Life is a Blessing

No Accident

For Lisa's Last Day:
February 25, 2008
Spreading Appreciation
Gemini Daily Horoscope from Daily OM

You may feel thankful today for the many blessings you have received. The gratitude you feel may be coupled with a clear understanding of the fact that many people have not been similarly blessed in their lives. You may long to be of service to others, perhaps within your social circle, workplace, or community. You will likely take great pride in the work you are able to do on other people’s behalf and feel good about their appreciation. Be on the lookout for opportunities to assist the people you encounter throughout your day, as even a small gesture of kindness could mean a lot to its recipient. If you wish to do good but are nervous about meeting those in need today, consider asking friends and family members to join you in your endeavors.

One of the best ways you can express gratitude for the blessings you’ve been given is to bring similar blessings into the life of someone less fortunate. Serving others can remind you of the vastly different circumstances people must face over the course of their lives and help you understand the magnitude of your blessings. As you lift people’s spirits, you’ll likely ruminate on your life and be thankful. You will feel a singular joy today at being afforded the opportunity to touch the lives of those people who need your assistance the most.

Interdependent Web of Existence

Mama spider came by last night. Another holy messenger, she paused on her travails for a quick hello and some meditation.
She landed on the prayer flags; the flags the wind ripples as our prayers are carried across the universe. Prayers for a peaceful existence for all sentient creatures, now and forever, Amen. A spider on any other landing would but be easy to squash. The karmic cost is blatant here.

The metaphor is not lost on this mere mortal.

Because this is far from the first Word to come blowing on the wind,
right to my feet.

Yesterday, in my newest copy of UU World, I find the word Communitarian as a movement towards democratic community, a search for balance between "I" and "We." The message awaiting my hungry heart was this:
Look deeply into community and you see individual selves each with inherent worth and dignity.
Reading further, I found more questions (most of them not mine), no real answers... my thoughts drifted to the 7th Principle: Respect for the interconnected web of existence of which we are all a part.
You see, this spider came by just at the right time to add some visual to the thoughts swirling 'round this skull o'mine. She knew this delivery would be a safe two-fold bet for her. She somehow knew I'd ponder the deep effects of her death. That I'd take to heart the outcome of casting her from my circle. She knew I'd honor her right to motherhood above the prayer flags (can't you see Seven Years in Tibet playing in your mind?). I've already begun thanking her children for the future crittery pests they'll consume, saving me from their bother.
So, we're all part of this interconnected web... and sometimes, the strings get **twanged** and the effort of hanging on becomes just a bit too much. Never mind that it just may be the 1,974 things you're juggling at the moment that are impeding your ability to get a grip on your corner of the web, by all means speak out at the most recent twanging. It's human to make that one **twang** The Twang but it isn't. It's a twang, for real. A valid twang. One that should be looked at and examined and done away with. Not The Twang requiring reptile brained immediate action, more like thoughtful consideration. Hell, maybe even a prayer or 42.
Instead I find myself feeling much like Frodo in the cave, wondering
just when the hell is Samwise gonna get here and cut me loose?

Alternating with Charlotte's attitude of This is the way the world works...

Today's Sign

...a friendly reminder from the gods-disguised-as-thugs ♥ coalition
(you'd think they'd have a better acronym)

Point taken.

Thanks.

In good company...

My Sacred Life, Day 30

Deep Breath of Courage
modeled here by my friend
Ruby!

Happy (freakin) Anniversary Honey!

Let the Healing Begin

Lisa had a message for me yesterday.
Okay, it wasn't for me and she posted it last week;
yesterday was when I needed to read it.
And I need to read it some more.
Everyday for a while.
I think the tale she quotes, which I can't wait to read,
speaks volumes to Bodhicitta.
The ever-stretching heart.
Happy Heart Day. Happy Open Heart Day.
May our hearts be Open to the Gifts of Love from the Universe ♥

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Do any of us know the ripples we cause with the drops of our Pure Intent? My the ripples I send forth represent fully the love with which they are sent. Amen.

May all sentient beings have equanimity, free from attachment, aggression and prejudice.
May they be happy, and have the causes for happiness.
May they be free from suffering and causes for suffering.
May they never be separated from the happiness that is free from suffering.
May they never be separated from the happiness that is free from suffering.
May they never be separated from the happiness that is free from suffering.

My Sacred Life, Day 29

Is willing to accept that she creates her own reality except for some of the parts where she can't help but wonder what the hell she was thinking.

My Sacred Life, Day 28

sometimes life needs warning signs.

My Sacred Life, Day 27

"Friends can make you feel that the world is smaller and less sneaky than it really is..."

25 Years Ago (10th Grade)

I can't remember how this came to me, I certainly know it changed my life forever!I'd never danced with such free abandon before in my memory...I fell in love with this amazing weaver of musical magic...He lit my heart just like these sidewalk squares....
I say to you today, Mr. Jackson, thank you for rockin' my little world! The Universe is a better place for having you in it. I am completely in touch with my inner 15-year-old today, I am forever grateful and humbled by your amazing talent. I hope someday you find the peace and understanding you so deserve.

Videos + Billie Jean
Listen to the Anniversary CD

25 Thriller Facts
By Patrick Day and Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers

"Thriller," the biggest-selling album ever, wasn't the only Michael Jackson work released in November 1982. A few weeks before it was set to hit stores, MCA Records released an album of Jackson reading the story of "E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial" and performing the original song "Someone in the Dark." The album promotion, which featured posters of Jackson and E.T. looking very friendly, angered CBS Records, which felt it was stealing the thunder from "Thriller." Lawsuits ensued. Both albums ended up winning Grammys the following year.

"Thriller's" phenomenal success led to a breaking down of traditional racial barriers on FM radio at the time. New York's WPLJ, a "white" station, played Jackson's "Beat It" because of Eddie Van Halen's appearance on it. The song caused a wave of protests from some listeners who didn't want "black" music on their station. MTV also had a reputation for favoring white performers at the time, and its heavy rotation of Jackson videos helped alleviate the criticism.

The music video of "Thriller" played in a Westwood theater for one week in 1983 to qualify for an Oscar nomination. It opened for Disney's "Fantasia," much to the dismay of unsuspecting parents.

After the success of the "Thriller" video, a Hollywood production company began serious work on turning "Billie Jean" into a feature film. (In 1985, Helen Slater starred in the teenage drama "The Legend of Billie Jean," although there is no connection.)

In 1984, the National Coalition on Television Violence classified more than half of 200 MTV videos surveyed as too violent, including the videos for Jackson's "Thriller" and "Say, Say, Say." Dr. Thomas Radecki, chairman of the coalition, was quoted as saying, "It's not hard to imagine young viewers after seeing 'Thriller' saying, 'Gee, if Michael Jackson can terrorize his girlfriend, why can't I do it too?' "

Brooke Shields was Jackson's date to the 1984 Grammys, when he won eight awards.

"Thriller" video makeup artist Rick Baker already had an Oscar on his resume. He won the award for best makeup in 1981 -- the first time the award was handed out -- for his work on "An American Werewolf in London."

Baker actually appears in the video: He's the zombie seen stumbling out of the mausoleum.

Dance choreographer Michael Peters also had a role as a zombie in "Thriller," and shared a Tony Award with Michael Bennett for his choreography work on Broadway's "Dreamgirls." Before his death in 1994, he was an advocate of adding a choreography category to the Academy Awards.

Jackson's girlfriend in the video, Ola Ray, was Playboy magazine's Miss June in 1980, telling the publication that her favorite entertainers were "Michael Jackson, Donna Summer, Ben Vereen, Emry Thomas." She also listed her turn-ons as "music, men, dancing and romancing, health and nature" and turnoffs as "waiting for something that never comes."

Just as Van Halen's guitar solo begins in "Beat It," there's a noise that sounds like someone knocking on a door. According to rock 'n' roll myth, the knock is someone walking into Van Halen's studio. Another story claims it's simply the sound of Van Halen knocking on his own guitar.

"Thriller's" opening cut, "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'," is also the longest track on the album, clocking in at over six minutes. The radio version, however, is about two minutes shorter.

The movie theater seen in the beginning of the video was also seen in director John Landis' "The Kentucky Fried Movie." The posters seen in the theater are for the movie "Schlock," also directed by Landis.

Jackson's disclaimer at the beginning of the video, in which he discounts any belief in the occult, was prompted by his status as a Jehovah's Witness at the time.

The 1988 movie "Return of the Living Dead Part II" features a zombie dressed as Michael Jackson.

Forrest J. Ackerman, creator of Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine, can be seen sitting behind Jackson in the theater at the beginning of the video.

The video that popularized Jackson's "Moonwalk," 1983's "Billie Jean," was directed by Steve Barron, but it may not be the clip he's best known for. That would be the live-action comic book treatment he gave to A-ha's "Take on Me."

The song "Thriller" was originally titled "Starlight."

Producer Quincy Jones wanted "Billie Jean" to be titled "Not My Lover," so people wouldn't think the song was about Billie Jean King.

During the "Thriller" era, Jackson's plastic surgery became noticeable. His face changed from the time the photo was taken for the album cover to the filming of the "Thriller" video.

Real gang members were brought it to be extras in the "Beat It" video.

Although "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' " was one of the biggest singles off "Thriller," no video was ever made for the song.

The man who wrote the song "Thriller," Rod Temperton, also wrote songs for Boyz II Men, Herbie Hancock, Karen Carpenter and Michael McDonald.

The "Thriller" album has sold more than 104 million copies.

At the height of the song's popularity, MTV would run the 14-minute "Thriller" video twice an hour.

My Sacred Life, Day 26

Unconsious Mutterings

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Score :: win/win
2. Luxurious :: chocolate
3. Party :: Birthday
4. Limited edition :: Me
5. Security :: No Fear
6. Betty :: Boop
7. Under construction :: Perpetually
8. Pest :: Fear
9. Director :: Me
10. Express :: Gratitude

There's been an accident at the rumor mill...

Today's discovery: Scotty is part of a radical right wing religious cult.






..............Let that sink in a bit........................







I know! I found it a little shocking too.

Imagine all this time and we never suspected.

If you suspected you'd tell me, right? 'cause if *I* suspected, I'd sure tell you!

Most shocking, once you get past some serious oblivion on most of our parts, is that he would choose a Radical Rightwing Religious Cult when we have so many others to choose from, right here in Oregon.

There's one commune where only women are allowed, including no male children.
Maybe Scotty wants to suck me into that one so he can sell H on the Black Market?

There's another one called Friends Landing; it sounds like a very Tom Cruise-like approach to life.
Ah! that's it! Scotty wants his own version of Katie!!

There are MANY freaks in town with FSM stickers on their cars, pins on their jackets and even cookies shaped like piles of noodles.
Scotty really wants me to be touched by noodly appendages! And he wants to watch, maybe even take pictures :::gasp:::

There is a bible-of-sorts laying around my house, though maybe it's just his cover story, a diana diversion, it's called Church of the Subgenius.
That's it! Scotty wants us to join Bob's Movement, though the prescribed Slack actually prevents us from doing just that. As for me, I'm gonna send Bob $30 so I can be ordained. Then I'll be able to do an official *triple bless* (like the Pope, a damned fine Cult Leader if I ever saw one!) on said Gossip, while releasing the Karma Hounds who will bring her a Life of Her Own so she can stay outta mine. Amen.

Dreams DO Come True!

End to writers strike near as union leaders endorse deal

9 hours ago

LOS ANGELES (AFP) — The Hollywood writers strike edged closer to a conclusion on Sunday after union leaders formally endorsed a new contract to settle the bitter three-month long dispute.

Writers Guild of America (WGA) board members in New York and Los Angeles approved a new contract and will now hold two ballots of members to end the most damaging US entertainment industry labor dispute in decades.

The first vote, to be held on Tuesday, will see the strike declared over, allowing writers to return to work on Wednesday. A second vote on the contract itself will be held within 10-14 days, union officials said.

...read more here and here.

My Sacred Life, Day 25

The mantra speaks in favor of the goodness for every living existence in this world.
The literal translation says:
“every living being should have a fearless life, pain-less life, misery-less life, knowledgeable life, healthy life, successful life, achievement-oriented life and rich life.”The five-different colors of Prayer Flags represents the five different postures of Buddha
also known as Pancha Buddhas or Buddha Families:

-Blue symbolizes Akshobhya Buddha and represents Space.

-White symbolizes Ratna Sambhava Buddha and represents Water.

-Red symbolizes Amitabha Buddha and represents Fire.

-Green symbolizes Amoghasiddhi Buddha and represents Air.

-Yellow symbolizes Vairocana Buddha and represents Earth.

May all beings benefit from the activity of our continued blessings for all beings.

My Sacred Life, Day 24

I
Am
So
Glad
You
Were
Born!!!

Book Meme

I found this at Doc's Blog, where she tags everyone on her blogroll who hasn't done it yet. I was happy to find a meme I've not done and very sad to find myself not on her blogroll. And simultaneously elated that the freaks, er, scary people that read her blog won't trickle over to mine ;)
Here goes:
Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages).
Open the book to page 123.
Find the fifth sentence.
Post the next three sentences.
Tag five people and ask them to do the same

today's book: Where the Red Fern Grows (personal favorite)
Page 123, sentence 5: My dogs covered the field.
Next 3: They circled and circled. They ran up and down the barbed-wire fence on both sides.
I knew the coon hadn't walked the barbed wire.
~♥~ ~♥~ ~♥~ ~♥~ ~♥~ ~♥~ ~♥~ ~♥~ ~♥~ ~♥~ ~♥~ ~♥~ ~♥~ ~♥~ ~♥~ ~♥~ ~♥~ ~♥~ ~♥~
Mitch gave me his copy of that book on our first date. The copy he stole from the library when he was 9. I came home and read it, realizing at the end, when my tears were dripping so steadily onto the page I could no longer read, that I just might fall in love with this guy.
Hayden's now 9 and totally in love with the idea of getting a dog.
His newfound love of reading can connect him with the young-boy who became his father, with another young boy who understands burning doggy desires, and with who-he-is in relation to these stories and the story he's writing of himself.

My Sacred Life, Day 23

could it be?

Dear Mrs. Gaddis,

I can only imagine how hard it was to do your job, secretary at the poorest school in town. Dealing every day with the Truths of Poverty and Neglect could not have rested softly on your heart. I am glad that my writing of this letter, my release from it's perspective, has come after your release from this Life. My story may mean nothing to you; the lessons therein mean everything to me.
The school year 1975-1976, I was in Mrs. Surts' third grade classroom. You once came into our room with your very own Fry Daddy and donut dough & fixin's. We celebrated our class' Quietest in the Hallway award; we were so glad to walk on Pooh feet like our beloved teacher's dog. It was the year Terry Dunkelberger choked, on the candy we got for reading to the Jr 1st graders, and puked all over her desk. It was the year you didn't see Bobby nor Donny nor Albert for behavior issues.
We had just finished reading the entire Little House on the Prairie series. Mrs. Surts used her magic to make this story come to life for us, everyday after lunchtime recess. We planned a pageant, with square dancing complete with costumes carefully constructed from paper.
This pageant was my chance. My first and only chance to do something right. I had the dress and it was clean and ready to go. It was a long prairie style dress, cream colored, lightweight, covered in colored bonnets. Just like the ones we were making to wear. It was in the drawer, carefully examined and refolded every day, as I counted the days until Wednesday morning and my chance to show everyone (well, not my parents, they probably wouldn't come) that I really was doing the best I could with what I got, that sometimes life works out for the stinky kid.
Monday morning, only two more days, I bounce into school... well as much as one can when being the dirty stinky girl wearing a too-small pant suit. A too-small pant suit that was mustard and red houndstooth polyester. When she came to me. I think her name was Jill, or maybe her sister was Jill; anyway, the beautiful girl with perfect 70s straight hair and barrettes and a step-dad who was vegetarian came up to me in all of her perfect sweetness and said she was terribly sorry, they'd called my house but no one had answered and, well, the pageant is today, not Wednesday. In my pantsuit! which I wore because I was running out of clothes and had to save my dress for Wednesday!!!! I ran to the school office in tears and I begged you to let me call my dad. I got him on the phone and he agreed, reluctantly, to bring my dress to the office, when he got around to it. I was so desperate, I needed this shot. This dress represented everything to me. You said, I've got a really busy day, I don't know if I'll be able to call your classroom to let you know it's here, if it does arrive.
You and I had known each other a long time by now, I'd been attending Hawthorne Elementary since I was 4 and in Headstart. My homelife was not a mystery to you. I was the dirty stinky kid who was too smart for her own good. I already knew this. You did too. I thought you could see what this meant to me. I'd hoped you'd be on my side.
We had the pageant that day. I was the recipient of pity. A lot of it. No real appreciation for Diana. Pity for the Pantsuit Kid and gratitude we're not her. Mrs. Surts loved me. She was so gentle with me, she blocked what she could, but we all already knew. Nothing would change. I couldn't fix it.
I decided to leave by the Office Door that day, thinking maybe dad didn't bring it. He brought it. It was there, on the corner of your desk. So beautiful.
It didn't matter if I wore it on Tuesday. I had to live through that Monday first, without it. In my too-small, houndstooth pantsuit. And a paper bonnet.
People took pictures.

By 4th grade and Mrs. Lanz, I was done.
I didn't want to bother you any more.
Not with testing, not with tutors, not with a gifted program, not with paperwork, certainly not with me.

Those 8 years with you in our falling-down school building taught me a lot about how I don't want my world to be. For that I will be forever grateful. I have always known that my elementary experience would not be repeated with my children.
I keep the Mrs. Gaddises in our lives to a minimum.
I gather as many Mrs. Surtses as I can find.
My kids have an amazing life for your influence in mine.
Thank you.
May your next incarnation be as peaceful and gentle as you deserve.
Love,
Diana Jenner né Lambert

My Sacred Life, Day 22

My Sacred Life, Day 22

Craig's addendum

Mmmmm, cream-filled chocolate cake, smothered in marshmallow and rolled in coconut
~ What a great idea! Thanks Hostess...I don't think American snackage is as good as we have been convinced it is....
Craig might agree. Sorry, on behalf of all Americans.

Mama's Date with (a Kiefer Replacement), Hour 4

I told this guy that begging wasn't going to get him on my list.... however, bribery works! Since he won Season 1 at the recent raffle and handed it right on over to me, and ploys me regularly with Canadian candies I present to you today, the Pimp Daddy to my favorite Canadian Family, Craig. He was a sneakily quiet fellow at his first Live and Learn Conference in Albuquerque. He secured his place in our hearts when he came forward with his movie ♥ For me and Craig, it's the musical connection. He made a beautiful birthday film for his wife, with Amy Steinberg, on my recommendation, as the soundtrack; he didn't mean to leave everyone in tears! The soulful soundtrack to his first Unschooling film is Sigor Ros; watch this video. When I met Scotty, I knew it was a sign from the Universe when he liked Craig's kinda music - he played Sigor Ros in the car on our first date ♥ And yeah, he and Scotty like each other's weird eclectic musical tastes; I think we might all be swayed by their influence... do I smell hear a plot? You'd think a charming smile, a unique ability to without any help put together his fashion attire and a generous (with candy!) spirit would be enough. Oh no. We love him for the candy he brings me his family & their boots!! Thanks for sharin' your hunk o'love with me :) And thanks for the candy! ♥ See ya soon :D

My Sacred Life, Day 21

My Sacred Life, Day 20

It's a Barbie World. I'm just peekin' in the windows.

My Sacred Life, Day 19

Canadian Chocolate
Life is Good
Amen

My Sacred Life, Day 18

The Changeling, Daily

My Sacred Life, Day 17