I am grateful today for an upper respiratory infection which seems, finally, to be clearing.  I’ve had it for three weeks and frankly I am sick and tired of sniffling, sneezing, and snorting.

I am grateful for my continued ability to keep my family fed.  Granted meals have been consisting mainly of meat, a vegetable, and bagged salad.  Due to the aforementioned sinuses from hell I am been lax and remiss in my once a week cooking duties.

I am grateful for the book The Secret Life of Bees.  Not only did it touch my heart and give me something that I rarely find in novels (a whisper of the Goddess) but it is a book that actually got Miss Artistic reading and liking it.  While she isn’t looking for anything else to read any time soon I am glad to know we have a book we both love to talk about at odd moments.

I am grateful for Harry Potter.  Princess Nibbles is almost done with book three and has her sights set on working her way through the rest of the series this summer.  Its fun having another Potterphile in the house!  For some reason its been on the TV alot this weekend and it is only serving to whet my appetite for the coming 6th movie.

I am grateful for the weekend that approaches which will find me, Lady Rose, and my friend “M2″ off on an adventure.  It will be very nice to spend a day being not Mom, not wife, just Kelly.

Written by Mama KellyTags:gratitude

It’s getting busy here in Mama Kelly’s household.

Most of the past week has seen me dealing with the recurrence of a nasty upper respiratory infection.  Today is the first day I can actually believe that it may just go away, eventually.  Granted it’ll leave grudgingly and I’ll have to be certain that it didn’t accidentally leave a personal item behind so it has an excuse to come knocking on my front door asking to be let back in.

The balance of the week has been spent dealing with Miss Artistic’s dress fiasco. The original dress has one final alteration being done and then it will simply have to “do.”  We also hit more stores than I care to remember in the span of two evenings and she tried on more dresses than I can possibly count.  We eventually settled on a black tiered ruffle dress that has a built in capelet kind of thing.

I spent more than I wanted to, but less than a specialty boutique tried to convince me to spend. It is pretty.  She already has black heels and a pocketbook to match.  It can be dressed up nicely with rhinestone accessories.  It is meant for a woman probably 15 years older than her.  But it was the only dress we found (short of having a prom gown cut down to tea length, along with alterations to straps and cleavage) that she actually liked, and felt pretty in.

Additionally we hit the nearby Bra & Girdle specialty store.  Miss Artistic needed a better fit and we wound 3 bras that did the job nicely.  Yes she went up again in size, but not as dramatically as the last time we went shopping which means (please oh Goddess) that she may be done growing for a while.  While we were there, since we found her bras so quickly, I asked to be fitted myself and found up that I, like most women (80% or so), have been wearing the wrong size.

Now, granted, I knew this.  The bras I have “do the job” but I walk around with my breasts hanging on my rib cage, in a bra that constantly needs to be heaved back into place.  My new bra gives me lift and support and they feel almost perky – well as perky as a “H” cup can feel.

Today the girls have a makeup Tae Kwon Do class to attend, the aforementioned dress to be taken for alterations (to a differnt shop I can assure you), we have a birthday party to drop Miss Artistic off at, and then I have food shopping to do.

Tomorrow, my work week resumes with Miss Artistic’s big dance on Friday (highlighted with her getting her first updo) and probably a corsage from us the parental units) but also the loveliness of a Saturday spent out and about with 2 wonderful friends (Lady Rose and “M2″) to celebrate my birthday at the end of it – a special treat to look forward to.

May the week ahead bring each of you a special blessings all your own.

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama KellyTags:blessings, gratitude

Before you begin:

• you will need an hour of undisturbed time
• you should make sure you have a plan in place with your support network in case you need help processing emotions this ritual may stir up

Supplies:

• Large bowl filled with water and 1/2 cup sea salt
• 12 white carnations
• image of quan yin, image of yourself
• optional extras: incense, soothing music playing, candles, etc.

The ritual:

• Chant “Om Mani Padme Hum” nine times
• Take three cleansing breaths
• Bow in reverance to the Goddess and in acknowledgment of your pain
• Journey within and allow yourself to feel the hurts of the past that you still hold
• Using 9 of the carnations, imbue them with your pain
• Name your pains aloud, tearing off flower petals and tossing them into the salty water
• Make sure that all parts of the nine flowers (stems too) are torn up and added to the water
• Once you have grieved these pains in full, sit and reflect
• When ready, take the three remaining flowers and hold them to your heart
• Ask the Goddess to fill you with self-love and compassion
• Take the three flowers and place one in front of the image of yourself, give one in offering to the Goddess, and place one on your pillow to bless that night’s rest
• Return the salty water to the Earth in a source of natural water near your home (the same day as you perform the rite) or flush it down the toilet (a little at a time) as a last resort

exerpted and adapated from:

A Goddess is a Girl’s Best Friend – by Laurie Sue Brockway

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama KellyTags:pagan, ritual

The idea is to highlight 3 to 5 links that you feel would be new to other readers. They can be daily reads, or personal favorites. They may even just be something fun or freaky or just plain fascinating that you wandered into recently. They can all be about one theme or all different.

If you want to “play along” make a list on your site and link to it in the comments. Of course I’d appreciate a link back. You may use the graphic above, (do not hotlink), simply save it to your own computer.

No rhyme or reason today, just a list of places I visit daily:

1. Facebook – I am an addict, I admit it.  Though my activity level there is beginning to wane a bit.  I play a few of the apps and plan on giving up the biggest time waster – Farm Town – as soon as I reach an appropriate level to buy more land, buy a farmhouse, and fill my “land” with trees.

2. Questionable Content – a comic that I enjoy.  I love watching the evolution of the artist’s work and I adore the quirky cast of characters.

3. Bloglines – how else would I keep up with all my blogging friends

4. Twitter – though I am posting fewer updates of late

5. School District Page – where I can track Miss Artistic’s grades, catch the zeroes for work not handed in, and help her stay on track academically

And that doesn’t even include all the other sites that house my various email accounts, banking info, news, etc. – the stuff of life

What sites do you visit every day?

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama KellyTags:internet, meme

Sunday my sinuses and throat were really bothering me and I was exhausted. I blamed the former on the dusting of pollen on every outdoor surface and exposure to too much second-hand smoke over the weekend (my in-laws all smoke like fiends). The later was easy to blame on a long weekend, with a drunken evening and too little sleep thanks to a bad motel mattress and an exterior door that was not really secure.

By the end of working 5-9pm on Memorial Day I knew it wasn’t just allergies, I was sick … again!

Two weeks ago I missed two days of work thanks to a sinus infection, bronchitis, and laryngitis. I finished my antibiotics and while I noticed that my sinuses never seemed to fully clear I blamed it on allergies – allergies that Flonase and Zyrtec aren’t touching by the way.

Today I had to leave work after only 4 hours today as my voice just couldn’t handle it.  I came home and slept, which helped a little. I am forcing hot sweet tea (decaf), I am gargling with warm salted water, I am taking my meds, I am hoping to be able to get through a full day tomorrow as I really can’t afford more unpaid time off.

In other news, in my all too frequent down time I have been tweaking the sidebar here on the blog, submitting to more blog directories and even listed 2 Witches on Amazon where Kindle users (or Ipod/Iphone users who make use of the free Kindle software) can subscribe to us for $1.99 a month. If any of our regular readers want to review us over there, it would be appreciated.

I am hoping that once my head clears that I will be able to hear the whispers of the muse again.  In the meantime, the next weeks are going to be full of dress shopping, graduation preparations, and birthday festivities.  I look forward to sharing all of them with all of you.

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama KellyTags:sinus infection

Yes its that time again – Pagan Video Tuesday. One of the things about me that you might not know is that I have been fascinated by and drawn to ASL (american sign language) since grade school. It probably began when I got my first pair of glasses and the doctor told me I was legally blind without them, a phrase my 9 year old mind took to mean “going blind” though I was too scared to ask anybody to clarify.

This fear led me to discover Helen Keller (who is still one of my heroes) and to read books on her, her teacher Annie Sullivan, and even Louis Braille. I also tried to try and teach myself both braille and sign language. I have retained a few words and phrases in the later and still hope to one day take a course in it and learn to speak it more “fluently.”

I came across this video over 2 years ago at Deaf Pagan Crossroads and thought you might enjoy it as much as I did.

“Listen to the words of the Great Mother, she who of old was also called Artemis, Astarte, Athena, Diana, Melusine, Aphrodite, Cerridwen, Cybelle, Arianrhod, Isis, Dana, Bride, and by many other names…” – Charge of the Goddess

Blessings

Mama Kelly

signed by Carl Schroeder

Written by Mama KellyTags:goddess, video, youtube

Today is a day for sucking on popsicles and running through sprinklers. It is a day for gathering together with friends and family and eating good food, usually off the BBQ. But today is also supposed to be about remembering all of the men and women who have given their lives for the cause of freedom.

Hold these people in your thoughts today … whether you consider yourself a dove or a hawk, whether you’ve served in the military yourself or just love someone who has, whether you’ve lost a loved one, know one of the fallen, or have been untouched by that grief.

In memory of all of those who have lost their lives in combat, as Memorial Day typically honors, or lost their lives working toward peace today I share the following quotes:

“Four things support the world: the learning of the wise, the justice of the great, the prayers of the good, and the valor of the brave” – Muhammad

“The bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and yet notwithstanding, go out to meet it.” – Thucydides

“A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.” – Joseph Campbell

“True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.” – Arthur Ashe

“Heroism is latent in every human soul – However humble or unknown, they (the veterans) have renounced what are accounted pleasures and cheerfully undertaken all the self-denials – privations, toils, dangers, sufferings, sicknesses, mutilations, life” – Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain

and perhaps my favorite:

“We must be prepared to make heroic sacrifices for the cause of peace that we make ungrudgingly for the cause of war. There is no task that is more important or closer to my heart.” – Albert Einstein

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama KellyTags:Memorial Day, quotations, quotes

I am grateful that Miss Artistic woke up Saturday morning in a good mood and had a fabulous time at the party we attended.  After the dress-related fiasco of the previous evening, and her emotional issues, I was very concerned and more grateful than I can say to have had those fears not realized.

I am grateful for having in-laws who care about me and accept me.  They may not all understand me.  Most of the time I am firmly in the broom closet around them.  I know that they think I’m a bit of a “goody goody”, which is okay because for the most part, I am.  But, they are not judgmental about what I wear, or how much I weigh, or how much I have to drink.

Speaking of which, I am grateful for Gamer Dude’s willingness to give me Advil and a drink to wash them down with, before tucking me and the girls into bed and heading back out to spend time with his family after the party was over.  Without this kindness I would’ve woken up this morning with quite the hangover.  About once every 4 or 5 years I attend a family function, let my hair down, and get more than just a wee bit tipsy.  Last night was one of those nights, and frankly, I’m okay with it.

I am grateful for my digital camera still being under warranty.  It slipped out of my hand as Gamer Dude pulled me onto the dance floor, and while the fall was a gentle one, onto a carpeted surface, the lens is out of alignment and needs professional repair.  I have to pay for postage and insurance but, hopefully, my camera (my own, my precious) will be fixed and returned to me in time for Miss Artistic’s graduation without my having to pay any additional fees.

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama KellyTags:gratitude

Written by Lady RoseTags:poem

A couple of weeks ago I picked up a dress for Miss Artistic’s forthcoming eighth grade dance.  We found a lovely black and floral sundress which looked perfectly suitable except that it needed altering.  Granted it needed a lot of altering, but I was referred to a local tailor by one of the women in the store.

The seamstress seemed to know what she was doing.  We talked about what needed to be adjusted to make the dress work … some darts to allow it to not gap and show her bra, some tweaking so that the bodice laid flat, and widening of the ribbon straps so that we would have sufficient bra-strap coverage.

The fee was reasonable, only $20, and it was promised to be ready in a week.  I picked it up today (late due to being sick last week) on our way out to run other errands in preparation for a family party tomorrow night.  We had to pick up shoes at Payless for Princess Nibbles, I needed a new top from Fashion Bug, and then we hit the Mall where we had to pick up a present for the party and I needed to purchase new bras and stockings.

We came home, fed the kids, and went into “try on” mode.  I realized that my new top wasn’t going to work but that a fall-back top I had also bought would be fine (if I switched to another pair of pants), we realized that Princess Nibbles dress (purchased at Walmart the other night) would work fine, and realized that Miss Artistic’s dress …. the dress that was to see us through her 8th grade dance, her graduation, and 2 sweet 16 parties ….  was what I can only describe as an epic fail.

It is unwearable at this moment.  There were still gaps that showed her bra.  The bodice is all bunchy.  She added a second ribbon (which she told me she was going to do even though I expressed doubt that it would work) which still shows her bra and isn’t even the right length so it slips off her shoulder.

But here’s the best part ….

She made the extra ribbon straps by cutting lengths off of the ribbon belt for the dress, which is now too short to be usable.  The dress looks just awful and my daughter, who felt lovely in it when she was standing being pinned for her altering, took one look at herself in the mirror and burts into hystertics.

Luckily we were able to pick up another outfit for tomorrow which will probably serve us well for some of the other summer festivities.  But she still needs a dress for the dance.

So tomorrow, rather than having a peaceful morning filled with sleeping late, sweet creamy coffee, and leisurly packing for a brief overnight stay for this party I am now in even less of a mood to go to than I was before Hubby and I will be going back to said cleaners to tell her in no uncertain terms to refund our money.

Then we have to hope another shop can fix it.

If not, we will have to find another dress and get it altered all by 6/5.

All of this would almost be comical except that Miss Artistic has huge self esteem issues, a difficult frame to fit (extremely buxom and not slim), and is under treatment (and has been for longer than I care to remember) for depression.

I am worried about the financial aspect of potentially having to start from scratch for a dress and the risk of not being able to find something suitable for a teen that will fit her frame in the limited time frame available to us.

I am worried about what this whole episode, on top of being bitched at just prior to our going out about homework and schoolwork issues, is going to trigger in her.

I am sad and stressed.

Can I cry now?

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama KellyTags:clothing, family