Subscribers Feeds H to M
cry wolf!
(exploring a night-time dream)
so, what is it you need to explore, to talk about today? i ask as we both settle in over tea in my consulting room...she seems blunt, almost angry, eyes fierce...at me? i insecurely wonder, silently to myself, of course, hiding behind my doctor's degree...it couldn't be about me, could it? i am the therapist, sorta good, sometimes, i think, i hope...a client angry at me? anchor yourself, i say to me in my head...oh yeah, it is her session, i silently remember...she's offering a sacred projection...
then she blurts out: i want to be able to live without always having to have a man in my life!...oh my, it is about me, sorta, cause i am a man and she hired me, a man, to help her live without a man! oh, the necessary twists and turns of deep psychotherapy...she's brave to say this, certainly desperate...and angry, very angry, which she needs to be for the battle to save her soul...we reflect on previous sessions...how this has been her major theme, her goal...
you want to be able to live without always needing a man? especially the kind of man that you have often had...who end up being losers ( i am kinda blunt, too)...and you end up hurting and disappointed...yes, she firmly states...and we are silent for a while...
somehow, somewhere in this space of wondering...i ask if she has remembered any dreams...well, yes, just the other night i had one...it was stupid and weird...i was with my nephew (she deeply loves her troubled teenage nephew and often is the only adult in his life who truly "sees" him)...and we were in this house and we were looking out the window and we see a wolf running across the pasture toward our house and it kills our dog, rips it, and then it just runs off, back across the pasture...then my nephew and i are suddenly in a camper somewhere, camping in the mountains...we are with a person from work, a friend of mine who is always funny...and my nephew and i are getting ready to go to denver to the airport to take a trip...and that's it...that's the dream!
is this one dream? i wonder, or, as often happens, as dreams get jumbled together in our waking world, is this two separate dreams? no, it is the same dream, she says firmly and with a smile...h-h-h-m-m-m, weird, i agree...
i reflect and project...sometimes wild animals in dreams are about our wild untamed side...and domestic animals are about, well, our domestic side (i'm so brilliantly obvious)...do you dream about wolves often, about animals? no, never...see how weird it was, she says...and this wolf just rips, kills your dog?...and just runs off? yep...
i'm thinking/projecting/wondering...and the camper in the mountains... and going on a trip...this dream is so seemingly disconnected...and yet it has come to you to help you...wild...angry...killing...domestic...camping...do you go camping in waking life? no, never...well, i would sometimes if i was involved with a man and he wanted to...
ohhh, if he wanted to...
we keep reflecting... the word "adventure" comes to me in a kind of weird, pre-concsious way... why?... and what is it about this seemingly cruel wolf killing her dog and just running off? why would a wolf kill a dog?...
how do you have adventure, you know, have fun? well, i don't...i just work and go home, sometimes i go out with my girl friends, never go out alone...i'd go on some trips if the man i was with wanted to, but i'd never go alone...
wow! you never would go on a trip alone? without a man?
no.
so, you want to live your life without always needing a man? and this untamed wild, independent wolf side of you comes and kills your tame, dependent domestic side?
and, when the domestic, dependent side is killed, you are suddenly on a camping adventure with people you love and admire...you are free to take a trip, to fly away...without a man...
h-h-m-mm, nuff said.
Well, yesterday was fun! I attended a funeral in the morning, rushed to the airport and hopped a plane to Heathrow, grabbed the express train to Paddington Station, where I met up with the lovely tysolna . We proceeded to get me organized with day tickets for the tube and trains while I am here and, then headed to Soho to meet up with a few British knitters who had organized a dinner meet-up for some of us out-of-towners. It was great! Good food and great company! Pictures will be posted when I have a minute to breathe. You see, this morning, tysolna and I are headed off to I Knit Day, where we will meet up with more knitters, buy yarn and generally have a great time! BTW, idahoswede , she got me here just fine. I really appreciate you letting me take over your place for the weekend. I'm sure, however, that you are enjoying yourself in Italy just as much as I am enjoying myself here! I left pressies on your dresser! TTFN
Whether you agree with the message or not, you have to admit it’s powerful. This is the artwork of Emily Duffy, a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley, CA and a friend of mine.
Go to her site and read the description and look at the detailed pictures. She’s put a lot of thought [...]
she's quite and gentle, almost unassuming, as she slowly describes moments of her early childhood...she silently weeps as she remembers the loneliness of being youngest child in a large family...living on a dairy farm in a region of the country that is not known for its dairy farms, an oddity in itself...but the little farm made it, day after day, gallon after gallon...and she, along with her sisters and mom and dad worked hard as only dairy folks know...the farm wasn't her family's, it was rented...her family living on this land, working the cattle, struggling to make any profit for the owner and for her family was difficult... poverty, always just one sick cow away...but, what she remembers most is not the hard work or the hot summer days or the 4am milking in the dead of winter...she remembers being so lonely...the family rules, you know...the unwritten, unspoken rules in the air we breathe...more powerful than any stone-carved commandment...thou shalt not reveal deep feelings of your soul...keep quiet, thou shalt not weep...never let anyone see your pain...do not be real...you will be humiliated by your sisters, criticized, tormented...and scolded by your mother...lonely, normal, secret pain...except, her father...not there very often, always working somewhere...but, he delighted in her, his youngest child...always giving her a tiny bit of special attention...a smile, a private moment, a bit of protection from the harsh elements of the air around her, from the constant ridicule of her older ones...she misses him most...and in the world of unspoken rules, she could never tell him and he could never ask why this little quiet one was so quiet...
she remembers being so little and curious...poverty meant few clothes, fewer toys...isolation...so, she found ways to play...so curious and inventive...that old jar of buttons mom always kept to use to do the obvious repair of third-hand clothing...her tiny hands lifting the large jar, spilling out the buttons on the floor...gazing, studying, touching, spreading the buttons...making a world of friends, button friends...and they visited with each other...the red ones, the grey ones, the white ones...they looked like families, some all alike, some big, some little...some broken, some chipped...so fun!...buttons to swirl and spin...and to talk to...yes, to talk to...like friends, family, secret family...and there was one...one button...a different kind of button than all the rest...an odd shaped button...like me, she thought...and odd button...feeling different, out of place, set apart, alone, odd...holding the odd-shaped button, fingering its shape, grasping, knowing what it feels...
can odd be re-formed into lovely? can odd be trans-formed into unique? can different be admired? can a button be a mirror of a soul?
button, button, who's got the button...?
So, I've had some recent questions via e-mail and anonymous comments on the blog, which I thought I would address today. 1. Still no help from the Swedish Health Care system for your knees? Well, I've had a little bit of help and advice to walk, walk, walk. Problem is, it's difficult to walk when your knees hurt or don't move the way they should. In any case, a referral was sent in, at my request (the doctor didn't feel it was necessary and that I was too young for knee replacement surgery), in late March to see an Orthopedic doctor. I received a letter shortly after that stating the wait was 8 months, so I still have 3½ months left to wait. In the meantime, I have been to the physical therapist for "Hip School" (they combined those with both knee and hip problems into one class) where we discussed exercises and how to move, etc. I have another appointment with the Physical Therapy Department to discuss joining a group that does aerobic exercise in their pool a few times per week. I have the okay from my boss to participate. He says that he needs me around for another 15 years, so my health is important. My next appointment/evaluation is Sept. 9th. 2. Sock war things, how many are you in? How do they work? I was in 2 competitions over the summer. The first is Sock Wars III, where, as of this writing, I am still in the land of the living. The second is Death By Socks 4. I did, in fact, die just last week after being stuck by a lovely pair of red socks knit with wool yarn from Columbia. But I did take 4 other warriors with me before I bit the big one! These competitions work like a chain. People sign up and are put onto a list which is then sorted by the organizer of the event in whatever manner they choose (often alphabetically by name or country or e-mail or whatever suits their fancy), then a sock pattern is release on a specified day and every one must knit the same pattern to "kill" the person (knit to the their target's size) below their name on the list. So, say 5 people signed up (Audrey, Betty, Christine, Debra and Eleanor) and they were put on the list in alphabetical order, they would kill each other like this: Audrey>Betty>Christine>Debra>Eleanor>Audrey (full circle). If Betty knits and mails socks to Christine, before Audrey sends Betty her socks, the moment Christine opens the package, she is dead. She immediately stops knitting her socks for Debra (who can knit when they are dead, anyway?), pulls waste yarn/string through the stitches that are still on the needles and mails them off to her assassin, Betty. Betty then continues where Christine left off on Debra's socks, all the while hoping that Audrey is a slow knitter or has also been killed by her assassin, Eleanor. Get it? In Sock Wars III, I have already killed 4 people and #5's socks are on the way to the USA. Who knows, maybe she died today! One can hope! In the meantime, my latest assassin (the lady who killed my original assassin), has informed me that my socks are all but done. She was killed last week, and said that the "knitting" on my socks was done, but she was still grafting the toes closed and would mail them to me as soon as she was done. My interpretation of the rules of the game is that she should send the uncompleted socks the person that killed her, even if all that was left was the toe grafting, but who am I to complain, I've lived for months and have killed 4, soon-to-be 5 people. In other news, the moving went fine, even though I couldn't carry things. I manned the back of the truck, stacking boxes and stuff, so that we could fit it all in. There was a little bit of a worry that we wouldn't be able to get it all unloaded and get the truck back on time. But, in the end H's friends, J and P, came to the rescue and the 3 of them unloaded the truck in 15 minutes (much easier when you are on the ground floor vs. the 3rd floor you moved from and that you could easily back up to the back patio/sunroom door to unload!) and we returned the truck with 5 minutes to spare. Then, there is a little trip I am taking this coming weekend. I will be attending "I Knit London Day" in London of all places! I am leaving on Friday afternoon and not returning until Monday evening. I had hoped to spend some time with idahoswede, but she will be away in Italy, attending her boss' wedding. However, she has kindly offered me the use of her flat while I am in town. I will also get to meet tysolna, who, I understand, is a fellow knitter. tysolna will be meeting me at the train and getting me settled in the flat. I have talked her into joining me Friday evening for dinner with some of the other out of town knitters who are arriving for Saturday's big event. I have also gotten her a ticket for I Knit Day, including entrance to hear the infamous Yarn Harlot speak. Then Sunday, more of us are meeting at the Victoria and Albert Museum to see the textile/lace exhibit and sit in the café to talk and knit. Not sure what I will do on Monday, but I'm sure that I will figure out something to do before my airplane leaves in the evening. I am really looking forward to the weekend!
The Commission on Appraisal’s draft revision of the Unitarian Universalist principles is available here. (Click through to the “Article II Draft” pdf or take the survey.)Â I read it last night and had a few first impressions:
1. The Sources section now sounds like a book report on Unitarian Universalism. And not a good book report. [...]
Grattis på födeseldagen! Happy Birthday to peachekeen!!
This looked like too much fun to pass up! Blame Katydid Knits!The Omnivore’s Hundred Here’s a chance for a little interactivity for all the bloggers out there. Below is a list of 100 things that I think every good omnivore should have tried at least once in their life. The list includes fine food, strange food, everyday food and even some pretty bad food - but a good omnivore should really try it all. Don’t worry if you haven’t, mind you; neither have I, though I’ll be sure to work on it. Don’t worry if you don’t recognise everything in the hundred, either; Wikipedia has the answers. Here’s what I want you to do: 1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.
4) Optional extra: Post a comment here at www.verygoodtaste.co.uk linking to your results.
The VGT Omnivore’s Hundred: 1. Venison2. Nettle tea 3. Huevos rancheros 4. Steak tartare 5. Crocodile 6. Black pudding 7. Cheese fondue8. Carp 9. Borscht 10. Baba ghanoush 11. Calamari 12. Pho 13. PB&J sandwich14. Aloo gobi 15. Hot dog from a street cart 16. Epoisses 17. Black truffle 18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes 19. Steamed pork buns20. Pistachio ice cream21. Heirloom tomatoes 22. Fresh wild berries23. Foie gras 24. Rice and beans25. Brawn, or head cheese 26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper 27. Dulce de leche 28. Oysters 29. Baklava30. Bagna cauda 31. Wasabi peas32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl 33. Salted lassi 34. Sauerkraut35. Root beer float36. Cognac with a fat cigar 37. Clotted cream tea 38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O 39. Gumbo40. Oxtail 41. Curried goat 42. Whole insects 43. Phaal 44. Goat’s milk 45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more 46. Fugu 47. Chicken tikka masala 48. Eel 49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut50. Sea urchin 51. Prickly pear 52. Umeboshi 53. Abalone 54. Paneer 55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal56. Spaetzle 57. Dirty gin martini 58. Beer above 8% ABV 59. Poutine 60. Carob chips61. S’mores62. Sweetbreads 63. Kaolin 64. Currywurst 65. Durian 66. Frogs’ legs 67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake68. Haggis 69. Fried plantain 70. Chitterlings, or andouillette 71. Gazpacho72. Caviar and blini 73. Louche absinthe 74. Gjetost, or brunost75. Roadkill 76. Baijiu 77. Hostess Fruit Pie78. Snail 79. Lapsang souchong 80. Bellini 81. Tom yum 82. Eggs Benedict83. Pocky 84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant. 85. Kobe beef 86. Hare 87. Goulash88. Flowers 89. Horse90. Criollo chocolate 91. Spam92. Soft shell crab 93. Rose harissa 94. Catfish95. Mole poblano 96. Bagel and lox 97. Lobster Thermidor 98. Polenta99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee100. Snake
last night, over a lovely meal that Ms. Jen made (involving an heirloom tomato, dates and manchego, and an '06 Zinfandel), we discussed Michael Pollan's excellent book The Omnivore's Dilemma. this morning, i saw this meme on Maki's excellent blog,...
My daughter is moving is weekend. I am helping. I get to drive the big truck, a Mercedes with a lift! Cool! Can't do much else, though. I no sooner got here, after driving 7 hours and picking up the truck, then my right knee gave out. I didn't even do anything other than walk into her apartment building. I guess that it thought it would give up now rather than carry boxes up and down the stairs. There's some pain, but I have my meds with me, so I'll be okay. It's just uncomfortable not being able to put my leg up, since there isn't any furniture in her apartment. I know that you are all concerned about my sock wars. Well, I'm sad to report that I have been offed in Death By Socks 4 and there is a report that socks are winging their way across the ocean to kill me in Sock Wars 3. In the meantime, I have killed one more person in each of those competitions. Yesterday I finished and mailed the socks below to the east coast of the USA for my 5th kill in Sock Wars III. I very recently heard about a Swedish music website where folks can upload their own music. Take a listen to one or all three of the songs on this page and tell me what you think: Den mekaniska flickan I'll leave you with my latest swap package. This is from CraftyMandy for the "Sock Yarn From Stash" swap. She sent some beautiful Opal sock yarn and some Regia without a label. I love them both! Then, there is the Yarn Harlot’s calendar, some bath gel and body lotion, a thimble from Coventry, mmm chocolate , treats for the dog, stitch markers and a notebook. Thanks so much!! I loved it all!
Stop.  Just stop and absorb it:
Today, an African-American (mixed race) man was nominated as the Presidential candidate for the Democratic Party:
Barack and Michelle Obama are not “passing.” They are proud of who they are and where they come from. They see their story as the American story…the American Dream. And enough Americans see it too [...]
This is the best definition I’ve ever read of how oppression, especially transphobia, works. Please go read it and let’s talk about it, especially the awesome motorcycle illustration which comes over from Uppity Brown Woman:
A dramatic metaphor:
Imagine you’re riding your motorcycle down the street. The car in front of you slams on their breaks to [...]
In the midst of our joy for our baby daughter we have been met with the news of so many of our friends loosing their loved one. Within this past week we've received news of our friend's mom passing away and today came the latest news.I should know what to say, do or not say or not do - after all, I'm a pastor and I've lost both my parents. But I don't. The next is written by Rabbi Earl A.
So this is what you get with a granddaughter of two journalists. Lotta is at this very moment fighting hard to get to the keyboard - thank goodness daddy is bringing our second one home from his place of work. Since I think 15 minutes is long enough to sit on my lap as I write it'd be nice if she'd enjoy that time writing on her own keyboard and I on ours :).
Well that's a subtle title isn't it. . . I love the Olympics, I watch more sports in two weeks every four years than I watch during the four years inbetween. I love that a decision is made by who...
BillB
Though this is a political commercial, made by supporters of Barack Obama, it is also an interesting study in the religious longing of the political left. The hope that Senator Obama could fulfill Dr. King’s legacy and maintain his integrity. “If you get to the top of the mountain, remember me.” The visuals do [...]
Though this is a political commercial, made by supporters of Barack Obama, it is also an interesting study in the religious longing of the political left. The hope that Senator Obama could fulfill Dr. King’s legacy and maintain his integrity. “If you get to the top of the mountain, remember me.” The visuals do [...]
Though this is a political commercial, made by supporters of Barack Obama, it is also an interesting study in the religious longing of the political left. The hope that Senator Obama could fulfill Dr. King’s legacy and maintain his integrity. “If you get to the top of the mountain, remember me.” The visuals do [...]
Last Fall, there was a spate of blogs doing "Pay It Forward" gifts. I posted it in my blog after signing up with My Boring Life. Monday, I received a box in the mail containing lovely and yummy things! Tasty treats and fun stuff! Plus, beads for my Mystery Stole 4 (there is still time to sign up. You know you want to!). Some yarn for me (the light was bad and it is much brighter and prettier in person!). And some yarn for Socks For Soldiers. (There wasn't a tag with it, so I don't know the blend of the yarn.) Thanks, Michelle!
|
|
