Monday, January 31, 2011

Quoth the Raven, Nevermore

horizontal space "The Raven"

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by Edgar Allan Poe

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Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
`'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, 'tapping at my chamber door -
Only this, and nothing more.'

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Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December,
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished the morrow; - vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow - sorrow for the lost Lenore -
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels named Lenore -
Nameless here for evermore.

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And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me - filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating
'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door -
Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door; -
This it is, and nothing more,'

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Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
`Sir,' said I, `or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;
But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,
That I scarce was sure I heard you' - here I opened wide the door; -
Darkness there, and nothing more.

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Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before;
But the silence was unbroken, and the darkness gave no token,
And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, `Lenore!'
This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, `Lenore!'
Merely this and nothing more.


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Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.
`Surely,' said I, `surely that is something at my window lattice;
Let me see then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore -
Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore; -
'Tis the wind and nothing more!'

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Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore.
Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;
But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door -
Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door -
Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

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Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore,
`Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,' I said, `art sure no craven.
Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the nightly shore -
Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

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Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,
Though its answer little meaning - little relevancy bore;
For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being
Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his chamber door -
Bird or beast above the sculptured bust above his chamber door,
With such name as `Nevermore.'

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But the raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only,
That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.
Nothing further then he uttered - not a feather then he fluttered -
Till I scarcely more than muttered `Other friends have flown before -
On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before.'
Then the bird said, `Nevermore.'

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Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,
`Doubtless,' said I, `what it utters is its only stock and store,
Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful disaster
Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore -
Till the dirges of his hope that melancholy burden bore
Of "Never-nevermore."'

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But the raven still beguiling all my sad soul into smiling,
Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird and bust and door;
Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking
Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore -
What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore
Meant in croaking `Nevermore.'

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This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing
To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core;
This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining
On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamp-light gloated o'er,
But whose velvet violet lining with the lamp-light gloating o'er,
She shall press, ah, nevermore!

Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer
Swung by Seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor.
`Wretch,' I cried, `thy God hath lent thee - by these angels he has sent thee
Respite - respite and nepenthe from thy memories of Lenore!
Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe, and forget this lost Lenore!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

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`Prophet!' said I, `thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil! -
Whether tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,
Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted -
On this home by horror haunted - tell me truly, I implore -
Is there - is there balm in Gilead? - tell me - tell me, I implore!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

`Prophet!' said I, `thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil!
By that Heaven that bends above us - by that God we both adore -
Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,
It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels named Lenore -
Clasp a rare and radiant maiden, whom the angels named Lenore?'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

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`Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!' I shrieked upstarting -
'Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore!
Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!
Leave my loneliness unbroken! - quit the bust above my door!
Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

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And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,
And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted - nevermore!

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The Bracelet

by Cornerstoregoddess

Raven illustrations by Gustave Doré

SAG Awards Jewelry Roundup 2011

Juliana Margulies in Bavna jewelry

The 17th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards brought us a red carpet full of diamond dangle earrings, icy cuffs, a few scary statement necklaces and a splash of color for good measure.

If this sounds familiar, it's because all the big red carpet events lately have followed the same 'play it safe' pattern when it comes to bedazzling our favorite Hollywood beauties.

I'm not complaining, really. The SAG Awards are known as a more low-key carpet than the Globes and the Oscars. I just miss the smack-your-face, lower-jaw-drop jewelry moments from years' past. It just ain't happening much in 2011, I'm afraid.

That said, here's a roundup of last night's jewelry trends for your drooling pleasure.

Diamond Divas:

SAG winner, Natalie Portman, and Glee diva, Lea Michele, stunned in millions worth of Tiffany diamond dazzle. You have my permission to hate them.

Natalie Portman in $2 million Tiffany 27.95-carat yellow diamond earrings
Lea Michele in $300,000 worth of Tiffany diamond jewels


Drops and Dangles:

The ubiquitous diamond dangle earring category made a strong showing - with a few standouts like Julianna Margulies in Bavna statement stunners and the always-gorg Kim Kardashian in her go-to jewelry favorite, Lorraine Schwartz.

Heather Morris in Martin Katz

Eva Longoria in Neil Lane

Tina Fey in Lorraine Schwartz leaf earrings

Kim Kardashian in Lorraine Schwartz
Black and White:

Amy Adams has never looked this good, in my humble opinion - thanks to the year's standout red carpet jewelry designer, Kimberly McDonald. While Christina Hendricks got too close to Elvira chic with her dress choice, I love the black teardrop earrings by Sutra (which she didn't lose this time!).

Winona Ryder in Gray jewelry

Christina Hendricks in Sutra earrings

January Jones in Lorraine Schwartz
Amy Adams in Kimberly McDonald


Amy Adams in Kimberly McDonald


Diamond Cleavage...Um, I Mean, Cuffs:

Sofia Vergara continues to wow in a plunging blue Roberto Cavalli with a sparkling Chopard diamond cuff.

Sofia Vergara in Chopard diamond cuff
Claire Danes in Fred Leighton diamond bangles

Natalie Portman in Tiffany diamond bangles

Mila Kunis in $270,000 Cartier tiger cuff. Meow!
Color Queens:

While previous awards shows gave us a definite color trend to squawk about (emeralds for the Globes), the SAGs gave us just a varied smattering of gemstone hues.


Rosario Dawson in Susie Fox


Jane Krakowski in Lorraine Schwartz

Mariska Hargitay in David Webb turquoise earring
Necklace No-Nos:

So far, 2011 is NOT the year of the necklace. I'm on the fence about Nicole Kidman's Fred Leighton flower piece - but Jenna Ushkowitz's gold bib number has to go.


Nicole Kidman in Fred Leighton


Our fun-filled SAG Twitter chat (#SAGjewelry) led by the all-knowing Cindy Edelstein (aka JewelryBizGuru), was the usual snark-fest with the occasional gasp. But we all agreed we were missing a stand-out jewelry star - and that Guiliana Rancic needs to stop speaking English.





Check out all the fun here - and weigh in with your thoughts!

Next up? The Grammy Awards on February 13th!

No Horsing Around

I want to tell you a little story about a gal named Zenyatta.

She quit working last year and packed on 100 lbs before you could say “Giddyup.”

Yes, Zenyatta is a retired American champion Thoroughbred racehorse, winner of 19 consecutive races in a 20-race career which culminated with being named the 2010 Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year.

But it occurs to me that I haven’t done enough on my blog to address the needs of overweight horses. If you stopped by here today for weight-loss guidance or inspiration, then you probably should just move along. This post is specifically for horses (or for people who have a pet horse in their house).

Okay, Zenyatta… here’s my best weight-loss-for-horses' advice…

Just Say “Neigh” to Extra Hay.
We’re a lot alike, Zenyatta… superior athletes bred from championship stock and used to working only a couple hours a day. But here’s the thing, Z… if you’re not gonna run like a racehorse, you’ve got to stop eating like one. At the end of the day, it’s all about calories in versus calories out. If you take in more than you exert, chances are those extra pounds you see on scale won’t be because you’re wearing iron horseshoes.

It’s Time to Hoof It. We all know it’s a lot easier to get in a good workout if somebody’s sitting on your back and hitting you over and over with a whip, but you’ve got to realize that exercise is it’s own reward. Don’t say you can’t canter, Zenny; there’s a big pasture out there, and there’s no reason you can’t get out there and gallop to your heart’s content. Stick with it and it won’t be long before you’re hot to trot again.

This is a Marathon, Not a 6½ Furlong Race. You made the mistake many of us make, Zenyatta:  you thought the finish line was the finish. The truth of the matter is that good health is a lifelong endeavor. Stay on track and I’m sure the studs will stand up and take notice.

I don’t mean to nag you, Zenyatta, but I’m sure that with some good food choices and a commitment to incorporating more activity into your daily routine, we can get you back down to your 1,200-pound racing weight.

Z, it’s time for you to get back in the saddle.

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Sunday, January 30, 2011

I Don't Like to Make Excuses, But..

Weekly weigh-in: 216.5
Loss: +.1
Total loss: -75.4
Emotion: Irresolute

I don’t like to make excuses, but…

  • I couldn’t find the “Healthy Choices” section of Hooter’s menu.
  • I thought the pickles in the fridge might be some kind of “magic pickles” like in that book about the magic pickles.
  • Eyes starting to go; might have read scale wrong last week.
  • Ate too much koala to celebrate Australia Day (January 26)
  • I dreamed I was eating a pillow and when I woke up, my giant marshmallow was gone.
  • Pants felt too big; decided it was easier to gain weight than get new belt.
  • Accidentally replaced water bottle with bottle of 1,000 Island dressing.
  • Big knot in laces of my running shoes.
  • Sample lady at grocery store forced me down, shoveled pimento-and-cheese spread in my mouth.
  • Got mesmerized by that TV show starring the dude that was in that movie with that girl with the long hair.
  • Meant to go work out but lost track of time unfollowing people I’m following on twitter that aren’t following me back. Jerks!
  • Thought I was eating 100-calorie snack bag, but turns out it was 1,000-calorie one.
  • Had to eat all chocolate in the house because I read somewhere that it was poisonous to dogs.
  • Went to all-you-could-eat buffet and forgot not to eat all I could eat.
  • Personal trainer didn’t push me to give 110%.
  • Think there was some heavy dead skin on my feet.
  • The expiration date was about to hit on that can of frosting in pantry.
  • You bloggers forgot to inspire me this week.
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