Alexander the Friendly Ghost

He decided to be a ghost for his school party and parade, so we went shopping for material.

We used two different gauzy materials and four separate layers. Since I knew he wouldn't tolerate material on his head for more than 30 seconds, we made a hole for his head.

I cut holes for his arms, rolled the holes under and used fabric glue to keep it from fraying.

I painted his hair white outside and had him wear a garbage bag to keep his clothes clean.

I painted his face and neck glow-in-the-dark white. There was black paint for his eyes, but Alexander vetoed that.

Add the gloves and he was set!

Spooky!

BOO!!!

The girls and I went up to Alexander's school to watch the Halloween Parade.

embedded video below

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

If you are having trouble watching the video, click HERE.

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Violence Against Women and People with Disabilities

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Taken from the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) here are a few facts.

"Women with developmental disabilities have among the highest rates of physical, sexual, and emotional violence perpetrated by intimate partners and family members. Individuals with disabilities are at a greater risk of severe physical and sexual violence than people without disabilities. Many people with disabilities who are victims of violence experience multiple assaults. Domestic abuse victims with disabilities are often more dependent on their caretakers than victims without disabilities, and face many barriers to reporting abuse and seeking services. Victims who do report abuse or seek services often do not find adequate help, since many programs that serve Domestic Violence victims are not equipped or trained to offer proper care to victims with disabilities." Women with disabilities are three times more likely to be sexually assaulted than women without disabilities.

President Obama and Vice President Biden spoke about the unprecedented efforts across the Federal Government to protect victims of domestic and sexual violence in an event marking Domestic Violence Awareness Month. This is definitely worth viewing in its entirety, regardless of your political affiliation.

"When a victim of abuse leaves a violent relationship it is often a particularly vulnerable time. We need to make sure that we are doing everything that we can for victims in this critical period to ensure that folks who are seeking help and protection get that help and get that protection. That's our responsibility. So these are just a few of the steps that we are taking but this bottom line is this; nobody in America should live in fear because they are unsafe in their own home. No adult, no child. No one who is a victim of abuse should ever feel that they have no way to get out. We need to make sure that every victim of domestic violence knows that they are not alone, that there are resources available to them in their moment of greatest need. As a society we need to make sure that if a victim of abuse reaches out for help, we are there to lend a hand. This is not just the job for government. It's a job for all of us." (President Obama)

And now, more information to think (or puke) about...

•Studies estimate that 80% of women with disabilities have been sexually assaulted.
•One study showed that 47% of sexually abused women with disabilities reported assaults on more than ten occasions.
•Children with disabilities are more than twice as likely as children without disabilities to be physically abused, and almost twice as likely to be sexually abused.
•Studies estimate that between 70% and 85% of cases of abuse against adults with disabilities go unreported.
•One study found that only 5% of reported crimes against people with disabilities were prosecuted, compared to 70% for serious crimes committed against people with no disabilities.
Taken from the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV)

All you need to do is spend a few minutes at the International Coalition on Abuse and Disability (icad) to see just how prevalent this is.

For more information or to get help, please contact:
The National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE
The National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE

Our Haunted Yard

We went all out in decorating for Halloween this year. Every day for weeks we added to the front yard. The end result is pretty amazing, doncha think?

This is obviously not our home, but is on Mark's route to work. My point and shoot camera really doesn't do this justice, especially the night shots. This is a family that embraces Halloween and I totally dig it. (click the pictures to enlarge)

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Our Own Monster Mash

Our Own Monster Mash video embedded below

Having trouble seeing the video? click HERE and no I don't have a clue as to why Helena's head is so small, ha!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYBODY!


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Fall Photo Shoot, Pt. 1

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Pinocchio Cell

Mark found the Pinocchio film cell that I wrote about yesterday that we found in the garbage!

This is the back with a note from the previous owner.

This says:

This is an original painting on celluloid, actually used in the Walt Disney Production of PINOCCHIO.

It is one of a select few that have been releasd to art collectors. The remainder have been destroyed.

Copyright 1939

For each slight movement in the action of a character in a Walt Disney animated picture, a celluloid painting must be made. These celluloid paintings are then photographed in succession over master backgrounds producing, on the motion picture film, numerous pictures, each with its minute change in movement. These, when projected on the screen in rapid succession, create the illusion of movement.

Celluloid paintings are the final step in the creation of a Walt Disney animated picture. They are preceded by story sketches wherein the artists express their first creative ideas, by the animation drawings which give life and movement to the characters.

Walt Disney originals are included in many important Museums and Private collections. Notable among these are: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; Museum of Modern Art, New York; Cleveland Museum of Art; Toledo Museum of Art; William Rockhill Nelson Gallery, Kansas City, Mo.; Phillips Memorial Gallery, Washington, D.C.; San Francisco Museum of Art; Honolulu Academy of Arts; etc.

COURVOISIER GALLERIES 133 GEARY ST., SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF.


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I'm a Picker

Once upon a time in a land far away when we had spare time and no kids, Mark and I used to frequent the thrift stores and antique malls. We loved to thumb through old vinyl and all manner of other treasures. Much of the time we left empty handed but when we found that certain something that was priced just right, oh baby it was like winning the lottery.

We have been known to do more than shop at actual stores or garage sales. Mark and I have found the most unbelievable prizes in the garbage. Yep, I said tossed out, thrown away, on the curb garbage. We don't drive around looking for stuff on curbs and we have not done any dumpster diving, but we have taken home other peoples trash. "Ew Gross" you say?!

We don't do it often. In fact it was a decade ago that we had our last big score. Mark and I were living in an apartment building that had a thousand units in Washington D.C. The garbage area was huge to handle so many people. It was also near one of the laundry rooms. On a day that I had stayed home from work to do the wash (playing hookie) we saw a seriously grody (did I just say grody?) but intriguing secretary desk next to the dumpsters. It was covered in a layer of muck and full of junk, including a few old roach carcass shells. We discussed it and agreed to bring it upstairs.

I began cleaning this nasty desk which although it was filthy, it was easy to clean. As I was going through the desk I found old stamps and a letter from the 1940s. I also began cleaning off a small framed picture of a cat and goldfish. It too was so dirty that at first you could barely make out the picture. Once I had it cleaned up I started yelling for Mark to come and see what we had nearly left behind in the garbage. According to the information attached to the back, it was an original film cell from Pinnochio framed by the Courvoisier Gallery (I can't remember what year). The cell of Cleo (the fish) has slipped out of place but the cells themselves are just fine. We aren't sure how much it is worth today but we're guessing a pretty penny. It is still packed away somewhere so I'll post a picture when I can.

The desk was not done revealing its treasures. I found a small jewelry box which contained a silver pill box with Orient design and enamel trees and back ground, a silver broach, a string of pearls (which turned out to be costume pearls), and all number of other pins. We had two pieces appraised, including a carved ivory rose broach which appraised at $350. The pill box appraised at $175.

The greatest treasure, as it turns out, was the desk itself. After cleaning and polishing its dark walnut wood and clawed feet, and brass handles I give you the desk we found next to the dumpster.

a view from our porch

So why this story after a decade has passed? It happened again. Our street has been closed for the past week as they dig it up to replace a water main, so I had to wind my way around nearby streets to find parking. I ended up taking a wrong/right turn onto a cul du sac. At first I was irritated with myself, until I saw it. At the curb was a gorgeous buffet server.

I pulled up to it and got out to take a look. It was in front of a house that had a for sale sign/sold in the yard. I called my mother in law and we agreed that I needed to take it home. Thank goodness for the CRoutan and the stow and go seats. I moved the car seats out of the way and knew I had plenty of room. The owner came out and asked if I needed a hand, to which I said yes as this is a heavy piece. She was surprised that it had sat there for 3 days. They were moving and she didn't want to deal with getting the hinge repaired on the right side door as her husband isn't "handy." It looks antique but she had purchased it new from a furniture store 3-4 years ago for $700. Aside from needing a new screw there are 2 small pen marks. That's it. That's all that is wrong with it. For probably 15 cents and a turn of a screw driver I can fix it myself. If it turns out to be more complicated, Mark's dad works in a cabinet factory and has said he could fix it quite easily when they come out in December for a visit or he can mail us the right piece.

so you have a better idea of the size

So, because putting my valuable breakables in this server would be like letting 2 bulls loose in a china shop, I have to use it for something else until the girls get older. I've decided to make it the worlds fanciest toy cabinet. Not too bad for picking it off the curb.

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