Month: September 2023
Thor’s day begins with fog & it’s beautiful. 28.September.23
{pain} 5 – I’m out of Lyrica & we don’t have a vehicle… awesome. {sleep} 5h 41m of not great sleep.
The sunrise this morning was a gorgeous foggy spectacle, yesterday was several shades of pink.
👉🏻Like a boss, I failed to photograph either sunrise.
Oh Woden’s Day, you trickster. 27.September.23
{pain} 5 {sleep} 5h 3m – not a good night of sleep. I feel poopy today – not sure why.
My Ma is nearly here. Our truck is in the shop, so our original plan is changed, per usual. Busy days ahead. I’m so tired. 😑
👉🏻Sincerely hope you’re having a better week than I am.
Talk Soon,
Cecelia✌🏻 🌊 ☕️
Tuesday, September 26th, 2023 -TDP #DoMore
What could you do more of?
—Questioner
Oh goodness, dear Questioner, you’re listening in on my conversations again, aren’t you? Since suffering through COVID I have had very little energy, motivation, or ability to do things without losing breath.
So the honest answer is:
E V E R Y T H I N G.
I have a list longer than I want to admit of things that need to be done.
Even if I must go slowly, I must begin.
The Eagle is coming – my Ma will be in town very soon & will be here for a week or more. Busy, busy days ahead! I hope this week treats you well & that everything is beautiful & nothing hurts…
Talk Soon,
Cecelia ✌🏻🌊☕️
Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Announced
September 25th, 2023 -TDP #BestAdvice
Once upon a time about seventeen years ago, whilst dining at our favourite lunch establishment in Tulsa [now defunct, Souper Salad] a certain country music power couple sat nearby enjoying the daily quiche. Following their meal we approached Garth Brooks & Trisha Yearwood & asked for photos & autographs.
Rœgn was still a baby, not even one year old at the time, and she was adorable. Garth had a grand time with her, he really just wanted to hold her the entire time as she was fantastic with strangers. The advice came easily…
Don’t have anymore kids… it will never get better than this right here.
Garth Brooks
👉🏻To be fair, if I would have been married, I would have had more kids; however, the Lord had a different path in mind for me. I was able to focus solely on Rœ & our relationship reflects that, I think. ✌🏻🌊 ☕️
Sunday, September 24th, 2023 -TDP #energy
I am exceedingly happy that I’m able to discuss this, as it is part and parcel of my ongoing existential crisis concerning our food consumption in this country. If you’re not a reader of my blog, {how dare you? 😆} – you may not know that a few months ago I decided to detox from sugar & processed foods after watching an interview by Tom Bilyeu, from Impact Theory, with Calley Means. Mr. Means discussed the nutritional value (or lack thereof) in all of the foods we eat in this country, specifically the highly processed foods and the inevitable result of illnesses, including depression & anxiety & a laundry list of others, all of which I, or someone I know, suffer.
👉🏻The detox process was terrible and was only possible thanks to Ka’Chava.
🍀Ka’Chava is a superfood dietary supplement shake that can also be cooked & baked with in a number of ways, the easiest being a shake. It is super tasty & incredibly affordable, considering what is in it. My energy levels have been through the roof (save for the covid time) and I notice the difference when I do eat sugar – mainly chocolate. {As a maintenance opioid user, the cravings for chocolate are real & alive} each time I give in to the cravings, inevitably there is regret. When I am conscientious about what I put in my body, there is very rarely regret. ✌🏻🌊 ☕️
What about you? What gives you energy?
Saturday, September 23rd, 2023 -TDP #FavouriteAlbum
This is a very easy answer for me – Ænima by TOOL. The second studio album by the band, it was released in the autumn of 1996 – just as I was turning 16 years old. My Ænima TOOL concert experience was so transformative I ended up writing my very first college paper about it & later giving my daughter the first middle name, Æmelie (pronounced Eye-muh-lee). During the Ænima tour, Maynard James Keenan (lead singer) performed near the front of the stage, something that changed with their next album. MJK was painted blue top to toe, wearing only white boxer shorts… something like below. 👇
Maynard moved in ways I had never seen before by a musical performer – the music seemed to emanate from every part of him…
…and. his. voice.
Below is a favourite YT Creator of mine, Polo. One of the most enjoyable hobbies I have is finding reaction videos of TOOL, or any of their other bands. They are all expert musicians, artists at their own craft & together they create magic.
I recall purchasing the album the first time… due to loss, theft, or simple overuse, I’ve had to purchase it often. The album has broken the top ten on the Billboard Charts twice, debuting at #2 upon its initial release and 23 YEARS LATER when they released their full digital catalog, it landed at #10. The CD was like nothing I or my friends had ever seen. The plastic was made in such a way the the cover moved – as did some of the artwork inside.
The image on the CD itself was so rude; the picture on the disc is a dude sucking his own c–k. The artwork, much like the music, what something we’d never experienced before. In concert, it was unreal – just a cathartic, unbelievable experience that is emblazoned on my soul. The first single, Stinkfist, was listed as “Track #1” on MTV – bc apparently it was offensive. I remember Matt Pinfield making a fist & punching the air whenever he’d introduce “Track #1”. 😆 It was also the only track I could use in flag choir for practice due to those freakin’ time signitures. Danny Carey (drummer) is known for his ridiculous time signatures, among other things.
One thing you can expect from Tool is an abundance of time signatures, sometimes flipping between four or more per song. On top of that, Danny Carey sometimes plays in a totally different time from the rest of the band, which gives you a cool polymetric feel. Here are some of the ones you’ll find in Tool’s most popular tracks, along with approximate tempos*:
Brandon Toews via Drumeo
“Pneuma” time signatures (~114 BPM): 12/8, 11/8, 10/8
“Ticks & Leeches” (~152 BPM): 7/4, 4/4, 7/8, 5/8
“Stinkfist” (~174 BPM): 4/4, 3/4, 6/4
“Schism” (~108 BPM): 5/8, 7/8, 6/8
“Lateralus” (~175 BPM): 6/8, 9/8, 4/4, 7/8, 5/8
“7empest” (~145 BPM): 4/4, 13/8, 11/8, 10/8, 7/8, 7/4
“The Pot” (~107 BPM): 4/4, 9/8, 3/4, 5/4
“Sober” (~149 BPM): 4/4
“Forty Six & 2” (~160 BPM): 4/4, 7/8, 9/8, 7/4
“The Grudge” (~100 BPM): 5/8, 5/4, 2/4, 6/8
*Danny Carey doesn’t always use a click in the studio, so tempos may fluctuate.
The bassist, Justin Chancellor, joined the band during the creation of Ænima, replacing Paul D’Amour. He is ridiculously talented & was a favourite of mine when he was in Peach. The guitarist will always be “Adam ‘Packman’ Jones” to me- simply bc he has the name; he is not known as that anywhere outside my own head. Each is a remarkable musician & when they come together they are masterful at their art. The music is powerful, moving, and often angry – which is exactly where I was – at 16 years old.
Recently I was discussing how grateful I am that my daughter’s favourite music was much more light hearted than my own. I believe that the music we love when we are 15-19 years old is the music we will love for the rest of our lives. Rœgn’s favourite band is 5 Seconds of Summer, which began as a pop/punk band from Australia, and have grown as musicians over the last decade (plus); they are generally happy & upbeat. I’m your classic GenXer… I was a latchkey kid, poor relationship with my parents, generally angry at the world & not really understanding why. Everything about Ænima hit just right from the lyrics, the art, the music videos, & the live performances.
The track “Ænema” won the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 1998.[13] In 2003, Ænima was ranked the 6th most influential album of all time by Kerrang![14] In 2006, it placed 14th on a Guitar World readers poll that attempted to find the best 100 guitar albums.[55] In 2014, readers of Rhythm voted it the third greatest drumming album in the history of progressive rock.[56]
-Wikipedia
Opinion: Marijuana rescheduling is positive, but we must go further and faster
Rescheduling marijuana is positive news in an industry desperate for good news. But make no mistake, it is not enough. Opinion: Marijuana …
Opinion: Marijuana rescheduling is positive, but we must go further and faster
Thursday, September 21st, 2023 -TDP #LifeWithoutMusic
What would your life be like without music?
—Questioner
Music is such a large part of my life, I sincerely cannot fathom what it would be like because…
Oh Happy Day
Wednesday, September 20th, 2023 -TDP #holidays
How do you celebrate holidays?
—Questioner
👉🏻This too is changing, dear Questioner, and has changed as I transitioned from childhood to adulthood… adulthood to parenthood… & now as the parent of an adult child.
When I was young, we all came together for Easter, Thanksgiving, & Christmas at my maternal Grandma’s house. As we all grew older there were rotations for many of my aunt’s & uncle’s so they could spend time with their in-laws. Then once my generation of kids became ‘adults’ we started having a family reunion over the 4th of July holiday weekend, every two years.
My mother was married four times, which meant that I had five sets of lovely grandparents. We often went to multiple homes for the holidays, except when I was in elementary school – we lived in Phoenix & traveling to the Midwest was a lot for my workaholic parents.
Since we moved to Illinois, we have gone back to Oklahoma to my Aunt & Unca’s Ranch for Christmas every year, save one (2017 we were too ill to travel). That is “home” to my daughter, at least a little bit… even though currently the state is barely recognizable. (When we lived there we had an amazing Democratic governor).
Getting back to your question, let’s do this methodically:
- New Year’s Day (January 1) – historically, my favourite holiday; I love the idea of beginning anew. It is my Meemaw’s birthday & each year (except last year) we go with my Aunt Vicki to the cemetery to drink a beer with my Meemaw. When she was alive she enjoyed a Schlitz Malt Beer once a year on her birthday.
- Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. (Third Monday in January) My daughter’s birthday is 18.January – so once every 3/4(?) years it’s on MLK Day. That was very helpful when she was in school. We used to go to Build-a-Bear each year on her birthday… then we moved somewhere that didn’t have one within 90 miles. 🙄
- Valentine’s Day: we don’t really celebrate this “Hallmark Holiday” as it just pisses me of most times. I believe in showing those you love that you love them on the daily.
- St. Patrick’s Day: Always had fun with this as our doggo Forrest Gump’s birthday was on 17.Mar – celebrations galore.
- Easter: When Rœgn was growing up we would always go to church & do an egg hunt. I don’t force her to go to church anymore, but she continues to enjoy a good hunt.
- 420 – International Cannabis Smokin’ Day – we celebrate daily, but we certainly go big on 20.April with much bud, edibles, & different cannabis infused drinks & foods.
- Memorial Day (Last Monday in May) When we lived in Oklahoma we went to the Renaissance Faire each year every weekend in May, especially the three day weekend – which was the finale.
- PRIDE – we have gone to Chicago for all the pride events throughout the month of June. Our cat’s birthday is in June, so we now also celebrate her.
- Juneteenth – though my bestie is black, not sure even she celebrates this one yet. Not certain exactly how to celebrate it other than increasing knowledge about the holiday each year within my circle of friends & family.
- Independence Day (July 4) – We have a family reunion every two years on the holiday weekend. Since 2017 we have rarely celebrated the 4th of July as we have not felt exceptionally patriotic.
- Labor Day (First Monday in September) My dad’s birthday is 6.Sept – so growing up we celebrated his bday over the weekend.
Since I gave birth I use this as double duty holiday for workers rights & mothers who laboured through it. - Indigenous People’s Day (Second Monday in October) – We do not celebrate Columbus Day, as all he did was begin a genocide.
When we lived in Oklahoma, we would celebrate Indigenous People’s day with the tribe I worked for at the time – Citizen Potawatomi Nation. - Thanksgiving Day (Fourth Thursday in November) – We enjoy going to Chinese buffet on Thanksgiving. Since we travel to Oklahoma for Christmas// we stay home & celebrate Thanksgiving with my best friend & her family &/or we go to Chinese Buffet & Mongolian Grill.
- Christmas Day (December 25) – We usually go to Oklahoma to be with family & friends from 20.Dec – 20.Jan. Honestly, I doubt I go this year; I cannot abide the politics of the state. I have told my daughter that I don’t want her to go either, mainly bc it is less safe for LGBTQIA+ people & I worry about her.
👉🏻So that covers all the ones I can think of off the top – how do you celebrate the holidays?
Talk Soon,
Cecelia ✌🏻🌊☕️
Traveling Tuesday in Pixies
Oh Moon Day, be kind. 18.September.23
{pain} 5 {sleep} 7h 26m with an interesting sleep pattern. I’ve been listening to Theta to Delta waves at night.
👉🏻I am feeling much better, able to get through the day without a nap. Breathing is going to be a battle the next couple months… my thanks for all the prayers, positive vibes, & words of encouragement.
You’re all amazing to me.
🌚I hope your Moon day has been kind – a new week, a new opportunity. I’m feeling quite visual today; enjoy the art.👇🏻🌝
Talk Soon,
Cecelia ✌🏻🌊☕️
CC&K: Unshakeable Kingdom • Understanding Obedience • Colossians 1: 9-14 • Dr. Bryan Pain
Hello, friends! I continue to battle the respiratory, as we are entering harvest and my allergies have mentioned it once or twice. 🫁 Therefore I am utilizing edibles this morning, Strahhhberry Incredibles gummies, a 50mg THC/ 50mg CBD mix. I am brewing ☕️ the lovely Blueberry Tart with a dash of Rainforest. We are in Colossians today –
And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.
Colossians 1: 9-14
May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
We belong to a King & a Kingdom that is unshaken. If you ever wonder how to pray for the church, just look to the Bible, specifically the Pastoral Epistles of Paul. What would it look like if we prayed in this way?
☝🏻 First point: This is a petition, v 9, ‘that we would be filled with the knowledge of His will & all spiritual wisdom & understanding.’
- THE GOAL OF KINGDOM LIVING IS NOT WISDOM & UNDERSTANDING.
📍 The purpose, the end result, the goal is not wisdom & understanding; if it were, the church would only resemble Seminary & monastic living. God doesn’t need people that solely have ‘head knowledge’ of His saving grace. If all you can say at the end of church is, “I’ve learned so much” …then you’re missing the point.
👉🏻We are called to LIVE the kingdom… in word & deed.
v10: “so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord.” We are meant to learn the knowledge, accept it in our heart, thus living out the will of God. “To walk” – Jewish metaphor for conducting or behaving oneself, Hebrew term: Halak. The Halakah is the written (oral tradition) that guided their behavior. Paul asks them (& us) to disregard the oral tradition & to live pleasingly to the Lord. - UNDERSTANDING SHOULD LEAD TO OBEDIENCE. Obedience is our Lord God’s love language. Bryan discusses love languages & makes the excellent point that if you know your partner’s love language, then choose not to use it, what does that say about you?
If you know without action, your knowledge doesn’t matter.
The Kingdom isn’t built on mass theological knowledge.
Dr. Bryan Pain
We’ve got to live in a way that makes a difference – fully pleasing to God, walking in a worthy manner.
If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
John 14:15
- YOUR OBEDIENCE IS PLEASING TO GOD. As you live it out – you are glorifying God!
- GOD USES YOUR OBEDIENCE. “Bearing fruit in every good work”
It’s not on your shoulders; you’re walking in obedience & as you do, He is bearing fruit, every single one.
The Lord takes your simple acts of obedience…increases your knowledge of God… which leads to more obedience… that increases your knowledge of God… ♻️ - YOU EXPERIENCE GOD THROUGH YOUR OBEDIENCE.
✌🏻 Second point: May they be strengthened… as we walk in obedience, we are strengthened! The Colossians were being inundated with false teachers teaching false doctrines – Paul prays that they are strengthened, enduring with patience with joy.
~Spiritual power was a key issue in the Greco-Roman world. People sought through connection with various gods and pagan rituals in order to protect them from evil spirits, and to help them acquire wealth or influence. Paul is praying that God would impart power, but not for selfish reasons, but so they can live for God in a worthy manner.~
- YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF GOD ENABLES YOU TO WALK THROUGH DIFFICULT SEASONS WITH JOY.
👉🏻How do I face the seasons of life – in my strength? Or in God’s? V.12 Giving thanks to the Lord who has qualified – delivered – transferred – & redeemed us.
📍 We are transferred from a “domain of darkness” to a path that leads to God’s glory & righteousness. - THE WORK OF GOD CREATES A THANKFUL HEART. It’s not enough to ‘know’ about the saving grace of God – we do work.
👉🏻I’m a servant in this kingdom… to see God, know God, & experience Jesus… and to share my experience with others.
May the peace of the Lord rain down upon you… walk in obedience & reap the fruit of the spirit! ✌🏻🌊☕️
Saturday, September 16, 2023 -TDP #WalkOrRun
How often do you walk or run?
—Questioner
📍Not as much as I should.
👉🏻Now that the weather is nicer, there will be more walking. ✌🏻🌊☕️
Feel better, any time now… 14.September.23
{pain} 5 {sleep} 7h 51m – just shy of my 8 hour sleep goal – but it rounded up anyway.
👉🏻My doctor tested me for mononucleosis because it is taking some time to get over this illness; it came back negative. It is beginning to look more like my asthma is getting worse, probably exacerbated by the fires in Canada for an extended period of time & overall climate change. She warned me again that all signs are pointing to a terrible harvest season, something we are hearing from every area of expertise from climate scientists, to allergists, to farmers, to different researchers left & right. She is adding an asthma daily inhaler to my medications.
Currently I use a rescue inhaler entirely too much for it to be labeled “rescue”. My chest just continues to hurt, feels as though there’s an elephant sitting there; or a very large person is stepping on my chest.
I am ready to feel better now.
Talk Soon,
Cecelia✌🏻🌊☕️
sustain.able.future 