09/30/2024

Today marks several endings;

make no mistake and praise

the deities!

September at an end! Diet 

over!! Last day of my usual 

third abstinence month!!! 

(January, May, September)

Tantalizing though these

endings may be, I find the

entire decision making 

process fun to the max!

Shall I break my fast with

a marg? A beer?? A shot???

Shall I break my diet with

a fab plate of Mexican food?

Italian?? Chinese?

Good bye September! Hello

October . . . turning 75 if I'm

a day! Yayyyyy

Ideas of pure naughty . . .

brimming over my bubbly 

cauldron!

Halloween's afoot and I'm

going to enjoy every moment!

Who knows, I might even share . . .

09/29/2024

I'm always complaining that

I do not feel like I'm turning

75 . . .

Trust me! This early morn, 

I feel like that and more . . .

Cleaned out the closet under

the stairs as I wanted some 

more Halloween decor. Then,

I went out and watered all the

whiskey barrels and plants.

Only took two and a half hrs.

Go figure!

Methinks I should be called

Virgin ld or Saint ld. Alas,

I am neither a virgin nor a

saint, but I certainly need to

be called something or other!

I do make an effort to clean

one thing each day. That way,

by the end of the month, 'tis

time to start over, but all's had

a rub or so.

For all those 50 year olds out

there who actually think they're

aging, they need to think again.

Methinks I've only just begun!

Good thing . . . after tomorrow,

a fab month of party time . . .

and then, and only then, will I

start aging!

Ha!

09/28/2024

"Wisdom doesn't come 

from knowing anything. 

It comes from feeling 

everything." ~Scott Kiloby

Welcoming wisdom each 

and every day . . . yet, 

what a price to pay.

Obviously, I'm an oldster

now. I have sought wisdom 

daily, yet find it to be quite

elusive.

And perhaps, 'tis why it 

is so elusive, the pain that 

comes with . . .

I find it interesting that as 

I grow older, I am quite

leery in the seeking. Might

be left well enough alone.

Methinks, wisdom will come

or not . . . as it wills. So, I've

decided not to worry about it

any longer.

Surely, I'll acquire the odd bit

of wisdom before I cross over.

Although, I imagine it will be

as elusive as ever . . .

09/27/2024

Is it Colorado? Or perhaps,

post-COVID imaginings?

We had only a week or so 

of Spring and now Autumn 

is yielding to Winter when 

Fall has only just begun.

Alas, I feel the cold in my 

soul. I find myself ever so

thankful for warm p.m.s

yet the awaking 35 degrees

daunt me.

There are moments when 

I fear I will never be warm

again. Piles of bedding and

comfy nightwear do not do

their job adequately.

Must I return to Mexico to

ever feel warm again?! I'm

thinking . . . perhaps 'tis my

soul to blame.

Were my soul cold, wouldn't

that mean the body follows?

Something to think about.

I must find a way to warm my

soul . . . 

Pray, who will instruct me?

Who will help me find my

way . . .

09/26/2024

"Your time on Earth is limited.

Don't try to age with grace.

Age with mischief, audacity,

and a good story to tell."

Aging With Attitude

'Twas just the message I 

needed to see this early morn!

I tend to be made of sterner

stuff, a serious countenance.

Need to learn to let my hair

down, laugh and smile, dance

a tad.

Indeed, I was such a serious

child and seems naught has

changed.

I'll admit, it may have been

partially my daily assignment

with my special little bro. One

way or another, I've always

been quite serious.

Doesn't mean I couldn't imbibe

a few and join in the laughter.

Still, my heart is ever so glad

to be here and I'm going to

celebrate this coming October

as never before!

Turning 75 is a goal I thought

I'd never achieve . . .

Wow! Just W O W !!!

09/25/2024

"This is a wonderful day. I've

never seen this one before."

~Maya Angelou

Such depth and such wisdom! 

Methinks Maya Angelou has 

to be one of the wisest women 

to have ever existed! Now, if 

only I can learn from her!

What's with this waking up

cranky?! Being in a piss poor 

mood? Facing the day with

anxiety?

I'm awake! I'm alive! I'm here! 

What a gift . . . and seems I'm

spitting all over it with my bad

mood! Not quite sure why the

gods don't simply strike me

down!

I swear, I need an attitude

adjustment and I'm going to

get one before winter sets in!

I'm going to face the cold, dark

months with courage and some

kind of acceptance. 

To hell with SAD, Seasonal

Affective Disorder, I'm going

to up the ante even if it kills me!

p.s. 'Twas 37 degrees when I

took out the trash this early morn.

And, we're only three days into

Autumn . . . go figure!

pps. I may need reminding of

my promise from time to time!

Help!!!!!!!!!

09/24/2024

"My mother has something of

a medical problem . . . tequila!"

~Remington Steel

Funny! As I too enjoy the odd 

drink! Had my first drink at 37. 

It's been quite an experience 

learning all about it.

So, I allow myself Coronitas or

margs three times a week. I aim

for two, but it always comes out

to be three.

And, just to make certain I stay

on the straight and narrow, I fast

three months a year; January, 

May and September.

Only a week to go this particular

time around; damn well pleased

it's been no issue at all.

Another thing that goes with

drinking and not, is the old 

Mexican customs having to do 

with the passing of loved ones.

'Tis customary to abstain two

years with the death of a mother

and a year with the death of a

father. I chose to do the exact

opposite; got quite acquainted

with O'Doul's, what I like to 

call . . . a vegetarian beer!

So, here's to hoisting a couple

a week from today . . . what fun!

09/23/2024

"Follow your bliss and the

universe will open doors for

you where there were only 

walls." ~Joseph Campbell

Indeed, I worship at the feet

of Joseph Campbell, a man

of both incredible knowledge 

and wisdom.

Thinking back, methinks I've

been following my bliss since

I left home at 15 . . . School in

Arizona, 20 years in Mexico,

40 years of blissful teaching in

two countries, retirement in a

tiny cabin.

Bless God Himself for a mad

bliss worth following! Sooooo

love life . . . rather makes me

wonder at those disreputable 

life attempts?! I simply can 

not say the 'S' word.

Not quite sure how many days

left that the gods have allotted 

me. But, I'm damn well certain 

I'm going to have some bliss in 

each and every one of them . . .

Blessed be bliss!

09/22/2024 - Mabon

Mabon is here! Awaiting

celebrations . . . Yayyyyy!

Mabon? 'Tis the Pagan

name for the Fall Equinox.

Today, we all celebrate the

first day of Autumn.

I'm an eve celebration gal

rather than a day celebrant.

Still, I fully intend to enjoy

this day, make no mistake.

Alas, 'tis only 44 degrees,

but I would like to spend

some time outdoors if it

warms up a tad.

Might just have some left

overs from yesterday's

festivities. Yummmmm!!!

Going to spend some time

in my Mabon Book of

Shadows . . . always a good

reminder of things I knew

but may have forgotten.

Books await as my guy is

into his football game . . .

Works for me!

Enjoy today! Do something

special!! Memories matter!!!

Happy Mabon!

09/21/2024 - Mabon Eve

Finally, Autumn eve!

Making a proper entrance 

and a beautiful day it has 

been.

For me, it all began in the

afternoon with a pleasant 

couple of hours spent with 

our fave friends next door. 

Delightful!

Then, my bestie arrived to 

spend the evening, followed 

by a very special ceremony 

to celebrate the  arrival of 

this upcoming season. Indeed,

methinks we all enjoyed the

young women, the attitudes

and ideas. 

Autumn is indeed a glorious 

time of year. The heat and 

longer days of summer are 

gone and a quiet time of 

shorter days and lesser heat 

are here to delight us.

I know too, that Fall gently 

leads us into Winter, but for 

now, that's several fortnights 

away.

'Tis my intention to take this 

special time for thought and 

meditation. I wish to prepare 

myself for the upcoming days 

of Winter. Perhaps, this time

around I can find better ways 

of dealing with them.

May my thoughts be heard.

Pray I face these cooler days

with an open mind and a firm

desire for learning . . .

Happy Autumn!

09/20/2024

"To know even one life has

breathed easier because you 

have have lived. This is to 

have succeeded."

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Sooooo who I want to be 

when I grow up!

Perhaps 'twas the reason 

I became a teacher. Lying

within me was a desire to

help and serve rather than 

to harm and garner.

I blame it all on my little 

brother Sammy. I grew up

doing my fair share to help

him, enable him to survive.

Interestingly enough, I did

not feel put upon in the least.

And, interestingly enough,

when I cared for my mother

in my home for three and a 

half years, I did.

Methinks, this means I have

a long way to go, a long way

to grow.

I ask the questions, "How 

to grow? How to initiate this

positive change? Does the

Universe step in and begin

the teaching, the healing?"

Ever watching for signs and

signals. Hoping to give a 

hand one way or another.

Longing to grow, to grow up.

Heaven help me . . .

09/19/2024

Been thinkin' . . . always 

a tad dangerous. I know! 

I know! Questions ahoy . . .

Why is it that I do some of

the things that I do? Like . . .

Why do I sleep so close to

the edge of the bed with my

knee over the edge?

Why do I only wear black?

I have 13 sets of black clothes.

Why do I put blue in my hair?

Why do I send silly notes to

my friends?

Why do I have such issues

with cookie cutter people,

but dearly love those who

think outside the box?

Why do I refuse to use the

telephone . . . e-mail only?

Why did I give up my home

and move to a tiny 145 year

old cabin in the woods?

Why do I hate violence but

love murder mysteries? Not

too violent, Columbo and

Murder She Wrote will do

nicely!

Why am I the absolutely

weirdest person I know?

Just call me eccentric . . .

09/18/2024

Sometimes a dream is just 

a dream . . . and I get that! 

Still, I had a doozie last eve.

I dreamt that some of my 

guys and I went to a rather

new dump sight. There we

found that tons and tons of

different kinds of incense

had been brought there.

Absolutely unimaginable!

We didn't know if it were

moldy, in excess or what

the hell?!

Some of the group stayed

below and others joined me.

Not sure whether the gods

descended and gifted us

shovels, but suddenly we

had some.

I used mine to start mixing

some of those piles around

me. Then, began loading

boxes. Box after box, piling

them for retrieval. 

I had hoped we could each

take a box home as we all

used incense in our personal

meditations. 

Alas, we found the boxes

too heavy to remove. So

then, started dumping some

of the incense out so we

could carry them.

Methinks there's a message

here and I can come up with

a few.

Any fab ideas to share?

09/17/2024

Can you believe it?

Full Harvest Super Moon and

Lunar Eclipse for us to enjoy

today and tomorrow . . .

Feels like magick to me; make

no mistake. And if wishing on

a star is doable, can't help but

wonder what wishing on this

moon might do for moi?!

I'd kneel if my knees could

handle it . . . so I think I'll just

stand under that tad of lunar

light and wish to age long and

well.

After all those years of practice

and growing, we should be up

for those bits and pieces of pain

that aging drags in.

Beyond grateful here that I'm

still standing straight and have

a good lengthy stride. No need

to mention the sound effects

that go with . . .

 - - -

magic/magick - alternate 

spellings used to distinguish 

paranormal from stage magic.

09/16/2024

"Seasons change and so do we.

Let's start by appreciating all

that is, all that was and all that

will be." The Lovable Moon

Lover of the warmer seasons,

I find awaking to 40 degrees

on a summer morn most un-

bearable! Someone needs to

clue in the powers at be that

Autumn doesn't start until the

22nd! So not kidding here!

Fall simply seems to be slipping

in early. Wasn't it around the time

of Covid's appearance that our

weather patterns seemed to alter?

Go figure!

Alas, methinks I'm going to be 

wearing long janes for the rest of 

me days . . . 

 . . . I recall arriving in the U.S.

umpteen years ago. It was 93

degrees in the town I arrived in.

Had to put on a sweater. Guess

20 years in Old Mexico altered

my limits. And now, I'm freezing!

Still, here's wishing you a happy

autumn and me warmer days . . .

09/15/2024

"Those who dance appear insane

to those who cannot hear the music."

~Friedrich Nietzsche

I've heard the music all my life. 

Still, I dance amazingly in my head 

and rather poorly in reality. Might

be that I came from a family who

believed dancing to be a sin.

Looking at the meaning behind the

words, I see a plea to accept people

as they are. Obviously, one can only

guess as he is long gone. But, I do

hope that was his meaning.

We live in a world where critique

of the unusual, different, unknown

is rather severe. Seems sometimes,

that the 'cookie cutter' mindset is

in charge, in the know.

Were I able, I would beg, plead . . .

"Bring out the wild, different,

heretofore unseen parts of you!

Let the world celebrate your

uniqueness."

Yayyyyy us!

 - - -

Nietzsche was a German philosopher

who also said, "Without music, life

would be a mistake." He believed that

dance was sacred and danced daily.

calling it his, "only kind of piety" 

and "divine service." He also said, 

"I would believe only in a God that 

knows how to dance." Wikipedia

09/14/2024

"Power, as simple as a wish, as

complex as love. As dangerous,

potentially, as a lightening bolt.

Power is risk. It's also joy." ~NR

Find myself wondering about

power . . . Surely we each have

that personal power within! But,

have we forgotten all about it?

Forgotten to use it? Become 

afraid of it?

Meditating on these questions,

I find that perhaps I've laid my

own personal power aside. 

Can't help but wonder why? Is 

it because I've become more

accepting of life as it is? Or,

feel it's too much bother? Or,

even laid it aside for so long

I've forgotten all about it?!

This needs pondering; make

no mistake! Rather makes me

wonder what I need to do to

re-embrace my own personal

power.

Methinks a good session in

front of my fire would be a

good idea. Some serious

thinking needs to happen!

And by the time I finish, I'd

best have taken back my own

personal power.

I know I must use it carefully.

Good idea to start with myself.

Things to think about, to work

on and embracing this seems

to me 'twould be the answer . . .

09/13/2024 - Friday the 13th

Sooooo love those magickal

Friday the 13ths . . . "13 cycles

of the moon in a lunar year."

Rather links up to days of

yesteryear when my female

times happened 13 times a

year.

I like to fast and pray on a

Friday the 13th as "a spiritual

day of enlightenment divine

feminine energy and healing."

So enjoy meeting up w/friends

of the same mindset. Naught

wrong with lifting a glass to

the Goddess of yesteryear for

whom said days are celebrated.

Today, we are so lucky to be

joined by a couple who enjoy

celebrating Friday the 13th.

I like to use these two or three

times a year for fasting and

meditation, ending the day with

hoisting a couple with besties.

Pray, may your day be a special

one and bring you ere so many

blessings!

 - - -

"Friday the 13th can come in threes,

but that won't be case for 2-24. All

years will have at least one Friday

the 13th and as many as three Friday

the 13ths in any given calendar year.

In 2024, there are two. September 13

and December 13."

09/12/2024

"It's a delicate walk to balance

hope with chaos." ~Stacie Martin

Not sure if we live in stranger,

harder times, or due to daily

news, FB and other systems, 

we just know more about it.

The above has caused many 

to give up hope. There's a

definite I give up in the mix.

So, instead of witnessing joy

on peoples' faces, we see

lethargy and hear platitudes.

I so honor those who have

gotten beyond our current

sorrows and delve into joy

anyway. These are souls to be

cherished, make no mistake.

What can we do to counter

this trend? We must remember

there is joy to be found, if we

only seek it.

Sunrises and sunsets, watching

a child play in puddles, time

with family and friends, a special

meal . . . simply being alive is

wondrous.

I swear I'm going to pull myself

out of this current downer and

find this elusive joy, no matter

what!

09/11/2024

empathy, noun

the ability to understand and

share the feelings of another

"It's both a blessing and a curse

to feel everything so deeply."

Introverts, Old Souls & Empaths

I would imagine that everyone

possesses empathy to some 

degree. 

We all feel for what our children

are going through, what our fam

is suffering, what our friends are

putting up with.

Can't help but wonder, what is

my part in all of this. I've known

for many years that I'm an empath.

With it, I suffer with family and

friends, sometimes helping, others

not.

There are times when I am so

overcome with empathy I don't

think I can even live any longer.

Sooooo strange the gifts the

Universe has bestowed on each

of us. I pray we each make it

through the gifts we were given!

09/10/2024

"One of the hardest things in

life is having words in your

heart that you can not utter."

~James Earl Jones

There are times when I feel

myself actually chocking on

unuttered words . . .

With whom would I share

them? Would I just sob and

sob if I allowed them to spill

out? Would I ever stop? Or,

simply become a permanent

fountain of the heretofore

unspoken?

Do those who move away,

keep away, still keep their

promise not to share? Does

one live in fear of those

secrets shared rebounding?

Perhaps this is what prayer

is all about. Does some un-

seen being hear your distress?

What if someone overhears

your sobs, your confession,

as it were?

A breakdown of sorts? A

hurriedly invented story?

An unburdening of truth?

There will be a price to pay;

make no mistake!

Wonder what people will

think when finding all those

different parts of my body

once exploded?

09/09/2024

"They're both cut from 

the fabric of loss."

~Abraham Verghese

My heart hurts with the

sounds of sorrow . . .

All day long, sirens ahoy;

albeit ambulances, fire

trucks, police.

Times I hear a child crying,

sobbing as though his heart

would break.

In the quiet of the evening,

a woman hides out in the

bathroom, hoping no one

in the home will hear her

falling tears, sense her

dispair.

A young teen, seriously

considers suicide . . . the

kids at school are merciless

in their taunting. Lunches

stolen, names called, and 

worst of all, the swirlies.

Family pets, left out during

the night; moaning from 

the cold, the isolation, the

pain of hurting paws.

There are times my heart

simply cannot bear the

sounds of sorrow. Times

I cannot stop my tears.

I rue the day the gods gave

me the gift of empathy . . .

09/08/2024

" . . . I spread my dreams at

your feet . . . " ~W.B. Yeats

At the risk of altering meaning

by taking out only one line . . .

it sooooo speaks to me!

We've all shared our dreams;

fams, friends, and lovers. I

imagine most of the time it

makes no difference. 

Still, people come and go. 

And once gone, might not 

always remain mute re one's

own hopes and dreams.

Methinks most times, 'tis

done with no bad intentions,

just thoughtlessness.

At the end of the day, it comes

to me that if any spreading of

dreams happens, it might be

best at one's own feet.

I'm still dreaming, sometimes

sharing, sometimes not . . . 

 . . . Pray I never get too old,

too disillusioned, to dream!

09/07/2024

I awaken today in fine fettle . . .

Yesterday, I spent a few hours

with women I only get to see

a very few times a year.

The journey was beautiful, the

arriving thrilling, the sharings

most amazing, and fun, fab 

foods. Rather leaves me in a

state of anticipation for the 

next time.

What is it about those few

amazing friendships left to 

us in our dotage?!

It's not that our friends of

yesteryear don't love us

anymore. People move away,

spend more time with fams

and grands, maybe like moi . . .

don't like to travel so much.

Just as life tends to diminish

in our elder years, so do our

activities, our goings and

comings, our times out with

friends.

Methinks 'tis about accepting

life as it comes, enjoying its

gifts and being thankful for

what's given . . .

09/06/2024

"I have been many different 

versions of me, but even in the 

darkest of days, I keep coming 

back to the same heart, same 

passion, same purpose, and

same soul, just a little bit more

weathered and a little bit wiser."

The Kitchen Witches

Perhaps it's called Spiritual

Evolution, God only knows!

Still, methinks 'tis perhaps

the greatest truth I've come

across in a long while.

Personal growth has ever and

always been a thing for me,

ever since I was a child. Not

certain why or how, simply

was.

I've always tried so hard . . .

my parents used to call it my

perfectionistic bent. No doubt

about it and I still have it. I've

learned to fight it a bit, but one

is who one is, right?!

Now that I'm a proper oldster,

I would say it's about living, 

not existing. Indeed, personal

growth is important and should

be happening every day.

But, what would be the point if

life was not lived and enjoyed?!

Be you! I'll be me!! And, we'll

walk together, each on our own

path, living and growing to the

very best of our abilities . . .

09/05/2024

"There are two places you 

need to go often; the place

that heals you and the place

that inspires you." 

Goddess Love

I feel as if I had won the lotto

as these two places are both

to be found at my home.

It seems I was steered to spend

the end of my days in this tiny,

tiny, nearly 150 year old cabin.

'Tis a gift; make no mistake. 

Methinks, 'tis this place of

healing, learning and growing

that will usher me into those

last accoutrements of wisdom.

I firmly believe that it is this

wisdom that will allow me to

face the end with dignity and

acceptance.

I've had such a full, amazing,

interesting life. 'Twould be a

shame if I walked away in a

rather disgusting temper!

Sooooo . . . 

Still here! 

Still growing!! 

Still seeking enlightenment!!!

May it ever be so . . .

09/04/2024

"There are plenty of ways 

to die, but only love can kill 

and keep you alive to feel it."

~Leo Christopher

Perhaps 'tis my age, I find

myself talking about death

quite a bit.

Tell myself it's about getting

ready, about being prepared.

Making sure my fam and

friends receive my treasures.

Still, this quote caught my

attention. A bit scary, if you

catch my drift.

Sooooo, is this about death 

or is it about love? Perhaps 

both! Death is what it is, so 

maybe 'tis love we're taking 

a look at.

Love is one of those amazing

things that can go either way,

as it were. It can be the most

wondrous gift ever given. On

the other hand, it can leave

you the worse for wear.

The love I have for and with

my children is the real McCoy.

Alas, I've had the bad . . .

 . . . Craful! Craful! as my little 

bro used to say!

09/03/2024

"If you are not free to be 

who you are, you are not free."

~Dr. Clarissa Pinola Estés

What is it that keeps us from

being who we truly are?

Perhaps, we think we're

honoring our parents if we

think being ourselves would

upset them?!

Is it society we're cautious

of offending? Those people

walking down the street

that we don't even know?

Or perhaps, embarrassing our

children comes to mind. Time

to get even, they embarrassed

us many a time!

And surely we don't wish to

embarrass our friends. Think

about it . . . If we're upsetting

our friends by being who we

are, maybe we have the wrong

friends!

Methinks we have trained our-

selves to act in certain societal

approved ways and it's simply

difficult to get beyond them.

Time to grow up, accept who

we are and be ourselves!

So, Would you like to dance?

09/02/2024

'Tis not every day one has a new

moon and a much celebrated Labor

Day in one fell swoop.And . . . I 

do honor those for whom Labor 

Day was created, make no mistake!

Still have a thing about the moon;

it is what it is! What I love about

the New Moon is its symbolism,

giving us a little shove in the right

direction.

For those who follow our Lunar

Lady, the New Moon marks a time

in which we can add those positive

things that enrich our lives. Think

along the lines of writing post cards,

calling a friend, visiting family, 

doing an unattractive chore.

As we arrive at the full moon, I like

a three day celebration . . . the day

before, the actual full moon and the

day after. 'Tis my cup of tea . . .

celebrating our Lunar Lady.

Days after the decent begins. I like

working on things that deserve a

diminishing in my life. Perhaps,

eating and drinking a bit too much,

neglecting some cleaning, indulging

in a tad of gossip. Important to work

on both the positive and the negative.

Let's celebrate her in all her glory,

slender to full and back again!

 - - -

Labor Day is a federal holiday in the

US celebrated on the first Monday of

September to honor and recognize the

American labor movement and the 

work and contributions of laborers to

the development and achievements in

the US. Wikipedia

09/01/2024

Harking back . . . this date always

had me in a dither of excitement.

Only four days 'til school would

begin, September 4th.

A small parochial school with the 

best teachers. How I loved it and

reading was my absolute fave! 

Fact is, I loved school so much, I

became a teacher myself. 40 years

all told, in two countries. I do love

being retired, and yet . . . I still 

dream I'm in the classroom.

Blows me away that some of my

students are now grandparents.

Naught like it to remind you of

your own age!

I do recognize now just how lucky

I was. I hear people complaining

about their jobs, their work. That's

when it comes to me, luckiest gal

ever. Sooooo loved teaching!

Hope all of us have fond memories

of good ole days in the classroom.

So thankful for each and every

teacher I had. Bless them!

p.s. Doesn't mean I'm not enjoying

retirement though. Ha!