Category Archives: General

Every now and then I am quietly reminded of how humans are, for the most part, good – and it is in our nature to be kind to each other, or at least to live and let live. And sometimes, when it snows just before Christmas – in these few weeks when the snow is welcome and new – we simply burst with love and can’t help but try to share it, even in the middle of night when no one else is around.

For my very first Troy Victorian Stroll, I opted for this simple grey top hat – a bit of millinery that I had previously only worn to Price Chopper (talk about a waste). It found a quick happy home in our pal Peter’s wonderful abode. Fueled by a Bloody Mary, a marvelous atmosphere, and some of the finest people I’ve met in some time, I had a lovely time. It will hopefully be the start of a new tradition (if we’re lucky enough to be invited again – I did behave!) It was so inviting and friendly, and his beautiful place was decked out so magnificently, we didn’t see the need to do much more beyond that, though next year we’ll definitely explore a little more. Seeing friends like Peter is one of the main reasons I love this time of the year so much.

You’re out on the streets looking good, and baby,
Deep down in your heart I guess you know that it ain’t right,
Never never never never never never never hear me when I cry at night.
Baby, I cry all the time!
And each time I tell myself that I, well I can’t stand the pain,
But when you hold me in your arms, I’ll sing it once again.

I’ll say come on, come on, come on, come on, yeah take it!
Take another little piece of my heart now, baby.
Break another little bit of my heart now, darling, yeah, (come on…)
Have another little piece of my heart now, baby, yeah.
Well, you know you got it, child, if it makes you feel good…

Tomorrow morning marks the big reveal of this year’s holiday photo card, and, just to take the edge off, here’s a little titillating tease that is actually much worse than the actual card itself. For the first time, it’s a double-sided photo, which means there are two pics for your viewing pleasure, or displeasure as the case may be. In a 180 from last year’s too-cute-for-words sweetness, 2012 may be the scariest card I’ve ever done. For that reason alone, I love it. (As for the blood on the paper version that was sent out to my closest friends, relax – it’s not real. But the knife is…)

And a bit of musical inspiration for this year’s fiasco…

Coming Tomorrow… with one more sneak peek a little later.

Don’t… go… anywhere.

This weekend my brother is joining me for some time in Boston – starting with a bit of holiday shopping at the outlets, and then some quieter time just taking in the sights and sounds of Boston as it gears up for the season. It comes just in the nick of time – I’ve got to get out of dodge before my holiday card officially hits the internet… tomorrow at midnight. Yes, you must stay tuned for that… it is not to be missed.

At this point in the parade of holiday photo cards, I can admit that I was getting a little lazy, and in 2009 I could barely muster the effort to come up with anything other than a sneak peek at an upcoming project. This one was all about the wings, no more and no less. And the mop of hair, which I don’t usually keep that long. Ho-ho-hum.

Though I’ll be in Boston this weekend, there are two very important Victorian Holiday Celebrations going on that you should definitely attend if you’re in the upstate NY area. The first is the Sharon Springs Victorian Holiday Celebration started by those industrious Beekman Boys two years ago, taking place on Saturday, December 1, 2012. This looks like it will be a grand event, from the costumes to the food to the Bloody Mary cocktails and several live performances. There is even a special Beekman 1802 Cancellation Stamp being offered at the post office for those who want their Holiday Cards to have a little extra pizzazz (I didn’t dare think to subject the postal workers to my cards – not sure how accustomed they would be to blood on the envelopes…)

The second event is the Troy Victorian Stroll, which marks its 30th anniversary this year. Set to take place on Sunday, December 2, from 11 AM to 5 PM, it will feature musicians, magicians, dancers, refreshments, rides and crafts. This is always a great day judging by the photos of past strolls, and Troy has the historic buildings and architecture to make it even more authentic. Next year I am determined to make it to one of these, as the opportunities to take out my gray top hat seem to be getting fewer and further between. (The folks at Price Chopper will just never get used to it.)

Last year around this time I made a trip to Boston in which I did a day or two of holiday shopping – not to actually find many gifts, but just to enjoy the season in Boston. Setting aside the time to simply walk and wander, to take in the holiday displays, enjoying a cocktail or two, and spending moments with a few of my closest friends made it more fun than the harried, rushed, and stressed out holiday shoppers for whom finding gifts was only a tedious chore. It’s a practice I put into play at various times during the season, whenever I need to be reminded of the meaning of Christmas. Whether it’s taking an extra five minutes at lunch to watch the Christmas trees going up, or sitting down in the middle of the mall while the whirlwind of frenzied activity swirls around you, it’s good to stop and let the craziness flow by. It’s not about the gifts and the excitement, but of slowing down and realizing what we already have. The pause is what’s important, the time to be still is what matters.