Child_of_the_Earth's Xanga

I Just Had To Share..."Liberty Van"

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 00:10:11 GMT

Check this out. I came across this photo on People of Walmart, then someone linked to the van/owner's website...that's right, the van has a website...

I'm all for the free speech! This is a little crazy though....
And a couple points...isn't that a Nissan Quest...i.e. NOT an American car? I thought someone this fanatical would be all about buying American... Also, this gives me a chance to touch on my personal stance on smoking bans. I'm proud to live in Delaware, where smoking is banned in restaurants and indoor public places. PROUD! I have asthma, and my biggest trigger is cigarette smoke. If it weren't for the ban, I wouldn't be able to eat at any restaurant that didn't adequately separate its smoking and non-smoking sections, or go out to eat with people who smoke. So tell me why a smoker's rights should trump mine? Why should another person's right to damage their health be more important than my right to breath uninhibited? This is a personal issue to me, and I hate it when people act like anyone pro-smoking ban is just a whiny person who wants to push Communism or whatever on them. What's with this idea that the world revolves around us?!

OMGWTF, UPDATE!

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 01:28:35 GMT

Yeah, I haven't updated in what seems like forever. And a lot's happened since then. I've started college, and been in a serious car accident that's changed my life in many ways, some unexpected. It's still under investigation, my car's still evidence and everything. But the basics, I wasn't at fault, there was a fatality, and I'm for the most part okay. I'm in physical therapy for back pain, and dealing with with PTSD, also. But I'm alive, ambulatory, and getting a little better every day. The most unexpected change has been in the way I go about life. So many things seem petty now, and I'm chasing dreams I always told myself were too far out of reach. Because I don't want to waste the time I have. I've seen how quickly it can change. I really thought it was over in that moment when my car hit the oncoming lane. And it was over that day for another human being. Because someone was in a hurry. So I'm not hurrying anymore. I'm taking the time to slow down, to listen, to enjoy the little things. And it's beautiful!

I'll try to update some more, I'm pretty busy lately, with physical therapy 3 days a week, college classes, and various other appointments, but I'll try.

Play Updates(With Photos)

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:40:14 GMT

I've been fairly busy with the play, and trying to get a job(which I might be close to!). So I apologize about the lack of updates. Also, I'm not finding as much inspiration as I'd like.

Anyway, as far as the play goes, we've been busy rehearsing. I'm off book now, with only a couple instances of calling for lines. A few of us walked around in costume at a local Spring festival, I was the one who stayed in costume the whole day, then finally gave into the 90 degree heat and got some clothes out of the loft backstage. My costume is a full-length, long-sleeved dress with velvet bodice, it's VERY warm! It was a lot of fun though, the kids were just so awestruck with seeing a 'princess' it was adorable!
Tonight, some of the cast are going to the local elementary school's family night, to introduce ourselves in character and talk about the show. It should be fun!
Here's a couple photos from the Bud & Bug Festival, where I was in costume:

In the first one my eyes are closed, but it gives you an overall view of the costume.

The Price of a Miracle

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 00:13:14 GMT

This is a repost from a couple years ago, I was reading through my old blogs and this one caught my eye.

From BeliefNet:

Sally was only eight years old when she heard Mommy and Daddy talking about her little brother, Georgi. He was very sick and they had done everything they could afford to save his life. Only a very expensive surgery could help him now . . . and that was out of the financial question. She heard Daddy say it with a whispered desperation, "Only a miracle can save him now."

Sally went to her bedroom and pulled her piggy bank from its hiding place in the closet. She shook all the change out on the floor and counted it carefully. Three times. The total had to be exactly perfect. No chance here for mistakes. Tying the coins up in a cold-weather-kerchief, she slipped out of the apartment and made her way to the corner drug store.

She waited patiently for the pharmacist to give her attention. . . but he was too busy talking to another man to be bothered by an eight-year-old. Sally twisted her feet to make a scuffing noise. She cleared her throat. No good. Finally she took a quarter from its hiding place and banged it on the glass counter. That did it!

"And what do you want?" the pharmacist asked in an annoyed tone of voice.

"Well, I want to talk to you about my brother," Sally answered back in the same annoyed tone. "He's sick . . . and I want to buy a miracle."

"I beg your pardon," said the pharmacist.

"My Daddy says only a miracle can save him now . . . so how much does a miracle cost?"

"We don't sell miracles here, little girl. I can't help you."

"Listen, I have the money to pay for it. Just tell me how much it costs."

The well-dressed man stooped down and asked, "What kind of a miracle does you brother need?"

"I don't know," Sally answered. A tear started down her cheek. "I just know he's really sick and Mommy says he needs an operation. But my folks can't pay for it . . . so I have my money.

"How much do you have?" asked the well-dressed man.

"A dollar and eleven cents," Sally answered proudly. "And it's all the money I have in the world."

"Well, what a coincidence," smiled the well-dressed man. A dollar and eleven cents . . . the exact price of a miracle to save a little brother. He took her money in one hand and with the other hand he grasped her mitten and said "Take me to where you live. I want to see your brother and meet your parents."

That well-dressed man was Dr. Carlton Armstrong, renowned surgeon, specializing in solving Georgi's malady. The operation was completed without charge and it wasn't long until Georgi was home again and doing well. Mommy and Daddy were happily talking about the chain of events that had led them to this place.

"That surgery," Mommy whispered. "It's like a miracle. I wonder how much it would have cost?

Sally smiled to herself. She knew exactly how much a miracle cost... one dollar and eleven cents... plus the faith of a little child.

Kitty Pictures! Vala After Her Spay!

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 20:01:31 GMT

Her tiny little incision, and bald belly.

She always makes this look, she's a trip

I love this one!

That's the strap for my camera...

Cuddles!

Vala

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 10:03:34 GMT

Sorry I haven't blogged the last few days, I've been having a really rough time with migraines and sleep issues.
I'm feeling better now, and just woke up from 9 hours of sleep. This is after taking Vala to get spayed yesterday having not slept for 24 hours. I don't recommend it! Anyway, here's the whole story.
I saw a listing on Craigslist the other day for a free spay/neuter clinic in Rehoboth, and since I've been worrying over not having the money, this was a great find. I called and scheduled her(they had spots for 30 cats). So yesterday I drove her down to meet the Spay/Neuter Van(a service of Delaware Human Association), and picked her up in the afternoon. As each cat was brought out to his/her owners, the tech was saying "she's very tired," "he'll sleep for quite a while," etc. But not my little Vala. The tech's first words to me: "she's very...upset." That was an understatement. I can imagine that they had to wear leather gloves to handle her, she was a little demon. She's never liked new people or places all that much, and to combine the two, along with shots and waking up from anesthesia, and incision pain, she went psycho. When I got her home, after a car ride of hissing at invisible things and growling, I opened the carrier door to see if maybe she'd curl up near me while I was on the computer. Nope, she decided to take off like a bat out of hell, crashed into a wall, and spun around and ran the other way. She did this several times while I tried to catch her again to put her back in the carrier. We finally caught her, and when we tried to put her back in the carrier, she made the exact same noise that this cat makes. So we let her go and she bounced off a couple more walls then hid, and slept it off while my fiance went to a friend's house to play PS3, and I went to my dad's for dinner. When I got home, she was sleeping in the spare bedroom, which is storage, her food/water, and a pillow I had put there when we moved her food into that room, for her to lay on. I was glad to see her curled up on the pillow. She still didn't want to be touched though, she growled, but she would sniff my hand. So I went to bed(at 8pm, yes ) I woke up several hours later, probably around midnight, and noticed she wasn't on her pillow anymore, but found her wandering around. She let me pet her, and we've kissed and made up. While waiting for her yesterday, I bought a little toy mouse for her, as a peace offering after I took her to all the mean strangers. She's such a good hunter that we rarely have real mice in the house anymore. So now she's protecting my home from the little toy mouse. She loves it, best dollar I ever spent!
She's currently wandering the house, and has started taking a couple bites of food. She's cuddled with me a couple times, also, and has been playing with anything she decides is a cat toy(which includes necklaces, my ring-sizer, fabric measuring tape, and her tail). She still won't purr, but I don't think I would either, she must still be in some pain. She's recovering nicely, though, and when she sits still long enough, I'll get some pictures.

No, President Obama is Not The Anti-Christ

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 10:02:39 GMT

Okay, this is something I'm sick of hearing get tossed around. Not because I'm what people like to call an "Obamamaniac"(I voted for him, sure, but that doesn't mean I think he's infallible, thank you), but because it shows a complete lack of knowledge of the term "anti-Christ" and concept of "the beast" spoken of in the Book of Revelation(not Revelations as these same people like to call it). First, those two are not the same. The term "anti-Christ" is not mentioned in Revelation. The term is only used a few times in the first and second letters of John, and refers simply to people who deny Jesus as the savior:

Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.(1 John 2:18)

Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.(1 John 2:22)

And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.(1 John 4:3)

For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.(2 John 1:7)

Doesn't sound much like what most people think of when they throw around the term "anti-Christ," huh? Perhaps they mean the figure of "the beast" spoken of in Revelation...

From Chapter 13 of the book of Revelation:
And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.

And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.

And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast?
Who is able to make war with him?

And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.

And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

If any man have an ear, let him hear.

He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.

And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,

And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

Hmm...neither of those sound much like our President, either...
(it's speculated that the "beast" was intended to be Nero, but that's another story )

So before you go spouting off again about how President Obama MUST be the Anti-Christ, take a moment to think about how ignorant of your own holy book you are. Spend a little more time reading your Bible than your mass emails. And beware the false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ferocious wolves(Oh yeah, the Pagan can quote the Bible too ).

Did you honestly know these verses? Did you also think that the Anti-Christ was mentioned in Revelation? Did you think that the Anti-Christ was the same as "the beast?"

After 18 Years, The First Photographs of a Soldier's Remains Coming Home

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 00:36:01 GMT

Today, when I was visiting my dad, I noticed the headline of the newspaper. It read "Homecoming," and featured a photograph, of a fallen soldier returning to the US, the first in 18 years. This is front page material here, because I live in Delaware, about 30 minutes from Dover Air Force Base, home to the State Department's largest Mortuary facility, and its only facility in the continental United States. More information on the mortuary, the Charles C. Carson Center for Mortuary Affairs, can be found in the Wikipedia article, here.
While I can't share the actual article, since the Delaware State News requires a subscription to view all its articles online, I found a similar one, from ABC News, here. Here are some highlights of the article.

United States Air Force Staff Sgt. Phillip Myers, who was 30 years old, died April 4, 2009 in Afghanistan, of wounds inflicted by an improvised explosive device(IED).
He was assigned to the 48th Civil Engineer Squadron, with the Royal Air Force Lakenheath, U.K., and in March 2008 received the Bronze Star for valor.
Myers' flag-draped casket arrived at Dover Air Force Base at 11pm April 5, 2009.
The transfer of the flag-draped casket was carried out with great dignity, as all such transfers are, whether family is present or not.
A carry team of eight airmen and women wearing battle dress uniforms with white gloves moved Myers' flag-draped casket from an Atlas Air 747 cargo jet to a waiting panel truck.

I read in an article written by a photographer who was present, that none of the media used strobes, so as not to detract from the solemnity, and used only the light on the tarmac.
The decision was left up to Staff Sgt. Myers' family whether they wished his return to be attended by the media. I think they made a good choice. I have always opposed this ban. I think it makes us realize the true cost of war to see these images. It's too easy to forget when we don't see it. There is something almost beautiful to me in these images. A soldier returning home, a hero, and being treated as such. It is bittersweet.
(A small fyi, I come from a military family)

I thought I'd share several of the photos of the return of Staff Sgt. Myers:

Above is the photograph that ran on the front page of the Delaware State News

This photo also ran in the Delaware State News, this is Staff Sgt. Myers receiving the Bronze Star in 2008.

I'm curious how everyone feels about this. Do you think it's good that the ban was lifted? Or do you think it is wrong to photograph returning soldiers?

The Definitive Blog About My Beliefs

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 05:52:44 GMT

I've touched on the topic before, but this will be the definitive blog on the topic, and the one I refer people to in the future. What will be different about this one, is that I'm going to encourage everyone to ask questions if they have them. I gained a lot of new readers after getting featured.
And here we go. I'll start with a basic overview of key points, and then, if you want to know anything else, just ask in the comments, I'll answer.
(a lot of these are adapted from the beliefs of The Henge of Keltria, since they are closest to my personal beliefs, but they phrase it better )

~ I'm polytheistic. I personally chose the Celtic Pantheon. My personal view is that all Gods and Godesses are aspects of one unified higher power.
~ I see nature as embodiment of the Divine
~ I believe that Natural Law reflects the will of the Divine
~ I believe that all life is sacred and should neither be harmed nor taken without deliberation or regard.
~ I believe in the immortality of the spirit, by way of reincarnation and eventual complete enlightenment.
~ I believe that our purpose is to gain wisdom through experience.
~ I believe that learning is an ongoing process and should be encouraged at all ages.
~ I believe that morality should be a matter of personal conviction, based upon self respect and respect for others, not on fear of punishment in the afterlife
~ I believe that evil is not a matter of inheritance but of intent, therefore actions are not in themselves evil. Rather, it is through the intent behind actions that evil can manifest.
~ I believe in the relative nature of all things, that nothing is absolute, and that all things, even the Gods and Goddesses have their dark sides.
~ I believe that individuals have the right to pursue knowledge and wisdom through his or her chosen path, and no path is the only 'true' way.
~ I believe in a living religion able to adapt to a changing environment. I recognize that my beliefs may undergo change as my wisdom grows.

Spirituality in Everyday Life

Sun, 05 Apr 2009 08:58:38 GMT

Whew, let's get away from my last blog! I can't keep up with comments anymore! I got a great response, though, it's been crazy! It's currently #4 on Top Blogs, and #2 Most Rec'd, as well as Featured. Quite an accomplishment since it was my first 'deep' blog in a while!

Anyway, on to our new topic! I thought I'd talk about my own feelings/experiences and then ask yours! I'll try to respond to all the comments, also.

If you're new here and didn't know, I'm Pagan. And no, that doesn't mean I worship Satan or any of that. I can't very well worship something I don't believe in, now can I?
But anyway, in my own life, I try to consciously experience everything as a blessing, as beautiful, and as spiritual. I'm not perfect, but I try to remind myself that even the things I hate doing are a gift. Sure I might not like having to drive into town to get groceries, but I remember that I have transportation, I have a little money for groceries, and I can walk through the store to get the things I need. Not everyone can say that. Therefore I am blessed. I see a small tree growing up out of an old sidewalk as beautiful, an illustration of how powerful Nature is. I see woods as beautiful, thinking of how old some of those trees are, and what they must have seen in their lifetimes. I'm much more of a spiritual person than a religious person. And I strive to make each day a day of spiritual learning and experience.

My question to all of you is:
Are you more religious or spiritual? And how much does this affect your daily life? Are you only interested in religion one day a week, or does it shape how you see the world, and the things you do in it?