Happy Valentine's Day!

(thanks Damasta for the lil heart!)

Tear In Your Hand

Todays little treat for Tori Tuesday is called Tear In Your Hand, off of her very first release called Little Earthquakes, in 1991. I've included the video link so you can go watch this live version of Tear...it's really cool, and sounds great, but I am afraid the very end is missing.....ack!!!! It IS worth a look and listen though! Happy Tori Tuesday to you all!

TEAR IN YOUR HAND (Tori Amos)

Video Code provided by VideoCodeZone.Com

Tear In Your Hand

All the world just stopped now
So you say you don't wanna stay together anymore
Let me take a deep breath babe
If you need me
Me and Neil'll be hangin' out with the dream king
Neil says hi
By the way I don't believe you're leaving
Cause me and Charles Manson like the same ice cream
I think it's that girl
And I think there're pieces of me you've never seen
Maybe she's just pieces of me you've never seen well
All the world is all I am
The black of the blackest ocean
And the tear in your hand
All the world is dangin'...Dangling'...Danglin' for me darlin'
You don't know the power that you have
With that tear in your hand
Tear in your hand
Maybe I ain't used to maybes
Smashing in a cold room
Cutting my hands up every time I touch you
Maybe maybe it's time to wave goodbye now
Time to wave goodbye now
Caught a ride with the moon
I know I know you well
Well better than I
Used to haze all clouded up
My mind in the daze of the why it could've never been
So you say and I say
You know you're full of wish
And your "baby baby baby babies"
I tell you there're pieces of me you've never seen
Maybe she's just pieces of me you've never seen well
All the world is all I am
The black of the blackest ocean
And the tear in your hand
All the world is dangin'...Dangling'...Danglin' for me darlin'
You don't know the power that you have
With that tear in your hand
Tear in your hand
With that tear in your hand

Unneccessary Plastic Objects

On Sunday, Mr Ratburn, Little Rita and I went down to the city for the day. It was a warm February day, and we had a great time visiting Sutro Baths, Golden Gate Park, and Clement Street. (I'm talking about San Francisco, in case you don't know.)
As usual, we ate our way through the city, then ended up shopping for books at Green Apple and then going into the many Chinese Chach-kie stores along Clement Street. Inside these stores lie many unneccessary plastic objects.
Here are most of the many treasures that we found today. We got some Chinese chicken legs too, but they were camera shy.




Wouldja lookit those crazy sox, and, what would Little Rita's life be like without the Candygirl Tiny Box!?



Ok, now Little Rita can eat her rice with chop sticks like the rest of us. FUN CHOP, get yours today!

Have a great weekend everyone!

"Violet, you're turning violet, Violet!"



What's that Ratburn up to?

Stinky Mystery Smell Updated

UPDATE!!! 2 stinking rotting dead wood rats and one very large unidentified thing that might have been a raccoon at one time............and counting......

OK.......If you can believe it took this long to get someone brave enough to crawl under my house........yes, it did....and the winner is........

A FREAKING DEAD ROTTING WOOD RAT!!!!!

I knew I was right, even though I got "the look" from the handyman when he told me it smelled like cat pee......excuse me, Oaty does NOT pee in the house. I also told him the smell was coming from under the house....he raises one eyebrow...."well, ah dint see nuthin under thar dead"
Um, hello? You didn't see anything under there dead because you didn't look hard enough, moron!

Anyway, one dead rat was found, and I sure hope there aren't any more. But, the problem is, all that searching around stirred up that smell and it isnt gone yet...unless there's more than one...arghhhh!!!!!!.....to be continued.

Tori Tuesday

Todays Tori post is a song from 1998's Choirgirl Hotel called Cruel. I've included the link so you can go watch the video! Also today, I discovered this really cool lyric book that I didn't even know about! Woo hoo! Happy Tori Tuesday y'all!!!!!!




CRUEL

So don't give me respect don't give me a piece of your preciousness.
Flaunt all she's got in your old neighborhood, I'm sure she'll make a few friends.
Even the rain bows down, let us pray as you cock-cock-cock your mane.
No cigarettes only peeled Havana's for you.
I can be cruel, I don't know why.
Why can't my bal-la-loon stay up in a perfectly windy sky?
I can be cruel, I don't know why, I don't know why.
Dance with the Sufis celebrate your top ten in the charts of pain.
Nah... Lover, brother, bougainvillea, my vine twists around your need.
Even the rain is sharp like today as you sh-sh-shock me sane.
No cigarettes only peeled Havana’s for you.
I can be cruel, I don't know why.
Why can't my bal-la-loon stay up in a perfectly windy sky?
I can be cruel, I don't know why, I don't know why.
I can be cruel, but I don't know why.
Can't my bal-la-loon stay up in a perfectly windy sky?
I can be cruel, don't know why, don't know why... why... why...

CRUEL (LIVE) (Tori Amos)

Video Code provided by VideoCodeZone.Com

Look what I found!!!!!!!!

The official lyric book containing the words to every one of Tori's released songs, from the best-loved hits to the rarest B-sides. Featuring the lyrics to over 100 songs, a foreward by Tori herself, and orignal artwork by Hern Leonhard, this beautiful, collectible book is a must for all Tori Amos fans. Includes 35 full color illustrations.

Let's Take A Trip To Dilli Haat!

One of the most enjoyable and interesting experiences that I had in Delhi was to visit this project put together by the New Delhi Municipal Corporation and Delhi Tourism Departments. It's called Dilli Haat, and it is an open air bazaar of some of the finest craftpersons, artisans, Indian chefs and textile makers from all over India.
But first I had to get there. Just try telling an autorickshaw driver that you want to go to Dilli Haat, and they will tell you, "No madam, too much traffic" or, "No sir, too far!" Or they will simply tell you that they don't know where it is (c'mon yaar, everyone knows where Dilli Haat is!) Finally, and I'm not kidding here, after about 2 hours of visiting overpriced emporiums that probably belonged to the family of the rickshaw driver that I had employed, I decided to try again, this time with a different driver. Success at last!

The vegetable market where the autorickshaw driver pulled over and wagged his head toward Dilli Haat, across 6 lanes of horrendous traffic!

Wait! Did I say success? The driver pulls up to a fruit and vegetable market, gives me the head wag and points across a huge crowded, busy traffic packed 6 lane road! I didn't really think he was going to take me right to the front gate did I? Not in THIS traffic! This is Delhi, get with the program! First, I had to navigate across 3 lanes of traffic, climb through a hole in the wrought iron fence in the center divider, my backpack being about 12" too fat for the opening, causing some locals to assist me by giving my backpack a little shove to make it through!. Then dash acorss the other three lanes of traffic. This is done by watching the locals, when they go, you go. They know what they are doing, trust me! (Hey! That's just the way it's done in India, you wanna cross the street or not?) Finally, I made it safely to the other side.
Once inside Dilli Haat, I was rewarded with a silence, a calm so unlike that of Delhi. Ok, so maybe it wasn't like being in a forest all alone, but this is India, yaar, and this is paradise!



My doctor pal, Devashish, (on right)wheeling and dealing with a texile vendor, to get the "best price", while I hide so as not to be charged "rich American tourist" prices!

If you'd like to see a really fun panoramic view of Dilli Haat, go here: http://www.newdelhibest.com/360panorama/main.asp?url=/360panorama/delhihaat/delhihaat.asp

OK, I know this is long, but I like to include all the info in my blog, I don't want someone chasing all over the web looking for the articles I've already found, so just read the darned thing!

Dilli Haat, the food and craft bazaar is a joint venture of Delhi Tourism and New Delhi Municipal Corporation. Showcasing India's unity in diversity, this market operates all the year round. The tickets costing a mere Rs 10 can take you into the fascinating world of Indian art and culture from all the states in India.
Situated in the six acres, Dilli Haat is the first of its kind providing encouragement to the upcoming artists. Not just the food, but handicrafts and rural products from all over India are available in this 'traditional mela'.
Dilli Haat is a forum, which seeks to preserve Indian art and heritage. There is a right mix of craft, cuisine and Cultural activities, giving you a feel of the rural life in India.
The complex has been designed in a traditional North Indian style. There are in all eighty- seven stalls, including twenty-five food stalls. A plaza paved with stone and brickwork skilfully interspersed with grass, flowering shrubs and towering eucalyptus trees have conjured up an oasis in which visitors can browse at their leisure. The stalls to the craftsman are allotted on rotational basis for a period of a fortnight. The Haat is permanent but the craftsmen are mobile and ever changing.
The food plaza offers a wide choice of ethnic food from all over the country. A variety of crafted handicrafts, from each region are available in this exotic bazaar. From candles, terracotta, crockery, artefacts, jewellery, garments, dry flowers, show pieces, beads, metal ware and bags it's a colourful sight to watch shoppers buying their favourite wares. The prices are kept to their lowest, so that cottage and small industries are promoted. The ethnic market provides an ambience for all alike from piece and quiet for the students who love to hang out here, for the elderly just passing their day or taking a walk. The bill does not leave a hole in your pocket.
There is an adequate open space just in front of the Haat providing ample space to sit. If you want to savour momo's from Nagaland, Dosa from South, sandesh from Bengal, this is the place to hit. The international pavilion serves the best of international delicacies.
This place is always throbbing with one festival or another. It might be a state specific festival or a handicraft festival, a puppet show or a street play, the Haat has its own charm. There is also a hall in the complex, where exhibitions are held. A meeting room, PCO facility, Cyber café and a souvenir shop by Delhi tourism are some of the facilities available here.
The Haat also holds summer workshops in pottery, paper machie, painting, craft etc at very reasonable fees. This place is full of life and enthusiasm all the year round and has emerged a favourite destination among shoppers and tourists.
Dilli Haat does not only showcase the Indian culture but also provide a platform for cottage and small-scale industries. The place is open from 11 am to 10 p.m.

Address: Dilli Haat, Sri Aurobindo Marg, Opposite INA Market, New Delhi - 110 023.



Ok, and may I just say that, while in Dilli Haat making my purchases, I was offered to be a young Indian mans "first". First what. you ask? I have no bloody idea! But, I wasn't gonna be his first anything, that's for sure!
Anyway, if you ever go to Delhi, take advantage of this fantastic market to find arts and other hand made items from all over India, in one place. It's just a wonderful, fun thing to do with lots of delicious chai stalls, Indian snacks like samosas and chat, and a fun place to meet people as well. Just don't fall for that "come home with me, madam, you will be my first!" routine and you will be ok!

Happy HNT

Oh, how i'd love to be half nekkid on a warm sunny beach somewhere....but this will have to do!
Happy HNT everyone!





What's happening over at Mr Ratburns blog?

These Are My Favorite Shoes!

I could walk for miles in these shoes, they are so comfortable. It doesn't matter if I'm at the beach, walking through town, riding my bike, or wandering India. These shoes never let me down. And that's a fact.
I'm not the Manolo Blahnik sort of girl!
Tell me about your favorite pair of shoes.

You Know That I Will Follow You.....

Here is one of my favorite Tori Amos songs from her To Venus And Back release of September 1999, which, for those of you that dont know, is a 2 disc set, one live and one studio. And it will not disappoint you, especially if you like Tori at some of her more far out moments. 1000 Oceans is a beautiful song, and I think you all need to hear it....believe me, getting that thing that can play sounds for blogs is getting more and more tempting, I mean, how can I show you Tori completely when you can't even hear her?
UPDATE! Go to THIS link to watch Tori's 1000 Oceans video!



1000 oceans

these tears i've cried
i've cried 1000 oceans
and if it seems i'm.
floating.
in the darkness
well, i can't believe that i would keep.
keep you from flying
and i would cry 1000 more if that's
what it takes to sail you home
sail you home sail you home
i'm aware what the rules are
but you know that i will run
you know that i will follow you
over silbury hill through the solar field
you know that i will follow you
and if i find you.
will you.
still remember
playing at trains
or does this little blue ball
just fade away.
over silbury hill through the solar field
you know that i will follow you.
i'm aware what the rules are
but you know that i will run
you know that i will follow you
these tears i've cried
i've cried 1000 oceans
and if i'm.
floating.
in the darkness
well, i can't believe that i would keep.
keep you from flying
and i will cry 1000 more if that's
what it takes to sail you home
sail you home sail you home

Help! For the past couple of weeks, my house has had this really funky smell to it. At first I thought it was some stinky sox or something. Nope, laundry is done. We've blamed it in the dog..yeah, the dog is wet, smelly and old...yeah yeah, no wait! It's the cat, there must be some cat pee in this house somehwhere......no wait! It smells more like a dead mouse or something....but where is this smell? Ok, I think it's coming from under the house....Under The House?
Ackk!!! That can only mean one thing.......THERE'S A DEAD RABBITMOUSEGOPHERMOLECATDOGRATDEERHORSEELEPHANT UNDER MY HOUSE!! ewwwww!!! Someone call the exterminator!
OK.....today I will be attempting to remove said offensive matter from under the house, stay tuned, I'll let you know what it is later! (In the meanwhile, any guesses?)
UPDATE! This foul odor seems to be coming from the heater duct......so, I think we can eliminate the elephant, horse, deer, dog, cat and rabbit. I'm going to guess mouse at this point. But, it smells more like 8 or 10 mice! Stay tuned!

Colorful India!

If a picture paints a 1,000 words, here are 3,000

Happy Mehndi HNT!

"Mehndi is the art of applying Henna on the body. It is a beautiful form of temporary body decoration. Mehndi is a traditional form of decoration for both men and women in countries such as India, Morocco, and Pakistan, and is generally used for special occasions, particularly weddings."

And the part they don't tell you is, that it's really difficult to draw on your skin without ending up with drips and puddles of henna! But, I gave it a try, and you know what? It was really fun, and I felt pampered, and well, those of you that know me, know, that it's also another fun way to pretend like I'm in India!
I also have to admit, I got a little enjoyment out of freaking out the "normals" when I went to pick Little Rita up from school. I'm so bad, I know! Happy HNT!





Mr Ratburn is a freaaakkkkkkkk!!!!

Book Review- Lost In The Taiga

I've just finished reading this book called Lost In The Taiga, a true story of a Russian family that lived in the Siberian Wilderness, without plumbing, electricity, or even simple things such as matches and soap, and endured harsh winters, fires and bear attacks, just to name a few of their difficulties. The family of two grown sons, and two grown daughters, lived with their father and practiced the old and very strict ways of their religion. They believed that the only way to salvation was to live in the wilderness without modern conveniences.
At this time, the only survivor of the family is Agafia Lykov, who is now over 60 years old, and after the passing of her father, refuses to leave the taigan wilderness permanently, but does take some plane and train rides to visit some distant relatives.This is an amazing story of survival!
I first read this book about ten years ago. I liked it so much that I read it twice. Then, when I went to go dig it out to read for a third time, I couldn't find it. I think I loaned it to someone and it never got returned. So, I had to get it from the library this time. If you like adventure and wilderness stories, you will love Lost In The Taiga.

Agafia Lykov

Below I have copied some reviews of the book.

Lost In The Taiga
In 1932, a Russian named Karp Ossipovitch Lykov took his family, who were members of a sect of the Russian Orthodox Church called Old Believers, to live in the Siberian Taiga. The purpose of this self-imposed exile was to purge their souls of the modern world. Over 50 years later, journalist Vassili Peskov came across them still living on what they could harvest, hunt and build themselves, without relying on industrial or technological means
Communicants of the Old Believers persuasion--a Russian Orthodox sect dating from the mid-l7th century--the Lykov family lived so removed from the world in the Siberian taiga that only in 1978, when a party of geologists happened upon them, was their self-imposed isolation, going back to the early days of Stalinism, shattered. By the time Peskov, a Moscow journalist, made their acquaintance in 1982 on the first of what would become annual visits, only 37-year-old Agafia and her 81-year-old father Karp were still alive. Karp's sons, 54-year-old Savin and 38-year-old Dmitry, and his 44-year-old daughter Natalia all died in 1981, his wife in 1961. The story of how the Lykovs had provided for themselves, then accommodated to the incursions of the modern age is an amazing, poignant drama that Peskov reconstructs with delicacy and respect. The gift-bearing world that knocked on their door was welcome company, even as Karp and Agafia resisted efforts to return them to materialistic society. They gratefully accepted presents that eased their taxing self-sufficiency, like goats, chickens and proper footwear, but rejected such products as canned food: "We are not allowed that." The Lykovs expressed their thanks by reciprocating with gifts of pine nuts and potatoes. When Agafia journeys to newfound relatives for a month's visit, readers are perplexed with mixed emotions, at once hoping and fearing that she'll be enticed by the conveniences she's introduced to, like train travel, shops, electricity. And we are even more torn when she determines to stay on alone in her taiga fastness after her 87-year-old father dies.
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Tashtagol ( about 30 thousand inhabitants ) is a town located in the very south of Kuzbass in 310km to the south from its capital: city of Kemerovo ( about 560 thousand inhabitants ) located on Tom river in 3482km from Moscow.

There, in those mountains, there are some places where it is still possible to live hiding from the civilization for dozen of years. Thus, the family of Russian peasant Lykov who belonged to Russian Old Believer Orthodox Church hermited in the wilderness just in 150km south from the southernmost Kuzbass town of Tashtagol for more than 50 years ( to be precise, they resided not on the territory of Kuzbass, but on the territory of neighboring region of Khakasia ).
In hermit cabin The hermit Lykov family was uncovered in taiga in the end of 1970's. When uncovered, the hermits know nothing even about the World War II. They explained that they had fled the Communist regime and settled in the primitive mountain cabin almost never venturing outside it. The 60 years old Agafia Lykova, the last surviving member of that hermit family is still residing in her cabin in taiga although accepting some assistance providing by Kuzbass administration as well as leaving from time to time her residence to get the necessary medical help.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In 1978, a team of exploratory geologists in a remote area of Siberia happened upon the existence of the Lykov family: father, 81 at the outset of the story, two sons aged 54 and 38, and two daughters, aged 44 and 37. They lived in complete isolation from civilization in the cold forestland called the taiga.
The subtitle of the book, "One Russian Family's Fifty-year Struggle for Survival and Religious Freedom in the Siberian Wilderness," is a perfect summary. The Lykovs were adherents of the Old Belief, clinging to a strict observance of Christianity predating the eighteenth-century religious schism in Russia. The Lykovs had fled the chaos of Russia - and the world - in the 1920's and had been alone every since. As the historian who met them first recounted to the journalist-author, it was "like something halfway between Peter the Great and the Stone Age!"
They get their fire from a tinderbox. They use a torch for light. They go barefoot in summer and wear birch-bark shoes in winter. They have been living without salt. They don't know bread. ... Recent events are unknown to them. Electricity, radio, and satellites are beyond their imaginations.
Author Peskov offers vivid, often touching, portraits of daily life in his annual visits to the Lykovs over ten years. He chronicles what they grew (potatoes, turnips, carrots) and foraged (acorns and berries), how they clothed themselves in hemp and birch-bark, how they kept their hut in frigid winter, how they related their history in accounts of the past. The details make a fascinating narrative, and the glossy plates of photographs and a couple of maps are very useful.

Some reviewers have wondered what has happened so many years later. Peskov saw the deterioration of the elder Lykov, who died within a season of his last visit; only the elder daughter Agafia was alive at the 1991 publication of the Russian edition of this book. At forty-nine, she had refused to leave. "I shall live as we have always lived," are her departing words to Peskov - and the rest of us. "This," remarks the author, "may be the greatest solitude on the earth today."

Tori Tuesday

This morning I was thinking, that I had no idea what to feature for this weeks Tori Tuesday. I decided to go for a walk, which I never do without my c/d player. This morning, I chose to play Tori's 2002 release, Scarlet's Walk.



I turn on the c/d and begin my walk. The sounds of Tori singing A Sorta Fairytale fill my ears, and suddenly my mind races to the sounds of hectic, noisy Bangalore. I listen to Scarlet's Walk, and I am happily transported. I can almost see the men sitting at the stalls drinking chai, the old lady on the corner with her tobacco and bananas for sale. I hear the sounds of traffic and horns blaring. I can almost smell the curry and chapatis cooking. Children dressed in their school uniforms play cricket in the street while they wait for school to start.
How is it that while wandering the quiet, neat and tidy suburban neighborhoods of my town, that I am instantly carried away to the noisy, chaotic streets of India? This is because, every year that I have gone to India, I have had with me, at least 3 or 4 of my Tori c/ds. But the one I am always sure to have, is Scarlet's Walk.
It reminds me so much of India, that I play it when I have that, "I wish I was there now" feeling.

Here are some excerpts from a review of Scarlets Walk by Patrick Schabe PopMatters Associate Music Editor:

Scarlet's Walk is alternately delicate, lush, soft, gritty, beautiful, painful, wistful and joyous -- in short, all the things that devotees of Tori have come to expect. However, with Scarlet's Walk, Amos doesn't deliver in spots, she delivers in spades, maintaining a consistent strength throughout the album that supports, or is supported by, the core story at the heart of the album. There's also a palpable sense of maturity in this disc, which translates to an expansive but commanding songcraft ability. The brash and confrontational Tori of Little Earthquakes seems to have become an introspective and confident woman here, yet another reflection of the Scarlet persona's growth throughout the album.
Musically, Scarlet's Walk may actually be the most complete and approachable Amos album yet released. The piano remains front and center, sometimes replaced with organs but essentially the heart of Amos's sound, and her claim to mastery of the instrument is only reinforced by this album.



Amber Waves
A Sorta Fairytale
Wednesday
Strange
Carbon
Crazy
Wampum Prayer
Don't Make Me Come To Vegas
Sweet Sangria
Your Cloud
Pancake
I Can't See New York
Mrs Jesus
Taxi Ride
Another Girl's Paradise
Scarlet's Walk
Virginia
Gold Dust



If you are looking for a place to start on your journey to Tori-land, Scarlet's Walk is a great place to start.

It's All About Me, So Deal With It!!

My husband is a teacher. Here we have my husband in his classroom. Look who's behind him! Is that Albert Einstein? I'm so blind I can't be sure....Mr Ratburn, as he is affectionately known, is a very strict teacher. I bet you can't tell from that happy smile there. And what is with that orange shirt? The picture was taken on Halloween, so Ratburn is wearing his Halloween shirt, complete with plastic spider buttons.
But some of you must be wondering...why do we call him Mr Ratburn? I'm sure that if you are a parent, you know exactly why. Mr Ratburn is the name of Arthur's (the aardvark) very strict but well meaning teacher. Mr Ratburn sings this song that goes a little like this:
"Chart the journey that Balboa took, do the first 100 pages in your new math book, just a little homework tonight, just a little homework, homework......"
And my very own Mr Ratburn told me, "Mr Ratburn is my hero, I want to be just like him."

Bangalore 2003

If you're looking for , it's below this post!

Electra Gets A Boyfriend!!



Ever since I landed on Earth, I've been looking for a man that will keep me company, take me out to dinner, walk hand in hand with me at the park. It's tough, believe me, because, well, let's face it, it's not easy being green, you know. Just look at some of the unsavory men i've dated since I got here.



Nope, too serious! This man was not for me!






Quit looking at me like that. Just because you have alien eyes doesn't mean that I want you!



Please! Put some clothes on! I am just not interested!



Waitaminit! Waitaminit! Who is that stunning creature over there on that fence looking at the city? Oh, I have to know this man!




Oh, at last I've found him! His name is Kermit, and, he's perfect for me. I know we are going to be happy together! I think I'll stay here on Earth forever!

Playin' Dress-Ups HNT!



Over Christmas vacation, we visited some friends near Yosemite, and Little Rita and their daughter, Maggie, had a great time playing dress ups. Well, shoot! I wanted to play too! So, I went into the bedroom and let the girls dress me all up. This might be your only opportunity to see me in actual shoes with a heel! Not sure if you can tell, but I let them put makeup on me, too! I may not be half-nekkid, but my ankles are!
Whaddya think? Ain't I super stylee?
Happy HNT everyone!

Be sure to check out what the wacky Mr Ratburn is up to this week!