Good morning, dear ones.

May 1/1/11 dawn comfortably for you and lead to great things in this new year.

I'm getting ready to set off for a doggy lama appointment. Nice to start off the new year working. May it set a lovely precedent.

I wish I'd slept better, but my year end ritual cleaning got a bit out of control and I was wicked sore. But today? The house is perfect. Of course, there is always more to do, but lordy, things are organized around here. Should I get hit by a bus, the folks tasked with cleaning out my house will have it easy. Closets, cupboards, files...all tidy.

One especially gratifying thing this year is that I mentioned my year-end burning ritual here and there and loads of people did it for themselves. And reported back about it!

It's funny how people are quick to discount, or downright laugh at my spirituality, and yet they want to do the rituals anyway!

Well humans love symbolism, metaphors and rituals. If the tradition involved does not object I'm perfectly willing to adapt a cool ritual I don't believe in.

I adopt other people's rituals from time to time (and would never laugh at anyone spiritual practices). I see it as learning from wiser souls. My father is a Buddhist and I have pagan friends, and I've also learnt a lot from Roman Catholicism. Veneration of Mary is widely frowned upon in my Christian tradition, but I have icon corners dedicated to her and say the rosary. I'm occasionally denounced as a religious tourist, and I don't care! What's the year-end burning about, bonny?

ETA: WindSparrow, that's horribly irritating re the trash can. Did you get the numberplate of the driving instructor, to report them to their company, if they're from one?

Woohoo! I am finally back typing on a real computer as opposed to the iphone. Home! With food (I had to go to the drugstore adn had no food in the house, so scrambled eggs, english muffins, OJ, and new big big mugs for my Gypsy Cold Care tea!).

Apologies and -ma for all I missed while being swoop in and out and me me me. :)

Now to download all my pics, catch up on Yuletide, and be annoyed by this cold. I no longer have the "OMG I was in an airplane and my ear hasn't popped" feeling, but there's still pressure and when I move my head around I feel like there's water in there. WTF? Anyone help?

Happy 010111! Or is that Happy 23?

meara, it sounds like at least part of your sinuses have an enclosed pocket of well...

How annoying. I recommend humidity.

Malfunctioning blackberry:

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The instructor showed his gratitude for the loan of the trash can by leaving it sitting in the street, a good meter from the curb.

The only plus to Andi's story? I was able to grab the handle of the trash can as I drove in, and dragged it along up to the house.

The other one? still at the curb, thank you very much.

HNY all!

I'm starting 2011 in bed with a nasty headache that I'm pretty sure is allergy related. We are still at ND's mom's house, and I'm panicking a but about the 49 final exams and four papers I have to grade before I can finalize my semester one grades. I'm back to work on Monday so time is of the essence. I've been working several hours a day all week in the hopes I wouldn't be in this situation, but apparently I didn't space it out enough. Sigh.

We brought Kaylee with us and she has been so wound up that she's driving everyone crazy. This is not helping matters.

Anyway, enough whining. It will all get done, and I have much to be thankful for. Most importantly, ND is healthy, and we have surrounded ourselves with dear friends who are like family to us. We are both working and able to pay the bills, and our first wedding anniversary is on Wednesday. I can't believe we were in Hawaii a year ago! Thanks to all of you for being our blinvisible support network that got us through a tumultuous 2010.

Hope your headaches pass soon, Pix. Congrats on health, and especially on the anniversary!