December 29, 2004
Five Golden Rings
On the fifth day of Christmas...I am grateful that my husband and I are alive and well. Today we heard that Jerry Orbach died and that has filled me with such sadness.
I have known Mr. Orbach for the last 10 years that my husband has worked full-time on Law & Order. When Jerry retired at the end of last season I expected to see more from him on Dick Wolf's new show. My husband and I were both were shocked; we hadn't known that Jerry was sick.
This in addition to watching the heart wrenching stories of the survivors of the Indian Ocean tsunami remind me of the fragility of life. Every day is a blessing, and so very precious.
Posted by photocartoonist at 10:34 PM
December 28, 2004
It's the Week After Christmas
and all through the house...
We are filled with the anxiety that only a new year can bring to us. The questions that plague us: what did we accomplish this year? Why don't we have another day off?
I am blessed with the fact that days off are like a punishment for me; after 2 or three days I just can't take it anymore. But I must admit that I did get use to the naps...and the Christmas candies!
Funny how all that anticipation (I had been working on Christmas since August) was not satisfied by just ONE day of Christmas. The fact is that this is the fourth day of Christmas; is that four geese a laying?? Yes there ARE twelve days of Christmas and I think that each and every one of those days should be updated and celebrated to their fullest; culminating on January 6th with Little Christmas and continuing through January 7th which is my husband's birthday. Yes, next year.
It's hard not to think about the devastating tsunami in the Indian Ocean on Boxing Day, December 26th. It is good to see the world coming together to provide as much relief as is possible during this time.
Posted by photocartoonist at 1:28 PM
December 27, 2004
Auld Farts
As 2004 comes to an end, I spend these last few days reviewing all of the wonders of this year. It has been an incredible year, full of creativity, full of opportunity; full of laughter!
Here's a laugh on me!
Posted by photocartoonist at 10:58 PM
December 26, 2004
Thank You So Much!
It's just what I wanted!
What a magical time! In my family we opened the presents right after midnight mass, around 1am. It made Christmas Eve very exciting and you would go to sleep just so happy. I always got exactly what I wanted for Christmas and I have continued the tradition into my adulthood by buying all of my own presents! I don't take any chances.
My husband grew up opening up the presents on christmas morning and he has not succeeded in twenty years to convince me that this is a good idea. It has become a holiday tradition for him to get me some very special Christmas ornaments and he enjoys surprising me with their uniqueness.
I will take some pictures and post them later. Have a great week enjoying your presents!!
Posted by photocartoonist at 10:50 PM
December 25, 2004
A Blue Christmas without You
Merry Christmas to Everyone
Posted by photocartoonist at 12:00 AM
December 24, 2004
The Feast Day of Adam And Eve
December 24th also celebrated Adam and Eve in the Eastern church and paradise plays were performed on this Christmas Eve.
Mostly the festivals at this time of year were historically soltice festivals; the Celtic Yule, Roman Saturnalia to name a few. It wasn't until 336 AD that the birth of Jesus Christ was celebrated on December 25th, to take advantage of the immense popularity of these pagan holidays.
Santa Claus, Saint Nicholas, the elves of Scandinavia, and the many gift bringers of lore, make this time rich with tradition. The Christmas tree as an indoor decoration is first mentioned in 16th century Germany; ornaments, lights, wrapping and ribbon, the stories, the music, greeting cards, midnight mass. This is a wonderous and joyous time of the year!
God bless us, everyone.
Posted by photocartoonist at 11:45 PM
Beat Nick :: a poem
The Big Red Daddy
It was the night before Christmas
When all through my pad
There was nothin happening
It was really quite mad
All my stockings were washed
I had nothing to do
‘cept read old magazines
and pretend they was new
And my dear Daddy-O curled up for his nap
But I was all flip
and ready to snap
All the cats were just winkin about forty times
But I was just hanging
and makin up rhymes
When out on the street
I heard somethin go down
It couldn’t be good
There’s always trouble around
I went to the window and unlocked the gate
I shut off the light and peeked through the grate
The glare from the streetlight broke the night like a stick
And made all the livin things beneath it look sick
When what to my wondering eyes fall upon
But a Red Checker Cab with it’s off-duty light on
Now the driver played bongos, so lively and quick
I knew in a moment it must be Beat Nick
And the gang of street color had heard and they came
But Nick, he was cool, and called ‘em by name
Yo Dash-a Yo Dance-a Yo Prance-a Yo Vixen
Heh Dopey Heh Sleepy Heh Grumpy and Nixon
Clear off that stoop! Don’t write on that wall!
Now go away! Go away! Go away all!
He came over and looked up at the fire escape ladder
He jumped and he climbed He made such a clatter
To the roof he went, but then turned around
Cause you see up there, no chimney he found
He was dressed to the Nines in some very cool threads
His color this evening, as always, was Red
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow
The goatee on his chin was as white as the snow
His shades were quite dark and fit him just right
He had no trouble seeing, although it was night
The stub of a camel he held tight in his teeth
And the smoke rings encircled his head like a wreath
I laughed when I saw him, HA, he made me quite nervous
All he said was, " This is cool, Momma, not at all like Port Jervis"
He started to play a cool riff on his drum
Kept on eye on his cab A tow truck might come
He snapped his fingers at the end of his poem
Said, " It’s been cool baby, but it’s time to be going’"
He jumped in his taxi
His power steering squealed
He laid down some rubba as he spun his back wheels
And I heard him exclaim as he ran a red light
"Cool."
copyright © Kat Caverly all rights reserved
Posted by photocartoonist at 10:10 AM | Comments (1)
December 23, 2004
Santa's Coming
and he's gonna kick your ass!
Sometimes even Santa has a bad year.
Posted by photocartoonist at 3:36 PM | Comments (1)
December 22, 2004
Fleas Navidad
Some people think that dressing up your pets is the worst idea in the world. Some pets agree with this theory. This Christmas, give your pet the greatest gift and just don't do it!
Posted by photocartoonist at 8:00 PM
December 21, 2004
Merry Holidays
There is something about Christmas music boxes that I just love. I guess I love everything about Christmas; the sights, the smells, but especially the music.
Posted by photocartoonist at 10:28 PM
December 20, 2004
Getting Watt you want during the holidays!
Don't be disappointed this Christmas. Buy yourself exactly what you want; wrap it and open it with glee on Christmas Eve!
Posted by photocartoonist at 9:24 PM
December 19, 2004
What do YOU want for Christmas?
May all your Christmas wishes comes true!
Posted by photocartoonist at 10:20 PM
December 18, 2004
The Bah Humbuggers
Why do they want to ruin Christmas?
We all know one. Some of us are them. Why do the Bah Humbuggers say "No!" to Christmas?
I have heard all of the reasons and I have often stopped the spread of their vicious lies by explaining the true meaning of the holidays at this time of year to these poor misguided souls.
Winter has always been a difficult time for us human beings. And the wise sages and leaders of old knew that something has to be done to uplift the spirits of the people until Spring. So throughout the land, throught all times, holidays in all cultures were developed to help the people celebrate. These celebrations are necessary for the well-being of all people.
You don't have to buy presents (except for yourself) and you don't have to go to any church. And you don't have to celebrate in any particular way with any particular people. But you do have to CELEBRATE. I wear bells and listen to my collection of silly holiday songs. And of course I create silly holiday greeting cards year round. What do you do?
Posted by photocartoonist at 6:09 PM
December 12, 2004
Why Cats Hate Christmas
Well first of all few cats have the sense of humor to appreciate the delight some human's have in decorating EVERYTHING duirng the holidays. I for one have special things made for all of my cats. My Christmas present to them is taking them OFF!
Posted by photocartoonist at 7:48 PM | Comments (3)
December 11, 2004
It's the Most Wonderful Time
Seasoned Greetings for Tasty Celebrations
The lights, the music, the nummies; it truly is a wonderful life! All over the world there are festivals and holidays and high holy days. This is a time of rejoicing. It is a time we really need to celebrate, in our own way.
This time of year, more than any time of the year, means Greeting Cards to me. More paper greeting cards are sent between November and January than any other time of the year. And this is also true of all the wonderful eCards.
My workshop has been busy since August making virtual toys and creating some wonderful music to share with the e-Universe. This is truly a time to bring JOYS into people's lives!
So what does does this season mean to me? It means snow and snow globes; those wonderful toys that have been around since the Victorian era.
It means Christmas music, which I adore in all of its variations. One of my favorite songs is "Feliz Navidad" and I have featured it in my new series, set south of the border, at Cantina Gusano:
This song just makes me want to sing and dance, which is why I enjoy this season so much!
Back in November, after being inundated by all of the election advertising, I realized that we needed more than just a little Christmas to get thorugh all of that, so I started Santa Claus' campaign:
It was time that the truth be told. Now some people think that Santa claus just works for the big toy lobby. I think it is time to watch "Miracle on 34th Street", the original and remind ourselves of the true meaning of Christmas and why it is okay to combine it with one of the joys of our culture - SHOPPING!
When I was brainstorming Christmas animation ideas, I was inspired by Country Joe and the Fish, and I suggested that we do "Gimme an X...gimme an M...gimme an A...gimme an S" and I was told that there was a clown who performed at Woodstock in 1969, named Wavy Gravy, who looks very much like Santa Claus now! Well I just couldn't resist the inspiration:
I have so much more and will continue to post links to my holiday cartoons and my Christmas card to all of the fans of my sites who subscribed to my eZine over the last year. Happy Holidays to you all!
Posted by photocartoonist at 10:18 AM
December 7, 2004
A Little Christmas Magic
The Excitement of Christmas Morning
I remember going to bed before Midnight mass, around 9pm on Christmas Eve. In my family, we would open presents right after my parents got home from church, around 1am. It really felt like Santa had just come while I was sleeping!
The excitement made it very hard to sleep but not quite hard enough not to dream. I loved Christmas Eve as much as Christmas as a child. And I have made it a profession as an adult.
A Little Christmas Magic is the success of a team of talented artists, who all adore Christmas morning. From the virtual ornaments, to the 3D blue spruce, the Victorian parlor illustration and the dance of the Christmas tree angel, love fills this room. Shake the presents and click around the room for the sounds and delights of the holiday!
Posted by photocartoonist at 8:16 PM
December 4, 2004
Christmas is Coming
I am trapped in Christmas production hell! But I refuse to give up! Between servers, programming, and creative issues, there have been amjor setbacks and even some set tos.
Atom Films was even interested in one of my new animations, but alas my schedule is way behind their deadlines. The sad fact is that I am already behind in Valentines production...and I am still coming up with Christmas ideas! I can't help myself; I love this season. I just hope I have the time to enjoy it myself!
Posted by photocartoonist at 12:12 AM