Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Captured...




I re-found this note I wrote while traveling by train from Denver to San Francisco, December 18, 2008, to enjoy one of the best vacations ever.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Captured...

     We have been having a total blast on the California Zephyr.  It's sunset, and we have just left Grand Junction.  "Sky's on fire," says Gary.  Snow covers the fields and low rolling hills.  Dusk is falling quickly, with hints of more gorgeous clouds when we clear the buttes. After passing through a short tunnel, the vista opens up, revealing a crimson smear at the horizon.

     As the last light sneaks under the tail end of the clouds, the train picks speed, rattling and swaying.  We head west weaving through the mesas and buttes, losing our race after the sun.  Night has captured this hurtling ship on rails, our haven.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

The Lady of Shalott: images, words and music















I was looking at John William Waterhouse's paintings tonight (beautiful), and the series based on Alfred, Lord Tennyson's "Lady of Shalott" were particularly enticing. I think had to go read the entire poem, followed by listening to to Loreena McKennitt's rendering of "The Lady of Shalott" for good measure.

It's just that kind of night.

The Lady of Shalott

On either side the river lie
Long fields of barley and of rye,
That clothe the wold and meet the sky;
And thro' the field the road runs by
To many-tower'd Camelot;
And up and down the people go,
Gazing where the lilies blow
Round an island there below,
The island of Shalott.

Willows whiten, aspens quiver,
Little breezes dusk and shiver
Through the wave that runs for ever
By the island in the river
Flowing down to Camelot.
Four grey walls, and four grey towers,
Overlook a space of flowers,
And the silent isle imbowers
The Lady of Shalott.

By the margin, willow veil'd,
Slide the heavy barges trail'd
By slow horses; and unhail'd
The shallop flitteth silken-sail'd
Skimming down to Camelot:
But who hath seen her wave her hand?
Or at the casement seen her stand?
Or is she known in all the land,
The Lady of Shalott?

Only reapers, reaping early,
In among the bearded barley
Hear a song that echoes cheerly
From the river winding clearly;
Down to tower'd Camelot;
And by the moon the reaper weary,
Piling sheaves in uplands airy,
Listening, whispers, " 'Tis the fairy
Lady of Shalott."

There she weaves by night and day
A magic web with colours gay.
She has heard a whisper say,
A curse is on her if she stay
To look down to Camelot.
She knows not what the curse may be,
And so she weaveth steadily,
And little other care hath she,
The Lady of Shalott.

And moving through a mirror clear
That hangs before her all the year,
Shadows of the world appear.
There she sees the highway near
Winding down to Camelot;
There the river eddy whirls,
And there the surly village churls,
And the red cloaks of market girls
Pass onward from Shalott.

Sometimes a troop of damsels glad,
An abbot on an ambling pad,
Sometimes a curly shepherd lad,
Or long-hair'd page in crimson clad
Goes by to tower'd Camelot;
And sometimes through the mirror blue
The knights come riding two and two.
She hath no loyal Knight and true,
The Lady of Shalott.

But in her web she still delights
To weave the mirror's magic sights,
For often through the silent nights
A funeral, with plumes and lights
And music, went to Camelot;
Or when the Moon was overhead,
Came two young lovers lately wed.
"I am half sick of shadows," said
The Lady of Shalott.

A bow-shot from her bower-eaves,
He rode between the barley sheaves,
The sun came dazzling thro' the leaves,
And flamed upon the brazen greaves
Of bold Sir Lancelot.
A red-cross knight for ever kneel'd
To a lady in his shield,
That sparkled on the yellow field,
Beside remote Shalott.

The gemmy bridle glitter'd free,
Like to some branch of stars we see
Hung in the golden Galaxy.
The bridle bells rang merrily
As he rode down to Camelot:
And from his blazon'd baldric slung
A mighty silver bugle hung,
And as he rode his armor rung
Beside remote Shalott.

All in the blue unclouded weather
Thick-jewell'd shone the saddle-leather,
The helmet and the helmet-feather
Burn'd like one burning flame together,
As he rode down to Camelot.
As often thro' the purple night,
Below the starry clusters bright,
Some bearded meteor, burning bright,
Moves over still Shalott.

His broad clear brow in sunlight glow'd;
On burnish'd hooves his war-horse trode;
From underneath his helmet flow'd
His coal-black curls as on he rode,
As he rode down to Camelot.
From the bank and from the river
He flashed into the crystal mirror,
"Tirra lirra," by the river
Sang Sir Lancelot.

She left the web, she left the loom,
She made three paces through the room,
She saw the water-lily bloom,
She saw the helmet and the plume,
She look'd down to Camelot.
Out flew the web and floated wide;
The mirror crack'd from side to side;
"The curse is come upon me," cried
The Lady of Shalott.

In the stormy east-wind straining,
The pale yellow woods were waning,
The broad stream in his banks complaining.
Heavily the low sky raining
Over tower'd Camelot;
Down she came and found a boat
Beneath a willow left afloat,
And around about the prow she wrote
The Lady of Shalott.

And down the river's dim expanse
Like some bold seer in a trance,
Seeing all his own mischance --
With a glassy countenance
Did she look to Camelot.
And at the closing of the day
She loosed the chain, and down she lay;
The broad stream bore her far away,
The Lady of Shalott.

Lying, robed in snowy white
That loosely flew to left and right --
The leaves upon her falling light --
Thro' the noises of the night,
She floated down to Camelot:
And as the boat-head wound along
The willowy hills and fields among,
They heard her singing her last song,
The Lady of Shalott.

Heard a carol, mournful, holy,
Chanted loudly, chanted lowly,
Till her blood was frozen slowly,
And her eyes were darkened wholly,
Turn'd to tower'd Camelot.
For ere she reach'd upon the tide
The first house by the water-side,
Singing in her song she died,
The Lady of Shalott.

Under tower and balcony,
By garden-wall and gallery,
A gleaming shape she floated by,
Dead-pale between the houses high,
Silent into Camelot.
Out upon the wharfs they came,
Knight and Burgher, Lord and Dame,
And around the prow they read her name,
The Lady of Shalott.

Who is this? And what is here?
And in the lighted palace near
Died the sound of royal cheer;
And they crossed themselves for fear,
All the Knights at Camelot;
But Lancelot mused a little space
He said, "She has a lovely face;
God in his mercy lend her grace,
The Lady of Shalott."



Thursday, May 14, 2009

Just a Quick Note


I don't know if you've ever experienced the feeling I'm going to describe, I sure hope so:

It feels like coming down a slide, or swinging on a swing, or a small, fast roller coaster or wild mouse ride. It's the kinda excited, kinda nervous feeling in the front of my body, like there's a small nuclear reactor getting started. It's the feeling of summer starting, meeting a new friend and finding out you're like long lost twins separated at birth. It's the sensation of going someplace so wonderful, you have to pinch yourself to make sure you're not dreaming. It's so much like falling in love. Things are brighter, sounds clearer, jokes funnier, and the tastes... oh, things like mango, with bubbles.

Yup, that's what I'm feeling these days. I hear everything growing. The grass went super tall in a short week and a half. Beltane came and went with lots of celebration, music, ritual and camping with peacocks and wild west woodsians.

Will be posting more later - I am, after all, on vacation for 10 days!! And G. is having his graduation ceremony Saturday, having people over for a party, and remembering our trip to Maui and Kauai a year ago.

Oh, and don't want to forget going to see the new Star Trek movie last night with friends. What a blast!

Saturday, April 4, 2009


I came back from a week spent living in ... a forest, literally. I'd been living among Ponderosa Pine and Cedars (for which I am grateful, I have been needing for the longest time to harvest some sacred cedar, and poof, there they were, in front and back of my mother-in-law's house).

While it is impossible to see a mountain close by or the far horizon either from inside the forest, it is possible to look UP, and I did have a wonderful week of moon and star gazing in the dark of the wooded area. We watched for the deer as they came through the greenbelt, and the singing of the many birds was a joy to hear. Our dog enjoyed the freedom, smells, sounds and different kind of squirrels compared to what is at home. Daffodils were blooming, almond trees and quince showing their special spring frocks, and the air carried the promise of Spring the week before the Equinox.

During this winter cycle, I have been unwilling to look at some details, but I have also been unwilling to look at the large picture. I attended a free business plan webinar for massage therapists and bodyworkers through my trade association, and between the ideas and actions outlined there, and some spiritual work where it's necessary to LOOK at what I really want, I find I've been retreating.

The good news is I realize this and feel okay about it. I am reacting, unthinkingly in some ways, but am also living a more instinctual life. I have been needing to lie fallow for a time - and the why of that I'm not entirely sure. Now that the energy of growth is here, and the sun is staying longer in the sky (except when hidden by clouds during these late storms) , and soon the time will arrive for this next phase of work, energy, growth, and nurturing a part of my life into new opportunity. It reminds me of gardening.

Monday, February 23, 2009

I hear mermaids calling, singing,

I have been moved by friends' posts, information flowing through this cyber world that I would never have had contact with if not for Internet, tarot, creativity, and spirituality...

Here's a poem I started working on, not sure if it's done or not. You be the judge.

The sisters know, the sisters flow,
like sea kelp at oceans' edge,
their hearts bound, without sound,
together their tears are shed.

(c) 2009 Kate van Houten

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Mercury Retrograde Blues



My baby doesn't get me,
Can't hear a word I say.
And when he murmurs sweetly,
I swear he says “You’re gay.”

I've got the Mercury Retrograde Blues.

When appointments get mixed up,
Folks are unclear, indirect,
I smile, and keep my chin up.
Where’s my bottle of white out?!

I've got the Mercury Retrograde Blues.

She claims I said “let's write.”
When I tell my boss “it's there,”
I wander through the night.
Alone with a vacant stare.

I've got the Mercury Retrograde Blues


My typing is atrocious,
I'm stuck; it feels like glue.
Tempers are ferocious.
I've got the Mercury Retrograde Blues.

© 2009 Kate van Houten

for more astrological info, go to Cafe Astrology's website at http://www.cafeastrology.com/mercuryretrograde.html

thanks to www.fanaticattack.com for the photo

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Memories and Organization


I was doing my usual thinking about a blog post in the wee hours before rising; for me, this is an interesting exercise. It is much like trying to remember a dream after having breakfast. Making sure the thoughts are still organized by the time I get past chores and routines and sit down to write can be a heck of a trick. Maybe having a notepad and pen by bedside will help.

Be that as it may, I was thinking about memory this morning. Got up and made a conscious choice to take my day slowly, allowing everything to percolate and settle in my brain as it would, taking time to enjoy the early dawn light, wanting to see the moon set but failing due to clouds. A while later, I realized I still could not remember what I was going to write about, and it was a good one, important and juicy, having to do with memory.

I ended up remembering while I was in the bathroom doing some of the things that makes having a bathroom necessary, and, bingo, just like that, I remembered what it was. Did I make a note? Did I create a mnemonic? Not on your life, nosiree!!

So I went on about my day, which involved eating a lovely crab and cheese egg scramble with toast and lovely raw white organic Big Island honey (
https://www.volcanoislandhoney.com/index.htm - Volcano Island Honey Company) we found at the Kula Marketplace (http://www.kulamarketplace.com/) and then again at Bay Crossings in the SF Ferry Building (http://www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com/bay_crossings.php) (enter, turn right, Honey!). The lovely breakfast fortified me enough to begin my dreaded filing and organizing project for which I had to kick my lovely husband out of our very intimate shared office so I can move between: the bedroom, because our super high bed makes a great work surface for filing and sorting, and entertaining the cat, the office closet, home to a two-drawer file cabinet, the rest of the office, which has the lateral file cabinet, computer, printer, labels, file folders, hanging folders, etc.

Took a lunch break and made up a nice light plate of turkey, mozzarella and apple slices, drank another glass of water, and then headed back to work. High Ho, High No. Or is it just Hi Ho, Hi Ho? Then a run at doing other stuff, this time on the computer, and I'm not talking about the fun playing around with photos, organizing pictures, working with iTunes, looking for fun new apps type stuff. Nope. I have to make sure I enter names and contact info into my Outlook so I don't lose names of artists we met in SF who make gorgeous jewelry and folks we encountered in Hawaii,

Okay, the bulk of the really grim organizing and filing finally is done. Hope I can find stuff after moving folders around, but I think what I did will actually work better than before.

I must say that my 2008 commitment to reduce paper waste and use has been very successful. I have made PDFs of all bank and other statements and records and when the final end of year stuff comes through in the accounts, I'll put everything on one CD and it will go in the box,. Instead of three or four inches of paper as in years past (bank statements being the worst offender, wireless bills coming in a close second), I know have about 1/4 inch of paper and one CD. Woo Hoo!!

And as I turned away to do the next thing that needed to be done (label more folders, add stuff to household inventory as I go), I remembered, FINALLY, the post about memory I wanted to write about to begin with – here goes.

Two things: First thing – what I don't use, I immediately throw away. Memories in particular, and I endeavor endlessly to improve tossing out general "stuff" that just piles up and has to be organized, or discarded, as the case may be. G. bought me a new iTouch this Yule (wasn't that sweet!!) for his favorite geek girl (me), and he inherited my lovely 5G (aka "Classic") iPod that I adored. So there we were, busy geeking out on our way out to SF on Amtrak (the only way to not fly), and he starts asking me questions about the 5G. And I go "Huh?" Or it might of sounded like "Whuuuut?" He did that several times over the course of our vacation and again since we've been back (but less so), and each time I'm astounded by how little I recall of the 5G operations, and, folks, these are things I used to do without even thinking about once, much less twice, since they were just the natural rhythm of working with the device. I would use it more than five or six times each day. But here I was so immersed in learning the iTouch, which is astoundingly new and different from the 5G, that I completely "dumped" all previous iPod knowledge unless it directly related to the new device.

Second thing – All of these considerations of brain dumping led me back, circularly, to this next thought. As a former IT professional advising clients on hardware and software purchases, I always quipped "you can never have too much hard drive space or too much RAM." G. told me about a 1 Terabyte hard drive for sale for under $100. My first response to him about that was: It would take all my time just keeping the danged thing organized. Far cry from the "WOW, 120K!! amazing" days, huh?

Now for the pitch: Can anybody put together a dynamite indexing and archival system for my brain's hard drive/RAM for pre-dumping and pre-clearing retention? It's not so much of a joke these days as I am at that point in my life when I start to tell someone about something new, and they say, "yeah, you already told me about that." Sigh. Between that and not knowing the names of over 1/2 of the bands that are booking gigs at the local venues, I am really feeling middle aged.

Back to putting labels on file folders and entering data into home inventory. Happy January everyone; be sure to eat some honey now and again ~