"And the Two Shall Become One?"

Impending job loss, daughter's wedding, chronic health problems, daughter and grandson moving out soon, a bit of a list of stress sources I think.....but every day things people live with all the time. I just don't do stress well anymore, whereas I used to be the queen of "bring it on, I can handle it!"

Yesterday, my daughter asked if I would look at the wedding dresses she has picked out. I do not do shopping well because of my back. But I did make a good ten hour day of it - bridal shops, grocery shopping, an unplanned hour and one-half search to pick up "H" where he had left his truck for repair, umpteen stops to get her "double shots" of caffeine, a stop to find me a jacket that fit to take to Wyo (its been known to snow out there in July, yes, it has!). Found a great sale - again. Today I'm posting my good clothes from yore on EBAY. Anyway, at the end of the day, I wished the nerve block this time would have done more....oh well, its better than a month ago! My legs are just so wobbly.

She tried on many dresses - some looking like royal coronation gowns, some sleek and sexy, but finally she put one on that made me cry. We are all past the "My baby is getting married" stage of life, but I was surprised to find the tears that popped up when she put on one in particular (especially since I'm not much of a cryer anymore). That turned out to be her favorite too. So the dress, shoes, tiara are ordered and hopefully supposed to be here in time for the wedding. We both felt really good about the dress. My instincts screamed, "Just buy a dress, already, a dress is a dress." But a bit of the moment took me over - yes, this one is THE dress.

I remembered back when I got married the first time and wanted a white dress - my mother picked it out, gave it to me, and that's what I wore. That was indicative of who would be running my marriage, which lasted a whole year, at the end of which I was newly pregnant. I didn't realize until years later, I had married a boy who could not even be responsible for himself, let alone a wife and child. I found myself on the way to being a single mom, when women just WEREN'T single moms. And, mostly, divorced dads back then walked away from their children easily. My poor little boy. My mother had made a show of not approving, but all in all, she was glad to have a glum teenager out of the house.

I don't know how they are going to pull this wedding off in a month when they haven't even yet found a place to have it, ordered a cake, set a caterer, found a reception place, looked at flowers, registered for gifts, nor mailed invitations, sell his house, store all his stuff, etc. Why am I stressing? Well, its my nature. I probably could open a business and get paid for stressing out for people (I mean, I REALLY do a good job of it!) - hey, leave your stress here for a fee - I will stress for you, get sick and do all that dysfunctional crap and save you the time and pain. Boy, wouldn't I get rich? And dead?

Part of me stands aside and looks at the melding of two close knit families - oi - scary. We, this family, are used to the orphans who come to us for solace and strength and leave us drained, broke, and mopping up messes. What do we do with people who have traditions of their own, ways of their own, and stand on them like bulldogs? Oi.

Think of the miracle of families. Like people, no two are exactly the same. Imagine a core of people somehow functioning together as a unit for a lifetime. Then you expand that unit, usually with a relative stranger whose family is also relative strangers, each thinking their ways are right, and everyone is supposed to get along! Amazing.

One of "H"'s & my problems arose from celebrating Christmas - we always did it Christmas morning - I mean that's Christmas day, right? He always did it the day before Christmas. He didn't have a reason, that's just how he wanted it done, and compromise without a fight to the death is not in his vocabulary. So, of course that's how we did it, and any tradition I had or wanted to create was a constant battle. The next major adjustment was that neither of us went to church or were religious at the time of being married, but oh, when I began to go to church - of course, what I chose was not acceptable. Until God yanked "H's" tail. Chuckle. Christmas still remains a bone of contention deep in my heart, and only because of the lack of respect to me and my children. I always give in to keep the peace, something I have been trying to learn not to do when its a detriment. I pray this pending marriage becomes what the word signifies - a marriage, not a job with a "boss."

Now, after years, church is where ever we want to attend, separately or together. Mostly separately because I don't like being told how to drive to the church, which place I will park the car in, or stressing about - are we going to eat at home or out later, if we get to the restaurant will he be a mad member of the tribe because he doesn't like lines, noise, prices, etc. I mean, we can't even get peacefully in the front door together, really.

And two tribes are supposed to join peacefully? Oi, again.

Then some people can't do it anymore. And the choice is to separate physically and/or just emotionally. The choice is - start over and hope for better, or endure, make the best of it, and hope family continuity is enough to overcome the lack of joy. I can't imagine what is would be like, for the "Two" to have that joy that is intended for such a relationship - the joy that we are taught to expect when those vows are said, how strong would that core be then!

There is a love, a way, I think that transcends the unrealistic expectations that our culture has set for us to believe. It is the way of survival - the way of, when it comes down to it, fighting to preserve the family and when times get tough, coming together the best a family can to insure the survival of the family and the individual. Not always perfect, but its been around for centuries and centuries, not always "traditional" but here it is in all its glory and dysfunction as well, ever enduring in custom and repeating itself.

So - into the sunset go the preparations to join these two families with prayers of "God help us all" and even, help us enjoy it!

Aaaaaaaarghhhhhhhh Bad Nerves Day

I wants to sting something, sting it hard and makes it hurt. Probably too many steroids in my spine and associated trigger points. I've been also wanting to eat anything and all of it.

Started a project been wanting to do for years - clean up the credit report - wrong addresses, jobs we've never worked, debts paid off and never reported paid off, people on it we have never heard of that are supposed to be us, jobs we never had, delinquencies we never had, etc., etc., etc. I have been fighting for two weeks with Bank of America concerning a report of the credit agency that we have never paid off two cars. Then why do we have the titles?

Finally, after two weeks of phone calls to no avail, "H" made a trip to the bank for help and was successful - we have two zero balance letters in hand. We have someone helping us clean up the report - so I am going straightaway to fax them to our helper in this cleaner-upper trial of nerves. I've come to the conclusion that a large majority of people are too lazy to take care of a problem so they make up stuff so they won't have to write a **>>>!!! letter. It should not take 17 phones calls and two weeks and three people to get a proof letter from the bank stating that your account is zero when its really zero. Jeez. Now how long will it take to persuade the credit reporting agency!

Then I get in the shower - turn on the water and...........no water. "H" is unusually quiet, but has left the house to "check on the problem." Would this be one of the credit snafu's? Forgetting to pay the garbage bill? If you don't pay for the garbage pickup they shut off your water. Makes perfect sense. Footnote: He just came back and said that there was a water main break - now is that wicked of me to think such a thing?

The "huge delinquency" showing on our report is because, I'm told, if you have a mortgage, the mortgage company is supposed to report monthly. Ours hasn't reported for two years. More phone calls. More snotty replies.

We had a tax lien way back in college days about 20 years ago, I've protested with the credit reporting agencies several times and have been assured as soon as I fax the release, which I have been faxing to one or another of them about every two years on average for 15 years, they will take it off the report. Is it off the reports? Of course not.

I am banging my head against a brick wall.

Ok, now this wasp lady will turn into Tinker Bell and start thinking only positive thoughts. As soon as I get water for my shower. I promise.

Sparrows

Thanks for the "good thoughts" and prayers coming my way. I was in and out of the hospital in one and one-half hours. My daughter went with me and I was able to stand afterward, not sick (until I started drinking the Starbucks on the way home). I slept all afternoon and am going to fix "H's" resume before laying back down. We'll know in a few days how effective it was for the remaining pain. Now I know why I am ravenous after a procedure - I asked what "juice" was being injected - the answer was "steroids." OK, that's why. And Verced during the procedure - well, the feel good, definitely is not worth that feel bad afterward - drugs are NOT my thing.

Sparrows - I love birds, I love to watch them - not particularly to identify them, but to say, "Oh, look at what they are doing now." I also find God not only a bird maker, but they fit into the plan for us as well.

"H" got notice last week (at first I decided not to mention it) that he will be terminated after 17 years from his grocery store in September as they sold out. My first thoughts were, "How can I live without health insurance?" and a salary is nice too since I'm not working.

So, with all this project of changing my thoughts, I decided, "Ok, do I use what I know, or not?" Sensing his panic, I told him that better things are in store for him, and we will make it through the changes and he will be better off than before.

Now, I am looking at my handout from a class I went to: "Every thought we think is creating our future." "Every word we speak is affirmation - either to the good or the bad." I say it, I believe it. Now, it may not work according to MY expectations, but it WILL work out to the better..

The Bible which is becoming more and more my standard for life (and no, I'm not so goody-goody - I have a few things I have in my mind that shouldn't be there, and some rebellious, baby centered (I want what I want) part of me clings to them, although I know I shouldn't). So I run to my Father (I never could run to the one I had here on Earth) and I find Matthew 6:26 - "Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?"

More: "Therefore DO NOT WORRY,.......For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.....but seek ye first the kingdom of God.....and all these things shall be added unto you....Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things." See? There is even something out there that will do our worrying for us!

What more could I ask?

Blood Orange Moon Thoughts for Monday

Blood Orange Moon . . . sounds like a song. Driving up the beach highway, I spotted a huge red-orange globe in the sky and it finally registered – “That’s the moon!” I had not ever seen it so large. Then, as the trees thinned along the shoreline, I was able to see the bay, the orange colors were dancing across the deep night water of the bay – and it was one of those moments so beautiful you want to fly….or cry…..or both.

Tonight I was feeling too lazy – I just went out to tell everyone goodbye. It had been raining hard all afternoon but just quit about an hour ago. It was beautiful – the grass was so soft and green and the garden looked glutted with wine, though it was only water, all of nature tonight looked satisfied. I am invigorated.

Not far from here in another bay, the dolphins cavort just after the sun comes up, I want to take coffee and sit, waiting.

The air is hanging heavy with humidity, smoothing and softening the skin. I walk around to the back of the house looking for the gardenias to be blooming in their heavy, soft scent and am rewarded with a handful – but I will not pick them – they deserve the night.

I love white flowers because there is something so incredibly sensuous, yet pure about them. I like to sit by the garden at night and think and enjoy the scents and the flowers. I hope at my funeral/memorial there will be extravagant white flowers all over the place. Haven't decided if I want to be buried or cremated and scattered to the Gulf.

To change the tone:

Back to every day stuff. No highly intellectual, esoteric posts here.

I am going in for another nerve block – Monday a.m. I pray for a bit easier time and even more success, though the back is much improved.

OK, the rest is for the girls:
Have lost more pounds, yay, and inherited my daughter’s underwear. Now, pray tell, who and why – invented thongs? Not the kind that fit between your toes to hold the summer sandals, but the kind that fit so uh, oddly, in private places, ah, bits as they say in England? 24/7, giving me a consciousness of parts that usually are taken quite for granted. I think women rarely think of those parts as we go about the day, and suddenly, with the invention of the thong, they are there – insolent and almost demanding of attention (like, get this blankety-blank noose off of me, won’t you?). Never thought my bits would be talking to me.

My bras have now become cell phone holders as a bit more room becomes available.

“H” is getting that look in his eyes. Hey, I’ve forgotten how – and besides, don’t treat me mean and expect desire. God somehow made me with the memory of an elephant, can’t help it. Yeh, that’s right, blame God for a personality defect.

I find the Victoria’s Secret sale catalog again, and browse the pages, looking for something that is, uh, well yes, sexy, but comfortable – the two can co-exist, right? Please say yes. My mother told me always to wear clean underwear in case of a car wreck - anyone ever hear that? I mean what self-respecting woman would not wear clean underwear anyway?

Well, what if I were in a car wreck and had no underwear on - or, worse yet, I had the inherited thongs on, and ended up hung by my bits?

I browse on in the catalog, and think - no I don't want to be in a car wreck in these either. I go to Walmart - the one closest to here has underwear for granny butts (I will NOT succumb) or teenagers. HOW does one dress to feel like a goddess and still be prepared for a car wreck? Mother? Where are you? Never mind, to all mothers, the word "Goddess" smacks of the word "Sexy" and your daughters are definitely NOT to be sexy. Just know, that you are never too old to be owned by a mother.

Ok, enough is enough. For those of you going "Huh?" I am feeling very funny tonight. My sister and I always thought it would be fun to do a comedy routine together. Also I am quite sober.

Ah, my grandchildren will, again, hack my computer and give me a hard time!

Ok, ok, ‘tis a very weird post, but, hey, who ever said I approach anything normal.

I am now going to go do my 3 miles on the elliptical, bathe my back in antiseptic, scrounge for some semblance of underwear that won't give my very humor-full doctor the giggles, (or something worse) (er, better?) and prepare for a 24 hour fast to accommodate the needle man’s instructions. I’ll be back, depending on my come-back from the “juice.”

Easy Sunday Musings.........

All right already, yes, I'm having a fascination with angels. About two and one half years ago I knew I was supposed to begin painting angels. Don't know what is taking me so long. Procrastination I guess.

I found a new channel which kept me awake long into the night last night. First I received a mysterious call from hattigrace. No speaking, just a dead air call. I hung up and called her back - she started telling me about god.tv.com. We laughed ourselves silly when she said she hadn't called me, but her phone was in her purse, and it just went off. (God calling?) Well, being as I had just heard about god.tv.com from another friend in Virgina, I figured it was GOD talking to me again. So I got on the computer and sat enthralled, clicking on the daily program streaming link. The June 19th worship leader is a slip of a girl, who had a gift of stirring the heavenlies. Yes, I have to paint angels. When?

Spent yesterday with an old missionary friend who is wanting me to drive to Nicaragua with her in an RV. Now, that sounds like an adventure - a two week trip through Mexico to Nicaragua. She said she would only worry about the bandits in Guatemala. Will I do something that crazy? Stay tuned. I might. Wouldn't that make a cool blog? ......something like, well, I'm in El Salvador now..... anyway I guess its time time get my passport renewed.

And my trip to Wyoming looms ahead and I'm afraid I will have trouble getting there. I will pray the second set of nerve blocks are effective. And home - the home leg will take 17 hours thanks to cheap tickets and troubled airlines. I could fly to Japan in that amount of time, I think.

More nerve blocks tomorrow - hopefully to quell the remaining burning right foot and spasms on the left side of the back. Hope I get some anesthetic that will not make me feel awful for a week again and that I don't get that scary my legs don't work time again.

Big grandkids coming to stay for ten days - which will overlap the Wyo trip, but I am hoping the rest of my family will pick up where I leave off - I pray for strength and dollars to have some adventures with them...........the young one will love having cousins here....grandma will pay the exhaustion price, but it will be so worth every minute. Perhaps I can get the granddaughter to painting again...she is so talented.

Psycho cat killed another huge rat - left in in the garden - hmmmm, rat fertilizer - "H" put it in the garbage can sans plastic wrap and going out the door to the front of the house is totally disgusting - come on garbage man, then I will have to pour a gallon of clorox into the container.

Raining. But not enough to keep me from the beach. I'm a nice coffee with some milk kind of tan...its fun....gotta be careful though not to over do and turn into a prune. Oh, I love Florida, love it! Also pulling weeds from garden constantly. "H's" idea of putting down pine straw for mulch was to throw the bales into the garden for me to spread - but I will conquer - he finally found the pitch fork for me so I won't have to bend over to spread it - except now its full of weeds again and I have to bend to pull them.....

The boy and I picked produce out of the garden and I sprayed them with olive oil and garlic salt added, and put them in the basket into the George Foreman rotisserie that we saved from a garage sale and it was wonderful as was our organic rotisserie chicken - summer is SPEEDING by - and he still needs lots of practice on times tables and needs to get his reading in - he's become a social butterfly and wants to be with friends all the time...so interesting and fun watching an ll year old teeter between being a teenager and a six year old.....

Just got a new Oprah magazine - seems chock full of wonderful stuff - I will clean house today a bit, then sit down with coffee for a cozy trip through the magazine wishing I could share all the cool stuff in it....I would like to rock up 5 miles on the elliptical today to make up for none the next few days, so I'll prop "Oprah" up and read....wish there was a way I could connect the TV to god.tv.com.

Hope everyone is having a super great weekend....

I Forgot About Then

Today I attended a funeral of a missionary friend. She lived a long, satisfying life until she had a stroke. I saw her sitting alone at church one day, and took her hand, and said, "Millie, how are you?" She looked in my eyes and said, "I'm so tired, so very, very tired." I replied, "I bet you are." Then we continued there, holding hands, communicating in the spirit. Even then, I could feel her strong spiritual walk. I hoped some of my strength would seep into her soul and body.

Many times Millie had stopped in my office and she would tell me something that was for the moment and I always felt better...those were rough years, the years where I saw Millie often.

Today, her life was honored. It was an awesome funeral....and I saw so many, many, many old friends. Men and women of God who have given their lives to God in service of one kind or another.

We came here in '88 to go to Bible College. We did, "H" earned a degree in pastoral ministries and I began a degree in Family Systems Therapy. The school closed, "H" got his degree, mine was named something else because I didn't have enough credits to graduate a bona-fide therapist. My mentor urged me to go on to a university and finish and join him in practice. My son had just died and I couldn't think - I barely managed to get through a day, let alone work and continue school.

I digress, though - as I looked at all my beloved friends and acquaintances of the last twenty years, I remembered all the years that I too served God. Not always perfectly and sometimes I even had a stinking attitude or two. It was such a privilege. These folks hugged me and shook my hand and as we visited I realized I had forgot this part of me...the years I ministered in missions, in an inner healing ministry, in recovery groups, and many other ways. And I realized I could die feeling good about that. One time (yeah, I talk to God sometimes) God told me that if ALL I did was raise my kids to know God, that would have been a great plenty.

My flesh (ego) was also stoked today as many didn't readily recognize me - when they did I had lots of compliments, and an appreciative look or two - but the other part of me sadly realized no matter where, people are human, and looks have a lot to do with how one is able to live life....and I'm not sure I liked that part of me that felt so good over the compliments. And I also remember all the reasons I let myself get so overweight - fear of sexuality - my gosh, what would one do in the Christian world if one is "too" attractive (not saying I am...but what about worrying if your nipples show through your bra? Does that make me less holy? I think not - so why the hangup?) Depression - a person is easily overwhelmed when depressed - too hard to fight whatever to take care of oneself....???? Exhaustion from years of stress - exercise? Just making it through a day was an accomplishment.

Anyway, I digress - the moral of this post is that I am so happy to be a part of a large community - one that has felt like family - an imperfect one, because we are all imperfect, no doubt, but nevertheless, these people have seen me through thick and thin, good and bad....love for them overwhelmed me. The founder of this huge ministry got up and said he thought he would die before Millie - there was lots of talk of dying - we are not young chicks anymore - but that's ok - we all do sooner or later - its just that we are so darn missed here on earth when we've gone on.

It's been a reflective day.

Then another friend called that had been my friend in this part of me I had forgotten and invited me to lunch at her home - I was wildly delighted to think of refreshing that friendship, then another missionary called me last night - she's a nurse in Nicaragua - goes out in the jungle doing health clinics to people who don't have medical care - and said - "Hey, let's get together!" Yes!!! Let's do!!!!!!

THEN- I ran across a dear man who spotted me at a seminar and fell for me - in a wholesome way - he got us involved in a marriage ministry and we made it huge, until "H" lost whatever it was he lost to push on.....but anyway, what a delight to have that bear of a man's arms around me in the delight of meeting once again - he and his wife were really special friends in our lives - - -

Boy, have we "holed up" in the last 10 years - - - -

hattigrace hauled me off to another art party last night - it was wonderful fun as always - I literally had to mentally whip myself out of the house - it was worth every minute - what cool people are there!!!!

Wow, even if it is a funeral - I am becoming alive as a social butterfly again....actually I am a shy person, would you believe it?

Is my neck red?

I KNEW it! The news tonight said most of the offending tomatoes were from Mexico and Florida. The FDA is making Florida deal with it. So far, Mexico is off limits. Speculation is that the most recent death from Salmonella is a political death because as of yet, the U.S. is NOT dealing with Mexico in regard to the problem - so why is government approving killer drugs while banning others, turning its back on food import dangers from other countries, and putting a quiet lid on dangerous goods from China? Yes, yes, I know - "follow the money." Enough said. In the case of Mexico - what is going on - is government trying to break our backs - break us into accepting low, low wages for jobs by turning blind eyes toward the illegals problem? They've already busted the Unions partially through outsourcing and turning blind eyes to millions crossing the southern border at will, (other methods too - but not addressed here) and whatever is left is mostly ineffectual. All the while we are being forced into accepting unacceptable product and service and wages. The newest reduction in our wages is that employers are more often dropping sick leave from their benefits list. Come on - you really want us to come to work sick, contaminate the whole office or workplace, thus reducing the efficiency of all rather than pay one to stay home a couple of days? Uh, that is NOT good management.

The working people of this country fought long and hard for decent treatment of employees. We are going backward. Service is horrible - we call for assistance from many companies and can not even understand the customer service person on the other end of the line. I have had workers in grocery stores and drive throughs just give me even dollars for change - to my benefit or to theirs - because they can't make change. How can I get the change corrected when they don't speak English?

I'm stubborn - I'll be darned if I'm going to learn Spanish and Urdu to function in my own country.

The two new cleaning ladies from Bolivia sent over here by the now too pregnant original cleaning woman can't speak English, let alone read the instructions for the things we need done - I have to find someone who speaks Spanish to translate my own list ..........

I'm not even sure how the original one got here, my daughter hired her - what scares me is that I do not have an I-9 in my files to protect myself.

Does my anger at these situations mean I'm a redneck? Well, by golly, give me some torn denim shorts to my butt crack, a pickup truck with a confederate sticker, annuh case of brew - - - maybe I won't remember my frustration.

Yeh, yeh, yeh, I know - I am not practicing "Infinite Love and Gratitude." I think I should get the book - to find out how to practice "choice" when it appears choices have been taken from us against our will.

What's Yer Poison?

Lemons n' tomatoes - poop & salmonella - pick yer poison.

Sure glad I'm growing my own this year. I can assure that poop is not used for fertilizer and Salmon Ella is not visiting my yard, unless wasps carry Ms. Ella about - don't think so. Poor bees - all gone - lethal looking redish drones and sleek black bomber wasps are busily visiting all of our plants. I have warned the boy never to show fear and not to move suddenly in their presence - maybe we can tolerate one another. If Psycho would stop eating the chameleons, perhaps we would have less stinging, biting bugs around, but he can't help it - he is a serial stalker and killer, alas.

I get up in the morning and pull the worms (its a good sign that I have earth worms!!!) out of the way of the voracious fire ants and throw them back in the dirt.

Back to our outbreaks: this is really sad because one of my favorite foods is fresh salsa...yum.....I usually use an orange oil based vegetable wash on my fruits and vegetables. Not to mention, this kind of stuff kills people. Anyway, less salsa for us this month unless its canned - and no lemons in the water at restaurants.......

Don't know if its because I'm old and don't have much to think about, but I think about germs a lot. I wash my doorknobs once a month. I wash my hands immediately upon coming home from being out and about and carry little bottles of antibacterial stuff in my purse. Used to drive my older grandkids nuts... totally nuts. But I hated seeing them crawl on sidewalks where people spit - they always got sick when they wouldn't let me wipe 'em down.

Then, meat - - - when "H" met me, he said, "You wash meat?" After seeing how often he washes his hands? You betcha I wash meat, chicken, fish.....but then......

What about all the toxins from the sprays on vegetables and fruits - the U.S. regulates that...but many foreign countries don't - some sprays can't be washed off - they penetrate the skin of apples, cherries, other thin skinned fruits....and vegetables.....and we wonder why we don't feel good!

Maybe people died in the "old" days - but I suppose mostly from fecal-spread diseases - and diseases like malaria, yellow fever, and other diseases that we are lucky enough to have mostly eradicated here in the U.S. My great grandfather died of yellow fever and left 13 kids. Death came in different, quicker forms back then.

What can we do to keep all this poison out of our bodies? Its hard enough outside the home - but what can we do in the home to make our "sanctuary" truly a sanctuary. I watch my grandsons and oldest daughter suffer with allergies. One thing we can do is get our body in as good of shape as possible to resist onslaughts. The next is to attempt to decontaminate our homes. Our tap water smells like algae - and sure enough, if left to itself, algae will grow. Our municipal system allows so many parts of heavy metal and coloforms in the tap water - not too mention the lead still existing in pipes. Its not supposed to be there - but why are we told to run all our eating/drinking water through cold water pipes?

The list is endless. The seeking is endless as well. Why do we want to live so long and feel so good why we are doing it? I have a secret to tell you - as the body ages, the mind still feels young. It does. And new ways are coming out to make the body stay younger - the new 60 is now 45. So what is the new 45 - 30? And the new 30? See, you are younger than you think.

Interesting......

From today's local newspaper:

Who's struggling the most?

The survey found that upwardly mobile, middle class families were amont those who had the most debt stress. Others were women, couples with small children, low-income working families, Democrats, and those who graduated from high school but haven't taken college courses.
Those least likely to be stressed from debt include men, retirees, empty nesters, college graduates and Republicans.

Really?

Choosing to be Whole

Painting by Rod of God

I’ve been sharing my quest with you guys for some time…..my discovery that my body is something precious, uniquely mine, something to be grateful for, something to nourish and love and take care of. This body is connected to my mind and my spirit and all are working together for the good or the bad. I can choose increased energy, being a better person, a whole, healthy, and healed person who can embrace life and others to the utmost. That’s what I’m working for.

I want to practice Infinite Love and Gratitude.

Isn’t it interesting, that often when a person really needs something, that”something” will begin to come to them? As I said in my previous post – not always all at once, but a piece at a time and then we find that these pieces fit together and something beautiful happens.

Some people will think I’m nuts – I am seeing a controversial doctor, Doc Lovely, of whom I made mention, I’m going through conventional medical doctors for my back, I’m also using magnetic therapy, Pi Water – which I find is flushing my system amazingly and my mind is becoming clearer, much clearer, seminars, books, anything to get rid of the negative mind set I have lived in unwittingly and unasked for.

Side benefits? I’m 50 pounds lighter in body, pounds lighter in spirit, (and its only the beginning.) “H” is changing (unless I’m completely deluded) – this morning he sys I had inspired him to get up and “clean up” so to speak, he’s losing weight, has sought out a male friend from church to be friends with that will bring him higher – he’s doing things for me – he looks better, he feels better, he is actually starting to – drum roll in the background – communicate. We are even starting to look outside of ourselves socially – this is a major landmark – somewhere we had lost that - - we became ingrown, bitter, and grumpy and had started to hate one another. Where did we get lost? I don’t know. It doesn’t matter. What matters is being found.

I am ashamed that the patriarch and matriarch of a family could not have been a better example and a source of more strength. BUT, one of my new "affirmations" is that "I need to release the past and forgive everyone, including myself." The point of power is always in the present moment.

I'm still understanding that sometimes when we change, the others prefer a known rut and will not grow, but I'm feeling good that no matter what other people choose, I'm no longer allowing inner rot into my soul. Hello life! Whatever you may bring!

We met a wonderful couple whose hearts are to bring people up – they serve, then another friends who saw me struggling just to walk to the baseball bleachers a couple of months ago introduced us. More pieces coming together. I want to hang around people who bring me up, and I want to be a “bringer upper” of others – another couple coming to visit tonight – so I have to go for now.

Its time to open doors, not sit in the dark gazing at the closed ones. Its time for the leaves of the tree to be for healing.....

The Road of Self Discovery

Frida Kahlo, one of my favorite painters - so full of pain, yet determined to live. Mysterious, but shockingly revealing and honest.

Do we ever find ourselves? No, we just keep looking, but we find a bit here, a piece there, we find the glue, and we find hope and knowledge and God and the joy of discovery, the joy of becoming, the joy of life on the path(s) we walk. We just need to be looking, that's all.

I had the procedure today - about five injections along my spine. It was creepy - I was scared, but the doctor was so sweet - greeted me with "I want to be in Wyoming fishing the Shoshone." I wish he could go there soon. The shots went splendidly, but I woke up bat-wacky and when I tried to stand up, my legs were - gone. Scared? You betcha - since I had to sign a paper stating that I understood paralysis was a possible side effect. Well, the drug that made me so very sick in a few moments after wakeup only bought the immediate to mind, "Gee, I can't stand up." They hustled me back to the table and I then couldn't breathe, wanted to barf badly, and was mulling over the meaning of "I can't stand up, my ass and on down are paralyzed.

After some wonderful medical adjustments from the recovery room nurse who was fabulous, my tummy settled, air came back to my lungs, and gradually I could move my legs - an extra long recovery ensued, my butt was the last to thaw out so it was kind of humorous in way, and then I was better than when I went in.

So, now home with instructions to not lift for two weeks anything more than a gallon of water, rest, rest, rest for 48 hours. I will miss the boy's class birthday party, but will be ready for the magnetics party Friday night.

So what about discovery? I thought about painting, my passion along with my family. The information I received made me realize that living with chronic pain is just that -- living with it. It does not mean putting life on hold "until I get better." It means doing life NOW. It means coping with frustration, depressions, hopelessness, anger at oneself because it takes three hours to do a 20 minute task, anger and sadness and despair because those who are supposed to help you sometimes/often won't. So what is the option - yes, options! Home Health Care for assistance - why expect my family to take the brunt - yeh, call a social worker and explain - get a network going and LIVE, darn it, just LIVE - and learn to love better. Getting rid of negative thinking is not the total answer - its another piece of the puzzle - and a knowing I am part of not only my family, but my community as well, and maybe even a receiver (of tax dollars) and not just a giver. And my family will learn from all this in the process, (hopefully). That's where my job is to pray. And love.

And believe God will take care of me (and my family) - the people who are helping me with the magnetic treatment are Christians and not charging me anything - that HAS to be a piece of the puzzle. God does things in ways we don't expect - we want everything to work on OUR PLAN....and it seldom does. So the adventure unfolds.

Joni Mitchell paints - Frida painted - and had social lives - friends, lovers, family, love, pain, angst, achievement - so can I. No more waiting.

I need to go get prone now - will visit all tomorrow in spurts - and Pup, I miss you, I often wonder if you are disillusioned with us "adults" in all our messy lives - but you know, life just isn't perfect, we deal with it as best we can. Love is the most important component of life...its that love that keeps us going despite all its imperfections, disappointments, failures..........and I'm sending you love tonight through this.......

Welcome to Kentucky

Hattigrace invited me to an art party a few weeks ago. Sunday night was my second. The mix of people is great - mostly untrained artists and I love to see how they approach work and the freshness of it. I wish I had some of that back.

We all commiserated and later laughed at an incident inspiring the Welcome to Kentucky painting. I loved it, also loved the lamp - anyway, it is a warm, fun time.

Last night I went to a friend's house who has began a business in nutrition and magnetics. I thought it would be worth a try. After about one and one-half hours of magnetic therapy, my body felt invigorated, balanced, and I was out of pain. This morning I feel different - there is a lump in my back and my toes are asleep, but no pain - I bent over to pick up something I dropped - usually the stellar test - and up again, and no pain. I know one treatment would not be a miracle, but in the meantime, I pray for funds to purchase the incredible set of magnetic tools to help myself. I have already studied this to some point, as magnetic therapy has been used on ADD/ADHD/Tourrets/ successfully. This is also a business, and I could get really involved in it - AND new friends turned up through it.

I have found that often, a friend will be there - but we don't see them as friends. Then, one day,years and years later, circumstances will bring the two of you together and a great relationship begins. Life is amazing.

Today I have to - well I don't HAVE to - go to Mobile to Doc Lovely's - I put on a couple of pounds, maybe four - as I had to drink oxygenated water and eat salt through the magnetics - but it'll back off. I would love to have one of those water machines - - - the energy the whole experience put back in my body was incredible. "H" looked at me like I'd lost my mind, especially when I told him how much it cost to get set up - but to be able to help people - to relieve sickness and pain through these tools....

Also took boy to the beach yesterday - I'm a nice latte color now - I was watching him play with some other boys, and to my joy, realized his ribs weren't showing through his front and back anymore - he looked like the other children!!!!!! Oh, much to be grateful for today. Because of all the birthdays, mothers day, etc. he has had way too much sugar and is addicted to ice cream everyday - we need to do some work on that. But a year later, and he's becoming a real boy, not a lost list waif.

Its six a.m. and the sun has reached a point where the grass is golden-green - its that early morning light that makes Plein Aire painters hooked on that type of painting. I'm looking at the palms - and thinking I want to paint - but I better go check in at the clinic.....

Have a wonderful day....

Long, Tall Me!

Well, celebration time! I have now reached the 50 pound mark on weight loss. No pics yet - although this time I don't FEEL any different. Except I can really feel that my knee caps and ribs have shown up. Yeh, these things aren't a big deal to skinny people, but to me - what a treat. I'm invited to a party tonight - the temptation is to eat and drink and be very MERRY - but I had better be good and take something I can have.....like a cucumber. Oh well, its worth every restricted bit(e) of it. Three miles daily on the elliptical - yay, yay, yay - which reminds me, I have to fix the boy a salad & dinner and be on my MERRY way, hooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

Back to the Simple Life

Even a magazine is devoted to "living simple." I'm trying. As gas prices continue to rise here, I see two reactions - one is I don't care, here's my boat/RV-fill 'er up - the other is to create action plans and implement them. A person can only work so many jobs to make ends meet before collapsing. Before I went to Wyoming I was working full time, had a part time job (web design), and going to school as well. And the economy was better then than it is now.

Our local newspaper has featured a special place on the web to help with cutting living costs. Some of the ideas featured are grocery price comparisons at stores (no, Walmart is NOT the cheapest), where is the least expensive gas at the moment, free entertainment, grocery shopping tips, etc. Check it out!

How am I cutting back? Using white vinegar for carpet cleaning. Consolidating trips - placing most of my errands into one day to save gasoline. Attempting to get my family to turn off the lights and TV when not watching it. Careful grocery shopping. Minimize eating out - its better for us to eat home cooked and cheaper. I've started cooking more "from scratch." I've put in a small garden. Toothpaste, soaps, etc....I'm buying bulk. Clothes - bare minimum - of course I am not working, that helps my wardrobe needs. Shopping at Target for the boy's clothes. Using the library. We have a well for yard watering. Streeeeeetch out haircut timing. Also, I'm only taking half of my maintenance meds. Wouldn't advise that unless one knew what they were doing. Afternoon movies instead of evening. Exercise equipment at home instead of gym membership. I know there's more - we'll find it.

I'm used to doing without "frou frou" stuff, well sort of, I sure do like pedicures - my daughter gives me her old perfume (which is still good) - I inherited other daughter's underpants since my old ones got bigger, (its ok - hers are cute, I admit I can't tolerate the thongs though - I don't understand the purpose of them either), and we're carefully reviewing our house payment thinking about refinancing if its feasible and will save money.

Dang powers that be in their greed will find out what we're made of won't they?

Anyone have any others ideas that I haven't thought of?

I think as I keep weeding stuff out here, my mind will feel more peaceful too. This evening I'm organizing greeting cards into categories.....and vowing to go to that box before I go to the store for a card.

Memorial Day

We gathered at son-in-law to be's house for Memorial Day feasting and swimming. My daughter & grandkids came from out of town to meet prospective son-in-law. All ex-son-in-laws were not in attendance. You can tell by the photos - we did feast and we did swim. Well, some of the we's did - I ate one rib and just sunned - but it was nice until the two sons of prospective son-in-law started fighting over grandkids. Interesting family dynamics there. I tell ya, combining these two families dynamics may well create a new type of bomb, even better than the notorious "A Bomb."

I'm finally feeling better - had quite a round of flu the past few days, the kind that seals your eyes shut, only to be opened with a wet warm cloth applied gently in the a.m., eyes that looked like red marbles, oodles of green snot, barking non-productive cough - all this despite antibiotics for seven days, but improving some today. I made a giant potato salad while sneezing into the crook of my elbow and massive hand washing. Then survived a piano recital and a baseball closing ceremony. Worse yet, while applying lipstick, I noticed the left side of my face drooping considerably.

My mind, despite much positive thinking progress the last few months, went into a Bells' Palsy mode. Luckily today, my face had snapped back to being fairly level once again. That was a real bit of fun.

Had to postpone the nerve blocks in the back a bit - something about a fierce cough while having needles inserted into the spinal canal did not turn me on one bit.

So, tonight, home safe and sound from all these fun fetivies - oops festivities, I, at midnight. sit here blogging away. "H" has decided to pray every night with me, get a calendar and write our schedules down to improve communication, and I'm wondering if he'll ever get it and ask me what would work for me as well.....but does it even matter any more? Maybe he's wondering what I've been up to on those mysterious trips across town when I've claimed to be at the doctor? Anyway, mums the word - I ain't giving up info on these doctors' trips no matter how much he prays.............whooooo hahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaa

Who Are We?

One of my favorite people is OPRAH! She has overcome tremendous adversity to become a powerful, wise, kind, generous, influential and down right classy woman. And, of course, beautiful.

I've long been an Oprah Watcher. I've watched her through her Color Purple days and even before that I empathized with her in her rough childhood. I've watched her overcome prejudice against woman and against race. I've watched her survive incredible rumors and disasters. What a woman.

I've also watched her jump on so many trendy things I've lost count. That's ok - I'm the same way - gotta new trend, give it to me baby, I'll work it up.

However, for the first time in my life, I'm finding myself disagreeing with her a bit. But that's ok - she's still a number one woman on my list. I watched her go through her Tolle phase (I'm still reading his book in small doses) and just finished the latest issue of Oprah magazine which features a lot of great interviews on body image. Oprah's statement in that magazine is that we are not our bodies. She refers to Tolle as part of her realization of that.

I don't agree, do you? Our body is not the sum total of who we are, but it is an integral part of who we are. My body is unique - its temporary, of course, as I am reminded of that every day now. But no one else has this body - it is part of our identity. If I am nothing but spirit out there who will know me, but God? How will you identify me? Can we make our bodies to reflect who we are, to help you identify with who I am? Yes, I think so. Now, I'm reading that Oprah is starting a new 21 day diet. She's been on more diets than me, that's a lot of diets. If we are not our bodies, why bother? I think I know what she means though. She's a pioneer in helping us to accept our bodies I think.

Tolle started many looking at their "ego" - I've known about that "ego" or "flesh" ("flesh" referring to the un-regenerated part of humanity - unenlightened perhaps) for a long time...that cranky, negative part of us that would ignore everything but our base instincts, that would lead us away from understanding of who we really are, that would drive us to fulfill our wants willy-nilly regardless of our connection to others or the world.

Note: But perhaps that ego is necessary - it may have been given to us for survival, to constantly think - to anticipate danger - but I noticed in my religion and many others we are constantly urged to CONTROL that ego/instinct. So back to my main thought here:

I will not toss away my body - heck, I am just discovering it. Discovering that I have a responsibility to it - to maintain it as best I can, to decorate it as I will to express that part of who I really am. Discovering that I like it - tall, knock kneed, long in the midriff - narrow shoulders - not bad boobs for an old gal, big bones and all, etc. I am making friends with my body and doing my best to integrate it into myself, my "me." I am discovering my body is a great sense of pleasure - it feels the warm sun, it digs in the dirt, it loves a good massage, it tastes food, it feels kisses (and other things!), it smells flowers and perfumes, it is like a canvas upon which to work art.....

I think going through life trying to ignore my body or act like it wasn't me at all damaged me spiritually and mentally. It made me overweight. It made me ignore need for rest and vulnerable to chronic illness, weakened my back and knees, and then after I drove it to the ground, I despised it for not looking like it was sixteen and airbrushed and fit for Victoria's Secret modeling.

No more ignoring it - forgetting to water it, or feed it correctly, or move it about so it will function properly, or abusing it either by ignorance or deliberately - like eating that cake when discouraged - would I put poison on a plant in my garden that was struggling? No, I would feed it something good. No more despising it because it doesn't look like an airbrushed unreal babe from the magazines. Thank you Oprah magazine for depicting "real women." Thank you Oprah for being a real woman in public - trendy, emotional, nurturing, giving, strong, fat, thin, no makeup, makeup. I think you are off base in some things, but you have guts - you say what you think, what you believe.

Thank you bloggy girlfriends who are so beautiful but think you aren't sometimes - your worth is more than you can ever imagine.

One more reason I love Florida

Just think - I could be living here now. For only $90,000 plus lot rent. Pretty, isn't it?

Just thinking about reasons I am grateful to be back in Florida. I had almost forgotten about the brown dust clouds back "there" until I started coughing so hard this week.

I have a monster cold, Feel like poo poo. Its cloudy today, think I will crawl upon my mat on the floor, and mindlessly watch TV - my eyes hurt too badly to read. And sleep. I had to soak one of them open this morning.

Grandson has a choir presentation tonight which I wouldn't miss for the world, but I'm wondering if it would be entirely too rude to go there coughing like I am. Maybe I could wear a mask - and embarrass him - no that won't work. Graaaaaaaackkkkk. Hack hack.

Nutrition Guru of all Time

Addelle Davis, Pioneer in Nutrition.


Candy had a wonderful post on May 18 about crappy food in restaurants and healthy eating. I related to it as I am picky about food too. Have been ever since my hippie days. I was a big fan of Adelle Davis and my kids were raised on her recipes and theories. She was considered kind of crazy by the medical establishment of the day, but from that era resulted a huge industry of preventative health and healing through nutrition.

In Wyoming trying to find decent food, especially in a restaurant was difficult. The only place was at a grocery store in a town 125 miles away which had organic produce and other organic foods. Going to restaurants was a practice in choosing which hamburger one wanted, chicken fried chicken, or chicken fried steak. A nice piece of broiled fish? Well, if one were really lucky - it would be trout, but with some kind of oil on it.

I remember in Costa Rica how delicious the food tasted, from the markets and from the restaurants as well - the same foods supposedly that I was eating in the states - but not. These foods were bought in by locals who raised the foods. What were the fruits and vegetables fertilized with? I decided not to ask - I didn't care if it was organic and washed well. Exquisite eggs, mangos, everything edible. This experience made me realize that what we eat in the U.S. from the grocery stores closely resembled cardboard and plastic.

Being so nutrition concious has been a pain at times, because if I get ill, I often think it had something to do with what I was eating, and that I can cure it myself by correcting that eating.

This is not always so - a person from church contacted me as they had heard I was "healed" of Crohns disease. I don't know if I was healed or what, I still take my mesalamine to prevent relapse, but I haven't suffered for years badly with it. My major progress occurred when my almost son-in-law took me to an iridologist and the lady "read my book," physically and mentally, and put me on a regime of supplements and changed my eating patterns. A miracle occurred. The woman from church wanted to hear that I healed myself by eating "the right things," but I had to tell her it was a puzzle of many things coming together that bought me out of a dark siege of horrible illness. Prayer, diet adjustment, medication, supplements, unfortunately I could never rest, and just sheer grit believing I would get well. She didn't want to hear that.

I know what made me ill, besides a genetic quirk lurking and waiting - a lifetime of stress, and never resting or taking care of myself. I ate well, but rest was not a luxury I would allow myself, nor would "H." I laid myself down for a long nap today, and caught myself feeling guilty, thinking that when "H" came home, I needed to be up and working so I would get "the lecture." No. I rested. I sensed God smiling, and saying "she's getting it."

Eating well is a foundation - the rest of our life is the house. When the foundation fails, so will our bodies. I still take medicine, but I also back it up with everything I can nutritionally.

I get offended when I go to a restaurant that has a $15.00 plate (and that is not as much as many restaurants charge) and it is badly prepared. Sometimes I send it back, other times, stir it with a fork and pay for it and leave and never go back. Do not give me canned string beans that have been cooking for three hours, no way. There are plenty of good places to eat without putting up with sloppy food. I'm with Candy, my idea of a gourmet meal is not noodles with an oily sauce and rubbery shrimp. I can get that at home in a Michelini's $.98 box from the freezer.

Staying with my grandma spoiled me. I would wake up to the smell of cooking bacon, toast and eggs and homemade waffles. She would be in the kitchen washing clothes in her wringer machine and the house smelled so fresh and clean. For lunch, we would have leaf lettuce from the garden, cucumbers, yellow squash, fresh corn, and tomatoes and whatever ever other produce might be in the garden and maybe lamb chops. The table would have a vase of luxurious sweet peas draped onto the table. We might then walk two or three miles to town to shop or see a movie. Grandma lived very simply, and if we shopped, it was something she really needed and couldn't be recycled from something she found somewhere. I like my food fresh, not genetically engineered, sprayed with poison, cloned, or otherwise altered.

Adelle and grandma live on in me.

I am mindfull of my friend, 4D, who has a tendency to post when he is snockered. Tonight I am snockered. Ugh. Went to the beach today, and then to an art party tonight, wherein I did get snockered. Posting more tomorrow when un-snockered.

More Gardening

Don't I grow great mushrooms?

The real story: the hard worker behind the gardening

The "bush butcher" has struck again - poor palm has been dissected from the bottom up

I never saw an aloe vera plant bloom, have you?

Despite its injuries, palm is putting out new g

Rainy Day Woman 1 and 2

The results are in on the MRI. I have a very severe and complex set of problems from mid back to where my tail bone begins. Next week it looks like I'm going to have several injections into my spine to reduce nerve inflammation (hopefully). Doc says he doesn't know how I'm getting around as the "stenosis" (narrowing of the spinal canal) & disc problems are so severe. I've always been able to tolerate a lot of pain. And, thanks to other Doc., Doc. Lovely, I am getting around, but I want a normal life. Normal! And, now, my right leg is starting to give out under me.

Note: Please do not lift heavy things - get help - especially if you are a woman. Women can have a macho syndrome as well as men (Yah, I confess! I've lifted washers and dryers, worked out with weights way too heavy for a woman) and, believe it, men suffer back damage too. Also, never settle a car accident without an MRI of your back. X-rays show me to have a healthy back. Xrays do not tend to show herniated discs or problems within the spinal canal. You only get one spine for one life. I'm discovering quite a lot as I search for solutions and ways to live with or fix (if possible) this.

I think I found a surgical center in mid-Florida that does non-invasive back surgery. It is necessary to do several for very severe back injuries and the other myriad of spinal problems, but recovery time is a few days compared to months to a year for the kind of surgery that is recommended for me. I'm trusting God to lead me to the right place for treatment and to provide for me so I can have the treatment/surgery or whatever is required.

The good news is, I have now lost 44 pounds. I'm edging on down, its getting a bit more difficult now. The photo is recent - in fact, I'm deep in thought over the back thing. Ha, my tell-tale white door - no, its still not completely painted - one of these days, I'll get it done, along with the windows.

I have changed since coming back from Wyoming. I find that plans are only sort of "maybe maps" for the future. Planning is good - but thinking that everything should go exactly according to "plan" is not so good. Plans need to be made as do goals, but plans also need to be as fluid as goals and we need to retain the ability to readjust when necessary.

So very rainy today, but its kind of sexy out there really. Unless there are tornado warnings and I had better check the TV as it is getting VERY dark out there. UPDATE: I'm editing this and right now am looking out at SUNSHINE and lots of it.

I have a good book about raising independent children and plan to curl up with it, then go to the store for orange juice for the sick boy and some snacks. I'm also out of coffee - that's REALLY unacceptable!

Worse yet, its an incredibly bad hair day!

Freedom Rider

Sitting here at the computer
Looking out at the palm trees now
And its really too dark to see
The wet painting sits behind me

Parrot awaiting his feet
With too many dark circles
Under his eyes

I feel loved tonight for
No particular reason I feel
The darkness cuddles me
Paint colors dazzle me with pleasure

And I love
Doc Lovely, my friends, my Kids & progeny
The smell of oil paints and turps
Seeing my new body in the bathroom mirror

My sister, my cousin and so many, so much
I love
Thank you God for making me

........Lousy poetry, but I had to sing tonight....a bit, I did

Lazy Day with Wistful Wishing

The view out my dirty window - that was one of the main reasons cleaning lady was hired - to get the windows cleaned up from the hurricane 4 years ago - or was it 5? I think I am just going to have to tackle one a day or something like that. What will remove four years of grime, plus well water minerals, plus a paste made of housing insulation from the hurricane? Vinegar, brillo pads?

Maybe next time I'll hang around while she cleans and then say, would you help me with this? No, the poor thing is 7 months pregnant - jees. Although when I think of I what I did when I was pregnant - I worked with one of them even into several hours of labor and stocked groceries through my 7th month with the last. And carried groceries to the pickup for the macho men of Wyoming. (My theory about work, is to work at anything reasonable until you find what you really want, therefore I've had a lot of really different jobs.)

Being tall, most people assume I am also part horse and much lifting, pushing, carrying was demanded of me in younger days (on the home front too) until my discs were crushed.

I put on this big pot of red chili this morning - grandson went out and picked more peppers and also the first yellow squash. So he had yellow squash lightly browned in olive oil for breakfast and the chili is in the crock pot.

"H" invited me to lunch today (yes, what IS cooking?) and I acquiesced, however lunch with a panic attack is not so fun, although it was fabulous food, what I could eat of it. Anyway, I have enough left-overs for two more meals. Now, I'm wondering if it will soon come up that I need to pay him back or if I'm home free. I keep waiting for the papers to show up, but he's acting like he's on his second honeymoon. And, after seeing all this, my youngest daughter is still intent on getting married? Oi.

I'm going to change clothes and paint as daughter is asleep in the living room, and grandson is bunked out watching cartoons - but I'm going to make him turn them off and then read his school library book the rest of the afternoon. Allowing him to continue to watch those things long after he's been told to shut them down is teaching him to not obey. He is not mature enough to make good decisions about how much TV to watch or what to watch. I think I need to go to Barnes and Noble for a day and read some books on how to get your child to do what you want them to do. Not that he's my child - but who knows, it might come in handy for the future.

Speaking of my nanny life, Dr. Lovely is advertising for an executive & personal assistant/nanny/cook/ that is into speaking Spanish and Italian, for three teen age boys. Hmmmm.........how fast can one learn a few phrases? Three teen age boys - oh, they look like angels...like Dr. Lovely....how hard could that be. Never mind. Silly me to even ask, right? But still, three days a week.......oh heck, I can't whip my own house into shape...sometimes I wish I had powers.......you know, those kind.....and Mary Poppins I am not, just a very determined granny....still, to have a house on the bay, an SUV to run the boys in, Dr. Lovely coming home to a gourmet dinner - - - woo hoo. Wonder what he needs assistance with? Oh, just joking....I keep meeting these honorable guys -

Speaking of, I met Joerg from the Tall Women Website he administers. What an adorable kind of guy. We had a nice visit over a cup of Starbucks, and I wonder what makes this guy adore tall women so? And I mean tall - 5'11", 6'4", 6'7" & higher. No ego problems there.....he's found shoes, tall sizes, medical resources, friend resources, and other stuff to aid us women who run against the norms of society. We do get treated differently sometimes - but at least we can drink out of the same water fountains and pee in the same toilets as those of average height...oh boy I am on a roll tonight, best get busy with the paint brushes.

Georgia O'Keefe

The all time sensual flower painter - also known for her skulls and bones and Southwestern landscapes - she is photographed in several poses almost as if she is protecting her heart. A pretty woman, later in life, she was a most gorgeous woman - I would have liked to have met her - living there in the dessert like she was a queen who owned everything as far as her eyes could see and her paintbrush could touch.

Sensual, Sensual Spring

One of the greatest pleasures in my life is to watch things grow. The top photo is the first harvest of peppers. These would make a great painting I think. The bowel is one that I did hand building clay, glazing and firing.

The next two photos are my day lilies - they finally are blooming after two or three years off and are being generous with their blooms!

Then, the orange tree has finished blooming and the tiny oranges are coming on - I'll be alert this year and spray them with an oil to keep the bugs away and buy a tent for them so the birds won't peck them.

Sex, sex, everywhere. I find it amazing and awesome that God created us with so much connection to the earth's plants - the soft folds of flowers, the alert pistol of the plant - all for reproduction...and I dare say, our viewing pleasure. I think of Georgia O'Keefe, master painter of flowers, out there in the dessert, painting even skulls and bones with a softness and visual allurement.

I watch the blooms on the squash plants and the cucumbers begin to form into the vegetable. I'm thinking too, as well, God made those not only for pleasure, but for purpose - like we are made - I wonder if they experience pleasure in their reproduction and growing?

Happy Mother's Day & Stuff

This is the second attempt at posting today. Its been a busy day. I cleaned house until I couldn't move anymore only to have it demolished when everyone arrived here toward the end of the day. Oh well, what is more important? The people!!! The people within the house. Homes aren't museums, but people-holders, right? Ideally, people havens. Right? Right.

Anyway, last night was so much fun. Grandson's school had an Arts and Literature night combined with a spaghetti supper. I was asked to bring some paintings and one in progress to work on and give a demonstration. There were potters, jewelry makers, and other artists and the kids all had a ball.

I had made some headway for several days on Parrot. Some of the children would stand watching for a long time. I would ask if they would like to paint some strokes. Of course they did. They respectfully stayed in the areas I asked them to, and one little boy did stray - but he was a little boy genius with the paint brush. I let him work on the banana stalk and the parrot beak. He later came by to check to see if I had changed his marks (I hadn't - they will stay there forever.) Later his grandmother shared with me that he was "obsessive-compulsive" and had a great deal of difficulty in school because of it and whatever could make him feel good about himself was appreciated. I told her she really did have an incredible child as far as painting went and to encourage it. So many labels for children anymore......

Was able to spend some time with grandson's teacher and meet his little boy, well, not so little. His daughter had done an incredible pastel drawing of a dragon. I have never seen such an outstanding public school....I wish our boy had the chance to go there a couple of years earlier.

Sunday I plan to meet a friend from up north for a bit of grown up time, and another artist friend emailed and has been missing me - I am so bad when it comes to friends and things outside my four walls...tomorrow going to the beach and sitting in the sun and letting the waves and water sounds soothe sounds like a winner - grandson wants to see Ironman, the movie. That's a lot for one day.

Mother's Day is Sunday - having my kids and grandkids doing well is present enough, and I will treat myself to a nice lunch of diet food. Maybe a new pair of capris. The two interim pairs are sliding down my hips, woo hoo, some more - Dr. Lovely - here is a big kiss for you! I'm beginning to think the medical establishment/pharmaceuticals/government are getting big payoffs to keep us fat and sick. Doc Lovely swims upstream against the flow and pioneers away.

Anyway, its getting HOT here - well, not hot, but in the 80's. Southerners get cold when it gets humid, but I start cooking - to me its like a steam bath. The fewer clothes the better. So anyway, it'll be another day, Mother's Day, but then I've had some fabulous ones at beach condos and given a golden ring with precious stones for each child's and grandchild's birthday sign and wined and dined - I'm content to see what God brings me for the day.

Younger daughter is engaged and I find myself involved, or rather sharing in her plans. We picked out a wedding dress yesterday. She thinks its the dress - we'll see. But she's secretly dreaming of a Las Vegas Elvis Blue Hawaii wedding - I told her I bet we could come up with one given enough time right here where we are. Wouldn't that be fun!

Anyway, all you mothers, whether to kids or cats, have a great day, ok?

Bad Man Speak

I am currently busy writing a new language translation. It has been a life long work.

Examples of phrases and translations, hidden meanings depending on cultural assumptions:

"I am not gambling." "I don't know how that betting magazine that arrives in the mail got my name."
Translation: "I've lost too much money."
Hidden meaning:"No you can't have $5.00, we can't we afford a chicken for supper for the kids"

"I don't remember."
Translation: "Shut up."
Hidden meaning: "I really slipped when I told you how much I wanted someone else while we had sex."

"I didn't say that."
Translation: "Oh, no, she caught me."
Hidden meaning: I was mad over spending $50.00 on some medicine for her and went and told everyone I was dumping her. They were really impressed because of all the difficulties she's had the last year and one half, so they called her and gave her a warning."

"I don't lie."
Translation: "I don't know how to tell the truth, therefore I don't know I am lying."

"I can't talk to you like I can talk to her, I can tell her anything."
Translation: "I won't talk to you because I am terrified of intimacy, but I can tell her what a rotten wife you are."
"Hidden meaning:" I spent $800 buying dollhouses from her because she needed the money and then gave them to my children for Christmas presents, never mind they didn't ever in their entire lives ask for dollhouses for Christmas."

"Oh, those boxes and stacks and more boxes of books, CD's and DVD's, and magazines, and periodicals, etc. don't cost me anything."
Translation: "Oooops, I didn't think you'd notice."

"You spent all the tax money, you irresponsible B-----."
Translation: "I need more money for bills now that I've had a gambling loss, etc. and I'm really regretting buying you that new outfit."
Hidden meaning: "Uh, what do you mean the tax rebate hasn't arrived yet?"

Entertaining, yes? Best seller material? Definitely.

Note: One must spend many years with Bad Man before understanding the Speak, therefore the new translations are a ground breaking new book!

Ok guys, I know you are going to trump me one..........I'm waiting.

Happy Birthday from the Shark Pool to my Sister

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SISTER, MINE!!!!

Wish you were here - we'd go down to the Jellyfish Bar and Boogie. We would. Or wherever they boogie nowadays. Florabama? There we could not only boogie, but sling some mullet!!!!