My Chaotic Realm

back to school

2012-01-08T22:05:00.002-06:00

break over.. but got some sleep... got promoted at work, got some stuff done... had terrific weekend... met the Bishop... took some interesting photos... and now I am headed to bed because class starts back up tomorrow morning... bright and early...
here is one of my pics on way back home...

Hello 2012!

2012-01-05T10:38:00.004-06:00

So, came back home to Jan 30th, spent New Year's Eve at work, then walked the dog and went to bed... all before 10pm. ZZZZZZZZZZ What can I say? I recognize the joy of everyday, not just when the clock strikes midnight.

welcome home

2011-12-27T19:05:00.002-06:00

I arrived at my childhood home - Bandera, Texas - and have been hanging out with the parental units and friends ... good time, good conversation, good food & wine....
will be attending a friends birthday party tomorrow and then heading back to the beach and back to work.. no school until Jan 9th so may find time to take in a brunch @ Vrazel's next week (YUM!)

lovely Christmas filled with, of all things, singing!! I had a terrific day at choir practice, then a brunch, then some shopping and then a 4:30pm service and hope for a movie, dinner and a nap before singing as part of the St Patrick's choir ensemble for midnight mass.... full, busy day and yet a blast!

so, limited connection and tired... but happy... see y'all later.

a day off...

2011-12-18T22:18:00.001-06:00

Ever wonder what a "day off" (no school, no work) looks like for me? Callie wakes me up to let her outside at some ungodly DARK hour... NO. Throw her out of bedroom, shut door, go back to bed. Alarm goes off @ 6:30am so I can work on essays before choir practice @ 8am. Hit snooze, ignore essays. Make it to practice almost on time. Church over @ 11am so I head to The Salute Italian Restaurant to hear a friend play piano ( John-Westley Hodges) while I mentally prep for essay writing. Afterwards, pick up free bicycle and, instead of heading home, I detour to this pier I've been eyeballing for last month... take egret, heron & dolphin pics til 3pm. FINALLY write essays to BF will let me watch final Harry Potter movie. But, before starting movie, I start some smothered T-bone steaks in oven and split pea soup on stovetop. Meals for week now prepared & packaged for week, movie ovr, dishes washed. Laundry in dryer and I am heading to bed. Not too bad for a DAY OFF. :-)

Sleigh bells ring,. are ya listenin'?

2011-12-16T08:12:00.002-06:00

So, have just printed off my confirmation reservation info for trip to see folks... am hitching from MS to TX and then renting a car to head west to my eventual destination. Should be there Christmas day. Hurray!! I will be traveling light (as hitchhikers tend to do) with nary but a toothbrush, some flash drives and my laptop...and a change of clothes or two. The laptop is to stay in touch with others... barely. No signal in Parental Unitland, unfortunately. But what I really want it for is to show them all the pics I have been taking of the MS Gulf Coast area. Hence the flash drives :-) Will be seeing a few others in my limited time there, so will be wonderful trip.

Have just started 3rd term at school... here is where the REAL homework starts, it seems. ARGH. Have made Christmas card sets to sell but been so busy with school & work & homework that I haven't really been out & about much to vend :-( Promoted to HBA/GM manager at work which has changed up my schedule somewhat (can't change too much since school takes up 4 days) and so am not available to do the Farmer's Market on Saturday mornings any more. On a personal level, I like the 9-5:30pm hours bc I am home while still daylight... even went on a date last week! Wow. Let me just say, not much of a social life when you school 8-1:30pm then work 2-10pm....sigh

Speaking of work... I have to be there at 1pm today so it is time to start my 1st homework essay (I have 2 total, all due Monday morning).

Season's Greetings to you all !!

Hello December!!

2011-12-05T07:36:00.002-06:00

Well, had to work ALL FREAKIN; WEEKEND.... but December is here and I am READY! Final grade in Patient Care/Clinic Fundamentals I was a 99...can live with that... Have set plans in motion to visit parental units in Texas for Christmas... ride lined up...only bummer is that son will be at work in Carlsbad and not back to Tx until Jan 4th... I will be back here by then.... but other than that....

SHOULD be getting promoted to my own department sometime this week...they have been telling me that for last 6 wks or so so waiting (STILL) to see if it actually comes about... stay tuned. For now, I have a few mins left to rustle up some grub and head out the door to my 8am class...

SEASON'S GREETINGS!!

we come together...

2011-11-13T17:27:00.002-06:00

so.. up early (for a Sunday, anyways) and made it to choir practice... then church.. then catered dinner (by Salute`... YUM!) before heading back to Best Buy for a card reader. Seems my poor OLD laptop (1 year...WTF??) cannot read the spiffy memory card (SDHC) in the Canon camera.... the reason it could read the one in the Sony was because it was 1GB, not 16GB. Oh well.. problem solved then headed to the beach (d'uh!) for some test shots. Here is one of them... :-)

Penthouse Pier Sunrise photo shoot 10/29/11

2011-11-05T07:40:00.001-05:00

the cleaning/purging has begun

2011-11-04T09:16:00.004-05:00

the pic on left is the NOT KEEPING pile, the pile on right is the KEEPING pile of my rubber stamp collection. I am in the process of my usual winter purging mode.... the temp has dropped so I am streamlining my art supplies. Rubber stamps 1st, then on to the rest.

remember me this season!!

2011-10-21T08:23:00.003-05:00

my day?

2011-10-20T17:44:00.002-05:00

Well, went to school... brain fried halfway thru class, stayed anyway with my 3rd cup of coffee... then off to the health dept for my 2nd (of 3) in the series of Hep B shots needed to actually step into a dialysis unit. Now, 3 hours later I have herded cats, made an awesomely tasty (and quite pretty, I might add) tamale sort of pie. Now to eat, clean up, herd cats, walk dog and go back to card making. Will be at the Pass Market vending my wares on 10/25/11 so come see me!

been too long... been too busy....

2011-10-18T21:00:00.002-05:00

So why have I not been on here in a coon's age? life.... school.. work... and family. Went back to Tx (13 hours one way) to visit my folks for my mom's 65th birthday. It was a surprise, therefore could not really write about anything without either a) lying about stuff or b) giving away the secret. I missed my CPR certification class and lost my perfect attendance for the 2nd quarter. Hoping to make up my CPR in November. And, I got to pick up my son on the way to see the parental units so that was an added bonus. .. kinda took the sting out of missing my classes. He is now a real teacher.. passed his PPR for Texas. Whoo Hoo!!!!

And, less than a week from the 1st anniversary of the death of Saphira.... (can read that post here) Allstate has made a final offer. We shall see. No offer yet for PeaceRev as she is still suffering hip issues from being rolled off the back of my bike and still seeing doctor for that particular issue.

On the brighter side of things, winter seems to be arriving at the Gulf Coast!! At 4pm today I was sitting in the living room with windows open and at a comfy 81`F. Now, at 9pm, it is down to 73`F and I have 2 cats careening off the walls as the winds rise and the temps drop. The dog is under PeaceRev's feet. That leaves 2 felines unaccounted for... betting one is on the bed and one is passed out in her tree.

Looking to get a new camera as the old one is just horrible right now... and getting worse. There are dust spots/motes/whatever and so they show up on all my pics.. argh. Have been editing them all in Picasa before I can post, so not taking too many pics lately. You know that kills me. You can't see the spots as bad on "busy" pics but on my pics of the ocean, clouds, birds against either of those two backgrounds... they SUCK. Unless I spend hours editing... and hard to do that when i am still working and schooling full time. Speaking of, may be able to take laptop to the latest class.. keep fingers crossed.

Still an "A" student.. keep fingers crossed!

sad, but poignant... thanks Cat Adair

2011-09-24T09:29:00.002-05:00

I died today. You got tired of me and took me to the shelter. They were overcrowded and I drew an unlucky number. I am in a black plastic bag in a landfill now. Some other puppy will get the barely used leash you left. My collar was dirty and too small, but the lady took it off before she sent me to the Rainbow Bridge . Would I still be at home if I hadn’t chewed your shoe? I didn’t know what it was, but it was leather, and it was on the floor. I was just playing. You forgot to get puppy toys. Would I still be at home if I had been housebroken? Rubbing my nose in what I did only made me ashamed that I had to go at all. There are books and obedience teachers that would have taught you how to teach me to go to the door. Would I still be at home if I hadn’t brought fleas into the house? Without anti-flea medicine, I couldn’t get them off of me after you left me in the yard for days. Would I still be at home if I hadn’t barked? I was only saying, “I’m scared, I’m lonely, I’m here, I’m here! I want to be your best friend.” Would I still be at home if I had made you happy? Hitting me didn’t make me learn how. Would I still be at home if you had taken the time to care for me and to teach manners to me? You didn’t pay attention to me after the first week or so, but I spent all my time waiting for you to love me. I died today. Love, Your Puppy

where have I been for 2 weeks?

2011-08-29T09:29:00.002-05:00

SICK...sick sick sick... apparently the return to school, when added to my full time job and my financial stress allowed GERMS to land on me... not only LAND but STICK. So I came down with the "common cold" which lasts 7-14 days and there is not really a damn thing you can do about it but ride it out. I rode... cough by cough. On the up-side of it, tho, was my dear friend and her chinese herbal remedies. So the fever was only 2 days long and the coughing caused only a couple of sleepless nights and my lungs are still intact. Even better, I missed NO CLASSES. Still shooting for that perfect attendance, of course. All tests were taken, all homework turned in, grade still an A+. And today I am at school, prepared for my test, and even wearing makeup! I AM ALIVE. LOL. And now... the next test... see ya!

another day in paradise...

2011-08-16T09:51:00.002-05:00

in spite of the loss of the power steering pump in my CUV, it is a great day to be on the beach. Almost fall-like, with morning temps in the low 70's. Weather guy says we actually hit 69 but I didn't see that..way too early for me. Kinda gives me the reassurance that summer wont last forever, and to be grateful for the summer weather that remains. Altho, having moved here the end of February of this year, I did get to see some of the cooler aspects of beach living. I can see me now, hoodie and capris, walking along the grey-lined ocean... ahhh... much more soothing thant trying to figure out how to pay for car repairs, don't ya think?

Lucky

2011-08-10T09:18:00.002-05:00

Do you hear me, I'm talking to you across the water across the deep blue ocean...under the open sky... I'm lucky ....

Yes, I am VERY lucky... my life is filled with wonderous friends and an abundance of smiles. Jupiter will go retrograde in a couple of weeks (8/25) and stay that way for 27 days.... days of change for those (like me) in which Jupiter figures prominently in their natal chart. And I am ready for it! Looking back over the last few years and I can see that 2008 started a new chapter for me and it seems (in retrospect) that I spent 2010 sloughing off some of my learning experienced prior to 2008. Now, on the cusp of this planetary pause, I am fresh and ready to face the next segment of this journey called life.

Part of that change is going back to school so I can do something new, something different, something to help others and make a living while doing so. Part of that change is slowing down (like Jupiter) and pausing to look back, assess and plan, then move forward to implement change. Things at work are changing as well... new possibilities, new things that I may (or may not) choose to take part in. I shall see where the tide takes me.

I am Lucky... Lucky to have been where I have been... and to see what I have seen.... and now to look out across the ocean and change with the tides of life.

bring it on!

You probably can NOT see...

2011-08-06T22:18:00.003-05:00

... what I am chasing in this photo... and if you can, you probably cannot identify it. However, it is one half of a pair of ospreys who were hunting on the Mississippi Sound near the railroad bridge in Bay St Louis. It was raining, and later on I got a picture of the rainbow that appeared...but the osprey were my intended subjects. They were fishing, and having fairly good luck. However, as my camera has seen better days, I am now taking all my pictures with my phone...and it lacks zoom to any great degree. ARGH.

Yes, I know it has been a month since I last posted.. but in that month I have been BUSY because I went back to school. Yes, almost 23 years after graduating a college, I went back. Nothing much is happening on my current job front and due to inter-store politics I have not gotten the promotion I was promised (nor the money that goes along with it). So I have decided I need more education. After enrolling, work tells me that another position might POSSIBLY be opening but not until Nov 2011. Phooey,,, I am still going to go to school because I know how the last promised opening went... nowhere.

So, 1st class has been completed... final score in it was 98.6. Stay tuned.. will keep posting scores and such but not too very often, it seems, since class time is 8-1:30pm and my work schedule is 1-9:30pm... see the issue there? They are okay with me being late... most days. Means no dinner break if I want to get my hours in, but it all works out in the end.

the raptor has been identified!

2011-07-05T15:29:00.002-05:00

have been seeing a pair of raptors nesting near LBHS... and it now looks like they have hatchlings. Have been seeing one of the pair (Dad?) winging its way to the beach and returning with fish in its talons... found this pic online by Karla Jamilla Vogel... this is our bird!!

Balloons ahoy!

2011-06-30T12:09:00.003-05:00

So, tried an iris folding card today as we were talking about it Tuesday evening at the Bankhouse Coffeeshop during our paper craft meeting this week. It is a 1/2 fold tall card, requires no extra postage to send, and has sentiment printed on the inside. This one took about 40 mins, start to finish. that means cutting out the shape, cutting and folding the paper strips, patterning the paper strips and securing at the end, then mounting to a card & printing sentiment. Not too bad... gets quicker if strips already folded (they are, somewhere in a box...) and shapes already cut out (nope, those are not done ahead of time, darn it).

Tuesday Afternoon

2011-06-28T09:32:00.002-05:00

I am seeing a theme in my weeks.. Tuesdays I blog because it is my day off. I am also off on Sundays but those are spent with my making breakfast for my BF or church or beach or shopping or the beach or household chores, or the beach..LOL. So what has happened in the last week? Met some possible ppl for a monthly F F art circle. Meeting with a couple of them later today @ the Bankhouse Coffeeshop. Inventory at work yesterday, took a week to prep for it and overtime to clean up afterwards.. UGH. Worked until wee hours this morning but have now had most of my st cup of coffee. Time to let the cats in, put the dog out, turn off the tunes and head to the beach. Made a card Sunday for Whit's Bday... need to get my butt back in the art room and peel the cat off my table.. argh. LOL.

what a perfect day looks like for me

2011-06-21T19:57:00.002-05:00

I start off by sleeping in til about 7:30am... I see my roomie off to work, water the front yard for an hour or so... a new friend comes over for coffee.... then lunch ... then I take dinner to my roomie while we sit on the pier.... then look for the pelicans (missed 'em)... then sit on the shore with my feet in the water while eating Ben & Jerry's "Everything But the..." Then I walked the dog... halfway through the sky finally caved in and LET IT RAIN!!! so we walked home in the rain... That is a PERFECT day living on the beach!

eeeek... 11 days later?!?!

2011-06-17T08:51:00.002-05:00

However, in my own defense, it has been a full and busy 11 days!! On the 7th of June, I headed to the beach, then took roomie dinner @ work, then met the neighbor kid at our place to go over the petsitting chore list for our trip back to Texas. Weds night (the 8th) we left to begin the pilgrimage to Spring Goddess Fest. We got home in the wee hours of Monday the 13th only to be wrenched back into the reality of going to work... can you say exhausted? But the car is unpacked, the laundry is done, the camping gear is sorted and stowed and groceries have been replenished. Now rested and looking forward to the weekend. Even made a couple of cards yesterday, as well as several postcards for some pals on Send Something . If you have never heard of it, I suggest you click the link... talk about random acts of kindness. Does a body good!

Rise and Shine

2011-06-06T08:18:00.002-05:00

Well, have not posted since Memorial Day.. my birthday... so I thought I would update life as I know it. My Birthday weekend was terrific!! Slept in late... when I got up (finally) we went to lunch at Mugshots and found a terrific place to take Jayce to eat when he comes here to visit. Then we went shopping where I got a new bra & a new purse. Spent time on the beach with some new friends, walked the dog... went to bed tired and woke up for a massage!! Saturday met with SallyJo for brunch and then yesterday was spent getting ready for camping at SpringFest!

minimalist memorial day?

2011-05-27T10:36:00.003-05:00

I love love love the post for today at the "Be More with Less" blog.. do go read! Just click on the title for today's post & it will link you. Easy! And, 2 days before my birthday so I think I will start BEING instead of DOING right now.. have a safe & serene holiday, y'all.

Mondays...

2011-05-16T08:52:00.004-05:00

Awesome Sunday.. wow.. I can kinda see how this "relaxing" thing could be addictive. Went with some friends to hike along Wolf River for driftwood, rocks, etc. Awesome scenery and great trip was marred only slightly by my (ancient sony) digicam dying near the end of the trip. So have to save up for a new one.. not sure howlong I can live without a camera... have had one since.. umm.. 1978? 1979? And I still have my original one, a Canon F1 (film).
From Wolf River, I came home, had some fresh potato salad (thanks to Babe's vegetables!) and then met some new folks @ the beach and spent 4 hours or so just hanging out & socializing while the moon rose over the beach. Here is that pic (thanks to my cell phone)... have a blessed week.

surfing with 'rays

2011-05-12T12:43:00.000-05:00

Tuesday was a terrific day.. household chores done by noon then hit the beach for a coupla hours before an early dinner & shopping for polarized sunglasses :-) then evening massage!

oops...4 weeks later!

2011-04-28T10:27:00.004-05:00

wow, last posted on April 1st?? That is actually because I have been posting my cooking adventures directly to Facebook, I suppose. Here are a few pictures for you of last week's meals...

2012 - A Message of Hope

2011-04-01T09:13:00.001-05:00

go watch this video.... and remember that the 1st Sunday of every month is World Meditation Day.

meet Jonathon, personified...

2011-03-23T11:02:00.002-05:00

Gua Sha (Chinese: 刮痧; pinyin: guā shā)

2011-03-14T11:14:00.005-05:00

So, I have not yet (to my knowledge) had tuina but yesterday I finally had gua sha. Lower back pain was getting to point of not being able to move.. so I gave in.

Really, not as bad as I thought it would be. My beloved acupuncturist/physical therapist once again warned me "I can help with that but you wont like it." And, as usual, was accurate. But it DOES help, and while I am still showing the marks, I am moving. So.... another learning experience.

Gua Sha is a form of cupping used in TCM, in case you were wondering, This pic is of my lower back 24 hours later... yikes! Looks way worse than it feels.

Saturday, in the park....

2011-03-12T08:21:00.003-06:00

And no, I DON'T think it is the 4th of July. .. I'm quite sure it is March 12th, 2011. My brain is not at all fried. In fact, between the Prasada @ Good Karma Cafe, the Acupuncture & Massage with Laureli and the Yoga with Adam, I am probably in the best health I have ever been!
Stormed here a bit this week.. a coupla tornadoes, even, but we are fine, and dry. Storage pop-up in back yard made it through just peachy, as well.
Spent yesterday making some cards.. got a tad over a dozen done, to add to the rest I have finished earlier in the week. Will put those for sale @ Good Karma Tuesday, and maybe at the Essential Herb Cottage as well. Been trying to create create create so I can sell some at the local weekend farmer's market as well as those 2 other locations.
Alright, here is a card from this week...enjoy, and may your weekend be filled with blessings!

MARDI GRAS!!

2011-03-08T09:02:00.005-06:00

So, Saturday's parades were mostly washed out in New Orleans. And I didn't brave the rain and tornado warnings to go see the 2 that DID roll. Go Figure! Sunday dawned and it was partly cloudy albeit chilly... so off we went! Went to MidCity but way too many people. I guess all those that skipped Saturday were there, like me. WALL TO WALL people. Then off to Metairie (the first suburb of New Orleans, Louisiana, located on the south shore of Lake Pontchartrain between Nola and Kenner) for the Napoleon & Isis parades (back to back). Got back late but spent Monday morning unpacking all the boxes that were in rooms other than the living room. House looks like someone lives here now, instead of a storage facility. Monday night went to Good Karma Medley & packed peanuts for the Hare Krishnas to throw at today's parade... donated just over 52 dozen beads. Some stayed at home, tho... just the nifty neat ones :-)

celebrate

2011-03-01T12:45:00.002-06:00

or so the card says... I am getting ready to go to Good Karma Medley for prasada.. YUM! Also to help Maharani set up some sort of social media in order to post the days menu, items that are newly arrived, etc.... but, here is this morning's effort, along with finding most of the supplies I was looking for and setting up/sorting my art office :-)

vacation = relaxed

2011-02-24T10:57:00.004-06:00

Here are 2 pics from yesterday... forgot camera so this was with my phone, which is not yet synced to laptop.. sigh... but... you get the idea... it is slow here... quiet as I walk along the streets (altho streets are not particularly pedestrian friendly, I do not feel like I am going to be run over, unlike walking along S Lamar) all day & evening. Come 9pm I am tired but been up and about starting around 7am... body clock is stuck in "work mode" and awakens, regardless of vacation. ARGH.
Now, however, it is time to head to Good Karma for Prasadam, again. 3rd day in a row!! I love Maharani's place, too... but I go for the company & the food. TTFN...

Sunday... a day like any other...

2011-02-13T09:04:00.003-06:00

... mostly because it means Monday (and work) is right around the corner.... but for now it is a cat rodeo at the homefront... in out in out in out... in to chase Abi around the house until you irritate me and I put you back out, beginning the cycle AGAIN of inoutinoutinout... argh!! Okay....back... 3 cans & a dog now out, 1 cat left with me inside.

Breakfast has been made and eaten, laundry in washer, kitchen tidied up and put away, 2nd cup of coffee in hand... amazing what you can do when the "children" awaken me @ 7:30am. All that I have on my schedule today is lunchtime with D @ 1pm and yoga @ 6pm. I love my life! Gonna write a couple of pen pals so that is up to date, and then GOOF OFF! Visited the parental units yesterday and mom loaned me a set of Dean Koontz books- Odd Thomas series. That is the grand plan for my day.. R E L A X.

Here is a picture for you to relax to....

my what changes in 2 weeks!!

2011-02-06T22:17:00.003-06:00

...the weather!! So, 2 weeks ago we were having our "typical" winter for the Austin area.... and then WHAM, a COLD FRONT (and I do mean COLD) came in and actually left some of the slick white stuff topped with a smattering of the white fluffy stuff... and 200+ accidents in less than an 8 hour period as ppl commenced DRIVING in the white debris... SIGH. In Travis County, at least four rollover collisions occurred early Friday morning. Yes, by white debris, I do mean snow... unfortunately for us, it was preceded by ice, carefully concealed beneath it. And to top it off, I spent most of last weak with a winter cold. Ugh.
Rebel made the snowman :0

Good Morning Universe!

2011-01-22T09:21:00.002-06:00

I love Saturday mornings! Upon awakening I open my eyes...stretch a tad, then discover I am pinned under the quilt.... hmmm.... So I peel open my eyes, pull covers down to my chin and see what has happened to keep me in bed. Buoy is still in HIS place, on the other pillow on the bed... I know that. But what is on my other side? Callie! She is laying on her side facing me and has stretched all the way out & is curved against me from shoulders to hips. She is so funny...and she was probably cold... fur coat aside. I pet them both and await my 3rd kitty, Abigale, bc she always shows up when she hears I am awake. Sure enough, she steers around the dog in the floor and hops up on the chair next to head of bed & starts bathing Buoy.

Fully awake, I slid on out of bed, started the coffee, grilled some pan sausage & dry-fried an egg (I LOVE that pan!! no oil needed!) and dropped some toast into the machine. So I have already eaten, had cup of coffee #1 and checked my email, etc. I have also put out 1 dog & 3 cats.

What is on my agenda for the day? Nothing that requires me to leave my wonderful home EXCEPT a coffee date with a dear friend at 6pm. Been a while since Peace@Heart & I got to just sit and talk, so that is what we have planned. Yesterday I took out my box of paper scraps and my Sizzix BigShot and made 6 cards... all from the scrapbox! Today I want to see about commandeering the kitchen counter and play with my brayer and some ink. Some of my art supplies are outside in storage in yard... kinda concerned about this cold weather on my rubber stamps & inks. We shall see, I guess. I know the temps wont affect the dies, chalk, PearlX, embossing powders, the brushes, the paper... but the ink, rubber, glues, etc I am not so sure about.

Okay, back.. went & found my Lumiere paints and put inside the house. I think I will play with them today, too, or maybe Sunday. Only "out of the house" activity tomorrow is Restorative Yoga @ YogaYoga South. I am finding it a tad bit challenging to get into my "creative groove" when I have to keep going outside to find what I end up wanting because I don't know I am going to want it until I get in the middle of the project. I am actually having to plan out what I want to work on- which is not bad, per se, just challenging since that is not how I usually go about my creative process.

So, have been up for an hour.. time to shower, set an alarm for my coffee date, and then get started and see what creates itself today.

oh my gosh

2011-01-21T10:38:00.002-06:00

A month? A MONTH? I have not posted here in a MONTH? Phooey..can ya tell it is "propane season" in Central Texas? Sigh. I cannot really complain since it is a very SHORT season. But between that and finishing up physical therapy from the "Harley vs Monterro" incident October 23rd, a lot of stuff is going undone. On the flip side, Physical therapy is just about done.. I have regained almost full use (altho still with some residual pain, am assured that will eventually cease) of all the "run over parts" and managed to get my 10x10 storage facility emptied out. My stuff and I are now reunited. I am so happy!! Hard to play with paper when it is a 30 minute round-trip walk to the storage unit to get the RIGHT item, be it paper, ink, embossing powder, punch, stickle, embellishment or whatever. What I am now losing in exercise I am making up in creative time spent with my art materials. Not a lot of workspace in my new abode but still manageable. Will spend the weekend getting reacquainted with my supplies :-)

I know St Peter will call my name...

2010-12-21T07:18:00.001-06:00

Blessed Winter Solstice to you all...even the weather that overcast my ability to watch the total lunar Eclipse around am...sigh...

You make me smile...

2010-12-13T13:09:00.003-06:00

An absolutely lovely weekend!! Got to see PeaceRev graduate then went to Santa Rampage in downtown Austin afterwards. Got to spend Sunday @ Cafe Caffeine uploading pictures and making calendar pages for Mom's Yule gift (she requests one every year). And still managed to find time in there to watch Shrek & Shrek2... why did not one tell me about these before? They were hilarious! Want to see Black Swan, too, but were sold out. Sigh.

Will soon begin to wrap up chiropractic care & hand therapy, I hope. Spending 4 days a week (chiro Mon & Thurs; hand Weds & Fri) after work doing medical crap instead of social activity during the holiday season is getting a bit tiresome, I tell ya.

On the brighter side of social activity, i get to see Rebel graduate Texas State Saturday December 18th at 10am. I am so proud of him!! Will be spending the Winter Solstice in ritual (full moon & total lunar eclipse as well!! WOW!!) so will be doing our annual Maudie's Munchy meal on the 24th & then heading to see my property in Llano & the PEC lights on way home the 25th... pretty much a quiet rest of December planned.

As it should be...relaxing and non-retail....good tidings to all!

4 months or 5 weeks (aka Drama or Trauma)

2010-11-29T20:39:00.004-06:00

So...for those of you following the DRAMA side of things, it was 4 months ago that my S.O. lied about having a doctor's appointment in order to stay at home & pack/move out of our home in the middle of the day, knowing I was at work & Rebel was in class. Sneaky? yes. Deceitful? most assuredly. Devastating? not in the least. Although feeling injured & betrayed in the beginning, I have grown into a liberated individual (or I finally outgrew being responsible-ie:covering up for another?). Left to my own devices rather ABRUPTLY and under duress, I still managed to keep the roof over all our heads for the month it took to rehome a dozen plus rescues (I kept 3 cats, Rebel kept 1 dog) and myself & my adult child. Also during this process, I got real clear about what IS and is NOT important when it comes to things owned. I gave away one of my cars to a dear woman in need. She had helped me when I needed it... and I had a spare vehicle when she needed it. What comes around, goes around. Karma, plain & simple. I have become Goodwill's best buddy while sifting and sorting my storage unit and donating things I find no longer worthy of a monthly storage bill. And I am free to be myself and not feel stalked or cloned or cloyed. The END of drama feels so much more uplifting than I ever would have thought possible.

or...if you have been following the TRAUMA side of things, I am healing quite well. Most of that can be blamed on 1 or more of the following:
(A) My TCM practicioner's quick response. As soon as I got home from the hospital, her ready herb cabinet helped bruises, scrapes, stitched-up spots & even fractures heal rapidly. Who knew dirt from the Yunnan Province of China could be so tasty?
(B) My surgeon, who (less than 36 hours after I was run over by a Mitsu Monterro) put the 2 disjointed parts of my thumb back together & then back where it belonged.
(C) My new lifestyle. Having lightened up my load, as it were, of responsibilities (see DRAMA, above), I have more time to dedicate to myself, namely getting better. I have chiropractic twice weekly, physical therapy twice weekly, walks daily, and 9-10 hours of rest nightly. I'd say sleep, but you try sleeping with pins sticking out of you.

According to my surgeon, he is done with me. :-) Due to my rapid rate of healing, he removed the pins at 4 weeks instead of 6 (see Item A, above). And, he forecasts complete range of movement by week 8 (Dec 21st, the Winter Solstice). Aggressive PT has begun so I have great hopes that he proves correct.

So, there it is! Blessing of the deep season to all of you!

10 days later..sigh

2010-11-19T15:39:00.002-06:00

...on the + side, it has been a very fun-filled 10 days since my last post. Went to Nutty Brown's "Nawlin's Night" on the 12th (good food but music too hard to hear from restaurant side because they were playing on bar side). Then went to Texas Renaissance Festival for the Highland Fling weekend.. and camped out! Great time, love to camp with PeaceRev.. even had a heater IN THE TENT. Nice, since it was down into mid 30's overnight. Used the tartan to protect/hide my plain blue sling. Monday after work/therapy/chiro I met some friends for dinner @ Hyde Park Bar & Grill. Tuesday was the last installment of this year's series @ BookWoman. Weds was a board meeting (which was actually fun). Last night was dinner at home that I COOKED (damn it takes a long time to cook one-handed) and then walked the dog & had meaningful conversation with my (well educated) roomie. That is always nice, especially since stupid people irritate me. Today was hand therapy YET AGAIN and being told I had GAINED 5% more in my range of motion. They expect even more on Monday if the pins do get removed (doc said was possibility!!). Tomorrow I get to go see the 6 lizards I rehomed August 26th to Lackland Air Force Base!! Sunday is WIDE OPEN.......stay tuned :-)

so... coping

2010-11-09T21:10:00.004-06:00

Yesterday my hand surgeon tells me i have the (dubious?) honor of being possibly the worst Bennett's fracture he had ever fixed... excuse me? On the plus side he says my latest x-rays show a perfect reset & alignment... and see him in 2 weeks.
:-)

The charge is murder... The verdict is guilty

2010-11-06T11:32:00.003-05:00

The defendant, Linda Guerro, has hereby been charged with 1 count murder and 2 counts attempted murder. On October 23rd, 2010, the defendant knowingly and willfully ran a stop sign near the intersection of southbound Manchaca @ Slaughter, striking Saphira and her two passengers. The defendant then continued driving, leaving the scene of the accident (she was subsequently stopped by onlookers). Saphira, Chaotic and PeaceRev were all taken from the scene; Saphira to her chosen doctor and her two passengers to South Austin Medical Center. While Chaotic and PeaceRev were treated for moderate to severe injuries and released the next day, Saphira suffered extensive injuries and later died as a result of those injuries on November 3rd, 2010. Linda Guerro entered her plea as "Not Guilty" when charged with three counts of attempted murder on October 27th, 2010. When the charges were amended on November 3rd,2010 to one count murder and two counts attempted murder, she changed her plea to "Guilty."

PeaveRev has (as of the date of this post) missed two full weeks of work. After her hand surgery Chaotic, being lucky enough not to rely on her hands for a living (unlike PeaceRev, who is a massage therapist) has been able to return to work part-time. The rest of her time is spent at the hand clinic doing occupational therapy and mourning the loss of her dear friend, Saphira. Both PeaceRev and Chaotic see a Chiropractor three times a week to deal with the resulting issues of being run over by a Mitsubishi Monterro. The driver was in so much of a hurry that not only did she not stop but-upon being returned to the scene of the accident she'd just caused- actually uttered the words "I am so sorry. I didn't realize I'd hit anything." No, I am not kidding. Witnesses who had stopped to render aid actuslly heard those same words. I know... I checked because I couldn't believe my ears.

Rest in Peace, Saphira. The dream will ride again...I promise. For now, it lives in my heart, right next to where I have placed the memories of our last 6 months together. You were brilliantly beautiful... one of a kind. You were there when it mattered most to me and I will miss you.

Open your mind...

2010-10-19T10:34:00.002-05:00

"Open Your Mind"

How come there's so many people willing to suffer
So they get up and suffer every day
They think they were put on this Earth to suffer
And, by God, they're going to suffer
Until they suffer their lives away

How come so many are willing to say
There is no sense There is no plan
Yet they will not believe The ancient mysteries
Passed down through time into their hands

If my choice is despair or wonder
On the line between truth and belief
Do I just let the tide take me under
Or do I let the fascination come on and rain all over me

Open your mind 'Cause you have been blind
Imagine the answers Or questions will be all you find
Open your mind

The grooves in my life were unforgiving
Over the years I laid them down night after night
Work-eat-sleep Work-eat-sleep
Work-eat-sleep Work-eat-sleep
Work-eat-sleep Work-eat-sleep
Suffocating my delight
I was dragged into the light Into the stillness
Into the white hot flame of my deepest fears
And when I came crashing through
Humbled and true I was better than I've been in years

If my choice is end or beginning
In my perception between death and life
I'll keep on with this message I'm sending
We may not know how or when,
But don't you wanna know why

Open your mind 'Cause you have been blind
Imagine the answers Or questions will be all you find
Open your mind Open your mind
'Cause you have been blind Open your mind

What is marriage, really?

2010-10-12T10:09:00.002-05:00

So, for those of you than have not yet seen Keith Olbermann's video response to the rescinding of Proposition Eight in California, click on title of post (above). Or, read it here... he spoke well and was to the point.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Some parameters, as preface. This isn't about yelling, and this isn't about politics, and this isn't really just about Prop-8. And I don't have a personal investment in this: I'm not gay, I had to strain to think of one member of even my very extended family who is, I have no personal stories of close friends or colleagues fighting the prejudice that still pervades their lives.

And yet to me this vote is horrible. Horrible. Because this isn't about yelling, and this isn't about politics. This is about the human heart, and if that sounds corny, so be it.

If you voted for this Proposition or support those who did or the sentiment they expressed, I have some questions, because, truly, I do not understand. Why does this matter to you? What is it to you? In a time of impermanence and fly-by-night relationships, these people over here want the same chance at permanence and happiness that is your option. They don't want to deny you yours. They don't want to take anything away from you. They want what you want—a chance to be a little less alone in the world.

Only now you are saying to them—no. You can't have it on these terms. Maybe something similar. If they behave. If they don't cause too much trouble. You'll even give them all the same legal rights—even as you're taking away the legal right, which they already had. A world around them, still anchored in love and marriage, and you are saying, no, you can't marry. What if somebody passed a law that said you couldn't marry?

I keep hearing this term "re-defining" marriage. If this country hadn't re-defined marriage, black people still couldn't marry white people. Sixteen states had laws on the books which made that illegal in 1967. 1967.

The parents of the President-Elect of the United States couldn't have married in nearly one third of the states of the country their son grew up to lead. But it's worse than that. If this country had not "re-defined" marriage, some black people still couldn't marry black people. It is one of the most overlooked and cruelest parts of our sad story of slavery. Marriages were not legally recognized, if the people were slaves. Since slaves were property, they could not legally be husband and wife, or mother and child. Their marriage vows were different: not "Until Death, Do You Part," but "Until Death or Distance, Do You Part." Marriages among slaves were not legally recognized.

You know, just like marriages today in California are not legally recognized, if the people are gay.

And uncountable in our history are the number of men and women, forced by society into marrying the opposite sex, in sham marriages, or marriages of convenience, or just marriages of not knowing, centuries of men and women who have lived their lives in shame and unhappiness, and who have, through a lie to themselves or others, broken countless other lives, of spouses and children, all because we said a man couldn't marry another man, or a woman couldn't marry another woman. The sanctity of marriage.

How many marriages like that have there been and how on earth do they increase the "sanctity" of marriage rather than render the term, meaningless?

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What is this, to you? Nobody is asking you to embrace their expression of love. But don't you, as human beings, have to embrace... that love? The world is barren enough.

It is stacked against love, and against hope, and against those very few and precious emotions that enable us to go forward. Your marriage only stands a 50-50 chance of lasting, no matter how much you feel and how hard you work.

And here are people overjoyed at the prospect of just that chance, and that work, just for the hope of having that feeling. With so much hate in the world, with so much meaningless division, and people pitted against people for no good reason, this is what your religion tells you to do? With your experience of life and this world and all its sadnesses, this is what your conscience tells you to do?

With your knowledge that life, with endless vigor, seems to tilt the playing field on which we all live, in favor of unhappiness and hate... this is what your heart tells you to do? You want to sanctify marriage? You want to honor your God and the universal love you believe he represents? Then Spread happiness—this tiny, symbolic, semantical grain of happiness—share it with all those who seek it. Quote me anything from your religious leader or book of choice telling you to stand against this. And then tell me how you can believe both that statement and another statement, another one which reads only "do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

You are asked now, by your country, and perhaps by your creator, to stand on one side or another. You are asked now to stand, not on a question of politics, not on a question of religion, not on a question of gay or straight. You are asked now to stand, on a question of love. All you need do is stand, and let the tiny ember of love meet its own fate.

You don't have to help it, you don't have it applaud it, you don't have to fight for it. Just don't put it out. Just don't extinguish it. Because while it may at first look like that love is between two people you don't know and you don't understand and maybe you don't even want to know. It is, in fact, the ember of your love, for your fellow person just because this is the only world we have. And the other guy counts, too.

This is the second time in ten days I find myself concluding by turning to, of all things, the closing plea for mercy by Clarence Darrow in a murder trial.

But what he said, fits what is really at the heart of this:

"I was reading last night of the aspiration of the old Persian poet, Omar-Khayyam," he told the judge. It appealed to me as the highest that I can vision. I wish it was in my heart, and I wish it was in the hearts of all: So I be written in the Book of Love; I do not care about that Book above. Erase my name, or write it as you will, So I be written in the Book of Love."

Turning points...

2010-09-29T10:23:00.003-05:00

Granddad knew it was coming... his family had been notified so goodbyes could be said while time waited. Now, Time has quit waiting. Alton Johnson said his final goodbye last night @ 11:15pm, September 28th, 2010.

Rest in Peace, knowing that you live on in the hearts of all those whose lives you touched.

The Best is yet to come...

2010-09-17T10:31:00.003-05:00

So.. for those not reading Facebook.. Dad's appendix burst (unknown to him) on August 30th. He felt pretty crappy but did not land in the ER in San Antonio until Labor Day (9/6). Docs stabilized him and scheduled surgery for next day but ended up doing emergency surgery.. to find? Sepsis (aka septicemia or blood poisoning). Because of the time lapse between rupture & ER, there were multiple complications, including blood pressure dropping, shock, major organs and systems quit working (kidneys, liver, lungs, and central nervous system). After 10 days in ICU being treated with IV fluids & antibitotics and vasopressor medication (because IVs were insufficient to maintain blood pressure) as well as a ventilator and all sorts of fluids, Dad was moved yesterday to a room on 5th floor of St Luke's!!

So the song fits Dad's situation as well as my life.. it is a beautifully sunny day here in Central Texas and I have an entire life to live in front of me, glorious day by brilliant day.. Let's get started!

somebody's out there

2010-09-10T12:45:00.002-05:00

Lot's of stuff going on with my Dad in St Luke's ICU.. .for now, a song...

Is it fate or random chance? How can I decide? Are we victims of circumstance when destinies collide?
All the odds are against you but somehow you make it through...You can rationalize it away but it all comes down to you
Half our lives we spend waiting for the knock upon the door...When it comes, will it be the one that I've been waiting for?

Somebody's out there, somewhere waiting for someone to come their way
Somebody's out there, somewhere I will somehow be somebody's someone
Someday Standing in the shadows Hiding from the light
Reach out in the darkness and hold on for your life
All the fear of the future all the loneliness inside
When the moment of truth arrive, hey, you can run but you can't hide

...I can feel it inside me; I've been holding on so long
Something's tellin' me something's got to give
'Cause the feeling's way too strong, too strong

:-)  and yes, somebody was...   <3

It's time to try...

2010-09-01T10:03:00.004-05:00

Wow, already the first of September. Amazing how time flew when everything was up in the air (the entire month of August is a blur!). Life SHOULD be settling down any day now and I can get back to the routine of life, work, blog, making some cards, walking daily, etc. For those of you not yet aware... on July 29th I started rehoming most of the rescued critters. Buoy went to SA. Daimon & Agathos went to co-workers. All 3 fish went to neighbor. All 6 lizards went to Lackland AFB/ISD. Then Rebel moved to his own place (with my grandpuppy, not sure which I miss more but it may be the dog.. LOL) and I moved to Austin with Abigale & Callie. Adjustments are being required, but that is life, really-letting go of the past in order to move into the present and be ready for whatever the future holds. And I feel pretty good about this process. Could've been a bit easier on everyone involved but that was not to be. I can't control of how others behave/think/act... all I CAN do is be aware that life's lessons are learned differently by each person. So maybe this had to be harder on other's in order for them to learn? I don't know. But I have come away from my whole experience wiser and ready to move on to the next lesson.

been here the whole time

2010-08-24T06:57:00.002-05:00

whee... i love vcation.. and i really love vacation on the beach! no card today since i am doing thi from a borrowed laptap .. y'all have a lovely week whilei THINK about maybe going back to work soon.... :-)

I'm safe, up high...

2010-07-27T06:44:00.003-05:00

this was another "recycled greeting" as it was made from things that were part of a package given to me. I stamped the tiny word stamp over the image and added a few rub-on stickers then mounted to 5x7 cardbase. :-)

should've been dead ...

2010-07-13T06:37:00.003-05:00

"... on a Sunday morning banging my head" This is the refrain running through my head every time I awoke last night... too funny, considering Sunday was a Migraine Day. But, lemme tell ya.. if you have a migraine, the best place to be is at your acupuncturist's. Thank Goddess... when I got panicky about the pain not receding, I get "Would you like for me to do a treatment on you?". Crap, why didn't I think of THAT option 7 hours EARLIER?!?!
So, couple of notes::
Note to self: before taking Rx meds that cause as much issue as the pain they did NOT take away, call your acupuncturist.
Note to readers: if you don't have an acupuncturist, call me & I will give you the #.

Card is: recycled backing strip you get with sticker sheets and a ribbon, green cardstock, sticker from aforementioned sheet and a sentiment stamped with VersaMark & embossed with blue EP, all mounted on ivory file folder that was recycled & cut to A4 card size.

House of Pain

2010-07-12T08:24:00.002-05:00

Great weekend... then migraine day Sunday... ugh.. hence song of the day...

Steppin' Over

2010-07-07T13:08:00.002-05:00

never said i knew all the right things to do
outta nowhere somethings wrong
why would you choose that road once again
my trust is gone
you're never gonna change
'cause you made up your mind
ain't no body stoppin you crossing that line
wish i knew the way and all the right things to say
only no way you'd hear what i'd say
i remember when you used to be a friend i could talk to
and i trusted you ... see, it doesn't matter
did you want it this way
ain't nobody stoppin you, take it away
Step on over, it's all yours
no one can touch you in your world
you're safe inside
don't even take the time to think about what you left on your way to paradise
I've been hopin' when you open your eyes that you see it right
i was hopin' i keep dreamin to set it aside, stop feelin' alive
only i'm lying to myself
if it doesn't matter, then your losing your mind
ain't nobody stopin you, cross that line

Hold on tight....

2010-07-06T06:12:00.003-05:00

... to your dreams.
This card is DSP, subber stamp & GellyRollz pens
:-)
and off to work I go...

jukebox

2010-07-05T07:33:00.004-05:00

Saturday morning "wanna spend my life..." then Sunday morning "changes" followed by Monday morning "heavy metal" ... welcome to my holiday weekend! Makes ya think, doesn't it? Not to mention I was jolted awake at 5:30am by a nightmare. Then, trying to go back to sleep brought me chasing to bad guys in a mall who were trying to get their mistreated dog to bite me... like that would happen. Dogs don't bite me. So I gave up... gonna make some breakfast. On the plus side, I have a bodywork appointment this afternoon!

King of Anything

2010-06-28T10:29:00.002-05:00

Heard this song for the 1st time yesterday... click on link (title) to listen to on YouTube.

You sound so innocent, all full of good intent
Swear you know best
But you expect me to jump up on board with you
And ride off into your delusional sunset

I’m not the one who’s lost with no direction
But you’ll never see
You’re so busy making maps with my name on them in all caps
You got the talking down, just not the listening

And who cares if you disagree? You are not me
Who made you king of anything?
So you dare tell me who to be?
Who died and made you king of anything?

All my life I’ve tried to make everybody happy
While I just hurt and hide
Waiting for someone to tell me it’s my turn to decide

Wake Up Call

2010-06-28T06:23:00.003-05:00

funny song title since I did NOT want to wake up this morning...argh! However, it is now "summer" officially, so here is a summer card for ya. Some of those 89 images I lost were recently made cards so am still a tad sick about that, but oh well. WIll just have to make more tonight :-)

life is beautiful

2010-06-24T06:40:00.002-05:00

I know some things that you don't I've done things that you won't There's nothing like a trail of blood to find your way back home I was waiting for my hearse What came next was so much worse It took a funeral to make me feel alive Just open your eyes Just open your eyes And see that life is beautiful.

So, last night I downloaded 121 pics off my camera, only to accidentally delete 89 of them inadvertently. ARGH. So those precious moments now exist only in my head.. I am okay with that. Life is, after all, fleeting. Enjoy it now, then hold on to the memories, if you can. And, don't try to move pictures late at night when you SHOULD be in bed...

Card is rice paper with matching cardstocks.

what I did tonight....

2010-06-23T22:32:00.000-05:00

this is me, mowing... Karen is going over the big ass grass with the riding mower, I am going over the short grass with a push mower.. and we've already done the front yard & water trees by this point.. argh! rebel took pic thru screen, in case you are wondering about the photo quality...

One

2010-06-23T14:09:00.003-05:00

So those of you that know me and my "songs"... this one was apparently on CD LOOP or something on the radio station because it was the ONLY song that played... over & over & over. After blogging this, I will be changing stations. :-) I get the point..

Is it getting better or do you feel the same
Will it make it easier on you now-you got someone to blame
You say... One love One life when it's one need in the night
One love we get to share it but it leaves you baby if you don't care for it
Did I disappoint you or leave a bad taste in your mouth
You act like you never had love and you want me to go without
Well it's too late tonight to drag the past out into the light
We're one, but we're not the same
We get to carry each other, carry each other
Have you come here for forgiveness? Have you come to raise the dead?
Have you come here to play Jesus to the lepers in your head?
Did I ask too much? More than a lot? You gave me nothing now it's all I got
We're one but we're not the same...we hurt each other then we do it again
You say love is a temple, Love's a higher law
Love is a temple Love's the higher law
You ask me to enter but then you make me crawl
And I can't be holding on to what you got when all you got is hurt
One love One blood One life You got to do what you should
One life With each other Sisters Brothers One life
But we're not the same

Drown me in love...

2010-06-22T06:59:00.003-05:00

If I could walk on water, If I could tell you what’s next... Make you believe, make you forget...

Today's random reading reminded me that Universal Law is impartial. It gives me anything that I believe. It throws me garbage or roses, based on the energy that I put forth. I am the one in charge and I must accept this and -at times- stand alone in doing so.

I thought that tied in rather nicely with this morning's song. I can't walk in water, I wont always be right, I can't tell you what is next, and I don't have the answers for anyone except myself. And that is the only person's problems that I need to fix. Maybe forgetting is the easiest way, but it will not solve the issues that require my attention. Those require change, and that is up to me... and only me.

With all of that said, the card is a dragonfly hovering over a vase of flowers. Rubber stamped vase & flowers, colored with JellyRoll pens, and a 3D word sticker & dragonfly.

In many cultures, the dragonfly is regarded as a symbol of light, adaptability, grace and transformation. Dragonflies remind us that we are light and can reflect the light in powerful ways if we choose to do so. They are a symbol of the sense of self that comes with maturity and frequently represent change. And, as a dragonfly lives a short life, it knows it must live its life to the fullest with the short time it has.

Have a blessed day!

Stare at the sun...

2010-06-17T08:44:00.003-05:00

An interesting morning with a gray, cloudy ride to work on 2 wheels. I actually found it to be quite meditative. I spend a lot of time riding my Harley to and from work, A-town, etc and there is just not a whole a lot you can do during that time except think... so I think :-) So the song of the day was acoustic... click on link above to listen.

'Cause I am due for a miracle I'm waiting for a sign I'll stare straight into the sun And I won't close my eyes Till I understand or go blind

I see the parts but not the whole I study saints and scholars both No perfect plan unfurls Do I trust my heart or just my mind... Why is truth so hard to find in this world?

Fly like an eagle....

2010-06-07T06:49:00.003-05:00

12:01am and I am singing this song... so I ask myself 2 things this morning... 1) why was I awake? (sigh) and 2) what is Source trying to say when I am STILL singing it @ 6am when the alarm goes off? I will say, tho, that if you do not click on the link above, you are missing a GREAT video. I did not choose the original video by SMB... I chose footage of an actual Bald Eagle. Nicely done video!
No card today, spent too much time learning to work on various other websites this weekend as well as how to change the oil in my Harley :-) Stay tuned for more greeting cards later...

but Oz never did give nothing to the Tin Man ...

2010-06-02T06:36:00.003-05:00

...that he didn't, didn't already have
So please believe in me
When I say I'm spinning round, round, round, round
Smoke glass stain bright color
Image going down, down, down, down
Soapsuds green like bubbles

okay, yes...weird... but I don't get to choose the songs that play in the jukebox I call my brain... especially when I have not yet had my coffee! This card was not quite green soap bubbles.. but I do like wading birds... and this was made from all recycled &/or scrap pieces, which is dear to me. Hate to throw those away!

TCM clinic today!! And, already 1/2way thru the week!! HURRAH! Now, go clean a bird...

Changes

2010-06-01T09:48:00.002-05:00

the Tesla version, not Sabbath or Ozzy...
click on the link (title) to listen... or read below

Changes, time's makin' changes in my life
Rearrangin', can't seem to stop the hands of time
I remember, I was so young, I was much too young to see
Now I'm older, growing older, and I see things differently
Oh can't you see, it's changin' you and me
Time's makin' changes, time's makin' changes in my life
Time's rearrangin', changin' you and me
Faces, strange faces cloud my mind
Empty traces, make it hard for me to find
Somewhere in the distance, is there someone who awaits
For that moment I am taken over by the hands of fate
Can't you see, the world is changin' me
Nothin' ever stays the same, it's always gonna change
I'm on my way, yeah yeah
Changes, time's makin' changes in my life
Rearrangin', always changin', can't seem to stop the hands of time
Can't you see, it's changin' everything
Oh all these changes

It's 4:03 and I can't sleep...

2010-05-28T06:54:00.004-05:00

...without you next to me I toss and turn like the sea
If I drown tonight, bring me back to life
Breathe your breath in me
The only thing that I still believe in is you
If you only knew

And so this card.... seemed to go with the song of the day...
Sizzix die cut then rubbed on sentiment.. you have to see this paper up close.. lovely!

And, now, unofficially.. the start of the weekend.. I LOVE FRIDAYS!

the heavens open every time she smiles

2010-05-27T06:24:00.003-05:00

And when I come to her that's where I belong...

kinda goes with the card, I thought.... can you read the sentiment? So, this one took a little while longer than yesterday's card, but was still fairly easy.

and, it is almost the weekend.. so excited... not because it's my birthday or anything but because I get some time to chill in my hammock, ride motorcycles with friends... R E L A X!

It's a love story...baby just say yes!

2010-05-26T06:58:00.004-05:00

Yes, I know the song is actually called "Love Story" but I call them what I wake up singing... and that what what I was smiling about this morning... :-) Hey, did y'all know Taylor Swift is a woman? I had no idea who sang this until I went looking for the video.. every time I heard the name I pictured the dude from American Idol. Can you tell how much TV I DON'T watch?

Anyways, this card was made using a DTP (direct to paper) inking technique and an overstamp in pastel pink as well as a clear vellum sticker in the center... easy!

And, in another line of thinking.,. the world needs YOUR resounding and unconditional "Yes".. .think about it... and then go do what you are called to in the world.
Blessings!

I’m so tied up

2010-05-21T06:02:00.003-05:00

Damn Yankees... and I mean the band, not those people north of us :-) I will post the lyrics rather than just hte link (above) since it is too early for anything else & I have been singing this particular song in my head since 5:47am.. yawn. Where is my coffee???

"Comin' of Age" (Tommy Shaw, Jack Blades, Ted Nugent)

Dressed to kill and lookin’ dynomite,
with her high-laced stockings and her sweater so tight.
I asked her her name, she said her name was "Maybe."
Well she walked up to me, and she asked me to chance
I said, "I am lookin’ for some wild romance,"
She gave me a wink--she said I should think about it, maybe
She said, "What you got babe, is what I need.
Your kind of love got me on my knees."
I’m so tied up
What you got got a hold on me, your kind of love make a man outta me
I’m so tied up, you got me so fired up
Little sister, hits the stage She can’t help it, she’s comin’ of age
Little junior, he’s all in a rage Did you notice she was comin’ of age
If looks could kill, I’d be dead on the floor
You got me all tied up, honey, beggin’ for more
Somebody call a doctor, I think I’m goin’ crazy
Because what you got, babe, is what I need
Your kind of love got me on my knees
I’m so tied up What you got got a hold on me
Your kind of love make a man outta me
I’m so tied up You got me so fired up
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As for the card, this was made mostly from recycled packages of some sticker sheets and then a bit of glitter glue...

seen on town lake...

2010-05-18T16:54:00.002-05:00

This is what you see on town lake in austin if you are afoot instead of jogging on by or speeding past on your bicycle..

Been a long time coming....

2010-05-17T06:50:00.005-05:00

Okay, so if you clicked on the link above, you'll see the song is by "Sick Puppies". Lewt me remind you I am not responsible for the jukebox that lives in my head. There is no "OFF" button. Altho, if you see card's message... they do sorta go together?

This card was fun... DSP cut to fit card front, a clear acrylic sticker in coordinating colors and then a japanese hole punch (because you can punch a hole ANYWHERE with one of those) used to lace a belt around the dressform.

Another AWESOME weekend... spent it watching people do Aikido and test for black belts... wow, they sweat! So much for a passive martial art form. That looked like work to me!

And now, time to uncover my Harley and go to work :-)

Time may change me...

2010-05-10T06:05:00.003-05:00

But I can't trace time... I said that time may change me...But I can't trace time.

Here is a card I made that my cell phone wont do justice to. Sigh. That reminds me, have 2 more to take picture of with my REAL camera.. LOL.

Started my 1st kefir colony this weekend and will be enjoying a smoothie this morning as a result of that endevour. Also started a kombucha tea last night. Wait and see... wait and see.

SAVE THE FROGS Day is TODAY!!

2010-04-30T06:21:00.001-05:00

Frog populations have been declining worldwide at unprecedented rates, and nearly one-third of the world’s amphibian species are threatened with extinction. Up to 200 species have completely disappeared since 1980, and this is NOT normal: amphibians naturally go extinct at a rate of only about one species every 250 years!!!

Frog populations are faced with an onslaught of environmental problems, including pollution, infectious diseases, habitat loss, invasive species, climate change, and over-harvesting for the pet and food trades. Unless these problems are remedied, amphibian species will continue to disappear, resulting in irreversible consequences to the planet’s ecosystems and to humans.

The way it i s...

2010-04-30T06:06:00.004-05:00

Good morning all.... coffee in hand, breezes blowing through the windows ALL NIGHT LONG (makes very LOUD windchimes, tho) and cats pouncing on me already... all in all a good day. So, this card is a piece of plain blue CS that I ran thru the Sizzix for texture, then some ribbon on top & bottom, a sentiment stamp & a die cut butterfly that I cut out of another textured piece of CS.

Today I finish catching up at work... nothing like taking a week long fun-filled vacation on the beach in Mississippi.. it was a truly awesome & amazingly refreshing trip. However, the work waited for me. Sigh. As a reward for catching up, I will be doing kundalini yoga @ Yoga Yoga South tonight, then a Blessing drum circle somewhere (no idea where) with a friend. Saturday is World Labyrinth Day, Beltane & birthday party for another friend... a busy life!

Hurrah... stay away rain!!

too much stuff to do...

2010-04-27T06:54:00.002-05:00

So, here is a birthday card I made for Rebel to hand to someone else. Very easy, simple, and not too over the top... that was the request. Seems it was for an ex... sigh. Brayered the right side background piece to match the scrap I used on the left side. Gold leafed rice paper for the sentiment and corner pieces.. that's it.

As for the vacation trip to Mississippi? Absolutely freakin' wonderful, even tho only managed ONE moonlit walk on the beach. There really was a LOT of other stuff to do there. Altho, it must have been the right night for that beachfront walk because I was gifted with a fresh arrival on the sand.. a large, completely intact horseshoe crab! Bless my cohort in crime, who was not at all freaked by driving 12 hours back to Texas with dead shellfish.

How I got to work today

2010-04-14T08:14:00.002-05:00

2008 Harley Davidson XL1200 Custom

enuff said

:-)

Let there be love

2010-04-07T06:41:00.003-05:00

Excuse the hand at the bottom but this is a gate-fold card (folds in middle) so I am holding it closed :-)

my morning song (from the 6am, not 1am time)

Michael Bolton LET THERE BE LOVE

We've got the power, we've got the hunger for the search
As we race across the heavens to embrace the universe
In this hour and in truth what is it worth
When we can't escape the madness
We've created on this earth
They say that money talks but you and I
Know places money just don't say enough
Let there be love where there is emptiness
Let there be faith where hope is gone
Let there be strength where there is helplessness
And open eyes to see right from wrong
We've gotta find a way to trust
The very best in all of us
Let there be love, let there be love
We live divided behind imaginary walls
Brother against brother, we just watch each other fall
With hearts united we will never stand so tall
Reachin' out to one another
We'll find the meaning of it all
Ain't one power we will ever know
Could ever heal the poverty of the soul
Let there be love where there is emptiness
Let there be faith where hope is gone
Let there be strength where there is helplessness
And open eyes to see right from wrong
We've gotta find a way to trust
To forgive and rise above
Let there be love, let there be love
BRIDGE
(When will we learn, tell me when will we see)
How many more promises spoken
While the dreams of the innocent die
Every day another heart gets broken
While the flame of hate survives
When will the healing begin in our lives
Let there be love where there is emptiness
Let there be faith where hope is gone
Let there be strength where there is helplessness
And open eyes to see right from wrong
We've gotta find a way to trust
The very best in all of us
Gotta be more than wise enough
To forgive and rise above
Let there be love, let there be love

Ebony & Ivory

2010-04-06T06:30:00.002-05:00

... live together in perfect harmony. Seems like this song sorta goes with the sentiment on today's card. Actually took some time off yesterday from the "real" world and tried a few cards the Zindorf way. Why did I not upload one of those? Because they are still in the camera... sigh.

On the other hand, it is TUESDAY and I am mostly well. Short on sleep and covered in some nasty ugly itchy rash, but well. LOL. On the plus side of that, found 2 shirts I was needing to go with 2 really hard to match skirts, so I am wearing one now. Keeps the legs from itching more if I keep clothing off of them.
And, since I tried to cutoff my thumb, pants are too hard to button. And don't even ASK how I got my bra on!

This card is simple.. DSP with a vellum butterfly die (Sizzix), a ribbon & a word stamp... tada!

Off to work I go to see how much havoc appeared in my absence.

Meet Virginia

2010-03-23T06:31:00.002-05:00

I have not actually met this Virginia, but maybe-just maybe- it is her birthday? This is a repurposed card, meaning I used some wrapping paper as the background and diecut the sentiment (Sizzix) and notched the corners, then attached the whole thing to a cardbase using brads.
with that, I will leave you and go look for Virginia... or at least go get ready for work...

She only drinks coffee at midnight
When the moment is not right
Her timing is quite unusual
You see her confidence is tragic
But her Intuition magic

Step by step, Heart to heart

2010-03-19T06:44:00.003-05:00

I know, it is too late for St Patrick's Day cards, but since when did I follow conventional rules? I did a random shuffle as it is Friday, and this is what comes up. The other thing that comes up is that I have not made a single card all this week.

Monday was a 'mental day' and a complete success... I even forgot it was payday!
Tuesday was grocery shopping and household stuff. Wednesday was clinic, Thursday was massage and now, somehow, it is already Friday!

Saturday will be Austin RCG's Spring Equinox so do feel free to join us if you are a woman over the age of 18 :-)

Mandolin Rain

2010-03-18T06:39:00.003-05:00

Card sentiment seems a bit off if you listen to the song (link in title)...but then again...maybe not. This is one of my fave cards, actually....

Life is a Waterfall

2010-03-17T06:52:00.004-05:00

not sure I have ever woken up with System of a Down playing in my head, but oh well! The song has my 2 fave elements... air (Song title is actually Aerials) and water (falls). And the true point to the song is at the end, when you are reminded : When you lose small mind
You free your life
Aerials, so up high
When you free your eyes eternal prize

With that... Good morning! Today's card is made to fitin a #10 business envelope, in case you don't want your friend to know it is a card the moment the open the mailbox. Ppayed with Spellbinder dies and DTP (direct to paper) inking. Now, time to go play like I wanna be at work...

(insert 7 dwarves singing "I owe, I owe, so off to work I go......")

"GOOD NIGHT, Mrs. Calabash--wherever you are!"

2010-03-16T21:45:00.001-05:00

"GOOD NIGHT, Mrs. Calabash--wherever you are!" For years, Jimmy Durante ended his radio and television shows with that unusual sign-off. So, today.. here is mine... (thank you Rascal Flatts)

Love who you love
With all that you have
And don't waste the time
That flies so fast
Love who you love
And say that you do
Hold on as tight as they'll let you
Love who you love

Give all you've got
Like it's your last day
Your heart and soul
Before it's too late
And pull them in so close
Enough that they can feel it
With every single breath that
You're breathing
Breathe it in again and again

If you could only see how blue her eyes can be...

2010-03-16T06:56:00.002-05:00

And, speaking of love, tomorrow is not only St Patrick's Day but it is also the day a few friends will be celebrating Piscean birthdays! I am a fan of people born under the sign of Pisces as they are the other duality in the zodiac. Makes us Geminis feel less insecure, you know, to have a similarity to others :-)

This card is simply layers upon layers, thanks to Spellbinder die cuts and my Sizzix machine and a little bit of ribbon. Secret for ya? Cut the layers out of EACH OTHER. htis not only saves paper but makes the card less bulky for mailing. By that I mean the small topmost white layer is actually cut out of the white layer sandwiched between the 2 blue ones. Same for the smaller blue one being cut out of the larger one.

Never Gonna Be Alone

2010-03-12T06:35:00.003-06:00

Today's song is by Nickelback and I thought I would actually post the lyrics here because it is Friday and I need to go make breakfast! And because I like it so well. :-)

Time, is going by, so much faster than I,
And I'm starting to regret not spending all of here with you.
Now I'm, wondering why, I've kept this bottled inside,
So I'm starting to regret not selling all of it to you.
So if I haven't yet, I've gotta let you know...

Never gonna be alone!
From this moment on, if you ever feel like letting go,
I won't let you fall...
Never gonna be alone!
I'll hold you 'til the hurt is gone.

And now, as long as I can, I'm holding on with both hands,
'Coz forever I believe that there's nothing I could need but you,
So if I haven't yet, I've gotta let you know...

Never gonna be alone!
From this moment on, if you ever feel like letting go,
I won't let you fall.
When all hope is gone, I know that you can carry on.
We're gonna see the world out,
I'll hold you 'til the hurt is gone.

Ooooh! You've gotta live every single day,
Like it's the only one, what if tomorrow never comes?
Don't let it slip away,
Could be our only one, you know it's only just begun.
Every single day,
Maybe our only one, what if tomorrow never comes?
Tomorrow never comes...

[Verse 4]
Time, is going by, so much faster than I,
And I'm starting to regret not telling all of this to you.
So if I haven't yet, I've gotta let you know...

Never gonna be alone!
From this moment on, if you ever feel like letting go,
I won't let you fall.
When all hope is gone, I know that you can carry on.
We're gonna see the world out,
I'll hold you 'til the hurt is gone.

I'm gonna be there always,
I won't be missing a word all day,
I'm gonna be there always,
I won't be missing a word all day.

Haven't met you yet...

2010-03-11T06:48:00.003-06:00

...or have I? This card sorta goes with the song of the day since it is about true friends. :-) Alcohol ink used to create the part with sentiment on it. Butterfly is heat embossed with EP. Ribbon because I can, LOL. The background paper was made using household bleach/water mix.

still singing...

And I know that we can be so amazin
And baby your love is gonna change me
And now I can see every possibility

now, off to earn kibble...

Halfway there...

2010-03-10T06:19:00.004-06:00

...and, appropriately enough, this is a good song for 'hump day' is it not? And, even better.. it is CLINIC DAY!! I love clinic day... the people are nice, I get to come into town and leave relaxed, instead of stressed by traffic (handy location for me) and I get to see my fave intern!! And even the needles part is pretty interesting... what can I say?

This card is one I tried after reading one of Michelle Zindorf's tutorials ... she is coming to Colleyville, TX finally and I am NOT MISSING IT! She is teaching a brayer workshop that I signed up for back in Aug 2009, that is how much I am wanting to take that class.
Speaking of wanting.... I wanna be a Toys R Us kid so I have lots of toys to play with and don't have to grow up... as it is, I must go earn kibble for the mastiff laying ON my feet....

looking for Heather... LOL

2010-03-06T19:23:00.002-06:00

Heather...the card you saw was sold, and each one is original... here are 5 others that might possibly interest you? They are available.. $2.50 per card (tax included) plus cost to mail to you! Let me know!

Rise above this

2010-03-05T06:20:00.002-06:00

A REAL Friday (no work tomorrow!! at least outside the home). Can you imagine? And the dragonfly on this card seems to be rising above things. This is actually a DSP that I added another dragonfly to with EP. The fan is just from a box of random paper embellishments that hang out near my desk. I am a fan of dragonflies, I will admit.

Depending on your viewpoint, the main symbolisms of the dragonfly are renewal, positive force and the power of life in general. Dragonflies can also be a symbol of the sense of self that comes with maturity. Also, as a creature of the wind, the dragonfly frequently represents change. And,maybe the most important symbolism for me: as a dragonfly lives a short life, it knows it must live that life to the fullest with the short time it has. I think that is a major lesson for all of us. And a lesson I try to heed DAILY.

With that said, however, I have to find a balance between all the things in life I want to do because I cannot do them all... not AND sleep. LOL. So, I will be sitting out this Sunday's Texas Wheel Workshop to do some work on the website for our 18th Annual Festival of the Goddess. Tonight, I make more cards (thanks Heather!) and Saturday I spend doing the same so I can take a new batch to Market Saturday afternoon. And, for those of you that haven't visited Jackie's site yet, she says nice things about me: "Our handmade CARDS are unique. Two producers do photo cards with moments in Nature frozen for you to see, and they are really good photographers! "Cards by Chaotic" are beautiful hand made creations, even the paper is hand made. Give a special card, not a mass produced one."

I owe, I owe, so off to work I go....

I can't live...

2010-03-03T06:51:00.003-06:00

... if living is without you... :-) oh the things I wake up with on Wednesdays. Speaking of waking up.. it is a BEAUTIFUL day in Central Texas. How do I know this when I have not even been outside? Becuase I woke up without a migraine. Priorities, you know.

This card was a lot of fun... DSP on black cardbase, embossed solid yellow piece and sued ribbon & punches & a sticker.
And, just like someone I know... it is "So Sweet" .

And, made 2 more cards & a deco for Raquel last night. Tonight is sorting financial records for Austin RCG and then Thursday is back to making cards. I am enjoying the card making, in spite of the stress of having to "produce". I just need to continue the ongoing struggle to keep my life (and calendar) from filling up with things that-while enjoyable-are taking up chunks of my time that I want to devote to other things. Priorities.. I know. And lately I have two that I actually WANT to make time for.

Stay tuned.

I want you to know

2010-03-02T06:34:00.003-06:00

Well, if you actually click on the title to listen to today's song, that is NOT the mood in which I awoke. However, the title is a good lead in. What do I want you to know today? How about the sentiment on today's card? How about the fact that we need a radical shift in the paradigm we have created for our world? How about knowing within yourself that you can be who you want to be, from deep down inside, and still be able to be loved? Oh, I could espouse all day.. :-)

Instead, I will tell you that I am slowly figuring out technology and I want to throw the new "smart phone" less & less. And that I am not quite as terrified of taking on the responsibility for the Festival of the Goddess website as I was when I first decided I could do it. Still not sure I can, actually, but I can certainly start learning.

That is what I want you to know for today, actually... that you should do one thing today that terrifies you, that gets you out of your comfort zone, that causes you to stretch & reach for something (someone?) you thought was impossible.

Life starts now

2010-02-26T06:18:00.002-06:00

Actually, the name of the song is "Higher Places" but the album is "Life Starts Now" and I liked that title better for the post. I was thinking, as I was bleeding, about those people that say "Wow, you have all those animals? You are so lucky!". I have already posted a typical 'day in the life' for us @ Spirit Stone Sanctuary. Today I will show you what "lucky' looks like on a not-so-typical morning.

Awaken @ 5:30am as usual. Kick Spirit out to walk the dogs so I can placate the cat stealing a rubber band off the bedside table (you know the results of a cat shewing rubber bands?). Chase cat into living room, tripping on another one in the process. Walk for 20 minutess on stairstepper while listening to the 3rd cat yowl in discomfort THE WHOLE TIME. Wait, did I mention that "all those animals" are rescues, and some are special needs babies? Get off stairstepper (still nekkid, I might add) and go get a towel & the special needs shampoo. Move dirty dishes to one side of sink so I can wrestle the 17 pound Siamese with skin & ear issues into the other. Coat said sumo in a green, sticky colloidal oatmeal shampoo. HOLD junior sumo for next 10 minutes while shampoo soaks into skin. Attempt to rinse thoroughly without additional injury to either party.
Straight-jacket him in towel, remove from kitchen full of sharp objects to couch in living room. Semi towel him dry then release miffed ball of sharp-clawed fur to go be pacified by Mama Kitty (the one I tripped over @ 5:30am). Check watch... 6:15am. Feed dogs, take shower, get dressed.
Look for angry kitty & apologize. Blog.

Tonight I start my training as web mistress for the Festival of the Goddess. The person that graciously donated the time (lots & lots of time) to do it last year (bc no one on committee knows how) lives in Dallas, Tx. And so I will be heading that way to learn our website. That way I can get started on this year's Festival (#18!!). Original plan had been attend party for friend in from out of state tonight, then drive to Dallas early Saturday morning, spend night, then come home Sunday prepared. But due to plan change on other end, my education has been moved up a day. Bummer to miss party, but is needed learning. I am one of the Registration Divas & I cannot even upload the form to our site. Yikes!

Ias going to post a pic of the now medicated Siamese, but he just walked by and glared at me. the clock tells me it is 6:40am so time to wash dishes, make breakfast for people while Spirit makes breakfast for lizard denizens. then pack lunches, see if it is light enough to figure out how to turn on solar fence (that was last night's project for the resident mastiff). Gulp coffee, pick up neighbor kid & hit the road. Sigh. On the other hand.. IT IS FRIDAY!!! And tomorrow is Spirit's last Saturday shift. After this, for the 1st time since those 4 weekends in Jan 2008, we will both be working a Mon-Fri schedule. Wow. No weekends working outside the home, just at home, building fences, etc.

Crimson & Clover

2010-02-25T06:37:00.004-06:00

Well, since I woke up with a MUCH BRIGHTER song, I thought I would post a card that matches, sorta. this is using embosslit borders (4 of them) on one piece of card stock, stamping same sentiment inside each and adding ribbon. Simple and heartfelt. I find the most heartfelt things are usually also the simplest. Like saying "I love you" and meaning it. It is a great way to start your day... try it!

Speaking of starting days... it is a gorgeous day in Central Texas. Not only has the barometer picked itself up out of the dregs of a low pressure front and climbed back up to a respectable 30.10 but I also got to walk with a friend at OMG A.M. The things we do to stay healthy.

Speaking of healthy... (seeing a pattern here in today's post?) today is the 25th of the month. 90 days since my last Western Rx. And the results? Well, as I posted previously, my last menses was a success as far as I am concerned. Traditional Chinese Medicine IS having ONLY positive effects on the INSIDE of my body. Just wish it could do something about the weather/barometer. SIGH. Anyway, I digress. The most gratifying (for me, today) is that I weight LESS now than I did while taking the Rx that was supposed to offset the anti-seizure Rx's side effect of weight gain.

Burning Through

2010-02-24T22:23:00.002-06:00

You know, I don't write these... I just wake up with snippets from them. This snippet was actually the lines in bold below. Sigh. Back to bed.

Every single day is another test of my will.
Confusion never dies it just stands still.
And all we are is emptiness and a little space to fill.
Have you ever come to realize it wasn't enough to kill me.

'Cause I saw it coming and I ran the other way.
I took time to see that I'm alive today
Every time I try I end up right back where I was before, alone.
It wasn't enough to kill me!

As you walk away you were everything for me.
I'm living for today so my worries can't destroy me.
Cause I am stronger with everything you do
But everything is soaked up inside and burning through.

'Cause I saw you coming and I ran the other way.
I took time to see that I'm alive today.
Every time I try I end up right back where I was before,
Alone and burning through.

As the sky turns burning red I can live without you.
Whatever's left inside my head is doing fine without you.
Cause you never have seen the light when breathing anger haunts you.
Well I've found this, you've found this, so take time to see.
And open up your eyes again,
Remember yesterday, today, and forever.

A little bit more

2010-02-22T22:04:00.002-06:00

:-) A lovely day... in spite of the barometer.... and a great weekend!!
And now, a good night to you all!

You're the reason

2010-02-19T06:43:00.003-06:00

Good morning!! So, menstrual cycle ended Wednesday and I had (mild, for me) migraine on Thursday. Seems as all the hormonal crap returned to "normal" (whatever that may be) my body was not happy. So I sent someone out for bananas and double iced espressos, which I promptly ingested, rapidly. Then I went for a walk in the brick, windy day where it was cooler than my office. Felt better, and by the time I arrived home, felt much better than when I started the day. No pain medication, just foods from my "COLD" list, according to TCM. Stick with me, really... I am seeing some light at the end of the tunnel. Or at least possibility of living life without adding chemicals to my already screwed up system. Seeing my healer today for an "after cycle" tuneup, so to speak. Then, an evening of fun & games and Goddess karoke with Patricia Monaghan!! But, now.... off to earn kibble! And then to see my friends this evening!

in light of today's events...

2010-02-18T13:33:00.001-06:00

The Native American Prayer of Peace

Oh Great Spirit, this is my prayer:
Help me to feel thine urge and thy message.
Help me to be just and at all times help me be kind.

If my brothers and sisters are weak and faltering, help me to the good thoughts, and show me the way that I may help them. Move me so that I may find a way to help all those who are in need.

Oh Great Spirit, I pray for your blessing.
I pray that you bring peace to all my brothers and sisters of this world.
I pray that you give us the knowledge to live as brothers and sisters and to love one another.

Oh Great Spirit of our ancestors,
I raise my pipe to you,
To your messengers the four winds,
And to Mother Earth who provides for your children.
Give us the wisdom to teach our children to love, to respect, and to be kind to each other, so that they may grow with peace in mind.
Let us learn to share all the good things that you provide for us on this earth.

Shedding some light on things

2010-02-17T06:35:00.003-06:00

Last night, Jeff (the adorable 'can do it all' son of our next door's neighbor) came over and started revamping Luna & Loki's habitat lighting. The ballasts for our 4 foot UV tubes was out of date & old so Lokie went 2 days without UV :-( and therefore wont eat. Tube would work IF you held it up against the ballast but I cannot do that 12.5 hours a day AND go earn kibble. So, part of 1 the lighting project done last night and part 2 will be completed tonight. Hecate & Indra got their new lights installed Sunday but we lacked all the needed supplies for the complete revamp on the L&L one.

I spent last night running recycle to "Green Guy" in San Marcos and then I cleaned habitats, made stuffed tomatoes (think bell pepper but with tastier surroundings) and created some sympathy cards for a client that needs one. Whichever ones do not get picked will go to my rack at the Bastrop Producer's Market. For those of you that were aslking for info about the Market, hours are Tues-Fri 11:00am - 6:00pm Sat 9am - 6pm Sun 1:00pm-6:00pm and it is located less than a mile from where Highways 21 & 71 meet (977 Hwy 71 between FM20 and Hwy21). Call 512-308-9989 for more info.

Right now, however, it is onward and upward, into the KITCHEN again where I plan to poach some eggs from "Shades of Green Farm"... you should try that place out.. The chickens are tasty and all organic and their farming values are humane, organic and local.