Full Moon

Goals

1) I procrastinated a bit on this one, but I have exercised the past two days in a row. I've been doing Yoga and other exercise with my Wii Fit.

2) I have cut back on pop, trying to switch to diet when I do want it for the caffeine. I have been drinking more iced tea and green tea. I feel like I'm off to a good start.

3) I have been slacking on creating the ritual, but I've been reading All One Wicca, and finished writing an essay for entrance into the Coven of the Far Flung Net. Will be polishing that up and sending it off today or tomorrow. The full moon is tomorrow, so I still have time to write up something.

4) I am still working on I Will Fear No Evil by Robert Heinlein. I've been playing more World of Warcraft rather than reading more. At least playing WoW though, I do get to interact with other people. It's been fun.

I'm feeling less lonely. I was home all day yesterday and I didn't feel the need to call anyone just to have someone to talk to. I worked out, and had lunch, watched some LOST, and then got online to play WoW at about 8 PM.

Dream

Dream 11/14/2009 waning moon in Scorpio


The dream - A man, older, pretty sure he had a beard, was asking me if I'd ever made a wand. I told him I had, but it was a simple one, nothing like the tools he had. He handed me a large quartz crystal, about 10 inches long, nearly 3 inches in diameter, single terminated at one end, rounded on the other. It was heavy and cool in my hand.

I just remembered this as I was reading All One Wicca. I was reading about different paths that can be taken as your practice and commitment deepens.

I've been focused very much outward lately. Worrying about other people's problems. When I've tried to help others by being there and listening, I end up exhausted, worn out. Focusing inward tends to bring on a feeling of panic. I've been traveling on the weekends so much because I don't like being on my own for hours at a time. The quiet at my little house begins to seem creepy and ominous instead of peaceful.

It's time to start replenishing myself and caring for myself in healthy ways. I need a focus. I told someone once that if there's a hole inside you, you can't fill it up with someone else. You have to fill it with yourself. So I guess it's time for me to listen to my own advice and really start doing that, instead of trying to distract myself and pretend it's not there.

The New Moon is Monday. Goals to accomplish between this New Moon and the next -

1) Start exercising again.
2) Stop drinking pop, thereby cutting my caffeine intake considerably.
3) Create and perform ritual for the Full Moon (the main moon ;-)
4) Read more - requires more active thinking than just watching TV or movies

Wish me luck...

Merry Part and Blessed Be

Haven't done this in a while....

Morning folks! I am blogging this morning from Pittsburgh, which makes it that much cooler. The sky is blue and the sun is shining. It's a gorgeous day.

What I've been up to lately - Been crazy busy at work. Lots of training going on. Have a new hire class starting a week from tomorrow. We've lost a couple people recently. Some I am sorry to see go, the departure of others makes me dance with glee.

I've also been watching Lost via my Netflix account. I'm now 3 episodes into Season 2, so don't tell me anything! But I completely get now why my friend Kelli named her truck Sawyer. I've been going around singing "You All Everybody" for about 2 weeks. Lost rules.

I've been spending a lot of time on Facebook. I can chat on it with a lot of people from work, college and even a few old high school friends. So if you're reading this and you haven't already, sent me a friend request!

I smell bacon, which means it's almost time for breakfast. Which is good because I am starving.

Merry Part and Blessed Be!

Music

Okay, the video is scary because there are clowns in it. But I <3 this song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7T88NfxVJdc

I said, she heard

Me - I bought a futon!
Allison - You bottled Whose Line?

Yes, I now own a 4th piece of furniture, a futon. I was looking at buying an air mattress, but a good one, with a pump, is about $50. My futon was $139. And it works as a couch, as well as a place for guests to sleep. I don't have to inflate or deflate it, either.

I am working on building it as we speak, I am just waiting on my landlord's son to bring me a phillips head screwdriver. I am taking this break as an opportunity to blog, and to eat some soup.

I'm fighting off a sinus infection. I went to Dr. Owens office today and got an antibiotic. I should be in the clear before I go to Lebanon to visit Lacy, Jay and Breanna.



Isn't she beautiful?

Customer Service Week at work is off to a good start. We had plenty of participation in our Professional Attire dress up day. Tomorrow is Team Jersey day, so I need to decide whether to wear Penguins jersey or my Steelers jersey.

Okay, time to eat, even thought I am not really hungry. I hate being sick.

Merry Part and Blessed Be!

Trueblood

I started watching Trueblood via Netflix last night. I really, really like it. I'm completely hooked on the opening theme. As a fan of the books, I’ve been really pleased with the translation from book to show so far. The first two episodes were about the first third of the first book. I like Anna Paquin as Sookie. I like the guy they have playing Sam, he’s one of my favorite characters in the books. I can't wait to get the next disc.

I wanna do bad things with you...

And it's only Tuesday

Kim's been gone two days, and I'm already beginning to appreciate why I didn't apply for a Team Lead position. There's a lot of organization necessary, and it's very disappointing when people don't do well on a call monitoring. Especially people you know are capable of doing well.

Gearing up for Customer Service Week. Duty calls.

Merry Part and Blessed Be!

I love Pittsburgh

It's been a busy couple of days. On Friday night after work, I drove down to Pittsburgh to visit Grant and Wendy, who I've only seen once since they moved back to PA. I got to meet their pretty birdies, Chloe and Baby. (Chloe likes me okay, Baby thinks I am in some way a threat.) We rented Watchmen, which we had all watched in the theater but wanted to see again. We also watched SuperBad, and McLovin was still the best part. On Sunday we walked around Little Italy because there was a festival. Wendy had some tiramisu and I had Italian ice. My Garmin got me in and out of the city just fine, although I had to trick it a little to get it to take me north on 79 rather than out 28. Taking 28 is shorter, but since I was driving at night, I'd rather stick to the big highways.

I also have a theory that the Steelers aren't winning because I'm not watching the games. I may have to find out how much basic cable is. Most of the games are on CBS or NBC.

Hope everyone is enjoying the fall weather, there's definitely a chill in the air here today and I want a cup of hot apple cider, and a purring black cat in my lap.

Merry Part and Blessed Be!

I had a dream

About being happy. All my friends were near me, we could watch movies or play games together whenever we felt like it. And I was with someone special... it was wonderful to lie in his arms and be loved and cherished. I remember lying in a huge bed, with the sheets and blankets all tangled up around us. A lot of the details are fading, but I remember being happy and scared it wouldn't last.

So I'm in a conundrum this morning. I see a pattern. It's becoming a cycle. And we've tried to break the pattern, but now the attempt to break the pattern is becoming a part of the cycle. I don't want to lose this person. The thought of losing him makes me very unhappy. But at the same time, there's all these reasons we keep trying to stay apart. It's too complicated, we don't have the same goals, our personalities are very different, etc. etc. And at the same time, I love being around him, I love talking to to him. When I have the opportunity, I love touching him and being touched by him. And I don't need him just for the attention, because there are others who tell me I'm beautiful and special. And he's going through some things himself, and I want to be there and help him as a friend.

I find myself wondering if the way to break the pattern is to just suck up my fear, and give it a real try. But I know we're both afraid we'll just fall into a different pattern then, and maybe we'd be content, and neither of us would be looking for the person who will make us truly happy, the person we're meant to spend our lives with. Maybe though, we need to look at why we are continuously drawn back together, rather than all the reasons we try to stay just friends and not more.

Having an oooh, kitty moment: It's Fall. Officially tomorrow, but the temperature at night and the falling leaves in my driveway tells me it's here. In the Wheel of the Year, it's a time for endings making way for new beginnings. It always reminds me of a specific new beginning, the start of the school year. Samhain will be here before I know it. Maybe I can get some good advice then.

Back to the original topic: My wisest counselors are telling me not to jump into things with this friend. I need to respect the decisions he's making for himself and give him space to figure out what he wants. And I fear him wanting me almost as much as I fear him NOT wanting me...

Merry Part and Blessed Be

This is my cat

She is currently sleeping on my lap. More pics when I take 'em

Back from vacation

Full details and pics later, but for now, enjoy this:

Looking ahead, not looking back

Today I go to sign my divorce papers. Then in a little over 110 days, it will be official. Then I can go back to being Suzanne Huffman. Then I can really start my new life.

I can go where I want to go, be who I want to be. I think that's a line in a song... I don't remember which song. Well, it's my song now.

In other cool news, Alison Tyler has put a story of mine up on one of her satellite blogs. This blog, H is for Harlot, exists to showcase longer stories from different challenges or contests she puts on her main blog, Trollop With a Laptop.

Oh, and I also signed up for Netflix. I don't need any suggestions of things to watch though, I already have 70+ items in my queue.

Hope you are having a happy Thursday!

Merry Part and Blessed Be

Tomtember 1st

We pulled a surprise on my amazing boss today. I'm really, really glad he has a good sense of humor. We had a running joke about how he wouldn't wear a Seneca T-shirt for our current promotion. As part of the gag, someone photoshopped his head onto a pic of the t-shirt. Then it escalated to copies of this pic appearing at many many desks in the Call Center.

Today, we all showed up to our meeting wearing T-shirts with the picture. We also provided cake and a card to say how grateful we are that he puts up with our crap everyday.

I have been playing some World of Warcraft again. Tonight I cleared a bunch of things from my bank vault and put them on the auction house. I am hoping to have enough money to get the last part for my Mekgineer's Chopper if all the auctions sell.

Also, I have submitted an entry for Alison Tyler's latest contest. You can check it out here. Once it's up that is, for understandable reasons, AT must approve all comments before they appear on the blog. The contest ends 9/5, so the poll for voting will probably go up 9/6. I'll be in Myrtle Beach at that point, so if you think of it, please go and vote for me.

That's all for tonight, I am going to bed.

Merry Part and Blessed Be!

Sneaky Police!

I got a ticket on my way back to Salamanca from Edinboro today. The cop was on the bridge over the highway, next to the exit. I didn't see him until it was way too late. I didn't even have a chance to slow down and possibly not get hit for as high a speed.

I had a good weekend, Al, Austin and I ate at Max and Erma's in Erie last night. Leftovers from which made an excellent brunch today. I got a couple new shirts. I am excited because I leave for Myrtle Beach in less than 5 days.

I have a lot to do this week to get ready. I want to clean off my desk at work so PTodd doesn't have to look at my squalor while I am gone. I also need to leave my house as clean as possible because I am planning to get a kitten from Kelli shortly after I get back. I don't want to bring her home to a mess. I also want to get my washer hooked up so I don't have to go to the laundromat.

Busy week ahead, but I'm looking forward to it.

My Horoscope for today

From Astrology.com, via IGoogle

"Every now and then, the universe steps in, makes an executive decision, and forces you to take a right when you were absolutely sure you'd be taking a left. This is one of those times, and as sensitive as you are, you'll realize it as soon as you open your eyes this morning. So when you end up someplace you weren't supposed to be anywhere near, chatting with someone you feel an immediate affinity towards, you'll get it. You were supposed to meet."

Today doesn't feel like that day to me, but who knows by the end of it? I've definitely felt that way a lot of days. Like someone is put in your path for a purpose. There are signs, and the universe, Gods, Goddesses, whatever you choose to call them, try to point us in the right direction and teach us, with signs, and advice from friends, etc. But sometimes we're stubborn, or we think we know better than the Gods, and that's when things get taken out of our hands.

I'm reading All One Wicca by Kaatryn MacMorgan-Douglas. It's pretty interesting so far. Very down to earth, easy to read, with a sense of humor.

Church of Universal Eclectic Wicca Affirmation of Faith (can be found in All One Wicca and at the CUEW website)

The Affirmation of Acknowledgment:

I: I acknowledge the presence of other faiths on my planet, indeed, right here in my city/town/village. I acknowledge that the followers of these faiths feel as strongly, maybe more so, than I do about mine.

II: I forgive the other faiths and wipe clean the slate between us. I cannot hold a person responsible for the acts of their faith, I cannot hold a faith at fault for individual practitioners. It is not my place to convert, or otherwise alter a person's religion. I invite discussion of beliefs without judgment of those holding them.

III: I acknowledge that I may be wrong, and I have found comfort in the fact that I may be right.


I personally really like part III. You don't have to be wrong for me to be right. I don't have to stomp what another person believes into the ground for me to take comfort in my faith.

In other news, Duamuteffe has started and Etsy shop. Please check it out!



Buy adorable handmade stuff!

Merry Part and Blessed Be!

Naked Sweat Drips

That's a Scrubs reference, the title. JD is listening to Molly, played by Heather Graham, talk about working out, while he talking to his girlfriend on the phone. He repeats the words "naked sweat drips" and then tries to tell his girlfriend it's a new band he's listening to.

I am covered in sweat drips because I started working out again this morning. I used one of my Yoga DVDs rather than the Wii Fit because apparently I need more AA batteries. I forgot how hard the lower body workout was. And I'm definitely out of shape, I couldn't even pull off a decent Warrior II.

I am thinking about taking a walk, since I woke up early and it's still relatively cool out.

I should also work on some writing this morning, as I have a story submitted at the Fish Tank now that I would like to send to AT before September 1st.

Which is sneaking up on me at an alarming rate! What happened to August? I am hoping I don't just forget all these best laid plans and go back to bed.

That's all for now folks. Merry Part and Blessed Be!

The Spirit of Jazz

I am waiting for a load of laundry to dry and listening to the jazz station on Mom and Dad's digital cable. I think I need some jazz CDs, they would be awesome to listen to while writing.

I got the new loan for the Toyota today, Northwest is sending out the check to Toyota today. After that, only a few steps left in this dance.

Plans tonight: go home, hopefully play some WoW. Maybe work on some writing. I've got a few old pieces I might pull out and try to finish and polish up.

Plans tomorrow: Blissfully nothing so far. It's great running and seeing everyone, but it's also exhausting!

Merry Part and Blessed Be

Crashing...

From an excellent "weekend." I worked Saturday and Sunday and then went out to Edinboro. I got to see Wendy and Grant on Tuesday when I took Al and Austin down to Pittsburgh for their big appointment to get Austin his conditional permanent status in the states. We went to the Pittsburgh Zoo after and Wendy and Grant met us there. I really enjoyed seeing the Siberian Tigers, and the PPG Aquarium is great too. (I saw Nemo!)



Then on Wednesday, we went to CEDAR POINT! I have only been to Cedar Point once, and it was after my sophomore prom. The weather was miserable and rainy, and most of the coasters weren't running. The weather yesterday was perfect. I rode 6 coasters, including Top Thrill Dragster I also rode Maverick, Raptor, Iron Dragon and Disaster Transport.

All the coasters were amazing, and I had a great time with Allison, Austin, Jon and Tom. Jon and Tom kept me entertained in long coaster lines with plenty of singing.

We also rode this:



Which is called Maxair and was very fun. You can actually see me on the ride (Thanks, Al!) my hair is over my face. To my right with the t-shirt on his head is Jon. (He was trying to avoid sunburn)

I wanna feel something

If you're telling me I'm not on fire
You're just preaching to the choir
I've gotten dull as old barbed wire from living
Last night I watched the evening news
It was the same ol' nothing new
It should have cut me right in two
But it didn't
I don't know why it didn't

But I wanna feel something
Something that's a real something
That moves me, that proves to me I'm still alive
I wanna heart that beats and bleeds
A heart that's busting at the seams
I wanna care, I wanna cry, I wanna scream
I just wanna feel something

If you're telling me that's just how it is
I don't buy it cause once I was kissed
By a red-headed girl with cherry lips
On her porch when I was sixteen
And I felt it somewhere in my soul and time stood still and I couldn't let go
I can't tell you cause I don't know how I got so cold
When did I get so cold

I just wanna feel something
Something that's a real something
That moves me, that proves to me I'm still alive
Run my fingers through your fingers, across your face and through your hair
And close my eyes and breathe you in like air
I just wanna feel something

I hate that I'm jaded and I make you cry
But still you stick around me, only God knows why
Damn it all to hell, I'm done
Cause I don't like what Ive become
So come here, baby
Come here, baby

Trace Adkins, Dangerous Man

This came up on my song shuffle this evening and some of the lyrics hit me hard. I feel like the best parts of me have been shut down for a long time. When did I get so cold? Well, we know the answer to that.

I'm melting, I'm melting. Oh what a world. :-)

Merry Part and Blessed Be

New Alarm Clock

I have a new Alarm Clock. It's a crow that lives outside my house. He seems to know when I need to get up for work, and unlike my phone, he has no snooze button.

According to Animal Speak by Ted Andrews, Crows represent the magic of creation. They are the messengers of magic.

At work, my head aches and my throat is sore and hurts when I swallow. I am going to knock this out with Airborne, because I have things I want to do this week, and I don't want to get anyone sick!

Listening to Bob FM...

Merry Part and Blessed Be

Sonic Death Monkey

How did I not know that my favorite Lush fragrance is named for Jack Black's band in High Fidelity? Can someone explain this to me?

:-)

Catching up with the Internet

see more Funny Graphs

Been gone since Saturday morning. Al and Austin are suffering with dial-up right now, so I didn't get online all weekend. Currently listening to my favorite Erie radio station, Bob FM, 94.7.

The graph goes out to my friends who are, have, or will, work in retail/customer service.

I had a great weekend. I really enjoyed the Snow Water Grove ritual on Lughnassad on Sunday. Al, Austin and I had a great time at Presque Isle on Monday. I'd like to say thanks to all the lifeguards at Beach 6 for providing such sweet sweet eye candy. :-)

Merry Part and Blessed Be

Weekend Update

No, it's not Saturday Night Live.

I got my new cell phone yesterday, it makes me happy. I can take pictures with it. :-) Today I am going to a baby shower, and then a wedding, and then to Edinboro. I am going to be at my first Snow Water Grove Ritual on Sunday, which I am really looking forward to.

Life Is Good.

Merry Part and Blessed Be

Respect

I have so much respect for Jennifer Aniston. I try not to get caught up in celebrity gossip, but the Brad/Angelina/Jenn thing had a weird fascination for me. I've hated how the tabloids have portrayed Jennifer Aniston since then. Either she's supposedly pining away for Brad Pitt, or her new relationships are being closely watched to see when they'll fail. She's a divorced woman who is trying to find someone again. If she wasn't famous, people would be rooting for her. And I'm sure the people that are important to her, her close friends and family are.

Quote from her Elle Interview:

On being labeled a "lonely girl": "I'm not going to ignore the pink elephant in the living room. It's fine. I can take it. If I'm the emblem for 'this is what it looks like to be the lonely girl getting on with her life,' so be it."

So be it.

Merry Part and Blessed Be

Suz Can Cook

I made myself some yummy sausage for breakfast this morning. I also had a banana and some orange juice. Last night I fried up some pierogies and ate them with sour cream. I did some dishes this morning, and got the Wii hooked up. So I am feeling pretty confident and productive right now.

I am trying to start working through Truth Or Dare by Starhawk now. I am having a hard time getting going today. It's a really great book though on different types of power and how people interact.

I also received a new Amazon gift card the other day. I am trying to decide what to buy. There are movies I want, Wii Games I want (Animal Crossing: City Folk!), and as always, books I want.

I saw the mailman come and put something in my box, I should put on some pants and go down to check.

Merry Part and Blessed Be

One Way Ticket (Because I Can)

Standing on the border
Looking out into the great unknown
I can feel my heart beating faster as I step out on my own
There's a new horizon and the promise of favorable wind
I'm heading out tonight, traveling light
I'm gonna start all over again

And buy a one way ticket on a west bound train
See how far I can go (because I can)
I'm gonna go out dancing in the pouring rain
And talk to someone I don't know (because I can)
I will face the world around me
Knowing that Im strong enough to let you go
And I will fall in love again
Because I can

Gonna climb the mountain
And look the eagle in the eye
I won't let fear clip my wings and tell me how high I can fly
How could I have ever believed
That love had to be so blind
When freedom was waiting, down at the station
All I had to do was make up my mind

And buy a one way ticket on a west bound train
See how far I can go (because I can)
I'm gonna go out dancing in the pouring rain
And talk to someone I don't know (because I can)
I will face the world around me
Knowing that I'm strong enough to let you go
And I will fall in love again
Because I can

Well, I have walked through the fire
And crawled on my knees through the valley of the shadow of doubt
Then the truth came shining like a light on me and now I can see my way out

I'm gonna buy a one way ticket on a west bound train
See how far I can go (because I can)
I'm gonna go out dancing in the pouring rain
And talk to someone I don't know
I'm gonna buy a one way ticket on a west bound train
Gonna have my breakfast with some pink champagne
I'm gonna sail the ocean, I'm gonna spread my wings
I'm gonna climb that mountain, gonna do everything

Merry Part and Blessed Be

Misheard lyrics

Keely made me put on Solid Gold Oldies on Music Choice on the digital cable for her to sleep to. The song Sweet City Woman (The Stampeders, 1971) came on, and I swear they are singing "Sweet Titty Woman"

If anyone finds my brain on the gutter, please let me know. :-)

Oh the first of the month

Having lovely day so far. I took my mom down to Hunter's Station, then stopped and got two beautiful thin slices of pizza from City Pizza in Tionesta. Then I went to visit my Aunt Cindy, and we hung out in the pool for a while. Going up to the farm tonight, will hopefully get to hear Austin play the violin again.

And I think something is wrong with the peach I am trying to eat... it tastes like it was injected with schnapps....

I might catch a quick nap before this evening. Merry Part and Blessed Be!

Great Freaking Movie

I just finished watching Secretary with James Spader and Maggie Gyllenhal. It was smart and sexy and just great. I can think of a few friends who would really enjoy it too. James Spader has a very very sexy voice.

Well it's 10:30. I am considering heading up to bed, as I have been exhausted all day. I'm heading down home tomorrow but I'm not sure what time. Looking forward to seeing everyone at the Farm on Sunday for the triple birthday party.

Good Night and Blessed Be!

Hello I'm Gone

Somebody's waiting back home in Dallas
With no idea where she has gone
Got her suitcase all packed up
In the back of the pickup
Got her red knee-high Luccheses on
She's on any old two-lane
Westbound she knows
'Cause she was chasing her shadow
When the sun finally rose
Man, she's just running
It don't matter where
She figures she'll know where she is when she's there

But she didn't leave nothin' she can't do without
That's enough reason for leavin' no doubt
She rolls down the window, turns up a song
Laughs at the weather and says, hello, I'm gone

Plans for the weekend - wash up new dishes, do some grocery shopping, possibly go to Frewsburg to check out kittens, go to the Farm for a birthday party.

Merry Part and Blessed Be

It had to end sometime...

The weekend that is... I had a fantastic weekend with my friends in Edinboro/Erie. Allison and I went shopping. I got to try curry, which is tasty. Tumeric for the win! While we were shopping I took Al out to Aoyama, the Japanese Steakhouse on Peach St. in Erie. It was just as wonderful as the last time, and the next time I go I may just get all sushi.

After a long day of shopping, we picked up Tim and another Allison at Country Fair and sampled some of Edinboro's night life. :-) A very good time was had by all.

On Sunday morning, I worked on recovering from attempting to entertain myself in a college town on a Saturday night. I am not 22 anymore. We took it easy and ate mac and cheese and watched the Rifftrax of Roadhouse. Rifftrax is basically a movie commentary done by the folks who brought you Mystery Science Theater 3000. In the evening, we went to Cambridge Springs to visit Megin and Pat. I also got to see Grey and Rachel. We were going to role-play, but their DM, Mark, who I've yet to meet, was unavoidably detained. So instead we watched Four Rooms, which is a totally awesome movie that I had not seen since college. The first room is my favorite, of course. :-)

By Sunday, I was having far too much fun to go home, so I decided to take off Monday from work. On Monday, Allison and I went to The Lion's Den and had a great time browsing. I did pick up an item, which I think will be featured heavily in the story I am going to write for Alison Tyler's current contest.

Then I drove back to the real world this morning. Back to the grind...

Merry Part and Blessed Be!

I have a problem...

I love this video...

Hindsight's 20/20

It's just occured to me that an ice cream cone and a taco for dinner are not going to mix well in my already agitated stomach. Of course, I didn't think of that until the first burp, which tasted of Piece of Cake ice cream (yellow cake flavored ice cream, swirled with chocolate frosting and impregnated with chunks of pound cake. My absolute favorite) with taco seasoning and beef.

Gross.

But I've already been told I'm obsessed with food today. I read in one of my books a long time ago that people who stop eating in a crisis are stupid. You will need all your strength to deal with the matter at hand, so what's the point in starving yourself? But I did do some fantastic eating 4th of July weekend. Started with dinner at the Old Library in Olean. I had the best French Onion Soup on earth, followed by a salad, then homemade potato gnocchi in alfredo sauce. I love their alfredo sauce so much I want to have sex with it. Or in it. I'm not entirely sure which. For dessert I had Peanut Butter Thunder cake, which is a chocolate layer cake, with peanut butter frosting, and peanut butter chips.

Then on Saturday, we went to Jess and Frosh's for a barbecue. Frosh grilled up hamburgers and hot dogs, and I got to have their macaroni salad, which is my favorite macaroni salad. They use mayo, tuna, eggs, and celery seed instead of celery. I don't like raw celery because of the stringiness factor.

I'm back at work today after 3 days off. It's kind of sad that I missed it. Well, not really. What I really miss when I am not here is the people. My Corolla is in the garage getting the boo boo on its butt fixed. I will hopefully have it back tomorrow afternoon. Harriet very nicely agreed to be Driving Miss Suzy today, she brought me to work and is picking me up tonight. I'll have the good ol' Tempo tomorrow.

Okay, off to work on a story for Alison Tyler's blog. This needs to be based on one of the cover girls for her alphabet series. I will probably go with the cover for F is for Fetish, since I have that one.

Merry Part and Blessed Be!

I haven't posted in over a month

And I'm not really posting now. But this is some funny shit.



Merry Part and Blessed Be!

The poll is up

My story is number 12. Number 13 is pretty good too. Not sure who I'll vote for. I always vote once for myself (so I don't feel pathetic if I get no votes) and once for someone else. I can accomplish this by voting from home and from work. Trollop with a Laptop

Lessons Learned

Lesson of the Day: When looking at personal ads online as research for a story, do NOT look at your own area... it's awkward when you find people you recognize.

I feel wiser for the experience though.

MP and BB

Good Morning

Let's see.... this has been a good week. I went to Youngsville on Wednesday and got my hair permed again by my wonderful Aunt Ann. So now it's extra curly and bouncy and it makes my happy. I also contributed a story to Alison Tyler's latest contest. Her poll will be up later today. For my friends, my story is How I Became a Screamer. This is a completely fictional account, because as anyone who has ever lived with me knows, I've always been a screamer. So please go, and vote for me.

Next week, we have a weight loss contest starting at work. It's based on the biggest Loser, so the prize is for the biggest percentage of weight lost. There's also an individual competition for logging your exercise activities. The prize is $500, which would be split between my team of 3 people. We decided to call our team the Mama Miias, because Heather and I will be using our Wii Fits to work out a lot.

The new car is running great, maybe I will take a picture of it this weekend and put it up. I don't know if it will be tonight though, because they are calling for thunderstorms. It's already hot and sticky out this morning.

Merry Part and Blessed Be!

Good Morning!

It's been awhile. I really need to do this more often. I spend too much time updating my facebook status, and my myspace status, and my Twitter status, to blog lately it seems. I am still working out on my Wii Fit, I worked out 4 days last week. I worked out last night too. I made myself stop halfway through hula-hooping though because I felt like I was going to be sick. It's important to listen to your body when you exercise. If your body says Stop, then Stop! Hula-hooping with Italian Cheese Bread from Little Caesar's in your stomach is apparently a bad idea. We are going to be having a Biggest Loser weight loss contest at work. I am hoping that will motivate me to eat better in addition to exercising.

Work is going great. Jeff did well in his classes last sememster, he got an A and a B+. We got a new car! It's a 2009 Toyota Corolla, it's red and it is so pretty.

Merry Part and Blessed Be!

I <3 Super Mario Galaxy

I am currently playing Super Mario Galaxy for the Wii. It is very, very fun. Mario shoots between galaxy, collecting star power to power an observatory that flies through space like a rocket. Bowser has kidnapped Princess Peach again and taken her off into space. Mario and his new allies, Rosalina and the Lumas, are helping him to explore the universe to find her.

I am also still working out with my Wii Fit. According the scales, I haven't lost any weight, but a couple people have said it looks like I am, which means I am toning up and losing flab, which is the important thing to me. It will be interesting doing the Yoga poses as the weather heats up. My feet already sweat a little on the Balance Board (gross, I know), and today it already felt like I was doing Bikram yoga. I forsee myself slipping on the Balance Board and whacking my face, while the trainer says "Put more weight on your front foot."

Taking couple days off at the end of this week. Jeff and I will probably also be car shopping.

Merry Part and Blessed Be!

Name change

I am changing the name posted on my blog to my pen name, Aurora Hunter. It's still me, guys, just trying to sync up my various web identities.

Story posted on Good Vibes today!!!

Merry Part and Blessed Be!

Why is the Internet always finding new ways to occupy my time?

There are blogs to read, facebook to update, myspace to update, NeoPoints to earn, and now, Twitter. It's all Grey's fault really. He jumped into the wonderful world of social networking with both feet, so now I have ended up with a Twitter account as well. The only thing I haven't done is activate it so it can be updated from my phone, because we don't have texting on our cell plan. Plus I'm really bad at texting.

I had a great weekend. I played a lot of World of Warcraft, and yesterday we successfully surprised Kelli with lunch for her birthday. And I just remembered I left my leftovers from lunch yesterday in the fridge at home, instead of bringing them for lunch today as I had intended. Doh! Oh well, it's pasta, I am sure it will be good tomorrow night for dinner, as Jeff has class. The semester is almost over, and we are taking a short break together the first weekend of May.

So sleepy... I wonder if I can convince my boss of the benefits of a siesta?

Buenos dias!

Merry Part and Blessed Be!

Wii Fit Age: 23!

I have been using my Wii Fit for 17 days now. I haven't lost any significant weight yet, but I do feel tighter, stronger and more toned, esp. in my abs. I ordered some more fun stuff for the Wii, Super Mario Galaxy and Link's Crossbow Training with the Wii Zapper. I love shooting games. Jeff ordered a couple things too, Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and a charging station for the controllers.

We've been playing more World of Warcraft, the latest patch to the game added some new content. I have nearly achieved the cooking achievement, which will give me the ability to use the title "Chef" in-game.

Life is good, the sun is shining. It's a good day.

Merry Part and Blessed Be!

My story was accepted!!

My story, Wednesday, was accepted by the Good Vibes online magazine! I am so excited. :-) It is going to be published under a nomme de plume, of course. It will be on the site in a month or so. I am very excited.

In other news, I have been working out on my Wii Fit. Tonight, Jeff has class, so I will probably work out for an hour.

Yesterday, we had a catered lunch at work from The Old Library in Olean. My job freakin' rocks.

Also, I had a strange dream last night that I was living in the Old Gardens at Pitt-Bradford. I had a big dog, who was always licking my face to say hello and standing over me to protect me when she saw someone she didn't like. The dog looked like my friend Janis's dog.

That's a brief update, more to come at a later time.

Merry Part and Blessed Be!

My Wii Age

According to Wii Fit, my Wii Age is 31. I am doing well with the Yoga exercises, but I am bad at the strength training. The aerobic exercises and the balance exercises are fun, I got to hula hoop, dance, and ski. I had fun, and I definitely worked up a sweat.

Super Mario Smash Brothers should be coming soon!

Merry Part and Blessed Be

Neopets!

I have been playing a lot of Neopets lately. I really like all the flash games, and today I started a shop.

Work is crazy busy, and I am excited because last night I ordered a Wii with a Wii Fit. :-)

Merry Part and Blessed Be!

Wiiiii!!

I got to play with Harriet and Artie' Wii yesterday. It was a lot of fun. I am trying to win a Wii and Wii Fit from work, but if I don't (the drawing is Monday the 16th) then I will definitely be buying the basic system. I can pick up the Wii Fit later on.

I especially like cow racing and fishing on Wii Play. The shooting game was okay, but Harriet beat me by quite a lot, which is never fun.

Merry Part and Blessed Be!

I did it!

I submitted a story to Good Vibes online magazine! I can expect to hear back in 90 days or so. *ugh* That seems like a really long wait. I hope it's faster.

I have two other stories being reviewed at The Fishtank. I am really enjoying writing again.

In other, non-erotica related news, I would like to get a dog. Jeff and I have talked and we think we can get something that doesn't shed, so it's not rough on his allergies. He's going to be gone a lot with school over the next few years, between interning and class. I would love to a have a furry companion to brush and walk and snuggle. (And clean up after, and discipline etc, yes I know dogs poop) We are also going to see Watchmen this weekend, which should be pretty awesome.

Been a long time since I blogged, Neopets has been taking up a lot of my online time. I will try to be more diligent.

Merry Part and Blessed Be!

Inquiring minds wants to know...

A friend from work sent me a few questions about my beliefs. They really made me think, so I wanted to share my answers here.

#1. Are you a vegetarian? Why or why not?

#2. Do you consider mining the ground as an insult against the Earth? Is the "spirituality" of crystals affected when they are intentionally extracted from man made caves? Or, more simply, do rocks have souls?

#3. Do plants have souls?

My answers:

1) I am not a vegetarian. I think if the Goddess didn't want me to eat animals, she wouldn't have made them so tasty. :-) Seriously though, humans are animals, and animals eat other animals, that's all a part of the natural cycle. I do avoid eating animals that are raised in inhumane conditions, like veal. If I could afford it, I would definitely buy more organic/free range groceries and such. But I don't believe my Goddess wants me to be broke, so I do as much as I can.

2) & 3) - The word "soul" isn't one I use a lot. I believe more in the eternal spirit, which is born, lives, dies and is reborn again. "Soul" to me has always been used to say who gets to go the afterlife and who doesn't. A soul is something to be saved or damned, two concepts that don't really fit in my spiritual worldview.

For rocks, I would rather use crystals produced in a man-made cave, than something that's been torn out of the ground without any care for the ecological system around it.

It would be like using an African conflict diamond or a cubic zirconium in your fiancee's engagement ring. Sure, the conflict diamond is of excellent quality, but do you want the negative energy associated with it attached to a symbol of your marriage? The cubic zirconium serves the same purpose, and its production did no harm to the Earth.

I have kind of a black thumb when it comes to plants, so I don't work with them much. I do believe they have spirits that you can communicate and work with, which I probably need to spend more time doing to work with them successfully. A plant spirit is usually called a Deva.

The magic is always in the magician, not in the tools. If you feel a tool was tainted in its creation, or in how it was harvested, then it's not going to work in your magic.

Hope that answers your questions, I have no problems answering questions about my beliefs, so let me know if you have more. Keep in mind I don't consider myself a spokes-witch though. The best part of Wicca for me is that each of us is our own priest or priestess. How I interpret things might be completely different from how another Wiccan does. A lot of my beliefs are influenced by the Reclaiming and Faery Traditions of Wicca, which are both got their start around San Franscisco, completely separate from Gerald Gardner's Wicca.





Merry Part and Blessed Be!

Cool Dream

I had a great dream about food this morning. First, I was at the premier of a Pirates of the Caribbean video game in New York City. Johnny Depp was there, and when we left the theater, I was munching on a big Rice Krispie treat. When we got outside, a street vendor selling frozen yogurt was giving everyone free treats because he was a big Johnny Depp fan. My frozen yogurt was purple, with green and purple dinosaur candy in it. They had two other flavors I remember seeing and wanting to try: Hispanic Giraffe and Turtle Tat. (like a turtle tattoo) Then Anthony Bourdain wanted me to come eat donuts with him at this festival in another part of town. He said he had stopped eating other donuts because these ones were so orgasmically good. We took a train and ate donuts.

I woke up drooling.

Merry Part and Blessed Be

Another review

You don't have to own leather pants to like this book

I enjoyed the 21 stories in Hurts So Good. I got the book as an after-Christmas present to myself. The book starts off with The Sound of One Hand Clapping, by Nikki Magennis. I have enjoyed her work in other compilations and she doesn't disappoint here either. Next is Sting, by Jessica Lennox, which I loved because I have always found tattoo shops to be very sexy places. (It's the smell) Also, the idea of a sensual encounter turning into a sexual encounter is very exciting. Testing the Water by Teresa Noelle Roberts was a fun story about two friends discovering they had more in common than they thought. I really liked this story because it showed bondage and domination in the context of a typical relationship, contrary to the black leather clad image that TV and movies show of this subculture. She didn't lick his boots or sleep on the floor after the sex was over; they were equals again once the blindfold came off and the paddle was put away. I Promise To Do My Best by Teresa Joseph made me laugh out loud. The idea of adult women dressing up in Girl Scout uniforms and paddling each other is not a turn-on at all for me, but the story was well-written and entertaining. One of my favorites was First Time Since by Xan West. This story contained some of the more graphic dominate/submissive behavior in the book (human urinal), but what it was really about to me was how you slowly gather the pieces and rebuild yourself after a relationship ends. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good spanking, and anyone who is titillated by pushing pain and pleasure to the edge.

That's my Amazon review for Hurts So Good: Unrestrained Erotica, edited by Alison Tyler. I fell more in love with this collection today, because of the quotes she chose for the front of the book.

Sometimes it is harder to deprive oneself of a pain than of a pleasure - F. Scott Fitzgerald

If love be rough with you, be rough with love. - William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, Act 1, Scene 2

Working on another review, will post on here later today.

Merry Part and Blessed Be!

Bad, wicked, naughty Zoot! She has been setting fire to our beacon, which I have just remembered - is grail-shaped ... It is not the first time we've had this problem. - Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Poem

I feel sure that I have posted this poem before - But it has my name in it and I love it, so here it is again. It's by William Carlos Williams.

Brother Paul! look!
—but he rushes to a different
window.
The moon!

I heard shrieks and thought:
What's that?

That's just Suzanne
talking to the moon!
Pounding on the window
with both fists:

Paul! Paul!

—and talking to the moon.
Shrieking
and pounding the glass
with both fists!

Brother Paul! the moon







Yup, that's just Suzanne, talking to the moon.

Merry Part and Blessed Be

How awesome a day is January 26th?

Well, you guys already knew it rocked, as it was the day I arrived in the world. But I've also just discovered that January 26th is Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day! In addition to being that, it's also the birthday of Ellen Degeneres, The Great One, Wayne Gretsky, Eartha Kitt, Paul Newman and General Douglas MacArthur.

I had a great Birthday. I got a new book from Kelli, and she took me out to lunch. I was also sung to in two languages. No cake, but I don't really need it. I didn't complete the story I wanted to finish by yesterday, but I did get 1100 words written. The piece needs wrapped up and edited before I submit to Good Vibes.

So the year is off to a great start already. Thanks for all the birthday wishes, e-mails, cards, and general warm fuzziness I felt coming my way yesterday.

Merry Part and Blessed Be

New Template

I changed templates and I didn't like it, so today I am changing it back.

Tomorrow is the day

My 29th birthday. I got a very lovely gift from my in-laws today. Jeff got me two DVDs I really wanted, Sleeping Beauty and Wanted. Not sure how I feel about the birthday this year. Normally I love my birthday, it's the one day a year I allow myself to be a shameless attention whore. But I'm being plagued by the feeling that everyone expects me to have done more with myself by this age. It's the last year of my 20s. Time to grow up or shut up? And it's stupid, because really, I'm the only one who has to be happy with myself. And I do generally like myself, my job, my house and my life. I have the awesomest friends, fantastic family, a husband who loves me, a good job and a roof over my head.

So I guess, writing it out like that, I'm pretty damn lucky.

Bring it on 29.

Merry Part and Blessed Be

Your Song

It's a little bit funny this feeling inside
I'm not one of those who can easily hide
I don't have much money but boy if i did
I'd buy a big house where we both could live

If i was a sculptor, but then again, no
Or a man who makes potions in a traveling show
I know it's not much but it's the best i can do
My gift is my song and this one's for you


And you can tell everybody this is your song
It may be quite simple but now that it's done
I hope you don't mind
I hope you don't mind that i put down in words
How wonderful life is while you're in the world


I sat on the roof and kicked off the moss
Well a few of the verses well they've got me quite cross
But the sun's been quite kind while i wrote this song
It's for people like you that keep it turned on


So excuse me forgetting but these things i do
You see I've forgotten if they're green or they're blue
Anyway the thing is what i really mean
Yours are the sweetest eyes I've ever seen

- written by Elton John

Now listening to:

Panic at the Disco

I couldn't come up with a better title. So I am going to put this out here to my 3-4 readers so I can't back out, I am setting a goal to write a story to submit to Good Vibes online magazine before my birthday on January 26th. I know it will be an original work of erotic fiction, but I am not sure where to begin yet. Right now I am looking for a dream, a song, a random image to inspire me. Forcing it isn't working.

Now listening: REV 22:20 - Puscifer, from the Underworld soundtrack

Don't be aroused, by my confession
Unless you don't give a good Goddamn about redemption
I know Christ is comin', so am I
And you would too if the sexy devil caught your eye

She'll suck you dry
But still you'll cry, to be back in her bosom
To do it again
She'll make you weak
And mourn and cry, to be back in her bosom
To do it again

(Pray) Til I go blind
(Pray) Cause nobody ever survives
Prayin' to stay in your arms just until I can die a little longer
Satyrs and saints, devils and heathens and lies
She'll eat you alive

Jesus is risen, it's no surprise
Even he would martyr his mama to ride to hell between those thighs
The pressure is building, at the base of my spine
If I gotta sin to see her again then I'm gonna lie and lie and lie

She'll make you cry
I'll sell my soul, to be back in your bosom
Gladly now please suck me dry
And still you'll cry, to be back in her bosom
To do it again

(Pray) Til I go blind
(Pray) Cause nobody ever survives
Prayin' to stay in her arms just until I can die a little longer
Satyrs and saints, devils and heathens and lies
She'll eat you alive

My pulse has been rising
My temples are pounding
The pressure is so overwhelming and building
So steady they're fretting I'm ready to blow
What is she what is she what is she waiting for?

(Pray) Pray til I go blind
(Pray) Pray cause no one ever survives
Prayin' to stay in her arms just to die longer
Satyrs and saints, devils and heathens and lies
She'll eat you alive

Maybe I can find something here?

Merry Part and Blessed Be!

Frenzy Review

Here is the review of Frenzy I posted on Amazon.

Sudden, sensational sex

The 60 short erotic stories in this novel centered around the theme of sex that happens quickly or unexpectedly. My hands-down favorite was Pirate Treasure by Janine Ashbless. Two extras in a pirate movie hook up during the filming of a tavern scene, with no one around them the wiser. I re-read this story twice, it still elicited the same visceral reaction. Hot, hot, hot! Nikki Magennis contributed two very short-shorts, Madrid and Sweets, that read like beautiful erotic poems. I enjoyed Lake Logan by Cheyenne Blue, which was a fun story about lovers who make the best of being stuck in the middle of a huge lake-like puddle. I loved Alison Tyler's own contribution, [...] about a man who's worked his way through all the waitresses at his favorite bar. The new girl knows he's bad news, but she also knows he'll be completely worth the trouble. With 60 stories to choose from, there were far too many I liked to mention them all. Even the few stories that didn't appeal to me personally were well-written. The majority of the stories are heterosexual pairings, with just a few gay or lesbian stories in the mix. I would recommend this book to friends based on the variety and excellent writing.

Merry Part and Blessed Be

New Shoes are Sweet

This post actually has nothing to do with my shoe fetish. I got Apples to Apples, a very fun game, from Jess and Frosh for Christmas this year. In the times we've played it, I've developed a theory that the green apple cards with adjectives you win describe the personality of the person who wins them.

For example, last night I had Fresh, Sultry, Influential, Corrupt, Hilarious and Sweet.

One can argue that I'm not extremely influential or really corrupt, but I know I have influenced and corrupted the morals of my friends and exes.

So I think it's pretty spot on. :-)

Merry Part and Blessed Be!