Are there any conservatives or moderates here?

Blessed be everyone.

I found this conservative blog titled "U.C.A.--United Conservatives of America 2009", and I have to say, I found that blog (and some others) to be rather informative and interesting. Just in case you all would like to check it out, and 'blogroll' it, here is the URL:

http://unitedconservativesofamerica2009.blogspot.com

Anyway, I will be reading this blog over the weekend.

Guess Who's BACK?!?

Blessed be.

Hello everyone. I am back and with some good news and some bad news.

First, the good news--I FINALLY got my new laptop computer from Gateway. It is a blessing to have gotten it. So, now, I will be able to visit my blog and keep it updated more often now, without all the freezing and crashing.

The bad news is--well, I guess I really won't bore you with my problems. So, anyway...

I will be having a yard sale tomorrow (and maybe Wednesday) as well. Need money really bad and things are not going well at Pizza Hut. A lot of people there are getting their hours cut (even management) so, time to break out the 'Yard Sale' signs.

I have really missed you all. And I am really glad to be back. Especially now that I have a decent computer and all. I guess you all thought that I had dropped off the face of the earth. I do apologise for my very long absence and I hope that now I will be able to be online more often.

Everyone have a great week, and look for me to be updating the blog really soon.

WHO raises pandemic alert level

Blessed be everyone. I wanted to share this story with everyone. I think it is important that we should know what is going on, and what is (or is not) being done
about this potentially dangerous situation. Our health is most important as is the health of our loved ones.

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WHO raises pandemic alert level

The UN's World Health Organization has raised the alert over the spread of swine flu to level five - one short of a full-blown pandemic.

A phase five alert means human-to-human transmission in at least two countries.

The move comes after a 23-month-old Mexican child died in Texas - the first death from swine flu outside Mexico, where the outbreak originated.

In Spain, officials confirmed the first case of swine flu in a person who has not travelled to Mexico.

Announcing the latest alert level after an emergeny WHO meeting in Geneva, Director General Margaret Chan urged all countries to activate their pandemic plans, including heightened surveillance and infection-control measures.


CONFIRMED CASES

Mexico: 159 suspected deaths - seven confirmed cases
US: one death, at least 91 confirmed cases
Canada: 13 confirmed cases
UK: 5 confirmed cases
Spain: 10 confirmed cases
Germany, New Zealand: 3 confirmed cases each
Israel: 2 confirmed cases
Austria: 1 case

She said action should be undertaken with "increased urgency".

She added: "It really is the whole of humanity that is under threat in a pandemic."

The Mexican boy fell ill during a visit to relatives in southern Texas earlier this month.

He was transferred to a hospital in Houston, where he died on Monday night.

Speaking in Washington, President Barack Obama offered his condolences and said the federal government was doing the utmost to contain the virus.

He also urged local public-health bodies to be vigilant and said schools with confirmed cases "should consider closing".

Officials put the number of suspected deaths from swine flu in Mexico at 159.

Texas Governor Rick Perry said closing the US border with Mexico was an option, but added that taking that step now would be "a little premature".

Spanish case

Since the virus emerged last week, it has also spread to Canada, Europe, Israel, and New Zealand.

Several countries have restricted travel to Mexico and many tour operators have cancellled holidays.


SYMPTOMS - WHAT TO DO

Swine flu symptoms are similar to those produced by ordinary seasonal flu - fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, chills and fatigue
If you have flu symptoms and recently visited affected areas of Mexico, you should seek medical advice
If you suspect you are infected, you should stay at home and take advice by telephone initially, in order to minimise the risk of infection

France will ask the European Union on Thursday to suspend all flights going to Mexico because of the flu outbreak, Health Minister Roselyne Bachelot said.

In Spain, the government said the first person to contract swine flu without having travelled to Mexico was the boyfriend of a young woman who had recently returned from there.

Spanish Health Minister Trinidad Jimenez said such cases were to be expected.

In total, the number of confirmed cases in Spain rose from two to 10 on Wednesday. None of the patients is seriously ill.

In Mexico, the search for the source of the outbreak continues, with the focus on the vicinity of a pig farm in the eastern part of the country.

The Mexican government is urging against jumping to conclusions and is suggesting the possibility remains that the virus originated outside the country.

Schools across Mexico have closed, public gatherings are restricted and archaeological sites have been placed off-limits.



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Story from BBC NEWS

Thought for the Day--"Belongingness"

Our thought for the day today is 'Belongingness'.

"When I diminish another's belongingness in the universe, my belongingness becomes uncertain. Acceptance of all of creation secures my place.'


What does this mean to you? Do you sometimes feel as if your 'belongingness' has been diminished? Or have any of you diminished someone else's belongingness (unintentionally)? Let's face it, we all have (at one point or another) probably done this before, without even meaning to, or knowing that we did it.

What are your thoughts on this topic?

Thought for the Day--"Friends"

Today's thought for the day is:

Remember your friends--those who stood behind you when others disappeared...study partners...hanging-out friends...confidants...buddies.

These were--and are--friends.

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How often do we really remember our friends?

Playing Catch-Up

Blessed be and Happy Saturday everyone. Well, so far, my new time management table is working out well for me. I am playing 'catch-up' right now, going through my blog list and trying to catch up on everyone's blogs, and post a comment here and there.

Just wanted to stop by and say hello and wish everyone a happy weekend.

A Wiccan Song/Chant

Blessings everyone. I found another really good video that I would like to share with you all. I hope that you will all enjoy it.

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Blessed be and good morning

Blessings and good morning everyone. Hope everyone has had a great week and that you all have a great weekend as well.

I finished one book that I was writing, and now I have started a new one (before I even send the first one off to be viewed and published). I am now writing a book on my particular brand of Wiccan Tradition.

I bought this book a while back called 'Crafting Wiccan Traditions', and I crafted my own Trad a few years ago, known as Matriarchal (or Matrifocal) Wicca. My Trad focuses on the 'spiritual aspect of Wicca more than the magickal aspect, and relates more to the female aspect of deity, i.e. women's mysteries, cauldron mysteries, etc.

Included in my newest book will be a basic outline of how my personal Book of Shadows is arranged, and my particular way of altar set-up and ritual circle creation.

I will keep you updated on my progress of this book.

Anyway, just wanted to stop by before I leave for work and see how everyone is doing. Hope you all have a great weekend and Happy Easter.

Blessed be.

The Goddess Chant

Blessings everyone. I was searching on YouTube for some videos and ran across this one (and some others) that I posted on my web site. I hope that you will enjoy it. I will also be posting more related videos.

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Well, It's Here--Dogwood Winter

Folklore of the eastern United States tells gardeners not to plant until after the dogwood trees have bloomed. The reason: Dogwood Winter, known regionally as Blackberry Winter. Hi, I'm Bryan Yeaton, and this is The Weather Notebook.

Dogwood Winter generally arrives following an extended mid-spring warm spell and brings several days of cold, cloudy, disagreeable weather, often accompanied by frost and perhaps a flurry of snow. It usually occurs during May and coincides with the blooming of dogwood trees and blackberry bushes, from which it derives its popular names.

Dogwood Winter appears to be one of several weather "singularities" -- one time events common to North America, such as Indian Summer and January Thaw, but in a retrograde thermal direction. As someone once described it: "It's spring, then suddenly winter returns."

The American, or flowering, dogwood ranges from Texas to Minnesota eastward to the Atlantic shoreline from Florida to southern New England. This small tree, often as wide as it is tall, favors the well-drained but moist, fertile sites of mixed hardwood forests and pine forest edges.

Many gardeners believe that the safest time to plant cold-sensitive species, such as tomatoes, comes in the returning warm weather following Dogwood Winter. Native Americans also watched for dogwood blossoms as signs to begin planting crops.

The dogwood's beauty and utility have long been celebrated in North America. Early colonists reportedly used every part of the dogwood except "the rustle of its leaves."

Thanks to our contributing writer, meteorologist Keith Heidorn. The Weather Notebook is a production of the Mount Washington Observatory. Our support comes from Subaru of America and The National Science Foundation.

Hello and Blessed Be

Hello and blessed be everyone.

I apologise for my even longer absence from the blog, but I have been very busy. I am still working on my books to be published, and have just recently started another one.

I also have some new kittens. My cat, Sweetpea, had 7 baby kittens on March 22, and they will be 2 weeks old tomorrow. They are absolutely beautiful and all of them look like their momma except 1.

I am also working on getting my own home business started. I am going to start a psychic reader shop out of my home to earn some extra money to put toward opening my own Pagan/Wiccan store.

I just finished redecorating my den and am getting ready to start redecorating my office. My home office will be my 'psychic reader room for now. Once I am able to open my own shop, I will perform the readings from there.

I am also working on some new material to start posting on the blog, and I will be updating and re-doing my website soon, as well, and that will most likely take up a lot of my time from the blog for a while, as the website will be tied in with the blog and vice verse.

Also, I will be going out of town soon, and that will mean another absence from the blog and the website, as I am hosting a Wiccan camping trip for my ladies coven. That will last, most likely, for a month, as it is to help us all get back in tune and alligned with Nature and our Goddess. I am not sure when we are taking our trip, yet, though, as we have not decided on a date, but it will be most likely in June or July.

Hope everyone is doing good, and all is well with you all. I am doing much better (physically) and sustained no permanant damage to any nerves or muscles. I am completely well, now, fully recovered, and I feel great!

Everyone have a great week ahead and stay safe. I will be back online soon--I hope.

Blessings Everyone

Good evening everyone. It's been a while since I was on here, I know. I have just been really busy trying to write these 3 books, plus my job. Life has been busy.

I am doing ok, had a cold for a little while but doing better.

I was online doing some research and decided to stop by and say hello and check in with all of you. I hope that everything is ok with you all. I kiss you all and hope to be able to get back on here regularly once I finish these books I am writing.

Everyone have a great weekend and blessed be.

Message from the Goddess Mary Magdalene--Unconditional Love

Today, the Goddess Mary Magdalene has come to share with us this message of unconditional love. It is a practice that we all try very hard to accomplish in our daily lives, but at times, find it hard to do so.

Mary Magdalene's message to us is this:

"Love yourself, others, and every situation--no matter what the outward appearances may be".

Thought for the Day--Feeling Awe

Today, I pulled this particular card to help me see what I should be thinking about.

Our thought for the day is this--

"I have only to look around me to remember the feeling of awe I had as a child".


When I look around me today, and really 'see' the wonder and beauty of the world itself, I see what I have been missing in the last few years, because I was not concentrating on Nature itself, but instead, the mundane actions and reactions of humanity.

It is sometimes better to concentrate on the beauty of Nature, and not the every day activities.

Brightest Blessings

Brightest blessings everyone. I hope that everyone had a wonderful Yule and Christmas, and hope that your New Year was grand.

I am going to try to be online a little more this year. I am working on getting a new computer, as this one has started to give me some problems. It likes to crash at times and I am sick and tired of having to take it to the repair shop, so I am working on getting a new one. Hopefully a laptop this tax season.

As for my health, I am doing better, thank you all for your healing vibrations, and prayers. It was much needed and appreciated.

As for the book I am currently writing, it is keeping me busy, which is another reason for my long absence from the blog and the internet. At least it is enjoyable and relaxing.

I just wanted to stop by and say hello and check in with you all. You all are very dear to me, and you have become sort of an 'online family' for me. I love you all, and I just want you to know that I am still around and have not forgotten you.

Have a blessed day, week, and year.

Slowly Returning to Cyberworld of Blogging

Blessings everyone.
I am sorry for my long absence, I have been very sick. I suffered a mild stroke, with no apparent permanent damage. But I am still a little weak, so I am not sure as to how often I will be on my blog.

I am still trying to write my first book. Although I am now typing it, and not writing it by hand, as I had first begun. I am actually in the process of writing two books, at once. One is a collection of short story essays about things that I have personally experienced, and one is a muder suspense short story.

Anyway, I just wanted to update you all about what is going on with me, and that I have not forgotten about you all or my blog. One way or the other I am going to make it to the blog(s). LOL.

Happy Thanksgiving and Blessed Be to you all. I love you all and miss you, too. :(

Taking a Break

Blessed be everyone. Sorry I have not been online here lately, I am a little under the weather, and not feeling very well. I just wanted to stop by and say hello and that I will be back online soon (I hope) to update my blog for you all and to catch up on all of your blogs.

I have been having some really bad headaches lately and not feeling too good.

I miss you all and hope to be back online soon.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Thought for the Day--Accomplishments

Today, Samhain, the Pagan New Year, is a time to reflect back on what we have accomplished, and to look toward what we hope to accomplish in the coming year.

Out thought for today about our 'accomplishments' is this:

"Today is an awareness day for what I've accomplished. A celebration is in order".


Celebrate today.

Happy Samhain.

Message from the Goddess Kali--Endings and Beginnings

Blessed be and Happy Samhain. Today's 'message from the Goddess' is just perfect--Endings and Beginnings.

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Today, the Goddess Kali comes to us on this our Blessed Samhain night and Pagan New Year with the message of endings and beginnings. The new year marks the time when we should reflect back on the past experiences and look forward to making new changes. "Out with old--in with the new".

The message that Kali would like to convey with us this night, is this:

"The old must be released so that the new can enter".

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Thought for the Day--Giving Up Expectations

Our thought for the day centers around our expectations from others and ourselves, as well as our expectations of what we may seek for the coming days, etc.

Our thought for today about our expectations is this:

"Expectations are like girdles. We should have given them up long ago. Expectations are premeditated resentments. Cleaning them out frees us".

Have there been times when your expectations were not met and you felt a little bit of resentment toward someone or something because they or it did not 'live up to your expectations'? It happens to us all at some point in our lives, and this thought for the day should be able to help us deal with it better.

Message from the Goddess Ostara--Fertility

Blessings everyone.

Today, the Goddess Ostara comes to us to share with us this message about fertility. Today, the message that She would like to share with us is this:

"It is the perfect time for you to start new projects, access new ideas, and give birth to new conditions".

As it is well known in the Craft, 'fertility' does not always relate to 'sexual reproduction. Fertility can mean the growth of new harvests, and the birth and growth of new ideas, projects, and belief systems.

Thought for the Day--Learning from Discouragement

Good morning and blessed be. Our 'thought for the day' today is about learning from discouragement. There is always a lesson to learn from everything (good or bad) that we do or that comes our way. Even when we get discouraged about something, there is a lesson to be learned from it, if we look deeper into the situation.

Our thought for the day about this is:

"We all get discouraged at times. Just remember that growth is more like a spiral than a straight line. Discouragement is inevitable--and so is rejoicing".

Message from the Goddess White Tara--Sensitivity

Good morning and blessed be everyone. Today, the Goddess White Tara comes to us with a message about sensitivity. The message that She would like to convey to us is this:

"You are becoming increasingly sensitive. Avoid harsh relationships, environments, situations, and chemicals".

Thought for the Day--Mini Vacations

Today's thought for the day is about our need for a mini vacation. At times we just need to get away from it all, even if it is just for a short period of time.

Here is our thought for the day:

"We can learn the art of mini vacations--a minute to gaze at a flower on our desk, hold a rock, take a soak. It won't hurt to check out massages, facials, and pedicures while we are at it".

Message from the Goddess Coventina--Purification

Today, the Goddess Coventina comes to us to share this message about purification with us. Her message to us is this:

"It is time for a cleansing detoxification of your body and mind".