MY LITTLE PONY • 12-29-2006 Something that happened recently led me to think of an event from the past... In the early 1980s, I began to have some trouble with the old rattletrap that I was driving and decided the time had come for another car. I managed to find a slightly-used Mustang II in good shape at one car dealer's lot, so I bought it. It was so pretty! It had a white exterior and a beautiful green interior -- even the dashboard and steering wheel were green! I really liked that car! I had owned the car about four or five years when I cranked it one morning to head to work. The engine started right away, but the car refused to go into gear when I tried to shift from (P) "park" into (D) "drive." I shifted back into (P) "park" and then to (D) "drive" again, but nothing happened. Then, all of a sudden I heard a little *clunk* accompanied by a slight shake of the car that indicated that it was in gear, so I went on to work. That evening, the same scenario repeated itself on the way home from work, so I knew something was definitely wrong. One of my friends knew a little about working on cars, and played the role of "shade-tree mechanic," when necessary, to the vehicles that he and his wife drove. So, I gave him a call. He mentioned the clutch as a potential problem area, as well as the gearshift linkage. However, he also commented that while Ford makes a very good automobile engine, there are often problems with their transmissions and that's where he was putting his bets. (He was also convinced that General Motors made good transmissions but their engines were not as good as Ford's, and that the ideal car would be some hybrid of the two. This parenthetical tangent digresses, though...) Being a very good friend of a number of years, he offered to work on it, labor-free, if I would buy whatever parts were necessary. Yay! The next few days were touch-and-go for my getting to work, but I managed to make it every day there-and-back with some gentle patience given to the ailing little car. Sometimes I would even have to start moving in (L) "low" or (S) "Second" gear and slip into (D) "drive" partway to my destination, but my little four-wheeled pony kept going! Finally the time arrived when my friend had a couple of days off and began work to the car. After spending an hour or so underneath the car with wrenches clanging and my handing him whatever tools he needed, he confirmed that the tranny had a problem. Over the course of the next couple of days, he completely disconnected and removed the transmission from the car. I could not afford a brand-new transmission and my friend knew of a local garage that specialized in rebuilding them, so that became the viable option. After a couple of days, they had all the work done at a much cheaper price than I would have paid for even a "used" transmission out of a wrecked vehicle. (It was still almost a thousand dollars, though... ) My friend put the rebuilt transmission back into the car for me, and I managed to get several more years of good driving from it. When I finally traded it for another vehicle, the over-ten-years-old engine had finally begun to develop a few problems, but the tranny was in good shape! Rebuilt trannies purr so smoothly. © 2006 FairyWoman.com       * Comment from Asilinn            Have I mentioned lately that you are my hero?       * Comment from Debra            My 'Fredlina' has a mustang carburator(brand new) and manifold as, my Ranger was rebuilt            to be a retro-truck. Rather confusing to explain. She musta *heard* me read this blog —            as she is now broken again. Big Bill is on vacation. ~sigh~ Sometimes it seems like it's not            worth the trouble. Happy New Year, from the Islands. Debra GOOD ENERGY...? • 12-27-2006 I received an email a while ago from a girlfriend who wanted to know if I had a minute. I indicated that I did, and we had a brief volley of emails back-and-forth for a few minutes about something that happened to her today. When it was all over, she said:   "Thanks for listening.   I knew I could calm down if I read an email from you.   You have good energy." Sometimes, people say the most amazing things to me © 2006 FairyWoman.com       * Comment from Amy            That's only because you are amazing.       * Comment from Dona            That's What Friends Are For.       * Comment from Iris            Teh Kitty is amazing--and fascinating too! SILVER, FRANKINCENSE, AND MYRRH • 12-21-2006 frankincense. and myrrh. burning now. but no gold -- i prefer silver. Lunar. Feminine. Dark. the depths of the Night congealed into a metal. sparkle in the eye of the Goddess that is Me. crystalline. crysalis. the Seed awakens. i give Birth. the Solstice. © 2006 FairyWoman.com MY WISH FOR YOU... • 12-20-2006 The following has been circulating in email for years. However, unlike many things that circulate over-and-over in emails — ad nauseum — I still get a chuckle out of this every time I see it. Although I think the idea of being "politically correct" and conscious of others' feelings is, in general, a very GOOD thing, this is a prime example — and perhaps a warning — of how far things can be taken if we aren't careful to do a "reality check" once in a while. I think it is incredibly clever and funny... ...those poor electrons... *sniff,sniff* © 2006 FairyWoman.com       * Comment from Scarlett            Returns the wishes to you, with much thanks! PAIN, REPRISE • 12-19-2006 AGING LIKE FINE WHINE • 12-19-2006 Today was my child's birthday. He turned 27 today. Talk about making somebunny feel old... © 2006 FairyWoman.com       * Comment from Nicola            Having had the privilege of meeting you in person, Kitty, you are a truly beautiful person            and certainly do not look old enough to have a 27 year old child!            A very Happy Birthday to your son!       * Comment from Dona            Mine's still 26! Neener Neener! tehe Congrats, doll! Ain't motherhood grand?       * Comment from Scarlett            You can adopt me if you want, I'm only 24 for a few weeks away. SOMETHING TO REMEMBER • 12-18-2006 We have all been through hell. We have all walked through the fire in some way or another. That is something that I think all people would do well to remember in dealing with others. © 2006 FairyWoman.com       * Comment from Scarlett            Certainly, let he without sin throw the first rock.       * Comment from Katrina            I couldn't agree with you more... JUST... WOW • 12-11-2006 I received the following email from a friend this morning concerning my blog posts:      Whenever I read your posts, I always feel a calmness      over me. I hope that in time I can achieve the peace      and tranquility that you exude.      Thank you in all of your help whether or not I have      spoken to you or emailed you. You have been an influence      in my life and I just wanted to take this time to let      you know that. That email caught me totally by surprise and brought a tear of joy to my eyes. Wow. Just... wow. © 2006 FairyWoman.com       * Comment from Laura            You're a good person and it simply comes through, a bit of clarity in a lot of chaos.       * Comment from Frank            I always feel a calmness whenever I have any contact with you. You are a true friend,            and have helped me more than you will ever know.*hugs*       * Comment from Katrina            There is definitely a "zen" quality to your posts. I have to agree that reading your posts            reminds me of drinking Chai tea on a cold day. Comforting. Soothing. OUT OF THE DARKNESS INTO THE LIGHT • 12-05-2006 This time of year, the daylight hours in the northern hemisphere are fewer in number compared to the nighttime hours, a phenomenon that will continue until the Winter Solstice. This year, the Winter Solstice falls on December 21st. Afer that, those of us above the equator will begin to see a sloooooooooooooooow shift towards more daylight and less darkness until the Summer Solstice arrives in June. During this darkest time of year, many people decorate their houses with pretty lights. I love pretty lights! Many people associate the lights with religious traditions rather than the original intent of "brightening the dark time of the year with a little cheer." We do not observe any holiday in our household this time of year, other than my quiet acknowledgement of the arrival of the Solstice. We prefer a year-round celebration of the Light of the human soul, illuminating the darkness of our being. In our happy home, there are no trees, no stockings, no gifts, nor are there any dreidels spinning, no menorrah being lit. He is a Bright, and I am a Buddhist. Both of us were born into homes that followed strict religious observances, but both of us believe that following one's heart is more important than following the herd. There is awesome power and beauty to stand as a wild creature on the mountain precipice and look down upon the gleaming valley below. All year long, I try to hold as much love in my heart as I can for myself and for other human beings. I believed in recycling things before it was considered fasionable. I respect Mother Earth, and believe in treating everything with respect and acting with personal accountability. I believe in the beauty and power of the human soul, and I believe in a connectedness to All Things that exists as the Universal Consciousness, that thing I call "Goddess." I do not believe there is an actual "Being" that needs to lift us, pitifully, out of our wallow in misery. We need to lift ourselves. We can do it, We have the Power. My partner's beliefs are different than mine, but are similar and harmonize with mine. For those that see the light, we wish you cheer. For those that feel the darkness, we wish you cheer. For those that are lifting themsleves, we wish you cheer. For those that are waiting to be lifted, we wish you cheer. Whatever your beliefs, whatever your path, know that We wish you cheer... and peace. © 2006 FairyWoman.com       * Comment from Asilinn            Oh, but there will be gifts!            (Although Don may appreciate it a tad bit more than you, hehehehehehehehehe)       * Comment from Katrina            I love this entry. It's so... open. I don't follow the herd either. I respect those who have the ability            to "go AGAINST the grain" and follow their hearts and souls. It shows strong character. I hope            you have a wonderful holiday season! YES, I AM FINE, THANK YOU! • 12-01-2006 I was cleaning out old emails from my INBOX and came across one that made me smile. I am a member of several online communities. There is a man on this one particular site who occasionally emails me. The subject line of his messages invariably reads, "Hi" and the message is always simply, "and how are you?" I always reply to him in a courteous manner, but keep my message super-short as was his message to me, "I am fine, thank you! And how are you?" He always responds with: "good to hear! me, I am just fine." The email exchange ends there, until a few months later the whole scenario repeats again, exactly the same as it did before. It has happened three or four times already, precicely as I described above, with no variation on either of our part. It is a little bizarre, no doubt, but I find it amusing. Sometimes I admit that I want to email the guy and inquire, "Don't you have anything else to say...?!?!?" But then I come to my senses and decide not to spoil anything so simple, so innocent, and so lovely. © 2006 FairyWoman.com A-HEM-SA • 11-29-2006 TRANQUILIZER • 11-28-2006 He is my tranquilizer. No matter how horrid a day I've had, just hearing his voice makes it somewhat better. He calms me. He has a damned sexy voice, too, and a good sense-of-humor. He can put things into proper perspective for me when I can't manage to do that for myself. I am definitely a lucky girl to have him in my life! © 2006 FairyWoman.com GRATITUDE, PLAIN AND SIMPLE • 11-22-2006 THANKS = APPRECIATION... I believe that anyone, everyone, could/should allow a glimmer of appreciation/gratitude in their hearts for the things we have. Regardless of whether one is an atheist, agnostic, Buddhist, Taoist, Hindu, Sikh, Wiccan, Muslim, Jewish, Christian, Satanist, or whether they worship the Great Pumpkin -- all of us have things (food, shelter, clothing, whatever) that came from *somewhere*. Be grateful to that *somewhere*, whether you believe those things came by chance, science, magic, or "Divine Providence." Appreciate the things you have. Be grateful, dammit. Be thankful. Give thanks. Be happy. No matter how bad it is, it could always be much worse. May the *somewhere* bless every one of you reading this, each in their own way. © 2006 FairyWoman.com       * Comment from Amy            It's so easy to take for granted the things we all have. Friends and family, a home, a vehicle.            So many have nothing. I don't remember the source of this quote, but here it is: "I wept that            I had no shoes, til I met a man who had no feet." Today I am grateful for what I have.       * Comment from Whitney            Amen, Kitty. *purr*       30 THINGS ABOUT ME • 11-20-2006 1.What does your MySpace name mean? It is a nickname that someone gave me years ago. 2. Elaborate on your default photo: I switch photos so often, I don't remember which one is up now! 3. What does your headline mean? Srsly? It's a kitty. =^..^= Boo! 4. What is your current relationship status? Happily taken by a charming and wonderful man! 5. Honestly, does your crush like you back? What we have isn't a "crush" — we love & respect each other 6. What is your current mood? a cross between "worried" and "depressed" and "anxious" 7. What do you love most? My friends, online & in real-life, that keep me halfway sane. 8. What makes you most happy? Being loved and respected. 9. What's your middle name? Elisabeth 10. If you could go back in time, and change something, what would it be? I would never have gotten into the abusive marriage I was in. 11. If you MUST be an animal for ONE day, what would you be? pampered kittycat 12. Ever have a near-death experience? Does seriously contemplating suicide (long ago) count...? 13. Name one thing you do a lot? Read. Reading is fundamental. 14. What's the name of the song that's stuck in your head right now? "Xanadu" by Rush -- a song based on Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem, "Kubla Khan" 15. Who did you copy and paste this from? I got it from Dory, an online friend. 16. Name someone with the same b-day as you. Eric, but I haven't seen him in years. 17. Have you ever sang in front of a large audience? Yes, several times! 18. What is your favorite thing to do when you're mad? Pout & kick myself, if I am at fault. Get over it, if someone else is at fault and has apologized. Get even, if someone else is at fault and failed to apologize. 19. What's the first thing you notice about the OPPOSITE sex? His eyes or his smile, unless he isn't wearing a shirt — I *love* a man with a nice chest and no shirt! 20. What do you usually order from Starbucks? I don't go to $tarbuck$ often enough to remember what I usually order there. At my regular coffee shop, though, I usually try their "flavor of the day" or one of the specialty blends. 21. Do you sleep with a stuffed animal? Yes, I sleep with one bear on a good night. On a bad night, it's two or three bears and maybe a rabbit, too. And yes, my sweetie knew about the stuffed animals when he met me. Neener, neener, neener! 22. Whats the sweetest thing the opposite sex has done for you? Loved me for who I am. 23. Do you still watch cartoons? If I were a television-a-holic, I would certainly watch cartoons. I only watch what little television He wants me to watch with Him, and then I bolt away to read, do yoga, sew, or tinker on the computer. 24. What's your fantasy? Gawd, I have so many...!!! ...um... yeah, *that* one... oh, yes... 25. Do you know who you're going to marry? After one failed marriage, I might just shack-up with my sexy man for the rest of my life. "Living in sin" is sooooooo under-rated these days. 26. Name something funny that happened to you today? I was getting dressed this morning to run some errands. Because of all the weight I lost earlier this year — yay!  — the skirt that I had planned to wear is now too big and slid right back down my legs as soon as I pulled it up. 27. Can you speak another language? Un peu, seulement un peu... 28. What's your favorite smell? Hmmm... freshly-laundered sheets is near the top of the list... patchouli incense... freshly-brewed coffee... those are all tops! © 2006 FairyWoman.com QUIZ SENT TO ME BY MY FRIEND, DORY • 11-18-2006 1. What does your MySpace name mean?    I have space...??? 2. Elaborate on your default photo.    oooooooh, pretty butterfly!!!    *chases butterfly and doesn't finish the rest of the quiz* © 2006 FairyWoman.com KEYED! • 11-16-2006 I've been keyed! Yay! He said he meant to do it long ago, but simply kept forgetting with everything else that's been going on. © 2006 FairyWoman.com       * Comment from Dona            Congratulations! Yay! ONE WORD • 11-15-2006 A game, stolen from Amy's blog... Leave a one word comment describing me. Then post this in your blog so I can do the same for you! © 2006 FairyWoman.com       * Comment from Marcie            Puuuurrrrrrfect!       * Comment from Amy            Supportive       * Comment from Asilinn            Creative       * Comment from Frank            *AWESOME*       * Comment from Scarlett            REEEEEEEEEEEEMARKABLE       * Comment from Christopher B.            Lickable       * Comment from Rose            kittilicious       * Comment from Whitney            uber caring       * Comment from Iris            Fascinating! SIMPLICITY • 11-10-2006 It is all quite simple, really. Some people make it more complicated than it has to be by interjecting hard, cold logic and rationalizing it to death. Some people make it more complicated than it has to be by interjecting warm, fluffy-happy imagination and smothering it to death. Just let it be, in its simplicity, and it will make sense. © 2006 FairyWoman.com       * Comment from David            Simple... yet profound. Some things just *ARE* ...no rhyme, no reason, they just simply are.            That's a tough lesson that's taken me half a century to come to terms with.            You're right: "Just let it be, in its simplicity, and it will make sense." IRQ ::: PRANOTTHANA • 11-09-2006 It wasn't an especially bad day, but it wasn't an especially good day, either. It was a strange day, flowing though disjointed nodes and interruptions. IRQ. Then it emerged. Pranotthana. Caught me by surprise. Kalika, waving arms, baring teeth. I struggled, but She overpowered me. Cato. Phœqœe. At first I was confused, although I'd been through it before. Each time it happens, I understand it better than before. Damn, I hate it when She catches me by surprise like that. Each time, I learn more. Each time, I am strengthened. Each time, I gain more of that primal power. "For those who believe, no explanation is necessary. For those who don't, no explanation will suffice." © 2006 FairyWoman.com JOB-HUNTING IS A JOB IN ITSELF • 11-08-2006 Job interviews suck. I would like to think that, once upon a time, honesty and a good reputation were what was required to impress an employer. In the current American business world, though, one must play "The Game" in order to be seriously considered for a position. I hate "The Game." Running out of money sucks, too, and I am awfully close to that right now. So, I am increasing the effort I have been expending in my job search. I love this area, but the job-market here is horrid — much worse than the area from which I moved last year. It has its benefits, though — gorgeous scenery, a more laid-back lifestyle than some areas, and of course, it is where I met my wonderful sweetheart as well as some other good people. This week, I have four interviews. Unfortunately, all of the positions are part-time, but each could turn into a full-time position at some point in the future. Please keep your fingers crossed that I land a position before I run out of money! © 2006 FairyWoman.com       * Comment from Amy            I'll cross my fingers, even my toes, but I refuse to cross my legs. Good luck, hon. (((HUGS))) WALLPAPER • 11-06-2006 I have always liked having a pretty picture set as the "wallpaper" on my computer's desktop, so I have collected various images over the years as well as created images of my own. As a perk to the visitors of my Web site, I have placed a few images on a special page for downloading. You can get to it from the "Games" page in the menu, or by clicking clicking here! © 2006 FairyWoman.com HAPPY NEW YEAR! • 11-01-2006 In the ancient Celtic calendar, the day that corresponds to November 1st in the Gregorian calendar was counted as the beginning of the "new year." To me, observing November 1st as the beginning of the New Year makes sense, and I have done so for several years now. For some unknown reason, it "feels" right, although I know that defies logic. Of course, counting January 1st as New Years' Day defies logic, too. The most logical date to begin a new year (in my humble opinion) would be the Winter Solstice, when the harvest work is done and we dig-in for the winter. It is during that wintertime when things begin anew — the ground is watered and fertilized by the snows and rains, seeds are digging deep into the earth for nourishment so they can sprout high in the spring, and humans enter a quiet/indoor/hibernation/introspection time that will germinate new ideas (like seeds) that will come forth in the warmer weather. Still, November 1st "feels" right, in some unexplainable way. So, I would like to wish all who read my blog a very HAPPY NEW YEAR! © 2006 FairyWoman.com HOOKED ON YOGA • 10-31-2006 In a previous blog entry (09-16), I wrote that I had begun doing Yoga. I began slowly, doing just a few minutes' worth several times a week. Each week, I have added more asanas ("postures"), increased frequency to virutally every day, and lengthened my routines to almost an hour. Now, I am hooked on this stuff! Sure, some of the asanas are strenuous to hold at first, but I am gaining flexibility where I had lost it over the years, building strength, and toning my body at the same time. There is definitely a feeling of accomplishment and a peaceful, chill-out feeling during (and after!) each session that lasts quite some time. I have gotten to the point where I look forward to doing it, rather than approaching it tentatively! There have been days when I had a stiff neck or tightness in my shoulders from stress, and yoga helped to loosen the muscles and alleviate the pain. I can feel the difference in my body afterwards, how much more freely I can move. Although this is my first serious encounter with yoga, I am no stranger to meditation, having done various forms of meditation most of my life. I usually wind-down my daily yoga practice with meditation to prolong the peaceful sensations, center-and-ground myself, and wind-down again. © 2006 FairyWoman.com MOLASSES • 10-18-2006 An online-friend who lives abroad recently asked, "What are molasses?" Molasses is a thick syrup made by squeezing the juice from sugar cane and then boiling it to thicken the syrup and help the sugars to crystallize. There was a man who made it — the old-fashioned way — just up the road from where I grew up as a child, and my parents took me up there one day to see the process. The man grew the sugar cane along a creek on his farm. He would harvest it by chopping the cane stalks at ground-level with a machete and put the stalks into a large press. He had a donkey harnessed to the press, walking in circles, and the cane juice ran out into a large vat. When the vat was full, he would build a fire under it and cook the cane juice for several hours until it thickened. When it was ready, he would place it into glass jars, seal them (like one would do when home-canning foods), and sell them. In the "Deep South" area of the USA, molasses is a staple food item that is always kept on-hand for cooking. Several recipes for cookies and cakes call for molasses, and it is good poured over hot biscuits instead of honey. In Great Britain, molasses is referred to as "treacle." Being born-and-raised a "Southern Belle" has its advantages... © 2006 FairyWoman.com HERE/THERE, NEW/OLD, PLEASE DON'T TRASH THE HOUSE • 10-14-2006 One of Don's sons is visiting him this weekend and we decided that it might be good for the two of them to have some "male bonding time" -- whatever that entails -- without a woman under foot. So, I am back at the apartment tonight with my roommate. I feels so weird being back in "my own" apartment to spend the night in my very own little bed. I love my bed. It is one of the beds that I slept on while growing up, an old four-poster bed with lots of character. This will be the first night in five months that I have slept on it and not in his bed, and I know that I will miss him. I sleep so much better when He is there, even if we have rolled-over to our own little spots and aren't even touching. It also feels strange knowing that I have halfway moved in with him, and most of my clothes, my stereo, my incense, many of my books, much of my music, and such are over *there* instead of here. My computer is there, too. his computer is on the fritz, so I took my primary computer (i.e., the faster of the two I have) over there for us to use while his is being fixed. Right now, I am using my secondary computer, an older, slower PC that still has Windows '98 on it, believe it or not! Even "older & slower" is okay because it is keeping me online tonight, so I am happy! His house feels like my own now. He has seemed to enjoy having me (and all my junk) around, and he has let me do things to the house to add my own touch and make it more comfy for the two of us. He has even let me rearrange furniture , hang things on the wall, set up an altar and meditation space, and so forth. So, yeah, it feels like *my* house... *our* house. So, I am looking at this weekend as a little "vacation" of sorts, staying in a new/old bed in a new/old apartment and having my bedroom all to myself. Tomorrow, I might just snuggle-up in the bed and read for hours, something I haven't done in a long time. Well, I usually read a bit every day, but it has been a long time since I had an all-day read-a-thon in a quiet, peaceful setting. It will be interesting to hear what the menfolk have been up to this weekend, and I hope they have a good visit! ...and I hope the "male bonding" ritual does not trash the house! © 2006 FairyWoman.com       * Comment from Asilinn            Awwww. Isn't that precious? You think they're going to be picking up after themselves!       * Comment from Katrina            That's a wonderful sign! I'm happy for you and how things are settling and becoming! Congrats! HONKING AND SCHLUFFING • 10-12-2006 I heard them about two or three weeks ago, perhaps. Unmistakable, right at twilight. Then again the next morning right after dawn. Then a couple of days later at mid-morning. We must be right in the flight path of the migrating geese. The nip of autumn's approaching has been in the air for a while now — maybe as much as a month — but I have not seen any leaves changing colors. Until today. Wow. It is almost like ~zing!~ overnight all the leaves start changing at once. Autumn. The slight nip of coolness in the air, bringing snuggly sweaters, tights, and boots out of storage. The gorgeous hues of the dying leaves, schluffed off from the trees. The lifting of the muggy "haze" of summer which allows more stars to shine brightly in the sky at night. Crisp apples being more plentiful in the stores, and at much better prices than earlier in the year. Squash. Pumpkins. Colorful things, mimicking the colors of the leaves. One last, "Hurrah!" of Mother Nature before the quiet hibernation of winter arrives. © 2006 FairyWoman.com       * Comment from Marcie            mmmm... i absolutely LOVE this time of year       * Comment from Katrina            Autumn is my favourite time of the year. It's when the world is it's most beautiful —            the decay right before the silence of winter. I miss being up north... BUFFALO AND OSTRICH, OH, MY! • 10-08-2006 A girlfriend came over for dinner tonight. She brought a male friend along — who is just a friend, not a romantic interest, but I think the two of them would make a great couple. She and her friend have always made a conscious effort to eat in a healthy manner, and they are eating low-fat foods at present. They brought over some buffalo meat and ostrich meat, both of which are very lean. Neither my guy nor I had tried it before, and we enjoyed the experience. After dinner, she and I slipped off to the bedroom for some private girl-talk, and then we rejoined the menfolk for more socializing and some drumming. Time spent with friends is awesome. It was a lovely evening, ending in some cuddle-time for my man & me after our friends left. © 2006 FairyWoman.com MOTORCYCLE MAMA • 10-05-2006 I got an email from one of my girlfriends in Florida. Today, she passed the Motorcycle Safety Course (MSC) that will put her on the road — yeah, pun intended  — to becoming a Motorcycle Mama! She is hoping to own her own motorcyle soon and let her Free Spirit run wild. I am so happy for her! She looks like such a natural on that bike, eh?!?!? Whoo hooo, way to go, Patti! © 2006 FairyWoman.com THE SILENCE OF A KISS • 10-03-2006 I was harping about something to my boyfriend. In mid-sentence, he grabbed me around the waist and pulled me to him in one quick motion. He growled playfully, "Shut up, woman!" and silenced me with a big, juicy kiss. The stuff trashy romance novels are made of! Whoo hooo! *swoon* © 2006 FairyWoman.com       * Comment from Whitney            I love trashy romance novels. They keep me sane.       * Comment from Amy            Nice!!!!!!!!!       * Comment from Nicola            Yummmmmy!!!!       * Comment from Dorothy            What a yummy visual!       * Comment from Asilinn            Uhm...how come I didn't get to witness any of *that* when I was staying there? *pouts*            I demand a repeat performance!       * Comment from KittyGirl            Requests for repeat performances will be honored, and you are all invited to submit            requests! However, the requests must be made in person... HORNS DOWN, AUTUMN TAKES HER THRONE • 09-30-2006 Because of rain, we were unable to have a special Drum Circle last weekend to celebrate the Autumn Equinox, so it was postponed until this weekend. The weather cooperated and we had the Drum Circle — yay! — although not many people attended. Those of us that were present had fun, though, and drummed on top of a knoll with a gorgeous view of the Appalachian Mountains looming around us, literally, on all sides. Due to rain towards the northeast and the sun setting in the west, there was a lovely partial rainbow gracing the sky for a while, and the First Quarter Moon in Capricorn was hanging in the southeastern sky. Capricorn is the sign of the Goat, and the drumheads were goatskin. Horns down, full speed ahead into Autumn. In one song, Inanna suggests: "Let go, let goat!" Drumming is "church" to me. © 2006 FairyWoman.com       * Comment from Rose            "...Drumming is like church..."  I totally understand that sentiment            I am glad you got to have your Circle. ~ Happy Autumn ~ PLAGARISM OF A DESCRIPTION • 09-25-2006 I was reading the blog of my friend, Nicola, a few minutes ago, and she was describing the status quo of her relationship with her man. Her words mirror exactly how I feel right now with my guy: "I feel so fortunate to have met him. We have a wonderful balance of friends, lovers and partners in our relationship. He has restored my faith and hope for the future and I look forward so much to many many more days and nights with him. I am a very lucky girl. Yeah, that says it pretty darned well!  Yay for us — her & S.G., and Don & I! © 2006 FairyWoman.com       * Comment from Nicola            the sincerest form of flattery I am honoured to be plagarised by you, kitty!            Yay is right!! life is pretty darned good HAPPY AUTUMN EQUINOX! • 09-23-2006 There was supposed to be a Drum Circle tonight to celebrate the Autumn Equinox, but we were rained out. *pout*  Perhaps we can do it a week from tonight, instead.   to everyone! © 2006 FairyWoman.com 51, OMG! • 09-21-2006 Thanks to many friends/family who emailed, called, and posted rememberances — and my wonderful man — my birthday was fun and exciting! Don took me out to eat (seafood! yum!), bought me a couple of books that I wanted, and we spent a fun afternoon blasting about the countryside in his car with the sunroof & windows open. It was a lovely day and a romantic evening! Among all the birthday greetings was an email from my friend Karla, who makes the most stunning photographs during her hikes through the mountains. At right is her photographic gift to me from this year, an image made on the slopes of Sam's Knob which I wanted to share with everyone who reads my blog. Thank you for the beautiful photo, Karla! It is amazing to me that I am 51 years old young now. Wow. Sheesh. Wow. © 2006 FairyWoman.com       * Comment from L235            Happy B-Day! Honey, you look fabulous for 51! I'm happy you had a wonderful birthday       * Comment from FeistyChick            CHOLESTEROL IS UNDER CONTROL! • 09-19-2006 As my wonderful stalkers are aware , I was placed on a diet on May 4th because of high cholesterol and high blood pressure. After changing my eating habits for the past four months, I had blood drawn two weeks ago to see if meds were necessary, or if diet-plus-exercise could bring my numbers back into line. Today was the day I got my lab results back, and my change of eating habits *DID* bring my cholesterol levels back towards the good! Whoo hooo! Here are the results:   Sep 2006 May 2006  Ideal  Triglycerides 167 195  less than 500mg/dL  Cholesterol 193 283  less than 200mg/dL  Cholesterol, LDL 128 209  less than 130mg/dL  Cholesterol, HDL  32  35  more than 40mg/dL The only disappointment was that my "good" cholesterol (HDL) *should* have *increased* since I have been exercising, but it dropped by three points. As good as the other numbers are, however, I am not complaining, believe me...!!! My blood pressure was also good at 120/80, and I had lost 10 more pounds since the doctor last saw me! I am so psyched! Yippppppppeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! © 2006 FairyWoman.com       * Comment from V.S.            Congratulations! That is fantastic!!! Like you, mine was high (218) and dr's orders,            was put on Lipitor to lower it.. gave me massive headaches. Taken off meds and now watch            meals and try to exercise (as best as I can) and.... I honestly have a bowl of oatmeal every am.            Mine went from 218 to 130! Congrats hun and continued wellness to you!       * Comment from KittyGirl            CONGRATS to you also for lowering your cholesterol, V.S.! Yay! I do the            oatmeal-thing, too — maybe we should compare our other foods sometime!       * Comment from Nicola            awesome!! What fantastic news! Congratulations!       * Comment from FeistyChick            congratulations and hooray for you! you're a rockstar babe — thats greatness.       * Comment from Tammy            Many Congratulations are in order. First your one year anniversary. Good for you on            lowering your cholesterol. Keep up the GREAT work sweetie!       * Comment from Scarlett            Bravo! , I'm so happy for you. YOGA • 09-16-2006 A couple of years ago, I considered starting a daily yoga routine. I bought an inexpensive book on yoga, but never became motivated-enough to do dig very deeply into a practice. A few arm exercises were mentioned that help to relieve the pains of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (which I had had mildly experienced on occasion) and I tried them — with success! — but that was all the "yoga" that I did at the time. Perhaps I did not go further with it because of laziness, or perhaps it is because I tend to be so interested in everything that my attentions (and intentions) were easily distracted from focusing on yet another activity every day. When I began walking around the neighborhood for exercise to lower my cholesterol, weight, and blood pressure, I knew I needed to "warm up" my muscles prior to a power-walk. So, I pulled the yoga book off the shelf and began doing several "hamstring stretches" just before each walk. Still, that was all the "yoga" I was doing at the time, but I was seeing almost immediate results from my daily walks and began to soften to the commitment of a daily yoga routine. So, today it started. I know it is probably "best" to learn yoga in-person from another human being rather than a book. I know myself well-enough, however, to know that I might back-away from this if I have to meet with someone on a particular day at a particular time in a particular place just to do it. I am also operating under financial constraints right now and don't want to spend money needlessly just to attend classes or hire an instructor. Lastly, I am enough of a perfectionist that I will be as hard on myself — or perhaps harder — than a yoga instructor would be. So, armed with yoga book, I carefully memorized a couple of yoga postures along with their structure and intent, and began moving from one-to-the-other and back again. I will take things slow and easy at first, and perhaps add one or two additional postures to the routine every couple of days. The diet, combined with all the walking I've been doing, has helped me to be slimmer and look better than I have in years, but I still have a little bit of weight to lose in my tummy-area. Hopefully, the yoga practice will help me to lose that little bit of excess weight and tone the abdominal muscles so that I can completely regain the waistline I had in my younger days! © 2006 FairyWoman.com PLAYING CATSUP/CATCH-UP • 09-12-2006 Random recent happenings... Said goodbye to an amazing friend who passed away recently. It helped to spend some time recently at her place, with her True Love and a few close friends. The loss of her still hurts, but that weekend took the edge off the hurt, at least for me; I hope it helped the others in the same way. Looks like I established a couple more friendships that weekend, which I know would make Wendy happy. My diet & exercise is ongoing, but the weight-loss has stopped for now, although I do not know why. Perhaps it is another damned plateau, where my body is "rearranging" itself for another plunge in poundage and inches. This has been the longest stalemate in the weight-loss so far. At least I *do* look better than I have in years, even though there are still a few more pounds to go. Last week, I had blood drawn after an overnight "fast" to see if my cholesterol levels have improved, but I won't be able to get the results for another week. I am still being careful with what I eat (for the most part), but I did indulge in a couple of things -- my first serving of popcorn since starting the diet (wow, was it good!) and Don wanted pizza one night, so I agreed and had some, too! Now, it is back to the grind of trying to get these last few pounds to go away!   Don and I recently celebrated our one year anniversary together! All the other happenings since my last blog entry have been small compared to these. Anyway, I guess I am "caught-up" again, for now. © 2006 FairyWoman.com       * Comment from Frank            (((Hugs)))       * Comment from Scarlett            HAPPY 1ST! ,WISHING FOR MANY MANY MORE NEW SITE, NEW BODY • 08-06-2006 It has beem over a month since my last entry... If you have been visiting my site for a while, you will see that it has been redesigned and looks much better than the antiquated (but once state-of-the art) design looked. If anyone sees a problem with the new design, please let me know! Dietwise, my weight-loss has slowed down. I am not sure if it is another one of those plateaus where my body is "moving stuff around" to look better, or if something else is happening. I can't really complain, though, because I have lost five more pounds since my last blog entry, and I am so much closer to my goal (see image at right)! Whoo hooo!  · for details of my diet plan, click here ·  © 2006 FairyWoman.com HAPPINESS IS... • 06-29-2006 ...having people notice that I have lost weight without my first telling them ...digging pretty clothes out of the back of the closet and being able to wear them again -- and look good in them ...not being so embarrassed about my weight around other people © 2006 FairyWoman.com       * Comment from J.G.            AWESOME!!! absolutely awesome, kitty!!! keep up the good work. DOWN FROM THE PLATEAU • 06-24-2006 The plateau has ended! Since beginning the diet, I have lost a total of 23 pounds, just one pound shy of what I weighed ten years ago! What a rush! Even more exciting is this: When I moved-away from Florida early last year, I weighed even more than I did when I started this diet... I somehow managed to lose ten whole pounds -- without really trying -- between the time I arrived in Tennessee and the time I began the diet. So, I now weigh about 35 pounds less than I did since I've seen the dear friends whom I left behind in Florida! Whoo hooo! If I can lose another six pounds, I will be at the weight I was in college. If possible, though, I would like to lose even more, and get back to what I weighed in High School. © 2006 FairyWoman.com       * Comment from Frank            I was thinking at this rate, in 163 days you will dissapear, and that my friend will be a very            sad day for us. BTW a big hug from both of us. Congrats.       * Comment from Scarlett            That's amazing, I'm so happy and proud for you.       * Comment from KittyGirl            Frank, your comment about my disappearing really made me giggle! PLATEAU • 06-14-2006 Plateaus suck, especially if they happen during a diet. I lost three more pounds since my last blog entry, for a total of 20 pounds lost since starting the diet. Yay! However, for the past several days in a row, I have been stuck at the same weight. I have not changed my eating habits, and have also gradually been increasing my daily walks so that I am up to 3-4 miles every day now. Some folks who have dieted before tell me that occasional dietary plateaus are common, but they still suck, none-the-less. A recent checkup at my doctor's office, however, indicated that my blood pressure is significantly lower! Yay, again! I guess watching my sodium intake carefully has paid-off! My doctor & nursing staff were very pleased with the lower blood pressure and my weight-loss. Now, if I can just get off this plateau and melt some more of the extra pounds, it will be lovely! © 2006 FairyWoman.com       * Comment from Nicola            Yes, although they do suck, they happen, so don't be discouraged, Kitty. You are doing            so well and should be proud of yourself! We are!       * Comment from F.D.            well done on the weight loss, kitty            you know you're still working hard at it so don't sweat the pound loss too much. It'll happen FAT BE GONE! • 05-31-2006 Today, amazingly, is the 28th day that I've been on this diet. In some respects, it seems longer, yet in some respects, it seems like only yesterday I started. Anyway, as of today... I have lost a total of 17 pounds so far! Yay, me! The weight-loss is beginning to show, too, I think -- my tummy isn't so big (although there are still more inches/pounds to lose), my arms and legs seem a teensy bit smaller in diameter, and my face isn't quite so full as it was. At this rate, I will be a new woman in no time! Whoo hooo! There are still issues with tiredness (probably due to the reduced calorie intake), and often I simply have to force myself to get up and do things. This is something I've never had a problem with, so it is a very new feeling and is the pits. Thankfully, some of the constant tireness seems to be fading a bit from what it was like at the beginning of the diet. Or perhaps I am getting used to the reduced energy-level, who knows...?!?!? Knowing that I need to exercise, I have forced myself -- even through my tiredness -- to take a walk around the neighborhood for the past few mornings. There are still times, too, when I feel ravenous and have to exercise a heckuva lot of self-control not to eat everything in sight. I am proud to say that I have not really "cheated" on the diet so far except for eating an extra piece of fruit one day over what I was "supposed" to have, a handful of unsalted peanuts another day, and one small "personal" size pizza once when we were out at dinnertime recently (but that was at a mostly-vegetarian restaurant that had a very health-conscious menu, if that gives me any reprieve). So, it is full steam ahead! Stand back, folks, 'cause there is a more slender person bursting out of this fat ol' body! © 2006 FairyWoman.com       * Comment from J.G.            YAY, Kitty!!! Way to go!       * Comment from Scarlett            AWESOME! You are doing a terrific job and deserve plenty of praise and            rewards — go buy some new clothes!       * Comment from KittyGirl            Thanks, ladies! I am going to have to get some new clothes soon because the old ones            won't fit any more! TWO MORE POUNDS • 05-26-2006 Although it has only been 2 or 3 days since I stepped on a scale, I decided to do it again, just for kicks. I had lost another couple of pounds! Yay! Before I went on this diet, I did not *want* to look at that horrid, spinning, red needle. But finding out how much I had lost when I weighed earlier this week was such a rush, I want to keep weighing myself over-and-over. I do not want to become obsessive about the scales like some women are, though. *must keep a watch on that* © 2006 FairyWoman.com       * Comment from J.G.            i understand that totally. but i try to foce myself not to weigh more than 1 time a week,            cuz the body flucuates from day to day. it can become an obsession. but YAY YOU!!!! LOSING WEIGHT! • 05-23-2006 I stepped on a scale today at my boyfriend's house and his scale is showing that I weigh ten pounds less than my last-recorded weight at the doctor's office. He says there might be a four-pound discrepancy in the reading on the scale, though, but even that would indicate six pounds lost! Ten pounds? Six pounds? Who cares, any weight lost right now is great news to me! Even without the high cholesterol problem, I don't want to be a fat chick any more! Yay! © 2006 FairyWoman.com       * Comment from Scarlett            that is wonderful news, I knew it was in you to lose.       * Comment from Jerry            Congratulations, good to see someone can loose... AVERAGE=910 • 05-22-2006 I am well into my third week of the diet, and things are getting a little easier. There is a lot of conflicting information about nutrition which is truly maddening, but things are slowly coming together, I think. The day I started the diet, I really did not know what I was doing and only managed to eat 518 calories the entire day. My best day so far (a couple of days ago), I managed to reach 1330. My average daily intake, however, is still 910 calories. Everyone is telling me that is a *much* lower figure than I "should" be eating, yet I am following the guidelines which the nutritionist gave me. I am doing okay, though, as far as I know now. Sure, there are days when I stay hungry all the time, but that is normal for many diets, from what I have heard. I've had several cravings, too, but have not given in to them -- I have surprised myself with my will-power. I just hope it holds up over the long-haul. I have not cheated by eating any sweets or bad foods at all! The only things I have "cheated" on was eating one additional fruit one day (which was an accident) and eating five ounces of meat one day instead of my allotted 4 ounces of meat. I figure if those are the only things I've done wrong so far, it isn't that bad. © 2006 FairyWoman.com       * Comment from Frank            You — be careful and good luck! BREAKING 1300 • 05-14-2006 On two separate days last week, I managed to eat more than 1200 calories without breaking my diet, but it was rather difficult. I was very proud of myself for accomplishing that! Yesterday, I ate just over 1300 calories, but had to eat one additional serving of fruit over what was allowed to do it. I don't know if it was a bad thing that I ate a third fruit that I was not supposed to eat, or whether it was better that I came closer to the 1500-to-1800-per-day calorie range that the doctor & nutritionist want me to eat. I am still so frikking confused about this diet and what I am supposed to do. *sigh* © 2006 FairyWoman.com WITHDRAWAL • 05-13-2006 48 hours without the Internet, and we got a totally different story every time we called about it. Have I ever mentioned that I hate ComCast? © 2006 FairyWoman.com BREAKING 1000 • 05-09-2006 I was finally able to eat over 1000 calories yesterday without breaking the guidelines of my diet! Yay! I ate 1031, to be exact. That is still *way* short of where I should be, but hey -- it is progress! © 2006 FairyWoman.com       * Comment from Scarlett            Keep up the good work! INTERESTING DIET DILEMMA • 05-08-2006 I have been following the cholesterol-lowering diet for four days now and find something interesting happening. The nutritionist said that a 50-year-old woman who is 5'8" tall should be eating between 1500-1800 calories per day in order to lower cholesterol, lower blood-pressure, and lower weight. Although I am eating the portions she suggested (three one-cup servings of raw veggies per day, and so forth through rest of the food groups), I am falling short of the calorie-intake goal. Each day thus far, I have been under 1000 calories. Diets are weird! *scampers off to do more research* © 2006 FairyWoman.com GETTING USED TO IT? I HOPE! • 05-07-2006 Well, the first day of the diet was horrible, but the next day wasn't quite so bad, and today seems a little better. I still have a headache that eases-off periodically and then comes back, and some unexplainable, "dull aches" in my arms & legs, but the "hungry-all-the-time" feelings are beginning to subside a little bit. Although told that I should give up what few sweets I eat, I became excited about the possibility of sugar-free, fat-free pudding as an alternative! Yay! However, reading the package, it is *loaded* with sodium, which is something I need to limit because of my elevated blood pressure. Sheesh! The dieting world desperately needs a food that has zero calories, zero fat, zero carbs, zero sugar, and zero sodium. Someone get right on that, puh-lease! © 2006 FairyWoman.com       * Comment from Rose            Water — although not a "food" — might come close to meeting all your specifications.            I am glad you are listening to your doctors, many people get information and then discard.            Kudos and strength to you.       * Comment from KittyGirl            Thank you! And I will check into this "water" of which you speak... 283...??? OMFG...! • 05-05-2006 Most of my life, I have made a conscious effort (without going unduly overboard) to eat properly. When I cook, it is usually a meat (with preference to fish, chicken, and pork over red meats), one starchy item (like rice, potato, corn, etc...) and one non-starchy veggie. Sweets are eaten in moderation except for the occasional stress-induced binge. The doctor told me this week, however, that my cholesterol level was a whopping 283. Both of my parents have had problems with cholesterol in the past, so hereditary factors might be partially to blame. At any rate, it has to come down to a more normal level. The doctor set an appointment for me with a nutritionist, who seemed basically impressed by my food choices. She suggested the lowering of my caloric intake by eating smaller portions, reducing my salt-intake, switching from my usual 2% milk to skim milk, refraining from using stick-margerine or shortening when cooking, limiting eggs to two per week, eliminating sweets, and other similar suggestions. After being on this plan for four months, my cholesterol levels will be checked again. If they are still high, then medication might be necessary; if the levels are acceptable, then I will probably be on this diet for the rest of my life as a maintenance precaution. It has been almost 24 hours since I started this diet, and I am having a bit of trouble adjusting to it. I suppose that is to be expected, though. Immediately after eating supper last night, I washed the few dishes that were in the sink, took out the trash, and then had to sit down and rest before doing anything else because I felt like I had run a marathon. Taking the laundry basket downstairs and putting a load of wash into the machine left me with almost no energy to climb the steps again (I had to stop halfway up to rest a moment). I also had trouble concentrating on the simplest things, and felt somewhat nauseous and dizzy right before bedtime. I am not used to feeling like this -- I have always had *plenty* of energy! -- and hope that I can adjust quickly to the change in eating habits. It is hard enough having to weigh/measure portions of food so carefully, and do the math to try to balance fats -versus- carbs -versus- sodium -versus- calories! Sheesh! As you can probably guess, I've never had to be on a diet before, so this is a totally new experience. Please keep your fingers crossed that things settle down soon! © 2006 FairyWoman.com       * Comment from Nicola            sending you good thoughts! SUCH A BLUR • 05-04-2006 The past few months have been such a blur. I intentionally did not blog for a while because my boyfriend, Don, has become such an integral part of my life and I did not want to risk cheapening what we have together by airing everything in public. There has been plenty else to blog about, but I have been admittedly lazy. So there. The past few months have blended into quite a blur. A mostly-comfortable blur, mind you, but still a blur. Time with "him." Job searching. Drum Circles. Setting up a business-related Web site for a dear friend. Setting up a personal Web site for another dear friend. Accompanying my roommate to doctor appointments. Sewing. Beading. Reading. Going to job interviews. Making a bazillion trips to storage where all my clothes, books, and sundry possessions are. Making seven trips down the interstate to Morristown, Knoxville, and Nashville in a two-month timeframe. Getting car repaired after road-damage from two of those trips. After a year-and-a-half of emails and phone calls, finally getting to meet my online friend, Aly, in person! Having the wonderful experience of meeting eight other online friends in person, and getting to spend quality time with them! Jumping through hoops in the medical system to try to get back on the meds I so desperately need (and still don't have yet). Attending jazz & blues concerts. Lots of stuff... ~•~and so, life continues~•~ and perhaps, so will this blog. © 2006 FairyWoman.com       * Comment from Rose            You have had some fun...I love drum circles. I also like the pretty changes to your Web site.       * Comment from Scarlett            Well I'm happy for your happiness and share your frustrations.            Keep on blogging please, because we care for you.       * Comment from Nicola            I am so glad that you are so happy and very glad that you are blogging again —            i have missed your insights and thoughts.