Goals for 2009 vs. goals for 2008

Last years list got about half-done. Here is this years list:

1) Get my own place – make it mine.
2) Pay off my debts – student loans excepted.
3) Get an internship.
4) Take as many roadtrips as I can afford.
5) Indulge my artistic side more often.

My goals for 2008:

1) Maintain Honor’s GPA in school.

2) Tie up my one remaining big loose end.

3) Research Maternal bloodline.

4) Make our household greener.

5) Get a job with a local Funeral Home.

What I got done:

1) Ha! not quite. But I did the best I could.
2) Done and done! Ramen!
3) Still stumped on Deli Stump. But still working on it. This is an ongoing goal.
4) Managed it for a while, will manage it again when I get my own place.
5) You’ll notice, this is on the list for this year too. Still working on that one, but it’s a closer reality now than it was this time last year.

 

Start of semester jitters.

Yeah, they’re coming on strong. Already I feel my focus, time and energy being stretched in a half dozen different directions.  Time to pull in and hunker down.

I have Anatomy & Physiology I, Survey of Algebra, and History of American Funeral Directing lined up this semester. It should prove fun.

If you don’t hear from me often, be patient.  I’m riding the wave.

~Marianne

 

School, books, and the Rule of Being Excellent to Each Other.

I finally sat down and laid out a semester by semester plan for getting my degree. It’s not going to happen as quickly as I’d like. I had hoped to apply to the program come Spring of next year and get started in the Fall but unless I cram three classes into this Summer semester (which we would have to pay for) and another four into this Fall it isn’t going to happen. Given the stress I was under this past semester, I decided not to do that to my family ; )  So, finishing up my pre-requisites by going half time will put me graduating in 2011. Additionally, doing it in that time frame will give me time to pursue a couple of classes just for me, like German and World Religions so I’m kinda looking forward to it actually.

I just finished reading American Shamans, by Jack Montgomery. I recommend it to anyone interested in American folk magic, it’s a fantastic read following a man on his very personal journey from skeptical youth to an adult involved in the practice of Powwow. Now I’m reading The Inner Reaches of Outer Space: Metaphor as Myth and as Religion, by Joseph Campbell which also promises to be an enlightening read. I might have to put it down for a little while though, as I am anticipating another book in the mail that I bought on Ebay, lol. The aforementioned author, Jack Montgomery, was taught by a man named Lee Gandee, who wrote a book called Strange Experience that was published in 1971 and is no longer in print. Amazon.com had copies for sale from $40 – $210 for one in mint condition.  I found a copy on Ebay for $20.  Score! But reading Jack’s book has fueled an interest in me about Powwow and Hexerei, both magical traditions with German roots, so I have a long list of “to obtain and read” books from that. Last night I went to a local used book store with my Lady and got a copy of Joseph Campbell’s The Power of Myth (which I’d been wanting for a while) and another book called Mary Magdalene: Christianity’s Hidden Goddess by Lynn Picknett that caught my fancy. The story of Mary Magdalene has always been a fringe interest of mine but I’ve never dedicated any time or brainpower to studying about her. Of course, at this rate, I have reading material for the next several years already lined up.

My friend X and I had a discussion a few weeks back about ethics in magic.  We discussed The Golden Rule and The Threefolds Law; two rules on opposite ends of the Spiritual spectrum that are set up as guidelines for our behaviour toward one another. I’ve not been a fan of the Threefolds Law. To me it smacks more of a “hand of God” threat to keep one in line rather than a sound ethical reasoning. He’s not a fan of The Golden Rule (probably because of the Christian connotations more than anything else. Not saying I blame him, I’m just saying). Jokingly, he threw in Bill and Ted’s “Be excellent to each other!”.  I said why not? I think Bill and Ted hit the nail on the head. Just be good to each other and have fun damn it!

So, to each of you I say:

“Be excellent to each other!  And party on dudes!”

 

Don’t call me “Pollyanna”.

My attorney called today.  They have the paperwork ready.  I’m to go to their office tomorrow to sign it.  It’ll be filed and he’ll be served at some point later this week or the first of next.  This makes me very anxious.  I worked a little bit of a candle spell tonight to help things along… bright yellow, sunshine and daisies, right?  Speed of light I’m thinking… no hidden agendas… smooth and fast.  Just like Marianne.

EDIT:  Damn.  That candle burned fast and completely.  Not even a wick left.  This is a good sign.

 

Lyrics inspire me

Well, better put, I mostly listen to songs with lyrics that inspire me.  Tori, for example:

Yello bird flying
Get shot in the wing
good year for hunter
And Christmas parties
And I hate and I hate
And I hate and I hate
Elevator music
The way we fight
The way I’m left here silent

Oh these little earthquakes
Here we go again
These little earthquakes
Doesn’t take much to rip us into pieces

We danced in graveyards
With vampires till dawn
We laughed in the faces of kings Never afraid to burn
And I hate and I hate
And I hate and i hate
Disintegration
Watching us wither
Black winged roses that safely changed their color

Oh these little earthquakes
Here we go again
These little earthquakes
Doesn’t take much to rip us into pieces

I can’t reach you
I can’t reach you
Give me life Give me pain
Give me myself again

Oh these little earthquakes
Here we go again
These little earthquakes
Doesn’t take much to rip us into pieces

I found myself an attorney today.  As X put it, time to put a square knot in that loose end.