TGIF in Winter Wonderland

It's been awhile and in the interim I was learning how to get sick of being sick. There's been a change in the weather and a change in me ... yes, by God, there'll

be a change blowing in the wind, my Friends. And,

that being said, I have nothing much else to write (well, actually I'm concerned that if I start typing I may go on forever as I'm so filled with new and wonderful things floating around in my head, as often happens when one looks at mortality, but I digress...)

I got to talk to two friends this evening and that was spirit-raising. I "found" a very cool "CD Catalogue of World Music" 10-CD set of about 350-500 one and-a-half minute songs from everywhere in the world. I love it so much. I am almost tempted to follow Jeffrey's suit and buy a cheapie MP3 player. Oh, my! Could I possibly get so high tech? I don't have a cell phone, or even a microwave or a garbage disposal or dishwasher, (I was going to say "half a brain" but that would be mean to myself!) so an MP3, man, I'm not sure. But can you imagine 1-1/2 minute songs of awesome dance/exercise/energize music?? I am now playing the Didgeridoo from Australia and it is so awesome. I once was in a medication group with a beautiful percussionist, hand drummer teacher and all of us were lying on the floor in a big circle with our heads in the center and she went around individually and blew the Didge right above our heads. It was a most stupendous experience and "blew me away" (oh, ha ha!) I so love music from many places and I love making music up all the time, but then it's poof! gone forever, out into the ethers.

OK, the main reason I got on here was NOT to type my own words, but I "pulled" a card from the OSHO Zen Tarot deck tonight and it was one I'd just gotten a month ago and had just put the card away ... it was SLOW DOWN with a big tortoise on the front. And this is what it says:

"Slowing Down" - Meditation is a kind of medicine, its use is only for the time being. Once you have learned the quality, then you need not do any particular meditation, then the meditation has to spread all over your life.

Walking is Zen, sitting is Zen.

Then what will be the quality? Watchfully, alert, joyously, unmotivated, centered, loving, flowing, one walks. And the walking is sauntering. Loving, alert, watchful, one sits, unmotivated--not sitting for anything in particular, just enjoying how beautiful just sitting doing nothing is, how relaxing, how restful ...

After a long walk, you sit under a tree and the breeze comes and cools you. Each moment one has to be at ease with oneself--not trying ti improve, not cultivating anything, not practicing anything.

Walking is Zen, sitting is Zen,

Talking or silent, moving, unmoving,

The essence is at ease.

The essence is at ease: that is the keyword. The essence is at ease: that is the key statement. Do whatsoever you are doing, but at the deepest core remain at ease, cool, calm, centered.

COMMENTARY:

The Knight of Rainbows is a reminder that, just like this tortoise, we carry our home with us wherever we go. There is no need to hurry, no need to seek shelter elsewhere. Even as we move into the depths of the emotional waters, we can remain self-contained and free from attachments. It is a time when you are ready to let go of any expectations you have had about yourself or other people, and to take responsibility for any illusions you might have been carrying. There is no need to do anything but rest in the fullness of who you are right now. If desires and hopes and dreams are fading away, so much the better. Their disappearance is making space for a new quality of stillness and acceptance of what is, and you are able to welcome this development in a way you have never been able to before. Savor this quality of slowing down, of coming to rest and recognizing that you are already at home.

Goodnight, Friends in the e-waves...from

Your SisSTAR *** xoxo

Great Weekend

We watched several good movies this weekend: Ultimate Gift and Harvey. The 1st was a real tear-jerker with the little girl who was in Little Miss Sunshine. Both were extremely good. Instead of watching the Super Bowl, we watched a lot of the Puppy Bowl on Animal Planet, which was cute.

This photo I had to copy from a fwd this wkend. It reminds me of all the time I am having to spend on hold trying to get through to insurance companies to authorize patient visits with all the new insurances and their changes after the 1st of the year. It has been so frustrating and downright makes me angry! Can't accomplish anything and if I don't get them, the doctor won't get paid, or the patient will have to pay when they're not supposed to. Grrrrrr!!! Here it is (I hope it will be posted where I want it to...it gets tricky sometimes).

Today would've been my Grandma Maggie Morgan Haswell's birthday. She was 83 when I was born and is the one I still have her Christmas cactus which is still blooming since Nov. 26th. I'm just "nostalgic" like that.

Went to Sally's (Salv Army) last night for a few special finds ... Jeff can't believe he bought a "Michigan" jacket (since Michigan State is his favorite) but hey, it was $4!!!!! 60% off and probably cost $80-$100 orig at Steve 'n Barry's. I bought an awesome pretty pink towel set with a beautiful brightly embroidered butterfly on each all for less than $2!!! Jeff "spun the wheel" and got an extra 59% off! Awesome. However!!! there was a real little boy sitting in his parents' shopping cart squealing at a decibel only dogs should've heard and it sounded like bottle rockets ... it hurt your ears so bad. I called him Pavarotti - perhaps he can go on to be a high soprano opera singer, or at least a choir boy. Hope I don't hear him ever again!!!! Ouch!

We seem to have missed out on a lot of snow this winter, which doesn't hurt my feelings. Weather tonight says some is on its way...we shall see. What will be, will be, oui?

Love and blessings and a fun week ahead to you all, from

Your SisSTAR xoxoxo

He works for treats

Thought I'd try Tuffy Boy on my "masthead" for awhile. I can't seem to keep it at the same photo for very long. Variety is the spice and all...But he's such a pretty boy, our wild child. Just hoping to get through the winter. Got my car washed and same day he was walking on it with his muddy feet and sliding off the roof onto the back and off, the entire top of the car he walked! The T-Bird does not like it.

Well, thank god it's the back end of Hump Day ... Wednesday, hell of a day to call it, but we're "over the hump" so 'they' say. I sit here doing my "email" thing and the rare blog (I've been on a roll lately but it can't last ;oD)

Bon soir, Mes Ami xoxoxoxoxo Soeur Estrelita xoxo

Slowing Down

I don't usually go on You Tube much, but wanted to find Robin Trower's "About to Begin" and cut and pasted the 1st one I came to here. It's way too short for the beauty it has in it, but I guess life is like that, eh?

Thinking of some of my favorite bloggie souls out there ... there's just a select wonderful few,
and it's a sunny day when one of them might leave a comment. I appreciate that, folks. I do
believe there are a few friends and family who "read me" now and then, or so I've been told,
and if any of you are "looking" at me here today, blessd your hearts, Bruthas and SisSTARS.

Sometimes I think I should get a different profession. After talking to so many patients in two
doctors' offices all week, now my friends are getting ticked because I don't feel like answering my phone or returning calls very fast...or ever. I try to explain that part of me right up front,
so no one feels neglected or takes it personally. Aren't boundaries wonderful things? I used
to think that I didn't have any or wasn't allowed any, and then when I realized I could put
up some of my own boundaries for my self-preservation, whatever they may be, and others
have that right also. There should be more tolerance for one another, ya know?

It's been quite the year already.........and now for a little Robin Trower. This is one of my
favorite songs from him...and I love Bridge of Sighs.

With love from,
Your SisSTAR xo
****************

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5c2MwmDyEw

Namesake

I was unable to post this actual photo, but like a gift to myself, I found 10 photos of the woman my mother always told me I was named after online last night. I wasn't even looking for her and don't remember how I did it, but only one other person besides my mother that I talked to in my entire life had ever heard of her. Mom always said she was a cute little singer on the Arthur Godfrey Show in the late '40s and early '50s. Instead of hearing always, "Did your parents want a boy?" or "Were you named after your father?" ... now I have this pretty lady's photo and a little bit of bio about her. She truly is the only woman I've ever heard named Kyle from that long ago...born 5-13-22. So, let me introduce to you, Kyle MacDonnell. I am her namesake and I am pretty proud.
Love, from your SisSTAR
xoxoxo

http://www.life.com/image/50512612

Capricorn Earth Mother

YOU SAVED MY SOUL...
thank you xo

from your SisSTAR Senorita Kylita xoxoxo

Struttin' in the New Year,

Grandma Maggie Haswell and Aunt Oneta Haswell are having tea in the photo with me (in my friend's Rolls dahhhling) Not easy to see them, but I have an awesome color photograph of the larger scene, under a yellow umbrella.

Saw a big hawk on the fence yesterday ... he disappeared fast. I thought, lonely guy, what a way to live, eyeballing the ground all the time, or bushes, trees, for the next meal. We get some unbelievable specimens flying around here, but then we have oodles of rabbits, squirrel, birds, frogs, feral cats, ground hogs, etc. Least the buzzards aren't flying over ... too much, anyway. Someday no doubt. I wonder what it must be like knowing when you die your body will go to the vats or whatever, to be burned next to the water with the vultures ripping you apart. Somehow that doesn't bother me as much as thinking about being buried underground. At least it'd serve some purpose. Can't say I'd want to be known later as buzzard shit, however. As you can tell, I have been having many dreams lately and my brain doesn't shut down much, which I guess could be a good thing except that it feels very exhausting. I really do want to write "my book". I have the title ... if any of you are Haswells reading this (probably not ;o( you might recall the word ... all my younger life I saw it and never knew what it meant. It was the "Skinners of Anodyne" on the mailboxes that lined M22 at Haswell Road. It was from Aunt Dorothy, Dottie, Dot ... (if I wouldn't have been so shy I should've called her that) "alleviation of pain" is close to the definition, I believe. So I want to write about the many ways of alleviating pain, but esp in the metaphysical venues.

It was time I had to have a "ramble on" kind of post. A "sail on Silver Girl" post and a sort of scat! (Shooby doobie do wah.................bop!) Is it me, or has this year been really exhausting already?! I played my zymbals/finger cymbals for Tuffy tonight playing Imi Heap music on the computer. He liked it, or tolerated it, which is something considering metal carries sound pretty well and he was close ... I started out softly and then let it wail and it felt cathartic! It was fun. I am reading a book "When Women Were Drummers" going back pre Paleolithic eras and long ago and far away.........all the engravings, hieroglyphics, statues, figurines, gravestones, etc. of women, often the Earth Mother type who I can identify with ... if you know what I mean. Rather build for comfort, not for speed. Not even for comfort, really. But there were women always drumming and using tambourines and cymbals and sistrums ... celebrating with rhythm, the beat of our hearts. I vow to dance and sing and play more music this year ... 'cause "I've got to tryyyyyyy just a little bit harder..... tryyyyyyyy, yeah,..............tryyyyyyyy yeah..... just a little bit harder.............ok, gotta go now. This has been your impromptu boggie post from your SisSTAR. Happy Fucking New Year..............Valentine's Day 2/14/10 Chinese New Year of the Tiger - RRREEEEOOOOOWWWWWWW! hiissssssssssssssssssssss.

(no friendships were harmed in the making of this blog)

(no meat was eaten nor fur worn typing this blog)

(my cat was given the better chair to sit in and I

gave up another blanket and towel to him)

p.s. this is what happens when I do the laundry.........pfffffftttt!

I have a dream, too

I dream someday all sentient beings will be wanted and loved and sheltered and rescued and nourished ... as they nourish me.

Thank you, little Tuffy Boy......Mama loves you!

KLH - Keep Laughin' Honey!

The Beauty of Death XIV by Khalil Gibran

The Beauty of Death XIV by Khalil Gibran