coraline73

http://blog.fabulouslorraine.com/2009/12/i-want-letters-like-this-one.html

We all know how cool Kitty's Neverwear Shop is. We all know how cool Kitty is. But did we know how cool her Fan Mail/Review/Thank you notes were????

We did not.

At least I didn't, until today when she sent me one, which I thought was so perfect, so fun, so just gosh darn THIS is the Spirit of the Season that I am signing up for, that I am posting it here in its entirety.

Don't know who this is, but I sure as heck hope he has a really lovely Holiday Time.

Ladies, Gentle-persons, members of the press, Mr. Gaiman. I stand here today a changed man, enlightened and stripped of my deep-rooted skepticism by the grace and care of Neverwear Minion Cat M.


The true story begins perhaps a year ago when my lovely bride did meet Ms. D'Errico and fell in love with her art and spent many of my dollars on the same. Forward to her discovery of the "How to Talk to Girls at Parties" print, a marriage, if you will (and I do, please and thank you), of two artists of great talent (and not a little of our shelf space.) I did bookmark this item, mentally and literally.


Skip to Christmas-time, 2009 and I am Hunter of prezzies, Marquis de Noel. My mental bookmark long gone, I turn to my browser’s and oh joy of joys, a Door doth appear and it is marked: “Husband of the Year. This Way”. My credit card is in my hand and I’m ordering the print. I can already hear the praise, “how did you remember?! You’re the greatest man ever! Hugh Jackman has nothing on you!”


Then: the horror. While the delivery was prompt, and the care with which the print was packed within an impressively heavy-duty tube was commendable, it simply could not withstand the combined weight of yuletide compensations. My best guess is that it was leapt upon by a lord, or perhaps leaned against by a maid a’ milking. At any rate, the mighty shipping tube, even adorned with the cute little star sticker, was smooshed, and with it the beautiful print and my hopes of my HOTY award.


I emailed the good folks at Neverwear and explained the whole thing, noting that the damage was obviously not the fault of the shipper, but hoping that something could be done. I was pretty much resolved to be out of luck and perhaps buy another print later on. BUT…


And it was in that dark hour the elf did appear,
“I’ll fix it right up, just never you fear!”
“Where did you come from?”, I wondered aloud
“I come from Saint Neil”, she said very proud.

“I’ve gotten your message”, said the kind little elf,
“I’ll replace it right quick, and do it myself!”
“You’ll get that award, on this I do swear!”
said my new elf friend from Neverwear.

Out she went, in the snow and the cold
LA can get chilly, or so I am told.
Cat’s my new hero, she saved my behind
A better little minion, you’ll never find.


The staff at Neverwear, and Cat M. in particular, went above and beyond to make sure I was totally satisfied with my print. Awesome contact, prompt shipping all the way to the Boston area, mega friendly, and the print itself is fantastic. Please give the NW minions a raise if you pay them, pay them if you don’t, stop the beatings at least for Christmas. They’ve certainly earned it. I will buy more things from Nevewear, and will instruct my friends to do the same. I’m going to buy another copy of American Gods just for the hell of it. I might even buy another copy of Yes, Virginia just out of association.

THANK YOU!!




Love and Laughter,
Lorraine

http://blog.fabulouslorraine.com/2009/12/guess-what-i-got-for-xmas.html

This would be my Christmas present from my Dad's wife, and as she signs it, apparently, from him too. No, not kidding. Yes, it does seem to be a FLOWERED mini-dustpan, calculator, tape measure and dish brush. (hasn't everyone always wanted a matching set?)

No, she is not senile. No, we are not estranged. And yes, they are quite well off as far as money goes.

So WHY would she (or anyone for that matter) send someone a FLOWERED mini dustpan, calculator, tape measure and dish brush???? Did I add, with the price stickers on? Did I add that she sent my two sisters exactly the same gift? Did I add that this was my entire gift?

I need to know, but am kind of afraid to ask.



Now, I don't expect a gift from them, I rarely see them and I sure don't care what someone spends on me, or even if they do. But this is weird.

Is it meant to be hurtful? Is it completely clueless, is this a women who is losing it? How do you see these, in presumably Walmart or the dollar store, and think "Ah-ha! No more shopping! I have found the perfect gift for my husband and I to give his daughters!"



She's big on thank you notes. Exactly how does this one GO?

Dear Dad's Wife,

Thank you SO much for the FLOWERED mini-dustpan, calculator, tape measure and dish brush! Exactly what I wanted! I really needed a mini dustpan for those little spills that are just too small for my regular one, or a little handy sweeping about, and the fact that the dish brush matches is just too perfect!

The calculator was an excellent call! I am SO tired of using my phone or computer, and had really wanted one, but never thought I could own a real one of my own, and my All In One complete tool set one had only the one tape measure, good to have another. I tend to have lots of measuring needs.

It was so good of you to take the time to pick out just the right thing and send it, and good thing you both insured it AND got delivery confirmation! Would have hated to miss it!

Ta-ta.....



I need to purge this from my soul. I need this out of me. I need to UNDERSTAND. I need my real true Spirit back! In a word: I need ART. (OK, three words)

Print the picture or all pictures out, make me a collage, draw things on them, take a picture of my pictures with something awful of yours, or one of your dog or cat eating it. (or whatever) Stick knives in it. Do voodoo on them. Do a painting of them.

Send them to me. Please. Help. Me.

In the name of anyone and everyone who has ever received something like this.



For you see, the best one will be the winner. And the winner is going to get a lovely, really lovely, prize.

Love and Holidays,
Lorraine

PS Edited to Add...

Pictures from my Sister Tracy of HER Tape Measure and Scrub Brush...






PPS Edited to add....

My Sister Karen's sends a pic of HER present this year. (She includes the Mini Dust Pan and Broom the same women sent to us a few years back. I hadn't mentioned she had ALREADY sent one once before, as I wanted this to be believable)



And she figures out how to use the Scrub Brush properly...

http://blog.fabulouslorraine.com/2009/12/one-eyed-jacks-need-ride-home.html

Edited to add: The One Eyed Jacks have found a ride home in time for Christmas! I think I will let this stand tho, as it is a wonderful Holiday sort of Story...


I've been calling them the One Eyed Jacks, and wishing I could figure out a way to take them.

We never thought that we would find them their home, but I knew their someone was out there, and they are. We found them. The Someone in Minneapolis wants them very, very much.

But they need a ride home for Christmas.



These two are fostered near Detroit, MI, in Clinton Township, MI. They have a sad tale to tell......

A very nice gentleman adopted them when they were about 6 months old, each having one terrible eye. He paid for the surgery to fix their eyes and they were wonderful pets and friends. He then became very ill, however, and had to go to CA to live with relatives, who could take care of him. He couldn't, sadly, take the Kitties to his relatives, so he put them on Craigslist. One of our previous foster homes turned adopter found the listing and contacted the man and told him to call Great Lakes Bengal Rescue. He did and our previous foster agreed to foster the cats.



As I said, we found them their new home. That's what we do.

They just need a ride from Michigan. Can you help? Can you drive part way? Can you help with gas? (donate@greatlakesbengalrescue.com) Are you traveling for the holidays at any point along this route?

I am not adverse to pulling out all the stops on this one...

Can you help these One Eyed Jacks and their new family be together for Christmas....

Or shortly after?

Contact me fabulouslorraine@gmail.com and/or Janet (Director of Great Lakes Bengal Rescue) at bengalgirl2@yahoo.com

Love and New Homes,
Lorraine

http://blog.fabulouslorraine.com/2009/12/my-website-is-back-and-i-need-tardis.html

My website is back up and running! Hurrah for Dr Wicked and his Mad Scientist Web Skills! It's no fun being sightless in this world, I was lost and adrift in a sea of, well, no web site.

Anyway, Missed you!



I think I twittered this, but never blogged it. I bought the Bengals, Venus and Mim anyway, Little Coats, for going outside. (they were only ones I thought I had a chance of getting into the things with out having to go to hospital for stitches) There is a special Hell for people who buy their cats Little Coats, but they really like going out, and I didn't want them to be cold.

Sadly, Venus's was way too small. Mim's is kind of too small. Must get new ones. Hint: If you decide to go this route, get the ones with Velcro, not the kind that needs putting the kittie INTO. This will make your life much easier. Venus, was NOT amused. (might have been that her coat was pink, with fake fur too..)



Here's another Tweeted but not blogged shot of my Still un-named Horsie. He is wearing a SirCinch. (what is this, Animal Fashion show tonight??) Haven't been riding in this below zero horribleness, but will be in the morning.(Meant to be 25 ABOVE zero tomorrow. That's 35 degrees WARMER than this morning.)



I'll leave you with this, because it made me laugh. I am loving the new Dr Who. So far the Rose episodes are the best, but I like both Doctors, couldn't say which I like better, at this point.. Saw the Runaway Bride episode last night, oh, what other ones, names...The one where Sarah Jane came back. Blink was lovely with the statues. Christmas Invasion, Girl in the Fireplace. I am sure there's more. Such a great show. Who knew? (Well, you all did. Now I do.)

(Not worried about spoilers here, I have to be the LAST person we all know to be seeing these)

Anyway, I love this whole Dr Who thing, and I need a Tardis. Not a REAL Tardis mind you, just a wee small one. To go in the Spooky House. I loved the way it flew around in last nights episode. I think I need one. To you know, kind of fly around in the Spooky House.

Anyone have an extra?

Love And Websites,
Lorraine

http://blog.fabulouslorraine.com/2009/12/id-call-it-chilly-today.html

My website still seems to be down, and I know from some of you the Blog is in a really freaky format. Dr Wicked is working on it, and it ought to be up again soon. I can't get to even this blog, so hopefully, it will post.

Somewhere.

-20 this morning when I got up. You wouldn't believe it, but it really doesn't FEEL that cold. If you are out in it for long, it gets cold, but if you aren't out for long, it's kind of magic. The air freezes, and little clouds hang round, about the height of your car. All the trees wear crystals, and it's beautiful. Deadly, but beautiful. My personal favorite.

The temps are meant to climb to 12 above zero today, which is 32 degrees warmer than it is now. If you were in my town, you would see people ditching coats, and breaking out the bikes again. When it hits 30 for the first time, along about April, we break out the grills and have parties.

You might be laughing now.

But it is true.



I found this picture of Freaky Venus, from when she was just wee! You can see how she got her name. When I brought her home, and was thinking about a name for her, Boss took one look and said "You should call her Venus, because that is where she looks like she is from"

Kitty (Cat Mihos, not Venus) is currently doing some fundraising for GLBR and has created a Jewel for you, in the spirit of Leopards. Take a look at all of her Jewels (and T's and Prints!) over at Neverwear.net. She's made Jewals for Tori Amos, and Madonna, among others, and has some truly lovely pieces.

Of course, the Leopard Jewel is my favorite.

She has this to say:

"There are legends that tell of Leopards and stories behind this spotted chalcedony....
They say to carry this stone is to walk with the perception and awareness of the Leopard. They say if the spirit of the Leopard walks with you, you will travel safely.

I don't know who they are. I only know they tell these tales. When you need to see clearly, keep the Leopard close to your skin.

This gemstone looks like a tiny bit of Leopard. Strung on super-strong tigertail cord with gold-fill beads, Japanese seed beads and the finest cut Swarovski crystals, I guarantee them for life...

50% of the profits from this design will go to Great Lakes Bengal Rescue."

Stay warm, where ever you are, and keep a Leopard close to your heart.

Love and Warm,
Lorraine