I'm goin' back to Cali Gillette, Wyoming
Yes, I had so much fun there last time that I've agreed to join Honey on another road trip to Gillette this week! It's okay, though, this time it's only for one night and we get to take the dog. WHEW! We're leaving tomorrow morning and coming back on Thursday. I've got plenty of reading for school to do on the 6 hour drive! So what I want to know from ya'll is...where's the worst place you've ever visited/ever been? Tell me all about it!
Don't read this book
I just finished this book:
The Little Friend by Donna Taratt It wasn't good so I don't recommend it to you. If I have previously done so in comments on your blog, I take it back. This book was very boring. The first 75 pages were interesting and well-written. The remaining 565 pages were long, drawn out and boring. I skimmed heavily the last 100 pages and I don't feel guilty about that! It starts out as a sort of murder mystery but in the end you never even find out who did it! And no, it didn't even have an interesting plot twist like Stephen King has been known to do to make it acceptable that you didn't find out who the killer was. This book just plain sucked. Don't read it. Now I think I shall read Our Lady of the Forest next! I hope it's better than that last book. Blech.
To my Christian friends, I wish you
(The Goddess Gathering last night was a bust. None of the regular women showed up because they had all partied too hard together the night before and were still recovering. So the hostesses invited a couple neighbor guys over and we ate the food and drank some beers and played Mad Libs. It was fun but not quite what I was prepared for. Oh well! Maybe next month!)
Moon Gathering
I'm going to my first "Goddess Gathering" tonight with a trusted friend of mine. She has these other girl friends who get together within 3 days of the full moon every month and do a small ritual outdoors and then feast inside one of their homes. I haven't been able to attend one of these for four months but tonight's the night. I'm a little nervous. Mostly because I have never met most of these women which would make anyone a bit uncomfortable. But they're friends of my dear friend so they've got to be good people. Also nervous because I've never participated in a ritual outside of my own home or yard and with people other than my family or closest friends. Finally, am additionally nervous because this time they're doing the ritual at a park downtown. It's known as a park where much of the gay community of Denver gather and it's only a couple blocks from Colfax. I don't mind this park, personally - I used to live just three blocks from it, I walked in the AIDS walk three years in a row through this park, and have had a couple picnics there with friends. But I've never been there at night. I am such a suburban whitebread girl so I have to admit I'm nervous. It'll be okay, I'm sure and part of me is looking forward to it. Wish me luck!
Week in Review
It's been snowing off and on for two and a half days now. THAT'S ENOUGH! It's SPRING! I need sunshine, cloudless skies, birdies chirping in my newly-blooming trees! Come on, Colorado, simmer down with the snow, please! Anyway....I found these great blogs via Chenoah's Question Post: Ravens Rage (especially this post!) Flights of the SpiritViki BabblesCori's continental viewing is truly awe-inspiring! And late last night, Maggie pointed me to this fun list of Celebrities' Diaries! I haven't followed many of them yet but I shall...oh yes, I shall!
Baby Dreams
Maggie wanted me to post about the dream I had early this morning. So, here goes... I had a baby boy. I wasn't pregnant and I didn't go into labor. But the baby boy I was holding was mine, came from me, and was only one day old. I held him close and cuddled him in a blanket. I was in the living room of the house I grew up in in Littleton with my Honey and my mother. Apparently, Honey and I owned and lived in the house. Mom and Honey were sitting in recliners next to one another in front of the window. I sat with the baby on the couch across from them. I was in awe over this baby and kept exclaiming how excited I was that my wish finally came true! Mom ignored the baby completely and kept complaining about her back, the poor lighting in the room, how she wanted to go to bed, etc. This pissed me off but only mildly as I have gotten used to her complaints. I just ignored her.
All of a sudden, Honey and I were on our way to the store. I still had the baby. We had no baby supplies and I kept feeding it vanilla flavored Soy milk from a bottle I happened to find in my house. I didn't have a burp cloth but I knew that I had to try burping him over my shoulder. Nothing much happened when I did this, he just cooed and gurgled all cute-like.
We were supposed to go to Honey's sister's apartment for a party or something but I insisted that we stop by Target and Sam's Club on the way to pick up some baby supplies. I started thinking of a list of things we would need in my head: burping cloths, a car seat/carrier, a snuggly thing or maybe one of those big scarves that the baby hangs in next to your body like a hammock, diapers, wipes, bottles, bottle warmers, formula. Then I wondered why my boobs didn't feel any different. Was I supposed to feed this baby from myself? I dont' remember giving birth but I knew that it was mine.
So we get to Sam's Club and I realize that I needed to renew my membership before we could get in the door. Target and Sam's Club were right next door to one another and connected indoors. I carefully handed the baby to Honey who wasn't actually Honey...it didn't look much like him - looked more like a scrawny hillbilly man. But for some reason I knew it was Honey. So I gave him the baby and rambled off some quick cautions and instructions. Then I went to renew my membership card.
At the membership desk I found three extremely long lines of people waiting. I couldn't bear to stand in those lines. I looked over at Honey and the baby who were sitting in some chairs off to the side. I saw Honey feeding the baby some of his cherry licorice. I ran over and grabbed it from him and sternly told him, "You can't feed sugary candy to a baby!!! He's still developing. Do you realize that a newborn baby isn't even 1/2 done developing and won't be fully developed as a child until he's about 2 years old??" Through this last half of my lecture, Honey was mocking me and acting bored and annoyed. So I gave him the baby again, told him to be careful and then went back to the membership desk.
The same lines were there, getting longer by the second and I couldn't stand it. I looked at my membership card, trying to figure out how long I could put off renewing it, when I realized it didn't expire until September, not March (it was a 9 instead of a 3 in the month field). I was so relieved.
I returned to Honey and the baby where I found a chair on it's side on the floor and the baby had been laid down with his head between the bars of the chair's arm. Honey had put him there, but not maliciously. He thought that it was a good way to let the baby sleep. But I noticed the baby was having trouble breathing. I freaked out and released the chair's arms from around his neck and he immediately started breathing again.
I picked him up and held him close to me. I said, "Screw it. Let's just go to Target and get everything there. We're already late for your sister's."
As we walked over to Target, I suggested to Honey that we name the baby Nicholas. He could go by Nick or Nicholas. Honey said, "Hmmmm..."
We got to Target and tried to put the baby in one of those little baskets you carry to shop with when you're not shopping for a lot of things - not enough for a full cart. I placed him gently in the basket, surrounded by blankets and cushioning. We went to the information/customer service desk where we found an older woman working there. She was grumbling and complaining about something as she approached us. She was trying to be funny and sarcastic. Honey started chiming in with her and playing along. I was so frustrated. I wanted to ask the woman about their baby registry or if she could suggest what sorts of things I would absolutely need in the next couple of days. But she was too distracted with joking with Honey. I grabbed a piece of paper and just stormed off with the baby, thinking I would do it myself. That's when I woke up. Awwwwwwwwww I loved that baby so much. When I woke up I cuddled with the dog, feeling very maternal towards him. I told Honey about the dream and he says that he'll have to wear two condoms the next time we do it since my fertility level probably just skyrocketed! (We are not currently trying to conceive, nor are we ready to. We're waiting another year or so at least.) So there you have it. My baby dream. Now, Maggie, kindly bring me your baby to play with for a while! ;)
Photogenic
ACT ONE: Random Shots Here we have 10 month old Merlyn who is guarding one of his most favorite (and cheapest) toys in the world...an ice cube:  After a quiet Ostara celebration with the lovely Mandy, Dobby rested on her lap:  My, what a sweet lil' miss priss Ariel is:  ACT TWO: Beware of Fangs! Check out Merlyn's fangs! These teeth stick out even when his mouth is closed!  And here we see Dobby showing brudder his own "fangs" (overbite):  ACT THREE: Ooo La La! (or, Your Parents Are Sick Bastards For Taking These Kinds of Pictures)Observe Dobby's beloved Monkey, who has already assumed The Position:  Soon, the Man Dog Dobby approaches and proceeds to have his way with her:  Finally, after all is said and done, the lovers cuddle and bask together:  It's like an orgy over here sometimes... This is Merlyn mounting Dobby:  It seems they like it rough:   GRAND FINALE: The Mellow SistersKudos to the girls for tolerating the daily insanity within this household! They find it best to just sleep through everything in between meals: 
Make a Little Birdhouse in Your Soul!
Blue canary in the outlet by the light switch
Who watches over you
Make a little birdhouse in your soul
Not to put too fine a point on it
Say I'm the only bee in your bonnet
Make a little birdhouse in your soul Remember that song from They Might Be Giants??? I'm sure Christine does! I loved that song. Loved that whole album actually. Unfortunately, I don't have it anymore. I had my ginormous CD collection stolen from me about 7 years ago when I moved out of an apartment in downtown Denver. So there are a plethera of CD's to which I frequently refer by saying, "Oh yeah, I used to have that CD!" Bah. I came home from school, ate my lunch, watched my soap, checked my email then got all ready to go to the grocery store to get some much-needed items and a variety of Easter candy to satisfy my sweet tooth. Alas, the snow began to fall. It's no big deal. It's not even sticking to the ground yet and the store is only a mile away. But it's cooooooooold and gray outside! I ain't goin' out in that! Brrrrrrrrrr! I really have nothing else to say right now. I'm off to unload some pics from the camera. Recent animal photos are forthcoming. Stay tuned!
Q & A Session
On her wonderful blog, Chenoah asked me some questions. I never knew my answers would be so in-depth but her questions really got me thinking! And for that, I thank her. Here ya go!
1. I see you are interested in Wicca. Do you think it is possible that humankind will ever return to its Goddess-worshiping roots? If so, how do you think it will happen, and within what timeframe?
To be perfectly honest, at this time in my life, I am focused more inward in my Goddess worshipping; going through some major internal, spiritual metamorphosis and self-discovery amongst the Divine. Therefore, I haven't given much thought to the possibility of humankind the world over returning to Goddess-worship. But you've planted the seed in my mind now, given me something to think about.
I can say now that I am a true believer in diversity. I think spirituality and a connection to that which is considered Divine is extremely personal. Everybody's beliefs are unique and should be respected as such. So, the diversity of religious beliefs that exist in the world today makes for a very colorful existence among us all. I doubt that all of humankind will ever fully return to its feminine-Divine or even polytheistic roots, but, little by little, us heathens and Pagans and Wiccans alike will grow stronger. It is my hope that someday, in my lifetime, the earth-centered traditions (religions, if you will) will be as prominent in this world as, say, Judaism, Christianity, and Islamic religions.
2. You’ve been reading Tarot for 15 years. Tell us about that, please.
Long story...so grab a cup o' coffee or take a bathroom break before proceeding...!
When I was 13 years old, I had a dream one night that consisted of various important spiritual images. I'll tell you the dream here with some of my Jungian interpretations in parentheses where appropriate:
In the dream, I walked down a staircase into a sort of basement of a house (going down stairs = getting deeper into ones subconscious). The basement was finished. At the bottom of the stairs I was in a sort of common area/foyer/hallway with four doors all around me. There was a red light bulb in the socket in the middle of the ceiling. (red = strength) So that room/hallway area was filled with a warm, red glow on the white walls and ceiling. I chose a door to enter. I think I chose the first door to my right but I can't really remember for sure.
Upon entering the room, I noticed that it resembled a bedroom in my grandma's house (she has since passed away but was alive at the time of the dream). The room was simply furnished with a full size bed, basic linens, and a bureau just inside the doorway facing the bed. I walked to the bureau and opened the top drawer which was at about chest-height. In the drawer I found some rocks (crystals) and a deck of cards with pictures on them (tarot). I picked up each rock and fondled it, feeling a pulsing sensation through my hand with each stone I handled. Next, I started shuffling through the deck of cards, laying them out in front of me on the surface of the bureau. After I had laid out four or five cards, I stopped placing cards down and began reading into the images of the cards. I knew they were telling me my future but I did not know exactly what they were telling me.
That's all I remember of the dream. I mentioned this dream to my mother the next day and she then (surprisingly) took me to a store called the Twelfth House, where I was shown several decks of Tarot cards. I ended up buying a deck and teaching myself how to read Tarot.
I have very strong beliefs regarding Tarot. First of all, I don't believe that Tarot can necessarily show you the future. I believe that the Tarot is like many other tools of divination that can reflect back to you what is hidden in your subconscious - aspects of yourself that you are not always aware of. Some of these aspects of our subconscious selves can often aide us at various times in our lives. Secondly, the Death card does not mean you are going to die! Once again with the Jungian symbology, the Death card simply indicates a transitional period, or change in ones life or self. And finally, I believe that paying someone to read your cards tends to reduce to effectiveness and accuracy of the reading. I'll admit that I have had my cards read for payment on more than one occasion. I love to read other people's cards (although I have not done so in several years!) especially people I know well. My husband won't let me read his. He says "there are just some things about myself that I just don't need to know...and I don't want you to know either!" I can understand and respect that.
3. Why did you choose to take up guitar?
I used to play the piano when I was young. Six years of lessons and I got to be pretty good. That hobby was abandoned for a variety of reasons beyond my control. But then in my teens, as I began to discover and appreciate music on my own, I eventually wanted to learn how to play the bass guitar (thanks to bands like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jane's Addiction, Live and, the infamously "suckable" Primus!). My dad told me I needed to learn the acoustic guitar before he would invest in an electric bass for me. He bought me an inexpensive beginner’s guitar from Sam's Club and I quickly abandoned interest in learning how to play it: I was a teenager, my attention span was about as long as a flashy commercial on MTV!
When Honey and I "got together," he had several guitars and would play them for me from time to time. I admired his ear for music and how he could just pick up a guitar and slowly strum out whatever catchy tune he heard. I wanted to learn how to play but I had these artificial gel nails on my fingers for several years. He kept telling me I wouldn't be able to play guitar until I got rid of the nails. *GASP* NEVER! TO THINK OF SUCH A TRAGEDY!!
In December I had my fake nails removed. I just suddenly lost interest in their beauty and cost of upkeep. And working with children, I knew I couldn't be stabbing them left and right with those expensive claws!
In January, Honey took up the banjo my dad had given him two Christmases ago and started teaching himself how to play it. I was intrigued. I was also going through some major changes in my life that actually gave me room and energy to explore new things. So I borrowed a guitar from a friend and begged Honey to teach me some chords. Really, I wasn't actively thinking, "Okay, now this is what I want to do. I want to learn to play guitar. " I just picked it up and started plucking and I loved it! Our lives are so enriched now that Honey and I share this musical education. We speak in a language that was once foreign to me (finger placement, re-stringing, tuning gears, melody, chords, half steps, etc) but it brings us so close together in ways I never imagined possible. I love it!!! And I love my guitar!!!
4. Are you an artist, as well? In what medium?
Well, I'm creative but I don't necessarily think that makes me an "artist." I used to write tons of poetry and had a couple poems published in small notebooks and journals. I've done some private and personal drawings in the past but nothing significant or particularly interesting. I am always doing something creative, whether it's writing, crafting, painting, doodling, playing music, cooking, or working with art materials with the preschoolers. I love art and can appreciate it in its various forms. But I don’t think I’m actually an artist.
5. Your pets are lucky to have their very own blogs. How did you teach them to do that?
TONS of treats as incentive. Needless to say, they are now all extremely overweight and lazy! Just kidding. Mostly, they just tolerate my click-click-clicking pictures of them almost daily and then demand that I feed them (again, almost daily!). My pets are my children right now so I enjoy talking about them and creating blogs for them to show them off! Just you wait till I start having babies! HA!
Hotness
Jeeeez, my hormones are raging right now and I don't know why!!! Last night, I went with Honey to a Bluegrass slow jam downtown. His banjo class instructor was leading the group of 9 people as they jammed with their banjos, basses, guitars and one mandolin. I sat back and tapped my foot, sometimes I sang along with the rest. And I sent mental messages to my Honey to be strong, play confident and have fun (Oh, and I was trying to remind him to breathe as he was extremely nervous). The only problem.........the teacher was HOT! Most people might not think so but this dude was soooo my type. I can't even bring myself to explain him to you...although he wasn't hot in the Brad Pitt or George Clooney sort of way. Closer to Jim Morisson. Meeeoow! And then there is Spike...  Oh, sweet, evil, Billy-Idol-Wanna-Be Spike. Yeah, yeah, I know what they say on the show: "Actually, Billy Idol stole that look from Spike." Regardless, you're hot. Every time I sit down to watch some back to back Buffy DVDs, you invade my dreams at night. You're the bad boy that every girl can love. You filled Angel's shoes wonderfully (big shoes to fill, I might add). I miss you. I know you're appearing in a made-for-cable movie in a little while but it's just not the same without your fake accent and broding thirst for blood. *Swoon* There's something seriously wrong with me. Now I know how Buffy felt. That's pretty much it for now: my lust hunks. I can look but I cannot touch. OOOP! Honey's home! Gotta go! ;)
Blabbity Blah blah blah
Mondays are blah days. I usually have therapy on Mondays but I cancelled it today because A) it's rainy and cloudy and grey outside which forces me inside, B) I want to start scaling back my sessions to once every two weeks and C) I ain't got nothing to talk to her about today! WOO HOO!! No drama over the weekend to recap with her! Yeah!!! Okay, I'll shut it about therapy and save it for my other blog... So, yeah, it's all grey and damp here today. I like these kinds of days. They force me to stay inside and cuddle up. My shoulder and neck are better than they were on Friday but still very painful when I'm up and mobile for too long. While Spring Break ended over the weekend, today still feels like a break for me...I got no homework, no school, no nothin'. Yesterday, Honey and I tried to think of some place to go to get me out of the house for a little while (I had been home since Thursday! ugh!). Try as we may, we couldn't think of a single place to go that didn't require (or at least heavily suggest) that we spend money: the mall, bookstore, craft store, guitar store, etc. It was raining so we couldn't go to the FREE bark park with the dog. I suggested a trip to the library (FREE) since we haven't been to the one here yet since we moved but Honey shot that down, claiming it sounded boring and dull. Eventually, we agreed on a trip to Michael's for some frames I need for my finished cross-stitch projects and Barnes & Noble so Honey could find a Bluegrass magazine. Yeah, we spent money. Go figure. Last night, I tried to watch Animal Planet's special, Dragons: A Fantasy Made Real. The commercials for the show looked awesome and exciting. But the show itself was a real disappointment. I liked the parts where they had CGI dragons flying around, stalking prey, guarding their eggs and whatnot. I also enjoyed the brief description of the various dragon legends around the world over the centuries. But when they did the parts with the "scientists" who were "examining" the "remains of an actual dragon found in a glacier" that's when it got a bit annoying. It's not real. It claims as such at the very beginning. The whole "documentary" is a work of fiction. So why bother trying to blab all these scientific studies and results and such? It just confuses me. Such a disappointment. We're talking about taking a long weekend in early April to go up to the Durango Meltdown Bluegrass Festival. There are a variety of concerts going on at a couple different venues in town, open-jam sessions in the lobbies of some hotels, coffeshops and the like, and vendors selling their bluegrass wares. Personally, I don't think I can handle an entire weekend of bluegrass in Durango but I'll go because Honey really wants to. That, and I get to take the dog AND "Play Hotel"!!! We'll probably make a trip out of it with dad and his gf which will be fun, too! Did I mention that is all I ever hear in this house lately...Bluegrass? A typical weekend day begins with Honey getting up and turning on the Bluegrass music channel on our digital cable, while he makes breakfast and whatnot. Then, as we bum around the house for a while, I blog and he picks away at his banjo for a couple hours. Eventually, we get off our butts and into the car, where he'll put on a bluegrass CD while we drive around. The evenings are filled in with more bluegrass on the TV or banjo in the "music room." And when he goes to bed at 8pm, he puts that Bluegrass channel on again and falls asleep. You'd think he'd get sick of it. But I guess not. I'm not really, as it's a nice change from death metal scary stuff! Although, I can't tell you how many times I've heard Dolly Parton and some other hillbilly guy singing "Viva Las Vegas"! ARGH! What the deal with Terri Schiavo? There is so much debate and anxiety wrapped around this woman! My heart goes out to her parents, husband, sister, friends. But mostly, I feel for her. That's what this is all about, right? Let's not lose sight of the person for whom all of this fighting is about. If you want my personal opinion, I think they should just shut up, back off and let her pass away in peace. I understand her parents' inability to not let her go. But tying this all up in the Federal courts is pure madness. This is a woman's life and death we're talking about here. Unfortunately, they lost most of her a long time ago. Why must they continue with her and their own suffering? Since I don't often wane political or current eventy on my blog, and in attempts to keepin' it real, please take a moment to check out some other bloggers' opinions: Finally, in the words of Forrest Gump, "That is all I have to say about that."
Best Husband in the World
I just got Honey to clean the bathtub for me. And he just finished making and cleaning up the mess from making waffles this morning! He is the best Honey in the entire universe! *MWAH* I LOVE YOU HONEY! *MWAH*
Week in Review
Beth's fetus has her own blog! What a lucky baby! What'd I say a couple weeks ago? Christine really gets around! This week she was bloggin' over at Cori's place! Finally, check out 63 Days...a blow-by-blow account of a horrifying time in a young girl's life. Skillfully written. In addition to the two new ones mentioned above, these are new to the blogroll: SmoochmonkeyHere comes life...Have a nice Sunday, everyone!
Ostara - the Spring Equinox
Tomorrow morning marks the beginning of Spring, also known as the Spring Equinox, Vernal Equinox, Eostre, or Ostara. Ostara was the name of the Virgin Goddess of Spring in ancient Germany. . .At Ostara, the Teutons honored their Goddess of Spring, Eostre - for whom the Christian holiday of Easter is named - with feasting and ritual.* Ever wondered why Easter changes dates and months from year to year? It is always the first Sunday following the first full moon after the Spring Equinox!
Eggs are popular at this time of year because of their representation of new life, creation, potential and growth. In modern traditions, people often dye hard boiled or emptied (yolk blown out) eggs. The modern belief that these eggs are delivered by a rabbit known as the Easter Bunny, comes from the legend of the Goddess Eostre. So much did a lowly rabbit wish to please this Goddess that he laid the sacred eggs in her honor, gaily decorated them, and then humbly presented them to her. So please was she that she wished all humankind to share in her joy. In honoring her wishes, the rabbit went through all the world and distributed these little decorated gifts of life.*
Other popular traditions at the Spring Equinox include spring cleaning, sunrise observances (to celebrate the growing light of the sun), sowing and planting, ashes from the Ostara eve bonfire mixed with the planting seed as a fertility charm (I am doing something similar to this, but not with the intention of making me fertile!), eating of cake and cider and the burying a piece of the cake and pouring cider libation to show the earth what it is expected to produce, making of moon cakes which are round cakes marked on the top by a cross dividing it into quarters symbolizing the quarters of the moon and the four elements (hot-cross buns). **
Growing up, I had a friend who lived across the street who's aunt in Texas would send her a crate full of empty, delicate and beautifully dyed eggs every Spring. Her parents would often hide the eggs throughout their back yard and would have the neighborhood kids come over and hunt for them. I loved these eggs and made several attempts to make some of my own. Do you know how hard it is for a 10 year old to blow the yolk out of an egg through a tiny hole no bigger than a pin-prick!?
This is the first year that I am celebrating all of the Sabbats on the Wheel of the Year. To celebrate Ostara I am following a small ritual to create a Magick Egg suggested in a newsletter from my local magick store:
It begins with dying a raw egg the appropriate color for your wishes: green for growth, prosperity or healing; red or pink for love and marriage; purple for spiritual growth and psychic development; yellow for new beginnings and successful studies; blue for peace and serenity; orange for power and energy.
Next, blow the yolk out of the egg with two small pin pricks at either end of the egg (Honey is doing this for me right now because he seems to have a trick to make it work!).
Once the egg is empty, make small holes around the middle of the egg and mark a small spot so that you'll be able to fit the egg back together correctly.
Take a thin blade and saw through the shell along the line of tiny holes you just made. Rinse the egg inside and out and dry it.
Next, using herbs and stones, fill the egg with your wishes and energies for your goal. Fill green eggs with chopped bay leaves, cinnamon chips and a citrine stone; red or pink eggs will be filled with rose petals, damiana and a rose quartz stone' purple eggs will use poppy seeds, white sandalwood and an amethyst stone; yellow eggs will use lavender, allspice and a clear quartz; blue eggs will be filled with chamomile, hops and a blue topaz; and the orange egg will use bloodroot, patchouli and a gold tiger's eye stone. Fill each half of the egg separately, focusing your energies on charging the herbs and stone with your goals and wishes.
Finally, light a candle that is the same color as your dyed egg and drip small bits of melted wax along the seam of the cut eggshell to fuse it back together. Continue to visualize your wishes as you do so. Keep the filled and sealed Magick Egg in a safe place and when your goal or wish has been achieved, bury it in your yard. ** Here are links to some sites on the web that provide more information and ideas for celebrating the coming of Spring:*** Blessed Be the Season of Spring!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sources: * Sabbats: A New Approach to Living the Old Ways by Edain McCoy ** Isis newsletter - March, April, May 2005 *** Witch's Voice website
Pain in the neck!
For real! I've felt this aching in my shoulder and neck since Tuesday. I flipped my contoured pillow last night which usually does the trick but then I awoke this morning to a painful pinching sensation in the right side of my neck and shoulder. I've experienced this before...far too often, in fact. So I know how to cope. It's probably going to take up my whole weekend *pout!* Fear not! I have taken a muscle relaxer, applied Tiger Balm and am drinking water like there's no tomorrow! I should probably be in the recliner instead of at the computer. But then I'd just want to cross-stitch which is still not gentle on the ole neckaroo! So...whatever. In other news, I purchased a foot-salon-pedicure-massagy-soaky thing yesterday and tried to give myself a full pedicure treatment. It was a bad experience from beginning to end. I'll spare you the long, gory details but let me recap: It began with much "situating" (find a book to read whilst soaking, where are my glasses?, is it okay to put soap and salt into the water?, the water's too damned hot, the water's too damned cold now!, empty, refill, find perfect temperature, okay, still a little too cool but what the hell, turn on bubbles and massager....). It ended with much disappointment (the bubbles only worked for a half minute, the massager is actually hurting my feet a little bit, the callus remover dealybob tickles too much, let me rinse off my finger under the tap while I let my feet soak---OW! What was that slight tingling sensation in my fingers?! was I just shocked a little from this thing?!?! Okay that's it, turn it off, unplug it, dry feet, lift tub to empty water only to find the rug and carpeting beneath it is completely soaked with water!!!! ARGH!!!) Needless to say, I am returning the damned thing as soon as I get a chance! Tomorrow I'll be celebrating the Spring Equinox! HORRAY!! Off to bed I go...maybe....
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Don't know much about history but I am learning more and more each day about my own heathen ways! Here's a bit of info for you on shamrocks:
Shamrock - The Celtic trefoil, which originated in the east. Pre-Islamic Arabs called the trefoil shamrakh, the three-lobed lily or lotus flower of the Moon-goddess's trinity: a design of "three yonis" which appeared on artifacts of the ancient Indus Valley civilization, as well as on stone, pottery, and woodwork in Mesopotamia, Crete and Egypt between 2300 and 1300 B.C.E.
Christians pretended* that St. Patrick explained the doctrine of the Christian trinity to the Irish by exhibiting the shamrock. However, the Irish were worshipping this emblem of their Triple Goddess long before Christianity appeared in their land. It stood for her triple "door," and her God sometimes bore the title of Trefuilngid Tre-rochair, "Triple Bearer of the Triple Key," a trident representing the triple phallus. He was known as a God of the Shamrock, partially assimilated to Christianity by a legend that he appeared to the Irish on the day of Chri's crucificion, bearing sacred stone tablets and a branch with three fruits.
-taken from The Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets, written by Barbara G. Walker, published by Harper and Row, San Francisco, 1983.
* I personally feel the use of the word "pretended" is inappropriate and negative in its connotation as it is used here. I think what the author is trying to say is, simply, that the Christians created their own myth and legend about St. Patrick to suit their needs.
Now go on out there and enjoy yourself a tall, frothy green beer...or three of them, should you see fit! I'm staying in and drinking green tea instead!
My husband is apparently having an I.T. meeting at work today, at the Celtic Tavern downtown. SHYAH RIGHT! Meeting, my ass! Hope he doesn't get shloshed!
My thanks to Lili for pointing me in the direction of this historical explaination of St. Patrick. I learn something new every day!
Where Have I Been???
I've been a bad blogger buddy lately! Haven't been around to my favorite blogs in several days. Shame on me! Nevermore!!!! I just touched each one of the blogs in my Daily Reads roll!!! WHEW! I even commented on some of them! Tomorrow afternoon (maybe) I shall paruse my Other Favorites roll as well! I will be redeemed!!!!!!!!!!
Our New Baby
Here she is...a thing of beauty. We can't put her down yet. Strum, strum strum, all through the house. We are in love!
My guitar class last night was cool. But I had to use Honey's Ovation which is way too big for me. I strained my shoulder and neck by holding it upright for the hour-long class. I'm sore today but now we have this beauty and she's just my size.
In the words of Jimmy Buffett: "I only know three chords on the guitar -- but I know the hell out of 'em!"
Musical Chairs
GAME OVER!
Sorry, guys, I didn't think it would be so difficult this time around. We'll try again later with some easier ones. Thanks for playing!!!
Horray! Again, Christine said I could steal this from her! A lot of good it did me; I had a million things I needed to do in the last three hours but, instead, I sat here and worked this out for ya'll. SO YOU'D BETTER ENJOY IT! That's an order! Here are 20 parts of lyrics from 20 semi-random songs on my iTunes. You guess the ones you know in the comments box and then I'll put a line through the ones that have been guessed correctly. I'll give hints for the ones that are still left tomorrow morning. Good luck! 1. On the corner is a banker in a motorcar. The little children laugh at him behind his back. And the banker never wears a mack in the pouring rain. Very strange. Anonymous got it: Penny Lane by the Beatles
2. It seems to me you and me are chasing something here. What it is does anybody here want to know? It seems to me you and me are forgetting something here. Love is so easily forgotten. HINT: Try not to get a big head about ya!
This is Big Head Todd's song Circle.
3. It seems like I should say, "As long as this is love..." But it's not all that easy. So maybe I should snap her up in a butterfly net, pin her down on a photograph album. I am not worried cuz you've done this sort of thing before. But then I start to think about the consequences and I don't get no sleep in a quiet room. HINT: How many of these little black birds are there? Let's count...!
Counting Crows' Anna Begins from the album August and Everything After.
4. She's gone to the other side, given us the yo heave ho. Things are getting kind of gross. And I go at sleepy time. This is not really, this, this, this is not really happening. You bet your life it is. You bet your life it is. Good job, Chris! Cornflake Girl by Tori Amos
5. This is the first day of my last days. Built it up now take it apart. Climbed up real high now fall down real far. No need for me to stay. The last thing left, I just threw it away. I put my faith in god and my trust in you. Now there's nothing more fucked up I could do. Honey got it! Wish by Nine Inch Nails
6. I'm stepping through the door and I'm floating in a most peculiar way. And the stars look very different today. For here am I sitting in a tin can far above the world. Planet Earth is blue and there's nothing I can do. Honey got it: Space Oddity by David Bowie
7. Well I wanna make love to you tonight I can't wait till the morning has come. Yea, I know the time now is just right and straight into my arms you will run. When you come up I will be waiting to make sure that you're never alone. There and then all my dreams will come true, dear, there and then I will make you my own. HINT: "What a marvelous night..." Lili got it: Van Morrison's Moondance
8. Hey, you know they're all the same. You know you're doing better on your own so don't buy in. Live right now. Just be yourself It doesn't matter if that's good enough for someone else HINT: If you're not the oldest, and you're not the youngest, that makes you the _______ child. KC got it: Jimmy Eat World's In The Middle
9. Faster than the speeding light she's flying, trying to remember where it all began. She's got herself a little piece of heaven, waiting for the time when Earth shall be as one. And I feel like I just got home. Shannin got it! Ray of Light by Madonna
10. Lift me, lift me, I attain my dream. I lost myself, I lost them, heartache calling me. I lost myself in sorrow. I lost myself in pain. I lost myself in gravity, memory, believe, leave, leave. That's what keeps me, that's what keeps me, that's what keeps me down. HINT: The title is actually in this verse somewhere. Maybe you should sleep on it...maybe you'll dream (also known as....) You go, Brando! R.E.M.'s Leave
11. The youthful heart can love you, yes and give you what you need. I said this youthful heart can love you and give you what you need. But I'm too old to go chasing you around, wasting my precious energy. Rich got it: Give Me One Reason by Tracy Chapman
12. So young here I am again talking to myself, a T.V. blares. Oh man, oh how I wish I didn't smoke or drink to reason with my head. But sometimes this thick confusion grows until I cannot bare it all.
Needle to the vein. Needle to the vein. Take this needle from my vein my friend! HINT: My favorite band ever (see my 100 Things for help). That's all I'm giving you right now.
This is Dave Matthews Band's Rhyme and Reason!!!
13. Say a prayer for me help to feel the strength I did. My identity, has it been taken. Is my heart breaking on me? All my plans fell through my hands, they fell through my hands on me. In my dreams it suddenly seems empty. HINT: The title is in this verse, too, and the band is named after fruit(s). Good enough, Heather! It's Empty by the Cranberries.
14. So when you call up that shrink in Beverly Hills, you know the one, Doctor Everything-Will-Be-Alright, instead of asking him how much of your time is left, ask him how much of your mind, baby. Cause in this life, things are much harder than the Afterworld. In this life, you're on your own. He got his numbers mixed up but Honey's right anyway! Lets Go Crazy by Prince and the Revolution
15. Breaking a stick with a brick on the sand. Riding a wave in the wake of an old Sedan. Sleeping alone in the drone of the darkness. Scratched by the sand that fell from our love. Deep in my dreams and I still hear her calling. If you're alone I'll come home. HINT: This is a way early song for this band and unless you're a big fan of 'em, you may not be familiar with this song about a far away town in France...ahhhh!
Pay attention, people. This is Pink Floyd's San Tropez. This is pre-Roger Waters. If you don't know it, find it, listen to it, you'll love it!
16. What you are doing is screwing things up inside my head. You should know better you never listened to what I've said. Clutching your pillow and writhing in a naked sweat. Hoping somebody someday will do you like I did. Bubblehead got it! Harder to Breathe by Maroon 5.
17. At this moment, you should be with us...feeling like we do, like you loved to but never will again. I miss you, my dear Xiola. I prepared the room tonight with christmas lights, a city of candles, and fresh incense. HINT: This is actually a spoken intro to this 11 minute-long song. Pre-grunge. One of the band members married Carmen Electra (who hasn't!). Dawn, I'm giving you this one because Dave Navarro was in both Jane's Addiction and RHCP for a while -- he's the one who married Carmen Electra. This is actually the intro to Three Days by Jane's Addiction (off the Ritual album)
18. So many have paid to see what you think you're getting for free. The woman is wild, a she-cat tamed by the purr of a Jaguar. Money's the matter. If you're in it for love you ain't gonna get too far. Honey got it: Maneater by Hall and Oates
19. Won't you look down upon me, Jesus, Ya gotta help me make a stand. You just got to see me through another day. My body's aching and my time is at hand. I won't make it any other way. Honey got this one too: Fire and Rain by James Taylor
20. There she stumbles, falling to her knees. I think she tripped on reality. I have witnessed tragic comedies. And that's the world in which she leads. Well, I'd walk a million miles to give her all that she needs. And she would walk a million more to do what she believes. HINT: I can't think of a hint for this one because I'm not very familiar with it. Except that it's actually a duet between a more modern band and a flashy, homosexual, classic entertainer.
This is Collective Soul singing with Elton John...the song is called Perfect Day.
Le Yawn
And so begins Spring Break. But not just yet. I have a short paper to write this afternoon. And then I can continue "kickin' it." Remember last week, I told you about our friends who just had a baby? Well, here's an adorable picture of the new little guy! Last night we saw Father of the Bride at SIL's theater (she's the stage manager). This was the best show yet! Mostly because there was no singing. And also because Carmine from Laverne and Shirley was in it. It was hilarious! The food was great, too. The service absolutely SUCKED beyond belief! Our waiter talked too fast, mumbled his words and was making stupid jokes about us sitting at the "Presidential Table" (becaue we were sitting in the second row from the stage -- we get free tix from SIL, go figure!). He kept grabbing my shoulder, HARD, when he'd talk to us or make his stupid quips. He messed up our order as well as the orders from all of his four other tables (I witnessed it happen). Fortunately, a manager comped part of our meals. But then I think the guy got in trouble because a little while later, after another couple at one of his other tables asked for a comment card and the waiter's last name, he came over and apologized to us for messing up our orders. He said, "It must be all the radiation in my brain." We giggled uncomfortably to make him shut up. But it didn't work. He continued, "No, I really do have radiation in my brain. I've been getting radation treatments lately and it's hard...." He did this please-give-me-sympathy sigh and then sauntered off. I couldn't believe it. He may very well be involved in radiation therapy for some reason but it's inexcusable for him to announce it to his customers in attempts to prevent them from filling out nasty notes about him on the comment cards. I was appalled. I noted as such on the comment card. And to tell you the truth, I felt physically violated by his grabbing me all damn night long. I swear, he must've grabbed my shoulder at least a dozen times. I tried shrinking away and leaning the other direction to avoid it but it did not help. He had long arms and could reach me. I was able to bypass it once by going to the restroom. I was on the verge of telling him to stop grabbing me when he told us about his radiation issues. That just left me speechless. It's a great theater, super food and awesome shows. But the service S-U-C-K-S! Actually, the backup dude who wanders around to fill up glasses of water, tea and coffee...he was really nice, kinda cute and very attentive. I wonder why he's not an actual waiter! I got my new iPod FINALLY. And loving it! Honey got me some printable tattoos for the iPod for my birthday so I'm trying that out today. We went guitar shopping on Saturday. We've decided to just buy a brand new guitar that we can both use. We're selling a couple of Honey's current guitars and he's getting some kind of bonus from work. So we went to one store in Englewood and started strumming some of the lower-priced models. A sales guy taught me a couple new chords and helped me hear the difference between some of the instruments. We went in with a small and limited budget because we didn't know how much Honey's bonus would be. Well, while I was strumming with the salesguy, Honey's cell phone rang and he ran off to answer it, claiming it was his boss. He stood across the storeroom floor from us and chatted away with bossman. All of a sudden, his face split into the biggest grin I haven't seen on him since our wedding day! He kept saying, "That's awesome, man! I'm so excited!" He gave me the thumbs up and bounced it in the air as if to say, "GO HIGHER!" Our budget just tripled in size!!! Turns out, his bonus is way better than we could've imagined, plus he got a raise. I am so proud of him. He's been through some difficult times in the working world the past five years or so. And he has definitely earned his position today. So...we kept looking at other guitars. We're not blowing a huge chunk of change on one because it's just foolish since I'm a beginner and he's all into the banjo more these days. But we are now able to invest in a better quality guitar than we had thought before. I'm stoked! Oh and my class starts tomorrow night! (I'll have to use Honey's big fat guitar until we decide and purchase a new one that's my size). Well, my papa is coming to pick me up in about an hour to take me to lunch as he evaluates another restaurant for that Secret Diner gig. It's actually a wings place in town and he took me and his gf there on Friday and it was GOOOOOOOOD! My mouth is watering already! Happy Monday to everyone!
Saturday's Review
I didn't get much blog-surfing in this week but here are two great new additions to the blogroll that were recommended to me by Christine and groovebunny: We saw Ray and Saw last night. Well, to be honest, we watched Saw first because it was so scary. We had to follow it up with a non-scary film. They were both amazing, in their own way. Saw FREAKED ME OUT! I love suspenseful movies with twists at the end. That was cool. Although I probably don't ever want to see it again! Ray was beautiful. Honey didn't really want to see it but then about 1/4 of the way through he said, "We must buy this movie!" Jamie Foxx deserved every ounce of gold (fake?) in that Academy Award! And it took me a while but I finally figured out that one of his buds at Atlantic Records was played by Curtis Armstrong, of Better Off Dead and Revenge of the Nerds fame (hello, Booger!). Too funny! Tonight we are going to my oldest IRC friend Jim's annual St. Patrick's Day Party! Jim's as Irish-American as they come and he's always had this party. As one of his dearest friends, I always attend!!! It's not a rip roarin' shin dig with drunken bastards and lots of green beer. It's way more mellow than that -- hinging on the border of boring since Jim stopped drinking as much as he used to years back! Anyway, it'll be fun to see everyone again. And Jim makes the only corned beef in the world that I'll let touch my lips! Ya'll have a great weekend! Catch ya on the flip side!
Music for the iPod
Iliana asked me in the comments about what music I'll be putting on my new iPod. Well, since ya asked....here's my list: - 10,000 Maniacs Unplugged
- A Perfect Circle
- Alanis Morissette
- Alice in Chains
- Alicia Keys
- Annie Lennox
- Audioslave
- Barenaked Ladies
- Beastie Boys (I've got almost all their albums, might not put them all on there though)
- Beatles (again, a TON of these)
- Ben Folds*
- Black Eyed Peas*
- Bob Marley and the Whalers
- Cocteau Twins
- Concrete Blonde
- Cowboy Junkies
- Crystal Method
- Cure
- Daft Punk
- Dave Matthews Band and Dave Matthews solo (every single album and yes they are all going on there!)
- David Bowie
- Days of the New
- Deep Forest
- Depeche Mode
- Delirium
- Dixie Chicks (don't laugh. Along with Jimmy Buffett this is as close to country as I'll get)
- Doors
- Eagles
- Enigma
- Enya
- Eric Clapton Unplugged
- Eurythmics
- Fleetwood Mac
- G. Love and Special Sauce*
- Gomez*
- Gorillaz
- Greatful Dead
- India Arie
- James Taylor
- Jane's Addiction
- Jimmy Buffett
- Jimmy Eat World
- John Mayer
- Joy Division
- Korn
- Led Zeppelin
- Loreena McKennitt
- Luther Wright and the Wrongs (a bluegrass tribute to Pink Floyd's THE WALL!! YES it's good!)
- Madonna
- Modest Mouse*
- NIN
- Norah Jones*
- Original Soundracks (Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Once More With Feeling, Almost Famous, O Brother Where Art Thou, Lost Boys, Talented Mr Ripley, Rockstar, Groove, Mean Girls, Blow, Saturday Night Fever)
- Paul Oakenfold
- Peter Gabriel
- Pink Floyd (all of 'em)
- Porno for Pyros
- Prince and the Revolution
- Propellerheads
- Psychadelic Furs
- Queen
- REM
- Radiohead
- Sade
- Santana
- Sarah McLachlan
- Sheryl Crow
- Smashing Pumpkins
- Sting
- String Cheese Incident
- Styx (DO NOT LAUGH!)
- Tenacious D
- Toad the Wet Sprocket
- Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
- Tool (lots)
- Tori Amos
- Tracy Chapman
- Trapt*
- U2
- Van Morisson
- Yaz
- and a bunch of Coast to Coast shows
* = burned from Mandy, haven't yet listened to thoroughly. Whew. Hello iTunes. Betchya didn't really need to know all of that, huh? I am of the opinion, though, that you can tell a lot about a person and your compatibility with them by the music they have on their computer or in their CD books. So how bout them apples?
Procrastination is the Key to Success
NOT!I have this project due today. I had to design and implement a science or math activity with the preschoolers. For the assignment, I have to fill out a big template describing how it was done, what questions I asked, etc. Additionally, my supervising teacher in the classroom has to fill out an evaluation of me and my activity implementation. Surprisingly, I got this activity completed three weeks ago. I was so excited to have it out of the way! The next activity (language development) isn't due until mid-April so I've got a little time to coast. But did I write up the template for my science activity as soon as it was completed? No. Did I do it last week or even the week before just to get it over with? No. Did I do it earlier this week just to finish everything up before Spring Break next week? Nope again. I have to do it today. Right now, in fact. I'm such a slacker come mid-semester!!! So glad it's Friday! My Honey's coming home today!!! He's been out of town for three days and I miss him terribly!!! In case you were wondering how my non-smoking quest is going...it's going well! Last Thursday I had two drags off a cig and then tossed it. And then Friday I had half a cigarette while drinking beer with friends. I didn't really want that one, I just felt like I was supposed to have it. It tasted like ass and I regretted it the moment I flicked my Bic! Haven't had one since then and my mid-day cravings are diminishing rapidly. WHEW! Give me one full month of no smoking at all and I shall officially consider myself a NON-SMOKER!!!! WOOOOOT!!! MamaMoon, over at Was It The Pagan Remark?, just switched over to WordPress for her blogging needs. Now I'm considering switching because Blogger's been overdosing on the crack lately and really pissing me off. Anyone have an opinion about WordPress? Do share!
Blogger's on Crack
You may have noticed that I've been, well, distant this week. Or, you may not have noticed. Whichever...I've been doing some inner contimplation this week and I'm feeling 'sooooooo good' now! Love the therapy! Anywhoo, thank you ladies for the blog suggestions! I enjoyed all of them! And thank you, too, Bubblehead for the wine idea! Now, where's the asprin!? I recently signed up to be one of those mystery shopper/diner people! My dad told me about this and I signed up this week. He's gone on a couple meals already and I'm joining him for one on Monday. I guess we go and fill out an evaluation form on the restaurant, service, food, etc. The restaurants commission this company to send mystery diners to evaluate their digs. Like an audit. The company pays for the meals and apparently a small compensation afterwards. Sounds cool. CAn't wait to go on my first assignment! Finally got my voucher for my iPod replacement. WHEW! I've been camping out by the mailboxes waiting for the danged thing. Wait a tick, did I not tell you all about the sad story of my iPod? Here's a summary: Last Feb. I got a 15 GB iPod. Also purchased Best Buy's Product Replacement Plan for $35 in case anything went wrong with it. Very exciting. I maxed it out on music and played it everywhere. This Feb, Honey got me these speakers for my iPod and I played it non-stop for two days as I cleaned house and such. Then, all of a sudden, the iPod froze up! I could select a song to play but it would freeze once it tried to play the song. Lots of other weird things happened with it and I tried lots of different solutions - to no avail. So took advantage of my Product Replacement Plan and sent it back to them. They sent me a voucher for the amount that I paid for it in order to go back to Best Buy and replace it. BUT WAIT! THERE'S MORE!!! The best part is they don't make the 15 GB iPod anymore. The smallest one is a 20GB for the same price that the 15GB was last year. So this means, I just got 5 GB more of music space! WOOOOP!!! Needless to say, I'll be at Best Buy tomorrow if you need me!
Missing in Action
Where'd my blogroll go?? Is anyone else missing theirs?
No Particular Place to Go
I have recently been inspired by Janet... I need something new in my life. I need new doors opened, fresh ideas presented, that sort of thing. So, while you're here in the next few days, please tell me of a blog you think I should check out (preferrably one that's not already on my blogroll). Maybe it's a blog that you think I would be interested in, it's right up my alley or you want to attempt to convert me...whatever! Bring 'em on! I want more! Gimmie gimmie!!!
Dog Blogging
Hi. It's me, Dobby. Mom is not blogging today. I don't know why so don't ask me. But I have some pictures to show you. I hope you enjoy them. I am still new at this internet thing (I had my brudder help me): On Saturday, after we went shopping and I travelled around in the car with mom and dad (which I like to do and I do a lot and so I'm very good at it!), they took me to Steve, Tonia's and Nick's house. Taz was there. He's a big Golden Retriever. We've played before. He stepped on me once. Here is us outside in his backyard: 
And then he kinda scared me a little with his barking:
I had a great time in his yard. He has lots of big poops to smell and I got to mark everything I wanted to - including his toys. I showed him...size don't matter!
After a little while, we went inside and they made us play with a toy together.
Sometimes, Taz would drag me around by this toy:
And other times, he let me have it I pulled it away from him!
I chewed on it by myself.
What, mom?!?!?
Eventually, we got tired and Taz snapped at me when I tried to steal another one of his toys from him. I got scared and yelped for a little while. But I'm still tough. My mom held me and so Taz knows who's boss now!
At the end of the day, I came home and snuggled with my brudder:
Well, that's all I got to say now. Brudder is going to edit this for me...bye! 
Congratulations are in order!
Congratulations to our friends Sean and T who welcomed their first child into the world yesterday evening! His name is Caleb (a fine Irish name!) and he weighs 6lbs 12 oz. He's just a couple weeks premature but is doing well. Sean had this to say: "i left this morning at 10:45 to go play DnD (yeah, i'm a geek, but we figured we had another day or so)...i got the call right before noon. had just settled into gaming. figures. caleb is already attempting to ruin all my fun. i'll prolly ground him for no reason when hes a teenager out of spite!" Ahh, the Geek Gene Pool is forever growing! Congrats, Sean, T, and Caleb!!
Things To Do On the Internet When You're Dead Bored
Enjoy the rest of the weekend!
Weekly Highlights
Once upon a week, in a magical world known as the Blogosphere, I stumbled across some delightful posts such as these: The always-lovely Purple Goddess in Frog Pygjamas shared her tragic but inspiring story of her very own Mighty Quinn. I am always amazed at what I can learn about my blog-pals day in and day out. And for a great laugh, go read about how the Webmiztris totally whooped Flat Stanley's butt! And last but clearly not least, the darling Christine from Mommy Matters was everywhere this week! She's a mother, a wife, a friend, and she's also an Uber Guest Blogger! She guest-blogged at both Bunny Burrow and Golly Blog Howdy this week. And let's not forget her beautiful description of cemeteries on her own blog. There's rumor that she'll be appearing at other venues at later dates...stay tuned! I didn't get any Blog Explosion or Blog Clicker surfing in this week but somehow I did come up with these two new additions to the blogrolls: - Hunzer (she's kind of naughty and I like it!)
- A Touch of Style (helping the world feel pretty, one reader at a time!)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ By the way, yesterday I decided I don't like my haircut. It's too shaggy. Long in the front, short in the back...I look like a lion from the 80's! Yuck! Honey and I are going back to that stylist today to have her chop it all off to look better. Honey's getting a hair cut too so she won't be too mad that I came back to have her fix it...I am bringing her more business anyway! Have a great weekend everyone!
I took the one less travelled by
Hello, my friends. I had an interesting afternoon and evening last night and things have certainly changed in my life as a result. I was going to continue keeping my other blog a secret but if you want to know some of the deep, dark issues I struggle with regularly, feel free to check it out. If you're content with only seeing this more pleasant carefree side of me, then don't go there - I will definitely not be offended. That's why I keep it separate. This one's for show, that one's for me. Please don't bookmark it or add it to your blogroll. I hope I don't lose my blog friends by showing ya'll that site. *cringe* So anyway, weekend's almost here! Tonight, Honey and I are going to a friend's house to kick back with some pals. This is the same group of pals that I laughed my ass off with a couple months back. I am so looking forward to it! Today I am working on my chords, catching up on some blogs, and trying to keep my dog from eating the "treats" in the litter box! GROSS! I was going to do this yesterday but then I saw that Angela Marie referenced to dl's blog where she did it first! So, I guess, in honor of the Copy-Catters of the World, feel free to ask me any question you'd like and I'll try my best to answer honestly or maybe make up something silly in response!! Go ahead...hit me with your best shot!
Eh, I got nuthin'
I can't think of anything to blog about today. I haven't been in a generally good mood all week so it's no surprise that I've got nothing to say! I can't even dig up a good meme to fill some space here today! So, instead, how bout you go check out some of my favorite blogs that always seem to put a smile on my face: The lady who cut my hair last night wouldn't cut it as short as I had it in those pictures I showed you (see left sidebar, Engagement Photos). But it's a nice cut, I'm trying to get used to. I tried to take a picture of myself this morning but it didn't turn out so well. I might put it up for ya'll to laugh at later on.
Spring is near!
Wow! Only 18 days until Spring arrives! My heart skipped a beat and I got excited for a split second about the thought of lovely, beautiful, happy Springtime. But then I remembered this is Colorado - seasonal rules do not apply here. I love Colorado with all my heart. But I feel cheated out of Springtime every single year. Right now the sun is shining and it's supposed to reach the 50's today. In a week or two, we'll probably start seeing little green leaves and tiny white flower buds poking up through the softened ground. We'll all get excited, school kids will get restless in their classrooms, I'll want to take a vacation. And then it will snow. A lot. And be very very cold for several days. That's how this lovely state works. It teases us with thoughts of Spring for two full months (March and April) and while the rest of the country is dancing in rain showers, giggling over their newly sprung daffodils, and starting their indoor spring cleaning, we'll be here buried under snow, wishing yet again that our daffodils hadn't popped up so quickly only to be buried and bruised by the Colorado Springtime Tease! Here are some pictures of our old neighborhood right after the blizzard of March 19, 2003: 
It took Honey 4 hours to shovel the driveway. (I was unable to help him because I was still recovering from back injuries resulting from a car accident two months prior.) Ah, sweet, glorious Spring! Why doth thou teaseth me this way!?
After all, tomorrow is another day!
Ahhhh yes, much better today. Sorry about my little self-pity party yesterday. I spent the entire evening zoning out in front of the TV. I learned this therapeutic technique from my father. Some people go jogging, to the gym or out to buy themselves a fun purse or something. Me and dad...we watch TV. It helps. I think it's cuz we think too much all the time. Our brains are always going. Watching TV helps turn off all the thinking without actually going to sleep. Aside from my dog turning into snarling, snapping, rabies Chihuahua this morning as I tried to stop him from barking crazily at the neighbor's cat out the window, this has been a much better day today (Dobby's in his kennel at least for the remainder of the morning - he temporarily forgot who the Alpha Dog is in this house). I'm getting my hair cut this afternoon. I was letting it grow out the last few months and it's finally just long enough to barely drape over the curve of my shoulders. But I hate it. I'm always pinning it back, trying to get it out of my face, off my neck, out of my life! So why have long hair if I hate wearing it down?! I'm getting it chopped to the length and style I had it when Honey and I were engaged. Click here for some pictures of that. Speaking of hair care, there's something I've been meaning to bring up. We women have hair and we like to take care of it. For those of us with thick massive volumes of hair, this is an expensive and endless process. Try as I may, I can't use Suave hair products. Nor can I use Herbal Essences shampoo and conditioner, or any number of those other cheap store brands. No no. My hair has a mind --and apparently a pocketbook-- of its own! For years it has demanded that I use Arctec or Matrix salon styling products like Kiwi or Biolage or even Paul Mitchell. This stuff is P-R-I-C-E-Y! Even with the liter bottle sales they have every blue moon or so, you still gotta pay $20 for a bottle of shampoo! It's a conspiracy! But don't be fooled, it doesn't end with the shampoo and conditioner ($40 total, sans sale). After its all washed and conditioned, it requires hair gels and sprays (another $40). And then every 4-6 weeks, it needs to be cut by someone who knows what he/she is doing (another $40). When I lived in Fort Collins I got mad about paying $30 for a hair cut. That seemed a little excessive to me. But after we moved to Highlands Ranch (big surprise) it just got more expensive. I couldn't find a hair cut here for under $45! Alas, I have taken charge of my hair and I am now showing it who is the boss of it (me). A couple months ago I bought Treseme shampoo and conditioner at the grocery store. Those liter bottles are about $9 each. And the commercials they have on TV about how Treseme is salon-quality products for less money is the TRUTH! This stuff is GREAT! I'm in love. And I finally found a friend I can trust to recommend a stylist for under $30. I have to drive to Denver but that's okay because my friend is coming with me so it'll be fun. Twenty-five dollars worth of fun. At a barber shop, no less. Go figure! I'm so excited for my hair cut! I can't wait!!!
FFWD to tomorrow
Ever have one of those days that just isn't right? Like all you want to do is hide out and hold your breath until tomorrow comes? Yeah, I'm having one of those days. I'm not really one to complain but I gotta get this all out somewhere (aren't you lucky!): I was observed by my Lab class teacher this morning. She came in and watched me stumble around with the kids for an hour. I've been steadily improving with the kids in the past couple weeks but this morning I was overwhelmed with performance anxiety while my instructor was there and the kids were especially wild today...I'm sure I did terrible. RAWR. The classroom was short one teacher today. That plus the kids being especially wild made for an eventful morning. I was glad to be leaving at noon. But after I had done all of my tasks (without being asked) and spent time with the kids for three hours, I grabbed my purse and was headed out the door at my scheduled time. That's when the lead teacher said, "Oh I thought you left at one." I reminded her that I leave at noon every time I'm there. She said, "Oh and there's no possible way that you could stay longer today?" RAWR! I told her not to day and lied that I had an appointment in a half an hour. If she had indicated to me just how short-handed they were and asked me to stay later earlier in the morning, I would have been more than happy to do so. But to try and guilt me into staying longer as I'm headed out the door at my regularly scheduled time doesn't fly well with me. Yeah, sure, you could say I should've just offered to stay earlier in the morning but it's not my responsibility. The director wasn't there today either so that complicated things even more. Ugh. Anyway, that just rubbed me the wrong way as I left. I get out to my car and what do I find? A parking ticket. Of course. See, this all really started yesterday afternoon when I was rushing to inhale my PBJ sandwich and get out of the house to make it to my therapy appointment on time. My car battery was dead. D-E-A-D. I couldn't find a neighbor to help me jumpstart it so I had to cancel my appointment. Then I called Honey to come home early so I could get a ride from him/borrow his car to go to school last night. Which he did, and I did, and all was well. I took his car to school again this morning and got a ticket because I didn't have a permit on that car. Grrrr. It took all the deep breathing I could muster to get home in one piece without being arrested for Road Rage! I slept like shit last night, my SIL's boyfriend's father just passed away unexpectedly (this affects me probably more than it should -- I can't figure it out), another friend's dog of 14 years had to be put to sleep last night, and my Honey is out of town tonight. I am just not a happy camper today. I'm ready for tomorrow already. Enough bitching...I'm going to go practice my chords on the guitar (I'm totally getting better - aka "rocking out on my chords!") then plop my booty in the recliner where it's for the rest of the evening. Harumph!
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