What a great day!!

Thursday, November 30th, 2006 PST

Gemini (May 21 - Jun 20)
It's a great day to pursue a moneymaking idea, as long as you aren't trying to take on the project by yourself. Relationships are sweetened now, so it might make sense to lean on others for support and encouragement. Chances are you won't have to push very hard before your friends give you even more than you need.

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What a great day for me and my friends!!

I got two penguin e-mails today... very, very different results at the end of the click:

From Kelli: http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2006-11-28-medved-edit_x.htm

From Ren: http://37days.typepad.com/37days/2006/11/forever_hold_yo.html

Then I got to see Christine's homework... the perfect follow-up to Ren's link :)

Treatment Prayer
Purpose: To bless and accept Hannah’s (age 9.5) Transition

Recognition: I know that there is One, that is an endless, timeless Source of Love. I know that this Loving Source is intimately personal and yet vast in Its Being, channeling this Love through all of time and space, never ceasing, always loving, always knowing, in all ways, always.

Unification: I know that this Loving Oneness connects us all to Itself, uniting us in Spirit with all those living and those who have transitioned. I know I can never be separate from this Spirit of Love, that Lights the darkness, showing me Its Endless Love that now exists as Hannah, in every part of my world, right now and forever.

Realization: I am perfectly and eternally United with Hannah, Connected by Oneness and Love that is undying, unyielding to time, right now. I am at peace knowing that Spirit guides her onto new dimensions of Love that I access, through knowing her and loving her, now and forever. I know that I am granted joy in my awareness of this, now.

Thanksgiving: I am so thankful to be a part of Hannah, and her Life and her Family's Life. I am grateful that her transition has brought me this dynamic awareness of my connection to her through Spirit.

Release: I release my word in the Law of Mind, knowing that this is already reality.

Blessed Be.

Blessed Be, indeed! I Love My Life!! (even if it's one of those crying/sobbing from my soul kinda days... LIFE ROCKS!!)

Free Emergency Contraception

Quick! Pick up your free EC at your local Planned Parenthood: Wednesday, December 6, 2006
Sioux Falls
6511 W. 41st St.
10 am to 6 pm
(605)361-5100
Rapid City
619 Mountain View Rd
3 pm to 7 pm
(605)341-2545

Even if this is something you know you'll never need, you just never know who may wander into your life who needs you to have this in your medicine cabinet...

It's the Real Thing

...when commercials give you chills.
I loved this commercial as a little kid; Mrs. Surts had us sing this song in 3rd grade:

I'd like to build the world a home; And furnish it with love
Grow apple trees and honey bees; And snow-white turtle doves
Chorus:
I'd like to teach the world to sing; In perfect harmony
I'd like to hold it in my arms; And keep it company
(That's the song I hear)
I'd like to see the world for once
(Let the world sing today)
All standing hand in hand
And hear them echo through the hills; For peace throughout the land
That's the song I hear
(That's the song I hear)
Let the world sing today
(Let the whole wide world keep singing)
A song of peace that echoes on; And never goes away

(Repeat 1st stanza and Chorus)

Put your hand in my hand; Let's begin today
Put your hand in my hand; Help me find a way

what great memories... Even Coca-Cola understood the call to peace... we've since been distracted... may this be a great reminder to us all...

My Dream Tatoo...

I'm getting an arm band. A tall, all the way 'round armband. I'm thinking 4-5 inches tall and about 12 inches around (eek! is that accurate? I'll have to get really buff if it's not!) I've oft described it as "grafitti art" and I think my idea is more from doodle art (it's Christine, she'd send me pages and pages of her little doodles and I've always held them up as my kind of art ::bg::) A bunch of little icons that are individually and collectively diana! :)
The centerpiece is gonna be a paperdoll set, the connected at the arms kind, with a bigger purple girl one (me!) with blue girl and red boy on either side, with HaHaMommy written across the bottom of my skirt. I want LOVE written like a 14 year old girl: all connected and bubbled, with a heart for the middle of the "O," a peace sign, the )0( moon goddess symbol, the goddess shown below, Hayden's monster (gotta love this one!), lotus flowers, swirlies, a lil monkey, and, and, and... ideas?

Monday's Mumblings...

I washed my bedding yesterday, then I spent some time in my very warm, smellin' fresh little nest... as I folded laundry on my newly clean bed, I found some time for new admiration for my unschoolin' quilt; okay it was Lily's butt that did it for me ::g:: but just thinking about the love that went into those squares and how much love and warmth I'm embraced in every time I lay down... It's just incredible. The Polar Bears have all become Spirit Bears in my mind and I am so comforted by the thought of my own Spirit Bear.
Our favorite Xmas decorations are up around town... the trees on 33rd and Philips, just a bunch of colored lights, but they're lit every year without fail and such a simple icon for me... They're awful lonely this year, Hayden ooohhs and aaaahhhs with me but it's not the same without the other voice... I know she lives in those moments, those moments that bring Hannah to my mind, through my heart... I really didn't know it could be like this, feeling such big joy at the memory and such big emptiness at the emptiness...
I watched The Secret at Karen's house, the first part of it anyway... Hayden and I will be downloading it later this week... A great reminder of what I've always known, always held as True, a reminder of my own Power of Attraction and how skilled I already am... Now to use my powers for good :::bwahhahahaha::: I think this is the exact message Hayden needs, too... he's already there philosophically, it's in the practice he has issues... Ah! to be 30 years ahead of me, evolutionarily speaking... again I'm excited to bear Witness.
I gathered with my Sisters on Saturday... it was beautiful and perfect... my Mehndi is beautiful: a lotus on my open palm. I'm pickin up the guitar and writing my own ding-dang diana song! I also gotta kick ass on the tatoo development...
Brittany hung out with us Saturday Nite/Sunday. Hayden was so happy to be extra social (Alex, Elizabeth & Megan, too); I was notsomuch, but it worked out well. I even scraped myself together for Pirates of the Carribean 2.
In the spirit of Tolkien, when a guy named Rohan asks me out, I just gotta say yes!

Wooo hooo! The ride home!

I think leaving Corvallis was one of the hardest things I've done lately... it didn't help that my leaving was questioned by everyone we told! I tell you, it's an amazing, amazing (need a word that means even more amazing than amazing) place.
After some lunch (guess where!) and some great company, we hit the road at just after 2pm pst, Tuesday. Hayden had not yet gone to sleep but his mood was refreshingly upbeat! He was asleep before we hit the Solyent Green factory (actually Georgia Pacific Paper plant, but it looks creepily like SG!) on the way to Portland. I didn't take the shortcut Jon mentioned- silly me!- so we were stuck in traffic for a while and I got to practice my breathing and take a long last look around...

Our route was funny, I didn't want to do any treacherous mountain paths like the trip out, so I had to drive all the way to Spokane, WA to hook up with I-90, which will take us all the way home to Sioux Falls. I'd never been to that part of the world, so I appreciated the view and the vibe and I sprinkled Hannah all over the place. There was a Mitchell Point and Wild Mountains :) I took my first little nap (~3 hours) in a beautiful, wooded reststop just outside of Coeur d'Alene, ID. Hayden woke me up and we hit the road again. We sprinkled Hannah in the Panhandle National Forest (who knew?). At about 5am, just across the border into Montana, we stopped for breakfast and were treated to great entertainment by the one man show in a little cafe. He warned us we were between storms and should get back on the road in a hurry, so we did. On the mountains just past him, we ran into our first signs of winter weather! There was only a few miles of icy mountain roads, a bit scary but breathing and gently braking got us through without a hitch. By the time we were in Butte, the snow was far behind us and forgotten! I called my dad then, to see how much farther we had to go and he told me about a shortcut... I was skeptical, I didn't want us to get stuck anywhere, but then we lost service. Somewhere in here was the Crazy Mountain Range -- ooooh, yeah, we spread some Hannah love there, too! When we got to Bozeman, I was in serious need of another nap! Hayden rode his scooter 'round the rest area while I napped in the car for a couple of hours. It was 60+ degrees and sunny, perfect for us both. When I woke up, we went to Target, on our eternal quest for a claw machine (or a "scam machine" as Hayden says!) -- nope! But we had a great visit anyway... When it was time to eat, I found Taco John's; Hayden had been missing his TJs the whole time we were gone, so I was back to being Mom of the Year! Dad got ahold of me again and told me exactly how to do his shortcut (212 E veers off of I-90 near Billings, MT and rejoins it S. of Belle Fourche, SD, cutting 150 miles from the trip!!); it was clear and beautiful. AND it took us just past Little Bighorn - again. This time, Hayden was awake and we decided to check out the park. Lucky for us, we had 5 minutes before they closed!! AND admission is free after 3:30 pm! It's a powerful place, that park... I could feel it the first time I drove by and I was smacked with it when we entered... The first view is the military cemetery... the thousands of soldiers who (yet another example) died for an unjust cause, in the name of American Stupidity and Greed. I wandered around the visitor center, to see the gravesites on the hill, the graves of those First Peoples who died for their right to exist... I was stopped by the ranger who wanted to go home (it was already past their 4:30 closing time and he wanted us to leave so he could close up)... I know I was not meant to go there, I just looked and I cried. Hayden took a picture for me, knowing how sad I was to miss going up there. I had some Hannah in my hand and I wanted to put her up there and not down there with the soldiers, but I guess that was where she was needed! I left her there with a prayer of forgiveness to those folks who acted out of ignorance and a misplaced sense of patriotism. I don't know if we'll ever go there again, it really hurt my heart, but I think we just might... just to pay homage to all of the Souls who met their human demise there.


















We followed Ed's shortcut and fondly remembered our combined family trip to Idaho a few years ago, to see Gramma Lambert. Hannah had been here with us; it was comforting and inspiring. We rolled into Belle Fourche (bell foooosh) before 7pm pst and arrived at Karen and Johns in Rapid City near 7:45!!
They're taking off tomorrow morning for a many-month stint in SoCal, following John's construction job... Hayden was once torn between family today or friends today... I gave him great space and enough time; he decided we'll leave here tomorrow, when they do. He really needed some Saylor time. Soaking up some Karen/John/Stone/Sage love doesn't suck for me, either :)

Sometimes...

the answer from the gods is YES!
Like right now!
I just got an offer of $150!!
Just like that.
I've got just over $100 right now, between donations and working
We'll get home comfortably with some Happy Meals, even!
and I'll have $50 waiting at home for my last week before payday!! Yahoo!
Thank ye
Thank ye
Thank ye

Abundant patience...

that's what I got!
-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-
Gemini (May 21 - Jun 20)
It's not too late to make a simple change in your daily routine, even if it's one you should have made yesterday. A subtle change at this time of your life can set a series of profound consequences into motion. The potential is greater than you realize, so make your actions count as much as possible.

I'm Cartman, hee hee

Which South Park kid are you most like? Cartman You are just plain evil and heartless. Though you're sly, and you come up with brilliant schemes, you're pretty dumb and close minded. Other people hate you... screw them!

Click Here to Take This Quiz Brought to you by YouThink.com quizzes and personality tests.

Beverly Hills Apple Bake

Fighting germs and assorted other ickiness...

7 degrees of DiFonzo

I love it here in Corvallis! It's the most amazing, hip, liberal, green (in all definitions), college town. OSU would like us all to *paint the town orange* for the Ducks...
15 years ago, Mike DiFonzo was Duck, a big Fucka Duck. I didn't much care but it was a big deal to his brother, Mark. I wouldn't much care about that, either, 'cept at the time, Mark happened to hold a position of high esteem in my life, as my bestest friend's husband and sire to the two most amazing human children I've ever known. And at the time, was actually pretty good at both those jobs. Mike's claim to fame, however, is his relationship with Christine's former best friend and his wife; who was a total bitch (in that one snapshot moment in life).

How time flies! Mike's not a Duck, Ruthie's mellowed, Mark's gone off the deep end, Christine's evolving nicely and the spawn are still amazing. Go figger!

The most amazing, beautiful creature to carry the DiFonzo name and genes... All Hail The Divine Miss Z!

Dianazation of the English Language!

It's official! I'm taking over :) Thank you to Christine, for your insight and humor... more of this list to come, I'm sure of it!!!

Dianasize (verb) : to Diana-size one's food, to take apart a food item and re-assemble in a more appetizing way. ie., ZoAnne, stop dianasizing you taco and just eat the dang thing!

Hurricane Diana (noun) : when Diana visits and brings with her a swirling wind of activity, joy and, yea, maybe some destruction. ie., I'm hiding in the room when Hurricane Diana blows into town. (guess who? :-)

Dianazation (adverb) : when a room is re-done in one day with mismatch floral prints and mystical type objects. ie., We went to Target & a botanica to complete dianazation of the bedroom.

Divine Spark of Diana (noun) : Acknowledgment of the divinity within persons named Diana and anyone else feeling sparky. ie., The divine spark of Spanky took the form of a nude Goddess Diana Doll in clay.

Anti-Diana (adverb) : Anyone who's dour, cynical, unethical, inauthentic, uninspired, generally cranky and boring. ie., That Anti-Diana woman probably shops at Walmart.

Oral Dianarea (verb) : The ability to speak, at length, on topic, with volume and emphasis while delivering a controversial point of view. ie., We had to pull the plug on the mic when the speaker got Oral-Dianarea.

The Diana Vortex (noun): The whirly-swirlyness that is diana's energy force; resistance is futile! The cause of others to never actually leave her orbit permanently; you will be sucked back in.

Readjust Mercury so I can go home...

General Daily Overview: Today's gracious Libra Moon presents a dilemma, for while we attempt to balance our needs with others, we can also feel the pressure of responsibility as the Sun squares restrictive Saturn. We have no choice; we must slow down to navigate through the obstacles that appear before us. It could be challenging to make the right long-term decision, for we must respect authority in whatever form it appears, even if it is blocking the most sensible path.

Gemini (May 21 - Jun 20):Tomorrow, your planet Mercury reaches the end of its retrograde cycle and some aspects of your life should begin to move forward. But first you must answer to the harsh judgment of Saturn, forcing you to re-examine a difficult situation. Even if you are overwhelmed, nothing is impossible now. The feelings that are holding you back also contain the seed for your forward movement. Do not accept defeat, for today's discussions can set the stage for tomorrow's progress.

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The brakes are being fixed... I've got $100 donation towards that cause, the rest I'm leaving up to the fates... we will get home, safely and soundly (and maybe even sanely!).
Maybe this means the key to Happy Trails is to do my Zen Dish Duty and remain open to possibilities. Thank you Scott Noelle for giving me the terminology: Receiving Mode; I'm done asking, now I await the answers.
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Hayden was afraid to get up yesterday, he thought everyone would be mean to him... poor kid; no one was mean at all. This is where "sorry" works well... we all know it's not on purpose, it's just a general dislike of stinky. Jon was funny, as he covered the couch & chair skeletons with garbage bags and just because, he took the cushions off all remaining furniture - the house looks over flowing with cushions now :) We even played around imagining what to do with the skeletons, fill them to overflowing with throw pillows?
Hayden even said it's an okay situation to be funny instead of serious; it makes him feel better.

ATCs

I've gone nuts, it's official!! I *think* I've done about 26 cards over the last two days... some I was inspired to do to trade in the caption trade and *finally* participate in the Imagination Tribe, some I want to send on as Holiday Gifts and some were just plain inspired by the whirly swirlys currently around me (i.e. I made one of Buck before I knew it was his last night and another from my gods dream -- see applicable posts!). I made the Far/Near set in response to Tony's call... I wish one of us would just say: "Ya know, I think we should stick around one another for a while and see if this *this* actually becomes something." In the vein of not wanting to be the grownup, I'm not gonna be the one who says it... oops! too late!

This set is my Tribal Set. These are in response to the women I have gathered around me lately... lots of fire dancing theme going on last night... the quote is "Speak to the goddess and she will answer" The bottom one is a mis-matched tribe and the word "Wild"; the last one is one I made specifically for Jeanie and it's women dancing 'round a fire with the word "Sister." (I'm sending it off to Tony today with his cards... ask for it if he doesn't offer it!!)

Happy Trails, Sir Buck

Today's the day...
I'm so sad for Tony.
I'm so glad for Buck.
Cancer sucks, Heaven rocks.
Tony's grateful.
He's proud.
He knows returning the gift
is the right thing to do.
He's honored to have known this Spirit.
He's honored to have loved.
His heart is stretching.
Feels like breaking,
but it won't; it can't.
It keeps beating.
Stronger for the exercise.
Better for the practice.
Open to something new.

Today's Stars

Diana's Horoscope: ...You may be running tapes through your mind about issues at home, about your feelings, or about memories from your past. Unless you can keep your mind away from personal issues, you may as well take the afternoon off.

But that's always true!

Well put me over the barrel and gimme the pickle!

Ya know, sometimes Life just sucks... and worse yet, I can see the why it sucks and how easily it could unsuck in one place, but I have can't yet see the possibilities of Life unsucking all the way around. And it's a car. But it's the brakes, they're important ya see, and, unfortunately for me, expensive. I kinda need 'em to get home, but if I buy 'em I can't get home. I can take the car to another place, but I'm gonna have to pay that savings (praying the 2nd place is cheaper) to the first mechanic for his time already spent investigating my brake situation. The lady called, as I talked to her I ate a fortune cookie: Your sly nature will get you out of a tight spot. I gave her the sob story: it's fix the car and be stranded or don't fix the car and pray we make it home. The price did miraculously drop by almost $80 overnight, maybe Greg will decide he doesn't need to make any money off the sad girl this year. Even at cost brakes are a PITA, but c'mon, I'm good Karma :) I *can* stay here, I can figure out a way to make the next cupola weeks easier to be here and that's a big possibility. It really is beautiful and magical here (the sun just came out as I'm typing - yay!!) That would mean we won't be home for Mitch's Death Day (which actually now sounds appealing...), nor the biggies like the women's retreat *I* scheduled, nor our first Full Moon Circle; oh yeah Thanksgiving falls in there, but the idea of quiet nothing sounds appealing there, too.
It's just one of those days when being the grown up just fucking sucks.
Hm, it's funny that I sit and worry about Hayden through all of this and I remember the talk I got from Marty and Madelyn... Hayden will be Hayden in whatever context Life doles out, it's best to parent in a way that keeps us open to one another and in a way that feels good, not to take his frustration personally while I'm striving to provide the tools for him to alleviate his angst (all the while striving to minimize my cause of said angst). It was an "on the right track, mama" with a great shift to an objective perspective. (If I may summarize... it was pretty powerful to listen to their take on the Hayden/diana situation; they were honest and open, direct, I'd even say hardcore!)

Delirious Dreams

Last night I fitfully dreamt, as I tossed and turned wrapped in Hayden's Aunt Karna woobie.
I remember cursing at the gods, convincing them that I stand before them NOT as their own personal plaything, but as a flesh-and-blood human being and by-golly my feelings count! I threatened to become atheist, worse yet faithless, turning my back on them, not only firing them from their jobs, but eliminating the position entirely, casting them into nonexistence (even worse than Neil Gaiman's American Gods). I don't know if they reacted (sumbitches!), but I felt empty, not even able to cry. But with bizarre insight and clear vision -- Focus. Always an unfocused focus, clarity and no where to cast it. Kinda like at the hands of the schoolyard bullies I was intimately familiar with... ooooh, now there's some psychotherapy waiting to happen!
Can we say RETROGRADE? Danggummit, I'm really feeling it.
I got no gumption. I got no spark. Blech.
Apathy, my worst enemy.

On an upnote, Hayden came in later and snuggled with me (with Hannah's woobie!).

I read in my new Woman's Confidence book from Kelli - it's one of those open anywhere for Wisdom books - the woman spoke of forgiving her Past Self, the one who's behavior makes her cringe upon reflection. She imagined that Past Self cowering in shame for causing such pain to her now Present Self. None of what had happened was with malicious intent toward our Future Self (though some might have existed right there for the current Present Self). When we hold that message in our hearts and come to know and own Who We Are Now as a beautiful culmination of our Past Selves. Life really is For Giving and BEing forgiving, especially to ourselves. If I'm not on my own Team, who else will wanna be?

Ah, part of this was sparked, I'm sure, by a new blog Mary found: PostSecret.blogspot.com, it's odd and cool and disturbing and creative. I think I want to do some Secret ATCs, just for me to keep or share with others, secretly.


Life is so random.


'cept when it's not.

I guess Sandra was right...

good thing I'm off the alcoholic pathway:

diana lea jenner: At age 42 you will die from wounds delivered by a blender after trying to make your sixteenth margarita of the day.
(And it's only 3:00pm, shame on you!)

Our AMAZING Concert Experience!!

Totally worth the drive!! Just to hear the opening band ::bg:: To hear those pretty, pretty English boys (starsailor) sing unintelligibly until this unforgettable opening line: Doncha know you have your daddy's eyes... daddy was an alcoholic
Mary and I were first brought to tears by the touching beginning... then the next line, we were laughing so hard tears were once again filling our eyes!! I bought their album (which came with a free tee shirt) and we stood in line, giggling uncontrollably, to get their autographs... ooooohhhh they were even prettier up close!! Bass guitar player-dude looks EXACTLY like a young, hip, 21st Century Paul McCartney!! I asked about the song, but I think they wrote me off as some strange old giggling woman, but told me that song is not on the album I bought, but on the one titled: loveaseal, love-a-seal? no, loveaseal, by then I was back to giggling so hard and they were all making fun of my mislistening and the moment was gone... the song is playable on their page, it's called Alcoholic, hee hee hee...
Then, of course, out came James Blunt... the most amazing musician I didn't know existed ('cept I love, love, love the Weird Al parody and the accompanying story of music industry angst). I witnessed a real guy, one with scars and scabs, who still has faith in humanity and loves Life. His songs are anti-war and pro-woman... what more can a girl want? maybe james blunt in her bed and the rest of her life, too :) He needs me... someone let him know!
Oh yeah, the dancing monkey icons turn me on, too, 'specially since they're wearing crowns, awaiting their Monkey Queen ::g::

I made it!!

We're here!! I'm aaaahhhh-ing after my whole first day with the Zenmomma :) Life is GOOD!! (dangit, I didn't bring those socks!) The trip has already been wild and busy and all of that diana schtuff -- and yet it seems to be just beginning.
Hayden was happy and excited to see me on Friday, what a treat! I got to bring some Kathleen Coffee to Karen, so the first leg of the trip was aromatically pleasing! We had a great time hanging out in Rapid, we even did the MALL ::gasp:: AND had fun ::GASP!:: We got started later than I had planned, but the sleep and the morning with my happy, happy son were well worth it! We had a late morning trip to Hobby Lobby (they open at 9 am, in case you're wondering) to stock up on SpongeBob art supplies.
The second leg of the trip was the big chunk, 14 hours to Boise, ID! We didn't quite make that on my mind's itinerary, either, but that was all perfect timing... when we awoke from our rest stop nap, we drove under/through the most amazingly beautiful full-spectrum rainbow!! I called Kyra immediately, as the three of us saw more rainbows on the SW Tour than any other combination of folks; it was like she was with us in Spirit!
In Wyoming (to whom I owe an emphatic apology, it's not a horrifically ugly nor boring state, up north!) I got close to Little Big Horn. I got off the freeway, thinking I'd go to the site, but I just couldn't do it... so I released Hannah to the Spirit Winds and wished her presence to bring great peace to the Grandfathers still there. Sad reminder of how far we've not yet traveled in our evolution as Humans.
While in Montana, I crossed the Crazy Woman Creek (what a great mental image: me, the crazy woman for whom the creek is named) and the Tongue River (should they have met, mayhap the lady'd not be so crazy??), then we crossed the Bear Tooth Ridge. We drove through the northern part of Yellowstone, under the light of a nearly-full moon and shared some Hannah; we talked of the mountains, of living here, of the wildlife we didn't see and why that is, of loving the Earth as our Mother, of honoring the ebbs and flows of Life, of reintroduction of wolves to the wild, of keeping a wolf as a pet (and the natural follow up of Spirit Crushing and our societal ways of doing that to our young), of life on other planets, of the meaning of Smart, of the limitless possibilities of being human...
We finally made it to Boise on Sunday Morning and hung out with Big Joe and Dezmo all day. What a cool experience to see my long time friend as a parent, as a loving and *present* parent to his beautiful son! We reminisced and caught up, we played with the boys and talked our truths. It was most fun to hear Dez share stories of his daddy, Joe's pretty cool in my eyes anyway, but even more special through the eyes of a loving and whole 4 year old.
We left for Corvallis (guess when? yep, later than I thought), looking forward to the short and sweet 8 hour final leg of the journey. I trusted Mapquest, which kinda bit me in the ass! It was all well and good, until the very last mountain I had to climb before descending upon the Golds... Steep, Slow, Scary, Foggy, Rainy & Windy! About 80 miles of 30 mph on a road from which there is no escape, no pulling over and napping, no cell service to even cry to my friends!! At one point the clouds broke, I was on a relatively flat spot, the beauty was breathtaking, so I left some Hannah there, too. I FINALLY made it to flatlands, knowing that indeed, I am capable of anything!! We arrived safe and sound late last night, only to promptly pass out!
Today I got to have breakfast at the infamous Sunnyside Up! yummy, yummy, yummy! Since we've got an in with the owner ;) he even came over to hang out with us and watch us eat our perfectly crisp bacon with our organic eggs and perfectly seasoned taters. Oh yeah, I had a wonderful mocha, followed by an amazing regular cup o'coffee! yessirree, won't be having those Constipated Traveller Blues ANYmore!! ::g::
Oh yeah, you should all know that Mary cooked dinner tonight.
I got to meet Donna and see Joni :) and we watched Donnie Darko - a must see! (though not the director's cut, the original was awesome and I trust Mary's comparison) Run out and pick it up now!! (when you're done voting, of course!)
Tomorrow's the concert in Portland... Hayden's gonna have a blast picking Jon's brain about the Smoothie Shop plans ::bg::

Voting is Smart!

Boy Howdy! I get on the 'net only to discover that I have cast a Stupid Vote! Dang! What the hell was I thinking? Apparently, Bill doesn't think I think attall and I'm just not sure how I feel about that...
Ah, but I gots my smarts back long enough to google his name and Of Course Bill thinks I'm an ijit, I didn't support his Amendment! Looks like you didn't do your job Mr. Stegmeier, I haven't heard a single thing positive about said Amendment E, the Good News of your proposal didn't quite make it under my rock. Here's the thing, I am pretty intelligent and I did read what was on the ballot and I did vote. Stupid? I don't think so.
To the three readers I have, if you happen to live in South Dakota and you're on your way to vote, please don't vote like I did because of me, vote like YOU do because of YOU... it's your right as an American and more importantly, it's your responsibility as an American. (I guess there's four of you now, if Bill keeps reading ::g::)
P.S. How and why did you find me??

Vacation Day 1

What a great day to begin our next adventure! I'm Ready!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gemini (May 21 - Jun 20) You are envisioning your life in ways that you've not previously imagined. It is an extraordinary kind of day and the most amazing part is that you just might get away with the craziest schemes. Unfortunately, you could push everything too far and then have to deal with the consequences. But if you pay attention to the details, trying something new could bring surprisingly positive results.

General Daily Overview The enterprising Aries Moon reminds us of all the possible experiences ahead and we are energized by uncontrollable rushes of adrenaline. Additionally, the Sun creates a harmonious trine aspect with brilliant Uranus today and we can feel the electricity in the air. We may be certain that something wonderful is going to happen, but we don't yet know what it is. We are encouraged to act with originality and initiate unconventional activities.
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hmmm

David's Building

Drive down Grange today and see an incredible sight! Either you'll get to see the ginormous former Art Building up on a truck or you'll get to see the ginormous hole left by the building that was taken away on a truck! We'll have an unobstructed view of the Mammoth! The building, which was once Army Barracks was purchased for $1, and is on it's way to David's The Warren Studios, the art retreat center of his dreams (which sadly has a miserable webpage...) sort of down that-a-way towards Dell Rapids with a turn towards Garretson.
He saw me naked in that building. A lot. The first time we met. hee hee. I do like that there's lots of me all over the place and all of the time. He should think of me often and fondly. If he thought he'd like to see me naked again, that can be discussed. hmmm.
I wish I had my camera with me when I drove by today.
ah! thankfully the Argus Leader was on hand for moving day:






Then I'm reminded of the zip feed fiasco, which was all too hilarious as only we humans in Souf'akota can do it! I should go take pictures of what's happening there, too. Something else is being built there, something I'm sure that will be a new kind of eyesore, replacing the old one.

for what it's worth, I was never naked in the Zip Feed building -- Darn!

My Voice Counts!

Today I voted. Today I thoughtfully read each option. Today I exercised my right as an American. I am proud to live where my voice can be heard (the electoral college notwithstanding, but alas, another time). I want to document how I voted, I want to revisit my choices as time passes. I want to remember where I am today. Today is the Day of the Dead. I brought Mitch and Hannah with me today. (ah, the last time he voted, another funny story for another time)
The Ballot in District 13, Minnehaha County, Sioux Falls, SD, 2006 is HUGE! Lots of that whirly swirly change possible right here, right now...
United States Representative
Stephanie Herseth, incumbent
She received my vote last time, too. She's a free thinker who doesn't judge ideas based on their party origin; she seeks its merit. She's linked to the Ds, but she's more conservative, more my kinda Goldwater girl ::bg::
Governor and Lieutenant Governor
Jack Billion and Eric Abrahamson
Jack is just an all-around good guy. He gives off good vibes, he drinks good (local) coffee, he believes the 4th amendment applies to women equally, he wants to eliminate our status as the lowest wage state in the Union (including PR). Jack is all over YouTube, if you wanna check him out... he does look like the Orek vacuum cleaner guy! And face it, I Back Jack is just a really cool slogan!
Secretary of State
I abstained
I didn't vote, there's only one guy running and I didn't know him... how freaking sad is that? Are we *really* that apathetic? Does the job suck that much that only one person in this entire state wants it? I don't know if I want to know, ya know?
Attorney General
Ron Volesky
Okay, I admit it, 'cause he's a D :::sigh:::
State Auditor
State Treasurer
I abstained
(see rant under Secretary of State)
Commissioner of School and Public Lands
Bryce Healy
really? cause he doesn't give me the willies and Jarrod does; I don't think the "good ol' boys" have done very much for this state's evolution, I can't vote for one. Sorry, I didn't even know the Libertarian Candidate, though I was glad to see her on the ballot.
Public Utilities Commissioner
John Koskan
In his commercial, he talks about wind power. There are windmills on his campaign page and though I'm torn about the ethanol issue, methinks the wind energy development overshadows that one, right now.
State Senator
Scott Heidepriem
I like his "let's get back to work" slogan. He doesn't creep me. (some politicians just give off a big ol' creepy guy factor)
State Representative
(District 13) Brian Liss
(I abstained my second choice) Brian's a way cool guy. He was my very favorite Valentine's Date ever! We've always had lively discussions, I know that in all the ways we differ, we do so intelligently and respectfully. He's wrong ::g:: but his heart's in the right place! On the really important stuff, however, we strongly agree, though for very different reasons. He'll always get my vote, I'll always know I'm voting for someone thoughtful and smart.
Supreme Court Justice Retention and Circuit Courts
This part smacked me. I didn't know anything at all about these judges, I realized I hadn't done my homework at all. It was a bizarre ballot thing anyway: it had the Justice's name and the voter indicates if the person should be retained on the Supreme Court. I don't know what happens if I vote no... do we then vote again for a whole new SC? Then there were the ones whom it seemed just wanted to keep their judge job in whatever circuit court. Is there no one brave enough to challenge them? Okay, a couple of seats have competition, but I was seriously lacking in understanding and preparation and we're talking about 1.5 columns on a longer-than-legal sized ballot! So I said yes to our current Supreme Court... I abstained if only one judge was running, with the exception of Peter Lieberman, he's got a great reputation for being gruff and fair.
Constitutional Amendment C
Marriage Amendment - No. The passing of Amendment C would amend the Constitution to allow and recognize marriage only between a male and female. It would also prohibit the allowance or recognition of civil unions, domestic partnerships or other (gotta love this!) quasi-marital relationships between two or more persons regardless of sex (I think they mean gender!)
I gotta go off on this one... showing my incredibly liberal conservative side, as only I can... First, you should come to recognize that in my mind, anytime I see the word Man, especially as it relates to any legal documentation, I see this: 'man, as in: they're too lazy to write hu- every time. 'man is shorthand for human, see? So in that light (that's why they call it enlightenment!), the American Rights Guarantee, aka our historic legal principles on which this fine country was founded, is already set up to be as blind as Justice. There is should be NO distinction based on skin color nor genetic code nor bedpartner, the Constitution is applied equally to all the members of our union. period. We just plain shouldn't need gender or skin color amendments to our constitution, certainly our sex life is protected by the 4th amendment, it's already there without it. What we need to focus on is on electing those who are willing to do their job as blindly as they're supposed to. It's on us folks. Vote!
Constitutional Amendment D
Property Tax Change - No - it wants to change our easy to understand, unilateral tax system to some willy-nilly form... uh, don't think so.
Constitutional Amendment E
Sue your Jury - No This one doesn't quite make sense to me... you make a decision as a jury based on evidence at hand, the appeal is won and now you're in court for wrongful whatever and you've gotta pay damages, out of any account, including your retirement it seems. eek! It's quite hard enough to get rational folks to sit on a jury, who do ya thinks gonna show up ready and willing now?
Constitutional Amendment F
Yes - I don't know about eliminating the limitation of expense reimbursements for legislators, but they stuck it together with limiting the legislation's ability to enact special laws and removal of congressional term limits (voting IS term limits!!), prohibiting closed door vote sessions (which we're known for) and give legislature emergency powers in event of disasters (which scares me in that *V* for Vendetta kind of way... which powers? which disasters: real or implied or just plain imaginary?)
Initiated Measure 2
Tobacco Tax - NO The state cannot have vested interest in the death and ill-being of it's citizens. We cannot be committed to South Dakotans Quit AND be reliant upon the tax revenue from same-said folks. The State should be committed to our health and not profiting from our destruction.
Initiated Measure 3
School Term Start - I abstained What a freaking waste of my time... I just can't believe this is on the freaking BALLOT!?!? People put their energy, time and money into when the school term begins? holy cow! Who really needs a law, a freaking LAW to state if it's okay to start school before September 1?? If you don't want your kid there before September 1, don't send 'em!! Go on vacation instead! In fact, the first weekend after Labor Day, come on out to the Live and Learn Conference and learn why you, too, should say goodbye to School in your Life!!
Initiated Measure 4
Medical Marijuana - YES! Certified for 6 plants and up to an oz for medical reasons. Regardless of how I feel about recreational use of cannabis, I can't imagine anyone who knows Mitch's tale would deny us freedom from prosecution (and persecution) for the only medicine that worked for his radiation induced anorexia and his chemotherapy induced nausea, not to mention his situation being appropriate for an opportunity for some escape from reality, and pain relief from headaches, this specific treatment indeed was recommended by his specialists at the Mayo Clinic.
There's also this whole part of me that despises pharmaceutical companies in America. I hate that thousands of children are on medication to dull their Spark for Life and I think it's dangerous and scary and I wish it were up to me, the voter, to decide if that should be allowed... but alas it isn't here and I'm deep down glad for it... it's right back to the 4th amendment and Privacy again... ain't nobody's business if ya do! So it sure ain't yours if I do!
Initiated Measure 5
Restrictions on State's aircraft - No I was yes until I saw that violations would now be subject to civil and criminal penalties. ick! More lawyers gettin rich cause my friend the governor flew me out to see my dying grandma on the state plane. Doesn't seem right in my heart.
Initiated Measure 7
Repeal Video Lottery - Yes Sorry dad, looks like you may have to drive to Flandreau for your fun from now on. Again, it goes back to vested interest by the State. Should the state be investing in keeping folks drunk and broke? I'm thinking no. And the promises made for the huge boost in education dollars? We're still 51st and our citizens are still broke.
Initiated Measure 8
Repeal Telecommunications Tax - Yes Dang! it looks like I'm all in favor of cutting off big income to our state's budget, yikes! Anyway, I think it sucks to pay huge fees on my cell phone, on my house phone too for that matter... everyone thinks they're entitled to a certain percentage of my talking bill and it just sucks. So yeah, I'd like to keep your bloodsucking 4% as my own, thanks.
Referred Law 6
The Big One! Are women in South Dakota too stupid to understand their guaranteed 4th Amendment right to privacy? NO! There it is folks, that's all it is. Some might call this the Abortion Law, but I think the A word distorts the point. The point is that the Constitution is mine. As a human being who happens to be an American Citizen, that's it. What I do with my doctor is my business as it is yours and yours and yours and even yours. When you freely give up your rights to your government, what is stopping them from taking the rest while you sleep?