I just took the dogs out a few moments ago and there were a few coyotes yipping and howling in the distance. Our one dog Merlin howls right back to them, but Pepper just barks - I don't think she ever really picked up on how to howl - LOL.
Today would be my grandfather's birthday and also my friend Tori's Mother's birthday - funny how dates sometimes stick in your head. I can hardly believe that tomorrow night is Christmas Eve already! When I was growing up we always used to go to my Great Aunt Katie's house for Christmas Eve - sometimes up to 100 relatives would pack that tiny house - the kids would take over the small upstairs and the basement and graze through the buffet in the dining room on their way back and forth. Everyone else was in the kitchen or the living room, but mostly the kitchen. Come to think of it - no matter who's house we were at people always clumped together in the kitchen, even during parties. There's just something about it that feels festive and fun and casual, instead of the -ahem- living room. Go figure. *grin*
If you've ever played with fire, you have to go read this short story, complete with watercolor illustrations! *grin* (Thanks for the link, bareSquare)
If you're really interested in the culinary details of our dining experience last night *grin* just follow this link to the Eat, Link & Be Merry food blog.
We had been planning on going to "The Feed Lot" - a nice little steak place nearby - to celebrate John's birthday. I remember having this thought, "Well, if the Feedlot isn't open, we can go to the Tres Pinos Inn." It was one of those background thoughts that I ignored because it didn't make sense - the Feedlot's off day was Monday, not Thursday, and we know they opened for dinner at about 4. But when we got there - sure enough - it was closed! But not because they moved their day off, because it was being sold and changing ownership. So we DID go to the Tres Pinos Inn (and it was VERY good - more on that later.) I love it when these kinds of things happen - reminds me that I can always trust my intuition, even if I don't have rational justification for it.
Well - I had a fun day - found some excellent stocking stuffers for John, had a great time just blabbing with another woman in the laundromat, and bought the fixins for Christmas dinner as well - whew! Maybe I'll blog a little more later, after I rest up - LOL.
CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN (Reuters) - Santa Claus is coming to town. NORAD, the U.S.-Canadian North American Aerospace Defense Command that keeps watch on the skies to spot missiles approaching North America, said on Monday it is detecting unusual activity in the North Pole region. NORAD analysts, highly trained and always on the alert in their mountain bunker, have concluded that the mysterious object is none other than the nose of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
"While such activity is not unusual for this time year, it does appear to be earlier than previously seen," NORAD said in a tongue-in-cheek report. Because this is Santa's first trip in the new millennium he may be conducting additional tests on his delivery equipment, NORAD theorized. Boys and girls, both naughty and nice, will be able to stay in touch with NORAD starting at 7 p.m. EST on Dec. 24 as it tracks Santa's ride on the worldwide web at http://www.noradsanta.org .... NORAD has been tracking Santa's trip since 1955 when a department store "Santa Hotline" telephone number advertised in a local newspaper turned out to be the "operations hotline" at NORAD's predecessor. Surprised military personnel started getting calls from six-year-olds who wanted to talk to Santa. The senior officer on duty, Col. Harry Shoup, explained to them that he was "helping" Santa -- and a tradition was born.
Half the time -- no, more than half the time -- when it looks like something is going wrong it's because the Universe is opening another door that is much more a match to what you want." -- Abraham
I love this - it's the MATH Hatter - you can order a knit "Klein Bottle" cap (A cap modeled after the Klein bottle - a one sided surface, a bottle with no inside, and is made by bringing the neck through the bottle to meet the bottom.) or a fleece Mobius (strip with only one side) earband - perfect for the geek who has everything! *grin* (Thanks for the link, BrainLog)
Today I just feel like posting a large quote. This is from "The Nature of the Psyche - A Seth Book" by Jane Roberts, Chapter 11.
"You form YOUR own reality. That reality contributes to the experience of others, but each of you possesses a unique, original stance in space and time that is yours alone in quite practical terms, regardless of time's relative existence.
Only when you operate from your own stance can you help others to the best of your ability. To anticipate danger, or imaginatively take on the troubles of others robs you of the very energy with which you could help them. I am not saying, therefore, to turn your eyes from the unfortunate conditions of the world. Practical help is needed in all areas of the human life. Yet it is far better and more practical ultimately, to concentrate upon the beneficial elements of civilization -- far better than to organize your thoughts in areas of accomplishment than to make mental lists of man's deficiencies and lacks.
Such a practice leads to feelings of helplessness and hopelessness in which effective action seems impossible. Life possesses an exuberance. If this is cherished, nurtured, encouraged, then additional energy is generated that is that is not needed for the purposes of daily private life -- a superabundance that can be effectively directed in those areas of the world where help is most needed....
...Despite all appearances, conditions of an exterior nature do not cause wars, or poverty, or disease, or any of the unfortunate circumstances apparent in your world. Your beliefs form your reality. Your thoughts generate practical experience. When these change, conditions will change. To add your own energy, focus, and concentration to dire circumstances in other portions of the world does not help, but adds to, such situations.
To close your eyes to them in an ignorant fashion, to wash your hands of them, so to speak, is equally shortsighted. To pretend such situations do not exist, out of fear of them, will only bring the feared reality closer. It is far better to situate yourself firmly in your own reality, acknowledge it as your own, encourage your strength and creativity, and from that vantage point view those areas of the world or of your own society that need constructive help. Purposefully in your own life, in your daily dialogues with others, in your relationships through your groups or clubs, reinforce as well as you can the strength and abilities of others.
That reinforcement will add to the personal power of all other individuals with whom THOSE people come in contact."
Genetic Savings & Clone <---- read that again to make sure you got it right. *grin* I still haven't come to an opinion about cloning, but this site just reminded me of the kind of ad you'd see on FUTURAMA - heh heh.
