IMA CFG

Starboard

noreply@blogger.com (Creative Freakin' Genius) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 23:55:00 +0000

The sand follows
its own pace
Soon there’ll be no
time and space

If you should have
need for me
Just look starboard
There I’ll be

Sail upon
a ship of thieves
Falling of
the autumn leaves

I’ll be in the
Earth and Sea
Just look starboard
There I’ll be

Tears will fall
like summer rain
Simply think
of this again

If you should have
need for me
Just look starboard
There I’ll be

The Universe hands out an ass kickin' every once in a while

noreply@blogger.com (Creative Freakin' Genius) — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 21:10:00 +0000

I am trying to change. Honestly, I am. I am trying not to allow my past to dictate my future. I am trying not to carry things forward that have no business being part of my life anymore. I am trying to become the person I know I am. But it's not easy.

I thought I was changing. I thought I was moving forward. I thought I was basically a good person. Now I think I may have been wrong.

Practicing compassion is difficult in a corporate-driven environment. It seems impossible not to get sucked into old behaviors because I am surrounded with the things that trigger those behaviors. It's not an excuse, but an explanation.

This is a place where I felt safe dropping by from time to time, writing what was on my mind and expressing myself accordingly. I don't always think through what I am writing, nor did I realize that what I was saying was being taken and repeated in certain circles. That I was being judged by what I wrote here. I am not looking for any sympathy. What was said wasn't entirely untrue. It gave me pause, that much is certain. I didn't realize the perception people had of me and it was a wakeup call.

I believe everything happens for a reason. There's a lesson here that I need to learn and it's obvious to me that I need to learn it NOW. So I am going to go work on that. Hopefully this is the last time the Universe has to kick me in the ass for the same dang thing that it's been kicking me for over the years.

Thanks for listening.

Today's Lesson

noreply@blogger.com (Creative Freakin' Genius) — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 14:42:00 +0000

A negative comment can only impact you if it's true. Then it is no longer a "negative comment" but rather a lesson. You need to reflect on that. Why did it hurt you? What is it about yourself that you don't like? Do you act in a way that makes you feel poorly when you see the impact on other people? Do you feel that others are "judging" you based on a poor choice you made, something you said? Then you have to reflect on why you acted or spoke that way, make a conscious decision not to repeat the behavior and move forward. If an apology is in order, you need to do that.

Everyone makes mistakes, acts in a way they aren't proud of. The issue at hand is what are you going to do to correct it. Every mis-step is an opportunity to learn and to become a better person. It's not easy. But nothing worth doing is easy.

02/07/09

noreply@blogger.com (Creative Freakin' Genius) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 21:56:00 +0000

A life altering day. Amazing. Unbelievable. Surreal. I am truly blessed.

A Lama came from Tibet, offering Healings. I had no idea that I would not be the same person afterward. I was transformed. I find the things that used to matter now matter very little, if at all. Things that I often struggled to make work now come easily. I no longer see any point in anger. I realized that compassion is the key to everything. Happiness, fulfillment, spiritual growth, enlightenment. It was like getting Reiki from 10 people at once. A wave of peace and love and compassion and healing washed over me in that little room. I left feeling stunned and otherworldly. Every sense was heightened. I am aware of things previously hidden away. I feel like I am carrying a secret and that while I am not alone, I do not think there are many who would understand without having experienced it.

Others have noticed the change and for that I am grateful. He is returning in June, we are hoping. I will be among those there to experience what cannot be explained, nor measured, nor taken at face value.

Sometimes you need some perspective

noreply@blogger.com (Creative Freakin' Genius) — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 21:04:00 +0000

We should feel only compassion toward those who inflict harm
upon one’s self and others
due to being overwhelmed by afflictive emotion.
May they find wisdom to see what is right and what is wrong.
May they learn to live in harmony by loving one another.
Through the power of truth and great compassion
of the awakened ones,
may soon the suffering and the stream of tears
come to an end
to the people from the land of snow.

His Holiness, the Dalai Lama

Technology is great isn't it, folks?

noreply@blogger.com (Creative Freakin' Genius) — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 19:30:00 +0000

So I am sitting at my desk, minding my own bidnizz and I decide to check my personal e-mail. I see that I have over 900 THOUSAND e-mails waiting for me and that my account has been suspended as a result. 900 thosuand messages? WTF, right?

So I can't use my e-mail for "up to 48 hours". Unfortunately, I have no idea when this happened and thus no idea when the supposed 48 hour time period will expire and I can get in there and clean up the mess. I sent them an e-mail and they are supposed to get back to me within 24 hours but since my e-mail isn't working I don't see how they're going to do that.

DAYUM!

Fuck this....

noreply@blogger.com (Creative Freakin' Genius) — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 21:22:00 +0000

I was OK with turning 40 until about a week ago. Perhaps it seemed like a distant thing until then. Perhaps I thought that I would reach all the goals ( and then some ) that I had set for myself long ago. Because I haven't even come close, it's all starting to feel like I am being bowled over.

I didn't lose the weight. I didn't get an agent. I haven't found anyone. Three goals I set for myself 5 years ago. I'm still waiting.

Now I am in a situation where certain people treat me like I'm a fuckin' idiot half the time and then want something the other half. Completely forgetting the fact that they treated me like an idiot the day before, but that's to be expected. I am - quite frankly - sick and tired of helping people fudge their way through life and get all the reward with little or no work. The use my experience, knowledge and creativity on a regular basis like it's their fuckin' birthright. Meanwhile they roll their eyes and mutter sarcastic and disrespectful crap under their breath when they think I am not looking/listening.

I'm too old for this shit and too young to be this old.

Happenings...

noreply@blogger.com (Creative Freakin' Genius) — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 23:16:00 +0000

To the few who still visit here and often muse about my absence, I apologize.

I refinanced my house in order to pay off my credit cards and do some renovations. Much needed renovations. Oh, you have no idea how much these renovations are needed. I am about ready to rip out the carpet, toss it on the front lawn and set it alight. That useless little cupboard/drawer/piece of countertop crap thing next to the stove? Don't get me started. I've hated that thing since the day I moved in. I started ripping out the cupboards in the kitchen but had to stop when I couldn't get the frame out.

I am chomping at the bit, money burning a proverbial hole in my bank account ( all the while there doesn't seem to be a helluva lot of interest accumulating - funny how that works ). I have a safety net but am somewhat petrified of using any of it for fear that I will lose control. I am afraid to be without money and afraid to have it. What the hell is that about?

I did book a little getaway to celebrate my 40th Birthday, which is looming in the not-so-distant future. I am taking a few of my friends to Canmore/Banff for a few days. It's not much but it will be enjoyable, I'm sure. I also booked the time off work, much to the surprise of my Creative Director, who just reminded me that I still have a half day left from 2008 that I haven't used yet.

I have barely started my second novel and have realized that I need to send out another round of inquiries to agencies. I can write all the books I want but it really is preferable to actually have an agent and the possibility of publication.

So a lot of irons in the fire and not much in the way of results as of yet. I am doing my best to be patient.

OMG to the Nth degree

noreply@blogger.com (Creative Freakin' Genius) — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 22:52:00 +0000

Ok you guys. This is huge for me. HUGE.

My brother-in-law gave me a... get ready for it.... 50 DOLLAR gift card to CHAPTERS!! I will give you a moment to comprehend what you just read and to envy me. Go ahead. I will wait.

So I took my little gift card and went to one of my favorite places on Earth. ( I should also mention that Amie and Dave gave me a gift card to Chapters and I got a Starbucks gift card from one of the sales reps - oh yeah. I said it. Go ahead and envy me because quite frankly I would envy you if you were me )

Where was I? Oh yes...

So I am in Chapters looking around. Is it just me or is it harder to find something when you actually HAVE money? When I don't have money I know exactly what I would get but when I do? Fuh-git abowd it! ( I just remembered I wanted to get a copy of Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook - the pink edition. DAMN! ) But I digress yet again....

What I really wanted was a journal. Not just ANY journal. This absolutely stunning, looks like an antique journal. It was 25 dollars. 25 dollars! I thought about it for a few minutes and decided to go for it. Now, it's one thing to BUY a 25 dollar journal. It's another to decide what you're going to use it for ( after all, it should be something special ).

I decided that I was going to study Welsh this year. It would help me with my Wiccan studies ( most of the Celtic deities are Welsh ) in addition to the book I'm writing, called BWCA. So exciting. I was surfing the information superhighway and found this!!!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/learnwelsh/bigwelshchallenge/course/

So I am learning Welsh on-line... for free! YAY!! I decided to use my new Journal to record my notes and as of a few minutes ago I.... brace yourself... WROTE IN IT!! It seems almost blasphemic to do so but since when do I pay any mind to propriety?

New Year's Resolutions

noreply@blogger.com (Creative Freakin' Genius) — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 22:33:00 +0000

Why do we wait until Dec 31/Jan 1 to make changes? What is so different about New Year's eve than any other time of year? Why not just resolve not to procrastinate and make the changes as you go? Some people say they're not going to make a resolution. But isn't that just resolving not to make a resolution and in that you are actually making one?

I was watching Oprah last week ( don't hate, she has a good idea every now and then ) and one show focused on making time for yourself. We schedule in absolutely everything, cramming as much crap into one day as we think we can manage and all we seem to be able to manage is screwing ourselves over. She said it was imperative to schedule yourself into your day, every day.

So I decided that I would allot time every day for meditation, exercise and spiritual studies. I am not doing too bad, but think that I could improve in a few areas. Like not getting sucked into watching Nancy Grace every damn night. She's like TV Crack, that Nancy Grace. I swear. Except watching her show doesn't make me thinner. Maybe if I used my treadmill while I watch, but let's face it.... that never happens.

I made long-term goals and short term goals, as well as set up a quasi-plan on how to accomplish them. I already screwed myself over by not getting my existing to-do list done by New Year's Eve... then missed my extension on that and didn't get it done this weekend, either. Instead, I blew off my housework and watched Twin Peaks for about 6 hours. Kristy is such a bad influence. That's a really eff'd up show, for those who haven't seen it. The series finale was especially twisted.

On we go....

noreply@blogger.com (Creative Freakin' Genius) — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 01:38:00 +0000

After taking a bit of time ( less than an hour, to be exact ) to reflect on today's happenings, the tremendous high and the plummet that followed, I am happy to report that I have been able to see the upside of this situation.

1 ) The book is finished. I have a word count - 32,164 to be exact - and can provide a complete manuscript upon request.

2) I have a renewed sense of purpose. This setback has not in any way deterred me from doing what I set out to do from the beginning. To see my book not only in print, but on bookstore shelves and in the hands of people who will read ( and hopefully enjoy ) it.

3) I am in no way intimidated by Agents or Publishers. I BELIEVE in my story and am going to perservere.

4 ) I have sent submission queries to two different agencies in the last hour and 40 minutes. It took no time at all to put together the package, as specified because I now have a complete manuscript.

Now that I know how it feels to be on the cusp of achieving what I have worked so hard for, I want it more than I ever did before. For that I am exceedingly grateful.

I still Believe

noreply@blogger.com (Creative Freakin' Genius) — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 00:27:00 +0000

I feel like a total idiot. I should have known better. Part of me did. The other part, the dream-fueled part, the part that wants it so bad it hurts - wasn't listening. She was skipping through a field of daisies, oblivious to the shards of glass just over that small hill.

I will not name names because, quite frankly, I am afraid of being sued. That's how horrid they are. The company that offered to publish my book. I was suspicious when it didn't take very long for them to read my manuscript and the fact that they accepted it without hesitation. But I believe in my book and my characters, so it was exciting to think ( note, I said think - not know ) that they did, as well.

Thankfully, I took some time to do a bit more research before signing on the dotted line. Don't get me wrong. I did some research before. But I didn't dig deep enough. They are very clever and are masters of deception. I almost fell for it. Almost. But the truth of the matter is, I love my book, my characters too much to just blindly sign their existance away.

Tomorrow, I will decline their offer. Then I will start over, looking for an agent and/or a publisher who may be interested in what I bring to the table. It was fun, for a couple of hours, to think of myself as a published author. I am grateful for that. Now I know what it will be like when it happens. Sure, it won't happen today. But it will happen. Because I BELIEVE and that will make all the difference.

About the Author

noreply@blogger.com (Creative Freakin' Genius) — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 17:47:00 +0000

Yesterday afternoon, I rec'd an e-mail from the publisher. They want to read my manuscript. I almost threw up on my desk. They want to read it. Maybe they'll like it. They might even want to publish it. I don't know how to feel. I am petrified/excited/happy/sick to my stomach.

I have to write a bio. The hardest thing to write about is yourself. What the hell do I say? I spent some time reading author bios at Chapters last night. I thought about just grabbing someone elses and altering it accordingly.

"KS Thompson is not a professor of Theology at Cambridge. She isn't married, doesn't have any kids and hasn't written 10 other novels. Thanks for stoppin' and shoppin'. Hope you like my book."

I wrote this a while ago, it came to me when listening to "8 Easy Steps" by Alanis Morrisette

noreply@blogger.com (Creative Freakin' Genius) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 23:11:00 +0000

You said you loved me
and you took me to a resturant
Meanwhile in our living room
there sits a big white elephant
Alligator told me my skin
fits me really very tight
and if he asks me
I just might

What's that you're sayin'
I can't hear you over all the birds
It's just as well
You'll only sting me with your nasty words
Crocodile smiling the sun
glinting off his great big tears
this has been going on
for years

The door flies open
and beyond it lies my paradise
I must admit it looks quite lovely
yes it's really very nice
Girraffe is blinking
at his overflowing cup of tea
You're right, darling
it's not you
it's me

What if... ?

noreply@blogger.com (Creative Freakin' Genius) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 20:57:00 +0000

Well, I did it. I finished "Believe" and sent the query, complete with word count ( all 32, 164 of them ) to the publisher for consideration. Whew. That was a long journey. Much like the one in the story, actually.

Now the waiting game begins. Hmmm... what to do to pass the time. What to do.... what to do. Oh, I know. I'll start writing my next novel. ( grins mischievously ) That's so cute! You think I'm kidding....

I was sitting in my living room many moons ago, flipping through the channels when I came upon a program about Vlad the Impaler. Interesting, I thought. Little did I know how much it would affect me.

"What if...?" That's a question that is familiar to me. It's how I get most of my story ideas. As I sat there, transfixed by the story unfolding before me, something sparked.

"What if Vlad the Impaler had been born in the 21st Century?" That is how it began. The idea for my next novel. I had shelved "Believe", taking a break and intending to go back to it for a final edit. ( Unfortunately, the disc crashed and I was unable to retrieve it. Thankfully, Murray was able to get it for me, if only to print it off and I've been transcribing/editing up until today ) Anyhoo, I took this time to do a bit of research. Do you know how hard it is to find any historical info about Vlad Tepes? The original Dracula, the inspiration ( which stops at the name and some minor details found in folklore, BTW ) behind the famous story penned by Bram Stoker is an elusive man and extremely difficult to learn anything about. Thankfully, I enjoy the research aspect of my story writing and am more than happy to act as a detective, carefully exposing information like an archaeologist. Little by little, bit by bit, I was able to determine what role the original Vlad would play in my tale. I am so happy that I did all this groundwork and am somewhat ready to start the actual writing, because it will give me something to keep me occupied while I wait to learn the fate of "Believe".

I am fairly certain that "Vlad" will not take nearly as long to complete. I am fairly certain it will also be aimed at young adults - 16 and over, rather than the 9 and up I foresee for "Believe". It isn't going to be a literal interpretation of his life, but rather a look at what Vlad might be like if he were alive today and how he would deal with his circumstances.

Almost there....

noreply@blogger.com (Creative Freakin' Genius) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:01:00 +0000

I haven't exactly been "working" today. It's not like I am slacking off, perse. I have almost everything done up to February and what I don't have done can't get done any sooner than when I am planning on doing it. To my defense, I did write a few scripts and submitted a couple things to production today so I am not feeling all that bad about what I DID do.

First of all, I found this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40eZABP5eJs&feature=related yesterday and have been listening to it all day. Literally. Almost non-stop. The video is actually pretty good and I have yet to find the entire version of this song anywhere. Made my entire existance so much better, I swear.

I spent most of the day transcribing / editing my novel. I am exhausted, but feel really good. I only have EIGHT PAGES LEFT. Eight pages. That's it. Years and years of work and it's down to eight pages. I can't believe it.

I don't know how to feel. Part of me is excited, part of me is terrified, yet another part is so sad. I have been working on this for so long. I ate and slept it, doing little or nothing else for days on end. The day I wrote the scene for the Gathering, I didn't get out of my chair for 8 straight hours. I didn't eat... didn't go to the bathroom... I'm not even sure I was breathing. I put one of Enya's songs on repeat and sat there for EIGHT HOURS, writing. I have been pondering it, editing it, working on it in secret and talking about it in public for years. Now it's almost over. All I have left to do is transcribe and edit those last eight pages, then read it over one last time ( as a reader, not an author ) to enjoy it and see if it really is as good as I hoped and dreamed it would be.

Then I will send it to the publisher and wait. My greatest fear is that it will never be published and my dream will end there. That the characters I have grown to love will never be set free and sit alone and unappreciated in the bowels of my hard drive. To wither and die like stories do if left untold.

To those who have been a part of my path and who have been waiting. Thank you. I hope I don't let you down.

Ludivida's Way

noreply@blogger.com (Creative Freakin' Genius) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:52:00 +0000

Reiki is an energetic form of healing which removes blockages, emotional trauma , promotes stress reduction and deep relaxation. Reiki stimulates the healing process - body, mind and spirit. Reiki can be provided hands on, or by long distance.

My Mother is a a Reiki Master Teacher. She provides energetic healing to animals, encouraging and helping their human partners to provide Reiki to their animals by teaching them Reiki. She has a page on her website with information here http://www.coronadopoodles.ca/ludivina.html

I wasn't too sure about Reiki but my anxiety was so bad that I was willing to try anything that didn't involve medication. I no longer wanted to pollute my body with chemicals which only provided short term relief, with the issue only compounding over time. Both my sister and my mother encouraged me to seek help from Lori Scaife, a Reiki Master ( who later taught my Mother ). I noticed improvement after my first treatment and recommend it to everyone.

I was attuned to Level 1 so that I could offer Reiki to Diana in her last months with me and found it helped her tremendously. It provided me with a way to bond with her and helped me deal with her loss. Even if you and your animals are in perfect health, Reiki can help maintain balance in your life.

Blessings from the Faerie Laedie!

Greed

noreply@blogger.com (Creative Freakin' Genius) — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 21:57:00 +0000

How many of us would work at WalMart? If given the choice between a retail job where you are paid shit wages and treated about as good or a sit-on-your-ass-while-surfing-the-net-even-though-you-should-be-working 9 to 5 existance, what would you choose?

A 34 year old man went to work this morning at WalMart and is never going home. He was trampled to death by people so consumed with greed that they broke down the doors at 5 am in order to get a bargain. In the midst of their stampede, they didn't notice he'd been knocked down and they were now trampling on him. Now he's dead. Dead, people. As in - "We regret to inform you that your husband/son/grandson/uncle/brother/friend was killed today at work." He wasn't defending his country in a time of war. He wasn't on an oil rig or out in the middle of the ocean on a crab boat or fighting a forest fire or even doing stunts on a movie set. He was just a regular joe trying to make ends meet at a job most people wouldn't take if their lives depended on it. Especially during the Holiday Season.

A few other people, including a 28 year old pregnant woman, were also taken to hospital after sustaining injuries. So the people responsible for trampling this poor man to death weren't selective about who got in the way of their greed at 5 am this morning. I guarantee you these people wouldn't even THINK about getting up at 5 am if there wasn't something in it for them.

When is it going to end? When is our quest for a bargain... our endless need for "stuff"... our lack of thought for others going to give way to common sense? Has it come to a point where killing one another because of a "sale" is going to become a regular occurance? Do retail outlets have to include a disclaimer when they hire you and include hazard pay because you may be killed if they have a really good sale?

So, raise your hands people. How many of you want a job at WalMart? I hear there's an opening....

111 days and counting...

noreply@blogger.com (Creative Freakin' Genius) — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 23:14:00 +0000

until my 40th birthday. I keep thinking that it's sort of a monumental achievement, living for 40 years. Spending 4 decades on this planet should denote some sort of celebration. But I just can't get over the feeling that I should have done more with my time than what I have. I should be thinner... more successful... financially stable... in a relationship... I should be acting like an adult.

Instead I am single and living the sort of bachelor lifestyle that would send my mother into a fit of anxiety if she knew the truth. I had toast with peanut butter for supper last night because I was too tired to cook anything by the time I got around to eating. I have two piles of laundry on the floor of my basement that need to be done, a load in the washer, a load in the dryer and two loads worth sitting in piles that are clean but will probably need to be washed again because they've been sitting there for almost a week. There's a pile of stuff in my kitchen that I need to sort thru and either toss or put away. My dresser has an assortment of crap on top of it. Every closet in the house needs to be gone thru, stuff thrown away or donated to charity or re-discovered and actually put to use. I have a junk drawer in the kitchen that is really starting to annoy me, yet I just can't bring myself to take the time and empty it.

I often don't wear makeup because I hit the snooze button a few too many times and am just too rushed to bother. I don't know what the hell to do with my hair. Both the color and the style have grown out and I just don't have a trip to the stylist in my budget. Hell, I don't have a trip to Just Cuts and a box of dye in the budget. I own one pair of jeans and two pairs of shoes. Actually, I have other shoes ( hand-me-downs from my Mom and all of them for summer - so they don't count at the moment ).

I don't feel 40. I don't think I look 40. I don't act 40. My life is not like any other 40 year old that I know. Is that a good thing? Not sure. But it's my thing, so I guess I'll just carry on.

The plan was a trip to Ireland. That was 5 years ago. Then I changed it to a trip to somewhere like Hawaii or Palm Springs. That was two years ago. Then I changed it once again to a week in Banff or Canmore or something of that sort. That was last year. Now? There is no plan. I wish there were because perhaps that would distract me from the sinking feeling that I am fast approaching a milestone and have no idea how I am supposed to deal with it. Part of me wants to book the day off work, stay home and mope. The other part says, book the day off and do something really cool. Another part still feels I should tack on an extra 5 grand to the home improvement loan and go on a trip in spite of the fact I can't really afford it. Then there's the part that is speaking to me now. The part that wishes the whole thing would just disappear. That I could just disappear.

A lot of women get really depressed about turning 40. It honestly didn't bother me until a week or so ago. I don't know why, exactly. Up until then, I didn't really care how old I was or wasn't. I didn't think it mattered. Maybe it doesn't matter. But what if it does? What if it matters a lot and I don't realize it until it's too late?

I have tried setting goals for myself. Weight loss... publishing my first novel... finding a soul mate... becoming more spiritual... becoming more balanced... finding myself... but nothing seems to motivate me. I am stuck in a rut and don't seem to care. Is that part of turning 40? Denial? Being afraid to move forward? I suppose that my being stuck isn't going to stop time, so there isn't much point. At 8:10 am on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 I will officially turn 40. Nothing I do or don't do is going to change that.

111 days and counting. The question is... what am I going to DO with those 111 days?

What will your Opus be?

noreply@blogger.com (Creative Freakin' Genius) — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 23:21:00 +0000

Over the last 6 months, I have been watching a lot of inspirational DVD's. The Secret... What the Bleep... Heal Your Life... The Peaceful Warrior... Illusion... Conversations With God... The 5 People You Meet In Heaven... Tuesdays With Morrie... all of them different takes on the same basic message. That you ultimately have the power to change your life. To live the life you were meant to live. No matter what Spiritual Path you follow, you will find something useful in these films.

I picked up this month's copy of the Violet Ray, which is a metaphysical magazine published in my area. The cover story was about a new film called "The Opus". I visited the website, watched the trailer and video testimonials. Many compare it to The Secret, but most say that it surpasses that film for various reasons. I haven't seen it yet but am hoping to get a copy soon. Based on what I have seen so far, I am very excited about it.

There is a seminar and screening of the film in my area this January. I am sending the message out to the Universe that I will be able to buy not just one ticket for myself but two tickets, so that I can bring a guest. Perhaps someone that may not otherwise be able to afford to go but would benefit from the experience.

I have no connection to the film, nor do I benefit in any way by telling people about it. I just felt that it was worth sharing. If you are interested in seeing for yourself, visit the website www.theopusmovie.com You can watch the trailer and they also allow you to watch the entire film for 9 dollars, with a 5 dollar credit toward the purchase price of the DVD ( 29-95 ) if you decide to buy it. Again, I do not get anything out of this. I am not trying to sell anything. I just want to help spread the word about something that may help someone here. I look forward to hearing what you think!

Blessings from The Faerie Laedie!

American Politics

noreply@blogger.com (Creative Freakin' Genius) — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 17:33:00 +0000

I watched Senator McCain on the View, courtesy of Perez Hilton. A lot has been said about him and his running mate, Sarah Palin. Many cannot believe the thoughts that have been spewed forth by this team but I see the Blessing. That they do not hide their true beliefs and their true agenda. What frightens me, though is what they are NOT saying. If they are unafraid to share their rather unpopular views on abortion, war, the slaying of endangered animals merely for sport, the brandishing of weapons in the name of "God", waging war on countries whose beliefs do not coincide with theirs ( also in the name of "God" ) - what sort of things are they holding back?

This is something that I wanted to share. When the topic turned to the separation of church and state, the fact that not everyone was a Christian and believed in a Christian God, this is what Mr McCain had to say.

"You're entitled to that - not believing in God - but I think we should respect the views of those who believe in God and believe we are a special nation and it's a special world and we believe that God does play a role, not in wether we win or lose elections but wether we have a better world and a better future and better lives."

I can think of no time in American History where Christians were disrespected openly for their views. I can think of no time in America when Christians were not free to express their views or celebrate their faith. I can think of no time in America when Christians were murdered because they didn't conform to the beliefs set forth by another group of people.

I can, however think of many occassions where American Citizens were tortured and murdered by those who deemed them unworthy of the basic human rights that they so take for granted.

Mr McCain has the gall to ask the American Citizens to "respect the views of those who believe in God" when the views of Christians are the only that seem to matter at all to him. When Whoopie Goldberg asked about the rights of Muslims and Wiccans, he was dismissive, his thoughts again turning to the rights of Christians. This is an excellent example of how we need to take note of what they're NOT saying. The issues that we deem important but that they choose to ignore.

If by some chance Mr McCain becomes the next President of the United States, he will be bringing Sarah Palin just one step away from the highest office in the land. That frightens me for so many reasons. Senator Palin is extremely uneducated on an alarming number of issues and if she succeeds to the White House she will set the women's movement back hundreds of years. To the best of my knowledge, Senator Palin does not represent women's views on anything she's spoken of to date.

We have longed to see a woman in office, but Senator Palin is NOT the woman we've been waiting for.

Today....

noreply@blogger.com (Creative Freakin' Genius) — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 23:03:00 +0000

I wrote two articles for the Violet Ray Magazine.

A friend called last night and we were chatting about this and that. The topic of conversation turned to meditation and I told her about my visualization exercise to cut ties with people. It is a way to let go of those who continue to have a negative impact on your life in spite of the fact they are no longer a part of it. She asked if I could write it out and send it to her. I did and felt inspired to submit it to the magazine. I had another about letting go of money - changing your perspective on debt. So I wrote that one out as well.

Pretty productive day.

I got an amazing rejection letter from a publisher the other day. I had submitted my poetry anthology "100 Words" last year at this time and they turned me down. But they read my proposal and my sample poems. They said that it was a good execution of the concept ( or something like that ) and wished me luck seeking out another venue for it. BAM! I don't suck.

I sense change in the air. One could argue that it's almost Samhain but I sense something else. Something deeper. Something good.

There's a really cute guy that works at the Wok Box. Their food is far from nutritional and probably has more calories than my recommended weekly allotment but it's fab. Anyhoo, he's extremely cute and I am actually considering asking him out. Note, I said "considering".

That's what I did today. Thanks for stopping by.

What does it mean to Believe?

noreply@blogger.com (Creative Freakin' Genius) — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 18:22:00 +0000

I have been gone for a while. The reason? Not that I really need one but here it goes. I have been doing a ton of work on myself over the last couple months. I have been making an effort to meditate every evening and have set up a self-love altar in my bedroom for that purpose. I have been looking inward, watching a lot of DVD's ( The Secret, Heal Your Life, Peaceful Warrior - that sort of thing ) and releasing my past so that I can focus on my future. It's not easy, but then again nothing worth doing is.

I have made a lot of realizations. One of them is this. There are no coincidences. No happenstances. No chance encounters or pointless occurrences. Everything... and I do mean EVERYTHING... happens for a reason. Even if the reason remains unknown to you. It may not seem like it at the time, but it's true.

Here's an example. On Saturday I was supposed to attend a fundraiser for Greyhound Rescue in Strathmore. I went on-line and got myself a map and directions to the location. Unfortunately, the map seems to be inaccurate and the directions not specific enough. I got to the highway that was supposed to take me East/West but I didn't think to find out which direction I was supposed to go. So I took a chance and headed West, thinking that if I was wrong it was the nicer drive of the two. I ended up in Canmore which is the opposite direction but again, a beautiful drive. So I made a pit stop and then turned around, determined to get to the event before it was all said and done.

Should have stayed in Canmore. Had some lunch. Went for a walk. A little voice in my head ( I call this one, Ali ) suggested we just keep going and spend the day in Banff. Should have listened. She's one smart cookie, that Ali.

The drive back to Calgary wasn't horrid but the drive thru Calgary was slow going and then the drive to Strathmore was less than pleasant. If I never go to Strathmore or any of those other holes in the ground along the way again, I am fine with that. I will never, ever, ever travel those roads alone again. UGH. I left my house at 9:30 am. I arrived at the fundraiser at 4 pm. It ended at 5. When it was over, I headed out of the fairgrounds and promptly missed the turn, ended up following someone else for the better part of an hour, then hit a detour which led to a dead end on a gravel-infested road. It was a stranger. A man. Thankfully, he was a kind man who agreed with my observation that the detour was a farce and led nowhere. He was familiar with the area and offered to lead me back to civilization. If I had a friend with me, we could have laughed about it. I was alone and not in the mood.

I was pulling into a mini-mall in Ardrie ( thank the Goddess - a town I recognize!!! ) and took some time to ponder my situation. There HAD to be a reason why this happened. There had to be someone out there in the Universe ( or perhaps the Universe itself ) that needed me to go West that day. That didn't want me heading East. Now to figure out the reason.

I thought about it the rest of that night and on through yesterday. I took my nephew out for the day, all the while the questions bouncing about in my head. ( What does it all mean? What am I supposed to learn? What if I truly was supposed to stay in Canmore for the day or go further to Banff and I missed out on something amazing because I turned around too soon? ) Late last night, I watched "Message in a Bottle", remembering that I enjoyed it. The film takes place in a small town next to the ocean and that in itself is enough of a draw for me. I just kept thinking how many of my favorite films are centered around the water. How I am always drawn to the types of homes found in those films.

I thought about how these films make me feel and how I felt when I was driving toward Canmore, surrounded by towering masses of rock, small lakes, trees and the mountains getting closer and closer with every passing kilometer on the dashboard. How even though I was heading in the wrong direction, I was happy. Like there was nowhere else I would rather be. What does that mean? Much like a scene in "The Peaceful Warrior" when Socrates takes Dan on a hike up a beautiful mountain, only to have Dan disappointed when there wasn't a huge payoff - I felt like I was actually enjoying the journey rather than being focused on the destination. I had never been to Canmore but was very excited to go. I didn't care that it wasn't the destination on the invitation sitting on the passenger seat, along with the inaccurate map and directions. I was too blown away by the beautiful scenery and enjoying my visit with Stephen King. ( I decided to listen to him recite "On Writing" - since I had a long drive ahead. ) So I followed the winding paths toward the mountains, kept company by Stephen's voice and the jewels of insight into writing that I so treasured.

As I stated earlier, there are no coincidences. No happenstances. No chance encounters or pointless occurrences. No wrong turns. Everything... and I do mean EVERYTHING... happens for a reason. In this case, I think the reason ( at least part of it ) has become known to me.

I needed some alone time. No telephone. No TV. No dogs. No distractions. Some time to think about where I wanted to go from here. Much like the literal fork in the road on Saturday morning, I have reached a point in my life where there are some decisions that have to be made. I have to choose a direction and stick with it. The road to Canmore is akin to the future I desire for myself. Filled with beauty and promise and happiness. The road to Strathmore was difficult to find and also to navigate. Much like trying to carry all the baggage of your past. You get lost. You get derailed. You aren't enjoying the journey. It's not where you want to be but you may be too afraid or too stubborn to choose the other path. You may see the other path as more difficult but that's your ego talking, trying to keep you down.

I have been talking the talk for years. I know exactly what I want and what I have to do to make it happen. I am approaching not just a fork in the road, but another chance to make things right. To live the life I keep promising myself. It's going to take some work but I believe I will get there and Belief is half the battle.

Swamped by Lacuna Coil

noreply@blogger.com (Creative Freakin' Genius) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 16:47:00 +0000

I have been listening to this song non stop for two days. The lyrics are interesting because it speaks of transformation which I feel is the theme of my life at the moment. Hard to believe that I have let go of my protective shell and allowed myself to become myself and accept that self as the truth.

As Always,

CFG

When you're taught through feelings
When you're taught through feelings
When you're taught through feelings
When you're taught through feelings

Destiny flying high above
All I know is that you can realize
Destiny who cares
As it turns around
And I know that it descends down on me

It's just another day
The shame is gone
Hard to believe
That I've let it go, let it go, let it go

Destiny can't replace my life
Scary shadows of my past
are alive

Destiny who cares
As it turns around
And I know that it descends
With a smile

Just another day
The shame is gone
It's hard to believe
That I've let it go away

It's just a melody
It bleeds in me
Hard to believe
That I've let it go

When you're taught through feelings
When you're taught through feelings
When you're taught through feelings
When you're taught through feelings

Just another day
The shame is gone
It's hard to believe
That I've let it go away

It's just a melody
It bleeds in me
It's hard to believe
That I've let it go, let it go, let it go

Breaking up is hard to do......

noreply@blogger.com (Creative Freakin' Genius) — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 15:43:00 +0000

I have an interesting relationship with Sugar. Everyone ( not everyone I know but the Universal Everyone ) says that I should give it up and I agree. It's for my own good. Sugar isn't a neccessity. It's overprocessed and basically just gives your body licence to produce more belly fat. But Sugar isn't something you just break up with. It calls and you answer because Sugar really hasn't done anything to you. It's not like Sugar lied to you about sleeping with a known skank and getting her pregnant. Or used internet banking to steal your paycheck and then spend the money on strippers. Sugar doesn't borrow your van and then return it with an 8th of a tank in gas and not offer to help you fill the tank. Or tell you it's at work when in fact it's taking a stripper out to the Keg for a lovely dinner that you've been led to believe you couldn't afford in your wildest dreams. Nope. Sugar would never do any of that. Sugar is your buddy. Your confidant. Sweet release from all that holds you back in this life.

Sugar takes so many wonderful forms that it's virtually impossible for me to cut them ALL out of my life. Chocolate is an excellent example. I have decided not to give up chocolate, but to be a bit more selective about what sort of chocolate I consume. If I am going to take in the calories, they're gonna be high quality. That goes for cake, candy and the like. I will no longer eat whatever comes across the threshold at work, because quite frankly some of it isn't worth the sacrafice and the extra time on the treadmill.

I don't know if I talked about my trip to Edmonton or not but we went to this cupcake place ( don't ask the name or the location because I don't recall ) and the cupcakes were simply devine!! Thankfully, it's an hour drive away so I can't just swing by on my way home and partake in the goodness. We do have a Marble Slab ice cream place on my way home and let me tell ya, it's all I can do some days not to "swing by" and order up a liter of sweet cream with york peppermint patties and marshmallows mixed in. Mmmmmmmm.... heaven, I tell ya.

I have been going hard on the treadmill and doing yoga for a couple of weeks now and it's getting easier. I am on the cusp of becoming hopelessly addicted to working out, which is a good thing. The closer I come, the easier it is to turn away from sugar because I work so hard and don't want to waste my time.

Fear not, Sugar. You have been with me from the beginning and you await me now. I will not abandon thee nor will I turn away. Our meetings will simply be less frequent but more meaningful than ever before.