The underappreciated Gifts

May you accept *these* gifts in the Spirit of Love in which they are offered, m'friend.

Welcome to Post #666

Who knew the devil was so dang cute?Now if people would just stop blessing me when I sneeze...

Friday Memes

New Friday Memes (to me!)

Friday Fiver
1. Last party you went to?
It's always a party when I'm there :) The last event called a party I attended would have to be the LIFE is Good Conference - a.k.a. my 40th Birthday Party ♥

2. Do you pee in the shower?
uh, yeah, doesn't everyone?

3. Have you ever fired a gun?
Yep & I liked it very, very much. Next time, I'm coming back as a sniper!

4. Where do you call home?
Wherever it is that I live; currently home is Corvallis, OR

5. What's your favorite board game?
If I can only choose *one* board game to play the rest of my life, I'd have to pick Cranium :) Pictionary is up there, too, though Cranium includes those skills and many others!

__AND__ Friday's feast

Appetizer

What is the weather like today where you live?

**Today it is sunny & 72 (name that movie!)

Soup

On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how career-minded are you?

**If mama counts as a career, the number is 10+; if not, then I'm a big ol' Zero

Salad

What type of window coverings do you have in your home? Blinds, curtains, shutters, etc.?

**by default we've got curtains

Main Course

Name something that instantly cheers you up.

**Chef Ramsay ;)

Dessert

How many times do you hit the snooze button on a typical morning?

**What is a snooze button? Some kind of mainstream dog-training device? Why would you want to hit something in the morning, aren't you concerned when you wake up with so much angst??

Thanks for the 7 Words, George

Third grade, 1976, I stood in the corner of the playground at Hawthorne Elementary, repeating the titillating Super Swear Words (shit, piss, fuck, cunt, cocksucker, motherfucker, and tits (bonus words: fart, turd & twat) I'd just learned from George Carlin. Yep, I was that kid, the one who taught the rest of the neighborhood what they were desperate to know ♥
I can't see a Dodge Pickup without thinking of George "They're labeled with instructions, on the front it says *dodge* and the side says *ram*" I do believe it's George's reasoning that led me away from feminism ;) His humor, even the most recent show he did a few years ago, has always rang TRUE in my heart.
Like the rest of America, I shall be sitting in front of YouTube with a box of kleenex, stoking my renewed jealousy of those who today get to have a beer with George in Heaven. I'm thinking he gets extra points for this interview as Jesus ♥ Our planet isn't the same for having you and it'll never be the same without you. Cheers!

Knit in Public Day

Who knew such a cool thing existed? The Cool Knitters in Corvallis ♥ Though I didn't get to knit with the group at the river (broken needle!) I was sure to take advantage of the sunshine, cool yarn and gumption.Thanks for the amazing yarn, Mom ♥ It's still my birthday!I'd missed the quiet of knitting and the sun... a joyful rememberanceSpecial Thanks to the Super Cool Photographer, Scotty

An Honest Repubican Vote

Straight to the point integrity missing from American Politics heretofore...
Register to Vote. Then do so with Integrity.

Phate hosted my Birthday Party

The Gifts of the Universe are constantly rewarding the Joy of Existence.
I'm prone to being constantly grateful ♥ Today, in communing with my friends, speaking of our other friends, noticing how wholeistic our relationships are, I stand in Awesome Gratitude. As Hayden shifts from his static I'm Bored state, to entertained by and soon entertaining of his surrounding friends. The sense of family, of working toward the benefit of the whole - person, group, community - in an instant of kindness and joy.
This really is my life. After 40 years of existence and human experience as diana, it truly is the tiniest examples of peace that warm my heart. That is the light I'd like to spend the next 40 years sparking in others.
I know the moment the momentum shifted... that day I wrote about shifting my own perspective and willing myself onto a happier place on Life's Lake. That opening for Joy, the acceptance that Joy is waiting for me to answer it's call, the knowledge that indeed I am worthy of Great Joy, truly opened my Eyes to the Wonderful that is My Life. I have found a theme song for this quickening - Bubbles. The hook of this song is I'm Alive. I spent days in tribal family with hundreds of people who all celebrated, in their very own way, the true meaning of I'm Alive. It was whirly, swirly reinforcement of Life's Joys and the folks who are here to support you in Singing your Heart's Song. I'm Alive.The Conference Euphoria seemed never to leave... The Brits came by to bowl with us! Olivia came home with us, made a huge impact on many lives, and took off for Colorado. We were joined by, loved by and made better by a visit from Cameron Lovejoy. We adventured to the Enchanted Forest and the Cougar Hot Springs, near Eugene. Nekkid. Beautiful. Elizabeth and Susan joined our Lovefest and got a full immersion into the freedom that is Unschooled Teens. And just as I felt I could never ever have enough time nor energy to blog about all that is perfect and beautiful in my life, I took a nap.
Last Thursday, I was innocently curled up with my 24 DVD, enjoying well deserved snoozing with intermittent Kiefer sounds... the phone rang, often, and I thought what if this is the wrong 1/2 hour to ignore your phone followed immediately by it'll still be important 1/2 hour from now and I continued to snooze.
Mary barged right into my room. Will you come to L.A. with me?
*Uh, yeah. (yawn) when?
Now! James is playing at a bar, downtown L.A., one time only, if we leave now, we can make it. I've got three tickets, Craig may be coming from Canada, too. Talk to Hayden, pack your stuff, let's do it!
*(to self) am I awake?! (to Mary)Okay! Let's do it, I'll talk to the boy, pack and figure out what to do if he comes and a plan for if he doesn't.
There's a kind of Magic that is Mary's Intentions... Let's just say Hayden sent us to LA with a smile on his face and a song in his heart, giving the gift of his mother's company to his good friend, Mary, for the weekend. Just like that. It all fell into place. We hit the road at 9 pm, rolled into L.A. at 2 pm, pulled off the freeway (I-5 all the way, really ALL the way) and straight to the venue, Spaceland at Silver Lake & Effie! After playing the part of Super Crazed Old Lady Fans, we drove the remaining 8 blocks to our hotel, with this super cool mural across the street. Thanks Jon! Another in the string of perfect gifts on our weekend ♥ We were willing and joyful victims to Life's Phate. I called a friend I so desperately wanted to visit in February, for his 42nd birthday. A friend who's friendship I treasure. The Phated timing of my visit was clearly evident. I was honored to spend my Friday afternoon in Los Angeles with my ever amazing and always inspiring Dave. (Who just happens to live about 4 miles from aforementioned hotel!) Hours of reminders; why we're here, what we've got to offer and why we're worthy of every single amazing thing available in this life. Thanks Dave for being the perfect sounding board for the process of becoming me. I am honored to have borne witness to your journey. Authentic Love. Namaste.(The James Concert is here, timewise, still processing the experience)
We got to see Christine and her Circus. Sharing Together even more reminders of the Gift we Are to One Another. If anyone's Now is more Peaceful than their last, for having known our presence, our Soul's Work is being Done. Go Karma!
Your Heart just needs to Sing! ♥

I met the Black Guy

Today at the Farmer's Market, my friend Sean had a booth called "Meet a Black Guy" - just to begin a conversation in town about our lack of skin color variety, locally.
I loved the idea immediately! I told Jeff I wanted to do a reverse "elevator scene" where the Big Black Guy is paranoid about the Little White Chick. Like most men-of-color in elevators, I was just being my own self, not even interested in the fannypack Jeff's holding. Like most women in elevators, however, Jeff gave me the "paranoid vibe" and clutched his bag for dear life. It's a fun thing to poke at, though I doubt it's much fun for the Jeffs in this world who have to deal with purses being clutched a bit tighter at the sight of his beautiful tan skin. Jeff was a great sport about the whole thing, engaging in conversation with anyone who stopped by. I'm happy to report the overwhelming response was one of humor with willingness to converse about what needs to be done to be a magnet for cultural and colorful variety.

Thanks for the chuckles ♥ and thanks for being a Tan Ambassador for Corvallis!

My Ruby Slippers

The remarkable, roundabout, discovery of the LIG Conference was There's no place like home! The right here in front of me HOME. That book I keep recommending, the one I really need to read again for my OWN Self, The Journey Home, is true. All we want of Home is right before us. And it took one floating Birkenstock to begin the enlightenment...It was an innocent riverside nudge, the shoe flew off and floated away. I thought Beth would burst, as we watched my (later-dubbed) Jesus Cleat (yes, it just might have been the man's secret to walking on water) swim towards the Pacific, in search of it's new home. I'm glad I was brave enough to paint it before it left. I'm glad Hayden outgrew them last week, so I might enjoy their last days with us. I'm so looking forward to finding it's photo in Found magazine. Without spares, Beth rescued me with an amazing pair of hot pink orthopedic shoes. They don't look it, they're old lady shoes in a hip chick package! I couldn't give them back. I'm almost sorry even, Beth, as I can only imagine how much you miss them. Know that each step I take is filled with Love and Gratitude for you and the shoe gods who must have conspired for this adventure to begin.

You may remember I was in quite a freaky-icky funk before the conference. It was all I had in me to conjure a good feeling about attending, let alone participating fully and joyfully. Several shifts in a quick succession and I was in a place of openness and readiness for whatever was awaiting me. I chose to stand in "Seeking the Good" because it felt better than the other bogged-down perspectives I'd been stuck in.
The next time you're tempted to call someone and say, "I think you're really good at that" -- Do it! Because someone I love and respect said those words to me, I knew I was fully prepared. I could share myself and my well-earned wisdom with those who would be open to the benefit of a shift in perspective. And what a wholloping shift I got to make! (More on TheWork of Byron Katie, I promise! Thanks Mike Biskup!!)

Mary's back. I saw her open further and further as the weekend progressed. Her larger than head smiles were genuine and deep by Monday afternoon in the park. Welcome Home Mary ♥ I had no idea how much I missed us. Both. What a beautiful, safe, loving, joyful celebration of life we were part of this weekend. A Present of Presence. Whatever the road to arrive right here, right now, it's all moot -- Right Here, Right Now Rocks and it's all been worthwhile getting here.

These are my new home girls. We're ready to take over the town -- Yeah BABY!
Renee is a freak who was hiding among the scary folk, secretly waiting for her fellow freaks to expose themselves. She found me. Then mostly I hid from all the places she sought me. And now I've been cornered and I'm in love. Scotty got to be XuMei's Fairy Godparent at the Conference and Renee was Scotty's ♥ I wanna dance like her and Chris. I also think we should both be preggers next year; we'd be quite a sight! Kat (with the pink hair, not to be confused with Kitty, the punk rock one with pink hair) is my long-distance (VA) blog-stalker. Now she lives just a big U away. She's fed us a lot these last couple of days; me and my teenage cohorts. Thanks Girlie! Meanwhile, her hubby is very Scotty-like and they've got a dog who is loving my Cesar channeling ;)
Also at Kat's house lives Marley. I. Love. Marley. She is a true to the bone unschooler. No box big enough for this humongous soul in a tiny little 4 year old package.
She should grow up and marry Fergus. Their babies would be Wild Animals. THAT would be fun to witness ♥
She really likes me now. The neighbor's cat came looking for her today, after Marley made her a delicious and playful salad from backyard greens.

Life is Good and I'm so glad I am reminded again and again and again.
It is a blessing to be here, now, together.
Amen Sisters!

Instant Nudge

"Through the power of your thought, and through the power of your intentions, you will draw those beings to you who are harmonious, in intent, with you. And you will repel those beings who are not in harmony with your intentions.

If your intentions are not clear, then you will attract confusion, but as you are more specifically defining, in every day, what you want, then you will, more specifically, draw those individuals to you who will enhance that. As you attract those of like intent, you will have joyous interaction."

- Abraham-Hicks, A New Beginning