Walking in Beauty
Current mood: adventurous
Category: Religion and Philosophy

Last evening I was enjoying some local music by Westside Rick and friends. He was celebrating his 50th birthday at his gig, and a bunch of friends stopped by to play music with him and wish him well.
Good stuff.

so somebody asked me how in the world I stay so happy. "Cat," he said Every time I see you it seems like you're smiling and happy. What the hell are you doing?"

so, after thinking a bit, this is what I've decided has made me a happy person:




I wear purple, and tie dye too!

My favorite breakfast is granola and tea out in my garden with the birds singing about and a good book in my lap.

I don't give a rat's arse who sees me dancing and I've got a smile for everyone I meet.

I love to feel the summer rain on my skin, and I always look for the rainbow.

Life is precious, and the only time we really have is RIGHT NOW. So right now I appreciate the beauty of rust on a discarded can, the sound of my grandbabies' laughter, and the scent of clover.

And I am thankful.

I walk in beauty, and live my life with respect.

For dignity is not something to "put on", but a way of life enabling clean hands and straight eyes.

I am rich beyond measure, because true affluence is not really needing anything.

Today I dance my life unashamed embracing each beautiful moment, welcoming opportunity with open arms, grateful for friends I make along the way.

Currently listening : Low Spark of High Heeled Boys By Traffic Release date: 2002-03-19

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Same Sex Marriage
Current mood: hopeful
Category: News and Politics

Marriage is a contract between two people who, hopefully, love each other.
The fact it's in the news lately because gays are free to marry again in California is telling that perhaps the tide is turning toward less discrimination. Perhaps.
Reading commentary by bigoted people using god or tradition as an excuse for decrying same sex marriage and especially the warnings that marriage itself is in danger bring me back to the race issue.
Remember, there was going to be the wrath of god on our nation because our "liberal activist judges" in 1967 finally said the bigoted legislation disallowing inter-racial marriage was not constitutional. Sixteen states still had laws against such marriage on the books when this practice was finally struck down.
I hear the same stuff from those who want to continue to ban gay couples from marriage.
Right now, California has married same sex couples AGAIN and I hope this is not overturned.

As a married woman in a hetero marriage, I can say with authority Same Sex Marriage is NOT going to endanger my marriage!
This will simply give a marginalized population equal (not special as some claim) rights and protection under the law.

I was disgusted and ashamed when here in Ohio the populace voted to change our state constitution to allow discrimination against gays to continue.
Someday, it's going to change.

The blatant bigotry will be called exactly what it is and these horrible restrictions on marriage will be shot down.

I look forward to that day, and will celebrate with my sisters and brothers of all persuasions.

Peace,
Cat

Currently listening : I KISSED A GIRL By JILL SOBULE

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Be Still
Current mood: calm
Category: Religion and Philosophy

Some times I don't answer my phone. Sometimes I don't answer my door.
It has NOTHING whatsoever to do with the person who comes calling. It has EVERYTHING to do with my mindset at that time.
Often, the world is a busy place. In the bustle of working, family, friends, reading, music, laughing, all sort of activities, my soul gets weary. I am tired.
Often, I will focus on a bird and just watch. Or the beauty of a particular color flower, or of a texture.
I find stillness. I stop.
Even at work, with all that goes on, I can still my mind. When watering, which sounds easy but it is not, I will be singing the Waterband's "Feel the beauty in the water... let it wash upon your skin. Though the sky it may have darkened, you know the sun will shine again..." and I sing this to the plants who are gaining life and strength. I thank the water for it's nurturing. The main greenhouse has been high energy with customers needing help and plants needing water and me being pulled many directons. I am able to smile, because I have inner peace.
This is what I do. Sometimes my friends get their feelings hurt because I do not communicate. I do not do this to hurt anyone. I am taking care of my sanity. My inner peace.
Right now I hear a wonderful songbird.
Thank you for the music... aho. My friends, know this. I love your voices, too. You are treasure to me. I am thankful for you. Do not take it personally when I am incommunicado. I wish you peace, too.


Be still and know that I am god... (the first part of Psalms 46:10)

The first peace, which is the most important,
is that which comes within the souls of people
when they realize their relationship,
their oneness, with the universe and all its powers,
and when they realize that at the center
of the universe dwells Wakan-Taka (the Great Spirit),
and that this center is really everywhere, it is within each of us.
This is the real peace... (Black Elk)

Avoid places that disturb your mind, and always remain where your virtues increase...
Always keep a smiling face and a loving mind, and speak truthfully without malice...
The real source of happiness is inner peace. If our mind is peaceful, we shall be happy all the time, regardless of external conditions...
(Buddah)


"Meditation is not a way to enlightenment, Nor is it a method of achieving anything at all. It is peace itself. It is the actualization of wisdom, The ultimate truth of the oneness of all things."
(Dogen)

"When your sense of self is no longer tied to thought, is no longer conceptual, there is a depth of feeling, of sensing, of compassion, of loving, that was not there when you were trapped in mental concepts. You are that depth."
(Eckhart Tolle)

Currently listening : Waterband By Waterband Release date: 2005-06-07

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Senator Kennedy
Current mood: mischievous
Category: News and Politics

First and foremost, I want to say I am completey saddened by what seems to be the fate of Senator Edward Kennedy. May he not suffer much.

The rest of my blog here is NOT so much respectful.

I have decided to propose a totally obnoxious and false conspiracy theory. You read it here first.

You see, the reason Ted Kennedy has what they are calling a malignant tumor in his brain is due to the fact that:

A) "they" want to get him out of the limelight because somebody wants him dead

B) his brain is rejecting his brother John's brain matter which was injected into all the Kennedy survivors so John F would continue to live on in them. This was discovered to have been done to Robert and when "they" killed Robert "they" didn't know ALL the Kennedys had been injected, so "they" only targeted Robert at first.

C)The reason somebody wants him dead is that he has John's brain matter still in his head. That's also why John junior died... or did he? Was he also just supposedly killed but secretly is in hiding because somebody wants to kill all the Kennedys?


More later.

he he....

Currently listening : Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death By Dead Kennedys Release date: 2001-09-11

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Death Note, etc
Current mood: curious
Category: Movies, TV, Celebrities

What a day. Woke up at 3AM to the full moon shining brightly through my bedroom window. Did a little moon dance in the garden.
Logged on to the Survivors of New Bethany site and WOW!
Since the raid on that Mormon off shoot cult in Texas, the message board is hoppin'. It seems the women in that cult dressed like we did and have that same demeanor about them. Memories are flooding back for a lot of folks now, along with concern for the well being of the people of the Texas compound.
See, back in 1974, I was sent (at 15) to New Bethany Home for the Wayward. A southern baptist, um, well, shit hole. Here's a link to the survivors' site page giving a brief history of the place. Survivors of New Bethany
So anyhow, there is a documentary getting filmed about that place by one of the former inmates. This should prove quite interesting. If it is successful, and is shown to anybody who has the fate of a child in their hands, then perhaps this documentary will prevent this type of abuse from happening to somebody else.

Moving on,
Went to the cinema tonight and saw DEATH NOTE, the live action movie from the japanese comic book and anime. This was genius. I am not kidding. ALWAYS I can predict something that is going to happen during a movie, but NOT this one. It's right up there with the Agatha Christie and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle writing. Yes it is.
You know, the movie only played two nights all across the US. Apparently it's already released on DVD in Japan, so I am going to get it along with the sequel asap.
If you haven't already, go to YouTube and type in Death Note. Check out the animated version. It's not the same as the movie, so it's not going to spoil it. But the premise and the basic story line are there.

Mid day today I played a paranoid schizophrenic bi polar woman who was off her meds as part of my acting. I decided that the reason Ted Kennedy has a brain tumor is: Well, that's for my next blog.

I'll catch you up.

Peace,
Cat

Currently listening : Dancing Under Water By Freakwater Release date: 1997-04-22

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Beltane May Day Festival of Flora
Current mood: breezy
Category: Religion and Philosophy

Good Morning!

It's Beltane, one of my favorite holidays. Today is 1 May, the day traditionally set aside as the last of the Flora Festival, which means it's time to dance the Maypole!
Didn't find much dew out with which to was my face, as there are rain clouds above!
Ah, well, what are a few more wrinkles, anyhow?

So I've gathered some flowers and invited Flora into my circle. I've danced a bit round the candle in my room, and tonight as I light the bonfire, I'll invite Flora to dance along as well. 'Tis quite fitting that I'll be working in the Greenhouse all day, and firstly watering thousands and thousands of flowers and vines!

Enjoy this day. Honor the flowers, and remember to dance!

Beltane Song 2008
by Cat Givens

Flute and drum Flute and drum
Dancing whirling spring in song
Lift me up off the ground
Weave the maypole round and round

..........................

Beltane celebration in my head all day
Smiling while I'm working cuz my brain's at play
Movement of my body dancing as I go
Spirit full and joyful as in love I flow


..............................
Flute and drum Flute and drum
Dancing whilring spring in song
Lift me up off the ground
Weave the maypole round and round

..............................

Beltane Song 2008
by Cat Givens

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Moon Shadow
Current mood: blessed
Category: Religion and Philosophy

The morning is beautiful so far, and the sun's not even up yet!

Wind chimes smiled me awake about 5:20AM and so I lay and listened. Noticed the brightness out my window, so I slipoped on a sweater and wandered outside. Such a bright half moon with a star beside, casting LONG shadows, and a moon shadow walked along side me.

I thank the heavens today.

Life, of course, is very hard on us sometimes. Yet it's the holiness in the living that makes me take notice.

Yesterday, my friend got the keys to his apartment. He's in his 40's. He's been married with children, divorced, in love, crushed, cared for the dying, and homeless.
He plays a beautiful flute.
Lately, he's got a great job and is now in his own place. I brought him our dear departed buddy's brass and glass table and comfy kitchen chairs yesterday. He was delighted with his place, and was showing me all the planting places and hooks for hanging plants! We celebrated with a beer and by enjoying a cooking demo at the greenhouse using fresh grown herbs.... YUM!
All along, he's been playing his music.

Ah, MUSIC!

Next I headed north to catch the Akron Rock Goddess Festival. It's a fundraiser for the Battered Women's Shelter. It's the only shelter in all of Summit and Medina counties.
While I payed the entrance fee, Tracy Thomas smiled and called to me from the stage... so much for sneaking in, eh? She has a wonderful voice, and I've been listening to her music since the late 80's! What a groovy woman who is mother to two vivacious young daughters.

I sat and listened with Khearan Morgan, who.. along with Up Til 4... played next. Ah, now that's some great stuff!
I met Khearan when she played with Lia Fail in the early 90's... a goddess voice for sure, and a prolific songwriter. And Jammin Paul was in the band. Another wonderful man. I remember when he got his eyes fixed. He was pretty much blind as a bat, and had cataracs, too. The Lions took good care of him, and now he can see you walk in the door! Khearan and Paul are also a couple for a few years now. Since before Jimmy died. Khearan invited Dorrie to dinner shortly after all the funeral stuff was over. That's just the kind of folks they are.

Now I'm reading in the paper about the Car Jumper Guy... this is terrific. See, there's this young man who works at The Waterloo Resteraunt. His name's Chris Bryant. Somebody saw him jumping over cars and the Beacon interviewed him. His story was picked up and he was on Ellen and other shows... Nike gave him a contract and lately he was awarded $10,000 to the charity of his choice. He used it to feed local hungry folks. He still works at The Waterloo, but he's got a new gig too... he'll be on Sesame Street!

So now the sun is coming up (almost) and I'm finished with my hard boiled egg ( free range chickens, thank you very much!)
Now it's time to go read at WCRS.... I think I am a lucky woman indeed.

Peace to all of you. May you remember the rainbow and notice the extraordinary. It's ALL extraordinary.

Love,
Cat

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summer sonnet
Current mood: blessed
Category: Writing and Poetry

I entered a contest to win a queen size sleep number bed.... I didn't win. BUT, I really DID win, because all the wonderful sonnets written for this contest which were read on the air made me richer in spirit. WOW. Some made me laugh, and some made me cry. All of them made me glad to have ears.

My humble submission:

Summer Sonnet
by Cat Givens

The softest song of summer
Is the sighing of a breeze
While lilting, lifting under
Tiny petals and large leaves
Which all commence to dancing
Floating freely fine and fair
Bee and butterfly enhancing
Nature's sweetness; living air
Soothe my soul like scented summer
In the warm wind; Kiss me, love
From your lips ambrosia nectar
Breath of life from heav'n above
And I shall please you with great pleasure
Season's passion... ours forever




MY SONNET SUBMISSION TO A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION CONTEST

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letter to myself (part 1) a true story
Current mood: thoughtful
Category: Life

Found a letter to myself
That I’d written to myself
From five years ago, just before I moved here

I’m remembering the time
Travelin’ back within my mind
And the context of the message now is quite clear

Like Fay Wray and old King Kong
Life had ceased to be a song
I ran screaming from depression’s crushing fingers

Squeezed so tight I fought to breathe
From myself I sought to leave
Even now the demon on my doorstep lingers

by Cat
...............

end of part 1



Listening to OMAHA by Moby Grape

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Good Friday
Current mood: content
Category: Romance and Relationships

Good Friday
Picked Glen up from the airport at 7:20, gave the dude in the booth my dollar and he gave it back... said I wasn’t there long enough to pay! WHEEE!
Glen was hungry for Bob Evans food (eeech) so we ate there and now he’s passed out BESIDE the bed on the floor!
I just covered him over with a couple blankets and Boo Boo Kitty is getting comfortable on Glen’s blankets, too!
Me?
Well, let’s just say Bob Evans doesn’t agree with me much and I’m slugging back the water between bathroom breaks.
Will sent me the song "Good Friday" in an e-mail from Aruba.
All is well with the world.
Tomorrow I’ll go shopping for Easter Dinner fixins as I’ll be cooking a feast to take over to Greta’s house. At some point I’ll dye some eggs, and write little wishes on each one.
Also, I have all the makings for my Easter Bonnet (yes that’s right) cuz at Lydia’s it’s
going to be Easter Bonnet night Saturday with live music by Up Til 4.
Gonna be a good time, Baby.
But for now, I’ll try to calm my, er, constitution and settle in under the covers ON the bed for a deep happy snooze.
All is right with the world.
Good night!

Currently listening : Blind Faith By Steve Winwood, Ginger Baker, Rick Grech Eric Clapton

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