dreams

had a bizarre (okay, several) dream last night about this baby... i was holding the baby and the mother was high on something and we were in this back alley somewhere, and i tackled her to the ground (while holding the baby) so the police could come... they arrived, i got up off the mother so i could explain to them what had happened and of course the mother runs off, but took another female hostage in the back of the police car and was pinning her elbows behind her when we suddenly realized what was going on.  the police did end up arresting the mother but then the baby started getting violently ill and then we realized the mother had slipped the baby something (heroin? refined sugar?) at some point?!  i think in the end i was fostering the baby or adopted it?  not sure.  but it sure felt good to get a snuggle from a baby, even if only in a dream.  ;)

hey, i told you it was weird. 

Work much?!

This is me, drowning under the virtual paperwork.  Taxes, magazine article, newsletter, homeschooling annual reviews to complete, and raw food orders to deliver.  And here it is, 11 p.m., and I'm baking cookies.  Why?!  No, not because I'm the Queen of Procrastination (although that's a valid assumption).  No, it's because in about 10 hours I am putting on an Open House/Demo for Tai Chi, and I mentioned to my class that it would be nice to have snacks.  So I'm just doing my part; making goodies for the snack table (hoping others have done the same).

Never mind I should be writing notes as I actually have to do some public speaking at the event - talking a little about the history of the society, a little about the health benefits, names of some of the moves, that kinda thing.  I've only spoken once during a demo, and that was a couple years ago, and my speaking was peppered with "uhhhs". 

For what it's worth, I did get *something* done today: magazine article.  Confession: I actually wrote the majority of it a couple weeks ago in anticipation of said deadline.  So really it was a quick edit and off it went.  Maybe I just expect to get too much done in one day.  Unrealistic expectations, me?!  LOL  I just keep telling myself if you want something done, ask someone who's busy.  And that *must* be me, because I feel busy.  So I *must* be able to get all this done, without dropping any balls, all within the deadlines.  *must*

happy birth-day, Bunny!

12 years ago, on a sunny spring Easter Monday morning, my son arrived into this world.  The details of his arrival remain vividly with me to this day.  Motherhood has changed and challenged me on so many levels - forcing me to deal with the parts of me I was uncomfortable with, allowing me to learn to love and be loved completely... I wouldn't change it for anything in the world!  I am *so blessed* to have my son in my life and consider it an honour and privilege to be a part of his.  Happy Birth-day, my boy!!  :)

Happy Earth Day!

Happy Earth Day!  The kids and I are going to pick up garbage later today along the road near here... in an area that is used by a lot of ATVers and dirt bikers... a lot of garbage gets left behind. 

It's also 6 yrs to the day that I went vegan, and 4 yrs to the day I went high-raw.  It's been quite the journey!  :)

And it was also 6 yrs ago today that our friend Bdr Myles Mansell died in Afghanistan - never forgotten.  Love and hugs to the family.

Peace.

mid-week check-in

had an *awesome* weekend in the big city, learning loh kup. it was really... wonderful, intense, overwhelming, emotional, and so much more besides. it brought me right back to beginner mind, which will be very useful when i start teaching the next beginner class in a couple weeks.

as lovely as it was to travel the city by bike & bus, it was equally wonderful to get home to the sanctuary of the forest and ocean. palpable release of stress being out here.

have a very nasty upper respiratory infection; thankfully it's not in the sinuses, but all weekend i was on fisherman's friends and buckley's suppressant. what i really needed was an expectorant but otoh didn't want to be coughing up green phlegm in the middle of the workshop. :(

a little overwhelmed this week with administrative household things, and just a lot going on. i'll get done what i get done. my shoulder is still not 100% and i am thinking of heading for massage as it's been 4 wks like this.

tomorrow i'd really like to ride or row (feeling the need to boost the cardio), as well as go visit the farm, do a little yardwork around here, and practice more tai chi/loh kup.

blessings

lifelong learning

this weekend i will be learning Loh Kup, a Taoist art *similar* to tai chi. i don't know much going into the weekend, but i'll check in on monday and let you know.

:)

enjoy!

Accident-Prone

With two accidents along our road yesterday, one a fatal collision, the road was closed for *many* hours and we were detoured around. The news polls are asking if the road needs improvements, if it's unsafe, and yes, while we do have our fair share of accidents along the road, I have driven that road near-daily for 14 years and have never once had an MVA. It *can* be a safe, beautiful, ocean-side drive, if driving *carefully*, but that's the key - as a driver, you must remain absolutely focused on the road. No texting, no reaching for something that's just on the other seat, no taking your eyes off the road. Is that too much to ask?

animal totems

had a (brief) dream about a meerkat last night. it was in the chicken pen chasing the chickens around and i managed to grab hold of it and it bit me on the right forearm. keep in mind i have never actually *seen* a meerkat in real life, i just know in the dream, i looked at it directly in the face and said, wow, a meerkat, weird. so even though i've never seen one, i did recognize it.

so i went looking up animal totems online and here's what a few say about the meerkat:

Meerkat: Watchfulness, Group Dynamics. A meerkat totem teaches how to live within the dynamics of a group, even to sacrifice oneself for the good of the group. It teaches how to be alert and watchful. Meerkats are a female dominate society; therefore the female is very
important. If you are a female, Meerkat will show how to find your strength; if you are a man, this totem will show you how to honor your female partner and support her endeavors for the good of the family.

Meerkat - Unity, Hierarchy, Like-Mindedness.

Meerkat - make sure you turn to your friends for support.

Meerkat - higher knowledge, alertness, watchful, discreet, generosity.

The meerkat (from the mongoose family) is famous for its upright posture, for this reason, as a totem the meerkat represents higher learning. Meerkat will often visit when a person needs to learn awareness (interesting because this was one of the invokations I read before going to sleep last night - to invite awareness into my life with gratitude). From heightened poses they stand guard for eagles and hawks. When the meerkat shows up as a totem it can indicate the need to be watchful and keep yourself on alert for potential danger. They teach us not to let our guard down.

During the night meerkats return to underground burrows for warmth and safety. Animals that reside underground generally represent a a reminder for us to return to the earth's energies for respite and rejuvenation.

Picture from here.