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A year of mad beauty and so many shades of joy

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Tonight was a relatively quiet end to a year that was anything but quiet. I would not have it any other way.

2010 was an incredible year: published a novel and literary magazine, celebrated Chicago’s literary history, partied with rockstars, writers, composers, and photographers, renovated a house and cultivated a home, celebrated friendship among American Gods, and danced in the kitchen with the three magical people I’m blessed to have for children. I rekindled and reconnected with dear ones, was awed by art and inspired to continue living a life of creativity and connection.

It was a good year. Thank you to everyone who helped to make it possible. I am blessed and grateful and excited about what the future will bring.

May your new year be wonder-filled.

Happy New Year.

xxo

Downtime..

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We’re back after 24 hours of downtime where we had to switch web hosting providers due to their server (that we shared with other people) being hacked 2 days in a row.  All but the last post made it over on the switch, and that should be restored later today.

It appears all the nameserver changes are pointing to our new hosting service (littleoak.net) who have a history of 100% uptime and a better distributed server farm instead of being stuck on 1 box.

In plain speak, things should run smoother.

Thanks,

Valya’s Tech Support Minions

The love of form is a love of endings

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This weekend [info]kylecassidy is coming to Chicago to conduct a photography seminars at our very own Casa del Lobos. This could only be better if his lovely wife [info]trillian_stars were able to join him, but alas she has responsibilities in Philadelphia. (Hopefully next time!)

Kyle will lead a group of 12 photographers in a two-day workshop, and at the end there will be a gallery opening/wine & cheese party to show off their work. Also this weekend, my cover artist Madeline Carol Matz will be in town, so tomorrow night we’ll be getting together after picking up Kyle from the airport. We’ll congregate at the Evanstonian home of Kate Tabor, a teacher-friend who will also be in Kyle’s workshop this weekend.

Kate just returned from a teacher seminar studying Shakespeare in the UK (oh how envious is my inner Academic) and Spain (oh how envious is my inner Gypsy). Check out her blog, Living on the Lip of Insanity for highlights. I can’t wait to hear more, and she has promised Spanish treats to help us reminisce about that leg of her journey. Ah Spanish olives….

So back to work, the kids will be staying with my folks for most of the weekend, and I’m attempting to get things in order in preparation of Kyle’s arrival tomorrow. Then shopping for a variety of vegan and gluten-free treats.

TAKE NOTE: If there are any veterans who are interested in being photographed on Monday, Aug. 2nd (or this weekend) for Kyle’s latest book, War Paint: Tattoo Culture & the Armed Forces, please contact me ASAP.