A Taste of Tarot-Pesky Stuff

2008-11-06T04:05:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was an interesting day- M had a HUGE poetry project. She had hers done and she spent the evening helping her friend - "Giving a sista a helping hand". Listening to M's advice, it was totally thrilling to hear her engaged in homework, using her very bright brain instead of hating on all-things- school.

Speaking of M, we have this thing going on. She's all into the song, Electric feel by MGMT.It's a catchy tune, however, a prominent lyric is "shock me like an electric eel" bahahahaaaaaaa!!! She says I am old and out of touch, I say using an electric eel as a lyric is ridiculous. What do you think??

Electric Feel Lyrics....
all along the western front
people line up to receive
she got the current in her hand
just shock you like you won't believe
sun in the amazon
with the voltage running through her skin
standing there with nothing on
she gonna teach me how to swim
i said ooh girl
shock me like an electric eel
baby girl
turn me on with your electric feel
i said ooh girl
shock me like an electric eel
baby girl
turn me on with your electric feel
all along the eastern shore
put your circuits in the sea
this is what the world is for
making electricity
you can feel it in your mind
oh you can do it all the time
plug it in, change the world
you are my electric girl
i said ooh girl
shock me like an electric eel
baby girl
turn me on with your electric feel
i said ooh girl
shock me like an electric eel
baby girl
turn me on with your electric feel
do what you feel now
electric feel now
do what you feel now
electric feel now
do what you feel now
electric feel now
do what you feel now
electric feel now
do what you feel now
electric feel now

2008-11-04T03:40:00.000-08:00

Well, to celebrate my brand-new address I'm offering a hot special- a Tarot sale on a special reading- the Double-Mini for only $20.00! See details here The Double Mini-reading gives you a lovely life overview, and this special reading is only offered for a limited time! Hurry, special expires on 11/10/2008!

I've got to get ready, I'm an elementary school librarian in my new job and today we're reading "Patrick's Dinosaurs".... It rocks. The little kids crack me up, they are totally filter-free, and I hear the greatest stories.

I've gotta run- I'm voting before work- when are you??? (Go, Barack, go!!!) Nothing like voting to make me feel like a mighty American!!! Get out and vote!!!!

2008-11-02T15:30:00.000-08:00

Well, I really did it this time! I've been really pretty busy with my life lately- Dan and i both got new jobs within a week of each other, back on Labor Day. Dan has been working nights- leaving here about 1:30 pm and returning about 2:30 am... I get off work at noon three days a week, so we see each other then. However, from Sunday until Saturday the kids don't see him, and I am the sole parental unit/ driver. In all the excitement I let my web domain lapsed, and it was sniped by some company in Gibraltar!! ARRRRGHHH. I have started a new domain- www.tasteoftarot.com- I just left off the "A". I am frantically updating links and ending out notices... More to come...

2008-08-06T16:34:00.000-07:00

I got my hair done yesterday, back to my true red self. Doing a reading for Necia tonight, here's the shuffle...

Outkast-Hey Ya
Seven Nation Army- The White Stripes
Fame-David Bowie
Bridges- Tracy Chapman
Drive- Incubus
The Story- Brandi Carlile (All of these lines across my face Tell you the story of who I am So many stories of where I've been And how I got to where I am...)
Lover Lover- Sonia Dada (You don't treat me no good no more.... Hey JET, wonder what you're up to tonight?)
El Condor Pasa- Simon & Garfunkel
My Doorbell-The White Stripes (when you gonna ring it?)
Speed of the Sound of Loneliness- Alabama 3
I Can I Will I Do- Barenaked Ladies
Sympathize- Amos Lee
Broke-Modest Mouse
Under the Sun- Big Kenny (JET again, There is a place where dreams come true... hoping all dreams have come true )
Standing in the Doorway-Bob Dylan

2008-08-04T15:45:00.000-07:00

Hey y'all... am I the suckiest blogger ever??? Last Summer at this time I was wonderful, dedicated- this summer I am a slacker. sigh.

Anyway, there were some requests (well, one...) for new pictures of my grandson Aden, superbaby. Here is my little dumpling. He's still a pretty serious guy- that's the way my youngest son James started out, and I think Aden takes after his Uncle James with his mighty strength and seriousness. (Although he looks like his daddy, my son Dan)

James was very serious, and I always thought he was taking it all in, filling up his memory card, his computer chip, and then when he felt like he had a handle on the world, he was ready to smile.

I am finally ready to smile after spending most of the day in bed yesterday with a yucky summer cold. I am starting to feel like I will survive...

I'm doing some readings, here's what's on my shuffle tonight...
Helpless- Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Spy in the House of Love- Was(not was)
Seven Wonders- Fleetwood Mac (I still like Christine McVie better than Stevie)
As Tears Go By- Rolling Stones
Blinded by the Light- Manfred Mann
These Dreams of You- Van Morrison
By the Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth- Clap your Hands Say Yeah
Life By the Drop- Stevie Ray
Even the Losers- Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers (We smoked Cigarettes and stared at the moon... it couldn't have been that easy to forget about me...)
First Day of My Life- Bright Eyes ( From my M...)
Open Arms- Tracy Chapman
Goo Goo Muck- The Cramps (Ahh, the music of my youth...)

2008-06-20T20:02:00.000-07:00

Hey all, Happy Summer Solstice! The fireflies have just really come on this week, they are amazing, like a little light show in our ditch!

I did a Tarot reading for Claire, from the UK tonight, and while I read I wear headphones to shut out the world. I usually shuffle my ipod, and tonight I kept track of my shuffle so you guys can see what kind of stuff goes in my ears when I'm doing your cards...
>At Least We Tried-Moby
>Maybe You’re Right- Barenaked Ladies
>Say Yes- Ellott Smith (a shout out to chlo-aye)
>You Never Can Tell- Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter (Yee hah)
>Rikki Don’t Lose that Number- Steely Dan
>Crying- Roy Orbison & KD Lang
>Speed of the Sound of Loneliness- Amos Lee
>Wishing Tree- Sonia Dada (That’s a Jet special)
>Dry country- B-52’s…(that’s better. Rock gently)
>One Drop- Bob Marley
>Best of You- Foo Fighters (Rock a lil’ harder)
>Anytime Lisa-Was (Not Was) (wow. This is a blast from the past…)
>Meet Virginia- Train (I got this one from my fabulous niece Stephanie, years ago…)
>Heart-Nick Lowe (I heart this)
>Texas Flood- Stevie Ray & Double Trouble. (Speaking of heart…)
>No Rain -Blind Melon
>Burning Down the House- Talking Heads. (Ahh, memories)
>Bad Time- Jayhawks
>Werewolves of London- Magnolia Electric Co (Not the incomparable warren, RIP, but interesting)
>Into the Great Wide Open –Tom Petty
>Closer to Fine-Indigo Girls (I’m trying to tell you something about my life…)
>If I could Talk I’d Tell You- Lemonheads (I was just wanting to hear this the other day)
>Song for you- Leon Russell
>Melt with You-Modern English (A HUGE fave from my rubber bracelet days)
>Keep ‘em Separated-Offspring (One for Dan all pro)
>Showdown- ELO
>Feel Goood Inc- Gorrillaz- (Danny & I both got into this at the same time, separately. Weird.)
>Blame it on the Tetons- Modest Mouse (Man I need a cold one…)
>Kick Push-Lupe Fiasco (From the Divine M)
>Hotel Song- Regina Spektor (Come into my world, I’ve got to show show show you…)
>Praise You-Fatboy Slim..

Reading done now, headphones off and off to bed...

2008-05-10T06:00:00.000-07:00

Saturday morning and I am, typically, in bed. James' soccer game isn't until 11:00. Whoo hoo! I love a Saturday morning with a book, a cup of creamy coffee, and the house all quiet and gentle sounding around me. Birds are flitting around in the blooming lilac outside my window- it's like a Disney cartoon. (I am definitely not Snow White, I think I'd have to be one of those fairy godmothers. sigh...) Dan is off hunting for Morels. before the game...

I've got to stir though, readings to do... That's a good reason to stir. Take advantage of the sale. And here I go- hitting the Beyond. (I like to linger on the "Bed, Bath"... and am more reluctant about the "Beyond"... hehehe)

Saturday night- 7:30- doing readings and jamming with headphones- what's in my ears?
Jackson Browne- My Problem is you
Cheryl Wheeler- Ghandi/Buddha
Some Bob Schneider
Life is good.

2008-05-09T04:05:00.000-07:00

I babysat for Aden's big sister yesterday and man, am I out of practice with four-year-olds! It was exhausting! She wants me with her all the time, which is fun, but I had kinda gotten out of the habit of doing that AND making dinner, doing dishes, etc. With Margaret and James, my 15 and 16 year-old, they do everything they can to do stuff WITHOUT me, it was a mind-blowing to have someone who wants me all the time. We had fun though- card games, playing on the swing, and she always helps me cook.

Then, her parents arrived for dinner with Aden, and oh my GAWD, do I LOVE babies. I picked him up and couldn't put him down, a snuggly little sweet-smelling nugget, ummmmm. We call it "baby dingo-ing" in honor of Meryl Streep's "The Dingo took my baby!" - you take the bay and hold it just as long as possible. My bro-in-law Tony has perfected the art, to the point where his nickname is "Uncle Dingo". I dingoed that baby all night!

Weird moment when my daughter complained to my son about me, and asked him if she could hold the baby. A cog slipped for me as I realized HE was in charge of his baby, and really isn't my son in that instance.

Hey, I'm having a sale for my faithful-

Hello to you all!

Well kids, my son and his wife had their baby, a beautiful 9lb 3oz boy (I'm calling him "Super-baby" because he's so strong!). That's the good news. The bad news is, I'm having a hard time adjusting to my new title- Grandma. I hardly feel old enough for it, and it makes me feel like I need to get some orthopedic shoes or something. Sigh. If anyone has a cute grandma nickname, let me know!!!

To celebrate the birth I am offering a Spring Sale, the Conversation reading, now only $30.00- regularly $35.00, with the offer available until 5/14/08. This is a special, unadvertised sale, for A Taste of Tarot Customers only! The Conversation reading rarely gets discounted, take advantage of this great deal!
I wish you all peace,
Laura, the ever-pesky
http://www.atasteoftarot.com/

Then I sent out this-
Hey all,
I mailed a sale offer this morning, and wanted to give an update. When you buy a reading and click submit after completing your personality form, you are going to get an error message. However, I AM getting the forms. I have to reinstall my frontpage extensions to get the error message to go away, and when I do that, my site will be down for a few hours. So, I am going to do that this evening.

So, if you submit a form and get an error message rest assured I'm getting your info. And if you get to my site late tonight and it's down for awhile, never fear- we'll be back up and running in an hour or two!

It was great hearing from all you guys!!!
xxoolaura

Happy Friday, and buy a reading!!!

2008-05-03T14:55:00.000-07:00

Aden Conner Desmet made the scene on April 23, weighing in at a bouncing 9lbs 3 ozs and 21.5 inches long- he's a definite keeper. It's harder to adjust to the grandma title than it is to the child! He's a super-baby like his Uncle James was- he's holding his head up and has rolled over twice in his first week!

This weekend is much more mellow than last week- James and I did "meals-on-wheels" for Danny and Denise all weekend. We pretty much cooked non-stop; minestrone soup, oriental shrimp linguine, from scratch egg rolls and roast chicken. This weekend I seem to be in the same mode making garlic cheese rolls and 6 bean salad. Dan is out grilling steaks as the day threatens to rain on him; the wind is so strong it sounds like it's demanding the house take off and fly with it. A wind too strong even for kites... But the house holds firm, and all is cozy in my world and life today, hanging out with my boys and being thankful thankful thankful to be right where I am.

2008-04-12T09:56:00.000-07:00

Nancy and I had a STELLAR trip to San Diego! What a fun place, and it was so cool- we didn't need a car; we walked or trammed everywhere. Our Hotel was right on the Embarcadero, and we had an amazing view of the Bay- cruise ships docked directly across from our room! We had lots of good walks, talks, and sight-seeing- Balboa Park and Old Town by Trolley. We are good traveling buddies; feeling ready to rock, ready to eat and ready to sleep at the same times...

On Saturday we took the trolley to the border and walked into Mexico, although we were warned at the hotel about "three hour waits at the border" and at the train station that "you have a 40% chance of being kidnapped..." The guy at the duty-free shop said we'd be fine in the tourist section, so feeling daring, we went for it. It was GREAT shopping- we both got silver necklaces, and I got some really cool day-of-the-dead figures. However, there were VERY FEW tourists- the rumors of trouble in Tijuana must be killing the tourism income.

After an interesting lunch (a. tasty, but didn't want to look at the meat in the taco too closely, B. lunch was $6.00, a can of pop $3.00, c. it took so long we thought there may not have been a kitchen in the restaurant, we mused about where the the food was coming from...) the waiter hailed us a taxi- a crazed, road-raging, expletive-spewing cab driver. He would slow the cab to yell out the window at drivers or pedestrians that annoyed him. (And they ALL did...) He had insisted I sit in the front seat, then went into frustration mode when I didn't understand all he was saying. (I DID understand that "Muy stupido" was directed at me, and some of his language was foul universally...) When I did the "passenger braking movement" on my side as he whizzed through the stop signs, he clucked disappointedly, "Lady, this is NOT America, this is MEXICO..." and muttered some more stupidos...

He drove us through the bowels of Tijuana, while Nancy and I threw each other stealthy worried glances, and I praised his driving skills,pretty sure he was just crazy and not a kidnapper, but with a 10% doubt in my mind... Finally he drove us to this long line of shuffling people, very few Americans, in a dirty section of town. He started shouting, "Get out get out GET OUT...." and pointed at the line. Nancy and I sprang from the cab with mixed feelings- out ot the cab was GOOD, but where the Hell were we??? We started walking toward the end of the line... and walking.... and walking.... as it snaked around foreveerrrrr.

Finally we reached the end, and figured- THIS is the 3 hour wait. Next thought- Is this the line to get back into the US at all? It was all Mexicans- but then the tourism is really down so that was not so odd. We shuffled along for awhile, and the line was really moving surprisingly fast. (and getting longer and longer behind us...) Nancy finally saw some other obvious tourists, and we ascertained this WAS the line to cross into the US.

The line itself was interesting, again, it moved pretty fast, and there were people selling tacos and churros from stands as we shuffled by. Random stray dogs poked around in the weeds for any scraps, and looked unsatisfied. More of the many "Farmacias" trying to sell last minute prescriptions, with the guys wearing their "official" white pharmacy jackets, standing out in front. Everyone has a cellphone no matter how rich or poor.

We met a couple of great kids in line behind us, raised in Mexico and going to college in San Diego (In Mexico partying with friends because the drinking age is 20...) they were crossing back to go to work in San Diego. They were both Rotten Tomatoes Fans Timmy- but then who isn't!!!! We bonded with them until we hit the border and got separated in the customs lines, waving and saying goodbye. The wait was actually only an hour!!! The line was kinda cool...

But Customs was way serious, it's not the kind of place where you want to joke around. But it was more fascinating than scary, we all showed our birth certificates or passports, while on the US side these people were being taken away in handcuffs, which were all linked to a leash-like chain, while the customs officer walked in front of the line holding the chain and carrying a covered box. Hmmm... What was inside? I have no idea idea, but I'm glad I didn't have any of it!!!

Nancy and I passed through with no problems and walked back into the US! YEAH!!!
It was a really cool adventure. The day before I went to San Diego I got a fortune in a fortune cookie that said "You will have a four-wheeled adventure" It kinda came true!!!

The line to go across the border...

2008-04-04T03:52:00.000-07:00

Well, San Diego was absolutely life-affirming. So wonderful to get away and take a break, and fabulous to have a bunch of time with my sister-normally when we get together it's a holiday or a big event, this time it was all about us. We have a great travel-rhythm together, getting hungry, tired or ready -to-rock at the same time.

My bed was by the balcony, and all night I watched the lights on the Bay, wishing I could absorb the sight and save it for cold Michigan days. We were on the Embarcadero, and every morning I would look out to see what was happening by the water. We were directly across from the cruise ship dock, and it was berry cool to lay in bed and watch the big ships dock.

Now I'm home, and we're in a countdown, waiting for my grandchild to be born!

2008-03-27T04:55:00.000-07:00

Hello hello! I am off to San Diego today with my wonderful sister Nancy, until Sunday the 30th. WHOO HOO! The country mouse hits the road!

2008-02-29T03:38:00.000-08:00

Happy Leap year! And Happy Birthday to my sweet Uncle Claude, a leap year baby, who turns 96(!!) today! He's pictured here at Lake May with his Great-grandaughter Indigo. He's turning 96 but since he's a leap Year baby, he's really only 24!

In honor of Leap Year I turn over a card, The Lovers. That's a sweet card to get today- all about partnerships, seeing eye-to-eye, a fulfilling love. And amazingly enough, that sounds about right. It wasn't always so- I think a card turned over on the last Leap Year would not have give me such a blessing.

I've been with Dan for 30 years, 27 married. We grew up together, faced some tough times, and it wasn't always easy. ummm, that's an understatement. There were some nights I went to bed planning the perfect murder. I'm sure he did, too. There's that old joke, "I've been married 27 years- 2 of them happily..."

But even when all that hating was going on, underneath it all, there was love. It was just getting layers on angry sediment on top of it. And now, in the last year, we have finally had a love resurrection. When I was angry with Dan I always took my problems to other people. After awhile, my friends became more important to me, and I shared less and less of myself with Dan. And he's not a big chatty guy. He got surly and withdrew, I think he was resentful of my diverted attention, but he's not the kind of guy to say it. He just closed off to me.

We started working our way back to each other, I readjusted the way I responded to him. And he started opening up to me. My time-consuming friendships wound up going by the wayside, and I saw how much they had CONSUMED my life. All of a sudden Dan and I were telling each other about our day again, that ease with each other brought us to a firmer union, and we remembered all that love buried in the sediment of our marriage. We were really LIKING each other again- you can love someone but not really LIKE him, we're having fun again. We're really happy again.

So, my point here is: 4 years ago I would have gotten a much gloomier card to represent my marriage- I'm sure it would have pointed out the pain and the problems, but

2008-02-20T15:43:00.000-08:00

I have been LOVING paperbackswap lately- I just got a load of 4 books yesterday, whoo hoo! What a treat. I'm very excited about

Rasputin's Daughter. I just read The Kitchen Boy: A Novel of the Last Tsar, and it was intriguing. now, on my Russian history quest, I want to see Nicholas & Alexandra again. I haven't seen it since I was a kid, and a lot of the political references flew over my head. Anyway, I am rambling. Check out paperbackswap, nothing like a good book on a cold night.

It's a clear (and let me mention again, cold...) night here in Michigan; we're hoping for an excellent view of the lunar eclipse tonight. This was a freaky day everywhere- I was feeling supercharged, Dan saw 4 different herds of deer on his way home, I think it's a big ol' lunar pull- anyone else feeling it???

It will be the last total lunar eclipse until 2010, make it a good one.

2008-02-18T03:34:00.000-08:00

Well, I think I've had enough of a break. In the time I've been away from the blog, I have been building up my wicked Tarot Skills- I've done several local parties, and I've acquired quite a few more clients. Whooo hoo! There are a lot of things that really suck about being on the cusp of menopause- moodiness, nightsweats- however, the effect it has had on my Tarot skills is spectacular! I'm a better reader than I have ever been before...

Check this response...
"Oh my God. You are priceless and not in a MasterCard way. I could relate to every single detail, you are truly amazing. I’m going to tell you just how amazing…you don’t have to read it! It’s a long diatribe, but you are wonderful, I don’t have words to describe you. Ha ha I tried to entertain you in this book I just wrote. You will like the last paragraph. God Laura, I can’t get over this reading….."

Good time to get a reading, guys, I'm HOT!

2007-12-06T03:32:00.000-08:00

Well, we all survived the sub-deb. Now it's time to see if we can last through the Holiday season. I HATE to shop, but I've been doing pretty well, power-shopping. Shopping FAST, but finding lots of stuff.

Shopping may be focused, but the rest of my life seems to be losing a little bit. When I lay out my cards they are full of Minor Arcana cards, lots of little things distracting me, keeping me from seeing the big picture. (That probably explains my lack of blogging, too...) I need to step back, take a cleansing breath, and reassess.

How are you feeling during this holiday season? Maybe YOU need your cards done, too... Get a reading here...

2007-11-29T16:06:00.001-08:00

My babies, Margaret and James BOTH start Drivers Ed on Monday!!! Yikes! In my head they still look like the pic here, but my babies are growing up! Speaking of, Margaret is also going to her first formal this weekend, the Sub Deb. Double Yikes.

It was a lovely Thanksgiving, my sister hosted all of us, and it was delicious and tons of fun. Of course, the turkey barely has a chance to digest before the Christmas shopping pressure begins. I HATE to shop, and hope I can accomplish most of it in front of the computer wearing my bunny slippers... ; )
Some new music I LOVE LOVE LOVE- Obadiah Parker, Hey Ya.

2007-11-19T03:41:00.001-08:00

Another wedding pic- I remember when these guys would clink their baby bottles together and say "cheers!" They've come a long way....

Wow, what a stupendous weekend!!! I really didn't want to have inflated expectations, it is Deer Hunting season here- notoriously a time where we dance dangerously near to disliking each other. We vowed this year was going to be better, and it REALLY is...

Friday night M & J spent the night with friends, and I ran to the store and got little steaks and crab legs (on sale!) and we had a delightful late surf and turf dinner at home. We made killer Bloody Mary's and cooked side-by-side, and Dan's fave western TV station featured "Duel in the Sun" which we settled in to watch and it was hilarious! It was a western for him, a classic for me, and so amusingly overblown- Jennifer Jones just about writhes with sensuality, bahahaaaaaa.

Saturday morning Dan went hunting and returned early enough for us to get to the bank, do some errands, and we wound up at SunnySide for lunch, using our $30.00 gift certificate. An outstanding lunch. When we returned Dan watched the big Michigan/Ohio state game, and I finished my book (The Other Woman by Jane Green, acceptable chick lit, not amazing...)

Sunday morning Dan hunted, then returned and we got a turkey going. (We'll have dinner at my sister's and when you go somewhere else on Thanksgiving, you miss out on all those great turkey leftovers for sandwiches...) Brian called and we went over with both our vehicles, taking him a table and chairs for his dining room. It was a beautiful day, sparkling and bright, even though the leaves are 98% gone, it's still Fall-like. I came back to finish dinner, and Dan hung with his buddy BW awhile longer.

James was dying to go hunting, so Dan took him out in the evening. Still no luck.

It was a wonderful weekend, and like I said, I never dreamed we would be getting along so well in hunting season! I'm very mellow, Dan is not obsessed, and I'm happier than I've been for a long time. Counting my blessings already, even though Thanksgiving is Thursday!

2007-11-16T03:27:00.000-08:00

My niece sent me some more pictures from Danny's wedding. I LOVE this one, it was as they walked into the rehearsal and everyone cheered, look at that cute Danny smile on his face.

Yesterday was the big day off for the kids and Dan. Dan hunted from dawn to dusk and saw no deer.

About 4:30 James took Petey out to potty in the yard, and a 6 point Buck and a large doe ran past our yard, like 6 feet from James. Then they ran off toward the area where James and Dan usually hunt around here. Soooo, if he had stayed home, he might have bagged his deer. Wasn't that the whole point of the Wizard of Oz? You can search for your happiness, but truly , "there's no place like home".

2007-11-14T10:17:00.000-08:00

The Burning Bush is still flaming on in the backyard. Although the leaves on the trees are about 60% gone, there are still delightful pockets of color. Snow is predicted for tonight, and tomorrow morning-I saw a guy in shorts today.

My kids have the day off school tomorrow, which is being sold as a "Planning Day"- but we all know it's because attendance is so low on opening day of firearm deer season, here in dear ol' carnivorous Southern Michigan.

Geez, there's this radio contest where you have to call in if you hear a Santa "ho ho ho".. -it's kinda inserted subliminally, Now, I am sooo randomly listening at work, and I don't hear that well anyway, and I NEVER hear the Ho's.

TODAY, I heard the Ho's! I shot across the office to grab the phone and dial in... I thought Sue was going to do the duck and cover with her desk, she had never seen me move so fast. I liken it to when I touched our cabin's antique light fixture with wet hands. I moved THAT fast. But still, I got busy signals. I kept redialing and got registered! Ummm, I don't even know what the contest is, i know it's a shopping spree of some kind, i have to check it out online. I just know the other contest they are having involves callers gobbling like a turkey, and even I, freak as I am, have more dignity than that.

OMG, I can NEVER hear our phone ring!! We are using a new phone and the pitch of the ring always sounds like it's a part of the TV buzz in the room. (Yeah, we live loud, See randomly listening and deafness referred to above...) Then, today I made this big effort to go look for the ringing phone, and it WAS the TV.

2007-11-13T09:15:00.000-08:00

Sweet little Sean Alan, we're sharing the love at the rehearsal dinner!

Today I have been Laura the insightful, Laura the capable (as opposed to this weekend when I was not-ready-for-primetime Laura...) I drove to work with my delicious cup of coffee, I've been running late the last two days (See above for unreadiness explanation), so I zip through town, but I take this dirt road beyond the college and I always see the coolest wildlife- little ferrety/mink things, braces of turkeys and woodcocks (woodcock?), it's like Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom, okay? Sooo, today I'm sipping the tall reg/ex cream, and a majestic buck bounds over the road before me, and off into the corn stubble. Again, this kind of thang is the reason I take this road, so I stop the car and watch his progress. Keep in mind, this is Michigan and firearms deer hunting starts on Thursday. By then minivans with Latte's are going to be the LEAST of this buck's concerns. Well, he does pretty well, he just keeps on dashing towards the woods... when, what does he do??? He turns, stops and looks around and makes eye contact with ME, chest forward in that whold "Father of Bambi" stance. I felt pretty bad for him; that could be a deadly failure of technique. I mean we all DO know what happened to Bambi's Dad, right?

Next big thought, I'm home early and cleaning my house, listening to a Neil Young mix on the iPod, when I come to an old fave "old Man". Old man look at my life, Twenty four and there's so much more... My eldest is 24. It's sooooo weird how you never think you will ever be anyone else's "old man"... I mean, NEIL is the Old man in the song now, too...Crazzzzy.

Love lost, such a cost, Give me things that don't get lost.
Like a coin that won't get tossed
Rolling home to you.

So, it's a gorgeous fall day, and Neil is sounding good... From Sugar Mountain to Down by the River. (I told you I was insightful today...)

2007-11-11T06:59:00.000-08:00

It's a cold, dark, dreary and rainy day here in Michigan, but yesterday my son got on a Disney cruise in Florida, that's taking him to the Caribbean! I hope they have an excellent time.

My honeymoon was less stellar. I am a believer in taking a honeymoon at least a few weeks after the wedding- go away for a long weekend after a wedding, but take the big trip on your first anniversary... Here's my honeymoon tale...

I was married at 20, 3 months shy of my 21st birthday. At the time it made total sense, today it seems realllllly young. I didn't think about the whole cosmic aspect of getting married, and when the minister said who gives this woman, my dad made this sharp intake of breath, it echoes in my mind and heart today, and I think I finally GOT it, the cosmic aspect of what I was doing. I spent the rest of my honeymoon missing my parents, a lil' tearful over the people I had been actively trying to escape since my late teens.

Next, we went to my parents cabin in the U.P. - a sweet little place, we were the only cabin on the lake, no electricity or plumbing, just the two of us in the deep woods. That has always been our thang. Well, we stopped the first night at our parents place about an hour from the bridge. It was Oct. 11th, and it was cold. And this was young Dan, before he became Dan the Man, the fixer of all things. He couldn't get the heat going. I remember snuggling on the couch, not really from any feeling of passion, more from the desire not to leave our frozen carcasses stuck there till spring.

Then, on night 2 we hit the U.P., even colder and when we hit the cabin someone had stolen our propane tank- no appliances, no gas lights, and no heater. (Back in those days the cabin had a big ol' propane heater that used to be in a church- you were either cold or HOT) So, we spent night two curled together for warmth, not passion, again.

By night three we had our act together, heat, lights, and such- but we both had hideous colds.

Taking that 2 weeks later on would have been a berry good call for us. I hope Danny's trip is the antithesis of ours, a lovely time for all of them.

2007-11-08T15:48:00.000-08:00

Wow! I took Petey outside, and the coyotes are howling like crazy freaks, over on the edge of the fence row. The dogs at all the neighboring houses are barking and the coyotes are yipping and howling in that crazy-sounding way they have. Click this link to listen to the audio, it captures the creepy sound.

2007-11-08T03:26:00.000-08:00

My eldest son is now married! It was a wonderful wedding, a wonderful weekend- everything went off like clockwork! But man, I'll tell you, it feels so good to have it all over!

My sister's were soooo supportive- when we arrived at the Rehearsal dinner, they had it all set up and it looked like my fantasy of how it would look- how often does THAT happen?

Nancy got a make-over by the Amazing Amanda- it looked so cool! And it felt exciting to move around in a big crowd, taking up tables for 12 wherever we went. We hit many local Mexican restaurants and breakfast spots.

After the wedding, Dan and I stopped by to visit with Brian and his new girlfriend, Beth, and our dear old friends Mary and Randy. Beth is a doll, it was nice to finally meet her. We kicked the boys asses at euchre, and I can see more of that in the future.

Now, here we are back to the real world. The real world for us is- MICE!!! The season is changing, it's getting cold, and now is the time when the little turd-makers try to move in with us. Dan took time out of his deer-hunting frenzy to put poison where the mice will find it delectable, but our sweet pets can't find it. Soooo, this morning I wake up and I feel something on my foot- a little poison-dazed mouse climbed over my bare foot!!!! GROSSSS!! Then, he's just sitting there- I cannot leave a LIVE mouse in the house. So, instinct caused me to step on him, which was the final straw for him. It was a disturbing way to start the day- it feels good to reduce the rodent ranks, it feels gross to be so intimately involved in their demise.

Dan goes off this weekend to winterize his mom's place at Saginaw Bay, he'll leave on Saturday and be home on Sunday., I'll miss him even being gone that much- we are in LOVE. It's amazing how resilient a marriage can be, how many phases it can go through. There were some times when I thought it was time to end it, never would I dream that we undergo such a marriage resurrection, renovation, renaissance. How happy, how lucky I am.

2007-10-31T15:19:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween!!! It's pretty quiet at the Desmet house, once upon a time we really rocked it on Halloween. To quote Michelle Shocked "We was wild then..." This year none of my kids even dressed up- it's sorta like the first Christmas they didn't believe in Santa. A little bit sad.

I found a sangria recipe for the rehearsal dinner that sounds great. I'm adding more fruit- pineapple and raspberries as well as the limes and oranges.

4 bottles Cabernet Sauvignon, warm
1 bottle White Zinfandel, warm
3/4 quart orange juice
2 small cans pineapple juice
1 can Sprite
1/4 cup Grand Marnier
3 oranges, wheeled
3 limes, quartered
6 strawberries, halved
Let the ingredients sit warm in a vat for 2 hours. Then refrigerate overnight. When serving, pour over ice and add fresh fruit.

2007-10-30T03:41:00.000-07:00

Here's M with her new buddy. She's in love.

I just finished the book "Cupid & Diana" and it was quite good. Some of her observations are deeper than your average chick lit read. For instance, when she's describing her flamboyant sister she says, "Being related to her made me feel like a ore interesting person.." I loved that. That's the way I feel about my adventuresome sister Nancy. Downside of the book- it's a debut and sometimes she lets her plotline drop.

2007-10-29T04:04:00.001-07:00

A lil' trouble falling asleep last night, the whole family suffered. (Well, Dan and Petey slept like little lumps) I think the kids were dreading Monday, I am feeling ill-prepared for the wedding stuff. I need to make a list today so that all my thoughts don't keep spinning and flitting around my head. My mama was a firm believer in lists- nothing like them to gain a little focus.

I wish I had my mama and dad this week. I never stop missing them. It's interesting, there are so many different WAYS of missing them- there's the need to share a good story or an interesting factoid, there's the need for a good hug or confirmation of my lovability in the way only a parent can do, there's the need to ask advice, or lean on them. No matter how old you are when your parents die, you're still an orphan. Seeing my son marry without them there, that will be bittersweet.

My card for the day, the Sun, reversed. I need to stop fooling around, make that list, and get my act together.

2007-10-28T12:41:00.001-07:00

Last blog I began with what I was up to 2 weeks ago. THIS time I start with what I'll be doing next week at this time, my eldest's wedding should be just finishing. How did my little baby, my sweet little Dan, become old enough to get married, to be a dad. I wish nothing but the best for them both. Danny is really happy.

This is a pic of Margaret's new hair, it's a wild change from the blond it was. The wedding colors are red and black so we figured we were consistent with the theme. She's had the blues since she broke up Joey, so today we bought her a Guinna pig, Stuie. She is delighted, Petey is a little frightened and perplexed- it's not a squirrel, it's not a dog or cat- what the hell IS it??

I have my saurbraten in the oven and it's making the house sing with the delightful fragrance.

Wanna make it?
Saurbraten
4lbs top or bottom round roast
1 cup dry white wine
1 1/2 teas. salt
10 crushed peppercorns
1 onion, sliced thin
2 Bay leaves
2 tbls pickling spice
3 tablespoons shortening
1/2 cup gingersnaps
1/2 cups sour cream

Two days before suing it, put the beef in a deep glass or pottery bowl. In saucepan mix the wine, salt, peppercorns, onion slices, bay leaves and pickling spices with 2 cups of water and bring to boil. Remove from heat. When cool, pour over beef. Cover tightly and refrigerate for at least 2 days, turning meat in marinade at least twice a day.

On prep day preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt shortening in covered roasting pan or casserole. Remove meat from marinade, pat dry, and brown on all sides in warm shortening. Drain fat, strain marinade, and pour over meat. Cover and cook in over 2 - 2 1/2 hours, or until tender.

Remove meat, keep warm on platter. Put roasting pan on burner, add the gingersnap crumbs, stirring until gravy is thick and smooth. Stir in the sour cream, letting it warm but not boil (it will curdle) Slice the meat, serve with gravy.

2007-10-26T03:36:00.000-07:00

Two weeks ago this was the view we had on our walk at Ocqueoc Falls. This is a view from one of the sites at the State Forest Campground... If I were to pitch a tent, THIS would be the spot.

The fires in California are so frightening, my birthday girl sister is off to a conference in San Diego today. She's interested in what she'll find. However, I heard a little news bite from Entertainment Tonight which made me laugh out loud, "The Stars rescue puppies from danger..." I'm sorry, I know it's a serious situation, but the thought of "the stars" all clustered around some reluctant puppy, while cameras flash and photogs cluster.... it just seems wayyyy too "Zoolander".

My card for the the day is the 3 of Pentacles- all about plans and time management. Very appropriate as we come into the wedding home stretch- my son's weeding is next Sunday! So happy that my 3 of Pents is positive, it bodes well for our projects this weekend. (Thank God we work best under pressure. )

2007-10-23T17:47:00.000-07:00

I had my eBay class tonight, next week is our last night and I'm really going to miss these guys. They have been a lot of fun.

When I returned M showed me the awesome picture they took of the sky- isn't this amazing?? The clouds look like they are on fire.

2007-10-22T18:24:00.000-07:00

How cute are these little votives?? Debbie sent me this pic as an example of what my rehearsal dinner favors are going to be- I couldn't be more pleased! Check out her site for the finest honey projects, and may more candles!
It's raining again, but Dan has fixed the leak on our porch, and the ceiling is just about all painted. Best of all, James and Dan did it, and I didn't have to help! I'm such a disgruntled and unskillfull painter.

A woman hit a deer this afternoon right in front of our house- bummer for the gal and the deer, but Dan was pretty happy, he came home and butchered it. He worked, took care of the deer, and worked on the porch- whatta guy!

2007-10-21T15:32:00.000-07:00

Today was improvement day, and we painted the porch ceiling to the accompaniment of the ipod shuffle, we're on song 377 now. My fave in the shuffle today was Bleed to Love her, ahhh Fleetwood Mac, you have always been there for me. James was most happy with Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner , God love you Warren Zevon. Dan got home really early from his party last night- I think it was before 10. he rolled in to Sniff n' the Tears on his satellite radio, and he's been humming it ever since.

The porch looks lovely- the ceiling is Valspar "Fragile Fern" and the walls will be "New Leaf"-Very appropriate.

The kids have no school tomorrow, so M is off with her girlfriends to sleepover and watch scary movies, James is going with Danny to The Haunting, again. Dan and I will have the evening together, I have lovely cheeses and crackers for a savory snack tray, and some champagne.

The picture is a tree we saw on our drive to town when we were at the cabin.

OMG- it has been weekend of the 6 of Cups- seeing all kinds of people from my past and present life. I felt like Scrooge in A Christmas carol, ghosts everywhere, but like the 6 of Cups in the positive position it wasn't unpleasant-

Jill from Supplyside, with her mom and baby, at the football game
Denise and her mom came in just when we sat down to breakfast, it was like we'd planned it. (They went to the same restaurant we did BEFORE, too, but it was too crowded... weird.)
Kenny & Claire Wilt- she is soooo tall!- at the grocery store.
Mary Wells- at the grocery store
Brian- at his house
Richelle & John, in Big Lots parking Lot
Mike from Tc3net @ lowes
This woman who was a cook at my first job @ big Boy at lowes.
Carol the cleaning Lady from lifestyles @ Lowes.

This was more people than I have seen in months. It was kinda crazy how they all just kept popping up.

2007-10-20T16:28:00.001-07:00

Isn't this a cool picture of James? Even his shadow on the trampoline was good! You can see the beans are down in the field, and the trees are turning all around us now.. I think we're just on the edge of the peak fall colors. It makes the drive to work much sweeter. I mean, as sweet as a drive to work can BE.

It's been a great day- I found just the cloth napkins I need for my son's rehearsal dinner, and at Big Lots the price was divine. My mother LOVED that place, she was probably looking out for me today. Then my husband, and kids were fitted for their tuxes, etc. Wow, they are all going to be tres sharp. Dan and I went to see Brian today, we all picked up pine cones for the table arrangements I'll be making- I'm so excited that it all seems to be coming together.

We're having it at Sunnyside, a local Mexican restaurant. It's not feasible for me to do tablecloths, so on the tables I'm doing creamy cloth napkins, with small silk maple leaves tightly scattered in the middle, with tiny papier mache gourds and pine cones on top of those, surrounding small glass globe vases which will be filled with flowers. I'm giving each guest a pine cone beeswax votive as a keepsake. All round the outside of the restaurant we'll have pumpkins carved into star, heart, and D + D designs--no jack-o-lanterns. But it will be Nov. 3rd so I think Pumpkin luminaries are appropriate, don't you? I also have to come up with a good sangria recipe. I wasn't sure how i was going to do all this, how to kinda make this restaurant feel special, and I think it will be good.

Dan and I started an iPod shuffle on our anniversary trip, and we have kept it going. it's on song 277 of 1568. It's kinda an experiment. Don't you think some shuffles are better than others? Like if it starts with a couple of songs that DO NOT suit my mood, i will restart for another shuffle set. And sometimes, if you get a good shuffle, it's almost mystic the way the songs come along at the right time. This has been a good shuffle.

Today I had a couple of songs come up that were just good to hear; I had forgotten I had them in my lists. This My Chemical Romance Song came on when I was shuttling kids to their friends house, and it hit the spot. This Patty Griffin song came on in the morning, driving toward town on a sunny day, feeling glad to be me today.

Well, I cleaned the frig today, and I'm working on my pantry... Dan is off for cards with the boys, so my evening plans consist of a fragrant bath with candles and a book. The book, Riding with the Queen, I am finding surprisingly satisfying. However, I must say, I find it more convincing when the author speaks of the feelings and emotions this wannabe blues star has toward herself and her craft; I find her relationship with her mother and her sister to be a lil' more stilted. But really, a delicious soaking in the tub chick lit with some substance.

I have my fave brown sheets on the bed, 600 thread count, and I am happy.

2007-10-19T03:43:00.000-07:00

Another picture from our trip up north- the Ocqueoc river, isn't it lovely? Last week at this time I was on vacation, walking through colorful and fragrant woods, ahhh, it was lovely.

Today however, is a regular working day, with a football game tonight. James' band uniform is clean and ready to rock, and the band has a whole new program for the game tonight. Cross your fingers that it doesn't rain!

I heard from an old and dear client, Jill in Virginia, who I have been for since wayyy back in 1999! Gotta love those loyal Tarot-lovers! I hope the reading was satisfying for her...

I did a couple of readings for myself this morning, it still amazes me when the cards hit the nail on the head. I feel like a conduit, as the cards and their message flows through me, telling me things I wouldn't have seen with my own eyes. A few months ago I put some unhealthy friendships behind me, and I feel confirmed in this decision. These people needed me as a settling influence, a listening ear, but didn't have as much concern for my heart and feelings. If I don't take care of my heart, who will?

2007-10-17T04:05:00.000-07:00

Look at that handsome dog in the wilds of the north country! It's hard for Petey to come home- here he has to be watched carefully because of the road we live on- we've lost too many animals on it. But up north he's a free dog, able to open up the door at will and romp. Plus, he loves to go squirrel hunting with Dan. Coming home is a culture shock for the poor guy. He's now filthy, matted, and a little bummed out. Actually, that's kinda the way we all came home- there's no shower in the little cabin.

2007-10-16T03:32:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the working week for me... (As Elvis C. sez..."I know it don't thrill you, I hope it don't kill you"!) What a wonderful time up north! The colors were terrific, and the weather was cool, but just right for a big fire in the fireplace. It was hard to close up the cabin for the winter and say goodbye.
Our anniversary adventures began on the 10th, after 26 years we don't have bells and whistles for our big day, however, Dan came home with flowers, champagne, and steak and shrimp- which he made into an outstanding dinner! I was floored- he's not generally the king of thoughtfulness, but this really gave evidence that I have a "new-improved" Dan. So lovely! Our vacation just continued with those good feelings, we went shopping together, walking and exploring, challenged each other with our fire-building, and took some lovely naps on our crippling little bed. (Wow, coming home to our large and comfy bed with the many thread count sheets is what makes coming home a little easier...)

The kids were fine without us, James had some issues staying with big bro. He wasn't included in some of their activities, we'll rethink that one next time. However, everyone survived and we were soooo happy to see our babies again!

So, home again home again, jiggedy jog. And back to reality, after our lovely break in the big north woods.

2007-10-09T11:21:00.000-07:00

Attended my cousin's funeral yesterday, Alan Rickard 8/5/55- 10/4/07, This ones for you Al. We heard it as we were driving home, and it seemed appropriate.

I'm prepping for class tonight, I start a new session of selling on eBay. I think most of my students will be returning from the Intro session, but it's always a lil' exciting.

Margaret is in a deeeeep relationship funk. The beloved Joey turned out to be a dog, so her sadness is radiating from her, just as visible as her happiness was... I wish I could wave a magic wand for her and protect her from stuff like this. Again, the Wheel of Fortune keeps on rolling.

Tomorrow is our 26th wedding anniversary! Amazing, it's been a long, strange trip. Speaking of trips, we are heading off for a long weekend, sans kids, on Thursday. We're up to the cabin to close it down for the winter, and hopefully we'll hit the colors at their peak! Some years our anniversary has been great, some years it was a little bittersweet, but this year we are both really looking forward to spending the time together. We are kinda sorta seriously in loooove. It's nice to fall in love with your husband again, or, maybe it's more remembering and treasuring the things I love about him. And I'm feeling pretty treasured,too. 26 is a good year.

2007-10-08T12:32:00.000-07:00

The Fabulous Peter Jennings, lazing on the trampoline.
He loves it there, he runs the edge when the kids jump.

2007-10-07T07:26:00.000-07:00

James and Colin- I caught James with his hat half on- they have to wear their hats backward if the team wins...

Hey y'all! It's a lazy Sunday morning and I'm blogging in bed. It's gorgeous out my window, all the trees are starting to turn and the cicadas are shrilling. I've got to go get pumpkins soon, I am going to store some to carve for the night of my son's rehearsal dinner. We're having it at Sunnyside, the tastiest Mexican restaurant in all of Adrian. We will have the restaurant for our private party, and I want to have carved pumpkins with candles out in front- it's Nov. 3, just after Halloween, but my pumpkins will be hearts and stars and stuff, more like luminaries. I have silk Fall leaves for the tables, and I'm not sure what I'm going to have, tiny pumpkins with flowers maybe?

Then, the wedding is on the 4th. Whew, my first baby is getting married, it just doesn't seem possible, but Denise is lovely. And my new granddaughter Ally is delightful. That Wheel of Fortune card- life keeps rolling on.

Here's James' pic in his band uniform. He's making a face- I am not the best photog and my batteries were running out, but you get an idea of his awesome marching presence. Friday was Homecoming and we went to the game- M was in the choir at pre-game, James in the band, Dan and I on our blanket on the hill enjoying the cool breeze and the nice night. We sat on the visitors side, but because it was Homecoming it was full of Adrian Fans, so we didn't stand out like freaks. We had an awesome spot until some little girl hurled, repeatedly, about five foot behind us.... Her parental units covered the offensive mess with a big hunk of cardboard, but it was pretty gross knowing it was there. Anyway, other than that, it was a near-perfect night of family togetherness, yet all doing our own thing...

Yesterday we went out to breakfast with the kids, then stopped at the vo-tech agricultural center down the road, which was having an open house. They grow hydroponic tomatoes, and raise pigs, cows and pheasants. We got to pet baby pigs and I got a batch of excellent green tomatoes. The kids were adorable with the animals, even though they are all teens, they still love baby pigs. It was the great leveler.

Wow, I heard a sound outside and looked out the window, it was a bunch of leaves blown off a the Hickory tree and skittering down the road, clicking on the pavement... Fall is here.

2007-10-03T12:51:00.000-07:00

Gosh, I haven't given life updates in days!! This year James is in band and soccer, and I am hauling kids all over hell's half acre, with Thursday and Sunday being the only respite from my life as a driving drone.

I finished my Intro to eBay sessions, and I start the selling section next week. They both turned out to be great class groups- all on a pretty equal footing knowledge-wise, fun "collective"class personalities (Some groups are just not fun, these guys were...), I hope my selling classes go as well.

Last night after I taught I shot out and picked up Dan and Margaret and we headed over to good ol' Maple Stadium to watch James and the Marching band. It was a showcase of all the bands in Lenawee County (The smallest had only 20 kids...) and we got there halfway through because of my class, but it was totally enough. In general, a little marching band goes a long way. Anyway, the Adrian band does this high stepping thing where they just pour onto the field with that proud marching- very very cool. It's also quite strenuous, and James had a wardrobe malfunction with his pants zipper, and it blew out as they began to high step. He spent the show marching, playing the clarinet, and trying to sneak a hand down to hike up his pants. The band STILL rocked!

Today I got a root canal- whoo hoo. I'm numb to my ears, i keep getting itches, but when i scratch them I can't feel it. weirrrrrrd.

2007-09-29T20:43:00.000-07:00

Starry starry night... it's been a quiet night here, Dan and I being peaceful, and I carved a bunch of pumpkins. I love this star one...

Even Margaret went to bed early, and James was off for a buddy's birthday party. Last night Ally spent the night with us, and today we took her with us to James' soccer game, and to the Clinton Fall Festival. Man, it's been a long time since we've been responsible for a 4 year-old! I think that's why tonight felt so peaceful! She was a good little girl, but it's a higher maintenance level than I am used to.

Trees are starting to turn, normal drives are starting to be especially lovely. This is my favorite time of year.

Little Sean Alan Mead is sooo adorable. Can't wait to see him, snuggle him, smell his neck... Baby necks are Delicious.

2007-09-27T19:31:00.001-07:00

A picture of Margaret and Chloe, looking mod. These are the gals I have to thank for tonight's music... This, and this...

A big welcoming thank you to Annie from Maryland who placed her first order for a mini-reading! I just sent it out, hope it is enlightening for her...

The evenings have been rosy and golden, and the moon has been pouring in our window. I feel like our bed is floating on a moonshadow- lovely.

I heard northern Michigan color is just starting. We'll go up to close our cabin and for our romantic anniversary trip in mid-October. I think we may hit the color peak! Too cool!

2007-09-26T16:04:00.000-07:00

Hello Hello!! I have so many things to share! First, at left see Ally, my new granddaughter wearing the bird costume I sewed (felt feather by felt feather, by hand!) for my daughter Margaret. We started a rockin' dress-up box for her on Sunday. I'm a little new to this game, and I'm just hitting my stride. We got the Barbies out, too. Whoo hoo!

My sweet nephew Al and his wife Deb just had a perfectly GORGEOUS little boy! Congratulations to the little guy who carries on the Mead name!

It's a rainy night, but in a cozy, drippy autumnal kind-o-way. My music suits the occasion, this one was sent to me by a friend...

I saw another Hawk tonight, really close to the road and sitting regally on a branch. My magic encyclopedia says that hawks mean enlightenment- I'm growing, stretching, I am changing...

I turn over one card for me, and thank goodness it's a good one! The 9 of Pentacles, it's a time when I am feeling comfortable in my skin, comfortable in my world. Home and work and happiness is in a pleasant balance now.

2007-09-21T15:30:00.000-07:00

My picture tonight is the edge of our yard/field, where the morning glories grow wild. It's a lovely, wild splash of color in my world.

Crazy week here! And yes, it's Friday and i wasn't able to go camping with Dan. The kids had too much going on, and someone had to do the driving. I told him I would like to be able to throw all my balls in the air and have someone catch them for me. (But I don't have a WIFE!) It's a testimony to the new-improved Dan that he was very understanding about my disappointment and has made some plans to make it up to me.

Weds was my eBay for seniors class, and they rock! Great sense of humor, nice mix, it was a successful class, and ran much more smoothly than Tuesday night. Last night we took my mother-in-law to Big Boy for dinner- she's just moved downstate for her health. As we went to pay, both our cards were denied. We were pretty outraged- we have money and were certain the Big Boy machine was screwed up. Dan walked over to an ATM and we paid, but what a way to look cool in of Dan's mom! Geeez! Take her out and not one, but BOTH cards DENIED!! So, I called Big Boy to complain this morning, positive their machine was at fault, and the manager promised to rake the offender over the coals. NOW, when I get home tonight the bank calls and they had to cancel a bunch of cards because they feared they could be compromised. D'ohhhh. Our cards WERE declined, and would only work at ATM's. Ummmm, i think i better call Big Boy and apologize....

So, James is having a buddy overnite; i downloaded a bunch of interesting TV shows for my laptop so i can hide out in my room and give the boys the run of the house.

2007-09-18T17:36:00.000-07:00

Here is Margaret, eating cereal, and Petey wondering why there is none for him. He is the best dog ever!

I taught my first "Intro to eBay" class at Vo-Tech- 9 students, it's a pretty big class. It was soooo hot in there, and I am so unused to wearing heels my sciatica started acting up- by the end of the class I was hobbling around like Festus. Add in the heat, and I was a sweating, hobbling Festus. Tres attractive.

It was a good night though, everyone is at a similar level, and I think it's going to be a fun group. There are 10 in my class tomorrow morning; usually day 2 is a little smoother because I've had a trial run. I hope so!

I'm reading The Glass Castle, my sister Nancy sent it to me and it's excellent! The author is coming to Siena Heights this month, and my sister's and I want to go... It reminds me of The Liar's Club, these books are proof that a dysfunctional childhood is more interesting to read about than to live through.

Speaking of dysfunction, I saw an old friend tonight, and I was surprised by how the love I once felt just wasn't there anymore. I've come a long way in a short time.

2007-09-17T11:10:00.000-07:00

It's an amazing day here, after our wonderful weekend my husband wants to take ME salmon fishing with him next weekend! This is an unprecedented female exploration into the he-man woman haters... He is planning a weekend for the two of us, and is actually concerned about me having fun! It's kinda blowing my mind... I don't think he understands that me going fishing with him means he needs to do something like the Art Museum with me...

When I complained about the road commission ripppppping my phone box off my house, I also mentioned that they are driving down the road about a million miles an hour. Well, that took the bounce out of Tigger- today the road commission trucks are crawling down the road today, AND they gave me extra gravel on the end of my driveway.

2007-09-15T16:51:00.000-07:00

Thread count matters. Having taken what I believe may have been the best nap of my life this afternoon, not a statement to be taken lightly as I am the QUEEN of cozy naps, but today was a topper. We got up early for a soccer game for James (they lost by one point) then ran some errands, had lunch, then Dan and I snuggled into our wonderful Ralph Lauren 600 thread count sheets. It was a syrupy golden, cool fall day with a gentle breeze drifting past the wind chimes, through the window, and over our bed. I read just a little bit, then cozied in, and actually slept for an hour and 1/2- the purrrfect nap.

Which was much needed because it was a really funky week. You may have noticed I went awol again, it was not intended. They have been paving our road, and it has become inches higher in the process. On Weds. the Road Commission trucks were flying by at the freaking speed of light, catching our phone line on the top of their truck, springing it like a rubber band, and pulling our phone box off the house. We were phoneless/computerless for two days. Arrggghhh. My adventures with Verizon NEVER cease.

This picture is of Margaret and her frog... This HUGE frog (See upper right corner of pic) attached himself to her window every night for days. He was kinda creeping her out, I was sincerely starting to think she should kiss him, just to see what happened. However, after she took his picture, he stopped coming. (More prince-y proof to me!)

Friday night was James' first marching band experience at the Adrian Home game! He looked amazing in his uniform, and the band was really pretty good! The flag girls are amazing- they seem to do this random stuff with the flags, they have no rhythm and are relegated the back of the band in no-man's land, with seemingly no supervision. I swear, I thought they were going to put each other's eyes out!

Then, we arrived late, poor Dan had a Hideously long day, and we took our blanket and sat on the hill. As I get my bearings I realize, we are totally sitting in the midst of the "Middle school zone". We were the stooopid adults, who plopped ourselves down without realizing the huge social faux pas we were committing. The kids moved away from us, like repelled metal filings, leaving a space all around us. As the night wore on, we kept moving our blanket over, until we wound up in a more family friendly zone. (The kids expanded to recover our spots, churning, wrestling, flashing bracey smiles, and throwing grass on each other...)

It has been a beautiful weekend, cool and crisp. Last night Dan burned the limbs that fell off our ash tree, and it was a perfect fire. We shared a blanket and enjoyed the silver sliver of moon. Next week will be so busy, I've been relishing this time!

2007-09-12T03:33:00.000-07:00

It was such a BEAUTIFUL day yesterday, cool, sunny and breezy, but it gave us a hint of the season that's on the way, our first Fall-like day. It has been sooooo buggy here, just clouds of mosquitoes descend upon us when we even open our door, but yesterday the breezes kept them down and we all drifted outside. James mowed the lawn, Petey and I played a hard game of "I'm gonna get you"- his absolute favorite.

My husband talked my son into clipper cutting his hair (he seems able to got to stores to buy hunting and fishing equipment in his spare time, however, a haircut has been beyond the realm of his comprehesion...hmmmm...)and when James turned on the clippers Petey started doing a low growl. Hehehee. It hits us then, the shih tzu has an INTIMATE relationship with the clippers, and was concerned we were coming for him. It was fun to turn them on and off, just to listen to him growl. I gave him a bath last night, he is sooooo fluffy and smells great. whatever he thinks of clippers, he LOVES the blow dryer, jumping into anyones lap if you turn it on.

I did a free eBay seminar put on by the Post Office, my friend went with me, and I saw another old friend while there. I teach an eBay class at out local adult Ed center, and I wanted to see if I was missing out on stuff. I was wayyy disappointed, although reassured that my class is better. It was pretty remedial, and he didn't have many examples to share. I learned more chatting with my friends after class! Oh well, glad I went if only for the reassurance and the social aspects!

2007-09-10T16:21:00.000-07:00

Dan is back from his fishing trip, and I'm so happy to have him home! He got a couple of nice salmon, and had a great time fishing, making fires, and being an outdoor guy with all his outdoor guy friends!

I've been awol the last couple of days, but I'm back. I put up a picture of my "thinking spot" near our cabin, looking at this helps me find my happy heart.

My card today is the 2 of Wands, reversed, still working through my issues, my choices. I want to build a more goal-driven life for myself, short and long-term goals, to gain more focus and purpose. I'm still mulling over these things, I'll share more as I gain more understanding.

2007-09-06T17:56:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm much more myself today, the doom and gloom behind me, back to counting up my blessings and feeling pretty good about my world. My brother Roger emailed me, "You know what?? You just need to find your happy heart--it will be easier on you and the rest of the world. Easy to say--good luck!!" That was sweet to hear. So, I'm working on my happy heart. But I'll tell ya, this last weekend, these mood swings are kickin' my ass.

I had lunch with my dear friend Mary, and got my hair done by the ever-divalicious Amanda. I am now a delightful shade of chocolate cherry red/brown- all the highlights gone for now, but it's really shiny and healthy, and my eyebrows are gorgeous! That went a long way toward bringing me out of the doldrums. Now, lunch and a pedicure tomorrow with Debbie- priceless.

I talked to Dan; they had seen salmon, but the fish were too wily for them. This is a picture of gnarly Dan with a big fish at our place up north a few years back. I'm sure visions of salmon with be swimming through his dreams tonight!

2007-09-05T14:46:00.000-07:00

Happy birthday to my brother Roger, shown here in a 4 generational shot- My Dad, my brother, my nephew, and my great-nephew (Also my Dad's namesake...) I hope you have a wonderful day!

All those hawks I've been seeing, the Temperance cards I've been getting- umm, lots of angst today. I'm working on things to make it better, but it's a tough day.

My mama used to say she "hit a knot". She was going along, then she hit a knot in the rope, and it takes a little bit to work though it, until you are running smoothly again. I hit a knot today. It will pass.

Dan is off for a salmon fishing trip, although the word is the salmon aren't in yet, so it will probably be a lot of pan fishing. (And "argghhh arghhh arghh"-ing with men.) He had a pretty low-key birthday, I'm glad he's having some fun. And I hope his truck makes it... That baby is getting old old old- stranded by the highway pulling your boat is not the best way to start a trip. (Listen to how pessimistic I am!!!! Again, not quite myself today...)

I turn over a card, and it's 2 of Pentacles, reversed. This one is about juggling a lot- a lot of opinions, a lot of choices, and lot of plans; and feeling exhausted by the work of keeping it all up in the air at once.

That makes sense.

2007-09-04T16:30:00.000-07:00

I love Sublime. Listening to this and feeling a lil' lonely tonight. Missing old friends.

2007-09-04T03:17:00.000-07:00

It's first day of school, and I'm up soooo early again! James is starting High School, Margaret is a Sophomore, I had to put up one of my fave "Little M & J" pics so I could remember them as they used to be. Although, they are pretty cute today, too...

owwww, the bus just paused, and drove on. With my current job I am able to drive the kids (plus Chelsea the neighbor) to school and let them avoid the bus. The bus comes at 6:30, an we leave by car at 7:15... 6:30 is wayyyyy too early.

Well, I turned over a card for today, and it's Temperance! This link I found speaks of Hawks and what they mean, because I am seeing Hawks all over the place. It spoke of the Tarot connection, and this said the Temperance card is connected to the Hawk. Well, I seem to be connected to both just now, I wish I were clever enough to see what it means to me. my books encourage the person with the Temperance card to avoid the extremes, keep to the middle of the road in difficult situations- stay calm in the midst of other people's craziness. Reversed, it tells of getting sucked into other people's dramas, of going to extremes. Hmmm, I'll try to keep all this in mind as I go forward.

2007-09-03T13:33:00.000-07:00

My son switched my desktop to a picture of some rodent with an automatic weapon- i HATE when they borrow my stuff and mess with the settings (or break it, or not return it... Still working on respect for my things with these guys.) Anyway, I changed my desktop to Kipling West's Picket Moon Ouija Board- i am in LOVE with the stuff she does. Another favorite is Salamander Night Garden Ouija. Add a Kipling West Ouija board to the Mystery Date game in the category of "stuff I'd love to own..."

Margaret and I are feeling much better today, we went school shopping today- school starts tomorrow-YIKES!!! We had our partying and picnicking yesterday. It was a good day for shopping, the mall wasn't crazy busy, and there were lots of sales. We separated, Dan & James and Margaret & I, when we rejoined M had 4 pairs of jeans, 5 undies, 2 hoodies, 3 shirts and 2 sweaters, jewelry, perfume, and eyeshadow. All this in an hour and 15 minutes- we ROCKED the shops. However, James had 2 pairs of shorts and a shirt, and said Dad spent the rest of the time at Dick's Sporting Goods. Sigh. James was very bummed he was stuck in the non-productive shopping team, Dad=Shopping Anchor, and we stopped off at the local mall for 4 t-shirts and a pair of shorts for him, making him content. (He got a clothing influx a few weeks ago for his Rhode Island trip, he needed less...)

And now, what I got! Such a treat- I got this ghost candle at Yankee... something about the fire makes these fiber optics change colors in his body- while he burns he glows red, purple, blue, and green! I think he's cool as heck, Margaret was less impressed.

I will turn some cards tomorrow...

2007-09-02T17:58:00.000-07:00

Sunflowers at the market are 3 stems for a 1.00! What a deal! I always come home and pick some things from the yard, and create arrangements for all over my house. This is my bedroom display, in an estate sale milk bottle.

I finally got my pictures of our vacation online, see them here- 3 Bears Fun.

I'm home tonight, James and Dan went to the neighbor's Barbecue, M & I feel crappy, we're snuggling in tonight hoping for better luck tomorrow.

Speaking of luck, I see a lot of wildlife driving to work- turkeys, deer, raccoons, weasels, but lately I am seeing Hawks everywhere I go. For awhile I was seeing all this as a co-inky-dink, but today there was one perched on my husband's truck, just feet from our door. It's starting to feel more omen-like, so I looked it up online-

This is an excellent link, it spoke of the Tarot connection. More lore i found:

Native American dreams revere the hawk and eagle the way the Greeks revere Zeus and Hermes. The hawk is the warrior-visionary while the eagle is the sacred wisdom and power. To dream of hawks is to see oneself as engaged in, but outwitting, opponents through the ability to perceive more completely. It may also be a dream of providing adequately through skillful acquisition or insightful manoeuvring.
Hawks are observant and perceptive messengers from the spirit world. They symbolize noticing the big picture, using your talents, omens, dreams, courage, defense, wisdom, illumination, truth and experience. They are connected to Horus, Ptah, Rehu, Seker, Amenti, Apollo, Artemis, INdra, Ahura Mazda, and Mithras.
The hawk was the principal sacred bird, and was identified with Horus and Ra, the sun-god. The souls of kings were supposed to fly up to heaven in the form of hawks, perhaps due to the kingship originating in the hawk district in upper Egypt. Seker, the god of the dead, appears as a mummified hawk, and on his boat are many small hawks, perhaps the souls of kings who have joined him.

Hmmm, I wonder what this hawk means to me, other than I need to keep an eye on my little dog! I don't want him to get snatched.

2007-09-01T05:06:00.000-07:00

It's happy 47th ...choke...sob...birthday for my sweet husband, Daniel! The first birthday I celebrated with him was his 18th... I'm happy be still be sharing cake with the guy! Last weekend when we woke up we had THAT view out our door. (Notice our recently cut HUGE and DEAD pines...) Today I have to scoot, off to the market, meeting friends there! More later..

Well, I'm back. Geeez, Dan gets so tired of my upbeat chattiness, I want to tell my life story to everyone I meet at the market, and he is a very quiet, leaning toward bitter, kind-o-guy. I can see where I could be a drag, but he should have to live with a bitchy, angry person for awhile for comparison. It's not so bad to live with an optimist.

I saw Peggy at the meat store (geeez, what would I have to write about if I were a vegetarian), I went to college with her, back when my firstborn was a baby. She said she was just thinking of me this morning, while vacuuming. She said I wrote a piece for our English class about when company popped in, you spray Pledge in the air, and make those sweeper lines in the carpet, and it gives the illusion of a clean house... I had forgotten writing that, but it sounds like me. I was thinking I should go in the basement and fish out my old essays. It would be a snapshot of who I was at 26... it would be a nice perspective point for the laura i am today, a full-on woman, girl no more.

Anyway, it was soooo excellent to see Peggy- you know how you go along and you don't see someone for months or years, but when you meet it's like kismet all over again? The conversation flows as if there was never a 2 year lull, I always says that's a friendship that feels like "comfortable shoes". Peggy is a great pair of shoes!

Further, it's good I met her again now, I'm in a position to be a friend to her, the last time we met I was very low, just after my dad died, and now, at this point in my life I'm capable of BEING a friend again.

You know, this has been an amazing summer, full of the most sensational emotional highs and lows supplied by both family and friends. I had a crossroads where I could have chosen to dwell on my problems, on my anger, to cry and stew. But i thought of my dad. My father was an amazing man,- at 90 he was walking to a gym to work out- but his liver illness took hold fast, and caring for him during that time taught me so many things. All his life was a gift to me and our family, but as he died, he really modeled for me how to live. He greeted every day with a "oh, it's a great morning isn't it?" and he was truly happy to see us, an upbeat outlook. He took pleasure in all the small things- snow uninterrupted by squirrel prints, a well-cooked egg, the minutiae of life that just felt good. He had an insatiable curiosity to the end; he was really interested in the people around him, and expressed his love freely. All of this while knowing he was dying.

How could i, when faced with a disappointment in my life, when feeling let down by the people I love, or angry about the choices that face me, how could i face my obstacles with anything less than those attitudes evinced by my father as he faced insurmountable odds? Anything I'm facing is not life or death.

So, This is how i got over great disappointment this summer... I worked on my attitude and outlook, because people don't like to hang around with negative people. I tried to think before I spoke, and i kept more in. I don't have to share all my issues all the time. So, there I have bottled up anger, what then? I wrote and wrote and wrote and wrote. Pages of how I felt, just to help me get my thoughts organized. It was better than bombarding other people with my thought spores all the time, infecting people with a bad moood like black lung-black heart, instead. Then, after awhile I was able to get past it, stop writing, and get more interested in the people around me. And, not dwelling on anger, I was more accessible. During this time, I didn't rush my healing process; I took more pleasure in the small things, focusing more on my senses, using this time when i felt vulnerable to try to rework some of the things in my life with which I was unhappy, cleaning up habits and house, both. i worked on doing good things for other people, and being responsible for myself, and once comfortable with me, I discovered a mellower me, a me I like better, and a me I'm ready to share. And just this week i have had two lovely old friends come back into my life. And like the old dominos, good things keep happening, and the bad and scary that has come at me, I am more prepared to deal with.

That's what i did with my summer, inside my head. Oh- outside my head i kept busy busy busy! Cooking and cleaning and painting and reading and spending a lot of really great family time.

And that's how I got over my problems this summer, oh that, and lexapro, baby. NEVER skip your meds. It makes my clear thinking possible.

2007-08-30T17:11:00.000-07:00

First off, don't you love that pristine moment when the song is right, the sun is shining, you're driving and it feels good to be there? My daughter and I drove to town, town being Millersburg, teeeeny tiny but sporting a pretty rockin' grocery, stocking items like Bells ale, and specialty snacks and crackers. What I love though, are the Charms sweet and sour suckers- the clear part is the sour, so we always look for lots of that. So M and I get our suckers and we're heading back to the cabin, and it feels sooo good to be there, two days of vacation ahead of us, there had been lots of rain and the sun was sumptuous on the damp ferns and leaves, and M put on her iPod and played The Moldy Peaches, Anyone else but you, she and I were happy to be together, and it was a flashbulb memory moment.

Really, it's been such a great summer with the kids. At ages 14 and 15 there has been minimal bickering,(as opposed to ages 10 and 11...) they have finally gotten the hang of helping around the house this Summer, and they are enjoyable to be with! I'm counting some blessings.

Up north was so relaxing- we had a lot of fun as a family. There's a Thai restaurant in Rogers City with a buffet on Sunday- just a select number of dishes, but outstanding! I painted a new sign to put down by the road, and we hung our birdhouses all around. Dan and James fished, and hunted for squirrels, and we all watched movies together (Disturbia- not bad, and a fine popcorn and view with the kids) and gathered at campfire time.

Now we're back- Dan has the week off, and I am going in. sigh. Next week he heads off to salmon fish with his buddy, and I have some stuff cooked up with my girlfriends.

I'll post a link to a bunch of pictures as soon as I can blast my kids off the desktop...

2007-08-30T04:05:00.001-07:00

Ahhhh, I am back, with wonderful memories to hold onto and think about until the next time we visit our sweet cabin! This is the fire pit, which overlooks the lake. Tasty hot dogs were roasted here.

I will come back this afternoon with more vacation yarns and some links to see pictures- what would a vacation BE without PICTURES!!!!

First a story- we went up last Friday, and traffic is notoriously bad on Friday. Many times we will go very early Saturday to avoid it, but this time we were going to bite the bullet. Dan came home from work stressed, he'd driven a million miles for his job that day, and asked me to drive "the first leg" of the trip.

Well, the "first leg" is all the highway driving- the sucky stuff. PLUS, I had my full monty of trashy mags - the Globe, the National Enquirer and the Star, all ready for me to devour while DAN drove. Sigh. When our shih tzu Peter is displeased, he shows one of his teeth. I kinda felt like showing a tooth or two, but I bit the bullet and took the wheel.

All is going well, traffic heavy but not hideous, I get into my groove- a little lead foot, and I want to pass everyone- when the rain starts. We're listening to NPR, and they start cutting in with weather warnings. It was crazy, every time they announced a location, we would look up at the signs we were passing and THERE WE WERE!!! Every time! And the warnings were things like "Tornado warning"not wimpy stuff. So, there I am, driving through the wall of rain, trying to see the car ahead of me, (I think I'm showing at least two teeth now...) and hoping we can get down the road far enough to avoid the whole "Wizard of Oz" tornado scene...

Finally we drove out of it, and when I pulled into the gas station off the highway and leaped from the drivers seat Dan said, "Ohh, you want ME to drive? You were doing such a good job..." Riiiiight. Nice try. Just drive big boy, I've got trashy magazines calling my name.

We saw my cousins up north, and they said "Did you know Fenton had a tornado on Friday?" I got my war weary look and said "we were THERE!"

Okay, more stories later!

2007-08-24T03:54:00.000-07:00

Well guys, I'm on my way outta Dodge today, we head to our place up north, Camp Presque Isle, this afternoon. I may get to a computer, but the chances are very slim. (Making phone calls can be problematic...) Best wishes to all!!!

2007-08-22T13:21:00.000-07:00

I just took a bath with my signature sandalwood rose sugar scrub and I smell delicious. I keep getting whiffs of myself and I love me! And it's nice I smell good, because outside it is hot hot hot and HUMID, and I could be sweaty. We've had rain since the weekend, and this morning there were rumbly thunderstorms, and now it's cleared off... We all blink our eyes and come out of our burrows, rain-moles, forced inside for days.

I turned over some cards for myself today, midweek, and they made me smile- the Nine of Pentacles and the Three of Cups. First, the nine reminds me of me, feathering my nest, and getting my world balanced and in control. Working on my environment, and my surroundings, the things within my control, and finding a sense of peacefulness and hopefulness within me, and in my world as well. The Three reminds me of my three sisters and the tremendous support and love they give to me. How lucky I am to have such a strong family bond in my life. That's the personal meaning I take from this.

I think though, that in a bigger picture, I also need to see that the Nine shows a certain isolation, too. The sense of peace, the things that have been accomplished, have not come without a cost. That's why the Three of Cups comes in, it's all about friendship, about the joys of female friends, about friendships that are beneficial for all, cooperation, celebration- it's what I'm working toward. The friendships, the relationships in my life now are a blessing and a gift.

2007-08-21T16:14:00.000-07:00

I was looking through some of my old "activities" on my site, and I was checking out the edible flower information. Now, rather than just putting out candles to set the mood, you can add fuchsia flowers to your drink- it's lovely, edible, and the fuchsia means passion! Feeling a little mental meltdown? Sage for memory, Yucca for psychic awareness, and mint for wisdom, how can you miss. It's kinda fun...

Tonight we are driving Joey (insert the little hearts around his name) home, then visiting our friend Brian. This means Margaret will be staying home and leaving Joey to our mercy in the mini-van. Muhahhhahaaaaaa!!! She will be limp with worry that we are being heinously parental and she won't be there to keep us under control. Maybe Dan should wear some of those country bumpkin teeth things, or we could sing along to the music in the car- double muhahahaaaaa! (I won't, but I can toy with the idea...)

We were Lucy/Ricky/Ethel/Fred with Richelle & Brian for years, and his divorce became final yesterday. He sounds wonderfully upbeat ... (I think I'll take my cards over...) but it's a very sad thing. I look forward to giving him a big hug!

2007-08-20T17:23:00.000-07:00

Sodden seems to be the word of the week so far... It has been dripping, misting, clouds leaking all day. Sometimes you can hear a rumble of thunder far away- it's like a sound machine. All those poor Nascar lovers are driving off in their giant buses with viewing platforms, their RV's and Campers. I guess they will try to run it tomorrow (good luck, I doubt this will break...) or they will postpone until November. I feel kinda embarrassed that all these race fans/freaks came here and we are giving them such crummy weather. It was splendid last week, sometimes it's quite pretty here!

We will go to the cabin this weekend, and I can't wait! The thought of being there is making this week much more palatable. Petey will be so happy- it's dog heaven. He runs like a wild shih tzu! I just hope he can steer clear of the skunk babies this time! So, if you're feeling like a Tarot reading, get it early in the week!

I took the kids to see SuperBad, I sooo should have read some reviews first. It was really funny; I loved the boys in this, they were perfect and reminded me of many kids from my school days. However, a lot of sex humor. I remember how awful it was to watch an embarrassing movie with my parents, and it was almost that bad with my kids. Oh well, we all survived, and the popcorn was righteous.

2007-08-19T07:00:00.000-07:00

Rain, delightful, soaking, a "just loll in bed with a coffee and something to read" rain. I feel sorry for all the race freaks at MIS, it's some kind of BIG Nascar thing, they have been gathering in their buses for a week. (And clogging the lines at the grocery stores with their camping needs, and BEEER, lot's of BEEER) And it was an exceptionally Lovely week here in Michigan. Now, it's race day and it's pretty sucky. I mean, nice if you're in a house looking out, icky if you're camping with 1,000's of other hungover sodden racefans.

I finished "crooked" a couple of days ago, and I really enjoyed many things about it. It was fascinating the way the protagonist had closed herself off in jail, and could really only feel when it hurt. You could feel the build up as she pushes a little harder each time, how close to the edge can she come? It was a much deeper book than I expected it to be, all wrapped up in a spare, crisp style. I am now reading "The Center of Everything", a really delicious read. A touching, and compelling story told through the eyes of Evelyn Bucknow, starting at the age of 10. It shows that unquestioning love a kid has for their parent, and then the day a child realizes that parent is human, and in this case, a disappointment.

Well it's almost 11 am here- 24 years ago that's when I pushed my reluctant firstborn into the world. And here we are- he will be married in November, and I wish him all the best. We've learned a lot together, my sweet "experimental" child and I ... Being firstborn, we were learning as we went along, we always teased him that he was like a science experiment.
Happy bday Dan-boy

2007-08-18T16:24:00.000-07:00

It's Saturday, and Market Day again. Dan went with me today, sunflowers and green beans and green tomatoes- oh my! A Gorgeous morning, almost sweater weather.

I've been doing projects today- we unloaded the old mower with another FREE sign, it feels good to streamline. And pictured are my latest canning efforts, more Dilly Green Beans. While canning, I've been listening to some new stuff, Magnolia Electric Company , and Gogol Bordello, the gypsy punks, which I got into because of interviews on good ol' NPR!!! I feel my cards have been pretty true so far...

Now the air is heavy with a rainstorm on the horizon, but it's a cozy night. M is out with friends, J is OBSESSED with Runescape the last couple of days, he keeps coming to tell me how rich he's getting. Dan is grilling and I have to go off to make a fresh tomato salad and some sweet corn.

Tomorrow my eldest turns 24... choke...sob... feeling a lil' old, but pretty content.

2007-08-17T03:52:00.000-07:00

Wow! It's been a couple of days, but I've just been busy. However, I have not gone AWOL! When I get home from work today I'll do a catch-up blog, and some cards for the weekend!!!

Hey, first my guilty pleasure download! I was driving the kids around last night, and they had a teeny bop station on, and I heard this song- Beautiful Girls, Sean Kingston... it instantly got in my head. I love the nod to "Stand by Me' in the music... It's a popcorn song, but a good weekend download...

Okay, that will have to hold you for now!!!

I'm Baccck! I laid out a couple of cards this evening, and I turned up the Magician and the 8 of Wands. Well, the Magician is rich for me, all about taking my plans from my head and getting them started in the world. In this positive position as this card is, it makes me think it's a good weekend to express myself creatively, and get some things going. Last weekend I had the Fool, and I had a ton going on with less focus. I think this weekend there will be more focus, I'll be better at communicating my ideas. (Which makes sense, Dan and I are pretty much in a mind-meld lately...)

The 8 of Wands is just reinforcement, full-speed ahead. I can also mean "arrows of love", sounds promising....

Well, I'm scooting out again, my family is watching "Scarred" and I cannot be in the room with that show. It kinda makes me sick.

2007-08-14T15:12:00.000-07:00

Not sure what the "wheel of Meat" looks like, it WAS a radio contest, but I thought this picture looked jazzzzy!

A week ago I won 2 lbs of marinated chicken breasts playing "The Wheel of Meat" game on a local radio station. I started thinking about it, I have to drive to another town to get them, we are a family, 2lbs is not quite enough...My sister mentioned an elderly friend who gets her groceries delivered by Jerry's, the store that sponsors the wheel of meat. I called Jerry's and Roma will get the meat added to her next grocery order. I'll send a little random kindness her way. (And I got my moment to SHINE on the radio, all are satisfied...)

I am reading The Aerialist, and I enjoy it, he's a thoughtful writer, and it's interesting stuff! A guy who's a little floating in the 70's winds up going off with the circus- of all the circus books I've read recently, this gives a real idea of daily workings of a really big show. And he writes a vivid word painting, but he's a little dense, and i can't seem to get hooked in. I have found myself doing something I rarely do, i started a second book, Crooked, and I am compelled by this. It's written in a more crisp and sparse manner, the story of a young girl reestablishing herself after prison, and that suits my mood right now.

Gorgeous day!!!! It feels almost fall-like, the golden air and gentle breeze, cicadas and bugs singing. I'll lay out some cards tomorrow. Off to enjoy the day!

2007-08-13T13:52:00.000-07:00

It was a productive weekend after all, yesterday Dan and James took on the picnic table project together and it looks OUTSTANDING!! One more coat of poly-stain, and it's done!

They ripped it apart on Saturday, and I took Peter out to the backyard on Sunday. The iron skeleton of the table was there, with one lonely piece of wood going across. Petey tried to jump up on it and hang out like he always does. He fell flat. It was obvious there was no table, he never even looked. He showed his teeth in frustration. (humiliation?) It's a fine new table now.

The picture is a "before" of my headboard. My mama refinished the footboard years ago, and used IT as a headboard. It's too low with our fancy new mattress. So, I am redoing the headboard, but wanted the footboard, so I knew how light to take it. One more day of varnish removal, tomorrow and the next day tung oiling, and it should be ready to rock! (Note: Formby's is way too expensive- use a mixture of lacquer thinner and denatured alcohol....) I think it will be really lovely.

I made fresh salsa and guacamole tonight- my secret to both is lots of cilantro and lime juice. I LOVE Cilantro!

2007-08-12T05:48:00.000-07:00

I have been longing for a Mystery Date game for a loong time. I lurk eBay auctions, looking for a deal. (They can go for $50-100, too much for a whim of mine)

When I was little Mom and Dad wouldn't let me have the game; I was too young, and it encouraged dating. My parents were 46 when they had me, I was born in '61, , and sometimes their depression baby views clashed with my world. I was DYING for Mystery Date, It was a huge attraction at Susan Schiller's house. In my life, I have only played it a few times, and as a pretty well-adjusted adult, I must admit, I WANT to own one. But, I'm looking for a deal, or a garage sale find (Will trade Mystery Date for Tarot Readings!)

The world is better for youtube, by god.
The Mystery Date commercial, that lilting song, the possibilities!!! Like Gambling for little girls. THIS is the very ad that got me in it's clutches. I wanted to be one of those swooning little girls. (One of the cuter ones, a couple of them are kinda hurting...)

NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE LURE OF THE WORD "FREE"
When we sold my Parent's house, I overestimated the number of mattresses we would need- the diva teen refused to give up her old one. I call it "nasty", she calls it "comfy", so we have been storing the rejected mattress and springs in James' room. (He put up less of a fight than her, poor kid, and has just been living around them. ) We finally moved them out of there, but began living around them leaned up against a wall in the living room. Yesterday we put them by the road with a "free!" sign. There was no action all day, even though it was a pretty good looking set. (One stain was a little suspicious looking, but it was just ONE stain and there are TWO sides to every Mattress!)

At sunset, they were still there, but when Dan went to pick up the kids after their concert, the set was GONE!!! I wonder who's sleeping on them now? Sweet dreams!

A FREE sign works on some people with the same lure as crack.

2007-08-11T16:52:00.000-07:00

So, You know what is interesting about a Tarot reading? It happens, and you hold this info in your head, but it may not ring a bell right away. THEN, it hits.

Like me, the Fool, positive position. I have a ton of projects for this weekend, plans and ideas bubbling forth. I THOUGHT I heard Dan say he would do the picnic table, maybe I dreamed it...

Well, the Little Red Hen, ME, has gotten a ton done. Dan fished and took a nap- not terribly helpful. But he DID bring me flowers (Did I mention I HEART him).

Yesterday's Tarot reading was good for me because I recognized Dan as the Heirophant, reversed, and where I would have normally complained about stuff undone, the cards help me see that just because I set my chore bar high, it doesn't mean everybody else has to jump.

I am off to fry green tomatoes. I feel a wild dream a'rising.

2007-08-11T07:22:00.000-07:00

What a gorgeous Saturday! My fave kind of day. Dan rolled out early with his boat, it's been three weeks since he's been out fishing. It's a wonderful boat morning, a gentle breeze, temp in the 70's- it's like a sweet kiss after the hot breath of temp in the 90's ( and the humidity registering there, too!) We've come to an understanding about the boat, he goes until about noon, then we spend the day together. And I've gone out on the boat with him, too, during the week. He doesn't fish, he just takes me on scenic journeys. (I heart him)

James got up early with me and we hit the farm market by 8:00. I have bags and bags of fresh stuff, and I even have my frig clean and ready to receive it! (Whooo hoo!) Deal -of-the-day? An amazing bouquet of sunflowers- 3 stems for $1.00!!! I got a dozen. A delicious breakfast followed at a local restaurant, I can't even remember it's name "Country Kitchen"? James goes with me instead of fishing with his dad because I take him out to breakfast... ; ) It was packed. A packed restaurant at breakfast is a good sign. If you are in a strange town, and want to go out to eat, the busiest breakfast spot is notoriously the best.

The kids begged to go school shopping, and now there's a concert they want to attend. (The active "local music scene" bahahaaaaaa) We backed out of a day at my sister's cabin to accommodate them (she did new remodeling and I bet it's very cool. She has an "eye" for this stufff...) So now it's a fix-it day at home. I got refinishing stuff for my headboard, and waxes and oils for the dried out bamboo on the couch project. And Dan is rebuilding our picnic table. (Hmm, my "fool's" adventure? All my plans and projects?)

HOWEVER, I got all my trashy magazines and that is what I'm doing now.

2007-08-10T12:05:00.000-07:00

Hey hey yellow moon, looking down on me! Excellent "weekend boogies" download:
Beau Jocque & The Zydeco Hi-Rollers, Yellow Moon- They JAM!I'm putting together a "Moon Mix", some of my fave songs about the moon. (If you have a suggestion, comment it here)

I am reclining on our new quilt, and it's velvety and the perfect combination of gown-up & funky--lots of purple in it. It looks gorgeous in our room, which is, in many ways an homage to the moon. This cozy quilt provides another reason for me to love my bed. I joke about Bed, Bath and Beyond... I am all about the Bed and the Bath, I get stalled out and never seem to get Beyond...

This afternoon I blog as my daughter entertains "joey". If I could type little hearts around his name, I would, because when she says it they dance out of her mouth like a disney cartoon. She is deeply in heart. And, because our house is teeny tiny I am hiding out in my room, thus my continued interest in my bed, my quilt, and my book. (Red Dragon, I am just finishing it. It's fine, just not really my bag. I want to power read it, and start something better. ) My dear teen said, "you've got your computer and a book? What more do you need?" As if I should be tres content with my exile. She pondered a moment and said "well, maybe you could use a mini-frig" Suddenly she was back to reality, realizing she was not going to "send me to my room" for eternity. We actually got a pretty good laugh about it. (Me, nervously, with visions of her picking out my nursing home dancing through my head.) I will kick the the besotted couple out for a walk soon and finish dinner. Enchiladas!

In the meantime, how about a couple of cards to start the weekend! I shuffle these cards as my sweet little dog snuggles in my lap.

First, the Fool! Zero, nothing... the fool is numberless, uncontainable- just when you think you've got him figured out, he does a little dance step and goes his own way. Starting from scratch, starting over, feeling like you have a clean slate. The Fool isn't necessarily foolish, he just follows his instincts and visions more clearly than do most people. He brings and excitement, adventure and fun. Reversed- that's another story. But, I have a positive fool, so I'm going to rock on this weekend with a light and adventuresome spirit.

Next card is the Hierophant, reversed. Hmmm, my book says "an excess of kindness, or draw attention to susceptibility, to gullibility. Gullible- me???? Oh my GAWD- my husband calls me the big Bass, I will bit on any bait. I believe everything people tell me. I'm working on that. Believe me. I'm working on it.

Okay, I'm ready to reclaim my house.

2007-08-09T12:55:00.000-07:00

Hey y'all! This is a picture of my new quilt (NOT my bedroom, I ripped the photo off the website...) We, up until a few months ago, were owners of one of the last full flotation waterbeds. (Party on Garth) It was the base model, no bookshelves or mirrors, which we had painted. For a long time we had kids sleeping with us a lot, and it's no big deal (or stain!) stain when a kid wets a waterbed. Then we couldn't afford to replace it, then we wondered if we could make the change? Were our spines crippled from years of inadequately filled mattresses???

In May we purchased a real, grown-up mattress! It's Queen-size, with a snuggly buggly pillow top- we are in looooove. Our backs are much-improved, and it's lovely to have a bed you can move easily. I have a headboard that was my grandmother's, it's stained oak and I'm going to strip it and apply oil, (oow, sounds naughty!) this weekend. AND, I purchased this quilt, and a bedskirt- after years of a sloppy waterbed, I feel I have finally arrived. Hey, check out http://www.ebates.com/, when you click through the ebates site to shop online, they send you a rebate check!!!

My Tarot sale is over, all readings are done, and thank you all for the wonderful response!

Today I have been suzy homemaker- Meatloaf in the oven, my sister's excellent rice and spinach salad prepped, and ALL my laundry is done! NO huge piles! A stellar life moment.

I am almost finished with Red Dragon, the precursor to Silence of the Lambs. It's what I expected, a competently written, creepy and gross, murder mystery. I have another book about circus life that just came, The Aerialist, I am anxious to get on to that. What is my sudden interest in Circus history?

I hope you all are as hap-hap-happy as me today!!!!

Mrs. Frazier's Chinese Salad via my sis nanc

Dressing:
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup oil
1 clove crushed garlic
Mix, and marinate dressing 1 hour.

2 cups cooked rice
1/2 pkg fresh spinach
Chose 1: 1 small can chow mien noodles, peanuts or sunflower seeds
3 stalks celery, chopped
1/2 cup raisins
1 cups sliced mushrooms
1/2 cup green pepper chopped
3 stalks green onion, chopped
1 cup cashews

Mix all, pour dressing over, mix well!

WAYYYYYYYY delicious.

2007-08-07T15:35:00.001-07:00

I had this WHOLE pithy post about the Tower card, and I was blogging on my laptop and I lost the wireless connection, and lost my post. Ummm, one more time let me say how much I dislike Verizon. Anyway, here we go again...

The Night before last I woke to a feeling there were lights going off... but I looked, and waited, there was nothing, so I closed my eyes and cozied up to Dan... And lights, again. I finally shook off the sleep, and checked out my world- it was a light show! The storm hadn't started yet, and but the warm up was mighty.

The Tower card shows up with a storm, but there's not always much warning. It comes crashing into our lives, leaving upheaval in its wake. With the Tower card overtakes you, ready or not, here it comes, in your face. It brings conflict and chaos, it shatters long-held beliefs and understandings, it leaves you no choice but to deal with it. Revelations and Epiphanies happen, some pleasant and some un. The Tower IS falling, all you can do is try to clean up.

Now, the good thing about this card? After the smoke clears, and things settle down, you can stand back and look at the changes, at the chaos, they may not have been easy, but they are often for the best.

That is, if you deal with the reality. The Tower in reverse is seeing the falling walls of the Tower all around you and ignoring it, trying to avoid making changes because change is scary and sometimes pain, or discomfort is better than stepping into the unknown. The Tower in reverse is just spinning your wheels. Or crying. I have a friend and crying is how she handles the Tower. Crying is her acknowledgment, her answer. It saves her from having to deal with the realities, it becomes an activity in itself, not a reaction.

And hey, don't get me wrong. When in pain, cry it out. recently when some foundation friendships that I thought were forever, proved otherwise. I was terribly hurt, blindsided, kinda staggering. I sobbbbbbbed But then, I dried my eyes and started cleaning up the disruption in my life, like cleaning up after the storm. Now, rebuilding. For me it was building up my self-esteem, bolstering old friendships, and reconnecting to my family. I was forced to take on some changes, ready or not.

But, here's the really cool part about the Tower, which is hard to remember when you are in the trenches facing the fallout, the changes wrought often turn out to be blessings in the long run. In hindisght: Relationship were unhealthy and better ended, or people who felt trapped are set free, new ways of living prove to be better, or more fulfilling, a lost job opens a door to a better opportunity, Revelations are set free! I am grateful for the traumatic changes that happened to me, they forced action I NEVER would have taken otherwise, and I am happier than dreamed I would be.

Of course, I am working on my happiness everyday. You can't just sit and stew, you have to make your own solutions. I am doing all I can to rebuild a Tower with a strong and fresh foundation.

2007-08-06T17:45:00.000-07:00

Well, this is a picture of a couch identical to my garage sale gift (I found the picture online)- EXCEPT, my couch has no cushions, and it has 4 pieces, not 3. The funky fabric swatch is an example of what I ordered to cover the cushions I create. It will be sweet in the Three Bears Cabin. Again, I will have pics when I complete it.

I I've been doing tons of readings! Thanks for all the orders, guys! The Celtic Cross Reading, now only $23.00- regularly $27.00, with the offer available until 8/8/07. For More info click here

2007-08-05T16:24:00.001-07:00

We live near MIS racetrack in Brooklyn, but we're not race fans. (Far from...) We just do our best to avoid race traffic. Well, it rained toady and now it's really still and humid and I can hear the Indy cars racing! I thought I was crazy, then I came in and saw online that the race started hours late because of the rain. I think it's some kind of weather phenomenon that lets me hear the cars all the way in my yard. I discovered the race is : Firestone Indy 400 at Michigan International Speedway

It's been a rainy day, purrfect for movie watching. I really loved the Simpson's movie, delighted to see a big chunk of my fave family with no commercials. It was smart and stooopid, in just the right amounts, exactly what I was hoping for. Just wondering, what happened to Spider Pig when the Simpson's escaped the Dome? We never see him again, do we??

Still doing readings. It's been a busy weekend, but cozy and homey and snuggly. Hope it's just as loverly for all of youse.

2007-08-04T15:41:00.000-07:00

Is Peter Jennings the cutest little dog ever??? We took him to a new groomer, Tailywags in Clinton, and it was wonderful! He was the only dog there today, and he had unlimited attention and a terrific haircut. He smelled like old socks and cat food (He hit captain Bly's bowl this morning) and he came out fresh and fluffy. She said the only time he cried was when she put him down when she was done, she had to put him back up on the table and pretend to be doing stuff, THEN he was happy. He's a LOVER.

I've been very busy, getting to all the readings I've sold with the Tarot Sale, I'm behind in blogging. I'm sire you all are starved for the mundane details of my life. So I'll spill spill spill here for you!

Well, my fabulous weekend of fun started on Friday. Our local radio station plays this game called "The Wheel of Meat", they spin a roulette wheel (ummm, it's the radio, I was really skeptical about that one...) and if it lands on the right spot you win 2 lbs (whooo hooo 2 WHOLE pounds) of meat products from a local deli. My co-worker and I make a lot of jokes about this one, it's a weird contest, so i called in to see if I could get on the radio to cheer her up. (She was having a rough day, and I'm a considerate friend) I got on the radio and did my yammering Pippi Lonngstocking thing, stating off with, "I'm ready to win some MEAT, baby!" The DJ was cracking up, I made Sue laugh, and I won some marinated chicken breasts- a good time was had by all.

Saturday morning we dropped Peter at the Groomer, then went to breakfast and ran into friends there and shared a table. A lovely co-inky dink; I think breakfast out is my favorite time to eat out. I think I like breakfast better than dinner out, actually.

James came home from band camp (if I hear another American Pie reference I will SCREAM!!!!) sweaty, 14 lbs lighter, and happy to be back in his own house. With all his traveling he's been home 4 days since July 4th, he was happy to be here.

Now, today the big plan is SIMPSONS movie for the whole family. It's a (much-needed) rainy day. Perfect for Tarot Readings, and a dark movie theater and buttery popcorn.

So, buy a Tarot Reading, (the sale ends 8/8/07) Or, check out all the cool Tarot info, mystical crafts and stuff on my website. My links were all messed up on this page and I've done a bunch of work on the page, so the links are fixed.

2007-08-02T17:40:00.000-07:00

It's HOT HOT HOT here in Michigan, and there are some pretty thirsty fields around us; corn gasping. Everything is dry, yet the air is humid...sigh. This kind of weather is rough on crops, nerves, and dogs. Not much I can do for the crops, and I can only make sure my own dog is hydrated and happy, but I CAN give all of you a little break from the mid-season doldrums.

My mother had a good metaphor for this kind of malaise. She grew up on a farm, and it was necessary to change the water in the bucket where the fishing minnows were kept, because they breath up all the air. Fresh water gives them new air, livens them up. When we were tired of the same old same old in our lives she would say "it's time to change the water on the minnows..."

A Tarot reading can stir up the water in YOUR fishbowl, and maybe give some insight on things that you're too close to to really see. Plus, I'm offering a sale to sweeten the deal: the Celtic Cross Reading, now only $23.00- regularly $27.00, with the offer available until 8/8/07. For More info click here

2007-08-01T13:27:00.000-07:00

I was looking for pictures and came across this one- and it tugged at my heart. I've been missing my Dad, well, I ALWAYS miss my dad, and this photo was so poignant. My dad had Macular Degeneration, his eyesight was very poor, thus the chair right in front of the TV set. I miss you Dad. See Aden Mead Park here.

Well, my daughter's BFF's mom is having a yard sale and she gave me a 40's style bamboo couch which will be perfect for the 3 Bears. (It's official, mice have moved into the current couch... it MUST be replaced. ) I will have to get cushions and upholster, but that will be fun, and I can use whatever fabric I want! I'll post project photos as i go along...

I took the word from the cards seriously, and did some things I have been putting off, and feel more accomplished tonight. It's true, once started momentum kick ins. I made stuffed shells with fresh mozzarella, fresh tomatoes, and Linguica sausage from Rhode Island. (I give my sis Rock&Rye, and she gives us linguica...)

It's hot, stay cool.

2007-07-31T17:26:00.000-07:00

I have been painting birdhouses with my kids- you know in Chicago, how they had the decorated cows all over, like arty landmarks? I am going to put these all around our place up north, and give them to my family members, my own arty statement. I find it very therapeutic, the detailed painting work. (Thanks for the picture from my reluctant, but oh-so-talented daughter Margaret)

It's good I've got a therapeutic craft, because yesterday was a Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Ever have one of those? At work my dyslexia was on parade. I got off early, rushed to a doctor appointment, only to find it was for NEXT Monday. Total D'oh.

Then, news of the weird dept: Sue, my co-worker claims she NEVER dreams, and last night she did, and I was there. (We had the flu together, boring dream, but there I was.) A teeny bit weird. My sister called me at work this morning telling me I was in HER dreams last night, too! (She and I were trying to take our grandmother up north, in a rickshaw. Another odd dream...) So, I was all over people's dreams last night, I feel honored, and a lil' creeped out, all at once.

The good news? Petey's neck lump is ruled fine, and I'm so glad he's okay. He is the sweetest dog. Turning a year and a half made such a difference, his behavior has been lovely.

I finished The Circus in Winter, I liked it but didn't love it. I have started Mrs. Kimble, so far it has been pleasing, telling stories of life in the wake of a duplicitous male, the women he sweeps along,and leaves behind. The reviews kinda panned it, I am interested to see if I will agree, if feel the story holds up.

Okay, I think I have recuperated enough from the weekend and yesterday to lay out some cards...
"What do I look out for this week?"
Well, the Knight of Wands- Delays, setbacks, stuckness. A loss of confidence, trips me up.

To support me is The Empress- if I can get going, the Empress will keep me moving, with momentum this card could be very productive. A passionate approach to life, to love. A time for mothering others, for mothering myself.

Finally, the 5 of Cups- recovering from sorrow and moving forward. Fresh starts.

Okay, onward and upward, as my Daddy said. Tomorrow WILL be a better day, dammit!

2007-07-29T17:24:00.000-07:00

Sunday night. Big, BIG, sigh. Monday looms before me. It felt like a kinda short weekend, Friday night I was sick (bad salad at Garfield's?) and Saturday I wasn't that great. I finally got my mojo on, and it's Sunday. Good news, tomorrow Peter Jennings (seen here as a puppy) has his vet appointment, and his big lymph node has gone down to almost nothing, I think these meds have done the job. The Vet made me terrified, talking about biopsies and stuff, hopefully tomorrow I'll find out he's just a pessimist and Petey is fine. And I may shop for another vet. He said he just likes me to be "prepared for the worst, and if it doesn't happen we can be happy." I think I would prefer a vet who said , "Let's try these meds" before mentioning biopsies. Okay, done ranting.

I went to a lovely baby shower for my niece, Deb, at the Midland country club. Beautiful day, pretty people, yummy food, and oh my gawd- the presents! It's amazing all the STUFF it takes to raise babies now. My eldest is...choke...sob... almost 24, and my youngers are 14 and 15, not quite like I had babies in the dark ages, but I might as well have. Special seats to line grocery carts, little ducks that float in the bath and tell the temp digitally- my eldest came early, we brought him home and he slept in a drawer for awhile. I don't know, it looks easier in some ways, more complicated in others. I think I'm glad I'm done.

I am 46. My mother had me when she was 46. She was wonderful to me, we were kindred spirits, but geeez, I cannot imagine having a baby now. of course, I AM an absolute nut about my dog.

I should turn up some cards, but I want to go hang out, do laundry... Tomorrow I'll turn some cards.

2007-07-28T17:29:00.000-07:00

Listening to Modest Mouse, it suits my evening. The World at Large. What a lovely evening to live in the country, the peepers singing, the fireflies flashing.

I'm plowing through The Circus in Winter; it's vignettes of circus performers lives and how they become intertwined with the small town they winter in. I read Water For Elephants and became interested in the subject. That book was a little too melodramatic for me, although this one may be a little dry. Perhaps I'll one day find my perfect circus story. (Like Goldilocks and her quest of "juuuust right" in her life.)

I am also working on a huge painting project, I'm always going around with brightly colored fingers. I'll post pictures of that project soon.

2007-07-27T12:24:00.000-07:00

Big storm last night, lots of pyrotechnics.After my many adventures with lightning-I seem to attract it in a wicked way- I get a little more anxious than I did in the past. Historically, I LOVE a good storm. I woke up with my daughter, frightened, and snuggling in. What a sweet feeling. She's 15 and I don't have much longer for that stuff...

Out to lunch with a friend on this gloomy day, that brightened it up much. On a whim we got pedicures together, bliss. It was a lovely way to end up the week.

I'm going to lay out a card for the weekend, let's see what I come up with. Gosh, this is weird. I've had a friend on my mind, and these cards makes me think he's having some worries and confusion. But, that's not my issue. He's beyond my reach. Soooo, I ask the cards to please tell me something for ME...

Well, not great, but realistic for me. The 7 of Wands, reversed, tells me I'm feeling more overwhelmed lately, more stressed than I was feelings. The 6 of Swords sees me moving forward but not so joyfully. And with this I agree. The end of this week has been more a bit stymied. And I end up with the Queen of Wands, I think I am reflecting more of her traits- a bolder more social outlook, instead of my usual Queen of Pentacles earth mother. I need to find a way to blend the characteristics to my best benefit, and to work to bring joy into my life again. (Not huge and scary, I just have to shake the blahs, and a hug from a friend and a pedicure was a good start!)

2007-07-25T04:21:00.000-07:00

Well, my wonderful nephew, Timmy (see Friday, Feb 16th ), a big deal critic on Rotten Tomatoes, has been trying to bring me up to speed on utube, music, etc. He suggested Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, knowing my penchant for girl singers who can blow the roof off... Man, Sharon is GREAT. Download How Long Do I Have to Wait, but watch this video I found...

JAMES is home! We got to the airport with no minutes to spare. I jumped out of the car, while Dan took a couple of turns around Metro. I made it to the baggage claim JUST as James was coming down the escalator. We got his suitcase, and when we got outside Dan was coming by the door for the 3rd time- all was perfect.

It's a foggy morning- all the little cobwebs in the grass are illuminated by dew droplets. There are so many of them; crazy they were all there, we just didn't see them without the illumination of the dew.

The The Memory of Running is a little like that. Through the business of living life Smithy Ide has become numb and dulled to the beauty. He winds up on a cross-country Bicycle "quest" which reawakens him to his possibilities. It's like a rebirth for him, and it encourages the reader to appreciate the world with new eyes. Like the cobwebs on my lawn that were always there, it took the dew for me to see it. Sometimes it takes a great life crisis to force us to rededicate. This description of rediscovering bananas is a little thing, but it hit me profoundly. How we can lose our appreciation for life so easily and slip into bitching about stuff...
"I... ate breakfast. Bananas again. And an apple and the biggest Bran Muffin I had ever seen for a dollar. But Bananas, I want to say, bananas you forget. How else can I explain them? I love them. Everything about the texture and the chewability of bananas is me, but I'd just stopped eating them. I'm happy I found bananas again."

Appreciate the small things today, look at the minutiae of life with more patience and appreciation.

2007-07-24T10:51:00.000-07:00

The storyteller my sister gave me sits on my windowsill... She GETS me.

Well, I hardly had to try to work up a story. Stories just naturally HAPPEN to me. This is one I will have a hard time telling my husband; it makes him crazy how I get all entangled in stuff... ("Can you you EVER not talk to people??" he says...)

Anyway, I'm at Meijer and there's this DARLING little old lady checking out in front of me. My first, and I'll admit, uncharitable, response was "she is soooo not express..." She had few items but was moving slowwwwwly. Well, looking closer she had walker, a cane, and Depends in her cart. How much more vulnerable can you be?

So, I hear her ask the cashier to call Dial-a-ride, and identifies her address. She lives on the same country road I do. Okay, this is where the first drumbeat of conscience hits me... "You should give her a ride home.."

I don't want to freak her out, and maybe she's USED to riding public transport, so I buy my stuff and watch as she feebly attempts to get out the automatic door (she's moving soooo slooowly the doors keep trying to close on her) Well, I go and help her out the door, and there's nowhere to sit but bags of salt, and there's this beige-looking, smelly guy, with fat hanging over his shorts sitting on those, and I can't just leave my frail little old lady with him. (Did I mention she smells really good??) So I stand with her, but it's humid, and she's getting even limper, so I tell her I'll just drive her home. And I do. And she tries to give me her dial-a-ride dollar.

I didn't realize how much I missed taking care of my invalid parents. I miss them when I'm on a walk in the woods, or when I have something I would like to tell them. I DO miss them healthy, but I guess this was the first time I realized I also miss caring for them when they were older and unwell. Hey- I am no saint, there were some awful days and some long-ass nights, but, it was such a tangible way to show your love. And they were so grateful for the help.

As was my little old lady today. It made me feel good. So I turned down her dial-a-ride dollar.

Listening to: Digest- Ben Taylor

2007-07-23T14:53:00.000-07:00

I miss my James, he's been my lil' buddy this Summer. But he's got a travelin' heart and he's off with my sister in RI. (My sister, who understands his traveling heart, and is his travel mentor, has plans with her husband for a walking trip of Ireland and a Natl. Geographic Cruise to the Galapagos Islands... How cool is THAT???)

Sweet words from a long-time client in Texas- "I believe in you and don't think this is just entertainment. You've so often hit the nail on the head, for years now." She also liked my new haircut... aww. It's really something when your web relations notice more stuff about you than your family...

Newest download, from Elvis Costello's Celebrity Playlist on iTunes, Arctic Monkeys - Florescent Adolescent, it sounds like early Elvis. Lotsa fun.

I'm giving my dog, Peter Jennings his meds, religiously. The Vet made us fear LYMPHOMA in a big bad way, but I think his lump is reducing. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Okay, today I'm a fairly boring diva, I'll work up a great story and some card action for TOMORROW!!!!

2007-07-23T12:23:00.000-07:00

Music Wayyyy in my head- Fidelity-Regina Spektor My daughter is disgusted by my taste, but Regina's "it breaks my hear-rrr....t" just kills me. She makes me smile.
I just finished Inamorata, it was a really delicious read. On now to The Memory of Running. So far it's interesting, but not compelling. (Which is good, I have readings to do..)

How about a card for me for Monday, as I start the week...
Hmm, I need three today, these three are my message I can tell.
The Page of Swords and the Moon, reversed, with the 9 of Pentacles as a blessing at the end.

The Page of Swords tells me I need to stop protecting myself so hard, and get on with my life. The Moon tells me I need to keep in touch with my spiritual side, with my intuition and dreams. I think the cards tell me that I'm so focused on protecting myself, I'm closing myself down.

The 9 of Pentacles is a woman who finds peace in her own company, who tends her needs and comforts. This feels good now, the focus is good, i just have to make it go soul deep.

2007-07-22T08:48:00.000-07:00

I am inundated, but not yet satiated with green beans... snap snap, pitch them in the pan. I'm prepping to make dilly green beans. Peter the dog loves a crispy bean and settles in for a good chew.

Recipe for dilly beans...

2 pounds green or yellow beans (I use a combo..)

1/4 cups canning salt

2 1/2 cups vinegar

2 1/2 cups water

1 teaspoon cayenne pepper 0r chunks or whole fresh hot pepper)

Cloves of garlic, Heads and chunks of dill and stalk

Trim ends off beans. Combine salt, vinegar, and water in a large saucepot. Bring to a boil. Pack beans lengthwise into hot jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Add dill, at least 2 cloves garlic, and pepper to each jar. Ladle hot liquid over beans, leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Cover with caps and process 10 minutes in a boiling water canner.

How about Margaret's favorite Green salsa?
8 ounces fresh tomatillos

2 green onions (leave 2 inches green stalk) sliced

1 teas minced seeded jalapeno

1/2 teas minced garlic

2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

1/2 cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro

1. Remove the papery outer skin and stems from tomatillos. Cut into 1/4's and place in saucepan. Cover the tomatillos with water and bring to a boil. Continue cooking until JUST soft (2-3 mins) Drain immediately, rinse under cold water, drain thoroughly. Cool to room temp.

2. Place cooked Tomatillos, green onion chunks, jalapenos, garlic, and lime juice in a food processor. Pulse on and off about 10 times until well combined. Add cilantro and pulse another 10 times.

3. Place in bowl, salt to taste. Refrigerate covered up to 3 days. Serve with tortilla chips.

Oh my gawd- I DREAM of these and am sooo happy that I got the first green tomato's of the year. I look more forward to THESE than I do the RIPE ones!!!

Pesky's Fried Green Tomatoes
(This flour mixture is great for frying fish, too. )

6 to 8 Green Tomatoes-

Wash and slice ¼ to 1/8 inch thick. (Thinner will be crispier)

Egg Mixture:

2 eggs, beaten¼ cup buttermilk Add buttermilk to beaten eggs. Mix well.

Flour Mixture:

2 cups flour

1 cup yellow cornmeal

2 teaspoons lemon pepper

1 teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon seasoned salt

Instructions: Dip the tomato slices in the egg mixture, then in the flour mixture. Shake off the excess flour, and place in a frying pan with heated oil. (For true decadence add a ¼ cup of bacon grease to the oil.) Fry tomatoes over medium heat, turning occasionally, until golden brown. Drain on paper towel.

Eat while warm!

Sweet Dreams!!!

2007-07-21T08:26:00.000-07:00

In the picture admire my daughter on the trampoline. Is that not the essence of youth in summer???

Old picture though, today it's all soybeans ruffled by thew breeze.It's prime time for gardeners, and today is farm market day in town. I was determined to get a bunch of stuff for canning. Last year was a trial year- I did a lot of small batches of pickles and savories, trying to see what we really liked. This year I know, we cannot have too many hot and dilled green beans. I bought 1/2 peck of pickle cukes, and pounds of green and yellow beans. I'll be busy with that this weekend.

I also got-

Basil! I'm making a pesto, AND a fresh mozzarella, tomato, basil salad. The secret is capers, which make almost everything better for moi.
Fresh eggs!
Fava beans, in pods, and ready to shuck
Broccoli
Blueberries!
Sweet cherries
Bulbous, juicy Garlic bulbs
A giant cantaloupe {or Muskmelon, my mama would say...)
Teeeny, tiny new potatoes and squash babies
Tomatillos, wearing their little coats, all ready to be made into my daughter's favorite green salsa.
And... a drum roll pleasssse... the very first vine tomatoes and MOST importantly, green tomatoes all ready to be breaded and fried!

Tomorrow I'll post the recipes for the delicious stuff I make.

Well, in typical "you can't take me anywhere" fashion, I locked my keys in the mini-van, and we returned laden with our market bounty and oh-so locked out. Adding insult to injury, I could SEE my jaunty, bright YELLOW, summer purse taunting me from the car... a locksmith soon st us on our way, and recently my husband backed into a pole and SMASHED my rear backing light, denting it pretty badly. So, there wasn't much he could say about my crew up.

The main, salient point of my morning was seeing Sister Pat. She, is a GODDESS, my English mentor at College. I saw her pull into the Farmer's Market as we waited for our car to be opened. Then, I saw her at the grocery store, and this time, figuring it was kismet, I said hello... She was wonderful as always, and as always said, "Laura, when are you going to DO something with your writing??" (She has a wonderfully mellifluous voice, which resounds in your head, dramatically...)

Hmm, it echoed cosmically in my head. When am I going to? Good question. (The Magician is about written projects, too. Lot's of stuff lining up now....

Off to ponder, and shuck fava beans.

2007-07-20T18:05:00.000-07:00

Hey y'all. I have been a world of hell dealing with my verizon DSL- 2 hours and 10 minutes just this week alone. However, I am at last back online with my desktop, the "mothership", and I'm finally able to do some updating on my website.

This has been a crazy summer, my life has been turned upside down in many ways- my kids, my friends, even my little dog- but I am amazingly at peace just now. I feel things are moving along as they should, even the bad stuff seems to have been for a bigger reason.

Feeling like this, I was curious about what card I would turn up for me... I shuffle and turn over the Magician card- that's a good one! It's about creative projects, and I have been taking up my painting again. I'm feeling creatively productive (I'm canning this weekend, dilly green beans...) This card is about feeling solid and strong and rather than just thinking about changes like the fool, the Magician takes the ideas from the head and translates them to action.

I turn over another card for advice, and I get the Hermit, reversed. This is a call to avoid isolation, i need to be sure to get out in the world. Well, I'm going to my girlfriend's party tomorrow night, so that should solvew that problem!

My cards make me feel better and I'm off to read my EXCELLENT book, Inamorata. Do you like to read? Paperbackswap.com has changed my reading life!
Finally, my most favorite new downloads-
Fidelity-Regina Spektor
The Ocean Breathes Salty- Modest Mouse
Young Folks-Peter Bjorn and John
Finding outr True Love is Blind- Louis XIV

2006-07-22T07:21:00.000-07:00

We're backkkkk!!!!! Wow, it was a long time in the north woods, and I have returned refreshed and ready to READ!!! If you've been waiting for me to return to order a reading, now is a great time!

At left you see my children's posed by the Hot Dog who stands daily before Plath's Smoked Meats. He's a photo op NOT to be missed. Our little log cabin is located near Rogers City, and that's where we go for groceries, library books, and an ice cream cone at the Pavillion on Lake Huron Harbor.

It was a truly relaxing vacation; a lot of reading, fishing, siting in a lounge chair ans watching the sun on the lake, bonfires at night. A fascinating thing happened- we were far from electonic gadgets-cell phones, computers , even regular old phones. (The TV gets one station with a minimum of static, so we call it "turning om the channel" rather than "watching TV. ) In the dearth of electronic stimulation my 13 and 14 year old started coloring in coloring books! Wow, how low tech can you go? God bless crayola and the lure of the 64 pack! I must admit I colored a page or two as well.

And now that we're home it's astounding how things have grown! The field surrounding our house thi9s year is corn, and we are suddenly surrounded by the way coolest privacy fence ever! morning glories are climbing, oregano and lemon balm went on a relentless charge, wrestling control of our garden and making the thyme go on a retreat. I need to get out there and bring the herbs to submission.

Remember in Spring when the tall grass across the road was burned back?

2006-06-27T05:26:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is the big day- we head off for our little cabin in the big woods. It's a time for us to head to the north country to listen to the loons, make s'mores, and hang out with our Dozens of Cousins! I can hardly wait to get to get there. My 14 year-old daughter on the other hand, is looking forward to seeing everyone, but dreading the time away from her very satisfying social scene. She alternates between sighs and scathing sarcasm, as she makes sure none of us miss HOW SHE FEELS. Believe me, none of us can miss it.

Note: As of 6/27/2006 you can still purchase a Tarot reading, but I won't be able to do the readings until I return. When am I going to return? I'm not sure- how cool is that??? I think I'll be gone about 2 weeks. I'll try to do some blogging on my sister's laptop, but the connection is sooooo slooow!

No one gets cellphone connectivity where we are. There's one spot on the hilltop at the far end of our propetrty, near a stump, where you can sometimes make a connection. We lovingly call this spot "The Phonebooth".

I wish you all a happy and safe 4th of July!
xoLaura

2006-06-23T06:05:00.000-07:00

Oh my gosh, I feel like pre-teen with a diary- "Dear Diary, Sorry it's been so long since I'v written...." It's been over a month, astounding!

In that month I took my kids to our place up north, each kid took a friend. So there I was in the north woods with four 13 and 14 year olds! They were pretty good kids, and it was sweet to see them start to live the simple life- fishing, swimming, and boating ruled the day. We went to two Lighthouses, the Old Presque Isle Light, and the New Presque Isle light. The kids loved the ghost stories about the Old Light- way fun!

I'm going back up to the cabin for at least two weeks starting next week. I'll be sending out an email to my mailing list letting y'all know, so that if you are in "need of a read" you can get it before I blow town!

In the meantime, I had such a great response from a gal for whom I did my first reading..."Your reading was so incredibly right on target in several areas that I felt very strongly that I should write and tell you so. I also wanted to thank you for the warm and friendly way you presented my reading. I've never done this before (duh. like you couldn't tell from the flood of stuff you got from the cards, right? :-) and I wasn't sure what to expect. But it felt like I was sitting in the kitchen talking 'girl stuff' with you. I even found myself nodding my head at you when you asked your questions throughout the narrative! lol"
This was so good to hear, it made me want to tell my Dad. At first it was a strain for him to have a daughter with such a freakish occupation- and I'll tell you, living here in the bible belt I've taken some heat. I generally keep my online occupation closeted, only "coming out" to people after I can tell they won't put up the hex sign and hissss at me... At first Dad felt like tarot was a lot of hoo doo, and for a deeply religious, pillar of his church it was kinda scary. However, the more I explained my work to my dad, he started to really get into it. I explained I'm NOT a dark and scary reader, it's all about empowerment, and that the cards don't (or should NOT) dictate the future. We are in charge of our own future, but the cards can make us aware of things that need attention. He was pleased with the friendships I created, and would say things like "How's Todd in New Orleans?" (a shout out to Todd, how you doing, babe??) and loved to hear stories about the people I'd met, and how they felt about their readings. He was fascinated with the fact that I read for people all over the world. And finally he said "well, you're really more of a counselor than anything else..." I always figured if Dad came around, there was hope for the world-at-large!

I hope all is well with you guys- If you need a reading, get it before I'm gone!

2006-05-19T06:09:00.000-07:00

Last night it was Morel bonanza at our house! Dan has gotten a few, here and there, but last night he found them in places there never were mushrooms before. He came back with a 2-pound bag, totally, wildly excited.

Last week while mushrooming in the woods he got a really icky bite on his leg that our son James is sure came from a Brown Recluse Spider. James suggests Dan is days from amputation, J. keeps looking it up on the Internet, taking a morbid interest in the wound- "this one looks kinda like yours, Dad!" M, in a typical 14 year-old girl move, appeared distraught at the thought of her Father's amputation, then admitted it was mainly because she doesn't want any changes in our income base, that could cause us to move up north(my dream) . She wants to be smack dab in the middle of her satisfying social scene, and if her father's leg festered, it might impact her plans. Sigh.

My kids are getting older, my eyesight is getting worse... I think since I lost my Dad last year, I feel orphaned, and more vulnerable. I was lucky to have my parents into my adulthood, and I think there was a part of me that didn't feel my mortality when they were around. Now that the pain from Dad is less "raw" (thank you Nancy, my wonderful supportive sister, that's exactly the word ...) I am feeling other things. Like time slipping past.

The other day my husband was mowing and he ran over a Care Bear... you know, the happy, colorful ones that say things like "Sunshine Bear" on their bums? Petey the puppy had gotten one of my kid's old ones, and it was hidden in the tall grass. The riding mower hit it, and he was gone in a puff of stuffing and grass clippings. My kids barely missed a beat. It was a Care Bear, and no one cared!

I remembered years ago, when they were probably 3 and 4, M and J got identical bears in their Easter Baskets; they were pretty funky looking guys, with jointed arms and legs, skinny bodies with big tummies, about 12 inches tall. Margaret named hers "Brown Bear" and James named his "Shoes". Margaret, with her four-year old superiority, picture a hands on hips head-tilt here, accused James of just looking at his shoes and naming the bear, which is most certainly what happened. However, this was vigorously denied, in a stubborn little-brother way. But Shoes he was, and Shoes he stayed. They toted those bears all over, were tucked in with them at night.

Then one day the unthinkable happened- Shoes was mowed over by big brother Danny. M and J cradled the mass of cotton batting and furry fabric, as James sobbed uncontrollably, and we had a burial ceremony under the Clematis vine. James took solace in the thought that Shoes was going to help the vine grow and prosper.

So the other day on the porch I looked at the mass of mowed-over Care Bear in the yard, which barely made a dent in our day. I thought about poor old Shoes, and about my failing eyesight, and about how I miss my little babies, and how I miss my mother, and about how weird it is that time passes and the changes it brings.

So, look how deep I am (and maybe a little tearful) when I turn over the card for the day…
And here it is, a blessing on me- the 10 of Cups… it’s a day to count my blessings- my supportive family, the love I’ve been given, my gingerbread cookies and tea party childhood, the wonderful things my parents gave to me, that I have been able to give to my children. I hope you all have blessings to counts, too!

2006-05-17T06:48:00.000-07:00

Yesterday the pot of gold must have been located behind our neighbor's barn, because that's certainly where the rainbow ends. That's also where our white cat, Captain Bligh the one-eyed guy, spends a lot of time, mousing and napping. One day we heard the neighbor calling, "Here Bastard... Here bastard...." and we watched Bligh saunter up to their dinner offering. Since then we have stepped up to the plate- Supper Super is a regular entree, and he seems to have chosen us VS. them. Well, maybe yesterday when he saw the rainbow ending there, he may have had some second thoughts. I know I looked over pretty longingly... "What have THEY got that we don't???" Speaking of neighbor envy and fascination, The K's always have the most amazing stuff out on Garbage day. Every Tuesday they have long pieces of wood, interesting boxes- their cans fairly burst with fabulously shaped trash. I kinda look forward to driving the kids to school on that day now, thinking "Surely they will have hit the wall with it... they can't spring clean EVERY weekend... there must be an end... " yet still, they never disappoint...

Okay, let's do a card for the day...
Ace of Pentacles , reversed. Ahhhh, what good intentions, what excellent plans I have for financial growth and viability. Ahhhhh, look at me screw it up because of poor planning, poor priorities, stumbling over my best intentions, and stymied by first steps. Less pie in the sky, more $ in the hand, my dear....

Till next time, here's hoping the rainbow ends in YOUR yard...

2006-05-16T03:46:00.000-07:00

This past weekend we opened up our cabin up north, taking Monday for a 3 day weekend. In typical Michigan Spring fashion, it rained off and on all weekend, but it did that back at home, too. And I would MUCH rather be in our cozy log cabin building a roaring fire, with a little rain spattering on the roof.
My pic today is my way cool terrarium I created out of mosses and plants I found while tromping through the drippy woods. This is the little aquarium we use in the summer for the occasional frog, or catfish minnow . I turned it into a planter- we'll see how long I can keep this stuff alive!!!

Okay, a story for y'all. I am not the most girly-girl. (Richelle is) HOWEVER, I like a little undereye cover-up, light blusher, and a little eyeliner at LEAST. Well, we took off blithefully for up north, and I left my make-up case in the bathroom. LEFT IT. For 3 days. No conditioning face cleanser, no soaps and lotions, no toothbrush- let alone a light blusher and a hint of eyeliner. I've been like brushing my teeth with little forest twiigs like a "Survivior" castmember. Which was basically okay, I was living in the woods, on the way home I got out of the car once, skirting thr edge of the store and making my way to the bathroom in as unobtrusive way as possible...

So I get home, and I am checking my eBay stuff, and some things sold well, and others didn't, and I am analzying this hard, because all weekend when I was away from computers I was wondering how my listings were doing. Also, it's not my shower turn yet- we have one bathroom, I wanted a bath, so I was waiting for the shower people to finish.

When I got home I pulled out this t-shirt and thought- "This is the ugliest t-shirt I have. I'll wear it until AFTER MY SHOWER, then I will transform into something cuter/more worthy..." Then, as I'm computing away, I look down at the ugliest skirt I own(see above reason) I see the tag. I kinda chuckle to myself.. "ho ho.. not only is this the ugliest skirt I own, I'm wearing it INSIDE out..." I feel carefree though, see above hopeful feelings about shower/'transformation.

Okay, you got a picture of me in your head? Wearing the ugliest clothes I own, half of them inside out. I am down to my natural skin tone, plus a light glazing of wood smoke, devoid of make-up, I think you could safely call me gray. I am staring at my computer screen with the kind of hanging lip tranfixation guys get during golf. (Not football, that's too active. Golf is where you're watching so hard you almost semi-demi drool...)

I see a shadow on the porch, I look at my door window, and there is this guy I used to work with I have not seen for a long time. Let me 'splain. It was an office awash in women, and he moved through our choppy waters, tempests and tidal waves like a fine wooden sloop. Just sliced thorugh the bull. Plus, he was good at what he did, in a quiet capable way. And he was cute, too. And he always smelled good. (Kinda a deadly office combo) Anyway, all this description is just so you get to feel what I felt... The horrrrrrrrooorrrrrr! There he is, all smelling good. And me, not even just your average rumpled, oh no, the worst I have ever looked in my life.

He was being sweet, dropping off a book on dog training I had pestered him about via email... I could not even show my face... I kept muttering about how I "felt like I was in a twilight zone episode..."
you know, the one about the pig face people??? Why does no one ever see me when I look good and smell okay. Because I DO, okay, dammit! Sometimes.

Okay, well, I'm home, wearing full make-up, and a charming daytime ensemble. I'll do a card for the day, tomorrow darlings.

2006-05-12T09:25:00.000-07:00

There have been lots of photos of my views- I think it's about time for another shot of Peter Jennings, the wonder pup! He was just groomed this week, and he looks HANDSOME and SMELLS GREAT after living through a frightening job I did on him with my scrapbooking scissors... Let me 'splain...
Once upon a time I was a hairdresser, liscensed by the state boards and everything. I married at 20, my parents felt I needed a career to fall back on- they were absolutely right, I was too young, but that's another story. I did practice my craft for awhile- my hairdressing days came in the abysmal hair fashion blackhole known as the '80's- the big hit syle was known then as "the bi-level", these days, we call a mullet a mullet.
Anyway, certain hair skills remain, cutting in a straight line, basic layering- I can conjure up those old skills from time to time. Well Petey, being a Shih Tzu has hair that grows just like a person. We were all reluctant to cut him, just like a toddler they are so cute before their first haircut. Except for that Kate Hudson kid- that Ryder NEEDS a haircut. And that Romeo Beckham, too. Well, Petey was hitting the Ryder Hudson stage, and I got out my scissors and trimmed him up...

Wow, he was so good! My husband's friend said he had a shih tzu and had to use a catchers mitt to COMB him! Peter just sat there and let me trim away. Problem was, I had no idea how he was supposed to look! I cut off his whiskers and his eyebrows- he had this sort of look of eternal surprise.. I trimmed up his front legs and chest, but he was sick of it by the time I hit his mid-section and back, so he just kind of poofed out from there- he was, of course sweet. But he looked like an animal we had taken in from the pound.

This week he went to the Canine Magician groomer, which used to be located, disconcertingly AND ironically, in the SAME parking lot as a Taxidermy place... They truly worked magic on him, he smells good and looks like an actual breed. I promise never to take the scissors to the boy again.

Now, on a more serious note, I have a buddy who is facing a lot of problems. I think they feel especially overwhelming becuse he'd faced down some demons, gotten some closure on tiresome old issues, and was feeling almost groovy.

Today I turn over a card for my friend... Well, it doesn't look like this is going to be a single card, it's a sequence. The last card is the World card, the card that had my friend feeling so groovy and full of epiphanies in April The first 4 cards are the trials and tribulations to be worked through to get back to that feeling of light-footed balance.

We start with The Lovers, reversed. There is a break-down in a partnership, a misunderstanding about how to proceed. The third card here is the 2 of Cups, reversed, which echoes the Lovers. When it comes down to it, two people have a hard time pulling together as a team; personal interests, differing goals or hoped for outcomes, jealousies- all this stuff keeps popping up and coloring the view of the problems facing you?

The Emperor card- a strong, successful male/mentor steps in? The kind of "helping" he will be called upon to do here is right up his alley; it's actions, not emotions?

The nine of Pentacles makes me see an unsatisfied female, she's not comfortable in her home, in her "nest" and she's going to get an idea of what will make her "feel" better, and she will be pretty single-minded about getting this. Almost like there will be blinders to issues around her while she thinks about her own discomfort and the solution to it.

Again, the 2 of Cups. A tough time for a love relationship, a tough time for a partnership, or maybe the focus winds up being about how hard it is to make this partnership work, when the focus should be elsewhere?

Anyway, that's the baggage to work though before the balance of thr World card returns...

2006-05-10T08:56:00.000-07:00

Well there it is- my view!!! The trees have some leaves, the grass is covering all the burned spots, and a view like this is the big bonus for living through the long Michigan winter.

It's been awhile since an update- Dan has been getting some Morels, but not the motherlode of his dreams. James had Band-o-Rama last night- all bands from 5th grade to all three High bands gathered in an overheated gymnasium for 3 1/2 hours- and they got sneaky- they mixed up the grades in the program so you couldn't just grab your kid and run after their section. When you get to Hell, the welcoming ceremony is a lot like Band-o-Rama.

Last weekend I went to a local estate auction with my sister, and have been listing "treasures" since... See my eBay stuff here. Today, I am back to my card world, and will take care of my Tarot Orders...

First, how about a card of the day! I mix my cards up like I'm going to play "Go Fish" and I pull out the Major Arcana card, the Emperor. The Emperor is about getting priorities straight, about acting in a responsible way, about keeping a balance and a peace. Doing things that are for the good of everyone, and not just because it feels good to you. It can also be about finding that "Emperor" within yourself, not using the excuses or distractions of the world to control your actions; instead, setting a standard and living by that, molding your world to the standards you have set. Women often need to become their own Emperor- to remember the strentgh within and call upon it, instead of falling into a less powerful role. I will look to the wisdom of the Emperor today as i go about my life!

2006-05-02T15:07:00.000-07:00

It's a typical spring day, rain rain rain. Tina the chicken, rather than being "madder than a wet hen", just seems sad and disgruntled. But things are bloonming, see our crab apple, and the lilac is loaded this year. Dan's friend got 2 pounds of Morels, so he's out in the woods, in the rain, hunting mushrooms. I hope he scores big, Morels are beyond unbelievable. They make a portobello taste bland. Yummmmm.

2006-04-28T07:21:00.000-07:00

Last Friday was Ed's birthday. Ed was a friend of Richelle's, and he had an untimely death from asthma last summer. He was gone so suddenly, there wasn't closure, it was hard to grasp.

Ed was a quirky guy; he was tall, urbane- always too cool for the room. Not a warm and fuzzy character, but if Ed liked something you'd said, a song you played, it mattered more than if anyone else had liked it.... Ed was bitter, difficult, a hell of a lot of fun, and greatly missed.

Shelle went to a memorial dinner for him last week and they gave out little nuns- Ed loved religoius kitsch. We got together this week to have an espresso martini (espresso, vanilla vodka-yummmm) and toast to his memory.

And now it's Friday! So many of you visited my Terrarium/Tarot Specials page yesterday, thank you so much for being interested in my stuff! Remember the specials end on 5/1... Those who bought readings, I'm getting out my cards to do my first orders after this blog entry.

First, how about a card to send us into the weekend? I turn over the Seven of Pentacles, reversed. Actually this is timely, as I go into a weekend when I have a shopping trip planned with my daughter... This card tells me to keep a realistic handle on my actual finanacial situation, not what I would like it to be. As of now, I have all intentions of some very reasonable shopping, mostly looking. However, sometimes you enter the store, intentions intact, and the goods sing a siren song to you- the shiny new things, the smell of the store- it all combines to scramble the thought processes, and suddenly the financial outlook is more flexible. YIKES! I need to avoid that, and this card gave me a little wake-up call. Another aspect of this card is that I did not achieve the career goals I set for myself this week. I have a project due, and I have spent a lot of time planning it, turning it over in my head, without actually starting it... What can I say, we Capricorns are notorious procrastinators. Anyway, this card takes me to task, and having it come on a Friday is a good thing, I have the weekend to get my priorities in order.

2006-04-26T11:02:00.001-07:00

Tarot Specials!
First, I always think this time of year is a good time to get a Tarot reading. Just for fun, I have set up links for special prices on TWO different readings, and the specials are available only to my Blog-readers and mailing list members. The Celtic Cross, normally $27.00 is just $24.00, and The Tarot-Mini is just $12.00, when it’s normally $15.00. These special prices are available ONLY here. (http://www.atasteoftarot.com/spring.htm) Hurry! The sale ends on 5/1/2006.