OOOOOOOOhhhhhhhhhmmmmmmmmmm.............................

..............I've been quiet this week.  Very quiet.

For Christmas I was gifted a CD of Crystal Bowls Chakra Chants......and have been pretty much playing this sound in my little abode day and night for many days.......and nights...........this level of calm is amazing to experience...........

So what is spinning in my head as the New Year is quickly approaching..........the big Long Awaited 2012!?

Mostly that I have had a really really BIG year here. I mean REALLY big.  Probably the biggest year of my life in terms of changes and experience.......and I have a long list of people to thank.........And I hear I must first Thank MySelf.......for saying YES to accepting a really big year.............for "Buying the Ticket" to quote the 'Griffin'.

And how do you say thank You?  A really really really big Thank You........make it Big Enough...........and yet soft enough to be heard by Angels? and the Souls they're meant for.   How does one do that?

So I would like to try now and thank these two gal pals...........Textile Artist, Teacher and Writer,  India Flint..........and Energy Healer, Teacher and Artist, Elaine Grohman.........for sending the signals and connections that I was fortunate enough to pick up on........signals that set my journey in motion and in purpose down under for over two months.......and to Paula Perleman.....it is under her guidance and friendship I have learned to connect with Spirit...........

And to all of my friends, family and hosts who have have an interest in and support what I do, who I am and where I have gone this past year..........who are not so public........Thank YOU and Kisses and Giant Hugs to all of You!  You know who you are!  And for those of you following this blog who don't know me!  God Bless YOU! A Thunderous THANK YOU! to you too! I am so grateful to be in your energy field!

...........And now I'm off to ponder a bit more about this past year........so I can be done with it and move on to the next ASTONISHING year! ......Which I've been gently reminded will be 2011!

OOOOOOOOOOhhhhhhhhhhhhmmmmmmmm



In Joy.....................

Expectations.........................

On a certain night of the week I meet with a group to practice 'channeling' ...........we call the practice 'meditation' and we are given a theme.....then we set out to writing down words.......that are not ours..........but from a higher 'Source'...........what usually comes in our written words is in the form of guidance, and usually the information we receive is just what we needed to hear that night.

On this particular night, the theme was ~ Observing the frontier between Expectation and Manifestation

Our friend Molly, wrote this .............I thought it appropriate to share given this season of Expectation.
 
Sometimes our expectations can close us up to possibility...when we expect things to be a certain way & let's face it...it's really never the way we want it to be...we have a reaction.  And it's usually a negative one.  But approaching a situation with no expectations and allowing yourself to be filled with magic...that is the place to be.  Expectations often move us into the future and right out of this precious present moment.  So instead of expecting anything to go a particular way just expect magic.  And whatever is happening in this present moment is pure magic....you must trust in that!  Whether today is the most up-lifting day or you have to lift yourself up off the floor...trust that magic is there.  It is in both of those moments. 

(Book: Simple Truths by Kent Nerburn)

Expecting more of less in the future is not trusting in the present moment to take you exactly where you need to go.  Don't doubt, don't worry, don't regret...it's all such a waste of time.  Trust, dear ones.  TRUST.

Letting go of expectations is filling your heart with joy at this present moment.  Don't wait for what is around the corner...create magic now!  If there is no one around to share in the magical moment with...do it anyway!  Do it bigger!  Do it with more gusto!  Create magic that will reach into all of the corners of the world.  Don't expect much dear one...only expect magical wonderful pure perfection.  Let your heart shine.  Then let it shine brighter! 


So Expect Magic Dear Ones!.............Expect Magic! 

...........and see what happens!






Merry Christmas to All...................

Fire Ceremony......................................

Yesterday was the Northern Hemisphere's Winter Solstice................

In the days leading up to this we call in the Sun.............our daylight hours are increasing now......

Last night in reverie I communed with fellow travelers..............in a Fire Ceremony.............

We shook our rattles............in all directions........

South, West, North, East......down to Mother Earth, Up to the Heavens and in the Middle................

Calling Spirits everywhere to guide us in this journey to the New Year.....





The aim was to cleanse us of our worries and troubled energy............and to welcome in our clear 'Intentions' for this coming year..........

My guides tell me this is a very special Solstice time........energy swirling and portals open wide........which began with the Lunar Eclipse yesterday.........and ending with the Solar Eclipse January 4th............lots of spinning going on now!  Wonder Filled Benevolent Energy!

In this time, they say, it is important to Seek JOY.......KINDNESS .......and the ABUNDANCE of Life......... and it is in these wishes we can create a WAVE OF UNCONDITIONAL LOVE...........

and achieve...........

PEACE ON EARTH...........

Dorothy Caldwell - Human Marks.....................

Newsflash!..........I received a forwarded notice from Nancy Crow's Crow Timber Frame Barn Art Retreats ............

Some of you may have heard me talk about the workshop I took many moons ago with Dorothy Caldwell......titled "Human Marks".............and expressed an interest in taking that class with her.......

Well here it is again..............and it is almost full............!

You will not regret spending time with my friend Dorothy! and honoring your marks...........

I am honored to show her work on this page.

Birthday Finale.........................

In the words of a dear friend.............it is finally the end of Birthday Week, plus a few days............

Last night I received this card...........

From two very funny friends......



Along with this little book................

Inscribed..............

"You seem to be well on your way with most of these"












And little did they know................

How right they were..............





Thank You again to all of my Wonderful Friends and Family who sent me Love and Light Filled wishes for a Happy Day, along with gifts of Music, Memory, Champagne, Sweets, Flowers, Candles and Stones...........and of course this Little Book and Cake! and more.......

The Rest of the Story..............

As I pondered the whereabouts of the 'missing' items from my Sea Post box.............It was not lost on me how calm I was about the whole thing..........that some fairly valuable and beautiful items............Indigenous Artwork........two works on paper........

Were missing from the box.

Roz and I, in concert,  had decided to roll them into a mailing tube and put that tube in the box for extra protection.........

And when I opened the box at it's destination, the tube and it's contents were missing from it.

So many things ran through our minds of what could have happened.......... the box could have broken open, the items lost.......it could have been pilfered..........

But what actually did happen, it seems, is that someone in Darwin decided to take the tube out of the box at some point and send it separately.

 Thank GOD I labeled it for mailing................as it arrived the next day.......safe and sound............

without any postage affixed............

Precious Cargo..............




Etchings by Nungalka (Tjaria) Stanley an artist of the Anangu Pitjantijatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands in the remote north-west corner of South Australia.

Two prints titled Milpatjunanyi/Telling Stories in the Sand.......

Sea Post...............

I received the package I sent home, Oh, so long ago from OZ.......it arrived just in time for my birthday.......a gift to mySelf.  Yippee!!!! I thought.............

Until I opened it.............knowing something important was missing.........





another lesson in non-attachment......

But OH the lovely things that WERE inside that box............

Reminding me of where I was two months ago.......so so far away from.........here









And as I gave that box to the "Gods" as it left my hands to the postal worker in Darwin, Australia..........

I am eternally Grateful to 'Them'....................

That they let me keep This...................

















India Flint Landskin...............



I want to Thank all of my Friends for Abundant Birthday wishes, and for Three Angels (and Their Mother ) who also decided be born on this day.........

Expansion and Contraction.............Re-entry Musings...............

I began this blog to chart a journey into the unknown..............thinking it might be exciting for my Friends and their Friends and Fellow Travelers and Artists, Seekers and future 'Jumpers off Cliffs' to see what the other side of the world would look like.......

An ending into a beginning, I thought.............for me.

And when I arrived back to where my 'stuff' lives, after more than two months away, I was not sure if I would continue.  With the blog, that is...........oooooh, a slip to the dark side so quickly!

I have been encouraged to continue with this blog journal to tell the 'rest of the story'........to chronicle what happens as one walks off the cliff.  I have a friend who took a similar journey and said the road home is very long.  She is an artist..........and what she will make will reflect her soul's reaction to her experience.  And she is also 'expected' to make art.  No pressure there!

I have to say that many times on my recent journey, I felt as though this would be my last one. That there was no 'beginning' beyond that. I had no perception of what was to come as I arrived back where I began.  I had a sense of nothing to come home to.  And what was Home? And who was I to BE?

I had said 'Good-Bye' to an old way of living........being attached to an old and beautiful house, that I spent many hours caring for and loving..........and 'Good-Bye' to an old relationship that I did not.  One that did not speak our truths. Perhaps one that served it's purpose in the beginning and now is not relevant. But one I am eternally grateful for experiencing.

So after a few weeks of settling back in.........a few weeks of 'quiet' and being kind to mySelf before the storm of holidays, birthdays and friends wanting to hear about my adventures descends fully upon me..............I am trying to gauge where I am.  Emotionally, Physically, and Spiritually.  I am a bit 'skittish' about re-entry to what feels like an 'old' life.  A past life.  I have learned from traveling alone that I am responsible for my own safety.  And part of that is protecting mySelf from energies that are not good for my Soul.

It is Winter here.  It is Cold and Dark and I am faced with nesting in a place, a very nice place that is near to where I was.   Geographically and in life.  Having just moved before I left, I'm going a bit in circles.  Should I decorate for the Holidays?  Reconnect with old Friends?  Celebrate my Birthday.........? And what will I do?  What will I make?  Where will I go next?  How will I answer the question, "What do you Do?'  And really, "Where IS that extension cord !?", and why is there water on my basement floor?

So I observe myself slipping back into the grind of 'performance'......... the pressure of 'doing' and 'making', and considering 'Shoulds' instead of just 'Being'.  Which is what I've been for the last several months.  Being.

This trip has changed me.  Arriving home is filled with contrasts to what I've just experienced............

And it's not at all one bit bad........really............I am blessed beyond measure in every way possible........Good Health, Beautiful Home, Wonderful Family and Friends.................all manifested by me.........

But how can it be, well, OK, this sounds greedy.....but BETTER....!?

Just before I left, I worked briefly with a Life Coach,  Vicky White, who left me with this little 'tool'.......

It is called Nature's Guidance System.............Expansion and Contraction

She had me list all the words I might substitute for Expansion.......like Receiving, Joy, Happy, Large, Buoyant, Loving, Loved.........filled with Breath.......

And then list all the words I might substitute for Contraction......like Small, Constricted, Tight, Smothered, Fear, Unhappy, Irritated, Depressed ..........(clearly I have more experience with Contraction)

The tool is, or the Guidance is..............You MUST feel good about what you are doing, or stop doing it.

Simple as that.

So that is where I am today...........monotoring...........tuning in............somewhere in the middle..........a little too much leaning toward Contraction........

And having experienced it..........I can say for sure...........

Expansion is a better path to follow..........

Awwwwww........NUTS!!!

Before I left on my Epic Journey..............I had an idea........a thought........a longing...........

I was headed to a new Spring in September, instead of an Autumn and I longed to work with nuts.......really, in particular, Walnuts.

I had done a smatter of dying with some I had collected my previous spring and longed to do a large scale project this year..................

So days before my departure for OZ, I put out a call for 'spotters'............where would they fall this year?  I would wonder.......and wander to find them...........when I returned to winter........

And upon my arrival home, I received...................................

This Gift..............

Of Precious, Precious, painstakingly dried............



Walnuts............515 of them if one was counting.......







From a very Good 'Joe'.....................

Another deep heartfelt Thank You to a dear friend!



And now.........what to do........?  Goodness, it was SOOOOOOOO much easier to do a boil up in the summer...........

To be continued................

Giving Thanks...........

Last Week Thursday was a day for ThanksGiving in our country.............

A day where as family and friends we give thanks for the gift of each other and the food and shelter we enjoy............usually involving a big Turkey Feast!

For me I was also given to recall the special friendships I made on my journey of the last two months and to this special gift that was given to me in ceremony my last day in New Zealand.

It is a Greenstone, or Pounamu in Maori.......

When given as a gift it is particularly Sacred and Meaningful.

This stone was given to me by Annette........

Who had it with her for 25 years and was called that day to pass it on to me............

I remain honored and touched by the significance and Spirit of how it came to be held by me............


This gift was accompanied by a reading from a book by Barry Brailsford........here is one portion of what he wrote about this stone.

  When Pounamu calls to you it brings the power of the healing way.  Yet, there is more, for this stone gathers to itself the most ancient of wisdom.  It joins as one the seer and the sage.

  Pounamu speaks to you of your journey.  It reminds you we are all of the stone.  See it as a true companion.  Learn to listen to its song.  Understand it is of the Before and Beyond, the Above and Below, and the most ancient realms of space and time.  Trust its power and it will honour yours.

  The Spirit of Pounamu is healing and reconciliation.  If you have chosen to acknowledge this stone in your life, you are moving into perfect alignment with the long trail of your ancestors.  It is a time of reconnection, of discovering the wonder of the heart and mind joined.

  The gift of Pounamu is love, the love that helps us see deeper into ourselves, the mirror placed to reflect back the essence of our being, and hear the sacred song within.  Pounamu is the touchstone of the truth that heals, our inner Wisdom.

Bring all to One

Bring mind, heart and stone together

To know healing

Bring mind, heart and stone together

To find learning

Bring mind, heart and stone together

To complete the journey

Bring all to One

In light of the last leg of my Spiritual journey.........the connection to stone.............this gift is more than meaningful to me.

"Love is the Creation of all Things, even the Stones"...........a message relayed to me by gifted healer Jan Inger.

Thank you Annette..........I wear this deeply 'In Joy' and the memory of our time spent together

Resurfacing...................

Not sure where I am...............

But pretty sure I'm close to where I began................

Happy Happy Joy Joy.................

Every time I seemed to 'drift', my host in New Zealand would say my name, sometimes followed by "Dah...ling" and say "Happy Happy Joy Joy?"..............to bring me back to the moment.........

I woke this morning hearing those words...........

In Joy.....

Nearing the end of this Journey................

And so it went........we returned the wallet to it's owner........took the train ride.............and received the final message..........to "go to the top" via another narrow dirt road.......delivered by "Wallet Man's" friend........who also confirmed Joe's last suggestion, to do the same thing.  And so we did.................

Ride the tiny Driving Creek Railway......to see this view.............




Through more of the Sacred Garden........








and then journeyed.......up the narrow shoreline road to the top of the peninsula..............not a house in sight almost the entire way..........

We passed Beach after Beach........searching for rocks........

And finally stopped here............

And as we laid on the sand, head to head with the crown chakra of the White Brotherhood at Port Jackson, their beach, in Lemuria........

I heard the words......."the sand is silk, the air is God's Breath".............

It was here we received the State of Grace....that place between our soul and the energy we call Source.....



This will be my last post from New Zealand.............

By the time this is posted I will be tucked into the sheets of my own bed..........recovering from a long journey home..........saying goodbye to the the first days of summer, and hello to the first days of winter, going back in time...............

and I click my ruby slippers....................."There's no place like home.......There's no place like home".....

And awaken from this dream...............

Moseying Down the 309..........

Upon reaching the car, our plan was hatched to find the owner of the wallet and as luck would have it.......his phone number was scrawled on a card inside............and a message was left for him to call us....

With that piece of the puzzle in place we plotted our next stop............which was a suggestion from an old character named "Joe"..........who's name caught both of our attention for various reasons...........OK, this is a deeply personal journey........filled with coincidences and twists and turns that can't fully be explained here.......but it's sufficed to say........we both paid attention to this Colorful ol' Chap.....named "Joe".

Who steered us down the 309, a narrow dirt pass,  to check out the Kauri Tree Grove there...............

Where we made silent ceremony with these powerful Ancient Giants......feeling their roots reach deep into this Sacred Soil.....

Still in Awe of the Natural Gardens that surrounded us..............and being constantly Grateful for the opportunity to be in that setting..........





And back at the car..........was a message from the "Wallet Man" who we agreed to meet the next morning at the Driving Creek Scenic Train (another suggestion from ol' Joe, confirmed by "Wallet Man") to return his wallet..................which by the way............he KNEW would be found and returned to him........"no worries mate"..............

And another part of the puzzle was in place..............

A Road Trip.....

Bid and  I set out to journey the Coromandel Peninsula on a Divinely guided quest ................a mission really.......complete with co-conspiritors.....i.e.,  friends and family who supported and guided this journey in ways they themselves don't even know.........but we do.  And Thank You All....you know who you are.......and if you even think for a tiny moment you are in "this" journey..........know that you are.

This may take a few posts........................Here is where we began..............








Hot Water Beach.............

Myth, Lore...............or Truth..........................

The Coromandel Penninsula of the North Island of New Zealand is believed by some to be the Spiritual Center of the Lost Civilization of Lemuria.

With a book which describes a fascinating journey two folk took in the same area.........Bid and I........because we could.........set out in the same general direction.............to the other side of the mountain..........as the song goes.........."to see what we could see".........and feel and sense...........and experience along the way.......

With no set plan........ and the intention of a Spiritual Journey.........We continued on........with Laughter, Food... (Ohhhhhh the Cafe's of New Zealand! To describe them would take another post)......and Shopping.......as two girls on a journey to embrace their Sacred Feminine would............

This is some of what we saw and experienced along the way.................with our only guide......

Our Intuition......

We started our journey first hearing this message delivered by a friend from afar..........."Try to bring home a Larimar stone or a pebble or teeny tiny rock from their beach".....the message went on to describe it's importance........which served to alert us to the importance of the message......which we quickly decided was meant to say "bring home a Lemuria stone from their beach".  OK, it wasn't THAT simple...........but we believed that to be the message.......

So off we went to find that stone.....................and it was NOT on Hot Water Beach...........

nor was it here................

at Cathedral Cove......







but don't think we didn't search and search for one...




and in that Searching..........which continued to the other side of the cove....................

I heard a familiar voice say..............





"I've just found a WALLET".............................
and she did.........find a wallet, with money and credit cards.......seriously camouflaged by sand.......and shadows.........only to be found by someone seriously looking for a special pebble.............


Which just serves to make this story more interesting...................and as we climbed back up to our car.........astonished by the serendipity and wondering who the "Wallet Man" was, thinking HE might be our next 'clue'............we continued to be engulfed by the feeling of being in the most beautiful natural garden on earth............relating to the story of the Temples of Lemuria being located in an area surrounded by lush natural gardens.............

A concept..........by the way..........I had only been introduced to that day............



So we entered into a state of Awe, and Wonder, and Appreciation and Gratitude for being invited into this place..........of profound Beauty......



To be continued.................

Beaches.........................

My generous host has shared with me her favorite places............






We visited Beach.........

After Beach...........

Of the Whitest Sand and most Calming Blue....




And THIS is where they also ride horses, as they do.............

Fresh Air................

One big difference I have noticed upon arriving down under is the preponderance of this structure........

And the Basic idea of this..............

The Clothes Line................






Besides the novelty............I notice their beauty.............

Rare to where I come from...........why is THAT I wonder?...........and the answers come too quickly..........

Hey is for Horses..............

Where I am...........I believe it is impossible to impart the beauty of this setting in photographs.....especially with my little camera........but here goes...........

  Outside the Kitchen Window..........

At the foot of my bed as I wake..............














A new world for me.............

Another Water Day.............

There was a plan for this day..........to the vineyards we will go..........and then...........it was muttered that a boat was headed out that day to dredge for scallops.............oooooooh...........it didn't take but a second for me to blurt out........."If I had a choice.........I would pick a the boat trip" and off a scalloping we went....

Thanks to skipper Rol and his posh aluminum boat for this amazing trip into the Kaipara Harbour..........

Guy Fawkes................

I arrived in New Zealand to a weekend of Bonfires in Rememberence of the day Guy Fawkes was punished for his plot to kill King James in 1570.........(a British event)............The celebration involves the gathering of friends and family, a giant bonfire and fireworks...........kind of like the American 4th of July.

I have been to two of these celebrations in as many days.






Typically this would involve burning a body in effigy, which was explained to me is often omitted and is now just about the bonfire, fireworks, friends and food.............

In the mean time, I have landed in a wonder filled sanctuary in the country side of the north island.........with a beautiful family..........in a beautiful setting.  Family, friends and fun abundant...........

A Toast to India.....................

My friend Roz and I are having too much fun tonight........................It is my last night in OZ where I have made a short stop to regroup and Oh........here I go again...........singing this old song......I am so Grateful........ and Sad and Happy at the same time....................for this time in Australia...........some of us can relate to toasts like this....(with perhaps a glass of wine or more) .................

As for Australia..............this sums it up for me ...........




And this.........................





Cya mate................

Bali HO........................

I am Rested, Restored, Rejuvenated............and Ready to continue on to the last leg of my journey........

To the Land of the Long White Cloud.....................





I may be out of touch for awhile............................In Light and Love................

Headed Over the Rainbow again.........................

Bale Bengong.........................

Here in Bali I have discovered this wonderful structure.................it is called a Bale (pronounced Bali) Bengong.  Bale means "the Building" and Bengong...........well as it was described to me there was not a word..........my friend Kadek said the words "imagine............don't say anything"........and he made a face that implied a day dreamy kind of look...............OH............."Contemplation"........yes, this is a building structure for "Contemplation"................a Bale Bengong....they come in many shapes and sizes.....

My private Bale Bengong at Puri Asri Villa.................














As I prepare to leave Bali........I think......
Wouldn't it be nice to take this home?.................

Making a List.................

When I first arrived in Bali............it struck me, with the heat.............how I longed for a pool to slip into.

And along with that...........I longed for Clean White Sheets, Quiet, a place to Meditate.............. a place convenient to town............and.......oh, and I thought it 'would be nice' to have a Spa experience and I always add "and easily affordable".......oh! and toilet paper!........So apparently those desires became my "List".   The Universe does not know what to give you, unless you are clear.............. and I do the best I can with this........it's not always easy to know what you desire.

And now...........where I stay has 'ticked these boxes' and more.

White Sheets - check
Pool - check
Quiet -check
Spa nearby - check
Easily Affordable - check
Close to town - check
Amazing Meditation loft - didn't expect THAT! - check
Toilet Paper - check!

Hot Water Shower - OOOOps, not even "pleasantly lukewarm".........note to self: keep this on the list!

Alam Wangi
Traditional Spa
Nyuh Kuning Village, Ubud ~ Bali





Oh, I'm not staying here................this inn was also fully booked..........staying nearby

On Manifesting.........................

Many times on my journey, the conversation has turned to 'manifesting'...........in other words, the subject is how to attract that which you desire into your life.  I often say "I am a 'Master Manifester'".....now I say this jokingly......not taking myself that seriously, but honestly, the record shows I AM pretty good at it..................

I met a new friend in Bali who calls herself an Intuitive Healer...............As we were discussing this idea, she was impressing the importance and meaning of words to me.  I exclaimed, as I do often, that "I am on an Amazing Journey".  She said, "Of course you are. I have heard you say that several times. You are attracting it by saying that.".  She also went on to say that my journey was "A Maze with Zing".  And that it is.  This is not the first time I have had had the importance and deeper meaning of the words we use impressed upon me...................."Elaine, are you there?"

And as I further pondered this idea..............I realized that when I'm not saying, "I'm on an Amazing Journey", I'm saying, "I'm SO Lucky"........or if I feel 'Lucky' is a word I should not be using..........for some reason it is often thought too trite.........I say, "I am SO Fortunate", or "SO Blessed", or "I Love My Life"...............you get the idea......and that seems to manifest more of it.   It's so interesting how that works............and I guess the trick of it...........if it is a trick............or the 'key' to it is, that I really BELIEVE it.  I am SOOOOOOOOOO Grateful......so Blessed.......blah, blah...........and on and on and on it goes.  Believe me it has not always been this way............I've had my fill of manifesting the undesirable stuff too.

And that reminds me of my last post.........the part where when asked if I'm traveling "Alone"...I say, " I'm meeting friends".............well that has happened again and again......meeting Friends.......but they are NEW friends.........and I am so Blessed.  For all my Friends....................I am so Blessed.

Temple Bliss................

The last two days I have spent more time on the back of a motor bike than I have in my entire life up until now.....

The last two mornings I had the privilege of being in these temples......long before the tourists arrived.......






Goa Gajeh, The Temple of the Elephant Cave

Tirta Empul, The Temple of the Holy Spring





They were my Secret Gardens for those mornings.....





And in the afternoon yesterday.............I was taken for a 4 hour tour (sounds like the Professor and Mary Ann)....................my guide Nyoman and Me...........on motorbike...........

To see rice fields, a volcano, a coffee farm and an ancient temple............the afternoon ride was fun......but the sights were more touristy than I fancy...........I'm sad to admit, taking the time to upload those photos is a reminder of that I don't want to relive at this moment.

And it has me wondering about the three words every Balinese person can speak......"Where you from?" usually asked by someone trying to aggressively sell you something, or just as a greeting ....as though the answer has some meaning.......and the second most disturbing question to me, often asked.........."are you traveling alone?"  "Are you kidding?!" I think.  "NO", I reply.........."I'm meeting friends".........I say a little too exasperated.  It's hard to fly under the radar answering that question honestly.

I say all that knowing it is how these people make a living and somehow they learned it is good and acceptable behavior..........It just does not feel good being on the receiving end of it.  Understatement.

Also, I want to thank all those who asked if I was OK given the natural disasters happening in this part of the world............Of those locals I've consulted.........we are no where near.........all good here............