In An Instant

April 30, 2011

It’s been a busy week! New inputs for two of the websites I maintain…corrections to those inputs cos my ass insists on checking them when I’m half asleep…frenetic energy at work because of the move this week…the Man went to the doctors for a checkup which he was relieved to get the results of but the lead up to it was again, nerve wracking…my best friends mom went into the hospital with a blood clot and she’s worried as all hell even though she’s mad at her mom for other things happening in her life, which also occurred this week…other clients have just given us the info for their websites which now have to be tweaked and uploaded…the gale force winds here sheared a panel off the cooler and it was leaking…*whew*

But it hasn’t been so busy that the Man and I haven’t been able to take a little bit of time to appreciate one another…

The Man came home one night this week later than usual. I sat in the overstuffed chair watching “Tangled” as I worked on social media for a client. “How was your night, babe?” I said as he entered the door.

“Get up.” He says firmly and directly. (Every time I tell this story I am interrupted with, “ooh, forceful…” or “yum, I like a strong man”)

I get up, he takes me in his arms, and squeezes without release or even threat of release. He chokes out 6 words, “It can happen in an instant.” and squeezes even harder. We stand there wrapped around one another for another 5-10 minutes before he relents to telling me what happened.

While on his way home, traveling the I-15, somewhere near the Spring Mountain exit, he sees COMING AT HIM a large, black SUV towing a U-haul trailer SPINNING BACKWARDS towards him. With gritted teeth and a firm grip on the wheel he narrowly escapes the onslaught by skidding slightly one direction and then straightening the wheel enough to needle through the shrinking gap between the back end of the trailer and a small vehicle traveling in the lane to the right of him.

So, not that we don’t already, but we really appreciate the moments we have together now that we both are working pretty regularly. Every moment we can we steal a kiss, or a touch, or a look… I try to always close the computer or put down the iPad and we converse about everything… From the doctor to the blood clot, from the cooler to the clients. We cuddle very night before we sleep with a kiss before we move into our favorite positions and wake up to one another with a smile and a good morning.

We do this because very small thing we do to reaffirm and rejoice in what we have….

Can Happen In An Instant.

"Heinz*!"

Thursday, July 22, 2010

"Heinz*!"

In March of 2009, I decided to start dating again. After a self-imposed sexual & relationship exile, I found myself caught up in a whirlwind time of exploration and adventure into the Internet dating realm. I learned quickly that dating via the internet was not my style and threatened to delete every profile I had. I was talked out of it.

"You never know when you'll meet the "One", they said.

"Mr. Right could just be a click away."

"They" are a couple of very close friends I shared my adventures with. "They" were on a quest. But it seemed, after several more months of tried and failed dates, I was not. I purchased another "silver bullet" after wearing out another after 3 years of single-hood and was content with no longer searching for "Mr. Right."

And then I resurrected my Facebook account. After having one for a while, I decided to give it a real try. It was there I reconnected with Michael.

After a friendship that had lasted a little over 25 years, hundreds of gaming sessions, millions of jokes, and late night pizza, we decided to get together for dinner. It was almost instantaneous. I knew the moment I saw him in all-Johnny-Cash-black, this time it would be different. Our late night sessions would no longer consist of chips and bean dip; of arguing over the proper amount of experience points to award; over whether Evil Dave's insult was responsible for the loss of yet another player...

And I was right. After a fourth get together... (because they weren't classified in my mind as dates... It was Mikey after all!) the all-nighters consisted of intimate conversation & laugh out loud reminiscing after mind blowing.... Well, you know. And that was all she wrote. The fat lady had sung her final aria and I was knee deep in.... Um... Let me rephrase that... I was enchanted, and ensconced, and enthralled, and every other appropriate en- word by Mikey! Mikey?! Who would've ever guessed it.

So... after several months (since Nov. 16th) and at the very least 247 hours, (an hour a day) Michael and I are still making "them" throw up a little in their mouths with our reigned in around them intimacy. "They" are still looking and all I can say is do it. There will come a moment when you'll relax and there it will be... in a place you never expected with someone you'd never imagine. Funny how the universe works.

Michael and I have officially begun to co-habitate. At the moment I am supposed to be unpacking boxes but the meditative repeat of putting books onto shelves got me to thinking... The comfort and de-stressing of my life had me contemplating... And all that urges me to write once again. I'm back, people! I know you've missed me. I've missed me, too.

Love,
The Dame.

*My new job is running the board for various radio programs, one of which is the 702 Empire Radio Show. Khary and the Nutty Bunch are fond of saying "Heinz!" instead of catsup, cos it's better. I, personally, am not a fan of Heinz 57, but "Heinz" sounds better and makes more sense than "Soy!" as a title for a post to catch you up...

Secret Treasure #1

Every Face tells a story, It's hard to hide a lie...

Secret Treasure #1

I love stories! Mythological masterpieces, sweeping epics, or barroom exaggerations... love them all! It's one of the reasons I'm such a social creature... I love to hear people's stories, in their own voice. I tell a pretty good tale, too, learning from ritual practice or other master storytellers. Heck, the only jokes I know are ones where a story is involved. But these guys.... these guys are true masters; not just for performance... but for content as well.

Storytelling at it's finest!

CELESTIAL NAVIGATIONS

These guys are usually listed under the musicians tab but they are OH! So Much More! Their stories are inspirational, philosophical, and just plain fan-DAMN-tastic!

"There is only one way to explain "Celestial Navigations". It is an experience... combination of eloquent, unforgettable narrative accompanied by haunting, stirring music.

It is the result of a collaboration between accomplished stage and screen actor Geoffrey Lewis and electronic musicians Geoff Levin. It transcends all known categories. It has no limitations when it comes to age groups or backgrounds." (from their website)

Besides the list below, I have several favorites!

Ones I've performed at various sabbats or Temple storytelling nights:

The Janitor
Horses
The Ocean
The Valley
The Lunch Stop
The Soothsayer
The Winner
The Sniper
The Tree

All of which fit very nicely into the pagan genre (except for maybe the Janitor but I'm an all-inclusive kind of girl.)

I was BANNED from telling "Horses" after a Samhain.

Listen to "The Tree" on their MySpace http://www.myspace.com/celnavigations I'll bet you a dollar that you'll cry.

Albums or singular pieces available on iTunes or at their website:
http://www.celestialnavigations.com/index.html

If you like 'em... let me know please. Thanks and enjoy!

Erma

Las Vegas Pagan Pride 2009

"Pagan Pride is about comradeship between all pagans and being proud of being a pagan!"

See the entire blog post here: http://ladyatheona.blogspot.com/

Dating Rules

Artist: BySilent

I've added a new rule for when I am on a date.

"Never mention you have plans after your date."

No matter how innocent those plans may be; no matter if it's a good friend (Hoagus) who needs a shoulder... even though you deferred them for the date in the first place... even though you may want to invite the date to meet your good friend... even though - SAY NOTHING! Don't invite them. Don't try to impress them by saying you put off your friend for them. Don't bother trying to convince them that they're just a friend and no! you're not sleeping with them even if it isn't their business because this was the very first date. Just. Don't. Do. It.

Can you hear the venom? Yeah, I know. I'm better off without. Whatever! But... the thing is though, I really liked him (whine)... and I thought he really liked me (whine). We flirted endlessly and even touched as we did. We held hands during the movie. (I know! Sweet, right?) We talked for hours and then the next day... nothing. He even said the date was going "swimmingly."

*sigh*

Yeah, yeah... I know.

Why do we have to have these rules? Why can't we just be who we are, faults and everything? I guess we could just be who we are and let the chips fall where they may. Wasn't meant to be... isn't that what everyone says? And yet, we still have these "rules" that we cleave to. Make sure to look your very best. Don't mention the ex. Don't sleep with them on the first date.

And who came up with THAT rule in the first place? Even though it's a good one to adhere to... (H. even says he respects no girl who gives it up on a first date... and H. always tries to get it on the first date.) But then, we don't always follow our self-imposed list of rules, do we? And sometimes, when we do, it still doesn't help is in the pursuit of finding that mate. That One.

And who the Hel said there was supposed to be One? Why can't it be several Ones? I'm a firm believer that people come in and out of our lives for a reason... whether it's for comfort, or a lesson, or just to reflect to you who you really are... isn't that what the One is, too? Just like your sister, or your mom, or your dad is a One? It is with these beings of light in our lives that make us who we are, right? To test our limitations... to share with us all our hopes and dreams and emotions. Can't the One we seek be more than One? Maybe a lifetime of Ones? And if you think about it... aren't most of those Ones given? Or do you think that some of the Ones in our lives are meant to be sought after?

Either way, if you think about it... if you do want that One... you have to be yourself, faults and everything... because you're gonna be with that One for as long as the Universe lets you, which could end up being a really long time. So, yeah... we might have these rules for ourselves that for the most part, we follow, but when that One does show up... the One the Universe has ready for you... the One that is there to teach you something about yourself... all those rules will go right out the window.

Saving Our Ass!

Saguaro Moon - Credit & Copyright: Stefan Seip

My morning started out great! Well, the whole day was actually great 'cos I had a date that night (which was also great!) But there was one thing that bothered me that day.

The day was October 9, 2009. I couldn't sleep so entered the world of Twitter. It was rocking! I can soooo understand the lure of early morning tweeting. Everyone's up and about (except me, usually)! Something crossed my stream that reminded me that today was the day!

RT @IndiscreetTweet - Hey, Barack, you just won the Nobel Peace Prize! How you going to celebrate? "I'm going to bomb the moon!"

RT @MsJBell - Dear Nasa, I'm really happy for you & I'ma let you finish, but Dr Evil had one of the best plans 2 blow up the moon of ALL TIME!

Holy Cow! Nobel Peace prize and the LCROSS mission... and later that day I heard that Marge Simpson (yes! the cartoon Marge) was gracing the cover of Playboy. Yowsa! What a day! I could already form in my mind the plethora of disparaging remarks I would hear from my right leaning friends about the President's Nobel but I never expected this:

RT @1prdpgn @LCROSS_NASA - you people are idiots! EXPLORE DON'T DESTROY!

RT @AliceTi Dear NASA, LEAVE ALONE MOON, YOU ASSHOLES !

RT @Thaedydal: And pagan discussion sites are in uproar over the moon's bombing, "your bombing our goddess"

RT @Frnkds1234 - leave the moon alone poor Artemis when is the last time the government shot rockets at your God, Goddess, Gods or G ... http://lnk.ms/36bWv

RT @Wiccan_Sky - So disappointed some Pagans think the moon bombing was acceptible. Shame on you for treating our Goddess that way. =[

RT @tobascodagama @elles - Dear Elles, NASA is RAPING the moon with its PENIS-PROBES because they can't handle the FEMININE POWER of the MOON GODDESS. Love, Me.

RT@greenlivingzone - Selene the moon goddess was not happy about the earth people friday morning. "Bomb your home if you want but leave my beloved moon alone."

RT @felintan - Dear NASA... I pray to The Moon Goddess and now you're going to bomb a hole on her???? You'll be damned. (- -")

RT @FaePersephone - Those pieces of shit at NASA are going to bomb the Moon tomorrow! NO good will come of this! Goddess is going to get serious revenge!

RT - Dear Moon, we are so, so, so sorry for the stupid folly of petty men w/ cruel dreams. (via @Laetificavi)

_________________________________________________

Seriously!? My fellow bretheren were acting this way? The loving, accepting, kind, and rational pagan community? So I sent out a couple of Twitters of my own...

@DameVegas - Roommate just asked why we f#&%ing bombed the moon... Um, we all know that it was to check for WATER in the soil, right? C'mon people...

@DameVegas - How can be people be pissed at what was done to the moon, yet be unaffected by what we do to the planet we live on? Really?

____________________________________________

This was my retort to the myriad of Twitter comments that condemned NASA and the LCROSS mission... especially those comments that came from my fellow pagans who personified the moon as the "Goddess" herself. (The moon is a symbol of the goddess but the Earth herself is still our "mother.")

Now, I don't disagree that there may be repercussions from the actions of eventually utilizing the moon as a place for our growing population's expansion, or storage depot, or trash repository; nor do I disagree that we may be betting on the acquisition of future resources while simultaneously depleting what minimal supplies we already have. I also agree that we should know where the funding for this project came from ($79 million)... But then we should know from where the funding exists for any national project....

But... (I have to vent a minute...)

Firstly, the moon is venerated by almost every single culture in the world. It is not exclusive to neo-pagans or even ancient pagans. And it is not only seen as a symbol of the feminine, but has also been heralded as masculine. The moon is a SYMBOL. While it does directly effect our Mother Earth and our very existence, the "bombing" or "exploding" or "attacking" that the LCROSS conducted did not and will not, by any means, incur the "wrath of the Goddess" or harm it in any way because...

The moon has been bombarded by meteors and space debris for billions of years! And by objects much, much bigger than the LCROSS rocket(s). The purpose of this mission was too determine if there is water as ice located in the soil at the deepest parts of the coldest craters. "Water on the moon could change NASA's troubled plans for space exploration. It would make revisiting and putting a base on the moon far cheaper because the moon's water could be used."

And secondly, if you truly believe this one action is the catalyst for the fatalistic scenarios I know many of you are dreaming of... You tell me then... What are we supposed to do?

It is only natural for mankind to look to the heavens for answers. Answers to questions like overpopulation and dwindling resources to care for that overpopulation.

Should we do nothing?

Mankind, has for eons, dreamed of "exploring strange new worlds and new civilizations." Multitudes of stories have divined future earth and the future of humanity. All of it conjecture because the future is unknown until WE decide to do something. And even if you believe the future is predetermined... I'd bet money that the scenario you have in mind is not that pleasing either (if it's based in reality, that is.)

As for the problems we need to address: What do we do, I ask again?

Should we impose a restriction on childbearing and live with those consequences? We already know what they are. Should we condone mass genocide and war as a means of controlling the population? Should we restrict the use of our limited fossil fuels and other resources? What are the consequences of that? None of the scenarios I have in mind are very comely. How about yours?

A successful moon base could lead to even further exploration of our solar system. There are vast untapped resources believed to be hiding in just the asteroid belt alone. Water on the moon is just the very first step in the realization of the science fictions we have been desiring. But truth be told... I believe it's one of the few science fictions we actually NEED!

Erma/Atheona
Improvise! Adapt! Overcome!

"You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing there will be no result"
~ Mahatma Gandhi

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing"
~ Edmund Burke

"If you have tried to do something and failed, you are vastly better off than if you had tried to do nothing and succeeded."
~ Lloyd Jones

"The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing."
~ Albert Einstein