Last Day of 2008! Happy New Year!)

I know this year has gone by so fast and yet I survived another year with this cancer. Yippeee! I love those I surround myself with and even those I first meet. I look into their eyes as they tell me their stories and I share mine with them. I see so much compassion in their eyes as I tell them with great spirit what I have survived and that their lives are still blessed.

Special Surprises in my posts
I hope you are able to go through my writings / posts and click some of the links to learn more about life or about where I actually was on that particular day. I will continue to do so with photos and sometimes you may click those photos as you a get a close up, then its your photo to keep.

Burning Man (what I learned and great memories)

Now I know this year has not been an easy year for many but you must remember to be strong and at least be thankful to have loved ones in your life, families, friends, and perhaps your health. My health sucks most of the time, but I'm still thankful. I can see the sun come up each day, cherish my beautiful dog and husband, and all the that life has to offer me. I could always be worse off.

Money does not make you complete. Back in the old days, many got by hard times just bartering with what they already had and I learned this even better when I got to experience Burning man nearly 10 years ago (1999).

Money was not allowed to be exchanged here and everyone basically traded or bartered services or things of value (not money). I brought some of my Palmistry and Handwriting Analysis books and my Geometry protractor (to measure the angles of letters), plenty of sunscreen, some vitamin E spray for the skin, and even some body paint; all to trade for drinks, food, or even unique jewelry, artwork, or what ever I might need at the moment. There was quite a demand for my palmistry and handwriting analysis skills; it was cool to immense myself with a subject that I hadn't studied in a few years, but still remembered most. I had learned Handwriting Analysis and/or studied it mostly because of my mom who taught me a few things and then I got the books to learn more. This is what got me by for 5 days in Black Rock Desert, Nevada.

      

Granted Burning Man was very fun and it was a photographer's dream. There was so much art all over the place. I got to see some very interesting things like paintings, unique paper sculptures (most of which would be burned after the man), people were painted, some even relaxing on motorized couches that drove them all over the desert and I even got to ride on one of those couches one night. I also got to see many strangers riding their bikes through the desert at night. Now these weren't ordinary bikes and many were tricked out. The ones I really remember had these neon lights on them where all you could see was a rabbit, a coyote, and a mustang shaped lights that actually moved on these bikes. It really appeared like a red lit up horse and coyote was running and the rabbit hopped across the desert floor. Very, very cool!

Of course there were many who indulged with drugs and of course I chose to be naive and not really caring what others were on. I just enjoyed the moments; soaking in all the views and sounds all around me. True I have never tried any chemical drugs other than chemo and many prescribed pain killers; I just kept it simple and stuck with good old dependable cannabis as my sacrament. I honestly don't and never really did consider cannabis as a dangerous drug. It's a natural growing plant.

I have heard of others going to Burning Man over these past couple of years & that Burning Man has gotten more and more corporate with tons of security and instead of the $60-$70? I paid for my ticket; the price has gotten higher than $200-$300 (maybe even higher). We didn't even need security when I went. Everyone was incredibly peaceful and meant no harm to anyone. We all just got along (all 23,000 of us). Another great memory never forgotten and thankful to have experienced!)

Enough about Burning Man as it was an excellent experience for me. So how is my health lately? Still having some problems with light blockages which sometimes get to be painful; but I did start this new sort of detox involving a Quart of tepid (slightly warmer than luke warm) tepid warm water with 2 level teaspoons of sea salt. It's been working OK and I kind of feel that it was what helped me go when we went out of town for a few days. I had a small blockage when we got back and now it's just working it way out.

Salt Water Flush or Purge?



Please feel free to check it out for yourself.

http://www.richardabowen.com/id2.html

It's very interesting as it deals with cleaning your body out with the normal amount of salt that is in your bloodstream, in swear and in tears. Let's hope and see if this works out for me. I would love to take a break from that Prune Juice and Miralax!


Today I got the opportunity to see Marley and Me with a good friend of mine with her dog Poodah, and Blue Belle. Our dogs were so incredibly good (better behaved than most of the children we saw). Both of our dogs are our children, and they give us unconditional love and therapy. They are our service dogs and the theater allowed us with out too much question bring them in to watch the movie. It was a great movie; perfect for dates, but not for young families with younger kids. It's way too dramatic and perhaps parents taking older kids who need the experience of how to deal with a pet death perhaps or have already experienced. We cried and cried at the very end and it was sad to see parents and kids crying like crazy at the end too. Not so sure those parents were happy to see that film. We loved it as girls who kinda just needed a good cry. When we had lunch, I chose to have a very dark microbrewed beer and I even got ID'ed. How cool is that and I had just bawed my eyes out and still got ID'ed!)

Well yesterday, I did get to take Miss Blue Belle with me to see the movie Milk. I had heard from many friends that this was a very good movie and after seeing it; it really opened my eyes to many things that gays are often ridiculed for. I can't believe how people can be so cruel and judgmental.

I have many friends here in CA and other places that happen to be gay. Many I know; have hearts of gold. I have always lived by the rule "He who has not sinned; cast the first stone". In other words; none of us are perfect enough to ostracize anyone or them. I accept people for who they are; in their heart and their conscious to do the right thing. Are they greedy and self centered? and if they are; I don't necessarily trust them to do the right things in life unless they can prove to me otherwise.

UPDATE: Speaking of dealing with a pet death. Well, just a few hours ago I got a very frantic call from my neighbor's daughter; they had to put their dog down today. Poor Old Zooey. May she rest in peace. I'm not sure how Miss Blue Belle will take it that one of her best friends is now up in heaven. She seemed to do OK with Toonces gone; but then again they didn't always see eye to eye.

I sincerely hope that this will be a better year than what the stupid media is trying to make us believe. I hope none of you are spending any time worrying rather than treasuring the moment you are given. It's up to us to have a better year. Don't be a victim; be in charge of your own destiny. Peace & Love to all!)