All posts by Allison

In the Garden, Politics / Social Issues, Whatever

January Musings

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January CalendarWell, January is nearing an end. It’s been an eventful month filled with dozens of things to blog about, and yet… no blogging has occurred.

So here is a summary of all the things I considered blogging about but didn’t.

1. My son, Brandon, and his family became “location independent” and moved to Costa Rica this month. It’s been fun reading about their adventures on Brandon’s blog. And my 6 1/2 year old granddaughter just started her own blog this week – EmilyInTheJungle.com.

2. Crazy Sarah Palin’s *shocking* (sarcasm) announcement that she’ll be a political commentator on Fox News. I burst out laughing when I heard her say how proud she is to be with the network that is ‘fair and balanced.’ Actually, hearing anyone refer to Fox that way makes me laugh. The not funny thing about this is how many Americans will actually tune in an listen to this idiot. WHY????

3. The earthquake in Haiti. Make a donation to the humanitarian organization of your choice.

I gave to Save The Children.

4. Pat Roberston’s idiotic comments about Haiti – Kristin handled this one quite nicely.

Purple primrose5. I still love living in the northwest.

In the middle of January I was outside doing gardening. Primrose in bloom, daffodils and tulips several inches tall, and buds forming on many of my spring and summer plants.

6. Both Project Runway and Psych are back!

7. The Supreme Court’s radical decision to throw out 100 years of precedent and allow corporations to spend as much as they want on political ads really made me mad. Go ahead, hand America’s elections over to the drug companies, insurance companies, big banks and other wealthy corporations. Certainly they’ll have the public’s best interests at heart. Morons. Something else to thank GWBush for.

Words With Friends8. Ashley introduced me to my latest addiction – iPhone app Words With Friends. If you have an iPhone and like to play scrabble, look me up and let’s play. My game name is allihays.

9. My trusty old 1996 Camry had a melt down. Heater broke, then engine light came on… running very hot. Thought I’d have to replace her. But happily found a good mechanic who replaced her broken radiator and thermostat without trying to sell me on a single unneeded repair.

10. Obama’s State of the Union address. He inspired me again. You can watch it here.

So, how has your January been?

Music / Entertainment

Glitter and Be Gay

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Even if you’re not a fan of opera, operetta or classical singing, I hope you’ll enjoy this hysterical (and beautiful) rendition of Glitter and Be Gay from the operetta “Candide” by Leonard Bernstein. It’s a very difficult piece to sing, and is performed by the adorable Kristin Chenoweth, who originated the role of Glinda the Good witch in Wicked. She is an amazing coloratura soprano with a gift for comedy. This has to be one of my all time favorite musical theatre/operetta performances. Watch it while you can (before it gets removed from YouTube again).

Reviews/Recommendations, Spiritual / Religion

New Year Insights

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Have you ever received a natal report?

To be honest, I have never really been into astrology, other than finding the descriptions of the astrological birth signs interesting. I am definitely a Pisces.

My son and mother both have strong Taurus traits. My ex husband was the epitome of a Gemini. In fact, the only person in my life who’s birth sign does not describe her at all is my daughter Ashley who has nearly NO traits of Scorpio. Her birth sign is “Sunshine” 🙂

The Sky Within Natal Report
Several years ago I discovered The Sky Within natal report.    And although I don’t follow my horoscope or live my life by the stars,  I found the sample report very interesting so ordered one for myself.  I was really quite shocked at how accurate it was – and how insightful.  It was almost like the person writing it knew me on a deep level.

I found it so intriguing that I ended up giving them as gifts to friends that year for Christmas, and have done so for other friends on their birthdays. And virtually every person (Ashley excepted) has had the same reaction – amazement at the accuracy, and appreciation for the personal insight offered.

Journey to the Sky Within While reorganizing my bookshelf, I just came upon my report again and reread it. Still amazing, and a really good read as I spend the weekend envisioning what I would like to do, be, and become in 2010.

If you have a Sky Within birth chart – pull it out and read it again. If you don’t – I recommend you give yourself (or someone else) the report as a gift for the New Year… .

Get your report here.

When you read it, I’d love to know what you think!

Family/Friends, Photography, Travel

Christmas in Salt Lake

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Christmas morning with Marie and EmilySanta delivered me to Salt Lake on his sleigh this year.

At least I think that’s what happened – I went to bed in Seattle and woke up Christmas morning in Salt Lake.

A bow on the door led Emily and Marie to open it and see what Santa had brought. It made for a fun surprise.

The camera is not my friend first thing in the morning.

Jennifer prepared a fabulous meal (I have no idea how she keeps the kitchen totally clean the entire time she prepares the meal… I’m thinking it must be magic.)

Brandon expressed his anticipation for his move to Costa Rica by donning a tropical shirt. They are becoming ‘Location Independent‘ and moving there in less than a week – you can read about why and how they are doing it on his blog.

jen-meal Brandon is ready to go to Costa Rica

Ashley and family joined us for dinner and visiting for the rest of the day (and I didn’t take any pics!). But the girls had a blast together. And I got nauseous when I attempted to play Mario Cart with them.

Kennedy on Christmas DayI joined Ashley and family for the next couple of days. Kennedy opened her gifts from me on Christmas night. Justin had to work a graveyard shift at the hospital, so after Kennedy went to bed, Ashley and I stayed up for hours and played on their new Wii. I suck at Super Mario Brothers, but at least I didn’t get nauseous. And I bowled pretty good…. Wii is fun.

Oh – did I mention that it’s been FREEZING here? Not as cold as forecast (3 degrees at night) but still pretty damn cold. These are the frost crystals that form on Ashley’s kitchen window. Cool, huh?

A frosty window

Cool Frost CrystalsIt snowed a bit and I slid all over the road – even in a 4 wheel drive Tahoe. OK, not all over the road – just down the hill, but even so I did NOT enjoy it. But I had to venture out to have a meal at Cafe Rio…

And the Salt Lake Valley inversion has been horrible. I am finally seeing a little sunshine today! I hope it lasts…

But the frost crystals – very cool.

And to finish up, a few more pics of the granddaughters….
Marie the snow angelEmily hugs her snowman

cousins-xmas_6061

Tonight, I’ll be helping out with Ashley and Justin’s New Years Eve party.

How was your Christmas? What are you doing for New years?

Whatever

Happy Winter Solstice

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Happy Winter Solstice

Today the sun is at it’s lowest pint on the horizon, giving us the shortest day of the year. The word “Solstice” is derived from the Latin phrase for “sun stands still.”
Tomorrow the days will begin getting longer… Are you settling in to enjoy winter? It does have it’s own, special beauty.

Are you doing anything to celebrate or mark the arrival and passing of the solstice? Perhaps you can celebrate by enjoying this video – a Winter Solstice Meditation.

I love the stillness of winter. It doesn’t last long – and it is often colder than I’d like, but there is something quite remarkable and centering about a quiet, still winter night – especially with snowfall. I’m especially enjoying the twinkling lights on my tree and the glow of candles each night.

You?

Reviews/Recommendations

Something that works

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This is a completely non-Christmasy post. It is about cold sores. Or, rather, a remedy for them.

I am one of the chosen ones. The ones special enough to carry the virus that blesses us with an outbreak of fever blisters or cold sores at least once a year. I’ve enjoyed this blessing since I was a child. Lucky me.

They start as a little tingle or itch…. but they become very itchy, quite painful, and rather embarrassing. A mild case may heal up in less than a week, but a bad one can go on for 2 – 3.

Over the years I’ve tried a multitude of remedies for these obnoxious blisters on my lip with very little success. I have found that ice very temporarily helps reduce the itching. Tea Tree essential oil (which is a staple of my medicine chest) can help with the itching, plus I know that it is anti bacterial, anti viral, etc. Lysine supplements are supposed to help… don’t know if they have.

abrevaBut last year I discovered Abreva. It promised to shorten the healing time – and for the price of that tiny little tube (I paid $15.99 with a coupon – normally $17.99), I thought “it better!”

To my surprise and delight, Abreva actually worked! I felt the tell-tale signs of an outbreak about 5 days ago, and started applying Abreva 4 – 5 times a day.

my coldsore is hardly visibleIt is now nearly completely healed. I had only 2 days of noticeable itching, and the cold sore never swelled up large like it usually does. In fact, if you’d seen me you probably wouldn’t have even noticed the little blister on my lip.

So I’m giving Abreva 4 clams.

I would give it 5, but the tube is quite expensive and very easy to misplace, because it is so tiny.

But if you, like me, suffer from cold sores – Abreva is a must have remedy for your medicine cabinet. But be smarter than I was… buy it at Amazon for less!

Family/Friends, Reminiscing

To my dad

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Hey dad –

Don’t know if you have internet access wherever you are, or if you ever check my blog if you do have internet access. But on the chance you stop by for a visit I want to say hi, wish you a happy holiday and that I hope you’re safe, healthy and happy.

I put up my tree this week and keep wishing it were flocked a little bit. If you were here I’d ask you to help me figure out how to flock an artificial tree – you always did such a great job with Kristin and dad decorate the treeour live noble firs every year on Rodeo Lane.

Ah… memories of the cold garage and the smell of wet flocking just came rushing back.

If you see this, drop me a line, send me an email, give me a call sometime, or even just leave a comment here. Let me know how you’re doing and where you’re spending your days.

Love,
Your eldest

Funny Stuff

God speaks

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God speaks through postcardsA few years back there was a man who caused my sister, Kristin, a great deal of grief and anxiety. Let’s call him Dave.

Long story short, Dave was inadvisably employed in a managerial role.  Those he managed thought he sucked in the job and complained regularly to her husband Craig (who couldn’t do anything about it – but would have done an excellent job in the position).  Kristin longed for the day that Dave would be fired or would quit, but it just wasn’t happening, much to her dismay.

One day when Kristin was lamenting the latest Dave saga, and knowing (from our previous conversations) that Dave considered himself a religious man, I jokingly suggested that perhaps he needed specific communication from God on the topic. A revelation, if you will. This idea amused Kristin greatly and she insisted I follow through.   So we cooked up a plan which kept us entertained for months.

god_returnaddOver the next several months, Dave began receiving personal postcards from God every 5 – 10 days. They were mailed to his office, and the return address was “God, Everywhere“. Each postcard was sent from a different location (God is omnipresent, you know) – and from as far away as Singapore, Australia and Europe. Thank you to those of you who helped out by mailing one of the postcards on God’s behalf 🙂

Here is the first postcard:

Postcard from God

And the next:

Postcard from God

A couple of weeks into it, Satan wanted in on the action and sent his first postcard to vie for Dave’s soul. They were all sent with a return address of: Phoenix, Gateway to Hell.

Postcard from God

We never learned if Dave read his postcards or what he thought about them, but Kristin and I laughed ourselves silly over the whole thing. I still laugh out loud every time I read some of these messages.

For the entire God vs. Satan Postcard dialogue, click here, then come back and share your thoughts.

Do you have a favorite message from either of these powerful beings?

BTW – it took quite awhile, but Dave DID eventually quit his managerial position. 🙂