Lessons for Brittany

My young girl,

You have asked many questions of your auntie…I hope this helps…I love you

Never Give Away Your Family- any person who asks you to choose between them and your family are scum…even if your family was the worst, if a person really loves and respects you they will never ask this or expect this of you….when you are angry with your family hang up/walk away- never say I hate you or threaten the parents (some words can never be taken back and even when forgiven are not forgotten)…my parents and I started doing battle when I was young, I ran away at 13…through the years, it was a point I made (even then) to call once a week- let them know I was alive and safe…at least once every 3 months I would bring my sorry ass to one of them- for them to hug or yell at and for them to see me…these are my responsibility…you see when I die, I do not answer for anyone but me…if they, you or anyone else does not hold up their end, it is they who will have to answer for it…from what I have read in every religion, it is the same…responsibility is a big heavy word and action…it also has much meaning…I have rules for my kids…some strict- do your homework and chores, be polite, use manners- even when others did not…some funky- if you put a cup down at any party get a fresh drink poured in front of you or better yet drink water from a bottle you brought (help prevent people from dropping stuff in to the cup)- do not bring home an animal or a child unless you are ready to help with the responsibility of it…

Yes, after raising 38 children, I do in fact know most of this by heart…usually followed by the remark- “You think you know everything”…I do not know everything but, after 38 children…I have done so many things so incorrectly, that people took time to break it down so often, I now have it memorized;)

Next up bills…get one of those generic desktop calendars…write down when every bill is due…if it atomically comes out of your account highlight it in yellow and mark which account it is coming from…any incoming money should be highlighted in green and contain the amount and where it came from…all paid items should be highlighted in pink…a file should be kept for each month- receipts, notes, important information- at the end of each month, rip off that month from the calendar, put it in the file and close the file until tax time…if you pay at least $5 a month most will understand, some will be nasty (ignore them as negative energy brings negative happenings)…if you owe someone…do not hide, be honest and do your best…this does not always work in your favor, pull up the big panties and adult up…not easy, can be embarrassing, earns respect

No your right, I am not here to blow sunshine…I am here because these lessons will save you time, heart ache, money and energy…the lessons I wish someone had told me

Sex is a big responsibility too…nothing is 100% that you will not get pregnant…we did not have as much birth control, but we also did not have so many autistic children…just saying…everything you put into your body effects your child even if it is not in utero yet…I tell all girls get a profession before you think on having a child…this way if the guy walks out, you are not condemning yourself and child to a hard life of poverty or to be a burden to your family or his…this does not even discuss STDs…some do not kill…they stay with you for life….Other than a doctor’s note…I would have to inspect any private parts headed my way…a short time of happiness for a life of woe…hmmm

Are you still happy you asked me not to sugarcoat the facts…

Follow your dreams and explore your hobbies as long as it does not affect your life…I once knew a woman who loved to golf so much, she started to ignore her real life- husband, kids, job, bills…she thought she was going to be on the PGA thing and thought she was so good because people blew smoke up her skirt (this way they could sell her lessons and gear)…several of her friends tried to tell her, but she would not listen…now she has nothing- family, kids, job and most of her real and all of her fake friends are gone…if you ever have a question about something like this- Ask your mother/father/best friend…if you are really good, she/he will tell you and if you are not she/he will say that too…you may not like hearing it, but then you can enjoy it as a hobby instead of the next profession

Alright one last point of interest and I will ring the school bell…lol

Kids…not one of mine was planned…and most that I have ever known were not…in 46 years I have only known 3 to be planned…when a child comes, your life stops for 18 years…all time, money and effort go into this child…as a parent this is your responsibility… you will go without food, sleep, clothes and wear the latest sneakers from the clearance bin… at times, the other parent will walk out and enjoy life while you work 2-3 jobs…this goes back to the start of this conservation…there is NO absolution for those who harm/neglect children and or their responsibility to that child (child support/visitation)…just as there is NO absolution for children who do harm to or neglect their parents…you answer for what you do…

Welcome to being an adult my child…I am here anytime you need me…you see it is my responsibility as your aunt to try to help when I can…I love you

 

Blessed Be,

Auntie D  

Feeling a rant

Today I am feeling a rant…hold on here we go…

Lets start with TV…2 and a half men had jumped the shark before Charlie Sheen left the show…turns out, he was really not funny sober…who knew… and the kid grew up …I am not an Aston Kutcher fan…the fact the show is still on is just an FU to Charlie…so NO, I will not watch the new show and honestly do not want to speak of it anymore…it speaks to how stupid Hollywood thinks we are...

In massage this week, I had to choke down a tough one…one of my clients was working 3 jobs to make ends meet…he was driving home late one night, got in a wreck and is now paralyzed from the waist down…one of my cancer patients has died 18 days after being told…I had yet another client go through foreclosure (he will be moving out of state)…one of my snowbirds had to take back a piece of property, when this 60 something man got there it was trashed…deep breath and take minds off some of these horrors (even if it is only for a few minutes)…the massage was like a sad ballet and went over from 5-10 minutes…the new Eddy Vedder album maybe all ukulele, but it has been awesome to work to…

In class this week, I took my final and post test…Professor Fogerty’s class on ‘Nutrition and Aging’ was very cool…I ended with a high B…I am ashamed at our current government for the way our elderly are being treated…they are not pawns nor should they be treated with such disrespect…the people who are on the job are pretty fantastic, really sad there are just so few…

American Boudica/The British Connection…Chris has been most helpful with the Sunshine Paddle…Dale and Dave too have been helping with the Paddle…with book 3 in the can and book 4 almost complete…the draft of 5 to the side, My focus has been on the Paddle…it has given Chris time to work on his painting…Dave and Rose are soon to chat about card/animal creative paper thing;)…both are so creative, I am dying to see what they come up with…

The Circle is celebrating Trish’s Bday…she has requested a naked bon fire and we know, I love to acquiesce that request…I have wood since Mabon is coming so, bon fire at my house…tr la la la…lol…Happy Bday Trish;)

The gardens are growing out of control…with so much steady rain and heat…it is so neat to check out how many colors are in bloom…the hibiscus I planted on Shinara has been blooming with a beautiful purpley flower…

This is a special time of year…Aloe Water is the best…the health benefits are too many for me to list (mostly digestive and skin)…should be consumed once a week…I am not a doctor, but do use this myself…squish aloe out of leaf by pinching on leaf slightly and sliding down leaf

Aloe Water

8oz water

2oz Aloe

Mix – can be done hot, cold or warm…can be refrigerated up to 6 hours

I personally add the aloe to hot water and stir it until it dissolves into the water…place in fridge to chill for 30 minutes…I use rose hip ice cubes and pour the aloe water over it…yummy and good for me

Okay let’s talk about the Paddle…I am not crazy and of you think I am, please call Trish at Sunrise and make a pledge…the website is open, Chris is doing some final editing…Monique and Marion have been great help editing and beta testing pages…Walter has got us brand new 2 way radio and digital compass for the trip and Dave went yard sale shopping with his son, they found a pair of Binoculars…Marion has been researching safety equipment and classes that I will need…Walter has had me swimming against the rip current and work safety drills off Honeymoon Island…Dale and Chris have been helping make and keep lists…Cooper has been helping me with postage and running errands…I have also been getting youtube vids on great white sharks swimming the eastern seaboard in the e-mail…my brother compared me to Forest Gump…my daughter said ‘We have insurance on you, go do what you want’…can you feel the love…that said…the menu is going well and weight loss is continuing…though I do find myself stretching a lot more and instead of just thinking about food- I really think about what I want to eat, what the food will do for me and how I want to eat it…


I found out that I had a ‘nodule’ in my breast…they are words that every woman dreads hearing…they feel it is benign, but wish to run tests to be sure…I have no fear, I am a woman of faith…everything happens for a reason…I will keep you posted

Much Love and Many Blessings,

D

Hot and Sunny in The Chapel

Hello My Friend,

How are you? I am happy to see you. The heat has started to climb already. Have you been keeping an eye on the fluids and air pressure in the tires in your car? During such high heat things tend to have holy break down batman…lol

The massage business has been picking up. My handouts seem to be working…YEA! I hand them to people I would not mind having for clients (for every 10 clients you might get 1 bad one= great return). I do not put them on cars or in mailboxes or in Laundromats…for every 1 good client on those flyers, you will go through 10 bad…hardly worth the effort. I have been so relaxed with life; My Billy Holiday CD is 120 minutes and the clients love to hear it when I push play because, every session has run over by 15-30 minutes (no I do not charge if I go over). My receptionist Dale has been having a flum trying to help with the Sunshine Paddle…it is great to have friends who have your back;)

School is going well…I really find this class interesting…how cool that so many people are over 70 that we need a class on the nutrient needs of it…how far we have come…how far we have yet to go

American Boudica has been working very diligently on The Sunshine Paddle…all art and text have been focused on preparation of the forthcoming trip…we feel blessed to have the opportunity as to help so many with this event…

The Circle of Boudica is a blessed place…I do not care what color you are…I do not have to believe everything you believe in, to believe in you…I do not care who you call God/Goddess as long as you take the time to make the call…I have been inspired at the love shown to all here…this week I will start to gather and create my herbal medications…the colors have been so strong…I am sure the tinctures and powders will be excellent…After a beautiful waterside offering, Walter made an excellent feast of fish for Lugnasadah…if I had not said it, I am thankful you choose to have me in your world;)

Okay…I hear ya…you want to hear about The Sunshine Paddle…as you all know many years ago I was beaten…in these troubled economic times peoples nerves are frazzled and more often it erupts in violence…cut to these programs can cost lives…at the end of the trip all moneys not used by for the trip will be given to the shelter…I am at a unique position in my life that allows me the ability to hazard such an undertaking…the kids are grown and the grandchildren are not quite here and hubby supports me…the side effect is education…I will have pictures, video and gps that can be followed…a good math teacher could get a term on time and distance alone…an English teacher may have the children contrast the website as opposed to the cartography of John Smith…science teachers will have plants and animals…since I belong to NO political party or major corporation, my unbiased eye will show the condition of the coast…when I am done, all equipment will be split between The Florida History Museum and The Smithsonian Museum…for future generations to learn from…

I lost 25 pounds and started working out at Honeymoon Island in the water, yoga and stretching at home…not to mention running after 4 dogs…lol…I have started sending our letters requesting sponsorship…though I am good at writing, I am not good at proposal writing…so many are reaching out to help and I want to take time to say Thank You…the love and support is VERY appreciated…several people have asked how they can help…we are currently looking for camping and kayaking equipment…if you have stuff you are not using or if you find someone who wants to donate, please contact me…if you live near one of our landing spots…you could meet us with food;) or paddle with us to raise money for your local shelter (I will sign paperwork for anyone who does this)…any donation is greatly appreciated and on the website we now have a cash donation button or maybe you know a smal business that would like to be a sponsor…Chris Bilton has Done some beautiful prints for the event…Bank of America set us up with an account…it just seems a never ending amount of work, that’s okay I feel up for the challenge;)

Yes my friend, I feel the love...May you all be so blessed...Much Love

D. Cooper-Rooney, LMT

Dee Unplugged

Merry Meet,

I am so glad ya all had time to visit...have a coffee…so much has been happening…it’s a story to tell…you look well…I guess we all have gotten used to things being bad, the stress point has passed…I have made time for introspection as I have learned so much it takes time at my age to absorb it all;)

Massage is quite amazing…I have been so into the muscle…every client got at least 5 extra minutes…I really don’t think they minded though…to follow the contour of the muscle until its natural end is enthralling…the muscle never lies and always remembers…each is like a book written unto itself…at the moment, I am learning a thermal technique…it exposes the muscle in profile…how totally cool is that?

English Comp 2 is a work heavy class…My final paper will be on cancer…if you want a copy let me know…it will be in word format…I did papers on prayer in school and the death penalty this week…just so you know, I am for both…I agree with a moment of silence…this way every child can pray to their own God, but still share the bonding, calming moment…the death penalty…I disagree with the supreme court, I feel if you commit treason against this country or continually harm children…you need to meet Mr. Sparky (Florida’s name for our electric chair)…at present you can only get it for capitol murder…it is not my job to judge you, I am just allowing God to sort it out

American Boudica has been working slow, but well…the cold here in Florida has had me running…Chris has had great patience with me on this…we are starting to ready book 3 for the printer…the children’s book is coming on swimmingly…Book 4 is really fast becoming a masterpiece…

The Circle of Boudica has been counseling a lot of people…money has been a big issue…with so few having jobs, it is creating hardship everywhere…it has done my heart great joy to see so many that pitch in to help…I have been burning a white candle for hope and a blue one for spirit…

In the cold snap we got this week…my pipes burst and my central heat and air unit froze up…poor Walt came home from work to a cold house and no shower…our bank account is now stripped, but everything is now working again…Walter and dad fixed it all…glad I do not have to look at a service bill

My indoor plants will all be up potted today…the guava trees have held on so far…I have extra kitchen ivy…you can come by and pick some up…the mother plant is 26 years old today…I also need to clean up my lucky bamboo…I put my Christmas cactus outside to rejuvenate…

Everything in the yard is hibernating except the fish…they have slowed down a lot…during the winter I only put feed out if it goes above 65f…otherwise the only thing you do is fowl the water…the next warm day we have I will make some compost tea using pond water…it will give the fish fresh water and the plants macro nutrients…I have also been throwing out bird food at night…our birds are not used to the cold and need to eat for heat…

The gliders have been well…quiet due to the cold…they got a new wheel for Yule and have been quite happy with it…the dogs have been funny…the puppy has had them all on the run…he is very much the little tornado with teeth…it is quite sweet how they each take turns watching over him…Chewy is often tasked with the job…I don’t know what they will do when he is able to jump…lol…

Have you stopped to laugh at life…from where I sit; there is a lot to laugh at…I live in a state where the good old boys rein supreme…our current governor here in the great state of Florida looks like Skeletor and has about the same manners…

We have the wonderful sheriff of Polk County…Grady Judd…he aint no joke, but he does make me smile…I think quite highly of him….this is the man that when the newspaper asked him how come they shot a suspect 58 times, his honest answer was ‘because we ran out of ammunition.’…lesson learned, don’t shoot a cop in Polk county…he has now arrested some guy from Colorado…the man wrote a hideous book…I hate the thought of the book even being out there…it puzzles me how he is going to be able to take this to trial though…the constitution provides for freedom of speech and print….you have the right not to buy it…you have the right to protest it…but you do not have the right to arrest over it, unless you can prove it was used in process of a crime…if the guy gets off, he can sue…this is a time when the counties and state have NO money…I agree they guy is scum…it is my true hope Grady can pull this out…God loves fools, children, drunks and moral country boys…lol…

People often asked me about the wildlife in Florida. The day I moved down here this was the headline-

A plainclothes policeman followed a suspicious car moving erratically along U.S. 19 in Clearwater. What made it suspicious was that the car appeared to be driven by a 3 1/2 foot iguana. "He had his claws on top of the wheel," a police officer drily explained. "It's not every day you find a lizard driving a car." The officer called for backup and followed the car for two miles without incident - which is better than many warm-blooded drivers can do. After checking, the police found John Ruppell slumped low in the driver's seat beneath his pet iguana and charged him with drunken driving. The iguana, whose name was Finley, was taken to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Yes, here in Florida I learned to laugh…it is really a great state…down here we chase of armadillos instead of raccoons…I have been swimming with manatees and dolphins…the northerner in me is always watching for gators…the Indian lore is truly deep…I really do love this place

Well I hope you got a smile.

Blessed Be,

D

On My Soap Box

I have been all over this country (USA)…when I was a young woman, I grew up in MA…and like any ‘good girl’, New England was my playground…I then moved to TN…from there to Virginia beach…and now in Florida…each and every area that I have lived in has prized good morals and being a good sport…let me share with you some things I have learned


Lesson1…from a time that I was quite small, I was taught right from wrong…legal be dammed, if you did the right thing…in your heart any amount of time is not a sacrifice…you see when this life is over…I do not have to answer for what you did…only for what I did…If I do something wrong, I need to be honest and take my lumps…this is the philosophy I live by

Lesson 2…from the time I was born, I have been around animals and gardens…here is where I learned respect…not only for what was on my table, but also for life…you see, my animals do not belong to me, but I to them…

Lesson 3…it was put to me as a child that you never hurt anyone or anything for fun…people who did this were always looked down on and shunned

Lesson 4…it was unfair to allow others who were ignorant to be taken advantage of…be it animal or human…it was my duty to look after those who could not look after themselves…

Lesson 5…not everyone wins…this lesson is important…it teaches the winner to be humble and the loser to try harder…

Lesson 6…Win with grace and humility…walk with honor and pride

These are lessons of life, fair play and sportsmanship…I am writing this as I have seen some things that have my stomach turning…growing up in New England sports are a way of life…I swallowed the whole OJ murder trial (thankfully Nevada cleaned this mess up)…I do not think just because you know how to throw a ball that you should be allowed to get away with the crapp these guys are pulling…then came the idiot who thought dog fighting was so cool…many dogs are hurt or dead because of him…had you or I done this same crime, we would be behind bars for 20 years…he skated on the fact he could play ball with only 2 years…now not only do we the people of America and our children get this man rubbed in our face not only on the TV, but the internet too...now the president is going to speak up for him saying the man had done his time…could someone please tell Mr. Obama what dog fighting is…give him a video to watch…after watching sir, do you still think he did his time…he was given back a multimillion dollar contract by the NFL…kids took away the lesson that fighting dogs will not get you into too much trouble…I understood a cop looking the other way for a speeding ticket or a parking violation, but we are far from minor infractions…people tripping players from the side lines…lesson here kids, if you are losing it is okay to cheat…here in Tampa we pay for a stadium that the Buccs’ play in and most of the Buccaneers’ games have been blacked out from our TVs…because during a time in Florida’s lowest employment rate in history, we can not afford $25 a ticket (in the cheapest seats) and another $10 for parking to fill the stadium…can you say double dipping…please understand this is just the highlight reel…I guess the NFL has given up the morals and ethics clause in their contracts

I am quite tired of the bullshit they are trying to feed me…I will no longer buy tickets or t-shirts put out by the NFL…I will no longer watch games played by the NFL…nor will I spend any further time speaking of them…I can no longer support a national league who feels they are above the law and screwing people over is acceptable…I thank you for understanding my feelings…I will raise my grandchildren to play hockey, to swim, to play tennis…I will still watch the army/navy game, college and high school football…I am not nor will I ever be anti-sports…I have not seen such frightful behavior from other sports…I feel I have to stand up for what’s right…it may not be what is popular, but my conscience is clear…the children around me will not have to be exposed by such horrid people

Again, thank you for understanding