Mariah is defrosting, it's almost time! 🌟

But first, suspenseful Halloween to my dearest sweetie darlings. 🖤

[Yeah, when are you going to reveal what this new project of yours is? Yes, you. I hope it is what I hope it is because if it is...fantastic.]

Festaaa (só falta você) 🎉

Ode to joy

Every spring we have this thing called Eurovision. The Eurovision Song Contest. Around forty countries perform at the semi-finals, and even though only one will stand victorious, it's more a love and fun and inclusiveness and queer energy and positivity fest than a cut-throat competition. That's why it's so widely and well-loved; it's a ray of light even in the darkest of times. Everyone rooting for everyone, absolutely no assholery allowed, mutual support is the name of the game. It's kind of a prerequisite. And it works! Haters and bigots need not apply. How wonderful and rare is that?

Ukraine is last year's winner, and as wonderful as it would have been to see them host everyone in Kyiv this spring, a hater and bigot did his damnedest to ensure that didn't happen. Runner-up United Kingdom has graciously stepped in and will welcome the Eurovision family (if you're a fan, you're family) to Liverpool in May. Which leaves you several weeks to follow national selections and get in the mood and the groove.

The spirit of Eurovision. We need more of that.

Rhythm divine

Carnaval is on, sweetie darlings! The pre-carnival street parties, blocos, have been going on for weeks, but this last week before Lent pulls out all the stops for the biggest and loudest street party on Earth.

Oh, to be in Salvador right now. Yesterday, Ivete Sangalo (a fantastic, formidable baiana) opened the folia with this song, three minutes of riotous joy. 

Get your heart pumping, your feet thumping, and have an ardent, bouncy weekend, my dearest, dearest denizens. 🎊

Shut up and dance with me 🍉

This Halloween I’ll be wearing curls, a flared skirt and a watermelon. A baby melon, fit for a smallish party. Who am I going as? Rhymes with Maybe Mouseman from Flirty Glancing.

Need a pick-me-up-move-your-butt break? Clear some space or sway in place, doesn’t matter, just let the energy and 80s esthetics put a smile on your face. Have a great weekend, dearest denizens! 😘 

(Courage, Glasgow! #COP26)

Santa Claus ain’t coming to town (or so you think)

With the days growing shorter and with no Thanksgiving to celebrate (just an imported, materialistic Halloween clashing with a somber Scandinavian All Saints, not that fun and games is a bad thing but could we make it more sustainable, yes we could and should) it’s all downhill from September. Christmas is the light at the end of the tunnel. But why sit and wait when you could start celebrating say...two months prior? Gently smoothing your way in, slowly introducing elements, carefully selecting gifts, if you intend to give any. Surely a saner and healthier method than the mad last-minute dash and face-stuffing stuffed into a few days that causes stress, headaches and gastrointestinal problems. No one needs that, surely.

That’s what I proposed we do at Casa Dita. Start early! Imagine my surprise when my proposal lost the vote. Inconceivable! I was prepared to do all the work. I repeat: ALL the work, because it wouldn’t feel like work, I would enjoy every minute of it. [Alas, I am beaten but not discouraged. And if you’re in the market for an enthused and efficient elf to help you out, you know where to find me. Will bring my own PPE. Will work for rum raisin fudge and Irish Coffee.]

But no. Apparently, I’m married to Ebenezer Scrooge and my children take after the Grinch. What disappointments the men in my life are, dearest denizens! To say no to a no-brainer! Let them soak in the dark and see how that feels like after yet another year of needing all the pick-me-ups imaginable to keep you going. Or…is it just me who needs them? Because I’ll admit that once upon a time I felt as they do, super annoyed when Christmas started invading the stores in October. Now I grudgingly admit I don’t mind so much. Strikethrough grudgingly, I’m owning it. Yes, I’m one of those outlandish people who get a twinkle in their eye when they catch that first glimpse of Christmas. Just the thought brightens the darkness of November and December. After Christmas, the days will finally, gradually grow longer. For me, foremost, Christmas is a promise of light to come and proof that darkness will never get the last word.

Oh…ohh…I see…all this sentimentality…maybe I’m just…getting old? I can’t wait, sweetie darlings! I know some absolutely awesome older women. They have seen it all and done it all, and when they look at you and listen to you, you know, you just know they know something you don’t with how gently powerful they are, and you can’t help but envy them their peace and poise, hoping you’ll be half as wise and worldly if you ever reach their age. And I know aging means pains and aches, physical and emotional, but I know of no other way to live a long life! If you do, gmail me (ms.ditaparker), let’s talk. Okay, happy Friday, have an excellent weekend! Or a tolerable one.

P.S. I’m doing it, the Grinches and that Scrooge notwithstading. I’m slipping in a decoration here…a textile there…soon everywhere. One. At. A. Time. By the time they realize what’s happening…presto, it’s Christmas!

P.P.S. Book recommendation! Your literary Advent calendar in 24 chapters.

Last night I dreamt of some Pedro*

If yesterday was a say what kind of day, today is say again in the form of misheard lyrics, or (I learned a new word today:) mondegreens. Feel free to add your favorite.

Save a whale, save a whale, save a whale
= Sail away, sail away, sail away
Orinoco Flow by Enya

Ma, ma, ma, ma, ma, ma, ma, ma, poke her face
= My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my poker face
Poker Face by lady Gaga

She’s so popular
= Jeux sans frontiers
Games Without Frontiers by Peter Gabriel

Annie are you walking, are you walking, are you walking, Annie
= Annie are you ok, are you ok, are you ok, Annie
Smooth Criminal by Michael Jackson

Welcome to the land of flaming sex
= Welcome to the land of fame excess
Party In The USA by Miley Cyrus

Here we are now, and we’re heinous
= Here we are now, entertain us
Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana

Bin full of Usher on the fortifier
= Brimful of Asha on the 45
Brimful Of Asha by Cornershop

I miss the rains down in Africa
= I bless the rains down in Africa
Africa by Toto

Everybody run, Barbie’s got a gun
= Everybody run, Bobby’s got a gun
Creep by Stone Temple Pilots    

We built this city on the wrong damn road
= We built this city on rock ‘n’ roll
We Built This City by Jefferson Starship

 

*hint: a song by Madonna

Wait a minute

...this sounds familiar. Oh well, you need a dancing break. Oh yes you do. We both do. Vamos nessa, queridos!

I like big books (and I cannot lie)

Some books I've enjoyed this summer (in English and in no particular order):

Przewalski’s Horse by Maja Lunde

The History of Magic: From Alchemy to Witchcraft, From the Ice Age to the Present by Chris Gosden

Figuring by Maria Popova

Summerland by Hannu Rajaniemi

The Seven Sisters series by Lucinda Riley

Upheaval How Nations Cope with Crisis and Change by Jared Diamond

The Education of an Idealist by Samantha Power

But what have you been reading, sweetie darlings? I’d love to exchange recommendations! Doesn’t have to be a big book. A thought-provoking essay or article? ✔️ A beautifully illustrated children's book? ✔️ Something that made your brain sprain? ✔️

Happy International Literacy Day!

Because nosferatus need love too

𝕳𝖊𝖆𝖛𝖊𝖓𝖑𝖞  𝕳𝖆𝖑𝖑𝖔𝖜𝖊𝖊𝖓, 𝖘𝖜𝖊𝖊𝖙𝖎𝖊 𝖉𝖆𝖗𝖑𝖎𝖓𝖌𝖘. 𝕰𝖓𝖏𝖔𝖞 𝖊𝖛𝖊𝖗𝖞 𝖇𝖎𝖙𝖊. 𝕻.𝕾. 𝕱𝖔𝖗 𝖆 𝖌𝖔𝖔𝖉 𝖑𝖆𝖚𝖌𝖍: 𝖂𝖍𝖆𝖙 𝖂𝖊 𝕯𝖔 𝖎𝖓 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝕾𝖍𝖆𝖉𝖔𝖜𝖘 (𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖒𝖔𝖛𝖎𝖊). 𝕱𝖔𝖗 𝖆 𝖌𝖔𝖔𝖉 𝖈𝖗𝖞: 𝕮𝖔𝖈𝖔 (𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖒𝖔𝖛𝖎𝖊).

Bake the world a better place

My children love gingerbread in any shape or form, and I love the holiday season, so I decided to surprise them with these tokens of maternal love and devotion and it's-almost-Christmas-why-isn't-it-Christmas-already. No, I didn't get up at the crack of dawn to bake. They're teens, barely conscious at noon on weekends, so I had p l e n t y of time. 

Happy December 1st!

Kiss me hard before you go

When in Scandinavia, do as the Venetians do: say goodbye to the summer and sailing season with a festival of water, fire and light. Why? Why not? We are all Europeans, some southern, some northern, all bound by a common history and traditions that know no borders. So that's what we did last weekend, the last summer weekend. Ate, drank and made merry.

Teetering on the northern edge of the globe as we are up here, the sun now veers away day by day as summer surrenders to fall. The mornings keep getting cooler and the nights darker, but the days still offer some warmth and light, and this child of the tropics is soaking up all she can get before it's irreversibly over. We sweltered May through July and many are relieved the heat has moved on, but I'd like one last sizzling smooch before we part.

Kiss me like you'll miss me, because I sure as hell will miss you, dearest loveliest summertime.

Because the night

Why not go to bed early tonight, dearest denizens, say around 8:30? Turn the lights off, the heat on, and have some frisky fun, with your partner or by yourself. If you feel extra dedicated and super peppy, keep going until you can go on no more.

Have a sexcellent time, sweetie darlings!

With love and smooches,

D.

The Romance Horror Picture Show

It's Halloween, dearest denizens, the perfect time to not let reality get in the way of some tomfoolery. Or a good story.

I like jokes, verbal and practical, and I like a good story as much as the next gal. But sometimes a gal needs a little gas, some fuel to the flame, you know? You do know? Well, whaddya know, here you go: 10 pics to help you tell a tale.

Fantasy or reality? Secret rendezvous or an exhibitionist's night out?

Ooh, Poe-esque. Black magic woman? Shifter?

He wants to kiss you. No, kill you. Kiss you. No. I don't know.

So hard to pin down. So many possibilities. So lovely.

Yeah. Real steel. That goes for my blade, too.

Apocalypse Yesterday. But do you run to him or do you run from him?

Model by day, aspiring actor by night, hampered and pissed by constant comparisons to James Dean. Until one day...

Rescue or kidnap? Runaway bride? Groom, best man or best friend?

This beach was supposed to be private. So what's he doing here? Is it a merman? Is he dozing? Drowning? Better go see if he needs help...

Sexy? Sinister? Your call.

But that's just me. What do you see? Share if you dare or start scribbling away, as long as you're writing. Those brave enough to take on NanoWriMo: May the Force be with you...

Happy Halloween to all, and to all a good fright!

P.S. All pics purchased from 123RF.com, in case you want one of your own.

Craic

May you have the hindsight to know where you've been,

The foresight to know where you're going,
And the insight to know when you're going too far.

That was the week that was

Sweetie daaarlings, what have you been up to these past two weeks? I've been trying to manage four week's worth of work in fourteen days. And in the middle of all that, I've managed to write, creatively, fiction, can you believe it? I guess when you start running on a certain gear, anything is possible, but you run out of steam eventually so the trip we're taking comes not a moment too soon. Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love you tomorrow, you're only a day a-waayy...

My shrapnel-shredded feet healed fast, so I've even been able to exercise almost as usual and am contemplating some sort of workstation revolution. All this sitting, it's getting harder and harder to bear. I don't know why. What I do know is I gotta solve it and soon. Winter returned, which is nice after that dreadful weather we had around New Year's. But I'd be lying if I told you I'm not violently happy to be taking off the skis and skates and stepping into some flip-flops. The sun'll come out tomorrow...

What else? Oh... To any extended family members reading: TMI alert. So. Why is it that what you'd rather post on FB/Twitter is the last thing you can? Because people would go, "I knew it! Nymphos. Each and every one of them." No. Hedonists. At least I am. But I got nothing on dearest, hottest Hubby. He's cooked and run errands, more so than usual, and he knows all work and no play makes me berserk. So one day, Inspector Gadget, conspirator and inspirator and provocateur extraordinaire, surprised me with some toys of my trade I don't remember mentioning or eyeing while roaming selected stores with him. Let's just say it was a massage with a happy ending and leave it at that. What? I'll grant you those toys are not always worth the money spent but some are, and fun too, and fun is good. Besides, you gotta know what you write. Or was it write what you know? I forget.

What else? If you're in NYC and not doing anything on February 28, (no, that doesn't sound right, if you're in NY and not doing anything, check your pulse to see if you still got one) The Swedish House Mafia would like to invite you to their Black Tie Rave. (Band and crew will work for free and all profits raised will go directly to the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City & the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund. Black tie/ballgowns, only. Auction 2 coming soon!) Exceeded my rave limit back in the day, but if you could cover for me, I'd be forever in your debt. No, I'm not giving you a massage with a happy ending, but surely we can think of something else you'd enjoy. 

What else? The awesome contest we have going on 69 Shades is still running so run along and take part if you haven't already! And tell a friend! Tell two!! Don't make me look bad now. Spread the word!!!

I will see you in February then, dearest denizens. And if for some reason you never hear from me again (such is life, you never know, you know, it's tsunami coast and all), behave or I will haunt your ass. No massage with a happy ending for you, my friend. A massage with a medieval ending. Think about that while I'm gone, and be good. Willingly good. Except when you're being naughty. But even then you gotta treat 'em right or I'm coming after you and you don't want that. Are we clear on this? I said, are we clear on this? G o o d. As you were. Or as you wish things would be.

It's beginning to look a lot like XXX-mas

Ready to rumble after a day of eating lightly and exercising vigorously? Excellent. Let's go shopping.

Free stock photo

Typical male

Mantastic Monday, dearest denizens! Today, as promised, I'm a guest on Cassandra Carr's blog with a post on something we all love dearly: men. So. Is there such a thing as a typical male? You tell me, but some things make me go hmmm... Hope to see you there!

Memories of the future

Morning, sweetie darlings. It's November 16 and as you allll remember, right, wink wink hint hint, I'm a guest on Desiree Holt's blog with a post so hot, Blogger decided to censor it a bit and post it in magic ink. (You have to paint over it to be able to read it. Or is it just me, can you tell me? I did try every browser in the house and it still looks odd. Yes, I alerted Desiree, but until America wakes up, not much can be done about it. Off painting you go!)

On Monday, I'm stopping by Cassandra Carr's blog and talking men, and next Friday (the 23rd) it's Dita day once again at 69 Shades. You might want to start sharpening those elbows. Since it is Black Friday and X-mas is a mere month away, I thought we'd go XXX-mas shopping.

Sexcellent weekend, dearest denizens! If you can't be good, be careful.

Fright night

 

'Tis the night - the night
Of the grave's delight,
And the warlocks are at their play;
Ye think that without
The wild winds shout,
But no, it is they - it is they.
~Arthur Cleveland Coxe

 

Eat, drink and be scary, dearest denizens! Hair-raising Halloween.