An Anniversary Unearned

30 April, 2010 HO CHI MINH CITY – Vietnam marked the 35th anniversary of the Communist victory in the Vietnam War with a grand military parade Friday through the former Saigon, with the government basking more in its economic achievements than its historic military defeat of the United States.


While this date is clinically the end of the Vietnam War, we were all aware it was over months even years before. Troops withdrawal had begun nearly three years prior to the ultimate surrender, which was an end only for the U.S. and not for the Vietnamese who had suffered under imperialists of one flag or another for decades.


So it might be hard to remember where you were on April 30th of 1975. It was a Wednesday, I was working the late shift at the pharmacy. We did see a shot of the U.S. embassy above on the CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite, but there was little celebration. The anti-war movement had won but fifty-six thousand Americans and hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese had died in the futile struggle for nothing more than a discredited foreign policy.


Nixon had already been run out of office in disgrace in '74. There was talk of healing the wounds of war but little was being done for the surviving veterans who still today carry the scars of this national hubris. All in all, not an anniversary to celebrate and apparently not a milestone from which the country has learned the lessons of attempting to impose democracy on other cultures.

Love My Life

My Tag line for my Coaching Business is Love Your Life.  Here is my Flyer that is currently being printed.

So I ask myself this question Do you Love Your Life?  Yes!  YES!!!  It feels great to be able to say an ENTHUSIASTIC YES I Love My Life!

I love the Coaching question - "Ask yourself from the heart, if I could be, do or have anything I would definitely..."  I love this question.  And even as I answer Yes I Love My Life - I still have dreams and a Vision and a Mission and set myself Goals.  Life for me is a Journey - I am not fixed on just getting to one destination, I Love My Life along the way, each and every day.

Today I have a day off work and I have set myself a new Challenge.  It is 30 April and for the next 30 days I am going to:

- Walk every day

- Meditate every day

- Not eat chocolate.

Being healthy is one of my top Goals - eating well and exercising.  I enjoy eating chocolate - yet I often feel sick after I eat chocolate.  Before moving in with my Man, I rarely ate chocolate (unless I was emotional) - yet with my Man having a sweet tooth and after all the easter eggs we received, I have been eating chocolate.  Time to take a break.  Plus I like giving my willpower a Challenge.

Walking every day is easy - the Challenge for me is to not start Running again - I need to take a break for now.  My back is still sore and I am just Grateful that I can go for a walk.  I am also concerned that I need to not put pressure on my body - as I can't wait to have my own baby - in Coaching we talk about what you "ache for" - and having my own baby always comes first to my mind.

I had set myself a Running Goal - and I was doing well - I had built up to over 43 minutes - yet now I find myself needing to change direction.  I am not giving up on my original Goal - yet when I ask myself the Coaching question about my Running "And why is that important to you?" the answer is revealed after asking the question a few times, that the most important reason I like Running is that I want to be healthy.  And so for now I need to adjust my Goal to Walking.  I like reading this paragraph in 'You Can Have An Amazing Life In Just 60 Days!' by Dr. John F. Demartini:

"Follow the Law of Completion, break down your Goals into smaller action steps, put them into reasonable time frames, and then reward yourself when you complete them.  Train yourself to do whatever you say or intend, and watch what happens!  Of course, you must figure in one other factor:  You may decide tomorrow that you have something more important to do and discard your previous plan.  That's okay.  Don't berate yourself over that.  You haven't failed to complete your Goal; you've simply clarified or upgraded it.  Some of the things you don't complete are simply refinements towards higher priority pursuits..."

I do love Walking.  I love to be out in nature, I love being outdoors.  In the past I have also enjoyed time at a gym - yet my preference in terms of Exercise is to be outside.  I just love the surprises and delights and gifts from the Universe.  Some of my favourite parts of my walk today were seeing 2 pelicans flying, walking through the park, I just love Trees, seeing one beautiful kookaburra (where I could stand within a metre and just admire the beauty) and then walking a few metres and seeing another kookaburra (I love kookaburras) and also coming close to two galahs (just love the colouring of the galah).

I love Birds.  I love Animals.  This is why Vegetarian is my preference.

I Love My Life in that I now I have the space to enjoy and explore.  I have a good day, time reflecting on my Business - just one week until I start my Business.  I journal, I write some lists and I enjoy a Meditation.  I love making the time for Meditation - it is my time - a time to connect with my Inner being, Higher Self, God, my Angels.  It is a time when I find deep peace and receive insights and Visions that spark ideas.

I also enjoy some housework, washing and vacuuming, I enjoy looking after our Home.  I love when my Man comes home from work and I am organised.  I love that I have a Home with my Man. 

And tonight I cook - I love cooking new Vegetarian dishes - it is Joyful for me and a way I enjoy to Spread The Yellow in our Home.  I make Vegetarian san chow bow for an entree and then I make roasted potatos and zucchini as a side dish with a main of roasted capsicum with a rice and tofu and vegetable filling.  I love cooking for my Man and myself - I love home-made, healthy Vegetarian cooking.

And now it is time to relax on the lounge with my Man and watch one of our favourite TV shows - just a time to relax together...

 

For Your Alternate Reading Pleasure

I began the month with a picture dump, for symmetry I penultimately end with a link dump, with pictures of course!

I had the pleasure to attend the inaugural seating of the Oakland Secret Kitchen, now it appears Eva has a website, which can only tempt locals and make those far from the Bay drool over their separation from the super secret suppers. I will report as the months and morsels roll on.

Lots of the olde poker crew complain that Amy does not update her personal blog enough any more. While that may be partially true, the quality of her commentary remains outrageously spot on, currently she equates bookies and Goldman Sachs. For those who need a more regular fix, you can always check out her day job. 

Staying in my olde haunts, while deeply immersed in poker I always read Dr. Pauly's Tao of Poker; I now consider it a sinful pleasure. But mirroring my own turn from poker to a more complete, if dyspeptic, view of life; I read his Tao of Pauly with a more camaraderie than before. Pauly plays with more sharp objects than I do and I wear chain mail when I venture out, he is more likely to go commando.

Somewhere in that same universe, the one described as birthed from poker but no longer there; this is where you and I find Brad Willis (Otis to his poker buddies). I get pleasure from reading, not from all reading, but when I do locate that pleasure center, well like any addict I tend to go back there time and time again . . . hence my penchant for Brad's writing on his RapidEyeReality site.

Another olde friend has launched her own website or blog or educational resource or alternate view of life on this rock. Clearly something completely different but I am back where I spent the 90s and far, far from the world both of poker and from what is often referred to as ordinary reality. If you have a passion or an interest in words like indigenous, sustainable, ecological, contra and far-out in a different realm --- you might want to check out Tina's view on the world. 

And now for yet another something completely different. One of my olde college roommates has been playing in a band for over a decade and now they are, well, nearly mainstream or at least moderately profitable, which means they can afford new sheet music. If you are fortunate enough to live the greater Boston area. I can without reservation recommend a night with the Party of 9. Check here for a sample of their faire.

And finally, I don't know him but I was sent a handful of his Hawaiian surf photos and just had to pass them on. You know I have a thing for web art that acts like a cyber flashbulb. The artist is Clark Little, his website is full of incredible images from the island surf. Below just one example.

Help Children In Poverty

I am Very Passionate about wanting to Help Children In Poverty, Children Living In Poverty.

I heard the Call last year - feeling Inspired to visit and support Children and Communities living in impoverished countries.

This Call seemed out of the ordinary, certainly without explanation, perhaps without logic - especially since there are other Causes that are very close to my heart - and also because I have never travelled before, and rather than being excited or motivated to go on a traditional holiday - here I am wanting to pay money to volunteer to be with the children.  It makes a lot of sense in that I love children - I just LOVE CHILDREN - yet, at my age I "should" just be focusing on having my own children, which is also a wonderful dream for me.  I can't wait to have my own baby - that will be my greatest dream come true.  And I still want to Make A Difference in the world.  It would not be easy for me to just live my life, without Consciousness or ACTION.

The Call is becoming stronger and stronger - especially after studying Vision and Purpose at College.   Normally I would race and make plans and work out a checklist to make this happen - using my head and getting action plans in place.  Yet now I am learning a new way of being in the world - allowing myself to just go with the flow and see where the Journey leads.  I am showing up and I am asking for God and the Universe to guide me.  This Project desires my Yin and Yang to work together as the creative force for the Greater Good.

I have been designing my Flyer for my Coaching business and I have included the statement - "Active in supporting children and communities in impoverished communities".  For every Coaching Session I will donate $5 towards charity.  It is a start.  I also have plans for my Spread The Yellow business - products and services - where money will also be donated to Help The Children Living In Poverty.

As well as donating money, in my heart I am also Inspired to visit the children and communities and volunteer my time.  This Call is strong for me.  My Yin is intuitively being guided, and then an 'Aha' moment came a few days ago and my Yang goes into action.  I had an idea, an insight, a remembering where university students go to impoverished communities - Yin heard her intuition - Yin got her Yang to Google "students volunteer travel" - and I am EXCITED - I find some great Projects where I can volunteer for 2 weeks.  Community work with children in Sangklaburi, Thailand, organised through STA Travel, catches my eye - I look into the eyes of these children in the photo and feel drawn to be in Thailand.

These are the words about the Project on the STA website "Enjoy working with children and want to help improve their lives?  Do you want to help children in a stunning part of Thailand who are not getting the care and attention they so deserve? This project helps the staff at care homes that are drastically underfunded and where the staff are overstretched and therefore greatly need any help that you can give them. You will be able to make a massive difference to these children’s lives by giving them support, playing games with them and teaching them English. All of which will give not only the children but the community as a whole a promising future to come." YES  YES  YES  YES!!

I look up the Calendar of Terms for College - we finish College on 30 August and go back to College on 20 September - there is availability from 4 September for 2 weeks.  I feel Very Inspired.

Rather than race to book this tour I decide to just sit with this idea (at least for a couple of weeks) - yet I am Excited.

And then today while sitting at home, watching the Channel 9 morning show which is unusual for me, normally I watch Channel 7 - I see an advertisement for 'Plan' - helping children and communities.  I haven't heard of Plan - yet I have been frequently visiting websites of World Vision, Oxfam, Tear Australia, Save The Children to see all the work that is being done and how I can get involved or if I would look at donating to their Projects.  And then today I learn about 'Plan' - glad my Yin was paying attention.  I am very Excited to learn about Plan, and my Yang is active in exploring their website - "About Plan - Plan is one of the oldest and largest children's development organisations in the world. We work with communities in 49 developing countries and raise funds to support our work in 21 countries like Australia. By actively involving children, and working at a grassroots level with no religious or political agenda, we unite and inspire people around the globe to transform the world for children."

When I read their website - there are some key paragraphs that really stand out for me:

- "Child centred community development is the term we use to describe how we aim to do our development work. It's a rights based approach to development where we support communities to develop the structures and skills they need to provide a safe and healthy environment in which children are able to realise their full potential.  It is our belief, based on many years of experience, that this can be achieved only if children’s best interests are at the heart of everything we do and if children themselves actively participate in the process."  As a Coach, I love the words they use - Community, Development, Support, Children are able to realise their Full Potential - and I love that children are actively involved - they are being given the tools for their own Empowerment, realising and releasing their own power within.

- "Children are the hardest hit by poverty.  Childhood is the most crucial development period in an individual’s life. It is when an individual’s main physical, mental, emotional and social development and growth takes place. Damage at this stage cannot be overcome later in life, and poor children are likely to pass poverty onto their children, perpetuating the cycle. Poverty reduction must begin with children."

- "Poverty alleviation generally tries to increase income at a household level. Children, though, exist within households and usually have the least power and influence on how income is spent. This is particularly true for girls. Poor households often have to cut back on expenses for children and frequently are forced to rely on sending the children to work. Battling with extreme poverty every day often leaves adults too busy and exhausted to properly nurture children. To combat child poverty we need to consider the impact poverty is having on children in poor families."

What I also Love about Plan is that you can not only Sponsor children and communities but you can also organise to visit the communities, organised through Plan - this is wonderful - to see the difference your sponsorship is making in their world.  I also love that they encourage fundraising activities - which I will embrace through my Spread The Yellow business to increase awareness and donate funds to Make A Difference.

I feel so Grateful that I am open to the gifts from the Universe - increasing my Awareness and my Yin intuitively being guided to opportunities where I CAN Help The Children Living In Poverty.  I know that my Family will say that I "should" just be focusing on getting married and having my own children - and this is also important to me - and I cannot ignore this Call - "I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do." (Helen Keller)

 

 

Eating Animals

I have been reading the book 'Eating Animals' by Jonathan Safran Foer for the last few weeks.  It is definitely a book that has opened my eyes and opened my heart. 

I read a few pages each day - there are so many stories, so many facts and figures - so much heartbreak.

I saw this book promoted on 'Ellen' and I loved hearing the author talk about his Mission to create Conversations after reading his book.  This book definitely has the ability to create Conversations.  It has the capacity to change lives - change the world - one by one.  I am Inspired to make changes in my life.

I could retype sections or paragraphs from the book - there is so much in this book - yet there are some parts in the book that really stand out for me.  The author talks about his dog, how much he loves his dog and offers the space for us to consider why it would never be okay (in most countries) for us to eat our dogs, yet that we find it easy to eat meat from cows, chickens, pigs.  Another similar story that stands out for me is the story of Knut, the first polar bear born to Berlin Zoo in 30 years, and how much Knut was loved by the City with people crowding into the zoo to watch Knut - yet just a few metres away from Knut's enclosure was a stand selling "Wurst de Knut", made from the flesh of factory-farmed pigs, "which are at least as intelligent and deserving of our regard as Knut.  This is the species barrier."

 

It is surprising to me, when I read about "Bycatch" - the amount of species that are regularly killed in pursuit of "seafood" - "What if there were labeling on our food letting us know how many animals were killed to bring our desired animal to our plate?... Imagine being served a plate of sushi.  But this plate also holds all of the animals that were killed for your serving of sushi.  The plate might have to be five feet across."

This statement stands out for me - "Factory farming's success depends on consumers' nostalgic images of food production - the fisherman reeling in fish, the pig farmer knowing each of his pigs as individuals, the turkey rancher watching beaks break through eggs - because these images correspond to something we respect and trust."  It is interesting - I believe it is all about Awareness and Consciousness - if the regular consumer was aware of the facts and images behind Eating Animals - I am sure that people would make different choices.  It is similar to the plight of Orang-utans - I am sure if people had a Consciousness that using regular soap means chopping down tress that threaten Orang-utans, than I am sure that people would look for alternatives.

Consciousness is a big thing for me - I am wanting to be Conscious of my choices in terms of the Environment and Eating Animals.  Recently we went to Yum Cha with friends - it was crazy (in my opinion) - we all sat around a round table and we just kept getting dishes and dishes and dishes and dishes and dishes served to us - I just kept hearing friends saying "yes" "yes" "yes" "yes" "yes" - and what appeared to be eating unconsciously between tangents of stories.  I love getting together with friends - and yet I was very happy that last week we met at a cafe, where I happily enjoyed a Vegetarian pizza with my Man and most of all enjoyed more space for great Conversations with friends - more opportunity to Connect, time of Spread The Yellow.

I am only halfway through the book - and I am distressed when I read descriptions of the suffering of cows, pigs and chickens.  The author has not included any photos - yet these are easy to find on the Internet.  Here is a site on what is happening in Australia - images and words are definitely upsetting - there is a lot of information on this site - http://www.all-creatures.org/articles/ar-mindless.html

I have previously been a Vegan - this was about 8 years ago.  At the same time I was very into my Running, and so I was very much into my carbs - eating a lot of pasta - rather than learning about healthy Vegan living.  I am now finding it more difficult to eat animal flesh - I don't eat chicken or red meat.  And I have been hesitant to take on the label of Vegetarian - even though this is definitely my preference - Eating Animals no longer works for me.

Last time I adopted a Vegan lifestyle, it was difficult - mentally, emotionally, socially.  I remember not wanting to use the same chopping board or knives as my ex-husband (yes, I was obsessive) - and I remember going out to dinner and asking the waiter 20 questions, such as, asking about the stock used in the risotto.  Looking back this was a stressful time - especially, since my relationship was not working.

I feel different now.  I do not want to get so stressed or restrictive - although I do want to make Conscious choices.  I also no longer want to get up on the soapbox and try and convince others to change or adopt a certain lifestyle.  I can only make choices for myself and be true to myself.  Most important for me is respecting the choices of others, where we meet in a peaceful space. 

In my heart, Eating Animals does not feel right for me.  Yet this is a journey - at this point I am still eating fish (Consciously) - although the facts in this book are definitely upsetting - and I am always conscious of blessing the fish before I eat them - although - it is still very hard for me.

And I live with my Man who enjoys eating meat.  I learnt a lot from living with my ex-husband and I want to always Learn from my experiences.  And so I accept our differences.  Tonight I eat a Vegetarian patty and salad, and although my Man would normally cook his own meat, he is working later, he has been working so hard, with so little sleep, and so I bless his meat and cook it for him.  In my Mission to Love and Serve through my Coaching and as I Spread The Yellow, it is important to me that I always make time and space for my Loved ones.  I am Grateful to be at home and we enjoy dinner together.

I don't like preparing and cooking Animals, I don't like Eating Animals - yet, I love my Man - and I am glad to prepare a meal for him - since he has been happily enjoying all my Vegetarian dishes. 

I will continue to read this book and continue to embrace a preference for a Vegetarian lifestyle, without the label (for now), and I will see where this Journey flows...

Full Pink Moon

Tomorrow morning (Wednesday 28th) at 8:18 AM EDT [5:18 PDT] will be the exact moment of the next full moon, which means tonight will be the fullest those of us in the Americas will see the moon this month. I will have to hope for an opening in the clouds later tonight because right now its grey and raining across the San Francisco Bay, hopefully where you are, there will be better viewing.

Early civilizations often named the full moons and the months they appeared. Since I am in currently in a part of the world previously populated by "native american" tribes. I thought it might be interesting to look at those labels. So the Wolf Moon in January is in the Wolf month and the Harvest Moon is well you got that one, right?

Tomorrow's is the Pink Full Moon and that might need some explanation. Apparently the moon namers were mostly Eastern and Northern tribes, so the relevance might be lost on us Californians. The grass pink or wild ground phlox is a widespread flower of spring in many parts of the Eastern U.S., hence the pink of the Pink Full Moon. Other lunar names for this month include: the Egg Moon, the Full Sprouting Moon and for those more coastal tribes -- the Full Fish Moon.

In some years the Full Pink Moon is also the Pascal Moon, which sets the date for Easter. The pagan and now christian usurped spring holiday is held the first Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal equinox. Vernal equinox was March 20th this year, followed by a Full Worm Moon on March 29th, so we had an early Easter this year on April 4th.

Wherever you are, take a peek tonight at the Pink Full Moon. I am sorely tempted to make some Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon reference. Well wait, I guess I just did.

Next month, the Full Flower Moon.
---
photo credit: NASA

Feeling Blue

I have been Feeling Blue - Yellow is always close to me and within easy reach - yet today I have been okay to sit with Feeling Blue - to just Surrender to it.  It would have been easy for me to get busy and run towards the Light - yet I have been okay with being Blue - at least for today.   Yesterday I woke up and had to find some Inspiration - I am noticing a pattern - so today I just allow myself, to make it okay, to honour my Feeling Blue.

I woke up in pain with my back and I had a headache - I definitely didn't feel well enough to go to work - and this is not good - work is important to me - I don't like letting my Boss down when I know he has scheduled me on a Project - and my need for the security of my pay is also high.  Yet today I choose Self-Care and decided to just rest and indulge myself in Blue.  I even gave a friendly directive to my Man that he doesn't have to cheer me up - that it is okay if I'm feeling Blue today.  My Man still took one of the pink roses from my vase of VERY beautiful roses (that he bought for me yesterday) and handed it to me and gave me a kiss. 

I look through 'The Blue Day Book' by Bradley Trevor Greive (that sits on my bookshelf) - great images they make me smile.

In my Feeling Blue today - there is a blankness, a feeling of no emotion, no energy, no excitement, no Yellow.  And so I honour this feeling of Blue - after breakfast I go back to bed for Meditation - I fall asleep, no alarm set, I just trust what my body needs right now.  There is so much that I could have done today - I read a few pages of a book and watched a bit of TV.  My Yang likes to be productive and get things done - yet my Yin is happy for quiet and rest as I am not feeling motivated or inspired or energised. 

I am so Feeling Blue that I even Google 'blue images' -

My Yin is enjoying this time - and then I am Inspired to look up bluebird - my Yin emotional part of me remembers having a bracelet with bluebirds -

My Yin is Inspired to get out the pencil case and paper and I do some Art Therapy for myself - I use every Blue crayon, pencil and texta that I have - as well as a black and then a yellow crayon.  I cannot draw - I am not an Artist - yet Art Therapy is fun - I actually love it - I can just colour and do what I want - there is no Judge here - I just draw from an emotional, spiritual level.

Whenever I am Feeling Blue, it is sometimes so reassuring - it reminds me that I am human and grounds me.  Feeling Blue also helps me in always having empathy for others - I do not believe that we can explain or Judge the emotions of another - or even Judge or disown our own Feelings.  Whenever I am Feeling Blue, I am very conscious of not falling down the black hole - I have been deep in the black hole before - a long time ago - another lifetime away - yet I remember - and this is what has brought me to Coaching - wanting to catch people before they fall down the black hole.  As I sit in Feeling Blue, I am very conscious of so much Yellow so close to me.


I find a drawing from my Man that he had previously drawn for me - this does make my heart sing.

I decide to go and rest - Meditation calls me...

WOW!!!  Something shifts in me after the Meditation - I feel much lighter - I feel surrounded by Light. 

In the Meditation I was able to witness, sense some beautiful images.  I had a sense that at first I was like a blue foetus, alone, all alone, a sense that I am separate to the world. 

And then I had this sense and visual of me standing up and rays of Light were coming through me and around me and the Yellow rays came within and I was Yellow and blue and then the Yellow and blue became green and then pink whirled around and through me, around me - it was incredible - I was connected to everything - the Universe, Light and Energy surrounded me, flowed to me, flowed through me, THE UNIVERSE IS THERE FOR ME.  After my Meditation, I look up images, these come close (yet so far) to the images of my experience (and I hold the image in my mind's eye). 

                       

                       

         

I then had a sense of looking over at the blue foetus and loving the blue foetus, this part of me, the part that is alone - and the blue foetus part of me, opens up and holds out its hands, my hands, my hands holding a heart. 

I then had an image of my Coaching logo, realising that I am not alone, that it is not only about me giving out my energy - yet that I am surrounded and loved by the Universe and that I will be guided and held in a space of Light to bring my dream to life.

This experience was AMAZING. I have heard others talk about such sensations and visuals - and how wonderful to experience this sense of Joy and Connection and Energy.

After my Meditation I feel ALIVE.  I look at the Artwork for my Flyer with fresh eyes.  I have been so in Yang mode, trying to get this 'done', getting quotes from different flyers, ACTION, ACTION - that I had abandoned some of my Yin.  I print out my Business Card and my Flyer and my Yin feels emotionally connected - my Yin intuitively knows that I can approve the Flyer Artwork.  I am excited as despite all the different quotes and that (unfortunately) printing on recycled paper is more expensive, this is not a difficult decision for me - I am committed to making business decisions that minimise the harm on Mother Earth - I email the Artwork to the printer and I can't wait to get my Flyers.  I can't wait to Spread The Yellow through my Coaching.

I feel that the Universe has given me the opportunity today to rest and relax.  I am Grateful that I didn't ignore or race away from my Feeling Blue - I actually enjoyed the quiet time, hanging on the couch time.  After my Meditation, I am also feeling less pain in my back.  The Meditation was so powerful.  I love to witness my emotions shifting naturally - without the need to force myself back to Yellow.

I have my energy back.  I am excited when I get a knock on the door - knowing it is my Box of Fruit and Vegetables that I ordered from a local Organic company.  It is a mystery box - a surprise!! And I am delighted - love that there is plenty of fresh fruit and love that there is broccoli, my favourite.

I make a Vegetarian pasta dish - happy!!!  And now I watch "Australia's Got Talent" - GREAT SHOW!  I just love to see people Passionate about what they are doing, committed to their Passion, giving it a go - and I loved the words of one of the contestants, a beautiful opera singer - love these words - "IT'S MY TIME NOW"... 

Physics of a Sunset

About six weeks ago I slept for the first time in the Berkeley apartment, I noticed that first night the sun was setting just a degree or two north of the Marin side of the Golden Gate Bridge. Since that was mid-March the sun was progressing north and I wondered when I would see a sunset directly over the bridge. After reaching its furthest point north on June 21st, a rough estimate would have the sunset back to the bridge around the fourth week of August. So the second part of the question was: just how far does the sun move each day?


I wondered if my distance from the Marin Headlands was a factor (that's the land on the other side of the Bay those of you who don't live around these parts) but I quickly realized that the horizon (where the sun sets) is nearly equidistance from me at all times and the intervening land masses had nothing to do with my calculations. I did, however, correctly intuit that latitude had to make a mathematical difference. Since I was dealing with a tilting planet around a semi-constant axis. I made the only rational decision I could with my decades old calculus.


I went to google.


Between the solstices (approx. June 21st & Dec. 21st), the sunset point changes by about 62.6 degrees in half a year (about 183 days), for an average of 0.34 degrees per day. Near the equinoxes (March 21st, Sept. 21st), the sunset point changes about 0.51 degrees per day; near the solstices, it hardly changes at all. Which means the sunset appears to shift faster around the equinoxes and almost not all all near a solstice.

If you live south of 40 degrees, the change from solstice to solstice is less; if you live north of 40 degrees, the change is greater. Berkeley is at 37 degrees 87 minutes.

The earth's axis is inclined to its orbit by 23.5 degrees. The shift in the sunset point between solstices is roughly given (in degrees) by the formula [2 * 23.5 / cos (latitude)] but this is only an approximation. For a precise calculation, we need to use spherical trigonometry, which I will hold for another time. Nerds may proceed on their own.


What I clearly did notice was that the point of sunset did move quickly right around the time I moved in, near the equinox, in fact by the second week just a line of sight projection seemed to suggest that by the summer solstice the sun would be out of sight to the north. This, of course, assumed a constant movement, which google has help me discover is not the case. Already the daily progression to the north has slowed from the near breakneck half a degree a day when I moved in.


Come summer solstice, I will still have a sunset and somewhere in late August, I will post a week or so of pictures when the sunset beams through the Golden Gate.

Inspired To Be Joyful

Goodmorning!!!  The sun is shining!  I am layered up - with my Yellow pj pants, a nightie I just Love, my ugg boots and a white, fluffy dressing gown that I really Love.  Normally I write my Blog at the end of the day, writing about what Inspired me for the day. Yet today, I am going to write about my efforts to get Inspired.

Last night I go to bed in pain - I have hurt my back.  Yesterday at the grocery store, while buying all the ingredients for my Anzac biscuits, I had a feeling that the basket was getting too heavy - it was overloaded.  By the time I got home and was about to cook my Anzac biscuits, the muscles in my back were in a spasm.  I didn't give any Blog airtime to this yesterday, as I wanted to put energy into the positive.  Once I finished my last night's Blog, I had to get my Man to help me get in and out of the bath and into bed - and I lay with a heat wheat pillow.  This morning I wake up, still in pain.

I am disappointed as I am just back to enjoying my Running again - and I have been feeling great.  I feel like my pelvis is out of alignment - this is not a good feeling.  It is interesting, as everytime, around this year, for the last 2 years and now this year, just before the 'Relay For Life' (which is next weekend and raises money for cancer), I get injured - firstly a sprained ankle, then last year I hurt my back and now here I am again in pain.  'They say' that if you don't realise the lesson from the Universe the first time, then the lesson will keep repeating itself - yet, I have made changes in this area of running - moving away from competitive and physical and mental pressure, to just wanting to run for the Love and Joy of running.

I definitely want to be involved in the 'Relay For Life' next weekend - I had even decided to walk, since my Mum, Dad, Aunty and my Man are all walking together - it means a lot to me, just to have my Mum with me, since we almost lost my Mum to cancer - thank you God for the Miracles - this is not said lightly - THANK YOU GOD FOR THE MIRACLES. My Mum's middle name is JOY - and my Mum is the most Positive, Happy, Energetic, Joyful person I know - my Mum is an Inspiration to me. I Love My Mum. My Mum is my greatest Inspiration.  My Mum keeps going despite pain... my Mum once said (which is a philosophy for her life in the last few years) "You can kick and scream and say 'Why Me?', yet this won't change anything... so Just DO IT" - this remembering, definitely Inspires me today.

Books also Inspire me.  This morning for Inspiration I went to my bookshelf, feeling into my Intuition, to where I would be guided, what books needed to speak to me.

I choose one of my favourite books (among many favourites) - I love the work of Dr. John F. Demartini in 'You Can Have An Amazing Life In Just 60 days' - I remember reading a section in his book about life being positive and negative - ups and downs - and I am looking for these words to give me some insight today.  I flick through the pages and find some great words and phrases that Inspire me for the day:

- "Words of Power." - These are meant as meaningful and inspiring statements that you can say to yourself, inwardly and outwardly, and hold as true from the centre of your being." (p.13) - hmm... "Words of Power" - like this - a positive affirmation - I close my eyes - the words that I sense need to be said (over and over) are "I feel strong, I move with ease... I feel strong, I move with ease... I feel strong, I move with ease..." - yes, these will Inspire me today

- "To paraphrase Henry David Thoreau, most people live quiet lives of desperation, not invigorating lives of inspiration - not doing what they love nor loving what they do." (p.21) - reading these words brings a stillness and sadness to me - how true - and in these moments I feel so Honoured to be a Transformational Life Coach - and I will be Inspired to be well, "I feel strong, I move with ease...", so that I may serve others and support them on their journey

- I love these sentences "The Law of Perseverance involves the willingness to take actions on your dreams every single day, without stopping.  Even if they're baby steps, each day just take another one towards your goal.  The Law of Perseverance means letting neither pain nor pleasure interfere with the pursuit of your purpose.  You'll be challenged in life, ridiculed, distracted, and told that you can't succeed, but pay no attention.  Focus on the vision you're holding in your heart.  Cling to your dream - don't lose it!.. Never give up on yourself!" (p.78) - LOVE THESE WORDS - Yes, despite my pain I am feeling today, I am going to take actions towards my dreams, I am not going to worry that this pain is permanent, this too will pass - and I am going to have a Yellow, happy, sunny day

- "The greatest discovery of the human experience is that no matter what happens, it will always even out, for all events come in pairs of opposites.  You don't - and can't - cause or prevent this: it simply is: praise and reprimand, peace and war, positive and negative, support and challenge, attraction and repulsion.  Nature always provides experiences that reveal your heart and soul's mission and purpose.  Since the Law of Equilibrium is one of the greatest spiritual principles, make sure that you see it as part of your life.  Rather than limiting yourself to a selectively exclusive attention to either the terrible or terrific, keep an eye open for both sides of every event, for all things are neutral until you judge them not to be - they're simply messages of love." (p.140)- Another WOW - Inspiring me to be in ACCEPTANCE - "messages of love" - perhaps I just need some more self-care by the way of sleep and rest this week.

I am drawn to another book on my bookshelf, 'The Thoughts of Nanushka' by Nan Witcomb, a dear friend gave it to be for my 20th birthday.  There are so many poems about love, so many beautiful words - I turn some pages and love these poems:

- "Beyond the ugliness

in this world,

is the incredible beauty

of love and friendship -

that is where I live -"

- "I know your faults

and your weakness - 

I know your fears

and some of your dreams -

you are as brave as a lion

and as vulnerable

as a child - 

I think I love you - " 

Another favourite book is 'Eat Mangoes Naked' by SARK, I LOVE SARK's work.  On one whole page, spaced out - SARK writes:

- "You Are Seen

You Are Known

You Are Loved"

...and then writes "I wrote this because so many people feel invisible, unknown and unlovable".

I am Inspired in my Mission to SPREAD THE YELLOW.

Still dressed in my pjs, I Google joyful artwork and find a great Blog http://joyfularttherapy.blogspot.com/ - I think of my friend Kara and know she is going to love this Blog (Kara also has a beautiful Blog http://piece-sunshine.blogspot.com/) - and I am Inspired by all these beautiful images -

AND THE NEXT IMAGE IS SO BEAUTIFUL

AND SO RIGHT FOR ME TODAY- IT IS CALLED

"SELF-LOVE IS THE BASE OF GLOBAL LOVE"

I am INSPIRED.  I am Inspired To Be Joyful!!!  The Sunshine is calling me...

Out in the world I go to Spread The Yellow... (and give my friends some Anzac biscuits)... 

Anzac Day - Reflect and Bake

Up at 4.30am to go to the Anzac Day Ceremony at Cronulla - it wasn't hard to get up so early - initially I woke up at 3.30am and was looking forward to today.  I was so glad to pay tribute to the men and women who have served and serve our Country.  Walking to the Ceremony, I was upset, reflecting on my Nana's three Brothers, my Mum's Uncles, who were Prisoners of War, and when they got back from war they were never the same - I didn't know my Mum's Uncles - yet I am upset thinking about the impact on my Nana and Mum - the stories that my Mum has shared with me.

I loved some of the key words that the guest speakers said in their speeches - Honour, Admiration, Humility, Service, Light in Darkness, Community, Reflection, Hope, Courage.  It was raining, it was dark and we were surrounded by so many people with umbrellas - it was wonderful that there were so many people gathered this morning.  We could not see much - yet we heard the tributes, the words - we said 'Our Father' Prayer and sang the National Athem - I am proud to be Australian.

Once home, I enjoy watching the Anzac Day March on television - it is wonderful to just Respect and Reflect - wonderful men and women and loved ones of men and women who have passed.  And I love seeing the marching bands - I love that the youth and the schools are involved in the day.  This morning I hear my Man's stories, how he was in a marching band with school and played the trumpet - I imagine him being in the crowd - he is a good Man - I am blessed.  

I was planning on typing up some Coaching notes, yet I feel the kitchen calling me - I decide to bake!!!  One of my Goals has been to cook more vegetarian dishes and I have also been keen to bake healthy cookies, muffins and cakes.  Now that I have more time and I have created a home with my Man - I am motivated!!!  And this is one of my Projects where I am witnessing my Yin and Yang working together to create magic and bring my dreams to life.

My Yang energy looks up recipes on the net and my Yin reviews and explores, feels into the recipes to get a sense of what recipe is right - and then my Yin gets a sense of the right recipe, with a couple of minor changes that feel more right.  The main recipe I use is on a cooking Blog, straight away my Yin feels connected - http://www.mydiversekitchen.com/2009/02/anzac-biscuits.html - although I make a few changes - using half wholemeal flour, olive oil instead of butter, not using salt, and only using 1/2 cup brown sugar. 

My Yin loves the story that I find on this Blog - "ANZAC biscuits, originally known as Soldiers' biscuits, were made by the women back home to send nutritious food to their soldiers who were fighting in World War I. Made from the few ingredients available then, these slightly hard biscuits kept and shipped very well. It used to take about 2 months for the biscuits to reach the soldiers in those days!  Anzac biscuits also contain no eggs, unlike most biscuits/ cookies, as a large number of poultry farmers had joined the army and eggs were scarce."  And even though some recipes have eggs - my Yin wants them to be as authentic as possible.

So I blend and I make and bake my ANZAC biscuits - my Yang in action.  My Yin is so happy to enjoy  them with a nice pot of green tea with my Man, on my nice yellow tablecloth - sharing time and conversation - moments of Spread The Yellow.  Anzac biscuits are delicious!

And then I make a batch of love heart Anzac Biscuits - some for my Man, and tomorrow I hope to see some friends and Spread The Yellow by sharing my Cooking creations...

              

Whenever we have a recognised 'holiday' - I like to be conscious of why we have a day off work - or what this day is about - and I like to spend time in Reflection and Acknowledgement - this is important to me.  I like to Respect and Honour Traditions and I also like to Create my own rituals - Anzac Day - Reflect and Bake - a perfect day for me.


Now it's time to run a bath...

Skype Fur Ball Safari

Now that I have become a domiciled person again, I got my Skype software issues resolved, so I am back in voice communication with Australia, France and several other distant spots on the globe. Being domestically permanent also means I have gotten the large monitor and full size keyboard out of storage; and the external hard drive; and the hand me down printer, scanner, fax. I wouldn't call it an orderly desktop exactly, I just no longer need 1200 mile USB cords.

A few days ago I "participated" in a nearly 80 minute Skype call. Participated means I listened a lot; those who know me will still find an over an hour call to be nearly impossible. I am not a phone person and running it through a computer does not disguise the fact that we are just talking without a handset. The video feed helps but unless you are juggling or stripping that too gets static in about a minute. I wonder what the Skype ratio is between free international calling and video phone sex?

But the point of my meanderings today, should you chose to believe there is one, focuses on the theme of idle hands. I have my Skype setup such that I don't have to sit in front of the computer arrays. I can stand even walk within a limited range or get down on the floor and do my back exercises. But over an hour plus, you can run out of non-distracting things to do while paying attention to the person on the other end of the cyber conversation.

Surfing is much too distracting. I would not tolerate such an extended conversation if I were not truly interesting in the other person and in the content of the exchange; so I am not going to multi-task in any way that distracts my mind. My hands, however, did find a task that grew to the point of . . . well to the point of this post.

First, I noticed the tub of wet wipes that were not fully expended cleaning the apartment for human occupancy. I tugged out one of those and wiped down the big keyboard that had been in storage for over a year. Being careful not to press down on any of the keys that would cause audio blips and pings. That took about a minute but I noticed some black schmutz on the front side of the space bar. Resistant to a gentle wiping, the removal required some pressure to effect a clean space bar, which only revealed a larger build-up of potentially contaminating crud on both the B and N keys. These would be more difficult to reach. Since neither duct tape nor WD-40 would solve this common household crisis, I went for the bent paper clip and spent perhaps another five minutes of the Skype call (you did remember I am on a call right?). About five minutes cleaning keys, only to discover that once the front side of the keys were de-filthed, I only had to lean slightly left or right to see the accumulation of grime on those surface.

I am going to cut the key cleaning soliloquy because I haven't yet gotten to my point for the day. At some point, while I was actually talking I let the paper clip stylus slip between the keys and when I recovered it, I discovered -- furr! Another more digitally directed sweep brought up a loose ball of fuzz the size of a dime.

Yes, my keyboard had cohabitated with not one or two but three cats as far back as Michigan (2006) and without Skype to free me to ponder the pelted possibilities, I had never thought to delve into the depths of the keyboard recesses. It took about fifteen minutes to fish out 97% of the cat fur without being too distracted from the conversation, which naturally took a serious turn at this exact time. Multi-tasking can be such a burden.

So that's my deep introspection for this Saturday morning. Should you need to take a break to ponder the existential aspects of these revelations, I would recommend the following supporting text: