Ignorant people PISS me off!!!

I know there is a word or phrase to describe ignorant, closed minded, intolerant mother fuckers, but it escapes me at the moment.

People who were raised to believe that the world owes them something or is against them simply because of the color of their skin, income level or lack of education. And the worst part is, they are passing this bull shit mentality on to their children! If you WANT change MAKE change! If you want the world to treat you better then you need to DESERVE to be treated better! Don't pull that bullshit card out at every opportunity simply because YOU haven't made a better life for YOURSELF!!!

And if you want your kids to think differently TEACH them differently, SHOW them differently, make them BELIEVE differently! Don't let them spew the same ignorance that prevents progress. Teach them that if they WANT more they must DO more. Educate them both in school and at HOME. Raise them to be tolerant, open minded and to have pride in themselves.

People of all colors have hard times, fucked up childhoods, and obstacles to overcome. Why in the hell people want their kids to suffer their own mistakes I will NEVER understand. Can't they see that THEY are part of the problem??? Or is it that they do not care???

If you WANT respect, EARN respect. Don't believe you deserve it because of how "bad-ass" you can behave and how loud you can yell. You are not earning respect, people are trying to get you to shut the fuck up! You are not helping your situation, you are making yourself look like an ASS! Don't be a stereotype! Or better yet, help to CHANGE the stereotype!

Don't they get that????

Don't teach your children to see Black/White/Asian/Mexican. Teach them to see friends, and family. Don't teach your kids to call someone a racist, show them how to lead by example and be friendly to everyone. Don't teach your child to bully, instead teach them compassion and kindness. And if you can't teach them any of that at least teach them how to read so maybe they will eventually learn it on their own!

I never taught Christopher to call people black and white, I taught him brown and peach. Until today he didn't even know that "race" meant "skin color."

Race is NEVER a factor for us when it comes to choosing our friends. Neither is sexual orientation, income level, education or music preference. We chose our friends and family based on how people TREAT us. I understand that may be a difficult concept for some people to grasp, but that's all there is to it.

I am on this soap box because today Christopher asked me what "racist" meant. After I explained what it meant I asked why he wanted to know. He explained that a BOY who has been PICKING on HIM all week called him a racist. Let me repeat that... this little brat has been the one picking on Christopher, yet CHRISTOPHER is being a racist??? Whether color is a factor in the bullying I can not say. This boy does have brown skin. He is also a trouble maker in the class room. He has a group of trouble maker friends, who all also happen to have brown skin.

Why does this fourth grade child know this word??? Why are his parents teaching him this mentality, or at the VERY LEAST, NOT teaching it to him???
Are his parents of the ignorant-closed-minded-not-going-to-teach-their-children-any-better batch??? If so... why? I don't get it. It makes no sense to me and it PISSES me off.

I am so tired of people using race as either a trump card, pity party or excuse. It's NOT! If you CHOSE to be LOW CLASS, fine, but at least have the balls to call it what it is... LOW CLASS BY CHOICE.

Yard Sale

Please share this with all of your friends.

I am having a HUGE yard sale this weekend!

Military family that will be moving and needs to downsize. Items include home decor, books, clothes, toys, household items and more.

All prices negotiable. Come make me an offer, I want to sell it all!

Friday, September 24 AND Saturday, September 25 from 7 am - UNTIL...

4833 Texas Ave, Norfolk, Va. 23513

I also have a NEW Stamina CPS 9200 spin bike for sale - $250.00

A HUGE 54 X 43 animal print picture for - $200.00

And a big, hand made wooden doll house - $40

I have pictures available of the three items listed above if you are interested.

I NEED '21 SECRETS'

I recently began a journey of Love in my art journal. "Art Journal Love Letters" is a workshop created by Connie Hosvicka at Dirty Foot Prints Studio. I have already learned so much, but I still have so much to learn.

Connie recently announced that she will be discontinuing Art Journal Love Letters in order to open up bright new windows of opportunity for her students. Her newest project is the colaborative effort of 21 different artists, all with skill, talent and imagination. "21 Secrets" officially begins Ocotber 1, 2010 and will only be available through the end of the year.

I REALLY want to take this workshop!

Effy Wild, one of my favorite people, will be teaching one of the classes in the workshop. She always has a way of making me see something in myself I didn't know was there. Her class is designed to help artists see inside their souls and bring it to life in their journal. I have not yet been able to open up in my journal and I desperately want to be able to. This class is a MUST for me.

Paula Phillips' class is centered around doors and windows that will help hide the secrets with-in or accentuate a something special. This will also help make my art journal more interactive and give me a place to store special memories and momentos.

Connie Hosvicka, herself will be teaching one of the classes that will help me the most. Connie is all about teaching artists to be FEARLESS in their art. Her class will focus on getting your ideas out of your head and onto the page without holding back. I have a major problem with holding back and can use all of the coaxing I can get!

I not only WANT to take this workshop, I NEED to take it. I WANT to learn as many techniques as I can. I WANT to play in my art journal and make a mess and be OK with the messy. I NEED to break free and explore my inner most thoughts, feelings, secrets and fears.

Go to Connie's website and have a look around. To learn more about "21 Secrets" including who all 21 artists/teachers will be, follow this link:

http://www.dirtyfootprintsworkshops.com/2008/09/21-secrets-art-journal-playground.html


Once at the site, you can sign up to take the class and you can sign me up to take it with you! :D

Things to come...

I want to be able to make my own hours, choose who I work with, help people change their lives and in the process, contribute to the family income.

I want to help women achieve their goals. I want to help them overcome obstacles. I want them to learn to express themselves in a healthy, empowering manner. I want to help them be the best they can be. I want them to have a safe place to talk openly about their struggles while finding support from others who stand on common ground. I want a community.

I have a plan.

I am in the process of developing this community. It will combine healthy lifestyle choices with healing creativity. It will be the meeting place of like minded individuals to encourage, praise and support one another. It will be a place of success stories and moral support. It will be a place to celebrate victories both big and small. It will be a place of change, and growth.

I have a goal, an idea. I can see it in my mind. I can feel the buzz of accomplishment. I can see it coming to life and a good life it will be.

Need vs Want

I NEED to have a yard sale. I have had all the left over stuff from my last yard sale all boxed up and sitting in the corner in my living room ALL summer.I was in Bahrain for two months and I have no furniture (because I sold most of at the last yard sale) so that hasn't been a big deal, until now.

I need the money a yard sale would bring. I have a LOT of unexpected bills for the house thanks to the collapsed ceiling in my bed room. We also spent alot of money to get me to Bahrain. Not to mention shopping while I was there, the trip home, getting the kitten home and then restocking the groceries and gas tank once I returned to the states.

I feel the STRONG need to purge.While living in Bahrain I realized how much CRAP we have and how little of it we truly need. Less is more.

But here's the thing... I don't WANT to have a yard sale. I don't want the HASSLE of a yard sale. I would much rather drop all of this stuff off at Mystic Moon for donations and be done with it. That is what I USUALLY do after a yard sale anyway, but this time I had enough left overs for another big yard sale so I decided to keep it and try one more time before donating.

I would much rather take the 'easy' road right now. I have enough complications as it is and I just want this one thing to be done and over with. I am battling with myself over this. Should I just do what I need to, and have a yard sale next weekend or, do I load up the little blue toaster, clear the clutter and help out someone in need.

Having said all of this, I know myself and I know I will do what is NEEDED. I know I will suck it up and have the yard sale. I know I will lug all of this stuff in and out again for two to three days in a row and I know that I will make some much needed money. But I REEEEEEally don't WANT to.

Little things

It's the little things that make me happy. I often hear people say this, but it is usually dripping with sarcasm, cynicism, or as a means to belittle. I, on the other hand, feel great joy in the little things.

For example; my husband ran a Valentine's Day race in my honor, even though he was in another country at the time. He then sent me the run shirt as a gift. That simple gesture made my heart swell with joy.

Today I heard the birds singing and felt the sun shining just a bit brighter and warmer than it has been all Winter. I smiled with the knowledge that Spring is just around the corner.

After having a miserable day, a couple of dear friends were able to make me laugh and see better days ahead.

Each of these little things brought me immense happiness. They didn't cost anything. They weren't flashy and they didn't require much effort, yet the bliss I felt was pure and genuine.

Take the time to revel in the little things when you can for you never know when they may be a big thing in disguise.

Gifts

On the night of the New Moon, I went to an open ritual that was held at the hub of our pagan community. Since it was an open ritual, I am not divulging any secrets here.

The ritual took us into the underworld. We were ushered through the gates of hell where we had to pay a toll of safe passage. We were lead by the hounds of hell to the place we would commune with Hecate. We were allowed to ask a question if we wanted, but we were not permitted to ask for clarification or more information.

When it was my turn to speak to Hecate, I knelt before the "Goddess." Knowing She would be able to understand the intricacies of my question. I simply asked if my gifts were being returned to me. Hecate's response was "When you need me, I will be there."
Confused, and slightly disappointed, I was shuffled away by one of the hell hounds.

I pondered this response all night and all the next day. Maybe Hecate hadn't fully understood what I had asked.

Still I pondered.

I tell you that story to tell you this:
Today I went into my local book exchange, which I frequent very regularly. and I was browsing the meager selection of New Age/Pagan/Wicca/ Occult section of the store.
There were the usual ghost stories, a large selection of Sylvia Browne, and surprisingly two different Scott Cunningham books, which I already own. I lifted my eyes and right there on the top shelf, staring back at me was a well cared for, revised and extended copy of "Drawing Down The Moon" by Margot Adler.

It sang to me "Aaaaahhhh, Take me hoooooommmme." As I picked up my new found treasure I felt the weight of it. Not the number of lbs the book physically weighed, but the POWER and SPIRITUAL weight this book carries.

I heard the voice of Hecate again "When you need me, I will be there." And suddenly, a light bulb went off. I had asked if my innate gifts were being returned to me, and I believe that they are. What I hadn't realized before was the fact that I am receiving more gifts than I even realize. Signs that affirm everyday that I am on the correct path. Little "Aha!" moments that keep me wanting more.

I opened myself up again after MANY years behind psychic walls and I asked for my gifts to be returned. I have waited patiently and I am seeing that I was heard and acknowledged. I feel I am becoming more and more in tune every day. I still have a long way to go, but my eyes are open and I am ready for the journey. And I know the Goddess will be right there with me every step of the way.