38 cents

Since I am not ready to share what happened yesterday....thought I would share another story from this week.

I was in the "icky" Wal-mart (we all know the one....the one you don't usually go to, but you were in that area and it was easier....).  I was already losing patience because I couldn't find something in the store, and my patience was low from stuff from earlier in the day.

I was heading toward check out, and got stuck behind a woman in a scooter.  Ok, I will just go around....then she zig zagged!  Oh good grief.  OK...moving on....see an "express" check out that just had a woman who appeared to be at the end of her transaction....

Great.  Put my stuff on the counter and prepared to be done in there.  The cashier and the customer were being very chatty, but ok.....

Then the cashier said to the woman "Do you have 38 cents?"\

NOOOOOOOOO!!!!

The customer starts raising her voice.  "Oh no!  I don't have 38 cents!  Oh no!  Oh no!"  Before it got any further, I just handed the cashier a dollar bill.  The woman thanked me, and went on her way.  The cashier thought I was so nice for doing that.

Maybe a part of it was nice...the majority of it was self-serving.  I didn't want to be there any longer than I had to.  It was easier to pay the 38 cents than have the customer digging through her pockets looking for change (she had paid for her purchases with a gift card).  And certainly easier than the customer having to decide on something to put back and have the cashier void the transaction.

38 cents in my world is nothing.  Even when things are tight....38 cents won't make a difference.  This isn't the first time I have done something like this, and my quality of life is not any different having "donated" the money in the past.  But I guess 38 cents meant something to them.  So I will let them think I am a nice person (which I am....but like I have already admitted...for me, this act really wasn't "nice"). 

Not sure if this falls in the Random Acts of Kindness, since it really was more about me than about the act.  And for the record...in the past I have paid for things for other patrons in similar circumstances just because I wanted to.

So I will call this one a net of ZERO....nice act, but for self-serving reasons.

What is in YOUR stars???

Not everyone is into Astrology, or Numerology, or any of those other "future" telling sciences.  I do not follow them closely, nor do I make decisions based on them.  But I have found out in my life that when I look back on things, events tend to have unfolded as predicted by the stars.  I once went to a psychic, and the session was taped (audio....cassette.....remember those???)  I found the tape YEARS later, and listened to it, and ALOT of what she said had come true.

So Yahoo! has posted an overview of the 2012 Horoscope  for those who would like some insight.  I am a Taurus, and per the prediction...this should be a pretty good year.  Here are some of the highlights (but if you are a Taurus and want the full skinny....go check it out!)

• With lucky Jupiter continuing to bless your stars, you can definitely expect to have the Midas touch in 2012, Taurus. 
• The first six months of the year are part of an ongoing personal renovation project before generous Jupiter leaves your stars. 
• On the contrary - as soon as Jupiter moves into Gemini in June, your luck continues to build while grounding you in positive energy. The second half of the year will bring you great financial prosperity and opportunities to expand your talents.
•  Money and finance take center stage for most of the year as you experience several gains and losses. The key to your sanity will be to ride the wave of unpredictability and, in the end, trust that you'll still come out ahead. Pay special attention to your finances around the major eclipse points in May, June and December. Watch for new money-making opportunities around your birthday. It's just in time, because you may very well need to pad your piggy bank for some unexpected expenditures in June and July.

How does your year look???

Our Yule Celebration!

Merry Meet!

At 12:30am this morning, Winter officially began!  The night between December 21-22 is the longest night of the year and we were excited to prepare for this holiday.

First, we made a Yule Log.  G-man found this piece of birch in our neighborhood and drilled holes in it to mount the candles.  Birch wood symbolizes new beginnings.....very fitting.  The kids decorated it with beads, glitter, and Pointsettia flowers.  We displayed it on a bed of evergreen branches from our Christmas Tree.  The gold ornaments represent the Sun, who has now been reborn.

We also created our Fairy Houses.  These were hung outside, so that the tree fairies have a place to rest and get out of the cold of Winter.  Sassy made sure to include a blanket.  G-man made a few that looked like they were leaning, and we decided to pay homage to his deceased father, and call them The Shed, and The Boat Pad.  The shed is just like his dad's shed....full of paper, rags, and junk!  And the Boat Pad....nuff said.

Sassy's House

Bossy's House

The Shed

The Boat Pad

We also strung cranberries and popcorn to sustain the animals through out the winter.



Last night, instead of our usual reading, we read about the Winter Solstice. We read two children's books:  The Winter Solstice by Ellen Jackson, and The Shortest Day by Wendy Pfeffer.  The kids loved both.  We talked about the traditions of the the Solstice, and how they relate to things we do now (candles, the evergreen tree, the lights).  I enjoyed reading the books to them, and it was so wonderful to have them ask questions.  They continued to discuss it between them, even after I finished reading.

And lastly...we welcomed the Sun again by ringing our Yule Bells at official sunrise (7:15am) this morning!!!

Happy Winter!  Blessed Be.

Who knew finding help would be so hard?

G-man and I were invited to a cocktail party coming up this weekend.  The e-vite went out mid-November, so we had plenty of time to find a sitter, get a hostess gift, etc.

Neither of us were going to need anything new to wear (sans a pair of hosiery for me if I ripped mine).  I got a hostess gift on sale, just needed to be wrapped up.

That just leaves the sitter.  We called our regular girl...and after a period of her going MIA, she finally said she couldn't do it that night.  I asked someone from PTA who has a teenage daughter....she can't do it.  Asked another friend whose step-daughter is in college....SHE can't do it, but our friend thought maybe the roommate could.  Nope...she couldn't do it either.

This brings us to Sunday.  As in, 2 days ago.  In a moment of desperation, I googled sitters, and found 2 sites that claim that you can post a job and find a sitter!  Background checks are already completed....it had reviews and profiles.  And it was free!  Sounded like a good deal.

WRONG.   Yes, you can join for free....yes, you can post a job for free....but if you want to get the CONTACT information for the sitter....THAT my friends, you have to pay for.  How much?  $35 freaking dollars, A MONTH.  That is on top of whatever you would pay for a sitter (which around here is $10/hr).

There was no way we were going to pay $35 for a one time usage of a sitter.  Let alone per month to keep our membership active.  $35, plus probably $50-$60 for the sitter....we are closing in on $100, just for the sitter....plus the gift.....plus the gas to go to the party (it is 45 min away).....good thing we didn't need clothes!  This was turning into an expensive party.

So, we let the couple know we wouldn't be able to make it.  The hostess gift will get saved for another occasion.  And we and the kids are going to make Fairy Houses (fun with popsicle sticks and glue!!  And of course GLITTER!!!)  to hang outside so the Tree Sprites have somewhere to go to get out of the cold (as part of our Yule celebration). 

It will still be a nice evening....just not the evening we originally thought!

Part of learning to accept and change some things...the long winded Holiday edition

I spent a good deal of time Christmas shopping on-line yesterday.  I kicked butt!!!  I am almost done, and managed to pay minimal shipping charges.  I found what I wanted within the price range I wanted to stay.  I have a few things left to get....but considering it is Thanksgiving week, all is good.

I am behind on my holiday cards.  The kids both need haircuts.  And Sassy is sick.  So pictures will have to wait.  I usually like to have them out by December 10.  But if it doesn't happen...it doesn't happen. 

We usually get our tree the second weekend of December.  Well, that weekend is crazy busy.  We have 2 parties to go to.  And the kids have half days of school for the 3 days leading up to it.  And I have an all hands staff meeting that week.  Too crazy.  So we will get the tree early.  It will be dead as a door nail by New Years.  Oh well.

I decided to try and use up the holiday wrapping, ribbon, and bags that I already have.  Most of it I don't like.  Which is why I still have it hanging around (most of the wrapping paper was purchased by my Mom years ago and I inherited it when she moved.  And the gift bags are my Mother-in-law's favorite gift giving vessel, and I save them....even though I don't like them).  I posted last year about how much I love wrapping gifts and why I do it.  And I still feel that way.  But I also want to use up what I have and not spend any more money than I have to.  I know I will feel sad as I wrap things in paper I hate....but it needs to be done this year.  I need to compromise this year and try not to buy something unless I really need it (like I know I need tissue paper).  I will probably get some stuff I like when it is on clearance after the holidays, but I am going to try and get rid of all the stuff I have already this year.

I got an invitation to a holiday party hosted by my Dad's cousins (yes, they are my cousins too....).  And I usually go with the kids (G-man usually has to work), and I am miserable.  It is a long drive.  The kids (particularly Bossy) gets way over stimulated, and by the time we get to gifts, he is out of control.  Last year I missed Sassy opening her gifts because I was wrestling Bossy in the spare room as he was out of control.  I love family...but these people, although blood related (or I should say some are....there are lots of people there)...are not my FAMILY.  These are the people I see once a year.  And otherwise, have no contact with.  I have gone out of obligation.  And I am not doing it this year.  I need to be who I am....and pretending to enjoy this is not it.  I don't follow the same religious practice as I was raised in, and having to pretend for the day, and then having to explain it all to the kids....nah.  Not this year.

Lastly...there has been a piece of my spirituality that has been lacking for a long time.  It is time for me to really embrace that. This year, I will do that.  I am starting to plan my Yule celebration, and am excited to do so.

And there ya go.....anyone else have things they are accepting and/or changing for this year?


 

11/11/11 at 11:11

Eleven is a power number.  Did you know that???


I am one of those people who will look at the clock and it is 11:11.  I do it all the time.  I am not trying to do it, it just happens.  Spirit Guardians are at work.

And with today being 11/11/11, it is a very powerful day.  And we have 2 opportunities have 11:11 on the clock!!  Wanna know more about 11/11/11...here ya go:  How to Interpret 111111

At 11:11am, and 11:11pm....you need to make your deepest, truest wish of all time.  The one you don't talk about.  The one that stews in your heart.  I know on PF blogs...we are all into debt, debt relief, etc.  But that may not be your truest wish. 

During those minutes today....focus your energy on your heart.  On your soul.  Today is a powerful day.