The Long, Angry Wait for Help

The Long, Angry Wait for Help: "

In Jackson, Miss., confusion, politics, and a crush of evacuees and local townsfolk stir emotions at an aid site

"

Feeling Crafty

Master craftsman

My tarot card for the day is the three of pentacles, also known as Master Craftsman.

Skills and abilities will be appreciated and rewarded.
Success through effort.
Artistic ability, rank, power, achievement.

Yeah!

or,

sloppiness in workmanship.
Delay of recognition or recompense.
Preoccupation with gain at the cost of craft.
Mediocrity.

Well, now I know what to watch out for. That's half the battle. It's a lovely, sunny Thursday morning, and I don't have a single appointment with a student before lunch --- so I guess I'll catch up on grading and the like. My allergies are in full force, though, so until the pill kicks in I'll be miserably sneezy.

How about a little music by Shelby Lynne this morning? Well, you'll have to look up the music, but I can offer some of her lyrics:

"Well, this is it
no need in putting it off any longer
just turn around and walk out the door
you thought you had it all figured out
but baby you don't know what love's about

It's time for me to spend some time alone
I'm tired of trying to make this your happy home

Hey --- I'm leaving
and this time it's for good
you should've treated me the way you said you would"

Damn right, sister!!! I am woman --- hear me roar.

I hope everybody has a good day and doesn't put up with any ... you know.

Devil's Play

The Devil

The Devil is in the Details

I've drawn the Devil card today, which might mean

Greed, the monkey trap
Vehement desires, lust
bondage to an ideal
Bad or evil influence or advice
a choice upon which your fate depends
dissolution

or:

a release from bondage
a rest
a new life's direction

I'm going with that second reading. My friend Susan has a third reading based on her tarot deck, which is more abstract and playful than mine, and here it is:

Devil's Play

Laugh your fears and sorrows away.
Dance and drink to your successes.
Life your spirits by passion and play.
Recreate yourself through recreation.
be aware of risks under the influence of intoxicated madness
Stone blind, you may perform misdeed
out of ignorance, you are the devil. Watch out.

The Magician

April is the Cruellest Month

I'm here, but not for long. Too much to do. I still haven't filed my taxes, for instance. Oh, boy. Well, here's a quick look at my tarot card:

The Magician

Opportunities to use talents.
Originality
Creativity
Imagination
Skill
Diplomacy
Self-Reliance
The merging of the four elements.

Or, if I don't respond well and get enough sleep,

unskilled
clumsy
insecure
disgrace
bad judgment causes loss

"Always use magic carefully," says my friend Susan, referring to the law of three. I have no idea what that means, so when I figure it out, I'll post it here so we all know.

Two of Wands

Two of Wands

I'm back. Spring Break wasn't much to write home about --- or blog about. I've been sick with a bad cold, lying on the couch watching Court TV and CNN (the Shaivo case). I guess the Tarot is appropriate:

Two of Wands: Watch and Wait

Wait to see if plans bear fruit.
Kindness, generosity, intellect
Well-balanced individual, creative
Good things coming, fulfillment

(Sounds nice!!)

I have a busy busy day with student appointments, so I'll have to freewrite more tomorrow.

Justice

Justice

My tarot card for today features a woman named "Justice" with ivy leaves in her hair --- scarlet robes with a ruby pendant gathering her green scarf at the center, just below her throat. She carries balances in one hand and a sword in the other.

She represents

Fairness, balance, equality, rightness, legal matters (uhoh), negotations

or

bias, prejudice, bigotry, intolerance, a bad judgment (legal -- double uhoh), and cruel punishment

It's the Friday before Spring Break, and I'm just too near a vacation to think of anything else. So this is the end of today's blog. I'll try to get back to it in a day or two, from home, with my hair in a towel and sitting happily in my p.j.'s.

queen of wands

"My Problem is You"

Just listening to a little Jackson Browne:

I have no problem with this crooked world
I play the cards I drew
No problem with the changes life has hurled
My problem is you

The song is called "Waiting for You," actually --- if anybody's interesting in looking it up.

I have no problem telling right from wrong
the way some people do
I know exactly where these arms belong
my problem is you

waiting for you --- waiting here for you

I don't worry about the ozone layer
just let those rays come through
when I'm outside I keep my clothes on
my problem is you

I don't worry about Madonna
or the next thing she might do
I don't worry about your Mama
my problem is you

Okay --- after a few days off the blog, I'm back with a lot on my mind. I'm about to read an article from the Christian Science Monitor called "Teens Ready to Prove Text-Messaging Skills Can Score SAT Points." It should be interesting, and I'm hoping it will have some tidbits I can include in an article I'm working on about technology and writing here at OC Tech.

My tarot card for today: Queen of Wands, a lady in a yellow and red dress with cascading sleeves and pictures of the sun. She's got a great smile --- and dimples. Sunflowers in the background. Cool.

Meaning:

A woman of considerable energy
very active, very passionate
fond of nature, generous, and practical

or

Strict, domineering, jealous,
vengeful. A deceitful woman.
Passion overrules all other concerns
A tendency toward unfaithfulness.

Uh oh. :>)

Page of Pentacles

Check-ups

I have finally made doctor's and dentist's appointments after a long hiatus. It's been a rough two and a half years, and during that time my health has taken a back seat to all the other demands of my life. Maybe I am on the road to a healthier me, starting with the dental appointment I just made for Friday.

Still on my mind: the art of listening (I'm going to try some new strategies)

My tarot card: Page of Pentacles

Deep concentration
scholarship
news
a bringer of messages
a young person makes the seeker proud
a careful child

or

bad news
delinquency
illogical thoughts
wastefulness

I had a very scary dream in which I apparently had breast cancer. Thus, the sense of urgency has arisen to go to the doctor and have my parts checked out.

Ten of Cups

Doing the Budget

Preparing a Budget

I'm preparing my first professional budget as the director of the Writing and Professional Skills Studio at OC Tech. I don't enjoy the process, but it is becoming more clear and perhaps more manageable, now that I've received some guidance from the experts.

On my mind today: listening

I'm considering attending a "Deep Listening Retreat" in New Mexico in August. It sounds cool, and they need volunteers to prepare for the retreat --- free room and board. We'll see if I can come up with the money for the flight.

Today I am going to practice the fine art of listening and see how it turns out.

Tarot card: Ten of Cups (Welcome Home)

home
joy
familial bliss
peace
plenty
contentment of the heart
respect from your neighbors

(appropriate and timely, after a weekend visit home to Alabama)

or

the loss of a friendship
sadness or great disappointment
indignation

I've known a few of those lost friendships and sadnesses, but I try not to be indignant about it. "I think it's about forgiveness --- even if you don't love me anymore." (Don Henley)

Knight of Cups