New
Orleans is still in deplorable condition, two years after
Katrina. There's no point getting ticked at the powers
that have let the city languish for so long - clearly, we
cannot count on them to rebuild the city as they
ought.
Please
help the people in New Orleans rebuild their city. You
can help in so many ways and every donation is needed -
$5, $50, hundreds, thousands. Got a spare million? *s*
You could do worse than help New Orleans come back. Do
you really need yet another pair of shoes, a dinner out?
That money can help build a house so a displaced family
can - finally - come home. Please donate, and please send
your friends to this webpage so they can donate
too!
New
Orleans Public Library: visit http://nutrias.org/~nopl/mlking/mlkphotographs.htm
to get a look at what the system was dealing with. Visit
http://nutrias.org/~nopl/howtogive.htm
to make a donation.
New
Orleans Musicians' Villiage: help the local musicians who
made New Orleans and the world sing. Visit here
http://www.nolamusiciansvillage.org/
for
information. Visit http://www.nolamusiciansvillage.org/donate/
to
donate.
Habitat
for Humanity is a major player in the rebuilding of the
city. Visit here to see their
projects:
http://www.habitat-nola.org/projects/index.php
Visit here to donate: http://www.habitat-nola.org/donate/index.php
(check toolbar at left for type of donation you wish to
make).
Please
give generously. New Orleans has been failed by the Bush
government over and over again since 2005. Let's do what
the government didn't - rebuild that town!
Thanks
to all who contribute. May you be blessed a thousand
fold!
Today in NOTL: Lovely day, with 10 a.m. temps around
18C/64F; we'll get up to a high of 23C/73F with sunny
skies, low humidity, and a gentle breeze just for fun.
Gorgeous!
Have you got a dog?
If so, you'll want to read the story at this link and
really examine the dog toys you purchase.
http://www.thechaistory.blogspot.com/
The toy in question is
called a Pimple Ball and is made by Four Paws, who has
been unresponsive to demands to recall the toy after dogs
have been injured by using it. You can find the email to
the company in the blog.
Really makes me wonder
if dogs chewing socks is such a bad idea after
all.
Jean
August 25,
2008
Today in
Niagara-on-the-Lake: A lovely morning, with 9:30 a.m.
temps at 16C/60F under mostly clear skies. Later, we'll
see our high of 20/68F - that would be long sleeve
weather for me, particularly since it will be
breezy!
A busy day at the
Cottage today!
Deb wants to work on
recording a new inspirational video. This one will
feature the poem, Only Trust. I believe this poem is a
gift from the angels, so we are eager to make it known.
We feel it will comfort and support people in their hard
times.
I will be working on
some writing projects today and will complete the
end-of-the-month newsletter. It will go out later this
week, so if you haven't subscribed, do so now and don't
miss out. You can subscribe HERE.
We also need to have a
meeting to coordinate our various projects so they can
all move forward. I've been working on a bit of a
timeline, so we'll take a look at that and perhaps
re-prioritize them.
And, of course, answer
the phone, give readings as needed, respond to emails,
take care of product sales, etc, etc. We are two busy
Angel Ladies!
I've been trying to
get back to painting/drawing, so hopefully I'll get time
to do so either later today or tomorrow. That may be
wishful thinking, though.
Hope your day is busy
and productive, too!
Jean
August 22,
2008
Today in NOTL: Cloudy
and comfortable at 9 a.m. with temps reading just about
20C/68F. It will warm up later to a balmy 28C/82 with
just a hint of breeze and a few clouds in the
sky.
Have you been watching
much Olympic coverage? I can’t say I have, but I did
try to catch women’s gymnastics. I ended up watching
a fair bit of women’s beach volleyball, and I was
surprised by how much I enjoyed it.
Part of it was fueled
by fascination with all that medical tape the women were
wearing, particularly Kerri Walsh. Was that a tattoo? A
decoration? A (gasp) birthmark?? (It was Kinesio tape,
which is supposed to support muscles and so
on.)
Part of it was just
the fact that it was volleyball. I spent most of my high
school years playing volleyball in gym classes, week
after week. Our high school was woefully under-equipped,
so phys ed meant volleyball, baseball, basketball,
square-dancing, and calesthenics. No swimming, no
gymnastics, no field hockey. And, given Louisiana’s
rainfall, most gym classes were indoors, so volleyball
was generally the game of the day since we could load the
teams with nine girls on a side.
It was great watching
the team of Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh win the
gold medal. How amazing that they’ve won 108 matches
in a row. They won every single set in Beijing! Amazing
performance.
Also amazing is
China’s performance. China, of course, violates the
rights of children by removing likely athletes of
preschool ages (3-5) from their homes and putting them
into grueling professional athletic training. Interesting
that China’s athletes look so amazingly underage, as
well, and that documents (some of which have been deleted
since the story broke. Imagine that!) indicate that
several medal-winners from China are well below the age
requirement. And in the beach volleyball competition,
interesting that Tian apparently had medical timeouts at
very strategic points in the matches.
Well, it is Communist
China, after all. Surely nobody expected fair play from
them.
Jean
August 19, 2008
Today in NOTL: A
beautiful day with 10:30 a.m. temps just at 16C/60F under
blue skies with just enough clouds for contrast, but the
skies will clear up later as we reach today's high of
19C/66F.
I've been working on
the second level of intuition teleclass, which will be
devoted to protection and discernment, and I'm really
pleased with the direction the angels are taking on this.
It should be good.
I like doing
teleclasses. It's like a party on the phone! LOL What
happens, for those of you who've never done one, is
this:
We secure a bridge
line - a telephone line that can handle many people at
the same time - and get the phone number and class code
for participants, which we email to them.
At the appropriate
time, we and the participants call the telephone number
and, using the telephone keypad, enter the class code
when prompted to do so. This connects us to the line,
which functions like a room where we gather.
After a bit of intro
or welcome, we get started on delivering the information,
answering the questions, and/or sharing whatever messages
are given. A bit of debriefing follows, along with our
goodnights, and that's it!
The teleclasses allow
us to have onphone workshops and sessions with people who
can't come to Niagara, although for them we are happy to
schedule on-site small workshops (up to 8 participants)
when the season ends.
Speaking of
communications, I got my computer back, finally. It's a
lot faster, which I like, and the desktop isn't full of
icons, which I LOVE. I suppose what I'm really trying to
get with a computer is a glorified typewriter with
internet capabilities and not much more than that.
Puter-savvy, I'm not.
But for now, this is
great! Hope you're having a great day wherever you are in
the world!
Jean
August 12, 2008
Today in
Niagara-on-the-Lake: Sunny and 22C/70F. A gorgeous
day!
Life is getting back
to normal after pulling a large back muscle last month.
About doggoned time, too!
We have gotten our
schedule of distance offerings set; these are teleclasses
and tele-events and online classes that anyone anywhere
can take. We'll be working on onsite offerings too as
summer ends.
I was working this
morning on the Working with the Law
of Attraction
teleclass
we'll be running in September and October and am really
excited.
The Secret is such a
nice intro to the Law of Attraction, but there is so much
more that was not covered. It's a real pleasure to teach
people how to use it more effectively.
We practice tithing,
and this month we decided to tithe to Mr. Murphy. Pet
owners know how much we learn from our fur babies about
love and forgiving and the rest of it; we've learned a
lot from Mr. Murphy, so when Deb found a really
inexpensive grooming service that comes right to your
door to groom your dog, we took part of our tithe and
booked an appointment for Murph.
Murph
hates being groomed. He's a sensitive dog - sensitive
tummy, I should say - and has had nothing but bad
experiences with groomers. The one groomer he seemed to
like sent him back without clipping his HEAD, hello, or
his feet! Not helpful. So it's been a problem.
Murph, we must
confess, was matted beyond belief. Sadly, we'd not gotten
monies ahead enough to comfortably spring for a grooming
at the places we have used in the past, which typically
ran up to $100. Frankly, we expected the groomer to give
us a hefty surcharge for the matting, which we've
experienced before. Still, we thought we'd try Poochco
and see.
WOW. We are so glad we
did! Poochco pulled up in front of the house, came to
meet Mr. Murph and took him out to the trailer, which has
been outfitted as a mobile grooming parlour. Two hours
later, a new dog emerged!
Unlike the other
groomers in town, including a pet store groomer, Poochco
did not only Mr. Murphy's hairy ears but his paws and
nails. He looked wonderful, all sleek and smooth and wise
and noble - as opposed to scruffy and fluffy and goofy
and funny.
Even better, he seemed
quite happy with the groomer. No slinking along as he's
done at other places, poor baby.
And
yes, there was a charge for the excessive matting and
extra time Murphy took (about twice as long, probably!) -
a whopping $10. So all in all, we were thrilled and
delighted to see Murph looking like a noble beast
again.
If you're in the
Niagara region, you can find Poochco at www.poochco.com.
We recommend them highly! Tell them The Angel Ladies sent
you! ;)
August 4, 2008
I was driving home the
other night and something interesting happened. My radio
station went a little fuzzy and as I tried to fiddle with
the tuner, the Christian station next door came in loud
and clear. I decided to take a listen and see what they
had to say.
Oh. My.
God.
Talk about doom and
gloom! Talk about guilt and pressure. I sat in horror
listening to some "expert" talk about Paul's letter to
the Hebrews and tell us just what would happen if we
didn't wise up before it was too late. Be converted or
you are toast, was basically his message.
The thing is, in the
hour that I listened, he pulled in all kinds of old
testament references. He sprinkled liberally with Old
Covenant words that started with "Jehovah." He painted a
very fearful picture -- and a broad and sweeping one at
that I might add-- of how one's actions and behaviour
would set them up for the wrath and retribution of a just
and angry God. In his worldview, he said that anyone who
did not follow the rules as prescribed in Paul's letter
would be basically cut off from Creator and ignored by
Jesus.
Excuse me?
I cannot express the
inner rage and anger that welled up inside as I listened
to this man, apparently holding a studio audience captive
and fuelling the listening audience with a good dose of
fire and brimstone as well. After 28 years of ordained
ministry and a spiritual path that has led me to take God
out of the little box that religious minds would contain
Creator, everything in me reacted with such resounding
indignation... it has been there ever since.
There is nothing
loving in this message of doom and gloom. It has nothing
to do with the teachings and example of Jesus -- in fact,
it is exactly opposite to the message he taught. And,
these guys would be the ones that Jesus would be warning
us NOT to heed as he did the other power-hungry,
lead-by-fear leaders of the time.
You do not need to
know Jesus as your personal saviour to get into heaven.
You will not get left behind or cast into the fires of
Hell if you are not a believer. Creator and our role in
Creation is much bigger than that.
You are a timeless
Spirit, eternal and eternally beloved. NO THING can
separate you from this loving source. You are called to
live a life that expresses your loving nature. What you
do affects everything on this tiny planet, because we are
all connected. We are all one. The teachings of Jesus and
all the great teachers of our world express the same
thought. Be not afraid. Be loving. Know that you are
loved. Extend love and good will to others.
There, I feel
better now. I think that there is a book
here....
Deb
August 1, 2008
Hi all and Happy
August!
So, have you had a
chance to have some time away yet this summer? The
back-to-school displays in stores is a reminder of how
quickly summer flies by.
Remember as a kid how
summer days seemed to stretch on forever? Remember being
so bored that ever tick of the clock was like water
torture? Funny how as we increase in age, so does the
speed of time.
With summer being
"high season" in Niagara-on-the-Lake, there is little
opportunity to get away. On those days when I feel
wanderlust, I'll take the long way back from grocery
shopping and get lost in the beauty of the Niagara
Parkway. This time of year, the river is gorgeous and the
fruit stands are bursting with colour. It is enough to
refresh and restore my sense of being.
We are gearing up for
a busy weekend. It is a long weekend here in Ontario and
there are many events in town. I have been toying with
the idea of setting up a little "store" on the verandah
and displaying the medallions and jewellery, so it will
catch the eye of people passing by. Jean has been doing
readings, but she is still in a fair amount of discomfort
with her back injury, so this way I can deal with people
and she can rest if she needs to.
One of my fondest
wishes is to have a space apart from the Angel Ladies
cottage which can serve as a chapel and a storefront of
sorts -- or to be able to purchase this property so we
can make a few adjustments physically. Not everyone is
comfortable walking into someone's home and we are
clearly a house. And some folks walk right past because
we are a house and they don't notice the
sign.
We trust that the
angels bring us the people who need our assistance and
that has worked well so far. :)
Well, time to vacuum
and prepare for the day.
Have a wonderful
weekend!
Deb
July 26, 2008
Hi all,
Well, things are
slowly getting back to normal. Jean is feeling a little
stronger every day and has been happy to book phone
readings. By next week, she is looking forward to booking
hour-long readings again, and by the first of August,
being available onsite.
This has been a
challenging month, no question. We know of so many others
who are experiencing struggle -even as they strive to
walk the path and hang on to the spiritual principals
they know work.
It is a time of great
release as things realign on the etheric level. Those who
are sensitive to energies have felt the changes and the
resulting discomfort as our earthly bodies catch up and
assimilate the new energies.
The only way to get
through it and break through to the other side is to
remain steadfastly faithful to the understanding that
staying in joy and happiness, despite appearances, will
bring you to a new and peaceful place in your life. What
we perceive as reality is anything but. The angels
constantly remind us that things can change in a blink -
depending on our thoughts and our frame of
mind.
So, in all things,
choose love. Choose to see the gift, even in the
challenge. Refuse to let fear overwhelm. Decide that in
this moment and the next and the next one after that
you'll be as joyful as you can. Say to yourself,"Even
though things look pretty grim, I KNOW that good
things are coming." "Even though money is very low, I
know that monies can come from expected and unexpected
places and I give thanks!" "Even though it appears that
my relationship is over, I know that I am alright
and have all the resources I need to see me safely
through."
And watch things shift
accordingly. It takes time, but it is a lesson that many
of us are walking at this point in time. Courage, dear
friend, and even as we pray for your highest and best,
please pray for ours too.
Deb
July 23,
2008
Hi all,
Hope you are all well
and enjoying your day. Here in NOTL, it is unsettled
again
Just had an earnest
young couple pull in to the driveway and come up to the
door. I am in sweat pants, and Jean is sitting in her
chair, pillows all around covered in blankets.
"Is this the
astrologer's place?" says the scrubby-faced girl. They
are both standing at the door, peering over my shoulder.
Murphy, still wearing his victorian collar thing, comes
to check them out.
I am a little thrown
and confused. "Do you have an appointment?" She shakes
her head no.
I tell them that we
don't do astrology. She asks about a psychic reader,
still hoping to gain entrance. I tell her that we really
don't do psychic readings and actually Jean, who does
angel readings, is only doing phone readings for the
moment. We are closed --as the sign out front says. I
give them a pamplet and thank them for coming, but repeat
that we cannot help them today.
She pouts and shifts
weight on her foot. "Sorry," I say. Anyone with any
social sense would know that we are not open for
business. "You can call and book a reading on the phone."
She shakes her head dejectedly, and they reluctantly head
back to their car.
I watch them leave and
feel kind of sheepish, yet proud of myself. Last year, I
would have let them in and apologized that the house
wasn't ready to receive clients. Jean would have given
them a reading of some kind and they would have left
happy.
I have learned
about boundaries and to honour myself a little more. We
are closed. We are exhausted after two weeks of little
sleep and lots of stress. I want to gently tell them that
nothing is so pressing that you can't wait for another
time. Go and enjoy this fabulous day. Walk by the river.
Hold hands and be happy! Ah, but young people have yet to
learn this lesson.
So, they are probably
a little put out with me right now. I bless them to their
good and will now get back to photographing medallions I
am about to put on sale. I'll let you all know when they
are up.
Time for more
tea...
Deb
July 21,
2008
Hi all,
Thanks to all who have
been sending emails messages of encouragement to Jean --
and to me. The past few weeks have felt rather like a
marathon.
I have to wonder about
the timing of such things. Business has been great and we
have been discussing some really interesting courses and
online events for the end of summer and fall. I have
about 6 meditations to record -- and we are thinking of
recording angel material on CD to uplift people as they
go through their day. We have pages of
plans...
Then, boom.
Now, one way to see
the past 10 days could be to question if we are on the
right path after all. Maybe we should just call it a day
and get day jobs again. After all, if we are not
available to work, monies are not coming in and there are
monthly bills to consider.
We know that people
love the daily messages and enjoy looking through the
site. We appreciate those who have purchased products and
book services and readings. This is the way we earn our
living and our intention is to serve Divine Love. We know
that money and tithes and good things come to us because
our intention is pure.
So, after these past
few weeks, when things have been bleak and frankly scary,
it is tempting to throw up my hands and say, "I'm done.
This is just too hard. I am sick of the
struggle."
But, what is the
alternative? Working at the Shaw Festival or the local
fast food place? Go back to parish ministry? That doesn't
resonate with me. This is the way that I have chosen and
I truly am grateful to be an angel lady and a bishop
and on the spiritual path I walk with Jean.
And perhaps that is
what this has been about: Learning to embrace the
multidimensional rather than be subject to this material
and mundane fear-driven world.
I feel as though we
have come through a major lesson. I think it is one that
we all face as challenges pop up and threaten to
overwhelm us. Fear is so present in our lives and it is
easy to fall victim to it. Fear robs us of our
confidence. It casts a shadow on every good thing. It
tests our faith and trust in the larger picture.
Living
multi-dimensionally means that we recognize there is more
going on than we can see with our eyes and feel with our
senses. It is choosing to ignore appearances and hold on
to the vision of something better.
It is choosing to
trust that angels are making a way, even if all we see is
the bottom of the hole. There is light. There is a rope.
There is time to climb higher and find footing once
more.
Today, Jean is feeling
more like herself again. She is still in pain, but it is
lessening and her sense of humour is showing again. My
fatigue is still there, but I feel as though I have
broken through the ribbon of a spiritual pentathlon.
Unity Minister and
wise woman Catherine Ponder would call this
"chemicalization." She says this comes when you are
moving into alignment with the good that Divine Love is
waiting to give you. It can be uncomfortable, and even
when you are doing everything right, things can go
desperately wrong. She says to hold firm, grip the wheel
and keep going.
I don't know that
any of this makes sense. I just know that there is a
difference somehow. This time of challenge has been a
sort of cleansing and shaking up. And, there is a new
sense of purpose and hope, even as we are still moving
through it.
To those of you who
are feeling lost or overwhelmed I would say, hang in.
Find a good thought and put all your focus there. Call on
the angels. Call on your friends. Help comes in many
guises and there is purpose even in the midst of the
whirlwind.
Tonight, I feel peace
and the presence of the angels. I know that they have
been with me all along, but it is good to feel that
lightness again. I am ready to receive blessings and
miracles -- and I want that for each one of you too!
So be it.
Now to bed.
Deb
July 20, 2008
Hi all,
This rainy weekend
matches my mood exactly. Jean is improving, but has had
very little sleep in the last week. She has been taking
arnica and icing her back regularly, but has yet to find
the pain reliever that will actually relieve the
pain.
Tonight she is trying
tylenol with codeine. It is like the painkiller du
jour.
To make life more
interesting, Mr. Murphy was having a problem yesterday
and had to hit the emergency vet clinic last night. It
was a long day in a line of long days. He is fine and is
expected to be back to his old self in a few days. For
now he is wearing a collar that makes him look like a
megaphone. He is bashing into things and barking up my
legs. But at least he will be okay, and that is the main
thing.
We are all hanging in,
and she is still intending to catch up with phone
readings starting on Tuesday. I just want to be sitting
on a dock somewhere with a cold drink in one hand and a
magazine in the other.
Off to
visualize,
Deb
July 17, 2008
Hi all,
Feeling a little faded today. Jean is still in a lot of
pain. This pulled muscle is an awful thing. She cannot
twist or reach for anything without it hurting and sleep
is elusive because she can't get comfortable. It is
painful to sit and painful to lie down.
I would ask you please
to send healing thoughts her way. See her dancing and
smiling and moving with ease.
Because she is not
able to see clients, the cottage is open by appointment
only for the next week or so. If you are in the area and
want to see the Divine Imprint medallions or pick up a CD
or product, and we can arrange for that.
I have a new
digital camera and have been reshooting the medallions
that are online. I reloaded Archangels Michael and
Gabriel sections, and the Mother Mary medallions. Today I
will reload the guardian angel and other archangels. I
think they are much more clear and closer to the real
thing.
Someone was in the
other day looking at the medallions and jewellery and
said that as beautiful as they were online, it just
didn't do them justice. Seeing them in person was "a
treat." You can see for yourself here: http://theangelladies.com/angel_ladies_di_directory.htm
Anyway, I'll keep you
posted on Jean's progress. Normally this is the day that
a newsletter would be sent out and I am thinking that it
will be a much abbreviated version. I am sure that
everyone will understand.
Have a good day,
Deb
July 16, 2008
Hi all,
Deb again. I woke up
to a very upset Murphy early this morning. He was barking
and expressing concern, so I got up to see what the
problem was. It was the rumble of thunder - which
progressively got louder as a heavy storm rolled
through.
We sat watching the
rain dance on the pavement and I told him that all was
well, even as he shook like a leaf. He has never liked
thunderstorms.
I think of my father's
mother, who died before I was born. A widow with 6 kids,
she was apparently terrified of thunderstorms. I guess in
Cape Breton they could be very severe. At the first sign
of a storm, she would troop up the hill to the
neighbour's house with the kids, rosary beads in hand and
wait it our over pots of tea and lots of
prayers.
There have been times
when I have felt that afraid, not necessarily about
storms, but I guess you could say "life storms." I know
we have all experienced that kind of terror at some point
or another. Fear of something beyond our control making
things really challenging. Fear of a relationship or a
job ending. Fear of overwhelming debt. Health challenges
that are like uphill marathons. There are many things
that happen in our lives that make us want to gather up
our belongings and find a safe haven.
The reality is, once
you get some distance from the storm, you see that you
are never really helpless. We are powerful people and
there is much that we can do to regain a sense of power
and control. My mantra used to be "this too shall pass."
And, you know, whatever it was, always did. The storm
passes, the sun comes out, the streets dry up. A new
perspective is revealed.
I guess what I have
been learning is to work with the storms. I
might not be able to control the thunder and lightning,
but I can make sure the windows are secure and we are
safe to watch it pass. And even as Murphy shivered and
shook, I was able to see the beauty in the rain and the
power of Mother Nature. Same with life. We might not
always like what is happening, but as long as we can find
a glimmer of something hopeful and positive, we will not
get swallowed up by darkness. And as we see the good,
more comes. Like a hand on a rope, each positive thought
helps us pull ourselves higher and higher, and a new
perspective comes. And, soon others will come running
with more ropes and tools to assist.
The angels tell us
that wherever we are, all is well. Sometimes that is
really difficult to believe but things actually do have a
way of working out once you catch that glimmer of good
and hang on.
Wow. I don't know
where all that came from... I guess I needed to remind
myself. I hope it helped you too.
Deb
July 15,
2008
Hi all,
Deb here. It has been
an interesting few days at the Angel Ladies Cottage.
Friday morning Jean came into the office and sat down
gingerly. "My back is really screaming today," she said
in a tight voice. That began 5 days of great discomfort
for our Jeanie.
She doesn't know how
she did it, but she has pulled a muscle near her lower
back. Anyone who has experienced this can commiserate.
So, for the time
being, afternoon phone readings are the likely offering
from Jean. She was taking muscle relaxants, but they made
her very shaky and nauseated. Now she is doing
Arnica.
Please send healing
thoughts her way. She is impatient with this setback and
in a good bit of pain. Visualize her dancing and smiling.
:)
Thanks everyone, we
appreciate your prayers and your good wishes.
Deb
Happy July
4th!
A while ago, I
mentioned the 'triumph of stupidity.' I spoke too soon,
as I see that Rush Limbaugh, the ultra-conservative WASP
hatemonger who thinks the good old days were the days of
keeping women barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen (I
suspect his intolerance goes beyond sexism to racism and
every other hateful ism going) has signed a $400 million
contract. What is it about hate that gets people tuning
in? Or is it just that he's the tip of a very scary
iceberg? *shudder*
Get thee to a happy
place, jeanie!
The gardens are
looking so pretty now. Just two or so weeks back, the
folks at Cranberry House planted teensy little impatiens
plants; now they're respectable and quite lovely in their
pink, white and red flowers. The backyard at the Angel
Ladies' Cottage, especially, is looking wonderful and
well it should, being the site of many happy weddings
these days. Bonus for eloping couples: no need for
flowers as the fragrant honeysuckle is in full bloom and
Deb can pluck a stem for happy brides to hold as they
profess their love.
We've been getting new
info on Law of Attraction lately, which is very cool.
Busy day...hope it's a wonderful day wherever you
are!
Jean
Friday June 27, 2008
Today in Niagara:
partly cloudy and warm, with temps around 27C/80F. That'd
be your textbook gorgeous day!
Unhappy surprise
today...and a small gripe about smokers.
Deb came in rather
shuddering just now. She'd gone out to water the plants
on the verandah and discovered cigarette butts sticking
out of the planters!!! How rude, disgusting, and
unnecessary. All anyone has to do is ask for a container
if they're smoking outside and any host/ess will be glad
to provide one. That's not too much to expect from
visitors who smoke.
Gripe number two: If
you are smoking outside b/c it is a non-smoking
household, please don't smoke near an open window. I know
that sounds pretty obvious, but it isn't. Ideally, if you
have to have a cigarette and you're visiting a
non-smoking location, go for a walk. Spread the odor
around instead of concentrating it at the entrance.
There's nothing worse than going through the blue haze at
the door to an office building or hospital.
Ok, I'm better now. I
truly don't have anything against smokers as long as they
keep their smoke away from me, my garments, and my
windows.
Jean
Note from Deb -
Thanks, Jean, That was pretty yukky.
I wanted to let
everyone know that over the next few days I'll be
uploading some new Archangel Medallions and some FABULOUS
blessing angel jewellery in heart shapes!
Check for them here a little later.
http://www.theangelladies.com/angel_ladies'_aa_michael.htm
http://theangelladies.com/angel_ladies_ba_intro.htm
We also have received
our VISA/Mastercard/Debit terminal and can now process
those credit cards over the phone. Some folks prefer
not to use PayPal and would rather give their number to
us directly. Just an FYI that we have this new
addition!
Have a fabulous
weekend,
Deb
Sunday June 22,
2008
Today in NOTL: Beautiful, breezy summer day. At one
p.m. we're at our high today of 23C/73F under blue skies
with a bit of cloud for contrast.
Warning: rant
alert.
Ok, this blog should
be called the Triumph of Stupidity. Let the learned of
the world just give up. Seriously, this is a battle that
can't be won.
I was looking over
some information online and came across what is, to me,
an abomination. A woman seriously misspelled one of the
days of the week. An adult female, apparently literate,
misspelled one of the days of the week in English, her
native language. The day in question was, indeed, the one
children hate: Wednesday. Her spelling: Wenzday.
You may argue that
this is not a misspelling since she elected to use this
letter combination to spell Wednesday. She probably
thought it was clever to do so, since it is phonetically
accurate representation of the sound of the
word.
It is, nevertheless,
NOT the way Wednesday is spelled. I don't care how we say
it. Linguistic conventions and etymology have
value.
Ah, but somehow we
have given our younger people the idea that individuality
trumps correctness. It started when some moron decided
that it would be fun to give baby "Michael" a name as
unique as he was and spelled it Mykle. Ignorant others
thought, "Wow, that is incredibly cool! I will give my
child a unique name, too!"
Voila! Suddenly we
have a proliferations of Aimy's and Suzun's and
Allisson's and Greguri's and so on.
Somehow, people think
it's cool to spell their names in what they call unusual
-and I call incorrect - ways.
Now it is spilling
over into other areas of written English as well. Quick
gets a makeover and becomes Kwik. Night turns to nite,
doughnuts become donuts.
People who are too
lazy to bother learning and/or using the correct spelling
simply make up a new spelling that 'works' for them and
God help the literate rest-of-society.
Nowhere, however, is
this 'my way' version spelling more glaringly and
horrifyingly apparent than in personal names. As a
teacher of spelling, I literally cringed every time a
Sheila handed in a paper from Shelia.
One of my favourites
was a student whose ignorant mother named her Angelia. I
called her name for first-day attendance, "Angel-ee-ah?"
Offended, the student raised her hand with a snarl. "It's
pronounced 'An-jel-ah,'" she said as though I was a
cross-eyed moron myself.
"Angela is spelled
A-n-g-e-l-a," I said. "No i. That's what threw me
off."
"Well, it only looks
that way, Miss Porche," she huffed. "It's
Angela."
"That's Smith," I
replied. "It only looks like Porche."
If you come by the
Cottage looking for me, be sure to ask for me by name,
Sandra Bullock. I'll be here.
Friday June 20, 2008
Today in NOTL: Mild
and breezy, with 3 p.m. temps at 21C/69F. Skies are only
partly cloudy and beautiful. Great day!
I noticed the story
about the child who took her dad (who had custody of her)
to court when he grounded her and posted suggestive
photos of herself online. The circumstances were a bit
unusual in that her mother didn't agree with the
grounding.
Nevertheless, the
judge decided that the father's punishment was
excessive.
Since when does a
judge get to decide what is EXCESSIVE? I would think that
only issues of ABUSIVE punishment should make it to the
judicial system, and grounding is hardly that.
It is amazing to me
that any court would seriously consider something so
trivial as a child's grounding from a field trip. Even
more amazing is the court's decision overruled the
father's discipline.
It seems to me that
parents have to be able to parent in the way they think
best. Certainly children have to be kept safe and cared
for lovingly, but aside from cases of abuse or neglect,
parents deserve the freedom to rear their children in
their own way.
Jean
Thursday June
19, 2008
Today in NOTL: Mild
temps at noon (around 18C/64F) under partly cloudy skies.
A little rain expected this evening.
I see that the Vatican
is going to issue its guidelines for good cinema to be
used in determining whether a film contains the "proper"
religious sentiment. Interesting. The Vatican is terribly
concerned to see that movies are made and that
governments operate in a manner Rome considers
appropriate.
Am I the only one
wondering why Rome does not feel the need to operate the
Church in a matter that, oh, maybe JESUS would consider
appropriate?
I don't know...had
Jesus not ascended, perhaps he would have become as
power-hungry and repressive as the Popes have been. We
only have the example set by the earliest church and the
words that have survived the purging of council after
council to indicate the type of church Jesus would have
run.
Nothing in those words
express the sort of iron grip the Pope seems determined
to exert over all areas of life of anyone who would be a
member of the church, though. And the early church -
well, they were far more inclusive all the way around,
including women as priests and bishops.
Maybe we need to set
some guidelines for Benedict to follow if he wants the RC
church to operate within our society. You know, so we can
be sure that the church will demonstrate 'proper' respect
to all people. Somehow, I don't think he'd be terribly
interested.
Jean
Wednesday June 18,
2008
Today in Notl: Chilly,
with noon temps 16C/60F under blue skies with just enough
cloud for contrast. Great day!
Deb is on Facebook.
She tells me about the people who are on her friends list
and sometimes I think that it would be nice to keep up
with my friends that way. We'll see, though. I can't
remember what I'm supposed to do in any one day, so
putting another thing on the to do list may not be the
best idea in the world, lol.
But, in the approved
facebook manner: Jean is... getting ready for readings
today. LOL
NEWSFLASH
-- The Visa/MC/Debit machine has arrived so that we can
do transactions onsite! We are still not sure if we are
allowed to take transactions over the phone. We are
waiting on a clarification of that.
Jean
Tuesday
June 17, 2008
Today
in NOTL: Increasing clouds under chilly skies (18C/64F);
chance of showers later today and a bit cooler with
overnight temps going down to 11C/51F. Brr!
If
you know us, you know that Deb and I bring a lot to the
table, lol. Various jobs and life experiences - over a
longer time than we sometimes care to realize - have
given us a wealth of info and insights that we draw on
constantly.
Clients
come to us with needs and we design ways to meet them;
friends have suggestions and we try to act on those as
well. Put it all together and you end up with a website
with lots of products and services, lol - the Angel
Ladies!
For
some time, we've worried a bit about that, actually. We
like to have things nice and neat in the manner of the
Little Golden Book of occupations, lol. 'I'm a Baker! All
I do is bake!" "I'm a Gardener! I tend gardens all day!"
We've tried to streamline our offerings but the Angels
have told us repeatedly not to worry, just keep going and
everything would fall into place.
Finally,
they gave us the last piece of the puzzle, and for the
while we've been doing some piloting of a spirit-led
session incorporating everything - healing, readings,
guidance, advising, blessing, energizing, etc etc etc. -
into one. They called it Intuitive Compass, and we're
making it available to everyone this week.
It's
a session guided by spirit and incorporating whatever is
needed for the client - healing,reading, coaching,
exploration, insight, teaching, messages, etc.
Pilot
sessions have been wonderful. Our test peeps have
reported that sessions leave them feeling more
optimistic, surer of their next step and generally
happier and peaceful. In particular, they report feeling
calm and confident that everything will work out. They
say they feel able to handle whatever faces them.
We’ll
be adjusting the web offerings in line with this for the
next while. Some items that are offered individually will
no longer be offered except as directed in Intuitive
Compass sessions.
It
feels very good to get the Intuitive Compass sessions off
the drawing board. This is the Angel Ladies at our best,
we feel!
Jean
Monday
June 16, 2008
Today
in Niagara: A gorgeous morning - chilly with temps at
19C/66 - but we expect some clouds and showers to roll in
later.
What
a thunder-boomer we had last night! Mr. Murphy was one
scared dog, poor baby. I called him over and spoke gently
to him while the lightning flashed and the thunder
cracked; his little heart was beating so hard - I'm sure
it was aerobic for him, lol.
Today
more rain and thundershowers are forecast, but they've
been saying that for days and we have missed almost all
of the rain. I'll be crossing my fingers for
that!
Jean
Sunday June 15, 2008
Today
in NOTL: Gorgeous, cool, breezy, sunny. A perfect
day!
Well,
I was stopped in my tracks as I browsed the online news
today. A headline so unbelievable demanded that I read
the article it referenced.
I
did, expecting to discover that it was only a teaser but
no, it was on the level. Presidiot Bush is considering
writing a book.
This
to me is amazing to me. Bush can read and write???
I
know, I know: conduct unbecoming an Angel Lady. Yeah,
yeah, well....you'll notice it is 'Angel LADY' as opposed
to ANGEL, lol.
Saturday
June 14, 2008
Today
in NOTL: Beautiful day. Warm (24C/75F) and a bit humid
(61%) under partly cloudy skies with light breezes.
Now
that the season has begun, we're beginning to see more
visitors on the street. I love the fashion parade -
everything from super-casual teeshirts and shorts to
adorable sundresses to high-style theater goers. Some
ethnic dress, as well, with the occasional sari sparkling
by. My heart goes out to the poor Islamic women, covered
from head to toe with dark voluminous garb, while their
husbands stroll comfortably in shorts, sandals, and short
sleeved shirts. While I respect the women's faithfulness
to their tradition, I can't help thinking that a whole
lot of human 'wisdom' got mixed in with the messages from
a loving Creator.
Back
to fashion, though. What unfailingly catches my eye are
the plastic sandals some people are wearing. We see them
on children and adults; the adult wearers seem to be a
bit on the older side, frankly, and that puzzled us -
particularly on the gentlemen.
Khaki
pants and fluorescent salmon-colored plastic shoes. Dark
pants and lime green plastic shoes. Memorably, a full
suit and electric aqua plastic shoes.
A
bit of research revealed that the shoes have comfy soft
insides with a sole that molds to the foot shape, rather
like orthotics. Puzzle solved! Older adults are more
likely to look for comfort in their footwear. I note,
however, that the shoes also come in a full range of
colours, including basics like navy, black, brown, tan,
and others typical of older-fellow footware.
So
I suppose my question now is, "Why would 'mature' adults
choose neon shoes? It's a question I doubt I'll be
answering soon.
Friday
June 6, 2008
Note
to self: Never make an announcement until the object is
plugged in and sitting on the counter beside you.
VENT ALERT
ARGH!
It is 41C (37C is like 98.6F) and we have had two lengthy
power outs today, making the house very uncomfortable.
Opening the window just invites more muggy sticky air.
You have to be especially fast to enjoy an ice
cream.
We
have been anxiously awaiting our POS terminal. UPS has
let us know it is en route and we are so happy to have a
way to take credit cards and interac onsite.
So,
I received a call from someone in merchant services this
afternoon. She gave me her name and started to verify all
the information on the application. Then she asked for
more specific information. What do we do? What products
do we sell? How many websites do we have? What do we
charge?
I
detect something in her tone. Who was she again? Not the
people I'd been dealing with in Woodbridge -- but the
people THEY deal with in Tennessee.... Ok. Was there a
problem? Well, she volunteered, they may have to set up
TWO merchant accounts because of the diversity of things
we offer. Hmmm. She was going to check with her boss and
get back to me.
I
called Woodbridge. The sales guy hit the roof. Leave it
to him, he says. What are they playing at, he
wonders.
So,
I go back to whatever I was doing and Tennessee chickie
calls again. They would indeed have to set up two
accounts. The weddings and counselling are services.
Different than retail. I feel my heart start to pick up
speed. And the custom medallions, she continued, would
also maybe need to be on that other account because they
are risky. "What?" I stammered. "How are they
risky?"
"Delivery
time is up to three weeks -- that is a risk."
"The
post office can take up to three weeks to
deliver something...." I begin.
"Doesn't
matter. It is a risk," she coos.
I
feel like I have landed in the twilight zone.
"And,
"she continued in her deceptively soft southern drawl,
"The readings and other things like that aren't
acceptable. We will not accept those
payments."
My
heart was pounding like an anvil.
"Why,
exactly? We know folks with stores who accept credit
cards for readings AND merchandise."
"Well,
I don't know about that. It is specifically against VISA
and Mastercard policy."
My
mind was racing. This would be way more tricky. "So, if
someone comes here and wants a reading and a medallion,
they could only use their VISA to get the
medallion?"
"Yes."
"But,"
I said, my mind trying to wrap around this startling
policy, "we swipe the card, right?"
"Yes"
"How
do you know if we are charging $65 for a medallion, or
for a reading."
Silence.
"I am really uncomfortable with your attitude about
this," she said, her voice taking a low and measured
tone. "I am thinking that perhaps we may in fact not
go forward with this account approval."
It
was obvious that she had been to the websites in the time
between calls. There was a whole different feeling with
this call "Look," I replied, "I don't want two accounts.
I was very open with the salesman and he said that we
could use the terminal for ALL of this. "Are you
telling me that if a couple comes to get married, I can't
use their card?"
"No,
that is a service. It needs a different
account."
"So,
you monitor the transactions."
"Oh,
certainly! Yes!"
"So,
how do you know what the transaction is for?"
"We
look for unusual activity," she said. I was SO hoping the
call WAS being monitored for quality assurance.
"We
have things at all different prices... how will you know
what is unusual?"
She
went on the offensive. "You know, I don't feel
comfortable that you will respect the agreement, given
what you've been saying..."
"Well,
I am reacting, because what you are telling me is so very
different than what I was told when I signed the
paperwork. I am trying to understand. We can stay with
Paypal and carry on as we have. We are looking for the
convenience of our customers and clients."
"Are
you a licensed counsellor?" she asked. WHAT? Is that a
question a merchant service person should be
asking?
"I am
a priest... a bishop, in fact." I replied. She was
quiet. Things were very tense. She began to say once more
that she was really wondering about going forward with
the account.
Then
the power went out. The cordless phone died. She probably
assumed I hung up.
I
called the sales guy. I was so angry, I was shaking.
Those who know me, know that this is a rare occurence.
Jean was applauding. He assured me that there are
NO restrictions to using the credit cards. HE could
not understand the problem. In fact, he had been
programming our POS terminal this afternoon for delivery
Monday. Do not fear, he insists. I left it with
him.
So,
as it stands, we MAY have a POS terminal Monday.
And, it looks like Paypal is still in effect, which is a
blessing.
At
least the power is on again....
Deb
Wednesday
June 4, 2008
Today
in NOTL: Partly cloudy, comfortable with temps at noon of
18C/64F.
I
see Obama has won the nomination; I'm sorry about that,
as I think he'll be another president who, due to a lack
of experience, is 'handled' by people the voters never
get the chance to elect. I hope he will take Hilary as
running mate, as she would be an excellent choice and it
would go a long way toward unifying the party. Without
Hilary, I don't know if he can win the election come
November...
We're
rearranging the space today in readiness for the season,
putting the medallions and jewellery items out front and
center for the ease of customers to the cottage. The new
angel earrings and pins are absolutely adorable and
getting raves from happy purchasers.
I
keep forgetting that we're open from Wednesday till
Sunday; it's still early season so today there aren't
many people on the street. Soon, though, it will be busy
all week long! That's always fun.
Deb
is getting more calls for weddings, which is good. Many
calls are coming from gay and lesbian couples from the
US. Their marriages won't be recognized by the states or
the country, but a lot of corporations and municipalities
do recognize Canadian marriages for benefits and so on,
making it worth a visit to Canada.
The
little hidden garden in the backyard is looking very
pretty now, with weigela and forget-me-nots and violets
in abundance. It's a lovely spot for an intimate wedding
ceremony, protected from view by a wonderful old
evergreen tree. How perfect is that!
It's
a happy work, weddings, and a blessing to be able to
offer them to people who are denied the privilege in
their own churches and homes.
Jean
Tuesday
June 3, 2008
Rain
Rain Rain!
Happy
day - I awoke to rain! I always know it's going to be a
good day when it's raining.
Years
ago, as a classroom teacher, I used to have students
write letters to future students, giving them tips on how
to survive being in my class. I remember reading to my
surprise, "When it's raining, you can talk in class and
have fun and she won't give punishwork...." Busted!
LOL
Today
I'm going to finish the Tarotscopes, so if you've been
waiting for them, they should be posted by
tomorrow.
After
that, I am planning to work on art, since we're not open
for walk-in business today. We might watch a movie later.
Fun!
Shaping
up to be a fabulous day!
Jean
Monday
June 2, 2008
Today
in NOTL: Gorgeous, sunny and bright. Warm enough to be
comfy, too, with a high of 22C/71F.
Noticing
that Senator Kennedy is having surgery on that brain
tumor. Hope all goes well.
What
I really hope, though, is that they discover that the
cell phone link to brain tumors is real. Then I hope they
discover that the reason cell phones cause brain tumors
is the same problem that is killing the bees.
Don't
get me wrong: I don't wish cellphone users bad luck. I
just wish the bees good luck.
It
seems to me that people are not going to give up
convenience, even to save humanity - and that's what is
at stake if the bees continue to decline etc. I figure if
cellphones cause cancer, though, people will begin an
outcry demanding safe versions so they don't have to make
uncomfortable changes.
So,
if what's giving the bees grief turns out to be what's
giving people grief, we all win.
Personally,
I'd ban cellphones entirely, just on the annoyance
factor. Fat chance of that happening, though.
Jean
Sunday June 1, 2008
It’s
been too long since I wrote an entry...and I do
apologize. It’s been a tough go, pain-wise, this
last little while but this too shall pass,
lol.
One
of the things I’ve enjoyed most this week is a tiny
feeder Deb set up outside my office window. It’s for
small birds, and they mean SMALL. Even the sparrows have
to jockey for position or else fall off!
That’s
the fun of it for me - watching the birds flap as they
gain balance and then eat. Some of the sparrows find a
comfy perch on a thin branch beside it and eat at their
leisure. Others struggle for position and eat at the
other ports. Some have learned that if they perch on the
corners (it’s octagonal in shape), they can eat
rather easily, lol.
The
grackles and blue jays are the best fun, though. They are
far too big to eat comfortably at this feeder, but the
sight of those seeds is more than they can resist! LOL
The cardinals are happily eating the seed thrown out for
the big guys, but the jays and grackles haven’t
given up yet.
Watching
them light and then flappingly fall is hilarious. They
can’t manage the perches and the tiny branch
won’t hold them, so they’ve been working hard
with little success.
One
of the grackles, though, is too smart for us. He learned
that if he sits on the tiny branch just at the point
where it joins the trunk of the tree, it will hold him.
And, being the big fellow he is, he is easily able to
stretch out and feed at will. Uh-oh.
That
can’t be good news for the sparrows!
Jean
Saturday
May 31, 2008
Hi
all,
Hope
you are enjoying your weekend. There were big
thunderstorms here last night which had all the animals
more than a little upset. So today, I am a little
bleary-eyed.
We
needed the rain, if only to wash the air which is so
heavy with pollen that allergies have been terrible for
people this year. But it is so pretty and green that a
little sniffle is a small price to pay.
Things
around here have been picking up. I spent a number of
weeks creating and preparing the
"Prayerables"
collection,
which are getting great feedback. Jean has been doing
many phone readings and we've been seeing quite a fews
walk-in visitors. It is also wedding season, so I am
off-site quite a bit on weekends. That affectgs when we
are open as I have to be here to assist Jean with people,
so if you are coming into town, please call and make sure
we'll be open to receive you! Sundays are usually clear
of weddings.
We
are also working on getting a debit/credit card machine
so that we have the capacity to take more than cash and
cheques. It also means that we could use PayPal less and
just take credit card numbers over the phone. It is a
simple process, but not every business is accepted. So,
if you wouldn't mind sending angels to assist us get
this, we'd appreciate it.
We
are so excited to launch the
Blessing Brigade.
Inspired by our angels, we hope to build a network of
people who consciously hold the planet, the people and
loved ones with loving intentions several times a day. We
are visualizing a continuous wave of blessing and
thanksgiving showering this beautiful planet that we call
home.
The
power of collective intention is HUGE. Often we hear
something that has happened and we don't know how we can
help. The energy of prayers and loving positive thoughts
has actually been measured and we understand that our
thoughts and desires are indeed creative! Let us work
together to bless and love each other and the world each
and every day. And, remember, as we offer our energetic
intentions, the angels are ever by our side to amplify
and add their own loving assistance.
The
pins, necklaces, earrings and pendants I have been making
are energized not only to open you to greater blessings,
but are also intended to bring blessings wherever you go.
I have priced them so that they are affordable for all.
Our next task is to create fun items such as hats, mugs
and T-shirts so that the Blessing Brigade's loving work
will be expanded and known. We'll be adding more prayers
and resources as we go.
You
can join us! Visit the blessing Brigade page and set your
intention to be a blessing in the world and work with the
angels in loving ways. Read the prayer and visiualize
peace and joy blanketing the world, with people smiling
and singing. We CAN make a difference. It is what we are
here to do! Tell your friends. Send them to
The
Blessing Brigade
page.
Thanks!
Bright
blessings in your day,
Deb
Tuesday
May 13, 2008
Hi
all. Deb here this morning.
Things
here have been very hectic of late and I apologize that
we haven't been more regular with updating the journal
page.
The
season has started to pick up and there are more folks
coming to town again. Some of them see the sign if we are
open and come in to browse or have a reading. We've met
some regular visitors to the website as well and that is
always so much fun!
Remember,
if you are planning on coming to NOTL through the week,
give us a call and we can book a reading with you. The
open sign may not be up, but we are usually
around.
This
past weekend was pretty amazing. We had a very small and
simple ceremony here with Bishop Pat Davies who ordained
Jean a Deacon in the Community Catholic Church. I was
also consecrated Bishop during the ceremony and am still
feeling a little blown away by it all. It is amazing to
me that we have found this affirming and welcoming church
that appreciates our spirituality and love of angels and
has welcomed us with open arms.
For
me as an Anglican and Jean as a Roman Catholic, the
CCCC is the best of all worlds. Based in Old
Catholic theology, clergy have valid orders and apostolic
succession and we are in communion with the Anglican
Church.
We
know so many people who have been brought up in the RC or
Anglican Church and have so many questions and concerns
with the institution as it stands, yet miss the liturgy
and the ritual and the fellowship. Perhaps like us, your
understanding of Jesus and divinity have expanded over
the years and that is honoured as well.
We
are planning on posting daily prayers and intentions and
building an online community for those who would like to
be a part of something very special. It is an exciting
time for us and your good thoughts and prayers are
appreciated!
Now
that the Ordination/Consecration is over, we can return
to a more normal week. You'll notice that I have a
celebration sale on some Divine Imprint medallions and
I'm going to spend today making some earrings and some
new medallions.
I
understand that I have a whole new crew of angels working
with me; it will be interesting to see how the next
medallions turn out!
Have
a great day everyone. The angels are nudging me to
suggest that if you feel moved by our work, the angel
messages or are just thankful for life in general, we
appreciate your kind donations and tithes. You'll see the
button just to the left.
Bright
blessings in your day!
Deb
Monday
May 3, 2008
Greetings
all. This is Deb coming to you live from the front porch
of the Angel Ladies' Cottage. :)
Jean is
busy with a phone reading and I have been uploading new
angel
pins
and thought I would take a break to say hello.
I am
working on the website today. Time gets away and there is
always something to update or tweak. Look for the updated
Niagara Notes page which will give a rundown of monthly
specials and other things.
Jean
will be working on the next issue of the newsletter
today. We send one out every two weeks and people enjoy
receiving it. It has little articles, an exclusive angel
message and often we'll have subscriber specials on
readings and products that aren't available on the
website. It is free to join and we never share your email
with anyone.
If
you'd like to get on the mailing list, you can subscribe
here:
(To join our list, write us directly at theangelladies@theangelladies.com
or
submit your e-mail address below.)
The
Angel Ladies' Journal
Today's