Friday, March 31, 2006
Home from the Sugar Shack
*edited... cuz I was obviously too unawake to write correctly*
It was awesome! M-SB was right... I was late for the shuttle and had to take the car in. But the ride was smooth on the bus. We ate TONS of yummy foods. I am so going to have to try hot maple syrop with eggs dropped in till they are cooked. The tour was very interesting. I learned not just the usual yadda-yadda about maple stuff, but learned alot about organic farming, the costs, the challenges, the hard work... it is a labour of love. I ened up caked in mud to my knees, but it was great! I bought maple syrop, maple butter and fresh farm eggs. (which taste fantastic by the way... had them for breakfast this morning... Saturday April 1st) The farmer's wife told me how to identify fresh eggs for the really not fresh one. Fresh egg when you open them, the whites stay all together in a neat circle around the yolk, jelly-like. Not fresh egg, the whites ooze out in a liquid puddle with no cohesion. Damn. None of my eggs have been fresh lately. Ick! The overall experience was incredible. And apparently I can order whatever I want from their list and (if in season) they will deliver it all packaged with my name to one of 25 drop spots on the island of Montreal. COOL!
http://www.fermelecrepuscule.com/
That is where we went. You can check out their order page too. I was much impressed. They even do all their planting and harvesting according to the moon! Fascinating! This technique is now considered "scientifically sound" and is called Bio-Dynamic Farming. Heh!
They are members of Equiterre: http://www.equiterre.org/en/ which is a group for farms involved in organic produce that is fair trade, ecologically sound, sustainable and energy saving. There is so much that is interesting!
Well, now I am home. All tuckered out. I did stop by U-Haul and picked up the first batch of small boxes to start packing for our move.
It was awesome! M-SB was right... I was late for the shuttle and had to take the car in. But the ride was smooth on the bus. We ate TONS of yummy foods. I am so going to have to try hot maple syrop with eggs dropped in till they are cooked. The tour was very interesting. I learned not just the usual yadda-yadda about maple stuff, but learned alot about organic farming, the costs, the challenges, the hard work... it is a labour of love. I ened up caked in mud to my knees, but it was great! I bought maple syrop, maple butter and fresh farm eggs. (which taste fantastic by the way... had them for breakfast this morning... Saturday April 1st) The farmer's wife told me how to identify fresh eggs for the really not fresh one. Fresh egg when you open them, the whites stay all together in a neat circle around the yolk, jelly-like. Not fresh egg, the whites ooze out in a liquid puddle with no cohesion. Damn. None of my eggs have been fresh lately. Ick! The overall experience was incredible. And apparently I can order whatever I want from their list and (if in season) they will deliver it all packaged with my name to one of 25 drop spots on the island of Montreal. COOL!
http://www.fermelecrepuscule.com/
That is where we went. You can check out their order page too. I was much impressed. They even do all their planting and harvesting according to the moon! Fascinating! This technique is now considered "scientifically sound" and is called Bio-Dynamic Farming. Heh!
They are members of Equiterre: http://www.equiterre.org/en/ which is a group for farms involved in organic produce that is fair trade, ecologically sound, sustainable and energy saving. There is so much that is interesting!
Well, now I am home. All tuckered out. I did stop by U-Haul and picked up the first batch of small boxes to start packing for our move.
Thursday, March 30, 2006
CD update
WELL! It is actually pretty decent! Very contemporary. What a great random act! I got a really good CD out of it! I really didn't expect anything. But this is an awesome surprise. COOL!
Congrats to Serge Doucet & Caroline Claude for a great CD and the coming new baby!
www.sergeandcaroline.com
Congrats to Serge Doucet & Caroline Claude for a great CD and the coming new baby!
www.sergeandcaroline.com
OH! and oddities
Today I felt like drawing an I-Ching card from my I-Ching deck.
I drew #26: Ta Ch'u (The Taming Power of the Great).
Esteem, benefits, and merit will reward the magnanimous.
Experience and knowledge accumulated through strength of mind and commitment will favor the appearance of an opportunity, for an assignment or an important change in life, which should not be ignored.
Hmmm...
Well... today a customer tipped me $20 for a spell I worked for her in the store because she was unwell. I was shocked and wierded out. I tried to give it back but she refused to take it. She then as she left she said she was coming back another week to give me $50. EEK! WHY?! What I did was not a big thing, just a small candle spell. She is out of the hos[ital now... but I do not think it was a big thing and I did not ask for anything in return for it. What do I do if she does? I think financially that she needs it way more than I do. What do I do if she returns and tried to give me $50? Yes, I am wierded out... totally!
I drew #26: Ta Ch'u (The Taming Power of the Great).
Esteem, benefits, and merit will reward the magnanimous.
Experience and knowledge accumulated through strength of mind and commitment will favor the appearance of an opportunity, for an assignment or an important change in life, which should not be ignored.
Hmmm...
Well... today a customer tipped me $20 for a spell I worked for her in the store because she was unwell. I was shocked and wierded out. I tried to give it back but she refused to take it. She then as she left she said she was coming back another week to give me $50. EEK! WHY?! What I did was not a big thing, just a small candle spell. She is out of the hos[ital now... but I do not think it was a big thing and I did not ask for anything in return for it. What do I do if she does? I think financially that she needs it way more than I do. What do I do if she returns and tried to give me $50? Yes, I am wierded out... totally!
Busy stuffs and pledges
Yesterday... it happened? I am so tired, I don't recall most of it.
Today I had some sleep, but was still so tired. Got to work and worked. The day was good. I ended up staying later booking new people for job interviews.
t! is challenging people to a one-week pledge of 5 acts of kindness to strangers. I accept and started today. This was today's:
Today, a guy came into my husband's work selling music him and his wife produced. He was bravely walking and talking to each individual practically begging them to buy a CD of mixed genre music. I inquired if he would like to play in June for the MPRC BBQ and he said that him and his wife will be just giving birth sometime end of may to mid June and was uncertain of his availablility. So... without even listening to his music, I bought a CD to help him out.
He was thrilled! And Sarah (Hobbes' Sarah) also bought one! I think we made his day.
*grin!*
What a great feeling to see someone smile so much from such a small act.
~reposted in t!'s LJ comments~
I am now going to put the CD on and see how it sounds.
Today I had some sleep, but was still so tired. Got to work and worked. The day was good. I ended up staying later booking new people for job interviews.
t! is challenging people to a one-week pledge of 5 acts of kindness to strangers. I accept and started today. This was today's:
Today, a guy came into my husband's work selling music him and his wife produced. He was bravely walking and talking to each individual practically begging them to buy a CD of mixed genre music. I inquired if he would like to play in June for the MPRC BBQ and he said that him and his wife will be just giving birth sometime end of may to mid June and was uncertain of his availablility. So... without even listening to his music, I bought a CD to help him out.
He was thrilled! And Sarah (Hobbes' Sarah) also bought one! I think we made his day.
*grin!*
What a great feeling to see someone smile so much from such a small act.
~reposted in t!'s LJ comments~
I am now going to put the CD on and see how it sounds.
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Hellish with some flowers
Today was hell!!! I was barely functional after only 2+ hrs sleep. I didn't make it out on time to catch the shuttle bus so drove my car in on fumes (gas tank is empty). Borrowed $15 from the store to pay for parking. The damnable meters are now $1 per 30min!!! CROOKS! And I was so tired I amanged to fuck up somewhere. That will hurt my paycheck next week. Also the check for the vet went through as he passed it without checking my BIG ASS note on his desk to NOT pass it. So it bounced. That will be yet another loss of $35 out of my negative account. Can I just say how very angry I am to have my finances all fucked up by paying a chunk of this months rent when I had not planned on doing so? ARGH!!!
The small good things:
Staff and store was nice and friendly all day. Clients did not bother me. It was a joy to be at the store. I worked a couple extra hours while I had undisturbed time to database so orders can be made first thing tomorrow.
I am sore as hell and tired.
But in my email today was a list of next year's courses that I can register for. AND... and there are actually classes in my field!!!
Daoism and Chinese Folk Religions
AND
Rituals & Ritual Theory (which has a section on Wicca!!!)
**SQUEEEEEE!!!**
I sent off my request to register for the classes. YAY!
The finances will all work out... just at the moment... they are grumbly.
The small good things:
Staff and store was nice and friendly all day. Clients did not bother me. It was a joy to be at the store. I worked a couple extra hours while I had undisturbed time to database so orders can be made first thing tomorrow.
I am sore as hell and tired.
But in my email today was a list of next year's courses that I can register for. AND... and there are actually classes in my field!!!
Daoism and Chinese Folk Religions
AND
Rituals & Ritual Theory (which has a section on Wicca!!!)
**SQUEEEEEE!!!**
I sent off my request to register for the classes. YAY!
The finances will all work out... just at the moment... they are grumbly.
Pull the blankies of your head
I was awake till like 4am because... of all stupid things... I was hot. The windows were open and the radiators were on and I was HOT. And just as I was falling asleep, my computer shut itself down and rebooted making all kinds of noises. I am so very tired. I just want to hide in bed all day. And today is going to be such a LONG day.
And today, I cannot afford parking. So I am about to rush to get dressed and grab the shuttlebus from Loyola.
And today, I cannot afford parking. So I am about to rush to get dressed and grab the shuttlebus from Loyola.
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Cabane a Sucre
YAY! seats became available! When I first registered, I was too late and could not get a seat on the bus. But then an email came saying that several folks cancelled or did not pay on time and so there were some seats available. YAY! I am going to my first ever official Cabane a Sucre!
I had better call mom and cancel our date for Curves.
I will reschedule for Monday... after Cabane a Sucre...I will really NEED to work out!
I had better call mom and cancel our date for Curves.
I will reschedule for Monday... after Cabane a Sucre...I will really NEED to work out!
New Tenants!!
I just finished showing our apartment to someone from a smaller apartment in our building. They loved it! They are definately taking it! YAY! And the furnitures that we want to leave behind, he is happy to take. If he can find someone for his apartment for June 1st, then he will take ours for June 1st. The woman who came with him loved the energy. *feeling all proud*
Monday, March 27, 2006
Survived but not satisfied
Today I was stupidly awake again at 4am till 7am. And all out of wack when the alarm went off at 7:30am. I was very BLEH till 11am. That is when I got up and sorted myself out and planned my class for Champlain college. I was late getting out as I had to stop and buy seeds since I could not find my batch of Scarlet Runners seeds. I walked in just as the teacher finished taking attendance. I was certain that I had about 45minutes worth of presentation and 15 minutes for questions. The class was SOOOOOO shy and quiet. I thought I was going to die. Without any feedback, my lecture part was over in 30min and no one had questions. The teacher had to pose questions to me on Wicca and give me things to expand on. I am not used to such a quiet class of sponges. I felt like I jipped them of a decent presentation. I have not been feeling very confident about my teaching this week. I really need a break or something to recharge my enthusiasm capacitor.
I came home to look at cat cages again to see the prices for large playpens for my kitten. However, I had not saved the link of the really good place I was looking at a few days ago. I don't even know how I searched for it. After an hour, I got annoyed and left for the store K-9 to see if they can order one for me. They will call me tomorrow. They did have Shweat Scoop litter and $25 a bag. I must compare with JE Mondou.
Picked M-SB up from work and scored a yummy soft ice cream to soothe my frustrated soul.
Home now and going to tidy the kitchen, make dinner and read my article for my theories class.
I came home to look at cat cages again to see the prices for large playpens for my kitten. However, I had not saved the link of the really good place I was looking at a few days ago. I don't even know how I searched for it. After an hour, I got annoyed and left for the store K-9 to see if they can order one for me. They will call me tomorrow. They did have Shweat Scoop litter and $25 a bag. I must compare with JE Mondou.
Picked M-SB up from work and scored a yummy soft ice cream to soothe my frustrated soul.
Home now and going to tidy the kitchen, make dinner and read my article for my theories class.
Sunday, March 26, 2006
What a RUN-AROUND!!
Up so very early.... and then again early. I woke at like 5am for no reason. Managed to get back to sleep an hour or so after. Then the alarm went off. *pout* We were up and out to IKEA for breakfast with Autumn & Ash and baby Liam. Zipped through IKEA for another look about and picked up a wicket box to hold the bizarrely huge amount of batteries we seem to have had stashed away.
Rushed back to meet someone for tea then rushed out to open the store for the keyless new Sunday team.
Rushed back for coven stuff. OY! Ostara ritual and fun fun fun. It seems there is now a tradition here too of making Ostara rituals purposely fun! The smashing of wish-filled eggs filled the ritual space!! WEEHEE! This was followed by Irish Dancing.
Then rushed out to Walmart for a few things... then out to J. E. Mondou to see about cages and harnesses for cats. I need a harness big enough for Bagheera. The ones I have fit Cloak... but are too small for the now grown-up Bagheera. Also, I need a serious multi-tiered live-in cage for the new kitten. I found some online, but wanted a better look in person with an idea of Canadian pricing. No luck. People looked at me funny for asking about them. Why would someone want one for their home? Well maybe cuz they have an overly curious new kitten who will need quiet time and needs a safe place to be when unsupervised... a place that is not complete isolation nor so small they cannot move in. I want a cage big enough for bed and litter box and food and water... a place that can be considered a positive downtime space... and not "jail".
Then rush back out to the store to lock up. I am so proud of the Sunday team! They did amazing without supervision. Congrats of them!!
Rushed back to have dinner and out AGAIN! This time to my mom's to loan her a book and have my dad cut some wood for me. Mom and I made a date to meet up at Curves on Friday! YAY! Also... something she just told me! There might be serious teaching positions next September as they are going to suddenly be severely short-staffed on English teachers. As an experienced sub and teacher with many degrees under my belt, I might just qualify! I have to make a point of going to talk to the various principals and secretaries. This is a huge opportunity. Can I request folks to work a little magic in my favor for this please? ALso, if I could get a few subbing days this year on Mondays and Fridays... that would REALLY help me out financially with the move and all. *here's making a few big wishes*
We made it back to grab our movie to return, return it, and get another for the rest of the night. A "rest"... between doing laundry. Howl's Moving Castle is a GREAT movie!! Must own.
Wow... what a ton of running around. I even managed a rough outline of what I intend to talk about tomorrow when I go teach for a class at Champlain College. Now I am so very exhausted. Time for bed and hopefully sleep.
Rushed back to meet someone for tea then rushed out to open the store for the keyless new Sunday team.
Rushed back for coven stuff. OY! Ostara ritual and fun fun fun. It seems there is now a tradition here too of making Ostara rituals purposely fun! The smashing of wish-filled eggs filled the ritual space!! WEEHEE! This was followed by Irish Dancing.
Then rushed out to Walmart for a few things... then out to J. E. Mondou to see about cages and harnesses for cats. I need a harness big enough for Bagheera. The ones I have fit Cloak... but are too small for the now grown-up Bagheera. Also, I need a serious multi-tiered live-in cage for the new kitten. I found some online, but wanted a better look in person with an idea of Canadian pricing. No luck. People looked at me funny for asking about them. Why would someone want one for their home? Well maybe cuz they have an overly curious new kitten who will need quiet time and needs a safe place to be when unsupervised... a place that is not complete isolation nor so small they cannot move in. I want a cage big enough for bed and litter box and food and water... a place that can be considered a positive downtime space... and not "jail".
Then rush back out to the store to lock up. I am so proud of the Sunday team! They did amazing without supervision. Congrats of them!!
Rushed back to have dinner and out AGAIN! This time to my mom's to loan her a book and have my dad cut some wood for me. Mom and I made a date to meet up at Curves on Friday! YAY! Also... something she just told me! There might be serious teaching positions next September as they are going to suddenly be severely short-staffed on English teachers. As an experienced sub and teacher with many degrees under my belt, I might just qualify! I have to make a point of going to talk to the various principals and secretaries. This is a huge opportunity. Can I request folks to work a little magic in my favor for this please? ALso, if I could get a few subbing days this year on Mondays and Fridays... that would REALLY help me out financially with the move and all. *here's making a few big wishes*
We made it back to grab our movie to return, return it, and get another for the rest of the night. A "rest"... between doing laundry. Howl's Moving Castle is a GREAT movie!! Must own.
Wow... what a ton of running around. I even managed a rough outline of what I intend to talk about tomorrow when I go teach for a class at Champlain College. Now I am so very exhausted. Time for bed and hopefully sleep.
Saturday, March 25, 2006
Kitchen is DONE!!!
I have finished the kitchen. Not going to my mom's or doing any more cleaning tonight. Argh... 2 days to clean a kitchen... Spring Clean the kitchen. It will still be nice when we move out. And I have purged some crap out ... so less to pack. There are some other things I will likely purge, just haven't gotten the will to toss them as they still work fine, i just never really use them... like the big heavy food processor. I have a bunch of things (appliancy things and cooking/baking things) that I have never or rarely used. I am afraid to toss them because they are good and I know that once I toss them the day will come where I will need them and then not have them and be all pissy. Oh well... so they stay for now till I get better ones.
Tomorrow:
- breakfast at IKEA
- stuff eggs for ritual
- meet with a covener prior to rit
- coven ritual
- out to my mom's
- pick up reptile food on the way home
- feed said reptiles
- Spring clean that bathroom
- plan the Ostara Myths class for Champlain College
Tomorrow:
- breakfast at IKEA
- stuff eggs for ritual
- meet with a covener prior to rit
- coven ritual
- out to my mom's
- pick up reptile food on the way home
- feed said reptiles
- Spring clean that bathroom
- plan the Ostara Myths class for Champlain College
slow going
Today I am cramping again. So everything is a slow activity with no multitasking. And I am fast running out of energy. Things went much faster in the kitchen with help. Today after M-Sb made breakfast, i emptied the white cabinet in the kitchen and sorted the tupperware. Teaching L3B was a joy today, though we were missing a student again and they are stressing about the ritual they are supposed to do as a group project. AFter they made theit vinegars, waters, bath salts and sprinkling powders, they worked on their ritual. I headed back to tackle the kitchen some more. Pulled the cabinet out and scrubbed it in and out and another section of floor. I am never going to get this cleaner smell out of my hand!
I took a tea break. I am exhausted. Scrubbing the floor tile by tile is tough. But the kitchen is looking great! All that is left is the kitchen table area, cat feding area, fridge (and behind it... eeek... scary), oh and inside the pot cupboards... then that last section of floor.
Hehe... in cleaning out the white tupperware cabinet, I founf an apron that my mom made for me. It is a CAT PRINT! I love it!! I am wearling it now.
Goals:
- finish kitchen today!!
- visit mom
-spring clean the bathroom (with M-SB's help)
I took a tea break. I am exhausted. Scrubbing the floor tile by tile is tough. But the kitchen is looking great! All that is left is the kitchen table area, cat feding area, fridge (and behind it... eeek... scary), oh and inside the pot cupboards... then that last section of floor.
Hehe... in cleaning out the white tupperware cabinet, I founf an apron that my mom made for me. It is a CAT PRINT! I love it!! I am wearling it now.
Goals:
- finish kitchen today!!
- visit mom
-spring clean the bathroom (with M-SB's help)
Friday, March 24, 2006
Progress
Today was a busy day. It started off a bit slower than usual as I was cramping and Alyson came over while I was passed out alseep from the cramping. I want to thank Alyson for coming over and helping me kick off the spring cleaning and keeping me company with great conversation! We thoroughly purged the majority of the kitchen and scrubbed things inside and out! I even managed to get the Saturday classes planned, the emailing I had to do done. I also got the non-renewal of lease letter written and stapled to my rent which was also delivered today. Lots done today. The kitchen still has some work to do on it. The white tupperware cabinet, kitchen table, and fridge... also the floors. M-SB and I will finish that tonight. But before we do, we are taking a trip to IKEA to find some kitchen things I want, namely new kitchen cloths. The ones we have now are so thin they aren't even functioning well as scrap scrubbing cloths.
OH! And for your enjoyment... a new small treasure trove for my desktop. I blame Debra, my boss, for this new addiction. WIDGETS!!! Download the widget engine first. It makes thing work out MUCH better... in fact... it makes things work.
Ok... off to IKEA!!! YAY!!!
OH! And for your enjoyment... a new small treasure trove for my desktop. I blame Debra, my boss, for this new addiction. WIDGETS!!! Download the widget engine first. It makes thing work out MUCH better... in fact... it makes things work.
Ok... off to IKEA!!! YAY!!!
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Stole from Owl who stole from Tal
|
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
New... excitable news!!!
Well, good and bad news today.
Good News: I survived today on less than 3hrs sleep and still maintained a decent mood. Energy drink helped as did great coworkers.
Bad News: I am not going to the Cabane A Sucre. They ran out of space before they got to my email. Dammit. Yet again... I don't get to go to one... *pout*
Good News: I GOT MY KITTEN CONTRACT!!!
Good News: I survived today on less than 3hrs sleep and still maintained a decent mood. Energy drink helped as did great coworkers.
Bad News: I am not going to the Cabane A Sucre. They ran out of space before they got to my email. Dammit. Yet again... I don't get to go to one... *pout*
Good News: I GOT MY KITTEN CONTRACT!!!
Is it 9:00am Already?!
Ugh...
I was going to take the shuttle bus to work today, but that would mean leaving... now.
I feel like crap. I am tired. I am sure I will be hit with "that time of month" very very soon. I am slow today. This will likely not be a multitasking day.
I was going to take the shuttle bus to work today, but that would mean leaving... now.
I feel like crap. I am tired. I am sure I will be hit with "that time of month" very very soon. I am slow today. This will likely not be a multitasking day.
Still Insomniatic
Yup... still up. That is the bad news. Good news is my neck is feeling a bit stiff but much less painful. The shoulder too. In other bad news... I have heavy stuff to carry to work later this morning... so all the healing that has happened on my neck & shoulder might get undone. Tired grumpy me is going to try to sleep... again...
Insomniatic
1:30 am (ish)
I could not sleep. Been poking on Amazon and adding to my wishlist. Just killing time till I am tired enough to sleep. Boy am I going to be barely functional tomorrow.
I could not sleep. Been poking on Amazon and adding to my wishlist. Just killing time till I am tired enough to sleep. Boy am I going to be barely functional tomorrow.
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Toronto Pagan Conference: Lecture #4
Saturday March 4, 2006
Sian Ried: Canadian Pagan Survey
**She had accidentally left her lecture notes at home and so did this lecture off the top of her head. I was much impressed**
In the 1990's, there was nothing much that was suitable in academic writing on Neo-Paganism, now refered to as Contemporary Paganism by scholars. 1989 saw the academic work "Persuasions of the Witches' Craft" and the works of Sarah Pike, Helen Berger, and Loretta Orion soon after, but very little else was available in academia. Most academic works related to the US. There was nothing really Canadian, except Kevin Marron's book which was really a journalistic novel. So she consulted the divine and was met by the proverbial clue-by-four from the divine: "If it bothers you so much, then do something about it!"
The first Survey was done in 1995 with volunteer interviews. (She is expanding on that with this year's survey due April 2006, people willing to participate in an interview are to email her and let her know.) From this first survey, she discovered many things:
- the gender ration was 1:3 men to women (according to fest attendances)
- the gender ration was more 1:2 men to women (according to interviews)
- Pagans are extremely literate
- 37% first encountered paganism through books
- barriers at the time to involvement were availability of books and people during the 1970's and 1980's, stigma and discrimination against their religious choice, and the only publicly recognized organization was the WCC (Wiccan Church of Canada) in Toronto
- clergy were chronologically younger than other religious traditions
As more resources become available, it will change the upcoming survey results. Media presentation (like films, documentaries, fiction novels, and TV shows) have give more exposure and opened awareness and acceptability. There have also been court hearings regarding Wicca and regarding holiday pay. Paganism (Wicca) is not covered as a religion for legal status. However, as organizations register as religious charitable status, there comes the legal status and legal protection. Herein lies a contoversy. Established organizations may lead to organized religion which is not what Paganism is about.
Some growing concerns are religious education. The general education level of most pagans today is extraordinarily high compared with other religions (approximately 42% with university degrees). But there is very little available in the way of religious education for youth, children of pagans, and people just discovering paganism.
Sian Ried looks forward to seeing the results of the new survey, which not only is in greater depth compared to the first, but also has reached greater numbers across Canada.
She is also expecting to have a book published this coming October 2006 called "Between the Worlds".
She recommends
- the 2-DVD set of Discovering Witchcraft by Janet & Stewart Farrar & Gavin Bone
- the book "Dangerous Religions" by Brendan Cathbad Myers (ISBN: 1594055114)
Sian Reid can be contacted at: slreid@ccs.carleton.ca
Thank you Sian for a great intro to your survey! We all hope for the best and can hardly wait to see the results.
Sian Ried: Canadian Pagan Survey
**She had accidentally left her lecture notes at home and so did this lecture off the top of her head. I was much impressed**
In the 1990's, there was nothing much that was suitable in academic writing on Neo-Paganism, now refered to as Contemporary Paganism by scholars. 1989 saw the academic work "Persuasions of the Witches' Craft" and the works of Sarah Pike, Helen Berger, and Loretta Orion soon after, but very little else was available in academia. Most academic works related to the US. There was nothing really Canadian, except Kevin Marron's book which was really a journalistic novel. So she consulted the divine and was met by the proverbial clue-by-four from the divine: "If it bothers you so much, then do something about it!"
The first Survey was done in 1995 with volunteer interviews. (She is expanding on that with this year's survey due April 2006, people willing to participate in an interview are to email her and let her know.) From this first survey, she discovered many things:
- the gender ration was 1:3 men to women (according to fest attendances)
- the gender ration was more 1:2 men to women (according to interviews)
- Pagans are extremely literate
- 37% first encountered paganism through books
- barriers at the time to involvement were availability of books and people during the 1970's and 1980's, stigma and discrimination against their religious choice, and the only publicly recognized organization was the WCC (Wiccan Church of Canada) in Toronto
- clergy were chronologically younger than other religious traditions
As more resources become available, it will change the upcoming survey results. Media presentation (like films, documentaries, fiction novels, and TV shows) have give more exposure and opened awareness and acceptability. There have also been court hearings regarding Wicca and regarding holiday pay. Paganism (Wicca) is not covered as a religion for legal status. However, as organizations register as religious charitable status, there comes the legal status and legal protection. Herein lies a contoversy. Established organizations may lead to organized religion which is not what Paganism is about.
Some growing concerns are religious education. The general education level of most pagans today is extraordinarily high compared with other religions (approximately 42% with university degrees). But there is very little available in the way of religious education for youth, children of pagans, and people just discovering paganism.
Sian Ried looks forward to seeing the results of the new survey, which not only is in greater depth compared to the first, but also has reached greater numbers across Canada.
She is also expecting to have a book published this coming October 2006 called "Between the Worlds".
She recommends
- the 2-DVD set of Discovering Witchcraft by Janet & Stewart Farrar & Gavin Bone
- the book "Dangerous Religions" by Brendan Cathbad Myers (ISBN: 1594055114)
Sian Reid can be contacted at: slreid@ccs.carleton.ca
Thank you Sian for a great intro to your survey! We all hope for the best and can hardly wait to see the results.
*runs around the house screaming with relief*
I am done my Michel Foucault paper. Nothing else got done. But THAT is at least over with.
I am now off to class and off to have a small fight with the copy place who f-ed up my copies and charged me more than necessary.
When I get home, we blow eggs for Ostara coven project (and thus have omlets for dinner). Then, we are off to my parents' place for a visit.
**::EDIT::**
9:55pm
Paper was handed in. Concidering the topics of conversation, I would say that I definately understood Michel Foucault. However, I do not think I adequately showed that in my paper.
I got the situation at the copy centre fixed. Dave and Nick are great. Mike sux, don't let him handle your stuff unless your stuff is idiot-proof. I can give Rosanne back her $10 as they refunded me for their error.
We had lovely yummy eggs for dinner. Blowing the eggs was easy. Now to fill them with stuff to represent some wish. Hmmm... challenging. We have till Sunday. We have 5 eggs in case we have accidents filling them.
Never got to my parents' place. Mom asked for no visitors till Friday.
I am now off to class and off to have a small fight with the copy place who f-ed up my copies and charged me more than necessary.
When I get home, we blow eggs for Ostara coven project (and thus have omlets for dinner). Then, we are off to my parents' place for a visit.
**::EDIT::**
9:55pm
Paper was handed in. Concidering the topics of conversation, I would say that I definately understood Michel Foucault. However, I do not think I adequately showed that in my paper.
I got the situation at the copy centre fixed. Dave and Nick are great. Mike sux, don't let him handle your stuff unless your stuff is idiot-proof. I can give Rosanne back her $10 as they refunded me for their error.
We had lovely yummy eggs for dinner. Blowing the eggs was easy. Now to fill them with stuff to represent some wish. Hmmm... challenging. We have till Sunday. We have 5 eggs in case we have accidents filling them.
Never got to my parents' place. Mom asked for no visitors till Friday.
Morning ALL!
Why am I so awake? I hardly slept. I was constantly uncomfortable and was just barely "drifting" most of the night. Ah well.
I am in good spirits and plan to make the best of this energy. Paper paper paper writing!!!
Oh, I forgot to say something about yesterday:
HAPPY OSTARA
I am in good spirits and plan to make the best of this energy. Paper paper paper writing!!!
Oh, I forgot to say something about yesterday:
HAPPY OSTARA
Monday, March 20, 2006
Cabane a Sucre
I have never in my life been to one. AK... Me, a Canadian... even a Quebecer... never been to one yet. Well, that is changing this month. Concordia Grad Student Association is doing it. I am signing up to go with my friend Raphael. He has never been either. He, however, has a good reason. He is from Puerto Rico and this is his first year in Canada. So... I am going. It cost $12. I think if I have that after rent is paid, I will register to go. This is where we will be going:
http://www.fermelecrepuscule.com/
OOOOOoooooOoooo... and I can buy stuff there: bison meat, cheeses, sausages, maple butter and syrop, fresh farm eggs... OooooOoooooo.....
http://www.fermelecrepuscule.com/
OOOOOoooooOoooo... and I can buy stuff there: bison meat, cheeses, sausages, maple butter and syrop, fresh farm eggs... OooooOoooooo.....
So... what did I do?
I cleaned most of the kitchen. Floors are all that is left after M-SB finishes making peanutbutter cookies.
I got some groceries. We are on the super tight budget this week as we scramble for the rent. I used money I had sitting in the CMS bank account to get us lunched for the week, which are now in the freezer. I know the finances will all be sorted out fine by the end of April. It is just frustrating right now.
I managed to read my article. I am drawing a complete blank for the paper though. And what I think I understand I suddenly I doubt after talking with my classmate/friend, Raphael. *sigh* I really hope inspiration comes soon. The paper is due tomorrow.
I cooked supper for us and we sat together at the kitchen table for it. That is something we have not done in a long time. He is baking peanutbutter cookies for dessert.
I got my energy drinks. Drinking one now and feeling much more normal. So this is my one bad ingestible addiction... not that I indulge all the time in it... more like once every couple weeks. I indulge more in the purchase of books (which is also a way more expensive addiction).
Ok... now time to read the key highlights of my article and hope something goes CLICK. The remainder of the article seemed to have blown my original ideas out of the water. *frustrated*
I got some groceries. We are on the super tight budget this week as we scramble for the rent. I used money I had sitting in the CMS bank account to get us lunched for the week, which are now in the freezer. I know the finances will all be sorted out fine by the end of April. It is just frustrating right now.
I managed to read my article. I am drawing a complete blank for the paper though. And what I think I understand I suddenly I doubt after talking with my classmate/friend, Raphael. *sigh* I really hope inspiration comes soon. The paper is due tomorrow.
I cooked supper for us and we sat together at the kitchen table for it. That is something we have not done in a long time. He is baking peanutbutter cookies for dessert.
I got my energy drinks. Drinking one now and feeling much more normal. So this is my one bad ingestible addiction... not that I indulge all the time in it... more like once every couple weeks. I indulge more in the purchase of books (which is also a way more expensive addiction).
Ok... now time to read the key highlights of my article and hope something goes CLICK. The remainder of the article seemed to have blown my original ideas out of the water. *frustrated*
dammit... need... energy....
The sleep monster FINALLY got me. It could have gotten me last night when I needed it. No... it gets me noon to 2:30pm to ruin my day and leave me still exhausted. I dreamed about my paper though. So, I have some ideas for writing it.
My time management plan for the day... shot to one of the many hells.
I am going to go to the vet and grocery store now. Oh... and get me an energy drink or 2... cuz I need them. I am burning out and can't afford to do so.
Ya... burnout. I know this feeling. It is the "leave me the fuck alone", "stop asking me to do things", the hide under the blankets and wish for everyone and everything to "go away go away go away!" That is what I am feeling and trying to fight. I don't get a break till end f April when classes are over.
My time management plan for the day... shot to one of the many hells.
I am going to go to the vet and grocery store now. Oh... and get me an energy drink or 2... cuz I need them. I am burning out and can't afford to do so.
Ya... burnout. I know this feeling. It is the "leave me the fuck alone", "stop asking me to do things", the hide under the blankets and wish for everyone and everything to "go away go away go away!" That is what I am feeling and trying to fight. I don't get a break till end f April when classes are over.
Dodging
Well this was a bit of a grumpy morning with all the weekend stress. It is improving with the coming out of the sun. My computer is behaving. Over the week I will relaod the rest of stuff. It feels like spring with the sun and I want to do spring cleaning. The house needs it.
But I have an article to read and a paper to write.
Someone in the building is painting or something with nasty paint and thinner, the fumes are making me very ill. Maybe they are varnishing someone's floors? BLEH!
I don't want to read my article or write my paper.
I was laying in bed thinking how nice it would be to have one less thing on my plate to worry about. Right now I have home, relationship, Concordia Grad school, work, bills, CMS, coven. But I can't drop any of them. Home needs maintaining and cleaning. Relationship... I think I would die without M-SB at this point. I need school to get the damnable MA degree so I can teach. Bills... well there is no escaping those no matter how hard you try, they will ALWAYS find you. CMS is my baby... my passion... my life. Coven is the sprituality that keeps me whole. I just feel too divided and like I am not devoting enough of myself to any one thing edequately. I dropped the ball on CMS student ID's this term. I dropped the ball on trying to maintain the CMS accounting. I feel like I dropped the ball with coven, like I am not working hard enough to meet the needs of my coveners. School and work are really not getting my devoted attention. Everything and everyone is getting my "divided" attention. I don't like that. I feel spread too thin. I feel I need to purge some things... but I don't know what or how without starving to death.
Cleaning up the house so it is uncluttered will help me think more clearly.
But I have an article to read and a paper to write.
*sigh*
Time management...
now- clean kitchen
12:30pm- read article
1:30pm- run errands (grocery store & vet for payment)
3pm- draft article
5pm- finish cleaning kitchen & start dinner
6pm- eat
7pm- clean hall and sort crap there
9pm- vacuum & mop
Tomorrow:
- tidy kitchen (dishes)
- write paper
- clean & sort livingroom
- edit paper
- class
- copy place for an argument
- eat dinner
- clean & sort bathroom and bedroom
Wednesday:
- work
- CMS accounting (bring laptop)
Ok enough dodging... I am off for a bit.
But I have an article to read and a paper to write.
Someone in the building is painting or something with nasty paint and thinner, the fumes are making me very ill. Maybe they are varnishing someone's floors? BLEH!
I don't want to read my article or write my paper.
I was laying in bed thinking how nice it would be to have one less thing on my plate to worry about. Right now I have home, relationship, Concordia Grad school, work, bills, CMS, coven. But I can't drop any of them. Home needs maintaining and cleaning. Relationship... I think I would die without M-SB at this point. I need school to get the damnable MA degree so I can teach. Bills... well there is no escaping those no matter how hard you try, they will ALWAYS find you. CMS is my baby... my passion... my life. Coven is the sprituality that keeps me whole. I just feel too divided and like I am not devoting enough of myself to any one thing edequately. I dropped the ball on CMS student ID's this term. I dropped the ball on trying to maintain the CMS accounting. I feel like I dropped the ball with coven, like I am not working hard enough to meet the needs of my coveners. School and work are really not getting my devoted attention. Everything and everyone is getting my "divided" attention. I don't like that. I feel spread too thin. I feel I need to purge some things... but I don't know what or how without starving to death.
Cleaning up the house so it is uncluttered will help me think more clearly.
But I have an article to read and a paper to write.
*sigh*
Time management...
now- clean kitchen
12:30pm- read article
1:30pm- run errands (grocery store & vet for payment)
3pm- draft article
5pm- finish cleaning kitchen & start dinner
6pm- eat
7pm- clean hall and sort crap there
9pm- vacuum & mop
Tomorrow:
- tidy kitchen (dishes)
- write paper
- clean & sort livingroom
- edit paper
- class
- copy place for an argument
- eat dinner
- clean & sort bathroom and bedroom
Wednesday:
- work
- CMS accounting (bring laptop)
Ok enough dodging... I am off for a bit.
Sunday, March 19, 2006
*grumbly progress*
Well... I have most things now on my system. All the periferal hardware is loaded and relatively working. Full testing will occur later in the week. I even figured out my email all by myself!! Yay me!! Now I need everyone to email me personally so I can have your emails. I have NO ONE in my address book except my brother at the moment.
So please email me!!! I do not know your email addresses by heart!!
(there is just no room in my head to remember them)
Email me: cougora@sympatico.ca
(ya... I might regret posting that... I can delete it later if I feel I need to.)
I am still missing some crutials that the virus beat me to:
- paintshop pro 7
- WS FTP LE (and my bloody pawsords to get onto my website)
- bookmarks, so if you have useful coven bookmarks or happen to remember bookmarks I have referred to before, email them to me please. (I feel so lame)
- student ID photos
So please email me!!! I do not know your email addresses by heart!!
(there is just no room in my head to remember them)
Email me: cougora@sympatico.ca
(ya... I might regret posting that... I can delete it later if I feel I need to.)
I am still missing some crutials that the virus beat me to:
- paintshop pro 7
- WS FTP LE (and my bloody pawsords to get onto my website)
- bookmarks, so if you have useful coven bookmarks or happen to remember bookmarks I have referred to before, email them to me please. (I feel so lame)
- student ID photos
*SNARL*
My desktop got UBER virused. This moring I missed the Irish brunch because I was racing against a series of viruses to save the last of my crutials before they too were infected. In the end I did lose a few things. I am working off my lapto which is VERY problematic. I do not have msn or yahoo or email or anything but a pseudo internet connection. So if there is something crutial, phone me.
I am NOT having a good day!!
I am NOT having a good day!!
Happy St-Patrick's Day
Today is St-Patty's Day!! Here in Quebec we are actually celebrating it a couple days late. It was actually Friday, but our parade and festivities are today. I am heading over to a friend's place for Irish Brunch then out to work early so I can get parked before the parade. I will do homework till I need to open the store.
Tonight is paper writing! I want it done so I can forward a draft to my teacher.
Have a great day everyone!!
Tonight is paper writing! I want it done so I can forward a draft to my teacher.
Have a great day everyone!!
Saturday, March 18, 2006
Toronto Pagan Conference: Lecture #3
*I missed the beginning 10-15 min*
Saturday March 4, 2006
Lucie Dufresne: Community Structures
Community: Non-Maintainable Structures
- Family community structure
- Circumstance community structure (fest)
- Pilgrimage community structure
Someone to read up on about community structures and communitas is Victor Turner.
Communitas is not sustainable, whereas community sustains itself. Community and Communitas and complimentary. Communitas is like the brief sense of community people feel while in ritual.
Community Structures that are Sustainable
Community is not solitary. It requires working together to fulfill a common goal/need. There must be "others" involved. You cannot be a community of one. There is no "power over" anyone in community. There may be leaders, but they are not dictators, benevolent ot otherwise. There is also no passive consent. Community involves negotiation, co-facilitation, consensus, "power with". In Paganism this can feel a bit like "herding cats".
ELECTION
Community by election is when you CHOOSE and EARN THER RIGHT to be part of that group. - coven
- guild
- fraternity
There is a sense of eliteness and merit, the sense of being exceptional, but it is not a community of life on the grand scale.
ISOLATION
Community of isolation is like a monastary or commune where the community is isolated from outside influence. It is goal-oriented. Rules may be chosen or imposed (usually imposed, especially in a coersive community of isolation). However, it never evolves until outside influence occurs. There is a great sense of security not having to think or deal, knowing the routine and being able to focus on the goal.
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP
This is a community that comes together because of a common interest or hobby. It is by choice and driven by passion for the interest or common goal. It is open to sharing info and time. The member achieve for the group.
Community happens whenever you share and exchange life.
FAITH
The choice of the word Faith is here since we are not comfortable labeling it as it is labeled in research as Church Community. Even the Canadian government is starting to use Faith Community instead of Church Community due to the many religions in Canada.
- "Church": refers to an institution that is stable and has rules and control.
- Parish: is more like a village or web group. It is live, local and negotiated between the people and the "church". Everyone knows everyone else and knows what each can bring co-supportively. It starts to breakdown after about 500 people are involved.
- Communitas: people elect to be part of this.
What kind of community do we want?
Faith of the...
- mind: Unitarian Universalist
- heart: Catholicism (nuns & monks)
- body: physicality (pagans at the firepit)
Faith needs space; needs hope; needs to be defined BROADLY and inclusively; and needs both tolerance and acceptance of differences. There must be faith with/in the divine (especially for solitary practitioners), the world, life, and people. Who is the "other" in our community. Community should not be ONLY with those like "us". It needs the outsiders and the extraordinary.
Do we need a Pagan Ghetto / Commune?
We need networking. A commune or ghetto is isolationist. They take one out of the world and leave you unable to change the world around you.
Do we need a theocracy?
This is fundamentalism that aims to purge the community of "differences". We want to celebrate our differences.
Do we need a "church"?
We do need some form of structure. Perhaps we should look into Hinduism which seems to be remarkable similar to us. How are they holding their community and faith together? What are their structures? A "church" means sacred texts. Do we need an all agreed upon sacred text? There are some foundational texts with some structure and a "language" we all recognize. Some of these texts include The Witches' Bible by the Farrars, Buckland's Complete Guide to Witchcraft, and Spiral Dance by Starhawk. We do have shared Holy Days (the 8 Sabbats). We are a priestly people, but we do not have any specific "priesthood".
Do we need a family?
The model of the extented family is closer to who we are. We do not need a specific "---iarchy" (patriarchy or matriarchy). We could think of it as a horizontal extension of family, or foster/chosen family. There needs to be mutual exchange without obligation.
We could learn from the existential writing of Simone de Beauvoir, "in search for a politics of indeterminacy" (from a French article). True freedom is based on total, absolute, and radical responsibility. The cost of true freedom is total responsibility. We need to be fully conscious and aware. We need to show full acceptance; let go of "certainty"; engage in negotiation and indeterminacy. Thus we need to think outside the skin/box and build our community from the spinal cord/commonalties. We need to network and exchange without prejudice.
RESPECT
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
APPRECIATION
How do we deal with TROUBLE?
- avoidance, have somewhere else to go
- problem is there is no escape
- occasionally there is a need for solitude or "holiday" / time away
- problems occur when we are coersively engaged
Thank you Lucie Defresne for so much food for thought!!
She can be reached at: lucieduf@Uottawa.ca
Saturday March 4, 2006
Lucie Dufresne: Community Structures
Community: Non-Maintainable Structures
- Family community structure
- Circumstance community structure (fest)
- Pilgrimage community structure
Someone to read up on about community structures and communitas is Victor Turner.
Communitas is not sustainable, whereas community sustains itself. Community and Communitas and complimentary. Communitas is like the brief sense of community people feel while in ritual.
Community Structures that are Sustainable
Community is not solitary. It requires working together to fulfill a common goal/need. There must be "others" involved. You cannot be a community of one. There is no "power over" anyone in community. There may be leaders, but they are not dictators, benevolent ot otherwise. There is also no passive consent. Community involves negotiation, co-facilitation, consensus, "power with". In Paganism this can feel a bit like "herding cats".
ELECTION
Community by election is when you CHOOSE and EARN THER RIGHT to be part of that group. - coven
- guild
- fraternity
There is a sense of eliteness and merit, the sense of being exceptional, but it is not a community of life on the grand scale.
ISOLATION
Community of isolation is like a monastary or commune where the community is isolated from outside influence. It is goal-oriented. Rules may be chosen or imposed (usually imposed, especially in a coersive community of isolation). However, it never evolves until outside influence occurs. There is a great sense of security not having to think or deal, knowing the routine and being able to focus on the goal.
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP
This is a community that comes together because of a common interest or hobby. It is by choice and driven by passion for the interest or common goal. It is open to sharing info and time. The member achieve for the group.
Community happens whenever you share and exchange life.
FAITH
The choice of the word Faith is here since we are not comfortable labeling it as it is labeled in research as Church Community. Even the Canadian government is starting to use Faith Community instead of Church Community due to the many religions in Canada.
- "Church": refers to an institution that is stable and has rules and control.
- Parish: is more like a village or web group. It is live, local and negotiated between the people and the "church". Everyone knows everyone else and knows what each can bring co-supportively. It starts to breakdown after about 500 people are involved.
- Communitas: people elect to be part of this.
What kind of community do we want?
Faith of the...
- mind: Unitarian Universalist
- heart: Catholicism (nuns & monks)
- body: physicality (pagans at the firepit)
Faith needs space; needs hope; needs to be defined BROADLY and inclusively; and needs both tolerance and acceptance of differences. There must be faith with/in the divine (especially for solitary practitioners), the world, life, and people. Who is the "other" in our community. Community should not be ONLY with those like "us". It needs the outsiders and the extraordinary.
Do we need a Pagan Ghetto / Commune?
We need networking. A commune or ghetto is isolationist. They take one out of the world and leave you unable to change the world around you.
Do we need a theocracy?
This is fundamentalism that aims to purge the community of "differences". We want to celebrate our differences.
Do we need a "church"?
We do need some form of structure. Perhaps we should look into Hinduism which seems to be remarkable similar to us. How are they holding their community and faith together? What are their structures? A "church" means sacred texts. Do we need an all agreed upon sacred text? There are some foundational texts with some structure and a "language" we all recognize. Some of these texts include The Witches' Bible by the Farrars, Buckland's Complete Guide to Witchcraft, and Spiral Dance by Starhawk. We do have shared Holy Days (the 8 Sabbats). We are a priestly people, but we do not have any specific "priesthood".
Do we need a family?
The model of the extented family is closer to who we are. We do not need a specific "---iarchy" (patriarchy or matriarchy). We could think of it as a horizontal extension of family, or foster/chosen family. There needs to be mutual exchange without obligation.
We could learn from the existential writing of Simone de Beauvoir, "in search for a politics of indeterminacy" (from a French article). True freedom is based on total, absolute, and radical responsibility. The cost of true freedom is total responsibility. We need to be fully conscious and aware. We need to show full acceptance; let go of "certainty"; engage in negotiation and indeterminacy. Thus we need to think outside the skin/box and build our community from the spinal cord/commonalties. We need to network and exchange without prejudice.
RESPECT
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
APPRECIATION
How do we deal with TROUBLE?
- avoidance, have somewhere else to go
- problem is there is no escape
- occasionally there is a need for solitude or "holiday" / time away
- problems occur when we are coersively engaged
Thank you Lucie Defresne for so much food for thought!!
She can be reached at: lucieduf@Uottawa.ca
New pics of my Kitten!! Tsuki-Zouge
This is my little Ivory Moon male Savannah kitten at 1 week old.
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My Ivory Moon Kitten at 2.5 weeks old... And the hunt for moon/lunar names began.
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His markings have darkened. He is tentatively being names Tsuki (Japanese for Moon). In this picture you can see his Savannah spots and stripes and the pale bar on the back of each ear. He is now just over 3 weeks old!
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And I think I have finally decided on a name: Tsuki-Zouge (Ivory Moon).$1900USD to pay still... *deep breath*
Trying again with the pictures
AHA! There... here is a quick pic from my webcam of me with the new haircut!!
Toronto Pagan Conference: Lecture #2
March 3, 2006, 9pm
Janet Farrar & Gavin Bone: Paganism in Ireland
*This was an interesting slideshow presentation*
10500 years ago temperatures and climates were changing in the world and people migrated
4000BCE people settled in Ireland
2500BCE hollow hills and places of worship were built of stone without the use of metal tools
For example: Newgrange
These sites were tied into the seasons and were notably marked by times like the Winter Solstice where the sunlight on that day would shine though the small opening to actually light the very back of the cavern. Light cannot reach there any other time of year. Other sites are Marked with the Summer Solstice or more commonly the Equinoxes.
The Triskele is not specifically Celtic. It has been carved in stone in Ireland long before the Celts were there. It most likely prepresented the water eddies that are found in the many bodies of water in the area. Water represented the connection to the other/underworld.
Many sites were burial mounds. Bowls were found inside with cremated remains and bone bits separated by type. Other substances found inside were mashrooms (hallucinogenic) and were likely there for shamanic works.
Other images found in the caverns were the totems of the Orox bull and the boar also later the stag, sow and salmon. All these have worked their way into Celtic mythology. Also there were astonomical symbols that would be illuminated at different times of the year by the sun. These may have been there to indicate the times of planting, etc.
Some other sites include: Tara Hill and Laughcrew or Hag's Cairn
At the Hag's Cairn, the people knew the Hag as the Calliach (meaning nun, witch, wise one, veiled one). The entrance is lit by the sun on the Exuinoxes and the moon shines above the head of anyone sitting in the a huge stone chair behind the mound, again only at the Equinoxes.
Celtic Religions connected to the Land and were careful to honour the Spirit of the Land. A suggestion for Neo-Pagans wherever they are to get to know the Spirit of the Land in their area and connect with the land and its cycles through the seasons.
Tara Hill was considered the seat of the High King of Ireland. It was central to the four kingdoms which united under him with invaders came. Otherwise they were often in small tribal wars. The High King tried his best to keep a relative peace.
The Ogham was created in 5th century AD based on the Latin alphabet and tied to the trees of the land. Druids and Irish monks used it as a secret language.
Some other lore:
Apple Isle of Ireland was also believed to be the mythical Tirnanog.
Irish goddesses were solar not lunar.
Hawthorn is regarded as the Fairy Tree.
In Ireland, there is a strong connection to trees and wells as sacred places. Sacred natural spirng were always accompanied by a tree, as well as wells. They represented the connection to the upper/other/underworld for divination and healing.
*The slides from our speakers were incedible and better than any I have seen on the internet*
Thank you Janet and Gavin!
Janet Farrar & Gavin Bone: Paganism in Ireland
*This was an interesting slideshow presentation*
10500 years ago temperatures and climates were changing in the world and people migrated
4000BCE people settled in Ireland
2500BCE hollow hills and places of worship were built of stone without the use of metal tools
For example: Newgrange
These sites were tied into the seasons and were notably marked by times like the Winter Solstice where the sunlight on that day would shine though the small opening to actually light the very back of the cavern. Light cannot reach there any other time of year. Other sites are Marked with the Summer Solstice or more commonly the Equinoxes.
The Triskele is not specifically Celtic. It has been carved in stone in Ireland long before the Celts were there. It most likely prepresented the water eddies that are found in the many bodies of water in the area. Water represented the connection to the other/underworld.
Many sites were burial mounds. Bowls were found inside with cremated remains and bone bits separated by type. Other substances found inside were mashrooms (hallucinogenic) and were likely there for shamanic works.
Other images found in the caverns were the totems of the Orox bull and the boar also later the stag, sow and salmon. All these have worked their way into Celtic mythology. Also there were astonomical symbols that would be illuminated at different times of the year by the sun. These may have been there to indicate the times of planting, etc.
Some other sites include: Tara Hill and Laughcrew or Hag's Cairn
At the Hag's Cairn, the people knew the Hag as the Calliach (meaning nun, witch, wise one, veiled one). The entrance is lit by the sun on the Exuinoxes and the moon shines above the head of anyone sitting in the a huge stone chair behind the mound, again only at the Equinoxes.
Celtic Religions connected to the Land and were careful to honour the Spirit of the Land. A suggestion for Neo-Pagans wherever they are to get to know the Spirit of the Land in their area and connect with the land and its cycles through the seasons.
Tara Hill was considered the seat of the High King of Ireland. It was central to the four kingdoms which united under him with invaders came. Otherwise they were often in small tribal wars. The High King tried his best to keep a relative peace.
The Ogham was created in 5th century AD based on the Latin alphabet and tied to the trees of the land. Druids and Irish monks used it as a secret language.
Some other lore:
Apple Isle of Ireland was also believed to be the mythical Tirnanog.
Irish goddesses were solar not lunar.
Hawthorn is regarded as the Fairy Tree.
In Ireland, there is a strong connection to trees and wells as sacred places. Sacred natural spirng were always accompanied by a tree, as well as wells. They represented the connection to the upper/other/underworld for divination and healing.
*The slides from our speakers were incedible and better than any I have seen on the internet*
Thank you Janet and Gavin!
Today will also be busy
Today I was up early and showered and took the anti-inflammatories (with food). They are really helping. I had one last night and it helped me seep a bit better. Currently my Level 4 class is in for a morning session instead of an afternoon session. They have a freind over who is giving a guest lecture on Advance Healing and Magic. I am about to go attempt to make banana bread for tomorrow's Brunch @ Hobbes' place.
Then the Level 3B's arrive an hour early so they can work on their ritual planning. They will have Autumn in as a guest speaker to teach Potions II: making incense.
What will I be doing? Reading the damnable Michel Foucault articles and thinking of a topic for my bloody paper.
What have I been distracted with so far? My new pic of my new kitten and a new Savannah website that I am much impressed by. http://www.savannahcatbreed.com/savannahs.shtml
Ok... off to make Banana Bread and read articles.
Then the Level 3B's arrive an hour early so they can work on their ritual planning. They will have Autumn in as a guest speaker to teach Potions II: making incense.
What will I be doing? Reading the damnable Michel Foucault articles and thinking of a topic for my bloody paper.
What have I been distracted with so far? My new pic of my new kitten and a new Savannah website that I am much impressed by. http://www.savannahcatbreed.com/savannahs.shtml
Ok... off to make Banana Bread and read articles.
Busy, informative and fun
My hair is cut SHORT! Now it is also less fluffy and looking much better.
Yesterday was BUSY! My shoulder had reached the intolerable pain level so busy had to include a trip to the doctor. I nibbled a quick boal of cereal and hurried out.
I just barelt made it to meet the Concordia business students. They seem to be coming along well with their project. I hope it goes well and they get a good grade. They mentioned the Co-Op work program that is subsidized by the government. Interesting! I asked them to get info to me on that.
I headed up to make photocopies and left my package while I went to the doctor. I had to wait such a long time. So I asked to see someone for advice on depression/axiety/bi-polar stuff. More for family coping with someone who is. I have a family member who is... difficult to deal with sometimes and it stresses me to see how hard it is on the family. A counsellor listened to my descriptions and concerns and handed me a ton of helpful pamphlets, but the most helpful were 2 books tha I was allowed to borrow. Then I was called in to see the doc. He raised his eyebrow at my drooping right shoulder, commented on how that must be really hurting me, then proceeded to move it and poke and prod the muscles. I almost decked him. It hurt! He told me it is all muscular, likely chronic (duh!). He prescribed pain killer + anti-inflammatory pills and 2 sessions of physio. I hope this works.
Then I went to get the photocopies. ARGH! He bound my original! And with the wrong binding! I had a small fit and he apologized greatly. I knew I should have waited for the "trusted guys" dammit! So now they need to make me a new master copy and it will be late for the Saturday morning class. Bugger.
I rushed home to grab the address to get Rosanne and to pick up M-SB from work (and not forget the cookies for WW's b-day). I inhaled a muffin while there. On the drive to Rosanne, we discovered that Papineau automatically swings onto the Jaque-Cartier bridge from Highway 20 with no warning if you wanted to actually stay on Papineau. We took an extremely scenic route to get Rosanne. We drove by LaRonde to get turned around. We finally made it to her 20-30 minutes late *sorry*. Finding the woodstore was almost equally adventurous. We drove right past it and decided to stop for McD's for dinner before turning around. AT the woodstore... oooo... so addictive. So many nifty woods and stuff. We got woods for Oghams and I bantered with my mom on the phone to talk to me dad. There are lots of lovely woods on 50% discount. She didn't want me telling him, since he is such a wood fanatic. I am considering getting him a Lathe for his retirement. He has wanted one for a long time. I am waiting to hear from my mom which kind he would like.
Anyways, We then headed to Airea & WW's for food and chat (didn't bother with the movie) for his birthday. We had a great time!
And guess what I came home to?! NEW KITTEN PICS of my new little boy!
Yesterday was BUSY! My shoulder had reached the intolerable pain level so busy had to include a trip to the doctor. I nibbled a quick boal of cereal and hurried out.
I just barelt made it to meet the Concordia business students. They seem to be coming along well with their project. I hope it goes well and they get a good grade. They mentioned the Co-Op work program that is subsidized by the government. Interesting! I asked them to get info to me on that.
I headed up to make photocopies and left my package while I went to the doctor. I had to wait such a long time. So I asked to see someone for advice on depression/axiety/bi-polar stuff. More for family coping with someone who is. I have a family member who is... difficult to deal with sometimes and it stresses me to see how hard it is on the family. A counsellor listened to my descriptions and concerns and handed me a ton of helpful pamphlets, but the most helpful were 2 books tha I was allowed to borrow. Then I was called in to see the doc. He raised his eyebrow at my drooping right shoulder, commented on how that must be really hurting me, then proceeded to move it and poke and prod the muscles. I almost decked him. It hurt! He told me it is all muscular, likely chronic (duh!). He prescribed pain killer + anti-inflammatory pills and 2 sessions of physio. I hope this works.
Then I went to get the photocopies. ARGH! He bound my original! And with the wrong binding! I had a small fit and he apologized greatly. I knew I should have waited for the "trusted guys" dammit! So now they need to make me a new master copy and it will be late for the Saturday morning class. Bugger.
I rushed home to grab the address to get Rosanne and to pick up M-SB from work (and not forget the cookies for WW's b-day). I inhaled a muffin while there. On the drive to Rosanne, we discovered that Papineau automatically swings onto the Jaque-Cartier bridge from Highway 20 with no warning if you wanted to actually stay on Papineau. We took an extremely scenic route to get Rosanne. We drove by LaRonde to get turned around. We finally made it to her 20-30 minutes late *sorry*. Finding the woodstore was almost equally adventurous. We drove right past it and decided to stop for McD's for dinner before turning around. AT the woodstore... oooo... so addictive. So many nifty woods and stuff. We got woods for Oghams and I bantered with my mom on the phone to talk to me dad. There are lots of lovely woods on 50% discount. She didn't want me telling him, since he is such a wood fanatic. I am considering getting him a Lathe for his retirement. He has wanted one for a long time. I am waiting to hear from my mom which kind he would like.
Anyways, We then headed to Airea & WW's for food and chat (didn't bother with the movie) for his birthday. We had a great time!
And guess what I came home to?! NEW KITTEN PICS of my new little boy!
Friday, March 17, 2006
Modifying my day
Well... last night I did not sleep due to the hurtin'. So I have made some changes in today's schedule. I dropped my meeting with my teacher. I will go see a doc instead.
Today:
- eat brunch of some sort (likely leftovers or something)
- make photocopies for CMS-L2
- go to a meeting at the store for 1pm & drop off photocopies
- get crickets
- go to doctor
- go home and feed gecko
- do some reading homework
- meet Rosanne and go to wood store
- go home and get M-SB
- go to Airea & WW's for movie night (it is his B-Day today!)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY WW!
Today:
- eat brunch of some sort (likely leftovers or something)
- make photocopies for CMS-L2
- go to a meeting at the store for 1pm & drop off photocopies
- get crickets
- go to doctor
- go home and feed gecko
- do some reading homework
- meet Rosanne and go to wood store
- go home and get M-SB
- go to Airea & WW's for movie night (it is his B-Day today!)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY WW!
Thursday, March 16, 2006
the 2 H's of the day
H is for HAPPY:
I cut my hair today and actually like it! Last July when I had bangs cut into my hair I went home and cried for a week. Today I cut ALL my hair to the length of my bangs. It looks good, a bit fluffy, but that will tame down in a day or so. I am happy with it.
H is for HURTING:
My shoulder is out again and badly. I have pain from the top of my neck all down my shoulder and arm. I think tomorrow I will cancel my appointment to see my teacher and go to a doc instead.
I cut my hair today and actually like it! Last July when I had bangs cut into my hair I went home and cried for a week. Today I cut ALL my hair to the length of my bangs. It looks good, a bit fluffy, but that will tame down in a day or so. I am happy with it.
H is for HURTING:
My shoulder is out again and badly. I have pain from the top of my neck all down my shoulder and arm. I think tomorrow I will cancel my appointment to see my teacher and go to a doc instead.
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Crash & Burn
Ok... mum says that that evil nasty cold I had, according to the doc she went to and took my niece too when they had it, normally ends with a week of unholy exhaustion. Oh yeah... feeling that. I had an energy drink yesterday that allowed me to be miraculously productive and alert. Today... crash & burn. The weather outside is seriously NOT helping. Every part of me hurts. Vile chill. Muscles have siezed in the night and pulled my shoulder out and every joint is letting me know just how much they hate this weather. Perhaps if I can have enough energy when I get home today, I will soak in a hot bath.
Going to work is going to be unpleasant becasue of the chill... worse... staying after to try to do homework while CMS-L1 goes on will be worse. My mood is low, too. I did not sleep well because of the aches and pains.
Farmers' Almenac predicts a long chilly spring with higher than normal precipitation. Joy. (hear the sarcasm)
Going to work is going to be unpleasant becasue of the chill... worse... staying after to try to do homework while CMS-L1 goes on will be worse. My mood is low, too. I did not sleep well because of the aches and pains.
Farmers' Almenac predicts a long chilly spring with higher than normal precipitation. Joy. (hear the sarcasm)
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Done some stuff... feeling accomplished!
Must have been that Energy drink I had today. I got tons done! Let me recap.
I did:
- laundry
- dishes
- read one of three articles for class
- went to class
- printed CMS pamphlets
- printed Ostara sheet for store
- typed minutes for store staff meeting
- printed up minutes for everyone
I am feeling very accomplished! Yay me!
And the plan for the week (so as to remind myself):
Wed- work (don't forget to bring in DVD player for CMS)
Wed- homework reading and thinking about paper plan
Thr- cut hair (yes I am evening it all out so it will be cut SHORT... it grows fast)
Thr- attend free Zen meditation @ 11:30am
Thr- meeting for CMS @ 2pm (someone has a proposal for me... more details after the meeting)
Thr- work
Fri- 2pm meet teacher to discuss next paper
Fri- get M-SB from work
Fri- pick up Rosanne & go to woodshop for Ogham woods
Fri- movie night out with friends
Other to do's:
- CMS id cards
- CMS accounting
- blog conference notes
I did:
- laundry
- dishes
- read one of three articles for class
- went to class
- printed CMS pamphlets
- printed Ostara sheet for store
- typed minutes for store staff meeting
- printed up minutes for everyone
I am feeling very accomplished! Yay me!
And the plan for the week (so as to remind myself):
Wed- work (don't forget to bring in DVD player for CMS)
Wed- homework reading and thinking about paper plan
Thr- cut hair (yes I am evening it all out so it will be cut SHORT... it grows fast)
Thr- attend free Zen meditation @ 11:30am
Thr- meeting for CMS @ 2pm (someone has a proposal for me... more details after the meeting)
Thr- work
Fri- 2pm meet teacher to discuss next paper
Fri- get M-SB from work
Fri- pick up Rosanne & go to woodshop for Ogham woods
Fri- movie night out with friends
Other to do's:
- CMS id cards
- CMS accounting
- blog conference notes
Re-evaluating
This week has required some hard and serious re-evaluation of finances and whatnot. Yes, I am still getting the kitten. But no, we are not going to Halifax for a one week vacation. M-SB can't afford to miss work. And we really can't afford to rent a room to stay in for that time. Any extra funds we get we want to focus for moving in July. This month's rent will be late, but at least it will happen. Then April we will be all caught up for bills and rent and everything.
I splurged a bit today and bought a baguette, fresh veggies and dip, and tea donuts. I need some fresh foods in my lunches this week. I am feeling nutrient deprived. We have lots of meals frozen from previous cooking times (pasta, rice, shepards pie) and have breakfast muffins.
If the planning goes well, I will have some bills paid this week and we will have rent by the 24th.
I managed to accomplish some reading for class, get to class, and a load of dishes. I am current;y printing the CMS pamphlets since the store ran out. Oh... I should print a few more of the Ostara news sheets for the store too while I am at it.
I was reminded today of www.salonminerauxmtl.com/ang/ang.html Oh goodie! Ouch... the price went up and there is no more student rate. Bummer. Will I be going? We will see what the finances are when that time comes. I dare not plan for it at the moment.
Today I have also had to re-evaluate my daily tasks. Now that M-SB is not home to do stuff here, I have to add in some cleaning to my weekly activities. The re-evaluation of the routines is going to take some adjusting. We are sharing the chores, which is good. Speaking of which... I have to go fold laundry.
I splurged a bit today and bought a baguette, fresh veggies and dip, and tea donuts. I need some fresh foods in my lunches this week. I am feeling nutrient deprived. We have lots of meals frozen from previous cooking times (pasta, rice, shepards pie) and have breakfast muffins.
If the planning goes well, I will have some bills paid this week and we will have rent by the 24th.
I managed to accomplish some reading for class, get to class, and a load of dishes. I am current;y printing the CMS pamphlets since the store ran out. Oh... I should print a few more of the Ostara news sheets for the store too while I am at it.
I was reminded today of www.salonminerauxmtl.com/ang/ang.html Oh goodie! Ouch... the price went up and there is no more student rate. Bummer. Will I be going? We will see what the finances are when that time comes. I dare not plan for it at the moment.
Today I have also had to re-evaluate my daily tasks. Now that M-SB is not home to do stuff here, I have to add in some cleaning to my weekly activities. The re-evaluation of the routines is going to take some adjusting. We are sharing the chores, which is good. Speaking of which... I have to go fold laundry.
To Do List Today
- wash dishes (did one load... 2 more to go)
- fold rest of laundry
- read 3 articles on Michel Foucault starting with the one due today
- get my ass to class
- type up minutes to store staff meeting
- blog more conference notes
- cms id cards!!! *grrr... this keeps getting forgotten*
- cms accounting *grrr*
- fold rest of laundry
- read 3 articles on Michel Foucault starting with the one due today
- get my ass to class
- type up minutes to store staff meeting
- blog more conference notes
- cms id cards!!! *grrr... this keeps getting forgotten*
- cms accounting *grrr*
odd cravings
I hate potatos. I don't even really like french fries. I have only ever liked scalloped potatos... but that takes forever to make. Why do I hate potatos? Well all growing up, we were not well off. Six days a week was potatos (boiled or baked or mashed with no additives but butter sometimes) with some kind of meat (whatever was cheapest) and some canned veggie (whatever was on special) and shepards pie was mom's way of trying to make it different and tolerable... i detested shepards pie. Once a week week we would have pasta. Once every 2 or three months we would splurge and order in chinese or pizza. That was a special luxury! So... you get real sick of potatos after 18 years of that. So I have practically cut potatos from the diet and grocery list for the past... 15 years. However, this week, I was craving shepards pie. I still hate potatos. I had him peel and cut and later mash'em. But the end result of the shepards pie is delicious. Guess my tastebuds changed.
Going to go have some now for lunch.
Going to go have some now for lunch.
Monday, March 13, 2006
*sigh*
I got the laundry going. I started reading my articles for class and forgot both my tea and my hot cereal till neither were hot anymore. I ate and drank them cold. *pout* The day wasn't improving. I went back to reading when exhaustion claimed me. I don't know when I passed out, but I woke 5 min before I was supposed to meet my teacher. AARRGGHH! I flew to the gas station and then to the teacher's office. My paper explanation was helpful. I had nothing to say about my readings, I copped out by saying I was sick and could not recollect what I read and was in the process of rereading.
I stopped into provigo on the way home. Needed to get garlic and cat litter. Got both. I wanted to get some other yummy stuffs like maybe several of the chunky soups on special and the turn-overs and donuts were on special too. But they were not really needs. I gave in and got one soup for me for lunches this week and some grapes. And then home again.
M-SB thankfully brought up the laundry and tosses the last load into the dryer. He hugged me fiercely when I got home. I was so confused. He was desperately in need of a hug. He said he loved us and how we are with our relationship. I have no idea what happened but... ok. *smile* I love our relationship too. We make a point to always go to sleep and to part ways on good terms to not mess up our days. Days can be bad enough on their very own. Today is such a day. I am glad he and I did not make it worse for each other.
Now he is grabbing a shower while I fold laundry. Then we will make dinner together. I am thinking we might go get a movie while the shepards pie bakes and relax for the evening.
I stopped into provigo on the way home. Needed to get garlic and cat litter. Got both. I wanted to get some other yummy stuffs like maybe several of the chunky soups on special and the turn-overs and donuts were on special too. But they were not really needs. I gave in and got one soup for me for lunches this week and some grapes. And then home again.
M-SB thankfully brought up the laundry and tosses the last load into the dryer. He hugged me fiercely when I got home. I was so confused. He was desperately in need of a hug. He said he loved us and how we are with our relationship. I have no idea what happened but... ok. *smile* I love our relationship too. We make a point to always go to sleep and to part ways on good terms to not mess up our days. Days can be bad enough on their very own. Today is such a day. I am glad he and I did not make it worse for each other.
Now he is grabbing a shower while I fold laundry. Then we will make dinner together. I am thinking we might go get a movie while the shepards pie bakes and relax for the evening.
Cat Name
I have been mulling over names for my new kitten. Tsuki (from Tsukuyomi) means moon. I had a dream where my other familiar came to me and said to name him something lunar. Can't get much more lunar than that. So he will likely be Tsukineko (moon cat).
Wrong side of the bed...
Well, not leterally because that would mean the bed came away from the wall for me to fall in between it and the offending wall... but damn... it was certianily metaphorically the wrong side of the bed that I woke up on today. By 8am I was sleeping poorly. The alarm went off f0r the second time for M-SB to get up to get ready for work. At 9am I sat bolt up and was CERTAIN is was past 10am and he had not yet left for work. I was not sure whether I was going to be stressed out of my mind or kill him. I promptly dashed downt he hall to yell at him to get to work. He looked at me all confused. "Scarlet, it's not even 9:00." *blink blink* WIth a fuzzy mind I crawled back into bed and dozed fitfully till noon.
Now I am up and annoyed that there is little time to read my blasted homework. I have 30min to get ready to go to my leadership workshop on Embracing Diversity. I am hungry. I am cranky. AND I HAVE NO BLOODY CLEAN CLOTHES! *snarly*
Ok... no leadership workshop. I will try again in the fall for it. I have to do laundry and read. Then head out to see my teacher. I have to be ready with something intelligent to say about Michel Foucault to show that I HAVE read my articles. I also have to get rid of this foul mood so I can listen constructively to his advice and commentary of my last paper so I may improve for my next one.
I feel so disconnected and out of synch with school. Last night I wondered if I was even remotely cut out for this Grad school stuff. It didn't help that my budgeting took a terrible hit this month with both Claok's stupid vet visit and the sudden realization that M-SB will not make this month's rent... at all... unless I cover more than half of it. So much for bills and kitten. So much for not stressing.
Today has started out a bad bad day. What did I plan to do now that the day feel ruined?
Oh ya. Laundry. It is ok to be typing butt naked at my computer, but I sure as hell can't go out this way. And I need something to eat.
Now I am up and annoyed that there is little time to read my blasted homework. I have 30min to get ready to go to my leadership workshop on Embracing Diversity. I am hungry. I am cranky. AND I HAVE NO BLOODY CLEAN CLOTHES! *snarly*
Ok... no leadership workshop. I will try again in the fall for it. I have to do laundry and read. Then head out to see my teacher. I have to be ready with something intelligent to say about Michel Foucault to show that I HAVE read my articles. I also have to get rid of this foul mood so I can listen constructively to his advice and commentary of my last paper so I may improve for my next one.
I feel so disconnected and out of synch with school. Last night I wondered if I was even remotely cut out for this Grad school stuff. It didn't help that my budgeting took a terrible hit this month with both Claok's stupid vet visit and the sudden realization that M-SB will not make this month's rent... at all... unless I cover more than half of it. So much for bills and kitten. So much for not stressing.
M-SB dislikes his new job. He wants to quit already. They smoke right next to him and it pisses him off and means he must shower again when he gets home or I have allergic reactions and he can't get near me. He was complaining about some sort of sense of stress there that he could not put his finger on as well. I was angry with his complaints. I felt that his last job was cushy and low stress and he could "play" while at work... and that he just had a f-ing 10 month vacation... I felt he did not have a right to complain at this point. Well, at least it is work. If he hates it, he will have to find something else SOON and not leave before getting that something else. I can't carry us both on my 2 days of work a week. I am already bloody killing myself between work, school, and CMS. And now I might have the occasional subbing at elementary to try to suppliment our income, as I put my name down for available for 2 days a week for that is needed.
Oh ya. Laundry. It is ok to be typing butt naked at my computer, but I sure as hell can't go out this way. And I need something to eat.
Sunday, March 12, 2006
BUSY!!! this is so not good...
Friday:
I drove M-SB to his new work, brought Cloak to the vet (he is fine by the way... dumb-ass cat), dashed out for a meeting at the store, back to do cleaning and prepare for classes, Pick M-SB up from his new job, out to groceries, off to teach a class, home to dinner. I got to bed at some point after midnight. I barely had time to physically breathe in this day's activities. Homework did not happen.
Saturday:
Taught Level 3B how to make oils for magic and aromatherapy and massage, cleaned up and prepared for the next class. Then taight Intro to teaching to Level 4 which was AMAZING and full of great discussion and anecdotes. Cleaned up and prepared coven stuff. By the time dinner was done and the house was finished being cleaned, I was too exhausted to do homework and went to bed early.
Sunday:
Up and out for a store staff meeting. Ran around trying to find an open photocopy place, both my other ones were closed today, and finally went out to Bureau en Gros for the copies. I had to wait some time so I browsed the store till i was sick of being there. Finally got home exhausted and annoyed. I grabbed a 30min nap. Then coven and ritual and talk and planning... and then off to get dinner. Still haven't done homework. Dinner is cooking and I am SOOO hungry!!!! I will tackle an article and read the class notes my friend sent me. Homefully before I pass out with exhaustion tonight.
Tomorrow:
- READ!!!! I have lots to read for class on Michel Foucault.
- 1pm get on the shuttle bus to school for a leadership course on "Embracing Diversity"
- 4:30pm meet with my teacher as I missed 2 classes in a row and need feedback on my last paper and guidance for my next paper.
- shuttle home and make shepard's pie (pate chinois if you only know the French for it... how the hell did it get called THAT in French?!?)
- read more Michel Foucault
- print CMS flyers
- type up store staff meeting minutes
- email Jars of Stars for student ID cards with photos
- email WynterGreene with messages and inquiries
- try to breathe somewhere in this day
OOOOooooo... pizza is almost ready... YAY! Gonna watch the Battlestar Galactica season finale while we eat. Then homework for a bit till I crash.
I have been crashing alot. I am overloaded and burning out fast. This is real annoying. I have to go till the end of April!! *snarl* Must make a day sacrosanct again... a ME day. I want to got to Curves, too, with my mom. *pout* But I am broke... all my funds are tied up in bills, car, and kitten. I love my new kitten. I might even have a name for him too! Rajura found me a Japanese Lunar God named Tsukuyomi. I might name him that. M-SB said that if the kitten responds to the "commands" that only Taunih responded to... he will be very spooked. Taunih purred on command if you wanted her to soothe you. This kitten... dunno yet. Picking a name is hard. Especially when he lives far away and all I have is a digital photo. Finding a name that when shortened does sound STUPID is also hard. If I name him Tsukuyomi then it will likely be shortened to Tsuku... which i guess is ok. I wonder if that means anything in Japanese.
I drove M-SB to his new work, brought Cloak to the vet (he is fine by the way... dumb-ass cat), dashed out for a meeting at the store, back to do cleaning and prepare for classes, Pick M-SB up from his new job, out to groceries, off to teach a class, home to dinner. I got to bed at some point after midnight. I barely had time to physically breathe in this day's activities. Homework did not happen.
Saturday:
Taught Level 3B how to make oils for magic and aromatherapy and massage, cleaned up and prepared for the next class. Then taight Intro to teaching to Level 4 which was AMAZING and full of great discussion and anecdotes. Cleaned up and prepared coven stuff. By the time dinner was done and the house was finished being cleaned, I was too exhausted to do homework and went to bed early.
Sunday:
Up and out for a store staff meeting. Ran around trying to find an open photocopy place, both my other ones were closed today, and finally went out to Bureau en Gros for the copies. I had to wait some time so I browsed the store till i was sick of being there. Finally got home exhausted and annoyed. I grabbed a 30min nap. Then coven and ritual and talk and planning... and then off to get dinner. Still haven't done homework. Dinner is cooking and I am SOOO hungry!!!! I will tackle an article and read the class notes my friend sent me. Homefully before I pass out with exhaustion tonight.
Tomorrow:
- READ!!!! I have lots to read for class on Michel Foucault.
- 1pm get on the shuttle bus to school for a leadership course on "Embracing Diversity"
- 4:30pm meet with my teacher as I missed 2 classes in a row and need feedback on my last paper and guidance for my next paper.
- shuttle home and make shepard's pie (pate chinois if you only know the French for it... how the hell did it get called THAT in French?!?)
- read more Michel Foucault
- print CMS flyers
- type up store staff meeting minutes
- email Jars of Stars for student ID cards with photos
- email WynterGreene with messages and inquiries
- try to breathe somewhere in this day
OOOOooooo... pizza is almost ready... YAY! Gonna watch the Battlestar Galactica season finale while we eat. Then homework for a bit till I crash.
I have been crashing alot. I am overloaded and burning out fast. This is real annoying. I have to go till the end of April!! *snarl* Must make a day sacrosanct again... a ME day. I want to got to Curves, too, with my mom. *pout* But I am broke... all my funds are tied up in bills, car, and kitten. I love my new kitten. I might even have a name for him too! Rajura found me a Japanese Lunar God named Tsukuyomi. I might name him that. M-SB said that if the kitten responds to the "commands" that only Taunih responded to... he will be very spooked. Taunih purred on command if you wanted her to soothe you. This kitten... dunno yet. Picking a name is hard. Especially when he lives far away and all I have is a digital photo. Finding a name that when shortened does sound STUPID is also hard. If I name him Tsukuyomi then it will likely be shortened to Tsuku... which i guess is ok. I wonder if that means anything in Japanese.
Friday, March 10, 2006
Cloak at the Vet
Well what an ordeal!! Normally Cloak is very good in other locations, but this was a bit much for him. We all know he has a limit to being manhandled. Don't we all? First he was upset by going out in the carrier. Last that that did that didn't come back. "OMGs I am going to DIE!!!!" Silly boy. AT the vet he prowled about nervously. I weighed him. He officially lost 2.5 lbs over the last couple months. That is a loss of almost 25% of his body weight! We all noticed him being thin. This is why he went to the vet. The physical tuned up a healthy cat. His behavious is not really changed. We struggled with him to get a urine sample. The urinalysis was normal. Then came to fight for a blood sample. 5 tries later and finally a sample. He growled and snarled and hissed. He doesn't ever really aim to bite, just make lots of noise. He will squirm and managed to snag the tech's elbow with his pack claws while squirming. I should have results tonight. There goes another $135. Dammit. If the blood tests turn nothing up... I will just assume he is fine until there are other symptoms of odd behavior. He was happy to come home and promptly ate the wet food I gave him as a treat.
I have a meeting in an hour... so I am off to clean house and eat.
I have a meeting in an hour... so I am off to clean house and eat.
yet another busy day
Ya... still sick, but improving. Today M-SB starts his new job. I am going to drive him over in a few minutes. Then Cloak goes to the vet. We have all noticed that he has lost weight. I am worried about him. So to the vet he goes. Then I have serious cleaning to do to prep the house for classes tomorrow. And I have a meeting with the boss and an employee today at the store. Tonight I have yet another class to teach, but for the public. AND I still have Foucault articles to read. OY!
Ooops... and a reference letter to write for a former employee.
Ooops... and a reference letter to write for a former employee.
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Toronto Pagan Conference: Lecture 1
March 3, 2006, 7pm
Catherine Starr: NROOGD (How a class project became a nearly 40 yr-old Trad)
NROOGD: New Reformed Orthodox Order of the Golden Dawn
It had been leading public Sabbat in the SanFrabcisco area since 1967. It has hosted gatherings and talks as well. The 4 founding members included Sarah T., Aidan A. Kelly, Glenn Turner, and Judy G. One woman thought it would be intersting to start something as a class project based on common interests that these 4 shared:
- Golden Dawn
- Yates (poet and once member of the Golden Dawn)
- Shamanism
- Margaret Murry
- Gardner
- Witchcraft
Together they created an opening chant and greeting dance.
Aidan Kelly has himself written several interesting foundation books, which are frustrating all out of print at the moment (some now very expensive second hand).
- Crafting the Art of Magic, Book I: A History of Modern Witchcraft, 1939-1964
- Neo-Pagan Witchcraft I
- Neo-pagan Witchcraft II
- Gardnerian Book of Shadows
He also wrote great poetry and rituals!
The 4 founding members created a circle cast that included each, so each had a line. The rituals were very balanced and were robed in public. October 31, 1967 was the first public ritual and it included 13 people. Later they engaged in more private esbats (while still hosting the public sabbats). These esbats were small study groups that worked on energy and ritual exercises and the groupmind. These private meetings were skyclad.
Anecdote from Catherine Starr: How they became skyclad... Several folks in addition to the 4 founders met one day to discuss and learned that in the charge it mentions being naked in your rites. They looked at each other and Fritz (yes the BC Fritz that we all know and love) stood and took off his clothes! Statled, they all followed suit. And thus the private workings were hence done skyclad.
They created a degree system based on some research. There were 3 cords or 3 degrees. The first white cord (1st degree) was given to intiates who came to the rituals. They were to learn the mother scripts. The second red cord (2nd degree) was given to public elders, those who attended rituals and had experience and thus could lead their own. The third black cord (3rd degree) was given out privately to those who made significant contribution in some way to their coven.
As arts and poetry were a strong component of their rituals, the Goddess Brigit became important to their rituals.
Later they sought to evade the evil tax system and aimed to gain tax exepmt status. They signed a document as a legal Church of Witchcraft and became part of COG (which has a chapter in Toronto).
Lesson of learning about 3rd generations. It seems that all groups go through various transitions that seriously transform by the third generation. NROOGD was no different. So the transition process looks like this:
Gen 1: Small founding / deciding group and then a church organization
Gen 2: Representatives and subgroups (connected or detaching hive-offs)
Gen 3: Hived groups no longer part of nor truly resemble the original tradition
Because Paganism is such an evolving living religion, this should be a normal progression to avoid stagnation and institutionalization.
The ritual format however has stayed the same for the most part.
1- opening chant
2- greeting dance
3- charging of the bowl (bowl of water used ofr blessing space and people)
4- casting of the circle x 4 (athame, incense, wand, bowl)
5- opening speach
"We are between the worlds
What is between the worlds,
Transcends the worlds."
6- calling quarters
7- calling goddess/god (white/red/black the triple phases)
8- love feast (sharing of cakes and wine)
9- dance of the feet that leads to power raising
10- closing speach
11- grounding
This ritual process has been translated into several languages: English, Gaelic, Welsh, German, Hebrew, and even Klingon!
One last important aspect of NROOGD is that they are always finding ways to:
GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY
* Thank you Catherine Starr for presenting your tradition to us!
Catherine Starr: NROOGD (How a class project became a nearly 40 yr-old Trad)
NROOGD: New Reformed Orthodox Order of the Golden Dawn
It had been leading public Sabbat in the SanFrabcisco area since 1967. It has hosted gatherings and talks as well. The 4 founding members included Sarah T., Aidan A. Kelly, Glenn Turner, and Judy G. One woman thought it would be intersting to start something as a class project based on common interests that these 4 shared:
- Golden Dawn
- Yates (poet and once member of the Golden Dawn)
- Shamanism
- Margaret Murry
- Gardner
- Witchcraft
Together they created an opening chant and greeting dance.
Aidan Kelly has himself written several interesting foundation books, which are frustrating all out of print at the moment (some now very expensive second hand).
- Crafting the Art of Magic, Book I: A History of Modern Witchcraft, 1939-1964
- Neo-Pagan Witchcraft I
- Neo-pagan Witchcraft II
- Gardnerian Book of Shadows
He also wrote great poetry and rituals!
The 4 founding members created a circle cast that included each, so each had a line. The rituals were very balanced and were robed in public. October 31, 1967 was the first public ritual and it included 13 people. Later they engaged in more private esbats (while still hosting the public sabbats). These esbats were small study groups that worked on energy and ritual exercises and the groupmind. These private meetings were skyclad.
Anecdote from Catherine Starr: How they became skyclad... Several folks in addition to the 4 founders met one day to discuss and learned that in the charge it mentions being naked in your rites. They looked at each other and Fritz (yes the BC Fritz that we all know and love) stood and took off his clothes! Statled, they all followed suit. And thus the private workings were hence done skyclad.
They created a degree system based on some research. There were 3 cords or 3 degrees. The first white cord (1st degree) was given to intiates who came to the rituals. They were to learn the mother scripts. The second red cord (2nd degree) was given to public elders, those who attended rituals and had experience and thus could lead their own. The third black cord (3rd degree) was given out privately to those who made significant contribution in some way to their coven.
As arts and poetry were a strong component of their rituals, the Goddess Brigit became important to their rituals.
Later they sought to evade the evil tax system and aimed to gain tax exepmt status. They signed a document as a legal Church of Witchcraft and became part of COG (which has a chapter in Toronto).
Lesson of learning about 3rd generations. It seems that all groups go through various transitions that seriously transform by the third generation. NROOGD was no different. So the transition process looks like this:
Gen 1: Small founding / deciding group and then a church organization
Gen 2: Representatives and subgroups (connected or detaching hive-offs)
Gen 3: Hived groups no longer part of nor truly resemble the original tradition
Because Paganism is such an evolving living religion, this should be a normal progression to avoid stagnation and institutionalization.
The ritual format however has stayed the same for the most part.
1- opening chant
2- greeting dance
3- charging of the bowl (bowl of water used ofr blessing space and people)
4- casting of the circle x 4 (athame, incense, wand, bowl)
5- opening speach
"We are between the worlds
What is between the worlds,
Transcends the worlds."
6- calling quarters
7- calling goddess/god (white/red/black the triple phases)
8- love feast (sharing of cakes and wine)
9- dance of the feet that leads to power raising
10- closing speach
11- grounding
This ritual process has been translated into several languages: English, Gaelic, Welsh, German, Hebrew, and even Klingon!
One last important aspect of NROOGD is that they are always finding ways to:
GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY
* Thank you Catherine Starr for presenting your tradition to us!
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Survived!
I have survived intact... for the most part. I did not have meds last night... and none thus far all day. Mind, I now have a wopping headache and small fever. I will take something AFTER I eat. The day was busy and long. I was not multitasking like I usually do. Survived though. The tough part was hanging out for the class after. I was exhausted and starting to feel crappy and unable to focus. So much for trying to do homework.
well... this blog took me an hour to write. So look at the time stamp and add an hour to know the actual posting time. I better just go to bed.
well... this blog took me an hour to write. So look at the time stamp and add an hour to know the actual posting time. I better just go to bed.
various updates
My teacher emailed me back. I got a "B" on my paper. YAY! He said I made some very interesting points, but my actual analysis of the author I was supposed to be analyzing was very weak. Analysis IS one of my weak points in writing. He seems to have confidence in me that I will improve.
On the sick me... my sinuses are no longer killing me. Now my best friend is the kleenex box. I am going to be a fine sight at work. Ugh. By the way, 3-ply Kleenex with aloe lotion and vitamin E happens to be the best kleenex ever. My nose appreciates it. Oh... and they are on special at Pharmaprix this week too.
Today I have work. Ugh. And I have to stay after during the CMS-L1 class. I hope it is warmer in the store this week. It should be. The outside temps have been much more reasonable. I will bring my homework with me and some other reading materials. Any fun reading has to wait till the kitten payment goes through my visa so I can see what is left to buy books with.
I know I haven't gotten to posting all the cool stuff from the conference yet. I will get to it slowly. Tomorrow I will try to post the first few lectures I attended. I will do this, I will list here what I went to:
- Introduction to the NROOGD
- Sacred Sited in Ireland
- Community Structures
- Canadian Pagan Survey Project
- Carl Jung, Myers-Briggs & Magic
- Building Community Panel Discussion
- Sky Lore & the Norse Calendar
- Feedback for Future Events Panel
- Groupmind
Ok, I am off to pack for the day and head out to work.
On the sick me... my sinuses are no longer killing me. Now my best friend is the kleenex box. I am going to be a fine sight at work. Ugh. By the way, 3-ply Kleenex with aloe lotion and vitamin E happens to be the best kleenex ever. My nose appreciates it. Oh... and they are on special at Pharmaprix this week too.
Today I have work. Ugh. And I have to stay after during the CMS-L1 class. I hope it is warmer in the store this week. It should be. The outside temps have been much more reasonable. I will bring my homework with me and some other reading materials. Any fun reading has to wait till the kitten payment goes through my visa so I can see what is left to buy books with.
I know I haven't gotten to posting all the cool stuff from the conference yet. I will get to it slowly. Tomorrow I will try to post the first few lectures I attended. I will do this, I will list here what I went to:
- Introduction to the NROOGD
- Sacred Sited in Ireland
- Community Structures
- Canadian Pagan Survey Project
- Carl Jung, Myers-Briggs & Magic
- Building Community Panel Discussion
- Sky Lore & the Norse Calendar
- Feedback for Future Events Panel
- Groupmind
Ok, I am off to pack for the day and head out to work.
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
2 days downtime
Well, I have been "down" for 2 whole days with minimal improvement. Today was better than yesterday. Today my head was able to at least think. I finished another Foucault article. Two more to read for class. M-SB dragged me out to get a few groceries.
OH! He starts a new job on Friday. YAY! Thanks Hobbes and Sarah!
Before leaving, I took a cold med... on an empty stomach. I was planning on going to class. But by the time we got back from the groceries I was SO SICK!!! Take meds with food. It is not advice, it is a direction. The consequences are quite dire otherwise. I was fetal till almost 7pm. Oy. It could also have been because I was out and about trying to do stuff when I should have been just resting. Just resting is BORING! Need to DO stuff! The fetal and ill thing was really unpleasant. I think I passed out at some point because I have a memory gap.
M-SB and I have been watching Last Exile while I suffer in bed. I am really sick of being sick. I hate downtime. So little gets done!
I wish I didn't have to work this week so I can recoup. But alas that is not possible. I am opening and closing tomorrow. I hope everyone will go a bit easy on me. I can't afford another day of being fetal.
Friday will have to be my next scheduled downtime. M-SB starts work then and I have to bring Cloak into the vet at 10am... but after I have most of the day. Oh crap. I have to teach a class that evening. Oy...
OH! He starts a new job on Friday. YAY! Thanks Hobbes and Sarah!
Before leaving, I took a cold med... on an empty stomach. I was planning on going to class. But by the time we got back from the groceries I was SO SICK!!! Take meds with food. It is not advice, it is a direction. The consequences are quite dire otherwise. I was fetal till almost 7pm. Oy. It could also have been because I was out and about trying to do stuff when I should have been just resting. Just resting is BORING! Need to DO stuff! The fetal and ill thing was really unpleasant. I think I passed out at some point because I have a memory gap.
M-SB and I have been watching Last Exile while I suffer in bed. I am really sick of being sick. I hate downtime. So little gets done!
I wish I didn't have to work this week so I can recoup. But alas that is not possible. I am opening and closing tomorrow. I hope everyone will go a bit easy on me. I can't afford another day of being fetal.
Friday will have to be my next scheduled downtime. M-SB starts work then and I have to bring Cloak into the vet at 10am... but after I have most of the day. Oh crap. I have to teach a class that evening. Oy...
Sleep used to be a friend of mine...
Isn't that a song? I have been getting 2hr stints of sleep on and off. Nothing really solid. Yup, I am still bloody sick. And now also very behind in my readings for school. I will try to do some today... and try get to class. My dad came by this morning with stuff from my Mum. They brought me a humidifier (still trying to figure it out), some juice, frozen home-made speggetti sauce, and home-made chicken soup stock.
I have been awake since 6:30am this morning. I am less sinus congested, but more coughing and all my mouth and throat are sore. Somehow, I bit my tongue real badly in my sleep.
I am amazed M-SB can sleep next to me with me tossing and turning, sniffling and coughing. He has been taking such good care of me. Checking on me, bringing me food and drink, making sure I get some sleep. He is now downloading stuff to watch in bed as I feel too crappy to sit in the livingroom to watch anything.
Oh... the song... it isn't sleep used to be a friend of mine.
PM Dawn: Reality (used to be a friend of mine)
I have been awake since 6:30am this morning. I am less sinus congested, but more coughing and all my mouth and throat are sore. Somehow, I bit my tongue real badly in my sleep.
I am amazed M-SB can sleep next to me with me tossing and turning, sniffling and coughing. He has been taking such good care of me. Checking on me, bringing me food and drink, making sure I get some sleep. He is now downloading stuff to watch in bed as I feel too crappy to sit in the livingroom to watch anything.
Oh... the song... it isn't sleep used to be a friend of mine.
PM Dawn: Reality (used to be a friend of mine)
Monday, March 06, 2006
Guess what?
I am still uber sick ... :(
But...
I got a new picture of the kitten I am getting! Looksee!!
Thank you A1Savannahs!!
But...
I got a new picture of the kitten I am getting! Looksee!!
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Thank you A1Savannahs!!
Curves
My mom is joining Curves today!!! I want to go with her!!! We can work out together. Yay... now if only i was not so bloody sick!
Uber Sick
I can add sore throat and fever to the sick list. I rarely get sick... usually not more than a day of sniffles... but when I do get sick... it make up for all the little things I should have suffered through. So... please be nice to me this week.
Sunday, March 05, 2006
Home again!
If you are a community leader or inc=volved in any pagan community events... boy will you be upset! This conference was SO for you and you should have been there!!! It was amazing. Over the next couple days, between reading about Michel Foucault, I will post the notes I took while at the Toronto Pagan Conference.
Right now... I am home... and very very sick. A cold gripped me full force the second I relaxed in the hotel room and let the adrenalyn levels drop. I am bleh... congested, stuffy, sniffly, sneezy and coughing. Don't come near me. I will be spending the next little while in bed or at the computer.
Right now... I am home... and very very sick. A cold gripped me full force the second I relaxed in the hotel room and let the adrenalyn levels drop. I am bleh... congested, stuffy, sniffly, sneezy and coughing. Don't come near me. I will be spending the next little while in bed or at the computer.
Friday, March 03, 2006
Off to Conference!
I am packed and ready to go to the Toronto Pagan Conference. Rosanne is probably going to make me unpack stuff... I have one bag (with clothes and books), one bag of food, one bag of muffins that M-SB baked for us, and my zafu.
My zafu cushion has a built in carry handle!!!
Anyways, I will not be around to answer/check messengers, email, or blogs until Monday.
Laters all!
Oh.. and Rick (Montreal Rick)...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
*HUGS & KISSES*
My zafu cushion has a built in carry handle!!!
Anyways, I will not be around to answer/check messengers, email, or blogs until Monday.
Laters all!
Oh.. and Rick (Montreal Rick)...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
*HUGS & KISSES*
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Girl talk / girly things to do
Apparently I have missed something. Airea has been trying to get me to a girly night of tea and tiara's *grin* and apparently it is something of a sin (according to Rosanne) for me to not have a swimsuit for sitting in hot tubs and saunas. No, alas, I have not had a swim suit since I was 16. I tried shopping for one a few years ago... but that turned out the same way shoe shopping does. Me not fitting into nor liking anything there, losing patients very quickly and storming off in a huff with no purchase.
So, I need to do the following sometime soon:
- shop for nice everyday dress shoes (should do this with Airea... she is a shoe miracle woman!)
- shop for a swim suit
- have a girly night with tea and tiaras... hmmm... and maybe henna? (Airea, Rooo, Rosanne?)
There are other things too. Like hmmm... been toying with the idea of a girly party ... like a lingerie or sunsual products party, like a tupperware party. There are a few girls I know who will have a blast with this. I am free in April after my grad class (on April 18th) if folks want to do something.
Anyone in?
So, I need to do the following sometime soon:
- shop for nice everyday dress shoes (should do this with Airea... she is a shoe miracle woman!)
- shop for a swim suit
- have a girly night with tea and tiaras... hmmm... and maybe henna? (Airea, Rooo, Rosanne?)
There are other things too. Like hmmm... been toying with the idea of a girly party ... like a lingerie or sunsual products party, like a tupperware party. There are a few girls I know who will have a blast with this. I am free in April after my grad class (on April 18th) if folks want to do something.
Anyone in?
FOILED!!!
CRAP!!
Well, work went very well, super busy, but well. It was thankfully a bit more tolerable. My teeth were not chattering in work today. The outside temperatures better get warm soon. My brother's family will now be getting their late Yule gifts. Thanks Dimitri!! And, I found a box finally that will hold all the stuff I am sending out to Mike in Iraq. I even stayed an hour longer at work to tie up some loose ends. I bolted out at 4:20pm and dropped stuff off at my car and grabbed a hot French Vanilla capoccino from Tim Hortons.
FOILED!!!
I had written down in ALL my note places that the workshop was 5-7pm. I arrived to the space all closed off with a sign that said it was 4-7pm.
CRAP!!
Oh well...
So now I am home. I have the evening to plan and pack for the weekend. I picked up a new book from the PO Box. "Encouraging the Heart: A Leader's Guide to Rewarding and Recognizing Others". So I have new reading. I want to order more books for personal entertainment. But my finances are all locked. I have the Toronto trip this weekend, then the kitten deposit, and then $250 for my mom for the car. After that I have tickets and more kitten payment. OH! And the CMS poster that is not hard-board laminated. I need to pick that up. YAY!
I am getting this Spring Frenzy feeling... the kind that is followed by spring cleaning and household purging. If it was warmer, I would start with the car. It is a shame I am so bloody tired. I could start with the livingroom and Library.
Ok... brain getting scattered... must reign it in!
To Do Tonight:
- pack for Toronto
- get directions
- plan food for weekend
- relax and read
- clean livingroom
- fold laundry
Well, work went very well, super busy, but well. It was thankfully a bit more tolerable. My teeth were not chattering in work today. The outside temperatures better get warm soon. My brother's family will now be getting their late Yule gifts. Thanks Dimitri!! And, I found a box finally that will hold all the stuff I am sending out to Mike in Iraq. I even stayed an hour longer at work to tie up some loose ends. I bolted out at 4:20pm and dropped stuff off at my car and grabbed a hot French Vanilla capoccino from Tim Hortons.
FOILED!!!
I had written down in ALL my note places that the workshop was 5-7pm. I arrived to the space all closed off with a sign that said it was 4-7pm.
CRAP!!
Oh well...
So now I am home. I have the evening to plan and pack for the weekend. I picked up a new book from the PO Box. "Encouraging the Heart: A Leader's Guide to Rewarding and Recognizing Others". So I have new reading. I want to order more books for personal entertainment. But my finances are all locked. I have the Toronto trip this weekend, then the kitten deposit, and then $250 for my mom for the car. After that I have tickets and more kitten payment. OH! And the CMS poster that is not hard-board laminated. I need to pick that up. YAY!
I am getting this Spring Frenzy feeling... the kind that is followed by spring cleaning and household purging. If it was warmer, I would start with the car. It is a shame I am so bloody tired. I could start with the livingroom and Library.
Ok... brain getting scattered... must reign it in!
To Do Tonight:
- pack for Toronto
- get directions
- plan food for weekend
- relax and read
- clean livingroom
- fold laundry
busybusybusy
Yesterday was busy! Worked, trained new guy on new stuff, and read homework. Well... not all of it. I finished the first article. I have 2 others to read to be caught up this week then one more to read for next week. The store was FREEZING yesterday. It made it hard to focus, especially in the evening when things were turned off and I was just sitting and trying to read. The cold made me stiff and sore.
Sleeping was thus... BAD... I am still stiff, sore and now tired, too. This vile grey weather and frigid chill is horrible for both body and mood.
Today after work I have a GSA workshop to attend: Stress Management Using Art & Zen.
Tonight, I have to pack to go to Toronto. Then I need to get to sleep early as I have to be up early and driving. Oh crap! I have to get directions.
Woops, 9:16am... gotta run!
Sleeping was thus... BAD... I am still stiff, sore and now tired, too. This vile grey weather and frigid chill is horrible for both body and mood.
Today after work I have a GSA workshop to attend: Stress Management Using Art & Zen.
Tonight, I have to pack to go to Toronto. Then I need to get to sleep early as I have to be up early and driving. Oh crap! I have to get directions.
Woops, 9:16am... gotta run!
