Pretty In Pink... Perfect In Paisley!

Here we are, count down to Christmas. Can you believe it? We are 10 days away from the jolly old man making his appearance for the umpteenth time in history. It would be redundant to ask, where did the time go or man, how did it sneak up on us? Like every year we know it comes around and as we get “older” each month flies faster than Santa’s sleigh! Am I prepared? Am I ready? Hell no to be honest! I am not even in the Christmas spirit. I can’t find it and as I have looked around at others they are not much in the jovial spirit either. From what I have seen most would like to postpone, suspend or make the darn holiday completely fall off the calendar…forever! It shouldn’t be like this but it is… Christmas spirit is gone. The true meaning of Christmas spirit disappeared several, several decades ago. Industries have capitalized on the economy’s misfortunes. Big box stores and advertisers have ruined what we as children looked forward to and as much as I don’t want to talk rel...

You could say I am seeking tradition. I have a flood of memories that have surfaced and you guessed it, if I can’t write about it what good is having the memory!  I don’t know if it is because the holidays are around the corner or the fact that I would have been married 30 years. My female nostalgia says it is the combination of both. I was married on Thanksgiving Day, which by the way was a family tradition. Grandma and grandpa and my mom and dad were married on Thanksgiving Day so the dutiful daughter/granddaughter I was... followed suit! None the less holiday or would be anniversary,  it is not making this season any easier.  Maybe not every tradition is supposed to be handed down. New traditions can be created and possibly some traditions should be altered and the ones that are so chaotic or archaic should be a given... and should  be forgotten! but regardless it should not change the meaning of holiday tradition: A time for family to gather, a time t...

It’s beginning to be that time of year, where the mornings are colder, the days are shorter and our soul’s need to be better cared for, as our bodies shiver with falling temperatures our desires for comfort reverently heat up. What is it about these colder months? Winter makes us appreciate the word cocoon. We long to be tangled in someone’s arms safe and sound; it is warmth like no other.  I miss those mornings of pillow talk hesitant to get out of bed, legs entwined, eyes still closed, a little small talk or other action that is needed to get you up to face the brisk day ahead. Now that’s a heat we all can appreciate…LOL The winter makes you long for lazy cloudy days where lounging on a couch is the only activity you want to tackle, with remote in one hand and the other… well tucked somewhere on that someone that is laying there with you even if it means he is watching football and you are seriously napping.  While a pot of something is intently cooking on the stove ...

When I set out yesterday for an afternoon of taking pictures, what I had in mind for a photo theme basically ended up giving me a topic for an article. My intent was to travel through south St. Louis city streets and shoot pictures of the different catholic churches but as I wandered up and down the side streets a certain familiarity hit home. Jokingly, I have always said I was baptized by trade into the catholic religion. I come from a long line of Italian heretics that coerced us into Mass on Sunday at St. Cecilia’s with a meatball dinner to follow. Most of my growing up years I really thought that is what defined me but as I traveled these city streets, stomping grounds for so many, I questioned, what really defined any of us? Was it the neighborhoods we grew up in? Was it the schools we attended?  Was it the kids we played with?  How did we come to be…? Looking back, I left my catholic grade school to attend a public school. It just wasn’t feasible to send m...

You know how a song can get stuck in your brain? No matter how many times you sing it or listen to it... it just seems to linger? Well you got it! I have Laura Branigan ringing loud and clear in mine this morning! " I need a hero   I'm holding out for a hero till the end of the night he's gotta be strong and he's gotta be fast and gotta be fresh from the fight I need a hero I'm holding out for a hero till the morning light He's gotta be sure and he's gotta be soon  And he's gotta be larger than life" I guess it is not a bad song to have stuck in your head...it's better than Yellow Submarine! Right?  I am not surprised at how this song has lingered... I randomly made a joke the other day stating "I need a Hero" and apparently the music God's decided to have some fun with my sense of sarcasm. It has though made me stop and think. Do I really need a hero? Is that what I am looking for? Holding out f...

My Aunt Phyllis use to say, "Kit if you have something to say, write it down . If you want someone to know exactly what you are trying to convey write them a letter." This would be the most reason why I write!  (My Aunt Phyllis was my mentor... most everything I know about street sense came from her!) I have 52 years worth of love, intuitiveness, knowledge and compassion that I want to share with the masses. Too many emotions, words/stories and messages filter in and out of my brain on a daily basis. The more people I know, relationships I'm in and situations I get myself into, I continue to be a deep thinker, a fixer and a nester. It is easy for me to conjure up a solution, a scenario and a meal to soothe or fix... I always have something to say which in turn is always something to write about! Lucky me right? Oh trust me not everyone wants to hear what I have to say or do they want to read about my judgy thoughts! LOL I though take every ones else's energy in ...

I looked at my calendar and realized its almost past mid October! I looked at my last blog entry and it said August... Where did the time go? Where did I go? What have I been doing and how could I have let so many weeks go by?  I kinda just stopped doing my thing to do my thing?  "Life" It just happens. It gets in the way, we get side tracked, we become involved...we get caught up in work, relationships and pure nonsense. The Hours, Days, Weeks, Months and Years get past us...It goes by quick and the older I get it goes by faster. All I know is that trying to catch my breath in between these moments is getting harder as I feel my breath is being caught with sighs and exhaling has become difficult because through all the sighs... it catches and now I am  "Waiting to Exhale". What is it about that holding breath? That one breath that you have been holding onto for so long that if you let it go you know you are not holding onto to anything?  When in your clear mind...

Long ago and so far away, when dad would take me and my sister out for the weekends, we would set out on excursions...adventures... mysterious travels. Two little wide eyed girls...(ok one wide eyed little girl...the other whiny and unruly) sorry siste r! :(  would get settled in the car and go for these long unknown trips to discover what dad so wanted to share with us. I can not tell you how many times we heard stories about the water tunnels in Forest Park and how he and Uncle Ronnie lived up on the other side of the park and they would make their underground escape to surface right in the middle of what had been known as the Louisianna Purchase Exposition. Now mind you this wasn't 1904...more like 1940 something... but still the way dad made it sound, he was right there in the middle of making history. While we would visit the Muny, the Zoo, the Art Museum and all the other Fantabulous attractions in that park if felt like we were making our mark too on uncharted explorations...

Amazing... Yes this is how I view turning 52. Who would have thought the girl from Grand and Bates would still have her head in the clouds and  still be   searching for fame and fortune? I have yet to give up... on anything ! From where I am standing (ok sitting right now), I feel like I am about to embark on the best journey! I feel a door to "something" is finally cracking open  and I am seeing a light. Who cares how bright that light is...all I care about is I see one! Wow 52!!! I think there is a lot to say for that! I will say this year started out quite the challenge. In January I was diagnosed with a chronic Leukemia (which is in a manageable stage), I have had severe female problems and despite it all my anxiety seems to be in check! I am ok with where I am! Physically, I am feeling better!  My art is moving!!!! My writings are being noticed and finally I am very ok with the person I have evolved into. Do you know what it is like to be able to be...

When I was a little girl, the front hallway steps were where I usually retreated to. When I wanted to escape from the madness of my home because of too many people and too much noise, I would quietly walk out the door and plop my little self on the top step. I could sit there and eaves drop on what they were saying or when I just wanted to be alone... I would go and sit against the wall on the top step and stare at the front door in the hallway at my house on Bates. On those tops steps I could hear my own thoughts as well as many a conversation from others... When your orphaned (that's what I called it, at least at the time that's what it seemed like) and you are being shuffled between family members, I just was trying to find a place to belong. The front hallway steps were where I thought I belonged..out of the way. At 6, I craved the quiet. I didn't want to be fussed over. I didn't want to be found and usually for the most part nobody noticed anyway... when you ...

No big writings today...just a few simple thoughts! We live in a time where value has lost it's meaning. Respect has gone out the window and Freedom is based upon the space you live within... I believe everyone has a right to speak their mind, a right to put their words into actions, as long as NO harm comes to anyone and everybody gets a free chance to try and survive in this country! American enterprise... Living the American dream. Boundaries still hold strong...to be an American you must pledge allegiance! That does not necessarily mean you have to give up your religion, change your heritage...adapt your color. It does mean we stand together. We defend each other and we serve each other under the flag that represents what this country started as... A place for the free and the home of our brave! Happy 4th of July...Roll the Stone Away, It's independence day! (Martina McBride) Meet Me In St. Louis Kitryn Marie Purple Mountain Majesty

Glorious...that's how I feel this morning!!! Just G-L-O-R-I-O-U-S! Have you ever had one of those reflective mornings where you know everything is falling into a solid position! The Gods have finally heard every plea, wish and prayer and now are making all the necessary arrangements to put every time consuming, strategic, intricate step into permanency. Yep, this is how I am feeling!!! In place!!! As I stand in this position, there is a different quality of air. I can for once see the cosmic stars aligning and  in a very long time, so it seems I am taking in healthier breaths... I am finding with each new day, I have become comfortable and at ease with my surroundings. I have allowed myself and given myself permission to move about freely with no need to run! No, I haven't landed that perfect job. No, I did not win the lottery. No I have not been asked for anyone's hand in marriage. Nothing physical has happened to change my current station. I am still in my two day a...

I would imagine it is just as much a thrill to be a new father as it is to be a new mom! Maybe you would have the expectations of doing things differently then your father. You would promise yourself you would NOT do like him, although at various points in dealing with your own kids, words would fall out of your mouth saying the same ungodly phrases that you told yourself you would never say! Looking back on any of our childhood moments with our dad or any of our parental figures, their intentions were no different than ours in regards to our kids. The same values we want for ours, healthy, happy and safe , held true for them too just sometimes their delivery at the time, never made sense! Maybe if kids from this generation stopped blaming their parents for how they turned out and started to understand where their parent's view came from most likely  they could be proud for the incredible individual they have become! If they stopped replacing fault with blame and looked...