Rubies in Crystal

Saturday, December 31, 2016

Dahlings! Happy New Year!

Dahlings! Wishing you an extraordinary 2017 in all ways, creative, spiritual, financial and in your relationships. Overcome oppressions with true tidal fury!

(costume I patched together to perform Tidal Fury, a book about overcoming oppression)
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Sunday, December 25, 2016

Wishing you the best of the Festive Season

Wishing everyone a wonderful festivity of giving, love and feasting! Happy Christmas, Hannukah, Shab-e Yalda, Yule, however you celebrate the birth of the light!

(The most perfect tree ever - it is real, yes!)

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Friday, December 23, 2016

Kitty is Improving

Some tentative good news - my kitty, Aria, is lightly using her paw again when she walks. Not every time, but definitely last night and this morning a little bit. Which implies that it was a bad sprain (the vet's original diagnosis when I took her in a week before the appointment where he took x-rays). I've seen no sign of an embolism - both eyes blink fine, breath out of both nostrils, both sides are fully sensitive and getting stroked on either side elicits loud purring, just a sore paw that seems to be getting better. She sleeps, she eats, she's playful, she's demanding, she sweet, she's fully herself. It's been 2½ weeks since I first noticed a limp. She still scoots around on three legs, but there is slight improvement (it's that right front leg in the photo) and, hopefully, she is healing.

I am quite happy indeed. The vet may have been right in his diagnosis on our first appointment.
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Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Wishing You a Brilliant Solstice

Happy Solstice! When the sun is furthest, the night darkest, the return begins. Immanence, beginnings. Yeah, and also, be the shining light you are.
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Saturday, December 17, 2016

Simple sketch of Aria

I thought my pussy cat had broken her leg, but it turns out there is no fracture and it may have been an embolism. She's only 4 years old. Here's a simple little sketch because I would like to paint her. No idea what the final prognosis will be, or what's coming. She is the sweetest little companion ever.

(Different crops suggested by PS of the same little simple sketch - she didn't sit in that position for long enough! Sort of drew everything while she was sitting near me by calling her and then she'd look up and I'd draw, except for the ears, and the whiskers, she was gone by then and they are mostly guesses...)

Here is a little watercolour painting of her where I did not particularly try to get a good likeness.

I'll post some photos when I have some new ones. Rather heartbreaking to see her scampering about on three legs and always holding one paw in the air, and I have no idea how I will afford the vet care.
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Friday, December 09, 2016

Video of 'Tidal Fury' @ Guernica Launch!

| Guernica Editions | Amazon.ca | Amazon.com | Amazon.UK | Indigo Books | Goodreads |

direct link: Tidal Fury Guernica Launch 2016

Here is a video of my set for my book, Tidal Fury, at the Guernica Editions launch Dec 4th. The talented and lovely Karen Shenfeld introduced me and she said such nice things I was blushing. The MC was Anna Geisler, gorgeous hard-working lady. The Publisher, Michael Mirolla, is a literary force in his own right and has brought much fine writing to public attention with an substantial yearly publishing schedule. I am honoured and fortunate to be a Guernica author. Many thanks to all!

'Tidal Fury' by Brenda Clews
Introduced by Karen Shenfeld
MC Anna Geisler
Guernica video trailer in the background
by Gabriel Quigley

at the Guernica Editions book launch
December 4, 2016
Supermarket Restaurant & Bar
in Kensington Market, Toronto, Canada

Michael Mirolla, Publisher

Tidal Fury is available from all major booksellers:

| Guernica Editions | Amazon.ca | Amazon.com | Amazon.UK | Indigo Books | Goodreads |
_
ocean waves
from freesound.org

videoed & edited
by Brenda Clews
http://brendaclews.com
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Thursday, December 08, 2016

Video of the Guernica Book Launch, December 2016

How often do you launch your first book of poetry? I wanted video even if I didn't show anyone. So I decided to video the launch so everyone is featured. While I will post my portion soon, here is the entire launch. Clarke Blaise and George Elliott Clarke are big names in Canadian literature. My friend, Luciano Iacobelli is also, to me, a prominent literary figure in Toronto. But everyone was fabulous! It was a superb afternoon

direct link: A Guernica Book Launch, December 2016

The Guernica Editions December 2016 book launch was a terrific afternoon of terrific writing! The afternoon of readings in order of appearance:

Maniac Drifter by Laura Marello 2:04

introduced by Alex Dunn

Mankind and Other Stories of Women by Marianne Ackerman 8:12

presented by John Goddard, introduced by Anna Geisler

Clark Blaise: Essays on His Works and Clark Blaise: The Interviews, ed. J.R. (Tim) Struthers

presented by J.R. (Tim) Struthers 16:08, Ron Shuebrook 30:48

and Clark Blaise 34:15, introduced by Anna Geisler

The Examined Life by Luciano Iacobelli 46:05

reading in tandem with Jens Kohler

introduced by Michael Mirolla

Max's Folly by Bill Turpin 1:02:58

introduced by Michael Mirolla

Tidal Fury by Brenda Clews 1:24:11