Note: I can't believe the utter destruction of the recent Tsunami. Do whatever you can to help. Oxfam, Red Cross & Save the Children are all worth it for donations. Thanks.

Back from retreat, for a moment. J & I are heading up to Winthrop today, for the weekend. 5 hours, through the snow - but it'll be worth it.

Here are some preliminary pics from the Oregon trip:



there's more, here are the links:
First stop Olympia, where logging & govt. are king.
View from my room
Oregon Christmas lights, and another shot.
Shots from the aquarium: starfish, eel, devilfish & a crab with anemone.
A few shots from the spot where I stayed... the Necanicum river was just up the block & here's a snap of the fancy resort I didn't stay in.
Finally, the ride home, where the elk were surprisingly plentiful.

I did stay quiet & read, but also spent too much time watching tv.

More to come, after the new year.

I've downloaded the photos from our christmas light adventure. We went out tonight & I've been downloading images since we got home. The above are just a few... couldn't wait to put them up.

The big fun of the holidays
or how I was spun about,
by Lillian Bennett - age 38

Here we are, just a few days from Christmas & I'm full of good cheer (as seen in this pic from Thanksgiving). J and I are heading out to the movies tonight & if I play my cards right, we can shoot pics of Christmas lights.

These last few weeks have been wa-a-a-a-y too much for me. I've been lurking about, in my head anyway, stealthfully approaching silence. It's been completely evasive, but I've been patient. At this time, the preparations for my eventual retreat are unrolling. The time to look inward is quickly coming to me. I feel it almost in every pore.

Shopping is done, work is slowing down, we've been nesting enough so that, though the house is a wreck, it's a familiar and comforting wreck. And now there's time to clean & sort through the madness to a simpler sense of order.

We hosted Shebi Arus Friday. Lot's of folks came over to recognize the passing of Rumi. Rose oil filled the air & we had a great time together, after sharing poetry & stories of how we got to the Sufi path. I turned a bit, not much. I miss turning, but it is very demanding on the body.

Sunday was the Solstice & I joined some friends to sing & dance and talked about where I'd go on retreat. We gave gifts & I think it was the first time I truly felt the give and take of that process. I felt really connected to the folks around me.

I'm fiendishly hungry to do art - I've GOT to unload that camera.

I'll go do that, now...

The tree is up. I haven't brought the ornaments up yet, but put up the snowman we got yesterday. It changes the room. The packages that have been piling up in the corner have a focus now & look festive, rather than cluttered.

We're wrapping up gift purchases - shipping is next & we're still in the weeds with the holiday cards. Jason and I are talking to each other in football terms, punctuated strategies that focus on critical information only. Fun stuff, when navigating crowded stores.

My camera is full of pictures that I've not had time to download. I can't wait to get them online. As soon as I clear the card, we can go out & get more christmas tree light shots.

Did I mention that I was avoiding dishwashing by blogging?

Quick note before heading to the mall. We're in need of a tripod & the one we have is missing a part. It's holiday light season, so we don't want to miss another evening of taking pictures.

I'm printing out pics from Sept. on, in part to put together this year's story while I prepare holiday cards. I can print wallet sized prints, so it doesn't use heaps of paper & it's really fun to see all the different things that happened since September.

Today we went gift shopping. Local stores only. It was a pleasure & easier than I had imagined. First days luck maybe. I'm making some gifts -- I say that now. I wish I could make them all.