My friend just e-mailed me this so I had to share...

Zen of Sarcasm

  01.   Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead  of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me either. Just  pretty much leave me alone.

  02.   The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt and a leaky tire.
 
  03.   Its always darkest before dawn. So if you're going to steal  your neighbor's newspaper, that's the time to do it.
 04.   Don't be irreplaceable. If you can't be replaced, you can't  be promoted.
 
  05.   Always remember that you're unique. Just like everyone else.
 
  06.   Never test the depth of the water with both feet.
 
  07.   If you think nobody cares if you're alive, try missing a couple of car payments.
 
  08.   Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and  you have their shoes.
  09.   If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is probably not for  you.
 
  10.   Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to  fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.
  11.   If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably a wise investment.
 
  12.   If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.
 
  13.   Some days you're the bug; some days you're the windshield.
 
  14.   Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.
 
  15.   The quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it back in your pocket.
 
  16.   A closed mouth gathers no foot.
 
  17.   Duct tape is like 'The Force'. It has a light side and a dark side, and it holds the universe together.
 
  18.   There are two theories for arguing with women. Neither one works.
 
  19.   Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when your lips are moving.
 
  20.   Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.
 
  21.   Never miss a good chance to shut up.
 
  22.   Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a  laxative on the same night 

Hello all my beautiful friends - I am so sorry I haven't been about lately.  You know when you get so caught up with other things that you just get out of the habit of doing the one thing you really love?

Well I've decided that I'm going to make more of an effort doing just that - and hopefully that means I'll be back on here more often in the future.  It's just all the crap with the shop and stuff that I seem to have let take over but I've made a concious decision that I need to start doing more things for me in an effort to find myself and my place again. 

I think what really hit home is the fact that it's my eldests birthday today - yes my little angel boy is 7 today!  I can't believe how  fast the time has gone by.  We've been having problems with him lately - probably nothing to worry about but fairly constant.  Attitude, behaviour - everything just seemed to go mad and for a while there I thought we were in danger of losing that beautiful loving child in favour of a right little demon but it was something Tony said last night that really made me think.  He mentioned that he just wasn't "into" Ryan's birthday and suddenly everything started making sense.  Although, when we first started on the road to opening the shop we both agreed that if it ever started to interfere with the kids (well Ryan since he was an only way back then), then we would see about calling it a day.  Well somewhere along the way we started to put the business first - although the kids were always our top priority we started to - everything became tangle up with how the shop was doing.  If we had a bad day at work we would bring it home with us and ultimately Ryan would suffer.  What I call 'the curse of the first-born'.  Well I ended up having a massive talk with Tony about this, about how we've fallen into the same trap our parents made with us as the firstborn - putting way too much responsibility onto his little shoulders and expecting him to understand just how important the business was to our way off life.   This really hit home when Tony mentioned that he was more excited about the fact the Jonathan is 8months old today than Ryan turning 7.

So I've spent most of the day reminding myself of that joy and hope I felt when they first placed that tiny little bundle into my arms.  I had paniced at first that I didn't feel that rush of love people talk about until it dawned on me one day that I hadn't felt it when he was born  - I'd been smitten with him from the moment that little blue line had appeared on the pregnancy test!  Ryan was the baby we never thought we'd have - both of us being the oldest children in our own families - both of us having younger siblings who already were well on their way to producing football teams and both of us coming to an age where most people would  assume that if it hasn't happened, it never will.  And then out of the blue, he was in our lives - totally dependant on us to love him and guide him.  And somewhere along the way we fell into the trap most parents fall into - we started to take him for granted.

So my effort to get back to the things I love starts with Ryan - I want to get back to being just mum - not just the coolest mum at the school who's a bit weird and wacky but knows all the names of the Transformers, but the mum I was at the start - who could sit and snuggle for hours on end and make my son laugh until he thought he would burst.   I can still do it with Rebecca and Jonathan but somewhere along the way a distance started between myself and Ryan - one that as from today will be well and truely closed. 

We had a beautiful evening - Jonathan whizzing round the house in his walker after his big brother and Rebecca playing with her new doll.  And me, well, I may not have been in the middle of it with them but I truely forgot how much fun it is for a parent to just sit and watch your children having fun.  Then when Rebecca and Jonathan were tucked up in there beds Ryan and I managed to have our snuggles - I even stayed there, just holding him, long after he fell asleep on my lap watching "The WaterHorse" on DVD.   Saying that - it was a hell of a lot easier carrying him to bed 7 years ago!!!

So today was the start of a brand new year for my beautiful boy and hopefully the start of a whole new outlook for me.  I am going to make more of an effort to be ME - the Me I was and the Me I should be (does that make sense?)  So expect to see alot more of me round here again  as well - even if it is just a short boring "Hello, I'm here, goodnight".  I will give you all a proper update on how things are with the shop and stuff tomorrow but  tonight I feel belongs to my Ryan -

Happy Birthday my beautiful angel boy   xxx

Here you go - lets see how much you all know about the Summer Solstice!

(Remember it's just a bit of fun so don't panic if you're not spot on) - and no peeking at the answers below...

  Have fun!

1  WHICH MOVIE TAKES PLACE DURING THE SUMMER SOLSTICE?

Long Day's Journey into Night  

A Midsummer's Night Dream    

Suddenly Last Summer

2  WHICH PLACE ON EARTH RECEIVES THE LONGEST PERIOD OF DAYLIGHT ON JUNE 21^ST?

The North Pole 

The South Pole 

The Equator

3   WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE MOON'S PHASE AND THE SUMMER SOLSTICE?

There's always a full moon at the Solstice

There's always a new moon at the Solstice

There's no relationship

4   THE SUMMER SOLSTICE IS THE OFFICIAL FIRST DAY OF SUMMER.  WHEN DOES SUMMER OFFICIALLY END?

At the Winter Solstice

At the Vernal Equinox

At the Autumnal Equinox

5   WHY DO WE HAVE SEASONS?

Because the Earths orbit around the sun is elliptical

Because the Earths rotational axis is tilted

Because the Earths rotation changes direction

Now scroll down for the answers..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

 1  (B)     Shakespeare was inspired by all the tomfoolery and merrymaking that orignially took place during the festival of Midsummer.  What we call the 1st day of Summer was actually right in the middle of it in the ancient calendar, where summer was the season that surrounded the Longest Day.

2  (A)      On June 21st (and for several weeks before and after it) the North Pole is bathed in light.  The Sun doesn't set.

3  (C)      There is no relationship - the Solstice is and effect of the Earth's tilt and it's rotation around the sun.  The moon is not effected by the sun.

4  (C)     Summer turns to Fall/Autumn at the Autumnal Equinox (or Mabon) around September 23rd.

5  (B)    The tilt of the earth's rotational axis (23.5 degrees) gives us the 4 seasons.  Summer in the Northern Hemisphere is the time when the North Pole is tilted towards the sun which gives us longer days than at any other time of the year.

So how many of you out there got all 5 right, eh?

To make it you get to spend a few minutes outside in the sunshine in your favorite dandelion patch gathering fresh dandelion blossoms. You'll need about 2 quarts of flowers to make a gallon of lemonade.

Bring the flowers inside and place them in a gallon jar. Fill the jar with room temperature water and add the juice of 4 lemons. Add fresh honey to taste, and chill. You can strain the flowers out after a few hours or just leave them to fall into the glasses when you serve the lemonade.

Susun Weed in Healing Wise reminds us that dandelion blossoms steeped as tea can help relieve headaches, menstrual cramps, backaches, stomach aches and even depression.

So, not only will this lemonade be a tasty treat, it will be another way to access the healing properties of these beautiful sunny yellow flowers.

Save a glass or two for the rainy spring days that inevitably follow the hot sunny ones, and perhaps you will find your spirits lifted as you drink.

Enjoy!

.

 I just had this reading done on Mystic Board and I thought I'd get advice from you lot about what you think it means for us.  The question I asked was "Will things work out for us this time?" 

Basically, we've had some more interest in the shop - two girls want to take over the lease to open a hair salon.  The land lord is fine and in agreement that it can all go ahead and they're even talking about having a totally barand new lease written up which means that we would be completely free (at the moment if they left after any period of time we'd still be liable) so it should be happy days.  However, after finding out today just what work they want to do on the property, Tony thinks it may be too expensive for them and they'll pull out.

I'm hoping I've read this result right and (if it's right) them things will go our way but as I said, I thought I'd get a second opinion from my wise (and definitely more knowledgable)friends here on CS.

Have a read and let me know what you all think.

BB

Celtic Cross Spread This is one of the most common spreads. This is also known as the Grand Cross spread. This spread provides a very detailed reading of the past and present situation and the external influences. There are four cards in a row along the side with a cross in the centre. This is a somewhat complex spread and needs expertise.
	Card 1: The Covering: This represents the overall events, situations or influences surrounding the present question. Judgement You hard work reaps all the rewards. Do not be too harsh on yourself. Learn to be patient to be successful. Health will improve. There may be positive changes in life. This is a good time to make changes in your career. Important changes that alter your life may happen.
	Card 2: The Crossing: This represents the current problems, challenges and negative influences that the querent has to face. Queen of Cups You are a loving and tender person. Your maturity level is high. You may also be a psychic and intuitive. You are full of compassion and represent a happy marriage.
	Card 3: The Root: This represents what was the actual reason for the problem to occur or how the querent feels about it subconsciously. Two of Wands A lot of good things are yet to come. You are a considerate person with a soft heart. Partnerships will be successful. Travel is possible. Your maturity will lead will initiate new ventures. This is the time for contemplation. Success will be the reward of your hard work.
	Card 4: The Past: This represents events that have occurred in the near past that are going away. Four of Swords This is the time build up your mental strength. Meditate and spend time in a calm atmosphere. You need to replenish your strength and spend time in spiritual thinking. You need to take rest and relax.
	Card 5: The Crown: This signifies the querent's knowledge of the present situation and the influences affecting it. The Empress Execution of your decisions are in you own hands now. You need to take calculated risks to achieve your goals. You may receive some good news related to a wedding or birth of a baby. Now is the time to take action and develop your creativity.
	Card 6: The Future: This represents events that will occur in the near future. Knight of Swords You are very brave and aggressive. You strive to fight all obstacles in your path. You may want to show off you strength. You are positive in your outlook towards life. You may be dominating and ready for any challenge.
	Card 7: The Questioner: This represents the attitude of the querent and the negative feelings he may have regarding the question. Three of Pentacles This represents the initial completion of a project. To become a success the project may need the support and cooperation of a lot of people. You need a lot of skillful planning to be done for all future ventures. Skillful work is always sees success and is appreciated.
	Card 8: The House: This represents the opinions and influences of friends and family. Death This is the beginning of a new life. You have to start from scratch. You won't get anything easily. Do not give up hope nor wallow in self pity. Give up old habits that you don't like and start a new life. There may be a lot of changes in your life.
	Card 9: The Inside: This represents the querent's hopes and fears regarding the situation. The Devil Your dark side may be trying to take over your good side. Do no give in to materialistic decisions that may spoil your life. Give up habits that are doing you harm. There may be an unexpected failure or loss; you may feel frustrated and oppressed.
	Card 10: The Outcome: This represents the final outcome of the situation. Ten of Swords You may be at the lowest point in your life. You may face some sorrow or sudden misfortune. Plans may fail. Losses may occur. There may be a lot of pain and despair. Things will get better soon.