December 28, 2006
What Did Santa Leave Under YOUR Tree?
The Caganer
I was delighted the first time I heard about the Catalon Caganer so I asked our dear friends, and distinguished Dreamteamsters, David and Gloria to send me a Santa Caganer! And bless them, they did!
Our little Santa is hiding under a tree, leaving a special present!
I got just the best presents this year; many wonderful ornaments and Christmas characters, holiday sweets, a new Micro-Nikkor lense to go with my Nikon D100 which has ignited my photography again, a new microphone and pre-amp, and warm things to wear.
But the best present this year is the gift of time to reflect and relax. Though this has not been easy,
after 6 days of over 10 hours of sleep a day (4 of which were at least 12 hours) I finally am starting
to feel very very happy and content.
Happy holidays to all!
Posted by photocartoonist at 4:21 PM
December 26, 2005
A Merry Little Christmas
A Photo Essay by KAT CAVERLY
It all started with a "miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer" but it was the fact
of many years of dragging a live six foot pine tree up four flights and
having to figure out a way to get it out of the apartment with the needles
falling off (cutting of and bagging the branches and lowering the remains
out the window was always exciting!) that inspired the miniature tree.
This new tradition started in 2003 with baby pine trees. And I had dreams
of keeping the trees and "growing" our own live tree and decorating it
year after year. But every year I only succeeded in watching the trees
slowly die. Pine trees do not like living indoors. And it turned out that
they didn't like living on our roof either.
So this year, we are trying the live rosemary bush. It smells wonderful,
is the right shape and colors, and we can EAT it! And with this new Christmas
tree I received a collection of hand-painted miniature glass eggs, made in
Poland. And Tom made a string of miniature Christmas tree lights from
"grain of wheat" bulbs used for scale model train sets! WOW
This tree really does look very traditional, almost Victorian, but in miniature. And
by doing macro-photography of these tiny ornaments I was able to see details
that even I have missed looking and handling these delightful little decorations.
Last year, Tom gave me a collection of tiny Angels and Santas for my tree. I had started
out my collection with some antique tiny glass balls, as well as some small delights,
but I was thrilled by this collection And now I get many new ornaments, both
full size and miniature; a welcome addition to a wonderful tradition.
Nothing makes me happier than a new Christmas ornament!
This little piggy is also from the ornaments from 2004 and he looks so different
in this macro photo!
In September 2004 we created some VR ornaments and I have asked Tom to
photograph my new favorites from 2004 and 2005. I love playing with the virtual reality!
Posted by photocartoonist at 7:00 PM
December 24, 2005
It was the Nights Before Christmas
A Poem By KAT CAVERLY
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 11:30 PM
December 22, 2005
The Twelve Relatives of Christmas
By DEANNA DAHLSAD
Anything can, and will, happen at holiday celebrations.
No, I'm not talking about those parties with co-workers, where folks
photocopy their butts, drink too much and risk being gossiped about at
water coolers (if not getting fired) - I'm talking about family gatherings.
Like those office Christmas parties, family gatherings are just made up
of all the people that belong there. And where there are people, there
are characters.
At the office, you have Talks Too Loud Guy, That Lady Who's Always
Singing, The Guy Who Eats Everything, Drunk At Every Party Lady From
Accounting, Drunk At Every Party Lady From PR, and I Can't Believe
He Married Her (the couple who arrived early because he
had to show how he married 'up,' not the couple found necking in the
supply room).
But all of them are members of families too.
At my home we have Shouldn't Do The Cooking Lady (which, I admit, is
me), Chewing With Mouth Open Kid, Eats Everything Girl, Twirling In Her
Party Dress Until She Gets Sick Girl, and I Can't Believe He Married
Her (my husband who definitely married 'down').
Some family characters we only see once a year, or they only display
certain characteristics at holiday time. Such as My How You've Grown
Great Grandpa, The Aunt Who Wears All The Gift Wrap Bows On Her Head, or
I'll Have One More Drink Since It's A Holiday Grandma. But all are
characters, no doubt about it.
You put all these characters together at a party, and all sorts of
things happen. Folks will drink too much. Folks will be gossiped about
at water coolers, even if they aren't employed there. And folks would
photocopy their butts if there was a copier about.
Now that's what I call a traditional holiday celebration.
Family celebrations: where no one gets fired, but maybe somebody
should.
Posted by photocartoonist at 9:47 PM
December 20, 2005
The Holidays are Going to the Dogs
By DEANNA DAHLSAD
Americans spend an average of $5 billion each year on presents for their
pets. With 69.1 million U.S. households (63% of homes) owning a pet,
nearly 154 million pet parents are expected to spend a combined $2.6
billion on pet gifts - this holiday alone!
There are 43.5 million of us owning 73.9 million dogs, and 37.7 million
of us owning 90.5 million cats (which just goes to prove the Crazy Cat
Lady stereotype, doesn't it?), and most of us will buy our fur babies
holiday treats this year.
And these sales figures do not include the pet themed items we buy for
ourselves. You know, all the mugs, tee shirts, key rings, welcome mats,
coasters and assorted other items we buy which all have the breed names
& likenesses on them. (We don't just love our pet, we love all the
others like him!) And this includes greeting cards.
Some of us will even send cards on behalf of our pets. (Well, to be
fair, we do it on behalf of our human children and even our spouses, so
why not?)
While cats are known to love computers and keyboards, they may need a
little of your help to send Dad an ecard.
Step One: Pry the cat off the keyboard.
Step Two: Select & type greeting.
Step Three: Send greeting
Sure, you've done all the work, but you're a cat owner, this should not
be a surprise.
The best part is, we have an ecard that your finicky feline will approve
of: It's full of feline grace and dignity - and it's mew-sical!
Ah Cappella Angels
Dog owners need only follow steps 2 and 3 (unless they also have a cat!),
and with dogs, whatever card you pick will be fine. No, make that
whatever card you pick on the dog's behalf will be sensational!
(Dogs are easy that way.)
However, if you'd like to honor your canine this Christmas, may we
suggest one that's guaranteed to be a howling good time?
A Howling Xmas Carol
Note: Kat Caverly and NoEvil Productions are not responsible for any
growls, howls &/or yowls that your pet emits when such ecards are played!
* All data from American Pet Products Manufacturers Association
Posted by photocartoonist at 12:08 AM
December 13, 2005
HOra HOra HOra: Is Santa Really Jewish?
Yes Virginia, there really is a Schmanta Klaus!
Did you ever wonder just where Santa Claus came FROM? Sure he lives in
the North Pole now (cheap, non-union labor) but what started it all?
And HO HO HO, what's THAT all about?
Well, thanks to the Internet I was able to track down the big red daddy's origins
and much to my surprise I discovered that Santa is really Jewish! Well that explains the
HO(ra) HO(ra) HO(ra).
The Hora is a folk dance; a dance that is done to the song Hava Nagila.
HOra HOra HOra is an animated original song by Kat Caverly, Peter Forrest, and
Veronica Charnley; animation by Nayan Soni for NoEvil Productions. See it today
on AtomFilms.com.
Posted by photocartoonist at 12:04 AM
December 12, 2005
A Christmas Collection
By Kat Caverly
I started collecting Christmas ornaments in 1984;
my first Christmas with Thomas Hudson Reeve. That first tree
was New York apartment small and the cheap drugstore angel
I bought for that Christmas is still one of my favorite things
(Tom actually tried to throw her away a few years ago! The nerve!).
We use to get a live tree every year; a six foot tall monster that Tom actually
lowered down to the street with a rope through the window after the season. And
every year I got new ornaments to mark the wonderful holidays we were sharing together.
Shirley Virtual 3D Ornament:: rollover her!
A few years ago I finally convinced Tom to let me keep my ornaments strung on wires
around my office and instead of a big live tree, we started getting a little one. And with that
Tom started buying me miniature ornaments.
Now I get a new large ornament and a new miniature ornament every year!!
And nothing makes me happier!
What make YOU happy during the holidays?
Posted by photocartoonist at 11:16 PM
It's Christmas Time in Hell's Kitchen
By KAT CAVERLY
Anywhere but Manhattan when you start seeing lights strung up on the buildings
you know it's Christmas.
But in New York City you can find Christmas lights year round, and the city is
always so lit up like a Christmas tree. Maybe this is why I love it so much here.
Personally I collect Christmas ornaments and I have them strung up in my
office year round. My excuse is that I work on Christmas projects ten months
out of the year and I need the inspiration. Truth is I just love having them
around.
I also collect Christmas music and this year I found a song that I have been
looking for since 1981; Flash Your Dreads. Now that I truly have dreadlocks
I want to "Flash my dreads, flash my dreads, flash my natty dreads..." with
this song from "Yard Style Christmas" by Barrington Levy/Trinity 2.
Few things bring me such joy as ornaments and Christmas music, but snow
and holiday decorations lighting up Hell's Kitchen come close. And I got
both this week. Happy Holidays.
Posted by photocartoonist at 12:04 AM
December 11, 2005
Twas Some Nights Before Christmas
By DEANNA DAHLSAD
Children enjoy the magic and the excitement of the season, largely due to
Santa, who magically brings them surprises. As children, it's fun to
believe in the legends, lore and magic of elves, Santa Claus and Saint
Nick, especially when they prove their existence by bringing gifts!
But as adults, we often lose the joy of Christmas. As we take on the
role of Santa, we trade the belief in magic for the role of magician.
And as we do that, a little of the magic dies for us. We no longer
enjoy the legends and lore because now we see how the magic is wrought.
Wouldn't it be great to believe in something again? Something exciting
to overcome the boredom. Something we'd be excited to believe in.
Someone to snap and awaken us from our daily grind and bring us the
mythos of the season. Perhaps what we adults need is a more
sophisticated holiday figure than Santa. Someone more cool than Saint
Nick...
What we need is Beat Nick!
Posted by photocartoonist at 8:57 AM | Comments (1)
December 10, 2005
The Bah Humbuggers
Do you know someone who has the bah-humbugs this year? Is that
someone you?
You know the ones, the folks who can only complain about everything to
do with this time of year. They can't manage a cheery 'Happy Holidays'
but rather scowl or manage to make the greeting sound ironic.
Perhaps you want to wish them a wonderful holiday, but you fear coming
off as corny... How can you send a little Christmas cheer to those who
so strongly resist?
Here are ecards so full of holiday cheer that even these who are more
like Scrooge than Tiny Tim will be forced to smile.
For the hardest to please, a rousing chorus of "Santa's Coming and he's
gonna Kick Your Ass" ought to do the trick!
For those Grinches who you must be more polite to, there's The Bah Humbuggers.
And if these ecards don't bring a smile, perhaps they provide a reminder
that their low spirits won't keep you from celebrating!
By DEANNA DAHLSAD
Posted by photocartoonist at 12:12 AM
December 9, 2005
Seasonal Greetings
By DEANNA DAHLSAD
Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa - There are many holiday celebrations this
time of year.
There was a great debate on The View this about holiday greeting cards.
The women were discussing holiday greeting cards and whose
holiday they ought to be celebrating.
Joy said that sending a holiday greeting card was like sending a
birthday card: you send it to the person in celebration of their
day, and so if you celebrate Christmas, but they celebrate Hanukkah,
you ought to send a Hanukkah greeting card.
But the others felt that holiday cards are a way to include others in
their own celebration of the season.
So, what do you think? What do you do? Do you send cards for
your holiday, cards for the receiver's holiday, or play it safe with a
'Seasons Greetings' card?
Posted by photocartoonist at 9:57 PM | Comments (2)
November 29, 2005
Adventures in Santaland
By Kat Caverly
It was 1988. I was the last photo elf hired by Macy's Santaland. When I was asked
"Why do you want to be an elf?" I answered, "Are you kidding? Miracle on 34th Street!".
This holiday gig turned into a yearly pilgrimage, that lasted until 2003 and I have the
pictures with Santa to prove it!
Every year I would go on the Monday after Thanksgiving, after 6pm. This is the BEST
time to go; the elves and Santa are not yet tired and everyone in Santaland is still
filled with the spirit that only a week of Santaland training can generate. Needless to
say I was one of your more enthusiastic elves.
This year I just don't know WHO to ask; I never go alone. I got Tom to go two years.
The first year, when I was actually working at Santaland I even got Tom to sit on
Santa's knee. That photo is priceless.
This year we produced Santaland a whimsical close-up of department store Santa's
work-a-day life.
After 16 years of dealing with Santa in the big city I just had to blow off a little steam. But
I do admit a trip to Macy's Santaland here in Manhattan can be quite magical. Your friends
won't get over it when they get the picture!
Posted by photocartoonist at 12:56 AM
November 28, 2005
An Easier Holiday Season
By DEANNA DAHLSAD
In theory, an earlier start ought to make an easier holiday season. But
it never works out that way, does it? The longer prepare time only
seems to mislead me into thinking I can do more.
I will make my gifts - stellar gifts that impress them all! I'll wrap
my gifts with such artistic flair, they will have to be persuaded to
open them! I'll entertain grander! I will, I will, I will...
All of this only makes my list grow longer.
And I actually reduce the percentage of what I complete.
:sigh:
Having more time to prepare myself for the holidays really means that I
have more time to think of all the things that I have not done in the
past - which convinces me that I will fail again this year too.
While the curiously chipper Christmas czars insist that I must simplify
in order to achieve my goals of holiday celebrations, I disagree. Their
definitions of simplification include such gems of wisdom as using pie
or cake mix instead of baking from scratch, and using mix and match
table linens instead of buying a new set of linens for all my guests.
What they don't know is why this doesn't work.
I don't make the food, I 'simply' swing past the pie shop & pick up my
order. And linens at my house are paper towel sheets folded in half.
How, dear home economic gurus, can you get any more simple than that?
Posted by photocartoonist at 10:11 PM
November 25, 2005
Thinking Christmas
Every year, or so it seems, the un-nameable 'they' seem to push
Christmas at us earlier. When I was younger, a child, I remember
hearing similar complaints from the adults around me - and I remember
thinking 'How could this be a bad thing?' As an adult, the one with the
pressure to shop and otherwise prepare for the holidays, I now
understand the complaint...
So when Kat Caverly originally asked me to start 'thinking Christmas' I
resisted.
It's not that I don't love Christmas. It's just that it shouldn't start
in October or even early November.
Some folks wait for the first snow fall to begin to feel the rush of
Christmas. When I lived in Wisconsin, that often meant that the 25th of
December wasn't Christmas, as we often had no snow by them. Now that I
live in Fargo, North Dakota, it means Christmas time is early October
(both a Brr and a Grrrr for me!).
So to me, the only time that I can say that I am ready to begin my
holiday season is after Thanksgiving. Let me get one out of the way,
and then I can focus on the rest of the season.
By DEANNA DAHLSAD
Posted by photocartoonist at 12:10 AM | Comments (3)
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
November 9, 2004
"This is Santa. And I approve this Message."
There's another Santa behind the tinsel.
Tis the season and we have every reason to be looking for strong leadership this month. You need look no further than Santa Claus. He is the man for this season.
Just when we need someone to believe in it is time to believe in Santa. He "KNOWS" and he has a list. He can keep us safe. He can make our wishes come true.
Vote for a Merry Christmas is the testimonial of one close to Santa, one who was there with him THAT night. Click HERE and hear the tale of the night that could have been our last Christmas.
There's still hope.
Posted by photocartoonist at 3:36 PM