"Dear Santa."

What made me want to read this memoir written by the famous Victorian era mystic explorer Alexandra David-neel was when i read about the Tupla she created while in Tibet:

"The method involved was essentially intense concentration and visualization. David-Neel's tulpa began its existence as a plump, benign little monk, similar to Friar Tuck. It was at first entirely subjective, but gradually, with practice, she was able to visualize the tulpa out there, like an imaginary ghost flitting about the real world.

In time the vision grew in clarity and substance until it was indistinguishable from physical reality-a sort of self-induced hallucination. But the day came when the hallucination slipped from her conscious control. She discovered that the monk would appear from time to time when she had not willed it. Furthermore her friendly little figure was slimming down and taking on a distinctly sinister aspect.

Eventually her companions, who where unaware of the mental disciplines she was practicing, began to ask about the "stranger" who had turned up in their camp-a clear indication that a creature which was no more that solidified imagination had definite objective reality.

At this point, David-Neel decided things had gone too far and applied different lamaist techniques to reabsorb the creature into her own mind. The tulpa proved very unwillling to face destruction in this way so that the process took several weeks and left its creator exhausted."

Neato.

Oh great Cthulhu, The Solstice is almost upon us, and i've been a very penitent servant this year, perhaps you will reward me with these lovely plush slippers in your likeness? |link|

Chuck Taylors, all black. Hi tops, This is what i wear, with double thick Wool insoles. I go through about a pair a year, give or take. Right now it looks like my current pair will last me till about March.... 16th. Give or take. But i need at least a month or two break in time.

I think i was one of the lucky few who A) have never watched twin peaks and B) haven't already had the ending ruined for them by some jerk. Regardless, i'm about half way through this nightmare inducing series and I'm getting the impression now that like life, this one's more about the ride than the destination. Regardless, each episode is leaving me unsettled, wide eyed, smirking and desperate for more.

Question: Did you know that Mr. Tojamura was really Catherine, cause it took me about 2 episodes to figure it out. I was really proud of myself when i did. |Link|

On Vinyl. Remastered? Please. I've got the rest of his albums on vinyl, well at least the ones i want, actually i need The Lodger, but that can wait. But that i don't have this perfect album, is unforgivable. |Link|

Anything and everything. Preferably double disc, collectors editions, box sets are nice - but why the hell don't they ever contain everything he's done, their's always something left out. When the cold nothingness of January and February roll around I'm desperately going to need his films to get me through. A long Wednesday night with one of those big bottles of wine and Barry Lyndon... yes please. |Link|