The week after...

I've had another Niagara Falls time in my life. The post-conference euphoria seemed to linger for days, as it has this time. Hayden and I have hit a groove that is amazingly comfortable on all levels. I sit with him asleep, awaiting his consciousness over the next many miles. When he's well rested, I'll get a chatterbox in the car and very little will escape his attention along the way!
This little escape from real life, hanging out for an extra week, has given me time to practice and deepen the pathways to remote places in my mommy-brain, the place where "whole, complete, perfect" is the Truth. I look forward to much joyful, jubilant practice with my amazing son, who moment to moment shows me his amazing mom.
I intend this 1:1 practice to carry us along until our next tribal reminder.

Perfect day for travelling...

Gemini: You aren't very lighthearted now, but that shouldn't stop you from having fun. Unfortunately, you may not be able to enjoy yourself quite as much as you want. You can see dark clouds on the horizon and assume that bad weather is coming your way. And although you can charm almost anyone today, this doesn't mean you'll be able to talk the weather into changing for the better.

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I'm ready to go, to get home to Scotty and Patches and Elizabeth and Alex and the DVR and my own bed and my own pillows and my own schtuff!! And all I'm really ready for is the next couple of moments while Hayden still sleeps and I await the perfect opportunity to head on over to Idaho. Woot!

Introducing Glaven

Meet Glaven (famous for his role as Creature from the Black Lagoon). Glaven is Scotty's mascot. Most of Glaven's time is spent in the KDLT control room, watching over the actual production of the news shows. He was lucky enough to venture around Europe with Scotty and Alex last year. As Scotty was unable to travel with us himself, he sent Glaven in his stead. Not only is Glaven good company, he is also quite the connoisseur of an occasional caramel breve (which is a latte made with cream instead of milk). He really appreciated that Crystal made ours especially pretty. Many folk were lucky enough to get their pictures taken with The G-Mon, as he's now known, at least in my head. Even had a few cloying to have their photo-op. He's a pretty cool co-pilot as well. We star together in a couple of home/car films that will become available upon my reunion with Scotty's laptop :) I think Glaven's time with his long-lost father and the funny uncle with leprosy was just too short. We will make a point of getting together with Samuel (keeper of the rest of the family and the family heirlooms, the kid's a riot!!) so the boys can catch up on the gossip again. Scotty is the keeper of my kitty while we're away. We are the keepers of Glaven. We drove across town as we were leaving to pick him up at 5 am!! He's been a very fun way to keep Scotty posted on our adventures.

Glaven says Challah!

I can't be in Corvallis and not mention it!! This is the remains of the last two slices of the day! Once those molecules meld with your tongue... Girl Boner! And just so you don't think I'm a total french toast snob, I also had the breakfast staples of scrambled eggs, toast, roasted potatoes and perfectly crisp bacon (already eaten, I think I even chewed it!). On the website, Jon says:
Love and Harmony: Finally, we believe that food prepared with joy and love impart more than just their nutritive value to those who partake of them; such meals restore balance, deliver extra charged chi, and provide double doses of good karma. All at no extra charge. He's right. We're going there now, inspired by my own blog!!

Thanks friends :)

Gemini: Your heart needs to feel the magic from someone special today --- and words won't do the trick. Knowing that you are loved means more to you now than ever, as your insecurity has created a life of its own. Displays of affection, especially through simple gestures, will help you get through this uncertain time. Acceptance is like music that can soothe the savage beast inside you.
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
love notes and a nap... i'm the luckiest, most soothed beast in the universe :) yay me!

Advocating Pissiness

I'm pissy. I'm snide and rude. I'm a Gemini born the year of the Monkey. I sometimes leave my manners at home. Lucky for us (all of us) I'm not really like that on a 1:1 basis, or even on a 1:15 basis. It's not representative of what's alive and happy in my heart. So there I was, in a great big crowd of folks, whom I dearly love, some know me well, others not-so-well. For you who were there or may hear about it: I'm really not a bitch to strangers in book stores who are neglectful of their babies. There. It's said. There is a voice in my head, however, who comes up with all kinds of snide things, Very Appropriate to the situation and possibly even Very Appropriate for a Different Diana on a Different Journey. It's a lot of chatter to contend with. Sometimes they slip out. Like the other day. Oops. This diana, here, on this gentler, kinder, connected journey would bite the snideness short of exiting my mouth, breathe deeply and ponder the possibilities of connecting that mama back with that baby of hers. That's what'd I'd do. It's not the only thing I'd want to do. An act to serve the baby, the mama, me as witness and humankind as a family. Spiritual Connectedness; there are lots of places that serve to disconnect us, I am not one of those. Amen.

Witty and Charming

(note to RSS readers: I'll be updating these pages with cooler pictures as others send them in... check back for updates!)

Aaaaah, to be around unschooling romance... it just makes every little thing right in my world. This is why we love our kids the way we do, the reason we congregate with folks who love their kids this way... we know others will love our kids this way too. This Way. For whom they are. Grateful and Welcoming of the Gifts of their very Presence. I love others' children. I do. Sometimes even in a covetous way. Be Proud. I see the true Spirit because the view is unencumbered by arbitrary social ickiness. Our playground is open and Free. Skinned knees and bruises are lovingly cared for, as are sad hearts and tears. I'm truly in love with so, so many folks after this experience... it's like I was right *ding* My heart stretched and stretched and withstood such incredible loss, in order to make room for all the LOVE that needs to pour through me now. Fergus and I began our dance upon his arrival. I was determined to win him over by the end of the weekend. I got some coaching from Effie, who jumped right in and played Bratz with me and introduced me to her friends and decorated my nametag and was instrumental in the first physical contact... which occurred during this hair decorating part of the pipecleaner funshop, just before Scott Noelle's talk and after I'd survived my own. I chose my new hand-holding buddy over the new guru - I came away with the biggest blessing :) Then Kyle found me in the hallway and we promptly fell in love. I got lots of hugs and great stories every time our paths crossed. Shining Brightly these kids... How could you NOT be in love for the entire weekend? (baby Vivian pointed and pouted when Marty left the pool on that first night... she could feel the love!)







Then there's the young love... I only took a few pictures, but they're so sweet! How can you not envision those free and well-loved babies they'd have :::sigh::: And here it comes, the real reason I love, love, love, love, love being around these folk: I did say to one particular teen at one particular whiny point in time, "Witty and Charming. You wanna win? Witty and Charming! This whiny crap is NOT attractive!" and went back about my business of having a great time with my super cool friends. I guess it was exactly what needed to be said. Win-Win-Win. The best part, these friends know they are Free to say to me exactly what needs to be said exactly when it needs to be said, as well. Super Win-Win-Win.

The Boost

Holy stars, batman! I really needed to hear these words, right this minute! Krikey...

Gemini:Something that's right up your alley could be disguised as an activity you vehemently refused to do. Has it ever occurred to you that you're having a strong reaction because you know this could change your life?

I'll stop the world and melt with you...

LIFE is Good. Period. There are many ways we choose to confirm or deny that... moment to moment, each and every moment of our human existence. The shifts, the twists, the turns, the gifts, the lessons, the friends, the love... Oh my! I am so in love and so filled with the chills of growth, evolution occurring with full awareness. I've got fear. It's quiet and weak in the face of love, joy and big deep breaths of courage and welcome.

If ever I felt I wanted the world to stop so I could melt with my surrounding humans, it's when I'm with my RU Tribe.

I've got stories, you know it... and I'm gonna get the gumption to write them all... in the meantime, enjoy these glimpses of words to come: Glaven's long lost family (reunited by Samuel); what I was called to do instead of hearing Scott Noelle's talk on the Pleasure Principle; the conference glow; the Barefoot Boogie; my soulmate, Kyle. Wait til you hear the Fergus story; the joy of sharing Dave with Crystal and our craaaaaazy monkeyness ;) (I ♥ our husband); the Lucy Booth; the ABQ manifestation (and Corvallis, and Vancouver); the growls; the howls; the joy; the laughter; the TRIBAL Connection (far more real than the Rainbow Connection).

Note to the PNW Manifest Crew: Scotty's musical mentor is moving to WA... the fates at work?

LIFE is Good!!

Photobucket Album