Spent the day as a substitute teacher today. I think I can get used to this new found job description. I had the good fortune of subbing  for a third grade class on this lovely  Valentine's day.  Just when I thought that the holiday had nothing new to teach me, a group of 16 eight year olds showed me the way! I had nearly forgotten how much we loved our Valentine's day celebrating....how I would have my list made, and my special valentines set aside at least a week ahead of time. How we got to eat junk food in school, a very rare occasion back then.
    32 wide and expectant eyes would turn to me each and every time another kid asked " when do we get to have our party? ". And each time I would smile and answer that we would get to party at the end of the day, once all the lessons were finished.  " AWWWWW " was the unanimous cry each time that we had to drag our eyes back to our reading/science,/math lessons.
     When it was finally time to party, the kids rushed around the class, delivering the cards and candies to one another, excitedly exclaiming their reasons for giving each card to its recipient. Then they devoured their munchies while they opened their valentines and laughed, giggled, rolled their eyes, and blushed together.
It was beautiful. I am grateful to have had such a lovely V-Day.
 

At FreeRice.com , they'll donate 20 grains of rice , through the United Nations, EACH and EVERY time you come up with a correct vocabulary  answer. I've earned almost 4000 grains in the last two nights, and my vocabulary is getting a nice workout. You can also donate $8.25, and contribute a 25 kilo sack of rice to the WFP.

The chart above shows where the majority of the rice goes.

Enjoy!!

I successfully quit smoking cigarettes a year and a half ago on the Summer Solstice. This is the best gift I've given to myself in a long long time.  I am free! I can breathe!! I have edless fuel for my heart's song. While I was able to stop smoking altogether and abruptly   cold turkey  style, if you will, it seems that my mind made an under the table deal with my will power.  Due to a total shut down of my will to eat the right foods, I have gained several earth pounds, and my energy levels have much room to improve. Sigh. It has been a long couple of weeks, here recently, as I've grown to accept the reality I've created. My body is exactly as it is meant to be. I'm teaching myself many lessons by working through each and every feeling that comes up.

As a smoker, I had many discussions with many smoking and non-smoking peoples' regarding the importance of balanced nutrition, and the benefits of consuming poison free foods. What a funny paradox I was!! This chatty chimney spewing green knowledge and   toxic pollutants. And then when I finally quit smoking tobacco, after 17 years, I became a junk food junkie. Food became my way to deal with many of the issues which cigarettes had allowed me to avoid. It has been a deep and raw year and a half.

I'd like to announce the New Deal, which my soul has brokered on behalf of my higher self''s best interest.
Only food which serves my body's highest potential will do. I am ready to reclaim my body.

Love and Gratitude to my Soul!! It's great to be back!!

Lucinda Williams on Austin City Limits is everything that this Lunar event entails.  Her mournful and experiential style is proof of how large regular life actually is. Her voice is warm and thick with images that we all understand.
Old Crow Medicine Show  shares the timeslot with Lucinda. Their rugged charm makes them an irrestible  acoutrement to this lovely Sunday evening.

Grace abounds within my swolen breast,
How can I contain this rapturous riot which revolts within me?
Resounding and rekindling harmonious hymns of yesterdays'
Our joyous cacaphony raises the roof amidst our raucous rampage.

Love and Gratitude to all worthy pilgrims and sacred beings.
We Are All One!!