I am taking a break from studies and...

surfing the web... I am interested in goddesses, greek, roman... you name it. I just did not realize there are so many of them. Today I looked up Artemis and found an interesting site
http://www.amazonation.com/DivineArtemis.html
I was amazed and surprised that it mentioned the word bitch and not in a derogatory way. It actually mentioned sacred bitches in the same sentence! I now will have a whole new way to look at that word when I hear someone say that about someone. I know that I have been called that many times, especially by those who are upset that they cannot control me or push me around. I will now wear that name as a badge of honor!

Have you set aside time today to laugh outloud (bitches...lol)
xoxo Inge
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2GAhGubfWM

When the weather is warmer I need less sleep

So I usually start my day at 7:30 am... I know to most of you this is sleeping in but for most of my adult I have been fortunate enough to work afternoon to eve hours. When I did massage I made my own hours. Luckily John and I are both "night owls" and I usually stay up to 1 am, John stays up later sometimes 3 am on his days off. Anyway I decided to use my early hours wisely and quietly because John still sleeps until at least 9 am... do quiet meditation and read some inspiring books. I do like to read but the world has become an easy distraction and I end up watching or listening to tv... mainly during the week.

I am a CNN and CNBC junkie. I became seriously interested in the news when CNN did nonstop reporting of the Tinnamon Square uprising back in the 80s. I will never forget that scene where the student stood in front of that huge tank. I was hooked at that point and it probably started my interest in politics and civil disobedience. When I lived in SF I protested a fair amount, especially when there were rumblings of starting a 2nd Iraq war.

Anyways, I am rambling and getting off point. The book I found at the library is called " The Big Bang, the Buddha, and the Baby Boom" by Wes "Scoop" Nisker. The book is entertaining but there was a quote that really stood out for me..."My mind has a mind of it's own". How true is that! It gets back to my earlier blog...how hard it is to meditate and keep the mind from idle chatter!

I am taking a break from my studies

A friend of mine gave me her old tarot cards a few months ago and I have been them a few times a week to keep myslf in check... spritually anyway. I admit it I am a novice and I have to look up the meanings of the cards via the internet and then try to figure out what they mean to me. Things seemed to be going well...the cards seemed to mirror what I was doing and my goals to move...even some issues at work. Then yesterday drew the Tower card. By what I was reading on some tarot interpretation sites, my world was about to collapse...but I would come out a better person. Definitely not something I want to hear. I think I mentioned that I do have a mild (depending on who you ask) case of OCD. I can obsess about something for hours! I get stuck like a needle on a record player (remember those?)

I knew I needed some expert advice and we have only one place where I can get that type of help... The owner of Karma Boutique, Mary. I used to get my cards read every 6 months when I lived in SF but I have not had them read for about 13 years. I think everyone should spend some time throughout their lives with a counselor, especially when going through trying times. Friends are ok but they will neverbe truly honest with you because they do not want to hurt your feelings...a shrink will tell you what you need to hear even if you don't like it. For me I also need guidance from a medium, tarot reader,etc. I sometimes need the help of a reputable reader to keep me on track...spiritually speaking.

Mary straightened me out while she did a tarot spread for me. The tower did not come up and she did not detect terrible news, but I did need to be careful with this move and do a better job with my homework this time around. I do not want to move to a sketchy neighborhood and I don't want to rent a house that is in foreclosure only to find out that I have to move in 48 hours because the owner is trying to make some fast cash off me...I heard this has happened to a few people. Mary suggested that I strike a balance between my spirit and my human self... in other words meditate and do my homework.

While I am on the subject of meditation I have been doing that lately. Do you know how many forms there are? Lots! You can find alot of them on youtube. I do like the Zen meditation but it sure is hard...ok, it is impossible for me to clear my mind of thoughts. Try it for yourself...sit in a chair and close your eyes and breathe...listen to the sounds around you but do not think about it or analize it and for heavens sake do not start thinking about your grocery list! Just BE in the silence. Go ahead try it for 5 minutes, you will be shocked what your mind starts thinking.

I also like the meditation that contains chanting. There are some nice ones also on youtube. Alot of them have background music that is nice and makes it easier to focus on the meditation. I meditate because for me I remain calmer in stressful situations. I tend to laugh things off more instead of getting sucked into the drama and there is alot of drama at work! I know some of you will think I am a nut or ask why not pray? Well, my answer is that meditation is my prayer. I feel a connection with something higher than myself. Actually meditation can be done anywhere even walking the dogs...it is just being present and living in the moment...really looking at the trees... the birds...the smell of fresh cut grass... the feeling of cold air on my skin. We really take all these experinces for granted and don't notice things because we are busy with our lives. When is the last time you laid back in the grass and watched the clouds??? That is meditation. It is taking a break from this fast paced life we have.

Now after that sermon on meditation it is time to laugh outloud
xoxo Inge
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wveC1QNTNCA

I am sitting here blogging instead of...

studying my windows word and excel programs. I have to admit it...I'm just not that into it. I need to come up with a job and temp office work through an agency is the best way to go when we move, or at least I think it is the only way to go...I need a job...I figure it should be with a temp agency because I have the freedom to come and go...sort of. I have worked for agencies before and they like you to finish the assignment you started. But I need the flexibility to take off a week to move the family down after I find a permanent place to live, so I came up with the temp agency solution. I used Craigslist to get opinions from people who live in Ventura county and are familiar with the agencies down there... to get a recommendation. I got two. Craigslist has been helpful as far as getting information about places to live, work, demographics,etc. I just have to sometimes weed through the crazies and whiners that like to post and give their (usually) unresearched and always bigotted point of views.
Well, I need to get back to my homework...I still can't type faster than 38 wpm...grrrr.

Update on Austin's Health

The lab results are back and he is one healthy 17 year old cat... no thyroid problems either. He does have some signs of possible kidney issues so doc gave me some powder meds to add to his daily meals. Doc said he eats alot because he wants to and does not gain weight! I'm jealous! He paces because he is a cat and chooses to, I can give him his "mellow out" herbs if he gets to loud at night. I am glad to hear he is ok though. I really love that cat!
xoxo Inge

I really like reading the other blogs...

I have learned lots of helpful hints from the other bloggers. For example I could not add links to my blog by copy and paste method. I would have to type each letter... what a pain! and you know how much I like to add links to my blog! I found that the proble was not my computer but the new IE8 I installed, I learned via the www.comedygoddess.blogspot.com/ blog that I would do better with Firefox and it now works! Now if I could just find an easy way to get rid of these ants...yes I am still battling them... so far the population is smaller though. Today I sprinkled baby powder in the area...it works inside the house so maybe it will work outside.
Now that I have fixed the link issue here is something to laugh about...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Frz7a9M41Dk

I have said it before...

ants drive me crazy but I feel so guilty killing them. I found 3 yes! 3 ant hills in my backyard! Crap! One of them was right next to my bedroom window and I know it is just a matter of time before they move inside. The weather is getting hotter and the ants are on the move taking their eggs with them. I did end up getting rid of them which really means I killed the nests. I just hate doing that. I start thinking about how they are going about their business... working away and here I come and really ruining their day.
It's the samething with snails. I can't help it, I think they are cute, but they sure do destroy my plants. I don't like killing them either, even if I use beer, somehow I try to fool myself that is ok because they are getting drunk first. I know that does not make sense. If I could only find a way to shooe them over to my neighbors house...

I just don't get what all the fuss is about!

Two people want to get married...they happen to be the same sex...what is the big deal? We live in a world where there is so much negative stuff and if someone is lucky enough to find someone to share their life with it should be celebrated. I was single for almost 8 years before I met John...I went on so many 1st dates I lost count so when I met John I was thrilled. Now don't get me wrong I was alright being single, I do not need to have a partner to feel complete but it is nice to share the ups and downs of everyday life with someone. I am not gay but if I were I would live openly, at least I hope I would. I believe if you cannot be yourself who can you be? I think it is disgraceful the way gays are treated. I thought we lived in a country where we are free. At least that is the way we portray ourselves to the rest of the world.

I really have a problem with certain groups of people who think it is ok to deny rights to another group of people because they simply do not like their lifestyle. I hear alot of this conversation where I work and I just cringe when I hear them boast about their church activities and then talk about those "gays having the nerve to want to get married". Then those same people talk about gay people being sex maniacs and having different partners every night! I wonder if they really hear themselves. Now, I will be the first to admit I like to make fun of people - everyone including myself. I think we all take ourselves too seriously and need to take ourselves down a notch. But I believe in the saying "Live and let live". We are all here on this earth for a short time why spend time denying people equal rights? If someone uses the excuse that they do not know how to explain such things to small kids... how do they explain erectile dysfunction when it comes up every 5 minutes on a commercial? Those terms come up almost daily. Gay marriage is only a big deal because certain groups have made it that way.
Now that my rant is over I shall look for something to laugh about!
xoxo Inge

I found this terrfic artist on youtube

Her chanting music is perfect for yoga and meditation...actually I am not coordinated to do real yoga poses so I improvise...it still does the same job for me...
www.mitendevapremal.com/index.php
After you meditate don't forget to laugh outloud!
xoxo Inge