Chookooloonks

okay, look at her version of the costume, and then quick! avert your eyes! -- NOW UPDATED!

So, we compromised.

As Halloween drew closer, it became oh-so-clear that neither of us were going to budge ... much ... so we decided that she would wear both her costume idea and mine at the same time.

So first, I present to you Alex's version of the costume. Here she is, as the ever-adorable, ever-kind, and ever-loving Dorothy of the Wizard of Oz, and her ever-faithful, ever-loyal lapdog, Toto:

*yawn*

And now....

... the most ghoulish, frightening, and truly horrifying character ever to ... well ... be ghoulish, frightening and truly horrifying, I present to you:

EVIL DOROTHY AND HER HOUND FROM HELL, PIT-BULL TOTO!!

THE HORROR! THE HORROR!

What? Oh, come on! That's so totally frightening!

(Happy Halloween, everybody!)

UPDATE: Well, I'm a big enough person to admit when I'm wrong: the official decision of which version is the better costume has come in. The lovely Heather from Turner Broadcasting contacted me early this morning, and asked permission to put Endearing Dorothy on CNN Headline News! It apparently just aired at 7:27 a.m. Eastern Time -- and might be on again at 9:27 a.m. as well.

So Alex's first 15 minutes seconds of fame -- how cool is that? Ironically, we don't have cable, so I haven't seen it (although, a minute ago my parents called MOST excitedly to let me know they saw their grandchild on CNN). Incidentally, if anyone happened to catch it, record it, and can send a screen shot of it, you'll be my total hero -- and if I use it on Chookooloonks, I promise to give you credit, and may even have to find a little something Trinidadian to send you as a token of my gratitude.

Ain't that somethin'?

UPDATE #2: Looks like Alex got pre-empted for the 9:27 a.m. spot, by another cute costume-wearer. Them's the breaks, kid.

Anyway, thanks for all your kind words -- and Happy Halloween again, everyone!

the all-hallow's-eve eve battle of mother-daughter wills

It begins.

If you've been reading this blog for a while, you know that when it comes to Halloween, I am of the scarier-the-better ilk. After all, what could be more terrifying than Alex's first Halloween costume, the Killer Bunny from Monty Python and the Holy Grail? And by "scarier," I exclude, of course, her costume of last year, the Homicidal Butterfly -- seriously, what is more frightening?

Nothing, I say. Nothing.

Of course, the pressure to exceed last year's Horror Quotient is damned near unbearable. The situation, however, is seriously worsened by the fact that Alex is now 2-1/2 years old, and thus at an age where her temperament is accompanied by her desire to exercise her Own Free Will. She, therefore, has her own ideas of what she'd like to be for Halloween, and let me tell you, her ideas are rather disappointing, to say the least. She'd rather have something endearing. Can you imagine? "Endearing," for Halloween!

As such, we have currently locked horns as to what her disguise will be for October 31st, the most ghoulish of all days. I have made it very clear what I wish her to be, she's taken an equally hard stand on what she insists her costume entail. Marcus is just trying to avoid us at all costs.

What will happen? Will Karen, as is her right as materfamilias, be victorious? Will Alex, in her limitless cuteness, conquer all? Will Marcus finally give up and move out, in search of, you know, a normal wife?

Stay tuned ... only the Shadow knows for sure.

lest you be concerned...

...I thought I'd let you know that ever since the episode which occurred the other night, every time I put Alex to bed -- whether for her nap, or to sleep at night -- she immediately pops up to sitting position, and declares:

"I'm afraid of dinosaurs. Sing me Bob Marley."

It bears noting that while she waits for my response, her expression is not unlike the one you see in this photograph.

So, you know, I think she's fine.

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love photos and a love story

A few nights ago, I discovered the "PhotoBooth" application and the webcam on my relatively new MacBook. While I was playing with it, various members of my family wandered over to see what I was doing:

Sadly, the last shots are two of about five total shots we have of the three of us as as family. I suspect we'll therefore be using this PhotoBooth application with inappropriate frequency in the future.

And now, a love story:

Last night, since Marcus was out of town, I let Alex spend the night in my bed. I put her to bed at her normal bedtime, and I continued working on my desk in the far corner of my room, by the dim light of my desk lamp. After about half an hour, Alex was quiet, so I got up to check to see if she was sleeping.

She wasn't. Instead, she was lying there, crying quiet tears.

"Alex," I said, alarmed, "what's the matter? Why are you crying?"

Her face crumpled. "I'm scared."

"What are you scared of?"

"I'm scared of the dinosaurs."

I have no idea what she was talking about, but I crawled into bed with her. "Oh, Alex, there's no need to be afraid of the dinosaurs. They're not here. And I wouldn't let them hurt you if they were."

I snuggled her up next to me. "Are you okay?"

She shook her head.

"Do you want to sing?"

She nodded.

"Okay, umm ... well ... do you want to sing Bob Marley?"

She nodded again, and snuggled closer.

So I began to sing Three Little Birds. Don't worry about a thing, I sang softly, and eventually I felt her relax in my arms. As I sat there in the soft lamplight singing her favourite song, I remembered how my own mom used to hold me when I was sick, in soft lamplight, singing -- and wondered how strange it must be for her to think that her little girl is now doing the same for her granddaughter. And then I thought about how one day, a day that seems far away but really isn't, Alex may hold her daughter in soft lamplight, and sing and comfort her in much the same way.

And then Alex fell asleep. And everything just felt right.

* * * * *

Happy Love Thursday, everyone. As always, please share your links of love in the comments below, and your images on the Love Thursday Flickr page. Also, don't forget to check out the Love Is All Around site for more beautiful images, as well.

May your day be full of love, and end with soft lamplight.

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observation made while simultaneously looking in the mirror and getting dressed for my morning run

Regardless of size, torso fat rolls should never be bigger than your boobs.

one child and one mummy left behind

This evening, Marcus took his friend Nathan to Tobago, so that the two of them could enjoy the sand and surf for a few days. They are, therefore, leaving me alone with this face...

...and honestly? I can't say I mind so much.

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bits and pieces

This weekend, Marcus' friend Nathan, from Oregon, came to visit. The above images are from his first visit to Maracas beach this past Sunday morning.

This morning, as I turned on my computer to get my day started, I found I'd received an e-mail from someone I actually don't know very well, but who I like immensely. She shared with me a blessing she wrote for herself yesterday, and said she thought of me as she wrote it. It's the nicest thing anyone has done for me all week, and I was so moved by the gesture.

Because of her kindness, I felt like I had an obligation to pass it on -- so I just dropped an e-mail to a friend who I haven't spoken with in a while, telling her I was thinking of her. And since all of you are currently sitting at your computers as you read this, consider dropping an e-line to a friend you haven't heard from in a while. Trust me: you'll make his/her day, and it will mean more to them than you know.

* * * * * * *

Lately I've been thinking about the fact that I'll be 40 next year -- not with any sort of sadness, but more with a sense of wonder and awe. I mean, how is that possible? Besides, it seems like such a milestone, you know? Forty years old: it's like I'll officially be grown up.

I've been trying to come up with things I need to accomplish before I turn 40 next July -- and honestly, I'm not coming up with a lot. I find that a bit sad, actually. I hope that I always have something that I want to accomplish before my next birthday - isn't that how we grow?

So, my little kumquats, I'm turning to you again for inspiration: what do you hope to accomplish before you're 40? And if you're already 40, what are you most proud of accomplishing? And what do you still want to accomplish before your next birthday?

For me, I know that my things-to-do-before-40 won't include any travel -- partly because our opportunity to travel over the next year is pretty limited, but also because I've traveled a lot already, and except for 1 or 2 places (Sydney and Tokyo coming immediately to mind), I can't think of anywhere that I want to go that I haven't already been. I think I'd like to learn something new ... I just don't know what.

So share your thoughts -- I can't wait to read what you share.

(P.S. Happy Eid!)

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sunday naptime

"TWO LITTLE MONKEYS, JUMPING ON THE BED!"

"Alex, go to sleep."

"ONE FELL OFF AND BUMPED! HER! HEAD!"

"Alex, I'm not playing, GO TO SLEEP."

"MAMA CALLED THE DOCTOR AND THE DOCTOR SAID..."

"Girlie, you're gonna need a doctor if you don't LIE DOWN AND GO TO SLEEP!"

"Sorry Mummy."

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as requested by island spice

Our home, Divali 2006

Happy Divali, everyone.

weekend update: divali, the festival of lights, and creativity

The diya Alex decorated at her school this week.

Tonight is Divali, the Hindu "Festival of Lights." This evening, thousands of families in Trinidad will decorate the exterior of their homes with small lanterns, or diyas, as "a sign of celebration and hope for mankind" and triumph of good over evil.

Now that's a festival I can get behind.

In further celebration of this joyful day, I thought I'd share with you some of my favourite recent posts from my favourite creative bloggers:

First, from beautiful art blog woolgathering, Elizabeth shares the materials she uses to make her beautiful images. I actually used this post to put together a small kit for Marcus' birthday last month, and now he's making quick images every night. For those of you frustrated artists out there who never seem to find the time to create, these items might be just the thing to get you going.

Also, from my new favourite spirit, Jen Lemen, more inspiration on how to get creatively unstuck. For those of you who, like me, are new to the whole creative scene, these words can get you started.

And finally, if you're trying to figure out the perfect gift for someone you love, check out this beautiful gift Elspeth recently received for her fortieth birthday. Also? I love this definition of "creativity" -- it makes me want to go out and get creative right now.

With that, Happy Divali, everybody. Although we're not Hindu, we will be lighting diyas tonight on our veranda. And if you're of a mind to celebrate your hope for mankind, consider lighting a candle in your home tonight, too.

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