posterous [of ms rachel swan]

posterous [of ms rachel swan] http://rachelswan.posterous.com the bits and scraps of life on the interwebs posterous.com Fri, 13 Jan 2012 20:58:06 -0800 I love research http://rachelswan.posterous.com/i-love-research http://rachelswan.posterous.com/i-love-research and late night date night.

bar la grassa, first visit
2012-01-13

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/743954/Cute07232010.JPG http://posterous.com/users/4SyjflXwK0St Rachel Swan swancommarachel Rachel Swan Sun, 25 Dec 2011 08:40:00 -0800 on christmas morning http://rachelswan.posterous.com/on-christmas-morning http://rachelswan.posterous.com/on-christmas-morning

This is the first year I am not enjoying a warm carmel roll, fresh squeezed oj mimosas and eggs benedict for Christmas morning. My father was never so happy as he was when in the kitchen.

879943-r1-021-9_009

I miss him terribly.

This feeling---it too, shall pass---I know it will. But for now, my love cuddles up beside me, and tells me it is ok to feel this way, passes the kleenex and leans closer in.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/743954/Cute07232010.JPG http://posterous.com/users/4SyjflXwK0St Rachel Swan swancommarachel Rachel Swan Tue, 01 Nov 2011 07:38:58 -0700 All Saints Day http://rachelswan.posterous.com/all-saints-day http://rachelswan.posterous.com/all-saints-day

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Wiki says

"Day of the Dead (Spanish: Día de los Muertos) is a holiday celebrated in Mexico and around the world in many cultures. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. It is particularly celebrated in Mexico, where it attains the quality of a National Holiday. The celebration takes place on November 1–2, in connection with the Catholic holidays of All Saints' Day (November 1) and All Souls' Day (November 2). Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars honoring the deceased using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed and visiting graves with these as gifts."

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/743954/Cute07232010.JPG http://posterous.com/users/4SyjflXwK0St Rachel Swan swancommarachel Rachel Swan Tue, 25 Oct 2011 12:34:32 -0700 Research lunch http://rachelswan.posterous.com/research-lunch http://rachelswan.posterous.com/research-lunch

Day off: what else but pizza?

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/743954/Cute07232010.JPG http://posterous.com/users/4SyjflXwK0St Rachel Swan swancommarachel Rachel Swan Tue, 18 Oct 2011 13:42:36 -0700 Day off: burning http://rachelswan.posterous.com/day-off-burning http://rachelswan.posterous.com/day-off-burning Burning stuff. Physical
and not.

Fall.
Death and compost.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/743954/Cute07232010.JPG http://posterous.com/users/4SyjflXwK0St Rachel Swan swancommarachel Rachel Swan Wed, 12 Oct 2011 12:28:37 -0700 what a difference http://rachelswan.posterous.com/what-a-difference-19067 http://rachelswan.posterous.com/what-a-difference-19067 A day (or two) makes.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/743954/Cute07232010.JPG http://posterous.com/users/4SyjflXwK0St Rachel Swan swancommarachel Rachel Swan Sun, 09 Oct 2011 14:57:10 -0700 light http://rachelswan.posterous.com/light http://rachelswan.posterous.com/light

I've tried to find words. I got nothin.
This was morning. I guess you just had to be there.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/743954/Cute07232010.JPG http://posterous.com/users/4SyjflXwK0St Rachel Swan swancommarachel Rachel Swan Tue, 27 Sep 2011 20:23:05 -0700 Happy happy, love love. http://rachelswan.posterous.com/happy-happy-love-love http://rachelswan.posterous.com/happy-happy-love-love Soul friends.
My beloved, and Will.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/743954/Cute07232010.JPG http://posterous.com/users/4SyjflXwK0St Rachel Swan swancommarachel Rachel Swan Mon, 05 Sep 2011 18:58:47 -0700 Labor Day: you know what that means ... http://rachelswan.posterous.com/labor-day-you-know-what-that-means http://rachelswan.posterous.com/labor-day-you-know-what-that-means

Yep. Jackets, on. Pant legs, down. Frog & Toad, marking the seasons.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/743954/Cute07232010.JPG http://posterous.com/users/4SyjflXwK0St Rachel Swan swancommarachel Rachel Swan Thu, 01 Sep 2011 08:18:15 -0700 one year ago http://rachelswan.posterous.com/one-year-ago http://rachelswan.posterous.com/one-year-ago

One year ago I was in Ireland, my favorite place in the world.
Specifically, we (sweeties parents, sweetie and me) were on our way
from Dublin to Killarney and stopped off at Cashel--where this photo
was taken.

If you know me at all, you know my love of Ireland. On this past trip
I remember we were driving from Killarney to Doolin, and just coming
up over the hill, passing into County Clare my whole body let out a
sigh, and then took a deep breath in; I was home.

I love this photo. Like life, you can only see what is just in front
of you, what is presented through the frame. From where we stand, we
can't know the story of the manor, of the long walk to get there, nor
of what lies beyond the frame. We make assumptions and tell ourselves
stories, but like my father used to always say, its not the "whole
picture" you are seeing.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/743954/Cute07232010.JPG http://posterous.com/users/4SyjflXwK0St Rachel Swan swancommarachel Rachel Swan Wed, 31 Aug 2011 13:06:00 -0700 why are there so many songs about rainbows http://rachelswan.posterous.com/why-are-there-so-many-songs-about-rainbows http://rachelswan.posterous.com/why-are-there-so-many-songs-about-rainbows

Tentrainbow1

(photo taken in Taize France, 2005)

My first album I ever owned all on my own was the Muppet Movie
soundtrack. When find myself missing my parents, and lately that has
been a lot, I begin to hum the first song on the album--rainbow
connection.

Its not a gay thing, its a love / hope / dream / create / honor /
never settle thing. Thank you mom and dad, for giving me this thing.

****

Why are there so many songs about rainbows
And what's on the other side?
Rainbows are visions, but only illusions,
And rainbows have nothing to hide.
So we've been told and some choose to believe it
I know they're wrong, wait and see.
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection,
The lovers, the dreamers and me.

Who said that every wish would be heard and answered
when wished on the morning star?
Somebody thought of that
and someone believed it,
and look what it's done so far.
What's so amazing that keeps us stargazing?
And what do we think we might see?
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection,
the lovers, the dreamers and me.

All of us under its spell,
we know that it's probably magic....

Have you been half asleep
and have you heard voices?
I've heard them calling my name.
Is this the sweet sound that calls the young sailors?
The voice might be one and the same.
I've heard it too many times to ignore it.
It's something that I'm supposed to be.
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection,
the lovers, the dreamers and me.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/743954/Cute07232010.JPG http://posterous.com/users/4SyjflXwK0St Rachel Swan swancommarachel Rachel Swan Mon, 29 Aug 2011 11:54:29 -0700 Love includes http://rachelswan.posterous.com/love-includes http://rachelswan.posterous.com/love-includes

Senior citizen crop art
MN state fair, 2011

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/743954/Cute07232010.JPG http://posterous.com/users/4SyjflXwK0St Rachel Swan swancommarachel Rachel Swan Fri, 26 Aug 2011 17:49:16 -0700 Scrapomatic http://rachelswan.posterous.com/scrapomatic http://rachelswan.posterous.com/scrapomatic Yep. Second row. Damn close and damn good.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/743954/Cute07232010.JPG http://posterous.com/users/4SyjflXwK0St Rachel Swan swancommarachel Rachel Swan Tue, 23 Aug 2011 21:05:00 -0700 yes, this. http://rachelswan.posterous.com/yes-this http://rachelswan.posterous.com/yes-this

Silence

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/743954/Cute07232010.JPG http://posterous.com/users/4SyjflXwK0St Rachel Swan swancommarachel Rachel Swan Mon, 22 Aug 2011 08:07:00 -0700 spotlight: MJT http://rachelswan.posterous.com/spotlight-mjt http://rachelswan.posterous.com/spotlight-mjt

2009_pridemjt4

this is MJT. he has been one of my besties since i was a baby queer.

i love this photo of him because it SO gets at the heart of who he is:
- adorable (yes, i said adorable)
- an actor and performer extrodinairre
- he's always got my back (just as I have his)
- he is holy shit loyal
- playful
- always ready for what will come his way
- snazzy in every sense of the word

this is my friend MJT. we've laughed and cried, skinny dipped and
cried some more. we've grown older together, been heartbroken
together, shared friends and lives and pitchers of beer with bags of
ice in them together. you've held my hand while i've been the only
girl in the whole bar of horny gay boys.

i love you mitch, and I don't
tell you nearly enough.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/743954/Cute07232010.JPG http://posterous.com/users/4SyjflXwK0St Rachel Swan swancommarachel Rachel Swan Sun, 21 Aug 2011 07:59:28 -0700 frangels http://rachelswan.posterous.com/frangels http://rachelswan.posterous.com/frangels

Swanbday58

what is a frangel you ask? it is a friend, who brings the kingdom of
god more near, closer in---like an angel, harkening its closeness so
you can't help but see it.

this is my frangel Courtney.

she is a newish friend who has eyes like superman--seeing things that
only a superhero-photographer can, a laugh more breathtaking than an
aria, and a smile that is silly contageous. this is my favorite snap
(of a whole mess of photos) she took on the occasion of my 40th
birthday.

who are your frangels?

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/743954/Cute07232010.JPG http://posterous.com/users/4SyjflXwK0St Rachel Swan swancommarachel Rachel Swan Sat, 20 Aug 2011 14:39:28 -0700 family http://rachelswan.posterous.com/family http://rachelswan.posterous.com/family

this is my family.
they mean everything to me, shape and love me, with wild abandon and
unconditionally.

one is beloved: sweetie, the most beautiful woman I have ever met.
heart and soul.
one is sibling: blood, but thicker, more. love incarnate, teacher of
me and many.
one is ma: represented by the bench, installed in her honor and our
memory. gone, never forgotten.

this is my family. these are my people.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/743954/Cute07232010.JPG http://posterous.com/users/4SyjflXwK0St Rachel Swan swancommarachel Rachel Swan Fri, 19 Aug 2011 12:13:00 -0700 One week away: #mnstatefair http://rachelswan.posterous.com/one-week-away-mnstatefair http://rachelswan.posterous.com/one-week-away-mnstatefair

It will be time for the MN State Fair.

It is by far my favorite event all year.

What do I love about the great Minnesota get together? Let me count the ways:

I love the crop art (above, also called crap art by my family). I love the roasted corn. For a glimpse of all that is right in the world, the miracle of birth building can't be beat. I love the apple cider and the all you can drink milk (even though the prices--yikes. yes, I am getting old). I love the gadgets and shoes and shit I actually DO need; all available in the grandstand. I love listening to the concerts in the grandstand, rarely attending. Fireworks, yes. I love sitting on Harleys and tractors, watching my friend Doug do his radio show at the 950 AM radio booth. I love egg coffee from the Lutherans and thinking of my dad every time I walk though the fine arts building (he was ROBBED a place year after year after year). And yes sweetie, I actually love worshipping the trophies in the U of M building. I love the parade and bumping into friends. I love the free concerts in the Leinie Lodge.

Most of all, I love people watching. And the mini-donuts. And did I mention ....

See you at the fair.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/743954/Cute07232010.JPG http://posterous.com/users/4SyjflXwK0St Rachel Swan swancommarachel Rachel Swan Thu, 18 Aug 2011 09:05:10 -0700 the look of love http://rachelswan.posterous.com/the-look-of-love http://rachelswan.posterous.com/the-look-of-love

Like you I bet, I have thousands of photos on my computer and in boxes
gathering dust in various states of attempts at organizing.

Pictures--little treasures of moments captured. I thought I might
start putting some of them out with a few stories to try and get me
back in the habit of writing again. (If you have seen my blogs lately,
you'll notice a few attempts at fits and starts, which is SO
frustrating.)

Tigger: she is my 16+ year old best friend. She is weird, quirky,
totally a kitty in every sense of the word. I love her, not like a
crazy cat lady, but like every time I look at her, I see something
new, something familiar, something that resembles God even.

She keeps me real, and gosh don't we all need that sometimes?

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/743954/Cute07232010.JPG http://posterous.com/users/4SyjflXwK0St Rachel Swan swancommarachel Rachel Swan Fri, 12 Aug 2011 12:50:27 -0700 Leighton http://rachelswan.posterous.com/leighton http://rachelswan.posterous.com/leighton

is the key to not being crabby.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/743954/Cute07232010.JPG http://posterous.com/users/4SyjflXwK0St Rachel Swan swancommarachel Rachel Swan