HOME & PREPARING FOR NEW YEAR'S EVE

Not only are Samuel, Eliza, and I home from our trip to NC, but Megan, Samuel's girlfriend, is here with us, and other members of the farm family are home as well. Lori (Maui) and Joe (Utah) are already in, and Dana (Nebraska) and Brett (California) are on their way. Barring crappy weather, tomorrow evening the house will be full of people to bring in the New Year.

I'm preparing the Manifesting Bowl today by making small bundles with the names of Cuban political prisoners and writing FREEDOM on their cards to place in the bowl with everyone else's wishes. If anyone who reads my blog between now and tomorrow evening would like for me to write down a wish to toss into the New Year's fire, just leave a comment and consider it done. I promise to keep everyone's wish(es) totally confidential, and I'll also promise to wrap up the wishes in nice paper and decorate them with pretty yarns and ribbons.

(In case you've never been here on NYE, everyone who comes to the party writes down his/her wish(es) for the new year, rolls up the paper into a tiny scroll, and ties it up with pretty ribbons. We place them all together in the bowl, and immediately after the new year arrives, we go outside to the bonfire. Everyone picks a "scroll" and tosses it into the fire. Our collective wishes ascend to the Universe together when we toss on last year's Christmas tree and watch the wishes and flames light the whole night sky. It's really amazing!)

I'll close today's post with a photo from Boone...Here's my entire family...Papa, Petie, my sister, Myra, the kids and me....We had a wonderful, wonderful time together...It was indeed a very special Christmas.

SOLSTICE DAY-AFTERNOON WALK

I watched the setting solstice sun brightly light the rising solstice full moon...The two were in perfect alignment --southwest setting sun to northeast rising moon. Talk about magical !!!!!

SOLSTICE DAY

FARM VISITORS TODAY

Chintu & Tom...

spent last night at The Farm. We got up this morning, Tom fixed a huge Solstice breakfast, and these two, Eliza, her friend, Shelby, and I had a wonderful time talking around the table in our PJ's. Later, the boys and I hung out for a while before they took off for another friend's home. So good to see these two...so good to sense their happiness...so good to chuckle with them... I love Chintu's grin in this photo.

Lori (right) & her sister,Whitney...

Just having arrived from Maui, Lori (no sleep in the last two days) and her sister stopped by to say hi on their way to buy their mom an alligator saw. When LoriBeth enters the house, laughter and the stories begin. Can't wait to sit down and spend some extended time with this girl. Another farm kid's at home now, and it's really feeling like the holidays are moving into full swing...

Eliza & Shelby..(no photo available)

Eliza and Shelby were out until 12:30 AM last evening and finally got to sleep around 3:00 AM. When Lori arrived around 2:30 PM today, these two had not gotten out of their PJ's, washed their faces, or combed their hair. I do have a group shot of the four girls together, but as a favor to E. & S., I'll save it in the family archives.

WINTER SOLSTICE EVE

Officially Winter Solstice arrives at 1:08 AM tonight...the shortest and most powerful night of the year.

It's time to welcome back the return of the light with fire and candles, make lists of those things we want to manifest in our lives.

(Note: Experience would suggest that the old addage "Be careful what you conjure" would apply here. Just be very sure and specific what you want to bring about in your life.)

It's time to surround ourselves with loved ones, enjoy a hearty meal, and savor the food and company.

It's time to dance, feast, burn the Yule Log, "green" the house, make a puppet, and sing! Bring in the holly and the ivy, pine cones, and evergreen boughs.

It's time to begin anew, start new projects, develop new ideas, take the leap of faith in new creative directions.

It's time to connect with those most dear and share our commitment to love.

It's time to express gratitude out loud. Today I am grateful for.....

It's time to give thanks to the EARTH for her unconditional sustenance and patience with us humans. We really are a species of "bumblers."

It's time to take a walk, breathe deeply, and laugh out loud.

It's time to celebrate without allowing our worries and fears show their faces....

It's time to IMAGINE AND BELIEVE.....

Happy Solstice to All....So Mote It Be!

~HOLIDAY GREETINGS FROM THE FARM~
December 20, 2007

For the first time in a good while, morning has broken with bright sun in the sky, frost-covered grass twinkling in the light, and a flawless blue sky. I’m at home with two purring kittens who snooze on the computer table as I write and two corgis who long for a walk in the back field…..a silent, peaceful winter morning on Solstice Eve.

In a nutshell, here’s a look back at 2007 with the Wilders and farm family….

Eliza started the year with a nasty bout of mono that zapped her for a good three weeks. Fortunately, she’s rebounded and is the picture of health now. With as much objectivity as a very proud mom can muster, Eliza’s beauty and grace on the field as a color guard member with the high school band was amazing. Her band placed in the top third of the competing bands at Grand Nationals in Indianapolis in November, and she was delighted! Long phone calls, weekends with friends, and extended computer conversations on IM every night haven’t impacted her school work, thank goodness. Academically and socially, she’s at the top of her class. :0) Driving on her own is just around the corner! (And that means looking for a job is in the new future,)

Samuel has only one more semester to go until he’s an official college graduate. Appalachian State has been the perfect fit for him, and as he looks toward graduate school in the next few years, I’m confident he’ll be well prepared. He wants to be a novelist; reading and writing are his passions, so I foresee work in creative writing on the graduate level. However, after four years of intense academic demands, a couple of years off seem like a heck of a good idea. Thoughts at the moment are that he’ll stay around the Boone area, do some writing / traveling, etc., and take some time to breathe and play. Employment at The Gap has confirmed that work in retail is NOT the career he chooses to pursue although he was recently named Gap Employee of the Month. (The recipient of the award receives the honor of having his/her photo posted on the wall in the employees' station for a month--Samuel posed for his with greasy hair styled in a comb-over.)

The Philadelphia contingent of the farm family thrives as well. Isabella’s in 2nd grade, and Bobbi’s yoga/pilates/gyro/massage business has grown tremendously. Never one to let a moment pass by without living it to the fullest, Bob’s recently taken up the tuba and plays in a neighborhood band for peace. Isabella recently sang a solo in the school Winter Holidays pageant and stole the show with her on the spot choreography. (For those of you who know Bobbi, Isabella’s her clone!)

I continue to teach at the local community college, direct the arts and humanities series there, and keep up on the farm. The barn’s still standing, and there’s new siding on the house. Despite the summer’s drought, I had a huge and fairly successful garden and some rather spectacular flowers. Plans for the coming year include taking a break from my adjunct position at Marietta College to work on a Student Activities Manual for the Conexiones series at Prentice Hall. Something tells me I’ve jumped from the skillet into the fire, but I’ve got my fingers crossed that I can graduate from the activities manual into a more lucrative position with the company. That certainly bodes well for thoughts of retirement in the next 5 – 10 years. And, I continue to faithfully work with human rights issues in Cuba. (Hopefully one of these days, the Christmas letter will include an invitation to come visit me on the beaches of the island…don’t hold your breath, however!)

I think the family vote for the Highlight of 2007 award would go to our vacation week at the beach in Avalon, NJ in June. Samuel, Eliza, Joe Davis, and I drove to Philadelphia, met Bobbi and Isabella, and headed off to the shore where we completely relaxed for a week, played lots of bocci ball, cooked up some good food, rode the cheesy rides in Ocean City, hung out in our unique beach garb every day, and laughed, laughed, laughed.

As I reflect back on the last 12 months, once again I am in awe of life. Here at The Farm, we’re all happy, well, and thriving. What a blessing! We’ve laughed much, much more than we’ve cried; we’ve made wonderful memories; we’ve honored those who have moved into the world of spirit; and we’ve rejoiced at the good news of births, engagements, degrees completed, new jobs, etc. for our beloved ones. Our extended farm family remains close, and their love always vibrates in the house.

So, our wish to all from The Farm this holiday season: be merry, imagine, and rejoice as we move into the New Year.

Peace & infinite love, to all….

NAMASTE BLOG REACHES THE 1,000 HIT MARK

Thanks to all who read my blog.

It's amazing to me to think my blog has been viewed 1,000+ times, but then I realize half of those hits have to be mine! :0) :0) Anyway, we've hit the 1,000 benchmark, and it's time to celebrate. Pull out the champagne!

Several years back when life got more than just a little crazy, I totally stopped journaling / writing / drawing / sketching, etc. I just couldn't get my pen / pencils to the paper anymore. As I'm about to reach my 2nd year anniversary with the blog, I'm writing again, and I find I really enjoy chronicling farm news, random thoughts, and observations on "how the world turns." I've figured out how to get my photos posted again. I'm an all round happy camper!

Thank you, Mary Ann, for getting me started, and deep appreciation to those who take the time to visit Namasté from time to time! Stay tuned...

BRRRRRRR...it's cold!

AN IMPORTANT DATE IN FAMILY HISTORY

December 13, 1957

On this date in history fifty years ago, my sister, Myra Shook, was born in Watauga Hospital in Boone, NC.

I have three vivid memories associated with her birth. The first is an image of my mother within a week of Myra's arrival. It must have been the annual Christmas Program at the First Presbyterian Church, and I can see my mom standing up on a little stage with the Nursery Class. She was leading the little kids in singing a Christmas song, and I remember thinking her tummy looked really, really huge.

The night before Myra was born, I remember seeing Mom, who I recognize now was in the early stages of labor, reclining back on the end of the sofa in the den of our house on Stansbury Circle. She told me she just might have to go to the hospital later on. And sure enough, the next morning, Myra was born.

And, I have a "feeling memory" of holding Myra by myself for the first time. I knew I wouldn't drop her and I didn't need help holding her. I'm not sure if I held her at the hospital or once she got home. I just remember how neat it felt to hold my little sister. I remember talking about having a new baby sister in Miss Putnam's 1st grade class.

December 13, 1985

Twenty-two years ago today, Samuel was born at 7:20 AM (give or take a few minutes) in Marietta Memorial Hospital. His dad actually delivered him after only five hours of painless labor and birth. From the moment of his conception, I knew I was going to have a son, and Myra, aka Tita, announced the moment she found out I was pregnant that he would be born on her birthday. They've always been two Sagitarrian peas in a pod.

Always referenced as Basil prior to his arrival, Samuel entered the world with ease. By noon of the day he was born, his dad, Bobbi, and I had him at home in front of a fire in our big room. Penny, our dalmatian/blue tick hound and without a doubt the most unintelligent animal to live at the farm, guarded his bed faithfully, as he and I spent every day of his first 2 months together.

I spent part of the afternoon today going through old photos, and some of the ones with Samuel with his blanket clothespinned around his chin with Batman ears stuck on his head are priceless! I also was browsing through my photo folder on my computer and took at look back at our Summer 2007 beach trip, admiring the young man he's become. I can hardly believe the little guy who loved to play with Red Wolf, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Power Rangers will graduate from college in 6 months. I have a fine, loving, fun son. I love him, infinitely so...

December 13, 2007

Tonight, I had Christmas Dinner with Nellie Carr, my friend Sharon's mom, at The Inn (an assisted care facility) here in Marietta. The highlight of the evening was holding Mom Carr's hand while the resident choir sang every Christmas Carol one can imagine. As I watched the older folk in reindeer head bands with jingle bells in hand sing, I felt real Christmas joy, unlike I have in a long time. It was obvious the little choir had rehearsed quite a bit, and they were proud of their efforts. (I imagine every one of the choir members had been a member of his/her church choir at some point in time.) Joy, spunk, and big smiles radiated from each of their faces. It was a special, special evening.

DECEMBER 13, 2007...HAPPY BIRTHDAY TITA AND SAMUEL...¡FELICES FIESTAS A TODOS!

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A BIT LIKE..SOLSTICE & CHRISTMAS

The last couple of days have found me chipping away at getting the house decorated for the holidays. Solstice and Christmas are just around the corner, and hopefully by the time of their arrival, I'll have the house really pretty for celebration.

The tree is up, despite non-stop scaling attempts by two white kittens who are so full of themselves they can hardly refrain from batting at ornaments every time they get the chance; the stockings are hung but not by the chimney, for located there, they would get scorched; and Tanya, in her kerchief and PJ's, has done a significant amount of cleaning and rearranging to make room for the holiday decorations. Still, there remain a few things to take care of, like bringing in some greenery.

Most importantly, may peace and love reign in every aspect of our lives and in every part of our world.

And in the words of a seasonal jingle, "tis the season to be jolly!"

Namasté

CAROLINE ELIZABETH & ELIZA CAROLINE

Who more beautiful and wonderful to name my beautiful and wonderful daughter after but Caroline?

RECENT FARM VISITORS

With the holiday season underway, the Farm is alive as the farm family checks in to say to hang out for a little while.

The first couple to pay a visit this season was...

Brett & Betsy

Their wedding date has been set for June 5th in Minnesota! Both will finish out the year at Webb School in CA before tying the knot and heading off to teach abroad. Although Betsey will be away for New Year's Eve, Brett will be here to keep an eye on the pesto pizzas I traditionally forget about once they hit the oven and carry on his tradition as fire tender and the tosser of the last year's tree on the New Year's Bonfire. On a personal note, I delight that the Universe has brought two such amazing and wonderful people together! Betsy's a farm natural--a member of the farm family from the moment she met Brett. Thanks, Brett, for bringing her into our lives!

Following Brett and Betsy's visit, Eliza and I got to spend three wonderful days last week with...

Caroline & Joe

These guys have been on a helluva ride this past year and have weathered some of life's most intense moments with extraordinary grace, patience, acceptance, and love. Who would have thought this time last year that Joe would have been diagnosed with throat cancer in May, undergone weeks of chemotherapy and radiation, and returned to his work and shows by early December of this year? With Caroline as his caretaker and greatest support, Joe is back on this feet and well on the mend. I am so, so grateful for having time to hang out with Caro and Joe, for I am always inspired and energized by their presence. They always lighten my heart as they share the gift and blessings of years of friendship and remind me it's possible to find a soulmate out there somewhere.

This weekend, two of Eliza's friends, Kaitlynn and Shelby, have been here at the farm. I don't have photos, but suffice to say, it was two nights of slumber party, lots of junk food, and play. It was great!

WHITE'S THE COLOR OF THE DAY

WHITE: Today's weather - - the first snow of the year--Definitely not a snow storm...

A gentle, quiet, dry snow that has covered the Earth in about 5" here at the farm...A snow day for Eliza... A hang out in PJ's day...A decorate the house a bit day....A listen to music and stretch out on the couch with kittens day...I'm happy.

WHITE: White kittens who are growing by leaps and bounds....I'm trying to figure out how on earth I'll keep a Christmas tree together once they figure out what a playground it could be...Total, unadulterated catspunk play around here these days...Learning more and more what it's like to stay outside for longer periods of time...Still curling up and sleeping close together at night...Loonis still wishes they'd go away.

MANNEQUINS

For a while now, I've had a fascination with mannequins. Everything from the way people dress and display them to the expressions on their faces intrigues me. Here's a sample of recent mannequin photos:

Loretta's Vendetta

Woman in Green Beret

Barbie's Mannequin Cousin

Forlorn Witch

She Comes with a Price

DECEMBER 1, 2007

Believe it or not, today I've mowed the grass and worked around the yard. I still have a bit to get done outside, but my real success story of the day is that I found the leak in my water line that has caused my water bill for the last two months to be three times what it normally is! Now all I have to do is get someone to come patch the leak, and we're good to go. What a relief! After conversations with the people at the water company, I was bound and determined NOT to fall prey to their suggestion to just install a new line to the tune of a couple thousand dollars or more. No way, José!!

Another success story of the day has to do with Eliza's hair. Last night we put henna on it, and in contrast to our attempts with commercial chemical dyes that produced bright and very obviously purple hair rather than the deep red we anticipated, the henna has added a very lovely touch to her long, thick, beautiful hair. In today's sunlight, her had glistened with a very natural-looking reddish glow. I'm feeling like a real beautician! Call for an appointment!

The greatest celebration today, however, is my father's birthday....87 years old!! I called to wish him a happy day, but between his inability to hear and the difficulty he has holding the phone, I'm not sure he got the message. So, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PAPA!!!! I LOVE YOU and hope your day has been one of happy memories and a win for Appalachian in the play-offs! I know seeing the Mountaineers (not WVU, ASU, that is) move to the next level toward the championships again would make you very, very happy!

CHECK OUT THIS BLOG AND MEET CHARLIE, THE COYOTE

Check out the folllowing link: http://www.dailycoyote.blogspot.com/ and meet Charlie the Coyote. His story warms the heart. I can see a wonderful movie in the making here.

MY OFFICE MATE WINS GOLDEN PICKLE AWARD

I would be remiss if I did not direct the attention and interest of Namasté blog readers to the exciting news that my beloved office mate, dear friend, fellow Virgo, and kindred spirit--the one and only Ms. Mary Ann Abbott-- won the first Golden Pickle Award ever bestowed upon anyone at our hallowed place of employment. I cannot begin to describe the event and its impact upon her as well as she, so I direct you to her blog to read her first-hand account of the emotional and inspiring event that took place yesterday during our annual end of fall quarter potluck.

The Six Degrees of Separation rule now goes into effect, and all Namasté blog readers can now say they know someone who knows someone who's won a Golden Pickle. WOW !!

FALL QUARTER'S OVER--HOORAY FOR WINTER BREAK!!

Tomorrow morning I don't have to get up for an 8:00 AM class... In fact, I don't have to get up for an 8:00 class until January 7th...YEAH !! Winter break is here, and I'm loving it! (I do have three more classes at Marietta College, but hey, that's a breeze knowing that I won't be returning there for Spring Semester!)

It's been a long quarter. My challenge has been to enlighten students who are surprised Castro uses "torcher" in his prisons, as well as others who are delighted that yoga helps them "relive" their stress and ease their "tention." Over the fall, some students suffered with the "flew," but few checked in to get their "assinemants." And, as one of Mary Ann's students observed, "Not many good things come out of Africa." Oh well, all of us in education know we shouldn't pressure students about correct spelling or drawing sound conclusions because doing so might bring about self-esteem issues and cause irreparable psychological damage.

But, the quarter now qualifies as "water under the bridge," and it's time to think about decorating the house for Christmas, getting a few gifts together, doing a little baking, knitting, watching some good movies, and maybe even reading a book. (What a novel thought!--No pun intended..) Walking in the woods sounds great; practicing a little yoga will keep my body from contracting in the cold; sleeping until I want to get up will satisfy my soul.

So, I officially declare the holidays have begun. May all our days be merry and bright as we approach Hannukkah, Solstice, Christmas, Kwaanza, and life in general.

Peace......Love.....Joy.....Magic.....And lots, lots of laughter.....

THE MOUNTAINS

Thanksgiving vacation just isn't complete for me until I take my annual ride through the mountains near my home, so Saturday afternoon, Tom, Chintu, and I took off on some backroads and around the Grandfather Mountain Viaduct on the Blue Ridge Parkway to savor the beauty of the land.

The picture to the right is of the back side of Grandfather Mountain. As I gazed up at the huge, outcropped rocks, the sky served as a soft background to the starkness of the leafless trees and few evergreens.

When I did a 180 degree turn, and the view below awaited directly behind me. Miles and miles of rolling, purple hills down in the valley, unobstructed by houses, roads, or anything else manmade that would interrupt the sight.
And then, to top it off, I looked directly above me and saw a huge red-tailed hawk circling in the distance. I did my best hawk call, and sure enough, the bird floated my way and circled directly above my head for a long, long time. Note: I tried to get a photo of the bird as it soared in circles so effortlessly above me, but 1) I got dizzy trying to keep it in view long enough to get the camera adjusted for a shot, and 2) I came close to falling off the trail and down the hillside.

Needless to say, everytime I am in the mountains I feel very, very humbled by the majesty of my surroundings and very, very grateful to have grown up in this beautiful area. I've always felt protected and embraced by the mountains, and it is among them where I feel most at peace and grounded.

OFF TO NORTH CAROLINA FOR TURKEY DAY

Tomorrow morning, I leave for North Carolina to spend the holidays with my parents. Tom and Chintu are going with me, so the three of us should have a really good time in the mountains. I'll be taking lots of photos and visiting my grandmom, Ruth, who is only two months away from turning 106 years old!

If any of my blog readers have any suggestions as to what might be happening with my inability to upload photos after the installation of my new computer, please send some help my way. There were no problems until we installed the new computer, put in a router, and transferred some files from my old computer that's now in Eliza's room. I've read all the help material from blogger.com, I've done all their suggestions, I've called my techie friend, Craig, and I still can't get things to work. I can upload photos from the web, but I am unable to upload photos from my photo folder. This problem did NOT exisit before the new computer arrived. Would the router have a firewall that could be the problem? If so, how does one disable it? Are there other problems about which I'm unaware that might be the problem? Any assistance would be greatly appreciated, especially since I'll want to post photos from the mountains.

Happy Thanksgiving to all...The gratitude list I have going is way too long to post...I'm just grateful for anything and everything (except computer problems).

Namasté.....T.

FRIDAY AFTERNOON TREASURE

Today I left the office right at noon to meet my second year students for lunch at the local Mexican restaurant, and from there, I headed down the street to Goodwill. I had a hunch I was going to find a treasure today, but seeing nothing at Goodwill worth mentioning, I headed to Salvation Army to browse there for a few minutes. Nothing there either, so I started back to the car and decided to peek in to a little antique store on the way to the parking lot.

I poked around in the Tin Rabbit for a moment, decided to check out one more shelf before I left, and stopped when a very elegant, white porcelain hand thrown bowl caught my eye. Immediately I thought of Gwen Hefner, a potter from Kentucky who used to exhibit her pots at the Indian Summer Festival here in town many years ago. Her work was strikingly elegant, yet of simple line and form--beautiful white porcelain vessels with slightly altered rims. I always wanted one!

When I picked up the bowl, I saw the stamp on the base that Gwen used to sign her work and was absolutely ecstatic when I saw the price on the sticker had this piece marked at $8.00 --only $8.00 for this lovely piece of art that cost probably about $60 - $75 twenty years ago.!!Obviously, someone had no idea what he/she was selling. I couldn't believe my eyes or my luck!!

When I went to pay for my find, the little elderly woman in the store remarked on its beauty. She rang up the sale and only charged me $6.80. A Gwen Heffner bowl for under $7.00!! I still can't believe it! I found the Gwen Hefner bowl pictured here on the internet, and it's very similar to the one I found today. Its list value on the site I downloaded it from was $350.

I really think the bowl called me to it because I had no intention of stopping at another store as I returned to the car from the Salvation Army store. It's now cleaned up and beautifully positioned on the buffet in the dining room, and I'm feeling very, very happy, grateful, and excited.

Maybe this afternoon's stroke of luck means Mercury's out of retrograde...Halleleujah!!! It's about time!!!

SCORPIO GIRLS - SWEET 16 AND FABULOUS 40

Both my daughters are Scorpio girls...witty, bright, beautiful, funny, and very unique. A week ago, Eliza turned 16 and proudly wore a sparkly tiara and a pink sash with "Sweet Sixteen" printed on the front all day at school. Bobbi, Scorpio gal #2, turns 40 tomorrow, and I'm sure everyone within the range of her energy field will be tagged to help her celebrate. For all I know, she might play her tuba on the street corner in her own honor.

I recently read the following excerpt about Scorpio women and found it to pretty much sums up my two:

"The Scorpio woman has great charm, allure, and inner strength, and is able to overcome most any obstacle in life. She comes across as self-confident and self-possessed and men are drawn to her for that reason. There is a mysterious quality about the Scorpio woman because she is intensely private, discrete and secretive. Soon she will learn everything about you, but later you will realize that she hasn't given you many details about herself--that's Scorpio's natural reticence.

Finally, the operative word to best understand your Scorpio is "passion." One Scorpio once said to me that passion was the single most important ingredient in life, that is, to be passionate about one's loved ones, one's career, one's lifestyle, for without passion, what kind of life would we have in the end?"

Happy birthday to Eliza and Bobbi, two passionate women who live their lives to the fullest. They love each other dearly, have a great time together, and fill our family's life with joy and happiness. The photo says it all!

MERCURY'S IN RETROGRADE

Yes indeed! My favorite family astrologer, Bobbi, has officially confirmed Mercury is in full-blown retrograde. So, what's up with that? Some refer to Mercury's retrograde as being Murphy's Law of the Cosmos. From the information I understand about this phenomena, it's one of those times that if something can go wrong, it will.

Historically, when I am "tagged" by the retrograde energy, things around the house go haywire, i.e., appliances stop working, unexpected expenses abound, the check engine light in the car comes on and won't go off, etc. For me, this time around, it's been all about a leak in my water line somewhere between the top of the driveway to my house (a distance of a tenth of a mile or so) that no one can tell me how to fix short of digging up the entire line. It's been about unexpected bills that have appeared from nowhere, lost checks, and computer glitches.

But the culmination of my retrograde moments happened this morning as I was walking out to the car at 6:45 in an attempt to get to the office early to complete some work. I "bulls-eyed" a huge pile of dog caca in my brand new shoes that have grated rubber soles. I couldn't have made a more perfect landing in the middle of this pile of s*&@ if I had intentionally tried. I had to take tooth picks covered with paper towels to dig out the poop from the various grooves in the soles of my shoes. How's that for starting off one's day???

To make a long story short, I arrived at work an hour later with a clean but still very smelly shoe. I've walked around school all day in my trouser sock feet.

(You might ask why I didn't just change shoes and leave the cleaning for later..??..Well, I was determined to wear these new shoes on a day when I had only a few classes to teach so I could break them in without having to wear them on a full-scheduled day. )

So, my thought at the moment is that I'll stop by the store on the way home, pick up a bottle of wine, and have a glass or two on the deck, toasting the supposed end of Mercury's crazy cycle and hoping like the dickens that the plumber who's going to call in the morning is a heck of a dowser!

Cheers....

A FEW EXTRA POUNDS

On my way to school this morning, I heard that a recently published medical investigation has concluded that having a few extra pounds on one's body is really a good thing. DUH !!!!!

According to the study, people with a moderate amount of extra body fat are actually healthier and tend to bounce back from illnesses quicker than the "skinny Minnies" of the world. DUH!!!

The moderately chubby group were also described as being happier, more upbeat people that the emaciated 0% body fat clan. DUH !!!

My mom, an RN from the Clara Barton days, and my grandmom, age 106 and the mother of 10 children who lives back in the "holler" in Pigeon Roost, NC, could have told the researchers that at a fraction of the cost spent in this clinical study.

So, here's to a little body fat and a happier, healthier life! Treat yourself to a couple of pieces of chocolate today! :0) :0)

WHEN IT RAINS, IT POURS. SO,WHAT'S THE HIGH THOUGHT HERE?

In the last week...

1. I had to have a repairman in to work on the furnace. Cost: $293.00
2. Car insurance came due. Cost: $300.00
3. Mortgage payment time rolls around: Cost: More than I care to divulge. (The thought that I'm paying for the farm a second time doesn't put me in a great mood.)
4. I had to get two new tires for the car before I travel in the next week. Cost: $160.00
5. The water company reported I have a leak in my water line somewhere between the house and the end of the driveway. Cost: $1,000 minimum and possibly as much as 5 times that. (I'm trying really hard not to cry about this!)
6. We had an unexpected but necessary trip to the vet. Cost: $104.00

Note: With the exception of car insurance / mortgage, the above items were not included in this month's budget and far exceed my fairly meager catastrophe savings fund.

Then there's the trip to Indianapolis next week to see Eliza in the Grand National competition with the high school band. Cost: $400.00 (minimum)

And next month, it's Christmas. Cost (including gas for travel / gifts etc.) $500.00 (minimum)
(Thank goodness I've done some shopping along the way and have found some great gifts at thrift stores.)

And, both Samuel and Eliza have birthdays here at the end of the year. Cost: $150 (mimimum)

Now, if I add up all the expenses I've mentioned,(note again: those do NOT include monthly bills), the amount of cash flowing out of my checking account, pocket, and change jars far exceeds the amount coming in from my TWO jobs.

(Advice to anyone considering a career in teaching: THINK TWICE!! MANY of my former students leave college and enter their first job at a salary that far surpasses what I make with 31 years of experience and lots of nice professional awards.)

So, I ask myself, what really is the high thought here?

1. It's yet another opportunity to trust in the Universe. (I just wish I could get to the point of not panicking when the "trust" opportunities come my way.)

2. I probably qualify for a loan.

3. It's yet another opportunity for me to take a look at my relationship with money and my fear of not having enough of it. (Oh, how I love to take a look at that one over and over!)

4. I can probably pick up a third job. I can wash dishes or wait tables if necessary.

5. It's yet another opportunity to realize that I am safe, that I will be cared for, that the Universe will look out for me.

6. I'm healthy and happy, making it possible for me to get past the momentary glitches with a smile on my face. (I really, really am trying!)

7. It's yet another opportunity for me to take a close look at those things for which I am deeply grateful. (I'm doing my exercise gratitude lists as I write this.)

8. Many people love me, and I love many people.

9. It's yet another opportunity for me to realize I'm intelligent enough to figure out how to best work this financial snafu out.

10. If I created this reality, I can recreate something better.

So, if the Creator / the Goddess / the Great Orchestrator of the Universe just happens to read my blog, please know that I'm learning whatever the lesson of the moment is and it's really very OK not to send anymore stuff my way. Let me process this for now, and I'd be really, really grateful for a break, AND I'll do my best to share all I can with others.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Namasté and Peace to all...

PS: I am totally open to receiving a winning lottery ticket.

THE OFFICIAL CEREMONY-PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM

If any of my few blog readers are interested in the ceremony held today at the White House honoring Dr. Biscet and others, check out the Coalition of Cuba-American Women's website. There you can read the text of the president's speech OR you can click a link to watch it.

Here's your link: http://www.coalitionofcubanamericanwomen.blogspot.com/

In addition, the post just before the one of the ceremony is an article on Dr. Biscet by Mary Anastasia O'Grady from today's Wall Street Journal. It's worth the read.

My students and I watched the event on my office computer, and as hard as I tried, I still sniffled. I was so proud to see Winnie, Dr. Biscet's daughter, on stage to accept the award. She's a good kid, and she will follow in her father's footsteps. The young man who actually sat on stage representing the family is NOT Dr. Biscet's son. His mother is Biscet's wife, and Oscar Elías helped raise him, but he's biologically not related. Winnie is Biscet's only biological child. She's 19 and possesses her father's love for life and fiery spirit. Thanks to Laida Carro, Winnie was included in the ceremony.

Keep your fingers crossed that Biscet will not be further tortured or mistreated as a result of the honor. He's not at all "loved" by the Cuban government, and officials there could make it very hard for him.

I dream of the day I will have a shack on the beach somewhere in Cuba. All Namasté blog readers will have an open invitation to come down for a visit!

GOSH, I HATE TO ADMIT IT, BUT SCORE ANOTHER ONE FOR GEORGE BUSH

I'm not totally sure why all of a sudden the President has begun to champion the cause of Cuban dissidents publically (except for the fact that he wouldn't have beaten Al Gore in 2000 without the Cuban vote in southern Florida and he currently needs to "woo" Cuban voters for support of the Republican candidate in 2008), but in the last month he has held a private audience with Yamilé Llanes Labrada, wife of political prisoner and prisoner of conscience, José Luis García Paneque and invited families of political prisoners to the White House for the reiteration of his policy toward Cuba. Then, on Monday (10/29) came the official announcement that President Bush has chosen to award one of the six Presidential Medals of Freedom to Dr. Oscar Elías Biscet González, an internal medicine specialist and highly respected symbol of opposition to the Castro regime, in a ceremony at the White House this coming Monday, November 5th.

It is because of Dr. Biscet's case that I became so interested in human rights work on behalf of political prisoners in Cuba. It is through a pursuit of information on Dr. Biscet that I met Laida Carro, a woman who works tirelessly on behalf of political prisoners and prisoners of conscience in Cuba. And, it is with Laida that I began to work in human rights affairs and still stay busy translating articles, organizing conferences, and talking to people around the world about the tragic situation Cuban political prisoners and prisoners of conscience suffer in Cuba. My heart rejoices in the fact that Laida will be present at the White House for the award ceremony. She, more than anyone, brought his situation into the world spotlight. She is devoted to his cause. In fact, Laida is solely responsible for arranging for Dr. Biscet's daughter, who currently lives in Virginia, to receive the award on his behalf.

My interest in Oscar Elías Biscet González began about 10 years ago when one of my students came across information about him while doing research on a project for my fifth quarter Spanish class. The more I read about this man, who is a student of Gandi, Martin Luther King, and other advocates of non-violent civil disobedience, the more I wanted to know about what had landed him in jail in Cuba. I read incessantly about his struggle as a voice for human rights for the Cuban people, and I learned that he had had the courage to publish a report on Rivanol, a drug used to produce spontaneous abortions in women so that fetal tissue could be used in research. Laida happened to be the person who translated the report and got it to the United Nations. And, as one would anticipate, shortly thereafter, Biscet was barred from practicing medicine and began receiving intense harassment from the Cuban authorities. Ultimately, he was arrested for attending a meeting of human rights activists and supposedly for flying the Cuban flag upside down.

At present, Dr. Biscet still remains in prison outisde of Havana. Because he has become an international symbol of opposition to the Castro regime, prison authorities have moved him from solitary confinement, and he is receiving a little better treatment than before. Until recently, he was housed in a very small cell with no light, no running water, and a hole in the floor to be used for bathroom purposes. There were many occasions when the prison sewer backed up through that hole, and he his cell floor was covered with human waste. He was given putrid food through a slot in the bottom of his cell door, and he lived with rats invading his cell at any given hour. At one point, he was not allowed any reading or writing material and never got to leave his cell to go outside in the sun.

A healthy man when he went into prison, Biscet now suffers from a myriad of problems. He's lost almost all his teeth to a nasty gum disease, and he has everything from high blood pressure to pretty severe intestinal problems. Despite physical and psychological torture, he remains firm about not wearing the uniform of the common prisoner as dictated by Cuban penal code, and he refuses to participate in prison "education." In short, he's a real pain in the rear end for the Cuban government.

I know Dr. Biscet would consider this award as one that represents the Cuban people and their struggle rather than his own. He's a humble man of great faith and courage, a person I foresee as a key figure in the future of his country.

So again, I have to say thanks to George W. Bush. Regardless of any political motive he attaches to this award, for the Cuban people and especially for the political prisoners and prisoners of conscience who are heinously mistreated in Cuban prisons, the award is a great source of strength and hope.

Gracias, Señor Presidente.

BURGER KING MAKES APPEARANCE AT LOCAL HALLOWEEN PARTY

Much to the surprise of all gathered for a local annual Halloween Party, the Burger King paid a surprise visit, complete with crowns for everyone and a plate of cheeseburgers for anyone willing to tackle his cholesterol-packed signature sandwiches. Upon arrival, he stood quietly at the window and waved until folks noticed him. (As you might have seen on his TV commercials, he's never been one to make a boisterous entrance. Some believe he's somewhat of a voyeur, but in reality, he's really justpainfully shy.) Over the course of the evening, he handed out crowns and packets of sugar as party favors and tried to recruit everyone from Scarlet O'Hara to a couple of pirates to invest in a franchise. Regretfully for BK, no one seemed too interested.

It was not until last evening that BK has ever considered changing his batchelor status, but the minute he finally walked into the house, the woman of his dreams strolled in (somewhat feebly) from the kitchen. Despite a few hugs along the way, nothing came of his many efforts to woo the "old wretch." BK finally concluded her rejection was a blessing in disguise once she confessed to owning stock in McDonald's.

HALLOWEEN PHOTOS

I spent today with ....

Jack & the Beanstalk

Twin Dinosaurs

And a couple of other good witches!

It was the BEST !!!!!!!

YELLOW DATURA - FINALLY IN BLOOM !!!!!!

This week's rainfall, although still very sparse for this time of year, has been a veritable lifesaver for my yellow datura plants that have tried to bloom since late June. Honestly, I had given up on them and came quite close to pulling them up a couple of weeks ago when it seemed like there was no way they could muster up the stamina to survive the continued heat, much less produce a bloom. Now I'm really glad I didn't pull cast them to the compost pile.

The blooms are a littly puny (probably due to the drought) in comparison to the white daturas. They're more spiked around the edges like wild datura, and their color is a soft, pastel yellow. I'm hoping these blooms will leave me a pod or two so I can gather some seeds and start thinking about new year's plants.

Here are the photos....

And, I just threw in a shot of the sassafras tree along the fence line. The sun reflecting off its leaves this afternoon was BRILLIANT!

Enjoy....Namasté....

TRIAL AND TRIAL AND ERROR AND ERROR

I've spent the last hour and a half trying to figure out how to size photos to fit the header on my blog, and what now appears is the best I've been able to do. I feel pretty brainless. After I go in to all the blog help windows and try to attempt everything they instruct me to do, I still have no success. I've tried about 15 different sizes of photos and have yet to find what I need to cover the heading space and place the photo where I want it.

So, for the time being, I'm giving up and going to bed.

Buenas noches...

BEAUTY

Night-Blooming Sirius

(Photo taken at the flea market today)

The flowers last only one day and have a sweet, intoxicating smell.

SCORE ONE FOR GEORGE W. BUSH

I am not a fan of President George W. Bush. In fact, I can hardly listen to him without feeling ill, and I certainly don't agree with anything he has done for our country. I agree with former President Carter that George Bush's presidency will go down in history as the worst in our country's history...

But last week, George did one thing that redeemed him just a little bit (and I mean just a tiny little bit in the overall grand scheme of things) in my eyes.

Last Wednesday, October 10, 2007, my beloved friend, Laida Carro, with whom I do human rights work on behalf of Cuban political prisoners and prisoners of conscience, traveled to Washington, DC, to update the Inter-American Commisson on Human Rights of the Organization of American States on the health situation of Cuban political prisoners, many of whom are in danger of dying in prison from everything from tuberculosis to cancer. She arranged for Yamile Llanes Labrada, the wife of Dr. Jose Luis Garcia Paneque, one of the prisoners for whom we have done a tremendous amount of work lately, to accompany her.

Dr. Garcia Paneque, a plastic surgeon, independent librarian, and independent journalist, has been in jail since March 19, 2003, at which time he was arbitrarily arrested and summarily tried along with 74 other leading non-violent opposition leaders on the island. Since then, he has developed Intestinal Mal Absorption Syndrome, chronic diarrhea, anemia, and pneumonia. In addition, he has lost half of his body weight (he's below 100 lbs. now), and he is housed in the psychiatric ward among the most dangerous criminals in one of the worst prisons in Cuba.

Yamile, a lawyer, has suffered tremendously since her husband's incarceration. To make a long story short, after suffering four years of continuous harassment and experiencing the terrible psychological impact her husband's situation was having on their children, she agreed to her husband's wish to leave him and bring the children to the United States. She and the children arrived recently.

Here's where George Bush comes in. It just so happened the president learned of Yamile's trip to DC to testify, and he requested a personal audience with her to learn of her story. Yamile's daughter, Shirlen, and Yamile were invited to meet with him in the Oval Office, and when they entered the Oval Office, Yamile told the president she would not have been able to come to the States, let alone adjust to life here, had it not been for Laida Carro. So Laida, who had been waiting for Yamile outside the president's office was also invited in. (In the photo, Laida is sitting on the couch with Shirlen, and Yamile is in the chair to Bush's right. The man in between her and the president it the interpreter.)

Laida said she thinks the president was genuinely touched by Yamile and Shirlen's presence. She said he listened attentively to Yamile's story and her description of what her life was like in Cuba. He wrote down Dr. Garcia Paneque's name, practiced it in Spanish, and then invited them to accompany him down to the Rose Garden for his speech in honor of Hispanic Heritage Day. (That's Yamile to the right of the president.)

As the president spoke to the dignitaries assembled in the Rose Garden, he mentioned Yamile and Dr. Paneque not once, but three times (!) in his speech. For Yamile, who has endured such tremendous sadness that she once said she could never laugh again, the experience was life-changing. She feels like there is hope for her husband, and she has heard the president of what she considers to the be the most powerful nation on earth call for his freedom. Laida said it has been a transformational experience for this woman who has watched her husband waste away and her children withdraw from life.

I have the text of Bush's speech posted on The Coalition of Cuban-American Women's blog: http://www.coalitionofcubanamericanwoman.blogspot.com/

I believe at this point it's the third post down on the blog.

I've also posted the testimony Laida and Yamile gave at the OAS on the post before the Bush speech. Both women give powerful testimonies (in Spanish). You can click on the site to either hear or watch the speeches. And, if you "google" Yamile Llanes Bush, you'll see that news of President Bush's interest in Yamile's situation has made news across the globe.

Laida and I frequently talk about how human rights work is about disseminating information, making contacts, connecting people to people, persistence, and patience. While the world is very aware of the recent situation in Myanmaar, human rights violations in China, the atrocities of Darfur, and the famine in Somalia, relatively little attention has been focused on Cuba. With this surprise meeting last week, people heard about one situation out of many that take place in Cuba on a daily basis.

So, thank you, George Bush, for taking time with Yamile. She now feels some hope. All of us who work with matters in Cuba are very appreciative. Even I say ¡muchismas gracias!

WEEKEND UPDATE

~Had some wine and cheese with Dr. Tom Friday afternoon

~Went to the flea market, Salvation Army, and Goodwill with Dr. Tom Saturday morning

~Watched the Warren High School Warriors Marching Band at the Band-o-rama Competition in Marietta. Eliza's grace and beauty on the field is awesome!

~Took a few photos downtown

~Went to the flea market with Dr. Tom again this morning

~Helped a friend move some furniture this afternoon

That's all folks...

SMALL BITS OF HAPPY

(Another of Mary Ann's lists. Thanks, dear, for reminding us to make this one.)

~ kitten play

~silence

~Rink's, Salvation Army, and Goodwill on Saturday morning with Dr. Tom

~office laughter with Mary Ann

~kitten play

~text messages from my beloveds

~fall mornings and evenings

~music (highly recommended on-line listening: http://www.radioparadise.com/)

~my mom's voice

~a long, hot shower

~kitten play

FALL'S FINALLY HERE

A cold front blew in night before last, and the 90-ish temperatures from the beginning of the week have taken a plunge into more season-like ranges, the low 40's at night and mid-50's during the day. I brought my orchids in this evening so they wouldn't have to withstand a cold night. There are more than a dozen or so other potted wonders to bring in with time, but I got cold while I was out and decided to wait on the other ones.

It's interesting this fall. First of all, everyone's talking about the heat and lack of rain. The trees are beginning to turn, but I don't anticipate vivid colors this year. As it would appear, the leaves are just going to turn brown and fall off. There is little color in the side yard maple leaves, and on my walk the other day, I noticed even the poplar and sycamore leaves were not the brilliant yellow one normally sees at this time of year. My old friend of many years ago, Mr. Henry Miller, would have had some words of wisdom about these weird weather days, I'm sure. He talked about climate changes and global warming long before the topic became so up front.

In other farm news, I spent a good bit of time last evening on the internet in search of ideas for my Halloween costume this year, and I think I've got a good one! In fact, I can pull it off with an appropriate mask (which I found) and a couple of trips to Goodwill. I'm stoked! Two years ago, my aging Elvis costume won a prize at Beth and Sherm's party, and I hope to be in the running this year. I'm not giving ANY clues. My few blog readers will just have to wait for a photo. Of course, for the children at the college day care, I'll be a witch....a nice witch, as always.

My internet surfing last night also landed some great sites for Christmas gifts. All I'm going to say is that when Mary Ann saw them in the office today, she laughed big time. In fact, I think we're going in together on a couple for some of our campus celebrities. I love funny, corny gifts, and I think I've scored!

Tomorrow's Friday, thank goodness!! I'm so looking forward to a couple of days at home.

I apologize for yet another lame post....There's just not a lot in the super exciting category happening around The Farm these days....

Love and thanks to all who read my ramblings.....T.

EXPERIMENT

I think I've figured out how to post photos from my new camera, so here's just a random sample of some shots I took last weekend. When I started to install the software that comes with the camera, I had to adjust the resolution on my monitor, and I'm still not sure I have all the adjustments made correctly. Seems like there's always something to figure out about all this technology stuff.

(Clousseau - a rare still moment)

(Begonia hanging from Tom & Chintu's porch)

(Probably my favorite photo of Chintu)

(Reena, a friend of Chintu's--Isn't she beautiful?)

MISCELLANEOUS NOTHINGS..

I've spent the day basically doing nothing. The house needs a good cleaning, there are always chores to be done outside, certainly the garage and basement could use some attention, and the side yard is covered with leaves. I just haven't been able to muster up the motivation to do ANYTHING today. As Grandma would say, I'm feeling "right triflin." I have no energy. I feel like I have jet lag.

Dr. Tom and I have been going to flea markets and the Salvation Army Thrift Store on Saturday mornings lately, and I've found some nice things for really good prices. With Dr. T.'s assistance, I'm trying to learn about antique glass and pottery. Last week I got a plate for $1.99 and found it on the internet priced at $45.00. I think I'm hooked. Maybe I'll become an addicted E-bay seller.

Clousseau and Cato are not good bed pals. It's like having two kids around. When they decide to play, i.e., attack my feet, mess around with my hair, jump with full force onto my stomach, there's no rest for the weary. I think they'll be sleeping outside pretty soon.

It's hot!! I'm not a fan of winter, but 90 degrees in October is a bit much. And, on top of that, it's frightfully dry! I'd like several days of steady rain and cooler temperatures.

I'm already tired of the politic-ing for the 2008 elections. It would be nice if we could vote right now, get GWBush out of the White House, and move on. I'm voting for Ms. Potato Head. (see past blog posts)

This is one of my favorite new blogs (also located on my blog list): Bent Objects

That's it for now....Stay tuned....Namasté

SECRET CONFESSIONS

I'd like to hang glide.

I'd like to learn the salsa really well.

I'd like to meet and hang out with the Dalai Lama.

I'd like to have a home in Cuba, the Southwest, the mountains of North Carolina, somewhere in Europe, and perhaps Nepal..and other places...

I'd like to be a fly on the wall in the room wherever it is that Castro's convalescing.

I'd like to be wealthy.

I'd like to share my wealth with others.

I'd like to be in the Olympics, as a figure skater, maybe in ice dancing.

I'd like to join the Peace Corps.

I'd like to swim with dolphins.

I'd like to play in a symphony...percussion section, of course.

I'd like not to have to wear clothes.
____________________________
(Secret Confessions is a Mary Ann idea.... And now I've 'fessed up.....Who's next? It's really fun thinking...If you don't have a blog, you can leave an anonymous comment on mine...)

CAMERA UPDATE..

My new camera arrived yesterday, and although I wasn't "blown away" by it immediately, I think I'll come to like it quite a bit. Plans for the afternoon, after I teach one more class, are to get outside, take a long walk, and see if I can take a few photos. Maybe I'll have a couple of photos to upload this evening.

Off to class....eergh!

MY CAMERA'S BROKEN

...and I'm feeling somewhat at a loss. At this very moment, the sun is in perfect position from the west to photograph some great fall flower shots in the yard and down by the garden.

I realized some time back my camera seemed a bit frail. After all, it's two years old, has taken 1,000's of shots, has been dropped several times, and has been transported all over the world in a lousy, non-cushioned camera case. And, quite frankly, I've been thinking of upgrading so I can reproduce larger photos nicely.

So, I just ordered a new camera, an 8 megapixel Canon PowerShot A680. I like Canons, and I don't think the learning curve with this one will be too much of a challenge. I feel like I need another camera's worth of experience before I really take the plunge for a fine, professional-type, top-of-the line, spend-more-money-than-I-have -now camera.

It should be here in the next couple days, so I'm forward to shooting zillions of photos this coming weekend.

Namasté...

PS: Apologies to my readers, whoever you are / wherever you are...This is a totally boring post... I'm just sitting at the computer and thinking about customizing my blog, but I'm chicken to go ahead and do so because I have no idea what I'm getting in to or what the consequences of my lack of expertise could produce...Mary Ann, I need help!

And, does anyone know how to post slideshows on a blog? Do I have to have Picasa, Flickr, or something similar?

ANDREW'S IN JAPAN

Andrew, a farm kid since birth, Samuel's best friend, and son of Norm and Diane is a junior at the College of Wooster and is spending fall semester in Japan. He's blogging his experience, and you can get to his blog from my blog roll or by clicking the following link:

http://nagasakinotes.blogspot.com/

I can well remember the days of Samuel and Andrew watching "Big Bird Goes to Japan." Now big Andrew's in Japan, and his adventures will surely be worth the read!

RAMBLINGS...

Those of you who know me well know how much I love life...You also know I'm pretty earthy, not given to superficialities, really fond of laughter, and always in search of the next lesson to catapult me into greater awareness and understanding. Sometimes the "catapult" is a direct result of some personal foible, lack of awareness, or monumental screw-up, but I'm pretty willing to admit my shortcomings, make a pact to learn from the lesson, and move on. At least, I strive to go in that direction. I love to step back and witness how life unfolds and observe how people deal with the curves that get thrown their way. And ultimately, I am fascinated by how we are all constantly evolving, regardless of age or other factors.

There have been events in my life I would have never predicted....things like divorce....the untimely death of close friends....unforeseen opportunities that seemingly pop up out of nowhere...the arrival of amazing, new people in my life...Shifts happen, for better or worse, and they become a part of the process of our greater knowledge... the acceptance of our human-ness... lessons in forgiveness (particularly of ourselves)..... giant steps toward understanding... greater compassion and love.

I truly believe that every one of us is exactly where we are right now as a result of our own creation in the overall journey of what is it that we have to learn this time around as incarnate beings on the planet. Sometimes we are in co-creation with others in our lives, but even then, we construct the events that determine of our happiness (or lack thereof) and life direction. This notion is rejected and denied by many; the idea that we create every aspect of our reality intimidates even the most "intelligent" among us because it requires us to assume responsibility for everything that plays out in our lives and erase blame...It's so easy to pass the buck!

But, I really like the idea that only I create my life...I find it empowering and very, very humbling....I want to be in charge of my life..I want no one else determining my path....If I am in co-creation with another, I want my part of that creation to be positive and life affirming. not crippling or stifling. I enjoy and celebrate my power as the one who designs my life, and I am humbled the Universe guides me and allows me to grow. If I get stuck along the way, it's my task to get unstuck. If I experience injustice or unfairness in my life, it's my job to fix it. If I find myself in an unpleasant situation or relationship, then I must decide how to best remedy the situation.... It's not just me....everyone has choices and the power to create and define his/her life.

So, why do some people have such difficulty actualizing happiness? Why do they seem to be cemented in darkness, fear, unhappiness, manipulation, and the like? Why can't people escape the chains that bind them? Why do they allow themselves to be a slave to others?

I understand there are no simple answers. I understand a lifetime of behavioral patterns imprinted and embedded in our subconscious can seem insurmountable and very intimidating when it comes time to face them and initiate a change. Creating change in one's life is not an easy task. My compassion for those who are "stuck" in suffocating situations is HUGE, regardless of whether the suffocation is a result of emotional distraught, an unbalanced relationship, or a series of hard knocks.

But, I do believe everyone has the capacity to find freedom and happiness in his/her life. It's our choice to be happy or not...It's within our power to find laughter and love....It's our birthright as divine manifestations on the planet to love our lives.

My wish tonight is that we all grow in greater understanding of the sacredness of our existence and learn to acknowledge the gifts life has to offer, especially those of happiness and love.

Namasté

(I dedicate this post to a friend with whom I had unexpected contact last week and who, I believe, deserves a world of happiness he/she has yet to manifest in his/her life.)

IT'S THE LAST WEEK OF SEPTEMBER AND IT'S 94 DEGREES OUTSIDE!

OK...There have been a few times since I've lived at The Farm that the last week of September has been warm enough to wear shorts and a sleeveless shirt, but never, ever, do I remember the temperature in the mid-90's at this time of year. Yesterday and today have been almost unbearable, and I'm really trying NOT to turn on the air conditioner again, but as the sweat rolls off of me as I write this post, I'm quite tempted to do so. And furthermore, since we've gone without ANY rain for at least 2 months, the Earth is so incredibly parched that one little spark could literally torch 1000's of acres around here in no time flat. Actually, I'm a more than a little concerned about everything from low water tables to the animals in the wild. The streams dried up two weeks ago; there just isn't any water for them to drink.

I contemplated the drought during my celebration of the equinox over the weekend. Supposedly, it's a time of balance as we move into Libra....a time of equal light and dark, a celebration of the harvest yielded from our gardens, a time to bring the summer's work to an end and prepare for rest during the approaching cold, winter months. In my personal world, I feel balance and equilibrium for the most part. But as I listen to the screech owls howl, the hawks scream from above, and the coyotes in song at night, I wonder what they're sensing. They, much more than we humans, must feel the incredible Earth changes that are taking place now.

My hope is for a steady, lasting rain to come tomorrow.

On a lighter note, Eliza had a wonderful, perfect Homecoming evening with her date and friends. She looked so, so beautiful and radiant, and her boyfriend seems like he's a really, really good guy. I was very impressed with the ease with which he met and talked to me and with the courtesy and gentleman-ness with which he treated / treats Eliza. That girl has a pretty wonderful ability to magnetize and manifest good things in her life! Aren't they a "cute" couple?

And continuing on a lighter note, "catspunk" (a term invented by Brett) abounds in the house these days as Clousseau and Cato bounce around with unlimited energy. They make me laugh until I cry, and their antics almost always lead to some sort of blunder. Just like children, they play until they collapse, sleep a bit, and get up for another round of chase, attack, and wrestle. Clousseau is a bit larger and a little more coordinated and independent than Cato, but in the last couple of days, Cato has caught Clousseau off guard at the most opportune moments, and he's landed a few good blows. I have made a couple of videos of them on my camera, but so far, I haven't been successful at downloading them on my blog. I will keep trying, however. For the moment, here's a photo I took tonight.

I'm off to shower all the sweat rolling down my body...Peace to all Namasté readers..And, infinite love from The Farm....Love life!

T.