We have Aloha

I lived in Tokyo for four years. The devastation Japan is going through truly touches me deeply.

Although the children who have lost their parents and family and friends can never have them back, I would like to make it sooner for the children of 3-11 Tsunami to be able to rebuild their life and find happiness again.

In support of child victims of Japan’s 3-11 tsunami, LA MUSE KALLIOPE et Les Musettes will donate 20% of all sales profit to “Japan Earthquake Tsunami Children in Emergency Fund” until Easter ~ April 24th.

Please help support this cause while connecting to a personal “Lil’ Muse”. Enter shop here http:www.lamusekalliope.etsy

To see proof of donation please visit my blog http://www.lamusekalliope.blogspot.com. I will post receipt here when donations have been made.

We have Aloha

I lived in Tokyo for four years. The devastation Japan is going through truly touches me deeply.

Although the children who have lost their parents and family and friends can never have them back, I would like to make it sooner for the children of 3-11 Tsunami to be able to rebuild their life and find happiness again.

In support of child victims of Japan’s 3-11 tsunami, LA MUSE KALLIOPE et Les Musettes will donate 20% of all sales profit to “Japan Earthquake Tsunami Children in Emergency Fund” until Easter ~ April 24th.

Please help support this cause while connecting to a personal “Lil’ Muse”. Enter shop here http:www.lamusekalliope.etsy

To see proof of donation please visit my blog http://www.lamusekalliope.blogspot.com. I will post receipt here when donations have been made.

Food From Westeros

"Dress warmly", Hubs said to me. "It's nice out now but it will cool down later."

This was how I found out that we would be waiting on line for small bites to eat from a food truck by Lincoln Center, NYC. "It's promotion for that show we will watch on HBO", he helpfully added.  That show - Game of Thrones - takes up a lot of his time. He reread the books they are based on. He’s crazy about the show.  He constantly watches videos of the show on the computer.  Like, over and over and looking for new ones.  He has stopped trying to explain the show. "We'll watch it together and I'll answer any and all questions then." Did I say he’s passionate about the show? Actually, Hubs was one of the few ardent/knowledgable/avid fans chosen to present a collage I put together for him for GoT marketing team last year.

I agreed to meet Hubs by Lincoln Center after he told me I could have a spicy seafood stew as prize for the adventure.

We arrived at Lincoln Center just past five. We scoped the place out to identify the likely spot of the GoT Food Truck. We walked all around the place and decided it had to be by Columbus or Broadway. We ruled out directly in front of Lincoln Center due to rush hour traffic. I pointed out the island between Columbus and Broadway as a potential spot. He wasn't too supportive due to the bus stop on the Broadway side. We waited impatiently on the steps of Lincoln Center. Looking out for the black GoT Food Truck as well as fans in the vicinity. We knew we were in the right spot when we saw groups of people consulting their cellphones constantly. "Are you following Game of Thrones on Twitter?" When he found out I wasn’t (yet) he downloaded the apps to my iPhone and soon I was checking my phone every 15 seconds for the announcement of the exact location of the GoT Food Truck. "Did you update the Twitter feed?" he asked every 30 seconds despite my updating it constantly. Our hearts were beating very fast.

Shortly before six a beat-up, orange hot dog truck parked south of the aforementioned island between Columbus and Broadway on 63rd Street. There was a small group of people waiting around there as well. "Let's go over there", I said. He poo-poo'd the idea. "That truck is probably trying to sell overflow from the GoT food truck" he retorted. He then pointed out that everyone over there was looking at their phones too, waiting for the exact location. Ha, ‘I already know that, Captain Obvious!’ I thought to myself.

The crowd grew bigger over there. He dragged me out to eat here so I dragged him across the street to the larger crowd. In front of the orange food truck some people in HBO shirts were standing around. A line started to form. I was right about the island. I should have followed my instinct and insisted we checked out the small crowd earlier. He reluctantly agreed that I had been right. We were about 40 or 50 in line. Not so bad and the GoT food truck hadn't even showed up yet.

After a few minutes the GoT truck did show up. The orange food truck pulled away. "See, the orange truck was just holding the place for the real food truck.". Hubby said as if he knew it all along.

It was chilly out but I dressed warmly enough. Thanks to Hubs' warning. The “Game of the Thrones” fans are a bunch of very friendly young urban professional, hip looking people. While queuing, we were given a GoT Menu of the Day. There’s a puzzle on the menu, said the HBO staff mysteriously. Later, the HBO staff proudly showed the fans in waiting  how to fold their menus apples to apples and oranges to oranges to spell out "Lys". I don't know what that means but everyone else seemed to.

Once the truck opened up the line flowed smoothly and quickly.

So excited. Imagine a flea trying really hard to prevent itself from jumping up and down and squeaking like a mouse.

I had the Black Seafood Stew with Dragon Peppers and Hubs had Beet and Pickled Egg with Preserved Horseradish. His shellfish allergy prevented him from tasty my stew but I nibbled on his egg. Both of us had Lemon Cakes for dessert. Absolutely scrumptious. I had nice pieces of well prepared and seasoned fresh cuttle fish and shrimps in cuttle fish ink. The pickled egg sucked up beet juice nicely and was sporting a bright fuchsia red all the way to the yolk. Aaaaah...oh la la...and the infamous “Lemon Cake”. It was so delightfully delicious. Like a yellow pixie having fun under the Spring sun.Oh, and they mean business when they say "Dragon Pepper" is an ingredients in Black Seafood Stew. My mouth felt as though it was kissed by a "Fire Dragon".

Oh, I wouldn't let Hubs use the napkins they provided. They looked too good; it'll make a nice souvenir. "I don't like that House", he said. "I want to wipe my mouth with it.". Don't worry. I have both napkins. Maybe I'll frame them.

Depending on the weather and location of the truck Thursday and Friday I would like to go again. It was fun. The food was great. Really, it was. After living in France for about a decade and had some opportunities to enjoy some top notch food, I was impressed by Chef Tom Colicchio’s team.  Now I am excited for the show to begin. It's almost April now but I can’t help but get excited as Hubs constantly says, "Winter is Coming".

Did I mention Hubs is completely C-R-A-Z-Y about "Game of Thrones"?

Food From Westeros

"Dress warmly", Hubs said to me. "It's nice out now but it will cool down later."

This was how I found out that we would be waiting on line for small bites to eat from a food truck by Lincoln Center, NYC. "It's promotion for that show we will watch on HBO", he helpfully added.  That show - Game of Thrones - takes up a lot of his time. He reread the books they are based on. He’s crazy about the show.  He constantly watches videos of the show on the computer.  Like, over and over and looking for new ones.  He has stopped trying to explain the show. "We'll watch it together and I'll answer any and all questions then." Did I say he’s passionate about the show? Actually, Hubs was one of the few ardent/knowledgable/avid fans chosen to present a collage I put together for him for GoT marketing team last year.

I agreed to meet Hubs by Lincoln Center after he told me I could have a spicy seafood stew as prize for the adventure.

We arrived at Lincoln Center just past five. We scoped the place out to identify the likely spot of the GoT Food Truck. We walked all around the place and decided it had to be by Columbus or Broadway. We ruled out directly in front of Lincoln Center due to rush hour traffic. I pointed out the island between Columbus and Broadway as a potential spot. He wasn't too supportive due to the bus stop on the Broadway side. We waited impatiently on the steps of Lincoln Center. Looking out for the black GoT Food Truck as well as fans in the vicinity. We knew we were in the right spot when we saw groups of people consulting their cellphones constantly. "Are you following Game of Thrones on Twitter?" When he found out I wasn’t (yet) he downloaded the apps to my iPhone and soon I was checking my phone every 15 seconds for the announcement of the exact location of the GoT Food Truck. "Did you update the Twitter feed?" he asked every 30 seconds despite my updating it constantly. Our hearts were beating very fast.

Shortly before six a beat-up, orange hot dog truck parked south of the aforementioned island between Columbus and Broadway on 63rd Street. There was a small group of people waiting around there as well. "Let's go over there", I said. He poo-poo'd the idea. "That truck is probably trying to sell overflow from the GoT food truck" he retorted. He then pointed out that everyone over there was looking at their phones too, waiting for the exact location. Ha, ‘I already know that, Captain Obvious!’ I thought to myself.

The crowd grew bigger over there. He dragged me out to eat here so I dragged him across the street to the larger crowd. In front of the orange food truck some people in HBO shirts were standing around. A line started to form. I was right about the island. I should have followed my instinct and insisted we checked out the small crowd earlier. He reluctantly agreed that I had been right. We were about 40 or 50 in line. Not so bad and the GoT food truck hadn't even showed up yet.

After a few minutes the GoT truck did show up. The orange food truck pulled away. "See, the orange truck was just holding the place for the real food truck.". Hubby said as if he knew it all along.

It was chilly out but I dressed warmly enough. Thanks to Hubs' warning. The “Game of the Thrones” fans are a bunch of very friendly young urban professional, hip looking people. While queuing, we were given a GoT Menu of the Day. There’s a puzzle on the menu, said the HBO staff mysteriously. Later, the HBO staff proudly showed the fans in waiting  how to fold their menus apples to apples and oranges to oranges to spell out "Lys". I don't know what that means but everyone else seemed to.

Once the truck opened up the line flowed smoothly and quickly.

So excited. Imagine a flea trying really hard to prevent itself from jumping up and down and squeaking like a mouse.

I had the Black Seafood Stew with Dragon Peppers and Hubs had Beet and Pickled Egg with Preserved Horseradish. His shellfish allergy prevented him from tasty my stew but I nibbled on his egg. Both of us had Lemon Cakes for dessert. Absolutely scrumptious. I had nice pieces of well prepared and seasoned fresh cuttle fish and shrimps in cuttle fish ink. The pickled egg sucked up beet juice nicely and was sporting a bright fuchsia red all the way to the yolk. Aaaaah...oh la la...and the infamous “Lemon Cake”. It was so delightfully delicious. Like a yellow pixie having fun under the Spring sun.Oh, and they mean business when they say "Dragon Pepper" is an ingredients in Black Seafood Stew. My mouth felt as though it was kissed by a "Fire Dragon".

Oh, I wouldn't let Hubs use the napkins they provided. They looked too good; it'll make a nice souvenir. "I don't like that House", he said. "I want to wipe my mouth with it.". Don't worry. I have both napkins. Maybe I'll frame them.

Depending on the weather and location of the truck Thursday and Friday I would like to go again. It was fun. The food was great. Really, it was. After living in France for about a decade and had some opportunities to enjoy some top notch food, I was impressed by Chef Tom Colicchio’s team.  Now I am excited for the show to begin. It's almost April now but I can’t help but get excited as Hubs constantly says, "Winter is Coming".

Did I mention Hubs is completely C-R-A-Z-Y about "Game of Thrones"?

LES MUZZITS™ ORIGIN STORY

A baby Musette crept slowly from the remains of the hatched egg. The egg was in three large pieces with smaller pieces scattered not so far from it. The egg was silver and purple and shiny. Each of the smaller scattered pieces reflected a different color in the sunlight. Surrounding this egg was a field of high, green grasses with wildflowers of various colors spread intermittently throughout. All across this field other eggs were beginning to crack and hatch.

Some of these eggs were tiny, some large, some a single bright color while others were mixed with the colors of a sunset or a rainbow or the reflection of the trees glistening in the still pools. All these eggs had baby Musettes inside. A lucky egg may contain two, even three of them.

The baby Musette that came forth from the silver and purple egg began to become aware of its surroundings. It knew where it was. It remembered the stories it had been told while still in its egg.

“...Mount Helicon is a place of serene beauty and nurturing life-giving...”

“...The birthplace of the Nine Muse...”

“the different arts flourished in its fertile lands and creativity was nourished by its clear springs...”

“...one day you will inspire others as all Musettes once inspired the Nine Muse...”

The Musette’s task was clear: one day it would be ready to go off with someone as a creative companion and a personal pal. But first it would grow and learn within the confines of Mount Helicon.

In the days that passed, this baby Musette learned more about the Nine Muse and how the Musettes inspired them and asked them to help inspire everyone, to become a personal “Lil’ Muse” for all who needed one.

Between lessons the baby Musette frolicked in the fields of tall, cool grass, went swimming in the springs, and hiking up the slopes of Mount Helicon. But for all this, it still felt restless. It still felt the need to inspire. The teacher Musettes were kind and wise. They wanted each baby Musette to wait until they were ready to go out into the world and find that certain someone with whom they would connect. So, this baby Musette waited.

One day, while climbing up Mount Helicon, this baby Musette heard voices. High, cries of joy and laughter. Children’s voices! This baby Musette knew what it had to do. It looked inside itself and decided it was ready. Ready to meet others, ready to inspire, ready for that connection.

The baby Musette followed the laughter through a grove of tall trees, with golden leaves. It could hear the wind rustling, as if talking to it, nudging it forward. The trees opened up to a grassy knoll. It spied three children playing with an inflatable ball. Bouncing the ball between them, they laughed and gasped as they did all they could to not let it touch the ground.

After a while, the ball hit the ground and bounced toward the baby Musette. A small girl, with a large smile and innocent eyes, ran over to fetch it. She stopped. The baby Musette and the girl looked at each other. They smiled.

“What are you?” asked the girl.

“Your Musette” replied the baby Musette.

Out came a shriek of happiness from the girl. The other children ran over to inspect the commotion. “What is it?” one of them asked.

“A Muzzit” replied the small girl.

Before the baby Musette could say anything, it noticed the teacher Musettes in the grove of trees. They must have come looking for it. The teacher Musettes saw that a connection was made and left the girl with her Muzzit and the Muzzit with its girl.


From that day forward, Muzzits were encouraged to enter our world alongside Musettes. A Muzzit's purpose is to be a “lil' muse” for kids, to begin that connection that allows inspiration and creativity to live in a child’s mind.

LES MUZZITS™ ORIGIN STORY

A baby Musette crept slowly from the remains of the hatched egg. The egg was in three large pieces with smaller pieces scattered not so far from it. The egg was silver and purple and shiny. Each of the smaller scattered pieces reflected a different color in the sunlight. Surrounding this egg was a field of high, green grasses with wildflowers of various colors spread intermittently throughout. All across this field other eggs were beginning to crack and hatch.

Some of these eggs were tiny, some large, some a single bright color while others were mixed with the colors of a sunset or a rainbow or the reflection of the trees glistening in the still pools. All these eggs had baby Musettes inside. A lucky egg may contain two, even three of them.

The baby Musette that came forth from the silver and purple egg began to become aware of its surroundings. It knew where it was. It remembered the stories it had been told while still in its egg.

“...Mount Helicon is a place of serene beauty and nurturing life-giving...”

“...The birthplace of the Nine Muse...”

“the different arts flourished in its fertile lands and creativity was nourished by its clear springs...”

“...one day you will inspire others as all Musettes once inspired the Nine Muse...”

The Musette’s task was clear: one day it would be ready to go off with someone as a creative companion and a personal pal. But first it would grow and learn within the confines of Mount Helicon.

In the days that passed, this baby Musette learned more about the Nine Muse and how the Musettes inspired them and asked them to help inspire everyone, to become a personal “Lil’ Muse” for all who needed one.

Between lessons the baby Musette frolicked in the fields of tall, cool grass, went swimming in the springs, and hiking up the slopes of Mount Helicon. But for all this, it still felt restless. It still felt the need to inspire. The teacher Musettes were kind and wise. They wanted each baby Musette to wait until they were ready to go out into the world and find that certain someone with whom they would connect. So, this baby Musette waited.

One day, while climbing up Mount Helicon, this baby Musette heard voices. High, cries of joy and laughter. Children’s voices! This baby Musette knew what it had to do. It looked inside itself and decided it was ready. Ready to meet others, ready to inspire, ready for that connection.

The baby Musette followed the laughter through a grove of tall trees, with golden leaves. It could hear the wind rustling, as if talking to it, nudging it forward. The trees opened up to a grassy knoll. It spied three children playing with an inflatable ball. Bouncing the ball between them, they laughed and gasped as they did all they could to not let it touch the ground.

After a while, the ball hit the ground and bounced toward the baby Musette. A small girl, with a large smile and innocent eyes, ran over to fetch it. She stopped. The baby Musette and the girl looked at each other. They smiled.

“What are you?” asked the girl.

“Your Musette” replied the baby Musette.

Out came a shriek of happiness from the girl. The other children ran over to inspect the commotion. “What is it?” one of them asked.

“A Muzzit” replied the small girl.

Before the baby Musette could say anything, it noticed the teacher Musettes in the grove of trees. They must have come looking for it. The teacher Musettes saw that a connection was made and left the girl with her Muzzit and the Muzzit with its girl.


From that day forward, Muzzits were encouraged to enter our world alongside Musettes. A Muzzit's purpose is to be a “lil' muse” for kids, to begin that connection that allows inspiration and creativity to live in a child’s mind.

LES MUSETTES™ ORIGIN STORY

The springs of Mount Helicon flow strongly, delivering crisp, clear waters into glorious pools surrounded by luscious grasses and colorful flowers. Creatures, of all sizes and shapes and forms, drank freely from these waters, traveling as far as necessary to obtain a taste. From these life-giving springs were born the ancient Nine Muse. The Nine Muse inspired the creation of the arts and literature. Poetry, music, dance, and literature flourished under the Nine Muse. Great works of art were created and imagined.

The great art masters had one of the Nine Muse close to them. But the gifts of the Nine Muse wasn't just a direct line to these artists. The inspiration of the Nine Muse overflowed and reached far beyond individuals and borders. All people and cultures were able to grab hold of these inspirations. The world flourished as did the arts. One representing the other in a continuous cycle, feeding off each other, and making each better and more fruitful. The creativity nourished and the imagination sparked by the Nine Muse became widespread. The world continued to grow. More people continued to be inspired by the Nine Muse. Alas, there were only Nine Muse and now billions of people, all searching for inspiration, for that coaxing to create something, for that need to define themselves and the world around them through words, music, and pictures.

The Nine Muse once again returned to the springs of Mount Helicon, where they were born, the originator of dreams itself. They bathed in its waters, rejuvenating themselves. They walked its shores, gazing in wonder upon the flora and fauna that inhabited this wondrous place. Their eyes turned toward small, little creatures, who played in the grasses, hid under the flowers, and swam in the waters. Different little creatures but all with their own individual charm. The Nine Muse could ascertain different family groups among them, differing colors, and patterns, and shapes. But one similarity among them held constant.

They inspired the Nine Muse.

The Nine Muse looked upon these creatures and their own imagination whirred, their dreams of inspiring all the billions of people peoples may become a realization. The Nine Muse stayed a while longer, longer than they anticipated, for this holiday at Mount Helicon. They interacted with these creatures: singing, reciting, drawing, writing, dancing, looking to the heavens for new stars, and unraveling the mysteries of this vast world. The longer the Nine Muse stayed the more of these creatures they met. The creatures seemed to be everywhere - in the treetops, frolicking in the grasses, perched upon rocks in the pools of water, along the banks of the springs - and even when out of sight their inspiration stayed with the Nine Muse. The Nine Muse were happier than they had been in a long while. Content with knowing they could receive this gift that they have long given.

The Nine Muse knew they had to leave Mount Helicon someday. They realized they had to go back to the world. One day, the Nine Muse met in one the pools and an idea came about, inspired by the creatures. What if these creatures who have so inspired the Nine Muse could find a human companion in which to inspire?

The Nine muse addressed these creatures as they gathered around one of the larger pools. The Nine Muse relayed how the creatures sparked their imaginations, how the creatures allowed the Nine Muse to realize one of their dreams: a world where everyone had their own muse. The Nine Muse asked the creatures to assist them. To go out into the world. The Nine Muse explained that they would be out in the world with them, side by side. The Nine Muse's reach would be far and wide, while the creatures, through the Nine Muse, would have an individual reach. The creatures mandate was to find or be found by that one person who needed them. The creatures, to a one, agreed, and agreed happily.

Thus were born Les Musettes or "Lil’ Muses". Your own personal muse is waiting for you. Go find yours.

LES MUSETTES™ ORIGIN STORY

The springs of Mount Helicon flow strongly, delivering crisp, clear waters into glorious pools surrounded by luscious grasses and colorful flowers. Creatures, of all sizes and shapes and forms, drank freely from these waters, traveling as far as necessary to obtain a taste. From these life-giving springs were born the ancient Nine Muse. The Nine Muse inspired the creation of the arts and literature. Poetry, music, dance, and literature flourished under the Nine Muse. Great works of art were created and imagined.

The great art masters had one of the Nine Muse close to them. But the gifts of the Nine Muse wasn't just a direct line to these artists. The inspiration of the Nine Muse overflowed and reached far beyond individuals and borders. All people and cultures were able to grab hold of these inspirations. The world flourished as did the arts. One representing the other in a continuous cycle, feeding off each other, and making each better and more fruitful. The creativity nourished and the imagination sparked by the Nine Muse became widespread. The world continued to grow. More people continued to be inspired by the Nine Muse. Alas, there were only Nine Muse and now billions of people, all searching for inspiration, for that coaxing to create something, for that need to define themselves and the world around them through words, music, and pictures.

The Nine Muse once again returned to the springs of Mount Helicon, where they were born, the originator of dreams itself. They bathed in its waters, rejuvenating themselves. They walked its shores, gazing in wonder upon the flora and fauna that inhabited this wondrous place. Their eyes turned toward small, little creatures, who played in the grasses, hid under the flowers, and swam in the waters. Different little creatures but all with their own individual charm. The Nine Muse could ascertain different family groups among them, differing colors, and patterns, and shapes. But one similarity among them held constant.

They inspired the Nine Muse.

The Nine Muse looked upon these creatures and their own imagination whirred, their dreams of inspiring all the billions of people peoples may become a realization. The Nine Muse stayed a while longer, longer than they anticipated, for this holiday at Mount Helicon. They interacted with these creatures: singing, reciting, drawing, writing, dancing, looking to the heavens for new stars, and unraveling the mysteries of this vast world. The longer the Nine Muse stayed the more of these creatures they met. The creatures seemed to be everywhere - in the treetops, frolicking in the grasses, perched upon rocks in the pools of water, along the banks of the springs - and even when out of sight their inspiration stayed with the Nine Muse. The Nine Muse were happier than they had been in a long while. Content with knowing they could receive this gift that they have long given.

The Nine Muse knew they had to leave Mount Helicon someday. They realized they had to go back to the world. One day, the Nine Muse met in one the pools and an idea came about, inspired by the creatures. What if these creatures who have so inspired the Nine Muse could find a human companion in which to inspire?

The Nine muse addressed these creatures as they gathered around one of the larger pools. The Nine Muse relayed how the creatures sparked their imaginations, how the creatures allowed the Nine Muse to realize one of their dreams: a world where everyone had their own muse. The Nine Muse asked the creatures to assist them. To go out into the world. The Nine Muse explained that they would be out in the world with them, side by side. The Nine Muse's reach would be far and wide, while the creatures, through the Nine Muse, would have an individual reach. The creatures mandate was to find or be found by that one person who needed them. The creatures, to a one, agreed, and agreed happily.

Thus were born Les Musettes or "Lil’ Muses". Your own personal muse is waiting for you. Go find yours.