Nothing says Christmas like the Taos Pueblo bonfires. Well, maybe Santa and Rudolph. And Frosty. And mistletoe and egg nog and tinsel. But if you're a Taoseno? Nothing compares to the Christmas Eve processional at the pueblo. Buffalo headdresses, cracking whips, gunfire, men and women draped in hand woven tribal blankets, and the Virgin Mother all gussied up and paraded through the village, on her way to the altar in the very old, very exquisite adobe church.

For alot of us, it's an excuse to be in the cold, at the edge of a huge fire, considering night among stars and smoke and empty tree limbs.

I forgot my tripod at home. So my video camera shoots my Once Upon a Time workshop from a storybook throne. She's such a Fairytale Queen, that camera.

In the holiday spirit, I offer to you, friends and fans, a day at the SPA!

I know it's a big freakin' mouthful, these words I'm about to string together, and though they may verge on the audacious or even the profane, they erupt nonetheless from my gums: MOVE OVER LEWIS CARROLL, you've met your match.

Best. Fairytale. Ever.

I shall have to settle for bloomers, for Catherynne Valente has succeeded in charming the pants right off me.

Word.

A gift for you, my readers! This is the first episode from my workshop "Once Upon a Time." In it, I describe the power of having, and living, your fairy Tale. This is one of the only videos that features not only an original piece of my writing, but one of Silas's original musical scores. Enjoy!