Merlyn Fuller's Blog: www.merlynmischief.blogspot.com, page 3
June 10, 2014
Acupuncture 101
I've never liked needles. It's because of my family doctor when I was young. He gave shots of Penicillan for anything as a cure. Anything and everything. If I had to go to the doctor for even the slightest thing, my hands would begin to sweat because I thought "shot."
So now, that I'm an adult...why did I sign myself up for Acupuncture?
Because I have issues. Pain, to be specific and a couple of other things including a slipped disc, guitar thumb (brought on by 40 years of guitar playing, and 30 of those years were played on a 12-string, with extra hand pressure). Also I suffer from occasional bouts depression (even though I hide it well) and the yearly asthma attack. You know, normal shit.
I've recently been able to acquire insurance (through Obamacare) and it allowed our self employed selves- me and my mate- to go get physicals for the first time in about 15 years. .
Actually, I'm really very healthy, with a BP daily reading of about 95/65! After tests for Rhuematiod Arthritis came back negative (yay! but ...wtf? why the pain then?), in the month of May, I decided to eliminate some possible food culprits as the cause.
So I stopped eating dairy, wheat, sugar, soy and alcohol. After 12 days, I had a glass of red wine, and it seems to not be a problem for me. (Thank you, Bacchus :)
Still achey though. Better but the pain still hanging on. Chiropractor has been helping a lot for years. I am not averse to Alternative therapies. After hearing so many good things from others lately about Acupuncture I decided it was worth a shot. (Literally :)
Hey, any medical practice that has survived with a good reputation for 2500 years has to have some merits!
My trusted L.M.T. (Licensed massage therapist) recommended her own Acupuncturist who also happens to live in our area. Kewl! The lady has her Masters in Chinese Medicine. (how wondrous is THAT?) and also, it's from our local New York Chiropractic College, in Seneca Falls.
Live global, buy local. :)
I got myself all scrubbed and tubbed after a leisurely morning. Went and found her office next to the flower shop. It was a busy little health center that I had never noticed its presence before. Talia, my practitioner, was sweet, gregarious and thorough in her questioning. Intake was to take about 1 1/2 hours. I was there 2 hours altogether.
First, the questioning was everything from former hospitalizations, and illnesses, to diet, stress and yes, even how you poop. Me, being the little hippy health guru, told her about myself quite knowledgeably. I even provided to her a copy of my blood work from my family doctor, but also a copy of my Chiropractor's history chart and diagnosis.
She was impressed with that, my daily BP readings, and also my dietary changes. We spoke of everything from remembering dreams to metaphysical causes (emotions or stress) influences. My going through menopause while on birth control pills has done a number on me. You see, I was probably already done with menopause but the pills kept me cycling for a long time after. It was like whipping a dead horse and I had depleted the goodness of the blood that was not supposed to cycle out at that time. It made for my joints, discs and all sorts of blood flow to deplete and dry out! So, hat is why my joints were cracking!
Also why my sadness happens, as it's related to these particular organs. Down and out, like the blood flow. So the emotions coincide.
Fucking amazing.
The organs responsible for some of my ills were definitely affected by the past, and the wee needles (she showed me what they looked like. Sort of a very fine thread needle.) would open up and connect and get things flowing again.
She rubbed areas to be treated with alcohol while talking to me about what was going on inside my metabolism. She guessed at a couple of stressors and previous injuries by intuitive touch.
She said, "Ok, now breathe in.....and out." On the out would come the stick from the needle. Some of them I felt, some I did not feel at all. One stung on the in and the out. It was not what I'd call painful, but merely noted ,or slightly annoying, if anything was felt at all.
Talia put in 30 needles all told. As I laid on my stomach, there were needles in my lower neck, down my spine, over lungs, lower back (the one I believe right ON the slipped disc was the one that stung...and that's understandable, I suppose). There were needles on my hip joints, back of knees, calves, on my bothersome ankle joint. For my guitar hand, she put 5 of them on thumb area.
Then she turned on some music, and left me to lay there and listen to music and relax. The needles did not hurt, but they seemed to trigger some metabolic response. The music changed to the sounds of flowing water and I listened to it and went with the flow of the sound and the flowing out of the bad chi from the trigger points. It really was relaxing. At one point, I think I went into a drop sleep and it was then that I was aware of it as Talia came back in.
One by one she took out the needles, and I only felt that same lower back one on the way out. I raised my head off of the massage pillow and tried to gain my bearings.
If I didn't know better, I'd say I was stoned. (And believe me, I know about these things. :)
Yah, I was definitely out of it a bit, although I tried not to let on, because I figured it was just a response from the treatment. I paid her and got into my car, and went to the grocery store to pick up sweet potatoes, and beets and berries to add more fully to my already good diet...I was still a bit stoned.
It was the strangest feeling. I never knew that this feeling could be part of the experience. I certainly felt relaxed. And guess what? My thumb and back and ankle pain was LESS.
Oh yah, I'm going back next week for another treatment. I want to continue with this for awhile. I feel improved already!
Also, did you know that there is also Acupuncture for Dogs as well? I bet my older, arthritic doggy Monty Joe would also benefit from it.
Onward to my busy summer!
Warwick hills await, and I need to be ready to haul minstrel arse. :)
So now, that I'm an adult...why did I sign myself up for Acupuncture?
Because I have issues. Pain, to be specific and a couple of other things including a slipped disc, guitar thumb (brought on by 40 years of guitar playing, and 30 of those years were played on a 12-string, with extra hand pressure). Also I suffer from occasional bouts depression (even though I hide it well) and the yearly asthma attack. You know, normal shit.
I've recently been able to acquire insurance (through Obamacare) and it allowed our self employed selves- me and my mate- to go get physicals for the first time in about 15 years. .
Actually, I'm really very healthy, with a BP daily reading of about 95/65! After tests for Rhuematiod Arthritis came back negative (yay! but ...wtf? why the pain then?), in the month of May, I decided to eliminate some possible food culprits as the cause.
So I stopped eating dairy, wheat, sugar, soy and alcohol. After 12 days, I had a glass of red wine, and it seems to not be a problem for me. (Thank you, Bacchus :)
Still achey though. Better but the pain still hanging on. Chiropractor has been helping a lot for years. I am not averse to Alternative therapies. After hearing so many good things from others lately about Acupuncture I decided it was worth a shot. (Literally :)
Hey, any medical practice that has survived with a good reputation for 2500 years has to have some merits!
My trusted L.M.T. (Licensed massage therapist) recommended her own Acupuncturist who also happens to live in our area. Kewl! The lady has her Masters in Chinese Medicine. (how wondrous is THAT?) and also, it's from our local New York Chiropractic College, in Seneca Falls.
Live global, buy local. :)
I got myself all scrubbed and tubbed after a leisurely morning. Went and found her office next to the flower shop. It was a busy little health center that I had never noticed its presence before. Talia, my practitioner, was sweet, gregarious and thorough in her questioning. Intake was to take about 1 1/2 hours. I was there 2 hours altogether.
First, the questioning was everything from former hospitalizations, and illnesses, to diet, stress and yes, even how you poop. Me, being the little hippy health guru, told her about myself quite knowledgeably. I even provided to her a copy of my blood work from my family doctor, but also a copy of my Chiropractor's history chart and diagnosis.
She was impressed with that, my daily BP readings, and also my dietary changes. We spoke of everything from remembering dreams to metaphysical causes (emotions or stress) influences. My going through menopause while on birth control pills has done a number on me. You see, I was probably already done with menopause but the pills kept me cycling for a long time after. It was like whipping a dead horse and I had depleted the goodness of the blood that was not supposed to cycle out at that time. It made for my joints, discs and all sorts of blood flow to deplete and dry out! So, hat is why my joints were cracking!
Also why my sadness happens, as it's related to these particular organs. Down and out, like the blood flow. So the emotions coincide.
Fucking amazing.
The organs responsible for some of my ills were definitely affected by the past, and the wee needles (she showed me what they looked like. Sort of a very fine thread needle.) would open up and connect and get things flowing again.
She rubbed areas to be treated with alcohol while talking to me about what was going on inside my metabolism. She guessed at a couple of stressors and previous injuries by intuitive touch.
She said, "Ok, now breathe in.....and out." On the out would come the stick from the needle. Some of them I felt, some I did not feel at all. One stung on the in and the out. It was not what I'd call painful, but merely noted ,or slightly annoying, if anything was felt at all.
Talia put in 30 needles all told. As I laid on my stomach, there were needles in my lower neck, down my spine, over lungs, lower back (the one I believe right ON the slipped disc was the one that stung...and that's understandable, I suppose). There were needles on my hip joints, back of knees, calves, on my bothersome ankle joint. For my guitar hand, she put 5 of them on thumb area.
Then she turned on some music, and left me to lay there and listen to music and relax. The needles did not hurt, but they seemed to trigger some metabolic response. The music changed to the sounds of flowing water and I listened to it and went with the flow of the sound and the flowing out of the bad chi from the trigger points. It really was relaxing. At one point, I think I went into a drop sleep and it was then that I was aware of it as Talia came back in.
One by one she took out the needles, and I only felt that same lower back one on the way out. I raised my head off of the massage pillow and tried to gain my bearings.
If I didn't know better, I'd say I was stoned. (And believe me, I know about these things. :)
Yah, I was definitely out of it a bit, although I tried not to let on, because I figured it was just a response from the treatment. I paid her and got into my car, and went to the grocery store to pick up sweet potatoes, and beets and berries to add more fully to my already good diet...I was still a bit stoned.
It was the strangest feeling. I never knew that this feeling could be part of the experience. I certainly felt relaxed. And guess what? My thumb and back and ankle pain was LESS.
Oh yah, I'm going back next week for another treatment. I want to continue with this for awhile. I feel improved already!
Also, did you know that there is also Acupuncture for Dogs as well? I bet my older, arthritic doggy Monty Joe would also benefit from it.
Onward to my busy summer!
Warwick hills await, and I need to be ready to haul minstrel arse. :)
May 21, 2014
Relationship advice from Frog & Toad...
Hey Ho my Story-Cologists!
Last night our monthly group of big people (notice I didn't say Adults :) met up at our StoryBook friend Kate's house to discuss and enjoy the writings of Arnold Lobel with his books about "Frog & Toad."
I admit, I hadn't even thought about these books since my girls were wearing underoos. (Hint: they are now 26 & 28 years old, and I'm pretty sure they haven't worn underoos in about 20 years :)
But no matter! We delved into the books and read to each other and just enjoyed the simple pleasures of friendship and being honest and silly!
How absolutely wonderful to read aloud to each other these short quips and stories this night!
Bonus: We found a lot of buttons. :)
We tried hiding the cookies. It didn't work :)
We also realized that some of the reasons why we like these characters so much is that they remind us of two little old men friends.
Or maybe the Ego and the Id.
They sort of acted out in those ways...
One that tries new things....
One that is standoffish...
But they both are committed friends always!
The original BFF! Or like an Amphibian Odd Couple of sorts :)
It's all good. We revisited some simpler story lines, and some really funny puns and setups for jokes.
I'm pretty sure that in 1971 when Arnold Lobel was writing these stories...the term Snail Mail hadn't even been coined yet.
But wait for it.....it came just the same. Just like in the story!
I think that term started right here in this children's book!
As Usual....We had some really delicious themed food and drink for our dinner together:
What do Frogs and Toads like? Well, they liked Salmon Salad and Flies (black beans),
strawberries and cookies!
and scrumptious pulled pork (which looked a lot like frog :)
and we had to wash it down with this! How PERFECT!
We all took a poll and decided that....
We LOVE our StoryBook Club!!
Next month in June we will have a Field Trip to see the new movie "Maleficent" together with drinks and nibbles! We can't wait and are ecstatic!
Click here to check out the great trailer for the movie "Maleficent!"
Then in July we decided that we will continue the story and study it with all its twists and turns!
And oh boy howdy! I think we'll have a BLAST getting into the symbols and themes on this tale!
Until then.....
stay away from spinning wheels. :)
Last night our monthly group of big people (notice I didn't say Adults :) met up at our StoryBook friend Kate's house to discuss and enjoy the writings of Arnold Lobel with his books about "Frog & Toad."
I admit, I hadn't even thought about these books since my girls were wearing underoos. (Hint: they are now 26 & 28 years old, and I'm pretty sure they haven't worn underoos in about 20 years :)
But no matter! We delved into the books and read to each other and just enjoyed the simple pleasures of friendship and being honest and silly!
How absolutely wonderful to read aloud to each other these short quips and stories this night!
Bonus: We found a lot of buttons. :)
We tried hiding the cookies. It didn't work :)
We also realized that some of the reasons why we like these characters so much is that they remind us of two little old men friends.
Or maybe the Ego and the Id. They sort of acted out in those ways...
One that tries new things....
One that is standoffish...
But they both are committed friends always!
The original BFF! Or like an Amphibian Odd Couple of sorts :)
It's all good. We revisited some simpler story lines, and some really funny puns and setups for jokes.
I'm pretty sure that in 1971 when Arnold Lobel was writing these stories...the term Snail Mail hadn't even been coined yet.
But wait for it.....it came just the same. Just like in the story!
I think that term started right here in this children's book!
As Usual....We had some really delicious themed food and drink for our dinner together:
What do Frogs and Toads like? Well, they liked Salmon Salad and Flies (black beans),
strawberries and cookies!
and scrumptious pulled pork (which looked a lot like frog :)
and we had to wash it down with this! How PERFECT!
We all took a poll and decided that....
We LOVE our StoryBook Club!!
Next month in June we will have a Field Trip to see the new movie "Maleficent" together with drinks and nibbles! We can't wait and are ecstatic!
Click here to check out the great trailer for the movie "Maleficent!"
Then in July we decided that we will continue the story and study it with all its twists and turns!
And oh boy howdy! I think we'll have a BLAST getting into the symbols and themes on this tale!
Until then.....
stay away from spinning wheels. :)
April 15, 2014
The winding tale of getting published...what's it like to write a book???
Hey Ho~
We all have a story.
I've been writing all my life, but for the past 7 years I've been blogging about events or projects and as a performer I have read my work at many poetry slams and open mics.
But then something happened. My world got turned upside down by someone I loved. So, as I've always done before, I turned within to make sense of my world. I turned to my spirituality, my humor, my music and my writing to help me figure out the tumultuous emotions that were thrust upon me.I decided to start writing memoir after a bit of a life/love disaster. It comforted me to write.
My mother was always writing, banging away on her typewriter. It seemed like a good place to start.
I started at the beginning with childhood, wrote it in as clear detail as I could remember. I would just relax and think back to emotions, surroundings, smells, sights, sounds and write it as faithfully as I could put it down. I wrote about awesome things, fun things, terrifying things, things that made me think.
It helped me heal. It helped me learn about myself so that I could continue to do what I love best, which is to help others.
Writing about my childhood.... led to some scary stories....which led to some hard writing. But write it, I did. I just kept going. Then I wrote about being a Seeker with my mother...and then ....about my teenage years and some wild oats.
I just kept going.....writing about things that were amazing or weird or frightening or embarrassing or supernatural. It helped me to realize how very strong I am and have been.
I wrote about the birth of my girls, one of which surprised us with Down's Syndrome when she came into the world. I wrote about gigs, musical performance and being a traveling costumed minstrel...
Such a really odd and wonderful life I've had!
I do think that everyone has a story. I mean, otherwise, why are we all unique?
So, after the catharsis of writing was over and I was spent, I put it out to a few of my trusted friends (Lorie Finger, Christine Bonvino and Diana Baretsky) to mark it up with their red pens. And mark it up they did! And I was glad. Then I gave it to my friend and newspaper man, Russ Tarby to be "the first reader." He said he'd be honored to read it and give me his thoughts....and by the way, he asked if he "could make some notes on grammar and punctuation as he went along?" "Absolutely!" I was grateful for all the suggestions and advice and copy editing I could get!
My copy came back from Russ with many many pages looking like this:
And I was glad.
Well....sorta glad :)
Back to the drawing board.
I'll tell you one thing....editing is not as much fun as writing. No fecking way. It's tedious. But it is a necessary evil.
But between Lorie, Christine, Diana and Russ...they really really helped to shape it up some more!
So then once the book was done (again :), the next part was to make it look like a book!
But HOW??
My friend, Book Marshall, has been an amazing graphic artist and wizard of making my words evolve into pages, pages into a chapter, chapters into a real book! He encouraged me to put in pictures! Book is a handsome Godsend to me and this project and I can't thank him enough! He has been a trouper and a really awesome teammate on this daunting quest to turn words into a finished book!
It has been quite a process, and what a learning curve!
First, you have to deal with your emotions a lot when writing memoir. I mean, I don't think there's another form of literature that is so extremely personal! It's like your fanny is hanging out for everyone to see. (It is.).
Then there's dealing with the logistics of composition and all that it entails....outline, thematic elements, symbolism....
After that, there is the monster of editing 106,000 words. Many times. Many many many times.
And just when you think it's perfect....you find another flaw or correction to be made. The devil is in the details. What a true statement that is!
Then there is the building of the actual book. You have to pick a font. (and no, not Times Roman). There are a kazillion fonts. And graphic artists, writers and publishers all have their favorites! There is the decision of what to NAME your book (mine has so many elements in it, that I needed a broad inclusive name. I'm very happy with my title, which took me a long time to come up with...)
What should the cover be like? I chose this fun and interesting pic from a fall excursion to Lake Ontario when I was out playing with my grown up girlfriends in the surf and woods! I love that water has always been the symbolism of Emotions. Here I am, on the edges...dipping my feet into the surf, testing the water, the smoothness of the water, the tumult of the incoming waves and surf. My happiness and joy of life and to be alive!
It's all very much like the book inside. :)
Some of the other things to deal with were pictures (a very goodly suggestion from Book was that it should have photos.) But man! Which ones? This in turn, had me looking through photo albums from my family and my childhood. This dredges up lots of emotions, again...Which ones to pick? They are all so good! Decisions, decisions!
Like, this one didn't make it in, there were just too many kewl pics.......
But in this photo, I am 19 and already MARRIED!
Then Russ Tarby gave me a wondrous gift. He gave me this descriptive and fun write up for the back cover!
"Buckle up for a bumpy ride over the rocky rural roads of Upstate New York. Behind the wheel sits Ms. Merlyn – farm girl, flower child, a pirate and a performer – who will step on the gas and negotiate the curves as she takes you on an all-expenses-paid tour of her life’s journey among drumlins and dreadnoughts.
She’ll lift dust along the dirt roads and lay rubber on the interstates. Shy as a child, Merlyn was vexed by her mother’s incessant spiritual seekings as they drove from one church to the other like lost pilgrims. Regardless, those seekings would come to define Merlyn’s ride through life.
Now an uninhibited musician – part pirate wench and part Joni Mitchell – Merlyn shares road tales from Renaissance fairs to rock’n’roll clubs. She shifts into neutral to recall offbeat weddings where she functioned as both entertainer and referee.
When she was a kid, Merlyn desired a horse. As an adult, she desired a man who resembled Jesus. As she cruises the back roads of Cayuga County, she recalls a marriage failed and a marriage firm, the euphoria and heartache of motherhood, a life in music and a déjà vu encounter with a serial murderer.
Yes, you’d better secure that seat belt before you turn these pages. You’ve never taken a trip quite like this one, a joyous and jaunty ride you’ll never forget." ~RUSS TARBY
Entertainment Editor, Eagle Newspapers, Syracuse
He really caught the authentic flavor of this book! I am indebted to him for it!
But boy, howdy, I have learned so much from this process!
While I wanted to get picked up by a big publisher, frankly, I really don't have either the time nor the inclination to submit, resubmit and get the traditional rejection letters until I found the perfect publisher. No, my husband said, "Let's just self publish. We have a cottage industry with our music CDs. It's gone very well for us this way! Let's just do it up and get your book out there as soon as possible."
I chose Createspace as it would give me the flexibility of publishing a honest to goodness paperback in my hand...as well as a virtual one, should I manage that aspect of it. Createspace has been really wonderful to work with and Book Marshall and I have interfaced well with them.
We are still hoping to get a digital copy to the book available for those folks who read by Kindle candlelight.
I am still learning. Now onward to the next daunting learning curve....
Marketing!
If you are interested in my stories (I was almost captured by a serial killer, I lived a childhood of sweet abandon in the fields and streams of Upstate New York, I went "church hopping" with my mother who was a glorious Seeker, I ran amok as a wild teen, I got married and had two beautiful girls-one who had Down's Syndrome- and I became a performer, musician and fortune teller...)
It's not your regular run of the mill life story.
You can find it here on Createspace!
Click here to go to Createspace for my book and info on me as an author!
and here on Amazon!
Click here for Amazon paperback!
To be honest, it's all very surreal to me now, that I have actually written a book and with the help of my true friends, I have documented a truly odd and wonderful life! I started writing, and inch by inch, over time and space, it has come to life and a dream has come true! You CAN do it, if you just keep plugging away and don't listen to the nay-sayers!
I am now on my Second Journey with this last one behind me.
I wonder what I'll do next.....
ONWARD.
With Love and Hope~
Merlyn
We all have a story.
I've been writing all my life, but for the past 7 years I've been blogging about events or projects and as a performer I have read my work at many poetry slams and open mics.
But then something happened. My world got turned upside down by someone I loved. So, as I've always done before, I turned within to make sense of my world. I turned to my spirituality, my humor, my music and my writing to help me figure out the tumultuous emotions that were thrust upon me.I decided to start writing memoir after a bit of a life/love disaster. It comforted me to write.
My mother was always writing, banging away on her typewriter. It seemed like a good place to start.
I started at the beginning with childhood, wrote it in as clear detail as I could remember. I would just relax and think back to emotions, surroundings, smells, sights, sounds and write it as faithfully as I could put it down. I wrote about awesome things, fun things, terrifying things, things that made me think.
It helped me heal. It helped me learn about myself so that I could continue to do what I love best, which is to help others.
Writing about my childhood.... led to some scary stories....which led to some hard writing. But write it, I did. I just kept going. Then I wrote about being a Seeker with my mother...and then ....about my teenage years and some wild oats.
I just kept going.....writing about things that were amazing or weird or frightening or embarrassing or supernatural. It helped me to realize how very strong I am and have been.
I wrote about the birth of my girls, one of which surprised us with Down's Syndrome when she came into the world. I wrote about gigs, musical performance and being a traveling costumed minstrel...
Such a really odd and wonderful life I've had!
I do think that everyone has a story. I mean, otherwise, why are we all unique?
So, after the catharsis of writing was over and I was spent, I put it out to a few of my trusted friends (Lorie Finger, Christine Bonvino and Diana Baretsky) to mark it up with their red pens. And mark it up they did! And I was glad. Then I gave it to my friend and newspaper man, Russ Tarby to be "the first reader." He said he'd be honored to read it and give me his thoughts....and by the way, he asked if he "could make some notes on grammar and punctuation as he went along?" "Absolutely!" I was grateful for all the suggestions and advice and copy editing I could get!
My copy came back from Russ with many many pages looking like this:
And I was glad. Well....sorta glad :)
Back to the drawing board.
I'll tell you one thing....editing is not as much fun as writing. No fecking way. It's tedious. But it is a necessary evil.
But between Lorie, Christine, Diana and Russ...they really really helped to shape it up some more!
So then once the book was done (again :), the next part was to make it look like a book!
But HOW??
My friend, Book Marshall, has been an amazing graphic artist and wizard of making my words evolve into pages, pages into a chapter, chapters into a real book! He encouraged me to put in pictures! Book is a handsome Godsend to me and this project and I can't thank him enough! He has been a trouper and a really awesome teammate on this daunting quest to turn words into a finished book!
It has been quite a process, and what a learning curve!
First, you have to deal with your emotions a lot when writing memoir. I mean, I don't think there's another form of literature that is so extremely personal! It's like your fanny is hanging out for everyone to see. (It is.).
Then there's dealing with the logistics of composition and all that it entails....outline, thematic elements, symbolism....
After that, there is the monster of editing 106,000 words. Many times. Many many many times.
And just when you think it's perfect....you find another flaw or correction to be made. The devil is in the details. What a true statement that is!
Then there is the building of the actual book. You have to pick a font. (and no, not Times Roman). There are a kazillion fonts. And graphic artists, writers and publishers all have their favorites! There is the decision of what to NAME your book (mine has so many elements in it, that I needed a broad inclusive name. I'm very happy with my title, which took me a long time to come up with...)
What should the cover be like? I chose this fun and interesting pic from a fall excursion to Lake Ontario when I was out playing with my grown up girlfriends in the surf and woods! I love that water has always been the symbolism of Emotions. Here I am, on the edges...dipping my feet into the surf, testing the water, the smoothness of the water, the tumult of the incoming waves and surf. My happiness and joy of life and to be alive!
It's all very much like the book inside. :)
Some of the other things to deal with were pictures (a very goodly suggestion from Book was that it should have photos.) But man! Which ones? This in turn, had me looking through photo albums from my family and my childhood. This dredges up lots of emotions, again...Which ones to pick? They are all so good! Decisions, decisions!
Like, this one didn't make it in, there were just too many kewl pics.......
But in this photo, I am 19 and already MARRIED!
Then Russ Tarby gave me a wondrous gift. He gave me this descriptive and fun write up for the back cover!"Buckle up for a bumpy ride over the rocky rural roads of Upstate New York. Behind the wheel sits Ms. Merlyn – farm girl, flower child, a pirate and a performer – who will step on the gas and negotiate the curves as she takes you on an all-expenses-paid tour of her life’s journey among drumlins and dreadnoughts.
She’ll lift dust along the dirt roads and lay rubber on the interstates. Shy as a child, Merlyn was vexed by her mother’s incessant spiritual seekings as they drove from one church to the other like lost pilgrims. Regardless, those seekings would come to define Merlyn’s ride through life.
Now an uninhibited musician – part pirate wench and part Joni Mitchell – Merlyn shares road tales from Renaissance fairs to rock’n’roll clubs. She shifts into neutral to recall offbeat weddings where she functioned as both entertainer and referee.
When she was a kid, Merlyn desired a horse. As an adult, she desired a man who resembled Jesus. As she cruises the back roads of Cayuga County, she recalls a marriage failed and a marriage firm, the euphoria and heartache of motherhood, a life in music and a déjà vu encounter with a serial murderer.
Yes, you’d better secure that seat belt before you turn these pages. You’ve never taken a trip quite like this one, a joyous and jaunty ride you’ll never forget." ~RUSS TARBY
Entertainment Editor, Eagle Newspapers, Syracuse
He really caught the authentic flavor of this book! I am indebted to him for it!
But boy, howdy, I have learned so much from this process!
While I wanted to get picked up by a big publisher, frankly, I really don't have either the time nor the inclination to submit, resubmit and get the traditional rejection letters until I found the perfect publisher. No, my husband said, "Let's just self publish. We have a cottage industry with our music CDs. It's gone very well for us this way! Let's just do it up and get your book out there as soon as possible."
I chose Createspace as it would give me the flexibility of publishing a honest to goodness paperback in my hand...as well as a virtual one, should I manage that aspect of it. Createspace has been really wonderful to work with and Book Marshall and I have interfaced well with them.
We are still hoping to get a digital copy to the book available for those folks who read by Kindle candlelight.
I am still learning. Now onward to the next daunting learning curve....
Marketing!
If you are interested in my stories (I was almost captured by a serial killer, I lived a childhood of sweet abandon in the fields and streams of Upstate New York, I went "church hopping" with my mother who was a glorious Seeker, I ran amok as a wild teen, I got married and had two beautiful girls-one who had Down's Syndrome- and I became a performer, musician and fortune teller...)
It's not your regular run of the mill life story.
You can find it here on Createspace!
Click here to go to Createspace for my book and info on me as an author!
and here on Amazon!
Click here for Amazon paperback!
To be honest, it's all very surreal to me now, that I have actually written a book and with the help of my true friends, I have documented a truly odd and wonderful life! I started writing, and inch by inch, over time and space, it has come to life and a dream has come true! You CAN do it, if you just keep plugging away and don't listen to the nay-sayers!
I am now on my Second Journey with this last one behind me.
I wonder what I'll do next.....
ONWARD.
With Love and Hope~
Merlyn
March 30, 2014
I'm too sexy for my hat :)
This blog is about Getting in touch with your humanity.Your Sexuality.
Maybe your libido is active, over active or even under active. Maybe it's fine and healthy or maybe it needs a kick start. Maybe it needs a death knell, and if so, you should really read this.
For anyone reading this, one thing we all share is that we are all human beings. Our bodies and sexuality are all unique. While we may share anatomical parts, those parts come in all shapes, sizes and colors. Some folks are short, tall, wide, slim, fluid and graceful, stiff and lack mobility, black, white or a myriad of colors.
We are all sensual beings and should be proud of that fact. Some folks like their sexuality wild, some rough, others loving and teasing. Like the song says, "Anyway you want it, that's the way you need it."
Safe, Sane and Consensual is the only rule.
With this, I give you our gig yesterday at Rochester Erotic Arts Festival. This event has been growing every year since its inception 6 years ago. Harry and I, as Merry Mischief, have performed at this show every other year since it started. We have viewed its growth and progress. And it's been growing in leaps and bounds!
Yesterday was an amazing day! The event takes place annually at the Riverside Radisson Hotel in Rochester. It's a lovely hotel and very pleasing, comfortable and posh. Beautiful chandeliers greet you in the lobby. As you rise in the escalator, you start getting the vibe of the energy that is coming from the folks there.
The event planners of this event, take great care with making sure that there is something for everyone. Workshops and lectures ran the gamut of tame "Intro to Belly Dancing" and "Humor in the Bedroom", to more adventurous and racier lectures on "Polyamory and Mindfulness" and "Chastity Training" to more advanced or intricate subjects of "Coming out of the Sexually Abused Closet," or other lifestyle choice topics of "Bondage," "Predictament Ties" and even "Water Sports."
What I really liked was that if you didn't know about a particular topic, you could just sit in and learn something new! And if you did know about a topic, you could also sit in and listen and learn new things and find other people who were interested in the same subjects.
Harry and I attended several of these workshops in between our musical performance sets of "Songs of Love and Lust" on the Main Stage.
This is a great lanyard to have in our collection of stage passes! :)
The difficult thing today was being able to be in several places at the same time, because so many workshops were booked that you could choose from! So, Harry and I popped in and out of several to get the feel and gist of the ones we were interested in. It's like being a student of Life and this was a fun college day orientation for the masses. There were so many lectures and entertainments offered that you couldn't possibly experience it all in one day!
Performers, Patrons and Models roamed through the event in wondrous costuming and some not in much at all. If you like People Watching then you were in Heaven here. Body paint artists made wondrous additions to many patrons who chose disrobing clothing for painted clothing instead.
Cross dressers and Transgendered felt as welcome as Exhibitionists and those who love wearing funky garb.
Vendors provided opportunity to buy wares from toys to masks to costuming to jewelry to well...so much to see.
Burlesque dancers, belly dance troupes, acappella vocalists, aerial dancers, pole dancers and hoola-hoop artists did abound.
So did titties :)
And that's OK. For what, really, is wrong about that? Men can go without shirts in some public places and women have the right as well. It was beautiful and freeing to see folks wear what they want, or to not wear what they wanted. You could be, whoever you wanted to be here! There was even stage opportunity given to the public in a "Strut Yourself Catwalk Contest" for amateurs. I loved watching this especially. You can see folks brave a stage for the first time, trying to give a sexy walk in the garb they felt sensuous in....to semi-pros (or folks who have a knack) to be able to strip like a professional and even one lady who artistically "Twirled Off" her clothing! That was beautiful to watch.
Everyone who attended was polite, civil and friendly. There was opportunity to learn, make new friends, chat with others about subjects interesting to you, but mayhaps not "mainstream."
This is a place where a person could say what they wanted to say, in a safe place, protected from ridicule for being a bit different, and to find others of like mind.
I had such a great time! I was deliriously happy.. The day was the most fun I've had in a long time! I enjoyed watching, learning, and meeting new folks as well as old friends! It was a joy to get dressed up pretty and to see others enjoying decorating their bodies to please themselves and others as well!
I also enjoyed playing music that I don't often get a chance to. Here is a perfect place to play "Barnacle Bill the Sailor" and we got a lot of compliments on our "sweet version." We also played love songs...for really, what is lust without love? :)
The staff was awesome to work with, and we felt appreciated and were helped loading our gear in and out. They did a great job and thanked us for coming and being a part of the day's fun.
Our evening plan was to go to one of the after parties, (I packed yet another and very different sexy outfit) but alas, the incoming freak storm that night, and the fact that hotel was so busy that their restaurant was booked solid for an hour, got us behind on our scheduled plans and we never made it to the party. Maybe next year!
The hotel was awesome and ferried us to the Dinosaur BBQ (it was snowing so badly we didn't want our friend with a cane to hurt himself walking it) but the Dinosaur too, was booked for dinner reservations for another hour and a half. No, we were gonna chew a table leg off in that time frame!
So we punted and ended up drinking wine, having pizza and wings at the hotel with friends. That too, was wonderful camaraderie overlooking the river downtown with the lights of the city and the snow falling so picturesque! We set off at 10:30pm to go home 12 hours after we had originally loaded in, with a lovely day in our back pocket. The roads howere, were shite coming home and it was quite a storm to traverse through snow and sleet and lots of it.
But we did get home, safe and sound and we were the better for the trip. It's nice to be able to share an event and adventure like this with your mate, who also sings and plays and is a good friend.
We are very lucky to have each other and a world that is so beautiful that it reminds us to be creative, wild, free, giving and loving. To be happy in your heart and in your own skin, while admiring others for the same is a very great gift.
So, here's to you, you sexy thing!
Oh yes. YES YOU ARE.
And so am I :)
Maybe your libido is active, over active or even under active. Maybe it's fine and healthy or maybe it needs a kick start. Maybe it needs a death knell, and if so, you should really read this.
For anyone reading this, one thing we all share is that we are all human beings. Our bodies and sexuality are all unique. While we may share anatomical parts, those parts come in all shapes, sizes and colors. Some folks are short, tall, wide, slim, fluid and graceful, stiff and lack mobility, black, white or a myriad of colors.
We are all sensual beings and should be proud of that fact. Some folks like their sexuality wild, some rough, others loving and teasing. Like the song says, "Anyway you want it, that's the way you need it."
Safe, Sane and Consensual is the only rule.
With this, I give you our gig yesterday at Rochester Erotic Arts Festival. This event has been growing every year since its inception 6 years ago. Harry and I, as Merry Mischief, have performed at this show every other year since it started. We have viewed its growth and progress. And it's been growing in leaps and bounds!
Yesterday was an amazing day! The event takes place annually at the Riverside Radisson Hotel in Rochester. It's a lovely hotel and very pleasing, comfortable and posh. Beautiful chandeliers greet you in the lobby. As you rise in the escalator, you start getting the vibe of the energy that is coming from the folks there.
The event planners of this event, take great care with making sure that there is something for everyone. Workshops and lectures ran the gamut of tame "Intro to Belly Dancing" and "Humor in the Bedroom", to more adventurous and racier lectures on "Polyamory and Mindfulness" and "Chastity Training" to more advanced or intricate subjects of "Coming out of the Sexually Abused Closet," or other lifestyle choice topics of "Bondage," "Predictament Ties" and even "Water Sports."
What I really liked was that if you didn't know about a particular topic, you could just sit in and learn something new! And if you did know about a topic, you could also sit in and listen and learn new things and find other people who were interested in the same subjects.
Harry and I attended several of these workshops in between our musical performance sets of "Songs of Love and Lust" on the Main Stage.
This is a great lanyard to have in our collection of stage passes! :)
The difficult thing today was being able to be in several places at the same time, because so many workshops were booked that you could choose from! So, Harry and I popped in and out of several to get the feel and gist of the ones we were interested in. It's like being a student of Life and this was a fun college day orientation for the masses. There were so many lectures and entertainments offered that you couldn't possibly experience it all in one day!
Performers, Patrons and Models roamed through the event in wondrous costuming and some not in much at all. If you like People Watching then you were in Heaven here. Body paint artists made wondrous additions to many patrons who chose disrobing clothing for painted clothing instead.
Cross dressers and Transgendered felt as welcome as Exhibitionists and those who love wearing funky garb.
Vendors provided opportunity to buy wares from toys to masks to costuming to jewelry to well...so much to see.
Burlesque dancers, belly dance troupes, acappella vocalists, aerial dancers, pole dancers and hoola-hoop artists did abound.
So did titties :)
And that's OK. For what, really, is wrong about that? Men can go without shirts in some public places and women have the right as well. It was beautiful and freeing to see folks wear what they want, or to not wear what they wanted. You could be, whoever you wanted to be here! There was even stage opportunity given to the public in a "Strut Yourself Catwalk Contest" for amateurs. I loved watching this especially. You can see folks brave a stage for the first time, trying to give a sexy walk in the garb they felt sensuous in....to semi-pros (or folks who have a knack) to be able to strip like a professional and even one lady who artistically "Twirled Off" her clothing! That was beautiful to watch.
Everyone who attended was polite, civil and friendly. There was opportunity to learn, make new friends, chat with others about subjects interesting to you, but mayhaps not "mainstream."
This is a place where a person could say what they wanted to say, in a safe place, protected from ridicule for being a bit different, and to find others of like mind.
I had such a great time! I was deliriously happy.. The day was the most fun I've had in a long time! I enjoyed watching, learning, and meeting new folks as well as old friends! It was a joy to get dressed up pretty and to see others enjoying decorating their bodies to please themselves and others as well!
I also enjoyed playing music that I don't often get a chance to. Here is a perfect place to play "Barnacle Bill the Sailor" and we got a lot of compliments on our "sweet version." We also played love songs...for really, what is lust without love? :)
The staff was awesome to work with, and we felt appreciated and were helped loading our gear in and out. They did a great job and thanked us for coming and being a part of the day's fun.
Our evening plan was to go to one of the after parties, (I packed yet another and very different sexy outfit) but alas, the incoming freak storm that night, and the fact that hotel was so busy that their restaurant was booked solid for an hour, got us behind on our scheduled plans and we never made it to the party. Maybe next year!
The hotel was awesome and ferried us to the Dinosaur BBQ (it was snowing so badly we didn't want our friend with a cane to hurt himself walking it) but the Dinosaur too, was booked for dinner reservations for another hour and a half. No, we were gonna chew a table leg off in that time frame!
So we punted and ended up drinking wine, having pizza and wings at the hotel with friends. That too, was wonderful camaraderie overlooking the river downtown with the lights of the city and the snow falling so picturesque! We set off at 10:30pm to go home 12 hours after we had originally loaded in, with a lovely day in our back pocket. The roads howere, were shite coming home and it was quite a storm to traverse through snow and sleet and lots of it.
But we did get home, safe and sound and we were the better for the trip. It's nice to be able to share an event and adventure like this with your mate, who also sings and plays and is a good friend.
We are very lucky to have each other and a world that is so beautiful that it reminds us to be creative, wild, free, giving and loving. To be happy in your heart and in your own skin, while admiring others for the same is a very great gift.
So, here's to you, you sexy thing!
Oh yes. YES YOU ARE.
And so am I :)
February 25, 2014
Babar, King of the Elephants
StoryBook Club went to Africa last night to visit with our friend, Babar!
(Baabar? or B-barr? Which do you say? I say Baa-bar. :)
This elephant king was gracious and sweet and fun, but was kind of concerned that folks throughout time haven't always taken him right.
Babar took us aside and told us plainly that he "is not a French colonialist, nor prejudiced towards blacks, nor an elitist with a class issue. I'm just a good, big elephant who has taste and style and tries to make the world a more fun and orderly place."
The adults (notice I didn't say "grown-ups") in our StoryBook Club, did delve into all those political issues that have plagued this cute wee children's story.
When I first read Babar to my girls when they were little, I also was personally taken aback by some of these idiosyncrasies. I didn't like the way that Africans were depicted. I didn't like the hierarchy of elephants into classes. I didn't like the way it was culturally organized.
But then again, I wasn't 5-years-old either. To my little girls, Babar was awesome. He was big and silly and he liked to dress nice and travel and adventure and fix problems. We liked the fact that he could be a wild elephant, but also magically fit into spare clothes that the Old Lady had on hand. Babar and his wife Celeste would often visit the Old Lady and sleep in her twin beds. Just think of that. An elephant sleeping comfortably in a twin bed!
Elephants drinking out of tea cups. Elephants taking balloon rides. Elephants having posh parties!
Yah, Babar was right.
He's just for fun.
Granted, there are these issues in the books. Just like there are issues in Civil War music and Minstrel Shows of by gone days. But remember, they are a time capsule. A snapshot of that point in time. We should be aware of people's feelings and be respectful, but at the same time, it's good to remember and note that things have changed for the better with these issues.
But 5-year-olds don't need the conspiracy theories.
They need story figures who run into trouble and problems and can fix it magically and maybe even a bit silly with a sentence or two.
And that's what Babar is.
He's simple and fun and he wears a green suit. He loves his wife and children and he tries to take responsibility the best he knows how. He protects his elephants and he is kind to the Old Lady and to animals that aren't as big as he is. He is truthful and resourceful.
Babar is a good role model overall. Try not to make him responsible for human beings foibles.
We ate well at our monthly meeting!
Themed food was prepared and devoured!
There was Tea in china cups, "French" Onion Soup, Stuffed "poison" mushrooms,
Roasted Veggies,
Chili, fresh bread and real butter, Butternut Squash and Sweet Potato Soup, Peanuts and delicious homemade Peanut butter cookies!
A feast fit for a KING! :)
Because we know that elephants remember...and they like to eat well.
A lovely get together with intelligent folks on a cold and wintry night. With a story!
YAY!
Next month:
In honor of St. Paddy's Day the theme will be: "Leprechauns!"
(Baabar? or B-barr? Which do you say? I say Baa-bar. :)
This elephant king was gracious and sweet and fun, but was kind of concerned that folks throughout time haven't always taken him right.
Babar took us aside and told us plainly that he "is not a French colonialist, nor prejudiced towards blacks, nor an elitist with a class issue. I'm just a good, big elephant who has taste and style and tries to make the world a more fun and orderly place."
The adults (notice I didn't say "grown-ups") in our StoryBook Club, did delve into all those political issues that have plagued this cute wee children's story.
When I first read Babar to my girls when they were little, I also was personally taken aback by some of these idiosyncrasies. I didn't like the way that Africans were depicted. I didn't like the hierarchy of elephants into classes. I didn't like the way it was culturally organized.
But then again, I wasn't 5-years-old either. To my little girls, Babar was awesome. He was big and silly and he liked to dress nice and travel and adventure and fix problems. We liked the fact that he could be a wild elephant, but also magically fit into spare clothes that the Old Lady had on hand. Babar and his wife Celeste would often visit the Old Lady and sleep in her twin beds. Just think of that. An elephant sleeping comfortably in a twin bed!
Elephants drinking out of tea cups. Elephants taking balloon rides. Elephants having posh parties!
Yah, Babar was right. He's just for fun.
Granted, there are these issues in the books. Just like there are issues in Civil War music and Minstrel Shows of by gone days. But remember, they are a time capsule. A snapshot of that point in time. We should be aware of people's feelings and be respectful, but at the same time, it's good to remember and note that things have changed for the better with these issues.
But 5-year-olds don't need the conspiracy theories.
They need story figures who run into trouble and problems and can fix it magically and maybe even a bit silly with a sentence or two.
And that's what Babar is.
He's simple and fun and he wears a green suit. He loves his wife and children and he tries to take responsibility the best he knows how. He protects his elephants and he is kind to the Old Lady and to animals that aren't as big as he is. He is truthful and resourceful.
Babar is a good role model overall. Try not to make him responsible for human beings foibles.
We ate well at our monthly meeting!
Themed food was prepared and devoured!
There was Tea in china cups, "French" Onion Soup, Stuffed "poison" mushrooms,
Roasted Veggies,
Chili, fresh bread and real butter, Butternut Squash and Sweet Potato Soup, Peanuts and delicious homemade Peanut butter cookies!
A feast fit for a KING! :)Because we know that elephants remember...and they like to eat well.
A lovely get together with intelligent folks on a cold and wintry night. With a story!
YAY!
Next month:
In honor of St. Paddy's Day the theme will be: "Leprechauns!"
January 28, 2014
Organizing a Scattered Life
Life here at Squirrel Haven is written on a huge dry erase calendar board.
We don't have your typical 9-5 chained to the office sort of jobs. No. Not at all. Our schedules are flexible, variable and multi-topical.
There are colored markers for our business dates for Merry Mischief and Harrison Audio & Stage...
as well as for our personal life. And it helps.
BUT
When we are pulled in seven different directions at once, trying also to get music practice in, make recordings, work on a book, and manage a home and property, and also work at our jobs on top of all of that ....well...things can get dropped through the cracks.
Add to this my husband's love for hoarding gadgetry and papers and Styrofoam and wire ties, and you have a cluster fuck waiting to bite you in the arse on a daily basis. Before morning coffee, even.
SO
On our latest trip, we brainstormed "What to Do About It" and while chatting, I hastened back to days of old when housewives had a "Day of the Week" work schedule in order to get things done.
Like, "Tuesday is Laundry Day" sort of thing.
These women have the right idea!
A place for everything...
and everything in it's place!
I also remember doing this sort of schedule when my girls were young, and I had to do so much including hosting Teachers, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists and Speech Therapists and Counselors into my home on a weekly basis for Shawna and her Early Education Program. Not to mention all the Camp Fire groups, 4-H Club meetings and Sunday School programs I was also doing with the girls.
It worked for me then....so I concluded, it should work for us now.
But then again.... I have Harry. :)
No matter.
Here is our New and Improved Schedule and I'm hoping that it will help us concentrate and focus a bit on our mundane tasks in a simplified way, and which also follows the natural flow of our life:
I also added in special areas for Harry (in bold italics ) because he needs a bit of structure too.
SUNDAY:
A day for Worship, Planning, Being Grateful, Having Company or for Rest.
MONDAY:
A "Put Away Day" (natural occurrence for dealing with our weekend gigs), also tidying and cleaning the Social areas of the house: Porch/ Front Room/ Kitchen
Van
TUESDAY:
Laundry Day. Also, while there in area, address the Bathrooms and clean them as well.
Yellow Shed
WEDNESDAY:
Bedrooms.
Wayne's "Dog House"
THURSDAY:
Back rooms, Deck and Car
Barn
FRIDAY:
Desk work, Filing. And afterwards, DANCE!
Basement
SATURDAY:
Create/ Play/ Invent. Also Shopping or Outings.
Already this schedule has helped me NOT STRESS.
Example: Sunday, I pretty much took a day to VEG. After our long trip, I decided I needed a day to lay around and read. And I did so. ALL FECKING DAY. It rocked! At one point in the day, I walked into the upstairs bathroom and saw my newly purchased shower curtain, waiting to replace the one on the shower rod. I thought, "I should probably do that now.... (SIGH)"
But then I thought: "No! Tuesday is the day you have scheduled for the bathroom projects! You will do it then! Go back and enjoy your day off."
YIPPEE!!
These work days are not set in stone. I'm not gonna freak if we don't do things on the list.
They are more like this:
Yesterday was Monday and our first real work day back and I am on track! I figure that if we follow this schedule....at the end of the month of February for starters, that we should be in better shape and in good habits.
We shall overcome!
Why?
Merlyn has a PLAN :)
January 24, 2014
Fairytales, Sunshine and Ice ~ Part 2 and...HOME
In thinking about our annual treks, I have to say that it is always such a joy to drive south to Florida in the middle of January from New York. You start out dressed in layers upon layers of winter clothing. The winde bites. The snow blows. As you drive, state to state, farther southward, you adjust your wardrobe to match, off goes the heavy coat, then the boots, then the extra sweater until you hit Florida and finally decide it's sandals weather!! Woooot!
There is SUN! Ack!
My eyes! My eyes!
I revel in the good weather, soaking up the tonic that is the sunshine and dear ones whom we rarely see. Musicians whom I'd love to play with daily, I have only a few days to play with. Vistas and adventures that are new to us. Going out to eat and traveling is a joy to my happy wanderer spirit!
How'e'ere, while I do revel in the journey, and I love packing for the trip and seeing new sights...
It is not as fun to say goodbye to those you love, nor retrace your steps northward after being in short sleeves and drive home away from good friends whom you only get to see once or twice a year. Nor are deteriorating road conditions and tractor trailer squeezes on the highway while ice to contend with.
That and the bundling up in ever more layers as you proceed to higher latitudes. Sandals give way to shoes in South Carolina with a cold snap there.... We stopped for the night in N.C. and watched on the hotel TV the advancing of the greatly heralded winter storm "Janus" and had to decide in a groggy morning instant, whether to stay put and let it pass us before proceeding....or to hightail it and skeedaddle and try to beat the storm home first.
We scurried around and packed up our things and put on boots and heavy sweaters and set out early from N.C. and tried to race Mother Nature.
I'll tell you right now, it isn't as fun as winter boots to shoes to sandals...
But it is is fun to think about getting home, and seeing our favorite doggy in the whole world and to have some downtime. We have been going, going, going every minute of our trip. We thank our dear friends, Mike and Leah, Donna, Dre & Max, Star & Mikal and Dee & Francis for putting up a couple of wayward wandering minstrels. Thank you for the comfort of bedding down someplace.safe and warm and dry the nights we were with you! But even saying that, I hope you'll understand that I won't sleep really sound, until I'm in my own bed with my puppyboy at home after all is said and done.
Tuesday morning, we drove straight into the oncoming winter storm named "Janus." A two-faced bastard that it is to match the God he's named for. But Ha! Ha! Janus! We have all new snow tires!! We are not afraid of ice and storm! My Suburu has "Goat Feet!"
I figured by the radar that if we could just get above Washington, D.C, and a bit above we would be fine. But we've usually avoided going that route in the past. Mostly because of stops to friends in Va in the past, we've taken other routes. How'e'ere this time, the shortest, quickest, and least miles was right through Washington. And during a storm too. Awesome.
The weather was fine till we were almost to the Va border. Then it darkened. Then it started to rain. Then sleet turned to snow. Just as we came into Washington, we had to pass a snowplow. Unfortunately he was spreading sand, not in the customary fashion of a fan spray of sand from behind, but in the fire hose off to the side fashion and we got nailed pretty good with sand as we chugged by.
My Suburu said: "cough cough" spew!
And then the sand froze ON the passenger side with ice. Harry is a great driver. I read as he drove and kept his mind off the monotony of the road. It destresses him to listen to my voice. We had already finished reading "20,000 Leagues under the Sea" and had already devoured and picked apart the bones of that story's themes in preparation for next StoryBook Club's theme. I picked up my next new book, which was a Christmas gift from my first husband, David. It is "Women Who Run with the Wolves:Myths and stories of the Wild Woman Archetype" by Clarissa Pinkola Estes's Ph.D.
Psychology AND Myth mingled together and covering stories like Bluebeard and Baba Yaga that I know full well. YAY!! Oh the synchronicity of it all. It is meant to be a help to women that we learn from the folk stories of old. Which is also why I started my StoryBook Club years ago! This book is fascinating to me! HUZZAH.
More snow. More ice. More miles. Miles and miles and miles of miles. I stop reading aloud occasionally due to horrendous traffic or to help Harry find the right exits. At the rest stop in Wilkes-Barre, Pa, we actually had to chip off ice off our headlights so they would shine and the grill and whole front of the car was just one thick sheet of ice. I started trying to break ice off the grill and radiator area with the snow brush, then I said, "Fuck it. It's air cooled enough, I'm thinking." The Wild Woman in me is gonna run with the Wolves in traffic.
Yah! It was kinda like when the Nautilus got trapped in the ice channel and they all ran out of oxygen and nearly died!! Ok, so maybe it wasn't totally like that, but you get the idea.
Anyways, here's a few more pics worth a 1000 words:
Here are the "Harpies" (in the nicest sense of the word) Theresa and Heather
Here is James from "Bunnies in Peril" (who has an amazingly awesome deep bass voice) and who is also Theresa's husband :)
Terry Short and Johnny Phoenix
Davinci Brothers!
Bobba!
Merlyn & Darin Graves the Fiddler
I really enjoy playing music with him!
Pub Staff at the ready!
Kewl pic :)
Surprise folks from NY!
His majesty the King!
Now here's just some fun pics that we took along the way....
Kismet! (Our first album!)
Just keep your purse open on the Florida turnpike. Because every 5 miles or so, they ask you for money....
and keep it coming....
Low flying planes!!
Beautiful weather!
Gorgeous sky!
Palm trees!
Lots of congested traffic!
and now....
the Road Home....
How about a helicopter or two? Not usually the way they travel....
Going north....
Storm Janus on the way in....
Merlyn finishes one book....
keeps reading to Harry on a new one...
The vistas are different...
but still beautiful :)
So now we are HOME.
Home to the cold, the snow....
our own beds...
and to a funny little doggy who needs us :)
I suppose he'll want a treat for it too....
There is SUN! Ack!
My eyes! My eyes!
I revel in the good weather, soaking up the tonic that is the sunshine and dear ones whom we rarely see. Musicians whom I'd love to play with daily, I have only a few days to play with. Vistas and adventures that are new to us. Going out to eat and traveling is a joy to my happy wanderer spirit!
How'e'ere, while I do revel in the journey, and I love packing for the trip and seeing new sights...
It is not as fun to say goodbye to those you love, nor retrace your steps northward after being in short sleeves and drive home away from good friends whom you only get to see once or twice a year. Nor are deteriorating road conditions and tractor trailer squeezes on the highway while ice to contend with.
That and the bundling up in ever more layers as you proceed to higher latitudes. Sandals give way to shoes in South Carolina with a cold snap there.... We stopped for the night in N.C. and watched on the hotel TV the advancing of the greatly heralded winter storm "Janus" and had to decide in a groggy morning instant, whether to stay put and let it pass us before proceeding....or to hightail it and skeedaddle and try to beat the storm home first.
We scurried around and packed up our things and put on boots and heavy sweaters and set out early from N.C. and tried to race Mother Nature.
I'll tell you right now, it isn't as fun as winter boots to shoes to sandals...
But it is is fun to think about getting home, and seeing our favorite doggy in the whole world and to have some downtime. We have been going, going, going every minute of our trip. We thank our dear friends, Mike and Leah, Donna, Dre & Max, Star & Mikal and Dee & Francis for putting up a couple of wayward wandering minstrels. Thank you for the comfort of bedding down someplace.safe and warm and dry the nights we were with you! But even saying that, I hope you'll understand that I won't sleep really sound, until I'm in my own bed with my puppyboy at home after all is said and done.
Tuesday morning, we drove straight into the oncoming winter storm named "Janus." A two-faced bastard that it is to match the God he's named for. But Ha! Ha! Janus! We have all new snow tires!! We are not afraid of ice and storm! My Suburu has "Goat Feet!"
I figured by the radar that if we could just get above Washington, D.C, and a bit above we would be fine. But we've usually avoided going that route in the past. Mostly because of stops to friends in Va in the past, we've taken other routes. How'e'ere this time, the shortest, quickest, and least miles was right through Washington. And during a storm too. Awesome.
The weather was fine till we were almost to the Va border. Then it darkened. Then it started to rain. Then sleet turned to snow. Just as we came into Washington, we had to pass a snowplow. Unfortunately he was spreading sand, not in the customary fashion of a fan spray of sand from behind, but in the fire hose off to the side fashion and we got nailed pretty good with sand as we chugged by.
My Suburu said: "cough cough" spew!
And then the sand froze ON the passenger side with ice. Harry is a great driver. I read as he drove and kept his mind off the monotony of the road. It destresses him to listen to my voice. We had already finished reading "20,000 Leagues under the Sea" and had already devoured and picked apart the bones of that story's themes in preparation for next StoryBook Club's theme. I picked up my next new book, which was a Christmas gift from my first husband, David. It is "Women Who Run with the Wolves:Myths and stories of the Wild Woman Archetype" by Clarissa Pinkola Estes's Ph.D.
Psychology AND Myth mingled together and covering stories like Bluebeard and Baba Yaga that I know full well. YAY!! Oh the synchronicity of it all. It is meant to be a help to women that we learn from the folk stories of old. Which is also why I started my StoryBook Club years ago! This book is fascinating to me! HUZZAH.
More snow. More ice. More miles. Miles and miles and miles of miles. I stop reading aloud occasionally due to horrendous traffic or to help Harry find the right exits. At the rest stop in Wilkes-Barre, Pa, we actually had to chip off ice off our headlights so they would shine and the grill and whole front of the car was just one thick sheet of ice. I started trying to break ice off the grill and radiator area with the snow brush, then I said, "Fuck it. It's air cooled enough, I'm thinking." The Wild Woman in me is gonna run with the Wolves in traffic.
Yah! It was kinda like when the Nautilus got trapped in the ice channel and they all ran out of oxygen and nearly died!! Ok, so maybe it wasn't totally like that, but you get the idea.
Anyways, here's a few more pics worth a 1000 words:
Here are the "Harpies" (in the nicest sense of the word) Theresa and Heather
Here is James from "Bunnies in Peril" (who has an amazingly awesome deep bass voice) and who is also Theresa's husband :)
Terry Short and Johnny Phoenix
Davinci Brothers! 
Bobba!
Merlyn & Darin Graves the FiddlerI really enjoy playing music with him!
Pub Staff at the ready!
Kewl pic :)
Surprise folks from NY!
His majesty the King!
Now here's just some fun pics that we took along the way....Kismet! (Our first album!)
Just keep your purse open on the Florida turnpike. Because every 5 miles or so, they ask you for money....
and keep it coming....
Low flying planes!!Beautiful weather!
Gorgeous sky!
Palm trees!Lots of congested traffic!
and now....the Road Home....
How about a helicopter or two? Not usually the way they travel....
Going north....Storm Janus on the way in....
Merlyn finishes one book....keeps reading to Harry on a new one...
The vistas are different...but still beautiful :)
So now we are HOME.Home to the cold, the snow....
our own beds...
and to a funny little doggy who needs us :)
I suppose he'll want a treat for it too....
Fairytales, Sunshine and Ice~ Part 1
Hey ho! I have a whole sackful of stories and pics for you!
May have to continue this in the next blog there's so many!
Faire WAS fun and it cannot be denied.
Here's the proof!
Playing at the pub is one of my favorite happy places :)
Having fun with friends~
Cute garb. Must remember this combo.
Having fun with Ravyn, Dre and meself. We didn't know it was Purple Day.
I love Purple Day!
Jay's new harp
mmmm...pints on a hot day!
I think that Dre's kitty, O'Malley likes me :)
Yah, I'm pretty sure he likes me :)
I love animals...and especially friendly ones that I meet along the way....even at highway/thruway stops
Here's an interesting character. Everyone affectionately calls him "Ren Shirt Guy"On this shirt are beautifully embroidered recognizeable likenesses to popular ren faire performers. (I'll blow it up big so maybe you can discern a few folks you know, on his doublet :)
Ooooh Look! There's Merry Mischief too!
and here is the embroidery artist herself :)
A chilly morning but beauteous music in Liza's shop with our dearest buddies, Jay & Abby- The Harper & The Minstrel!
Yes, this is what an "Uber-Band" looks like :)
Water toss splat game!
In January :)
Teeny Weeny the Faery Fae with Merlyn
Rainsylph and Rob!
Dharma and Little Bo Peep and some sheep that I made dance wildly!
The wee nymphs :)I love this pic, Dharma!
Wendyl on percussion in the awesome Manna booth (our 2nd home at faire :)
and Harry hamming it up!
They have beautiful hair!
Seeeeee??? :)
Dee so pretty in green!
Woooot! Laura you wicked piratey wench!
Merlyn giving Birthday boy Rob his spankings and pinch for all to see :)
and..... his wife Laura taking pics ;)
Rob liking it, methinks
More to come!
I have to go stretch! This is gonna be a big blog!
May have to continue this in the next blog there's so many!
Faire WAS fun and it cannot be denied.
Here's the proof!
Playing at the pub is one of my favorite happy places :)
Having fun with friends~
Cute garb. Must remember this combo.
Having fun with Ravyn, Dre and meself. We didn't know it was Purple Day.
I love Purple Day!
Jay's new harp
mmmm...pints on a hot day!
I think that Dre's kitty, O'Malley likes me :)
Yah, I'm pretty sure he likes me :)
I love animals...and especially friendly ones that I meet along the way....even at highway/thruway stops
Here's an interesting character. Everyone affectionately calls him "Ren Shirt Guy"On this shirt are beautifully embroidered recognizeable likenesses to popular ren faire performers. (I'll blow it up big so maybe you can discern a few folks you know, on his doublet :)
Ooooh Look! There's Merry Mischief too!
and here is the embroidery artist herself :)
A chilly morning but beauteous music in Liza's shop with our dearest buddies, Jay & Abby- The Harper & The Minstrel!Yes, this is what an "Uber-Band" looks like :)
Water toss splat game!In January :)
Teeny Weeny the Faery Fae with Merlyn 
Rainsylph and Rob!
Dharma and Little Bo Peep and some sheep that I made dance wildly!
The wee nymphs :)I love this pic, Dharma!
Wendyl on percussion in the awesome Manna booth (our 2nd home at faire :)
and Harry hamming it up!
They have beautiful hair!
Seeeeee??? :)
Dee so pretty in green!
Woooot! Laura you wicked piratey wench!
Merlyn giving Birthday boy Rob his spankings and pinch for all to see :)and..... his wife Laura taking pics ;)
Rob liking it, methinks
More to come!
I have to go stretch! This is gonna be a big blog!
January 18, 2014
Epic Epcot :)
Around the World in 16 Days Tour?
Yes it's possible as long as you go to lots of cultural places and include Epcot in the journey as well!
We left Coconut Springs and headed for the Orlando area and stayed with a lovely friend of ours, Dee and her husband Francis and Dee's son, Zach. We got a tour of downtown Orlando and then the following day, Thursday, we went to Epcot and went to many "countries!"
Here's some pics to tell the tale!
I think Harry took 7 million pictures. But it's a faire night, we are partying here, and I'm off to have a beer. Enjoy the Travel blog!!
***************************************************************
Dee showed me her Spirit board for 2014 and I was showing her a meditation technique. A candid shot. I got caught doing Se re sa sa :)
Ready to go to Epcot!
Look an orb on me!!
Look!! Harry and I swimming in the deep with the 20.000 Leagues theme!
Dee and I have been friends for quite awhile.
I'm glad that we had some time to get together and visit and soak each other up.
An agricultural miracle!
A pine tree growing in SAND.....
Just some beautiful vistas there....
For my Vogdis Viking Clan....
A Meade house in Norway :)
Looook!! Storybook Club!
A TROLL! :)
Harry and Francis found some fun in the Viking store.
Weeeeeeee tiny horns!
It's not the size of yer horn....it's how you use it.....
And then Zach found a one horn :)
And the guys found big ones :)
Japan and a beautiful pagoda!
P
I loved Germany.
There is German in my blood. Must be why I love beir so much.
I had a Grapefruit beer here that was phenomenal!
mmmmmm.....
We, ah, snuck in some whiskey :)
We didn't forget the flasks!
In Italy we found a beauteous romantic fountain....
moochie moochie moochie :)
But lets' not stop there....
Ok, so Dee and Francis got inspired too :)
Then in Japan, Dee wanted me to try on the Kimonos....
We found many that were so beautiful....
It was hard to pick which one we wanted!!
Zach and Francis look SOOOOOO handsome, don't you think?
I remember when Zach was just a teenager a few years ago....
WOWSA.
Even the backs of these Kimonos are gorgeous...
These are the ones that we ended up buying :)
We relaxed later on in them. I love these robes. They are posh, comfy and straight from Japan.
Love the top knot Harry!
And den?
The fireworks show. An awesome light display, that is not captured here justly...
Looook!
Another ORB!
All in all, a lovely, amazing day.
Epcot was awesome. We did more than armchair traveling, we visited, soaked up, ate lots of wondrous foods and were exposed to many cultures.
Yes it's possible as long as you go to lots of cultural places and include Epcot in the journey as well!
We left Coconut Springs and headed for the Orlando area and stayed with a lovely friend of ours, Dee and her husband Francis and Dee's son, Zach. We got a tour of downtown Orlando and then the following day, Thursday, we went to Epcot and went to many "countries!"
Here's some pics to tell the tale!
I think Harry took 7 million pictures. But it's a faire night, we are partying here, and I'm off to have a beer. Enjoy the Travel blog!!
***************************************************************
Dee showed me her Spirit board for 2014 and I was showing her a meditation technique. A candid shot. I got caught doing Se re sa sa :)
Ready to go to Epcot!Look an orb on me!!
Look!! Harry and I swimming in the deep with the 20.000 Leagues theme!
Dee and I have been friends for quite awhile.I'm glad that we had some time to get together and visit and soak each other up.
An agricultural miracle! A pine tree growing in SAND.....
Just some beautiful vistas there....
For my Vogdis Viking Clan....A Meade house in Norway :)
Looook!! Storybook Club!A TROLL! :)
Harry and Francis found some fun in the Viking store.Weeeeeeee tiny horns!
It's not the size of yer horn....it's how you use it.....
And then Zach found a one horn :)And the guys found big ones :)
Japan and a beautiful pagoda!P
I loved Germany. There is German in my blood. Must be why I love beir so much.
I had a Grapefruit beer here that was phenomenal!
mmmmmm.....
We, ah, snuck in some whiskey :)
We didn't forget the flasks!
In Italy we found a beauteous romantic fountain....
moochie moochie moochie :)
But lets' not stop there....Ok, so Dee and Francis got inspired too :)
Then in Japan, Dee wanted me to try on the Kimonos....
We found many that were so beautiful.... It was hard to pick which one we wanted!!
Zach and Francis look SOOOOOO handsome, don't you think?
I remember when Zach was just a teenager a few years ago....
WOWSA.
Even the backs of these Kimonos are gorgeous... 
These are the ones that we ended up buying :) We relaxed later on in them. I love these robes. They are posh, comfy and straight from Japan.
Love the top knot Harry!
And den?The fireworks show. An awesome light display, that is not captured here justly...
Looook!Another ORB!
All in all, a lovely, amazing day.Epcot was awesome. We did more than armchair traveling, we visited, soaked up, ate lots of wondrous foods and were exposed to many cultures.
