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CONGRATULATIONS KAT AND JASON
James, Me, Matt, Kat, Jason, Clarissa, Chris, Keely, David
I LOVE MY MATE AND OUR FAMILY
Jimmy, Kat, Jason, David, James and Keely, thanks for making my job as a Mom the best job in the world.
I am So Proud of each of you!
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My Beautiful Daughter, Kat
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Me and Jimmy
(it doesn't get any better than this!)
MY BABY LOVES ME!
I love the simple things in life, so long as they are true and honest. I am completely trustworthy and dependable; at the same time, I don't like to be entirely predictable and love to try out new and different things. I have a somewhat twisted sense of humor, and I can usually look back on a situation and find something to laugh about. This keeps me from going completely insane, if that makes sense. I have a handful of friends that I consider very close, and I'm happy with that because I have no need to surround myself with shallow people. Those few who are close to me know I am forever loyal and will do anything for them. If I'm called at 2:00 a.m. because a friend needs help, I will be there for them without hesitation. I don't fill my life with lots of superficial friendships because I can't stand it when people are clingy, over-dramatic and dependent on others to manage or fulfill their own lives. Quality far outweighs quantity, any day. I was on my own from the age of 16 and have always been proud of the fact that I can take care of myself. Being strong and independent has always been something I've strived for. I will help anyone in need but I also expect people to pull their own weight when they can.
My lifetime motto: I can handle anything, and nothing can shock me. I am not a religious person, but I believe that God (Goddess, Father, Mother, Spirit... or whoever it is up there handing out assignments) will never give me anything I can't handle, and that belief has gotten me through the hardest times in my life. Somebody up there sure seems to trust me a lot. However, if I had to live my life over again, I wouldn't change a thing, because I wouldn't be where or who I am now if I hadn't gone through all the things I've gone through. Some people think that's crazy (those who know the difficulties and challenges I've dealt with), but I've grown and learned a great deal about life, about people, and have grown in my own spiritual beliefs. Things are a lot different at this age than they were 20+ years ago! This is still just the beginning of many wonderful things - it's all good!
Let's see, what else... I enjoy discovering more about the Wiccan/Pagan and Shamanic/Healer paths. Having had my own little metaphysical shop in Solvang opened my eyes to the enormous variety of people in this world. I've met some amazing souls, and I've found that people turn to me to teach them about things they never considered. I've been richly blessed in my daily interactions, and have even been graced by a visit from an angel. Keeping an open mind has taught me more than I ever learned in schools or churches.
I respect everyone's right to choose their own paths in life, and only expect that they respect my choices as well. I find it very sad when people are blindly judgmental, when they refuse to ask questions or even consider the possibility of truths other than what they have been told to believe. It's even more sad when those people teach their children to fear, ostracize and hate people who are different from themselves. I love the diversity in people - it's what makes us all beautiful and unique and keeps life interesting. I only wish people could be more open about themselves and not have to live in fear of what others will think or say or do. I also strongly believe that Love is Love, no matter if it's between people of opposite sex or the same sex. Love is a gift that was given to us as human beings, and should be embraced openly and without fear. I was very happy when the California Supreme Court decided that same-sex marriage should be available to all people who wish to be married. It's great to see more and more people becoming aware of discrimination and being strong enough to do something about it.
On a more personal note, I love exploring the physical and spiritual sides of life with my mate - my partner and best friend Jimmy - and the fact that we connect on so many levels. He truly is my angel - he backs me up and stands by my side, and I know I can always trust him to be there for me. I'm so glad we found each other. Ours is a relationship based on love and respect, for each other and for the world around us. It's a rare and precious thing we share. I love spending time with him and our kids and letting them teach me things. We have a lot of fun together, and our lives are filled with good energy and lots of laughter. Our home is a warm and loving sanctuary from the everyday insanity.
I am fiercely protective of my family, but will let them face the consequences of their own actions when necessary. Our lives are all entertwined, yet we are all individuals and each of us must take personal responsibility for the things we do. This philosophy has helped our family grow into the mature, kind, considerate, generous and loving people that they are. I love sharing my life-experiences with our kids and the fact that they're interested in what I have to say and aren't afraid to ask questions. I've always said I will be honest with them; they may not always like what I have to say, but it will be the truth, it will be from my heart, and I will never intentionally harm anyone.
OK, what else... I love Nature, and all that it has to offer. I like to go camping and hiking and blazing new trails where no-one has explored. Some of my most favorite memories are of growing up in the mountains above Santa Barbara, crawling though the underbrush, cutting fire trails with my family, exploring the caves and trails with my brother and our friends, sneaking out at night to meet up with other kids and traversing the mountain roads on foot by the full moon light. One night we were stranded at a friend's tree house by a bear that crashed through the canyon and kept us scared to death in that tree until the sun began to rise. We made it home, but had to hide behind the tool shed until Dad left for work so we wouldn't get caught! We had our own tree house - a four-story architect's nightmare in an old oak tree on the side of the hill - and we spent many a summer night in that tree watching the stars, telling stories and laughing and taking in the world as it was when we were kids. I miss that.
I enjoy the beauty of the desert, the mysteries of the mountains, and the immense power of the ocean, and I am always in awe of the hidden life they all bring forth.
I love it when the river is running and we can actually go swimming with our kids - it's a thousand times better than any swimming pool. We have SO MUCH FUN, getting some cherished and precious time together, connecting with each other and with nature.
Keely, Me and David at Santa Ynez River (7/25/06)
Me and Keely, cooling off in 106 degree temperatures (7/25/06)
David's jump - Santa Ynez River (7/25/06)
Keely's jump - Santa Ynez River (7/25/06)
I love living on the edge of Solvang, where you can connect with nature whenever you want; and where the night sky is not hidden by big-city lights and smog. This is a picture I took back on September 6, 2005, looking out from my front yard, when Venus, Mars and the moon were all lined up.
I love animals - especially cats of any kind. Cats have an amazing energy and intelligence, and for some reason I have always had a deep connection with them. I've also had wild animals, including birds and deer (a doe and a fawn once) come eat right out of my hand several times. When those kinds of things happen, it's an overwhelming reaffirmation of all that is good and right in this world. I have taught my children to respect and care for animals and it warms my heart to see them treat all animals with such respect and empathy.
Here's our new little mama raccoon - 2nd generation of raccoon families that come into our solarium to eat the cat food. This one just had babies recently (I wondered why she was getting so big!)
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I'd like to meet:
It's all about attitude and integrity. If you are the same person to my face that you are when you're with others, or when you think no-one's watching you, then you are the kind of person I will have the most respect for. I love people who stand up for what they believe in, even if it means others might get mad at them. I greatly admire those who have a rebel streak in them as well, so long as their acts of defiance are not causing harm to others ("An' ye harm none, do what ye will" ~The Wiccan Rede~). There is ALWAYS room for respect, regardless of the different opinions people hold, but back-stabbing hypocrites have no place in my life.
I love people who are willing to wear their heart on their sleeve and share their lives, good or bad. I love it when people seek out and can find the positive, or at least the humor, in life. I will also share in their sorrows, but I find it bothersome when a person ALWAYS has a crisis or drama that they "need" others to handle for them.
I'm always open to meet anyone with a good heart, an open mind, a good sense of humor, who enjoys life but also knows how to take responsibility for their actions, and who treats other people with respect... if you don't hurt people just for the fun of it, or just because you can, if you care about how other people feel, if you can accept the differences in all of us without being overly judgmental, if you can laugh at yourself instead of at others, if you can see things from someone else's point of view, if you can be patient and kind and loving, then you're the kind of person I'd like to know.....
I DON'T want people around me who are only going to be nice when they want something. That's just pathetic, and if you think I don't see through such shallowness, think again.
I also don't want people around me who have an inflated sense of superiority (you know the kind, they always have to one-up you, no matter what the situation), nor do I wish to be around people who are overly judgmental, critical, unkind, rude, unforgiving, disrespectful, dishonest, ultra-competitive, self-righteous or preachy. I've put up with enough of that crap, and I've learned that I don't have to accept or allow that kind of negative energy in my life. Time is just too damn short, and you never know which moment will be your last in this life.
Music:
Pink, Saving Jane, Loreena McKennitt, Sarah McLachlan, Clannad, Queen, Supertramp, Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks, Evanescence, Carol King, Simon & Garfunkel, Pink Floyd, Lynard Skynard, Kingston Trio, Peter Paul & Mary, Louis Armstrong, Elton John, Enya, Liz Carroll, James Taylor, Jim Croce, David Bowie, Van Halen, Eagles, Heart, Indigo Girls, Janis Ian, Sophie B. Hawkins, Natalie Cole, Faith Hill, Dixie Chicks, Willie Nelson, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, Phil Collins, Loggins & Messina, Neil Diamond, Natalie Merchant, Jewel, Tori Amos, Carly Simon, Bonnie Raitt, Jean Michel Jarre, LeAnn Rimes, Phil Collins, Roxy Music, Stray Cats, B-52's, The Jim Carroll Band, Toyah, Foreigner, Carrie Underwood, Dido,... too many to remember right now.
Movies:
Casa Blanca, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Nightmare Before Christmas, What Dreams May Come, The Sixth Sense, Fiddler On The Roof, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Cannery Row, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, When Harry Met Sally, Boys Don't Cry, The Bridges of Madison County, Drop Dead Fred, Harry Potter (all of them), Save The Last Dance, Grease, The Abyss, Enemy Mine, The Crow, Paulie, The Breakfast Club, Rumble Fish, Dances With Wolves, Princess Bride, The Matrix, Men in Black, Braveheart, Young Frankenstein, Caddyshack, Scent of a Woman, Charly, Meet Joe Black, Practical Magic, Monster, Silence of the Lambs, Fried Green Tomatoes, Robin Hood: Men in Tights, Little Shop of Horrors, Pretty Woman, To Wong Foo Thanks For Everything - Julie Newmar, Peggy Sue Got Married, Dick, The Wizard of Oz, Tombstone, K-PAX, Dirty Dancing, The Others, Driving Miss Daisy, You've Got Mail, Forrest Gump, Good Morning Vietnam, Rain Man, Phantom of the Opera, Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion, Ladyhawke, The Green Mile, Paper Moon, A Little Princess, The Legend of Billie Jean, The Pagemaster, Nell, Oh God!, G.I. Jane, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, ...and more
Television:
Laker's Basketball; Survivor; American Idol; House; Charmed; the old Twilight Zone shows; Stargate SG-1 & Atlantis; Jon Stewart's The Daily Show; The Colbert Report; the History Channel is getting better all the time, and I always try to catch the local news once a day... Unfortunately most shows on TV are boring or just plain idiotic, but it keeps me out of trouble if I have nothing better to do. Mostly it's in the background while I occupy myself with other things.
Books:
FICTION: Anything by Stephen King (The Stand was by far the best thing I've ever read), the Sue Grafton series, the Harry Potter series, The Chronicles of Narnia, A Wrinkle in Time, The Phantom Tollbooth, Water Babies, Sybil, Interview With The Vampire, Flowers in the Attic, The World According to Garp, Basketball Diaries, several books by James Clavell (ShoGun, Tai-Pan, Noble House, King Rat, etc.), several books by Nelson DeMille (The Gold Coast, The General's Daughter, The Charm School, Spencerville, etc.), .....
NON-FICTION: A Return to Love by Marianne Williamson - this book should be required reading for Everyone! Animal Speak by Ted Andrews (in fact, most of Ted Andrews books are great), DK Natural Health Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine (an excellent reference!), Solitary Witch by Silver RavenWolf, The Truth About Witchcraft Today by Scott Cunningham, Teen Witch (and the rest of that series) by Silver RavenWolf, Elements of Witchcraft - Natural Magick for Teens by Ellen Dugan (this is a great book for newcomers to the craft), Sons of the Goddess - A Young Man's Guide to Wicca by Christopher Penczak, Love is in the Earth by Melody... there are more but I can't think of them at the moment.
Heroes:
~ JIMMY ~
My Hero, My Love, My Mate, My Partner, My Baby! I could not imagine my life without you. You are my Angel.
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