I love to garden. I love playing in the dirt, planting seeds, watching them grow. I even like weeding. What I don't like is bugs!
Bugs give me the hebie-geebies. While I am oft fascinated with hem I don't like them. They creep and crawl and skitter away! Spiders and millipedes are the worst! Especially spiders with egg sacks. Eek! Earwigs are icky too.
Tonight I was gardening, well weeding more like, and I disturbed a bunch of creatures; a couple earwigs, some ants, unidentified little red bugs (like mini fireflies), there are a hoard of Japanese beetles munching away in my giant zinnias, getting ready to jump to my hydrangea I'm sure. It was the spiders that really creeped me out.
There was the long bodied brown girl, egg sack attached to her abdomen, that scurried across the ground trying her best to stay away from my be-gloved weeding hands. Then there was that creepy triangle butt that sent me to the other side of the flower bed, till I felt it was gone. Some little red spiders were sprinkled about, but I kept close watch on Mom...brrrch. I eventually shooed her to the side where I had finished so she could find a safe place to hatch the next generation of creepies...
Once I finished the weeding, I went to look up the control of the Japanese beetles...Jerry Baker recommends a tonic of equal parts baby shampoo, antiseptic mouthwash and tobacco tea...(yes, you steep chewing tobacco in water till dark brown). Guess I have to find the chewing tobacco. I'll just add that to the growing list of things to do. (Wash & wax Aggie, fix the screen door, find and steep chewing tobacco...)
I've used JB's tonics before and they work wonderful! They are organic, made from ingredients found around the house; shampoos, ammonia, tea granules, beer. I add my own secret ingredient: frog sauce.(For those who don't know, I own an African Clawed frog, and he creates 15 gallons of 'frog sauce' a month.) My plants love it, but so it seems do the bugs...Did I mention, I really dislike bugs?!
So I guess it's off to the Walmart tomorrow to find the cheapest, probably nastiest, chewing tobacco I can find to make some anti-creepy crawlie tonic so I don't have to hand pick those bugs off my plants. Did I mention I really don't like bugs...
D~
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Friday, July 1, 2011
Memory Lane
Blogging is an interesting thing to do. It's difficult to know what to write; I usually sound like I'm whining about something or another. I go on to friends' blogs, who are way much better then I, and feel very insecure about putting 'anything down on paper', then I end up not posting anything.
I reconnected with some 'girls' from my high school days on Facebook. What a joyful thing FB is! I'm so glad I've reconnected with the people I have, but I digress. EH wrote a lovely piece about her first friend at boarding school, and as I'm reading it, I'm thinking, 'wow, that sounds so familiar.' Turns out it was about me! DOH! Apart from the fact I didn't recognize myself in the story, it was wonderful to know I was a 'lifesaver' to this soul at a time in her life when she really needed a friend and a laugh. I felt bad that I didn't remember it.
(To provide the short version of they story; EH was dropped off by her folks, and she wandered down to the smoking lounge, where a bunch of us were chatting, and I invited her to sit with us. Seems a great joke was told, and I tossed my head back in laughter and when I 'returned' to normal I inadvertantly stuffed the lit cigarette up my nose. This painfully (for me) shared experience helped her find a new friend and it slipped my mind. I remember another time having a cigarette shoved up my nose, but that's for another blog...maybe. lol!)
The best perspective I have for this would be the flip side: I reconnected with another MMI friend, and when she responded to the 'friend request' she said, 'I honestly don't remember you.' We spent a year together and even swapped local treasures (I gave her a Saudi man's head scarf, and I was given a silver plated mug), and she didn't remember me...
I don't feel too bad now, I remember EH, just not the incident. Well now it's EH's turn to be the 'life saver'. Her blog is mostly about her dating in the modern world, with a few heartfelt side bars, and how she's doing. One of her recent entries was the advice, all girls should read, "He's just not that into you", so okay, I've ordered it and am patiently waiting for it to arrive.
A couple months back I read, "Eat, Pray, Love", and found 3 things that rang true with me, underlined the passages and I was going to blog about them. I've since passed the book on to someone else, and don't remember what it was that rang true with me. Something about prayer being a conversation with God; it's okay to make up your own 'Religion' (which I've been saying for years! If you follow the 'Big 10" and Golden Rule, you'll be alright!); and for the life of me I can't remember the third. Must have been really memorable for me.
Hmmm, guess my memory just isn't what it used to be, or is it? Just call me an Air-bubble, I'm too smart to be an Air-head, but I have my moments!
Happy weekend!
D~
I reconnected with some 'girls' from my high school days on Facebook. What a joyful thing FB is! I'm so glad I've reconnected with the people I have, but I digress. EH wrote a lovely piece about her first friend at boarding school, and as I'm reading it, I'm thinking, 'wow, that sounds so familiar.' Turns out it was about me! DOH! Apart from the fact I didn't recognize myself in the story, it was wonderful to know I was a 'lifesaver' to this soul at a time in her life when she really needed a friend and a laugh. I felt bad that I didn't remember it.
(To provide the short version of they story; EH was dropped off by her folks, and she wandered down to the smoking lounge, where a bunch of us were chatting, and I invited her to sit with us. Seems a great joke was told, and I tossed my head back in laughter and when I 'returned' to normal I inadvertantly stuffed the lit cigarette up my nose. This painfully (for me) shared experience helped her find a new friend and it slipped my mind. I remember another time having a cigarette shoved up my nose, but that's for another blog...maybe. lol!)
The best perspective I have for this would be the flip side: I reconnected with another MMI friend, and when she responded to the 'friend request' she said, 'I honestly don't remember you.' We spent a year together and even swapped local treasures (I gave her a Saudi man's head scarf, and I was given a silver plated mug), and she didn't remember me...
I don't feel too bad now, I remember EH, just not the incident. Well now it's EH's turn to be the 'life saver'. Her blog is mostly about her dating in the modern world, with a few heartfelt side bars, and how she's doing. One of her recent entries was the advice, all girls should read, "He's just not that into you", so okay, I've ordered it and am patiently waiting for it to arrive.
A couple months back I read, "Eat, Pray, Love", and found 3 things that rang true with me, underlined the passages and I was going to blog about them. I've since passed the book on to someone else, and don't remember what it was that rang true with me. Something about prayer being a conversation with God; it's okay to make up your own 'Religion' (which I've been saying for years! If you follow the 'Big 10" and Golden Rule, you'll be alright!); and for the life of me I can't remember the third. Must have been really memorable for me.
Hmmm, guess my memory just isn't what it used to be, or is it? Just call me an Air-bubble, I'm too smart to be an Air-head, but I have my moments!
Happy weekend!
D~
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Let it snow...
So here we are up in the wilds of northern Illinois, somewhere between the City of Big Shoulders and Milwaukee, but west. The last snow dropped somewhere from 18.5 inches to 20.5 inches (for those metric people that's 40.7 cm to 45.1cm). It is currently snowing; Mother Nature has already added another 2 inch (4.4cm) white blanket on top of the already existing stuff. It really is pretty outside, and quiet. Snow does that, makes the world a quiet place.
In the midst of all this glorious splendour, would someone please explain why folk, that own behemoth of a vehicle, feel they own the road? I'm driving out of my neighbourhood, and at the intersection of a busy street, there is a HUGE SUV seemingly parked in the middle of the road, just sitting there. As I approach, the passenger exits the truck, and enters the local ethnic take out, and still the truck sits there....Until it's obvious I'm going to need my side of the road, the stupid wench, who is talking on the phone,(you can see her hand up at the side of her face, and the gums are flapping at a hundred miles a minute...pity the poor bastard on the other end of that call.) decides it's time to move...straight up the middle of the street! The dumb broad nearly pushed me into the snowbank on the side of the road, and still yammering on the phone. I mean WTF!!! Thank goodness I drive a little car and could squeeze past her and the snow.
Ahhh, after that it's the return to Mother Nature's gentle snowfall...Perhaps a walk around the 'Lake' after I close up,
In the midst of all this glorious splendour, would someone please explain why folk, that own behemoth of a vehicle, feel they own the road? I'm driving out of my neighbourhood, and at the intersection of a busy street, there is a HUGE SUV seemingly parked in the middle of the road, just sitting there. As I approach, the passenger exits the truck, and enters the local ethnic take out, and still the truck sits there....Until it's obvious I'm going to need my side of the road, the stupid wench, who is talking on the phone,(you can see her hand up at the side of her face, and the gums are flapping at a hundred miles a minute...pity the poor bastard on the other end of that call.) decides it's time to move...straight up the middle of the street! The dumb broad nearly pushed me into the snowbank on the side of the road, and still yammering on the phone. I mean WTF!!! Thank goodness I drive a little car and could squeeze past her and the snow.
Ahhh, after that it's the return to Mother Nature's gentle snowfall...Perhaps a walk around the 'Lake' after I close up,
Sunday, January 30, 2011
A pointless posting...
It's the last Sunday in January, and it's been a beautiful day. The cats let me sleep in until 7:30, had a lazy morning, running to the shop before anyone to collect some paperwork I have to complete before a meeting with the Bank. Spent a couple hours with my friend Jeff. And the crown jewel of the day, Sound Bath Mediation at Down the Rabbit Hole in Kenosha.
What a glorious thing, live performance meditation. I'm happy that I can stop myself from falling asleep, even though I came pretty close today. I had these really odd sensations that I hadn't felt before, it felt like my head was being held under cold water, my arms and legs went all tingly. Reflecting back on it, I wonder if I was tapping into the end of a previous life where I was drown, possibly for being a witch?
As I've mentioned, tomorrow is the meeting with the new Financial Adviser, who just so happens to be the VP of Investments. I had had enough of the one that I was originally given. MP was condescending and didn't have my best interests in mind. One of the first visits I had with him, he told me to get a real job...like owning my own business isn't a real job...what's up with that? Our relationship didn't get any better and came to a head over the Holiday season when both he and his boss let me drop through the cracks. I walked in and spoke with the lady that helped me acquire the money to purchase Bella Beads, and told her my story. As my story unfolded, she appeared to be slapped with each astonishing statement of my tale. She's the one who said MP was condescending and young...29. I'm sorry but 29 is old enough to know that you don't speak to people like that. I don't care how smart you are. The main point in this is it is MY money not his or the banks. So tomorrow we shall see what transpires.
In the meantime, I've been able to purchase more findings for the store. For those that don't know what findings are, Findings is the collective name for the (usually) metal parts that hold your jewelry together. There are plenty of stores that sell beads, but not many specialize in findings, which is what I always wanted to do.
I've also added some New Age sessions to the monthly calender, a live Gong Meditation, and a Second Sight Saturday for those looking for some life advice.
With all this going on, is it any wonder that I don't have much time to do anything, and yet I still try and find time to knit a few rows and read 5 pages of a book before I fall asleep.
So what's the point of this post...none. Just trying to get into the habit of writing, since I've been told I'm supposed to write a book...
What a glorious thing, live performance meditation. I'm happy that I can stop myself from falling asleep, even though I came pretty close today. I had these really odd sensations that I hadn't felt before, it felt like my head was being held under cold water, my arms and legs went all tingly. Reflecting back on it, I wonder if I was tapping into the end of a previous life where I was drown, possibly for being a witch?
As I've mentioned, tomorrow is the meeting with the new Financial Adviser, who just so happens to be the VP of Investments. I had had enough of the one that I was originally given. MP was condescending and didn't have my best interests in mind. One of the first visits I had with him, he told me to get a real job...like owning my own business isn't a real job...what's up with that? Our relationship didn't get any better and came to a head over the Holiday season when both he and his boss let me drop through the cracks. I walked in and spoke with the lady that helped me acquire the money to purchase Bella Beads, and told her my story. As my story unfolded, she appeared to be slapped with each astonishing statement of my tale. She's the one who said MP was condescending and young...29. I'm sorry but 29 is old enough to know that you don't speak to people like that. I don't care how smart you are. The main point in this is it is MY money not his or the banks. So tomorrow we shall see what transpires.
In the meantime, I've been able to purchase more findings for the store. For those that don't know what findings are, Findings is the collective name for the (usually) metal parts that hold your jewelry together. There are plenty of stores that sell beads, but not many specialize in findings, which is what I always wanted to do.
I've also added some New Age sessions to the monthly calender, a live Gong Meditation, and a Second Sight Saturday for those looking for some life advice.
With all this going on, is it any wonder that I don't have much time to do anything, and yet I still try and find time to knit a few rows and read 5 pages of a book before I fall asleep.
So what's the point of this post...none. Just trying to get into the habit of writing, since I've been told I'm supposed to write a book...
Monday, January 24, 2011
'A rose by any other name...'
A friend of mine, whom I have not spoke to in quite a number of years, said to me that I had changed. We both laughed that nervous yet amused laugh, and I asked, 'Is that a good thing?' To which they responded with,"Yes, yes of course! You've become much more spiritual. How did you do that?' Again, we laughed the nervous laugh, and I became silent. How did I do that? I thought. They was gracious, and said I didn't have to answer, and I tried to respond; something about being Excommunicated from the Catholic Church, and wanting to find something I could believe in, and how I'm still searching.
Now I'm reflecting upon the question, and I find I don't know the answer. I guess I'm driven to find some thing that I can hang my faith on. I am a Christian, but I am more then that, I believe there are other Master Teachers, such as; Buddah, Quan Yin, and Shiva to name a few. Then there's the host of teachers from Meso America, Incan, Mayan, Middle Eastern and African, names I do not know, but know they exsisted. In my heart I truly believe God sent at least one Great Teacher to every civilization, whether we chose to admit that or not is another matter.
It's this first musing point that I feel Christianity falls down, leaving me almost embaressed to call myself Christain. In my opinion (and we all know about opinions!), Christianity has the audacity to believe, that if you don't use the right words, there is no way you're going to Heaven.
Is it not just a tiny weeny bit possible that we are bickering over a name, God? One day I had the epiphany that God is God, always has been, always will be. Perhaps people choose the name they liked best for their use. Wouldn't that be much like Shakespear's saying, " A rose by any other name, would smell just as sweet." God by any other name, would still be God?
This whole name concept is one of the things that had me looking at religion, and why I have issues with man-made religion ('man' being the operative word here). As far as I am aware, in most 'western' religions, only the word 'God' is acceptable, and a few other names that derive from related religions, such as; Yahweh or Elohim, and perhaps Allah, but he's Arab... If you look up 'Names of God' in Wikipedia, you receive quite the discourse. Yet I still maintain, it's just a name for the same Being (for lack of a better word).
Here is where religions go off track for me. A large number of them teach compassion and understanding, and yet if you chose the wrong name/word for your God, they'll fight you to the death...What's up with that? Where did that gentleness go? I just don't get it, do you?
Blessings to you.
Now I'm reflecting upon the question, and I find I don't know the answer. I guess I'm driven to find some thing that I can hang my faith on. I am a Christian, but I am more then that, I believe there are other Master Teachers, such as; Buddah, Quan Yin, and Shiva to name a few. Then there's the host of teachers from Meso America, Incan, Mayan, Middle Eastern and African, names I do not know, but know they exsisted. In my heart I truly believe God sent at least one Great Teacher to every civilization, whether we chose to admit that or not is another matter.
It's this first musing point that I feel Christianity falls down, leaving me almost embaressed to call myself Christain. In my opinion (and we all know about opinions!), Christianity has the audacity to believe, that if you don't use the right words, there is no way you're going to Heaven.
Is it not just a tiny weeny bit possible that we are bickering over a name, God? One day I had the epiphany that God is God, always has been, always will be. Perhaps people choose the name they liked best for their use. Wouldn't that be much like Shakespear's saying, " A rose by any other name, would smell just as sweet." God by any other name, would still be God?
This whole name concept is one of the things that had me looking at religion, and why I have issues with man-made religion ('man' being the operative word here). As far as I am aware, in most 'western' religions, only the word 'God' is acceptable, and a few other names that derive from related religions, such as; Yahweh or Elohim, and perhaps Allah, but he's Arab... If you look up 'Names of God' in Wikipedia, you receive quite the discourse. Yet I still maintain, it's just a name for the same Being (for lack of a better word).
Here is where religions go off track for me. A large number of them teach compassion and understanding, and yet if you chose the wrong name/word for your God, they'll fight you to the death...What's up with that? Where did that gentleness go? I just don't get it, do you?
Blessings to you.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
working...
I dislike having to do 'work' on the computer. Who has time to figure out if I'm PCI DSS compliant, and isn't that why I pay TransNational a fee every month? (It's a credit card thing.) I've tried to figure out if I'm compliant, only to time out on their download, and/or before I'm finished reading the 15 pages of compliance papers. I've already spent 4 hours on my computer today, and still don't have my Certificate of Validation, but they took the $250 fee from my account. WTF??? I personally believe it's yet another way for the Credit Card Companies to make more money on retailers.
If I'm having to pay more money to my vendors, how am I supposed to make money for my business? I've sent an application to the SBA for a new loan, and have yet to hear. (Note to self, contact Banker) The paperwork was supposed to be in by 9/1/09 which it was. Of course I didn't have the 2 years worth of quarterly projections...like how was I supposed to do that? I guess you just pull numbers out of your butt. If I was to base them on last year, I'd still be in a decreasing spiral. If I based them on 2007, then I'm way behind!
Then, I've had my mortgage company inform me they are unable to assist me with any mortgage relief as I don't fit their criteria... what I'd like to know is, what is their criteria? That seems to be a closely guarded secret, as 'they' keep hanging up on me when I call.
This is the same story that's going around for most people, or so it seems. No one is really able to find much assistance from the large corporations, or from those that claim to 'be there for you' when you need them most. Seems those who have your money, make sure to keep as much as they can (IE: banks, credit cards, mortgage lenders etc) for themselves which is leaving less and less for the rest of the bills (IE:utilities and food). Where do you turn? 'Around' seems to be the only answer I've found... I'm glad that (knock on wood) I only have these pesky financial worries.
Could be worse, many of my friends have recently been diagnosed with one form of cancer or another. Crappy reason to have body parts cut out/off, better then keeping those cancerous parts...or is it? My Uncle had inoperable lung cancer, and after watching him go through chemo/radiation treatments he was deemed 'in remission'. My prayers are with those who had parts removed and are in the midst of treatment.
If I'm having to pay more money to my vendors, how am I supposed to make money for my business? I've sent an application to the SBA for a new loan, and have yet to hear. (Note to self, contact Banker) The paperwork was supposed to be in by 9/1/09 which it was. Of course I didn't have the 2 years worth of quarterly projections...like how was I supposed to do that? I guess you just pull numbers out of your butt. If I was to base them on last year, I'd still be in a decreasing spiral. If I based them on 2007, then I'm way behind!
Then, I've had my mortgage company inform me they are unable to assist me with any mortgage relief as I don't fit their criteria... what I'd like to know is, what is their criteria? That seems to be a closely guarded secret, as 'they' keep hanging up on me when I call.
This is the same story that's going around for most people, or so it seems. No one is really able to find much assistance from the large corporations, or from those that claim to 'be there for you' when you need them most. Seems those who have your money, make sure to keep as much as they can (IE: banks, credit cards, mortgage lenders etc) for themselves which is leaving less and less for the rest of the bills (IE:utilities and food). Where do you turn? 'Around' seems to be the only answer I've found... I'm glad that (knock on wood) I only have these pesky financial worries.
Could be worse, many of my friends have recently been diagnosed with one form of cancer or another. Crappy reason to have body parts cut out/off, better then keeping those cancerous parts...or is it? My Uncle had inoperable lung cancer, and after watching him go through chemo/radiation treatments he was deemed 'in remission'. My prayers are with those who had parts removed and are in the midst of treatment.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Perspectives
The other day I was trying to pay a bill online, and found that the website would time out long before I would get to the page I needed to go to. Of course, it was after hours and was unable to contact the company's tech support.
So the next day, I called the company and was greeting by a pleasant rep, who asked my name and account number, and then the line went really muffled. Granted my allergies are causing my ears to clog, so I'm deaf to begin with, but I didn't think I was that bad, as I could hear people talking in the background. Come to find out the company was having a fire alarm...and could I please call back in 15 minutes...I don't know of any company that can complete a fire drill in under half an hour.
To make a long story short, it took 4 calls to 3 different numbers, and 7 reps before I was able to make an on-line payment. (Reminded me of the time I did the 4 hour driving course that really took 2 days!) It really irks me no end that 'they' say online should be better, quicker, faster, easier, and it's not!
After getting this all settled out, I felt I had earned the right to piss and moan about it a bit, when I read my friend TC's blog about her impending mastectomy...and I end up feeling petty. Funny how Life has a way of putting things in perspective, eh?
So the next day, I called the company and was greeting by a pleasant rep, who asked my name and account number, and then the line went really muffled. Granted my allergies are causing my ears to clog, so I'm deaf to begin with, but I didn't think I was that bad, as I could hear people talking in the background. Come to find out the company was having a fire alarm...and could I please call back in 15 minutes...I don't know of any company that can complete a fire drill in under half an hour.
To make a long story short, it took 4 calls to 3 different numbers, and 7 reps before I was able to make an on-line payment. (Reminded me of the time I did the 4 hour driving course that really took 2 days!) It really irks me no end that 'they' say online should be better, quicker, faster, easier, and it's not!
After getting this all settled out, I felt I had earned the right to piss and moan about it a bit, when I read my friend TC's blog about her impending mastectomy...and I end up feeling petty. Funny how Life has a way of putting things in perspective, eh?
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