Lady Victoria Eclectic Pagan's blog: "Misc."

A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with his hair fashionably coiffed and shaved perfectly, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today. His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready. As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window. "I love it," he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy. "Mr. Jones, you haven't seen the room; just wait." "That doesn't have anything to do with it," he replied. "Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged ... it's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it. "It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do. Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away. Just for this time in my life. Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you've put in. So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories! Thank you for your part in filling my Memory bank. I am still depositing." Remember the five simple rules to be happy: 1. Free your heart from hatred. 2. Free your mind from worries. 3. Live simply. 4. Give more. 5. Expect less.

OK - for once I am going to be pathetic and show just how human I am... I've just about had it... If you are reading this, then you already know that I am the sole caregiver of an 84 almost 85 year old woman with Alzheimer's a pacemaker, a brain shunt and on a walker (when she feels she needs or remembers it or else there are hand prints and wash swirls wiping them off the walls and doorways or falling when least expected, or in a wheelchair when necessary) that is the mother of my past love who died in my arms in April. Well, it seems the dementia has hit a new level and I feel I am about to break. This evening while doing dishes I had a feeling to go check on her while she was in the bathroom (mind you - she is incontinent and continues to attempt to go about 20 times a day flushing the toilet at least 3 times each attempt and always wets the bed so laundry is a 3 load minimum daily routine). This ritual can take anywhere from 10 minutes to 1/2 an hour or longer if I do not pay close attention to every move she makes but she's quiet and sneaky. Even the baby monitors I have set up can't pick her up sometimes above the dogs panting. Well back to where I was before I digressed - I went to check to see if everything was ok and I caught her trying to eat my Goddess Bath Salts in the bathroom. This led me to investigate what the hell else is going on. Well, I don't know if that was wise or not because it led me to several unpleasant discoveries and I feel like such a failure as a caretaker. Apparently Eleanor has been either smarter than what the professionals had led me to understand about the disease and she is testing my limits or it's gone beyond what I can handle at this point. Imagine losing her false teeth on an almost daily basis (usually found under a pillow or the bed), finding 3 "poo balls" in her nightstand drawer, depends stuffed in spare pillows, lotions in shoes and used toilet paper in robe pockets - and all this since she came back home on Monday after my holiday break! I bust my ass cleaning and keeping everything sanitary so she does not wind up sick or in a hospital for what? This? What happened while I was gone and she was with her real daughter? Oh wait, that's another tangent - but reason for me being her legal guardian. I had to duct tape the medicine cabinets shut, put a combination lock and tie on the vanity storage (child locks seemed to be futile as they were what was in place prior), a child gate in the hallway to keep her from wandering while I am passed out from sheer exhaustion (yes, previously she tried to go outside buck ass naked the doors but thankfully have a 2-way keyed entrance and alarmed sliding glass doors in the wee hours of the night/morning), and pieces parts of what was once edible food in a variety of places under her mattress. This is all that had resulted from one day of discovery. Never mind what had been done in the past that I took as her loss of memory and deterioration and progression of the disease. She will not chew or eat meat anymore so all my "gourmet meals" that I love to cook have to be mushy and soft or pureed in the blender and drank through a straw or served like bisque. Feeding the dogs chocolate or off her utensils while she eats with the same thing (ewwwww... gross!), stuffing tissues in places I dare not mention and a plethora of oddities that I simply dismissed as part of this deplorable, despicable and degrading disease to be taken with a grain of salt and not to heart because it simply just is. Oh well, I guess I could go on forever but am so bleary eyed from crying I cannot see straight so sayonara. After all, I am human and not a stone and do break down every once in a while...

One evening a grandson was talking to his grandfather about current events. The grandson asked his grandfather what he thought about the shootings at schools, the computer age, and just things in general. The granddad replied, "Well, let me think a minute, I was born, before television, penicillin, polio shots, frozen foods, Xerox, contact lenses, Frisbees and the pill. There was no radar, credit cards, laser beams or ball-point pens. Man had not invented pantyhose, air conditioners, dishwashers, clothes dryers, and the clothes were hung out to dry in the fresh air and man hadn't yet walked on the moon. Your grandmother and I got married first-and then lived together. Every family had a father and a mother. Until I was 25, I called every man older than I, 'Sir' and after I turned 25, I still called policemen and every man with a title, 'Sir.' We were before gay-rights, computer-dating, dual careers, daycare centers, and group therapy. Our lives were governed by the Ten Commandments, good judgment, and common sense. We were taught to know the difference between right and wrong and to stand up and take responsibility for our actions. Serving your country was a privilege; living in this country was a bigger privilege. We thought fast food was what people ate during Lent. Having a meaningful relationship meant getting along with your cousins. Draft dodgers were people who closed their front doors when the evening breeze started. Time-sharing meant time the family spent together in the evenings and weekends not purchasing condominiums. We never heard of FM radios, tape decks, CDs, electric typewriters, yogurt, or guys wearing earrings. We listened to the Big Bands, Jack Benny, and the President's speeches on our radios. And I don't ever remember any kid blowing his brains out listening to Tommy Dorsey. If you saw anything with 'Made in Japan' on it, it was junk. The term 'making out' referred to how you did on your school exam. Pizza Hut, McDonald's, and instant coffee were unheard of. We had 5 & 10 cent stores where you could actually buy things for 5 and 10 cents. Ice cream cones, phone calls, rides on a streetcar, and a Pepsi were all a nickel. And if you didn't want to splurge, you could spend your nickel on enough stamps to mail 1 letter and 2 postcards . You could buy a new Chevy Coupe for $600 but who could afford one? Too bad, because gas was 11 cents a gallon. In my day, 'grass' was mowed, 'coke' was a cold drink, 'pot' was something your mother cooked in, and 'rock music' was your grandmother's lullaby. 'Aids' were helpers in the Principal's office, 'chip' meant a piece of wood, hardware' was found in a hardware store, and 'software' wasn't even a word. And we were the last generation to actually believe that a lady needed a husband to have a baby. No wonder people call us "old and confused" and say there is a generation gap...and how old do you think I am? This man would be only 64 years old!

1. It will chase ants away when you lay a sheet near them. 2. It takes the odor out of books and photo albums that don't get opened too often. 3. Repels mosquitoes. Tie a sheet of Bounce through a belt loop when outdoors during mosquito season. 4. Eliminates static electricity from your television screen. Since Bounce is designed to help eliminate static cling, wipe your television screen with a used sheet of Bounce to keep dust from resettling. 5. Dissolve soap scum from shower doors. Clean with a sheet of Bounce. 6. Freshen the air in your home. Place an individual sheet of Bounce in a drawer or hang in the closet. 7. Prevent thread from tangling. Run a threaded needle through a sheet of Bounce before beginning to sew. 8. Prevent musty suitcases. Place an individual sheet of Bounce inside empty luggage before storing. 9. Freshen the air in your car. Place a sheet of Bounce under the front seat. 10.Clean baked-on foods from a cooking pan. Put a sheet in a pan, fill with water, let sit overnight, and sponge clean. The anti static agent apparently weaken the bond between the food and the pan while the fabric softening agents soften the baked-on food. 11.Eliminate odors in wastebaskets. Place a sheet of Bounce at the bottom of the wastebasket. 12.Collect cat hair. Rubbing the area with a sheet of Bounce will magnetically attract all the loose hairs. 13.Eliminate static electricity from Venetian blinds. Wipe the blinds with a sheet of Bounce to prevent dust from resettling. 14.Wipe up sawdust from drilling or sand papering. A used sheet of Bounce will collect sawdust like a tack cloth. 15.Eliminate odors in dirty laundry. Place an individual sheet of Bounce at the bottom of a laundry bag or hamper. 16.Deodorize shoes or sneakers. Place a sheet of Bounce in your shoes or sneakers overnight so they will smell better in the AM. And all this time I've just been putting Bounce in the dryer.

Leaving in a bit for my ROAD TRIP!!!!! Will be gone till the 3rd. Wishing All A Very Happy Hanukkah Blessed Yule Merry Christmas Happy New Year ETC... etc... etc... Happy Holidays One and All!

**ATTENTION** Do Not Call Lists REMINDER…11 days from today, all cell phone numbers are being released to telemarketing companies and you will start to receive sales calls. .....YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR THESE CALLS To prevent this, call the following number from your cell phone: 888-382-1222. It is the National DO NOT CALL list. It will only take a minute of your time. It blocks your number for five (5) years. You must call from the cell phone number you want to have blocked. You cannot call from a different phone number. HELP OTHERS BY PASSING THIS ON TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS OR GO TO: www.donotcall.gov

Click here to get Carol Of The Bells at EZ-Tracks.com

The Unicorn by Rainer Maria Rilke The saintly hermit, midway through his prayers stopped suddenly, and raised his eyes to witness the unbelievable: for there before him stood the legendary creature, startling white, that had approached, soundlessly, pleading with his eyes. The legs, so delicately shaped, balanced a body wrought of finest ivory. And as he moved, his coat shone like reflected moonlight. High on his forehead rose the magic horn, the sign of his uniqueness: a tower held upright by his alert, yet gentle, timid gait. The mouth of softest tints of rose and grey, when opened slightly, revealed his gleaming teeth, whiter than snow. The nostrils quivered faintly: he sought to quench his thirst, to rest and find repose. His eyes looked far beyond the saint's enclosure, reflecting vistas and events long vanished, and closed the circle of this ancient mystic legend. Since hundreds of year this mythical creature let’s our hearts beat faster. It’s innocent and beauty gives us hope and makes us dream of a better world. The unicorn made its first appearance about 5000 years ago. It is most popular in Europe, middle east and far east, in middle-aged legends and animes. The appearance of the unicorn is the one of a white horse with a pointed horn on his forehead. Like many European mythological things, so has the unicorn its origin from Greek mythology. The legend tells that Zeus tore off one of the horns of the goat Amalthea, who wet-nursed him, because it held magical power. Later that horn became known as cornucopia. The believe of the magic power of this horn, was known till the late middle ages. Its powder was said to neutralize any poison immediately and the whole horn was said to start to bleed if a poisoned person got close to it. Therefore it was very wanted in the high time of intrigues and murderer of peers and royals. So it was nothing unusual that in the 15th century people offered up to 40’000 pieces of gold for one horn. What often got sold as powder of a unicorns horn, was in real the powder of the horn of a narwhale, also known as ‘unicorn of the sea’. For the people in the medieval times, to existence of the unicorn was as real as the genesis in the bible. Many asked why the unicorn wasn’t mentioned in the story of Noah’s ark when he brought the animals into the ark. Even thought not mentioned, there can be find images of the unicorn in many old paintings of the ark anyway.

12 Days of a BDSM Christmas On the first day of Christmas my Master handcuffed me to a branch on a big pear tree On the second day of Christmas my Master gave to me, two nipple clamps while handcuffed to the pear tree... On the third day of Christmas my Master gave to me, three good tugs on the two nipple clamps, while handcuffed to the pear tree... On the fourth day of Christmas my Master gave to me, four probing fingers, three good tugs on the two nipple clamps, while handcuffed to the pear tree... On the fifth day of Christmas my Master gave to me, five vibes that sing... four probing fingers, three good tugs on the two nipple clamps, while handcuffed to the pear tree... On the sixth day of Christmas my Master gave to me, six clitty rings, five vibes that sing... four probing fingers, three good tugs on the two nipple clamps, while handcuffed to the pear tree... On the seventh day of Christmas my Master gave to me, seven paddle whacks, six clitty rings, five vibes that sing... four probing fingers, three good tugs on the two nipple clamps, while handcuffed to the pear tree... On the eighth day of Christmas my Master gave to me, eight whips that crack, seven paddle whacks, six clitty rings, five vibes that sing... four probing fingers, three good tugs on the two nipple clamps, while handcuffed to the pear tree... On the ninth day of Christmas my Master gave to me, nine nasty pinches, eight whips that crack, seven paddle whacks, six clitty rings, five vibes that sing... four probing fingers, three good tugs on the two nipple clamps, while handcuffed to the pear tree... On the tenth day of Christmas my Master gave to me, ten tender touches, nine nasty pinches, eight whips that crack, seven paddle whacks, six clitty rings, five vibes that sing... four probing fingers, three good tugs on the two nipple clamps, while handcuffed to the pear tree... On the eleventh day of Christmas my Master gave to me, eleven loving kisses, ten tender touches, nine nasty pinches, eight whips that crack, seven paddle whacks, six clitty rings, five vibes that sing... four probing fingers, three good tugs on the two nipple clamps, while handcuffed to the pear tree... On the twelfth day of Christmas my Master gave to me, 12 silver chains, eleven loving kisses, ten tender touches, nine nasty pinches, eight whips that crack, seven paddle whacks, six clitty rings, five vibes that sing... four probing fingers, three good tugs on the two nipple clamps, while handcuffed to the pear tree.

To Whom It May Concern: I hereby officially tender my resignation as an adult. I have decided I would like to accept the responsibilities of a 6 year old again. I want to go to McDonald's and think that it's a four star restaurant. I want to sail sticks across a fresh mud puddle and make ripples with rocks. I want to think M&Ms are better than money, because you can eat them. I want to play kickball during recess and paint with watercolors in art. I want to lie under a big Oak tree and run a lemonade stand with my friends on a hot summers' day. I want to return to a time when life was simple. When all you knew were colors, addition tables and simple nursery rhymes, but that didn't bother you, because you didn't know what you didn't know and you didn't care. When all you knew was to be happy because you didn't know all the things that should make you worried and upset. I want to think that the world is in my youth... I matured and I learned too much. I learned of nuclear weapons, war, prejudice, starvation and abused children. I learned of lies, unhappy marriages, suffering, illness, pain and death I learned of a world where men left their families to go and fight for our country, and returned only to end up living on the streets...begging for their next meal. I learned of a world where children knew how to kill ... and did!! What happened to the time when we thought that everyone would live forever, because we didn't grasp the concept of death, when we thought the worst thing in the world was if someone took the jump rope from you or picked you last for kickball? I want to be oblivious to the complexity of life and be overly excited by little things once again. I want to return to the days when reading was fun and music was clean. When television was used to report the news or for family entertainment and not to promote sex, violence and deceit. I remember being naive and thinking that everyone was happy because I was. I would walk on the beach and only think of the sand between my toes and the prettiest seashell I could find. I would spend my afternoons climbing trees and riding my bike. I didn't worry about time, bills or where I was going to find the money to fix my car. I used to wonder what I was going to do or be when I grew up, not worry about what I'll do i this doesn't work out. I want to live simple again I don't want my day to consist of computer crashes, mountains of paperwork, depressing news, how to survive more days in the month than there is money in the bank, doctor bills, gossip, illness and loss of loved ones. I want to believe in the power of smiles, hugs, a kind word, truth, justice, peace, dreams, the imagination, mankind and making angels in the snow. I want to be 6 again.