A friend of mine is very sweet and meek, even humble. Just a sweet spirit. So I was surprised when she told me how she recently "took charge" when she found herself in the midst of a collision.

Jean was approaching an intersection and noticed a man crossing the street in front of her and also a fast approaching Surburban was coming up from behind. She kept watching the Surburban in her rear view mirror. It was coming way too fast and might run into her. She couldn't move forward because of the pedestrian crossing in front of her. And just before the car ran upon her, it swerved quickly and struck the pedestrian crossing in front of Jean.

Jean said she bounded from her Jeep, and ran straight to the injured man now lying in the street. She screamed out for someone to call "911". She contined barking out orders for someone to stand up front and direct traffic, and told someone else to get the First Aid kit out of the back floor of her Jeep. She had picked up his head, put it on her lap, began stroking his hair trying to calm him, and telling him help was on the way and that he'd be fine. People were stopping and gathering, and an ambulance soonshowed up to drive him to the hospital.

The next morning she called the hospital to find his condition was "Serious". And the next day, he was upgraded, but still recovering and would be fine.

What unforseen force takes us by the hand and guides us to do things that are out of character? Why was she put in this man's path that evening or vice versa? Have you ever had a similar experience?

Has everyone seen Mars lately? I finally remembered to look for it last night. It's easily visable to the naked eye and is the largest light in the sky. It has an orange-golden glow to it, too. Skye has a big telescope I will use tonight.

Well, hell. Here it is 2:00 pm and I've not been blog-hopping yet. Skye comes home at 3:30 and gets online to chat before homework, then there's dinner, etc. So I may be late stopping by today/tonight to visit, if at all today. The Captain and Skye decided to change bedrooms. (Most of you know we haven't shared a bedroom in 15 years--that's another post; or a whole 'nother blog) So just when we're making good headway on moving and organizing to this different home, they want to switch rooms. Skye has been spooked while sleeping downstairs. She has a talking Kelly Osbourne bobble head doll and woke up to it talking at 4 in the morning last week just out of the blue. I forgot what else happened. But she wants the bedroom beside of mine and that's fine with Mom. So I'm going to help him switch and will try my damndest to visit you later.

Who's Who?

Thinking about you guys even when I'm not able to visit as often as I'd like. It sorta seems weird to like folks I've never even seen before, but some of you are very special to me. When I visit you I picture where you live, your environment, your home/apt. Who else may live there, your pets, if any, where you sit when you're online. And, of course, what you look like. If I've never seen your picture, I already have one in my mind of you from descriptions I've read before.

::One of you reminds me of one of my best friends of 30+ years and I find it incredibly easy to talk to you. I have to temper my words and phrases occasionally because I really start to take off and talk to this blogging friend the same way I talk to Dena in real life. If we ever got together, we'd probably have so much fun that our families would try to reel us in. And probably for our own good.

::One of you is like my favorite cousin, Randall, who's one year older and the darling of the family clan. He's very charming and talented in everything he touches. Although my cousin is a high school principal with a lovely wife and 3 beautiful kids---this part is not at all similar to this favorite blogging friend. I respect them both immeasureably.

::One of you reminds me of a friend that always went to concerts with me. We'd travel sometimes every weekend someplace to see Led Zeppelin or the Stones or someone perform. Her Dad had bought her a new car and gave her a gas card and we were gone......! Laura is very pretty, and quiet, all the boys love her, and she always laughs at everything I say. This blogger friend is also very cool and pretty, too. And very organized. Much younger than my real life friend, but still reminds me a great deal of her.

::One blogging favorite reminds me of a combination of two childhood friends, Janet and Donna. The salt of the earth, the nurturer, the one you always share your ups and downs and secrets with. The "Go-To" person. And cares for me unconditionally, just like I suspect this blogging buddy would. The Yin to my Yang, you both keep me grounded, and never judge me. Or ever have anything bad to say about anyone and I know I could always depend on her for anything, at anytime.

::One of your reminds me of a high school friend of my sister's and mine. She made us laugh hysterically all the time. I can just think of her and laugh. This blogging friend probably thinks I'm silly when I leave comments, but she makes me laugh, just like Kathy did in real life. A very carefree, joyful person. Life of the party.

Any of this look familiar to anyone?

I Said, "Doctor, Doctor, Give Me The News..."

I just returned from taking Skyler to an ADD/ADHD appointment. We're trying out a different medication. This one (Straterra) has had good results, and is not a scheduled or controlled substance (amphetamine) like the previous medication (Adderall) she tried. So we'll see what happens.

The Captain has kept his newly diagnosed diabetes under control so well lately that he decided he could try out some real ice cream. I just noticed it in the freezer this morning and asked him about it. He said he felt like shit today after having some of it last night. I suppose we're all alike. We all like to test our boundaries.

Do Redheads Have More Fun?

I put some blonde-red hair color on my hair last night. I have naturally reddish brown hair, but have been using blonde hair dye for decades. But with so much naturally red hair, the blonde dye always comes out a very light strawberry blonde--which is fine. But this came out a medium red. It wasn't what I expected, because it's blatantly red; with no blonde in sight. I kinda like it and may just put on a darker red or auburn the next time I color it. I don't think my husband cared too much for it. Although that's neither here nor there. What color is your hair this week?

Am I Governor Or Not?

Wanna Design Your Own Hell? [via: idle type]

Some of us were recently talking about meeting our boyfriends, wives, etc, in a bar. You hear that it's the worst place to meet someone. But it's worked well for me. (Many of you know my husband's and my story. As a bartender and as a guitar player in a band, where else are you gonna meet someone?) And for a surprising number of other people, too. Have you ever had a successful, long lasting relationship that originated in a bar?

Happy Birthday to Maggie's daughter, Brie today.

Huh? I understand hearing loss very well. My sister has struggled with it for 30 years. But from years of standing too close to a stage full of amps to loud ear-splitting guitar solos, my husband also experiences major hearing loss. In the early days in New York, their band shared a loft together and also practiced there. They began with meager equipment until Tom Wilson signed them. (he also managed Hendrix at the time.) With money no object, the best of everything filled their loft. Guitars, amps, drums, sound equipment, etc. Remember the old rolled and pleated Marshall amps every band just had to have? The louder the better. His hearing loss probably began then and really is pretty bad. Do I think he would have done anything differently had he known his hearing would be about gone? Hell, no.

kane had a beautiful story on his site that got me thinking about something....

Last First Day Of School
I will never ever forget the first day of school for my youngest child. It was the first time I had to turn my back and walk out on her when every natural, maternal urge I posessed was telling me to pick her up and run.

After saying good-bye to her in the classroom, I walked down the hallway to leave the school. I passed two other mothers, smiled and joined in step with them. We three Moms continued walking up the stairs, and as the principal was coming down them, he said something like "We'll take good care of your babies, Mothers." We smiled and turned to each other and it was then I noticed that we had all three been crying as we'd dropped off our precious cargo that morning.

Of course, I cried all the way home, but the principal's warm wise words brought some comfort to this hurting Mother on such a monumental day.

It's no secret I've got the best mother-in-law in the world. And today is her birthday. She's 76, looks 60, and acts 30. She honestly is that rare type of person who glows and can walk into a room and light it up. You feel safe and enveloped in her presence. If she's not an angel living on earth, she's damn close. Happy Birthday, Joy.

Anyone having trouble with ants this time of year? We have them in the kitchen. If one tiny crumb drops, it'll soon be covered with ants. And since I don't walk about with a dust buster strapped to my ass, we see the occasional ant swarm around here. Any home remedies? Something we bought didn't work; although I may have sucked it up in the vacuum cleaner. (now it was stapped to my ass) I also saw that zen-lunatic was also having problems with ants. Help?

As I'm putting things away, emptying boxes, etc, I run across a large wooden cross (14" X 6") with Jesus nailed to it. Janet gave it to me 37 years ago. You may have heard me talk about Janet; my best friend growing up who's now passed. Her Uncle John was a Catholic Priest and had many beautiful crosses and rosaries in his sparse, simple bedroom upstairs at her old stately house.

I haven't always kept this sacred cross on display. In fact, it was in a drawer for the first 10 years or so. Then, as tragedy crossed my path growing up, I'd fetch the cross in hopes of any type of prayer miracle, hold it, looking for some spiritual guidance in my mixed up life. And with Janet now passed, it's now a strange connection to her.

Today I pull it out of a box and reminisce about it's origin and wonder about the story it could tell before it came into my life. It gains more prominence the longer I have it and is as much a part of my home as my bed or stove. Essential. Necessary. And as soon as I find the perfect spot in my newly moved into home, back up in very prominent position it'll go.

teenage horror movie

She's Jekyll and Hyde, I'm telling you. My daughter is so sweet, and loving one moment. And the next, she's auditioning for the Linda Blair part in the Exorcist. What's scarier than that is that one day, the sweet side may be gone forever and I'll be left with a sassy, disrespectful teen. She started school yesterday. But, bless her heart, she does appear to have some type of learning disability. We saw doctors and reluctantly tried Adderall for ADD/ADHD. But, there was no change in her after 6 months, so we discontinued the medicine. She's not stupid by any stretch, but has trouble processing the skills of learning. For example, if I tell her to do 1, then 2, then 3----she may go directly to 3 and swear to you later that I never mentioned to do 1 and 2. This isn't occasionally; this is always. Testing has proved she's above average intelligence and teachers told me she was a classic ADD case, but I don't know what to do. Her grades are poor, so it's important for us to find a solution. Does anyone else have any suggestions? That's another thing I like about weblogging.....you can get lots of good input from people.

I'm reading FlyLady again. Two or three years ago when I first came upon that site, it really helped me get organized. I extract the useful nuggets and delete the rest. I'm in need of some inspiration especially since I just moved, so I'm on her list again. Has anyone ever tried it?

I hate to whine so much about moving, but......it'd be nice for once to have a laundry room on the same floor as the main living area is on. (read basement) Which means stairs, stairs, and more stairs. For someone with osteo-arthritis in her back and hips, arthritis in her knees, and a weak knee from athroscopic knee surgery years ago, may I just say, "Stairs Suck!" Of course, I use them anyway, all the time, and have to prop my legs up at night for the swelling to go down from my knee. I'm scared more than I'm in pain. Because I don't want to go thru that knee surgery again. Here I go whining again. Can if I want to...right?

two weblogs I have a lot of interests--music, politics, pop culture. And I'm such a cynic. (easy bake coven fulfills this) But there's also my spiritual loving side whose foundation is built on the notion that Love really is the answer to everything. (susan*jayne) What's mine is yours. Love everybody. Whatever gets you through the night. Step out in faith. Really, it's the same creeds I lived by when I embraced the full-blown hippie lifestyle 30+ years ago. If I had a loaf of bread, half of it was yours. If you didn't have a car, I left the keys in mine for you. And so on. Be in this world, not OF this world. Don't get caught up in all the superfluous things. Most of my beliefs are basic things many have been taught from the Bible. About love and the golden rule. I'm a confirmed Episcopalian; but seldom have occasion to discuss that until recently. (Although it's part of my 100 Things I've had up forever.) And I also have a toe-hold in Budhhaism. With a website title like Easy Bake Coven, many people just assume I'm pagan or wiccan. I'm not. I don't know much about that at all, but my daughter has now discovered it. Because of that, I've met many wonderful people who've visited me that may not have otherwise. But this is where I talk more about me---it never felt right to combine both weblogs. Maybe as a Libra I'm trying to find that balance.

I've worked on this site a little and will be fixing up a blogroll for the people who stop by here. I moved my birthday list over, too. So Susan*Jayne will be the gentler, more personal side of me. And Easy Bake Coven is where I'll be raising hell, as usual. Any feedback always welcome. Thanks for stopping by.

around bloghdad...
Shirl is leaving Michigan for a trip to Montana today. Damn, the farthest west I've ever been is Nashville, TN. Alex recently sent me a picture of Black and Decker's latest toy, which I happened to try out last night. (safe for work---sound nefarious, doesn't it?)

Happy Birthday, Melanie!
Melanie of Veracity-or-Mendacity and from Sydney, is celebrating her birthday today.


Waiting for the Captain to bring me some stuff so I can get more stuff done around the house. Have I ever told you how frugal he is? We had a few hundred $$ set back to get a moving van, etc, to move. But HE wanted to save money, so he's bringing it all over bit by bit in his truck. Last night I got my washer. Today, I've hoping for the matching dryer to complete a laundry load. It didn't really start out this way. We began bringing boxes of things over at first. And then, each time we'd add something else, until the loveseat went, the dressers went, etc. So it's 3/4 frugality, and 1/4 'by God, I can do this thing myself.' And is there some unwritten law that dictates men's decor or surroundings should always be in blue? And if you cannot find a blue "one", be really radical and try navy or sky blue or steel blue. Where I prefer a putty, a grey, a butter or an olive "one". sigh-freakin'-sigh.....

Caution:: Rare religious post
As an Episcopalian, it makes me uneasy to read about the discord in the Episcopalian church surrounding the upcoming vote for confirmation of Bishop Gene Robinson. The official vote will happen in about a half hour, but it looks very good. There always seems to be some sort of controversy in our church but I'm always prouder as each one is addressed. We updated the Prayer Book (BCP) in 1976 and that alone angered many that would soon leave the church for another church or another Episcopal Church that still went by the old 1928 Book Of Common Prayer. Then we had the women priest controversy. And against much discord against it, decided that it was a good idea. Our open-minded, loving church gained many more followers. And each step the Church takes, the firm foundation becomes more solid. I became confirmed into the church in 1982 because of their liberal, understanding, non-discriminatory ways. I hadn't belonged to any church in years, amidst a growing spiritual thirst. It was the first church I'd been to that didn't treat you any differently if you were divorced, gay, a single parent, or for what you wore to church. Not just kissing up to your face at church and ignoring you as they passed by you in the liquor store. The Episcopal Church is what I think a church should be. Treating us all as God's children unconditionally. Just as your Mother or Father would treat you unconditionally and genuionely welcome you into their home at all times.

Some other time I'll tell you about my first priest, Father Louis Oats, aka Smoky. I was truly the 'devil's advocate' when we met. And he's still one of the most influential people that ever crossed my path.

Blog for America is Howard Dean's Blog. He's got strong possibilities. But why expend a lot of energy on a candidate that may not come close to making the cut? Although he is fast becoming a front runner. If he stays ahead and gets the nomination, I'll seriously consider supporting him. Still, anything can happen between now and Primary time.

Expounding on a comment I made today on EBC3, about someone saying "Stop hiding your personality with a list of links." It really resonates with me because I find it very hard to talk about myself. The two people I most converse with are major talkers. Robin and my husband. And did I mention they're MAJOR talkers?

I notice all the different weblog personalities out there. Some without comments on their site usually exude arrogance. Or extreme shyness. Some that leave me perplexed are ones that have pictures of themselves on the page, but the face if cut off. I've recently seen two of those sites. I'm certain Freud would have had a blast analyzing those folks.

When growing up, one of Mother's favorite sayings was "Children should be seen and not heard." Intellectually, I know it's not true, but it is embedded deep inside. Still I burst at the seams to talk about ME. And as hard as it is, I know I've come a long way.