Thoughtful Thursday - Rant

Ok so this is more of a rant than my usual truly thankful posts.

I am so "thankful" (can you hear the sarcasam as I write this?) that you decided to "accidentally" take my son's best friend's croc shoes from Burger King today. 

Now if you are the child (approx 8-10) year old you should know better to which pair of shoes are yours, shame on you!  If you are the parent, shame on you for not knowing which were your child's shoes and letting them walk off with someone else's shoes.

May Karma catch up with you and deal you a dose of your own medicine quick and swiftly to remind you of what you have done today! 

Now I know I can not trust my children's shoes to be placed in the shoe rack at my local Burger King.  From now on, my children (and anyone else with me) shoes will be placed at our table for me to protect from thieves and the accidental wandering  hands (that take them) and feet (that wish to wear someone else's shoes instead of their own). 

I am so pissed off, now I need to replace a pair of expensive Croc shoes with several of the charms that were on them!  I don't have the money to do it, but feel responsible since it happened on my watch! 

Please Karma, bite them very hard!

Sincerely,
Crystal

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for all the wonderful friends in my life.

I am thankful to spend a glorious week with Katherine, Dawn, Suzy, and Mary to experience the great out West and some of our Nation's National Treasures.

Mt. Rushmore

I am also thankful to Suzy for turning me onto the Starbuck's Green Tea Frappucino with a shot of Pepperment in it.

  And I am thankful to Kathy and Dawn for putting up with me and my newest addiciton throughout our trip. LOL

Devil's Tower

Crazy Horse Monument

I had a wonderful week with a group of AMAZING women!

Sincerely,
Crystal

Thankful Thursday, Convocation 2013 & Ellen Dugan

Today I am thankful that it is the birthday of my maternal grandmother Sophie!  She would have been 99 years old today if she were still among the living.  She does still live in my heart and know she is with me in Spirit.  Especially whenever I am cooking a meal for my family.  I feel close to  her!  Many of my memories are focused around food as she passed when I was a young child.

They include:

The smells of her making Fig Jam from the fruits from the tree in your yard.
The smells and tastes of her Catfish Coubillion (Red Fish Stew if you will)
The sound of her voice speaking in Cajun French because she knew very little English.
The old metal fan that would sit in her living room on the hot summer days.
The rag doll she gave me with blue hair that I named Priscilla after Elvis's wife...(I was a fan of Elvis and Dallas even as a young child).
Her rocking me on her lap singing to me to try to get me to fall asleep, and it was also in French.
Her beautiful white hair....it was so white it had the blue sheen to it!  How I wished I would be blessed with her hair.  (I think my sister was but she won't quit dying her hair to find out. LOL Love you sis!)


Today I am also thankful for a little bit of news I learned about via Facebook!

Ellen Dugan (one of my fav authors) posted she will be at Convocation 2013!

I am so stoked about this.  Ellen is among my top favorites in regards to the craft and herbs. 

So because of this news, please be aware that I will NOT be submitting any workshops for next year.  I will be taking the year off to ensure the opportunity to take Ellen's classes as well as have the opportunity to enjoy other classes I have been scheduled with at similar times like the Drumming workshops with Alex.  He is a wonderful teacher but I never get to take his classes because our workshops have been at the same time.  I have been able to take only one of his in the past 5 years. 

Many thanks to everyone that has supported me in the past with my workshops!  I am not stopping, just taking one year off.  Besides I should focus on developing some new classes to submit and focus on my book "A Pagan Pregnancy" and keep working on my next book "Gaia's Bounty" which focuses on finding the Magic in your Meals!

I can't wait to see who else is confirmed to be the Guest Presenters at Convocation next year!

Those I listed on my Wish List to the Programming Committee last April included:

Ellen Dugan - Confirmed!!!!
Mickie Mueller
M. Flora Peterson aka Charming Pixie Flora on YouTube
Susun Weed
Corrina Woods of Red Moon Herbs and also Earthaven Ecovillage
Crystal Blanton

In the past as well I have asked for many many people!  I would love for them to bring Nora Cedarwind Back, I miss my sister!  She has been very busy with the birth of a new grandchild and has alot of things going on right now....Nora if you are reading this, miss you my sister!  I think of you often and will be putting a little something special in the mail for you soon!

Yeah I realize that four of them have a direct relation to plants but with next year's theme being the Sun, should it be a year to celebrate all that grows in its light? LOL

So I am thankful today that I will get the opportunity to learn from someone I hold in high regard.

If you attend Convocation and want to see someone specific, start sending in your wish list to their programming committee.  Also every year they have Feedback forms that you can fill out as well on who you would like to see at future events.  If you don't request the person you want to see, how will they know? 

Thank you MEC for booking Ellen Dugan as a Guest Presenter at next years event!  Thank you for all the hard work you put into booking the best speakers each and every year!  Thank you for everything you do!  See you next year!

Sincerely,
Crystal

Thankful Thursday

So for the past few days, I have not been feeling good.  As I spoke to one of my coven sisters, we both noticed a lack in communication of another one of our sisters.  It was decided that today I would call her home to make sure everything is ok with her.  A few phone calls later, nothing...just her answering machine.  So I made the decision to call one more time, otherwise when Lancer got home I was putting the kids in the car and driving out to her place to make sure everything was ok.

So I called.....and finally her father answered.

She is ok, and everything is just fine there.   She is out exercising and the two have been attending some health seminars so they have not been home.

I am thankful that he answered the phone and let me know she is ok.  She's more than ok, she's an inspiration to me!  We have had quite a number of various health problems within our coven and past few weeks are all beginning to get answers to what ails us and we are on the road to recovery medically!  We are going to be some healthy butt kicking dames at the end of this year!

I am thankful that I am alive and know what ails me so that I can overcome it and get healthier and stronger each and every day!

Sincerely,
Crystal

Thankful Thursday

Last night we had division play offs for both 8-ball and 9-ball.

I am thankful that I was able to assist my team in a first place victory in 9-ball.

I am thankful that we also qualified for the Tri-city Cup in both divisions.

I am thankful that my husband and I have a hobby that we like to do together.

I love 9-ball!

Sincerely,
Crystal

Thankful Thursday

Oh its been a rough week this week.  I have not been able to post as often as I like.  Still trying to get back into the swing of things writing on a daily basis.  Anyways, today I am thankful for making it into the playoffs for our division pool league. 

Last night we were down two matches.  Next thing I know, the team captain placed me up for the third match.  No pressure, we just need a win.....  Thanks be to the Goddess I WON!  Then the hubby was picked up to play and he won!  Then the fifth match was chosen and another team member won!

We won both 8-ball and 9-ball last night!  Whoo Hoo!  Now onto the Finals for the league and we scored a place in the Tri-City Cup which is also our chance to win and go back to Vegas to the National Tournament.  This is where incidently is where I met my husband at!!!  He was representing Michigan and I was representing Louisiana on different teams and one night, he asked me to dance.  The rest is history!

Me back in 1996 when my team won the opportunity to go to Vegas.
Baton Rouge, Louisiana

So I am thankful to be able to have a fun recreation to enjoy with my husband and that is also how we fell in love with one another!

Thankful Thursday

Today is Thursday, a day that I personally gives my thanks to the Gods for all that is in my life.
Both the good and the bad...as they both have an impact on my life and who I am to this day.

For my first Thankful entry, I want to give thanks to the Gods for my Family.

Especially thankful to my parents, after all, without them, I would not be here.

My step-dad and Moma

My father (1943 - 2008)  

Those that know me, my childhood was not exactly what one would call happy.  I was abused by my biological father at an early age which resulted in their divorce.  Without going into much detail, lets just say I am not a fan of his, nor will I ever possibly be.  I am thankful that for a period in time, he and my mother fell in love.  They decided to get married and have a family. 

From that union, not only was I created but I also have a brother I love and a sister whom I not only love, but adore and is one of my greatest friends. 

Me and my sister in Salem, MA

I am also thankful that my mother was able to fall in love again.  J is a wonderful man and has been a great Dad to me during my young adult life.  He's always been one of my biggest supporters and told me I can do anything I wanted to do. 


There was also another man in my life that has impacted my life, my brother in law. 

He was there for me as a young child.  He was the man I could always count on.  He was the one helping me achieve my dreams such as driving me to and from ballet class.  Introducing me to the great rock n roll music of my life and told me yes you can be a guitarist.  Giving me a home whenever I needed one and was one of my supporters whenever I wanted to join the Army immediately after highschool.  His example, led to high expecations for any man that would want to become my husband.  Those high expectations led to:

Meeting my wonderful husband playing pool of all things at an amateur tournament for the APA. 
To this day we are happily in love and have been married over a decade and now have two handsome boys!

Commander Fox of the Clones

Our own R2D2 with squeaks and squeals of a 2yr old.

Thank you Goddess and God for the wonderful gift of family.  I am truly blessed!

Blessed Be,
Crystal