No matter who you vote for, this election is one for the history books. Don't pass up your opportunity to be a part of that.
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Just do it
No matter who you vote for, this election is one for the history books. Don't pass up your opportunity to be a part of that.
Monday, October 06, 2008
Friday, October 03, 2008
Everything and Nothing
While a lot has been going on, I have nothing to report. We are in the strange limbo land of waiting.
The Prior is preoccupied with the Wall Street Crises, so no decision there yet.
Steve had the MRI on his back, so we are waiting for someone to read that and tell us what to do next. Pretty sure it is a herniated disk.
I hate waiting.
The Prior is preoccupied with the Wall Street Crises, so no decision there yet.
Steve had the MRI on his back, so we are waiting for someone to read that and tell us what to do next. Pretty sure it is a herniated disk.
I hate waiting.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Unity Walk 9/11
Today I volunteered at the Washington DC Unity Walk 9/11. It started out at the Hebrew congregation (with a muslim call to prayer - very cool). and made its way down Massachusets Avenue past many embassies to the Ghandi memorial park. Stops along the way included a Catholic church, a Sikh Temple, the National Cathedral, the Greek Orthodox church, and the Russian Orthodix Church.
The walk also passed the Khalil Gilbran Park, the Islamic Park and finally ended up at the Ghandi Memorial Gardens. The walk was led byArun Ghandi.
There were probably 1500 participants in the walk, and the Christians/non-Christian ration was about dead even.
It's a start......
The walk also passed the Khalil Gilbran Park, the Islamic Park and finally ended up at the Ghandi Memorial Gardens. The walk was led byArun Ghandi.
There were probably 1500 participants in the walk, and the Christians/non-Christian ration was about dead even.
It's a start......
Saturday, September 06, 2008
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Monday, August 18, 2008
Even MORE things I learned while fishing
This week-end was the Wine, Women and Fishing event in Virginia Beach. I was greatly anticipating this week-end because 1) I secretly think off-shore fishing is really cool. Please don't tell anyone 2) Sue and Mike needed a fun and relaxing week-end. The funeral for George and taking care of Lisa and the kids has really worn them down.
So I drive down Saturday afternoon. Very uneventful except for the fact that the traffic at the tunnel was so slow I actually could knit while driving (I have decided that when you are going under 3 miles per hour it is OK to knit). I drive to the docks like I have been doing it for years thanks to my handy dandy Molly Magellan. Sue, Christine, and I go to Harris Tweeter (it's really Harris Teeter but we think we are so funny when we call it Harris Tweeter) which might be the greatest grocery chain ever. We bought way more stuff than we ever needed, which came in handy later.
OK. Back at the boat all our tournament team mates arrive and we go over to the tournament Kick-off event. Please keep in mind that the name of the event is Wine, Women, and Fishing. We are there about 20 minutes and they run out of wine. WHAT? Not a good thing to announce to a crowd of women who forked out serious money for this event. The mood was UG-LEE. I decide that I will drink a beer and have a Land Shark. Great beer, and hilarious name. All I could think of was the old Saturday Night Live skit.
We have dinner and hit the boat to go to bed because we are setting out at 5:30. Yes, my little possums, 5:30 in the morning.
At 5:30 off we go with a song in our hearts and great plans to catch THE BIG ONE. I take Dramamine so I am sea worthy, thank the Lord. we go 72 miles off shore because big fish need big water. Someone should have told the fish that that is where they needed to be. We did not catch a single thing all day. Nothing, nadda, zip. We did see lots of porpoise, whales, sea turtles and flying fish. That was very cool!
At 3:00 the tournament is officially over, and we have had a fabulous time making up all kinds of fish dances, wearing a fish eye (A fake one. We didn't poke the eye out of some bait and wear it on our foreheads. Good grief people!) in the middle of our foreheads (The All Seeing Fish Eye). That was an interesting site of 6 women doing all this nonsense! I even yelled SOOOOOOOOO-EEEEEEEEEEEEEE Fish. But alas we were fishless.
At 4:15 on the way back in, (we are taking our time because why do you want to be back early if you LOST?) we hear an odd noise coming from one of the engines. Very odd. So odd that Mike comes flying down from the bridge and orders us out of the stateroom. He open up the engine room door and black smoke comes pouring out. Even in my non-nautical state, I know that this is not a good sign.
The boat is shut down. Words in combinations I have never heard come streaming from Mike's lips. The port engine is blown. Bear in mind that this is the engine they just had rebuilt at the tune of $23,000. I would have come up with interesting combinations too. Actually I think I would have gone into the state room, laid down on the bed and sucked my thumb. Sue and Mike are more pro-active than I. They chose to tell the engine what they really thought of it and its ancestory.
Now we have one engine to limp 62 MILES back to shore with. This is where the over-shopping at Harris Tweeter came in handy. We proceed to eat. And eat.
After about an hour, we get a call from a boat who has heard us contact the Coast Guard. They are heading our way and will pick up any passengers who need to get back sooner. Carol and I decide we will go back since we have to work on Monday. The boat pulls up, we hop on, and away we go.
Turns out this couple is from Yukon, Oklahoma! She went to OU! He went to OSU! She is Henry Bellmon's niece! We are friends for life now. We have bonded like only Okie's can. Carol and I are sending them a "House Divided" flag to thank them for the ride.
We get back to shore at 8:35 p.m. and I load up and start for La Plata. A three hour tour (insert Gilligan's Island music here). I straggle in at 12:05 a.m.
So no fish were caught, precious little wine was had, but it all makes a great story now, and I am glad I went.
So I drive down Saturday afternoon. Very uneventful except for the fact that the traffic at the tunnel was so slow I actually could knit while driving (I have decided that when you are going under 3 miles per hour it is OK to knit). I drive to the docks like I have been doing it for years thanks to my handy dandy Molly Magellan. Sue, Christine, and I go to Harris Tweeter (it's really Harris Teeter but we think we are so funny when we call it Harris Tweeter) which might be the greatest grocery chain ever. We bought way more stuff than we ever needed, which came in handy later.
OK. Back at the boat all our tournament team mates arrive and we go over to the tournament Kick-off event. Please keep in mind that the name of the event is Wine, Women, and Fishing. We are there about 20 minutes and they run out of wine. WHAT? Not a good thing to announce to a crowd of women who forked out serious money for this event. The mood was UG-LEE. I decide that I will drink a beer and have a Land Shark. Great beer, and hilarious name. All I could think of was the old Saturday Night Live skit.
We have dinner and hit the boat to go to bed because we are setting out at 5:30. Yes, my little possums, 5:30 in the morning.
At 5:30 off we go with a song in our hearts and great plans to catch THE BIG ONE. I take Dramamine so I am sea worthy, thank the Lord. we go 72 miles off shore because big fish need big water. Someone should have told the fish that that is where they needed to be. We did not catch a single thing all day. Nothing, nadda, zip. We did see lots of porpoise, whales, sea turtles and flying fish. That was very cool!
At 3:00 the tournament is officially over, and we have had a fabulous time making up all kinds of fish dances, wearing a fish eye (A fake one. We didn't poke the eye out of some bait and wear it on our foreheads. Good grief people!) in the middle of our foreheads (The All Seeing Fish Eye). That was an interesting site of 6 women doing all this nonsense! I even yelled SOOOOOOOOO-EEEEEEEEEEEEEE Fish. But alas we were fishless.
At 4:15 on the way back in, (we are taking our time because why do you want to be back early if you LOST?) we hear an odd noise coming from one of the engines. Very odd. So odd that Mike comes flying down from the bridge and orders us out of the stateroom. He open up the engine room door and black smoke comes pouring out. Even in my non-nautical state, I know that this is not a good sign.
The boat is shut down. Words in combinations I have never heard come streaming from Mike's lips. The port engine is blown. Bear in mind that this is the engine they just had rebuilt at the tune of $23,000. I would have come up with interesting combinations too. Actually I think I would have gone into the state room, laid down on the bed and sucked my thumb. Sue and Mike are more pro-active than I. They chose to tell the engine what they really thought of it and its ancestory.
Now we have one engine to limp 62 MILES back to shore with. This is where the over-shopping at Harris Tweeter came in handy. We proceed to eat. And eat.
After about an hour, we get a call from a boat who has heard us contact the Coast Guard. They are heading our way and will pick up any passengers who need to get back sooner. Carol and I decide we will go back since we have to work on Monday. The boat pulls up, we hop on, and away we go.
Turns out this couple is from Yukon, Oklahoma! She went to OU! He went to OSU! She is Henry Bellmon's niece! We are friends for life now. We have bonded like only Okie's can. Carol and I are sending them a "House Divided" flag to thank them for the ride.
We get back to shore at 8:35 p.m. and I load up and start for La Plata. A three hour tour (insert Gilligan's Island music here). I straggle in at 12:05 a.m.
So no fish were caught, precious little wine was had, but it all makes a great story now, and I am glad I went.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
This needs to be said
Steve and I are attending a funeral today for a friend of ours who died last week at the age of 47. George leaves behind a wife, a 15 year old son and a 12 year old daughter. George's died of a massive heart attack while on vacation in Minnesota.
George did not believe in life insurance.
Lisa, his wife, has a good job. In fact she works for my buddy Sue, who happens to be Lisa's sister. But Lisa is now around $20,000 in the hole because of the expence of the funeral, flying her and her children back unexpectedly from Minnesota, the transportation of the body, etc.
Go buy life insurance.
And while we are on the subject, I want Rite I at my service and I do not want Amazing Grace played. If cremating me is cheaper, do that. I know some people object to cremation because, "How will God resurrect your body if it has been burnt up?" He's God. I am guessing that if He can create this beautiful world we live in, He can handle putting my body back together as He sees fit.
George did not believe in life insurance.
Lisa, his wife, has a good job. In fact she works for my buddy Sue, who happens to be Lisa's sister. But Lisa is now around $20,000 in the hole because of the expence of the funeral, flying her and her children back unexpectedly from Minnesota, the transportation of the body, etc.
Go buy life insurance.
And while we are on the subject, I want Rite I at my service and I do not want Amazing Grace played. If cremating me is cheaper, do that. I know some people object to cremation because, "How will God resurrect your body if it has been burnt up?" He's God. I am guessing that if He can create this beautiful world we live in, He can handle putting my body back together as He sees fit.
Friday, August 08, 2008
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
No, I am not becoming a realtor
But that is what this picture reminds me of! I had to have a head shot done for Leadership Southern Maryland, so here it is.
The nice thing about this picture is that you cannot tell that one of the strategically placed buttons on my blouse came off as I was putting it on, and that my pants and shoes definitely do not match the top half of my body!
On other notes, it is 10 days until my big off shore fishing trip! WOOT! I hope to have pictures of all us wimenz with ginormous fish. And hopefully someone else will clean said catch.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Help!
I need your help! I am participating in the Chesapeake Bay Wine Women and Fishing Tournament on August 16 and 17th. The boat we are going out on is called "No Good Deed..." We are trying to come up with some clever sayings to go along with that phrase (other than "goes unpunished"). The idea is for the front of our t-shirts to say "No Good Deed...." and the back finish the phrase. Put on your thinking caps and if we choose yours I will send you a t-shirt!
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Beach Pictures for your enjoyment
Dunes on the way to the beach
Erin and Theo on the way to see the ocean for the first time
Two very cute boys
The best street name ever.
Fun footprints in the sand...Saturday, July 19, 2008
We are back!
We are back from the Big Beach Adventure! I think I speak for all of us when I say we had a blast!
Steve is compiling a list of top 10 hilarious things said during the week. A reference to that is the previous entry. If you have never heard a 3 year old sing Johnny Cash then you, my friend, have simply not lived.
Pictures to come when I find the cord to the camera............
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Monday, July 07, 2008
Things I learned this weekend
1) Off shore fishing is exciting! I really want to do it again so I can try to catch something other than another boat.
2) I am a weenie. Reeling in said boat nearly killed me off - my shoulders and hands are still sore.
3) Dramamine is my friend. Taking one before getting on the boat and before we went out was a good idea.
4) Dramamine should be Steve's friend too. 'Nuff said.
2) I am a weenie. Reeling in said boat nearly killed me off - my shoulders and hands are still sore.
3) Dramamine is my friend. Taking one before getting on the boat and before we went out was a good idea.
4) Dramamine should be Steve's friend too. 'Nuff said.
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
What do you wear to this event?
The possibilities are mind boggling.
Twin set with pearls and a linen skirt, while a classic, are not your best bet. And who would have ever thought in a bajillion years that I would be invited to an event where this uniform would be considered "odd." My trusty black sling backs are not event appropriate.
Think aging Stevie Nicks.
Lots of flowing multi-colored layers. Butterflies are a popular motif as are stars. In other words, go to your closest dress-up bin and raid it.
Lots of nothing that I own in my closet. While I do have a kick-ass "I Love Lucy" costume complete with fire red wig, I have nothing that I can twirl around in while warbling "Sarah."
For which all of my children are eternally grateful, I have no doubt.
Twin set with pearls and a linen skirt, while a classic, are not your best bet. And who would have ever thought in a bajillion years that I would be invited to an event where this uniform would be considered "odd." My trusty black sling backs are not event appropriate.
Think aging Stevie Nicks.
Lots of flowing multi-colored layers. Butterflies are a popular motif as are stars. In other words, go to your closest dress-up bin and raid it.
Lots of nothing that I own in my closet. While I do have a kick-ass "I Love Lucy" costume complete with fire red wig, I have nothing that I can twirl around in while warbling "Sarah."
For which all of my children are eternally grateful, I have no doubt.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
What kind of gift do you take to this kind of event?
I have neem invited to an interesting ceremony. Here is what I found out about this. My comments and concerns are in red.
Frequently Asked Questions And, oh yes, I do have quite a lot of those.
At what age can I be croned? Although traditions vary, it's generally accepted that age 49 (one’s 50th year) is the minimum. Many women wait to be croned until they’re 56 or 60. In my experience, each decade, starting with the 5th, brings its own challenges and blessings, resulting in newly harvested wisdom. Why in the name of heaven would I WANT to be called a crone?!
Do I have to be post-menopausal? No. Today some women still bleed in their 60s and others experience menopause after an operation in their 30s. We honor this rite as a woman's (blood) mystery, but the timing depends more on age (see above) and personal readiness than biological factors. Jeez people do we have to talk about this?
Who does the actual croning? Do they have to have a license, are there requirements or credentials of somesort?
Again, traditions vary. Typically initiations are conducted by those already initiated. If initiated crones are not available, women who deeply appreciate and acknowledge what it means to be a crone can conduct/priestess the ceremony.
Who can participate? And how can I gracefully decline this invitation?
Ceremonies often take place in women's circles, gatherings, and conferences. Private ceremonies can include crones only, women only, or women, children, and men. While those conducting the ceremony and performing the it should be women, all participants can honor the new crone and engage in other aspects.
Can I be croned more than once? Why would you want to be croned once much less twice? I am still not getting it.
Can I be croned for the first time at 70 instead of 50? Claiming our wisdom is a constant process: One can never be croned too many times, and it’s never too late. I’ve been croned in a personal ceremony, with circle sisters on a weekend retreat, and with new and previously initiated crones in gatherings of 100-300 women. Each ceremony is a unique celebration, an opportunity to reaffirm old commitments and make new ones. That is a lot of crones.
Can I be croned in a group ceremony before I have my personal ceremony? Oh good grief.....
Yes; there is no order in which to be croned. Participating in large group cronings will often spark ideas for a personal ceremony and vice versa.
Do I have to have a crone name?
Many women take this opportunity to rename themselves or take a special name, but it is not a requirement. Some one has probably already taken Lady Morgana Willow-elf so you will have to come up with something different.
Do I have to make commitments?
Croning is a significant step, a recognition of wisdom gained through years lived. Although not required, I strongly encourage the new crone to act on her wisdom by making a three-fold commitment to healing--herself, her community (however she defines it), and the earth. This can be simple or elaborate, general or specific.
Guidelines for a Personal Ceremony Oh thank God there are guidelines
The ritual can follow a celebratory meal (save the dessert until after the ceremony)It can take half an hour to two hours HOLY CRAP! depending on the size of the group and how many people speak, please, PLEASE do not make me speak give gifts, etc.Use the ritual structure of your tradition (or contact me for a general outline);
Select songs and chants that feature old women, crones "100 bottles of beer on the wall " is my choice
Call crone goddesses, ancestresses, crones of ancient times We are all going to hell...
Decide what will symbolize the initiation--a flower or star garland crown, a crone staff, a cloak or shawl, a ribbon or flower lei, a special gourd I personally would want a wand, IF I was ever going to do this. Don't panic Erin I am not going to get croned and embarrass you in front of all of your friends by announcing that I have done so.
Decide what will be used to represent the passage (a birthing into cronehood)--a gateway, threshold, curtain, a woman’s legs (she stands on a chair) what?
If people will be present who don’t understand the significance of the ceremony or of reclaiming the once-revered designation of crone, give a brief explanation. That would be me-cowering in the back waiting for the wrath of God to strike us all.
Everyone participates in honoring the new crone--written or verbal blessings, stories of her wisdom, poetry, song, chant, drumming, dancing (building toward the moment of croning) I am NOT dancing, chanting, drumming, or rattling. Out of my comfort zone.
The new crone crosses the threshold, emerges between the legs WHAT?, parts the curtain
Once on the other side she can be anointed with Hecate oil, rose petal water, rattled, wanded with lavender Trust me, I am rattled at this point for sure
The priestess asks for her crone name (if she is going to take one) and commitments
Then the priestess says some appropriate words and blessings as she presents the new crone with her symbol of initiation (placing the crown on her head, the cloak/shawl around her body, the staff or gourd in her hand) If we have not been zapped yet this is where it will happen...
Songs, chants, drumming/rattling
Other symbols and gifts can be presented to the new crone I am guessing some lovely handmade soaps are not the type of thing one presents to a new crone. Just a guess.
The new crone speaks her wisdom, gratitude, expands on her commitments
End the ritual in the traditional manner
Celebrate with food and drink
Enjoy the afterglow ICK
This is just one of many possible ways to conduct a ceremony.
I hope I don't start giggling like an idiot during this whole thing. Clearly I am way too Midwestern to be comfortable with all of this.
Frequently Asked Questions And, oh yes, I do have quite a lot of those.
At what age can I be croned? Although traditions vary, it's generally accepted that age 49 (one’s 50th year) is the minimum. Many women wait to be croned until they’re 56 or 60. In my experience, each decade, starting with the 5th, brings its own challenges and blessings, resulting in newly harvested wisdom. Why in the name of heaven would I WANT to be called a crone?!
Do I have to be post-menopausal? No. Today some women still bleed in their 60s and others experience menopause after an operation in their 30s. We honor this rite as a woman's (blood) mystery, but the timing depends more on age (see above) and personal readiness than biological factors. Jeez people do we have to talk about this?
Who does the actual croning? Do they have to have a license, are there requirements or credentials of somesort?
Again, traditions vary. Typically initiations are conducted by those already initiated. If initiated crones are not available, women who deeply appreciate and acknowledge what it means to be a crone can conduct/priestess the ceremony.
Who can participate? And how can I gracefully decline this invitation?
Ceremonies often take place in women's circles, gatherings, and conferences. Private ceremonies can include crones only, women only, or women, children, and men. While those conducting the ceremony and performing the it should be women, all participants can honor the new crone and engage in other aspects.
Can I be croned more than once? Why would you want to be croned once much less twice? I am still not getting it.
Can I be croned for the first time at 70 instead of 50? Claiming our wisdom is a constant process: One can never be croned too many times, and it’s never too late. I’ve been croned in a personal ceremony, with circle sisters on a weekend retreat, and with new and previously initiated crones in gatherings of 100-300 women. Each ceremony is a unique celebration, an opportunity to reaffirm old commitments and make new ones. That is a lot of crones.
Can I be croned in a group ceremony before I have my personal ceremony? Oh good grief.....
Yes; there is no order in which to be croned. Participating in large group cronings will often spark ideas for a personal ceremony and vice versa.
Do I have to have a crone name?
Many women take this opportunity to rename themselves or take a special name, but it is not a requirement. Some one has probably already taken Lady Morgana Willow-elf so you will have to come up with something different.
Do I have to make commitments?
Croning is a significant step, a recognition of wisdom gained through years lived. Although not required, I strongly encourage the new crone to act on her wisdom by making a three-fold commitment to healing--herself, her community (however she defines it), and the earth. This can be simple or elaborate, general or specific.
Guidelines for a Personal Ceremony Oh thank God there are guidelines
The ritual can follow a celebratory meal (save the dessert until after the ceremony)It can take half an hour to two hours HOLY CRAP! depending on the size of the group and how many people speak, please, PLEASE do not make me speak give gifts, etc.Use the ritual structure of your tradition (or contact me for a general outline);
Select songs and chants that feature old women, crones "100 bottles of beer on the wall " is my choice
Call crone goddesses, ancestresses, crones of ancient times We are all going to hell...
Decide what will symbolize the initiation--a flower or star garland crown, a crone staff, a cloak or shawl, a ribbon or flower lei, a special gourd I personally would want a wand, IF I was ever going to do this. Don't panic Erin I am not going to get croned and embarrass you in front of all of your friends by announcing that I have done so.
Decide what will be used to represent the passage (a birthing into cronehood)--a gateway, threshold, curtain, a woman’s legs (she stands on a chair) what?
If people will be present who don’t understand the significance of the ceremony or of reclaiming the once-revered designation of crone, give a brief explanation. That would be me-cowering in the back waiting for the wrath of God to strike us all.
Everyone participates in honoring the new crone--written or verbal blessings, stories of her wisdom, poetry, song, chant, drumming, dancing (building toward the moment of croning) I am NOT dancing, chanting, drumming, or rattling. Out of my comfort zone.
The new crone crosses the threshold, emerges between the legs WHAT?, parts the curtain
Once on the other side she can be anointed with Hecate oil, rose petal water, rattled, wanded with lavender Trust me, I am rattled at this point for sure
The priestess asks for her crone name (if she is going to take one) and commitments
Then the priestess says some appropriate words and blessings as she presents the new crone with her symbol of initiation (placing the crown on her head, the cloak/shawl around her body, the staff or gourd in her hand) If we have not been zapped yet this is where it will happen...
Songs, chants, drumming/rattling
Other symbols and gifts can be presented to the new crone I am guessing some lovely handmade soaps are not the type of thing one presents to a new crone. Just a guess.
The new crone speaks her wisdom, gratitude, expands on her commitments
End the ritual in the traditional manner
Celebrate with food and drink
Enjoy the afterglow ICK
This is just one of many possible ways to conduct a ceremony.
I hope I don't start giggling like an idiot during this whole thing. Clearly I am way too Midwestern to be comfortable with all of this.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Yep - I am that girl
I bought one of these along with 4 or 5 other gals in my office. It is the greatest thing ever invented - I mean this thing really works! My feet, that normally look like they need a belt sander, look fabulous.
I will warn you: The dumping of the shavings IS gross....
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