Thursday, June 30, 2011

DivaCup giveaway!

just a quickie post to let you all know about the DivaCup giveaway over at Moma Lovebug, be sure to check it out!

from the DivaCup website:

Go to fullsize image

"The menstrual cup was first developed in the 1930’s. It was made from rubber latex (an allergen for many). Millions were sold in those first years by multiple companies.
Because of management issues, the companies closed and menstrual cups were hard to find. Then over 15 years ago, Francine recognized the need for an alternative to unreliable disposable tampons and pads and found a company offering menstrual cups. She and her daughter, Carinne, singlehandedly resurrected the 75 year old menstrual cup concept by reintroducing this product to the world market when it was virtually unknown. They sold this rubber/latex version for 10 years.

In 2003, drawing on their experience and expert knowledge about the menstrual cup category, they developed a modern redesign, made from soft, top-quality silicone, to meet the needs of today’s woman. They launched their own company, Diva International. Their revolutionary concept, The DivaCup, is patent-pending and ISO certified. Today, The DivaCup is the preferred choice.

The DivaCup Team has over 38 years of combined experience in natural feminine hygiene alternatives. Their passion is to provide women an environmentally responsible, convenient and reliable alternative to tampons and pads."

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Summer Stock - travels

first night at the new place


candles lighting the trail into the woods to the 'magic meadow' where we joined the local hippies in celebrating the Summer Solstice


8 hours in the car, round-trip - not how we wanted to spend our first day of Summer vacation!


...but it's okay, because we're almost home, and it was for a good reason


not the shot I wanted, but there was a cop behind me, so I thought it might be wise to stop snapping pics out the car window..!

Happy Sunday Everyone!

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Summer Stock Tuesday...

Sorry so late this week, just been busy.  Organizing from the move, work, school, just everything.  A bit too much, and I'm overwhelmed.  Not much to show, but here it is anyway - enjoy.


Petey enjoying the new views



end of year school picnic


the love of my life



Looking forward to having a minute to see what everyone else shared!  Blessed Solstice, all, welcome to Summer!

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Summer Stock Kaleidoscope







I'm in the middle of moving, so super quick post just to get it up there - here are some really crappy snapshots of the world's largest kaleidoscope (I was lying on the floor, shooting up at the images swirling on the ceiling).  The kaleidoscope is built out of an old silo at the Emerson Resort up in Mt. Pleasant, or Mt. Tremper or somewhere, I'll post the link.  It's on Rt. 28, between Woodstock where I live, and Pine Hill where I work.  I pass it alot, and I finally took the chance to hop off the highway on route to or fro, because I had the boy in the car - glad I did, very fun!


Happy Summer Stock Sunday!

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Have I mentioned..?

Breathe In

Breathe Out

It's all going to be okay.

heart thumping too high in my chest, I hear the Death Rattle

I know that's what it is, but I can't understand why it's coming from me

It shouldn't be coming from me.

breathe in and breathe out

watch Rachel dance

is it the lightening that brings her?

and I thought I saw the Moon, maybe nearer to full, through the leaves of the trees?

I've been so flat out, and there's a bit more in the coming, the last push up over the 'okay let's set and rest here for a spell'.

then to get to some healing...

to rest my weary wounds in the woods, roll my troubled bones abed, to hear the burbled whisper of the very blood flowing through, on it's way to where, beating the heart tremulous, staring its worried blood eyes up at the valves as it passes through, wondering as a motorist might in a tunnel, "wonder how long it's been since they did any work in here?"  Questioning the structural integrity, mentally scheduling a power wash, pulling up Rachel on YouTube and listening to the snap crackle and pop of my body wanting desperately to remember how to move like a Body rather than a...a...thing, a cog, a manufactured posture - more like an instrument of joy, an expression of love, a feeling that endures.  Oh, the flow of it, where is my music?  My soft-skinned Dionysus, waiting benign in my dreams to offer that Youth, that smooth-bellied sacrilege, that one from the stories...he waits for me in eternity, will take my hand and lead me home, the 'tired child' from Malaclypse's circus, where I can slake my thirst of all desires, and be at peace.

Yes, I think it may be the lightening...

and oh, for the Love of Mardi!

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Summer Stock Sunday



Last Summer, my steadily shrinking garden took a major hit in the move up here to Woodstock.  Two of my plants that I'd had for going on 20 years were laid to rest, and the above newer addition was looking pretty beaten down, but I chose to cut it back, and now there's three little babies trying to make a go of it - yay team.




The philodendron is looking well, filling out nicely with long, well-leafed trailers,  reaching all the way down to commune with Baby Alfred, the replacement for one of those 20-year plants I regretted to lose.  Also note the milk container with the carrots, black beans, and sunflowers the boy planted at school, along with the 'seed bombs' they made (seeds rolled in compost and clay dust with water).




And then, there's the constant reality of my transient lifestyle, the boxes cluttering up the place as we make ready for yet another move, hopefully the last for several years, at least, if I dare even type that out for fear that things may actually start to settle down for me a bit..!


That's how the Summer is starting out for me so far - I'm interested to see where the season takes us, and what fun things I get to see through the eyes of the others that choose to share their lazy hazy crazy days over at Around the Island!  See ya next week!


Friday, June 3, 2011

June 2011

It's time, once again, for my friend's Summer Stock Summer project, and I'm certainly looking forward to it - I began participating very soon after starting this blog, and just about every picture I took for the past two Summers have been of my kid swimming, my kid playing in water, my kid and his friends playing in water, and...my kid.  Did I mention that the only thing I photograph take digital images of anymore is my kid?  Remember how I studied Photography in college?  Using real cameras, film and equipment?  Remember all those hours in the darkroom breathing chemicals?  Well, I do!  And seeing as how I now live right up the street from some community darkrooms (thank goodness), it looks like I'll be making an attempt to brush some of the rust off of those hard-earned skills.  Don't get me wrong, I'm sure there will be plenty of camera-phone shots of the boy in and around water - because hey, it's almost Summer, and he's a great subject - but I miss having the time and making the effort to just...shoot.  Going out into the world with no other intention besides finding a shot.  It's been a long time.

Things have been admittedly crazy around here, but it seems that most of the stupidness has passed.  I doubt it's gone entirely, but there is much less nonsense staring me in the face every day as there was just a week or two ago.  The Supreme Court of Orange County has wisely decided to dismiss/transfer my former mother's case to Family Court, where both the child and I can get legal assistance, so while it's not over, at least the playing field has been leveled, and things don't look so desperate every day (not to mention that I no longer have to spend hours each day on the phone/doing legal research while  trying to build a case myself, a task to which I am poorly suited).  This is a great relief to me.

I am also in the process of moving, yet again, which is a relief, even in its stressfulness.  It turns out that the temperature frequently soars above 90 degrees in my son's (illegal) room, and that even though the landlord here advertised for a non-smoking tenant, every other person who lives in this building smokes, and as a result, MY apartment often smells like an ashtray.  Pleasant.  Let me just take this moment to pat myself on the back for being 8 months smoke-free, and how proud I am of myself for managing to navigate some of the hardest emotional times in my life without my old frenemy, Tobacco.  The longest I've ever gone without smoking was 9 months, so I'm waiting for the 1-year mark to really celebrate, but I feel positive that this time, I've licked it for good!  I also feel positive that this move will be to a place we can stay at for a few years - at least until the boy is out of elementary school, and to think that I can live somewhere for 4 years or more is hopefully becoming a reality I never thought I'd see.  I still want to run away and live with my Rainbow Family every other day, but having a stable home may well facilitate more free time to spend with the freaks in the woods as monetary demands allow (damn you, Societal Expectations!).  Although, come to think of it, I do live in Woodstock now, and my hippie quota may well be fulfilled by just walking around town this Summer...but no, it's really about living outside the bounds of what Society says is acceptable, and forming the kinds of community that respect and nurture all of it's members equally, but I should learn to do my best to promote that kind of togetherness in the town I choose to live in, as well.

I feel much freer to concentrate on the aspects of my life that have been troubling me, or demanding my attention of late, such as learning to be even healthier, making more of an effort to model an active lifestyle to my child, and taking steps to help others within my community.  I'm working with two individuals who are living with disabilities and/or illness, and it's SOO much more fulfilling than working as a lackey to a Big Boss with the main goal of separating people from their money!  I've spent way too many years in sales, and while it can be fulfilling to help an artist make their paper, it's also sad to see the majority of that money end up in the pocket of an agent who wouldn't know a creative process if it came wrapped in $100 bills.  Having someone say 'thank you' because the work I'm doing is helping to make their lives more manageable is much more fulfilling than any $15,000 sale ever was!  Even working at the orchard, where the goods I peddled were locally grown fruits and veggies, the bottom line was always the Evil Dollar - and while I learned a lot and loved most of our customers, there wasn't much opportunity for growth within the business.  While I don't yet know how far I can go with my current work, I do know it feels good to be doing it, and for now, that's enough.

I feel as if removing the toxic situations from my life has had an incredibly positive effect on my health, and I plan to pay careful attention to that, no matter how hard it may be to admit when a situation or a friendship has run its course.  Don't think it didn't break my heart to finally admit to myself that my blood relations were never going to love me for Me, and to let that connection go, but in the long run, it's the right thing to do, to be able to be fully who I am.  So many of my friends have helped to nurture me over the years, that all my Sisters in Arms out there in the Universe have manifested as the Mom-I-always-wanted-but-never-had, so while I have felt the loss of the One Who Carried Me, I have been held up by the strong bonds of common understanding, and managed to stay strong because of the web of love woven by those who see what I've got going on, and love and respect me for it.  And thanks to the boys, as well, though I've needed you less, and mostly just for sex, and picking up heavy things...  : )

So, I've had a few really bad weeks in row, and now a good one to temper the sorrow, and it feels like things are starting to even out a bit for me.  I am remembering to feel gratitude for all the gifts I have been given, and to expect the best for the future.  Summer is almost upon us, and I'm looking forward to the long, lazy evenings and weekends spent at the swimming hole - I found the local swimming hole, oh joy of joys!  I think I lived in and around Plainfield for 2 or 3 years before someone took me to Paradise, and then another year before I was able to find it on my own...  I've found myself so angry and resentful of those whom I've perceived to have 'more' - the house, the husband, the nice things, the loving family - and I'm feeling now like what I have is just enough for me:  a roof over our heads, a small circle of tight friends, everything we need and a few things we wanted regardless of need, and my sweet darling angel of a boy.  What could be better?  Right now, in this moment, everything is perfect in my world, and I offer thanks for it being so.