Feeling subversive? Why not throw caution to the winds and send out an old-style season’s greetings? Wish someone a Merry Christmas and don’t apologize for it.
Canada and the US are among the worlds Christmas celebrating countries. This is not a crime even as millions of citizens of those countries are of a different faith or no faith at all. So what?
Would anyone water down his or her Happy Hanukkah greeting? Or apologize for a hearty Good Yule? No, nor should they. And anyone who follows the Christmas tradition shouldn’t have to torque down their beliefs either.
It’s another symptom of the fear of difference. We think we’re doing everyone a favor by homogenizing the holiday.
Instead we get head-shaker moments like the New York store’s hams for Hanukkah window display.
And this from the Department of Antipodal Assininity where a Santa was fired for saying Ho Ho Ho. All the Santas in this Australian store were instructed to say Ha, not Ho, because the American slang meaning may offend some women.
Mr.Subversive Santa got all traditional and said Ho anyway. It got him turfed.
Enough fun. My point is while not everyone is a Christian those who are ought to be able to celebrate their season openly and without shame.
Merry Christmas.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Monday, December 10, 2007
Gratitude Monday - Every Breath I Take
We take so much for granted like water will gush out when we turn on the tap, and when we hit that little button the computer powers up, and when we go to the grocery store the shelves will be stocked with all that we need and don’t need.
We don’t think about our new basics of life like electricity and running water and mass produced food. These are the simple facts of our daily lives, like breathing.
But what happens when something as basic as breathing is no longer simple?
The other night I awoke in the early hours and kept having to toss and turn in order to find a proper position for breathing. Some were good for inhaling, others provided some limited ability to exhale. Finding a position that offered both was difficult.
I didn’t get back to sleep for several hours and when I did the sleep was nearly as shallow as my breathing.
I have mild asthma and have been blessed to not be bothered much by it for the past several years. This has reminded me that I am grateful for every lungful of air I can get.
We don’t think about our new basics of life like electricity and running water and mass produced food. These are the simple facts of our daily lives, like breathing.
But what happens when something as basic as breathing is no longer simple?
The other night I awoke in the early hours and kept having to toss and turn in order to find a proper position for breathing. Some were good for inhaling, others provided some limited ability to exhale. Finding a position that offered both was difficult.
I didn’t get back to sleep for several hours and when I did the sleep was nearly as shallow as my breathing.
I have mild asthma and have been blessed to not be bothered much by it for the past several years. This has reminded me that I am grateful for every lungful of air I can get.
Sunday, December 9, 2007
December Abundance
It’s the new moon and you know what that means. It’s abundance cheque time.
What you do is this: within 24 hours of the new moon in your area, take a cheque from your chequebook. If you don’t have a chequing account, then draw a cheque on a piece of paper and fill it out accordingly. It’s all the same to the Universe.
Put your name in the Pay To line and write Paid In Full in the amount line underneath. Write Paid In Full in the little box where the dollar figure goes.
Sign it The Law of Abundance.
Do not date it. Do not write a dollar figure anywhere on it. If you like you can write Thank You in the memo line.
Put the cheque away and get on with your life. The Universe will look after the rest.
Bear in mind abundance means many things beyond money. You’ll get what you need.
Happy Abundance.
What you do is this: within 24 hours of the new moon in your area, take a cheque from your chequebook. If you don’t have a chequing account, then draw a cheque on a piece of paper and fill it out accordingly. It’s all the same to the Universe.
Put your name in the Pay To line and write Paid In Full in the amount line underneath. Write Paid In Full in the little box where the dollar figure goes.
Sign it The Law of Abundance.
Do not date it. Do not write a dollar figure anywhere on it. If you like you can write Thank You in the memo line.
Put the cheque away and get on with your life. The Universe will look after the rest.
Bear in mind abundance means many things beyond money. You’ll get what you need.
Happy Abundance.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
For The Birds
One casts a longing look to the peanut feeders.
As another prepares to launch from a tree.
The Downy Woodpecker from the shed got there first.
As another prepares to launch from a tree.
The Downy Woodpecker from the shed got there first.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Feed And Tree
We get Hairy and Downy woodpeckers here and they are very pleased with the peanuts and peanut butter we set out for them.
This Downy couple were by several times on Sunday and consented to be photographed.
I'll be posting other, better photos later.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Monday, December 3, 2007
Gratitude Monday – Herbal Remedies
I’m happy to say I’m feeling much better. For the past 5-6 weeks I’ve had what felt like a very friendly and very well-fed pussycat flopped on my chest.
It’s hard to love an oppressive weight and even harder to get shed of it. I tried the Edgar Cayce castor oil pack which in this instance did nothing. Lavender oil eased things a bit and assorted herbal teas helped to a degree. Commercial cough syrups did little. I almost went to a doctor, but decided instead to try a different cough syrup.
I had two choices, one of which I’d used many years ago. The other was totally unfamiliar. What they had in common was their ingredients were listed by botanical name. My husband has degrees in forestry and botany and ran a health food store for more than 12 years. He prefers plants be listed by their botanical names as the common names can refer to different plants depending where you live. Fortunately, he was with me in the store.
One syrup had only on ingredient which I think he said was an extract of geranium. The one I’d tried in the past has dandelion and loquat and European licorice and coltsfoot and a few other herbs. It was exactly what I needed.
I’m grateful the invisible pussycat is getting thinner. I’m grateful to be feeling better, and I am especially grateful that my husband understands botanical terms.
It’s hard to love an oppressive weight and even harder to get shed of it. I tried the Edgar Cayce castor oil pack which in this instance did nothing. Lavender oil eased things a bit and assorted herbal teas helped to a degree. Commercial cough syrups did little. I almost went to a doctor, but decided instead to try a different cough syrup.
I had two choices, one of which I’d used many years ago. The other was totally unfamiliar. What they had in common was their ingredients were listed by botanical name. My husband has degrees in forestry and botany and ran a health food store for more than 12 years. He prefers plants be listed by their botanical names as the common names can refer to different plants depending where you live. Fortunately, he was with me in the store.
One syrup had only on ingredient which I think he said was an extract of geranium. The one I’d tried in the past has dandelion and loquat and European licorice and coltsfoot and a few other herbs. It was exactly what I needed.
I’m grateful the invisible pussycat is getting thinner. I’m grateful to be feeling better, and I am especially grateful that my husband understands botanical terms.
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