IamthatIam

Does Your Blog MATTER?

2012-01-27T01:32:00.000-08:00

Looking to increase traffic?
Same old guests at your party?
Looking to build more traffic?

Or do you just want your Blog to MATTER?

Then here is your answer:

Did you reach your blogging goals last year?

Are you excited to get to your email?

Or are you feeling the blah of the New Year already?

I'm taking a huge U-turn for success, and I signed up for the course. Hey, I'm worth it, but more importantly: my READERS are worth it. We're all here to help, grow and create "epic shit."

20 Starbucks lattes?

Or an out of this world course to blow the socks off your inbox?

We're all family, right?

Don't you LOVE LOVE LOVE growing the love?

I'm in. . .if you think I'm absent over the next 90 days, think again. . .

I'm planting the seeds for a new blog, and starting a NEW blog - one that matters even more than this one.

Jump in. . .before you fear drowning in the sea of the thousands of blogs coming online every hour.

I want you to be on top of the blogrolls that matter to you all over the web-

that's why I took a break to let you know where I've been, and where I'm going.

Love you - see you soon - and will post between kick ass lessons. In the meantime, browse Corbett's site - and see what I mean. He's built 3 successful blogs, and his tips and traffic are the shit.

Ask yourself: new shoes or a kick ass blog?

Up to you. . .

Affiliate link through Start a Blog That Matters.

Unpacking your mental baggage

2012-01-22T18:31:00.001-08:00

There are so many ideas floating in our heads and sometimes the best thing to do is abandoned some of them.

Lighten your load-surprisingly most of your "worries" will work themselves out. An easy one for parents: remember when you worked so hard on potty training, it happened-and no one went to school in diapers.

You deserve to relax and enjoy your life, letting go of some shoulda coulda woulda ideas only helps you.

How? Take three thugs off of your list and let them work themselves out. Perfect workspace? Let it ride it is a work in progress? Perfect income? Same thing-let it evolve, just keep going. Perfect relationships? Work only on you-it works miracles.

hmmmm?

2012-01-18T21:23:00.000-08:00

The Pleiades in the Milky Way with us. . .

(My son named this post - so go with it.)

When I started to type, the king of fun jumped in to name this post and add for you,"I'm voting for spirals! The circles are the crappiest because they seem to trip people up, like a rock."

We've been discussing circles, spirals and life at home today. Circles being things you do over and over again, complaining all the way. From laundry to cleaning, homework to bedtime hours we can get into habits, then find ourselves frustrated by the life we've created. These circles can be transformed into spirals, if you want them to. The trick that works for us is putting our spirals at the top of the list. It started with, "Mom, we have to do something fun every day, so how can we make whatever we do fun?" Spirals.

What are spirals?
Creativity.

When we bring it with us to every task boredom is gone, and we find our bliss again. Bliss doesn't leave you, we all accidently ignore it, or forget to open the box, so to speak. The more we leave our expansive spiraling nature by the side of the road during mundane tasks, the more we sense the separation of work and play. It's all the same, and you grow: you expand like the universe that you are, keeping your wonder and bliss.

"Why?" is a great question to consider. Ask yourself, "In 100 years will this matter in my legacy? Why?" Not always an easy one to contemplate, but we think it is - how many spins around the sun are you taking anyway? Did you ever donate, or throw something away, just because you don't want to wash it one more time? Don't worry, someone else will use it from the thrift store. How many moments did you receive in its place? Maybe more than you think.

From Queen's Greatest Hits with breakfast, to ridiculous videos the world will never see instead of TV, we work on spinning memories and somehow the dust and laundry get taken care of in between. Just not always first, when you're determined to have fun in your day, too.

We're all spinning through the universe. . .

Milky Way diagram from Wiki Media

Heros & Gratitude: Richard Bach

2012-01-17T17:16:00.000-08:00

I don't know what you call a hero, but for me, it is someone who takes the time to share a truth that may help others. If it's jump in and save someone, come to the rescue or simply be willing to teach a truth that is against the grain of what most people believe. For me, Richard Bach is a hero to write Illusions - a book the main character, Richard, says he didn't really want to write.

If you haven't heard of Richard Bach, now is the time to get up to speed on two of the best books for you, and your kids if you have them. Illusions & Jonathan Livingston Seagull.

I've carried around a lot of books over the years, and very few have survived moving over 25 times. These two books have always been with me, because they are crucial for life's journey. They erase the hype - no matter how many years you live here.

Richard Bach became a hero for me many years ago. I keep these two books on hand to maintain perspective, in case I go down a rabbit hole of belief, or am conned into imagining I'm not good enough, compared to someone else in the world. Dangerous truths during my early years, but truth is a good companion on any journey. You don't get hurt as easily, and you don't get fooled. That is, of course, if you remember to use it for your own good. I've forgotten enough times, and keep a copy of Illusions by my bed now.

I used to collect copies of Illusions and Jonathan Livingston Seagull to give away. I've been out of extras, down to a paperback and hard copy of Illusions, and a hard cover copy of Jonathan Livingston Seagull. I stopped collecting and sharing them. Until I had children.

I think it would be a bad joke not to give kids these two very valuable tools they can use for guiding their lives. Experience can be a harsh teacher, if you don't know what you're doing (haven't we all learned this way?)

My oldest son has been carrying the paperback of Illusions to and from school every day. Originally, we thought he could read it for class, but there were other books the teacher pointed him to. He keeps it with him, though. He reads it, talks about it, and tries the lessons on his own. He'll find a way to do them, one way or another. Everyone does with practice.

Last week I heard a wonderful teacher had passed away, and although this kind of news is simply a part of being here on Earth, it made me wonder: Where is Richard Bach? What would Donald Shimoda say, and how am I handling the Illusions we are all in?

I expected him to be living on a remote island, perfectly removed from the internet and the worm holes it holds or far worse, dead. Thank goodness Google proved me wrong. He has a site now - I was amazed and grateful he welcomed the web, and had opened a window.

There are few people we are lucky enough to thank for what they've given us in our lifetime. Famous people, or friends we can't find anymore. Sometimes you just want to say, "Thank you." For me, teachers are priceless gifts. They shorten the distance, and answer a question for your soul perfectly sometimes.

I sent a thank you letter to Richard, with a small nervous knot in my stomach, like a kid. The feeling was enough to remind me how nerves can slow you down if you let them. He wrote back, and the kids were amazed. They sent him a message all their own, too, solidifying the reality of Illusions for them.

Heros have a purpose beyond showing us the way. Maybe you know this one, maybe I forget at times. They remind us there aren't corners to the world, our personal universe is a circle we embrace with our presence. Our place and time on Earth is an opportunity to be our own hero, and help others to do the same. Every moment in time can benefit from your experience and your journey.

My children feel they have been noticed by someone they admire, they also feel they can do something incredible with their journey, too. They will continue to work miracles in their own way, as will you, and while you're traveling I hope you take Richard's books along with you. Not only will they change you, they may help you see you are a hero to more souls than you imagined, too.

WANT NOT, GET NOT

2012-01-13T20:29:00.000-08:00

So before I get to the point of the title - THANK YOU for a few moments of your time. I blog partly to keep track of awesome life moments, but mostly in hopes of inspiring you to have many, many more awesome moments in yours. Strange - there are days I don't feel like blogging, then I get a phone call or an email that some of my finger tapping changed someone's life. Their life - wow. That is huge, and worth doing - better than money if you think about it. "Time is money" is bullshit to me. I don't buy it, pun intended. I do believe you matter - maybe sometimes more than you do, on some of your days.

Here it is: "WANT NOT - GET NOT"
Huh? Ready? What?
Let's keep it simple with a pic:

Anyone who knows me, knows to never tell me things I won't want to remember. I've hung up, put the phone down while they are still talking and walked away. Why? The simplest rule in the Universe is so easily forgotten by people over the age of 3: ignore what you don't like or want in your experience, and keep your mind on what you do like and want.

Oh, it's there - it's on the web, TV shows, wherever. But if you really want to enjoy more moments of your life, you may just want to get very picky, very fast.

Simple - easy - and I know you can do this, and do it with everything. Don't waste your time watching crap movies, snap out of it. If at all possible find the good in something, or ignore it. Why? Simply this: it takes about 30 minutes to plant a package of tomato seeds. It takes about 30 minutes to watch a show you're not really interested in, too. Okay, naysayers, you could plant and watch at the same time, sure. But you may enjoy the memory of planting a whole lot more without the show. Spend some time with yourself, enjoy your interaction with the goodness of life, and you.

30 minutes doesn't seem like a very long time, until you remember 526,600 minutes. . .that's how long 2012 is - just like all the other years. Just keep it in mind, some days.

This isn't the end of the world, but it is the beginning of a new one for you.

Getting in close

2012-01-12T17:02:00.000-08:00

How close can you get to your Happiness and not run away?
How often do you feel like you might be running in the other direction?
Most people are living in the opposite direction of their true dreams. Excusing themselves because the have "responsibilities."
((Note: that's what great about kids, they don't want responsibility, they want to be happy - learn this (again) and gain the key to the kingdom for you.))

You choose. Each day, every thought, dream or scheme. It's yours. No one is there in your head but you. Maybe your mother is there, screaming. Maybe your neighborhood: judging you. Maybe the school: shaming you. Maybe it is someone on TV you want to be more like. Or is it all of those "How to" books you wish you could get through?

Get through this story and you are free - you can sell those books, too:
"Why does a man persist in false duties and burdensome responsibilities which wear him down? Because he wrongly thinks they are necessary to his psychic survival. If you have a nightmare about drifting down a river towards a waterfall you may fight all over your bed, with tortured nerves. But when awakening you see your right relationship to your surroundings, and so relax. Do you see why self-awakening should be your great aim in life?"
B e Y O U - if you don't know who it that is, begin the adventure of re-discovery. Get in Close - here are more photos for Getting in Close over at 52 Photos Project.

Valentine's Day? Know a single mom?

Buy her this book - her children will thank you!

F Bombs 4 Single Moms

"Thanks to You"

2012-01-11T14:01:00.000-08:00

This isn't mine, it was sent to me by my dear friend Brenna. Brenna - this rocks!!!

Happy New Year

As we begin the New Year 2012, I want to thank you for your educational e-mails over the past year. I am totally screwed up now and have little chance of recovery.

I can no longer open a bathroom door without using a paper towel, nor let the waitress put lemon slices in my ice water without worrying about the bacteria on the lemon peel.

I can't sit down on a hotel bedspread because I can only imagine what has happened on it since it was last washed.

I have trouble shaking hands with someone who has been driving because the number one pastime while driving alone is picking one's nose.

Eating a little snack sends me on a guilt trip because I can only imagine how many gallons of trans fats I have consumed over the years.

I can't touch any woman's handbag for fear she has placed it on the floor of a public toilet.

I MUST SEND MY SPECIAL THANKS for the email about rat poo in the glue on envelopes because I now have to use a wet sponge with every envelope that needs sealing.

ALSO, now I have to scrub the top of every can I open for the same reason.

I can't have a drink in a bar because I fear I'll wake up in a bathtub full of ice with my kidneys gone.

I can't eat at KFC because their chickens are actually horrible mutant freaks with no eyes, feet or feathers.

I can't use cancer-causing deodorants even though I smell like a water buffalo on a hot day.

THANKS TO YOU I have learned that my prayers only get answered if I forward an e-mail to seven of my friends and make a wish within five minutes.

BECAUSE OF YOUR CONCERN, I no longer drink Coca Cola because it can remove toilet stains.

I no longer buy petrol without taking someone along to watch the car, so a serial killer doesn't crawl in my back seat when I'm filling up.

I no longer use Cling Wrap in the microwave because it causes seven different types of cancer.

AND THANKS FOR LETTING ME KNOW I can't boil a cup of water in the microwave anymore because it will blow up in my face, disfiguring me for life.

I no longer go to the cinema because I could be pricked with a needle infected with AIDS when I sit down.

I no longer go to shopping centers because someone will drug me with a perfume sample and rob me.

And I no longer answer the phone because someone will ask me to dial a number for which I will get a huge phone bill with calls to Jamaica , Uganda , Singapore and Uzbekistan.

THANKS TO YOU I can't use anyone's toilet but mine because a big black snake could be lurking under the seat and cause me instant death when it bites my butt.

AND THANKS TO YOUR GREAT ADVICE I can't ever pick up a 25 cent coin dropped in the parking lot because it was probably placed there by a sex molester waiting to grab me as I bend over.

I can't do any gardening because I'm afraid I'll get bitten by the Violin Spider and my hand will fall off.

If you don't send this e-mail to at least 144,000 people in the next 70 minutes, a large dove with diarrhea will land on your head at 5:00 p.m. tomorrow afternoon, and the fleas from 120 camels will infest your back, causing you to grow a hairy hump. I know this will occur because it actually happened to a friend of my next door neighbor's ex mother-in-law's second husband's cousin's best friend's beautician . ..

Oh, and by the way.....

A German scientist from Argentina , after a lengthy study, has discovered that people with insufficient brain activity read their e-mails with their hand on the mouse.

Don't bother taking it off now, it's too late.

P. S. I now keep my toothbrush in the living room, because I was told by e-mail that water splashes over 6 ft. out of the toilet.

Have a carefree day!!

Featured Mom: Karensomethingororther

2012-01-06T09:29:00.000-08:00

In an earlier post I announced for 2012 I am featuring moms and more on my blogs.
This first feature is by Karensomethingorother at Ow, my angst on Blogger.
Karen's words and passion are moving, amazing. . .and will change you. Her wit, wisdom and whimsy are all wrapped up in her huge heart ((she sings damn well, too)). She is amazing. . .and so is her story featured here. I'm honored to have her as our first 2012 feature here on IamthatIam.

The Spectrum is a Sneaky Bastard

You know, given enough time, I think we can get used to anything. This means, that the initial shock, and trauma that sometimes comes with new and abrupt change can not sustain itself.

Say, for example, you find out someone you love is sick--scary sick--you will have all the appropriate bodily responses: heightened adrenaline, racing pulse, night sweats, full-on anxiety attacks, inability to eat, shaking limbs, etc., but over time you will probably become accustomed to this new reality.

So, remember when this Autism business came into your life? Well, it was already in your life before you had a name for it, or a diagnosis. You just didn't know it yet. How did you feel that first time somebody took you aside for a confidential chat about your child, trying to sound reasonable, regretful and soothing all at the same time, and said what you never wanted to hear: that your child was "different" from other children. That your child was in his/her own, new, "defective" category. That your child has an AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER.

Now, before you get angry at me, when I use the word "defective," we all know that this isn't so. It's an emotional INITIAL response to finding out you have a new, HUGE thing to deal with. You know it's huge: Jenny McCarthy was suddenly out there on all the magazines and on tv as an AUTISM WARRIOR and suddenly thousands and thousands of mothers are there behind her crying out about VACCINATIONS, and DIET and WHEAT and GLUTEN and CASEIN in the diets, and there are those stories about BISPHENOL-A and my god! My child drank his milk from bottles made with BISPHENOL-A and suddenly...

and suddenly

there was this AUTISM TRAIN and you felt panicky because you needed to get on that train but how did you get on that train when it was already so full, and moving so fast?

And you googled. And you read. And you were in that section of the library reading the Autism books and feeling so alone. And you cried at night, because suddenly you saw your son/daughter's WHOLE LIFE ahead of them, and you saw them without friends. And you saw them unmarried. And you saw them living with you their whole lives. Sometimes this was okay, because damn it, you will protect them FOREVER, and you will, but you always thought there should come a time when your children become old enough to start, happily, their own lives, and maybe this will never be.

You read about vitamins, and nutrition, and you printed sheets off the internet, about how your little guy needs MAGNESIUM but how will I get magnesium in him! All these dietary reports say that MAGNESIUM is one of the key minerals autistic children are lacking in...

But in the meantime, you have to get some sort of SERVICES for your kid, but all you do is get in line. Waiting list after waiting list for IBI services and respite services, and oh, have you applied for the DISABILITY TAX BENEFIT? Wait? Wait? My son is NOT disabled?? He's smart, and he's wonderful and all of his parts work!

You are overwhelmed.

Then, the days pass by, and the months, and the years. Your child becomes more reasonable as he gets older. The massive weekend tantrums have all but stopped. Your IEP meetings go by smoothly with nothing new to report. The teachers all like your little guy. They all know his "quirks".

Everyone in the whole school seems to know that he's sensitive to noise. No biggie. He just waits in the hall while they get the TV ready for a dvd, in case there's that initial staticky hiss. If there's feedback on the microphone during the assembly, it doesn't make him dissolve into panicky tears any longer. He simply covers his ears. No big whoop.

The morning bell is no longer so terrifying your kid is gagging as he gets closer and closer to the school, so worried about that noise that he's on the verge of vomiting right there in front of the playground.

Those obsessions at home? The way you have to talk about Willy Wonka's chocolate factory all the time, and where you can obtain Wonka bars and why human hands should never touch the chocolate river? Well, that's just the way it is. You have those kinds of conversations and you have plenty of "normal" conversations about things that are funny, things that are interesting, art you like, music you like, that kid who mouthed off to the teacher.

And things pass by nice and easy for a long time. It's smooth sailing for a long time. Those fights that are on the weekend? Well, haven't there always been fights on the weekend? Isn't that normal?

You begin to imagine that your son has "outgrown" nearly all of his Spectrum stuff. He doesn't look any different from any other kid. Hell, he doesn't even look like that Autistic kid who's in the upper grades. He's got a great sense of humour. He makes eye contact all the time. So, he's got a little bit of anxiety. So what! He's like everyone else now! He even hugs you, and tells you he loves you, and you read stories together at bedtime, and he's even been helping his little sister pick up her toys lately!

But, then every once in a while, you get a little message from the teacher: he's just starting to play with the other kids! Isn't that great? He's still copying kids in class. We're trying to explain to them that he's not making fun of them, and that some people think differently than others. He's been hostile all week and just not himself. Oh, is this because we moved the desks around and he no longer sits beside his cousin?

And then, you want to go out for an impromptu walk down in the tourist section. It's cold but you've all been cooped up for too long. Everyone's excited. Your daughter has already peed, brushed her teeth, and is putting on her winter gear without complaint. But your son...he's freaking out. He's wailing, begging, screaming, calling you an IDIOT. He shrieks; "I HATE YOU!" He smacks you, hits you, punches you, bites you. You're having a moment with your finger an inch away from his nose. You know that finger--it's the MOM FINGER, the DON'T YOU EVER finger. You're still using calm tones but you're saying; "don't. you. ever. bite. anyone. in. your. family. again."

Finally it's all over, and ten minutes later, he's getting his winter stuff on, and the look on his face is heart breaking. It tells you that he would never ever choose to be so volatile, so upset, so angry, so abusive. It's pain and anguish and regret, and that great early-young-man's desperate attempt to suppress emotions. So, hug him and tell him that you are still going to help him find a way to express emotions better, and that you always love him, and you are not mad at him.

He gets into the car feeling fine. You get into the car feeling like you've been steam-rolled.

So all this made me think: f*ck you, Autism. I keep fooling myself into thinking you'd disappeared.

Sneaky bastard.

Clear your head - then the room

2012-01-06T08:41:00.000-08:00

Okay - this one bugs me more than you know.
did you throw everyone outside so you can clean or get something done around the house again?

It's a bunch of DEAD STUFF. You are a LIVING BEING. The mess will be there - so what is the reason behind being a mess because of where the stuff IS?

When you get happy first it's fun. If it isn't fun for God's sake learn to have fun again. There is no one in the room yelling at you - screaming or threatening you - except you.

So if you want me to show up at your house and scream at you just to show you how silly this is, I will. Flights on you, though.

Stop and clear your head. Go to Starbucks if you have to - but stop screaming about stuff until your laughing and having fun again. . .please.

Moms & Matter: New for 2012

2012-01-02T22:37:00.000-08:00

Friends - it's time to feature YOU and moms.
Everybody has a mom - and everybody has something that matters to them.
What would you like to feature here?
As you send in your links and stories they will be featured as fast as you can turn it around.
Specs:
Matter is everything - we love, live, share and care about so much.
Humorous, silly and even pets - yes, I will feature your fury loved ones if you wish.
Kids, art, insights, places - whatever matters to you - why?

Because YOU MATTER.

So many hours spent doing things, being someone an no one noticing? Be featured here. I'm happy to share the awesomeness of you and what you are interested in, doing or caring for and about.

The connection to motherhood is simple: you wouldn't be here without yours, and many of you are mothers.

Want to be featured? Leave a comment below or email: internetaddressbooks{at}gmail{dot}com
and I will get your feature rolling with you!

A time to share { What will you leave behind? }

2012-01-01T20:13:00.000-08:00

Bella at 52 Photos Project has a real challenge for many, feel free to link to your blog, too.

What will you leave behind?
Memories and Assoholics - get the crud off your ship and sail away.

I'm leaving all of the memories in photos for lingering over when it's best to relax and appreciate rather than reminisce.

Why is for you - not for them. Don't consider why someone did something - consider why are you still thinking about it? Wasting precious times on memories again? DON'T!

Moments are here and now - there is nothing to bring except the goodness of the past for your future journey. Stop schlepping the pain with you - and leave it alone in the darkness: forever.

Merry Christmas!!!

2011-12-23T13:24:00.000-08:00

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F Bombs 4 Single Moms: Aunt Judy did NOT. . .

2011-12-22T18:04:00.000-08:00

When Aunt Judy offered to promo the book, I knew it would be hilarious - brace yourself - she isn't afraid of the F word!

Kids Wrappin'

2011-12-22T00:27:00.000-08:00

Wrap it up

Do your kids do their own wrapping?

Let ‘em. Let the mess begin, the tape stick to hair and tearing of the paper begin. The fun of getting a gift is great, but the pleasure of covering it, like a cherished secret, is priceless.

So much love goes into this. Care, attention, the good thoughts about the person they are wrapping for - and the anticipation of them receiving the gift.

Anyone who is overly concerned about the appearance of the paper doesn’t get this. That’s alright, the kids don’t care, they just want to enjoy it - and share in the every part of the Holiday Bliss of giving.

It’s going to get thrown away anyway, but the memory and the magic never will.

Rocking Around

2011-12-17T19:19:00.000-08:00

52 Photos Project has the best ideas for photos I've found for fun. Sure, there might be bigger sites, but bigger is NOT always better.

Bella hosts an group of intimate people, circling through the Universe with cameras in hand, ready, and happy, to show off their sights of life.

You may know I'm not nearly as talented as Karen over at Ow, my angst when it comes to the kitchen, sweets and baking. She has numrerous delicacies just waiting for you to whip up and sink your teeth into.

Here - we play more with light & let Karen to the cooking (thanks oh heavenly K.)

This weeks entry for 52 photos is one of my favorites so far this year. Rocking Around. . .
you know -

Today is AWESOME AWESOME Day!

2011-12-12T18:08:00.000-08:00

I woke up to witness the kindest, best blog feature of my career yet:

Bella at 52 Photos Project has been an inspiration to me since finding her earlier this year. 52 Photos inspires me to keep looking, dreaming and loving life like I've never seen it before. Her One Photo Project is an honor to be a part of as I head into the new year.

It has been a journey of love, happiness and healing for us - all of us. Life's journey is supposed to be good, and everyone here has made it even better - every day gets brighter and brighter because of you, and the joy you spread. Thank you. If you love taking pictures, I hope you join Bella's 52 Photos Project - it's one of the best places on the web you'll find to share and explore the work of others. It's easy, and it's a whole of fun just waiting for you!

Gifts for Holidays

2011-12-10T14:23:00.000-08:00

A while ago I spent months in anguish over writing a book. I took it to the Universe, God - Angels, anyone who was listening at 4 o'clock in the morning that day. I told the silence I had to quit this crazy quest of writing a book of inspiration for anyone, or even single mothers.

Whether or not you believe in miracles doesn't matter, really.
I do. When a child has a friend you can't see, hear or touch it doesn't make the possibility any less real. Healthy people envy children their connection with all that there is.

That morning I heard a voice tell me to go upstairs to my room, turn on my computer and type whatever I heard. If I didn't like what came, then I was free to quit the exciting quest to write a book.
It was a fair deal to me, I was exhausted and knew either way the answer would be clear by sunrise.

The words that came to me flowed, they flowered, really. A clear, simple message for mothers all over the world. In one sitting everything I'd been struggling to say came together in easy sentences with more meaning than I could have put in them on my own. I spent the next few hours reading them again and again, and crying. I had written what I needed to hear, and the message all single mothers would want to hear - from God himself.

Christmas is a time of miracles. Children and infants, miracles and mothers - a birth destined to change everything. One by one each woman brings the miracle to Earth each year. It's in her soul to love so deeply, even when the world my show her she isn't a miracle to them, she is anyway. Opinions can't change the truth, they simply try to blur it. Some people can't allow the beauty of truth because it scares them.
You can, and you do: it's the light inside of you, trust it.

IamthatIam has traveled around the world, slowly, since that morning. Terri Irwin in Australia after Steve passed, sent a note of thanks for the copy I sent. It's journeyed internationally and in the U.S.-traveling more than I have these past years. The thanks isn't the gift I receive that surprises me the most. It's the miracle of strength, renewed faith in themselves and a knowing that is beyond anything I could have dreamed that day.

This Christmas Season I am honored to be featured on Mary's blog, Lilbitofus, in a give away. We met through a submission to be part of a pitch. She, too has been through "everything" like me, and lives closer than you would imagine. Miracle or chance - it doesn't really matter. What is amazing is the dream to reach and help other mothers going through things like we have keeps growing and expanding all over the world. Life isn't always exactly how you pictured it, quite often it's a lot richer and fuller of dreams you didn't know you had - and friends you didn't know you were excited to meet. Mary has given me more than a give away - she gave me a renewed sense of purpose to keep moving on to the next step and the next step and savor every minute of life unfolding for us all.

Christmas is a good time to enjoy and love the giving, it's an incredible time to stretch just a little and give yourself more Bliss, too. Do it for you - you deserve every bit of the love you have for you, it's yours to savor and have it spill over and all around you.

To read Mary's review, and enter the give away if you'd like to, visit it here: Lilbitofus.

Early Christmas? I don't think so, I think any day is a good enough excuse to share the flow of love and light around the world. Thank you for sharing yours, and basking in mine when you can.

Crazy Lazy Christmas

2011-12-09T06:59:00.000-08:00

A few years ago my son wrote a book for Christmas: Crazy Lazy Christmas.

You can read it for free online, or download it to read with your child. Feel free to send your feedback to him, he'd be honored to hear what you think! It was his first book, and he loves it.
Enjoy! Here is the LINK: Crazy Lazy Christmas

Giftless

2011-12-06T18:25:00.000-08:00

Here's a great post about giftless Christmas by Leo.

Kids Who Are Gift-less are Gifted

Post written by Leo Babauta.

When I wrote about my family doing the No New Gifts Holiday Challenge, I received a couple comments that I was a Grinch:

You must be a drag to live with. ‘What kind of deprivation and sacrifice has Daddy got for us today?’

and

I couldn’t agree more lol, I’m sure kids see him as the Grinch, i feel sorry for them. I doubt his kids would be like ‘Yes dad, don’t buy me the latest Call of Duty game, i don’t want the 1% to get richer.’

While I was touched by the concern for my kids, I am not worried:

My kids have plenty of video games and electronics (including the latest COD game). They earn money and buy them themselves, and learn that if they want something, they can earn it, and it’s not handed to them.
My kids have everything they need and much more. If anything, they have too much, but I try not to force my minimalist philosophy on them.
Instead of deprivation, my kids are learning that there is much more to Christmas than getting a bunch of presents. (More below.)
They are learning to be creative instead of consuming. This lesson is more necessary today than ever.
We are learning that spending time with family is more important than spending money or spending time shopping.
Together we are creating new traditions based on creativity, fun, and giving, not just buying.
We are thinking of ways to give that don’t necessarily involve shopping — making gifts, volunteering, donating to charity, etc.

The reaction of my kids when I talked to them (once again) about not buying presents? They completely understood my anti-consumerism reasoning, and they were excited to come up with new ideas. Honestly. I was really proud of them when I sat down with them (individually and in groups) and talked about these ideas — they didn’t look disappointed at all, they in fact happily thought of some cool things we could do together.

Some ideas they’re excited about doing this Christmas instead of buying new gifts:

Making our own gifts. My son Seth is really, really excited about making stuff. In fact, he wants to make something for himself and wrap it up to open on Christmas morning. Yes, he’s a bit weird, but I love that. Eva wants to sew gifts for people.
Baking gifts. We love baking, and it’s a fun activity to do together. And we can give cookies, cupcakes, brownies as gifts to family, make them fatter, but not clutter their homes with needless possessions.
Going to play in snow. We’re from Guam, so snow is a novelty for us. My kids know it from Christmas movies and the like, but it’s not a yearly tradition for us — so driving to play in snow is really fun. We love making snow people, snow forts, snow angels, and having snowball fights.
Volunteering. We’re not sure where we want to volunteer this year (in past years we’ve done soup kitchens and Salvation Army bell ringing), but we do like the idea of giving.
Christmas caroling. We aren’t good singers, but we love singing Christmas songs.
Playing games. We love, love board games and other such games. We love getting together with family and playing games and sports. Having fun with family doesn’t have to involve gifts.
Make decorations. It’s so much fun to put up festive decorations, and if you can make them yourselves, even better.

And this is just the start of the ideas we’ve come up with. Sure, buying gifts is a holiday tradition — but is it the only possible tradition? Can’t we create new ones?

My kids are not deprived. In fact, I think our family is very lucky, and I hope to show others that creativity, fun, giving, and family bonding are amazing things that you can do without being a participant in the usual consumerism.

Allan! Allan! Allan!

2011-12-04T01:32:00.000-08:00

It's the Holidays - no sense making you read - just have a laugh!

Quiet, aliens &

2011-12-02T22:58:00.000-08:00

not shopping.

It's a great year, there aren't long lists of wants, just a few really cool needs that can be met, and the quiet in the universe has been loud - one hand clapping.

The natural inclination of us all is to want more, more, more. There is nothing wrong with that expanding wish to experience more of life. Just don't fly through the moment you're having and miss it. That's the challenge during the Holiday Season - zooming through everything - then it's over.

The weather has been perfectly beautiful here. Good walks, great stars and uplifting spirits.

I had a friend say, "I have my phone, my truck and my garden - I don't want anything else. It's a pain in the ass to deal with." That level of letting go is awesome. I think as children we hunger to experience things, then we grow into just enjoying ourselves in the process of creating experiences. The result is crushing, the cost is irrelevant and the joy is what we're in it for.

OH - and the aliens were supposed to come to earth on November 29th. Guess they're having a fine time wherever they are - maybe another day.

Happy Mendings

2011-11-19T20:14:00.000-08:00

These two great single moms were the happy recipients of my books today - I was invited by a dear friend of mine to join him at a local festival to sell my books, and more.

While the crowd wandered past, it was interesting to see so many kids, and realize the differences between what people used to call normal and what is reality now. With 14,000,000 single mothers in the USA alone, it's vital every one of them know how normal their lives truly are.

Strangely, their stories are the same as so many other women have gone through. A long road for peace, a long journey of hope and the secret journey only women know. Married or not - you live it - and you know there are few men who understand it. Most who do, support you in every way. Those who don't, wonder and resist learning the ways of this world.

It isn't your job to teach them. That can be hard, but as Marianne Williamson so eloquently wrote:

"If the relationship between mothers and children is returned once again to the relationship God intends it to be-between a soul new to earth and its primary spiritual teacher here-then children will grow up to know that neither money nor fame nor prestige nor power is nearly as important as a life lived for noble purpose. . ."

Sometimes that means a battle to traditions, because tradition believes in the past - but the children are not here to care about your past. . .they are here to create, nurture and love their own futures - not for you, or anyone else, no matter what "tradition" may say.

Have you noticed? Tradition screams in pain when children defend their Bliss. Tradition loathes its own demise - which is insane. As if a flower would ever object to unfolding. Tradition may be the filthy dirt from which it grew, but the soil will never be the bloom.

Borrowed

2011-11-16T17:13:00.000-08:00

This week's topic is borrowed, on 52 Photos Project.

Harder than you think for me - isn't everything borrowed, really?

Seeds - these seeds are from the past, and borrowed from the future beauty. The symbol of everything that is wonderful in life - because life is all about change. Going with the flow is far more interesting than missing the past, or waiting for the future. A small stopping here, on our journey to everywhere.

They will keep for the winter - and move into the dirt, to be buried, to they can bloom and amaze us.

Zen it friendz

2011-10-29T23:53:00.000-07:00

Ahh. . .quiet. It is very quiet right now.
How are you? You good? Feeling peaceful? Just for a few moments, hang with me here, breathe and laugh at whatever you thought was more important than peaceful you five minutes ago -

I'm aiming at making a wave around you that when you go back, it's gone - the tension, that - gone.
Here is the best post this weekend for that - go ahead, dare a little - it's posted on Zen Habits - but it's a guest post by a woman. . .and she. . .isn't busy - anymore - check it hErE.
Light love Bliss peace Namaste and candy. . .

Up with your hands and F-ing laugh

2011-10-26T18:53:00.000-07:00

Boy - where are you people?!

Just kidding - I've been hiding out eating crow, bon bons, dishing out capital "L" awards to all the losers who are not paying attention to the basic rules of life (seriously! I've had to "L - out" a whole list of people this week - me - ME! : )

Miss - "love everybody and be happy" realiZed something: OH mYY GGGG-OH HOH HOH D: some people think, "Christina's nice, she loves helping!" Means: Christina has nothing to do so let's dump the work we can't/don't want to do on her.

Ahhhh. . .what a wonderful eye opener for me. Karen, I hope you're laughing. . .

I've been building a project since July, that crashed and burned a few weeks ago - you have no idea the ouch, not to mention to pay for help to catch up was quoted at $4,000.
Woa, huh?
It caught me off guard. Anyway - the important part of this week's lesson is this: I do love helping people - TONS - it makes my world go round (I mean, really, if we don't help each other, why the heck are we here? To buy stuff from WalMart and eat Mc'Don't eat that sh*t?)
However - if I can't help myself, my family and keep the flow of our lives going, my universe comes to a screeching screaming halt - meaning - the kids get hungry, and the pets do, too. I've read about people who don't want to pay for help or respect boundaries (read this post by Becky Blanton), and I was flabbergasted when it finally happened to me. I mean, wow, thank you for liking my work, but not respecting my need to either get paid or be left alone was a first for me. Not to mention being singled out to make me look like a Loser and a slave, right? Seriously, this happened recently - woa woa woa!

I blog because I love it - not just the writing, but the reading, sharing and being a part of people's lives I care about. There is a difference, at least to me - blogging and blogs are full of love and shared good times - whatever we are working on, we share because we care. I just learned some people in 3D land still don't get that - I'm glad I do, and glad to know everyone I've met here - ThAnK YOU!

So - as you, my awesome blog friends noticed the blog has been waiting for some love - and I have it, thanks to Bella and 52 Photos Project. "Look UP" made me feel good - because I'm always looking up, life is good even when other people live for problems and BS. If what is going on around us is a mirror for what is going on inside of us (I believe it is) then I have been wrestling with personal value and exchange. Learning to balance the flow of life (losing a whole project, but then rebuilding it because I'm passionate about it instead of letting other people's demands run my day) has been thrilling - and uplifting.

How does it work though? How to satisfy our inner dreams and visions without pissing off people who think they really, really need us RIGHT NOW? There is the miracle I have leaned this week: you don't need me as much as you may think for your vision, we need each other for encouragement, support and to spread the word to others when we do cool stuff, but the ideas are each person's and, like a child, there is a huge satisfaction from learning how to do it on your own.

I've been so busy I hit anger today (I know! I forgot I can get mad - hee hee). The anger wasn't at anyone, it was at the web - and reading. I'm having to learn whole new systems and programs just to create a cool - - - - surprise for everyone. Yep - it's for everyone. . .and I'm passionate about sharing it with you. . .so very soon! It's work, but it's so fun, life keeps looking up, and I'm getting there. . .

LOOK UP - the sky is still perfectly perfect just like when we were kids.
LOOK UP - you can reach the stars - right now with your vision, inner and outer.
LOOK UP - you matter - you are connected, vital and so much a part of the unfolding universe.
LOOK UP - this moment is nothing without you in it.
LOOK UP - there is no limit. . .

Worry

2011-10-20T00:02:00.000-07:00

Someone asked me today what I am worried about. I felt my face grimace a little, because I'm not worried. It was strange, the question, because it sounded as if worry should be on the top of my list - the leading edge of my thoughts or the focus of what I want to speak about.

I explained I'm not worried at all, but rather feel a responsibility to do as much as I can about getting through this world that can send worry your way.

Are you worrying about something today? Okay, if you are - but for fun try and make a mental list of what you can do, rather than what you are afraid may happen. What can we do that helps? What can we think about that is a possible good? What can we be happy to know is already in place? What can we notice?

Worry is an eyebrow raising feeling that hints of awareness, calls our attention but I am not convinced it has a positive use. Use it to keep going and we win, let it stop us and we are stuck.

SHEESH!!! in Ohio!!! Lions & Tigers & Bears

2011-10-19T06:44:00.000-07:00

. . .and the idiots are shooting them - great.

Last night someone apparently left all the cages open at an "exotic" farm here in Ohio. They have closed 4 school districts, and wild animals are on the loose. . .or should I say "lose" because they will be shot on sight. Yep, and this morning the news had the President of the Humane Society on the phone, all he did was rant and rave about the governor - forget - "watch your children people!!!!" he went on and on about the governor failing Ohio - blah blah blah.

Meanwhile, folks from the Columbus Zoo have gone out in hopes of sedating the critters. If you click on the link (the title of this post) sadly, you will see a dead lion. What a waste.

Yes, the owner is dead - yes, it wasn't pretty according to authorities. Was he a nut job to keep them? You decide, the only nutty thing here is they were in captivity until last night when the cages were "mysteriously" left open, and the owner was killed.

I have a theory, but it won't save any lives. Suffice it to say, if a lot of people were angry he had them, how did all - yes, ALL - of the cages get left open on the same night? Hmmm. . .however it happened, it's a shame.

Quiet

2011-10-19T03:56:00.000-07:00

Aliens and Zombies.

I've been very quiet on here lately - for a reason. I've been researching other areas of the web. I've learned a few things - like what kind of blog layout I like (utterly boring insight I might add), spammers on the web are PAID a lot of money to bug me - seriously, I've had it with MOMMY BLOGS about coupons - had it had it HAD IT!

The world news is old news before I read it, which is inspiring, so I ignore it - I'm late anyway. I've read more blogs in one week than I've read in a year, checked out more web sites than I wanted to, and learned a few non Blogger tricks - just for fun.

So what the heck does this have to do with YOU? Everything: you see, most of the stuff I've read is old news, which means whatever dreamy amaZing ARt you create isn't - it's fresh, it's new, it's YOU.

There is nothing more beautiful than expressing yourself and being real. I didn't think I had much to offer on the web (or at least I wasn't sure) until I went looking for inspirational sites. I only found a few - here's one of them ZEN HABITS - and he is hugely popular, which goes against the grain of some of the sites I visited. Usually the "most popular" were the most boring and annoying - The head stabbing lady bores me - no, I'm not linking back to her - I don't want to.

Jesus Jesus Jesus

2011-10-11T18:39:00.000-07:00

Don't you dare run away so fast. Hang with this one - it may help with self love.

Our doorbell has been broken for years - and I have no intention of fixing it. If you are coming to the door, you need to call first - or I won't open it. Tonight a man managed to make the thing actually ring - 7 flipping times!~!~!~! I asked him later how he did it, and he showed me how he used a - - - oh, wait, I'm not telling you that - you might come over and try it. . .duh.

So who was this mystery man? A Preacher. I could not believe he wasn't Mormon, under 21 and sporting a bicycle helmet when he started telling me about God. I closed the door behind me and joined him on the porch - why? I love talking Christianity. It's a favorite of mine to go back and forth on. Don't get too weirded out, I read the Bible as a child and went on to get a Minor in Philosophy because I'm fascinated by how we (humans) define and discuss divinity, spirituality and hope. Yes, hope - that's why we do it, I think.

He told me about his church, explained why Jesus came, what we are to do, and more. I know, most of you would have shooed him off, but I was impressed by his excitement. Who the heck goes door to door as a Baptist these days anyway?

HERE IS THE KICKER ------> He asked me to pray with him, and when he started to talk he said, "Dear Jesus, I'm a sinner. . ." and I stopped him. "I don't agree with that - I don't agree with saying I'm a sinner. I think it's a lie for you to say Jesus died and forgave all of our sins and then turn around and say 'I'm a sinner' - that makes no sense."

Guess what? He agreed, and said he is changing his prayer for people. Interesting.

I found it interesting because too often we don't open our mouth and speak our truth at the risk of being offensive, or for many other reasons. He stayed and asked me more questions, I think we talked for 20 minutes about views on God, religion, sin, guilt, peace and hope. We also discussed wisdom and what do people want?

He thanked me for the discussion, and I was glad no one else would hear "I'm a sinner" from him any longer - whew - how long has that needed to happen?!?

Appreciation, forgiveness and love. We agreed on those three.

No matter what has happened - move on. Appreciate yourself, forgive yourself and love yourself. Start there. . .the rest will show you the way.

Single moms, help and BS

2011-10-07T20:53:00.000-07:00

Everybody needs help, right? So generally I make an effort not to complain, talk about negativity or bad times, even though they are obviously wildly entertaining, like this woman who talks about stabbing herself in the head due to postparum depression - Ms. Trunk goes all out about the Farmer and her woes, has a ton of followers, and kudos. . .I guess.

I read her blog, about stabbing herself in the head, being beaten in front of her child and thought - wait - she had time to type all of this, but can't get out of there? I read through the comments, countless people offering ideas and ways to be free of this, but (I haven't been back since the head stabbing and to link here, so I don't know what she is up to) she stayed.

What do you think?

My Cat Puked Orange Chairs

2011-10-03T23:15:00.000-07:00

This weekend was FULL of excitement. The best? Cat puke.

It started with a nice family meal - you know, end of a long week sit down dinner together - until one of the kids said, "I can't eat - look!" There was runny, crusty brown puke on the chair. Just like Goldilocks and the three bears the other mighty Cherub said, "EW! There's puke on my chair, too!!!" Naturally, it was on mine.

The only seat not covered in bile, hair-balls and slime was the one the cat was lounging on like nothing had happened. Sure, she was chill, she hurled all the nastiness out, right? All good for Kitteh - yeah, of course it is.

Thank goodness one of the kids loves to do handiwork, because taking apart the seats, ironing, stretching and stapling the new "covers" is a job. I have a stash of fabric from India I've held onto over the years, so I pulled out the five designs to choose from.

Yes, I hesitated displaying the orange hearts - somehow I just knew - so when they won the prize to be the new dining display I thought:

"Oh heck - what the hell, they are love-ly."

We plied the old staples out with a screwdriver (while the cat watched, wondering when she could have her thrones back) and made it through one chair until it wasn't fun anymore. The last three were on me.

The chairs have a great history. They used to belong to an old restaurant in NYC I heard. They were given to me back in the 90s, after a friend of ours passed away.

They creak, but they match the 1950s table we use. It, too, was given to me. When I was pregnant with my first, there were three college girls next door who owned it. They were moving, and didn't want to take it with them. I can still see them carrying it into our silly little campus house back then. It was the first "real" table I ever owned. It's been covered in paint, clay, syrup, sugar and homework. It has held diaper bags, bills, tears and elbows of bliss and sorrow. Someone told me it is "probably worth something."

(it isn't, it has a couple of cracks that I love, but a collector would be mortified by them - plus I've repainted the legs blue - heh heh!).

I've repainted the chairs, to match the old table, so any value they could have held has been happily destroyed by us and replaced with fun, messes and memories.

They are worth something - best said in this poem, I think:

"Perhaps the World Ends Here"

by Joy Harjo

The world begins at a kitchen table. No matter what, we must eat to live.

The gifts of earth are brought and prepared, set on the table. So it has been since creation, and it will go on.

We chase chickens or dogs away from it. Babies teethe at the corners. They scrape their knees under it.

It is here that children are given instructions on what it means to be human. We make men at it, we make women.

At this table we gossip, recall enemies and the ghosts of lovers.

Our dreams drink coffee with us as they put their arms around our children.

They laugh with us at our poor falling-down selves and as we put ourselves back together once again at the table.

This table has been a house in the rain, an umbrella in the sun.

Wars have begun and ended at this table. It is a place to hide in the shadow of terror. A place to celebrate the terrible victory.

We have given birth on this table, and we have prepared our parents for burial here.

At this table we sing with joy, with sorrow. We pray of suffering and remorse. We give thanks.

Perhaps the world will end at the kitchen table, while we are laughing and crying, eating of the last sweet bite.

*From The Woman Who Fell From the Sky, Joy Harjo, W.W. Norton & Company, NY/London, 1994

Along the Fence

2011-10-01T23:43:00.000-07:00

It feels like I've been sitting on a fence for a while now - so much is growing, changing and improving. Bella gives prompts every week to share photos over at 52 Photos Project, and this one is a great one.

You can submit, too - join in anytime! Now that the cold is here to stay, I will be harvesting seeds from the sunflowers and dreaming up ways to share them - if you have a request, please let me know in the comments section.

The fences: the most boring one for you, but important for me is how to treat our cat that has an allergy. It's been weeks of testing diets and washing her - not easy - and no improvements. I'm hoping Kate at Ramblings from a Crazy Cat Lady will have an idea or three - but she's been busy these days with school, Willows progress (check it out - a cat swimming in a pool!).

Fence # 2 - redesign. I read a lot of "mommy" blogs. I care for few - I won't list the ones I don't like, that isn't fair, because they have huge audiences, and I tilt my head like a stunned puppy wondering, "What the heck? People love this stuff? Amazing!" Then again, I am amazed by the things we find on TV that intrigues us as a nation and world - nuff said Real Housewives, eh?

Fence # 3 - Technology. The more I learn on and about the web the less is useful to me for being happy. I love the tool, but the competitive side of it all is incredible. SEO, advertising, BUY NOW! and my favorite thing to ignore: make more money if you buy this book. Ugh. I think your own ARt and genius ideas can pay you more in Bliss than money can buy. We've been so well trained to see the tool of cash as the means to the happiness, rather than the extension of it through us. The through part is critical: people who hoard, hide or choose to put cash over care are miserable.

My love of the net is now saturated by my quest to balance it, as Shreve Stockton has said, with "3D life." Your 3D life is vital to the vibe of Bliss all over the world. Karen keeps her corner of Canada in a reality check, Kate takes care of our furry friends in her neck of the U.S. woods, Paula Jean, Jesse and Cooper spread the Love wherever they go, Bella sends us out into the world with our lens to peek in on each other's journey, Overthinking Mama shows us tattoos to toddler trends - we get inspired to be inspirations.

That's what I thought, and still think, the web is for. How about you? SEO or big hugs, Yo?

FACEBOOK Ticker kill

2011-09-28T19:48:00.000-07:00

Okay - it's my first FB post, because you deserve this little trick. If you already know it, and want to add some ideas post in the comments super rad gang-friends. Post this as your status update to help you're info stay in your cute little circle of friends. I still haven't bothered to read all the tricks yet - because I have a life - and the last thing I feel like doing is giving FB more of my time. This was posted by a friend, so easy to do!

Post this as your status so your friends can help you kill your info feed!

Fight the ticker!: "Do me a favour: please hover over my name here, wait for the box to load and then hover over the "Subscribe" link. Then uncheck the "Comments and likes" choice. I would rather my comments on friends' posts not be made public. Thanks. Then repost if you don't want your EVERY MOVE posted on the right for everyone to see!"

How to keep going - or why

2011-09-26T18:27:00.000-07:00

Richard Bach has a great quote if your life has you stuck, down or confused:

"Here is a test to find whether your mission on Earth is finished: If you're alive, it isn't."

Your mission is just that: it's yours. You define, decide and design it. That's a gift from the Universe. If you don't like it, change it. If you're scared to change - deal with the fear by going the other way. Too often we challenge fear by rushing into it - but sometimes that is the stupidest thing to do. Why meet something head on if our gut is screaming NO~~~~~!!!!! Sometimes stage fright isn't really fear, it's a normal anxiety with an undercurrent of excitement.

Learn to tell the difference for yourself. Figure out if you're afraid because it's a bad idea, or your anxious because it might just be what you really want to do.

No matter what - live your story - live it out loud. Today I had the opportunity to learn there is a school that wants to garden - that's huge, because that has lasting impact that gives more joy, more life and more excitement, in a new way to kids. That is legacy worth working for to me. That matters more than shopping, dining out or seeing a movie on TV.

One last thing - humor - you have a right to your sense of humor. I see so much junk that is serious, and determined to take a stand for things I think are a waste. It's okay that I think they are a waste, and it's okay that other people love them - the important part is that I don't think I'm totally right or they think I'm totally wrong.

One of my female gripes? Fingernails. Seriously, unless you are Dolly Parton, who's whole aura screams of overdoing it, I cannot understand the obsession with fancy nail salons and the money we spend on it. One manicure costs more than seeding two, maybe even ten, gardens.

You can't eat nail polish - or share it with your friends. I don't get it, but to each his own, eh?

ReD

2011-09-24T22:13:00.000-07:00

52 photos assignment - ReD

The woman who feeds her child Mother's milk made to hide

The woman who bleeds, scorned or shamed

The woman who dares to scream during labor

The woman who speaks truth and risks being killed

The women who go forward to heal the world

. . .so all may bloom.

Paula Jean, Jesse, Cooper & us

2011-09-22T20:48:00.000-07:00

Nothing beats this post by

Paula Jean at Paula Jean and Cooper: Adventures in Motorcycling:

August 16 - Part 2 - Meeting my #1 Blog Fan!!!

We got to our destination where we got to meet Christina, my #1 Blog Fan. She comments the most and seems to read just about every one of my posts with her sons.

She is an inspiration to me and her words are ALWAYS full of enthusiasm and encouragement. AND she is just silly enough to make me smile every time we talk or email each other.

These pictures were taken by her or her kids.

Crossing guard Cooper

Getting lunch from a Buffet at the grocery story

One of the few pics of me and Cooper

The Happy Travelers

Moms gone wild

2011-09-17T21:13:00.000-07:00

Wizard Smoke from Salazar on Vimeo.

Yeah, I was laughing - I could see all the craziness - laundry flying out of windows or into to trash cans, kids running down the street covered in chalk to make smoke and women actually wearing aprons again. . .oh, crud - Karen does wear an apron sometimes. Sorry, Karen. . .no offense because you are the Anti-Cleaver to me.

Mothers are expected to fill some crazy fit in with the masses role and it screams of pent up frustration and anger management classes to me. Sure, we adore Madonna and Christina A. for being sexy and wild, their "stars" right - somehow they have a license to ill? You do to - if you don't use it, you just might go mad. If you haven't already.

For goodness sakes, people aren't going to like you most of the time anyway. Those people aren't in your life (reall - they are just watching and waiting to have something to complain about). Don't you think it's time you lived out loud just for the fun of it again?

If you already are - feel free to post a link in the comments. Motherhood gets boring fast if you wonder what you should do - the only thing, I think you should do is figure out what you really, truly WANT to do - then do it. Go on, buy some aprons and pour chalk on yourself and ride a skateboard down the street - let that angry old fart gasp at you - again.

Jamie's Live video message on the UN Summit on NCDs

2011-09-16T11:03:00.000-07:00

We love food, we love kids. . .

this is important - thank you.

dogs Cats and humans

2011-09-14T18:15:00.000-07:00

There are some crazy experiments in history - like the scientist who grafted a dog's head onto another dog and kept the creature alive for a week - ew, and that is insane, right? To me, yes. It did however lead the way to the first heart transplant - ew or yay? Yes, a hard one to swallow once you realize that one crazy idea can lead to amazing things. I don't advocate wild surgeries at home - please don't go there, folks - but I do think wild ARt is crucial.

Buying Bliss is impossible - we've all tried it and it fails. Create - share - repeat.

Andy Warhol changed everything for ARt - he was popular and controversial.

"What's great about this country is that America started the tradition where the richest consumers buy essentially the same things as the poorest. You can be watching TV and see Coca-Cola, and you know that the President drinks Coca-Cola, Liz Taylor drinks Coca-Cola, and just think, you can drink Coca-Cola, too. A Coke is a Coke and no amount of money can get you a better coke than the one the bum on the corner is drinking. All the cokes are the same and all the cokes are good. Liz Taylor knows it, the President knows it, the bum knows it, and you know it."

Tech Crunchy Morning all!

2011-09-14T06:29:00.000-07:00

This week's Top Pick for the computer user in you is one that will save your eyes, sanity and mind. F.lux INSTANTLY will make you feel calm, relaxed and more peaceful - and who doesn't love that?

Care how you are feeling

2011-09-11T19:10:00.000-07:00

The trick of life is feeling. It's most evident when we listen to music, we know which songs bring us up and which ones make us cry. We don't have to put those feelings into words - it's a different language.

"I don't know" is very honest. You don't always have to know why something feels good, but you do have to know how to want the good feelings better than the 'bad.'

Kids are your greatest example of wanting to feel good more than anything else in the world. They don't like to sit around and find the perfect words to explain or justify why this is better than that - they just want to feel good.

Can you want to feel good more than you need to justify how it is being perceived by someone else? Today our sidewalk and garden was covered in powdered chalk because the kids were flinging it all over the place - it looked like a rainbow exploded. I laughed watching them laugh because from the outside, an observer obsessed with appearances would have been angry and appalled at the "mess." A mess is a matter of perspective - choose yours.

Can you perceive a Blissed out explosion of color as so important for NOW and the obsession with perfection as so irrelevant in the grand expanse of life?

We're still in the running for the About.me contest - feel free to repost and help us out - the kids aren't sure we can win - with your help, I think we can. Go to: http://about.me/ChristinaCiani and VOTE - WOW! my kids - they deserve it. Thank you.

IS it a UFO? What is it?

2011-09-11T02:52:00.000-07:00

We went out to eat late, and on the way home one of the kids said, "Mom! That's a UFO!"

They watched it out of the window all the way home, and stayed in the front yard, mesmerized while I got the video camera.

I stabilized it on my knee, the object did not look like it was moving, but when I uploaded it, you can see it appears to bounce like a ball all over the place.

You decide - it's beautiful - especially at minute 10 and on. Let me know what you think.

My quiet place - 52 Photos Project

2011-09-09T17:29:00.000-07:00

Bella assigned us to take a pic of our quiet place.

Mine isn't a "place" though, not one that stays still. It's the Sky. Reliable, changing, strong and not always quiet - the sky is the place we haven't screwed up or manipulated and can't very easily.

Tech Crunchy video: Organic Bytes on Bytes

2011-09-09T17:12:00.000-07:00

This post is for anyone who loves to draw (Karen - show Jack!) and doesn't know how to use an animation program. Pencil-Animation is the EASIEST to use, and kids love it - you can download it for free at http://www.pencil-animation.org/ and be creating in no time at all.

September update: the flowers are amazing outside, the weather has cooled and the clouds are settling for Autumn. You can still vote and help us to win the Billboard in Times Square to WOW my kids! If you'd like to vote for us, click HERE - thank you!!!!

GameStop Wasteland

2011-09-07T17:13:00.000-07:00

GameStop has a "rewards" program that is about as lame and useless, to us, as the biohazard bin at the Doctor's office. If you pull something out of it, chances are you're an idiot. I took screen shots of their catalog, and I really feel like ranting on this one, moms. Why? We spend (not just my family - I know you do it, too) hundreds of dollars, maybe thousands combined, a year to earn "points" and the thanks we get for putting up with email alerts, lines and low point value per dollars spent is a slap in the face.

No, wait - it's like being spit on actually.

A $15 iTunes gift card costs 15,000 points. A 4GB SD card for over 15,000 points?! Batteries for 1,500 points? Batteries!!! Seriously?!

Are you kidding me?!

We have "earned" over 17,000 points - and all the choices SUCK. Let me clarify this for you: we've been building points for MONTHS, maybe over a year now actually. I know I spent 15 times more than $15 to "earn" my points - why would I waste them on a lame gift card? Stupid, and I think they need to either upgrade the schwag, get rid of the program or, even better: offer something we care about like free games instead of "game protection plans."

Back to school is at least going well, because the downtime we had tonight was spent figuring out how to log in, fill out a survey (for 250 "bonus points") and were let down like the kid who gets tricked by the crafty sibling who managed to refold the gum wrapper and offers it to you. My son's reaction? "Are you kidding me!? All that stuff is crap!"

Homeschool

2011-09-06T17:18:00.001-07:00

I'm a huge fan of homeschooling your children. Before yours become too engrossed, and if you can afford to be home to do it - consider it.

The average school day is about 6 hours, and for us homework is another 3. That's a VERY long day for kids - and the work is so spread out - I'm wiped out right there with them. Up at 6:00, done by 7:30 p.m. is too much.

I've looked into online programs and if you're interested, K12 is getting a great rating, not just online, but from families I've actually talked with.

Childhood is best spent being a kid - discovering and exploring. My kids don't want to leave the social life - yet. That doesn't mean you don't want to explore your options.

Let me off!

2011-09-05T21:27:00.000-07:00

When I heard B.'s voice after 25 years, I was grateful so little changes in us, really. Our stories and the hell we make it through may scar or scare us - but at the core we are the same incredible women we were as kids.

Her divorce was just about to start, and after an hour or so on the phone I felt I had managed to cram in everything I know about the possibilities she might be facing with her soon to be ex. Two court cases of my own taught me a few things I don't want others to learn the hard way, like I did.

Her case was final and signed this past Friday - and I got to give her a hug in person. That was the best part - to embrace a woman I care about, and know she is happy with where things landed, and where they are headed. She said something that made all the hell I went through matter. "You made me strong." Those words made me understand what "refined by fire" means. When your life is full of angry flames, love is the amour that keeps you from being burned. Congratulations, B. - you deserve your happiness, and I'm happy I helped in some small way.

Where have you been?

2011-09-01T15:48:00.000-07:00

I've been reinventing the life of motherhood and schedules. Paperwork, projects, dogs, cats and flowers. Luckily, this week's 52 Photo Assignment is GARDEN! And the mini sunflower hut is BLOOMING! I am so happy to see the seeds I saved from last year's Giant Sunflower (click to see it and scroll down - it was magnificent!) have multiple blooms on them - can you imagine! I am thrilled.

There are new videos up and more coming - there are new books still getting finished (simple fun you can use) and great times this fall.

What have you been cooking up in your corner of the world???

F THIS

2011-08-27T22:34:00.000-07:00

When I thought of "F this, I'm going for Bliss" I laughed - but now I really am living the dream you rocking few readers who give a hoot about us. We're holding at a steady small stream of 10 followers, so I feel like I'm having coffee with my nearest and dearest - thanks! (Yes, I do drink coffee at all hours, you drink what you want - no worries, dude).

F THIS is sums up my week -

Before we dive in, here's the gist: I live each day to make memories, have fun creating all sorts of works of art, files, books, animations, photography, garden at home and teach my kids to do the same. We are all born with great abilities and we deserve to try, fail and succeed at expressing ourselves. Hence the reason we have a family Christmas Tune, books, T-shirts and the kids are shooting photos, writing books - etc, cool? Cool. Okay. . .

The new school year is HELL already - only 4 days in, too. The amount of keeping track and getting things done is seriously cramping our style - we like to go with the flow a lot more than the factory ("before the bell rings") style of the three Rs. So how am I going to make this rock?

If you saw the video, you saw how I deal with "not having an upset" (Edwene Gaines) for getting things done in terms of "what do I do next?"

The modern school has a planner - they are huge about this thing. I think it is colorful, exciting, full of great information, but for my child it is TOO FULL. It's overwhelming and he can't deal with it - not to mention the teeny, tiny space you have to write in. We are a little more clunky than that.

So I made a simple, easy to use and throw away when you're done Homework page - for all you moms out there I'm posting two - one I'm using, and one that is blank so you can fill it in yourself. You can only host photos and images on Blogger, so if you want a pdf go to my other site, and you can download it - YES it is BORING. That's the idea! So they aren't admiring the design and simply have room to write.

Jack, Karensomethingorother's son is on the "spectrum," my son is on a different "spectrum" but has his own wonderful issues to navigate - this page will solve some hardcore problems for him, and help him simplify each week or day - then get rid of the paperwork.

If you haven't already, please VOTE! for my profile and laugh your abs off if we get to head to NYC because we won the contest - it's a once in a lifetime chance, and kids only get to be kids once, too. Thanks for your support!

Vote~help me win a Times Square Billboard!

2011-08-26T21:16:00.000-07:00

TWO SECONDS A DAY! NO SIGN UPS!

Help me WOW my kids!!!!!!

Click here and vote!

You already know I'm a one woman show, and marketing on your own takes time, lots of time.

There's a contest to win a Billboard in TIMES SQUARE and I'm going for it -

will you help me by voting once every day? It takes TWO SECONDS!

My kids would love to hear all the hours of work I put in are going toward something huge - they're my biggest cheerleaders, and I'd love to say, "People all over voted so you could see this!" Feel free to share the link with your Facebook friends, on Twitter - anywhere you wish every day! The contest runs through September 20 - and it takes two seconds to click the green button in the upper right hand corner on MY PROFILE.

Thank you in advance - this is a huge gift to give us - you're awesome for donating your moments to do this!!!

I will be posting links to VOTE FOR MY PROFILE on About.Me from now until the end of the contest. Please feel free to send to family, friends, co-workers and bloggers to help the "single mom" from Ohio (that's me. . .) win one of three NYC Times Square Billboard spots. It would be a total hoot!!!

Becky Blanton's series "The October Abduction of Thomas Martin" is in the running, too - you can vote for her, too HERE.

I won't bore you with the details of hours and hours of homework - because it was, well, boring and I don't want to go back there! Hours and hours of work helping with homework - whew, what an addition after summer. Suffice it to say - I really need a clone to sleep for me. That's it - just get the sleep done, and I'll be fine. I like working on projects, but us nutty humans sleep on occasion!

News of the week: if you haven't pre-ordered "Bloodline" (and you'll get the entire series of Becky's books The October Abduction of Thomas Martin as they are released) you can do it for .99 HERE.

Thank you again for your votes - I have been designing books all week for a new addition to the shop, just in time for the Holidays. This time I'm working on something anyone and everyone can use - and I think I may be on the brink of making it easy for YOU to drop in your own additional fun stuff - Personalized stuff - yeah, that's always good! More on this - I think I have a few more days of kinks to work out!

Thank you for voting for me - I couldn't even dream of doing this without your kindness, Bless YOU.

Homework 4 FiZGiGZ

2011-08-23T21:51:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I know - you're still getting used to the term, "FiZGiG" aren't you? It's okay - it took some people a while to get used to Google as a verb - you'll be just fine. I think it really applies to all women who are rocking the Universe in a very unique and forward moving way - single or married. If you have kids, and find incredibly creative ways to keep the household flowing without losing your sh*t, you're a FiZGiG - married or not.

If you need some Dictionary input, here's a fun one:

Origin: 1520–30; earlier fisgig, equivalent to fis

( late Middle Englishfise term of abuse; akin to Old Norse fīsa

to break wind;compare fizzle) + gig ( Middle English gigge girl; see giggle)

Yeah, that made me laugh,too.

Only a brave woman would break wind and change the course of the Universe at the same time.

It reminds me of Karen, Doritos and that wedding again. . .

Or try:

fizgig [ˈfɪzˌgɪg]

1. a frivolous or flirtatious girl

2. (Chemistry) a firework or whirling top that fizzes as it moves

And when I think of what we do to spontaneously turn mayhem and chaos into a work of ARt, I can see how it is like fishing - for the big one - the perfect answer to the most amazing questions in our day.

Noun	1.	fizgig - an implement with a shaft and barbed point used for catching fish fishgig, gig, lance, spear fishing gear, fishing rig, fishing tackle, tackle, rig - gear used in fishing harpoon - a spear with a shaft and barbed point for throwing; used for catching large fish or whales; a strong line is attached to it implement - instrumentation (a piece of equipment or tool) used to effect an end leister - a spear with three or more prongs; used for spearing fish (especially salmon)
	2.	fizgig - a firework that fizzes as it moves firework, pyrotechnic - (usually plural) a device with an explosive that burns at a low rate and with colored flames; can be used to illuminate areas or send signals etc.

If you missed the long intros to it, here is the short version: There are terms in English that are degrading - so we don't use them anymore. Single Mom is the lamest term in my book because it says so many wrong things.

For example, if I'm a "single" mom - are my married friends "double" moms? I also think it's a lame use of a term that implies "broken" - whatever - for broken women, we sure manage to maintain a lot of worlds spinning, and clean up cat vomit.

Yes, cat vomit was the highlight of my morning - yum.

Then came the homework after school. . .it took an hour to find all the notes, and I even had to go back to the school to retrieve a folder and understand what I'm looking for. Yes, another half an hour only to discover I don't have passwords to get online and SEE the homework.

Yay! I'm still laughing, too. So here's my take on "modern" homework assignments.

HOMEWORK:

I was overwhelmed by how many places I had to go to find my child's list of things to do for school. There were sheets of paper, with notes on the back. Teachers sent home instructions to visit web sites - not "WEB SITE" "WEB SITES" - there I go, hunting for Usernames and Passwords, calendars for each class.

It brought back memories of those great times in High School when we had uniforms, and I wrote my notes to myself on the inside of that huge hem of my uniform skirt. Ballpoint pen and polyester go very well together, folks.

It would be so much easier to revert to writing on hands or allowing kids to have Palm pilots or smart devices for this.

Alas - yes, I just typed "alas" - haha - I'll be swimming in paper, files and folders for months - ugh. I am going to encourage the writing on clothing, if it's convenient, though. At least I can locate it easily before I do the laundry. Don't worry, I doubt ink poisoning is very serious these days.

What do you think?

No more pets damn it!

2011-08-22T21:18:00.000-07:00

Single woman raising children seeking cloning service - as long as the clone doesn't talk as much, all should be fine.

This is my dream, right here, because I could have the clone do all the grunt work that eats up the day like laundry, carpets, groceries, walking the dog, cleaning cat boxes and designing book interiors. This would be incredible.

Instead of a clone, the Universe sent me a TURTLE. Not just any turtle, that would be too easy, nah, a scratching, big wild turtle that was trying to get hit by a car. We let it run around in the backyard, losing it between the sunflowers and tomatoes a few times, and screaming as we picked it up and it peed on us - yep, not kidding you.

For the past three days I've been on the web scouring for how the heck you take care of a turtle (without poisoning it, us or the OTHER animals we have) and the smell was worse than cat pee.

I worried about the turtle at night, sneaking up to its makeshift home to make sure it wasn't dead, then the scales (or whatever they are called) were coming OFF! UgH! I found out it's normal - but can you just picture me at 3:00 a.m. on Google? "Scales coming of shell" SEARCH! "Shell looks cracked" SEARCH! It turned out that it was a normal occurrence - they "shed" when they grow - the big "duh" for me.

Little Snappy wiped me out - whew.

One of my children wanted to keep it, and cried when I found a responsible Turtle lover to take it in, on the condition that it wasn't wild. "Can't we just keep it?" As if I need a salmonella carrying critter indoors - yeah, um, NO.

After I sent photos, I was told Snappy is a wild Painted Turtle and can be safely released back into the wild. "She probably was laying her eggs and wandered in the wrong direction."

No kidding - traffic is a very wrong direction when you have webbed toes.

As at 4:30 this afternoon she swam under the water of a local pond, right toward the middle and into the darkness when we released her. I laughed, imagining she was screaming, "Cowabunga!!!!! See you nut head humans!" What a relief!

Back2School~don't be a nag!

2011-08-21T12:34:00.000-07:00

It's Back2School time!

Mornings are hard core around here, and these little tricks have helped everyone get off to a happy start without nagging, yelling or complaining.

If your household is a rush of mayhem getting ready for school, try this~and keep the Peace!

Don't forget to answer the comment question on the YouTube site, too:

"What's the most disgusting thing you've found rotting in your refrigerator?"

52 Photos~Black & White

2011-08-21T03:10:00.000-07:00

It's Black & White week~my favorite.

When I was in college, my boyfriend would take me to the dark room ad try to tech me how to crop, shade and develop film at the newspaper. I could never get the film to wrap around the metal reels they use for getting it out of the camera and into the solution. He was, and still is a world class shooter.

My love of Black & White started then, and has never missed a step. Thanks to digital we can all try our hand at the art of creating incredible prints - but the fun of the dark room fails will stick with me forever.

My Christmas wish

2011-08-19T20:06:00.000-07:00

I'm spreading the Christmas crafting and work early and will have more offerings coming soon. I appreciate any passing on you wish to give - seriously, one woman show here my friends, and boy, some days I wish we didn't have to sleep.

I just realized most of you may not know that I make the family's living writing books, and now we've added an additional gift to the mix: a Christmas Song. Yep - it's over on the right. You can watch the video, leave a comment on YouTube if you like, and go to the web site if you LOVE it to download the MP3 for a cool .99¢ at my other blog.

I thank you - the kids will thank you, and all proceeds go to the family fund, and help Bart pay for college. I know, that's a lot to ask of .33¢, so any spreading, sharing, blogging or posting is appreciated. (.33 fee to service, then we split the .66). There is also an ebook full of the lessons I learned uploading a song for sale on the web, too. If you know anyone thinking of using a digital distributor - stop them, and have them watch the video or get the $3.99 ebook and save their Rights.

It's a lot to do everything on your own, while raising children - so any and all spreading the word is appreciated by all of us. More Christmas gifts are coming, too!

Guest blog Post on Overthinking Mama today!

2011-08-18T17:30:00.000-07:00

Today I am Over HERE
See you soon!!!!

Blue Hair, Bikes and Good Times

2011-08-18T10:43:00.001-07:00

We had the honor of meeting Cooper, the incredible dog who has (as of Tuesday) ridden 4,000 miles on the back of a motorcycle. He's been across the country and back/ Facing fears? If this doesn't inspire you to get off your ass and stare them down, what would? He's beyond well behaved, a gentle Angel and the kids felt like royalty.

Paula Jean and Jesse "get it" - they get life, attraction, following Bliss and being it. If you've felt stuck in a rut all summer, check out their blog - you'll be heading on the highway in no time.

Get going - live your dream.

Featured Mom of the Day

2011-08-17T00:29:00.000-07:00

Hell yeah, it's Karen~the first featured Mom of the Day~! Give it up posse, this wild child just taught NON STUPID Pie Baking for all you warriors who failed home economics. What, you passed? Amazing. Your mom was proud. I, uh. . .screw it, back to Karen.

Karen is the wild Canadian who somehow manages to juggle whiskey, a husband, two kids, laundry and a ton of off collar humor. She's been my daily dose of insane antics for months. If you haven't started checking in on her blog Ow, my angst - go, now, bookmark that thing and subscribe. She says what you were afraid to say to your husband, friend or sister.

Watch out when the whiskey starts flowing over there - it looks dangerously Blissful for her - or for you.

Want to make the best pie ever with no trans fat yuck? Get over there - NOW.

Change

2011-08-15T01:44:00.001-07:00

The flowers are heading up and then, well, soon out - you ready for that?

Change - it's constant - some people love it, some don't. the good is always in there - we just have to believe in it usually. Getting through the rough times is hell - because they suck. Finding ways to keep going forward isn't always the way to go, though. Being still can be uncomfortable, but being still allows for the energy to move, escape and be gone. It also give you a reason to let yourself heal if you're hurting. Tonight, unbeknownst to everyone sleeping around the neighborhood, the clouds are racing across the sky - it's incredible how fast they move - change is good, but if the speed of change in your life is killing you - stop - you don't have to run and keep up with it.

You are the gold at the end of the rainbow, there's nothing to chase.

Aliens, Karen - yes, A-L-I-E-N-S

2011-08-13T00:22:00.000-07:00

Karen is the one person who will probably freak on this. The rest of you are going to love it.

Becky Blanton has been writing a series of books called The October Abduction of Thomas Martin, and the books are out of this world - literally.

After the first few pages I was sucked in, hungry (except not for a hamburger, strangely - must have been that cow that got mutilated) for more and on the edge of my seat.

I don't even read fiction most days. There's a lot to do, and getting lost in a book is a past time I gave up a long time ago. I used to devour books, every one I got my hands on at the library. These days the book better take me on the highway of curiosity and have me screaming for more or I throw it in the donation bin.

The last time I tried to read a book I was so disappointed I only flipped through Book Two. Can you guess? Yep, The Da Vinci Code. So much hype, intrigue and promise, right? I was bored, I needed endings and follow through - mystery and questions are great - but as a reader I need to feel you're not just telling me a story: you have to take me on a lifetime journey - one I can't go on without you - and teach me more than I want to know sometimes.

Becky's series has only just started to be released. After I finished with the Preview, I was blessed to get my hands on, I realized I was glued, and felt left by the side of the road now that I am waiting for the rest of them.

Waiting for the rest of the story of Becca and her life as a reporter who keeps being followed, or is somehow a magnet for the strange, terrible and unexplainable events in the books is hard - but worth it. There will be more. More than just TWO books (can someone call that a series, anyway? Just asking).

Go to The October Abduction of Thomas Martin and pre-order.

OH! DO NOT LOOK AT THE PHOTOS KAREN! REPEAT: KAREN - NO PHOTOS! Especially if Jack is in the room - - NO.

A Reflection

2011-08-12T21:59:00.000-07:00

This week's 52 Photos assignment.

These two kitties are now in their new homes. It was freezing, and they were watching all the passers-by. We took the shot before we left, and yes - we would have loved to have them.

Cats: not everyone is a cat person. Cats are really smart - if you have one, have you noticed how they shy away from people with bad vibes? I love that about cats - the KNOW.

If you ever have questions about a person, maybe you could ask them about their relationship to cats. Works for me.

Here they are, folks

2011-08-09T04:09:00.000-07:00

The first four blooms on the mini hut - what a Godsend. They made it from seeds, the hut is small, but it's here. It's strange, in a way, to not have a 20 foot stalk out back, but these are gorgeous - and remind me any bloom is incredible.

I'm grateful I don't have to eat fish heads in cold water, grateful the sun does what we need it to, no matter what, and grateful I can do what I need to do.

I've been busy - the basement flooded three times. Yeah, good times with that - did you know water travels incredibly fast indoors even without an incline? Yes, it did - what a mess! Now I know why the Shop Vac doubles as a suction device. It works, too - in case you need to you, ya' know, suck up some serious flowing indoor rivers.

What are you building?

2011-08-06T21:50:00.000-07:00

This week's 52 Photos Project theme is Old but not forgotten. I took this shot at a museum because these men built something vital for our country. Each one of their lives, and work, was one part of an incredible work to give us more freedom and connection. What a gift. We may not know their names, but we embrace their legacy. Sometimes you don't think what you're doing matters - but it does. Has it ever crossed your mind: you are the only person in the room who can do this? No one else is going to show up and make the corners of the world you have access to BETTER. Only you can do this.

Build that dream - it matters, even if you didn't think so.

Tomatoes, Onions & Moon Slices

2011-08-03T12:09:00.000-07:00

Last night the moon was nothing but a sliver of beauty. one of the children in the neighborhood thought it was an eclipse. A friend brought us fresh onions from her garden and they were delicious and sweet!!! We gave her the starts at the beginning of the summer and she returned them full grown - yum!

Our mini Sunflower Hut has started to bloom, and the first flower is a lovely deep maroon with yellow. Tending to dreams, sunflowers, evenings and Bliss - I think this is the true gift of every day, but so much more enjoyable outdoors in good weather.

It stormed off and on all night, like the world was rearranging itself for more good. Some people do not like storms, but I love them. The rain renews, heals and nurtures. The thunder rolls and echos a reminder that Nature still has a voice we do well to heed - guiding us in a good way when we listen.

Stand

2011-07-31T22:58:00.000-07:00

Stand up for the weak, the small and the faint of heart. So many souls would intimidate, crush the spirit or scorn those who are gentle in their ways. The cruel are frightened, too. They are perhaps frightened of peace. Though they may long for it. History has many stories of those who stood up for the small voices in the world. We call them heros - you are a hero as well. You see, right where you live there is that place you are able to cause change. Simply by being true to you. It may seem strange that you are the one to do this. Who will, if not you?

Animals, older people, timid ones are everywhere. You have a gift, you see the need, and it is filled by you. A note of thanks to you - that's what this is. You know what to do.

Hildegard

2011-07-31T22:37:00.001-07:00

If you haven't heard of Hildegard von Bingen, scan through the Wiki of this amazing woman. Be inspired by her, and then be inspired by you.

Hildegard said many profound things, but tonight I was skimming through a book that brought this quote to my attention:

"every creative act is a last judgement because you don't get to redo it. It's a one and only choice."

Can you imagine if mean, angry people understood that they are doing it all to themselves? Though they think in terms of what other people are doing, saying or being that causes them their grief, it's all in their own head. Sad, isn't it? Truly to realize we have the choice, the power to choose what we pay attention to is the gift of being here. There is no way to change them, just change you.

Chocolate!!!

2011-07-27T23:29:00.000-07:00

Today's post is for 52Photos hosted by Bella JOIN ANYTIME!!!!

The theme is Chocolate - and what better than CAKE!!!

There is so much to celebrate: Willow, Kate, Hudson, Todd and Raven are all doing great with the upcoming help for Willow's legs. She's got the best mom ever, so you know she's going to be happy as a peach soon enough. My little one loved the video of her, and wishes they lived nearby so we could visit. Instead I was the secretary to send along the well wishes.

It's the sweetest video, and now they have a You Tube channel, so you can follow, subscribe and keep updated!!! Go Kate!

Our home sunflowers are about knee high now (I know! they made it, but they have protection, which has always helped every plant here). We're harvesting tomatoes, yum, and the neighborhood birds have been eating the seeds from the twirly sunflowers.

Quote for the day, "Well, it's just shit, but I think it's gonna actually do the trick."

BALLS TO YOU!!

2011-07-26T19:13:00.000-07:00

Because if you can't laugh a little, well, "you know - sunshine and. . .lemonade with Elmo" Just enjoy.

water, wonder and love

2011-07-23T21:55:00.000-07:00

If you have never seen the work of Dr. Emoto, but have heard there is power in love, let him prove you right.

No wonder -

2011-07-23T05:05:00.000-07:00

There's a funny thing happening in the neighborhood. An old man is watching a cat that the owners don't let in, even when it's hot, the cute yellow birds are eating my sunflower seeds, and thank God the cat isn't eating the birds and people are playing tennis after midnight (I can see the lights glaring off in the distance, and hear the grunts as the ball smacks their racket).
I like it - I like that there are quirky people, birds and cats. It reminds me of the quote by e.e. cummings, "It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are".

The old man is a vet -
The young birds don't care who is watching -
The cat is hot and hungry -
The players know it isn't lonely at the top - there's just more room and less noise.

No wonder the masses get miserable and the social media race is a boring scream of bullshit. Have you joined Twitter yet? It's getting pretty loud and boring, unless you know how to keep those folks in order.

You have plenty of WONDERful-ness - be excited about that. We aren't missing anything. Here's a crazy idea for your weekend: have you noticed, if you weren't where you are to pick up the energy and speed of Bliss, who would do it in that place in time? I'm not there - Oprah isn't coming over, and Steve Martin is busy, you get the idea.

It's you - right here, there and everywhere you go - you get to be the uplifter of your environment and the face slapper of the Assholics who take down the dream of people who don't deserve it. Yes, I know, the mean people hate you at times. Just don't flatter yourself: they hate everyone - not just you. Ignore them, remember, and keep on being wonderful, happy and a go get 'em tiger smiling soul when you can.

The Importance of Digging

2011-07-21T23:07:00.000-07:00

for answers.

I spent hours looking for a simple answer online last night. Forget my question - we all have questions - what amazed me was the people who SHOULD have the answer readily available for the public (it was a business question) DON'T.

It took forever to find enough Bloggers with comments, posts, links and experiences to get what I wanted to know.

Here's the "bad" part: the reason the businesses DON'T have the answers easily available is as far as what I read: THEY ARE SCAMMING, TRICKING AND ROBBING THE PUBLIC.

LESSON FOR YOU AS A BLOGGER: You are doing more good than you might think. Most of the Blogs I stumbled on had few, if any readers. I read a Lawyer in LA who had no comments, no followers and no links. He did have the answers I wanted, though. If he hadn't written one little post I would have been in the Rabbit Hole called Google forever.

What was I looking for? Why is it "so easy" to sell your music through online Digital Distributors, when the music industry is OUTRAGEOUSLY filled with lawyers to protect the rights, plays and ownership of the work of their clients? I expected Digital Distributors to have huge, bold type warnings all over their terms and conditions. I expected to find BIG red flags for artists explaining to them that they are signing off rights they might not know they have. I expected a breakdown, in clear language with graphs, contact information and then a second round of HUGE BOLD PRINT WARNINGS.

Nothing. There are no warnings - there are no red flags. There is no indication that you are, probably, giving away 50% of your rights to your songs - and don't even know what you are doing. If you know someone considering using a digital distributor, over the internet, for their music so they can get into stores like iTunes etc. Please feel free to send them my way via the comments. I will gladly explain the pain they might be facing. Not every song is a hit, but every song deserves an honest chance at finding out if it made money.

Blog - tell the truth - but also DIG DIG DIG DIG DIG. I had to get to pages 8, 9 or 10 on some searches to find the answers I needed - but it was worth it. Bloggers are opening windows when doors slam in their faces. Keep the truth flowing like the wind. We need you to.

Let your Kitteh out, already

2011-07-20T23:36:00.000-07:00

Want to be happier? Be more like a cat.

While Kate is taking care of Willow - see the NEW VIDEO HERE it's a good time to tell you be more like a cat - there's good reasons, too:

1. Savor me time

2. Ignore Assoholics, loud people and wild douchebags at all times

3. Demand food you love

4. Sleep without worry

5. Scratch the eyes out of those who ignore your initial, "Go away, please." and insist on annoying you, your family, your children, or your meditative work mode. Scratch with your words if you must - but get your furry personal bubble back

6. Cuddle and snuggle with those you trust, love and understand your needs and don't mind meeting them

7. Meet the needs of those mentioned above (more love breeds more love)

8. Wear your style the way YOU like it - no salons or bows here - Natural is IN

9. Get to where you're going on your schedule

10. Run as fast as you can told your prey: goals, dreams, toys and tumble in the good life

11. Teach the little ones to be killer Natural wonders - we need them

You don't have to like cats, but honestly, if you hate them, I think there's something really wrong. Cats have played a major role in humanity's civilizations. I think they civilized us in some ways. In Egypt, they were revered. The story goes that they moved in because we had a nice supply of mice who ate our stockpiles of grain. The interesting thing to note is they hae been named the #1 predator in the feline world - wait - they are feline - oh, I meant to say: DOMESTICATED cats are the #1 predators. Pretty cool little Hudson, Willow and Raven are killer kittehs, isn't it?

Hudson's Antics: Divine Intervention? Or Coincidence?

2011-07-19T22:18:00.000-07:00

I am sending you all to Kate's Blog today - nothing in the world I have to say at this moment can match this - nor should anyone miss these stories. Kate, hope you don't mind - but this needs to spread (posting on FB and Twitter)!!!

ARting Life

2011-07-17T21:17:00.000-07:00

"You should study not only that you become a mother when your child is born, but also that you become a child." - DOGEN

Finally - a frigging quote that says what I've been leading about. That's a huge relief. Dogen lived way ass back in the 1200s and he got it.

ARting your life is becoming free as a child again. We live in a world surrounded by input - but the child is all about output, and that output is ARting. Why do I mess with the letters? Because it looks cool, and I can. Why is ARting a verb? Because LIVING is a verb. The painting is the product, the end of the work. The doing is where the magic happens.

If you can sing, but you don't open your mouth and let out the song, it's gone, lost forever for all the world. Record it and it stays - accessible forever. Becoming a child is where it's at. That's great news - you've done it before, and not much has changed. Sure, the world has more tools, more Google additions, and more people on the web - but c'mon: the sky is still there, the Earth is still here - and so are you. My favorite name on any device: RESET. Reset your life and ARt the living life with it - just think: all over the world there are millions of old people in nursing homes who are looing back on their days WISHING they took more risks and lived their Bliss. Take off the brakes and get ARting. You can't take your ARt with you - but you can leave it for the world to be inspired by your Bliss. That's better than regrets my friend.

What's the news?

2011-07-17T01:28:00.000-07:00

click HERE to see the shirt : )

Hi! How are you today? Any rants or questions you'd like me to try to answer? "How ARE YOU? What are you looking for and can I help?" This blog is open to anything you want more information on. So post your connection wishes in the comments - I'm here - I've been learning all sorts of nutty things I can't finish on the web (HaHA! it's been a ride, and I won't bore you with all the unfinished business unless some of it proves to be actually useful!)

Quote of the day from Becky Blanton has now official been turned into a T-Shirt. Click on the pic above to see it.

Summertime Treat

2011-07-14T21:34:00.001-07:00

This week's 52 Photos Project assignment is Summertime treat. If you take photos, feel free to join ANYTIME! It's open, fun and a great way to focus your shots.

I can't think of anything better than getting wet!

Thanks for all your kind compassion concerning the flowers - I'm plugging along trusting the Universe is unfolding a greater plan for everyone - you included!

Here today. . .

2011-07-13T23:11:00.000-07:00

the sunflower hut is no more. we went to water, some were broken, snapped, and most were close to the ground. I don't know if it was just the storm, or people. The amount of work going into it wasn't worth the sadness of seeing it slowly get mushed. It was very, very hard to do, but we pulled them, and they are in the compost. Another year, maybe.

YOU are the Greatest Miracle in the World

2011-07-13T00:45:00.000-07:00

The great truths can be the most terrifying or the most freeing. When you feel the freedom, the light dawns and you awaken with a freedom to do anything good. This truth, in a simple form was written by Og Mandino many years ago, "It all comes down to you, then, doesn't it?" Harsh, to feel, deal with and integrate when the pain of living is great. A huge relief will come to you when you know it, deep within. How, then do we get there? How do we accept it is all on us, and still feel encouragement? In a book titled The Greatest Miracle in the World we are told four things:

1. Count your blessings

2. Proclaim your rarity

3. Go another mile

4. Use wisely your power of choice

and. . .do all things with love

Look at the miracle that bloomed this day.

Social (+Web) Dumb Moves

2011-07-12T02:06:00.000-07:00

This is one of the posts where I hesitated. Does it really matter? Does anyone really care about this? Then it hit me: I spend plenty of time talking with friends about it offline, so it isn't uncommon at all. People who are building something (a business, a movement, a school picnic) who throw you out of the circle when you're there to help. Has this ever happened to you? It has happened enough to me, and I find it funny usually, that I thought it worth writing about for the so called Left Behind.

Here's the great news:

When you get dissed, deleted, ignored or removed from a list, don't see it as an "F - YOU" - see it as two, very different, things.

1. The person who has (un)kindly blown you off, now has to find another person to fill your megaphone. They have to find a new customer, new help, a new FAN. AND AND and AND they have to deal, eventually, with the reality that you still have a voice. Only, now, they are swimming upstream. Customers tell at least 9 friends about their experience in any business. That's a lot of followers, Tweets or WTF-evers to undo - or deal with.

2. YOU are now free to continue to be your amazing self, shout from the rooftops about things you are passionate about, AND AND and AND find really great people who care about you, your work and your Happiness & Success, too.

That's great news. Trust the unfolding. Those that don't "get you" don't need to. Those who do "get you" will help you succeed beyond your wildest dreams.

How to make FREE eBooks - VIDEO: eazy cheezy!

2011-07-11T20:32:00.000-07:00

Tech Crunchy Serial: Organic Bytes on Bytes™ presents:
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YOU CAN DO THIS! Do you LOVE blogging? Step it up and make books - anything you like. YOu can even let your children do it - mine have! In under 15 minutes I walk you through making this simple eBook. Even a child can do it - they will have a library of literary genius before the rest of their friends. You can email the books to friends, post a link on Facebook, Tweet your links, post on your blog and even embed videos in your books.
It's free, as easy as a word program and fun.

DiG iT by Christina Ciani - download the free ebook now from ePub Bud!

Signs for Sunflowers

2011-07-10T22:39:00.000-07:00

Cross your fingers. Michelle, me and three angelic children huffed and puffed to untangle the hose-well, truth be told Michelle did all the untangling, she's pleasantly anal that way - it's a good thing.
We put in the signs, facing where the kill spray mysteriously came from, and are hoping they have a calming, gentle and deterring effect. Otherwise, the flowers in the back row are, well, screwed.

Making the signs was a great lesson for me. How do you say something that isn't offensive, encourages kindness and at the same time lets somebody know, "Hey, it's not a big deal, let's get over this." I hope it works. For now, the hut is less of a hut and more of an adventure. That's okay - what isn't that brings you some joy along the way? My last round of sunflowers are in the ground here at home, so a little late to transplant across the city.

Buzz and Buzz kills

2011-07-09T21:09:00.000-07:00

behind the sunflowers-why won't he just PULL them!?

sprayed and struggling

the unsprayed, healthy ones are in the front

Okay - this is going in two directions, stick close - it will all make sense. Thanks!
Earlier today I was excited to hear the good old USPS finally came through for me on time. Kate received her box in the mail in the two days they promised and I am stoked they didn't break it! You can see the package on her blog today, AND see the ADORABLE kitten who needs some help (blog post HERE) in bed with Hudson. That's huge, if you know anything about Hudson. He is taking care of the baby, God love him.

God: forget Religion, let's have fun with this. I have not run into any caring person who didn't believe in Love. So let's call God 'Love' for the rest of this post, thanks. I love growing the sunflowers for the school. I love sending gifts. I love seeing people smile. I love being given the opportunity to spread some Bliss. I cannot imagine a day without some sort of Love in it. It must really be miserable to live without the knowledge that Love simply IS. You can't kill it, you can't stop it either.

It seems the man who lives over the fence of the Sunflower Hut would like to kill the Bliss of it. He's managed to maim, kill, and destroy the back row by spraying weed killer (and by looking it is very carefully done, too. The grass is fine, the other plants are fine. He's hit them square on their heads with it).

Becky suggested all sorts of great ways to bring his attention to our Buzz Kill. The boys even wanted to knock on his door and ask him why he would do such a thing, even it was an "accident." I have to say I'm not going to do anything. He can kill them anytime he wants to, really. He is there, over the fence, and we are far away form seeing anything. The one thing I walked away with was this: he is always running inside when we show up. Now I know why he does this. Now I see one of the reasons people are in pain: relief, Bliss, Joy and children come. . .and we turn the other way, afraid of feeling something new and good.

It happens to everyone who wants to uplift the world. There may be nothing we can do for them. The important thing I learned today was don't run away from your Bliss. It shows up every day, ready, willing and able to give you what you need to feel Love. It can be attacked, but more will come. You can spray it with weed killer, but it is still there, breaking through the cracks in the sidewalk of your life. Water it with your attention, it's yours. It's mine. It's life - It's Love and it's inevitable. Kate's, Hudson's, the Kitty's --- Yours---everyone has love every day. Blessing to you♥