Jewelry is a perfect gift for hard to buy for family and friends. Here are a few of Eve J Alfille’s suggestions to complete your holiday shopping list.

Marina and the Diamonds (the new Florence and the Machine in my opinion) is the one to watch for 2010. Florence, La Roux, Pixie are sooo 2009 people. Family Jewels her much-anticipated album is due for release in February, catchy tunes like “I am not a Robot” and “Hollywood” are pop songs that you’ll be singing along with for ages, so pre-order your copy now so you can get ready to party like its 2010.

My daughter, Kaia, came home from school yesterday so excited.  She yelled, “I’m going to be on the 6 o’clock news!”  My first thought was, “Oh crap… what did she do to get on the news?”.  Her classroom decided that instead of exchanging gifts for the holiday, they would take up money and purchase gifts for foster children in our area.  They took their donations to the foster care office yesterday followed by the local news.

They interviewed Kaia and one of her classmates.  She was so excited and embarrassed all at the same time!  For some reason I can’t embed the video here on the blog, but you can view the video here.  Take a moment and check her out doing her first interview!

President Obama promised to declassify secret federal documents as part of a larger program to increase government transparency.  A particular group of documents was set to be released by the end of the year.  Now, it looks like that’s not going to happen.

The missed deadline spells trouble for the White House’s promises to introduce an era of government openness, say advocates, who believe that releasing historical information enforces a key check on government behavior. They cite as an example the abuses by the Central Intelligence Agency during the Cold War, including domestic spying and assassinations of foreign officials, that were publicly outlined in a set of agency documents known as the “family jewels.’’

The documents in question – all more than 25 years old – were scheduled to be declassified on Dec. 31 under an order originally signed by President Bill Clinton and amended by President George W. Bush.

The delayed declassification is part of general intelligence agency resistance to Obama’s plan.  Their opposition presents two problems, one political and one archival.  Since the end of World War II, government bodies like the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) have engaged in dubious activities around the world.  At this point, many of these actions are open secrets.  For example, numerous sources indicate that the CIA backed the 1973 Chilean coup, which resulted in the overthrow of the freely elected leftist government.  Yet, the U.S. government has not released the documents proving American involvement in that and similar actions.  Declassifying those materials is an important step in Obama’s stated goal of moving away from those policies, which have continued to the present day in the form of secret prisons, torture, etc.

The second problem concerns the handling of these records.  According to the article linked above, the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) already has over 400 million declassified documents waiting to be processed and made accessible to researchers.  Making intelligence records available at irregular intervals will only exacerbate the problem.  Some experts have recommended a declassification schedule for all classified material after 25, 50 or 75 years depending on the content.  A plan like that would reduce the stress on NARA as the material would be released in a steady stream rather than in unwieldy masses here and there.  Scheduled declassification furthers the goal of government transparency as it would assist the archivists at NARA in processing the material, making it accessible more quickly.

This is Cyrus.  Named after John Malcovich’s character, “Cyrus the Virus”, in the movie “Con-Air”.  Not named for any certain country singer(s).

He is almost 6 years old.  We’ve had him since he was around 10 weeks old.  He’s been the best dog we’ve ever had.  He’s great with the kids.  He does tend to be a jumper and a licker though.  I get tired of trying to defend his breed.  He’s an American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, or Staffordshire Bull Terrier, whichever you prefer.  Most people just say, “You have a PIT BULL?!?!” and “What about your kids?”

This breed gets so much bad publicity in the news.  It seems that every dog bite comes from a pit bull.  If you raise a dog to be mean, vicious, and aggressive then guess what?  You’re going to have a mean, vicious, and aggressive dog.  It really doesn’t matter what breed of dog you have, if you raise them well they will be good dogs.

Cyrus is a good dog.  He would defend his humans if he had to, but would never bite anyone just because he wanted too.  I think the vast majority of the injuries sustained by these dogs is the fact that their owners weren’t raising them well and weren’t caring for them in a way that is conducive to a happy dog.  I would never allow my dog to just run around on his own.  Even if he was a poodle.

I’m writing this because I’ve heard of two dog bite victims in the news lately and so much emphasis was put on the fact that they were “viciously attacked by a pit bull” that I wondered if anyone had any idea there were other dog breeds out there.  I’m here to say that there is at least one dog of this breed that is a good dog.  He’s a family dog.  He’s a lap dog, if you let him.  He’s a companion.  He’s goofy.  He’s lovable.  He’s kind.  He’s the perfect dog.

He’s our Cy-cy, Cyrus the Virus, and Goofy Gus.

Eve J. Alfille started her gallery and studio of fine jewelry over twenty years ago, through the combination of experiences from childhood, work interests and everyday passions of life. A Renaissance woman, versed in many subjects, and a linguist conversant in some 13 languages, Eve is a former Certified Accountant, high-school French teacher, archeologist specializing in pottery reconstruction, mother and Sunday school teacher.

Eve’s interest in languages combined with her classical European education led her to her Masters in Linguistics & Medieval Poetry. Her passion for art, written word and artistic expression extends to include the American Studio Art Jewelry Movement and the connection between jewelry as adornment and as it relates to human need for transcendence and beauty. Eve carries her life experiences through to her custom jewelry designs blending the art of life with the individuality of each customer.

When visitors come to the gallery they are immediately embraced by the intricate details of the gallery’s interior design, which was created by multi-media artist, and best friend to Eve, Celeste Sotola. Celeste has great vision and the ability to take common objects, view them in a totally new way and repurpose them with great style and beautiful effect. You can check out the amazing works of art by Celeste Sotola on her website at www.sotolaart.com.

This past weekend went by so swiftly that I’m not even sure if it really happened or not.  I mean, is it seriously Monday morning?  Already??? Sorry I’ve been missing in action for the past few days.  I’ve been busy.

I had to take my mom to the hospital on Friday morning to get a CT scan done.  They found a dense area that they were a tad concerned with.  She made me promise not to tell anyone that the doctors said she was dense in the head ’cause we’ve been telling her she was dense for years.  The radiologist called mom’s doctor who then called mom to tell her to take her butt to the ER.  I guess I should have told you that when I picked mom up from her doctors office, part of her face was saggy, limpy, and otherwise not in the correct positioning.  The dense spot they saw on the CT scan was quite possibly a blood clot forming.

Into the ER we go.  Hours of sitting.  Hours of waiting.  Lots of poking.  Lots of prodding.  NO food, NO water.  The ER doctor says he’d like for her to stay over night to which she immediately says, “No thanks.”  I say, “She’ll be staying.”  The neurologist comes in, does his little tests and says the same thing the ER doctor says.  Stay.  She finally caves in and says she’ll stay after I use a bit o’ guilt inducing charm.  Might I add that the neurologist had some really interesting tools of the trade.

Finally after being at that hospital since around 10AM, she gets moved out of the ER.  To the MRI room.  Then to have an electrocardiogram or an echocardiogram or some sort of test where they looked at her heart and carotid arteries.  I headed down to the Subway in the hospital and ordered up a nice turkey sammich because I know that she is absolutely starving to death.  Oh, I guess I forgot to mention that she is also a smoker who hasn’t had a cigarette in all this time either.  I’m starting to fear for the nurses lives at this point.  She gets to her room around 3:30PM.  I’ve never seen anyone eat a sandwich that fast.

She’s back home now.  A small/mild stroke, but the clot seems to have resolved itself.  No major damage or any minor damage that we are aware of.  She’s going to take it easy for a while, eat a better diet.  In her defense though, she eats pretty well.  Thank you to all who asked about her and to my aunt-in-law and mother-in-law who made her brief stay in the hospital more enjoyable.  Seriously, thanks.

And all the nurses survived unscathed…

Whenever you see a man with their hands covering their private parts it means they are very uncomfortable, very protective, and very vulnerable. So in this photo of Jon Gosselin and Levi Johnston, who ran into one another in Times Square Saturday night, this photo of them together speaks volumes.

Jon is known for making lots of kids (8) while Levi is known for making 1 famous kid- ex VP Candidate Sarah Palin’s grandson. While Jon’s hands are seen lightly covering his privates, based on his one hand placed over the other position, Levi hands are positioned a lot lower, as he strongly clasps one hand, locking it over the other. Perhaps he is being super protective of his really valuable “money –making” family jewels, which he plans to show in an upcoming Playgirl.

Besides being really famous fathers, these who share a lot of other things in common. Looking up at their faces, they share the exact same facial expression as they look in the same direction. They are both very uncomfortable standing near one another with no smiles and a tight lipped tense expression. This indicates that neither of them is too crazy about standing next to one another and having their photos taken. But after all, it is a photo op and after all these two little “Knut the Bear” narcissists seem to love publicity and having their pictures taken. So what if it is freezing cold outside, a photo op is more important in both of their minds. After all, besides their matching facial expressions, they have matching double breasted 6 button Navy pea coats to keep their baby producing bodies warm.

It is also rather interesting that their elbows seem to touch one another. Perhaps it was so cold outside that they automatically gravitated towards one another to generate some body heat. This elbow to elbow contact may also indicate that subconsciously they really do want to be comrades. After all these two have more in common than any other two men. Besides, now that Jon got rid of his ex bromance buddy Michael Lohan, Levi Johnston may be a great substitute. They have a lot to discuss since they are both angry and detest a woman who did them wrong. Jon publically trashed and dished the dirt on Kate while Levi publically trashed and dashed the dirt on Sara from Larry King Live to ET to the Insider.

Right now, even though their body language indicates that they are not “buds” and really don’t even want to be seen together publically, maybe it will do them both good to hang out together. After all they have really walked in one another’s shoes. Therefore, they can truly empathize with one another. Maybe when they get their anger out and vent to one another, they won’t have to do it through the media. Maybe they can serve as one another’s therapist. Listening to and watching the other may even serve as a “reality check” mirror to one another. As they both see how ugly they sound whining, moaning, and groaning to another perhaps, that will be the catalyst that allows them to shape up and act like real men instead of immature boys.
www.drlillianglass.com

I’ve had the Maroon 5 song, “Sunday Morning”, stuck in my head since I heard that guy sing it on Oprah last week for that karaoke contest.  It just randomly pops in my head.

Some time in the middle of the night between Friday night and Saturday morning, the clasp on the dog chain broke.  He scared the crap out of Chris who was trying to check the oil in the car, in the dark at like 5:30AM before leaving for work.  Cyrus (the dog) is mostly black so Chris never saw him coming.  Of course, we can’t just let him run lose in the neighborhood.  Other people let their dogs run, but we don’t.  It’s rude to let your dog defecate in other people’s yards.  So I was up early on Saturday morning.  Bummer.  Saturdays are for sleeping in.

It was so beautiful this weekend!  Sunday we decided to grill a big roast and just enjoy the day.  I gathered up all of the Halloween decorations to put away in the garage in exchange for the Christmas decorations.  No, I haven’t put any up yet, but I’m seriously tempted to do so.  While packing a box into the garage, my ankle decided to not function properly anymore and gave out on me.  Oooo, did it ever hurt!  My foot went a bit numb and tingly for a few minutes, but the swelling was pretty minimal.  Unfortunately Sunday’s are laundry days and our washer/dryer is in the basement.  So that meant many trips up and down stairs for me.

Neil’s basketball team starts practicing this week.  His coach called Sunday evening.  He’s not played basketball before, but seems really excited to do so.  His coach has turned out to be his P.E. teacher so that works out well.  Her son was also on the same baseball team with Neil in the spring.  We’re really looking forward to seeing him play.  I don’t think he’s going to do baseball again next year.  He really got burned last year with that one player who kept hitting him with the ball every time he got up to bat.  He’s just not into it anymore, but we’ll see how it goes come spring.

I really appreciate all those that have followed me yet again to another blog address.  Please vote in the poll to the right to let me know which of the two blogs you like.  I like this one because I can have all of my pages in one place.  You may have noticed the “Private Postings” tab.    Since it was brought to my attention that my blog is public and available for all to read, I decided to have a space dedicated to my private audience only.  After conferring with the husband on this one, he suggested that I go this route.  This page is password protected and I will be happy to give you the password if you’d like.  Just drop me an email letting me know.  I look forward to hearing all of your feedback and seeing your comments soon!  I promise to stay right here and not drag you from here to there anymore.

For some reason the sun seemed a little sluggish getting up this morning.  I doubt it was the sun’s fault that the overhanging clouds keep her rays from shining through, but at 6:30AM it was still pretty gloomy outside.  The temperature this morning was very pleasant though, sitting around 68 degrees.  The kids didn’t even want to wear their jackets to school.

It was a near perfect morning.  Except for the wind.  It’s been very windy, but the wind added a little something to the moment I think.  As the kids dashed off to their designated positions at the end of the driveway to wait for the school bus,  they noticed all the fallen leaves just lying on the ground.  Waiting for them it seemed.  It became apparent that the night had stripped the maple trees of nearly all their leaves.  I started to run in the house for my camera, but I stopped.  I didn’t want to miss the moment.  Together they began to pile the leaves.  Scooping with their hands, scooting with their feet.  Every time one of them would try to throw a handful into the pile, the wind would whip all the leaves away.

I don’t think I’ve ever noticed just how quickly the leaves change and disappear.  Just a few days ago, they were all blazingly yellow and orange and now they are all nearly bare.  I haven’t been able to get into the Halloween spirit this year.  I guess I’ve never noticed how quickly that comes and goes too.

Clarke MacArthur was interviewed via facebook and some of his answers are both fun and extremely disheartening.

When asked who is the biggest jokester in the locker room, he answered Derek Roy. I don’t know about you but I want to know what Royzie does that is oh so highlarious. “All day?” Gimme deets, sweetheart.

When asked about the epic pigeon of the game, he says that it left with Spacek. NOOOOOOO! The pigeon is gone. GONE! I figured it would go out on top with its rightful owner but this is too hard to accept right now. Sigh. The pigeon is now a dirty French whore living in the shoddy red light district with Andrei Kostitsyn. And probably Tampa Bay Lightning and their stripper, hockey-playing fools that I adore so dearly.

He kind of sucks in the shootout doesn’t he? Hank Tallinder, you may proceed.

When asked what his favorite sports team is other than the Sabres, he pulls out the classic Sabres PR book and responds with… the “Buffalo Bills” of course! Like, duh. We are so good.

Memo to whoever told poor Clarkey that he looks like Screech form Saved By the Bell: Please exit the room immediately. Thank you and goodnight.

It’s official.  He’s been here a decade.  A whole decade.  He’s in the double digits now.  I’ve managed to not let a single tear fly.  They’ve welled up in my eyeballs, but not overflowed them.

We did a little get together for his birthday this past Saturday.  I asked him to invite his friends from school, but I guess he’s already at the age where we, as parents, embarrass him because he didn’t want to invite them!  He didn’t want a birthday cake either.  That’s really no surprise though because he isn’t much of a sweet eater. Every morning we watch the morning news while they are eating their breakfast and getting ready to catch the bus.  They run a segment of “Mr. Food“.  Last week he did a Cinnamon Nut Ring.  Neil said that’s what he wanted for his birthday.  It was super simple to make and he really liked it.

He got the new “Transformers” movie so all the kids (plus Chris and my dad) snuck to the livingroom to watch it.  I had an issue with the candles we bought to put on the cake.  They were trick sparkler candles.  The kind that are supposed to sparkle like those fireworks and then when you blow them out they light back.  Didn’t happen.  They just burned like regular candles.  It was quite uneventful.  So while the kids were doing adult like things, myself, my mother and father-in-law, and my mom all stood in the kitchen while I held a lit candle and waited for something to happen.  The only thing that happened was that I got burned with hot wax and the candle stuck to my finger.

Then to further make ourselves look like idiots… we balanced a broom in the kitchen floor.  No, really, we did.  See my mother-in-law was telling me that her son-in-law told her that his wife had done this.  Apparently the planets are aligned in such a way that you can do things like balance your broom and it will stand without your help.  His wife stood up all the brooms down an aisle in Wal-Mart.

Last week was great.  I’m so glad that my dad was able to make the trip up to Kentucky to spend the week with us.  The time went by so fast I can’t believe that he had to leave so soon.  We spent most of the time just wandering around aimlessly in various restaurants and places since Chris was at work and the kids were in school.  We managed to walk around Hobby Lobby for a couple of hours and I only spent $5!  The Simplicity patterns were all on sale.  I found one for personal blanket… AKA a Snuggie!!  Kaia said she wanted one for kids so I hope she’ll accept a knock off handmade version!  I also found one with a simple quilt design.  I’ve never made a quilt before, but I’m going to attempt one soon.  Wish me luck!

The color of the leaves are rapidly changing now.  Dad commented before he left that some of the trees were still green when he arrived a week ago.  Most have already turned to their bright yellows and oranges while some are still green.  Our Dogwoods’ leaves had already turned a dark red, but were still hanging all over the tree when he arrived.  Yesterday there were just a handful left.  Pretty soon the weatherman will be calling for snow….

Quirky welsh popstress Marina and the Diamonds releases her first single from her hotly anticipated album Family Jewels next month, the re-recorded Mowgli’s Road. The video was released just a few days ago, and is a pretty cool looking snippet.

Marina and the Diamond’s music sounds like a heady mix of Kate Bush, Bat for Lashes and early Bananarama, and much of her other songs from the Crown Jewels EP are keyboard based ballad type things – like the pretty and melancholy “I am not a Robot”. Directed by Rankin and Chris Cottam no less, this video is sparkletastic.

Marina also has a pretty cool style, wearing vintage cheerleading outfits on stage.

Friends, I need your help.

Vote 'No' to neutering Goomba! <-- This message is approved by Andrew Kong.

Recently, there has been discussion of neutering sweet Goomba. Personally, I object to this because I’d like to breed him in the future, and I have always felt that it’s an unnatural ritual and one which I would not personally enjoy. Shiba Inus aren’t that common around this area, and I’d certainly hate to lose out on the opportunity to have another puppy in the future. This is how I have presented my opinions to Katie, but she is unrelenting in presenting all of her “pros” and, surprisingly, not very many cons to snipping Goomba’s jewels. Personally, I think Katie wants him neutered just so he doesn’t hump her leg:

“He’s humping things. How is that cool to you? It’s disgusting. Why can’t he stop humping me?” -Katie Harr, as I was writing this

So, friends, I turn to you. Should Goomba be neutered? I’ve created a good ‘ol fashioned poll.

The Family Jewels

I recently took a trip back east to visit family.  While there, my husband found his mother’s old jewelry in a storage unit rented to hold her personal things since her move to a retirement community years ago.  He haphazardly  packed it in bulk in a large cardboard box (just like a man) and delivered it to his sister’s home giving us an opportunity to go through it together.    Their mother has more than likely forgotten her old jewelry collection and only wears her wedding band today.   But maybe, she would remember…

It felt like we had been invited into her private world as we respectfully and carefully laid it all out on his sister’s dining room table.  The “family jewels” were separated by estimated material value, time periods, styles, and likability.   Some were costume jewelry from the 1940’s through the late 1970’s.  Some were inexpensive and a few were fashioned of precious gems and fine metals.   Lots of pearls in various colors were difficult to determine their authenticity.  Someone with more skills than us would be needed to ascertain their value.  There were several necklaces obviously handmade probably by her grandchildren.  She must have worn these with great pride at least once.   There were many gold chains in various sizes tangled in intricate knots that only a patient soul with time on their hands could untangle.  We didn’t have the time or the eyes for it.  Maybe a grandchild could take on this task later.

Many necklace, earrings, & bracelet sets were obvious souvenirs from travels to exotic places she and her husband had visited years ago.   Brooches could easily be imagined worn at the neck of her blouses to church and special events.  Actually, I remembered her wearing  one almost every time I saw her when I first became her daughter-in-law.   She had her favorites and took pride in wearing them.

There were crystals, jet, and various shades of jade that would be eagerly sought by today’s antique jewelry collectors or by beaders,  such as myself, that look for old beads to create “new vintage” pieces.   After asking family permission, I chose a few of these great pieces to take home to Arizona.  I will re-work them into new necklaces.  I think her daughters might appreciate modern necklaces made from these old family historical beads.   I know I would.

Finding old beads and chains at antique stores, garage sales, and flea markets is a fun experience to the avid beader; but nothing quite compares to the feeling of knowing that these old beads that I hold in my hands were once cherished by a special mother.

My husband and I left the majority of the jewelry on that dining room table.  Maybe his sisters will come to a joint solution for their next home.  It’s an emotional decision that doesn’t come easily.

I recommend taking the time with your own mother or older relative to experience their old jewelry, together, while they are able to share the stories belonging to certain pieces.  Sit with them, spread the jewelry collection out slowly, take the time to untangle those old knots, and listen.  Why not video this experience?  It could be one of those moments that fills the lonesome void once they are gone.

Hello again Monday morning! 

For the record, I have an extreme dislike for seasonal nasal allergies.  For me they have come with age.  I didn’t used to have any problems with allergies or the changing of the seasons what so ever.  Now the seasons change, I get allergies, and my nasal passages swell shut.  I can’t breathe and it feels like I’m all stopped up except I’m not.  I have to live with a constant feeling that there is a booger the size of Alaska living in my nasal passages.  Here’s my plug for the Netipot.  Nothing ever reduces the swelling except for daily rinses with that Netipot.  So if you’ve got what I’ve got, get what I got… a Neti pot.  Ha… I made a rhyme.

My dad got here right on time on Sunday morning.  3:30AM.   I took a brief nap while struggling to watch the football game, but for the most part I was proud of running on my 3 and a half hours of sleep.  I felt young again.  Not really, but it sounded good, right?

My son turns 10 in just two days!  I’ve waited until the last possible moment to do any birthday shopping so now I have to go out in the 30 degree weather to find him some presents.  That’s right, I said 30 degrees!!!  This is just too cold for mid-October.  Everyone please right a strongly worded letter to Mother Nature and tell her that it’s too soon for such cold weather and PS could she tell the sun that it’s ok to shine in Kentucky for more than one day at a time?  Thanks so much.