Fussin' About Elvis

Sagittarius Horoscopes
(Nov 22 - Dec 21)
Next Week
For the Week of Aug 17th, 2009 -- Friday's fussy, but Saturday and Sunday can be your friends this weekend. Listen to the advice of a person you trust who is able to get you back in balance if you've lost your cool, fallen into despair or given up on a relationship. Healing may not happen over night, but having a more objective perspective will get you on the right track.

Heard on the news Elvis died thirty-two years ago today. The good news is the radio station I listen to is playing so much of his music. No, I'm not going there. The past usually repeats itself. Enough said. It was such a pleasure to listen to him. I've been a fan of his almost since I can remember. Part of the magic of music is it's ability to transport us back to a memory, kind of an aural time travel device. Right up my alley.

I've been writing about time lately. At some stages of life you have a sense of timelessness. As your personal time goes on you hear the clock ticking louder for one reason or another. This is a good thing. It reminds us to live. It's not necessary to do wild and crazy things. If you've been meaning to I would suggest getting a move on your next adventure. If you've been there, done that there is still the miracle of everyday living we all take for granted. What a foolish thing to do. What is more precious than everyday? Those are the things you will remember in more detail than some of the big occasions you think you will be celebrating. The mind is funny that way.

You may remember sitting having a cup of tea with someone dear. Maybe a spontaneous drive to the beach on a steamy summer morning. Everyone piling into a VW bus after making baloney sandwiches and Kool-Aid for the trip, laughing and horsing around all the way. How about watching a babe take his first steps? That expression of apprehension, then glee is amazing.

Catching fireflies on a summer evening and realizing how fragile and beautiful they are is a gift.

Snow forts and snowball fights were best at night. Chasing mosquitoes in the middle of the night (sorry Jane! I know I'm compulsive) until they were squashed was an obsession. Still is.

I haven't fallen into despair. Far from it, I feel invigorated and full of enthusiasm. Some great things are in the works. I'm also very blessed to have people I trust help me get back on my feet when I am off balance. It's good to hear the King and enjoy a few moments of nostalgia. Soon I'll be back to writing about vampires, parallel time and supernatural stuff. Maybe I can work Elvis into the storyline. If not I know his music will continue to inspire my memories and my imagination. Thank you. Thank you very much!

Hold On...I'm Buzzing

Sagittarius Horoscopes
(Nov 22 - Dec 21)
For the Week of Aug 10th, 2009 -- The Moon in your 7th House of Partnerships should provide all the stimulation you can handle this weekend. The challenge is to find some emotional ground upon which you can stand in the midst of whirling winds of change. Attractions flicker like candles that will be extinguished if either of you holds on too tightly.

General Weekly Love Horoscope Influences
Passion gets pumped up on Thursday after a cold beginning to the week. Maybe it's the frustration started earlier that encourages an adventurous spirit this weekend. Still, don't allow moments of magic to cut off your connection with common sense. Over-estimating someone is a fast track to disappointment, so maintain a bit of emotional balance.

Finding balance is a common theme today. Many of us have busy lives that we coordinate with family and friends' busy lives. We buzz around our hive-homes working to create a harmonious life. Our fellow hive members do the same in their own way. Sometimes there is so much buzzing and hovering we forget to take a break and appreciate one another.

I am blessed to have family and friends close by and to the north, south and west. Although I may not see all of them as frequently as I would like I hold them dear to my heart. I've been tidying up which is a major project for I am not tidy in any sense of the word. In my quest for some semblance of organization I periodically come across an old photo, birthday or holiday card or similar now faded relic. This results in a pause in tidying and a smile or tear. Then on to the next target of tidy with similar results. I just feel like giving everyone a big group hug! Some are starting new families, others are empty nesters and some are close to the end of their life's journey. Still, they are all vital members of the hive. Young and old, they are all sweet as honey to me.

Killer Beez ~ Villainess Soaps

Elliot & Kumar on a sleepover

A Mystique of Violence

"There is a hardly a nation on earth today that is not to some extent committed to a philosophy or to a mystique of violence. One way or other, whether on the left or on the right, whether in defense of a bloated establishment or of an impoverished guerrilla government in the jungle, whether in terms of a police state or in terms of a ghetto revolution, the human race is polarizing itself into camps armed with everything from Molotov cocktails to the most sophisticated technological instruments of death. At such a time, the doctrine that "war is the will of God" can be disastrous if it is not handled with extreme care. For everyone seems in practice to be thinking along some such lines with the exception of a few sensitive and well-meaning souls."—Thomas Merton (The Asian Journals, 1968)

In the U.S.A., at this time when at least an incremental step is being considered by Congress toward legally guaranteeing that all citizens have some form of health-care coverage, the pharmaceutical companies and insurance companies are spending record sums to advertise the benefits of the status-quo. This would be the same status-quo that has enriched insurance companies for many years while leaving millions of citizens young and old uninsured or cheated out out of the often unreliable and over-priced coverage that they might barely afford. The same status-quo that has allowed pharmaceutical companies, with the collusion of our government representatives (most of whom are heavily-lobbied and campaign-funded by these very companies), to make huge, unjustified profits. What does this massive surge in public relations spending by the insurance and pharmaceutical companies, to the tune of millions of dollars a day on all media advertising, tell you? Does it perhaps beg the question of why so many members of Congress are dragging their feet, trying to dilute and delay legislation until it amounts to a practically meaningless change in the national health care system? Does it explain the resistance from mainstream television and radio spokespeople to real change in the system, or the voice given to disreputable hack doctors and scientists that have suddenly been enlisted to resist this change? Does it throw some light on the motivations of extreme right-wing corporate shills like Limbaugh, Hannity, O'Reilly, Beck, Medved (and too many of their clones to mention) in their efforts to vilify President Obama or anyone wanting to at least try to set up a slightly more equitable and efficient health care system in this country so that we might take another step toward becoming a civilised nation? V.M.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Is it part of this mystique of violence to deny health care to those least able to afford it? That will soon become most of us unless we take a big step in the right direction of health care reform now. I have worked as a health care professional for my entire working life. I have been a recipient of health care as a patient. The consensus of opinion among my coworkers and fellow patients is the same. We need health care reform now. VT

Editorial~Viggo Mortensen at Perceval Press

picture~warning on my gamma camera

Leaving a Trail of Bread Crumbs

For the Week of Aug 3rd, 2009 -- Romantic fantasies are fun, yet there's a chance that you could start to believe in them this weekend. The Moon in sensitive Pisces opens up your feelings but may shut down your brain. If you're going to follow your heart, protect yourself by leaving a trail of bread crumbs so you can find your way back home to reality.

If I'm relying on a trail of bread crumbs for protection my brain may have shut down already. It certainly didn't do Hansel and Gretel much good. Though, come to think of it, they did have a happy ending. Not so much for the witch, but karma and all...

Fantasies have their place in life. If you can't imagine something how can you manifest it? Living in a fantasy is a way of life for some. They become quite indignant if reality injects itself into their world.

Real life is fine for me. If I want fantasy I write my vampire tales, read a good book or watch a movie. I do have an active imagination. It comes in handy after working a day in the real world. Creating art or writing is a great outlet. Some say my outlook is a bit dark, but there is much humor in the dark areas of imagination too.

I've been fascinated by the supernatural since childhood. Being raised Roman Catholic instilled a belief in the supernatural, as all religions do, I guess. We have saints in heaven, sinners in hell, Satan lusting for our souls, angels watching over us, demons trying to possess us and many crosses, scapulars and rosaries for our protection against harm. How about the prayer we said right before going to bed? "Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take. God bless....every possible relative and friend is included." Sweet, isn't it? There is a natural progression to curiosity about other supernatural phenomena.

I do enjoy creating my alternate worlds where time lines may run parallel with other worldly beings being the norm. Who doesn't have a soft spot for a zombie...at a distance?

My grandmother had a collection of books which contained myths and fairy tales. I devoured them when I stayed at her house. The first book I proudly got from the library at age six was Norse Mythology. Thanks Nana! I was blessed to be surrounded by book lovers and storytellers. It was and is a natural way of life for me and mine. My daughter is a voracious reader who still tells people I read The Hobbit to her at bedtime when she was knee high to a grasshopper. Children love ritual. It is a comfort for them to have the familiar routine ease them into sleep. We would read a story, make up a story, usually about adventures with her friends and sing songs. One summer night I was joined in a refrain of The Muffin Man by three adolescent boys outside in our community yard. They ran away laughing when I peeked out the window, but I think it brought back memories of their not so distant babyhood. We all remember being tucked into our bed. She looks forward to doing the same for her daughter.

So, I'll settle down for the evening. Writing a scene about a steampunkian vampire timekeeper explaining time travel to a shape shifter should be fun and fulfilling. Of course, I will be wearing my St. Theresa scapular which say "Whoever dies wearing this scapular shall not suffer the eternal fire~Our Lady's scapular promise." It's all about that ounce of prevention.

Cross~Oaxaca 2008~Josefina Aguilar~now in my home sweet home :)

Dancing Under the Crescent Moon

General Weekly Love Horoscope Influences
Feelings grow tender this weekend as loving Venus enters emotional Cancer on Friday. It's hard not to take things personally and, perhaps, be a bit less trusting than usual. It's tempting to dig into old wounds, but that's only helpful if you are committed to healing and finally letting go of the past.

Eeeeewww! Not digging into anything, thank you!

Is less trusting possible? I guess. So I have issues. Who doesn't? Please, don't take it personally. I'm still feeling so peaceful since attending the Pow Wow. It's always such a positive experience. Christine has been to the Pow Wow since she was a baby. It was so beautiful to see her there with her own little girl. So many familiar faces danced by in the circle around the bonfire. I felt all warm and fuzzy.

Dancing Under the Crescent Moon

Soft clouds envelop the moon, releasing

the pale crescent as the wind gives chase,

dappling moonlight on the sacred circle.

We come to dance around the fire once

again, meeting old friends and new

souls, joined in a joyful celebration of life.

Renewed hopes and cherished dreams still

bind us as one under the summer constellations.

The hunter and the archer make way for

the ladies of summer as they rock in the darkness.

Drums and singing fill the night air as

we weave around the golden fire, snaking

our way to eternity and yet another summer.

The spirits smile and join the dance.

Spontaneous free form :)

Jingle dancer

Time Travel & Tea

Sagittarius Horoscopes
(Nov 22 - Dec 21)
Next Week
For the Week of Jul 20th, 2009 -- You love your freedom more than most, but could find yourself trying to manage everyone else this weekend instead of having a good time. Yes, you're a great friend or partner for maintaining sanity and protecting those you love. But if you're looking to play without worries, it's wise to avoid crowds or groups and seek out a quiet place with one easygoing individual.


Hmm. The Pow Wow next weekend should be interesting if that's the case. Who knows what the dynamic will be? Still, this is advice I will seriously consider. I will behave :) It's so worth it!


General Weekly Love Horoscope Influences
The week gets off to a somber and slippery start, which is not the ideal foundation for relationship bliss. The weekend, unfortunately, is hardly much better. While new adventures are possible, try to stay calm when circumstances change unexpectedly. Normalcy will return...eventually.





Hah! Normalcy. What's that anyway? I work with radioactive material, stress hearts both at work and home, and write about vampires. That is my normal. I'm quite comfortable with it.

Each of us has their own definition of normalcy, I'm sure. The important thing is that it's the right fit for you. If others choose to judge you that is their prerogative, as the song goes. It's such a waste of time and energy, though. Each day is so precious. The way you spend your time is sometimes defined by the reality of earning a living, caring for others or circumstances 'out of your control.' That control thing can be a sticky wicket. I've found control to be an illusion for the most part. We have far more control over our lives than most of us choose to admit. If we did admit that fact we would then need to take responsibility for controlling our life, our destiny.



In my second book I deal with this in a roundabout way. The characters, mortal and not mortal, have an opportunity to go back in time and possibly change the outcome of a pivotal event in their life. Would you or wouldn't you change something in your past? I drag string theory and brane theory into play, so I give my characters some leeway. Would you choose to keep your life on track or would you choose another path at an earlier crossroad? I think about these things from time to time.



At this point in my life, knowing what I know and having done what I've done, I would not change a thing in my past. The good, the bad and the ugly have combined to make my life what it is now. I'm liking where I am. Right now I'm feeling restless, kind of unsettled. Part of my journey is complete. A new road is most appealing. This is not to say what I have isn't enough. I am blessed beyond measure with my family and friends. You just never stop growing in different ways. The spirit reaches out for the source of it's energy. It is a wonderful feeling to know there is not enough time for everything you could do in one lifetime. That gives impetus to learn and experience as much as possible while you're able. My characters get to time travel or live for hundreds or thousands of years. I get a kick out of that. Sometimes, it's not all it's cracked up to be. Me, I'll keep on keepin' on as long as I can. I heard a famous romance novelist used to lie on her chaise and dictate her very successful novels while sipping tea and eating bon bons. Nah! Not really my style, but when the time comes to retire my walking boots I may consider it. Maybe sipping Long Island Iced Tea though.







brane=membrane
Astrology~tarot.com

picture~work, yes...

Another Reason Why I Don't Keep A Gun In The House

Another Reason Why I Don't Keep A Gun In The House

The neighbor's dog will not stop barking

He is barking the same high, rhythmic bark

that he barks every time they leave the house.

They must switch him on on their way out.

The neighbor's dog will not stop barking.

I close all the windows in the house

and put on a Beethoven symphony full blast

but I can still hear him muffled under the music,

barking, barking, barking.

and now I can see him sitting in the orchestra,

his head raised confidently as if Beethoven

had included a part for a barking dog.

When the record finally ends he is still barking,

sitting there in the oboe section barking,

his eyes fixed on the conductor who is

entreating him with his baton

while the other musicians listen in respectful

silence to the famous barking dog solo,

that endless coda that first established

Beethoven as an innovative genius.

~Billy Collins

with permission from Perceval Press :)

photo~on the job...peaceful, isn't it?