Gunpowder, treason, plot, AND hoarymarmot 's birthday!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RENEE!  Wishing you many, many more, and much success and happiness in the years to come!



(she's older than 3, though, heh heh.....)

First of all, happy happy birthdays to meruti and wymzie! You gals rock my world! (And huge apologies to everyone whose birthdays I've missed. I really suck.)

Let's see - last Friday hoarymarmot and I were the Ladies Who Lunch (at Bob's Red Mill, nom nom nom) and then hit The Bins. I found an old oversized Buck Rogers comic book and an old Seventeen teen etiquette book for byroncaloz (we collect old teen etiquette books, they're hilarious). I am so, So SO mega-jealous of Renee's new iMac!! It is one sweet machine. I used a borrowed Mac 10 years ago when I first got online, and loved it. One of these days... That night TCM Underground showed The Legend of Hell House, which I hadn't seen in years and had forgotten how great it is. The musical score was especially effective, also Michael Gough in an unbilled but very important role. Definitely had elements of The Haunting but I liked this one way better.

Saturday we futzed around the house, then participated in Earth Hour. All the lights went off and electrical use down to the bare minimum at 8:30 pm for one hour. All electronic appliances (computer, TV etc.) turned off. It was awesome - we had dinner by candlelight. We're doing as much as we can for the environment anyway, but this was just a really neat thing to do and fun too. Took some pics which I'll get off the camera and post soon. We'll probably do it a lot more often. BTW, it's gone now but the Earth Hour site had a message board on their home page in the days and hours leading up to the switch-off. Some of the comments from foamy-mouthed right-wingnuts busting a vein over "the liberal media" and Al Gore and Nancy Pelosi and "the socialist currently renting the White House" and how they were going to turn on every light and appliance in their house "full blast" during Earth Hour were hilarious. I replied and basically said, "Are you trying to make the poor babies cryyyy? Because it ain't working. We're laughing our heads off at you. We've listened to your drivel for years, and we're not listening anymore. We're going on ahead without you. If you want to set fire to a big pile of your money and stomp up and down like spoiled 5 year olds having a temper tantrum, go right ahead. We don't care."

Sunday we were on a Quest for Tweezers (man, the good ones are $$$!), then hit the Lombard Goodwill (found a few cool things) and after that went to see Mom. She's doing pretty well considering. We were hungry after that so had an excellent late lunch/early dinner at Thai Cottage. Then we went to Freddie's and bought a ton of groceries. And that's pretty much it.

Today I got my copy of The Essential Dykes to Watch Out For in the mail! YAYZORS! I can't wait to settle down with it and a nice hot cup of joe. Why do I enjoy lesbian literature so much? I find it... strangely comforting somehow. Hmm, obviously I have some unexplored issues.... I also got Everyday Fashions of the Fifties As Pictured in Sears Catalogs. We have the Forties one, and now I've got all the rest of them coming. These are SO awesome. Dover Books is The Bomb Dot Com.

I'm feeling more connected and in tune with the world today for some reason. I think that's good. No definitely, it is.

Oh yeah: 1) If you're on blip.fm, add me won't you? Thank you!
2) Peanut butter and apple butter sandwiches. NOM NOM NOM.

This is some way cool color footage from the Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans in 1941. There's also a part 2 so check it out. It's silent, so add your own Mardi Gras soundtrack!



Also big HAPPY BIRTHDAY shoutouts to cram and popjellyfish!!!! And embarrassingly belated wishes to chaoflux23, slytherin13 and anybody else I missed! I really fail at keeping track of people's birthdays. D'oh.

At any rate - Happy Mardi Gras everybody!!!!

Today my mom celebrates her 84th journey around the Sun.

( Vintage Betty! )

We're going over to Harvest Homes tonight to join her for dinner. We brought her some candy yesterday and of course she loved it. She's quite a gal. Love you, Mom.

Thanks for the positive strokes, you guyz. Things are still weird, but I'm handling it. Drama - I AM SO OVER IT. Some people are indeed full of crazy. Sucks to be them.

Yesterday we went to the Orleans Candle Co's annual Mardi Gras celebration. It was good to visit the shop; haven't been there in ages.  We had absolutely yummy vegetarian white beans and rice, and a nice big slice of King Cake.  I didn't get the baby this year, though (got it last year!).  Laissez les bon temps roulez!

Tonight we're going to the Oscar show at the Hollywood Theatre!  (It's officially sanctioned, ooooh)  Haven't really watched the Oscars in years, but this is going to be my last nighttime outing in quite a while, so should be fun.  I am old enough to remember the big performance of the theme from Shaft at the '72 Oscars, I think it was.  My little jaw hit the floor and I was hooked on funky soul music from that moment on.

Tomorrow is Mom's 84th birthday.  We're going to bring her some candy today and then go over and have dinner with her tomorrow.  She's doing pretty well; has had some rather low Coumadin levels lately that they're monitoring, but other than that seems to be feeling OK.

Oh yeah, speaking of birthdays - HAPPY BIRTHDAY slytherin13 !!  Don't have too much fun now....  Heh.

Conjure Oils scent du nuit:  Oshun!

My sweet spouse byroncaloz has a birthday today! But not just any birthday. It's The Big One. The Big 5-0.

Yes, believe it or not, Byron turns half a century old today. We're both having trouble wrapping our brains around it.

Behold The Album of Byron.

This is what 50 looks like, folks.





Happy birthday anniversay, sweetie. I LOVE YOU!!!

Hey - it's morganxpage's birthday too! Happy day, beautiful Oshun child!

Last night byroncaloz and I had the honor of watching history being made with apocalypso23, arkham4269, evamoon, indigo_spice and kik_inouye. Later on te_amo_azul and her sweetie stopped by and we shared our feelings. For the first time since 1992, when Clinton was elected, I am proud to be an American. But this is not just pride; it's a whole new and different feeling. I'm sure this has something to do with the other events going on in my life (especially the path to making ocha), but I am finally feeling like I belong here - I mean on Earth. For the longest time, I haven't. But now I feel that new possibilities are opening up, new relationships will be forged, new paths will be taken. That's what a leader does - no preaching, no haranguing, no ordering. A leader inspires you to do your very best. We have elected a leader. I am so happy to be alive right now.

Today I had a nom-tastic brunch at Bob's Red Mill with apocalypso23 and hoarymarmot, to celebrate the latter's birthday today!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY RENEE!!!! You are made of awesome and that's no bullhockey! xoxoxoxo

Happiest of birthdays to my awesome godbrother and fellow child of Yemaya, papipaulforrest!!! I can't wait to work at your ocha!! (I owe you an email too. No worries, it's coming.)


more cat pictures

Let somebody else make your cake, papi. You deserve it. xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Fur teh lorifury!!!!! Happy Birthday Lori!!!!

Happy birthday to my dad!!! He turns 80 today!



This is us a few years ago when Byron and I visited them in Salt Lake City. You can see I come by my thing for tattoos naturally. :-D

moar funny pictures

Birfday noms fer meruti and wymzie!!!!!!! YOU GAIZ RULEZ!!!!!

(I made this lol, BTW)

I promise to keep better track of y'all's birthdays. I know I've missed a few. Belated birfday noms all around!

Happy birthday to morganxpage!! Girl, you are too too much...... And you're also lucky, because you share a birthday with:

byroncaloz!! Happy birthday, sweetie. You are THE BEST THERE IS. xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Everyone go look at The Gallery of Byron and bask in his glory. (This needs some updating too; stay tuned)

Conjure Oils scent du jour: Zolac Manor

Happiest of birthdays to my beautimous friend and godsister evamoon!



One week from today you will receive the crown of your beautiful and powerful Mother, Oya. May she bless you today, all throughout your ocha ceremonies, and always. You are truly her daughter. I am so proud and honored to be your friend and your godsister! I LOVE YOU!!!!!

Maferefun Oya! Hekua Yansa!

Conjure Oils scent du jour: Yemaya

...that once you hit your thirties - mid-thirties for sure - it's walker-and-Metamucil time.

O RLY?



Well, this is what 48 looks like. Bitchez. Happy birthday to me.

And happiest of Happy Natal Days to my fellow August 31st-er, anchasta!! It's drum circle time, girlfriend!!!

Yes, I am wishing a happy birthday to a fictional character. I realize this. Yes, I need help. But according to the HP canon, Harry was born on July 31. So, happy birthday, Harry. Now that I've got the fictional characters down, maybe I can start remembering "real" people's birthdays.... o_O

HAPPY BIRTHDAY frostfields!!! Hope the rest of your day is super-smashingly wonderful!!!

(To those of you whose birthdays I've forgotten - I suck. I'm really sorry. I'll do better next year.)

Still reading Book 7. I went out and bought Books 3 through 6 on my break today (I've only read the first two books up to this point). I've seen and loved all the movies so far, but I've needed some prodding to actually read the books. Well, Potterheads, I hope you're happy. I'M HOOKED NOW. Trust me to get in on a good thing as it's ending. Oh, well. The fanfic will live forever, I've no doubt. So, there you go.

Speaking of birthdays and Harry Potter - Daniel Radcliffe turns 18 today as well. My, how time flies.

Eggs and bunnies and flowers, oh my! Pagan fertility symbols...

And - happy birthday to bionicfemme, the raddest chick ever!!!!

Why, the incredible coyotewoman's of course!! Happiest of birthdays, love!! And many many more!!

This morning I got up early with Byron, but went back to bed after he left for work and slept til almost NOON. This is ridiculous. It almost always seems to happen right before "that time of the month." I know that's coming up pretty soon, and I know I seem to need extra rest around that time, but still. This is going to play havoc on me when I become a doula; I'm going to need to be on call at all hours. Sheesh. Just need to get into better shape, is all.

There's not a heck of a lot going on around here otherwise. The other day I was driving past the gas station on the corner which has a sign that you can have them put up announcements on, like "Happy 40th Rhonda," "Congratulations Mary and Steve," that kind of thing. Below another announcement it said, "Memory of John Rotten." Johnny Rotten didn't die, did he?? If he did, I haven't heard anything. And it's not like the owners of the Shell station are big punk rock fans (well, you never can tell about these things). And if there was a local citizen known as John Rotten, it's news to me. Anyway, I just thought it was kind of weird.

It's a gorgeous day today - must get the lawns mowed.

Happiest of birthdays to my beautiful godsister seasings!! You are awesome, woman!!! x0x0x0x0x0

I am finally taking the proverbial bull by the horns and investigating something I've been thinking about for years. I am going to start looking into becoming a doula. A doula is someone who provides support for women giving birth. They can specialize in giving support during labor and delivery, post-partum, or sometimes both. At this point I'm most interested in becoming a birth doula, but would like to eventually become proficient at both. I'd like especially to work with midwives.

I have no idea why this particular profession has interested me deeply for so long. I have no children of my own, maybe that's why. I also want work that is meaningful, earthy, and beneficial to my fellow humans. It doesn't get much "earthier" than giving birth!

So, I wrote to Mother Tree Birth Services here in town to see about their class schedule, and also became a member of Doulas of North America and ordered a few books. This feels really, really, really right.

Had an excellent afternoon yesterday with the awesome-tastic hoarymarmot! We forgot that the candle shop is closed on Mondays (D'OH), but we had a great lunch at the St. Johns Pub and then a really nice time at The Grotto. I got that old longing for the monastery again. Maybe that's why I've decided to finally pursue the doula idea. Maybe this is my vocation...?