Monthly Archives: July 2012

Being Nice (er).

Posted on July 31, 2012 | 17 Comments

             We rode 16 miles today.  I want to say that again, in case you thought your eyes viewed the number wrong.  We rode SIXTEEN miles today.  On our bikes.  Me and Dan.  16 miles.  On bikes.

             Okay.  Now I can move on.  I hope.  I’m very tired, so maybe there won’t be much more moving this evening.  We pedaled home, changed clothes, and went out for grocery shopping (plus a few other items in the same complex).

             Did I mention how tired I am?

small dogs and small chairs

Keep in mind that Max is the size of a cat.
(And those are standard 8 1/2 by 11 pieces of paper.)

             A few days ago I woke up to those chairs* in my living room.  With the FREE signs taped just like that.  I love them.   Just not sure where I’m going to put them.  (They were on the side of the road in Mayberry, along with a very large, very faded, red table umbrella.)

*I will take another shot with better perspective, so you can see how small they really are.  They fit me great!

             On our card altar today it appears as though we have Toni’s version of Kwan Yin.  With a bit of the Virgin of Guadalupe thrown in for good measure.

oracle cards

“Goddess Of Compassion  ~

Self-criticism is diminishing your sense of self-worth.

The Goddess Of Compassion has shown up in your reading today to ask you to be more compassionate towards yourself.

At the core of every living thing only love exists.  Your personality and the role you play in this life is only transitory and ultimately, an illusion.  All that  you perceive to be good or bad are necessary aspects of who you are; positive and negative qualities exist in everyone and in everything.

A more accurate description of positive and negative is Yin and Yang, for in reality there is neither positive nor negative, only opposite qualities which together make us whole.

Self-criticism is diminishing your sense of self-worth and keeping you in the illusion that you need to improve in order to be worthy of success, happiness, and fulfillment.  Have compassion; love and accept all of who you are, as you are, and stop striving for something that is impossible to attain.  Through love  your life magically transforms.”

             Again, I was guided to go with this choice.  Which, coming from who I know these messages are coming from, is pretty damn amazing and spot on.

Today’s Deck:

Angels, Gods, and Goddesses Oracle Cards by Toni Carmine Salerno

             We found out today when and where the upcoming Celebration Of Life (funeral) will be for my friend.  I don’t know if I can attend it.  I couldn’t go to my sister’s, it’s unlikely I’ll be able to show up for this one.  It is more probable that some combination of my children will represent us.

LateNight Goodness:

Kewl Kate came through with some news recently, she got the PayPal to work!  I don’t know how, but I think she just typed in my e-mail address into their site, and I popped up.  So, if anyone needs a card reading or something stitched, you can try this payment option as well.

              I won’t be including a “pay this way” button yet, but I’ll rewrite the info on my Services page soon, to reflect this.  Be aware that they do charge me a percentage for this convenience, though.

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And, we keep at it.

Posted on July 30, 2012 | 9 Comments

             You know how there’s crap in your house that you look past?  Items just there, but you see them all the time, and then you kind of STOP noticing them?  Well, on one wall of our living room there’s a print.  A few days ago I zeroed in it.

            I’d been looking right past it for months, but THAT day my eyes were drawn to every individual feature.  Yesterday it happened again.  It was blatant, like the image called out and MADE me stare at it.  The picture is an enlarged copy of today’s card.

             When I said in yesterday’s comments that we’ve been getting LOUD messages, I was not even close to kidding.  Last night was a bad one.   I was bothered in my dreams, bothered by useless worry and fretting over shit that had nothing to do with me.  When I saw our card today, I was dramatically relieved.

oracle cards

“The River Queen ~  36  ~

flow, letting go, natural movement

The River Queen flows into your life as an Ally to remind you about the concept of allowing and the Law of Nonattachment.  Remember that all rivers come from the mountains and run to the sea to be absorbed by the larger body of water.  There the liquid evaporates into clouds that rain on the mountains to continue an endless cycle of fluidity.

The River Queen requires you to be fluid and to let go of rigidity and perfectionism.  You will travel far as long as you let go and let flow, even maneuvering around the greatest blockages like water streams around big boulders.  No obstacle can hold you back now if you are willing to surrender to the natural flow of events.  

Be easy on yourself and others, and watch how smoothly you move forward.  You  may be surprised where the river takes you.”

            The other validation was the words I was guided to select for the last post.  Enjoy this illustration and feel all of that water, just moving along through, into, and out of, our shared lives.

brave dogs

“What? I feel fine.”

              Last night Max went gimpy.  He had one paw that he wasn’t walking on.  Dan thought he maybe got stung when he was out in front with us.  But there was no swelling, no redness, no point of injury.  He napped while we watched a few Olympic events, and now he’s fine.  We don’t have a clue.  But now, he seems perfectly well.

Today’s Deck:

Wisdom Of The Hidden Realms Oracle Cards by Colette Baron-Reid

Physical Health Up-Date, one day post bike wreck:

in the pool earlier I found another bruise we hadn’t seen before, but the knee healing has already begun, as have the other sore places.  Could have been so much worse, so I’m very grateful.

Foreign License Plates:

Nebraska, Tennessee, Colorado, Illinois (times two), Wisconsin, South Dakota, and either Georgia or Florida (Dan shouts out, “was that a peach?”  I  stare around, like WTF?!  And he continues, “or an orange?”  Ah ha, a car from someplace else, not just random fruit in our path).  He’s very helpful.

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Flowing With It.

Posted on July 29, 2012 | 10 Comments

             You’re gonna love this.  I had a bike wreck today.  And we followed it up with a huge lecture to the group of kids who caused my crash.  But, no.  There will not be a picture of my scraped and bleedy knee.  It wasn’t too bad of an injury, I steered toward the grass.  And, as Dan said, nearly recovered before I went almost all the way over.

             Mostly I was angry.  Later though,  he bought me frozen yogurt.  At a new place!  They also have local coffee.  Plus, this shop is RIGHT off the bike path.  We’ll be going back.  Soon.

biking in Eugene

A whole ‘nother bag.

           When we went out earlier in the week there was an event being set up right along the river.

Willamette River park

We don’t know any of those people.

             At the bridge, it looks much smaller, from afar.  Glad we saw it up close first.

eugene parks

Slip ‘n Slide!

             We also were gifted with this lovely treasure, after our rejuvenating tasty (and healthy) treat.

feathers

              On our card altar is one of my absolute favorite animals.  This version is slightly different from some others we may be familiar with.  But very cool.  (It’s Whale, it can’t HELP but be good.)

animal oracle cards

“Whale  ~  

Through music you reclaim life’s magic and grow strong in body and soul.

Whale, sublime denizens of the deep oceans, communicates in complex song and serenades his love from afar, telling her of his prowess, experience, and wisdom.  We rarely now use our voices, except in mundane speech.  The cry of triumph, the song of joy, the mystics’ chant, and the scream that releases tension all die before they find utterance.  Yet rhythm, vibration, and frequency, say much and heal both body and soul.  

Reclaim your voice and, like Whale, grow strong and light as his magic transforms  your mind.”

             Thank you all again for your support and caring.  It’s still very emotional here, as it will, no doubt, continue to be for quite a while.  Here’s Max, to momentarily cheer us all up.

dogs with toys

Today’s Deck:

Animal Messages – Seek Inspiration From Your Animal Guides by Susie Green

LateNight Health Up-date:  I was more shook up about the collision than I thought, and it turns out that there is far more bruising than was first suspected too.  Off to find that Trifecta Of Pain Relief now.

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Gifting and Learning and Growing.

Posted on July 28, 2012 | 7 Comments

             When a person as well loved as my friend passes on, there is a massive hole left behind.  It takes a very, very long time for that wound to heal.  But we DO heal.  This is one of the (many, manymanymany) things that Karen taught us.  Even if, in the end, you have to leave, there is still healing to be found.

             I used to say that going anywhere with her was like taking Elvis to the grocery store.  It was wild and nearly impossible.  She ALWAYS ran in to someone she knew.  And she ALWAYS remembered their name, their circumstances, and their situation.   She has been on my mind every minute since I heard the news that she’d gone Home.  It must be like this for hundreds and hundreds of other people today too.  All we can do is emulate her actions, honor her legacy, and try to follow in her footsteps.

             As I stood in the card altar room this afternoon I asked her which deck we should go with.  She chose this one.

oracle cards

“Angel of Emergence  ~

It is time for the real you to emerge.

This card mirrors the start of a wondrous transformation that is about to occur in your life.  For far too long now, you have felt second best and remained in the background.   It is now time for the real you – the beautiful, talented, and wondrous you – to emerge.

This is the emergence of your true nature which until now you have denied to most of those around you, and often, also denied to yourself.  Over the coming days and weeks you will begin to feel a newfound sense of confidence and excitement for your life.  Embrace it!  Give thanks to God and the angels, above all, respect, love, and honour the beautiful and talented person that you are.”

             Please use the appropriate substitutions where needed.  Additionally, for Karen’s sake, genuinely try this one on for size.  Take it for a test run.  Walk proudly today, as the most amazing person you can be.

                 Also?  Appreciate every fucking second.

small dogs in oregon

From Empress and Max,
to everyone in JulieLand

Today’s Deck:

Angels, Gods, and Goddesses Oracle Cards by Toni Carmine Salerno

LateNight Gratitude:

thank you, all.  For your love and support.  And once again, for your patience.

             Yes, Hanna.  You nailed it.  She taught us all, she was like your third parent.  Without her, none of you (none of us!) would be who we are now.

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More life than anyone I have ever known.

Posted on July 27, 2012 | 21 Comments

             Typing through tears is messy, uncomfortable, and way deep down, so damn disgusting.  But it’s what I’m doing now, sobbing and sharing.  Because I can’t sit here in this much pain and do nothing.

             This morning the world lost the most amazing woman I ever had the privilege to know.    Karen Tompkins Anderson passed at home, with her loving husband Michael by her side.

             She was my dearest friend, our children’s preschool teacher, the funniest pal who used to sit with me and Dan through the most boring of meetings, the only person who could get me to enjoy camping, and she was so many more things than I can get down in one place.

             I’m off the charts grief-stricken.   My heart aches for her family.  All I can do is show you the card on our altar today.  In theory, it helps.

oracle cards

“Faith  ~  Guardian Angel

Think of all the miracles you have experienced in your life so far.  This card asks you to have faith that Heaven will continue to help and support you along the way.  Your faith is a key factor right now, and it’s important that you keep it strong.

Like the angel in this cards’s painting, you are about to take a leap of faith.  The message is that it’s safe for  you to make this leap – you’re finally following your heart’s wisdom, and it will pay you unseen dividends.

The situation you are contemplating is the right path, provided that you keep the faith.  Your steady optimism will attract the opportunities and support you need, but any pessimism will push away or slow your progress.

Before you go to sleep each night, ask your guardian angel to clear away any fears that keep you from enjoying full faith.  In the morning, you will notice your renewed and increased belief.  Remember that with faith, all things are possible.”

             I have complete faith that Karen has gone Home.  She is with her dad, her sister, her step-father, and my own sister.  We’ll see them all again, I KNOW this.  It still hurts.

Today’s Deck:

Saints & Angels Oracle Cards by Doreen Virtue

Tomorrow I’m taking down her blog.  So go look at it now if you haven’t recently, then bookmark it.   There won’t be a link at my place after this.

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