Wednesday, October 31, 2012

NaBloWriMo #31~~Last One/Samhain~~

Rather fitting that the last post of the National Blog Writing Month, is the first day of the Pagan New Year. I enjoyed trying to get myself to blog every day and I was really pretty successful at it...I skipped/missed/a day or two, but managed to catch up with the rest of the class.

Samhain is a Gaelic festival marking the end of the yearly harvest season and the beginning of Winter or the "darker half" of the year. Most commonly it is held on 31 October–1 November, or halfway between the Autumn Equinox and the Winter Solstice. Along with Imbolc(02February)Beltane (01May) and Lughnasadh(02August) it makes up the four Gaelic seasonal festivals. It was observed in IrelandScotland and the Isle of Man. Kindred festivals were held at the same time of year in other Celtic lands; for example the Brythonic Calan Gaeaf (in Wales), Kalan Gwav (in Cornwall) and Kalan GoaƱv (in Brittany).

It's the last of the Harvest Festivals of us Pagans. Our first is Lammas/Lughnasadh, then is Mabon(21September-ish)and the last is Samhain. Lammas is for harvesting the grain. Mabon is the fruits, like grapes and wine and Samhain is for the meat. It was more cost effective to slaughter most of the animals before the winter, especially your larger livestock, like cattle, sheep and swine.

Samhain (like Beltane) was seen as a time when the Veil Between the Worlds thinned enough for the souls of the dead, and other beings, to come into our world. Feasts were had, at which the souls of dead kin were beckoned to attend and a place set at the table for them. It has thus been likened to a festival of the dead, like El Dia de Los Muertos on 01/02November. People also took steps to protect themselves from harmful spirits, which is thought to have led to the custom of guising. It's known these days as trick or treating.If you dressed up scarier than the things that might cross over, they'd leave you alone.

I usually have an altar up for Samhain, but this past year my FIL has crossed as has a few of my on line friends, so I will set one up for El Dia instead.  It honours your ancestors and family that have died. On the altars are marigolds, sugar skulls,cards, pictures, items that were from your family, and their favourite food or drinks.  
Momentos · Observers of Dia de los Muertos craft altars with marigolds, sugar skulls and photos for loved ones. - Amaresh Sundaram Kuppuswamy | Daily Trojan
Mine would have Meatball subs and Mac and Cheese, I think.
El Dia stems from an ancient Aztec Holiday honouring the Lady of the Underworld, Mictecacihuatl.
Mictecacihuatl  
Welp, that's my last post for NaBloWriMo. Hope you've enjoyed reading what I've written as much as I've enjoyed reading you alls. 
Tomorrow begins NaNoWriMo...so we'll see how THAT goes this year.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

NaBloWriMo #30~~Storm Damage Wow!~~

Compared to the rest of the coast we were spared. Water in the cellar, just enough to moisten a frog actually. Water coming in the front window, nothing that slapping a thirsty plant under couldn't cure...

This little town, with a too apt name, and  I'd never heard of, got a foot plus of white stuff. They were on the COLD front side of Sandy. 

I guess they have a ski area in West Virginia...I nevah woulda thunk it.

This slightly water-logged statue of Alex Haley reading his "Roots" story is in Annapolis, MD. My best friend  lives in Frederick. I need to call her and see if she's okay. She's more inland, so she should've been.
maryland hurricane sandy damage

I can only hope this poor mook in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, was holding on tight to his whole existence...
ap superstorm sandy wave crash rehoboth beach thg 121029 wblog Hurricane Sandy: Live Updates
Even *I* was never that freakin stupid to hang out on the beach when there was a storm, let alone a bloody hurricane!

My friend Joanne used to live in Milford CT. I remember seeing this when I lived down the beach...
The Hurricane Sandy Aftermath
This was high tide there yesterday.

The saddest thing that came out of this was the sinking of the Bounty...yeah, THAT Bounty!
Hurricane Sandy sinks ship, HMS Bounty
It was in the movie with Brando and also in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies.  The diesel engines went kaput and they were screwed. The waves were like 30 feet high. They rescued everyone except for the Captain, but they're still looking for him. And a lady that was recovered has since died, which is tragic.

I give huge kudos to the Coasties. They did a pissah job rescuing everyone. That has GOT to be one of the hardest saves to ever do. The helo is hovering, it's being tossed by the wind, the basket is spinning and swaying. And you're jumping into an ocean that's sending tonnes of water over you as you're trying to save a life.
The US Coast Guard hoists a survivor from HMS Bounty, to safety from the churning sea
They gotta have balls the size of Yap money.
Stone Money - State of Yap

The death toll so far in the States is the mid thirties. It could've been sooo much worse. We had enough warning to get while it was still safe or to hunker down if it was safer to do so. If you went out when you weren't sposta or did something stupid, then you deserved to clean out your section of the gene pool...

Some people don't understand the power of water. Just think of the Grand Canyon...that was all water!
6 Inches of water can sweep an adult away. 2 feet deep can take your car!
I mean look at this!!! It's on TRAIN tracks in SingSing.

That boat didn't just WALK there! It was shoved by the water!
This one didn't either and this is a TANKER!!

This one washed up on Staten Island, NY.

I can only say prayers for the folks that died, thanks to all the FEMA and local agencies that stocked shelters and helped out, along with the ConEd, and Grid and whomever else is busting their humps to get things back to normal.

Monday, October 29, 2012

NaBloWriMo #29~~Hurricane Sandy~~

We're sitting here in our warm little house with electricity. We have a bit of water in the cellar, but nowheres NEAR as much as you'd think. Thank the Gods.

It started out with the wind last night and a few drops of rain. We had a couple of gusts this after that were just amazing.

Looking at the local news and the Weather Channel and such, I'm amazed that things have been going on so smoothly.

A pier in Kill Devil Hills, NC, fell in:


There were pics I saw of Atlantic City which were just amazing too:
Superstorm Sandy takes aim at Atlantic coast
Some of the old Boardwalk got swept away. :(
It would've been nice if my sister had left the Boardwalk and taken Snooki and company... pfft.

The Big Apple had prepared. They closed all the subways at 7PM last night. Good move, I think.
This was Red Hook, in Brooklyn:
nyc-hurricane-sandy-05.jpg
Freaking amazing isn't it?!The guy on the weather channel just said the water in Battery Park is almost 12 feet high and threatening the subway system.
Sandy Hook in NJ has water almost 2 and a half feet over their record. Yikes!!

We actually were pretty prepared up here too. Deval closed down basically the whole state. They also just closed down the Mystic Tobin Bridge after sending the tolltakers home. The Sagamore and Bourne Bridges on the Cape were gonna be closed too, if the wind gusts stayed at 75 or more. I don't like going over bridges on a good day, and this isn't a good day.

I put Obelisk out early this morning, moved the trash barrels, and she was back in before I turned around. sheesh.

The experts are saying that it's a "Franken-Storm" because it's part of the hurricane, part of a cold front, and a high that's blocking the whole mess. And it's being compared with "the Perfect Storm" of 91...the one that got turned into a movie with George Clooney and one of the Wahlberg boys. It sorta reminds me of the Blizzard of 78 which I was around for too.

The Perfect Storm
That was actually filmed on the Nawth Sho-ah up in Gloucester, pronounced Glaw-stah, for you outta townahs. ;)

I have friends in New Jersey, CT, my best friend lives in MD. I had a friend call last night from Alabama wanting to know how we were. He saw on the Weather Channel that we were expecting Sandy. I know more folks who live in New York State and one on Lake Erie itself...she's expecting hell...
One of my friends in NH lost her power this after. My SIL lives a bit north-er than her and was getting nothing.

We had the lights flicker just a bit ago. The surge guard went off and DS' computer and the fish tanks. DS is pissing and moaning that it won't stop beeping. Like it's a freakin conspiracy against him by the universe.  ugh...gonna be a long night...

I have been offering up prayers for all my East Coast buddies. I really hope everyone comes through okay.


Sunday, October 28, 2012

NaBloWriMo #28~~I Learnt A New Word~~

My DS and I were watching Top Gear last week. They were doing a show on Caravanning in Cornwall and the next one was one about motorbiking through Viet Nam.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_Gear:_Vietnam_Special
We saw one on MAKING a caravan on a car, which was Series 15 episode 4. Make SURE, doubly and triply SURE that you have your Depends on, because it is Piss Your Pants funny.
Depends Pictures, Images and Photos

Top Gear is a British show that first started in 77!! And relaunched in 02.It was originally a show for gearheads, and strict car enthusiasts, but it's morphed into something different and completely outrageous.

The hosts are Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May.  Jeremy is the brains of the outfit compared to the others.  Hammond, also known as Hamster, and James are there for comic relief.  It's shown on BBC America. My son is hooked, but then again, I started him off with Monty Python and the Holy Grail.   hehehe

Hamster's on the left and James is on the right. Jeremy is in the middle.

But this was the one thing that sent me completely over the edge. It was part of the Viet Nam Special:
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lre05nthNR1qjirrjo1_400.gif

This what was said:

Richard: I just put my face in your crotch!
James: So you simultaneously headbutted me in the gentleman’s region and snapped the prow off the galleon. You complete numpty Hammond.
That was it!!!  I laughed to hard I was crying and my ribs hurt for days...

I hadta look up what a "numpty" actually was because that was a new one on me...I know alot of English colloquialisms, but had never heard this one.
This tidbit comes from Urban Dictionary:

numpty A person, who, for their public personality seems as if they can be compared to the pleasant 'Humpty Dumpty'... but when in the comfort of being alone in their room takes out the Jack Daniels and wacks off to a taped episode of Sesame Street.
Numpty1415 up278 down
Scottish usage:
a) Someone who (sometimes unwittingly) by speech or action demonstrates a lack of knowledge or misconception of a particular subject or situation to the amusement of others.

b) A good humoured admonition, a term of endearment

c) A reckless, absent minded or unwise person
a) "No. That wisnae wit she meant, ya big numpty!"

b) i.e. "Silly billy", "You big dafty"

c) "That numpty's driving with no lights on!"
This seems more like Hamster to me though:
A person who never has or never will have a f*ing clue what he is doing
Bobby Gould
Scotland's favourite word is "numpty", according to a survey conducted for a children's charity.

I'm not really surprised, because it's a very useful and versatile word.

NaBloWriMo #27~~Craft Fair W00t!~~

An old work friend what's on FB wondered if I sold my handmade goodies at craft shows or just on-line. I hadn't done a craft show in way too long. Last one was Pagan Pride Day in 2010 and I only sold 1 Item, a Dionysius flavoured DreamWeb with grapes and a wine bottle.

It didn't even cover my table fee...pfft.
The next two years I was too busy having surgeries...

The last non-witchy craft fair I did, I wanted to just take everything outside and burn it...they were selling cheap CRAP and Stuffed animals dipped in scented wax.

They were selling like hotcakes!!! I don't get it.

And Swarovskiy crystal enough to singe your retinas...ugh. Not that I don't like crystal, but not every freakin table!!

I had my DreamWebs and Tshirts...sigh...I sat for 8 hours playing tiddly winks with my bellybutton and some M&M's...I was SO disappointed and sad and discouraged. I wound up talking Tarot cards with a teenaged girl who wasn't having any luck either...

But YESTERDAY was soo different!! I actually did well!! And I enjoyed myself! which should be the name of the game...

It was easy to get there, though I did have trouble actually LEAVING town. I hadta stop at CVS and get a mirror. Bloody things have gotten expensive!! THEN I started out again and realized that I didn't have my money...so I hadta head back home again...

I was sposta be there at 9 to set up...I got there at about quarter past, so that wasn't too bad. I didn't bother with the misbegotten EZ Up. I set up and arranged my stuff, then the gal in charge, Jodi who was hosting, called for a circle. We walked a labyrinth, then held hands and said prayers...I could feel the energy...don't be mean...it was really good!

This was our hostess. She owns Blue Angel Healing which is where it was.


It was a fund raiser to help a gal who had a brain tumour and to help with her bills.

There were psychics and readers and massages going on, but I didn't get a chance to get anything done *pouts* I DID manage to have a taste of some really pissah chili...it was almost as good as sex. Pulled meat, no beans, chunky cheese, and then cornbread crumbs on top...dear Gods it was wonderful!

There was kid yoga, and belly dancing. My sister and her niece came and belly danced...I didn't take any black mail pictures...The second troop of bellydancers did it with Scimitars...yeah good luck with that...They put them on their heads and danced...
Warrior Scimitar Of Persia

I could see myself giving me a splitting headache...

There were drummers and African drummers and dancers. The African Dancers were spectacular!

You can see part of my display and my head...hehehe

In addition to having a great time in the sunshine, enjoying the music and company, I also had SALES!!! w00t!!
I sold 2 necklaces, 1 DreamWeb, and two Witch Bottles.  I was THRILLED. I even made back my table fee; which is ALWAYS good.

And at the end there was a double rainbow. One was rightside up and the other looked upside down...at least to me.


I wanna thank Danielle for thinking of me...It was nice to see her and her friends.

Friday, October 26, 2012

NaBloWriMo #26~~EZ UP my arse~~

I borrowed this so-called EZ Up from a fellow FreeCycler. She said that it was easy to do...umm. I tried this after...BULLSHITE!!!
Unless I have ankle dragging knuckles like a MacGregor instead of my little T-Rex arms...


Or I was like 7 feet tall...or more...


I can't set the damnable thing up by myself.
This was almost me this after:
Eaten by Shark

I tried doing it the Polish Way. Get inside and try and shove it up...That actually worked pretty well, but I couldn't  get it all that way because of my vertically challenged-ness.



I can only hope that someone takes pity on me...

Thursday, October 25, 2012

NaBloWriMo #25~~ TopHatter Book Auction~~

I had a rather good night! I sold 8 books and only bought 1. Good for me. I'm trying to weed out some of my stash.

I sold 2 on Herbs, and one each on Creative Dreaming, Pendulum Dowsing, Tarot Cards, a Spellbook, Auras, Feng Shui.

I bought the Crow Magick Tarot though...
crosun croempcro9swo
croqswocrokswocropagec

Aren't these beautiful? I haven't found MY deck yet, but these are pretty cool.



These will be going to their new homes on Monday...Cool!!

I still have a tonne for the next auction, whenever that might be.

NaBloWriMo #24~~Trick or Treating~~

I finally bought some candy! Usually I've bought a couple of times because the house locusts get ahold of it and nom nom nom it all within a few days.


I have learnt over the years that it's better to wait until closer to the holiday because you can only hide it for so long...

The only downside is that there's not much left. CVS only had Snickers Peanut Butter Squared and not the regular. And the coupons sucked! $1 off 3 bags that cost $6 each...no friggin thanks! You might as well hand out Chicken Lobstahs and Prime Rib!!

I used to LOVE to go out trick or treating with my kid. Unfortunately one year, I didn't get dressed up and got more candy than HE did...I was banished!!
Trick or Treat Poster

So I'm relegated to giving out candy...pfft...nowhere NEAR as much fun...except for seeing all the really little ones in their costumes.
Treats to give on Halloween

One year, after it was over, some cretins egged our mailbox...If I had looked into my crystal ball they woulda gotten THIS rather than a Butterfinger or M&M's.


At least I have my stash of Candy Corn to get me through...

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

NaBloWriMo #23~~The World Series~~

Well, there are two not household names in the World Series. But they certainly deserve to be there...
The Detroit Tigers of the American League and the San Francisco Giants. They played well this season. They don't have the bajillionty dollar payrolls of the say the Evil Empire or even the Red Sox. I dunno much about the payroll of the National League, but it's been the Phillies, the Braves and the Mets for a while.

I'm a Red Sox girl all the way, but I was quite happy that the Tigers kicked the Yankees to the kerb. It was gratifying actually.

The Cardinals went to the big dance last year, so it was sorta time for someone new.

Zito is pitching as is Verlander...it seems like Verlander has stayed in his pod or somesuch...because he's not doing so well tonight...I am rather disappointed.

But it's a long series, so you never know...

AND it's the same matchup in Game 5...so maybe it'll be different.

Monday, October 22, 2012

NaBloWriMo #22~~Another American Legend has Crossed the Veil~~

I got home from work today, sparked up Ye Olde Lapptoppe and saw that Russell Means had died...dang...I remembered him from one of my Fate Magazine articles. I hadta look up which one though;
it was way back in 96 with an article entitled, "Russell Means, Mystic Warrior." 



He was one of the leaders of AIM, the American Indian Movement. If you're old enough, you'll remember Wounded Knee...he was there. He was actually a member of AIM right at the beginning in the late 60's. He was always part of a controversy. He really didn't pull any punches, as well he shouldn't.

AIM was originally started to be a protest against the United States' treatment of the Native Americans and to make the government live up to its treaties to the various nations.  We all know how well THAT has done...

Wounded Knee turned into the precursor of WACO, and the Branch Davidians. A giant mess! But that's what happens when your intell is shite and noone knows what they're really doing. That's why an innocent person has been in jail for the past 30 some years. Leonard Peltier was a part of AIM and got railroaded for allegedly killing 2 Fibbies which he didn't do.

Also out in good old Pine Ridge was Annie Mae Aquash. She was found dead out there after she had also participated in Wounded Knee, and was a squeaky wheel.  The feds dragged their feet after figuring out it was murder. A bullet hole in the skull doesn't usually indicate death by exposure which was the first COD.  KWIM?

Russell Means held a press conference wondering why so little was being done.  AIM was blamed for Annie Mae's death at first too because it was alleged that she was an informant but there was never any proof of that.

He also said "That before AIM, there had been no advocate on a national or international scale for American Indians, and that Native Americans were ashamed of their heritage." AIM has sorta faded away, but now the Native Americans will stick up for themselves and act like the proud people that they have always been.  

Russell Means was also a movie actor. His first big role was "Chingachgook" in Last of the Mohicans. He was also in the movie "Pathfinder" and had a voice acting role in Pocahantas as "Powhatan."  

He was arrested and tried a couple of times for his involvement with AIM, but had always been cleared especially when there's government chicanery going on.  He ran for Vice President on a ticket with Larry Flynt in the 80's. Interesting pairing that one...

These are some pretty good quotes from him:
The one thing I've always maintained is that I'm an American Indian. I'm not politically correct. Everyone who's born in the Western Hemisphere is a Native American. We are all Native Americans.
All European tradition, Marxism included, has conspired to defy the natural order of all things. Mother Earth has been abused, the powers have been abused, and this cannot go on forever. No theory can alter that simple fact. Mother Earth will retaliate, the whole environment will retaliate, and the abusers will be eliminated. Things come full circle, back to where they started. That's revolution.
You see the one thing I've always maintained is that I'm an American Indian. I'm not a Native American. I'm not politically correct. Everyone who's born in the Western Hemisphere is a Native American. We are all Native Americans. And if you notice, I put "American" before my ethnicity. I'm not a hyphenated African-American or Irish-American or Jewish-American or Mexican-American.
 So in honour of this wise elder, I shall sit, spark up the Tsola and remember the deeds he accomplished here.
Mitayuke Oyasin (We are all related) 

Sunday, October 21, 2012

NaBloWriMo #19 and 20~~Boringness and Tedium~~

Nothing much happening this weekend. It went from cold and wet to muggy...ugh. But typical New England.
Autumn In New England © Bob Englehart,The Hartford Courant,fall,autumn weather,New England,climate change, environment
I saw folks going around with sweat shirts and long pants with those horrid Ugg things...to shorts and t shirts.  Until it starts snowing I have sandals on.
I'm one of those hot blooded people...I even sleep with my feet out of the covers.
One person sleeping with feet poking out of blankets Stock Photo - 5143268

The only really good thing is that my work called and I can come back for training...I won't have any hours, but at least I've got my foot back in the door...

And I'm doing a Craft Fair on this up-coming Saturday. It's a Fund Raiser for a woman with a tumour.  So it's for a good cause.
http://blueangelhealing.webs.com/

Today was also visit MIL day. We hadta stop on the way because DS wanted a specific coat from the Army/Navy Store...
Bulgarian Military Wool Overcoat - Front View

This is quite similar to it. He looks awesome in it.  But then again he looks awesome in everything...just ain't fair...

Toldja I had a boring weekend...