A Course in Miracles Monk

Links to previous Grottos:

Grotto #1: We Came, We Drank, We Got Saved

Grotto #2: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years 2009

Good morning Monk.

Welcome home, Monk! I guess you noticed we filled up the 2nd grotto while you were out. You don’t need to look at what’s happening in there now, because we aren’t doing anything – it’s just the raccoons. We’ll see you later. Hope your hike to the top of the mountain reigned glory on your heart. Love, Katrina

Good morning Monk! Welcome home, a big hug, Lisi

Wait till Tex/Can sees that kitty…she is gonna flip!

Great photo, really captures the essence of the grotto shenanigans. It’s good their knee pads aren’t showing. Katarina you have been wonderfully playful lately…I just want you to know I had joined in on the toe tapping you started a few days ago and even though the monk has returned I can’t seem to stop!

Happy Saturday everyone…or Sunday for our down under friends.

Hugs, Annie

aha ! now we know who took the lasagne ! and put the pie on the chair no doubt….good work Catrina….

Welcome home Monk….

Happy Saturday to you Annie… and ditto about the toe tapping

love to all xoxoxoxo

Hey, hey… we’ve got a new sista in da house…. undercover…

I ain’t givin’ up nuttin’… (ahem… meet me later behind the treehouse….)

Ya’ll!
I was trying to be all serious up in here!
And now the Cat pic ~ lol ~

Winnie, I never thanked you for the heart felt prayer on behalf of The Pittsburgh Steelers. They won that game, but I forgot to mention that other teams had to lose in order for them to get in the playoffs. Us Steeler fans are kind of lost, we are used to being in the playoffs every year. So, I am rooting for the Dallas Cowboys because monk loves them like I love my Steelers. You might say one of those special tree house prayers for them, they are playing tonight. I think they are going to be the Superbowl champs, and I’m not kissing the bosses but. :)

“somebody has been lighting cigars with the votive candles again….”

and someone has been lapping , yes lapping, the holy water too -- dang raccoons and puddy tats ..

……

Dear God,
please please pretty please will you let the Dallas Cowboys win tonight and if you do i promise not to eat lollies for at least a day, which is very big of me AND i will let the small monks have the run of the Treehouse for two solid weeks

your very special friend

W.W.

httpv://img189.imageshack.us/img189/7269/sharonlarrysteelers.jpg

Katrina…the raccoon pic is hilarious. Thanks for giving me a big laugh. What pops
into the head is the song, Rocky Raccoon. But these masked creatures look like they might be Cowboy fans. Put cowboy hats on them and what have you got? The Lone Rangers!

Rocky and Ranger went out to the football game.
Seems they were shadowed by a stranger without a name.
When they yelled “first and ten,” the stranger yelled, “jump ball!”
“Let’s lose him,” said Rocky, “he doesn’t know this game at all.”

The stranger continued to get on their nerves.
He scampered and bolted when he should have swerved.
He ate all the popcorn and hot dogs from under the seats,
and made a spectacle of himself, got tangled among the cheerleaders’ feet.

Rocky and Ranger were having pretty good antics,
Till the stadium police fingered them as bandits.
That’s when the cheerleader came rushing up with the stranger,
“I’ll take them, Officer, they’re kin to my new retriever.”

Some days it’s a good thing to be flexible.

Catnip? Today’s reading brought up the development of Trust. Now, we’re talking catnip? Is that catnip vs. trust, or will an increase in catnibinoids engender trust. You be the judge — oh, wait — let’s just look and ask for guidance.

Don’t look now but I think someone has nabbed my pink bunny ears…

Mother, I need Help! It says: 5. Paste the DIRECT LINK TO IMAGE address into the proper field here at the Cloister. (i.e. Paste it in the blank field that appears after you click: “Add an image to your whisper by clicking here.”) Help! I never get a blank field, after clicking add whisper. I am sure it is something easy I am missing, but for the life of me I don’t know what.

This is why I don’t have a gallery yet. If anyone wold like to met my family, you can left click the address in #28, and if you would like to see my wife Shron and I left click address in #19. I thank you for your spport.

God bless us everyone

The result should be that your whisper now has a line in it that looks like this: Note the ‘img’ and ‘/img’ in brackets on either end…

And THEN you click “Submit Whisper”

I tried this last night but the connection went out again. Seems to be working now.

:::grinning a grin::::

Lawrence, loved the picture of your children. There is a certain depth that Corey exudes that invites knowing. Beautiful family.

Lawrence, what a beautiful family!! It is so nice to see you all. Many hugs, DD.

(sounds of cupboards opening and closing…..Pots and pans rattling…..glasses clinking…..corks popping…..tea kettle whisling…….oven doors opening and closing…)all done with so much Love.
{{♥♥}}

{{{DonnaD}}}

:::read MoM’s whisper…burst out laughing:::

Dust be diamonds, water be wine,
Happy, happy, happy, all the time, time, time.
from Beautiful Day

What a joyful evening for the Monastery. Purpose is everything, and this relationship has been dedicated to His purpose. Love, Katrina

Mine too,Katrina…. Joy Rising.
My heart is so full.

Suggestion: watch above video with sound off, and only the whirling parts, maybe? (I do not really know Mr. Osho – nor promote the included meditation advertising. He’s probably an ok guy, probably just wants to be Home with God, just like me.)

Yes M♥M NOW is the time! Soups ON!
Let’s Par-tay!
Just a little advice. Better to twirl earlier than later.
(But you knew that)
And Katrina I thought what he said was great.

I tried watching the twirling video with my eyes crossed and it worked perfectly. As planned, I got dizzy, fell back down on my chair and puked. Twirling mission accomplished… except that I think I may have been missing something really important about it. I am going to try it again, with more concentration next time.

So now for that drink.

Well, M♥M, I am glad that you got that out of the way……
Now on to the important things.
How do you do the chicken dance,anyway???

No idea, Ruth-Anne… I’ve never been actually aware while doing the chicken dance. You?

Nope. Apparently not.
Ok Forget that.
Here’s to Jamie and Bonnie. May we all have such a Love.

Here! Here! — to Jamie and Bonnie — and to a love as Great for all of us. {Down the hatch, wipes mouth with back of hand} Gruff.

Am I twirling or is it just me?

Gotta get my ‘crime gear’ on and see if I can go interview Dreamy… this will be touchy..

Can I have a puff off of that cigar? I don’t smoke but…I dunno…..
Just looks good….

Sure (hack, hack) – I’ve had enough for tonight.. been chain-puffing with all the excitement.. I nearly singed my nose there on that last one.

G♥♥d Night

Night, Ruth-Anne, love you

Yes I did a bit of the ’splits & twirling’ myself yesterday, didn’t I LaAnnie?!! – I am so glad the sadness of my Mom’s passing had diminished by the time I came here to the Monastery to see that Jamie and Bonnie were getting married.. Then yep – way the other way into extreme happiness!! All in all a fairly normal day for Mother…

Loves,
M.

Ah, well, on the Dreamy interview thing.. you see, I wasn’t able to get that close… you see apparently I miscalculated the ability of sound to travel up there on the mountain, and apparently Rusty, the horse, heard me crouching behind a big rock, stirred up the others and before I knew it I was surrounded by 3 dogs, two horses, two raccoons and one very large CAT. Luckily I had food in my pockets (maybe that was the give-away) and was able to bribe my way out of there…I barely got out alive.

Will try again tonight.

Mother

Well, MoM, if we can’t get an inside scoop story about the wedding, we can always read about your adventures in TRYING to get the inside scoop. Laughed alot…. Hugs to you. DD.

I just got a flip video hd
I can’t name everyone!

Wahooo!!! Hello Texas!!!

Tex! So fun to see and hear you! You are a natural!

Hi Anne/ Tex,

We really should baptize you with a different name. But that withstanding, just wanted to say I love your video. More… more… more

Worse, it’s a Texas accent…It really comes out when I get a little nervous….
You can take the Canadian out of Texas…
Thanks yaaaaaa’ll!
PS Texas really isn’t in “The South” – the accent is totally different, eh?

Dear TexAnne:
Loved your video. Thanks so much for making this place come alive :)
Love,
Anil

Oh TexAnne, what a difference it makes to hear your voice. The sound of my PC has gone fro some days, and i so wanted to see and hear this. Lovely kind warm voice that I immediately trust xoxoxo

Anne/Texas,

Your video is just wonderful!!!!!! It makes me smile so much!!!!!!

sweet and happy

hope this is just the first of your art-video series

Love,
Roberta

Received this in an email today, thought it was cute:

CALMNESS IN OUR LIVES

Pass this on to those whom you think might be in need of inner peace.

Yep – I’m guessin I need to finish him off too, huh. {;-)

I heard the guys talking about football
Watching the Dallas Cowboys.
Today in the store I saw some cupcakes -
They said “5 inch cupcakes” but the letters were too close together
So it looked like it said “5in cupcakes.”
Better finish them off, too!

I never decorate a cake with anything else… but Cowboys.

Save a horse, ride a cowboy? {That’s a song} Now that’s true blue Texas, right there….

Seems she’d saved a few horses in her early days….

Save a horse, ride a cowboy. Right. I wonder which you’d find first at a Course study group, a horse or a cowboy?

you are so funny Mother :) lol!
btw thank you for posting that email about finishing stuff…. gonna copy it and send it to my friends xoxoxooxoxo

lol ! oh TexAnneCan I just love you to bits ! about halfway through i thought hey wait a minute where`s that Texan accent and twigged you were lip-syncing and just when i was thinking what a good voice you had too … Thank you for the joy you bring xoxoxoxo

TexAnneCan…this is the Best! I love it! You are so good to us to film you in action…in traffic, no less. You give the Monastery so much levity!!! So glad you
got the Flip!!! We want more. P.S. Do you take requests? Such as Beer Barrel Polka?

Hugs and Laughter!!!

Texas!!! That’s terrific!!! More! More!

Tex/Ann/Can:

When is next one coming????? Too cute, not just the videos, you are so cute!!!!!

Roberta

Thanks, Texas!!! You’re great!! What a way to start a day… perfect cup of coffee (made by DH) and an “Oh Johnny” vidjo by TX. Hmmm – life is good.

Oh Tex-Ann-Can, this makes me want to ask you to swing by in your pickup truck and let me ride around with you.

*blushing* big time!
Thanks ya’ll!
(And Nina – TWO dimples!)

I need to do some serious catching up…Loving all the levity… the flip video has inspired you ms anne/tx/can !!!! and you are using it with such creativity and spreading joy across state lines, oceans and generations! Mother was right that needed to be shared. Looks like the requests are lining up …next closeup to include both dimples :)

Yoohoo Lisa ! whatcha cooking o mighty and bold italicist :)…..How about Pomegranate Lentil Soup ? what ? it`s a fair dinkum recipe…. i just found it online…no you`re right it doesnt sound that appetizing…

My grandson is staying with me at the moment…. We play a lot of Scrabble… he is usually very good but sometimes he starts that caper that is the bane of all earnest scrabble players` ears ->
“Is sleeg a word, how about faf or feg ……Are you sure they`re not winnie… How about meaune…..”

Here I’ll help. May I add some wild rice?

And when your done I’ll do your neck and shoulders O.K.

I bake bread. I was thinking my grandmother’s grahm bread recipe would work well. A nice brown bread. How many loaves 4 or 6?

I think it’s just about ready. How nice to have a bowl of warm soup and then have a nice rest. (yawn) night, night, all…

winnie, a variety of Scrabble we do in our family is to really go for it in creating new words. And we allow it if everybody agree that that is a very good new word…like Grahm, of course – this is the original word of grandmothers, the mother of all “grandmother” – was invented in the inner realms of Nebraska in the 1200ds, if I am not mistaken. Very old and distinguished.
Oh it is so annoying to sleep while you are having such great time in the grotto. I hope there’s still some soup left in the kitchen, this is my kind of food – love the herbs – winnie, you might give us the recipy -
love from Nina who is awake almost all alone, well,together with at least Lawrence and Bernie…And Hedda …any other awake out there in my time zone?

Oh my gosh this soup is SO good. And I am ravenous. And the bread is delicious too. Chicken soup is good for the soul. Especially when made with so much love by such beautiful caring monklings. Thank-you. All of you. For the food and the kindness and the candles and the Love that is shown here.
I have today off, finally,(ended up working yesterday) and get to listen to Jamie’s class and catch up a little on the past couple of weeks. I am so glad to be here.
Again, thank-you so very much for everything. {{{big hugs}}}
But first I am going to have another bowl of soup.

Winnie ,I spelt it wrong ‘graham’ and if you add flour You find it. Though not avaliable in all countries.Wiki is interesting, it’s “holy” :) flour invented by a Rev. Sylvester Graham. But i like your line of reasoning better it’s more ‘comfey’ feeling.

Nina, I like your use of grahm for scrabble. Wonderful inventivness.

Hey there’s plenty of soup and bread left for another meal. How about cheesecake for dessert? I made plenty of sauces to top it with. Chocolate, strawberry, carmel, blueberry, sweet cherry and lemon. If thats to rich there is a plate of orange butter print cookies on the table by the hot tub. Thats where I’m going to hang out and hide until the ice storm thats about to hit here blows over. :)

“Purpose unites us. See this and the end of hell is near.”
Quote unquote. ‘Zat count?
(I joke)

Yummmm….leftover soup is the best. Lisa and Pam and Winnie made such a perfect blend eh Nina? Loving this bread toasted Pam.

My tummy feels just right now.
Glad to hear you’ve had a restful day Ruth-Anne.

Winnie~

Hello darling! I was watching you watch the sunrise at our new monastery. Big snuggie hugs back and whoopie, we’ll add playing scrabble to our someday itineary ok?
♥♥♥xox♥♥♥

No cheesecake? Howz about some Dreamy Ice Creamy?

Awesome vidjo, TX… and how true, our projections can look like any old thing at all, can’t they.

{Goes back to replace literature in men’s with Ken Wapnick books… that’ll fix em}

Next morning 4:00 am Screams can be heard all over Monastery coming from Old Monk’s building. No it wasn’t the spiders, no it wasn’t the pepper, and definitely NOT the Richard Simmons DVD (they loved it). It was the Wapnick literature in the men’s.

oh you cruel wonderful mother you (laying on floor, kicking helplessly, peeing in pants, crying/laughing especially the image of them enjoying Richard Simmons for gossake!!!In their robes, yeah!
did I post it here or did I just dream it – it’s a video called the funniest video in the world, where there is an improvisation, theatre sport I think, where some guys are improvising and one little one is Richard Simmons – if i didn’t post it, that video for sure will help the maybe serious seriousness in the grotto(no we caant have thaat Mommy)

-so did I post it? no? nO?

Nina, yes you did. It was soooo funny. I have shared that video with a number of friends. Maybe we need a room just for screening videos so we don’t lose sight of them. There have been so many good ones. DD.

Dear Loverly Laedies of the Grotto ~

I’ve been in such a stinky place
ere these several weeks.
Have tried and tried to lighten up
the anger on my face.

Even Jesus, the man of grins
hadn’t made a dent
So he turned to humor
of a British bent
And with this song he wins.

If any one is feeling sad
depressed or suicidal,
Cast off your woes,
wiggle your toes
and sing with Eric Idle . . . .

{yawns} well i think i might skedaddle back to bed….. love to all !

here’s the Orrfugler (Black grouses) I mentioned in the Monklings day and night-room…

ahem…for those who doesn’t see the relevance of black grouses love-play…I watched the kookaburra sing and laugh at the Monklings-room, and said it reminded me a bit of this guy here…

ah, and the two grouse-guys are so pissed when the lady is absent – like why should they spend all that energy when there’s no-one there to admire it.. – like, where IS the audience?
little do they know of the fame in the movies…
and nightnight,it’s 12am here

Very cute to see these two grouse dudes fighting!! Maybe they’re trying to the get blood & guts over with before the ladies show up… the one that can still walk gets all the girls!! (Sounds a bit like our neighborhood bars at 11: o’clock….)

Ah yes….Another forgiveness opp. Looks like my posts are going to be out in the ethers again for awhile. Oh well I can catch up a little. I’ll just grab a little of this pomegranate looking stuff and look out from the treehouse for awhile. There is ALWAYS something good to eat there too. And I found a way to keep the kookaburras quiet so me and Winnie can sleep in for a change.

Oh yes but before I lay me down to sleep…one more thing.
(((((Cordelia}}}}}

NOT too much seriousness I meant. NOT.

Nina, this reminded me so much of the time I took my grandson, when he was very small, to IMAX for this movie. It was so wonderful and we had the greatest time. I remember him snuggling under my arm so that he would feel safe while watching it. Thanks for bringing back such a loving memory. Hugs, DD.

Hi Nina, I’m right there with you all snuggled up. I just got ready for my nap so perfect timing. Sweet dreams my friend. I will sing silent night for us.

Puked threw up all day…
Very very bad day.
I’ve got a book we can burn to keep us warm.
Maybe then it will bring some light.
Pretty dramatic, aren’t I? ;)
Sorry I’m not good company tonight.
Just a very very bad day, eh?

{{{{{♥♥♥TexAnneCan♥♥♥}}}}}

Hi Everyone! Texas, I’m sorry you’re not feeling well. But I do have to say that due to your amazing film making abilities and excellent song choice, I’ve been on an Audioslave kick! I’ve been listening to them a lot recently.

So, I’ll add a little song for you all. It’s one of my favorites. Their songs can be a bit heavy, so I hope this will be enjoyable rather than a downer.

But how can it be a downer, really, when you’re watching Chris Cornell…sigh.

And is that our very own dazzling Pool Boy on the drums???

Oh, and check out the bassist’s tattooed shoulders…too cool.

And the lyrics for Al. I’m missing having her around.

Like a Stone

on a cobweb afternoon
in a room full of emptiness
by a freeway i confess
i was lost in the pages
of a book full of death
reading how we’ll die alone
and if we’re good we’ll lay to rest
anywhere we want to go

(chorus)
in your house i long to be
room by room patiently
i’ll wait for you there
like a stone i’ll wait for you there
alone

on my deathbed i will pray
to the gods and the angels
like a pagan to anyone
who will take me to heaven
to a place i recall
i was there so long ago
the sky was bruised
the wine was bled
and there you led me on

in your house i long to be
room by room patiently
i’ll wait for you there
like a stone i’ll wait for you there
alone

and on i read
until the day was gone
and i sat in regret
of all the things i’ve done
for all that i’ve blessed
and all that i’ve wronged
in dreams until my death
i will wander on

TexCan, here is a little cuppa for when you are feeling better. Warmest hugs, DD.

TexAnneCan, so sorry you are sick and hope you are feeling better tomorrow.
Just to add a play on the words, and not as a Course whack, can’t help but add – you can escape the world you see by giving up attack thoughts about barfing in the toilet?

Oh, Course, that is the key to my salvation,
Why do I rock and roll with you to the tune of aggravation?
You are wild horses, scattering in all directions,
That I herd in zigzag patterns, always missing the one called Correction.
Let us make peace and slow our pace to a walk of gradual comprehension.
Muzzle to muzzle, gently ambling our way toward a sunset of all inclusive ascension.

Again, Toddling Laura ~

Not that it’s all that important
But the last two lines of my Whisper
Were typed following “{{{ thanks }}}”
not at the end.

This has been happening with my
emails lately; words and lines
getting shifted around.

Weird
Trippy

Thanks, “Monk edit” for your much-appreciated help.
I had read the instructions and promptly forgot.
I think I’m loosing my mind, and am grateful you
have yours :)

Laura, I just love your poetic bent. And I also love your wisdom in the Q&As to Lucia. Been there, too. I never spent much time looking for anyone else but that doesn’t mean I didn’t spend a lot of time thinking I wasn’t enough on some level. I finally moved on from that. My ideal relationship would be where we were NOT living together but shared ideas, laughs and had each other’s back. Having said that, I have to say (except during times of emergencies) I like my space. And the freedom to party in the Grotto whenever I want. Love and laughs, DD.

Cynthia, Hope you feel better also.

{{{☼☼♥Cynthia♥☼☼}}}

Just got home from a funeral. The daughter died last week, the father died this week.
The mother died a year ago.
Everyone was very Unitarian and Edgar Casey stuff.
Two funerals ago with this same family, I told the minister that I liked his prayer.
But I messed up and said accidently “I like your HAIR!”
So now they all ask me if I still like his hair!
BTW, I do -it’s perfect gray!

Once, when I was young and lived in Deutschland, my landlord died suddenly. The next day I brought a lily to my landlady, and in my struggling German, I looked up in the dictionary what to say, and found “Es tut mir leid”. That comes out as a literal translation to English as “It does sadness to me” – their equivalent to our “I’m sorry”. But in my lack of knowing which vowel gets sounded in this other language, I mispronounced the leid, and what I said was actually closer to, “It makes me sing.” She wrinkled up her face, then looked down, and accepted the lily. We were never able to clear it up, and maybe she understood my pronunciation/grammatical error — but, then I didn’t mention her hair.

The “Great Rays” section of the Course always remind me of this song.
Figured I’d better take it to da Grotto.
Who Wants To Know?

Winnie, Thanks for the scrambled eggs and marmalade. Just what I needed along with the fresh milk and butter. Might have to find me some goose eggs though, have to go on a high protien diet for awhile and grouse eggs are good but a bit small.

{from up in the Treehouse the sound of a typewriter clickety-clacks}

A CONVERSATION WITH MY ALTAR EGO

Winwin : I feel happy

Bugsy : feelings lie

Winwin : yes I know but I still feel happy and I can only work with where i`m at

Bugsy : yeah you think you know how to do this Course – that`s how arrogant you are but you don’t know crap!

Winwin : yes you`re quite right. I don’t really know anything and sometimes I think I am the epitome of Arrogance when i catch myself thinking that i understand this Course. Then I just feel happy that that thought has arisen for me to forgive. In fact Bugsy it is an excellent symbol of my original arrogance at thinking I knew better than God !….. still happy

Bugsy : you shouldn`t be so healthy when so many around you are not. If you don’t smarten up I `ll make your nose even redder than it is for starters..

Winwin: Well santa has a red nose and so does Rudolph so I`m in good company. Besides it`s very handy to have my forgiveness exercises be as plain as the nose on my face

Bugsy { getting very angry and looking decidedly red himself } : OOOh ! i`ll break your other arm like I did this time last year

Winwin : really ? well ok… that would give me a marvelous opportunity to have another go at taking one step closer to “seeing right through the pain”. I definitely got a glimpse of it last time but I was too busy celebrating with you the gory glory of all the special attention I received to pay much attention…

Winnie,he just didn’t get any way with you, did he?sweet non-resistance, I love it -

♩♫♪♫♬
I rode my bicycle past your window last night
I roller skated to your door at daylight
It almost seems like you’re avoiding me
I’m okay alone, but you got something I need

Well, I got a brand new pair of roller skates
You got a brand new key
♩♫♪♫♬

well while you are in the mood …..

Wow – now we know what goes on down under, eh?

Nina! How fun is that!
Parochial school misfits – all of us!
My favorite joke was:
What was the first documented case of PMS in the Bible?
Mary rode Joseph’s ass all the way to Bethlehem…

I just stumbled upon Monk’s beautiful post from a year ago (right now ;-) in which he reflected on the spiritual themes he found reflected in Castaway. I quite like the idea of picturing my ego as Wilson; absurd, ridiculous image, empty and ultimately useless. What I like best is picturing Wilson floating away from me forever.

Inspiration and love are all around us. Thank you, Monk, and all monklings for what you give me every day on this site.

well goodnight my darling Monkle-poohs xoxoxo….{sleepily mutters magic word to let Treehouse ladder unfurl]………….

{meanwhile up in the Treehouse all is quiet except for the sounds of Ruth-Annes smoressnores]

Psst, hey winwin, come over here to the Grotto. I saw that during today’s Q&A, you were having a little inner dialogue. : )

You wrote: ‘ALL of this is going on in my mind’

Well, here’s a little song from me to you. It’s from my college days, 1986 to be exact. I’ve been re-exploring all the music that was so important to me back then. The song is All in My Mind by Love and Rockets. I hope you like it (and don’t find them too weird!)

testing

Hi Ruth-Anne, and all of my sisters and bro’z of the grotto.
I had a visitor today – my old self came back for a little visit!
And I thought she had died.
Hi darling MoM and Monk!

Oops. Typo mean TexAnneCan :)

Yes, WinWin it was. Thanks for asking.
I was stuck in traffic and made another lip*sink video!

No, no, it’s silly!
Well, ok. Just ‘cuz you asked.

Eh – ya know, it was all just for fun.
I was in traffic – all this at one signal light!
The wait to cross was like over 10 minutes long.
It was raining and I was singing da blues….
Told ya it was silly!

:D

{{{{Monastery}}}
I have been having trouble posting of late. I seem to live in a “dead zone”. I can still read everything just cannot seem to post on this new computer. Love to all.
(Fingers crossed)
Hope you loved the chocolate cake Winnie. It was made for you with so much love.
(Sent at 7:47 AM Texas time)….

Tex, marvellous enjoyable time with you and Ella there. Keep’em coming I say (AND I would love to hear YOU sing too.:-)
Ruth-Anne, thank God it worked! the Monastery is not really Home for me without you here. New PC,eh? congratulations,and thank for the miracle too!
wanna hang out in the tree-house with me? I am looking at all the children-books that Winnie has left here, looking at the images and having a great tea, and look – there that little silverbottle with pomegranateschnaps that Pool Boy gave to Mother…the view is great, right?mmmand those great pillows..mmm, you smell so nice Ruthie, have put something on lately?

Ruth-Anne, how good it is to see you. I have missed you here at the Monastery. Love, love, love, DD.

It is a very good day in the Grotto!!!
Texas posted a first class lip-sync video (thankx), you are one classy lady…
Ruth-Anne’s got her whispering voice back – WAHOOO!! (thank you Monk for all your help behind the scenes)..
Winnie and I have been stuffing ourselves on chocolate cake and icing.. mmmmm…. thanks Ruthie!!
Lisa put up a terrific Love and Rockets vidjo… {Sounds of great 80’s bass-line filter through the Grotto}
And the love and cheers from everyone for all of the above… Lead by our cheerleader team boss DD…
I am having a lovely time in the treehouse reading books with Nina (and snitching Pool Boy’s pomegranate liqueur)
Leni started a TexAnneCan Fan Club (may I join?) {So much love…}
And did I mention it’s wonderful that Anil has decided to ‘brave’ the Grotto? Hee hee…

Gawd, I love this place…. and all of you

Love, Mother

☼♥MoM♥☼ You always make me laugh OUT LOUD!! I’ll take a piece of Ruthie’s choc cake if there’s any left. Been called into work again and that ALWAYS requires some sweets. I’ll be heading for the treehouse when I get home and lookin’ for some of that fine juice you’all are drinkin’. Maybe we can get TexCan to sing us a ditty or two. I’m all for TexCan’s fan club (thanks Leni). It’s good to see Michele is back, too. We can tuck Winnie and Nina into bed and whisper a story from one of their many childhood books. MoM, give my hugs to the Pool Boy. Hi Anil. Hugs to all. Love, DD.

Holy Cow Nina, that violin piece is amazing!! Smokin!!

Yes, Nina that’s very very sweet.. A rock named “Mama” is sure to be a blessing in your life, =-= Love, Mother

Oh Texy that was sheer fun ♫♪! Thank you sweetie pies…

ooooh what fun in the grotto was to be had today ! I love you guys !

{chuckles at the thought of Donna wondering why whenever she scrathes her head to ponder a problem at work, little coloured feathers float down}

I hope she thinks it`s little messages of love from the fairy folk { cause it so is !}

On the other hand i have been wondering why the feather pillows up in the tree house are not as plump and fat as they used to be…hmmmm

And Mother i`ll tell ya what`s smokin…first your big day at work the other day and now 30 laps around the hot tub ! – i thought you was gonna be as giddy as a drunken man when you climbed outta that thing…..Pool Boy was standing by discreetly just in case ]

Thank you for the chocolate cake Ruthie-poo – you are such a good cook and we ♥ you…

I`m loving all the music, especially when i know it`s someone`s favourite – it makes it all the more enjoyable and i`m getting such an edjacation {goes back to listen again to Love and Rockets song} i want to hear the bass line …

I was at the library yesterday to try and get all the books everyone was talking about in the Snuggery. The only ones they had were Wind in the Willows and Mooninsummer Madness.

and then i went to the video shop to ask for the “little House of Horrors that Tex was talking about – didnt have that either…

and speaking of Tex, i love that that was your nickname before you came here – how cool !…love from Tex Anne Can fan….and big hugs to Michele and Leni and Anil and everyone xxxxxxxxxoxoxoxooxo

AND p.s. ….-> the first dandelion ? I think i love dandelions more than anything else in the world {even lollies } ……well maybe not lollies…….yes even lollies

OMG – I am too shy.
If you only knew how shy I am,
you wouldn’t believe it.
I only made this silly vid to make myself get over being shy!
Thanks, really – thanks for all of your kind words!
I vant to cry!
*sniff*

Just this afternoon – I drove past an old abandoned gas station.
I went right up to it…This is what I saw…

Oh, Nina, what a day I had thanks to your colorful feathers. They were floating everywhere and NO ONE took me seriously. It didn’t help that I had chocolate cake smeared all over my mouth and that I was humming “Stormy Weather” while the sun was shining. And TexCan, there’s no point in being shy here. You’ve shown us your true colors and they are so bright that you cannot hide behind anything anymore. Nina, I loved, loved, loved your violin video. I have to agree with our dear MoM, this place is so very special (yes, I said it—SPECIAL) and fills me with love every day. Warmest ☼hugs☼ to everyone.

Hey I’ll join the tex sync fan club and the smokin’ violin club too and oh heck i just like music all kinds a music.

hugs Pam !

Oooohhh yeah. Me too. Tex those videos are TOO good. Love em love em love em. So much fun.
Everybody I am just so overcome by all the love that I feel in the grotto and the monastery rooms. And the learning and helping and music and art and just plain fun. My forgiveness opportunities have been coming fast and furious and I have been able to deal with them pretty well (for the most part).
Thanks for all to All. I better get some sleep.
(eyes treehouse)

[lightly kisses all the Northern Hemispherean monklings on their serene and gentle foreheads - rolls Nina over to get her to stop snoring and climbs down ladder to prepare a WELCOME HOME BANNER for beloved Al of the Sunshine}

Now i think i`ll put the billy on and make a nice cup of tea.......

{{{{Winnie!!!!}}}}} aw so sweet. are we the only ones awake?

you too winwin – looks like your treehouse gets well used. How’s your real (as opposed to virtual) life love?

It`s a beautiful afternoon up here about 4.30 pm…. and i am having a lovely time doing what i like best – nothing {tee hee}…. i am listening to Lady Smith, washing the odd dish here and there, watching a bit of movie, sewing a bit, and keeping guard on the TreeHouse of course {gotta watch out for them goblins – dont want them biting Cory}

I only have to work about 8 hours a week [in return for my rent, electricity and internet}
For the last month, however i have been helping look after a very sick person – {havent nursed for years}…. I stay at her place for 48 hours to relieve her full-time carer, and i am loving it. The only downer is that she doesnt have internet so i cant be at the Monastery :( …… but i pretend Tex is with me, her bein` a nurse an all…

In a few months i am so gonna get one of them flip video thingies cause i got a quaint little song to sing to everybody…. I so want to sing again xoxoxoxo

oh that sounds lovely winnie – there is much to be said for gently pottering. Sounds like we’re mirroring eachother – looking after ill person and using a monkling’s image to help us through! i’d LOVE to hear and see you sing winnie … Do it girl!

Al of the Sunshine!
OMG I was just asking after you the other day.
And here you are! Salty and tanned.
Glad you liked the video.
I posted another one a while back, right when you were leaving out.
#114 in this grotto.
Glad you are back!

Winwin – sing it for us!

Hey backatcha TexCan! And here you are in full technicolour lipsynching glory (nice lips too – I should know, I’m an expert lipreader) just wowing us all! it’s so cool you’re finding the fun part of you again … must feel good huh?

Welcome back Al! You were missed.
{{{{{hug}}}}

So good to see you back Al. You were missed.

Hi Al!!! xoxoxo : ) missed you!

Al – I am SO happy to see you are back!!! {Goes off to do happy-dance-under-water in the pool with Pool Boy}
(We missed you A LOT)

Love,
Mother

Mother what a lovely thing to say…. then i think i shall stay in the Treehouse all day writing and posting about stuff and TRUSTING that none of it shall disturb your rest…thank you so much !

please rest often Mother …take gentle care of your beloved self

{strokes hair of beloveds while we all just listen to gentle music}

“The Beyondness of Things”

[and the pool boy was probably having wet dreams }hehehehe

When mother wakes up i think we should have a serious talk with her about this crazy idea of swimming while not being well.... grab her swimmers Donna and let`s hide `em so there will be no more of that naughtiness !

She can be feisty, you know. Particularly when she hasn’t had her cee-gars. Doctor took them away, I heard.

Big HOWDY welcome back Al. It was strange iffin my memory serves me right I got back just as your battery was going kaput. Strange.

Thanks Pam…..Mmmmhhhhhh soup. It’s always such a comforting thing to eat.
yummy

{giggling with hands over mouth}
It wasnt me Mother …. I swear i had nothing to do with it!

Mmmm this soup is just the ticket….

No, of course it couldn’t have been you two Winnie and DD – you’re too adorable!!! =-= Love, Mother

Winnie, I am so glad for you to know that Love is always there for you… what a wonderful thing… and I am feeling better after my rest, thank you so much. I do hope I didn’t bother your writing at all (did I snore?)… May I write up here with you tomorrow? It feels like it is “above the battleground” up here.. or maybe close.

Love you,
Mother

Oh lisa i LOVE this song ! havent heard this version….. i am beginning to wonder if after the happy era of the 60`s and 70`s popular music/artists began to explore dark and sad and maybe that`s why i didnt like it. I didnt want my children to be exposed to anything unhappy, so desperate was i to provide them with a happy childhood… Anyways here is my favourite version from Donnie Darko that my beloved youngest put me on to… we`ve watched it a few times together…

btw big hugs to you darling xoxoxoxoxoxo

Mother i am so glad your rest did you good…. `tis a lovely idea for you to spend some time at the typewriter tomorrow….. i will make sure it`s dusted off and ready with plenty of inked ribbons… xoxoxoxo

{giggling}

ok last one in`s a rotten egg!… wow the water`s awesome. Good thing we got the pool heated ! and isnt it fun to swim at night with all the fairy lights around…….Marco be a love and grab us a beer hey ?

Darko ! er i mean Marco !

this is fun -- playing in the pool, listening to music, drinkin` beer, discussing movies and ruminatin` about stuff ,{ though i never was a very good multi-tasker tee hee}

I very much like movies that explore the theme of time and i really like Jake Gyllenhaal but mostly i liked watching this movie cause my youngest wanted me to and i could see how he related to the sadness in the character….

Anyhoo do you like this one ? Now that i know i`m thoroughly bad to the bone i really like it !

I remember when i first saw it and how horrified i was ! I was cross with all the pop noisicians who i thought should be being a good example to all the young`uns…. and as for hair stlyes in those days -- I was like “what is the world coming to ???”

oh and speaking of hair { looks around and lowers voice} aint ya just sick of that screamin` sheila in the orange dress over in the Screamatorium… she`s at it every day ! Crikey i have to take ear plugs whenever i pass her… I reckon she should be sent to the asylasorum or at least get someone to do her hair…..

{Sends text-message to Winnie’s phone…} Am in hot-tub. Bad to the Bone was wonderful. Am listening to class. Can’t hear anything. Talk later. Love Mother.

I’ll take some hot curry, winnie! I’m having a rough day, and it feels good to sweat it out when you’re feeling crappy.

Thank you for cooking today! : )

Bad To The Bone – I always thought that was a song about Nurses….

Texy? you ho, up here! come, tell me about the bad nurse you have been!! details, please!

Ladies – ladies!!
I was merely quoting the lyrics!
I am not now, nor do I ever plan to be
quote unquote bad to the bone.
{clears throat….ahem……}
That’s a cool trick Winwin.
In nursing school, we used to drink Mountain Dew out of specimen cups.
Well, come to think of it, we act a little crazy from time to time.
We also used to take electrode gel and put it on the door handles
so someone would grab it when they opened the door.
They always thought it was snot….I mean mucous!

i knew that chick too………. had to sent away to a convent i heard……

{meanwhile down on the ground Pool Boy strains his ears to hear more of Tex`s antics and smiles to himself every time the giggles break out]

{{Winnie}} Take us with you in your heart… (I know you will…) All my love to you, =-= Mother

Thanks Anil… I love you back. I am on Pacific standard time, so am an hour earlier than is posted here.. (I do stay up late also… but never admit it… and I get up late.. that’s my favorite.) {;-)

Winnie will be gone for two days at her job, and doesn’t have internet there… we’ll be counting the hours, huh?

Love you,
M.

Hi Anil! Hi Mom!

Hi Lisa –
Sounds like a tough day. Hope you had a good night’s rest, and that the new day is dawning well for you…:)

{{{{Lisa}}}
That’s the hardest thing to do isn’t it. Being kind and gentle towards yourself was something I never even thought about. Push yourself, GET IT DONE….DO SOMETHING ….
Those were my mottos.
Think I will join you for awhile by the pool. Oh hey look at this. Someone put a bathing suit over here behind the bench. Looks like MoM’s. I guess she was skinny dipping again. How does she manage to always keep that cigar lit anyway?
Here comes Marco Polo. (sucking in stomach to no avail)

hmmmm…
this is the REAL skinny dipping -

Texas, will laugh with you when ready. Have t-shirt. Will wait. =-= M.

So THIS is where the party iz at, eh?
Ruth-Anne, Nina, MoM, PoolBoi, Lisa, Anil,
And Gnostic Traveller, Monk etc.
I NEVER have to urge to get anything done.
Glad I don’t suffer from that particular issue.
Or skinny dipping.
L-l-lately, it’s t-t-too c-c-cold, any w-w-ways!
(Just testing the water, eh?)

Winwin- We Texan slash Canadians (quote unquote)
say “eh” like “day.”
some “true” Texans say “eh” and wrinkle up one side of their nose–
That’s like “EH?” Like they can’t hear what you are saying!

Winwin- are you going to Temecula?

Oh!
what a lovely room! [Mother Edit: Nina is referring to the creation of The Class Room] so space-filled…the air is so clear and clean…oh, and cosy sofas…and tables…and those practical little pads that one can write on in ones lap in sofas… and wow, the library…and there’s the videoplayer…the view from the large windows is spectacular – so much skies…I love the lightening tooo…
mmmm…my brain goes into a very comfortable mode: clear, alert…
and look, there on the wall, so many nice caps – one for each, to be decorated exactly as we want…I found mine! NINA with glassbeads in a spiral on the top, and at the center of the spiral, a little golden egg…I put it on…yes, it makes me a much more receptive student! If anyone wants me to decorate a cap just for them, please tell me – here’s so much great material to choose from, and that is work that i really enjoy.

who will be the next student in the door, I wonder?
love and hugs and thanks for this room
Nina

Anil, can’t wait to hear… =-= Love, Mother

oh boy ! can i give the pencils out ? can i can i can i ?

{giggles at the irony of Texy wearing a dunce cap}

Do we get the cane when we are naughty …. that would make class so more interesting

see what a dunce-cap does for learning? those are dangerous beliefs-instillers. May I at least line it with tinfoil for you?

{giggles} awesome pic Nina….

I want a cap too pretty please !

Winnies classrommcap:
lightgreen veils with yellow dots, it looks like playful clouds about her beautiful radiant face – inside these clouds strange beings (very small and colorful, colibri-size)emerge, making their sounds…these sounds are translated by Winnies brain, and are opening the mind for learning. Lining: light sky-blue silk. Embroidered inside at the crownchakra: a tiny red heart. It pulses gently.
Like it?

love it Ninarina!

Hmmm class is in and it looks like Fun with Numbers is up first …

11 was a racehorse {one-one was a racehorse}

22 was 12 {two-two was one two}

1111 race {one-one won one race}

22112 {two-two won one too}

Tex,
your math is excellent.Thats the kind of math that helps one to practice the Course of course -- the not serious kind.
The foil is for insulating of course. I am your gal if you want it decorated on the outside, or if you skip the dunce all together.
Or if you just need a hug. Such a good hugger I am.
nattinatti
and here is yet another video with mr Moschen…just to show that true learning is about knowing that the impossible is possible when the love is B I G , like his…for me, his play is just one big prayer of adoration -

NUNS, hide your eyes, where was his black leotard?

The…I mean WE Mounties wear a Red Serge “Thingy”
Helps if they don’t see ya coming…

Nina…yes my lovely artiste of the heart, mind and spirit….please craft a learning cap for me too.
Hugs to all and hugs to those loving their cap creations by Nina..Channel of the Mists

hi winnie -
hopefully you don’t encouter any “past-life” memories in California. (I make light of it, but fully remember my one-nano-second dream where I “dreamed” I was drowning in the sea off the coast of France (and that fully explained to me why I’m mortally intimidated by/of all things French to this day !! :). Anyway, hope it all goes well for you…

On the potential “blue Room” moment, I’ll have to write some other time – I feel strange referring to Jesus as the “J guy” – it seems disrespectful to address him that way, even in casual writing, but I know that he knows that I have nothing but respect (and “love” (?)) for him…it’s been a bit of a challenge with my Indian upbringing to accept a “personal” relationship with him, but I don’t know how else to describe how he apparently seems to pop into my mind at critical moments, and seems to be speaking to me !! (all very bizzarre to me, even as I write this out).

Anyway, over and out for now, MoM, Winnie, and everyone else here.
Many smiles and happy thoughts for, and to all of you.
Anil

Hi Anil i think its lovely and must be very comforting that Jesus pops into your head and speaks to you.

“Many smiles and happy thoughts” to you my friend…

AL – Jamie’s learning hat/cap is the one he mostly is wearing – see Bonnies gallery: the dark blue one – it is obviously doing a great job for him, don’t you think -
for you, dear: a hat made of Marigolds who never wilts, and at certain times when the New Zealand SUn is very strong, delicate white clouds rise up from within the Marigolds and a light cleansing rain(Mercy) trickles down on the flowers and Al’ hot head…inside, thin delicate green silk, with an embroidered band all around the opening: It is safe to let go now. I rest in God.
And you look completely stunning with it.

Jimacim, Happy birthday! Took the liberty of guessing that you are a carrot cake with extra walnuts and thick cream cheese frosting kinda guy.

SisterAnn left some mead here a while back I think that it can suffice for the time being quite well. :)

{Toasts with Leni} To mud in yer eye, Leni!! And to all the other sleeping folks!!
{We dance in the moonlight all night long with Marco…}

Let`s have a fire and just sit around ! That`ll warm ya Texy ! The stars look so beautiful tonight and we could sizzle some sausages… we`ll have to make sure Mama is quite warm though…say this Mead is good Pammy {chinks glasses with Leni}

I bags everybody`s icing if`n they dont want it. I`m not greedy – i just like a lot ….

Hi all pumkins…Happy Valentine Day!!!
here’s an image my brother Ola just sent me for the day: I LOVE the LOVE in it. Just bathing in it.
Taking it REAL easy today, had a hard night, but feel OK and very grateful now for all the tools I have for hard nights.

Lisa, here’s yours:
it is blue blue blue blue BLUE
the color of Mary’s Cape
formed as a cone…Mary is sitting on top of it, her cape is flowing downwards and is draped around your head…bright golden tricklets of light streams down from her seat, swirling around the brim
it gives peace and a clear mind

Oh thank you Nina it is perfect. Yes I can feel the salty winds as I stand by the dragons cave at the top of the cliff overlooking the sea. It is a bright and clear day. The soft silvery grey colour is one of my favorites. And the dragon is so cute all steelblue with emerald green edgeings. So cool that I can see myself reflected in the hat’s landscape. {{{hugs}}}

Happy Valentine’s Day to you, too, Nina!! And everyone!! Although still the day before in the USA, it’s already the 14th at Winnie’s and Al’s and Anil’s house, and shortly will be the 14th at Nina’s, Gabe’s and Hedda’s… and Jane… (and all our European brothers).. and Roberta and Bernard… (and who else?)… isn’t it just so fun that we have Monklings from all over the world!!! That means we get to celebrate everything for TWO DAYS!!!

Thinking of love throughout for everyone, I give you my heart.

Love,
Mother

oh boy ! – more icing…..although i probably shouldnt …. 3 shelves and counting..

Oh look – there`s a picture of my home – Mother`s big open heart! xoxoxoxo

Oh boy thats right we do get to double dip all the holidays. Yeah! So here’s several red velvet heart shaped cakes decorated with small frosting roses for all my favorite Valentine monklings. More mead please.

OK, here’s a love song for Valentine’s Day. It’s one of my favorites.

Throw Your Arms Around Me, by Hunters and Collectors

I will come for you at nighttime
I will raise you from your sleep
I will kiss you in four places
As I go running along your street
I will squeeze the life out of you
You will make me laugh and make me cry
And we will never forget it
You will make me call your name
And I’ll shout it to the blue summer sky
And we may never meet again
So shed your skin and let’s get started
And you will throw your arms around me
Yeah, you will throw your arms around me
I dreamed of you at nighttime
And I watched you in your sleep
I met you in high places
I touched your head and touched your feet
So if you disappear out of view
You know I will never say goodbye
And though I try to forget it
You will make me call your name
And I’ll shout it to the blue summer sky…
And we may never meet again…
So shed your skin and let’s get started
And you will throw your arms around me
Yeah, you will throw your arms around me
Oh…yeah…
Ohhh yeah…
You will throw your arms around me…
Yeah, you will throw your arms around me….

this is a test

Oh my GAWD, I am so glad to be back in the Grotto!!!!!!
It has been weeks since I have been able to post here and I tried again today and BRAVO it WORKED.

First things first. TexAnne, the pool is heated so it is just getting there that is the problem, specially if you plan on skinny dipping. (and who doesn’t)

Ok and the pommies are still so plentiful and beautiful. I have activated Nina’s copper automatic pomegranite peeling device and there will be PLENTY of pomegranite juice and seeds for everyone to drink and nibble on. They are SO FULL of antioxidants and vitamins that it is especially good for those who need an immune system boost.(and who doesn’t)

I have the other copper machine fired up, thanks for your help on that WinWin. And to the small monks for making it look so beautiful when I walked in, wow those guys never stop do they? It will be just a matter of hours before we have some. 0;-)

I am going to the kitchen to bake a huge cake for everyone’s birthday we might have missed in the shape of a big heart to represent our monastery and everyone in it.
{{{{hugs}}}}

{{{{DonnaD}}}}Of course it is chocolate.(YOU mean there is another kind?)
With lots and lots and extra icing for Winnie to be able to have as much as she wants.

{giggling} oh boy Ruthie-pooh .. what a yummy cake ! and as i`m tucking in i`m quietly rocking to Lisa`s song and really feeling those arms being thrown around me and behind it all i hear Jesus saying “I will come for you at nighttime
I will raise you from your sleep”

Ahh…. this is the life ! {reclines in favourite deck chair}

Ruth-Anne, I’m so glad you were able to find your way here again… we are bereft without your cakes and liqueurs! Spent the day here in the grotto pool, skin all pruney (that’s my current excuse) and I’m ready for FOOD. Thanks. Also wondering, what comes after pomegranates when they’re done… La distillere is pumping away. Love that thing.

To answer your question……….. So far we have had pumpkin…and peppermint….and pomegranites…..Hmmmm. What could we do next? I’m athinkin….
(I don’t think I answered your question..)

Plum, papaya, passion fruit? Parsnip, peas, pepper, potato? Can we Pretty Please Plant Plenty of Peanuts?
{I know it says this in the Course somewhere…. just now looking it up…}

{{{Ruth-Anne}}}

Web Side Story
funny-not funny
Hope it works, eh?

TexAnne the vidjo (as MoM says) is hilarious. Made me laugh out loud and that is always a good thing. Thanks,eh.

Ruthie, Hawaii and you – mmm.A bit warmer and not so hectic, I think. As long as you come here to hang out!
big smiles and hugs

Hmmm – If Ruth-Anne is thinking about moving to Hawaii, I’m just wondering about the size and shape of her luggage…… it’s always about me….

Pumpkins -- what do we DO with illusion?

OK…I promise this will be the last video tonight…about the murderlust of the ego and that we are all one big mushroom…(this is almost at the end of the series…)

Yes, this is a great place for giving out learning-hats. Mother, you just asked for one: well…the main form is the pillbox-form. It is in black and white, strangely adorned with chinese calligraphic symbols, don’t know which ones (the answer may come in a dream for you) it is silk and velvet, with tiny shiny blackred beads – grenades, I think – and there is a big surprise inbuilt: when you least expect it, these things that the court jesters wear – let me see if i find an image:
and your learning cap, m’dear, is completely innocentlooking and elegant and Audrey’ish – but at the slightest provocation or impulse ( you never know which) these “branches” will separate from the top and open like a flower.And on the inside they are red, yellow, deep bottle-green, violet and blue – and from their pointed end, little silver-symbols are attached:
a miniture grand piano
a heart
a white feather
a book
and a martini-glass

Nina i adore your wonderful imagination ! What splendid caps you have made for us…

About the Northern Exposure videos… i have watched the 3 you put up but they are not doing anything for me at the moment, but I notice it takes me a little while to “get” stuff sometimes… I had to watch The Simpsons for about 7 months before i “got” it….. did i mention that i`m only very little …

Tex -
I don’t know whether to laugh for the wit and style with which you tell this story, or to feel sad that a television show (no matter how good) can place above a personal relationship ?

I’m sure that would have stung me quite a bit, if my parents had said something like that to me… (and now that I think about it my father has said some strange things to me (but I guess I’ve said lots of things to him too)

oh well. Be well, and best wishes,
a

{giggles at Texy`s #436]

Lawrence i just love you dear fellow and wish you the warmest of wishes for your health.

Bless you

Laughing at #436 – that’s what you get for ditching God eh? coming in second after tv in important-details-in-mum’s-mind. Ouch .. i’m with anil – it must’ve hurt a bit. Were you nursing in the army Tex – or soldiering?

A soldier-nurse-nunny.Wow you have been around TexAnneCan. I just want to hug you…and was you mom a bit old(read VERY old) when she said that?
Winnie, that last video when the airplanes come again and again and kill Joel…that are Maggies/ego’s killer-wishes ( in the series all her former boyfriends have died… 5 I think…and at the end Joel tries to tell her that he has not really left her – they’re not separated, like the mushrooms are seemingly separated on the ground, but united under the earth… I don’t really know why, but it seems so important for me to explain this

Winnie, loved it! letting it hang all out lol. And Jesus always said the perfect thing. Just to the point. I loved how you did that.

{Enters treehouse ’cause a little bit of arrogance don’t scare Mother…. Mother has a’plenty of it… and all the other stuff Bugsy points out… and she loves WinWin}

Winnie, should I say Whiney? I like ‘Winnie’… time for a spot of tea and a snort at Bugsy I’m thinkin…

::::snort::::

I have always loved this lemongrass tea that you make me so kindly every evening….

Love,
Mother

Thank you my darling Nina, Anil and Mother…you guys are all so wonderful to put up with me…….. love and gratitude always xoxox

…………………..

Now about Pam`s birthday…..what sort of cake ? hmmmm i`m thinking a blow-away sponge, so light and fluffy, sandwiched with pure and voluptuous King Island cream and fresh organically – grown glazed strawberries on top….

I know Cory will want to lick the beaters so i`ll be sure to tell the small monks not to wash them………..

Wow Mother you brought helium balloons!… the Grotto looks wonderful. I`ve got some fairy lights to string up on the trees …. I hope Ruth-Anne brings some delicious fruity wine……

Pam – Happy happy happy birthday to you, dearest Pam of the Grotto!
And many many more -
(Birthdays, not Grottos)
((Unless you WANT more Grottos – then, yes!))

I feel this feroushishly ( ?) love for you,Tex. May I please give you that welcome-back-from-the-wa-hug that you seem not to have gotten? ferociously, I tell you – this is a HARD hug darling -(good hard) I AM SO GLAD YOU ARE BACK FROM THAT WAR!i lOVE YOU!!! Now I am crying for real, sensing how glad I am that you are here in this Monastery with me and us. So glad to be WITH you. (Dancing around with Annie, hugging some more, laughing and crying.)

Pam! Happy Birthday! May the sun shine upon you today…and the white light surround you! (Sending you a 3-tiered Sunshine Cake with melt-in-your-mouth cream filling, decorated on the outside with chocolate leaves and more chocolate of anything you can imagine) Have the best day ever!

Hugs!
Laura

Beautiful Nina.

Happy Birthday, Pam. xo

You got it, lyrics,

Every time I look into your lovely eyes,
I see a love that money just can’t buy.
One look from you, I drift away.
I pray that you are here to stay.

Anything you want, you got it.
Anything you need, you got it.
Anything at all, you got it.
Baby!

Every time I hold you I begin to understand,
Everything about you tells me I’m your man.
I live my life to be with you.
No one can do the things you do.
Anything you want, you got it.
Anything you need, you got it.
Anything at all, you got it.
Baby!
Anything you want
Anything you need
Anything at all

I’m glad to give my love to you.
I know you feel the way I do.
Anything you want, you got it.
Anything you need, you got it.
Anything at all, you got it.
Baby!
Anything you want, you got it
Anything you need, you got it
Anything at all, you got it
Baby
Anything at all
Baby
You got it

Dearest Pam I wish you a very happy birthday ! I hope you get lots and lots of pressies…. there`s never enough :) I love you my sister ! xoxoxoxo

Happy Birthday, Pam! I made it back just in time to wish you a great day on your B-Day. Make the most of it, dear. Much love, Bernard

Hiya, Nina, TexAnn, Laura, WinWin, Lisa, Leni, Al, Ninjanun, Anil, Lawrence, and everyone else! I hope you’ve been holding down (up?) the fort since I’ve been gone. Will enjoy catching up on all your many wrongdoings.

Hey Bernard!!!! Welcome back!!! (She says throwing a sock at him : )

Mother i do not put my email address on when i am sad because it would not be appropriate to have a happy Charlie Brown smile……. [but my heart is sincere when i post loving hugs to others at these times….} I just want to be authentic is all…

Oh My Gosh!! Looks around with mouth hanging open. Wow and wow again. Winniekins, sponge cake with cream filling haven’t had that since my grandma used to make them. And A sunshine cake from Laura that will warm this place up and melt a little more snow. Nina, Hedgehogs are sooo cute and you found a wonderful story about one. Thank you. Ninjanun, How did you know Roy Orbison is one of my faves? Jamie, Thanks for the hug and kiss,I’ll never wash my cheek again.:) Tex, This is the only grotto I need I too am glad you made it back from the storm. Leni, Lisa, Ruth-anne, Mother, Al and all the small monks, Thank you, thank you, thank you. Wooooo hoooo Bernard is back.

Happy B-day Pam! Grotto Birthday’s are the best…looks beautiful around here.
(((Monklings))) {{{Grotto}}}

{{{Bernard}}} so good to see you! you look really good, fresh…congratulations with your decision to let go of plastering.
Just to let everyone know – or rather, be reminded – that Bernard got a virtual rainbowcolored sock for a virtual christmaspresent last year. If he has not lost any new ones(you never know) he is fully equipped now ( would that be the correct word? remember, i am Norweegian)
And how is Pat?

Oh, TexCan, I just adore you—you Canadian you….

And DonnaD – I adore you back!
Mom, I meant to sing Happy BD but this just slipped out…
Pam – Happy Birthday for the best day evah!
Let’s get this partay started, then, eh?

::::rolling on floor:::

Hey Kendall & Lisi, Thanks! TexAnne, Love the Slip! Just got back from town. My mom took me out for steak. Yum, Yum. And Cory got me a card and some beef jerky.

P.S. beef jerky is what he wants for his b-day also. :)

My Other Mother re#480 My day has been perfect and everyone here has helped make it that way. {{HUGS}} :::SMILE:::

Texanne, my smile hasn’t left my face. Love, love you! Thank you. This is the end of the second week of jury duty for me on a murder trial and the last few days has been energy sapping days with two more weeks to go. Still trying to reconcile the ACIM teaching and my role as a juror in this case.

Mom and fellow monklings even if I don’t post much you’re all in my heart. Bernard, so happy to see you back.

Pam “Happy “B” Day It sounds like you had a nice birthday here in the Grotto. I forget who has the book on horoscopes, I think maybe Lisa? But not sure. Anyway, having a few can’t hurt, they are fun. I baked a spice cake with chocolate icing, it is my favorite. I hope you like It, I feel sure Cory will. Peace & Health is my wish for you, and hey Bernard was here as well today!

If Today is Your Birthday: January 19

——————————————————————————–

The Year Ahead
Forecast for January 2010 to January 2011

If You Were Born Today, January 19: You have a fabulous sense of humor, your own unique sense of style, and powerful emotions. Success-oriented, when you are able to focus on specific goals it would be hard to steer you from the path towards them. You are personally powerful and have a strong presence or aura, and others tend to follow your lead. You can be very stubborn at times! You are also very hard working, caring, and kind to those you love. Although you don’t easily let down your guard, once you do trust you are very protective. Famous people born today: Edgar Allen Poe, Paul Cezanne, Janis Joplin, Dolly Parton, Robert Palmer.

Your Birthday Year Forecast: With the Sun and Moon in a waxing semi-square at the time of your birthday this year, the period ahead is one of new initiatives and action. You possess quite a bit of energy, but you must be aware that emotions color much of what you do this year. It can be hard to be objective as a result.

The Sun conjunct Venus in your Solar Return chart places a strong emphasis on your social relationships, love, romance, and pleasure this year. These matters are tied to your ego and pride. You more readily and naturally employ charm this year, and you are generally quite likable and easygoing during this period of your life.

Both Jupiter and Uranus sextile your Sun this year, and this is a very nice combination. You may lose your fear of taking risks on a social level, happily embracing all that is new, unusual, and out-of-the-ordinary this year. Exciting (not jarring) changes and new interests characterize the period ahead. It’s easier than ever to express your unique individuality, and if this involves changing careers or jobs, a new love affair, or an entirely new hobby, it’s something that takes you forward into unexplored territory. You are more willing to adapt to new circumstances, ideas, and unfamiliar situations this year. You are able to find creative solutions to problems now. Your personality is sparkling this year, which is sure to attract new circumstances and people into your life. You tend to take things in stride, so that you don’t as easily sweat the small stuff. A generally positive and optimistic attitude is sure to attract some pleasant new experiences and circumstances into your life this year.

Mercury conjunct Pluto and square Saturn suggests that you are likely to gain some perhaps profound new insights into your life this year. You can be especially persuasive and convincing in your communications, whether written or oral, and your perceptions are especially acute. You are inclined to do a lot of “digging”, researching, analyzing, investigating, and getting to the bottom of things. Increased psychological awareness of yourself and others can benefit you greatly, and employing strategy in your decision making is easier than usual this year. Try to avoid coming on too strong with your opinions. You are hungry for deeper meaning, but a suspicious attitude, or making mountains out of molehills, won’t serve you well. Mercury governs speech, and you will need to watch what and how you communicate. Something you write or say could lead to opposition from others. Your need to investigate and read between the lines is strong this year. It’s best used for research and increased awareness of psychological motivations, both of others and yourself. Some difficulties and delays with communications are likely. Your thoughts are quite sober at times, and you should do your best to avoid negative thinking. It’s a strong year for recognizing flaws and errors. As long as you don’t forget the “big picture”, you could find you are motivated to channel your mental energy into tasks that require structured and organized thought, tackling projects that you may have found too mundane or downright boring in other years. It’s a strong year for polishing your skills and formal learning.

With Venus trine Saturn in your Solar Return chart, certain elements of your social life and financial life are stabilized, secured, and more reliable this year. You may solidify a romantic relationship under this influence, or become involved with a mature partner. Circumstances may be such that you need to handle money more carefully this year, or this may simply come naturally to you now. Support from older people or authority figures may come by way of solid advice or more tangible help. Renewed ties to old friends are possible, or a new sense of responsibility in existing friendships, are also highly likely.

Saturn is square to Pluto in your Solar Return chart. This suggests a need for you to come to terms with your own powers of authority and your effectiveness. Power struggles, frustration, and manipulation are possible themes this year. You may desire change, but feel blocked by others or by circumstances. Alternatively, you may be attempting to resist change that is inevitable. Persistence will pay off in the end, and the need to adjust your expectations becomes obvious.

A more sociable year than usual is ahead of you, perhaps at times at the expense of work and responsibilities! Others are appreciating you for your unique individuality, and you are certainly more open to new experiences. Openness to change is a valuable asset this year. Major restructuring of your life will help you to clear your head and to get your priorities straight. Romance is mature, and finances are mostly stable.

2010 is a Number Five year for you. Ruled by Mercury. This is a year of exploration and freedom. It’s a time when exploration and reaching out to others brings opportunities. It’s a good time to advertise and sell. Surprises are in store, and the routine is broken. This is a year when exciting relationships can be formed, or, if you are already in a partnership, new life is breathed into the relationship. Advice – explore, look for adventure, keep your eyes open for opportunities, mingle.

2011 will be a Number Six year for you. Ruled by Venus. This is a year of relative contentment. It is a time when love is the easiest to attract, and partnerships formed under this vibration have a better chance for longevity. You are able to attract others, and material things as well, this year. This is a good year for establishing harmony in the family and in the home. Advice – develop existing relationships, be positive and receptive because these kinds of energies help you to attract what you desire.

God bless us every one

{{{Leni}}} Will be thinking about you as you go about your jury duties… many soft hugs and lots of warm love, Mother

Hey Tex – I just will not believe you’re ‘really’ shy! These vids are soooo cute. keep ém rolling! (in the aisles). xoxoxox

Once again thanks everyone. The lines that stood out for me in Lisas b-day book are “Most often their goals are not those of society at all, but pertain to self-development and matters of honor.” and in Lawernces horoscope “You are hungery for deeper meaning, but a suspicious attitude, or making mountians out of molehills, won’t serve you well.”

Finding deeper meaning is not the goal of society at large now is it. But even from childhood I have been looking for it and now I have found it, a real way home.

Hi Anil, Hope you are having a grand day also. There is plenty of cake leftover pick whichever strikes your fancy. I know it’s hard to decide go ahead and have some of each. :)

Thanks, Pam -
I’ll really have to restrict myself to one (possibly two) kinds of cake…need to lose a lot of weight :). That’s been my on-going forgiveness lesson..

Hi Michelle – good to see you here.

Thank you for holding my drink Lawrence….sorry i had to rush off like that, but i had a small monk tugging at my robes quite out of breath. It appears we had a break-in up at the Treehouse. There was no sign of the intruder and the only thing that appears to be missing is my sanity….. hope all is well with you and Kaitlyn……
Oh i say there`s Tex …. Tex wait up ! Now how can i express just how much i love your latest video and the joy it gave me and the joy it gave me knowing how much joy it would give Leni………….sheesh I better go slower on this Pomegranate wine

Seems like things haven’t changed too much here in the Grotto over the past month or so. Just as well! I just made my way up to the treehouse (my, you girls have been busy!) just to find the remains of Pam’s party. Grabbed the last piece of cake someone had stowed in a fishnet stocking hanging from a branch. (okay, fess up, who’s missing their fishnet underhosen? Is someone not wearing their scanties around here?) Winnie, that wasn’t a unicorn. I saw brother smallandhelpful trying a sock on his head. Would someone please explain to the poor dear exactly where he’s supposed to put it? Don’t look at me. Don’t know nuthin about no sock-wearin’. TexAnn, we need to tawk. It’s good to be back! Hugs to all.

Winnie,

Thank you for the butterfly hug and for holding me in your heart. You are thought of lovingly as well. I am so taken by your process you so lovingly share with us. I am seeing the emergence of a beautiful butterfly struggling out of its cocoon. That’s exactly the reason why this monastery is my home (for now). Love is so palpable. Kindness, compassion, hilarity, hugs and kisses abound. Beauty is everywhere. Great food and drink anytime. Artistry, poetry,music you name it. But most of all there’s Monk, Bonnie, Dreamy,Mom and the beautiful monklings all working and helping each other towards getting to an even undefinable heaven of a home.

Winnie, no need to thank me for holding your drink the other night. It was no problem atall. Truth be told I drank it, and then got a refill. Kaitlyn and I are well, I had a talk with her about not feeding the beast within. We both accept the role of victim to easily.

Anil was right I wandered into another room and posted a horoscope for ninjanun, for her “B” day. The only problem was I gave her the horoscope for January 16 instead of February 16, I fixed it and Ma was good enough to make the wrong post disappear. I didn’t know she got magical powers with her new job, cool. I think the drinks I had were pretty potent. I walked over to another room, and I heard some spooky talking. Then next thing I know someone yells out “hey you, we got a sock we want you to try on” I didn’t like the way that sounded so I got out of there. I think Nina is on to something!

Peace & Posters Luv

Hi Lawrence, I guess the magical powers came with the new cigars Head Monk gave me Feb 16th… or was it the new robes… he says they “swish”. I think they have a little magic in them so I can help out more here in the Cloister… with stuff. Like deleting things people want deleted, fixing pictures, moving whispers around, passing out food, drinks, tickets to Cowboy games (well maybe not that), and other assorted sundry…. I’ve tapped and I’ve swished but I can’t figure out how to do “sundry”… Hmphfff. {Goes off to check the cigar box, maybe the directions are in the bottom…}

Happy birthday Ken.

Happy Birthday, Ken!
I just wanted to see how Ken would be here if he chose to – and (fasten your seat-belts) I saw him as coming in drag! I saw him enjoying the look on our faces – and there he is, in my mind, smiling a little wry smile, and picking up my special hat for him on this occasion:
It is a pill-box shape – deep rubyred velvet with a little twinge of violet in it – and a light tulle-veil being draped over the cap – he looks gorgeous – and he has a fur-boa around his neck (he inherited it from a grand-aunt..) and the hat has a surprise: when the festivitas is at it’s height, Ken takes off the hat, blows affectionately on it and it turns into this wonderful birthday-cake: now strewn with wild strawberries, and he invites us all to pick, and as we do that
Ken puts the hat on Jamie, and now the hat transforms…into what, — you’ll just have to wait and see…

(swims there already, big grin on face…) Hi WinWin, cake is waiting! we have some extra dry party-outfits in the pool-cupboard- kind of expected there to be a lot of in the pool-throwing at this party ..hey, Marco! dry extraspecialsuperpartyclothes for WinWin and me! … yes! Winnie! this green long velvet robe is for you – and I get a …hmmm?..a crocodile-costume??? OK – that will be a first for me…but we go well together Winnie dear, both being all green and so…Mother! you brought hot drinks for us! and what is ken doing now? up there at the stage – I think he is preparing to sing for us -

Happy Birthday, Ken.
Love reading your writings and hearing you speak.

ps. hey folks, is he really coming here tonight ?

That’s right LaAnnie, I know what to do… : )

Happy Birthday Ken!!!

February 22- The Day of Universality

Those born on Feb 22 tend to dissolve their ego away in the service of meaningful cause. Their personal world may be an intricate and complex one, their emotions profoundly sensitive, yet they do not allow this to be their principle concern, and rather turn their spotlight out on the world, illuminating worthy ideals and goals.

Feb 22 people generally believe in the greatest good for the greatest number. Not infrequently, they find themselves supporting or leading the cause of their clan, organization, community, even country. Lovers of universal freedom, high idealists, they wish that all enjoy the blessings of a good life, without threat of tyranny or oppression.

Feb 22 people have a strict sense of duty and can be rather stern. Despite the fact that they can appear open to a variety of experience, their likes and dislikes are pronounced, even fixed. In addition, they will pull no punches when making their displeasure known to their partner.

Those born on this day are frequently critical of their society, adopting a revolutionary or avant-garde stance. Because of their capacity to put their personal desire aside, Feb 22 people are capable of making magnetic leaders who instill great loyalty in their followers. Should the need arise to call for assistance or support, they will be able to demand great work from colleagues, family, and friends since the purity of their motives is rarely in doubt.

Meditation- ‘In some obscure corner of the world, the Ideal and the Real have consummated a secret marriage.’

Strengths-unselfish, idealistic, dedicated. Weaknesses- unforgiving, pessimistic, overcritical.

Ken shares a birthday with- George Washington(president), Frederic Chopin(composer), Sparky Anderson(baseball manager, only to win World Series both leagues)

For Al : )

You Light Up My Life

So many nights I sit by my window
Waiting for someone to sing me his song
So many dreams I kept deep inside me
Alone in the dark but now
You’ve come along

You light up my life
You give me hope
To carry on
You light up my days
and fill my nights with song

Rollin’ at sea, adrift on the water
Could it be finally I’m turning for home?
Finally, a chance to say hey,
I love You
Never again to be all alone

You light up my life
You give me hope
To carry on
You light up my days
and fill my nights with song

You light up my life
You give me hope
To carry on
You light up my days
and fill my nights with song

It can’t be wrong
When it feels so right
‘Cause You
You light up my life

wow Lisa … that description really fits Ken!

I`m so glad you posted this song for Al…..
I`ve been thinking of her too wanting her to know just how much i love her and how much i enjoyed her great big hug in the Insanasorum….. she does indeed light up our life !

hugs to you Lisa xoxoxoxo

Lisa,
I now have proof that I was(am?) a dork :) “Light up my Life” was one of my(if not my favorite) song(s) in high school (:
(thanks, Pam for yet another “cool” smiley)

anil- : ) I’m secretly a big fan of all things dorky.

Happy “B”Day Ken, and thank you from the bottom of my heart for “Absence from Felicity”. And now a word from our sponsor:

If You Were Born Today, February 22: While sensitive and concerned with others’ welfare, you are not afraid to be different. In fact, many of you feel a “calling” early in life, or feel special or different. This can lead you on an unusual path, but always a very expressive one. Your ideas are unique and creative, and you feel compelled to share them! In fact, you can be very persuasive and intriguing. Many of the choices you make in life are altruistic ones. Famous people born today: George Washington, Ted Kennedy, Drew Barrymore, Steve Irwin, Sybil Leek.

God bless us every one

beautifully put Katrina :) big hugs to you xoxoxo

Good to know, Lisa (:

I fought my dorky self much through my teen years.. a lot of useless effort. Better to accept my geeky self-image :)

Ciao for now.

ps. Was really hoping Ken would pop in with a comment yesterday. Oh well.

YAY. Seems I can post in the Grotto again. Bora Bora, Katrina? Cool.

Yay Ruthie!

I really did have a beautiful day yesterday not because of anything that happened. Just felt like I caught a good wave and rode it all day. Maybe I was just tapping into all of the good wishes floating around the world for Ken’s Birthday. Thanks Ken! Everyone’s heartfelt wishes so sincere and I liked the Bora Bora reference too :) It was good to give Ken a personal acknowledgement and I too hope he doesn’t tire anytime soon saying the same thing over and over.

Hang Loose Everyone…Off to see if I can catch another good wave. Hmmm now I’m thinking I’m tapping into Ruthie’s Hawaii vibe.

Wonderful Poem dear AL!…. “anguished drawn out fearfilled scream ” awesome phrase and so onomatopoeic too…. I wanted to paste Edvard Munch`s “The Scream” here `cause that`s what it reminded me of but i still cant figure out how to work cotton-pickin image shack…..Anyhoo i just want to give you a big hug…xoxoxo

Annie i hope you have a wonderful day today as well !

Anil….Dorks nerds geeks and dags are the new cool thing to be AND i think you`ll find are REQUIRED attributes of the hush-hush-very-secret Brotherhood of the Socks that Nina suspects is forming somewhere here in the grotto.

{leaves some sweet juicy mangoes for Ruth-Anne to make wine with and a nice hot cup of tea for dear Mother}

Winnie, The Brotherhood of the Socks sounds intriguing. I’ll have to go talk to Lawrence (and Bernard ?) about it ? :)

Al – Nice writing there for Ken. (also, forgot/couldn’t write in earlier – liked your poem on the “Dawn”

MoM dearest -
You’re too cool, stylish and elegant for the Brotherhood of the Socks. (You saw Winnie’s post, right ? – being nerdy is apparently a REQUIRED attribute ;))
Love,
a

{wafting through the air from the vicinity of the Treehouse comes the delightful aroma of delicious hot mocha being brewed on the little pot belly stove therein}

Psst, hey Nina! Over here in the Grotto. I figured we could talk here by the pool.

An INFJ is a personality type. It’s calculated by the Meyers- Briggs personality test. I actually don’t know a whole lot about it, but a colleague of mine had me do the test once and I repeated it online recently after kailin mentioned it.

There’s a short version (72 questions) and a much longer, more comprehensive version. It was put together by Carl Jung and Isabel Meyers-Briggs.

Anyway, I’ve always wondered why I seem so different from everyone else and when I saw that my personality type is only 1%, I had to laugh!

I hope that helps!

:::big chuckles::: I have an old form that was filled out years ago and I suspect hasn’t changed any. It is… wait for it… INFJ. Very interesting. Hugs, DD.

I`ve never heard of INFJ but in “Take me to Truth”, a book recommended by Gary Renard, they talk about taking an “Enneagram” test…maybe it`s much the same…..

{pours Punkey a nice hot cup of mocha}

Lisa -I found out I am an INFJ too..maybe it is something they put in the food here at the monastery…or it could have something to do with Pomegranatejuice – ( and I had only 1 on judgment, what good Coursestudent I am – very special I must say)

The Titanic no doubt…and then when we do hit the iceberg of our unconcsious guilt, we pretend it`s a tragedy while all the while morbidly enjoying it …. it`s no coincidence that “The Titanic” was the biggest box office hit. {until Avatar}

yeah but maybe they shouldnt be t-shirts but more appropriately shifts … remember when we used to wear shifts ? …mind you i never liked `em…too plain for me … i love frills and puffed sleeves ……………..still…{sigh}

{Licks chocolate bun sticky off face..} Good shot, Nina! My favorite! Got any with raspberry? {Throws one back} Lisa’s serving popcorn.. I’m in for some if it’s got LOADS of butter on it. And did Punky drink all the mocha? I’m finding that after all this shifting I’m a bit hungry.

Thanks for the lots-a-butter, Lisa. Shifts come in all shapes and sizes. Shifts occur in all colors and enhancements. I found this one for $375.00 – that’s a lot of money for one little shift!!

My further investigation reveals that the common denominator of all shifts is their inherent lack of a defined waistline… and they tend to have a closer to the body silhouette than say moo moo’s. However, the fashion police I questioned hesitated to draw any more specifics than that, hating to put shifts in too small of a category. The classic example of a shift might be a “little black dress”.. Audrey Hepburn wore tons of them, and Twiggy too.

I think moo moos are shifts that happen to cows. The things you step on in a farm field. Or cow epiphanies/instants. Something like that. Gotta check with my Iowa buddies on that one…

563 two last lines …Mother…can you hear me howling from Norway? I am going to put it up on a poster, or paint it in 7feet tall letters in all colors and embroider it on all my clothes and paint it on my coffin forgoshsake. T H A N K YOU for letting all your wonderful craziness blossom here I am E N J O Y I N G it so

Dear friends,
When can we have our next party ?

Hmm now let me see….{ checks Official Grotto Guidelines for Holding Parties, Orgies and Picnics}

oh Annie that`s so funny ! I love it ….i havent seen that episode

Yes i will be arriving in your fair country Sunday 14th March just three hours earlier than when i will have left mine…tee hee…..
Dont get too excited but, `cause if there`s one thing i aint gonna be doin`, it`s takin` notes. To quote Gary and stay on topic, i`d prefer to “stick pieces of broken glass up my butt.

Oops, Nina. Forgot.

April 26th is my birthday. Haven’t been diligent of keeping track of our friends’ birthdays. Please remind me again when yours is ?

Anil, you don’t have to remember any of them – Mother or somebody else always do. When it is almost april 26, though, you might drop a hint of what you’d like to eat…or drink…or so…

{{{Ruth-Anne}}}
missing you so much
loving you so much
polishing the machine and supervising the small monks in the kitchen until you return (when they’re not on one of their secret Sock-meetings)
it’s not that same without you
the Ruth-Anne-ish-ness is missing

Mother, the only question i had for Ken was could i please take him and Gloria out for dinner which i asked by way of writing him a proper letter. I didnt think i had much chance but it was worth a try.
He wrote me back such a lovely letter explaining how he had more meal invitations that he could manage and that he was very sorry.
I was so excited when i got the letter, i just savoured the moment. I took the letter over to my son. He lives in the next row of avocado trees in a donga {relocatable workmans hut}.

It was like i was holding the winning lotto ticket.
When i opened it, i read one sentence at a time covering the others so i could just prolong the savouringness…My youngest was very amused.
He mentions my name four times {happy sigh}.
It was just like the time i wrote to the queen when i was 12 and got a reply from her lady-in-waiting.

Here is the poem i wrote her -> {for your amusement}

O`er us all she does reign
Young at heart and much to gain
She is wise to every crime
To all her subjects she is prime.

The world has never known such grace
For the wisest queen in our race.
The road heartwards has no moat
To every person i can quote.

{goes off to pack fairy dresses and plenty of thermal underwear} Struth the minimum temperature in Temecula right now is 10 degrees colder than the minimum in the middle of winter over here…

p.s. looking forward to seeing your picture soon Anil xoxox

Winnie -
Nice reading your post on Ken’s letter to you. Look forward to hearing of your Temecula adventures in future posts (but no worries, i’m not expecting any class notes :). (I think I’m all “meta-physics-drained”). just your stories of travel and adventure).
Bye for now,
A

What a lovely way to remember Dr. Lisa and her Goddess presence. Thanks for sharing your day and posting the pic.

Hugs, Annie

In her own way, at her own level of understanding Dr. Lisa was definintely a grotto kinda’ girl. Thanks Winnie.

Like Anil am looking forward to you telling about your Temecula trip.

Great sharing, Winnie, thanks.

For fun in the grotto I am going to try to post my first Utube video.

Hope it works. These singers are from the town I live in. Love you guys.