritual offerings of sink hands.

Amber & Gigi Pooja

Today is my favorite festival of all of the festivals that I have ever invented. (I love Kitty Eyebrows Day just as much, but Jimmi invented that one.)  What makes this Sunday different from any other day before Monday?  It's Gigi Pooja, of course!

 (Ginger, seen here in a reprentation known as "Reclining Gigi")

Gigi Pooja is a very special day on which we celebrate and express our gratitude for Ginger.  It's a day full of rituals, including brushing his fur and making him a special bed in a box with a pillow, like a throne.  The throne both provides comfort for Ginger, but also reminds us of his dual nature: He is both soft and snuggly, and embodies devotion when he milk treads your neck and grooms your hair in the night, but he is also a fearsome warrior who devours all paper products with his sharp teeth and destroys wicker chests with his fearsome claws.

On Gigi Pooja, after I henna my hair, we make a pilgrammage to our favorite pet store to buy devotional offerings like litter and wet food.  And we perform the act of Chin Rubs, which allows us to contemplate the infinite softness of Ginger.

We do this while he rests upon his lingam.

Earlier in the day, the other cats observed abhisheka, not with marigolds and ghee, but with fur on the lingam, which we will ritualistically remove with the magic sponge the day after Gigi Pooja.  Also, the day is full of naps.

On Gigi Pooja, we also thank Diana who told us all about her trip to India yesterday, including her observance of Shiva Puja.  Not that that has anything to do with Gigi Pooja.

Don't worry, people who think the new cats are apocryphal, the other cats will get their own poojas.  Not only do we always invoke Tiggy first on the blog with the sidebar, but Tiggy Pooja is an even more exciting day (tbd).  But let's live in the moment and take the rest of the evening to meditate on Ginger.

Happy Gigi Pooja, readers!

Amber & Amy's P.S.

P.S. Merry Christmas!