Spent yesterday sleeping in! And my husband was home too, so we spent time together. We got up late, and I said, "Let's use this 20% off Lunch at Rubio's coupon." So we did, then DH DS and I went to Costco to pick up subscriptions, met a friend there with a son my son's age and they played, it was nice. Then headed home to straighten for Lore Night. I only had a little time to do that before my friend S came by to pick me up to go help her with cleansing a house. Seems this couple has twin babies who are waking screaming in the night and they have noticed a lot of things. Spending a bit of time there it seemed to me that they have some troublesome fae for sure and perhaps a few ghosts. Definitely some things happened in that house that wasn't good. Smudged, protected, banishing pentagrams, salt, and then I spoke to the Fae and told them to shape up or I'd sick Nan on them. LOL
Spoke to the homeowners about cleansing with intent, about doing a banishing pentagram (they were pagan-friendly) and that if they still had problems we'd come back and do some more stuff. The house felt lighter after we were done. They just need to put out some shiny sparkly things for the fairies and they'll play with that instead of stealing keys.
We had people over for Lore Night- nice group, we went over the Havamal and we are ready to begin with The Elder Troth book and study guide next month. I need to type up what the requirements are and the book so that they know what to find/buy to complete the materials. Had a really nice visit with a friend, too.

Sookie and Bill right now!!!

http://www.couragecampaign.org/page/s/RepealDADT

Lt. Dan Choi is being fired from the military for refusing to lie about who he loves
Help him keep fighting by signing this letter to Speaker Pelosi asking her to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

Your support for Dan has been amazing. 162,741 people signed Lt. Choi's letter to the Army. And, a few weeks ago, 141,262 people signed Lt. Choi's letter to President Obama. Combined, more than 300,000 signatures were collected on Lt. Choi's behalf and were submitted as "Exhibit E: Courage Campaign" to the Army.

Dan is not giving up and needs your help to keep on fighting. Please join Lt. Choi, the Courage Campaign, Knights Out and the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network in signing this letter to Speaker Pelosi.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi:

We, the undersigned, urge you to make "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" a priority and publicly support the Military Readiness Enhancement Act (HR 1283) -- legislation that would repeal DADT and replace it with a policy of nondiscrimination.

Lt. Dan Choi, a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, an Iraq War veteran, Arabic translator and California native, is a capable soldier and leader who could continue to play a vital role in this time of war. His firing is a symbol of all that is wrong with this policy.

Both the Senate Majority Leader and President Obama have spoken publicly about the need to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell". Speaker Pelosi -- your voice and your leadership is needed at this crucial time.

We call on you to make the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" a priority in Congress. We cannot afford to lose any more talented soldiers critical to our national security.

Sincerely,

98,331 people have signed this letter as of Tuesday, July 7, 3:24 p.m. PT.
Please help Lt. Choi by adding your name now:

I am so tired. Really. I cannot figure out why either. I could not really do much other than get up eat and do email. I did spend some time on our Kindred's bylaws on the speakerphone with Nan, so they are getting shaped up. I just need to get some stuff done and I have absolutely no energy. *thud*

I need to get off the bed with the laptop or the house won't be ready for company in a few hours. Wish I could figure out why I am so sleepy. I should be recovered from the flight and trip by now. Seriously. And I didn't find any ticks either.
It doesn't help that Lucky is cuddled with me projecting sleep vibes. Heh.

More to come, we had fun, John (hubby) won the mead competition with his Raspberry Mead. It was fun and I got to meet a lot of great Heathens. I really want to go to MInnesota next year and hopefully fly out there. :)

Packing and packing. Hoping I get it all into a suitcase, a roll on and a backpack. I will probably have to pay them some money for going over weight with the bag, too. *sigh*.
I'll try and journal but not sure if I will be able to do much; no wifi there, I'm sure.

Piccy goodness will come though. :)

Why do I procrastinate? I meant to get clothes packed and an extra shift sewn yesterday. Nope, so today I'm going to see if I can do some sewing. I can make a t-tunic pretty easily. But I also have to talk to the insurance company, about business insurance for a vending gig, and then I need to make sure I have everything packed, some money for the trip. Just so many things to do today. Thank goodness the plane leaves late tonight. I have today to do them. Then I'm off to Trothmoot in Virginia. Wish my family was going with me though, my kindred and my husband and kids. Maybe next year in Minnesota. I'm struggling to figure out what to pack. I don't do well with hot weather but it's supposed to be humid and rainy. I'll ponder it a bit this morning.

Today we had our meeting and got the bylaws approved. AND a new Board member to be in charge of membership and the VP! WOOT! She decided she'd like to do that when we read the job description. Woo hoo!

We now have bylaws for our organization. Next to write the budget, and submit non profit paperwork for the state of California, then on to 501(c)3 status we come!

My husband thinks I should get a ticket to VA to go to Trothmoot. He thinks we can afford for just me to go. I just hate spending all that money on a trip he can't come with me on, to VA, which is where his family lives. His mom could care less about seeing me, yanno? *sigh*

They are doing a remake of the Sci-Fi series "V". And it looks pretty good!

http://www.thrfeed.com

thanks to herbmcsidhe for the link...

I meant to post this sooner... unpacking has kept me busy! Forgive me the spelling errors if there are any- my spell checker got happy with me at some point..


I'll post the words I put onto paper to refer to, after the article. Let me state that I began my "faith sharing" part by telling them that while I was a Wiccan Elder Priestess, I was still studying Asatru, and "that I can have two faith traditions because my gods aren't jealous of one another, much." (the program had me listed as "Elder Priestess Lisa Morgenstern".)
So I'm not thrilled how it was put in the paper, but still, the Old Man got some press. As usual, I had yet another person come up to me afterwards and express interest in Asatru, because their family was ____ . (In this case, Norwegian). Because the AV Press only keeps their articles online for a week, I'm going to post you the text, but if you go to the page there is a photo, not of me though.
--
Lisa Morgenstern
President Antelope Valley Interfaith Council
Member, AV Human Relations Hate Crimes Task Force
Southern CA Steward, The Troth

http://www.avpress.com/n/08/0508_s3.hts

Valley's many faiths offer many prayers

This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press
Friday, May 8, 2009.
By CHARLES F. BOSTWICK
Valley Press Managing Editor
LANCASTER - A song in Hebrew by a young resistance fighter executed in World War II, Nichiren Shu Buddhism and Bhakti yoga chants, a prayer to Odin, and "America, the Beautiful" and "How Great Thou Art" were part of the Antelope Valley Interfaith Council's sixth annual National Day of Prayer Service.
"Out of Many Faiths Come Many Prayers" was the theme for the service, which featured Unitarian-Universalist, Asatru, Christian Science, Nichiren Shu Buddhism, Revealing Truth and Bhakti yoga prayers and readings - asking for courage and compassion, for leaders who serve the people and enact fair laws, and for help to become better human beings.

"I enjoy hearing all the different faith traditions," said Wiccan Elder Priestess Lisa Morgenstern, who offered a prayer to Odin at the gathering, which drew about 60 people to the Center of Light and which was co-sponsored by the Antelope Valley Human Relations Task Force.

Rabbi David Hoffman of Beth Knesset Bamidbar in Lancaster sang, in Hebrew, a poem by Hannah Szenes, who parachuted into Nazi-occupied Europe in 1944 to rescue Jews about to be deported to a death camp. She was captured, tortured and executed at age 23.

"Oh God, may these things never cease: the sand and the sea, the rush of the waters, the flash in the heavens, the prayer in humanity's heart," Hoffman translated.

The participants joined pianist Carol Selmser and vocalist Margaret Seal in singing "America, the Beautiful." Seal later sang "Make Me a Channel of Your Peace," with words attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi, and Selmser performed the hymn "How Great Thou Art."

Keynote speaker Norman Shoaf, author of "Random Epiphanies" and a former Antelope Valley Press religion editor, suggested to the audience that no religion has an exclusive ownership of truth.

Calling his talk "confessions of an ex-exclusivist," Shoaf said his attitude had been "me and God."

"It's one that isolates you from everyone else," Shoaf said. "I came out of an extreme corner of faith."

"Isn't the measure of religion what you do and not how well you argue or how short you wear your skirts or how you wear your beard?" he asked.

"Maybe faith is less a battleground and more of a buffet," Shoaf said, offering as an analogy the different kinds of laundry detergent that line supermarket shelves: "You want to know a secret? All those detergents on all those shelves will get your clothes clean."

Referring to a New Testament verse, Shoaf said, "Anyone who gives a cup of cold water to one who is thirsty is not going to lose his or her reward."

The audience responded to Shoaf's talk with a standing ovation.

The Rev. Richard Heredia-Price of the Church of St. Thomas read President Barack Obama's proclamation: "Throughout our nation's history, Americans have come together in moments of great challenge and uncertainty to humble themselves in prayer. In 1775, as the Continental Congress began the task of forging a new nation, colonists were asked to observe a day of quiet humiliation and prayer. Almost a century later, as the flames of the Civil War burned from north to south, President Lincoln and the Congress once again asked the American people to pray as the fate of their nation hung in the balance.

"Let us remember those who came before us, and let us each give thanks for the courage and compassion shown by so many in this country and around the world."

cbostwick@avpress.com
-------

My faith sharing- "Prayer"

In the old days, the Norse were governed by an All-Thing. The Thing was the way that disputes were settled, and it was a form of democratic practice..
The Havamal, the Sayings of Har, or Words of Odin, teaches about the importance of being a proper host, or a proper guest in the hall of another. There are teachings on knowing when to speak, and when not to speak. Teachings I still study and struggle with, today. There is also advice about giving gifts, and I would like to thank you all for the gift of your presence, to hear as I share this evening.


I offer a prayer in the Norse Tradition of the Asatruar:

Odin! One-Eye! All Father! Wisdom Seeker, Tree Rider,
Rune Giver!
You see all from your throne, Hjildskalf;
Grant that our officials will serve the people and guide us in the creation of fair laws to govern us.
As we fare forth, let us go in the spirit of Frith, (Peace) and learn from one another. Odin, you teach us to seek wisdom in many places, help our public servants to follow your example as they do their work in our community. As our community goes, so goes the rest of the world, and the country.
Hail Odin!
Hail America!

(I actually had a few pagans in the audience along with my husband who gave me a "Hail" back. Yay.)

I woke up today, as I have for the past couple of days, with a headache. I think it's a combination of sensitivity to the chemicals they cleaned all our stuff with, and the incredibly bright light in our bedroom because we have NO blinds in there yet. The construction fellows took our shades off and did not put them back, and we are trying to unpack etc and have not been able to do that yet. It sucks. There is just so much to do I am overwhelmed. Today I have enough pain in my head that I was nauseous and had to take something along with a muscle relaxer. Thank goodness the living room is dark. I am ensconced on the couch under a blanket because I am cold (yeah maybe I am sick) and trying to rest. The pain goes away mostly when I close my eyes. Tried to eat something and couldn't... though the cereal and carb countdown milk this am did stay down. Trying a Diet coke to see if the caffeine in it will help a bit with the headache and then back to the couch. Some mother's day, huh? :(

Wrote this article for our AV Interfaith Council Newsletter:

Blessings of the Spring Season!
April 5th, 2009 by Lisa
As we move from Spring towards Summer, we think of the seeds we have planted that will sprout and grow in the coming growing season. What seeds have you planted? What do you plan to harvest from life in the fall? Plants grow with nurturing, so plan to nurture your soul with us at the National Day of Prayer service we are holding this May. Our services nurture and feed the spirit and soul of all faith traditions, in inclusive manner. We work together for common goals and take pride in our diversity and celebrate it. Our country was founded on precepts of religious freedom by settlers trying to escape religious intolerance. Here in our valley, we celebrate our differences by partnering with the Antelope Valley Human Relations Hate Crimes Task Force in presenting a program where all faiths can pray for our elected officials in their own manner. And we can learn from each other’s differences, just how alike we really are.


I have found many things to keep me interested in Interfaith, but that is one of the main reasons I continue. Because by learning about one another, we can understand each other, and learn to love one another not to fear people who are different. Fear leads to hate, and from unreasoning fear and hatred leads to crime and acts of violence.

One thing that I used to be afraid of was the term “interfaith”. I felt that it meant that all faiths were going to be “mashed together” to become one big religion. Not at all! Interfaith, is about maintaining your own diverse beliefs, and getting to know about other’s beliefs, in a non proselytizing environment of acceptance, not simply tolerance veiled with disgust. While our opening and closing prayer should and will be inclusive, we have diverse faith sharings at our services where various faiths offer prayers in their own faith tradition, unchanged or edited, except for common courtesy. So a Muslim may pray in the name of Allah, a Christian “in Jesus’s name” and an Asatruar can “Hail Odin” without fear of reprisal or recrimination. Our council is a group of religious leaders, clergy and lay, who work together and celebrate our differences in order to improve our Valley. And as goes our Valley and our homes, so goes the rest of the world. May we learn to live with one another in peace and harmony to celebrate the bounty that the Divine has given to all of us in nature.

Lisa Morgenstern
President

I managed to pull something in my left-low back yesterday frantically moving stuff for the coven and for the restoration company who is delivering my garage today. *Hurts* to move, to sit. I'm used to pain in the right low back, this side is new and painful. Naproxen did nothing for it last night. And I'm out of Soma. Dang it. Limping around today, I guess.

Trying to plan to go with some friends. I can't do Thursday night midnight- Friday evening is the plan, with some friends. Anyone else going in Lancaster?

WOOT!!!!!!


True Blood Season 2 Trailer

so today's the day that our cable phone, internet and well., cable, gets hooked up. Hope it works out OK! And I also hope that I remember to call Verizon and Socal Edison and cancel here at the rental. Busy busy busy. We slept in our house fr the first night tonight. Yay.

Hope to be online later but don't hold your breath; I have so many things to do at home still. And we aren't done packing the temple. I have to stay home and wait for the cable guy this morning.

So we are back to the old house in another day or so; or whenever they bring us our bed-linens. We are dealing with the restoration company. Their foreman is the woman who made all sorts of comments about the mess in the house previously. And you know something, I am going to stand up to her I think. It's just that when she makes such rude comments in her high pitched sweet voice, you sort of are shocked to hear it!
It's just super super stressful and I don't have enough hours in the day to do it all :(

Need positive thoughts please for this move. I am wrung out like a dishrag.

I spent yesterday with our SCA Barony, Dun Or, in Lancaster City Park for the Poppy Festival. Normally I sell quite a bit there. This year, not so much. Usually Saturday is busier than Sunday. I think I need to change the layout of the booth a bit to draw people over to it. We usually have a big table with armor on it but the armor is all in storage. :( I am demo'ing my lucet for folks and apologizing to regulars who want stuff I don't have becasue I have not been able to afford to restock. How frustrating. I need to wash my hair and head back out there ASAP, so need to sign off for now.Next year they are saying they will hold this festival at the Fairgrounds. I wonder if the SCA will come and do it again. Our space has gotten smaller and smaller each year, and it seems that not a lot of the Barony has come out to support the demo so far. We only have three pavilions and an eric. We used to have a lot more participation. But there's a demo in Long Beach the same weekend AND Pentathalon. Still, sales are way down this year.

They have a cool display of airplanes from Boeing and Northrup and a museum in Chico brought a gun turret! And there are dinosaurs on display too...

Just heard from the Merchant Steward at Potrero that they are full. So my application didn't get in early enough. I'm sooo bummed out about this. Really-really. I was planning to go and have a blast. Now that we are down to the wire in our move in, funds are at an all time low, or stretched to the limit. I'm quite upset about this. I'll get over it. But the thing is, if we aren't vending, we simply cannot afford to go and pay out of pocket because it's not a write off then... So we don't get to go. :( I mean, it's the difference between buying a washer and dryer, or not... really.

What's worse is, the friends who were going with me, who got time off to go; are hosed now. I feel rotten.

Bummer.