LOST!!!

Lost: My friend Scott. Don't have many details to give you. Not even sure where he was last seen but I do know that he hasn't been around in a while. I like his geocaching blog, it is cool. I REALLY MISS his poetry blog though. Anyway, he is a great guy with a hell of a sense of humor and a wonderful smile. If you happen to run across him please send him back.

O-kay, I know I have been gone for a while but I think I am back. Hello to all my friends out there! Lots going on lately, most important is the graduation of Samantha, my youngest child. It is an extremely happy and exciting time. She is moving into her own apartment and has her first job. I an so proud. I am also profoundly sad! This is MY BABY we are talking about. Would help if I liked the guy she is dating; but I don't. Anyway, it is her life, and like everyone else, she deserves the chance to make her own mistakes.



On to other things. I am trying to learn how to start plants from seeds and mature them properly so they will survive outside. Tried this for the first time this year; lets just say it wasn't a resounding success. I am proud to say that it wasn't a complete failure either! The lilies are going to live but, out of 10 pepper plants only 1 survived and he's not looking so hot. I also tried to start poppy seeds but none of those survived. Not sure what I did but, they died in a very early stage. The fact that they germinated is enough incentive to get me to try again!
I had my oral surgery on april 1st and am happy to report that all is healing well. The stitches are completely gone and i feel so good! Even without my new teeth, I am already eating things that I haven't eaten in a long time. Apples are so yummy!
My garden is blooming and growing like crazy! This makes me so excited I can't stand myself. I cannot describe the feeling I get each morning as I awake to this wondrous site and know that I helped to create it. Daffodils and Tulips have bloomed. My Bleeding Heart has tripled in size from last year. The Irises and Lilies are beginning to get flower buds.







Well, I guess that's about all for now. I will get some new pics of the garden posted soon as I can. I will be back soon, goddess willing. Brightest Blessings to all who read this.

Signs of Life

Astrological Prayer

Alright, no one get offended. I received this in an e-mail and thought it was funny and cute. S0; since it is so cute and funny I thought I would share with all of my friends out there in cyber space.




Astrological Prayer


Aries:
Dear God, please give my patience........and could you do it right now?

Taurus:
Dear God, help me accept change, but not too fast.

Gemini:
Dear God! Who is God? Where is God? Why is God?



Cancer:
Dear God!!!!

Leo:
Yes.

Virgo:
Dear God, please God make us prefect and don't mess it up like You did the last time.



Libra:
Dear God, help me to be decisive, on the other hand, what do you think is best?

Scorpio:
Our father, forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors, even though the B****ds don't deserve it!

Sagittarius:
Dear Lord, if I've told you once, I've told you a million times, help me stop exaggerating.



Capricorn:
Dear God, I'd like to ask you to help me, but i learned a long time ago not to rely on anyone else.

Aquarius:
Dear God, I know I like change, but this chaos is ridiculous!

Pisces:
Dear Lord, as long as I'm going to drink this fifth of scotch tonight, please use the stimulation for thy glory.

AMEN



I still think that this is very cute. I am a Pisces and since I am not really a drinker I guess it is not quite me. Leave me a comment and let me know if your sign fits you.

Woman Embracing Womanhood

There are many ways and myriad reasons for women to honor and embrace all that they are. And when any individual woman chooses to do so, all women collectively move closer to becoming what they are truly capable of being. By honoring her experience and being willing to share it with others—both male and female—she teaches as she learns. When she can trust herself and her inner voice, she teaches those around her to trust her as well. Clasping hands with family members and friends, coworkers and strangers in a shared walk through the journey of life, she allows all to see the self-respect she possesses and accepts their respect, too, that is offered through look, word, and deed. When a woman can look back into her past, doing so without regret and instead seeing only lessons that brought her to her current strength and wisdom, she embraces the fullness of her experience. She helps those around her to build upon the past as she does. And when she chooses to create her desires, she places her power in the present and moves forward with life into the future. Seeing her own divinity, a woman learns to recognize the divinity in all women. She then can see her body as a temple, appreciating its feminine form and function, regardless of what age or stage of life she finds herself. She can enjoy all that it brings to her experience and appreciate other women and their experiences as well. Rather than seeing other women as competition, she can look around her to see the cycle of life reflected in the beauty of her sisters, reminding her of her own radiance should she ever forget. She can then celebrate all the many aspects that make her a being worthy of praise, dancing to express the physical, speaking proudly to express her intellect, sharing her emotions, and leading the way with her spiritual guidance. Embracing her womanhood, she reveals the facets that allow her to shine with the beauty and strength of a diamond to illuminate her world...

A Woman Should Know

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...

By MAYA ANGELOU

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...
enough money within her control to move out and rent a place of her own, even if she never wants to or needs to...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ... something perfect to wear if the employer, or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..
. a youth she's content to leave behind....

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ... a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to retelling it in her old age....

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ... a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
one friend who always makes her laugh... and one who lets her cry...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ... a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems, and a recipe for a meal, that will make her guests feel honored...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ... a feeling of control over her destiny....

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW ...
how to fall in love without losing herself...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW ... how to quit a job, break up with a lover, and confront a friend without ruining the friendship...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW ...
when to try harder... and WHEN TO WALK AWAY...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW ... that she can't change the length of her calves, the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW ... that her childhood may not have been perfect...but it's over...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW ...
what she would and wouldn't do for love or more...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW ... how to live alone... even if she doesn't like it...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW ...
whom she can trust, whom she can't, and why she shouldn't take it personally...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW ... where to go... be it to her best friend's kitchen table... or a charming inn in the woods... when her soul needs soothing...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW ... what she can and can't accomplish in a day... a month..and a year...

A powerful question to ask herself daily (or hourly) is this: "Am I operating from a consciousness of love and abundance, or a consciousness of fear and scarcity?" How you are feeling will give you a clue--love feels wonderful, peaceful. Fear feels nervous, anxious, even panicky.

Where are you creating from?

Ramblings & Funny Things

In the 1400's a law was set forth in England that a man was allowed to beat his wife with a stick no thicker than his thumb.


Hence we have 'the rule of thumb'

Many years ago in Scotland , a new game was invented. It was ruled 'Gentlemen Only...
Ladies Forbidden'...and thus, the word GOLF entered into the English language.


The first couple to be shown in bed together on prime time TV was Fred and Wilma Flintstone.


Every day more money is printed for Monopoly than the U.S. Treasury.


Men can read smaller print than women can; women can hear better.



It is impossible to lick your elbow.


The State with the highest percentage of people who walk to work:
Alaska

The percentage of Africa that is wilderness: 28% (now get this...)

The percentage of North America that is wilderness: 38%

The cost of raising a medium-size dog to the age of eleven:
$ 16,400

The average number of people airborne over the U.S.
in any given hour:
61,000

Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair.


The first novel ever written on a typewriter, Tom Sawyer.


The San Francisco Cable cars are the only mobile National Monuments.


Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history:

Spades - King David

Hearts - Charlemagne

Clubs -Alexander, the Great

Diamonds - Julius Caesar

111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321

If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle. If the horse has one front leg in the air, the person died because of wounds received in battle. If the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural causes.

Only two people signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, John Hancock and Charles Thomson. Most of the rest signed on August 2, but the last signature wasn't added until 5 years later.

Half of all Americans live within 50 miles of what?

Their birthplace

Most boat owners name their boats.


What is the most popular boat name requested?
Obsession


If you were to spell out numbers, how far would you have to go until you would find the letter 'A'?
One thousand

What do bulletproof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers and laser printers have in common?
All were invented by women.


What is the only food that doesn't spoil?
Honey

Which day are there more collect calls than any other day of the year?
Father's Day

In Shakespeare's time, mattresses were secured on bed frames by ropes. When you pulled on the ropes, the mattress tightened, making the bed firmer to sleep o n. Hence the phrase...'Goodnight, sleep tight'

It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4, 000 years ago that for a month after the wedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer and because their calendar was lunar based, this period was called the honey month, which we know today as the honeymoon.


In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and quarts... So in old England when customers got unruly, the bartender would yell at them 'Mind your pints and quarts, and settle down.

It's where we get the phrase 'mind your P's and Q's'

Many years ago in England , pub frequenters had a whistle baked into the rim, or handle , of their ceramic cups. When they needed a refill, they used the whistle to get some service. 'Wet your whistle' is the phrase inspired by this practice.


At least 75% of people who read this will try to lick their elbow!

Believe it or not, you can read this:
I cdnuolt blv eiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.

Amzanig huh?


YOU KNOW YOU ARE LIVING IN 2008 when...

1. You accidentally enter your PIN on the microwave.
2. You haven't played solitaire with real cards in years.
3. You have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of three.
4. You e-mail the person who works at the desk next to you.
5. Your reason for not staying in touch with friends and family is that they don't have e-m ail addresses.
6. You pull up in your own driveway and use your cell phone to see if anyone is home to help you carry in the groceries.
7.Every commercial on television has a web site at the bottom of the screen
8. Leaving the house without your cell phone, which you didn't even have the first 20 or 30 (or 60) years of your life, is now a cause for panic and you turn around to go and get it.
10. You get up in the morning and go on line before getting your coffee.
11. You start tilting your head sideways to smile.
12. You're reading this and nodding and laughing.
13. Even worse, you know exactly to whom you are going to forward this message.
14. You are too busy to notice there was no #9 on this list.
15. You actually scrolled back up to check that there wasn't a #9 on this list.
16. Now...you try to lick your elbow again.
SMILE

CLUTTER

How Clutter Affects Your Love Life

Clutter in any area of your home is a sign of stuck, stagnant energy. The more clutter you have, the more sluggish the energy becomes. When the areas of your home associated with romance are cluttered and untidy, your love life is affected as well. From a feng shui perspective, the three places in your home that have the strongest impact on your love life are your bedroom, the Relationship Area (I'll tell you how to find that in a moment), and the space around your front door.

Here's why:

Clutter in the Bedroom

Your bedroom is strongly associated with the intimacy of a romantic relationship. Clutter in the bedroom can contribute to fatigue, irritability, lack of focus, and difficulty sleeping. When you and your partner are tired, cranky, and distracted much of the time, your relationship is probably not getting the quality attention it needs and deserves. If you are single, a cluttered bedroom will make it more difficult for a new relationship to get started; all that stuck energy literally makes it hard for you to meet someone new. And that's before a potential partner gets a good look at the mess you are living in! Decluttering your bedroom is an excellent way to shake all that stuck energy loose and make room for a new relationship.

Clutter in the Relationship Area

The feng shui "ba gua" is a map of the energetic influences of a space. Some people use the ba gua according to the compass directions; with this method, the Relationship Area is the southwest sector of your home or of a specific room. Western feng shui orients the ba gua to the entry to a space; with this method, the Relationship area is the back right corner of the home or of a room. Instead of wondering which method to use, why not check out them both? Look around the SW sector of your home, and in the SW part of your bedroom. Now check the room(s) in the right-rear corner of the house, and look at the far right corner of your bedroom. Like a wet blanket thrown over a fire, clutter in any of these areas can smother the passion and intensity in your romance. You aren't much fun to be around when you feel depressed, indecisive, ineffective, creatively blocked, overly emotional, or too lethargic to care - which is how you are likely to feel about your love life if your Relationship areas are filled with clutter! Find these areas within your home and bedroom, and make them your top priority for clutter-clearing attention.

Clutter Around the Front Door

The third major factor is the area around your front door. The main entrance is called "the Mouth of Chi" in feng shui, because it has the strongest influence on how chi (energy) flows into your home. You can't nourish your body without opening your mouth to eat. Similarly, your home can't benefit from fresh, vital chi if the front door is blocked with clutter or rarely used. Go take a look at your front door. Does it open all the way, or have you stored things behind it? Is your foyer or front hall clean and welcoming, or is it filled with stuff you haven't gotten around to putting away or getting rid of? When was the last time you used your front door? The front door is associated with opportunities. If you've been trying to meet someone new without success, getting rid of clutter around the front door and using that entry more often are a good way to shift that stuck energy. You may find that opportunities to connect with someone new come to your attention more often, and that you are more likely to take advantage of them instead of feeling so tired you'd rather stay home. If you are in a relationship, a cluttered front entry can contribute to feelings of boredom and being stuck in a rut with each other. Opening the front door more widely and frequently is a good way to breathe new life into a less-than-exciting romantic connection. When you have cleared the clutter from important areas of your home, you should see a shift for the better in your love life. For those who are single and looking for love, making space in your home literally creates space for a new relationship to come in. That new partner may manifest for you right away, or it may take time for the energy shifts to result in a new connection. Either way, the space you create by getting rid of clutter will help to lift your spirits, improve your mood, and increase your energy which will make you more enjoyable and attractive to everyone you meet, old friends and new. If you are in a partnership that has not been going well, clutter-clearing alone is unlikely to solve all of your relationship problems. However, by clearing out key spaces you create mental and emotional space for greater clarity about the issues and behavior patterns that contribute to difficulties in your marriage or partnership. With greater clarity comes a greater capacity for wise decisions and appropriate action. You may even find that releasing clutter results in releasing a foundering relationship as well. Accept that it's all for the best, and focus on the new space you have created in your heart as well as in your home for a new and better love to come along.

So Much To Do

So much to do; so little time to do it in! Okay, so here is what's going on. I am in a mad rush this week to get a bunch of things done because I will be out of commission for most of next week. On Tuesday, April 1st at 10:30 a.m. I am having all of my teeth pulled. To most people this wouldn't be a huge thing but I am TERRIFIED!!! Dentists, I believe, are the emissaries of the devil. Along with their other classes in dental school i think they are taught torture 101 as well. Have you ever noticed that none of them have a good "bedside" manor. They are quite generally rude, and have an air of superiority to them. I recently had a dentist tell me that I had NO REASON to dislike them (dentists). How would he even know if I had a good reason to dislike them. He never even asked why; just assumed that I was some kind of crazy person. I might be a little crazy but I know how I feel. Well, I do have a reason;many reasons in fact!!! In my entire life I have never met what I would consider to be a good dentist. Not to mention that my first really bad experience with one was when I was 8 years old. At least I know that when this is all done I will be better than before. No more pain, no waking up with the side of my face swollen, and I will be able to eat again. It's been so long since I have had an apple or a steak. Kudos to my mom who is taking the day off of work to go with me.
Well, I guess that's about it for now. Have a beautiful day and be good to each other.

Spring In Wisconsin

Record snow fall in Madison this year! As of Saturday march 8th, they are at 99.5 inches; WOW. And just think, a couple of days ago the snow was almost gone...ARG!!! I HATE snow! I am so ready for spring i am about to come out of my skin. The thought of my garden coming in and blooming makes me want to jump for joy. Needs to happen faster. Yes, i do have a HUGE case of spring fever. Imagine a sea of flowers in all the colors of the earth. Roses, Lilies, Viola, Peonies, Irises, etc., etc., etc. Bleeding Heart with it's delicate fern-like foliage and heart shaped blooms of pink and white. Good-bye father winter; HELLO goddess spring we welcome you with open arms and over flowing hearts. I will post some pictures later as the garden comes in, so make sure you are checking back to see my beauties!!!!! Happy Easter to all!

Survey I Stole from Scott

Here is a fun little survey I stole from my buddy Scott.
Hope you enjoy it!!!
If you decide to steal and post on your page don't forget to change the name in #8.
post you answers in the comments section.
1. At what age did you turn 12 years old?

2. If you were an animal...what kind of Human would you like to be?

3. What kind of underwear do you suppose Elvis wore?

4. Have you ever named the voices in your head?

5. Have you ever taken all the free pennies in the little dish next to the cash register just to see what kind of look the cashier will give you?

6. What color best describes your laugh?

7. Do you wake up in the middle of the night screaming out the name "Barb" for no apparent reason?

8. Do you like the number 8?

9. What song best describes your last bowel movement?

10. Have you ever tried to untie your belly button?

Hurting Those You Love

I just do not understand!!!! Why is it that, in general, we tend to "abuse" the people who are closest to us; the people we claim to love?? Husband against wife, brother against sister, parent against child, friend against friend. Is it a sign of a larger societal issue? Let's face it, something is seriously wrong. Fighting with your spouse, just get a divorce. Political correctness? Are we as a society just becoming overly sensitive? Say this but don't say that!!! What happened to freedom of expression? WHY IS EVERYTHING WRONG THESE DAYS? I have a yahoo group that i dearly love but the infighting there in the last 24 hours has become unreasonable. I love a good debate but sometimes you have to just agree to disagree. It is our differences that makes this country great!!! Being tolerant is a must to live!!!! Don't we need to realize that; as different as people are, so will be their opinions. Shouldn't we embrace our differences and rejoice in them?

If you have an opinion on this please leave a comment. I would be greatly appreciated.

Compasion From "Unknown" People

I am sitting here in front of my computer; just visited some of my favorite blogs and my favorite group web site. Kimmy and Scott you two have become very inspirational to me. Kimmy, you are so full of life and love that it gives me hope for the future. Scott, thank you for the little giggles that I get from some of your posts and for the poetry that touches my heart. To the order of WaWAVaVa's (my yahoo pagan on-line group) thank you all for the love and support that you have given me in the last couple of months. All of you have no idea what this means to me!!!!! I do find it funny how I am able to get these things from people that I hardly know and have never meet. At this point in my life it is something that I really NEED; between the divorce and the bankruptcy and the unemployment and the evil dentist I am at my wits end. You all give me a few minutes everyday to forget how f**ked up my life is and most important ; a reason to smile and sometimes laugh. I wish you all to get everything you need and desire!!!! You are all very special people, don't ever change.
THANKS TO YOU ALL!!!

SPRING

Yeah hoo!!!!!! The sun is shining! The snow is melting! And I think I am going to have a good day today!!!! This is the first morning in a long time that I have woke up happy; actually feel really happy today. Do not know why; do not care, am just glad to be feeling on the upside today. I was getting tired of feeling like crying all the time. Needed a day to be upbeat. The sunshine and the onset of spring has something to do with it I am sure. Speaking of spring , my seeds have sprouted and look wonderful. The habanero peppers have really taken off, most of them are about 3 inches tall already. Am currently hardening them off so they can go in little pots to await the temperatures that will allow them to survive outside. Not even sure why I am still growing these, they are for the "hubby", they are too HOT for this little girl. Gonna have major amounts of poppies as well. Thank the goddess that I have a freind with plenty of room to take any extras that I may have. I am so excited at the thought of getting my hands into my garden. There is nothing more satisfiing than watching my garden come in every year and knowing that it is there because of my love and care. Planted lots of new bulbs last fall, can't wait to see them all bloom this year. May you all have a beautiful day!

Can't Sleep

Well, not sure what to put on this page tonight. I know that I should be trying to sleep but i cannot seem to do it. Can't seem to shut my mind off. My life is in a shambles and I just have no idea what to do. No job, filing bankruptcy, getting divorced after being together for almost 17 years. I feel like I have a huge cosmic "kick me" sign on my back. Am having oral surgery on April first; need dentures, and I am scared out of my mind. The worst thing is that I have never felt so alone. How did I let this happen to myself? How can I make it back to the person I used to be? Will anything feel "right" again? Will I ever be able to trust again? I guess only time will supply the answers to these questions. I just wish that I didn't feel so alone.

What the Hell is Wrong with People

Maybe someone out there can help me; what is wrong with people theses days? What ever happened to the "Golden Rule"? As a child my mother taught me that if I wanted people to be nice to me I needed to be nice to them, so I tried. As a mother this is something that I have tried to teach my children; just to find out that it is not so easy to do in this day and age. Whatever happened to helping out friends and neighbors that needed it? Have we all become so detached form each other that we can't even manage to have the simplest manners? I believe this to be a symptom of a larger problem. Our society has become so suspicious. Everyone acts like everyone else is out to get them. How did things go so far wrong? How did we as a people get to this place? I know there are alot of "bad" things in the world but if we all become overly paranoid about the "other guy" then our true nature gets buried. I honestly believe that most people are good and kind of heart and if this doesn't show because we are afraid of the repercussions then we as a people are doomed to fail! PLEASE be kind to your fellow man and remember, if you send good energy into the universe then that is what you will get back.

We Love Brett Favre

The state of wisconsin cries today! We have lost our one true hero; if you are a football fan anyway. Brett Favre has been leading the packers for 17 years and has had an illustrious career including holding several league records. Brett we have enjoyed watching you become the football player that you are and you will be GREATLY missed.

Introduction

Hello to all out there in cyber-land. I thought I would introduce myself, my name is Barb and I am new to blogging. In the next few weeks I will be putting this together and trying not to mess it up too bad. Thank the Goddess that I have live in technical support. For all you gardeners out there, if you are starting plants from seeds this year I hope you have already started them. Mine have sprouted and are almost ready for hardening and transplanting to starter pots. This year I am starting Poppies, Violas, Hot Peppers, and Lavender for luck. Well, that's about all for now. More to come soon.
Blessed Be
Barb