And what a week it has been...
First off, I would like to thank everyone (family and friends) who helped James through GoFundMe for the mad scramble to pull together (within a day and a few hours) the retainer fee for a good lawyer for his upcoming custody battle. You have no idea how much we appreciate it. Well...maybe you do.
Anyway, you are all amazing and wonderful!
Positive, confident, and completely focused.
And the CUBS won The World Series!!!!
Flat Stan found his next home with Betsy
and has been going through her lingerie drawer.
JADE, it seems, is less then amused.
It has been a people-intensive month and a half for me...so I am officially in "hermit mode" this weekend. Think total Zen Retreat until at least Monday. Meditation, Reading (and maybe some writing), Cooking and Good (comfort) Food, Some time Outside buttoning down before the cold weather sets in, Napping, Painting, Drama-Free, Unplugged, Deep Candle-Lit Bubble Baths and Silence.
Sunday Edition with Coffee and the Tucker-Cat.
Time to recharge.
Although I have already Early Voted...I found some stickers that seemed to sum up this year's General Election Voting Experience nicely. Feel free to print or share.
Yeah...it is kinda like that. You think Halloween is SCARY...wait until the early morning of November 9th...
just sayin'
Started Virtual Turkey this week, so that was nice.
I also finished my Mediterranean Painting.
Which goes nicely with the Beach Rocks that Dave brought me from Crete!
Going to start on that Petersonesque painting:
Ghost of Monet by his Water Gardens
this weekend.
And maybe a small "Fallish" study before winter comes.
Excited about the Monet Ghost! Hoping I can pull it off!
Observing Balance in All Things...I extended the idea to my recent Book selections. Finishing both Mischling by Affinity Konar and The Book of Joy (a collaborated effort by His Holiness The Dalai Lama, South Africa's Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Douglas Abrams)
It was a nice blend.
The former being too dark to read alone.
The latter...probably to saccharine to enjoy without the darkness to offset it.
"Mischling" by Affinity Konar
Mischling in German referred to "mixed-blood". In 1943-1944 it was certainly not a nice term.
The book is a piece of historical fiction set a year before the liberation of the Nazi death camps. This book told the story of Stasha and Pearl, a set of twins, who were part of Josef Mengele's twin experiments in what was called "Mengele's Zoo" at Auschwitz.
Horrific- and yet a testimony to the strength of human spirit when it is trapped in inhumane and impossible conditions. A sobering testament to mankind's inhumanity to man during the Holocaust.
An excellent and eye-opening read to survivorism and indomitable will.
It is also a book that will make you cry.
The Second:
The Book of Joy by The Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu and Douglas Abrams
A non-fiction book which found its unlikely beginnings in India at the celebration of the Dalai Lama's 80th Birthday which was attended by his good friend Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
A series of interviews with both of them, but in a much more informal setting. It reads a lot like you are just listening to two old friends chatting about the world and life.
Much love and light and very funny.
They are both world class pranksters.
Especially when it comes to each other.
There are some laugh out loud moments.
A section at the end is called Joy Practices
and is more of a "how to" section
written by The Masters.
A very enjoyable read!
Looking forward to the Weekend Retreat.
See you, Monday!
Oh...and about Daylight Savings Time
Yeah. I am soooooooooooo there!