Folks who get their legal knowledge from tv shows don’t understand the system is working as it should. I was a criminal defense paralegal for 22 years. If you know the actual law and break down the evidential timeline, it’s clear. Does overkill happen in far too many cases?? Sure.  But the grand jury does what it has to do under the circumstances with the evidence presented to them. Bless those who drive themselves crazy talking about what should have happened instead when they don’t have the facts nor the ability to comprehend the actual law.

A Gardener’s Thanksgiving
Let us give thanks for a bounty of people:
For children who are our second planting, and though they grow like weeds and the wind too soon blows them away, may they forgive us our cultivation and fondly remember where their roots are;
For generous friends with hearts and smiles as bright as their blossoms;
For feisty friends as tart as apples;
For continuous friends, who, like scallions and cucumbers, keep reminding us that we’ve had them;  Continue reading →

I’m having turkey this Thanksgiving. I don’t always. I enjoy the ritual cooking of it but not the preparing of a whole bird. Turkey breast alone isn’t an option as I prefer dark meat. This year for the first time, I ordered a small turkey from Publix that I picked up this morning. I plan on making green beans, mashed potatoes, stuffing and gravy. I always keep it low fat. I’ll steam the green beans along with some red pepper strips and serve them simply with sea salt, coarse ground black pepper and a lemon squeeze, Earth Balance and gomasio.    I’ll mash the potatoes with salt and pepper, a little almond milk and coconut powder and some Earth Balance spread. The gravy I’ll make using mushrooms and an organic brown gravy mix. The stuffing will be bread crumbs, roasted mushrooms, onion, celery, apple, diced dried apricot with fresh rosemary, sage and thyme. I may add eggplant and I may stuff it into red peppers. Neither the man nor I are dessert eaters, so no pies, but the sweet/sour element will be an cranberry orange and apricot chutney made with onion, bell pepper, allspice, cayenne, cinnamon, cloves, cardamon, apple cider vinegar and fresh shaved ginger.  I usually spend holidays working but Thursday, I’m just going to relax and bask in how thankful I am for this life I’ve been blessed with.

I drove to Melbourne this morning to deliver the December Horizons Magazine. Dropping it off before stores open, I don’t get a chance to say hi to friends but schedule-wise, it’s often the best time for me. I delivered half the stores and, an hour in, my lack of sleep began catching up with me. I decided to head home and deliver the rest of the mags the next day, after a final delivery to my friend Maria. It turns out she needed a ride to Palm Bay so it was perfect timing. By the time I dropped her off, I’d caught my second wind so I drove back to Melbourne to finish delivering the magazines. By then, businesses were open so I got to visit with Rev. Beth at Unity Church of Melbourne.  I’ve skipped church the past year, reclaiming personal time on Sundays, and I missed it – and her. It was good to reconnect. Afterwards, I stopped at K & C Oriental Market on Aurora Road and got tom yum paste, chili garlic oil, palm sugar, dried bonito flakes, rice noodles, then stopped at Pho Cali to bring home some fresh spring rolls and a Pho soup.  I’d just finished lunch when Maria called ready to return to Melbourne. Again, perfect timing. It always is.

Elizabeth Stamper

How can I return mercy
for lack of mercy
and kindness for what
appears to be unkind—
I must see this differently.

How can I think I am good
and you are guilty—as if
only I would know
what’s right and wrong—
I must see us differently.    Continue reading →

In tough times, it’s hard to remember that whatever situation I’m in, I’ve gotten there by being a vibrational match to it. It’s not always easy to see how that can be. The only way I can get out of it is to change my thoughts about what I’m living and what I’m seeing. You, too. Sometimes the best thing to do is cut the cord immediately, clear up past karma, pay anything owed and get outa Dodge.  A friend just messaged me she was in a living situation she needed to be free of but needed all available funds to pay for a new place. If she leaves her situation now owing money, she’ll have that dollar karma following her to any new place. If she pays it up, thankful her landlord trusted her enough to give her credit, the Universe will open all sorts of doorways to new opportunity to her.  If we drop the rock in our hand, the Universe will fill it with diamonds. As long as we have full faith and expect and believe it will.  And as long as we’ve paid for the rock…    Continue reading →

What am I not? I am not this body, I am not this personality, I am not my job nor my labels, nor my income, nor my credentials nor my history, nor my thoughts. So who am I without all that? in lucid moments, I know and that sustains me until the next lucid moment.

We went on a fun road trip yesterday morning. It was rainy and overcast as we left Melbourne but it was clear by the time we crossed the county line. It was beautifully sunny in Cassadaga.  Seeing the 32909 weather, I almost postponed the trip for a few days. I went out to the garage and cleaned out the car, then thought to check the weather for the destination.  I’m glad I did, I saw it was clear today but would be rainy the next two days.  That convinced me!  I grabbed the man and off we went.  He’s the best road trip partner, we always have a blast.  First, a stop at Starbucks for Venti Americano decaf topped with a splash of soy milk.  I always ask them to shake the carton before they pour it.  Correction, we ordered half caf, not decaf, so I knew we were in for a lively morning.     Continue reading →

A friend has left town owing money to an overly kind landlord and others. You want a new start in a new place where no one knows you?  That’s not how you leave negativity behind because where ever you go, there you are.  Remember your karma follows you everywhere and your point of attraction remains the same until you change it.  You always know what your vibrational point of attraction is because the evidence is showing up in front of you every minute of every day. You can change your point of attraction on any topic using these –> 13 Steps Back To Balance.  And there is always a way to leave a situation with integrity and kindness

A pal was being maligned on Facebook by someone caught in their own lies and she apologized to anyone getting private messages about it. I told her I consider it an honor when someone publicly uses me as the scapegoat to work out their own reflection. That tells me I’m in their life for soul growth. Knowing that, I deeply bow and appreciate the honor.  Plus karma is only a bitch if you are.

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