It's Monday Morning, So Where Are the Blues?

Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind.

To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy,

is to have the real spirit of Christmas.

Calvin Coolidge

And a good Monday morning to you all. Whew!!! What a weekend.  First there was shopping and then cooking, and it seemed that Saturday was one of those days that whatever could go wrong, would go wrong. Seems like I was dropping things, spilling things, and forgetting to add essential ingredients to my cooking.  The worst was when I dropped a cup of dry rice on the floor. That was a mess to clean up, and I am still wondering if I got it all. At that point, I decided it was time for a deep breath and a time to sit and get my bearings.

It didn't help any that Miss Minga was in one of her spoiled moods.  She decides that she doesn't want me to do anything but sit with her and lets me know in no uncertain terms.  The problem is that as she has gotten older, her hearing has been going, and we all know that someone hard of hearing speaks louder. Well, so do cats, and after awhile it can really drive you up a wall.  Had to use the squirter to get her to go lie down someplace and be quiet.  

You may be wondering about the title of the post. Well, I'm doing my best to turn over a new leaf. Instead of groaning and moaning about it, I am just going to go with the flow and focus on positive thoughts rather than the negative. For example, rather than my early morning "I don't want to go", today's affirmation was "I am looking forward to a bright new day." Grumbling about things only makes things worse,  sets the week off on a negative note, and let's face it, poor Monday has gotten such bad reviews just because someone chose to make it the first day of our work week. How often I have said "I wish I could retire so I didn't have to go to work anymore. I am so tired of this." I am so busy griping about what I 'wish' I can do that I tend to forget to be grateful for what I 'can' do. l am aware that my pain disorder may get so bad that I can no longer walk, but for now I am grateful that I can get out of bed and go to work.

Used my George Foreman this weekend.  Oh my, were Saturday's ribs heavenly.  The grill itself didn't come with many instructions, so I did a lot of studying online.  I did learn that boneless meats are the best bet with grilling since it grills simultaneously top and bottom.  But, oh how I had my heart set on spareribs. So, I boiled first to make sure they were cooked, then marinated in my homemade barbecue sauce.  After a few hours I placed them on the grill, and they were lip-smacking good.  Here are the ingredients:

1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon chili powder
1 cup no salt tomato sauce

1/2  cup no salt Ketsup
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder

Few drops of Low Sodium Worcestershire sauce

Mrs. Dash's Extra Spicy to taste.  I like my food hot.

If you can accept the flow of life and give in to it,

you will be accepting what is real.

Only when you accept what is real

can you live with it in peace

and happiness. The alternative

is a struggle that will never end

because it is a struggle with

the unreal, with a mirage of life

instead of life itself.

Deepak Chopra

TGIF

Always remember to slow down in life; live, breathe,
and learn; take a look around you whenever you have
time and never forget everything and every person
that has the least place within your heart.

Unknown

Well, this doesn't look like it will be a restful weekend for me.  In fact, this weekend which can be described in three words--busy, busy, busy. This is a cooking weekend, and the freezer is bare.  Well, perhaps it won't be as bad as I am projecting it to be.  Don't know if I mentioned it, but hubby surprised me last week with a George Foreman grill.  That is something I've been wanting for a long time.  I could have had one a long time ago, but in my old place, there was no room in the kitchen.  Then, after we moved here, there was so much else to do and buy that it just slipped my mind...so it was quite a pleasant surprise.

This past Sunday I grilled some sausages for my hubby and son and a plain hamburger for me.  Of course, with sausage being my absolute favorite, I did have to try it on the grill.  (I've been very good about it for a long time now.) So, I cut off a small chunk on one end, and guess what? It was too salty for me.  Our tastebuds certainly do change when we make corrections in our diet. 

So, as I was saying, I will most likely make another huge pot of chicken soup and another pot of chili for me.  I make a mean low sodium chili, let me tell you.  I'll cook a few dinners for hubby for the nights that I work, but I plan on using my grill for the other meals.  It's going to be so much fun. 

Sunday will be a day of rest, going through old recipes for Christmas cookies, reading, taking care of self needs such as nails and washing hair. You know, the usual.  After Sandy, I've fallen behind in my lessons so I plan to play a bit of catch up with that as well.  Somehow, with all that I have on my plate, it doesn't seem like a day of rest.  Hmmm!!!!

So, what are your plans for the weekend?  Anything special?  I know next weekend I have to get out and do a little Christmas shopping for my boys.  Haven't done anything yet.  You'd never believe that there was once a time that before we hit November everything would be bought and wrapped, would you?  Age certainly has slowed me down.

Meanwhile, I found the following I wanted to share with you.  It says much about how we live our lives. Have a wonderful weekend.

Rushing around from one activity to another, focusing on getting things done,
we tend to place all our priorities on accomplishing tasks on our lists – doing
routine housework; preparing meals and eating; commuting to work; getting
things done at work; putting in time at the gym; driving our kids to soccer
games, swimming lessons, and birthday parties; staying in touch with friends;
taking the dog to the groomer; and so on. Are you tired yet? In the midst of
it all, we become slaves to our to-do lists and become doers instead of be-ers.
We give ourselves little or no time feel, to more fully experience much of our
lives. We forget that our capacity to feel is the very essence of our vitality.
Without feeling, we become zombies or robots, and after a while we are left
with a vague sense that our lives are unfulfilled, empty,
lacking purpose, and devoid of anything resembling vitality.

Anat Banie

A Thursday Rant

In any moment of decision the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing. 

Theodore Roosevelt

With the holidays right around the corner, I promised myself that only positive thoughts will do.  I've even put off all doctor's appointments until January because I don't want any bad news disrupting the season.  Of course, I will still take my tests in December, but  the results can wait. That is why I was hesitant to post this rant, but it is something weighing heavily in my mind and heart and is exactly the kind of thing that I really have to talk about or it will eat away at me.  Sometimes we have to get things off their chest.

I am sure many of you heard of this, but the other day some innocent man lost his life as he was on his way home from work. A man suffering from mental illness pushed him in the path of an incoming train because he would not 'get in line and wait for the R train'. (There is no such line.) It's sad, so so sad. 58 years old, married, with a teen-age daughter, and he is gone. I've learned to take precautions.  I'll never walk on a dark, deserted street, and as far as the subway is concerned,  I always stand with my back against the wall.  I learned a long time ago that standing at the edge and watching for it is not going to make the train come any faster. In the world we live in, when one goes to work in the morning, one has no guarantees of returning home at the end of the day.  That is why it is so important to live each day to the fullest.  

Take my job, for example.  I work in an outpatient substance abuse program in a building that is also a shelter that houses 300 homeless mentally ill clients, mostly men. And, because my organization wants clients to feel more comfortable and less like they are institutionalized, they have not set up metal detectors like every other shelter...as well as the schools, courts, etc...here in the city.  In fact, we have no security whatsoever...which means that anyone can bring a gun or some other type of weapon into the building at any time...and then travel to any floor and begin shooting. I just happen to be the first one anyone sees when they come to our floor, so when I hear of these shootings across the country, the thought that it could happen here always crosses my mind.  But, I don't allow it to control my life.  If I let every little fear take over, I would never leave my home.

Sad as this episode is, it is made all the sadder because there were others on the platform, and no one made a move to help this man as he tried to climb up to the platform. Sure, while it is true that there was no time, not one person at least tried. One individual, a freelance photographer, stood there taking a picture of the poor man in his last seconds of life, and when confronted, stated that he felt the 'flash' would alert the conductor to stop the train.  Yeah, and I was born yesterday.  The guy chose to make a quick buck off a man's death rather than offer a helping hand. And shame on the newspaper for plastering the picture on the cover. Can you imagine what the man's family is already going through, and then seeing that? Even the perpetrator stood there and watched until the man died, yet no one tackled him to hold him for police.  They just watched as he walked off.  

And later, after they caught the perpetrator, a news reporter interviewed a woman vendor in the area who, mind you, was grinning from ear to ear like it was some joke, announced to the world that as soon as she saw the photo she knew exactly who the perpetrator was but did not inform the police because "I don't want to be a rat".  The correspondent asked, "But aren't you aware that he killed someone by pushing them in front of the train?"  She responded, "Yeah, but like I said.  I don't want to be a rat.  I figured they'd catch him sooner or later."  

Just makes me shake my head and wonder what this world is coming too.  If mankind can't help one another, how are we, as a civilization, to survive? It scares me that we have become such a cold, unfeeling society, that life is no longer as precious as a photo on a cell phone. Where has civilization gone wrong and is there reason to hope? I have to believe there is for without hope, there is no life.

In closing, please join me in the following prayer:

May there be peace on Earth, peace in the atmosphere and in the heavens. Peaceful be the waters and the plants. May the Divine bring us peace. May the holy prayers and invocations of peace liturgies generate ultimate Peace and Happiness everywhere. With these meditations which resolve and dissolve harm, violence and conflicts, we render peaceful whatever on earth is terrible, sinful, cruel and violent. Let the earth become fully auspicious, let everything be beneficial to us.

It Wouldn't Be Christmas Without Santa Claus

“HE sees you when you’re sleeping, HE knows when you’re awake…HE knows if you’ve been bad or good…”

Oh, how I loved Santa when I was a little girl.  He was my hero.  Many a Christmas Eve was spent gazing out the window, hoping to catch a glimpse of he and his reindeer as they arrived in our small community. Sometimes I actually believed that I saw his sleigh in the distance. I remember one Christmas Eve when I was in bed, supposedly sleeping, that I rose quietly and peeked through a crack in my door. All I saw was a red suit moving about the living room.  I just couldn't help myself.  I threw open the door and there stood my mom and dad in front of a decorated Christmas tree.  After getting scolded, I climbed back into my bed, but even what I saw that night didn't take the magic away for several years. Even as children we block out that which we don't want in our lives and continue to believe in the wonders of our childhood myths for as long as we can.

One of the most beautiful myths of Christmas is the story of Santa Claus. Children the world over send him letters and eagerly await his arrival on Christmas Eve.  But, just who is this jolly fat man 'with a little round belly, that shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly'.

Legend has it that the real Father Christmas is the pagan god, Odin, who rode across the sky on his eight-legged flying steed, Sleipnir, bringing presents at the time of the festival of Yule, a celebration of the Winter Solstice.

Others claim he is none other than Saint Nicholas of Myra, patron saint of sailors, a fourth- century bishop who is best known for being a patron of children and most often called Santa Claus. According to legend, he used the great wealth he inherited to help the poor and rewarded good children by putting presents in their shoes while they slept. St.Nicholas, just as Odin, was believed by children in many countries to ride a magical horse to deliver his gifts.

Over the years, the legends began to merge, as the folklore of Paganism was absorbed into Christian legend.  After all, they were travelers of the road, both were known for their beards, and both rode horses which were said to 'fly through the air'. And, as time went on,  Sleipnir, with his eight legs, multiplied into a team of reindeer. 

As you can see, Santa Claus, along with the Angels, rules my home at Christmas. The following two pictures are of a Santa collection began twenty years ago. Sadly, several were shattered beyond repair during my move. The first year hubby and I were together, I discovered several of these little Santa dolls in the store and bought several of them.  The next year and the year after that, I bought several more.  Then, the store closed.  These Santa Claus dolls are replicas of the way Santa has been pictured throughout the ages and around the world. 

2012, Doom? Destiny? Or Will It Be Just Like Any Other Day?

"People are waking up to spirit, nature, and acting to preserve local and planetary biology. For support, many look to traditional and shamanic world-views that revere the untamed world and the feminine."

Llyn Roberts

December 21, 2012.  We've been hearing about it for years.  Now, it is almost here, and many believe that this day signals the end of the world, the Apocalypse. What worries me is, that although we hear little information about the doomsayers as we near the date, I am sure that they are out there preparing for the rapture. My only hope that there is not some cult out there in someplace in the world just waiting to follow their narcissistic leader to the Otherworld. They say that the signs are here, and yes, it is true that we have been seeing drastic Earth changes at this time--earthquakes, superstorms, tornadoes-- but, is this 'really' because of the ancient Mayans predicted it would happen or because we continue to drain our Mother Earth of resources with no thoughts of the consequences?  

Others believe that on this date a new age of group consciousness will be ushered in,  a new golden age of self-realization so to speak, but, just how is this so-called 'new age' to arrive? Will I be seated at my computer working on a progress note only to  suddenly be whisked away to some other realm, to some other level of consciousness?  And while I do believe that mankind is waking up to a new spirituality, one that opens up a more balanced sharing of male and female energies, I somehow doubt that all is going to happen in the 'twinkling of an eye'. Indeed, we are, at the present time, seeing the end of the old patriarchal age and the re-emergence of the Divine Feminine, but  it is happening NOW.  It is not waiting for December 21st. The world has already begun moving in that direction and will continue to do so, but it will take time.  Change always does.

So, what will 'really' happen on that day? Nothing. It will be a day just like any other day.  We'll get up, we'll go about our daily schedule, and that is that. The world is not going to come to end.  Furthermore, 2012 is the year when the Mayan  calendar rolls over, much like ours did at the millennium. This is just like our calendar rolling over from December 31, 1999 to January 1, 2000. Remember all the hype about Y2K? Did global catastrophe strike as our calendar rolled over? Was there the worldwide computer crash that had been predicted?  No, nothing happened. So, why should we believe that it will do so when the Mayan calendar rolls over?  Besides, several months ago archaeologists unearthed an ancient Mayan calendar that goes well beyond 2012.  In fact, it is believed to project events some 7,000 years into our future.  So, what does this all mean?

It means that there will be some people who wake up deeply in debt on the 22nd because, believing the end is near, they maxed out their credit cards while others have racked up a small fortune writing about the event. Now don't get me wrong. Not all books on the subject are without merit; in fact, there are actually plenty of good ones out there--'Astrology of 2012 and Beyond', 'Beyond 2012: A Shaman's Call to Personal Change and the Transformation of Global Consciousness', and a book recently recommended by Aine, 'The Gods Have Spoken'.  On the contrary, what I am talking about are those  books that espouse utter nonsense.  For example, the other day I was leafing through a book in which the author claimed that the Ascension is coming on the 21st, and those who are ready for it will remain here on Earth in a new world of peace and love (that, by the way is going to happen overnight), and those who are not, will be whisked away to some other planet. And, she knows this to be true because she saw it happening. Buy her book, and she will teach you how to save yourself. Yeah, right...and I was born yesterday.

But, most likely, we will go about our business as usual. I know for myself, I will get up and go to work like any other day, and when I come home, I will honor the solstice just as I have every other year, and I will continue to pray for love and peace in the world.  And, on the 22nd, if I don't wake up on Mars or some other distant planet,  I will get up and go to the supermarket because that will be a cooking weekend for me. Life will go on.

Thanks for letting me share today.  What are you thoughts on the 21st?

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Monday Morning This and That

Slow down and enjoy life. It's not only the scenery you miss by going 

too fast--you also miss the sense of where you are going and why.

Eddie Cantor

(From my tree)

Well, it was a rather nondescript weekend. By Saturday, my cold was well on its way out. That Coricidin for those of us with HPB worked wonders, that,  and staying home and under the covers on Friday, that is. There was a time when I would push myself to go to work. Those days are gone. Now, I take care of me. The job will be there on Monday, and if not, so be it. But health comes first now. By Saturday, I was pretty much up and about. Finished up my Christmas decorations...unless I see something to add that I cannot resist. I missed having my village to set up, but not the work involved.  It was just so time consuming, not to forget the lack of storage space.  I only hope someone is now enjoying it as much as I did.   

On Sunday, after getting my clothes for the week pressed and put away, I finally got to making my Mexican Wedding Cookies. Actually, that is what I call them because that is the name they were under when I learned how to make them.  However, they are a cookie of many names including...Russian Tea Cakes, Butterballs, Pecan Sandies, Crescents, Snowballs, or Italian Wedding Cookies.  But, no matter what one chooses to call them, they sure taste good, and are so, so easy to make. Oh, by the way, they can be shaped into crescents as well. 

1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, room temperature

3/4 cup powdered sugar
3 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 cup pecans, finely chopped (You can substitute walnuts or almonds should you so choose.)

* You may add about 1/4 tsp of salt. I no longer use it, but that's me.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Cream butter or margarine in a bowl, gradually add confectioners' sugar and salt. Beat until light and fluffy. Add almonds and vanilla. Blend in flour gradually and mix well. Shape into balls (or crescents, your choice) using about 1 teaspoon for each cookie. Place on ungreased cookie sheet,  and bake for 15-20 min. Do not brown. Cool slightly, then roll in the extra powdered sugar. 

I am please to say that, although it has been 15 years, I haven't lost my touch.  They were super delicious.

Christmas came early for me this year. On Thursday evening, I received that magnificent tapestry from Debra, and then on Friday, the mailman delivered the above autographed copy of  Mrs. B's book.  It's fantastic.  Page after page of  valuable suggestions to add magic to your routine household chores. I absolutely love it. This came via the "Mrs. B's Guide to Household Witchery" giveaway held by my dear friend, Jen, at Rue and Hyssop. Thanks a million to both Jen and Mrs. B. I shall cherish this book.

Speaking of books, "From the Cauldron Born: Exploring the Magic of Welsh Legend and Lore" by Kristoffer Hughes became available for Kindle on December 1st, and you'd best believe the first thing Saturday morning I purchased it. I actually tried to purchase it on the 30th, but when they mean the 1st, they mean the 1st. I've waited awhile for this book to become available, and from what I have read so far, I am not going to be disappointed. The book explores the myth of the great bard, Taliesin,and the witch-goddess, Cerridwen, by focusing on core Celtic philosophy and magic.   

Excitement galore, to be sure, but for now, reality must take precedence, and it is time to get ready to head out the door to work.  Hoping you all have a magnificent Monday.

What we accomplish in a day depends upon the way in which we approach our tasks.

When we accept tough jobs as a challenge to our ability and wade into them

with joy and enthusiasm, miracles can happen.

When we do our work with a dynamic, conquering spirit, we get things done.

Arland Gilbert

TGIF

If there is light in the soul,
there will be beauty in the person.
If there is beauty in the person,
there will be harmony in the house.
If there is harmony in the house,
there will be order in the nation.
If there is order in the nation,
there will be peace in the world.
- Chinese Proverb -

What a special surprise was waiting for me last night when I got home from work. Several weeks ago I had entered  Debra's Debra at She Who Seeks  'Turning of the Wheel Giveaway', and last night, the gift was there waiting for me when I got home. Oh, I am so excited. It's such an exquisite gift, such a beautiful tapestry of the four seasons of the year.  I wish I had a camera, a cell phone photo just doesn't do the trick, but since I don't, so this is the picture from Debra's blog. 

Not much planned for this weekend. I really have to recuperate from last weekend. I know the holiday is quickly approaching, but I have little  energy left in me this week. A trip to Rite Aid for some Christmas scents and a stop at the fruit stand is all that is on my agenda. Besides, for the past two days I have been feeling a cold trying to take hold so it will be a weekend of homemade chicken soup and ginger tea to stop it in its tracks. Matter of fact, as I sit here now, throat sore and nose runny, I am debating if I should even go today.  

I may, if I feel like it make some Mexican Wedding Cookies.  One of my peers had brought some homemade cookies in that were very similar, and I opened my big mouth about my many years of baking. Now I have been put on the hot seat. Of course, I am looking forward to it. After so many years of not being able to bake, it really will be a pleasure to put the old creative juices back to work. 

Hope You will have a special Weekend. See you on Monday.