Me and Husband and the Kentucky Headhunters, Monongalia County Fair 1997 

Being Genuine

"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

When we don't know who we are -- or if we are afraid to be who we are -- we betray ourselves. We pretend to be who we think we are. Our self image is made up of our experiences, desires and other people's ideas and expectations of us.

Maintaining this false self is a betrayal of ourselves. In all deep spiritual journeys, there is the experience of betrayal. Betrayal always tells us to adjust our life to be more authentic. What we identify with is all important.

There are large betrayals (e.g., your partner leaving you) and small betrayals (e.g., disappointments). They are all experiences of being wounded for the purpose of breaking down the defenses of the personality. When we allow the wounding and accept the betrayals as divine gifts, we greatly benefit.

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." -- Dr. Seuss (via Elena)

"What you must dare is to be yourself." -- Dag Hammarskjold

http://www.higherawareness.com

Kimberly McCullough returns to General Hospital

"After a five-year absence, Kimberly McCullough will return to General Hospital in a reprisal of her role as Robin Scorpio.

The HIV-positive character Robin Scorpio will return to Port Charles after a lengthy stint in Paris. Kimberly McCullough, who first joined General Hospital's cast when she was just seven years old, will once more portray the beloved Robin.

'I am filled with eager anticipation to return to the role of Robin Scorpio,' said McCullough. 'It is so flattering to know that, after all these years, GH fans are still excited about Robin coming back to Port Charles. I can't wait to be back with my family again.'

The actress's 'family' is just as eager to work with her again. ABC Daytime president Brian Frons stated, 'Robin Scorpio is a character that the fans have never forgotten and has ties to so many of the current stories that are playing. I am delighted that Kimberly will be reprising this role, and we can all look forward to an emotionally compelling story that will draw Robin back into the fold.'"

More here: Kimberly McCullough returns to General Hospital

Zoo Cams

Thanks to Mom for this great link:

Panda Cam

There is a little baby girl panda there - you can view time lapse video of the pandas from previous days - that's how I saw the baby. She is so cute!!

Time Lapse Video

More cams from this zoo:

Polar Bears

Apes

Elephants

Olive Garden Sangria

1.5 Liters Soleo Red Table Wine
10 oz Grenadine
16 oz cranberry juice cocktail
12 oz sweet vermouth
10 oz sugar water (5 oz sugar diluted)
Strawberries
oranges
crushed ice

This makes a gallon. Mix all ingredients except for ice. Pour sangria in glass and then add ice. Make sure there is fruit in every glass.

Open to the Moment

""Why not concentrate on the now instead of hoping for better times in the future? Why not understand the now instead of forgetting it and hoping for the future? Isn’t the future just another trap?" -- Anthony de Mello

Soul exists only in this moment. Every moment, no matter what the conditions, offers opportunities to touch and experience life in a new way. Our egos, with their fears and desires, easily get trapped in the past and the future, but the power to change exists only in this moment.

We don’t need to know more or have more before we can live more deeply. We simply need to pay attention to what’s happening now. To open without judgment to the worlds around and within us.

"Nothing is worth more than this day. You cannot relive yesterday. Tomorrow is still beyond your reach." -- Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe"

http://www.higherawareness.com

Snoop & Roscoe Photo Blogs

http://snoopkittykat.blogspot.com/

http://roscoepkittytrane.blogspot.com/

My boys 10/17/04
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Stubby's Photos

The photoblog for my cat Stubby:

Stubby's Photos

Big Kenny 

Stubby Boy 

Cultivate Your Crone Qualities

The hardest years of life are those between ten and seventy. -Helen Hayes

From "Crones Don't Whine: Concentrated Wisdom for Juicy Women" by Jean Shinoda Bolen:

"I am proposing that it is time to reclaim and redefine 'crone' from the word pile of disparaging names to call older women, and to make becoming a 'crone' a crowning inner achievement of the third phase of life.

To be a crone is about inner development, not outer appearance. A crone is a woman who has wisdom, compassion, humor, courage, and vitality. She has a sense of truly being herself, can express what she knows and feels, and take action when need be. She does not avert her eyes or numb her mind from reality. She can see the flaws and imperfections in herself and others, but the light in which she sees is not harsh and judgmental. She has learned to trust herself to know what she knows.

Those crone qualities are not acquired overnight. One does not become a full-fledged crone automatically following menopause, any more than growing older and wiser go hand in hand. These are decades that follow menopause in which to grow psychologically and spiritually."

Interview with the author: Entering the Crone Age: Author Jean Shinoda Bolen talks about turning a negative stereotype into an inspiring archetype for older women

Visualizing a new job

"If you want to make an idea real, visualize. Sit or lie down. Close your eyes, and think of something you want to manifest--say, a new job that uses all your talents. Begin to paint a mental picture of the new job and you doing it. Fill in as many details as you can about the workplace, the work you're doing, your coworkers. Imagine yourself energized and fulfilled in your work, and amply paid for it. Dare to dream big: when your vision becomes relaity, you wouldn't want to think you'd settled for less than you deserve."

Source: One Spirit Book of Days

Big & Rich Album

The moved back the release date for the new album for some reason, and renamed it also.

"Look for the new album, Comin' To Your City, in stores November 15th.

NASHVILLE, TN (August 17, 2005) - Warner Bros. Records is pleased to announce that Big & Rich will release their new album, Comin' To Your City, on November 15th. Big Kenny, John Rich and Paul Worley all returned to the producers' chairs for this new 13-track release. The title track to Comin' To Your City will serve as the first single, both the song and the accompanying video will hit country radio and video outlets in September. Comin' To Your City features such crowd pleasers as the uptempo tracks "Blow My Mind" and the title track. "Never Mind Me" is a beautiful ballad that has not only the blended harmonies that Big & Rich are known for, but it showcases Big Kenny's rich baritone and John Rich's angelic tenor. Country music legend Kris Kristofferson lends his vocal talent to the opening narrative of the haunting "8th Of November," a true story about Vietnam vet Niles Harris and the fateful day on November 8, 1965 when the 173rd Airborne Brigade was ambushed by over 1200 Vietcong during Operation Hump.

The galactic duo is set to roll out their new album in their usual Big & Rich style.

Big & Rich is currently on the road with Brooks & Dunn's 34 city national Deuces Wild Tour, which concludes on October 30th in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Webpage Update

Webpage updated:
- added West Virginia page
- linked to old recipes page
- added Big & Rich concert photos (see photo page)
- added photos of Spruce Knob (see West Virginia page)

http://webpages.charter.net/msjamie/

What is this flower?

Wildflower

I can't figure out what kind of flower this is. It was found on the road up to Spruce Knob.

I'm back

Well I kind of forgot about this place. There are other places on the web that I frequent. But I think I'm going to get into this more, and update my web page. I have so many ideas of what I want to do, but not enough time to do them all.

Spruce Knob