November 24, 2005
An Imaginary Holiday Meal, With Real Holiday Sentiments
By DEANNA DAHLSAD
Not all the members of Kat Caverly's Dream Team are American, and so, do
not participate in America's Thanksgiving. However, as a little
community or family of sorts, we would likely celebrate somehow, if we
could. As a writer, I like to imagine what our holiday gathering would
be like...
I don't know quite what our holiday meal would consist of, with all
these different countries & their festive dishes to choose from. (I am
pretty sure that I would bring pies - not because I make a good pie, but
rather that I know I am a terrible cook, so I have learned where to buy
great pies.)
I don't even know if all our place settings would have the correct
utensils, or if we would say 'Grace' - let alone how many forms of
'Grace' we'd say, nor the number of languages it would be said in...
But I am pretty sure I know what we would give thanks for.
1) Creativity: As Anders says, he is thankful for "not drawing someone
else's same nose for 1 year."
We are all grateful for both being blessed with creativity and the
ability to use that creativity as a means to support ourselves. We are
thankful that we are paid to do what we love.
2) Technology: As Chris has said, "There's a lot of freedom (to push)
the limits of software and hardware - and breaking the rules is
encouraged."
Technology gives us the tools by which we create what we want - in an
affordable way, so as to still be able to feed ourselves and our
families. (Artists all, we prefer not to be the starving kind.)
3) The Internet: Nayan remembers when he first contacted Kat via the
internet to show her his work: "I was fortunate that Kat loved my work
when I first showed it to her and since that day (2nd Jan 2003) I am
working with her."
We are thankful for this specific technology, the internet, for this
gift allowed us to find and connect with one another, no matter where
our earthly location. (It even allows us to find you!)
Last, but not least, we count Kat Caverly herself as one of our
blessings. For without her, it's uncertain that we would have the first
three blessings. Or at least, it wouldn't be quite the same experience...
Here's how Sai Ming describes working with Kat: "Kat pushes me a lot
and encourages my work too. She can entertain you and drive you crazy
sometimes. You have a lot of freedom from her. And she always
understands artist's feelings."
And Shefali says, "First it was Kat Caverly's encouragement, her trust
in me that I could produce quality work and her absolute dedication for
her work, that drew me. She has an amazing sense of form as well as
feeling which I greatly admire."
And while we all tease Kat that she keeps us on the phone a
very long time, each one of us appreciates her knowledge of and
respect for artists and their work, along with her passion, and her
sense of humor.
Yes, we at No Evil Productions have much to be thankful for. And we
hope you are as happy in your work.
That said, will someone please pass me a piece of the pie I brought?
Posted by photocartoonist at 12:01 AM | Comments (6)
November 9, 2005
Give Everyone The Bird This Holiday
By DEANNA DAHLSAD
Holiday traditions are not always as sweet and gentle as Norman Rockwell
paintings. While the collective US 'remembers' warm moments of sharing
enormous dinners with family as we discussed how grateful we are - there
are other more realistic holiday memories, other traditions...
Family members stressed out with all the 'things to do', kids annoying
them as they prepare the food, and other family members who just seem to
do all the celebrating while others work so hard.
While these traditions aren't as quaint & charming as those we see in
commercials or the warm and fuzzy moments we see on the covers of
magazines, Kat Caverly has made sure even these memories have been
captured. You'll see the overworked-under-appreciated mom 'give the
bird' to the not-so-helpful dad and the oh-so-annoying children. The
ungrateful-away-at-college girl may miss dinner, but in this ecard, she
gets 'the bird' too *wink*
I recall many (every?) Thanksgiving where my folks argued about the
amount of work that went into a meal when so many people didn't seem to
appreciate or care about what they all had to do. I'm pretty sure they
too thought they were delivering 'the bird' to everyone at the table
when they served that turkey...
And I too admit to a holiday to two where I didn't want to come home to
be with the family - I was too busy enjoying my 'freedom' and
independence. (Not to mention a meal without a drunk uncle.) I
eventually couldn't stand my grandmother's tearfilled 'Oh, OK...' and
came back for Thanksgiving dinner & all the trappings - complete with
drunken uncles.
But that's tradition! And that's when I knew I was home, having my real
Thanksgiving dinner.
Posted by photocartoonist at 10:46 AM
October 9, 2005
Giving Thanks for a Successful Harvest
Unlike here in America where we celebrate the settling of the New World, in Canada the second Monday in October gives thanks for a successful harvest. There are many traditions in common; a roasted turkey, pumpkin pie. I wonder if they enjoy carmel coated apples in Canada?
Happy Thanksgiving
Posted by photocartoonist at 11:26 PM
November 11, 2004
It's Time to Give Everyone the Bird
Blood is Sicker than Water
Ah yes the family holiday season is almost upon us and all kidding aside, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. First of all I love turkey.
I love cooking the turkey. I love the smells. I love the feast. I adore the left-overs! This marks the beginning of the greatest holiday season of them all. and now that we are a global village, I start celebrating The Season with Canadian Thanksgiving in October.
Every culture has its harvest festival and special holidays during this time of the year. The Muslims have Ramadan adn are looking to the moon to tell them when Eid ul Fitr will start this year. It is expected on the 14th or 15th. But only the moon can tell for sure. In India they are getting ready to celebrate Diwali and Hanukkah (or is it Chanukkah?) starts on December 9th this year. That is only 4 weeks away!!
Then there are the 12 days of Christmas and two weeks of Kwanzaa. We have our New Year on January 1st. And Chinese New Year and Islamic New Year are both in January this coming year.
By Christmas I am pretty full of turkey and ready for ham. This is so exciting.
Posted by photocartoonist at 3:02 PM | Comments (1)